"Do you have any Holiday plans?" Chloe didn't stop cleaning the counters.
"I'm not a big fan of Christmas." She offered her boss a sad smile.
"Chloe you're breaking my heart."
"I wasn't looking for sympathy. I don't have any family and I haven't lived here long enough to have friends. The truth is I like being by myself."
"Okay so this is me not offering sympathy. Please come to our house for dinner. It'll be just me John and the boy wonder." Carly smiled at her latest employee.
"You are too nice to be real. Seriously, do you trip old ladies when no one is looking? Kick puppies? Oh wait I got it. You secretly serve decaf to truck drivers." Carly offered her a sneaky smile. "I knew it. Evil, pure evil."
They laughed together for a moment and Carly dropped her invitation but she vowed to herself to try and push Chloe to come over even if it was just for an hour. Both young women turned as the door swung open and in walked a pair of regulars. Chloe walked over and led them to a booth. Glad to have an excuse to escape Carly's pressure. She knew she meant well but Chloe had been dreading this holiday enough. She didn't want to have to plaster on a fake smile while she made small talk.
She assumed Carly would push again and Chloe was starting to think a lie might not be such a bad thing.
Oliver knew life without him had to have been difficult. No doubt Moira and Thea had grieved but he had always assumed life would go on without him. To know so much had changed was confusing and heartbreaking. No Christmas?
How could they have given up Christmas?
He wasn't worth it.
He was trying though. Trying to be worthy of their love, worthy of their loyalty.
He needed to avenge his father but he was starting to realize that wasn't his only task. Thea and Moira needed him. Needed the hope his return had given them.
He was going to force them into a Christmas Party and hopefully the holiday spirit would follow.
"What's your plan for your evil twin?"
"You just assume it's not me."
"You're hysterical Ollie. What is the plan?" Chloe turned away from the screen of her laptop.
"None of your concern." He refused to admit what her faith in him meant.
"Look I'm getting really tired of you playing this game. If you really felt that way what the hell are you doing here?" Hand on her hips her cheeks flushed with anger. This dance was getting old.
"I won't get you involved."
"Please sing a different song. You have Diggle in this. You don't seem terribly concerned about him."
"He's a soldier."
She knew there was nothing she could say. There were no words that would change him mind even though he wanted to. Instead she chose to show him.
Smiling widely she watched his face break into an answering grin before she spun lighting quick and swept his feet out from under him. As he fell to the ground he tried to compensate by shifting his weight but she anticipated his movement and offered a punch to the ribs that increased his fall.
She quickly straddled him and pinned him to the ground. A tiny blade appearing out of no where and pressing gently to his neck.
"Do I seem like some damsel in distress to you? Some delicate flower that you need to protect?" Oliver glared at her. Not sure if she had pinned him because she was skilled or because she had surprised him. Either way he wasn't happy about it.
He tried to flip her off knowing she wasn't going to cut him. She anticipated his movement and only pressed harder into his ribs. Keeping him pinned.
She leapt backwards from him. Allowing him to get up.
He made a big show of brushing himself off. Thinking about everything that had happened between them, what had been said. "Fine."
She smiled widely at him. She found herself moving forward but stopped herself. She had wanted to hug him. She had wanted to….. Guilt washed over her.
"Meet me at the nightclub Monday night. You want to play this game you are going to train with Dig."
"Oooh will there be a secret handshake? No wait. A password? Do we get matching shirts?"
"This isn't a game."
"Hey broken record. Just because life is serious doesn't mean you can't have fun." Chloe turned away from him. Tucking the knife she was still holding back into it's sheath. She took a deep breath and realized her heart was beating a thousand miles an hour. Confronting Oliver had been harder than she thought.
"I'll see you Miss Sullivan." Oliver turned and left. Not sure he had done the right thing but dam if she didn't have a point. The list was long. He could use the help.
"How are you adjusting?"
Chloe turned at the words. Hiding her surprise. "I think he's starting to trust me." She stopped short. Not sure if she wanted to know but terrified to hear the truth.
"He's fine. Melancholy and closed off but fine. Clark is watching over him. Lois checks on him. He'll be okay. I promised you this was the only way to save him and I wasn't lying."
She wanted details. Wanted to know if he was drinking too much. Wallowing.
"I know Z. I know. I just…"
"Trust me. This is the way it was always supposed to be." Zantana stood and made her way over to the blonde woman. "Let go."
"What if I can't?" Chloe felt the sadness wash over her again.
"You can. I know how you feel but it will get better." Chloe just nodded as the magician took a step back and vanished in a cloud of smoke. It brought a smile to her lips. The showmanship of it. It was so Z. She wasn't sure she was ever going to get over it but at least she could try.
Tomorrow night would be another step forward.
She didn't get to train. Didn't get to learn the secret handshake. No matching shirts. Instead she had snuck into his hospital room and watched him sleep. A pain and longing making her heart ache. She stepped forward towards the bed. Taking his hand into hers. Hot tears washing down her cheeks. This was so familiar.
She realized she cared for him. Not because she needed a purpose but because she needed him.
"How's he doing?" Chloe stiffened at the familiar voice. She had taken the time to dress like a nurse. She was even wearing a wig and glasses but he was highly trained. It was unlikely he would be fooled this close.
"Fine, he's strong." She turned but Dig grabbed her arm. She kept her eyes cast down but it was too late.
"Chloe?" She heard the confusion in his voice. "What the hell are you doing here? Dressed like this?"
"Dig?" The older man was distracted by his charge. "Chloe?"
"I'm here Oliver." They answered in unison before moving to either side of his bed.
"I'll explain everything, trust her Dig. Please." Diggle offered Oliver and angry look. Before turning his glare to the women before him.
"Oliver?" Diggle and Chloe took a step back as Oliver's family rushed into the room. Questions would have to wait as he watched Chloe turned and walk out of the room.
AN Yeah Arrow is back. Another chapter to follow soon I promise.
Reviews are love people.
