Author Note: All comments and reviews are appreciated. Thank you so much to Chloesilvers for beta-ing this.

Chloe had awoken the next morning to find a bag of her own clothes and a note from Oliver on the chair in the guest room. She unfolded the piece of paper and read its contents.

Chloe,

I took the liberty of checking out your apartment this morning and picked up a few things. Everything is fine but I don't want you to return until tonight. Your security will be upgraded by the time you finish work and I'll have the new codes sent to you there.

In the meantime, make yourself at home.

Oliver.

Opening the bag she saw a couple of outfits that she could chose from that were work appropriate. She cringed at the thought of Oliver going through her underwear drawer, but was comforted to think that he had probably seen worse in Lois' collection.

Once showered and dressed she had just enough time to grab a coffee before heading out. She searched the cupboards of his kitchen for a coffee machine or a cafetiere. She was horrified to find neither.

"What kind of man doesn't drink coffee? This is ridiculous." She said to herself in frustration.

After searching cabinet after cabinet in the kitchen, she found a half used jar of instant coffee. She picked it up and stared at it for a moment, but put it back on the shelf. She wanted coffee but wasn't quite that desperate yet; she would just have to chance being a few minutes late by dipping into the coffee shop by the Gazette.

After scribbling a note of thanks to Oliver, Chloe picked up her bags and left for work.

The Gazette was a flurry of activity and Chloe felt herself absorb the adrenaline of potential news and ink as she sat down at her desk that morning. She was eager to follow up her headline but had been frequently interrupted by both congratulations from her colleagues and the unavoidable professional jealousy. She was making her mark on Star City and she had barely been there a month.

"You need me to take anything to the copier Miss Sullivan?" Chloe looked up to see Dave stood by her desk, his cart placed next to her chair.

"No, but I have something for you, Dave." From her desk drawer she pulled out a white paper bag and put it on the contents of his cart. "Two of the finest blueberry muffins money can buy. I really couldn't have made that headline without your help."

"You didn't have to, I was happy to help."

"Just know that I owe you a coffee to go with those. And you better start calling me Chloe."

"Thanks Miss…Chloe. I appreciate it."

"No problem." She smiled as he made his way across the pen, a muffin in hand.

It was half past nine in the morning before she had the opportunity to really start her research. Her editor had called her into his office shortly after handing over the muffins to tell her he wanted a follow up piece to her story - 'Who Is The Dark Archer'. To his pleasure she had let him know that she was already on the case.

Oliver had already given her more than enough to go on, but she was debating if she should use the information given to her. Arthur King was the Dark Archer. She knew that, but only because she had been given the information. Her editor would demand to know her source, so if she pulled up enough information it would show the research behind the name.

She managed to find an article from the Gazette archives showing King's public humiliation of a younger Green Arrow and through her research, she found that this was the last time that he had visited the city. Bringing up the archived photographs on screen, she compared them to the one accompanying her headline. The similarities in build and height were very close, as she knew they would be. That alongside his skill set would be enough to at least put him on the list of possible suspects.

Chloe sighed and pushed away from her desk, rolling her chair away a few inches. It still wouldn't be enough. Speculation would only lead to a law suit, and she knew her editor would want something more concrete. She needed an eye witness or a clear shot of his face for her story to be believable.

Chloe sat anticipating an evening spent re-watching her disk hoping for a new angle on King's face. She was starting to miss Jimmy's skills when it came to his magic with images. She got up to stretch her legs and hunt down some coffee but stopped before she moved away. Something was off. The room was quieter than usual, so much so she could hear a pencil drop.

Turning around, she saw the cause of the hushed voices. Dave was pointing over to her desk with a stunned look on his face. Oliver Queen was standing next to him.

Oliver's eyes connected with hers and he smiled brightly. "You have got to be kidding me." She muttered to herself. She watched as he made his way over to her desk before perching himself on the corner of it.

"Hi."

"Oliver!" She glanced around to see the eyes glaring in her direction. "You might have been able to get away with this at the Daily Planet when you visited Lois, but this is Star City! you're well known and people are watching us. Reporter people!"

"Can't a friend just pop buy and ask to take you to lunch?"

Chloe put her hands on her hips and glared at him. She hated that he knew how to use his charm so well. It made arguing extremely difficult without looking like a total bitch. Instead she let her eyes do the talking - he would know how pissed she was.

Putting his hands in his trouser pockets he stood up from the desk. "Look, I understand that you want to leave part of your life in the past, but that didn't mean shutting away all your friends, right?"

She still had no response for him and watched as he continued in his stage whisper. "Besides, if you don't come with me now it will cause a scene and we'll probably make the gossip pages. Come on Sidekick, it's the only way you're going to get the new security codes to your apartment."

She crossed her arms and huffed out her frustration. After a few seconds thought she jabbed him in the chest with her finger. "I'll join you but only if you promise me that this is as friends only. No talking about your 'archery interests'."

Removing his hands from his pockets, Oliver held his hand up like a boy scout. "I promise."

Chloe quickly shut down her computer and grabbed her purse. With a gentle hand on her lower back, Oliver quickly moved them through the room, her colleagues leaving all shame aside and just stared as they walked by.

Chloe was inwardly cringing all the way to his car, a Mercedes SL Night edition, conveniently parked directly outside the building. It wasn't as if he had to worry about parking tickets. "A bit flashy for something to drive around the city, isn't it?"

"Believe me, this is conservative." He said as he opened her door for her. She had to raise an eyebrow at the gentleman routine but said nothing. Maybe hanging around Clark and Jimmy for so long had numbed her to manners.

The journey to the restaurant was short and filled with a comfortable silence. After spending many lunches in the past year on her own or at her desk she had to admit she was looking forward to some company, even if it was in the form of her cousin's ex.

When Oliver pulled up outside a small, family run Italian restaurant Chloe couldn't stop herself from voicing her surprise. "Some how this place doesn't seem very…you."

Oliver offered her a hand from the car and escorted her into the restaurant. "You should know better than anyone to believe the hype about me Chloe."

The hostess gave Oliver a look of recognition and quickly escorted them both to a booth at the back of the restaurant. The question of whether it was due to his fame or if he was a regular patron was solved when he was asked if they would like the usual wine.

"I didn't mean to imply anything by that, Oliver." She said as she quickly glanced at the menu. "It's just that after spending a few nights in with Lois she talked about you a lot. She made out that your life was pretty much all champagne and roses."

"Despite what she says about herself, that is really more Lois' idea of an ideal lifestyle than mine. It was her idea to have the fancy dates and expensive trips. If I had a choice my life would be more beer and pizza, watching a movie with friends."

"Now, that sounds more fun."

"Speaking of Lois, she called me this morning."

Chloe felt herself stiffen at his words. She hadn't heard from her cousin since the move, yet Lois was able to find time to speak with her ex-boyfriend that very morning. She couldn't say that it didn't hurt and was just thankful for the arrival of the wine.

"I mentioned to her that I had run into you, giving her no details of course. She was very…closed off. Not like Lois at all. She said something along the lines of you not being the girl she grew up with, that you had changed. You want to elaborate on that for me? Because I have been trying to work out what she meant by that, but I'm drawing a blank."

She should have known that there was some sort of hidden agenda to his invitation. Chloe really didn't want to get into the details of this conversation, but felt backed into a corner. "Lois was right, I have changed. But as a friend I'm asking you not to push for the details. Long story short, I no longer have a place in Metropolis and like I said before I needed a fresh start. That's all there is to it."

"So what did Clark say about your relocating? I'm surprised he's let his best girl leave the state for pastures anew."

Chloe barked out a small laugh and she swore she could taste her bitterness on her tongue. "I'd be surprised if he even knew I had left."

"Now I know you have to be exaggerating." He said before turning his charming smile at the approaching waitress. Her answer was delayed as their orders were taken. It still felt surreal to be talking to Oliver Queen over wine and breadsticks.

"You haven't been there, Ollie. You haven't seen how Clark has been lately. He is so fixated on Lana and living an apple pie life that everything else has been pushed to the side. He hasn't even used his special skills to help others like he once did either."

"Have you been one of the things in his life pushed to the side?" Oliver asked tentatively.

"Before moving here I hadn't spoken to Clark in a month apart from a passing 'hello'."

Oliver felt his jaw clench as she talked about Clark's decisions. When he had left Metropolis determined to stop Lex, he was grateful that he didn't have to witness first hand how Clark wasted his gifts. It seemed as if things only got worse.

"I'm sorry. I wish I had been there to kick his brooding ass back into reality. Clark has made a habit of ignoring what he should be doing in favour for what he wants. He's more selfish than even he realises."

For the first time in her life Chloe felt no urge to jump to her friend's defence. The years had finally taken their toll on her protective role in Clark's life. In fact it was refreshing to hear the words being spoken aloud instead of inside her own head. Even Oliver was surprised not to hear the automatic defence from Clark's usual champion.

"I don't think there was anything you could have done about it. Seems only Lana or Lois can reach him now."

Oliver caught the sad expression in her eyes and automatically reached over the table for her hand. "You know, Lois and Clark aren't the only people in your life. Maybe fate has brought you to Star City to remind you of that."

She smiled at the thought. "Yeah. I'm glad I've had the opportunity to see you again. Since you left Metropolis we hadn't heard much from you."

"I hope you haven't forgotten that I'm not the only one hanging around Star City these days."

Chloe's smile widened. "I figured the guys might be around here somewhere."

"They'd like to see you again. For the past six months I have had to hide your number under an alias in my phone. Bart has been trying to get hold of it every time my back is turned, and believe me, keeping it out of his reach is not as easy as it sounds."

Chloe laughed as she thought of a speedy Bart trying to grab Oliver's phone at the worst times. "I was sure he had it. If it makes life easier for you, I have no problem with you passing it along." At least she knew with Bart any communication would be all personal and no business. He just wouldn't be able to resist the opportunity to flirt. Maybe that in itself would be good for her?

"Are you sure? Because since he found out you've moved to Star City I have had to order him to leave you alone. I know your privacy is very important to you at the moment and I am pretty sure Bart would upset that."

"Bart's always welcome. As long as he can promise to keep me out of his kind of trouble I'd like nothing more than to see him again. That goes for AC and Victor too. A girl can never have too many friends, right?"

"Somehow I think the last thing on Bart's mind will be work. Seriously, the kid never shuts up about you. What did you do to him during his first visit to Smallville? Did you bake him cookies?"

"Actually, he shared his cupcake with me. Maybe he likes me because I laughed at his cheesy pick up line instead of just walking away."

Their waitress soon appeared with their order and they settled into a comfortable silence as they ate. Chloe was pouring herself another glass of wine when she caught Oliver staring at her curiously.

"Do you have something to say? Because you look as if you are about to burst."

"I really want to ask you something."

"Okay. What is it?" She asked warily. Even Oliver knew better then to push his luck too far with the questioning.

"I just have to know Chloe. Why the anti-hero attitude?" She just stared at him blankly. He had never been so blunt with her. "I thought you loved helping to fight the good fight. I saw the sparkle in your eyes when we rescued Bart from that 33.1 facility. You enjoyed it, and furthermore, you were good at it. I just don't understand the turnabout Chloe - this is something that's in you, not just something that was forced upon you."

He sat back in his chair as if saying the words exhausted him. Chloe could only surmise that he must have been holding onto that all day.

"This lunch wasn't just about giving me the codes was it. You've been wanting an excuse to ask me that all day haven't you?"

"I'll admit I had an ulterior motive to asking you to lunch."

Chloe smiled a small smile and shook her head. Maybe she owed him a small explanation about her one-eighty. He had had a role in that part of her life after all. "You're right, I did enjoy it. But I was starting to lose myself and I was being swept up in someone else's cause. I moved to Star City to prevent myself from becoming an angst ridden mess. I need to learn to live my life for me, not someone else."

Clark. That was who this all came back to and Oliver was not even mildly surprised. Chloe had hinted as much already, but he had seen first hand in Metropolis how she was used as Clark's 'go to' girl. When he had the outcome he desired she was neatly placed aside until she was needed again. She was Clark's very own warm, breathing, walking, talking search engine. Had it really been too much to treat Chloe like a woman instead of a readily accessible resource? At least she had come to acknowledge this herself and chose to do something about it. It took the edge off the temptation to fire a green kryptonite arrow in the dumb alien's ass.

He lowered his voice and lent across the table slightly. "I know it wasn't your direct intention, but I want to thank you for clearing the Green Arrow's name. The media's speculation…it was making things incredibly difficult."

"I'd like to be able to say it was all about the story but I just knew you weren't to blame. I couldn't let people think that about you.. The reason journalism means so much to me is because the truth is rarely exposed. This is my form of justice, I suppose."

"Maybe you were always more of a hero than a sidekick."

"I think I an very far from being anyone's hero right about now."

"I don't know, I think the Green Arrow might disagree with you there." He grinned smugly. Chloe just rolled her eyes.

"So, do you have something for me?" Chloe asked.

A look of confusion passed Oliver's face before he finally realised what Chloe was talking about. He reached into his inner jacket pocket and pulled out a white envelope. "All the codes are here. The instruction manuals have been left at your apartment but I've been promised that everything is pretty straight forward."

"Thank you for this Oliver. And I promise I will find a way to repay you."

"With your article I say this pretty much makes us even. Although I'll warn you now, I have every intention of patrolling near your apartment for the foreseeable future. You're not safe yet, Chloe."

"I figured as much. And speaking of my arrow toting stalker, I don't suppose there is any way I can convince you to give me a shot of this guy's face?"

Oliver groaned loudly and rubbed his face with his hands. "Please tell me you are joking."

"My editor wants me to write up a follow up piece." She said confidently, almost convinced there would be a lecture coming her way.

"I should have known." He muttered to himself. "If you run another article, I can guarantee you King will not let this drop. He will make you his priority - he's a man with nothing to lose.""This could make my career."

Oliver looked directly into her eyes. "This could end your life." He just wanted her to understand that King did not mess around.

She was silent for a moment. What was there to say? Investigative journalism was not without its risks, and journalism was back to being the focus of her life again. If she died for exposing the truth, then so be it. She knew enough not to say any of this to Oliver; there was no way he would understand that the risk was worth it to her.

"Just promise me you won't go digging too deep."

Chloe's journalist senses were tingling and she leaned forward eagerly. "You know something more don't you?"

Oliver just shook his head before signalling to the waitress for the bill. "You can't have it both ways Chloe. You either want to be involved in my world or not. This will only drag you back into it. If you want to stay away, I suggest that you hand this story to someone else. You're a talented woman - I'm sure that you'll be able to find other breaking news in this city."

There was a small shred of guilt as Oliver said this. He knew that he was provoking her. The women in her family were too alike - never backing down from a challenge, never letting go of their stories. He knew that if Chloe turned her back on the life she had been leading for so long, she would regret it. She didn't need a life change; she needed a new kind of friend.

"This isn't about the kind of life you lead, Oliver. This is my story, and I am not about to give it up just because the topics might on occasion coincide. I know my own mind and I won't allow myself to become so absorbed again."

"Don't rush any decisions on this, think about what you really want Chloe. Let me know tomorrow just how involved you want to be in this."

Oliver had driven Chloe back to the Gazette in silence. She understood what Oliver was trying to say, but she was determined to see this through. It was her story and her neck on the line. By the time she sat at her desk she already knew what her decision would be. She was going to write this article, and if that meant being around heroes and their enemies then so be it.