Chloe poured the cake batter into the nine inch round pan. She had been living with Oliver for a month now and she wanted to bake him a cake for their one month anniversary. She was on her third try and still had so much to do before he arrived home from Switzerland. He A.C. and Victor had been on an assignment for a week there.

"Please, God, let this one turn out good." She said as she place the pan in the oven. She never was good at baking.

The door to the elevator opens and Clark exits. It had been a little awkward for Chloe at first with Clark's complete confession. She still had deep feelings for Clark and she knew it. But she wanted things for her and Oliver to work out so much. And Clark was right… They were better off just friends. He could never give her the life that she wanted and deserved.

"Hey, Chloe." Clark said as he hands her a brown gift bag.

"What is this?" She asked.

"Just a bottle of wine for your one month anniversary with Oliver." He smiled. "Where is he anyway?"

Chloe puts the bottle of wine into the bucket and gets the ice from the freezer. "He'll be back tonight. I'm trying to fix a big dinner for him and bake a cake, but I'm not exact ally Rachael Ray."

He laughs. "Anything has to be better than the rum cake Lois made for my birthday that year."

"Yeah." She said. "So thanks for the wine. It's very sweet that you remembered our anniversary."

"You're my best friend, Chloe. I remember a lot more than you'll ever know."

Chloe felt her stomach get tied up in knots. She used to dream that she and Clark would find their way to one another. Then Oliver showed up and her head started to spin. She never thought that she would ever feel the way she did for Clark, with someone else, but Oliver was different than Jimmy. He was different than Clark. And no matter how hard Clark tried he did break her heart on more than occasions than one.

"Can I get you something to drink?" She asked trying to shut down any thoughts she might be having resembling the past.

"Nah,… I just wanted to give you guys the wine. I have to get back to the farm."

"Okay. Don't be a stranger." She said as she hugged him bye.

Clark hesitated a moment before wrapping his arms around her. Chloe could tell that there was something there that wasn't there before. She pulled back and smiled up at him. He kept her at arms length. They just looked into one others eyes. Clark never thought it would hurt so much letting her go. But he knew it was best for her and in someways himself.

"Well,… I-I I guess I'll see you later." He finally let his hand slip from her back. And he turned and started towards the door. He stopped and turned to her. "Chloe,…"

"Yeah, Clark,…"

"Are you happy, I mean here and not at the farm?"

Chloe bit her bottom lip till she thought it was going to bleed. "Yeah, Clark I am." And she was. "Are you happy? I mean way out there with no one close around." She asked.

"Yeah." He had gotten good at lying. It came as natural as breathing to him sometimes.

He got into the elevator and waved bye as it started down. Chloe waved bye back and quickly turned her attention to the dinner she was cooking.

--

Oliver entered the apartment tossing his bag on the chair at the desk. The room was dark with the exception of lit candles placed around the apartment. He smiled when he saw the table sit for two and the red and white rose petals that led over to the table. Soft music filled the air and the sound of high heels clicking against the marble floor told Oliver he was no longer alone. He turned to see Chloe his mouth dropped open at how beautiful she was.

She had her hair pulled back showing off her long and sexy neck. She was wearing his shirt and tie with no pants just high heels. The top three buttons of the shirt was open giving a hint at her breast. The tie was loose and hanging down between her breast.

"Wow,…" Oliver said. He had always thought she was sexy but he had never seen her glow like this before.

"Wow,… good or wow why are you dressed like that?" Chloe asked.

"Definitively wow good." He walked over to her wrapping his arms around her waist and locking his hands behind her. "You look amazingly better than I ever had in that shirt."

"Good." She smiled.

"So why the sudden wardrobe change?" He said. "I'm not complaining or anything."

"Today is our one month anniversary and I thought it was time we took our relationship to the next level. I know we said we were going to go slow, but you sleeping on the couch and me sleeping in that oversize king bed is just wrong." She smiled up at him.

He licked his lip. He'd been thinking the same thing. It was so hard for him to sleep at night knowing she was up stairs. "I see." He let go of her and walked over to the bag he had tossed into the chair when he first arrived.

"Oliver, is something wrong? I mean I can change and we can go slower." She was freaking out. "I just thought…You know what I shouldn't think. I do way to much of that. I should just go and change and then we can eat and you can tell me all about your mission." She babbled out. She had a tendency of doing that every time she was nervous.

Oliver unzipped the bag. "You know that's really cute. I mean the way you babble when your nervous."

"I'm sorry. I just don't want to ruin things between us."

"Well, changing will definitely become a problem." He took a small blue box from the bag and turned around to Chloe. "I don't want you to change… ever." He smiled. "I too have given some thought about us going slow and savoring every moment that we have together. I can't do that any more, Chloe Anne Sullivan. Just the thought of you being right up stairs keeps we awake all night wishing I was laying there next to you. The truth is life is short and we should live it to the fullest and I don't ever want to look back and think why didn't we go fast. Why didn't I touch her skin the way I dreamed of doing. Or kiss her neck…" He stroked her neck with the back of his hand. "… the way I longed to do. Or…" He looked into her eyes and smiled as he knelt down on one knee. "… or asked her to marry me." He opened up the Tiffany box to reveal a two carat diamond ring. "Chloe, I don't want to waste one day that we have together. Will you marry me?"

Chloe felt her heart rise up into her throat. A tear surfaced in her eyes. This was better than she dreamed it would be. "Yes, Yes, Oliver Queen. Yes, I'll marry you."

He placed the ring onto her small fragile finger and stood up to kiss her softly on the lips. He swooped her up into his arms and carried up the stairs to his room. They spent the night celebrating their love for one another. Oliver made their first time together as romantic and remember able as he could. Their bodies finding comfort, love and compassion with each gentle touch and caress.