Lace

Staring at the parking lot below, he laughed to himself. Ten years ago this was the furthest thing in his mind. His mind now drifted to how he needed to remember his impeccable manners and not turn into a drooling Neanderthal when he saw her. He shook his head and took a drink of the water he was holding. He thought back to the first time he ever saw the thing that would ultimately be his undoing….

"Hey Ollie?" She asked as he entered the computer room from the kitchen.

"Yeah." He came to the console she was looking at. He leaned over her to focus on what she was studying. He glanced down and saw it. It was green and lacy and it was peeking out of the corner of her blouse. She could have been talking, she probably was, but his mind was instantly intrigued. How far did it go? What did it look like?

"Hey Romeo," She interrupted his diatribe. He realized that he was staring down her blouse and prayed to every god, and deity that he ever learned about to not blush. "Oh Romeo?" she sang song to him. She smiled as she raised her right hand from the mouse and put her index finger under his chin. "Oliver," she said throatily. He gulped. "I'm pretty sure…"

"Um… what?"

"That," she spoke close to his mouth.

"Hmmm?"

"The screen, iIsn't down my blouse" she spoke as he she raised his gaze and turned it with her finger back to the screen. She was laughing out loud while he just bit his tongue…..

That was like him being a fish on a hook, because he was sure from that point on it became a game to her. They were just at the cusp of taking there relationship to the next level. He hadn't quite committed to her yet and she was running out of patience. He knew he was in trouble the 3rd time that fabric made and appearance.

"Ollie?" She asked entering his den. He was busy reading over some files and wasn't really paying attention. "Earth to Oliver?" she teased. He looked up and his heart stopped. She was in a muted green silk dress with black lace peeking out of the top and from underneath the hem of the skirt. The dress looked more like a slip than anything. She was holding the back up with her hands.

"Yeah?" he asked licking his lips. The look on her face went from teasing to predatory.

"Could you…zip me? She asked in a sultry voice. He would stand but he was sure his arousal would cause him great embarrassment. Sensing his discomfort, she moved to stand beside him and turned her backside to him. His hands shakily reached for her zipper.

"What are you all dressed up for?"

"I have a dinner… meeting." She asked as his hands finally obeyed his command and then took to wandering down her back to her hips. She smiled wickedly backed up a step and…'Oops' fell backward into his lap. He ground his teeth together and began reciting algebraic equations in Latin. She wiggled a little to make herself comfortable. His hands went around her waist.

"You alright there sidekick?" he asked more throaty then he would have liked.

"I'm fine, are you?" she chuckled, "Is that an arrow in your pocket or you just happy to see me." She stood up and turned and his face was priceless. "Look I told you that I'd help with comm. tonight but, I have dinner plan. So um, don't wait up." She winked at him and headed out the door……..

He chuckled as he thought about that night. That was the one that he almost lost her.

"She went out? Like on a date? And you let her?" A.C asked.

"What? It's not like we're "seeing" each other."

"Dude, you are so stupid." Bart spoke.

"What?"

"She's been waiting for you to make it official. Dropping hints and not so subtle suggestions. I guess she just got tired of waiting."

"Who is she out with?"

"Some kid from TV. He was taking her to Flair tonight."

"She's out with a star?"

"Yup and was she was excited about it too." Vic piped in.

Oliver stared at his friends blankly then stood up to go and change his clothes.

"Whatcha doin' man? Aren't you running comm.?" A.C asked trying to hide his smile.

"Nope, goin' out. I want to see if this kid is good enough for Tower." He took the steps two at a time to the master bedroom.

The boys gave each other knuckles, "It's not always about 33.1" Vic spoke as he took com and A.C and Bart geared up top head out.

Oliver made it to Flair in record time. There was a long line of people waiting to get through the velvet ropes. He revved the engine on his Charger and pulled up front. He sighed and shook his head. He exited and walked to the front of the line. All the other folks began to complain. He smiled as the bouncer greeted him.

"Good evening Mr. Queen."

"Gary," he started to correct.

"Sorry its protocol, you're VIP." Ollie shook his head. "You want your regular table?" he asked. "Some pretty boy and his date booked it we weren't expecting you."

Oliver smiled, "Yeah I'd love my table. Can you see to my car?"

"Sure thing." Oliver gave him the keys and a $50.

"You didn't need to do that."

"I did, thanks Gary." The man let him in and the person in front gave him an obscene gesture.

Oliver made his way through the crowd. The staff knew him but for the most part he was completely anonymous. He went to the corner to his table and sat and ordered a ginger ale. He watched the dance floor and he spotted her. She looked happy; he sized up the guy she was with and shook her head. He didn't see it. His drink arrived as the song ended. They were making their way to the table. Chloe was behind the guy and didn't see Oliver.

"Sorry friend but this table was reserved."


"Yeah it is,by me." Oliver spoke. Chloe heard the familiar voice and peaked around her date.

"No,it's not! We were here first." The young star spoke. The manager approached.

"Is there a problem Mr. Queen?" he asked.

"Why don't we ask, um what's his name, .Justin Ankles is it?"

"Jensen Ackles." The guy spoke through gritted teeth at the insult.

"Sorry sir, we weren't expecting Mr. Queen tonight and this is his table. We can find one for you somewhere else." Chloe had moved to stand next to Jensen.

"You know what Tony, I'm a generous guy we can share the table, in fact a round for the lovely couple." He spoke. He stood up from the table.

"Nice to see you again Ms. Sullivan."

"You know him Chloe?"

"NO!" "Yes." They both spoke at the same time. The star looked confused.

"You could say we have business relationship." Oliver spoke. The two were still sizing each other up.

"Put them away boys, I'm going to powder my nose." She spoke and turned and left. Oliver sat down as did Jensen.

"So, you're an actor?"

"Yeah,"

"You any good?"

"I'd like to think so." He added.

"Movies?"

"Television."

"Oh, I don't watch television." Oliver spoke. His phone rang and he looked at it.

"Excuse me."

He headed toward the restroom area. As he went into the hall, he was pulled into a shadow by a firm hand.

"What on earth are you doing?"

"What am I doing? What are YOU doing. An actor? Really?"

"He pays attention to me. He asked ME out. The best offer I've had in awhile." She was ticked. That hit him hard. He stared at her.

"You're right." He turned and walked away.

Chloe had confessed later that the date was over after his appearance. He waited until much later to confess what he did before he left.

"Listen Mr. Ankles," Oliver spoke looking down on the actor, "Be good to her, if not, well, just watch your back."

"Are you threatening me?"


"Don't need to." Oliver spoke leaving. . . .

He got in his car and drove to the Tower. What on earth was he thinking? He gave up on her, practically handed her over to some pretty boy actor. What the heck was wrong with him? He exited his car and went to a secret compartment in the garage, one that housed his spare gear and geared up. He took a rooftop trip to find his Sidekick.

He saw her walking down the block to her apartment. She tightened her coat to her appearing deep in thought. He launched a zip line, dove off the roof, caught her and swung to the next roof.

"Ooff" she was trying to catch her breath at the quick movements.

"What are you trying to pull?" She asked moving away from him.

"I wanted to apologize." He spoke, voice distorter on. She crossed her arms and tapped her toe.

"Go ahead, I'm waiting."

"I'm sorry" he spoke flipping off his distorter moving to invade her personal space, "for taking so long to tell you how I feel."

"Excuse me?"

"I'm sorry for not showing you how much you mean to me." He was now directly in front of her and she gulped as she was taken by his height, he always seemed taller in the leather. Plus that smell of leather and the way it creaked with his movements. She could even catch a glimpse of that dimple. She had many a restless night of dreaming about owning that dimple. He cupped her face in his leather hands and inched his face close to hers.

"Um."

"Sorry for a lot of things, but not tonight. It should have been me taking you out and that problem will be rectified immediately." He whispered as he kissed her, slowly and tenderly at first, then it became more, just more. She pulled back and hugged him. He held her and rubbed circles on her back. "I can't lose you,." he whispered.

Vulnerable wasn't ever a word used to describe Oliver but Chloe pulled back and saw it quickly streak across his face. She put a hand on his cheek and said nothing only stepped onto her tip toes and kissed him again.

There was a knock at the door of the room he was in. Vic, A.C, and Bart entered.

"She called and as she put it is running fashionably late." Vic informed.

"Something about Lois and a makeup crisis?" A.C piped in. Oliver smiled.

"You guys mind doing another security sweep then?"

"Sure boss man." Bart spoke and the guys left the room. Oliver moved to the full length mirror to make sure he was ready.

Their adventures were coming to mind in rapid succession. It must be the day that's making him nostalgic. He thought of the Red outfit she surprised him in during his trip to Texas, the Tango they shared at that benefit when she thought he was with that starlet. He pulled a velvet box out his pocket. He opened it to look at the charm bracelet that he bought from the jeweler he bought her engagement ring from. He thought he had seen that family arrive earlier. The engagement was a memory that he would hold until his last breath left him.

He had carried the ring on his person for almost two weeks trying to find the right way to do it. It was date night and he volunteered to cook. He made linguini and clam sauce, garlic bread, and a cherries jubilee for dessert. She was a little late having gotten stuck at work. The candles were lit and the soft music was playing. She came into the penthouse like a hurricane. Dropping her stuff on the couch, she made her way into the kitchen. He was finishing dishing out dinner when she entered and sighed heavily.

"Tough day?" he asked. She nodded.

"Smells good, you didn't have to do all this."

"Date night and it was my choice."

"How do I top this?" she smiled as she made her way to him and hugged him. He held her and then kissed her silly. "Wow. Maybe you should do date night all the time."

"You don't get out of it that easily." He teased. He took her suit jacket off and she was wearing a lacey camisole. He pulled out her chair and she sat and he pushed it in for her. He then kissed the straps of the camisole.

"Easy big fella, we don't want to let dinner get cold."

"It's lace; you know what that does to me."

She smiled up at him. He just shook his head and sat down after pouring the wine. They enjoyed a good dinner and easy conversation. She had the distinct impression that he had something on his mind. She just let it slide as they cleared off the table. She went into the living room to sit on the couch as he brought out her dessert.

"You're favorite coffee has a new flavor." He spoke as he handed her the cup to drink with her dessert. She smelled the rich and heady aroma.

"What's it called?" She asked.

"Wedded bliss." He answered leaving to go back into the kitchen, she followed his exit a little confused by his statement.

"There's some new video feed that you need to see on a facility in town. I want to know if you think it's a feasible mission." He spoke putting a disk in the DVD player. He hit play and went upstairs to his bedroom.

Chloe watched as a movie came on; pictures of them together from the past year, their very best moments, him as Ollie in public and as the insatiable billionaire . Bless the broken road was playing in the back ground, it made her laugh and it made her cry. When it was over the credits rolled or what she thought were credits, she had to pause it:

Look into my eyes - you will see
What you mean to me
Search your heart - search your soul
And when you find me there you'll search no more
Don't tell me it's not worth tryin' for
You can't tell me it's not worth dyin' for
You know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you

Look into my heart - you will find
There's nothin' there to hide
Take me as I am - take my life
I would give it all I would sacrifice
Don't tell me it's not worth fightin' for
I can't help it there's nothin' I want more
Ya know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you

There's no love - like your love
And no other - could give more love
There's nowhere - unless you're there
All the time - all the way
Don't tell me it's not worth tryin' for
I can't help it there's nothin' I want more
I would fight for you - I'd lie for you
Walk the wire for you - Ya I'd die for you
Ya know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you

Bryan Adams,

Robin Hood Prince of Thieves.

She hit stop and ran upstairs to his bedroom. She heard the shower running and saw a small velvet box sitting in the center of the bed. The tears were steady now. She sat on the bed and reached for the box. Hands trembling she opened it, she gasped at the ring she saw. He came out of the bathroom wrapped at the waist in a towel. He smiled when she looked over at him. He had never seen a more beautiful sight.

"So whaddya think? Is this a go or no go on the mission?" he teased as he approached the bed and knelt in front of her, taking the box out of her hands. "I feel like my life truly started when I met you. You are my greatest treasure. You make me laugh, you make me think, and you make me feel like Ollie. I love you so very much. Chloe Ann Sullivan will you marry me?" he whispered taking the ring out of the box. She tackled him with a hug knocking him on his back causing his towel to come loose. "You're killing me here side kick." He teased. She sat up so she was straddling his lap, and nodded yes. He sat up and slipped the ring onto her left ring finger. He then cupped her face in his hands and kissed her……

Another knock on the door:

"She's here man are you ready?" Vic asked. Oliver smiled as he left the room and went with his groomsman to the front of the church., Vic, A.C., Bart and Clark. He stood staring at the doors at the back of the full church. The doors opened and the 6 piece orchestra began to play the wedding march. She then entered on the arm of her father. He couldn't breath, lace, everywhere, she looked like an angel. Time slowed as she made her way down the aisle to him. He was then given her hand by her father. They faced each other briefly, "You are so beautiful." He whispered.

"You're not so bad yourself Queen." She smiled. They turned toward the minister together as the ceremony began………