Author Note: I had planned to finish in January, but I had some time to kill and I was able to finish it, which allows me to focus on my other stories. (Dreaming through the Noise has gone from a one-shot to potentially a four-parter...not to mention the ones I hope to start posting in February)
Now for the author rant (of a positive persuasion):
I admit, it's going to be hard to close the book on the story that started as an impulse-write on a dreary August afternoon. To the people who've been with me since August, I am truly sorry for all the delays, but believe me, if I had finished the story without them... you probably would have hated it.
The first chapter was a teaser which I put out there thinking no one would be interested in this plotline. Well, did you guys ever prove me wrong! So I frantically planned this story, as it went from six chapters to ten chapters to sixteen chapters until it finally settled at twelve.
As I've said before, this story had been quite the journey, which included three one-month hiatuses to maintain my sanity, including moments where I thought I'd lost it.
But my gratitude goes out to my loyal reviewers, to the people who got me through this, and staying with me from start to finish. Thank you. Sera
Epilogue
The wedding had gone off without a hitch, which was nice after all of the bumps along the way, even if they had nothing to do with the bride and groom. Lois looked beautiful in a dress she never saw herself wearing, and Clark hadn't stopped smiling since he had seen her.
Not that I was one to complain, Lois was one of those brides who allowed her bridesmaids to look good, and Chloe was no exception... even though Lois probably used the dress as a last-attempt to bring us back together. Even though it was green, it also flattered Chloe, bringing out the happiness in her eyes.
Fortunately, we didn't need a dress to bring us back together... we needed a lot of other things, but what mattered was that we worked everything out.
Looking back at Chloe, I realized she had stood up and tinged her knife against her glass to get everyone's attention.
"Thank you... I ask for your patience because I'll be making up my speech as I go. You see, I had this big eloquent speech written out, but a couple days ago... I burnt it. I guess I should have seen it coming, for me, writing letters or speeches never end well."
Seeing the concerned reactions, Chloe quickly continued, "Anyways...the paper... it was crinkled, one of the corners was torn, I think, and there were arrows and cross-out marks everywhere. I know what you're thinking; I probably had a spare copy or heck, a spare hard-drive of it somewhere, but I didn't. I only wanted one copy because it's not like I can just duplicate this speech, you two are really one of a kind, and furthermore, you'll never be defined by crisp white paper with neatly aligned black text. I wanted those tears, crinkles and scratch marks because for you, it was about the struggle, the agony, the secrets."
Chloe shrugged and let her smile shine through.
"But that's what love is. It's about having someone waking up beside you saying 'I love you' and never having its meaning decrease. It's about having someone who, after your high heel breaks, will carry you to a shoe store to buy you another pair. But most importantly, it's about someone who always keeps you grounded or reminds you that you are indeed... um... human and that you make mistakes."
Bart had broken into a quiet chuckle, but Chloe turned to look at him. "Hey, you try coming up with a speech on the spot." Bart quickly quieted up, and Chloe smiled at me before looking back at the married couple.
"When you love someone, you have to take the good and the bad, and live through each experience regardless of the consequences. And yes... I'm still talking about you."
She sipped her champagne and cleared her throat. "In the lives we lead, we tend to forget what we give the people whose lives we save each day. Miraculously, we all seemed to have found someone in our lives to maintain our sanity levels, and it all started with you two. Clark, you'll always be our moral compass, ensuring that we do the right thing, even when the chips are down. Lois, as much as you may not want to hear it, you lead our normal lives. You keep us in line and would always remind us why we do what we do. So it's only fitting that both of you sit where you are today, next to each other, hand-in-hand. Man and wife."
Chloe chuckled and faced the guests once again. "I mean, it took you long enough, but the year Clark spent trying to tell Lois his secret while she already knew was probably one of the most priceless things I have ever witnessed. So thanks for that."
She stopped and stared at the eyes of her beaming best friend and her cousin, who was doing everything to hold back tears. "More importantly, on behalf of the team and everyone whose lives you have touched, thank you... for being Clark and Lois."
The room was silent for a couple moments, until Perry chimed up, "Here here."
That broke everyone out of their trance to start cheering and whistling at the couple, which caused Clark to blush.
Once it quieted down, Chloe looked over in my direction. "Now I'm going to pass it to Oliver, who has also prepared a little something."
I stood up and laid my speech on the table. "Nothing on this 'crisp white paper' could even begin to compare to that. In the end, you two... well, you're something special. If I may, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you. I must be running out of chances, but thanks for having faith in me even when I didn't deserve it. But tonight isn't about me... it's about all of us... this family... but most importantly... To Clark and Lois."
Everyone raised their glass and took a sip as the music came on again.
Chloe found her way back to her seat when I grabbed her arm. "So how about a dance?"
"In a minute... I have something I have to handle first."
I wondered what she could possibly have to do at this moment, but I didn't push it after she kissed my cheek and walked away. Then I heard a familiar voice.
"I'm not sorry for punching you in the stomach that day."
I turned around to face Mia, who looked uncomfortable in her bridesmaid dress. "I deserved it, Mia – you deserved better than that."
"Next time you decide to get out of dodge, at least have the decency to take me with you. These guys are crazy."
Cracking a smile, I said, "They're not all that bad. I heard Clark and Dinah have been training you."
"They're fine...for the most part, they're all fine. It's Bart I'm worried about... can you do anything to get him to back off?"
"Not likely. Ask Chloe, he was fixated on her for years. Just know I have your back if he does anything to you."
"Seriously... no off-switch?"
"'Fraid not. Get used to it, Mia."
Mia rolled her eyes. "Alright Arrow... but I expect us to start training lessons again."
"You go it kid."
"I'm not a kid... it's Speedy now."
I raised an eyebrow. "Did Bart pick that name for you?"
She scoffed as she tried to avoid looking at me. "The one useful thing about him. How did you know?"
Trying to hold back the laughter, I bit my lower lip. Honestly, it was a lucky guess, but Bart was getting to her... that much was apparent. "Monday morning. You know the place."
"Thanks Oliver."
After watching Mia join the group on the dance floor, I noticed Vic standing by the punch bowl. We hadn't really had much time to catch up, so I leaned against the table next to him, looking out at the dancing couples.
"So is it true you're sticking around this time?"
I shrugged a shoulder. "That's the plan."
"Am I allowed to say it's about time?"
"Why not? You've been awfully quiet during this entire time."
Vic let out a chuckle before taking a sip of his drink. "Someone had to with everyone else sticking their noses in your business. I butted in once and it almost destroyed both of you. I should have known that if you needed me, you would come to me."
Thinking of AC's words when I came back, I quickly said, "Water under the bridge, right?"
He nodded. "Just do us all a favour and talk to me next time."
"I'm hoping that I won't have to take you up on that offer."
"Neither do I, but I offer it to you guys none the less to keep your head on straight."
"Who else did you offer it to?"
He pointed over to AC, dancing close to Dinah. "Have you told them that you knew all along that they were dating?"
I smiled. "No, hearing their excuses was way too entertaining. I figured they would tell me when they were ready... but I guess sometimes the direct approach is best."
I walked over to them as they danced, completely oblivious to their surroundings. It was sweet actually, to see them like this. When I got close enough, I cleared my throat, and watched both Dinah and AC quickly try to hide it.
"Guys, relax... I know."
Dinah blushed. "Oh..."
AC placed an arm around Dinah's back. "We were planning on telling you, but..."
Dinah interrupted, "There were more important things for you to face."
"How long?"
Both of them said, "About a year," before letting out a chuckle.
"I'm happy for you."
Dinah looked at AC, then back at me. "We're happy for you too."
It was then my phone alarm started to buzz.
"Sorry, I have to take this."
I opened it up and noticed it was the alarm for my penthouse in Star City. Fortunately, I was able to track down Bart, who had been doing food runs for the last couple of minutes.
"Bart... my alarm went off in Star City, you mind checking on it for me?"
"No worries, bossman... that was me."
"Why were you there?"
Bart shrugged. "I wanted to see how you had been living for the last two years. No offence, but it is in a desperate need of a paint job. There's no personality in that place... it reminds me of a hospital room."
He walked away without a care in the world, but I could tell that there was more to this story, which meant that she was involved. Bart only kept secrets from me when it came to one person.
Walking back to the table, I found her staring at something in her purse.
I pulled out the chair next to her and sat down. "Care to tell me what has Bart going back to Star City?"
Chloe quickly put her purse on the table, and tried to brush it off. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Never leaving her gaze, I grabbed one of her hands. "I'm talking about the next time you want to hide something from me, you should ask John. The moment Bart clams up, I know you're involved."
She sighed and opened up her purse pulling out the photo that I had kept in my desk. "Tess told me you kept this. Part of me wanted to see if she was lying, part of me wanted to know that it was true. I mean, the wallet photo was enough, but if I knew that you kept this in your desk, I wouldn't have waited this long to tell you the truth."
Settling my photo on the table, she continued, "I wish I had called. Our reasons for being apart were so... juvenile."
"Well, we're here now, aren't we?"
Chloe let out a smile and nodded.
Clark held out his hand to Chloe. "Don't suppose that I could borrow her a moment?"
"I don't mind, but it's up to Chloe."
She smiled and accepted his hand. "Lead the way, Clark."
I grabbed her purse to put the photo back, when I noticed there was something else inside. Something of mine, something from that office, something from that drawer.
I looked up and saw Chloe releasing Clark's hand. "Wait... I forgot something." As she turned around, her expression changed when she saw mine.
Pulling the box discreetly in and out of her purse before Clark could see, I raised an eyebrow. "Something I should know?"
She walked up to me and whispered, "I... I wanted to look at it, get used to the idea of possibly wearing that on my finger."
Shaking my head, I handed Chloe her purse. "Don't worry about it. In fact, it's yours."
Chloe nervously looked around. "Oliver, you're not..."
I grabbed her shoulder in an attempt to calm her down. "No, I want you to be ready, and this is hardly the time to do it."
She breathed a sigh of relief. "Good. Today's about Clark and Lois."
"I know, even though it would beat the wedding gift I did get them."
Clark cut in for a moment, "About that, there might have been an accident with your gift."
Chloe glared at Clark, and then back at me. "Maybe we should go somewhere more private."
"Probably a good idea." I grabbed her hand and led her out of the barn.
As we walked into the night, we were constantly looking over our shoulders to make sure that we weren't being followed. Once we knew we were alone, we sat down on the steps on the front porch of the Kent house and looked at the night sky.
Chloe pulled the box out of her purse and stared at the ring. "It is beautiful Ollie. It's just hard imagining that life again. My first time wasn't exactly the smoothest."
I patted her hand. "That's why I want you to hold onto it. Keep looking at it, and when you're ready, let me know. If you're never ready, then so be it. There's no one else I want to wear it."
She shook her head. "I can't... this is probably a family memento or something."
"It was my mother's."
"Exactly."
I traced my hand down her face to move a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "She would love you, I just know it. I want you to know that you're that important to me. That losing you isn't worth having it my way."
"That sounds like something Clark would say."
"Perry actually."
"Really?"
"Yeah, and I shrugged those words off numerous times because I thought that our past would cloud everything."
"Well, who knows? If Lois can get married, anything is possible."
I tried to find the right words to say in response to that, but I had nothing. So I said the only thing that came to mind, "I love you."
Her eyes finally looked up at me. "I love you too."
I smiled. "That right there, worth more than that ring."
"I'm sorry I took so long to say it."
"Don't be." I lowered my arm to wrap it around her shoulder to pull her towards me. "Come here."
She leaned her head against my shoulder and stared up into my eyes. "What did I do to deserve someone like you?"
Holding her close, I returned the gaze and smiled. "Funny, I was thinking the same thing."
After a few minutes, Chloe slowly stood up and held out her hand to me. "I believe I owe you a dance."
"You do."
She wanted to lead me back to the barn, but I pulled her back. "We can head back later."
"There's no music out here."
It was that moment we heard crickets chirping in the distance. Chloe and I tried to hold back the laughter, but it broke through momentarily.
Placing a hand on my shoulder, Chloe smiled. "A little unconventional... but I like it."
Going along with it, I grinned as I wrapped my arm around her waist. "I thought you might."
She let her head rest on my chest as we danced the night away. We thought about heading to the barn in a couple times, but after two years apart, we weren't ready to let go of each other any time soon. Closing our eyes, we tuned out everything except for the sound of our synchronized heartbeats as our feet treaded softly along the pebbled driveway.
