The Missing Link (3/?)-Alone No More
Author: Greenarrow11
Title: The Missing Link
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Pairing: Chlollie
Word Count: 2,107
Summary: Chloe and Oliver were both blind to how perfect they were to each other. The colliding of future and present might finally able them to look at what has been in front of their faces for so long.
The elevator continued up. There was a silence among them, but it neither was comfortable nor awkward. It was just there. Connor, jumping with excitement, ran out into the penthouse as the doors opened. Chloe and Oliver thought that maybe he was dashing to the bathroom or the food, but instead headed straight to the Green Arrow Room instead.
"Come on dad! You promised!" Connor looked at Oliver; giving him the famous Queen pout that Oliver did not have.
Having to respond to dad was different, but it didn't sound bad. Instead it sounded really good. Smiling he responded, "Yeah, I did buddy, but just give me one sec. I have to order the food. Any preference sidekick?"
"No I can eat anything, but," She went to forward to the kitchen searching the counters and cabinets, "where is your coffee maker? Don't tell me you don't have one? Buying a nation, no problem, but a simple coffee maker…" She continued to ramble. But Oliver knew better; denying Chloe coffee could get you killed.
"Don't worry Sidekick I made sure I always have a life time supply for you. But then again, a life time supply is really only a day supply to you." Oliver teased, walking forward opening a cabinet that Chloe happened to not see and pulling out a new coffee maker and an entire batch of coffee.
"Hey!" Chloe said punching Oliver in the shoulder. "I don't drink that much!"
"Chloe, you drink more coffee than Bart eats." Oliver smiled dodging her next punch. Neither noticed that Connor had been gone for that period and he returned with two bows in hand.
"Mom! Dad! Can you stop flirtin already? We gotta practice!" Connor stated holding the two bows up.
Chloe blushed and quickly moved away from Oliver while Oliver just stood and smirked. Lois must have gotten to him. After the blunt of Connor's words were taken they realized that he had both Oliver's Green Arrow bow and backup bow in hand.
"Uh, Con…How did you get those?" Oliver questioned curiously.
"I got it from your Green Arrow Room." Said Connor wearing a 'duh' face.
Both Oliver and Chloe walked enough to see that the Green Arrow Room was in fact opened regardless to the security system Victor put on it.
Speaking to himself and as well as Connor, "How did you get passed Victor's security?" Oliver asked forgetting he was asking a 7 year old.
"That was Uncle Victor's security? That took only like two minutes to override. Uncle Vic makes da best security in dah world, second to mom's."
Oliver chuckled to himself under his breath for a second then looked back at Chloe, "Like mother, like son." Smiling he wondered less on where he learned how to hack into those systems (I mean he has Chloe and Victor as relatives), but how much trouble he must be getting into knowing how to do it. He already had Chloe's curiosity and adding hacking ability and that 7 year old innocent look he would be unstoppable.
Chloe was in a lost of words which Oliver knew was never a good thing. He moved to comfort her a bit, but at his subtle movement she shook and said, Ollie go ahead and play with Connor, I'll order the food. Italian alright?" Connor's face lightened up and grinned nodding his head in excitement. Oliver simply nodded. She then moved away from them and back into the kitchen.
He continued to stare in the direction which Chloe left from, but his legs were glued in his spot. He then felt a pull in his pants who, when he looked down, was Connor.
"Come on dad!" Connor begged.
Oliver reluctantly left and went to the training room where he pulled out a target and a couple of arrows.
"Umm… Connor. I don't seem to have a smaller bow…I-"
"I use your bow all the time, but I just can't tell mommy or you will get in trouble." Connor informed.
The bow was practically the same size as him, but Oliver gave him a blunt arrow and watched as Connor knew exactly what to do. He loaded it, pulled back the string just more than halfway, aimed, and fired. The arrow sailed beautifully and hit the target (that was 20 yards away) mere centimeters from the center. Connor frowned while Oliver burst with pride.
"Connor, that was amazing!" Oliver bewildered traded looks between Connor and the target in disbelief.
"But it was off…" Connor said with disappointment.
"Yeah, but only by a little centimeter or two! It took me forever for what you're doing so young." Oliver shocked that he was disappointed with such an achievement.
"Really? But you always hit your target." Disbelief over his face as he looked up at his father. Obviously he thought the world of him.
To Oliver, this was a new concept. Most people thought he was nothing, believing everything the tabloids said and then some. Most people thought the worst of him (including himself for many years). Connor was the second person to think he was everything and more. The first was Chloe.
"I do now, but it took a lot of practice to get there. Try again. Just focus on you and the target. Close the entire world and let it call out to you." Oliver said calmly as Connor took another arrow and pulled it back listening and following Oliver's instructions to the T. He let go and with a 'twack' the arrow hit the target dead center.
Connor jumped up grinning and screamed with glee, "I hit it! I hit it!" He ran to Oliver hugging him with joy.
Oliver picked him up, whirling him around smiling with all the pride and joy a father could have. "See I told you, you could do it! Soon you will be better than me!" Truthfully he would be. He would be proud of his son if he hit the target let alone calling out his shots. He was a natural. It really wouldn't be long before he was a better shot than him.
Connor laughed at Oliver's comment, "Yeah right dad! You're just saying that!"
They continued to shoot arrows for the next ten minutes. Oliver coached Connor offering encouraging advice and beamed that his son's accuracy. He was already fast and accurate, but he improved tenfold. Oliver took a couple shots as well and found Connor mimicking him down to the subconscious gestures. He was so absorbed with Connor that he didn't even notice Chloe walking into the room.
Chloe ordered the food and had crashed on the couch to think. As much as she wanted to love her son she knew he would have to leave them. In every relationship she had the other person always left her. Her mom when she was little, her dad moved away and started his own family with another woman away from her. Jimmy died because of her mistakes. Clark and Lois became so obsessed with each other they seemed to forget the outside world including her. The only person who hadn't abandoned her was Oliver, but she knew it would only take some time. Everybody left her. She figured to not get attached to another person just to get her heart smashed again.
She knew Oliver would get concerned if she went away for too long, he always got overly protective when it came to her, so she followed the trail of laughter to his training room. She saw Connor and Oliver aiming towards the target. They looked like clones. Same position, same focus, same determination. She observed them for a few minutes. After every shot Oliver would encourage and cheer on Connor. Oliver was a perfect father. She was glad because he needed it. Having no family and struggling through his life he needed Connor.
Connor was the first one to notice her. "Mom, look! I hit the bullseye!" Once again flashing the Queen grin.
"Wow. Good job Connor!" Chloe said. She tried to sound proud, loving, and compassionate, but only Connor was fooled by the act. Oliver's face simply held a worried look.
"Mom you try."
Beginning to protest, Oliver cut it, "Come'on Sidekick. Live a little." Offering his bow to her.
Chloe stepped forward accepting the bow half-heartedly. She loaded it and pulled back the string. Suddenly, she felt strong arms wrap behind her as Oliver molded next to her. He held her tight, guiding her through the bow. "Turn off the world, turn off your thoughts; your doubts and listen to your heart." He said slowly caressing her hand that drew back the string. "Listen to your heart; will your target, right in front of you, to pop out. Take it. It's right in front of you, just let your arrow go and take it."
Only a few seconds passed, but they felt like minutes. Oliver was hesitant that she might not let go, but she did and she hit. It might have not been a perfect show, but she hit her target. She smiled and turned around smiling and looking at Ollie deeply, only mere inches away from him. Each stared at each other afraid to make the next move. This precious moment was finally broken by Connor's cheering.
"Yeah mom you did it!" His shouting caused Chloe to turn around, but she unable to move away from Oliver who held her close.
"Yeah Chloe. You did it. You listened to your heart and found your target." Oliver, with his darkened eyes, stared deeply into her green eyes suggestively.
Chloe was unsure of her next move. Oliver and her were just friends, nothing more. Anybody who she loved or had a relationship with left her and she valued Oliver too much to allow her life to screw him too. Also, she wondered how much of his actions were due to the little boy in the same room. Did Oliver really lover her or just merely following the future?
Seeing her mind running the Dayton 500 Oliver spoke, "What did I say? Listen to your heart; close the entire world out."
She listened to Oliver and was about to calm down when she felt his lips crash down on hers. It was passionate filled with love (or lust?). His tongue darted into her mouth exploring, caressing every part of it. At first, shocked she began to welcome it and returned this passion fully back. Both hungered for each other, for love, for companionship, for family.
When they finally had to breathe and broke away they stared at one another, unsure what to do next. Their eyes understood each other's need for silence and both held onto the other for awhile. They knew they would have to take about this, but not now. Now they needed someone to love and to hold; to know that they didn't face the world alone. To have someone that wouldn't leave them: alone.
A/N: Yep, this is my variation of the Warrior scene. Also, Oliver's advice on closing the world off when shooting is actual advice I got when I took a couple of archery lessons (and they really work!). Chloe does contradict herself a bit throughout the chapters, but when your mind races you find yourself doing that. All reviews welcomed. Please tell me if I overuse words, ideas, too fast/slow, not enough/too much character thought, and anything else. This is my first non-tragedy actual characters fanfiction and the only way I can improve is if someone helps me!