A/N: Sorry for the delay. I haven't forgotten about these stories, and more updates are on the way.

Chapter 4

"Okay it's official... I'm not allowed to cook."

"Actually, it's not that bad. I think the powdered milk gives it character."

I didn't know the first thing about powdered milk, but I had to improvise after gulping down the sour milk this morning. "You don't have to lie."

He chuckled before saying, "It is kind of creepy having little bumps in KD, but it's honestly better than I thought it would be. You just have to pretend it's cheese."

"Oh come on, how often do someone like you really indulge in this kind of cooking?"

"Not as much as I would like."

I laughed as I tilted my head to the side. "You have got to be kidding me."

"It's why I cook my own meals. There's no rules for what you should be eating, no minimum price and no expectations because you're the only one enjoying it."

Trying to stomach my 'cooking,' I asked, "So what do you make for yourself?"

"It's not all beluga and caviar if that's what you're insinuating."

"I would assume that you would get bored of those kinds of things."

"For the record, I can't stand caviar, which in part is thanks to a friend of mine. He's of the firm opinion that fish are friends, not food."

Thinking of AC, I couldn't help but let out a chuckle. "I know the type."

"To answer your question, I can cook pretty much anything, but I never follow a recipe. Cooking is a lot more fun when there's not a specific script to follow."

"It's probably a lot more fun when you don't burn everything you cook. I'm completely useless in the kitchen, as you can plainly see... and taste"

"Maybe one day, I'll teach you what I know."

I smiled while staring at my spoon circling the bowl. "Maybe."

After cleaning up dishes, I ventured outside to find Oliver retrieving an arrow from a tree trunk.

"Interesting choice of entertainment."

"Archery relaxes me."

"Like yoga?"

"Well, I can't exactly practice archery inside someone else's home." Holding the bow in my direction, he asked, "You want to try?"

I quickly shook my head. "Oh no... I'd be terrible at it."

"You might surprise yourself."

"Thanks, but I think I'll pass."

"Suit yourself, " he said as he picked up his arrow. "So what do you do for fun?"

Besides playing Big Sister for the sake of serving justice to an unknown community of Metropolis' heroes? Unfortunately for me, fun wasn't exactly a word in my vocabulary. "Sleep?"

"You said that you went out."

"At the time, I didn't think my personal life was any of your business. At the time, I didn't think this would happen."

Oliver released the arrow which had missed the target. "This?"

Judging from the amount of holes in the bulls-eye he had carved into the tree, Oliver obviously didn't miss very often. That word threw him off and I had to find an explanation fast.

"I... I didn't think that I would get along with you."

He was visibly unconvinced, not that I blamed him, but he just gave me a smile before going to retrieve his arrow. "I guess working keeps you busy."

"Yeah... I don't get many early nights between chasing leads and writing stories."

"So do you actually go out?"

"Not really." I glanced at my hand, remembering a time when my life was normal, when there was a ring on my finger that meant that I was the most important person in someone's life. But he's gone now, and he's not coming back.

"You okay?"

"Fine," I lied. "Why?"

"You looked deep in thought."

"Oh, it's nothing."

"If you change your mind, I'm willing to lend an ear, okay? Maybe even a shoulder."

I nodded. "I should probably go; I'm just throwing off your focus."

Pointing towards the target, he smiled. "You mean that? Misses happen."

"Really? At the pace you were going at, that tree might fall down."

"Well, we will need more firewood eventually."

I managed a grin before turning around "Good luck with that."

Walking towards the barn, I started to reminisce all of the fleeting memories that place held for me. Throwing myself at Clark only to be rejected time after time. Watching the sunset as I walked out of the barn as Jimmy's wife. Finding out about Jimmy's accident and trying to forgive myself for what happened.

If I had been at home with him instead of telling Clark about a lead, Jimmy wouldn't have had to pick me up. I told him to stay home, but Jimmy was always looking out for me, and insisted on coming. He died soon after we said goodbye. I almost couldn't believe that Jimmy was killed by a drunk driver, considering what I had seen working with Clark. For a while, I almost felt bad for the other guy. Seeing his face after he came out his coma was heartbreaking, impressive considering he was responsible for making me a widow.

"There you are."

I shook out of my reverie and tried to keep my emotions in check. "Had enough practice?"

Oliver smiled at me. "I thought I would save that tree." Noticing my unchanging expression, he added, "It's a joke Chloe."

"I know... it's just that..."

"What?"

"Never mind… it's nothing.

"Tell me what's going on, Chloe."

"Do you… do you ever get the feeling that no matter what you do, you're going to end up alone?"

His eyes softened as he shook his head. "You're talking to an orphan Chloe. I've done a lot of things that I'm not proud of because of what happened to my parents. Throughout my childhood, I was a bully because I wanted to feel like I was bigger or better than someone. I've spent the majority of my adult life as a playboy just to have some form of human contact. The saddest part is that I've pushed away people… good people because I'm afraid they'll be taken away from me if they get too close."

He sighed and gave a slight shrug. "I'm the guy with everything money can buy and nothing it can't."

Strangely, I felt like I could relate to that sentiment. After Jimmy's accident, I felt like I had also lost everything that money couldn't buy. Clark blamed himself and only came back to Metropolis for Lois, who took a month-long assignment for the Planet. Although I can't really blame Lois, I told her to go.

"Oliver, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to…"

"I know." Turning his head to look at me, his expression changed to one of concern. "Chloe?"

I placed my hand to my cheek and discovered a single tear had run down my face. I spun around, trying to regain my composure.

"I'm sorry, I don't know why…"

"Stop apologizing. You don't have to say anything."

"I appreciate the concern, but I'm fine, really."

Even though I couldn't see it, I could feel him standing behind me shaking his head. "You're not fine and you know it. You're a strong woman, Chloe, but holding those emotions inside only makes it worse. Let them fall, let yourself face it."

As if on cue, I turned around to face him, knowing only instead of a single tear stain that my eyes were probably red and my cheeks were damp from tears. For months, I told people that I was fine and everyone bought it. Why was Oliver the only one who could see right through my façade and excuses so effortlessly?

Oliver approached me and wrapped his arms around me. Slowly I lifted my arms to return the embrace and buried my head on his chest, and in the process, likely wrecking a shirt worth more than my car. But Oliver didn't seem to care. He just rubbed my back and told me that everything would be okay. I felt oddly safe in his arms… comfortable in a way I hadn't in a long time.

After a minute, he dropped his arms and backed away. "Better?"

I nodded. "Sorry, I'm not usually such a mess."

He said with a smile, "Don't worry about it," and turned to walk out of the barn.