The Announcement

Chapter 3

Chloe made her way into the Kent kitchen the box tucked under her arm. She closed the door behind her and placed it on the counter then made her way through the first level of the house looking for her cousin. When she didn't find her she made her way to the bottom of the stairs, "Lois!" she called out.

It only took a second for her to hear her cousins voice, "It is entirely too damn early for all this noise." she grumbled rubbing the back of her right hands over her eyes. She took one look at Chloe and rushed down the stairs, "What's wrong Chlo?" she asked her concern written all over her face, "Have you been crying?"

Chloe turned on her heel and headed back to the kitchen without saying a word.

Lois followed closely behind her, "Chloe will you please talk to me?"

"I need you to help me get rid of it." She said simply pointing at the box. She had tried to do it herself, she really had. But as she stood by the dumpster behind her apartment building the boxed raised over her head prepared to throw it in, something had stopped her.

In that moment she knew that she needed a good old fashioned dose of help from her cousin. So she had gotten in her car and made the long drive from Metropolis to Smallville.

Lois stared at her clearly confused then made her way over to the counter and lifted the lid, After a moment she closed it again and slowly turned back to Chloe, "you still have all this stuff?" she asked her eyebrows raised so high they nearly reached her hairline.

Chloe nodded quickly, "and I really can't keep them anymore," she said walking over to her cousin, "but I couldn't bring myself to get rid of everything."

"And that's where I come in, I suppose."

"Yes." Chloe answered, "I need you to help me do it."

Lois made her way over to the cabinet and pulled a can of coffee down, "You don't just want me to do it for you?" she asked dumping two level scoops of grounds into the machine and making her way to the sink. She turned on the water and started to fill the pot in her hand.

"No. I need to do this myself I just need you to find the strength to do it."

Lois made her way back across the kitchen and poured the water into the coffee machine and pressed start, then turned back to Chloe, "Are you sure about this Chloe? I mean you obviously hung onto this stuff for a reason." she rationalized.

"I kept all this," she said waving her hand in the direction of the offending box, "because I'm too weak to give up the memories but I have to. It's time to move on."

"I still don't understand why you are trying so hard to put the love of your life behind you."

Chloe groaned loudly, "Lois you know why. I told you what happened when I went back to Star City to try and work things out with him," she cringed as the image of Oliver in bed with that woman, "besides I love Jake," she added quietly.

Chloe looked up and found Lois's eyes narrowed at her as she openly tried to read her demeanor verses the words she had just said. "Okay," Lois said slowly, "you do realize that you just admitted that Oliver, and not your fiancée, is the love of your life, Right?" she reached inside another cabinet and pulled out two mugs then poured coffee into each of them. She then picked them up and made her way back to Chloe and handed her one.

Chloe sighed deeply, "Lois I will always love Oliver, but he and I are over." Her voice cracked as she said it, and a single tear fell, "I'm marrying Jake," she said firmly.

"Let's go sit down." she suggested pointing toward the living room.

"Ok." Chloe answered following her into the room and sitting on the couch. She brought the cup to her lips and took a healthy gulp before looking up at her cousin, "so will you help me or not?" she asked finally.

Lois stared at her for a minute before taking a gulp herself, she then leaned forward and placed her cup on the coffee table, "You know that I will, if you are really sure that this is what you want."

"I am."

"Fine," she agreed sadly.

Chloe kept her eyes on her cousin and noticed the way Lois didn't seem to thrilled to be helping her put her past behind her, "but you're not happy about it." she stated.

"No. I'm not." Lois admitted quietly.

"Why? I mean I really don't understand you Lo, you know how badly Oliver hurt me. I thought you of all people would want me to fully close that chapter of my life."

"No, what I know is how badly the two of you hurt each other," she reached across and placed her hand gently on Chloe's leg, "I am in no way saying that what he did was right, and I know it hurt you but technically you two weren't together. He was probably hurting pretty badly after you left, and you and I both know that when Oliver is hurt or angry he has a tendency to become very self destructive."

"His reasons don't matter anymore Lois, I'm going to marry Jake, I love him."

"So you keep saying."

"It's the truth."

"Maybe, but you'll never love Jacob," she said with obvious disdain.

the way you love Oliver,"

"Look Lois, I know you don't like him, but I really need you to get on board with this.

"Fine," Lois said relenting, "Let's go do something about this box of yours." She stood from the couch and held her hand out.

Chloe leaned forward and placed her cup on the coffee table next and took her cousin's hand. Lois pulled her up from the couch and together they walked back to the kitchen to decide the best way to dispose of the final remnants of her life with Oliver Queen.

Oliver made his way down the long drive to the Kent farmhouse. He had really hoped that he would find Chloe at her apartment in the Talon, but when he got there a young girl behind the counter had told him that Chloe Sullivan had moved out a few weeks prior. He'd asked her if she knew where he could find her, but all the girl knew was that Chloe had moved to Metropolis with her fiancée.

The moment he heard the words he felt his stomach drop. It made sense really if she was going to marry this guy why wouldn't she be living with him too. It was completely logical, and yet the thought of that man in the picture getting to experience all things Chloe made him feel sick.

He got to sleep beside her every night and wake up with her every morning; he was now the one who got to touch her, to hold her. He got to see that small smile that stretched across her lips every morning before she even opened her eyes, and listen to the low moan of pleasure she let out when she took her first sip of her first cup of coffee every morning. He was the one that could kiss her now. Just him.

David Jacob Winston had it all now and all because he had been an idiot.

He had taken her for granted and when he still had the chance to go fight for her he had chickened out. He had never given up on anything in his life, except the one thing that mattered most, and there was no way he was going to make that mistake again. He would do what ever he had to do to prove to her that she was the most important thing in his life and convince her to come back to him.

When he hit the end of the driveway he saw it. Chloe's little red Volkswagen convertible. He pulled his car up beside hers, and pulled the key from the ignition. He tried to take a moment to collect himself. This would be the first time he had seen her since she had left him. He took a deep breath and stepped from the car.

Oliver slowly made his way to the front door and knocked loudly. The first thing he heard was the sound of Lois telling Chloe to answer her damn phone already. A moment later the door swung open. Her eyes grew wide at the sight of him and he prepared himself to dodge one of her killer right hooks, but what happened next surprised him.

Lois leaned forward, "well it's about time you pulled your head out of your ass and came back," she whispered at him.

He stared at her shocked and unable to speak. It was then that he heard Chloe call to Lois from the kitchen.

"Hey Lo, I've gotta go into town. I that was the manager from the Talon apparently the new owner already rented out the apartment and I've got to get the last of my things. Could I bribe you into going along for the…" she stopped mid sentence when she saw him.

"Hey Sidekick," he said lamely lifting his hand and waving weakly at her.

"You're going to have to do a lot better then that Queen," Lois said low enough that only he could hear as she rolled her eyes at him.

"Can we talk? Please?" he asked her his voice practically begging.

"Actually, I was just on my way out." Chloe replied stiffly she made her way over to Lois and gave her a quick hug," Call me later she told her cousin." She turned on her heal and made her way out the back door not even looking at him.

Oliver kept her eyes locked on the door she had just exited from until he heard the sound of her car starting behind him. He turned and watched as she pulled away and drove faster then necessary away from him.

"Well that went well." He said nervously rubbing his hand over the back of his neck.

"Well what the hell did you expect "hey sidekick" she said in a mock deep voice as she mimicked his wave from moments before, "are you serious?"

"I panicked" he explained.

"Obviously." She opened the door further and stepped out of the way so he could walk through, "Well come on in, we've got a lot to catch up on."

A/N First off I'm so sorry it took me so long to start posting on this again, and thanks to anyone who is still reading.

Now anyone who's confused about Lois's reaction in this chapter I promise everything will be explained soon, including her dislike for Chloe's fiancée.

I hope everyone liked it, I know it was short but I promise the updates will be very frequent from here on out!