One step closer to A Beautiful Lie coming to an end. Big thank you to those who faved and followed since the last chapter was posted and of course those who elected to follow or leave review over the months that the story has been in progress - wouldn't have lasted this long without you and please continue to do so for the remaining chapters!

As promised though we do get to spend some time with the Queens and the newest edition to the family before the story is over :-p

Also couldn't quite put my finger on it but I wasn't entirely happy with this chapter although it does everything I wanted it to. Hopefully you still enjoy it.


Chapter: 15: Don't Want To Miss a Thing

Lying close to you feeling your heart beating, And I'm wondering what you're dreaming, Wondering if it's me you're seeing, Then I kiss your eyes, And thank God we're together, I just want to stay with you in this moment forever, forever and ever

I don't want to close my eyes, I don't want to fall asleep, Cause I'd miss you babe, And I don't want to miss a thing, Cause even when I dream of you, The sweetest dream will never do, I'd still miss you babe, And I don't want to miss a thing – Aerosmith

Queen Villa, 23rd October 2012

Eyes wide open and staring at the ceiling Oliver accepted he wasn't going to get anymore sleep tonight and carefully pushed the bedcovers off him sitting on the edge of the bed hoping he had avoided waking his wife.

"Ollie?" she murmured reaching for him. Obviously his hope had been in vain. "It's 4.30 am, are you going to come back?"

He rubbed her arm, her skin still cool and clammy. "Sorry I woke you. I can't sleep so thought I would hit the gym." She gave him a small smile grabbing his pillow hugging it to her and he placed a feathered kiss on her cheek. Getting dressed quickly he made his way to the gym, his mind going over what he needed to accomplish today before an evening with friends, a birthday day off unfeasible this year.

So engrossed in his thoughts he didn't hear the, "Morning, birthday boy, catch."

His automated reflexes kicked in though and he caught a stick inches from his face. He looked up startled by his mother-in-law wearing dark navy blue sweats.

"Morning Mary, your up early." She and John had been staying in the guesthouse since he and Chloe had chosen to make the Villa their main residence on returning to Star City, an arrangement that was working out incredibly well.

"Not exactly the workout I had in mind when I came down here," he said as he twirled his stick.

He could see that right now Mary was channeling her inner warrior princess and she was seriously badass in that mode, as several of Star City's citizens in current lock up could attest.

She twirled her own stick. "More like up late. I need this. There is something cathartic about sparring even though it's not the person or thing you really want to take things out on though. John offered but I saw you coming and you look like you could use a good workout yourself."

"Bad night in the field?"

"Putting it mildly. How about you, what's preventing a birthday morning sleep in?"

"The Luthor's," he said gritting his teeth. He had thought his sleepless nights because of them were over. Again a hope in vain.

LuthorCorp's gain had been directly aligned with the drop in Queen Industries profits; something that Tess had assured the shareholders was completely sustainable. From a personal wealth perspective it all worked out for him, as a matter of personal pride it irked him.

Then there were the constant requests for their input into the Lionel Luthor story being developed by HBO, in particular Lionel's godfather like actions relating to their wedding present. And while he could admit that Lionel's life would hold a particular appeal to those in charge of entertainment he didn't appreciate the constant reminder of the man's crimes against his family. Nor could he publicly point those crimes out and he hated feeling like he was dancing to Lionel's tune. Chloe may have made her peace with him a long time ago, but he certainly hadn't.

But the big one was Chloe's recovery. It had indeed been much longer than either of them had anticipated. Emil had finally surmised that until her body could stop dividing its attention between trying to heal her and keep baby healthy that she wouldn't get back to 100%.

"So how about it?" Mary asked motioning at the sticks and bringing him out of his musing.

Knowing that she could hold her own he held his hand out for another stick and began the warm up. She fell in beside him, her movement fluid and graceful. They bowed and she opted for first attack and the sound of the sticks meeting each other echoed off the walls in an uneven rhythm. Five minutes in he jumped back, the escrima stick just missing his groin.

"If I didn't know better I would say you're fine with the idea of only ever having one grandchild." He swung his stick upwards.

She counter attacked his move easily, stick to the stomach and sweeping him off his feat, one knee on his chest. "Not at all but my teacher did say to take advantage of any and every opening I can."

"So he did. One, zero. So who or what is it that you wished you were really taking this out on?"

"No one person. We had three really bad cases called in tonight…and sometimes it just really gets to me that people can hurt those they claim to care about that way."

He nodded his head understanding; he saw enough of the depraved side of human nature as Green Arrow. Mary and John saw it as part of their day jobs as well. She was right; both of them needed to blow off some steam. So they continued.

But as the sun crept across the sky pent up frustration gave way to a test of endurance and he had to admit she was working him just as hard as he was working her. They had been blocking, attacking ducking, striking, rolling and dancing for three hours, their remaining clothes saturated in sweat. Finally she had him back on the floor a stick to the throat.

He could of got out of it but instead signaled time, the session having more than met its purpose. Learning some new moves had been a bonus and he couldn't help feel a little surge of pride in how far his student had come.

Leaning against the wall, breathing hard she asked, "Are you sure? 'Cause I love the idea of having a story to tell my granddaughter about the day I wore you out in an escrima challenge and you called time?" Gone was the warrior princess, now she had the same mischievous look in her that Chloe got on occasion. Like mother like daughter and probably granddaughter. Oh lord he was going to be in trouble if all three of them pulled that look on him at the same time in the future.

"I'll deny it and say it was for grandma's own safety," he joked as he grabbed a towel and pulled her into a sweaty embrace before she could retort, a wave of love for the women in front of him engulfing his heart. "Thank you. For always knowing when to be here for us."

She held him for a while before ruffling his hair a little. "Ditto. So, I'll see you tonight?"

Grinning he kissed her cheek and left the room heading towards the kitchen the adrenaline still flowing through his veins. He went through a mental inventory of their kitchen wondering what Chloe would feel like for breakfast when she got up and what he could make her.

His feet stopped moving though when he heard the faint tune of happy birthday getting closer. The corners of his mouth curved upwards as the love of his life, waddled towards him, holding a jumbo cup cake complete with singing candle. A large smile formed on her face when she saw him.

"Happy Birthday Romeo," she said as presented the cake to him and she stood up on her tiptoes kissing him ignoring the sweat. "Sorry I wasn't more coherent when you got up, otherwise I would have told you then."

"It was very early even for us and it's still early for you." He kissed her twice again leaving her a bit breathless and he loved that he could still do that to her. "But, you and a cake are my birthday wishes. Thank you," he said as he blew the candle out and placed the cake on the closest bench.

Her cheeks were flushed and she looked a little guilty. "Well the cake was all John. I was supposed to put the cream on top but you know…"

He laughed. Chloe eating cream had very much been a constant part of her pregnancy and was small reminder to him that things weren't as dire as they could be.

"I was told you were with mom. She didn't beat you up too badly did she?" she asked looking over him.

"Pftt, what makes you think she could?" he said even as he could feel several muscles stiffening. She raised her eyebrows, and smirked. Of course she knew her mother could. "John didn't stay for breakfast?"

She shook her head. "No he was going to work out with mom some more if she wanted to and then had a couple of things to do."

"If your mom goes another couple of rounds I'm getting a plaque made for her with Wonder Woman on it. But if you're not starving I would really like to put all those massaging jets in our spa to use otherwise I might be doing a robot walk tomorrow. Then maybe we can try the cake out?"

"Wonder woman huh, she'd like that," she chuckled. "Breakfast can wait and a massaging spa would be great for my back. Mind if I join you…for environmental purposes of course?"

"For environmental purposes only," he agreed happy to have more them time before he headed to the office, picking her up bridal style effortlessly. One of the ongoing consequences of her lack of recovery being that she was all baby and hadn't really put on any weight at all.

"You know, walking is a currently approved physical activity," she quipped but didn't struggle, his long strides covering the distance quickly. It was also the second time he had seen that mischievous Lane look this morning.

He carefully set her down on the bathroom floor, and helped her undress while the tub filled with water. She unstopped one of the fragrance bottles that smelled like fresh pine and added a few drops before sinking into the tub while he had a quick shower to wash the sweat off.

Getting in behind her, she leaned into him, her head close to his heart. Yeah he could stay in this moment all day, but again that was a luxury he didn't really have. He opened his eyes to see her frowning at the purple patch forming on his upper torso her fingers running lightly over it.

"So, mom didn't beat you up at all huh?"

"Not really…. it was a lucky shot… It's not a big deal…besides you know that I've had a lot worse. You've had a lot worse," he added quietly his fingers tracing her wrists and arms both still showing the bruising from struggling against the restraints all those months ago.

"I know…but I don't like it when you get hurt." A sentiment he totally agreed with.

She put her nimble fingers to the task of massaging the areas of his body that the jets didn't get to and he suppressed a moan. It felt wonderful to have her this close, wet and naked with her hands all over him and his body was humming at the attention being paid to it. But if she kept at it, returning the favor was number one on the unapproved activities list and that wasn't fair in his book.

He moved slowly until he was behind her again and began to rub circles gently on her back effectively cutting her off from what she had been doing.

"You didn't have to do that Ollie. I feel fine right now. Please don't spoil my opportunity to look after you for change. It is your birthday after all." Her voice soft and eyes pleading with his.

His lips met her shoulder, the mischievous look she had given him now making sense. "And I appreciate that you would be willing to break our tacit agreement for such an occasion, but you're just taking advantage of a situation. You have something else in mind, your original plan A?"

She pretended to pout at being thwarted for all of thirty seconds before turning to face him. "Fine Mr no-birthday-fun," her voice taking on her in-charge cadence, "I've made a couple of calls and cleared your schedule for today."

He stilled. There was no way he could…..

She pressed her lips to his. "Shut up Ollie, I know that you're going to say you're too busy blah blah, but all of it has been taken care of and when you go back tomorrow I promise you won't be behind…..So what do you want to do today birthday boy?"

His head moved from left to right and back again, grin on his face. His wife was amazing.

-xxXxx-

Chloe typed one last photo tag in the baby scrapbook she had been keeping. The photo not even a minute old. Dad passed out on his birthday – no alcohol involved.

Oliver was now sleeping soundly beside her completely exhausted. A small smile played across his mouth and she wondered what he was dreaming about as she resisted the urge to kiss him even though he was utterly kissable. Instead she snuggled beside him thankful that she had been able to rearrange his crazy schedule to spend the day with him, a few close family and friends joining them for a late evening birthday dinner.

She ran her fingers through his hair and studied his face. A few more fine lines had appeared on his forehead in the more recent months. Wisdom lines he called them but she knew that a good part of them had been because he had been worried for her and their baby girl and that his concern had caused a great deal of sleeplessness. Something that she hoped wouldn't persist, especially after today.

Right now though he had such a peaceful expression and she felt such a surge of happiness. She had meant it then and she meant it now. She was so glad he was the man that she had married. "Sweet dreams my knight in shining leather. Everything will be alright, you'll see."

-xxXxx-

Star City Medical, 24th November 2012

One of the nurses secured a cap over her head and secured her IV line, a wave of anxiousness hitting her at Oliver's absence. Ten minutes until they were going to wheel her into the theatre and this is not what they had planned at all.

Oliver had been called to an urgent meeting at the QI offices in Singapore and being that she was still three weeks shy of her delivery date she had sent him on his way. He'd been flying over the middle of the pacific when her water broke and that was creating all kinds of logistical nightmares getting him back here. Damn, she wished WatchTower's transporters were on line….but that was at least two years down the track and not much use to her at the moment.

"He'll be here …do you want me to tell you to calm down?"

Chloe bit her lip and looked at her mom. "Couldn't you have just told my water not to break?" Good her snark was still intact.

"Ah sweetie, baby queen is ready to meet you and a royal command from her grandmother wasn't going to stop her. Besides when has an order ever really stopped us Lane-Sullivan's from doing what we wanted."

"We can be stubborn can't we?"

"More often than not." Mary smiled and in that instant she could hear Oliver calling for her. "See I told you he would be here," her mother reaffirmed.

Chloe could feel the relief showing on her face as he burst through the doors with a trail of security puffing after him. Emil rolled his eyes and went to presumably call them off.

"Hey you okay, you look like your favorite color."

He knelt down beside her bed."I'll be fine…I'm here now. How are you?"

"Better now you're here, I was afraid that you wouldn't be."

Mary came over and held both their hands a quiet moment passing between the three of them. In less than an hour the newest addition to their family was going to be joining them and although she had been clam throughout her daughters pregnancy, she was excited. They all were, now that they were over the shock of the event occurring earlier than they were expecting.

She left the room wordlessly allowing the soon to be parents a few moments to themselves.

"I love you," they said in unison and Oliver mated their foreheads together until it was time, words inadequate to express the emotions they were going through.

-xxXxx-

Oliver Queen and his wife Chloe Sullivan-Queen are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter. Mother and baby girl are doing well - he had texted to his PR team and private list a few moments ago.

"She's a beautiful lass and weighs in at 8.38 lbs and is 19 inches long. A heart breaker for sure, you two are going to have your hands full," the nurse, Pat had commented before placing a much quieter baby into Oliver's expectant arms. He had immediately scooted closer so that their daughter was equal distance between them working her hands out from under the blanket.

"You do great work professor," he said kissing her. It wasn't hard for her to see that he was completely enthralled and a little teary. Being able to physically hold their baby and see her in person obviously was emotional for him and she was again profoundly grateful that he could be here, knowing full well that if it had of been any other multi-millionaire money couldn't buy a 7 hours trip condensed into a couple of minutes.

"Not so bad yourself Romeo," she had replied, the discomfort she was feeling from being stitched up nothing compared to the euphoria at looking into her baby's eyes or holding her hand for the first time marveling at how soft her skin was.

"Hi munchkin look at you…you have your dad's chin dimple, and the shape of his eyes."

Oliver smiled a little at that but added, "she's just beautiful, like her mom."

"Flatter."

"Truth. So what are you thinking of naming her, now that she is here?" he'd asked referring to the fact she had beaten him at rock, paper, scissors to have the final say when they couldn't decide. She looked at their daughter.

Oliver had wanted Grace because Emil's words the time Chloe had been bought to the teams Metropolis medical centre had been on his mind. 'Against the odds, by whatever grace Chloe has, your daughter appears to be unaffected by her mother's latest ordeal.' Plus over the years he had often said that Chloe had been his saving grace. It was also kind of timeless and he liked that.

She had favored Ever because as their daughter she was now part of their forever after and it had been that thought of forever, of a happy family that had given her the strength to protect that dream and do what she needed to do when the Luthor's had yet again threatened to derail their lives.

Artemis, Sophie and Mia were possible middle names but somehow, none of those felt right, which had bought her back to their original dilemma, Ever or Grace? Baby's mouth turned upwards at the same time she was thinking about Grace and the solution to their naming dilemma became clear.

"Her name is Grace, Grace Ever Sullivan-Queen."

"Grace Ever," he repeated reverently. "I like it but are you sure, Ever was your first pick?"

"I'm sure, it feels right. Look she likes it." The newly named Grace was gurgling. "Welcome to the family Gracie."

To be continued


Final Chapter to come - Amazing Grace We learn what trigged Oliver's journey to make peace with Lionel and where the rest of the gang are at (including Clark). I have the next chapter half written and I have given myself a deadline but RL sometimes waylays the best of intentions.

Thanks to Hellzz on Earth - because she is an awesome supporter of Chlollie stories and in the initial planning stages of this story encouraged me not to give up.