The sweet smell of fresh baled hay and tractor grease filled the air as Oliver and Victor entered the Kent barn. Oliver felt nervous for the first time ever around Clark. Even with all of Clark's abilities he was never afraid to say what was on his mind to Clark. But now he felt all weezy.
Clark was sholving the hay. He caught the glance of Oliver and Victor out of the corner of his eye. He stopped and rested his hands on top of his sholve handle. "Hey guys." He reached out and shook hands with Victor. "When did you get back into town?"
"The other day." He glanced at Oliver. "We had a project that we were working on."
"Oh,… the one that Chloe had been helping you with."
"Yeah." Oliver said.
"Great. So you guys are done?"
Oliver nodded giving Clark the answer he had been hoping for. The farm had been so lonely with out Chloe around. He realized just how much she meant to him.
"So is she packing? I know she's probably starving for my homemade potatoe salad. Don't tell her I said it, but she can eat three helpings of it." Clark smiled.
Victor nudged Oliver. "It's now or never."
"What's going on? Is something wrong? Did something happen to Chloe?" His heart rose up into his stomach.
"No. Of course not. I wouldn't ever put her in the line of danager." Oliver snapped.
Victor motioned for Clark to hand him the sholve. "The two of you need to take a walk and talk. I'll finish this for you."
Clark handed the shovel to Victor and followed Oliver out the door. They came to a stop just outside the barn. Oliver propted up against his shiney sports car with his hands in his pants pocket.
"Okay, Oliver, what's happening?"
Oliver couldn't seem to look into Clark's eyes. "About Chloe. I mean about her wanting to come back here."
Clark's smile dropped. "Chloe, doesn't want to come back?"
"I didn't say that."
"Then what are you saying?"
Oliver finally made eye contact. "Clark, I know how much you care for Chloe. And I know that your feelings for her run much deeper than just a friendship. Hell everybody can see that."
"Your right. Chloe is the girl for me. She's the girl that I dreamt of my whole life. The one that I could share my secret with and she wouldn't run away screaming. She's smart and beautiful and everything that I ever dreamt of."
Oliver drops his head. Was Clark trying to say that he was falling in love with Chloe too?
"…But you see, I let that day pass me by. Chloe and I became so close that I would die if I didn't have her in my life. I wont take that chance by becoming involved with her. I'd rather have her as my friend then to push her away like I do all the other girls I have ever loved. My love for Chloe scares me." Clark could tell that Oliver had something serious on his mind. "Are you falling for Chloe?" He asked. "Are you asking me for my permition to tell her?"
"I didn't want to step on anyone's feet. That's all." He said as he walked over to Clark. "When Chloe is away I feel empty and cold and all alone. But for the past few days coming home to her,… I've felt more alive than I ever have. I love her and I want to tell her."
Clark took a deep breath. "The last time you loved one of my friends you hurt them pretty bad."
Oliver swallowed the lump in his throat. "I know and there's not a day that goes by that doesn't kill me for letting her walk out that door. But the truth is Lois was destining for someone more than me. Chloe is like the other half of me."
"You have my permition, Oliver. Like you ever needed it any way." He smiled. "Just take care of her."
"I will." He opened his car door. "Do me a favor and give Victor a ride back to town. I have something I have to do."
Clark nodded.
--
Chloe found a box on the counter of Oliver's apartment. There was a letter on top. She opened it and to read:
Chloe,
Please put on the dress in the box and wait down stairs. A limo will pick you up. I hope that I got the right color.
Oliver Queen
Chloe smiled. And swooped up the dress and took off towards the bedroom.
--
Chloe was speechless when the limo driver took her to the airport. There she was taken to a jet. Oliver's personal jet to be exact. She sat nervously looking out the window as the ocean flowed below her. She wandered why Oliver would be celebrating so extremely.
The jet landed on the water were a row boat awaited her. A young man helped her into the boat. He handed her a rose and she took a seat as he rowed her to shore. There were candles lit along the shore. Roses and running vines were wrapped around a gazebo. The young man helped Chloe out of the boat and pointed for her to go to the gazebo.
Chloe took off her red heels and carried them in her hand. She entered cautiously to find a table sit for two. Oliver turned slowly around to her wearing a black tuxedo. He smiled at how amazing she looked in the sphaghetti strap, red dress that hugged every curve of her body down to the ground.
"You look… breath taking." He said as he approached her.
"You did all of this because I helped you find Davis Bloome?" She was hoping that there was a little more to it then that.
He took her shoes and the rose from her hand sitting them in the chair by him. He took both of her hands. "Not exactly." He smiled. "We've been spending a lot of time together and I've…" He paused. "… I practiced this a hundred times a day." He laughed. "Chloe, I don't want you to move back to the farm. I want you to stay with me at the tower."
"Oliver,…"
"I am falling head over heels in love with you, Chloe Anne Sullivan. I want us to be together. I was us to go slow and enjoy every moment we have together."
"I love you too." She whispered. "I love you, Ollie."
Oliver smiled as he slowly leaned towards Chloe's lips. "So I guess this is the start of something beautiful." He pulled her in for that kiss that, soft and passionate kiss that he'd longed for.
Outside the gazebo Clark watched without anyone seeing him. A tear filled his eyes but he said nothing. He made not one sound. He turned and left as quietly as he came.