Chloe looked around as they entered the large hall and was pleasantly surprised. It was beautifully decorated in silver and pink with small round tables adorning the edges of the large circular dance floor in the centre of the room.
All heads turned to them and the steady hum of conversation came to a stop when Oliver's presence was noted.
Clark and Chloe stood back as Oliver stepped forward to greet Kyle Roberts and several other of the benefit organisers.
"There's been a slight problem Mr Queen." Roberts spoke in hushed tones and both Chloe and Clark tried hard not to stare at him. "The stage isn't quite set yet. There's a problem with the sound so we decided to serve dinner first and have the speeches after dinner and a few dances, if that's OK with you."
Oliver studied his nails and the people surrounding him shifted uncomfortably, glancing at each other uncertainly.
"I'm sure it'll be fine." He said finally. He looked Roberts in the eye "I trust you to do your best."
Roberts adjusted his tie. "Always Mr queen." He gestured with his hand. "Let me show you and your party to your table."
They followed him in silence.
"I'm Allison." A girl of about seven, dressed in a pink dress, matching hair band and an endearing gap-tooth smile, held out a hand to Oliver. "I'll be giving you flowers on the stage later on after you make your speech.
Oliver smiled and shook her hand solemnly. "Pleased to meet you and can I say you're looking very pretty." He said bending down se he was at Allison's eye level.
Allison rolled her eyes and adjusted her hair band. "I hate pink" She told him in hushed tones, confidentially. "I wanted to wear my combats but my mom wouldn't let me."
"I know the feeling." Chloe muttered, drawing Allison's attention from Oliver to her. Allison gave her a wide smile. "Hi" She said chirpily, looking curiously from Chloe to Clark who was stood besides her.
"Hi." Chloe smiled back and nudged Oliver who finally caught on and introduced them.
"Oh god, I'm sorry." A blonde women, dressed beautifully in a stunning scarlet gown, rushed up to them just as Oliver finished the introductions. "She's been so excited about meeting you." She said to Olive.r "I hope she hasn't been bothering you."
"No." Oliver smiled. "She's absolutely charming."
The blonde smiled, taking hold of Allison's hand. "I'm Lynda Henderson, Allison's mother." She introduced herself. "Allison attends Queen's school of excellence on a scholarship."
Oliver smiled. "I remember her. She was Mary in the nativity play last year, wasn't she?" He recalled.
Allison tugged on her mother's hand excitedly. "He remembers." She smiled up at Oliver. "I was also a sheep." She told him matter-of-factly.
"The best sheep I've ever seen." Oliver said charmingly and now Allison was almost hopping with excitement.
Lynda Henderson smiled. "Thank you for being so kind but we should leave you alone. Dinner's about to be served."
Allison pouted and shifted from foot to foot, disappointment plain on her face.
"Why don't you join us?" Oliver asked gesturing to their table when he noticed Allison's expression.
Lynda hesitated. "I'm with my husband and some friends. I'm not sure there'll be enough space and we don't want to disturb you."
"There's enough space for Allison if she wants to stay." Oliver pointed out not wanting to disappoint the little girl.
"Oh mommy, can I?" Allison was almost breathless with excitement.
Lynda smiled at her daughter, still uncertain. "You have to promise to be good honey."
"Oh, I will."
"Are you sure about this?" Lynda gestured to Chloe and Clark. "I don't want your dinner to be interrupted."
"I'm positive" Oliver reassured her taking Allison's hand and seating her on a chair.
"Are you a Normon?" Allison asked Chloe sweetly as their dessert plates were cleared away.
"No. I am a Chloe." Chloe wiped the corners of her mouth with her napkin.
Allison giggled. "No. I meant are you a Normon?" She mimicked Chloe's actions, wiping her mouth carefully and feeling very important as she did so.
Chloe scratched her nose, utterly puzzled. "Um, no again."
Allison frowned, obviously confused. "My best friend is a Normon and his dad has two wives." She held up two fingers and looked pointedly at Oliver and then Clark "I thought you were a Normon because you have two boyfriends. You can't be married because you're not wearing a ring."
Chloe laughed, her confusion clearing "You mean a Mormon, no, I'm not a Mormon either."
Allison raised her eyebrows sceptically. "Mormon." She said the word experimentally. "Are you sure it's not Normon?" She looked at Chloe suspiciously.
Chloe nodded firmly. "I'm positive."
"Are you sure you're not a Mormon then?" She asked, not quite ready to give up.
"Yes, Oliver and Clark aren't my boyfriends." Chloe explained patiently. "They're my friends."
"Where's your boyfriend then?" Allison looked around the table, craning her neck.
"I don't have one" Chloe raised an eyebrow. "Any more questions?"
Allison ducked her head "I'm being impertinent again, aren't I" She asked resignedly, with air of someone who had been told this repeatedly. She twisted a blonde curl around her finger dejectedly.
Chloe elbowed Clark, who looked as if he was about to give a resounding yes to that question. He poked his tongue out at her but didn't say anything. She returned her attention to Allison, who now looked slightly uncomfortable. "Impertinent, no. Inquisitive, yes."
Allison beamed, bright blue eyes sparkling "Inquisitive is good?" She asked, not wanting to admit she wasn't quite sure what it meant.
"Inquisitive is good." Chloe confirmed with a nod of her head, a smile playing about her lips.
"So you're friend's dad's got two wives huh?" Oliver asked casually during the lull in the conversation. "It sounds interesting." He winked at Clark who smirked back.
Chloe rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, Tommy's dad." Allison took a sip of her orange juice. "Tommy's invisible."
"Invisible?"
"Yes." She pointed to the empty chair besides Clark. "He's sat right there, I sneaked him in." She said proudly.
Clark looked at the empty chair besides him and gulped. "If my life was even somewhat normal, I wouldn't even consider believing the word of a seven year old but there's probably an invisible kid sat right there." He murmured to Chloe, leaning close so his breath tickled her ear.
Chloe nodded happily. "This is us. Of course there's an invisible kid having dinner with us" She whispered back.
"You could sound more upset at the prospect."
She shrugged. "Well, if Allison's anything to go by, he's probably a nice boy."
"Do you think I should introduce myself?" Clark looked at the empty chair besides him warily.
Chloe shook her head. "That's probably going too far. You don't want people to think you're strange."
"It's probably too late for that" Oliver broke in to their conversation, giving them both an odd look "Sometimes I wonder about those two" He told Allison seriously.
"They grew up in a strange town"
"Like Timbuktu?" Allison asked hopefully.
"A lot like Timbuktu." Oliver replied.
"Wow!" Allison looked at Clark and Chloe with a newfound respect and admiration "Tommy's from Timbuktu." She gave the empty chair an adoring smile.
"It looks like someone's got a crush on Tommy." Clark whispered and Chloe smiled.
"I hope Tommy is real" She whispered back, her gaze fixed on Allison's smiling face.
"Ouch" Oliver winced and drew back slightly. "You did that on purpose." He accused, taking the weight of his throbbing foot.
Chloe smiled and carried on dancing, moving him along with her. "You deserved it."
"You noticed my hand straying dangerously below your hips, didn't you?"
Chloe glared "No. How about you don't point out things like that when I'm armed and dangerous?" She tapped her stiletto's dangerously.
Oliver gave her an unrepentant grin. "Ok, so why the toe crushing, if not because of my wandering hands?"
"I know that you know that I'm investigating Roberts." She hissed through the smile she had plastered on her face. Dancing with Oliver queen, she had, noticed drew a lot of attention. She was constantly aware of the sly gazes thrown their way.
"Oh yeah?"
"Yes. I don't know how you and Clark have managed to keep your secrets for so long. You're not exactly subtle."
"He's a dangerous man Chloe." Oliver said urgently.
"And that's why I'm investigating him. The life and events of model citizens don't make for exciting investigative journalism" She pointed out stiffly.
"Let us help you then."
"Mr Queen." Oliver's PA interrupted their dance and their conversation. "There's someone on the phone for you. A Mr Wayne. He says it's urgent."
Oliver frowned. "I'm going to have to take this call, Chloe, I'm sorry."
"It's O.K, I'll sit this one out." Chloe patted his arm. "I wonder where Clark is. He disappeared after dinner." She scanned the large hall quickly as Oliver left.
"Looking for someone?"
"Clark." Chloe turned in the direction of his voice.
"It looks like it's just me and you then." He said as he watched Oliver's disappearing back. They stood in the middle of the dance floor, suddenly awkward, amid the colourful couples dancing around them.
"Right" Clark stepped forward resolutely and pulled Chloe towards him, resting his hands lightly on her hips, prompting her to place her hands on her arms. They swayed to the music gently and Chloe felt herself relax slightly.
"The last time I was at a dance with you was at the senior prom." Clark smiled wistfully. "How things have changed since then."
"Hhhm, life's certainly different. Although, I think the last time we danced together was at the spring formal." Chloe replied. Clark missed a step and almost stumbled.
He righted himself quickly and smiled, holding her more tightly. "Is this where you thought we'd be in six years time?"
Chloe shook her head "No. back then, you and Lex were friends and I was investigating meteor freaks and pinning their stories on the wall of weird. I didn't ever imagine joining that little club. Pete was still in Smallville. Lana wasn't in hiding." She sighed. "So many things have happened."
The song ended and a new one began without either of them noticing.
"You're not a freak Chloe." He shook her slightly. "And we still see Pete. As for Lex, maybe I should have listened to my dad." His voice caught slightly on the last word. "I didn't ever imagine living my life without him Chloe. He was my rock, I wasn't ready to lose him."
Chloe wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his chest. "He'll always be with you Clark, always."
Clark laughed shakily. "I guess." He looked away for a moment. "That's the bad stuff over and done with." He shook his head slightly to clear it. "What about the good stuff?"
"Well, I got the chance to talk to my mom and I'm working at the Daily Planet. And you and Lana are finally together without any secrets and lies."
Clark smiled. "Yeah and we're still friends." He looked down and squeezed her gently and Chloe smiled. "The last couple of years, since you've known my secret have been…" He paused, struggling to find a fitting word.
"Have been what?" Chloe asked.
"Liberating. It's been liberating having you know my secret"
Chloe looked at him for a long moment. "I'm glad."
"You know." Clark's voice was lighter now. "You forgot the most important thing."
"And what's that?"
"You were crowned prom Queen. It's the single most important dream of any teenage girl in America." He teased. "You're one of the privileged few."
Chloe smacked his arm lightly. "Very funny. I think I'm actually glad that I was possessed and don't remember the crowning."
Clark tried to keep a straight face. "Dawn did you proud. There were watery eyes and shaky hands. I think quite a few people got some very valuable pictures."
Chloe growled softly. "Keep going Kent and I'll use my secret stash of kryptonite on you.
Clark widened his eyes "You wouldn't."
"Try me."
"No. You're scary" He dipped her back, laughing softly at her surprise "I think I'll stick to dancing with you." He said leaning over her.
"She's one girl, Bruce." Oliver said exasperatedly in to the phone. "You manipulate a whole city yet you're complaining about one rookie journalist."
He listened intently and broke out in to a smile. "You have a team dedicated to watching Lois Lane?" He asked unbelievingly and laughed at the other man's tirade.
"No can do Bruce." He said, interrupting his increasingly irate friend. "She's staying in Gotham City and employed at the Gotham Gazette for the foreseeable future. Remember you owe me." He snapped the phone shut, cutting off an increasingly irritated Bruce Wayne, immensely pleased at having gotten the last word.
He looked towards the dance floor and spotted Chloe's golden head on the tuxedoed shoulder of Clark Kent. He narrowed his eyes as he watched them move together gracefully. They looked as if they were meant to dance together and he didn't quite know how he felt about that.
Comments would be adored and cherished!!!!