Lois Lane checked her watch and then ran to the gates of the zoo, looking for Bruce Wayne. She was late, and if she'd missed him, then it just figured. Chalk another one off to Lane's law, Lois thought, and then she saw him, talking to a street vendor. He hadn't bought anything as far as Lois could tell, but he and the vendor were engaged in a deep and serious conversation. Bruce spotted Lois, said goodbye to the other man and walked toward her, hands in the pockets of his dark jeans. Bruce dressed as expensively as Oliver, Lois noted, but Bruce wore his differently, slightly more preppy and classic, maybe. It was a good look for him.
"Hi." Bruce said, when he got close enough. "I'm ready for my tour. Where to first?"
"Um, I don't know." Lois looked up, thinking. "The Metropolis State Building? It's not the tallest in town, but it does have a nice view."
"Metropolis State Building it is." Bruce nodded. "So, Clark was okay with you showing me around town?"
"Clark? Why would it matter to him? We're just friends." Lois said matter of factly. "We don't run our social calendars by each other."
"Good." Bruce said. "I was hoping to hear that."
"Really?" Lois eyed him. "Why?"
"Just figured since I'm in your town, I'd monopolize your time a little. Since you wouldn't give me the time of day in my own town." Bruce said, and Lois frowned. "You and Clark looked pretty tight in Gotham City."
"I don't know what you're talking….wait…you were the guy in the movies that night." She pointed at him, a wide smile on her face. "I thought you were a stalker or something."
Bruce laughed out loud, and Lois found that his laugh made her smile. It was clear he didn't laugh often, either. "That's funny. No, just had a sudden urge to see "Nosferatu" again on the big screen."
"Oh." Lois said, nodding. "Got a thing for bloodsucking vampires, do you? You don't look like the type."
"Actually, no." Bruce looked over at the zoo as they walked past the bathouse. "But, bats, on the other hand, are fascinating. I always thought it was interesting that people thought vampires transformed into bats…makes such a helpful creature sinister and dark…"
"Okay, ew." Lois wrinkled her nose, "Bats are just gross." Bruce chuckled again, taking her hand in his.
"Come on, squeamish. I want to see Metropolis from above." Bruce said, and they walked toward the Metropolis State Building. "We'll save the bat house for another day."
"Like the day after the end of the world." Lois shuddered. "Nice or not, bats give me the creeps."
Chloe hung up the phone, staring at the picture of Gotham's shadowy Batman again. The week between Christmas and New Year's always was kind of lost time. With school out, Chloe had only minimal hours to make for her internship, and today would finish her up for the week. Which was just as well. Oliver and Clark were busy trying to get in touch with every 'powered' human being they knew, and Chloe had already received three phone calls with pleas from them to locate people. The last one had not ended well. Chloe had hung up on Clark without a goodbye, remarking that the Google at Oliver's office worked just as well as hers at the Daily Planet did. Her cell phone chirped and Chloe answered it, annoyed.
"This is Chloe Sullivan, retired search engine friend and pissed off girlfriend. Leave a message at the beep, and it better be I'm sorry, Oliver and Clark, because right now, you guys suck. BEEEEP."
"Wow." Lois laughed. "Someone's having a bad day."
"Oh, hey, Lois." Chloe sighed. "Clark and Oliver are on about something…new project. And guess who has to hold their hands?"
"Poor you. Well, I'm just calling to say hi, and to tell you that I'm on my way to lunch with Bruce Wayne." Lois said, a laugh making her words bubble out of her. "I've been showing him around town."
"Is that so?" Chloe grinned. "Look at you. What's he like? He seemed nice yesterday at the Kent's."
"He's really cool. Different than Oliver. More serious." Lois replied. "He's like Clark, but smarter and ambitious. He knows everything."
Chloe giggled. "Enjoy yourself, Lois. What are you doing tonight? Want to catch a movie?"
"Um, love to, cousin, but Bruce has tickets to a play." Lois said. "Some revival or something. See you later!" Lois hung up, and Chloe felt the presence of two large and unhappy men standing at her desk, and not looking, could tell that Clark was penitent and Oliver not even remotely so. They must have walked pretty darn fast from Oliver's office, too. Feeling smugly satisfied, Chloe pointedly ignored them, and after Oliver's third attempt at clearing his throat, Chloe sighed.
"I'm done." She said, standing, without making eye contact with either Clark or Oliver. "You guys are on your own."
"Come on, Chloe." Clark said, and she turned to glare at him, hands on her hips. Rounding on him first, Chloe realized, Clark would give in, but he was also the worst offender at abusing her resources and was a bad example for Oliver to follow in this, if nothing else.
"What? Clark, two months ago you hacked my system and destroyed evidence that I had that would have proved he" she pointed at Oliver. "was a certain someone, and now you need me to Google for you? I'm over it. Find your people yourself."
"You did that, man?" Oliver asked Clark, clearly impressed, and Clark nodded, embarrassed. "Sweet." Chloe glared at Oliver and he smiled at her, not at all intimidated. "Well, it was. Credit has to go where credit is due."
"You." Chloe advanced. "What nerve. Billion dollar satellites in space and all of your gear, designed by you, and you're bothering me at work to Google for you. I really think you should be ashamed of yourself." She frowned at Oliver angrily, but he studied her carefully and then held up his hands.
"First of all, Chloe, the Daily Planet has better networks in place for finding people." Chloe folded her arms but Oliver continued, undaunted by the gleam in her eye. "Second, you're a reporter. You're in on the story of a lifetime. Possibly award winning." She stepped closer, her expression stormy. "Third, I couldn't stand not seeing you all day. You are cute when you're angry, you know. I love you with all my heart…" He leaned forward and kissed her softly, and Chloe dissolved into giggles at his expression, which was half remorseful and half completely proud of himself.
Clark laughed, and Chloe grinned at him as Oliver hugged her. "I usually have to apologize profusely and beg for favors."
"Charm is Oliver's superpower." Chloe laughed, and Oliver sighed modestly.
"I don't like to brag…."He kissed Chloe again, quickly. "Come on, Goldilocks, you're done here, right? Clark and I really could use your help. " They started walking up the marble steps to the main lobby of the Daily Planet building. "After we get that done, we can go skating again…I heard the rink in Centennial Park is bigger than the one at the Plaza, and I need to be doing something after all this finding people stuff. It's too nice to be inside so much."
"It is." Chloe smiled, leaning against Oliver's arm. "I'll help you guys, and skating sounds great." She looked up at Clark. "Want to go skating with us, Clark? I made soup last night for tonight's dinner, your mom's recipe.."
"Well, I, um…thanks, you guys, really, but…" His smile widened and his cheeks went pink. "I have a date."
Oliver and Chloe looked at each other, surprised. "What do you mean a date? With who?" Chloe asked, and Clark shrugged.
"This girl I met yesterday, Diana. I'm taking her to the planetarium. You both can come with us." Clark said, trying to sound welcoming. "If you want." He shook his head slightly at Chloe. "But you've already decided to go skating, so…"
"I think we'll pass." Chloe said, grinning. "In spite of your gracious invitation, Clark." She winked at him, and Clark laughed. "Besides, I have studying to do before the break is over, and a late show at the Planetarium isn't going to help me. You didn't want to go to the Planetarium, did you, Oliver?"
"I was thinking about it." Oliver teased, watching Clark's face as they got to the top of the stairs. "Clark really seems like he wants us to go. First dates can be so awkward. Ours wasn't, of course, but everyone else's…"
Clark's expression darkened slightly, and Chloe laughed. "Don't worry, Clark, we're not going to go with you."
"Not only are we not going with you, I'll be out on patrol tonight anyway." Oliver told him. "I didn't run into Bruce last night, so I figure he might have backed off a little."
"And you won't tonight until later, if at all. He's got a date, too." Chloe said, as they walked back to Oliver's office. "With Lois."
"Lois? Really?" Clark asked, the surprise in his voice making him squirm a little. Oliver said nothing, uncharacteristically quiet, and Chloe frowned at them both, trying to decipher their reactions.
"Yeah. He called her yesterday and asked her to tour guide him around. Apparently part of the tour is a show in the Theater District." Chloe looked at Oliver. "Are you okay, Oliver? You're awfully quiet."
"I'm fine." Oliver said, taking Chloe's hand in his. "I'm just thinking how lucky I am." He kissed her hand with a smile, and Chloe grinned back.
With Chloe there, providing research support, they soon tracked down A.C., Victor and Bart. Clark had spent the better part of the afternoon talking to each of the others, and Oliver making plans and arranging meetings with Bruce Wayne that would precede the New Year's Eve party. It had been agreed without actually discussing it that Clark would be the one that approached the others, since he knew them before. It was nearly dark, and Chloe looked up from her laptop. She'd been going over the research she'd complied on Luthorcorp's level 33.1 this past year, wanting to talk to Bart about his experiences there.
Confirming his presence there would go a long way to getting this article finally written, and Chloe closed the file with a sigh.
"Long day?" Oliver asked, looking at her from the large table in his office. "You sound tired."
"Frustrated." Chloe closed her laptop. "I want to talk to Bart about his time on Level 33.1. I might be able to write the article, but with the actual entire level just gone, I don't know how much good it's going to do me."
"Gone?" Oliver sat forward and frowned. "Gone how?"
"As in not there anymore, Oliver." Chloe said, looking at Clark quickly. " Just after Thanksgiving, Lex was attacked by an escapee from this Level 33.1. Lana asked me to help her, since no one believed her story of how it all happened, and we did help her, Jimmy and I. She'd told me that she'd seen it, but when I went there…" Chloe sighed. " It used to be in the Luthorcorp building, but now, that particular floor is just empty, and I mean stripped…it would take a construction crew months to build anything in there. But, I have eye witness accounts of Level 33.1 that date back to last year. I just couldn't substantiate any of it enough to go to print. "
Oliver turned to Clark. "What do you know about this? Have you checked it out?"
"No. Chloe was working on this without me. This last incident happened when I was away." Clark answered. "By the time I got back, Level 33.1 had already vanished."
Oliver nodded. "Good ol' Lex. Doesn't miss a trick." He stood and looked around, as if the answer to this problem would present itself on a wall. "Experimenting on the parolees at the halfway house, this…" He walked to the window. "Bart was there, at this level 33.1?"
"Yes." Chloe got up and went to Oliver. "The problem now is exposing what's not there. Lex can make sure I don't write ANYTHING for a long, long time, Oliver. I'm ambitious, but not to the tune of risking my whole career."
Oliver hugged her. "We're not going to let that happen, Chloe. What about these other guys, Clark? Any of them graduates of Lex's little lab experiments?" Chloe could feel Oliver's anger building, a tension that turned his arms around her nearly electric.
"Victor." Clark said. "Victor was rescued from a car wreck, nearly dead and rebuilt. Cybernetic parts. And A.C., well, Lex had him, and was torturing him. I don't know what A.C. is, but he needs water, lots of it, to stay strong. I don't think he's a meteor freak or a Level 33.1 subject, though."
"What you are telling me is that Lex has experimented on people before and got away with it." Oliver looked out at Metropolis, his jaw tight. "I so want to shut him down. Permanently."
"How?" Chloe asked, and Oliver shook his head.
"I don't know." He leaned down and kissed the top of Chloe's head. "Tomorrow, when I meet with Bruce, I'm going to talk to him about this." He turned to Clark. "We called everyone you know of, right?"
"Well," Clark looked at Chloe. "What about Andrea?"
Chloe shrugged. "I emailed her earlier, but no reply yet. She's got a problem with Lionel, so she might be willing to help."
"Great." Oliver laughed. "A whole group of people with scores to settle with Lex and Lionel Luthor. It's a start, I guess." He looked at his watch. "Well, kids, looks like Chloe and I better get our skates on if we're skating tonight, and Clark, you're going to…" A breeze blew papers around them, and Oliver smiled, hugging Chloe tighter. "I seriously wish I could do that."
"Lex?" Lana held the thick invitation in her hand. "What's this?" They were in the Luthorcorp penthouse, and unlike the mansion, Lana had immediately taken steps to feel at home here, but it was still hard. Unlike the mansion, that still bore Lionel's stamp of good taste and refined style, the penthouse was cold, modern and sleek. It very much fit Lex's personality, though, and Lana had made it a point to make sure she fit his personality as well.
Lex looked up from the file he was reading. "That, Lana, is an invitation to a New Year's Eve party being thrown by another old Excelsior classmate of mine, Bruce Wayne. I was surprised, since I've been trying to get Wayne Enterprises to work with us on a few projects and been turned down, that we even were on the guest list."
"Well, did you reply?" Lana asked, smiling. "Maybe this is his way of opening negotiations."
Lex nodded, considering this option. "It could very well be. I am curious as to why he's here in town. I don't want to wear you out unnecessarily, Lana. A New Year's Eve party can be…"
"Fun." Lana said. "Something we could stand to have some of once in awhile."
"And if Bruce and I had been friends at Excelsior, I'd not be so reluctant to accept." Lex took the invitation from Lana. "As a matter of fact, Bruce was friends with Oliver Queen."
"Really?" Lana asked. "Part of that group I met at your reunion?"
"No. Bruce kept to himself, stayed out of the cliques. He knew everyone, and everyone knew him, though. He and Oliver were on the rowing team as well as debate team together." Lex looked at the invitation. "I imagine he's invited Oliver to this as well."
"Well, then Chloe will be there too." Lana beamed. "I'd love to go, Lex."
Lex looked into Lana's face and thought a moment before a reluctant smile just slightly curved his mouth. "You really want to go, don't you?"
"Yes, Lex. We never socialize with people our age, and Chloe is a good friend of mine. Please." Lana asked again, pleading a little and Lex nodded.
"I'll make the phone call." Lana clapped her hands as Lex picked up the phone. "But, the minute it gets too much for you, we leave. We have the welfare of our child to consider."
"It will be fine." Lana smiled. "I'm so looking forward to it." Leaving Lex to his phone call, Lana walked to the window and thought about the party, trying to shake the idea that it might be the last New Year's party she ever went to.
Oliver decided to call it a night early. He'd spotted Clark and his date walking from the Planetarium, and then Lois and Bruce leaving the theater after their show, and thinking of Chloe home alone, Oliver decided Metropolis was pretty safe for the night. There were times where this being noble business was hard, and the choices were never easy to make, but finally, satisfied that all was well, he arrived home, changed and came down the stairs to find Chloe curled up on the couch with a textbook. Oliver stood near the Christmas tree and watched Chloe study for a minute, smiling as her feet, covered in the huge blue slippers Lois had given her for Christmas tapped in time to the music she was listening to.
"Oh, I'm sorry." He said quietly, and Chloe looked up, pulling an earbud from her ear. "I must have found the library instead of my apartment."
Chloe closed the textbook with a happy nod and set it on the coffee table. "Library? Well, you certainly are making a lot of noise, you know." She smiled, looking up at him. "Don't you know you're supposed to be quiet in the library?"
"I like the library." Oliver sat down on the couch beside Chloe and pulled her close. "Especially when the librarian is cute, blonde and wearing my t shirt." He kissed the top of her head. "Smelling like honeysuckle helps, too."
"Oh." Chloe cuddled closer. "I'll remember that."
"Good." Oliver tipped her chin up and brushed her lips with his. "So, what was the third day of Christmas present? I didn't stick around to see you open it."
"Well, I didn't open it yet." Chloe laughed, kissing him softly. "I waited for you."
"Hmmm. I love the sound of that..." Oliver stood, pulling her to her feet. "Let's see what today's offering is. Isn't it chickens or something?"
"Three French Hens…" Chloe singsonged, and they both laughed, wallking to the table. Chloe opened the box carefully and then gasped in delight. Three small, elaborately iced cakes, shaped like brown hens sat on spun sugar nests. "Oh, Oliver." She smiled. "This is the most darling thing I've ever seen." She gently lifted out the cardboard tray underneath the hens and set the whole thing on the table, putting the white bakery box aside. "Look at the nests."
Oliver smiled. "This is so cool." He gently lifted one of the hens and grinned. "Chloe, look."
She had been reading the card that had come with the day's gift and when she saw what was in the nest, she smiled too, cooing softly.
"Oh, eggs!" Chloe leaned forward, touching the brown sugar egg with a tentative hand. "How can we eat these? It's sinful."
"We don't have much choice with these, I think. Can't preserve cake that well." All the same, Oliver set the little hen back on her nest and licked his finger. "Mmmm. Mocha frosting. Tastes like chicken." Chloe laughed, and poked the hen Oliver had just put back.
"This is good." She said, tasting the frosting. "Milk and chicken cake?" Oliver smiled, leaning forward to kiss her nose.
"Sounds like a plan." He said, taking her in his arms. "You're going to share your third night present with me? I'm honored."
"Of course." Chloe kissed him back, loving the swoony feeling she got in her belly when his tongue touched hers. She melted against him, sighing. "Cake later…"
"Okay." Oliver said, matter of factly setting her arms length away. "I'll get the milk, you get the plates. No kissing, no affection of any kind. See how long you can go. I've been told I'm irresistible, so good luck keeping your hands to yourself. "
"What?" Chloe asked, laughing. "You're not serious. Where do you come up with this stuff?"
"Absolutely, I'm serious. I'm even putting a movie on. "Bells of St. Marys." Very unsexy movie, too. Bing Crosby in a clerical collar…Okay, starting…" He moved past her casually, and at the last second, goosed her butt. "Now."
"Hey!" Chloe called out, giggling, covering herself belatedly. "That was cheating."
"That was before time started running." Oliver was already in the kitchen, pouring milk. "If you were daydreaming, you lost out."
Chloe grinned wickedly and nodded. "Lost out, huh? What makes you think I'll lose at all?"
"Yes, you did." Oliver said, closing the milk container. "Um, I don't see any cake getting there, miss. Do you want to know how I know I'll win?" Oliver looked at her, leaning on the counter, his eyes gleaming at the note of competition in her voice. "Call it a hunch."
"A hunch." Chloe repeated, feeling the urge to prove him wrong taking over. "Okay, you're on. No affection. No physical contact at all."
"Bring it on, baby." Oliver laughed. "There is a lack of cake on plates that's really very shocking." He nodded earnestly, and Chloe stifled a giggle.
"Right." Chloe smiled, coming into the kitchen to get the plates and forks. "I don't expect to lose."
"Yeah, yeah." Oliver walked past her with their milk. "Less talk, more cake, Sullivan."
Five minutes into the movie, Chloe nudged Oliver with her toe.
"Quit touching me. Next one counts, and I win." Oliver said, in perfect imitation of a bratty five year old.
"Psst." Chloe hissed, and Oliver turned, his face a study in patience.
"I'm watching the movie. Ingrid Bergman makes an excellent nun…"His eyes widened as he watched Chloe slowly lick a finger clean of frosting. Oliver cleared his throat, his voice business like and direct. "I think that's a technical foul, Chloe. Not exactly against the rules, but really very evil. Trying to lure me into touching you…"
"Oh, but it's sooo good." Chloe pouted seductively, swiping her finger over her cake again and offering it to Oliver. "Want some?"
He stared at her a minute and then blinked, a grin dawning. "No, thanks. I have my own." Oliver turned back to the television innocently, cutting a large piece of his cake away with his fork, and ate it, deliberately repeating her words exactly. "Mmm. But it's soooo good."
Giggling, Chloe licked the frosting off her finger and shook her head. Not going to be as easy as I thought, she laughed to herself.
Ten minutes later, Chloe sighed, setting her plate down, still full of cake and stretched with a yawn. Oliver was watching the movie intently, a little too intently, Chloe thought, with a grin. She settled back into her side of the couch, sighing a little.
"You okay?" Oliver asked, and Chloe sighed again. He turned, genuine concern plain on his face. "Chloe?"
"I'm fine." She answered faintly, resting her head on her hand. "It's just so lonely over here…"
"Ohhh." Oliver nodded, setting his empty plate down. "Lonely. I'm right here, same couch, same room. You are hardly alone."
"Yes." She replied sulkily. "I miss you."
"Miss me?" Oliver said, pointing to himself. "Well, I'm right here." She hated the way he said that, so easily, beckoning her. "All you have to do is come and get me." He turned, folding his long legs under him. "Look at you though…trying so hard to 'win'. I hate to ruin it for you."
"This is your game…"Chloe said, and Oliver nodded. She grinned, tossing her slipper at him. "You are such a tease."
"But the frosting and the finger licking, that wasn't teasing at all." Oliver said, catching the slipper and setting it down next to him so that if Chloe wanted it, she'd have to crawl over him to get it. "That was just playing dirty."
"Give me my slipper, please." Chloe said, holding out a hand. "My foot is getting cold."
"Come get it." Oliver answered, tucking it behind him. "Once you do, game's over, because there's no way you're getting this slipper without touching me. And then, I win."
Chloe sat back, folding her arms over her chest, temporarily defeated. She watched him eye her uneaten cake and smiled, an idea for a trap already in mind.
"Do you want that?" Chloe asked, fifteen minutes later, pointing to her cake. "I really don't want any right now."
Oliver nodded. "Thanks." He held out a hand for the plate, but Chloe shook her head.
"I don't want to accidentally touch you when I hand you the plate." She said innocently, and Oliver laughed, so hard that he wound up with tears in his eyes.
"Wow." He said, wiping his eyes. "That's really something. You almost got me."
"What?" Chloe asked, and Oliver took her slipper and threw it across the room and then picked up her plate. "Hey!"
"The idea that you were trying to lure me into exposing your slipper with cake is just cheap, Chloe." Oliver laughed again, shaking his head. "Woman, what depths will you not sink to?"
He speared a piece of cake with the fork and ate it. After he swallowed, he grinned. "I win."
"I still haven't touched you." Chloe said, pouting. Oliver stood, and got her slipper. He slid it onto her bare foot gently. "Wait, you just…"
"I know." Oliver said, pulling her close. "I win."
"Wait." Chloe frowned. "You touched me first."
"Right." He kissed her. "You could have molested me at any time."
"But, then you'd have won…" Chloe said, puzzled.
"This was win-win," Oliver chuckled, and Chloe pulled away, laughing. "You made it win-lose, not me."
"What a brat you are." She said, but she moved closer again, taking the cake away from him, setting it back on the table. "What was the point of this whole thing again?"
Oliver pulled her up onto his lap. "None. No point at all." He nuzzled her neck. "It was fun though. So cute, trying so hard to beat me…" His voice was muffled against her skin, the warmth of his breath making Chloe shiver, thinking about that feeling elsewhere on her body. Oliver brought his head up, claiming her lips with his, pouring all of his hunger for into that contact.
The kiss broke leaving both of them slightly breathless. Chloe set her hands loose on Oliver's chest, looking into his eyes. "Take me to bed now, Oliver." She purred, biting her lip a little and Oliver's dark green eyes glowed in excitement as he nodded. Silently, he picked up the remote control, and shut the television off, never losing eye contact with Chloe.
Oliver laughed, finally sweeping her up as he stood. "Well, who am I to argue?" Kissing Chloe again, Oliver carried her up the stairs. "See, I told you, win win.."
"Uh-huh." Chloe laughed as Oliver dropped her on the bed, lying down beside her. "Whoever told you that you were irresistible, anyway?"
"I'm not?" He gasped, pretending to be shocked. "I'm crushed."
Chloe laughed and ran her hands under his t-shirt. "You're arrogant." She pulled his shirt over his head and then kissed his chest, just over his heart. "And, you're a big tease."
"But,
in a nice way." Oliver replied, quickly removing her shirt and
pulling her close.
"You're nosy and overly competitive."
His hands were everywhere, and Chloe sighed as his fingers drifted
down her spine.
"Qualities that make me so perfect for my chosen vocation." Chloe said, nibbling at his neck, smiling as she felt his fingers teasing the waist of her pajama pants. "You're spoiled."
"Mmmm. Fatal flaw, I'm afraid." Oliver chuckled, sliding her flannel pajama pants low on her hips. "But…" He grinned, pretending to think. "I got nothing. I'm spoiled, you're right."
Chloe laughed. "Ohh...no,no. You don't get away that easy." She untied the drawstring on his pajamas and slid her hands under the waistband. Oliver groaned, closing his eyes a little. She brought her hand back up and smiled. "Defense. I can wait."
"Okay, Okay…"He laughed. "I'm spoiled….but…" Oliver raised himself up, and pushed Chloe back against the pillows, "I'm thoughtful." He pulled her pajamas the rest of the way down, and threw the pants across the room. He studied her for a minute, grinning. "I'm also trying to figure out what I did right…because, wow." With one finger, Oliver traced from Chloe's collarbone to her belly button, and then lower, just barely to her bikini line and back up to her mouth, gently caressing her lips with that finger before he kissed her. "You're perfect."
"Oliver..." Chloe reached around him and pushed his pants down, loving the velvety feel of his skin. Just touching him could drive me crazy, Chloe thought, as he kissed her again before he pulled his pajamas off and tossed them in the same direction as he had Chloe's. "You're wonderful…"
"It's not irresistible…"Oliver laughed, lowering his face to her breasts, his hands already there, teasing the sensitive skin with feathery strokes. "But, wonderful works. I'm waiting for irresistible, though."
Chloe laughed, and giggled more as she felt him laughing against her, too. "You're a clown."
"Not yet. When I retire from Queen Industries, I'm going to clown college, though. It's a life's ambition." He looked up at her, grinning earnestly. "Will you be at my graduation?" His mouth returned to her skin, and Chloe sighed, loving the feeling of his skin on hers. "Be my clown college prom date?"
"I wouldn't miss it for anything." She told Oliver in a gasp, as his hands were moving on her again, tracing lines on her thighs. "I'm going to buy your first pair of big shoes for you."
"Red ones, with squeakers in the toes." Oliver continued, moving back up to kiss her face, her eyelids. "Those are the best kind."
"I'll remember." Chloe nodded, and Oliver smiled at her gently. "I'll be so proud."
"I know you will." He brushed the hair from her face. "I love you, you know."
"I know." Chloe reached up to kiss him. "I love you, too."
Later, Oliver looked down at Chloe, asleep beside him. It had been hours since they first had gone upstairs, and they had tormented each other, both with teasing words and drawn out foreplay until Chloe had finally admitted he was irresistible. Oliver grinned, thinking that if that was indeed true, it only mattered that Chloe thought he was. She had been giggling when she came, her laugh so exciting that so had he been laughing too, when he gave in and came almost at the same time. Having a monopoly on joy was not something Oliver took lightly. It meant a great deal to him that their relationship had thus far been free of angst. The moon was full and the light poured into the room, washing everything in silvery blue light. He leaned forward and kissed her bare shoulder, overwhelmed by the sight of her. Innocent in sleep, it seemed to Oliver that she was indeed perfect, completely beautiful and miraculously his.
Chloe sighed and turned over, eyes open and bright in the moonlight, looking up at him in wonder. "Why are you awake?" She asked gently. "Everything okay?"
"Perfect." Oliver smiled down at her. "Just watching you sleep."
"Oh." She smiled sleepily, reaching up to touch his face. "Go to sleep, Oliver."
He nodded, and settled down, pulling her close, kissing her shoulder again. In a moment, Chloe was fast asleep again, and so was he, their breath deep and even, Oliver's arms around Chloe lightly, sinking into dreams that only hinted at the happiness they had while awake.
"On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
Three French Hens, Two Turtledoves, and a Partridge in a Pear tree."