Disclaimer: don't own the stuff here….
"So, what's this shindig for?" Chloe asked as she and Bruce stepped into the enormous ballroom.
"Gotham Children's Hospital." Bruce told her and pulled her arm through his.
"Oh. So, it's for the kiddos. I'm always a sucker for a good cause." She said squeezing his arm. He handed her a glass of champagne and kept one for himself.
"Me too." He said as he led her over to a group of people. She was mortified to see that one of the group was Oliver Queen. Why me? Chloe thought to herself.
"Oliver, I believe congratulations are in order." Bruce walked over to Oliver and shook his hand.
"Thanks." Oliver answered then looked over at Chloe. He looked surprised to see her there.
"Let me introduce my date, Chloe Sullivan." Bruce said to Oliver. Oliver smirked and Bruce noticed the way Chloe's posture stiffened.
"We actually know each other, Bruce." Chloe told him and looked up at Bruce with a forced smile. "We met in Metropolis; old friends and all that."
"I see. Another old friend, Chloe?" Bruce grinned at Chloe conspiratorially then looked to Oliver, who was looking at the two of them with something like anger and if he wasn't mistaken, jealousy. This must be one of Chloe's secrets. Bruce thought to himself.
"It's been a while, Chloe. Last time we talked to each other was for the interview." Oliver took a sip from his glass of champagne. "Which was scintillating work by the way. Funny, I thought you were a serious reporter who was above reporting celebrity gossip."
"So, where is your fiancé tonight?" Chloe asked curiously, choosing to ignore his rude comment.
"She's here somewhere. Talking to some friends no doubt." Oliver answered then pointed in the direction of a gorgeous woman among a group of people.
"Ok. Well, you have a good night, Oliver." Chloe said lightly, and then tugged on Bruce to get him to move away. Annoyingly, Oliver chose to follow and engage Bruce in a discussion on the economy. She rolled her eyes at them. She drained the rest of her drink, just for an excuse to be away from both the men for a moment.
"I'm going to go get a drink." Chloe told them. Then she stood up to peck Bruce on the cheek before she realized she'd even done it. She did that all the time. It was her way of showing affection for him, since she couldn't do anything more under the friends label.
"Would you like me to get it?" Bruce offered.
"Chloe is an independent woman. She can get her own drinks." Oliver told Bruce. "You just have to worry about her throwing empty beer bottles at inattentive bartenders." He grinned as he said it, remembering the night he'd found that out himself. Bruce looked at Chloe as she blushed. Yes, there was definitely more to their story he thought.
Chloe just stared at Oliver for a minute, wishing him death with her eyes.
"Do you guys need anything?" She asked. Both of the men declined and she made her way over to the bar. She was waiting patiently for the bartender when she felt a hand land on her waist. She turned around to find Clark standing next to her. When she saw him, she whipped around and enveloped him in a hug.
"Oh my gosh, Clark! I'm surprised you're here. Why are you here, by the way?" She asked. The joy was evident in her voice. She hadn't seen him in a while, not since she'd left Metropolis.
"Covering the ball for Daily Planet." Clark told her gesturing at the people around him. He was happy to see her. "I've missed you, Chlo. It's not the same without you around."
"Hmmm…I'm sure that Lois would disagree. I'm sure she loves to have your superself be all her own. Greedy little girlfriend that she is." She said honestly.
"I never meant to hurt you, Chloe." Clark told her and pulled her back into a hug. "I didn't. I'm sorry that you found out the way you did. But I love Lois." He whispered so that only she could hear. "I'm still here for you. You know that, I'm just a call away."
"I know, Clark, faster than a speeding bullet." He released her from the hug. Chloe turned to find the bartender finally came around. She ordered a glass of wine. Then she smiled up at Clark.
"Oliver is here, and so is Bruce Wayne." Chloe told him. Clark put his arm around her and pulled her to his side loosely.
"So is Lex." Clark told her and she made a disgusted noise.
"He's always around somewhere." Chloe commented. They were walking in the general direction of Bruce and Oliver.
"So, how is Lois?" Chloe asked.
"She worries about you. Gotham isn't a safe place these days." Clark slowed a little and turned to face Chloe again. "She feels bad about the whole situation too. She feels like she betrayed you."
Chloe shook her head softly.
"I'm not mad. Jealous maybe, but not mad. I just want to be loved like that, Clark." She said, suddenly feeling vulnerable. Clark always made her feel like that. He was the only person that knew her, really knew her.
"I know, Chlo." He said, then pulled her into an embrace. She fought the tears and was annoyed that she was getting all emotional. Although, she was entitled. The man she'd moved to Gotham to escape was here with his fiancé that just had his baby, while the one man in Gotham that she could fall in love with was keeping his secrets secret, and now, the man she'd loved for most of her life was holding her in a hug feeling sorry for her. She was sick of feeling like this. She deserved happiness, joy for once in her life. She deserved to be selfish. She pulled away from Clark and looked up at him.
"Thanks, Clark. And you should tell Lois that I'm happy for both of you. You deserve happiness." She said sincerely. She eyed the wine in her glass and was tempted to empty it quickly, but look at what happened to her the last time she'd drowned her sorrows in alcohol.
"Here comes Oliver." Clark told her, looking over her shoulder. "And someone, I assume to be Bruce Wayne." Chloe smiled at Clark then turned around and stood beside him.
Bruce smiled at her and walked over to them. Bruce went to Chloe and gently put an arm around her, pulling her tightly into his side with his hand resting on her hip. Clark just looked at them for a moment, and Oliver looked angry.
"Wine's a good choice." Bruce commented, looking at the glass in Chloe's hand. She noticed he'd gotten rid of his glass somewhere along the way.
"I know. This is Clark Kent, he's a friend and he's a reporter from the Daily Planet." Chloe introduced Clark. "Clark, this is Bruce Wayne."
Bruce reached out with his free hand, while keeping his other firmly on Chloe's hip, and shook Clark's hand. He was surprised at the strong shake the young man offered. Clark turned to Oliver.
"Good to see you, Oliver. It's been a while." Clark said then looked around for a moment. "Where's Katrina?" Clark asked. "I'm still waiting to meet her." Clark said. For some reason, Chloe was relieved that Oliver hadn't introduced Katrina to all his friends.
"She's socializing. She'll come around soon." He said looking at Bruce and Chloe. She noticed that Oliver's voice suddenly lacked its normal playfulness. Chloe actually felt a little sorry for him, but when she noticed the beautiful woman approaching, it disappeared. She stood next to Oliver and he turned toward her. There was no real expression on Oliver's face when he looked at her. There was fondness there, but nothing like a passionate love. Chloe turned her attention to Katrina. She had long brown hair and pale blue eyes. She was a beautiful woman, but Oliver didn't seem to care about the fact that other men blatantly ogled her. That struck her as odd, because from her experience, limited as it was, he didn't neglect women he cared about.
"I'm Katrina Matthews." She announced to the group and looked at them. Chloe noticed the ring on her finger. It was a ruby and Chloe wondered who picked that out. Surely not Oliver, she didn't think. He's more of an emerald kinda guy. Chloe thought to herself and had to fight a sudden irrational giggle. She succeeding in turning it into a little cough, but all the men noticed anyway.
"Sorry. Wrong pipe." She explained lamely, and pointed to her wine glass.
Oliver looked at her oddly, and then made the introductions. There was a slightly awkward silence between the group for a moment. Bruce broke it when he asked Chloe to dance.
They went to the floor and Bruce put his hand on her waist, leading her into the dance.
"These old friend's of yours…are there many more?" Bruce asked playfully. Chloe laughed as her answer.
"You and Queen have a history." Bruce stated quietly.
"Not much of one." Chloe told him. "We dated briefly." That was the only suitable explanation she could some up with.
"How briefly?" Bruce asked his brown eyes bored down into her hazel ones.
"What's with the inquisition, Bruce? We're just friends remember?" Chloe said with a small smile. He smirked at her a little.
"Curiosity." He lied. He was dying to know what the details of the relationship and breakup were. If he had to guess, he'd say both their hearts were broken after their relationship.
"You have your secrets and I have mine." She said, avoiding the question.
"I keep mine so that you're safe." Bruce reminded Chloe. His expression became a little pained.
"That's what you say, but I'm beginning to wonder about that." Chloe said. "It's probably something sensational, like you love to prance around in women's underwear, isn't it?" Chloe asked playfully. He smiled at her, then his eyes heated a little.
"Not quite. I like a woman in women's underwear." Then he leaned in a closer to Chloe and whispered in her ear. "I've been dying to see you in yours. My fantasies can't possibly be doing you justice." Then he leaned back and looked Chloe's body up and down in appreciation. She was blushing and a little shocked. He hadn't been that forward with her since...well, ever.
"You just told me that you weren't safe for me." Chloe said. "Tell me your secret and I promise I'll let you see me in my underwear. And out of them for that matter." Chloe bribed.
"You do tempt me, Chloe. But I'm afraid I will just have to be patient with you and work on my seduction technique." Bruce told her. She didn't think he would tell her his secret but she still wanted to know. It had been worth a try.
"Chloe, can I ask you a question?" Clark was standing next to her and they were watching other couples dance.
"No, Clark. No questions." Chloe shoved him with her elbow. "Since when do you need permission?"
"Since Bruce Wayne treated you like his girlfriend." Clark said with a little embarrassment.
"We're just friends." Chloe told him with a grin.
"Does he know that?" Clark teased.
"Is that your question? I thought you were a reporter. Come up with something good."
"My question is about Oliver." Clark looked through the crowd for his friend. "He seems different. I'm worried about him." Chloe really didn't want to have this discussion right now, but she knew she had to.
"Different how, Clark? He's just became a father. Diapers and crying are now a permanent part of his existence. Don't you think that's stressful enough?" Chloe said shortly.
"That's just it. I don't think he cares about Katrina like that. He doesn't act like it anyway. I think there is more to this story than meets the eye." Clark said.
"Well, you're a reporter. Go sniff out a good story, Fido." Chloe said flippantly.
Clark looked at her surprised. "I thought you would be the one looking for the story. After all, you and Oliver are friends, right?"
Chloe rolled her eyes. "Not really anymore."
"Well, I'll take it if you're offering. Think of it, me scooping Chloe Sullivan." Clark said and went over to find Katrina to talk to her. Chloe smiled as he left, he was such a reporter now. She didn't want to find out anything else about Oliver. She was moving on and she really didn't need to be sucked in by any sordid details. She could only be a reporter to a point and she wasn't into causing herself even more pain over Oliver.
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a/n: Please Review, People!! I love and appreciate the folks out there that do. Seriously, it makes my day. Because believe it or not I'm working hard to write this story, so I really appreciate the reviews. Thanks for reading and like I said, REVIEW!!!