Christmas Day
Chloe opened one eye, and then the other. What smelled suspiciously like coffee drifted up the stairs and Chloe sat up, smiling. Oliver had been up for hours, she knew that much, since he'd made sure she woke up too, and Chloe smiled, remembering. They had watched "It's a Wonderful Life" together after making love by the Christmas tree. Christmas. It was Christmas Day. An odd combination of her childhood excitement and a fierce wish for Oliver to appear seized her, and Chloe could barely keep herself from flying down the stairs and into the arms of the man she loved. What actually stopped her was the sound of footfalls on the stairs, so Chloe sat up straight, fussing with her hair a little.
"Well, well, well." Oliver said, pushing the door open, a large steaming mug in his hand.
"Glad you decided to not sleep through Christmas."
"What time is it?" Chloe asked, stretching prettily, laughing at Oliver's amused study of her as she did so. "You've been up since five…"
"I have." Oliver nodded, setting the cup down on the bedside table. "It's seven thirty, now."
"Oh, I slept through Christmas." Chloe said in mock terror. "What will I do!?" She picked up the steaming cup of coffee he'd brought. "Hmm. I almost don't care if Santa was here."
"Don't care?" Oliver asked, arms folded across his chest. "That explains the pile of coal with your name on it, then. I was wondering."
Chloe giggled and sipped her coffee. "Are you sure the tag from my amazing present didn't just get stuck on your pile of coal, Oliver? That happens." She set her cup down and grinned at him.
Oliver laughed, "Impossible." He sat down on the bed and took her in his arms. "I'm so good that Santa brought me my present early." Oliver pressed a kiss into the top of Chloe's head. "There are things under the tree with my name on them, Chloe. I thought we agreed…"
"No, you said not to give you anything." Chloe frowned up at him. "I ignored you." And then, a slow grin lit up her face. "You were peeking!"
Oliver rolled his eyes. "Me? Hardly." But he was grinning too, and Chloe turned to look into his face more.
"Oliver. You ARE all excited about Christmas morning. Oh," Chloe leaned in and kissed him. "How cute." His arms tightened around her and then he laughed. "Want to go open your other presents?"
"It was all I could do to not drag you out of bed earlier. Come on, Chloe." Oliver let go of her and stood, smiling. "It's all your fault anyway."
"Why?" Chloe asked, pulling on her robe. She looked up at him and grinned. "The Grinch is gone?"
"The Grinch is definitely gone." Oliver laughed, taking her by the hand. "Let's go…" He towed her from the room and down the stairs. The tree was on, and Oliver had put Christmas music on. He spun her lightly as she walked off the last step, and then took her in his arms as if he was about to dance with her. "Merry Christmas, Chloe."
Chloe blinked and grinned. "Merry Christmas, Oliver." She laughed a little breathlessly and then went to sit by the tree. "Ready?"
Oliver nodded, grinning back. "Not the least curiosity about your gift?"
"You gave me your great grandmother's pin." Chloe said, and Oliver shook his head, with a small smile. "What do you mean "no"?"
"The Green Arrow gave you that pin." He teased, kissing her. "Anyway, it wasn't your Christmas present." He held out a hand. "Enough chit chat, Miss Christmas. Hand over the presents."
The next few minutes went by in flurry of shredded wrapping paper and ribbons. Oliver had very much loved the snow globe, and Chloe had purposefully kept the picture until last. It seemed that Oliver was holding back a gift as well, because after Chloe had opened everything he'd handed her, one flat, square box remained. Smiling, Chloe handed Oliver her last gift.
"There's a story to this one." She said as he took it, watching his face. He looked up.
"Story?" Oliver set the present on his lap. He looked at her, interested. "Tell me."
Chloe nodded, sliding under Oliver's arm. "Once upon a time, there was a girl…"
"A girl?" Oliver grinned. "If there's a fairy godmother in this…"
"You want to hear the story or not?" Chloe asked, and Oliver nodded, grinning.
"So, one night, on her way home from work, she decided to get in out of the weather for a while and have coffee at her favorite place near school."
Oliver kissed her. "I know this story." Chloe frowned at him comically, and Oliver laughed. "Oh, please, keep going, Goldilocks. I want to find out how it ends..."
"Anyway.." Chloe laughed too, kissing his cheek. "It just so happened that a prince from another city also decided to take shelter in this same coffee shop."
"Princes are bad news in a story…" Oliver interjected soberly, and Chloe burst out laughing.
"Oh, okay, forget the story…you will not believe what I found. Open it." She nudged the present. Oliver nodded, and ripped the paper away. The laughter fell away from his face, and was replaced by a look of what Chloe could only describe as wonder. He looked at the picture and then at her in surprise.
"Chloe…how?" He asked softly. "We didn't know…I mean, it was all unplanned…"
"The photographer at the rink had his son with him that night, and the kid was playing with the camera. It was an accidental shot. I found it yesterday when I went to buy the snow globe. If I hadn't wanted to get you the snow globe of the Plaza Center ice rink, I'd have not found the picture either. The photographer said it had increased his business this week." She giggled, and then rested against Oliver. "I knew when I saw that picture that you had to have it."
Oliver shook his head, looking down at the framed picture. "I remember thinking about magic right then...just before I kissed you that night." He looked up again. "This is the best Christmas present ever, Chloe." He kissed her once, and then once more. "Our first kiss. " He grinned and then hugged her. "Okay, your turn." The flat, square box appeared. "All I can say is that I am heartily ashamed of myself for not getting the Plaza Center first. I hope you like it."
Chloe looked at the box. "This isn't the picture too, is it?"
"No. I wish it was, because this isn't anywhere as great at that." Oliver said, genuinely embarrassed. Chloe frowned and unwrapped the box, her heart failing at the sight of the famous sky blue leather box.
"From Tiffany's? Oliver…"Chloe's eyes widened. "You have to be kidding…"
He smiled. "Nope, not kidding. If you hate it, we can go there tomorrow and you can get whatever you want, but when I saw this, out of everything in the store, I knew you had to have it."
Chloe bit her lip and opened the box. The necklace inside was gorgeous, simple enough in design, alternating platinum links, round and oblong, each shape studded with diamonds. It looked antique, but Chloe knew it couldn't be. "Oliver, I can't…"
"Please don't say you can't keep it." Oliver said, and Chloe shook her head.
"I'm not going to say that. I'm totally keeping it." Chloe grinned and threw her arms around Oliver, "I'm overwhelmed. Is this where you went on your mystery mission yesterday?"
"Guilty." Oliver gathered Chloe onto his lap. "I bought Lois a silver bracelet while I was there, too. Anyway, I promised you coal and I kept my word." He took the necklace from her and put it around her neck, watching how it fell just against her collar bone. "There." He fastened it carefully and admired her. "You make that look good."
"You can buy me coal every year." Chloe kissed Oliver gently. "Thank you, Oliver." She sighed and snuggled against him. "I don't want to leave. Let's stay home."
"Fine." Oliver put his arms around her. "Don't want to see Clark kick my butt at football, huh?"
"Everything is so perfectly right this minute, I don't want it to stop, that's all. I'll feel that way in the next perfect minute, too." Chloe sighed, and Oliver nodded.
"I know what you mean." His cellphone rang. "Who is that? It's too early to be Hal." Oliver reached over to get it. "Hello? Yes, this is Oliver Queen. Bruce! How are you? And Merry Christmas…"
Chloe could only hear a rumble from the other end of the line, and she looked at Oliver, who was listening intently as he played with the sash of Chloe's robe, twisting it around his finger idly.
"Oh, yeah, that would be nice, but we have plans to go down to Smallville for the day. My girlfriend's best friend invited us and there's a stop we have to make…" Oliver put a hand over the phone. "Bruce Wayne just invited us to brunch."
Chloe shrugged, smiling. "Is he alone?" Oliver shrugged, shaking his head.
"Hey, Bruce, are you by yourself this trip?" Oliver telegraphed Bruce's reply with a nod. Chloe smiled, jumping up and grabbing her own phone to dial Martha Kent.
"Merry Christmas, Mrs. Kent!" Chloe chirped, and on the other end, Martha smiled.
"Chloe! We missed you this morning, sweetheart. Clark had no one to fight over the apple pancakes with. Lois gave him a run for his money with the blueberry ones, though. Are you and Oliver on your way?"
"Well, no, not yet. We're stopping at the hospital to see Mom first. Mrs. Kent, a friend of Oliver's is in town, alone. He invited us to brunch, but we're going to be on the way to you…"Chloe bit her lip. "Is it okay for us to bring him along?"
"Of course, Chloe." Martha nodded. "There's always room for one more, you know that."
"Thanks, Mrs. Kent! See you all later." Chloe hung up. Oliver was still on the phone and Chloe smiled.
"Hey, Oliver, ask Bruce if he wants to come with us." Chloe nodded, and Oliver thought about this a minute and then nodded too.
"Bruce, listen, my girlfriend just spoke to her friends and they would love for you to join us. Really nice people, and you should meet them anyway."
On his end of the line, Bruce frowned. "You didn't have to do that, Ollie. I don't want to intrude on your holiday plans..." The hotel suite was stunning, and Bruce looked out onto the view of Centennial Park. "I'll catch a movie or something. I've recently rediscovered how much fun that can be."
"A movie? Come on." Oliver said, as Chloe snuggled back beside him on the sofa. "How's this for incentive? The invitation comes from State Senator Martha Kent."
"Kent, you say?" Bruce looked at his clock. "When are you leaving?"
"Couple hours. We have to stop in Granville first." Oliver kissed Chloe quietly, making her smile. "I'll give you directions, though, so you can head down when you're ready."
"Sounds like a plan." Bruce nodded. "See you there, Oliver. Like old times, huh?"
"You know it. See you later." Oliver hung up, and turned his attention to Chloe. "So, Miss Christmas, turning your sights to a new guy to convert?" He kissed her, lingering at her mouth as he spoke again, his voice soft and demanding at the same time. "You are definitely mine, so, no funny business."
"Ha. Yours." Chloe laughed a little, closing her eyes as Oliver's fingers traced her collarbone, a shiver of desire making her breathless. "Think so, huh? Want to prove it?"
"What a question. I love a challenge." Oliver grinned, tracing the neckline of her nightgown, and then stood, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Race you upstairs."
Kent Farm – Christmas Day.
"I'm stuffed." Lois said, drying the last dish and putting it away. "I don't know how I'm going to eat dinner later." If the tone of Thanksgiving had been somewhat formal, Christmas Day was much more casual, and Lois and Clark were in jeans. Martha was rearranging the table, and scrambling a little bit to find something to give the newcomer, so that he wasn't left out. The two young people had offered to clean up breakfast and had worked together easily.
"You'll manage." Clark said, wiping the sink and faucet with a paper towel. "I'm going to have to go out and get more firewood. "I can't believe how much it snowed last night." He looked out the window. "I hope Chloe and Oliver don't have a problem getting here."
"They won't." Lois set the dishtowel down and looked out the window, too. "Come on, Smallville, you have to open your present yet."
"I thought we were waiting for everyone." Clark protested, and Lois shook her head, her hair moving around her shoulders like wings. Clark had to admit that Lois's hair, thick and golden brown, had the power to get his attention like almost nothing else could.
"Chloe won't be here for a while yet. It's Christmas, Clark and the only present I got to open was the check from the General." She steepled her hands under her chin. "Please?"
"Okay." Clark smiled. "I'll give you your present now." Lois smiled triumphantly, and with a swipe at Clark's arm, she disappeared into the living room, humming.
"Clark?" Martha Kent appeared around the door. "Do you think Oliver's friend will feel slighted if there isn't much for him? Maybe I'll just give Oliver and Chloe the things I got for them when they're ready to leave." She sighed. "Poor man, alone for the holidays."
"Not anymore, Mom, thanks to you." Clark kissed her on the cheek. "Lois wants to open presents."
"Probably not a bad idea, now that I don't have anything for Oliver's friend. " Martha rubbed her hands together. "I feel so badly…."
"What do you want to give him, Mom? We don't even know him." Clark asked, and Martha shook her head, sadly.
"I guess you're right. Oh, I know." She smiled. "I'll box him up some cookies." They walked into the living room, and Lois had already separated the gifts into piles, Martha's, Clark's and had begun to rip into her own. "There you are!" She pulled the soft dusty blue sweater from the box and held it against herself. "Mrs. Kent, I love it."
"I'm glad, honey." Martha smiled. "Go on, Clark, open one of yours." Martha sat down in what used to be Jonathan's chair. Clark grinned, but before he opened his gifts, he pushed Martha's closer to her. Then he sat down and opened the present that he'd been wondering about since Lois had brought it over the other day. He picked up the wrapped tube and carefully peeled the paper away, and then pulled the black rubber stopper from the side of the tube. Clark reached in and pulled out the contents, a large poster on what felt like old paper.
"I was so glad the guy on E-bay had express shipping." Lois smiled as Clark unrolled the poster and looked at it.
"A Nosferatu poster." Clark said, first surprised and then laughed, remembering. "Lois, this is great. I'll have to have it framed."
"You seemed to really like the movie, so when I saw it, I couldn't resist." Lois smiled. "And I'll take it to be framed. Part of your present." She picked up the package from Clark to her. "I can't wait to see what this is." Lois ripped the paper and then ran her hand over the blue leather binding of the book. "Smallville. It's just like the one I gave you for your birthday, but blue." She smiled. "My journal is almost filled…"
"Chloe told me. I really like the one you gave me, so…" Clark told her. "Helps me get my head around big decisions."
"You're all right, Smallville." Lois said, hugging the journal. "I'll give you that." And she picked up another smaller box. "This too? Wow, Clark, I'm impressed. I thought I was a one present friend."
"That was kind of a last minute thing." Clark told her as Martha watched, smiling. Lois frowned, and took the paper from the box.
"That perfume from the duty free shop! I can't believe it." She opened the little box, and sniffed. "I can't believe I put this back! And I can't believe you were paying attention enough to remember!"
"When you got on the plane and I was waiting for my flight, I picked it up." Clark said shyly, and Lois grinned at him. "I'm just glad you like it."
"Oh, Clark. This is just great. Thank you." Lois boosted herself up on to the couch beside Clark and kissed him on the cheek. "I love my presents."
"I'm glad." Clark cleared his throat uncomfortably, and stood. "Mom, I'll be right back. It's getting cold in here and I want to make sure there's enough firewood."
"Okay." Martha smiled knowingly at her son, and then looked back at Lois. The younger woman was studying the fireplace as if she'd just discovered it was there in the wall for the first time.
Christmas Day – Granville – Westover Residential Hospital….
Chloe held on to Oliver's hand tightly, and the plastic container with the cookies she's brought for her mother with the other hand. The gifts Chloe had bought, a soft new nightgown and slippers, were left with the nurses to put away. The cookies could be shared with everyone and made all the residents in the day room happy."You okay, Chloe?" Oliver asked, kissing her hand. "It's going to be fine, you know."
She smiled. "I know. It's never horrible, but it's always hard. Thank you, Oliver. For wanting to be here with me…"
"Of course." Oliver smiled. "Besides, I can't be trusted with rice pudding." He laughed thinking of the dish of the dessert Chloe had made to bring to the Kents. "I hope you left me some at home."
"I did." Chloe smiled as they passed through the day room door. "Oliver, there she is, and my dad too." She dropped Oliver's hand and hurried over to her parents. Oliver watched as Chloe's father hugged her and then as the pale woman with Chloe's eyes did as well. Suddenly feeling like an intruder, Oliver began to back out of the room when Lois walked in. She was carrying a tin of something and when she recognized Oliver, she smiled.
"All the way in the family circle now, huh? Did you meet Uncle Gabe?" Lois opened the tin and offered it to Oliver. "Fudge. Mrs. Kent made it, not me, so it's safe."
Oliver shook his head, and smiled. "I didn't meet your uncle yet. Chloe was surprised to see him here. Why don't you go over. I don't want to interfere…."
"Hey, you're my friend, and apparently my little cousin is crazy about you." Lois said. "You should meet them, Oliver. Look, here comes Uncle Gabe now."
"Hey, stringbean." Gabe said to Lois, kissing her cheek. "Your dad called me this morning. He'll be in town around New Years."
"I know. Just when I don't want him." Lois rolled her eyes. "Uncle Gabe, this is Oliver Queen…he's here with Chloe." She patted Oliver on the shoulder. "Breathe, big boy. It's just Uncle Gabe." Departing with a wave, Lois went to see her aunt, leaving Oliver and Gabe alone.
"I can't say I've heard a lot about you, Oliver, because I've been away." Gabe nodded. "But those are some fancy sparkers my daughter is wearing." Gabe gestured to a pair of empty chairs. "I was planning to talk to you at Martha's, but this works."
Oliver nodded respectfully, and when they were seated, Oliver answered. "Mr. Sullivan, I can assure you that my intentions are entirely honorable. I'm in love with your daughter, sir, and I don't know what our future holds, but I'm hoping Chloe and I will find that out together."
Gabe's face split in a wide smile. "Oh, now, Oliver, I was going to ask you what you did for a living…didn't want my girl involved with some mobster type. But I'm glad of you telling me your intentions. Makes it easy having everything all on the table. So, what do you do for a living?"
Oliver laughed. "Well, in that case, I run my late father's company, Queen Industries."
"Good, good." Gabe nodded. " And you live in Metropolis?"
"I just bought a building there, yes. I live in it." Oliver smiled. "I have no plans to go anywhere else."
"Wonderful." Gabe sighed. "I have to be in Springfield in the morning, so I'm hitting the road again after Martha's but I want you to know, Oliver, that I approve of you. So far. Chloe looks happy and that's what matters to me."
"It matters to me too, sir." Oliver said, and Gabe smiled again and stood.
"Good. Come meet the wife." Gabe said. "She can't say much, and there are good and bad days, but today is definitely a good one." Oliver got up and went over to Sarah Sullivan, who hugged him tightly and stared into his face, smiling while she held her daughter's hand.
"Apparently, my father has decided on a June wedding." Chloe said archly as Oliver drove the SUV toward the Kent farm after they left the hospital. "It doesn't matter what year, as long as when we do, we get married in June."
"Fine with me." Oliver replied. "My birthday is in June. It'll just make it easier to remember everything." Chloe laughed and he shrugged. "Hey, I'm just saying."
"I know." Chloe shook her head. "I thought we were moving fast on our own, and then Dad brought up the "M" word." She blushed a little. "Nothing like parental pressure right away."
"Don't worry, Goldilocks. I certainly don't feel pressured, and at this stage, you shouldn't either. He was just teasing us." Oliver smiled. "Okay?"
"I guess." Chloe's hand went up to the necklace Oliver had given her for Christmas. "I think it was the necklace. Dad kept acting like it was part of the crown jewels of England."
Oliver grinned. "Well, in that case, wait 'til they see what I 'm going to give you on Valentine's Day…" He took her hand in his.
Lois had gotten back to the farm first, and she stood at the sink, ripping apart lettuce leaves and sulking. It's not that she didn't want Chloe happy, or that she even had feelings for Oliver because she wanted Chloe happy, and she was glad to have Oliver as a friend. It was everything. Not having her mother was hard, and her father being absent was worse, and Lucy…well, not having Lucy around was probably not a terrible thing. It was a general crankiness that she couldn't put her finger on. There was a knock at the door, and Lois went to open it, remembering the last time she answered the door at the Kent's, there was a billionaire on the other side.
"Merry." Lois sang as she opened the door, and the man on the other end smiled politely. She blinked and then laughed. "Christmas, I'm sorry. You look so familiar."
"Well, that's certainly one against first impressions being everything." The man said. His hair was the same honey brown as Lois' own, his eyes almost too dark to be called brown. "I'm Bruce Wayne. You nearly tackled me on your way out of City Hall in Gotham City the other day."
"And you came here?" Lois frowned, holding the door open.
"I was invited. I was in Metropolis, and my friend Oliver said he was going to be here...is he?" Bruce walked inside and looked around.
"On his way. You know Oliver." Lois shook her head. "What do you guys have a club or something? Rich, under thirty…"
"Yes, but I don't belong to any of them." Bruce took off his coat. "Neither does Oliver. We went to school together."
"Oh." Lois said, hanging up Bruce's coat. "College?"
"No, Excelsior. I didn't make the reunion, so it's going to be great to see him. I still don't know who you are." He held out his hand. "Miss…?"
"Lois." She took his hand and shook it firmly. "I'm a friend of the Kent's."
"Oh, are you any relation to General Sam Lane?" Bruce asked, and Lois nodded.
"You know the General? Yeah, he's my father. Come on. Mrs. Kent just finished making the egg nog. It's not spiked, if you're looking for that." Lois led Bruce into the kitchen as Oliver and Chloe came in the back door. "See, Bruce, I told you." She smiled.
"I still want that egg nog, Lois." Bruce said, and Lois smiled. "How about you, Ollie?"
"No, not for me. I'll wait for later. Thanks, though." Oliver pulled off his coat and shook Bruce's hand. "It's been a long, long time."
"It has." Bruce said, and then he smiled at Chloe. "I'm Bruce Wayne. You must be Chloe. I've seen some of your work in the Daily Planet. Interesting stuff."
"Yeah, three articles all less than 800 words. I'm sure you were riveted." Chloe laughed, setting the bowl of rice pudding down on the counter. "Lois, do you need help?"
"No, I got it. Might as well try making salad. The cookies I baked can only be used for hockey pucks now." Lois shrugged. Chloe smiled and squeezed her cousin's arm sympathetically. "Clark's out in the barn, dealing with some farm animal crisis."
"And I'm here." Martha Kent appeared on the stairs, holding a wrapped gift. "Chloe, Oliver!" She came down the rest of the way, and kissed Chloe and then Oliver. "I'm so glad you both are here. I have jobs." She smiled apologetically to Oliver. "I'm sorry to make you work, Oliver, but Clark could probably use your help in the barn."
"Absolutely. But first, Mrs. Kent, this is Bruce Wayne, an old friend. Bruce, Martha Kent is State Senator for this county." Oliver said, pulling his coat on as Bruce shook Martha's hand.
"Mrs. Kent, I'm honored." Bruce said politely. "Your invitation was just exactly what I needed. Do you think your son needs a second extra pair of hands?"
"He'll welcome any help, I'm sure. One of our cows kicked down the gate and he's rounding up the whole herd." Martha shook her head. "If you don't mind? The more helping, the sooner we can eat."
"Mind? I'd love to help." Bruce went and got his coat from the entry. "Let's go, Oliver."
They left, and Martha smiled at Chloe brightly. "Now, you. You can help me by telling me how this all came about." Martha's hands fell on the dish of rice pudding and tears welled up in her eyes. "Oh, Chloe."
"I couldn't not make it, Mrs. Kent. Mr. Kent was always so good about eating my other attempts and he was so proud when I got it right." Chloe smiled, tears of her own in her eyes. "Not making it would have seemed so odd."
Martha hugged Chloe. "Thank you, sweetheart. I know that we all have been missing Jonathan so much. It's good to have happy memories, like this." Martha pulled away and her eyes fell on Chloe's necklace. "Well, my!"
"I know it's a lot." Chloe whispered, embarrassed. "I didn't know what to say…"
"You're wearing it, so I guess you decided to keep it." Martha laughed. "Wear it in good health, Chloe. I know this might be awkward between you girls, but I'm glad you're happy."
Lois laughed. "I'm fine with it as long as she lets me raid her jewelry box from time to time. You never know when I may to get dressed up." Lois put her arm around Chloe's shoulders and smiled. "Besides," Lois tossed her head. "There's a new billionaire in town, and he's cuter than Oliver. Did you see his shoulders? They're a mile wide."
Chloe laughed. "Go for it, Lois. And, there is no way he's cuter than Oliver." The cousins laughed and began to finish the preparations for dinner, pleasantly bickering together.
Martha sighed, smiling at the girls. The same way she had recognized the seeds of this new relationship between Oliver and Chloe, Martha had seen a shimmer of something between Clark and Lois. But, unlike Chloe and Oliver, Lois and Clark were unwilling to recognize it. Martha smiled. When they did realize it though, it would be forever.
Clark was out in the pasture, counting the cows when Oliver and Bruce appeared. He waved, tromping through the snow toward them. "If you're coming out to help, all the cattle are accounted for." He shook Oliver's hand and then Bruce's. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas." Bruce said, looking around. "So, this is your farm. Pretty spot, Clark."
"It's home." Clark replied modestly. "Well, Oliver, you up for football again?"
"Now that there might be a chance I could win, yeah." Oliver laughed and turned to Bruce. "Clark was the quarterback on the championship team here a couple years ago. Taught me never to be too confident in my own abilities."
"Which was probably a good lesson where you're concerned, Ollie." Bruce said dryly, a small smile crossing his lips at Oliver's good natured chuckle. "I actually may sit that game out. Since I'm here, I'd like to talk to Mrs. Kent about having Wayne Enterprises help with computer donations once she gets her education bill passed. You in on that one, Oliver?"
"I am." Oliver nodded as they walked back to the house. "It's not quite as big as what you're willing to do, Bruce, but Queen Industries isn't Wayne Enterprises either. Software development and satellite hookups, making the schools able to share classes and special events."
"Good, every assist we are willing to give on this is crucial. I'd like to see this work. My home state is pretty interested in Mrs. Kent's plan." Bruce looked at Clark. "You must be pretty proud of your mother, Clark. If her bill is passed, Kansas schools statewide will be cutting edge. I hear Lionel Luthor is trying to convince her to run for U.S. Senate, too."
"I was proud of her before that." Clark smiled, seeing his mother come out on the porch to wave them in. "She could become President, and she'd still be Mom to me."
Later, as the post dinner football game raged on, the score tied between Oliver and Clark, Bruce came out to the porch to watch, waiting his turn to take on the winner, his offer to Mrs. Kent made and accepted. Oliver's girlfriend, Chloe was standing on the porch watching, and Lois, begging off from the game, was inside organizing gifts for opening after dessert. Bruce walked over to Chloe and nodded out to where the grudge match was being played out.
"Are they always this competitive?" He asked, and Chloe shook her head, smiling.
"Not at all. This is a much-anticipated rematch. Plus, there is a massive amount of showing off going on." Smiling, Chloe sipped her hot cider. "Why aren't you aren't out there indulging in the testosterone fest?"
"I'm playing the winner." Bruce said, and Chloe laughed. "What?"
"Good luck, Bruce. Clark is going to win." She held her cup between her hands and shivered a little.
"I heard. All-state. That's impressive and disloyal of you to take his side over Oliver." Bruce smiled slyly. "Guess I'd better not mention I played in college, huh?" He winked at her, and Chloe grinned broadly.
"We'll keep that between us." She studied Bruce for a minute. "Say, Bruce, what do you know about that Batman, or manbat guy that's been seen around Gotham City? He's a bit of a mystery."
"Well, I was telling Lois inside. He's been pretty busy. I'm glad he's around, but I've never seen him." Bruce said, looking back out to the football game. "Gotham City has been really a hotbed for crime for quite awhile now. Batman, as you call him, has made quite a dent in it, but it's never really a job that he'll be able to finish."
"Especially if he's here in Kansas." Chloe said, and Bruce turned and looked at her, surprised. "I heard he was spotted in Metropolis the other night."
"Hmm." Bruce replied neutrally. "Copycat, maybe."
"Could be." Chloe agreed, sipping her cider. "The Green Arrow has been around Metropolis lately, so I guess someone else might be giving him a hand."
Bruce smiled. "That would be quite the thing, wouldn't it? If these vigilantes that are out to help people, also helped each other. The world would be a lot safer. Oh, Chloe, I think you are going to have to plan on being outside for awhile." Bruce pointed to where Oliver had faked Clark out, and managed to get past him enough to score, breaking the tie. "It looks like Oliver's going to win."
Chloe smiled, as Oliver waved to her, and then laughed as Clark, taking advantage of Oliver being distracted, got the ball and ran. She blew Oliver a kiss and then looked at Bruce. "I wouldn't count on either one of them being easy to play against, Bruce." She smiled. "I can only wish you good luck." She patted him on the arm and went inside.
"I'm hoping to have them both on my team." Bruce said as the door closed behind Chloe, as he watched Clark tie the game up again. "The world would be a lot safer."
That night, Clark made his way through Metropolis, anonymous and blending in. He'd passed Oliver's building, and made sure they'd gotten home safely. And even though he never wanted to invade Chloe's privacy, he couldn't help watching Chloe and Oliver as they put away the leftovers his mother sent with them, and how easily they both went about the rest of their evening. They had put a movie on the television, changed into comfortable clothes, and curled up on the couch together. Oliver had told Clark that if he needed a break from patrol he should stop up, and Clark considered it, and then decided not to. One of the reasons he'd said he'd take tonight is that Oliver had been out non stop all week. Showing up and intruding on Chloe's time with Oliver would be wrong. He had a small pang of regret, but dismissed it quickly. Chloe was his best friend and he loved that she was happy, and happy with someone that could make every dream she ever had come true. That was more than Clark could have wanted for her, plus he really did think very highly of Oliver. Leaping easily from rooftop to rooftop, Clark left his friends to their movie, and soon found himself face to face with the man bat.
"Go home." The Man-Bat said, and Clark frowned.
"No." Clark advanced. "This is my city. You belong in Gotham City."
"Then start keeping a better eye on it." The Man-Bat said dryly. "Then guys like the Green Arrow and I can have some time off."
Clark nodded. "A friend of mine has been talking about a league, or union or something. People like us working together."
"I like it. Let me know how far you get with it." Man-Bat said, nodding. "Now, go home. You really ought to be in disguise when you're on patrol. Someone might recognize you."
"It's not a worry." Clark said, and the Man-Bat nodded and with a small salute, dropped out of sight.
"Good night, Clark Kent." The Man-Bat's voice drifted out of the shadows around Clark. "and, Merry Christmas."
"So, Miss Christmas, do I get my grade? I completed my course in Christmas spirit." Oliver said, as he and Chloe were curled up on the couch together watching "Love, Actually."
"That's right." Chloe looked up at him. "I should make you wait until January 6th. Last day of Christmas. It's not called Epiphany for nothing, you know."
"You would." Oliver kissed her. "An interim grade then. Progress report. Anything." He kissed her again. "As far as I'm concerned, there's mistletoe everywhere."
"I can tell." Chloe laughed, her breath catching as Oliver kissed her again. "Well, an interim grade? Okay…so far? An A."
"What? No A+?" Oliver said, surprised. "I've been working really hard, too. Applying myself, focusing only on my tutor..." His fingers drifted lightly from her waist to her face, pausing only for a second as he skimmed her breasts. "I've been a prize student."
"I know it…" Chloe gasped a little as Oliver's hands made another pass over her body. "But there's the whole twelve days of Christmas thing…I didn't invent it, but I have to respect it."
"Oh, all right." Oliver kissed her again. "Do you really need a partridge in a pear tree?"
"No." Chloe laughed. "I don't. And you can skip the gifts for the other days, too." She moved from beside him to sit astride him, facing him. "I think you'll have no problem getting that A+."
"Oh, good. I was a little concerned." Oliver wrapped his arms around her as she slid off and cuddled up beside him, her head on his chest, just over his heart. "Hey, Chloe."
"Yes?" She craned her neck to look up at him, smiling. "What is it?"
"I love you, that's all." He kissed her nose. "Merry Christmas."
"I love you, too." Chloe reached up and kissed him softly. "Merry Christmas."