It wasn't until the barman told them the bar was closing soon that either of them realised the time. Conversation had been flowing easily, as had the alcohol. They were both well past tipsy, and any inhibitions about talking to a stranger were long gone.

Oliver had revealed himself to be the son of billionaire Robert Queen after a slip up, but Laurel had taken it into her stride, barely remarking on a fact that she could see he had attempted to avoid. It didn't stop her from teasing him, though, asking why she was spending her money on drinks if he was rich. Oliver had reached for his wallet, but Laurel had shooed his hand away and paid for both of them.

Laurel had told him about her family, about her detective father and professor mother who couldn't make it work, both being 'married to their professions'. And about her sister, Sara, who Laurel insisted was their parent's favourite so could get away with murder.

Oliver nodded to the bartender and stood up, shrugging on his coat as Laurel finished her drink. Standing up, she wobbled slightly on her feet before steadying herself, grabbing her coat and bag from the bar and slipping them on. She smiled at the barman then turned towards the door, heading past the few other stragglers who had stayed until closing and out the door. He followed her, rubbing his hands together in a vain attempt to keep them warm.

Once outside, he pulled his coat closer around him and looked at his watch, which confirmed the barman's assessment of the time.

"So, I guess this is goodbye?" He asked as she turned to face him, cheeks already reddened by the chill. She raised an eyebrow.

"Why? Got somewhere to be?"

He didn't, but he had expected her to want to get back home and into bed. When he told her what he was thinking, she pouted.

"Either go back to my apartment, sit in the dark and think about what I'm going to say to my parents tomorrow, or go back to my dad's now and have to explain that they were being dicks so I went and got drunk. Neither one of those sounds appealing, so I'm going to keep pretending that everything is fine. You coming or not?"

Oliver barely even considered the question before nodding, seeing Laurel's face light up as she grabbed his hand, lacing their fingers together and pulling him down the street, making him laugh out loud.

"Where are we going?" he asked, struggling to keep up as she marched down the road.

"To the mall. Every year I go to see the big tree they have, but with my family being my family I haven't had the chance yet. So, I am going to see it, and you are coming with me."

She had a steely determination, and her excitement was infectious. Oliver's family had forgone Christmas this year, indirectly blaming Oliver's accident and his father's death, which was something else that had led him to seeking out the bar. Ordinarily, they would have a huge tree comparable in size to the one at the mall, and with more expensive decorations, but he wasn't going to tell Laurel that. She might know him to be a billionaire, but he was quite enjoying not having to be one.

It didn't take them long to wind their way to their destination. Ordinarily, he might have been concerned about being out this late, but the streets were well lit and they were now out of the Glades, making their way up the path that led to a brightly lit tree that had a few people around it taking pictures.

Laurel let go of his hand and ran the rest of the way, Oliver quick to follow, laughing as he tried to keep up. She stopped when she reached the base of the tree, and as he slowed down to stop beside her, he could see why she was so excited.

The tree was stunning, with brilliant-white lights shimmering amongst the branches, multicoloured baubles hanging from everywhere that could hold them, and a bright, golden star to top it off. It was about twenty feet tall, and at its base was a huge ceramic pot that looked as if it had been painted by children of a local school. This wasn't a tree that was locked away in his family mansion. This was for the people of Starling City, and he couldn't help but think he preferred the one in front of him.

He turned to look at Laurel, and saw her face lit up with an almost ethereal glow, the fairy lights reflected in her olive-green eyes. When she looked at him with a huge smile, he couldn't help but grin back, worries forgotten in the moment.

"Ooh, take a picture of me!" Laurel almost shouted in excitement, digging into her pocket to pull out her phone, scrolling to open the camera app before handing it to Oliver. He took a few steps back and pointed it at her, making sure to get as much of the tree as he could in the background. She posed, completely ignoring dignity as she did a star jump which he captured perfectly with a well-timed press of the screen. He got a few more photos of her as she quickly changed poses before she gestured for him to stop and walk back over.

"We need to take a picture together, too!" She insisted, taking her phone back and looping an arm round his back. Oliver couldn't bring himself to refuse, so he threw an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, flashing a toothy smile. After a few clicks, Laurel seemed satisfied, pulling away and quickly flicking through the photos he had taken, laughing at some of the sillier faces she had pulled.

He just smiled at her antics. He'd never met someone so carefree before. He imagined she was the kind of person that no matter how much life would try to tear her down, she would rise above it all with a smile on her face.

"Would it be okay if you walk me home?"

The voice pulled him out of his thoughts as he saw Laurel looking at him, face still bathed in the glow from the tree.

"Sure, I've got nowhere to be."

"Great. I'm going to my apartment because there is no way I'm letting my dad spoil my fun by asking where I've been and that I'm being irresponsible by staying out so late and blah blah blah..."

Oliver chuckled as she petered off. Laurel pouted but was unable to keep the smile off her face. Oliver reached out and took her hand, enjoying the warmth as their fingers laced together again.

"Which way?"

Laurel pointed towards the edge of the Glades and began leading him back down the path to the road. She swung their hands as they walked, keeping to the well-lit sidewalks. There was a comfortable silence that neither of them felt like breaking. Oliver was glad he had chosen that bar to attempt to drink away his problems. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, he had thoroughly enjoyed himself. Laurel was an amazing woman; wicked smart and beautiful, not letting anything stop her from doing what she wanted, and Oliver hoped that he had been good enough company in return.

Just as they turned onto what Laurel informed him was her street, small white flakes of snow started drifting down from the inky black sky above. Laurel gasped and started spinning round with her arms outstretched and face pointed upwards, eyes closed. There was a content smile on her face, and he thought in that moment that he had never seen anyone more beautiful.

"Looks like it's a white Christmas Eve Eve Eve after all." He joked. Laurel laughed, opening her eyes to face him before taking his hand once again and pulling him towards an apartment building. They stopped as they reached the door, and Laurel let go of his hand so she could face him.

"This is me." She murmured. They were unbearably close, their breath mingling as a frosty mist that spiralled upward. "Thanks for walking me home. And coming with me to see the lights. This pretty shitty night actually turned out to be pretty good."

"Well, thank you for making me air my grievances." He joked, seeing her eyes shimmer with mirth, "Not exactly what I was expecting from tonight, but can't say I'm complaining."

There was a pause as they both seemed to hold their breath. The air between them had become suddenly charged, daring each of them to reach out. He wasn't sure which one of them made the first move, but suddenly they were kissing, lips locked in a battle for dominance. He tangled his fingers in her hair as she gripped his jacket and pulled his body flush against hers.

He barely noticed as they entered the building, nor the ride up in the elevator, too distracted by this new, exciting thing between them. The only time they parted was for Laurel to fiddle with her front door keys before they were back to exploring each other's bodies with desperate hands. Oliver kicked the door shut behind them with a slam, following Laurel as she pulled him towards what he assumed was her bedroom.