Chlollie Fanfic: Beauty in the Breakdown IV - Falling In, Part 11
What the hell is wrong with me? *sighs*
Almost done. Only one more chapter after this. I mean it. Really.
Chloe & Oliver have just one more issue to deal with. I tried to ignore it, but it wouldn’t go away, and I just couldn’t round up the story without addressing it. So I addressed it. But rest assured, all will end well.
Enjoy! And feedback is what’s been making me write faster, so…
…well. You know what to do. ;-)
Happy Belated birthday to gen717, our Fabulous Chlollie Mod and a truly beautiful soul. Hope you had a wonderful day, babes! :-)
Title: Beauty in the Breakdown IV - Falling In
Author: BabyDee
Pairing: Chlollie
Rating: NC-17 (this chapter PG-13)
Warnings: None
Timeline: Season 9; an expansion of Chlollie post-Warrior
Disclaimer: All characters belong to the CW & DC comics.
Series Summary: With Oliver by her side, Chloe learns to let go, find peace, and fall in love.
Story Summary: The bond between Oliver and Chloe continues to deepen.
Feedback: …is yummy. J
Written for sxymami0909, based on my favourite song on the Chlollie playlist she sent me. J
Awesome banner by ellashy.
Read previous chapter here.
Read story from the beginning here.
Beauty in the Breakdown IV
Falling In
Every time I see your face
My heart takes off on a high-speed chase, now
Don’t be scared, it’s only love
Baby, that we’re falling in…
- Falling In, by Lifehouse
Part 11
“You ready?” he called as she shrugged on her jacket.
“Ready.”
He smiled and held out his hand, which she duly took, and together they walked out into the late afternoon sunshine.
It was a bright, breezy afternoon. After some initial trepidation about walking around in broad daylight with a well-known public figure, she relaxed and just enjoyed the company of the man she was coming to love. She was delighted to discover that he was quite fond of the art at Metropolis Public Gallery, having bought several of their pieces for his office.
That said, she soon found out that they had very dissimilar artistic tastes.
“Whoa, that’s ugly,” Oliver said, shuddering at one of the abstract sculptures that she’d been close to cooing over.
“Avant garde,” she said. “Unique in its presentation. You won’t see another one like it.”
“Works for me, I’ll have enough nightmares from this one,” he grumbled.
“Oh, behave,” she admonished as they moved along.
“Now, this one’s nice,” he said, gravitating towards a plain single chunk of smooth, black marble. “It’s beautiful.”
Chloe stared at said piece in disbelief. “It’s boring!” she finally exclaimed.
“Minimalist!” he corrected authoritatively. “It doesn’t need to have bells and whistles or be ‘avant garde’ to be a fabulous piece of art.”
Chloe folded her arms and huffed. “Whatever.”
And on and on they went, ending up in deep discussion about the various pieces all through the gallery. Oliver had an argument to counter every one of hers, and the verbal sparring soon escalated to a dispute of courtroom-like proportions. It wasn’t long before they were approached by a disapproving gallery attendant, who haughtily told them that for the sake of the enjoyment of the other patrons, they might like to take their conversation elsewhere.
Sheepishly they tip-toed out of the Gallery, red-faced at having been kicked out. As soon as they were out of Gallery earshot, both of them burst into loud laughter. Chloe had never had so much fun agreeing to disagree.
They strolled along until they got to an ice-cream parlour. In typical fashion, Chloe went for the most outlandish flavour on the menu - Passion Fruit Frenzy - while Oliver ordered a Classic Vanilla. They wandered into the park and enjoyed a leisurely stroll whilst they finished their ice-cream, talking about anything and everything.
The sun was dipping low on the horizon when they decided to make their way back home. As they walked along, Oliver wrapped an arm around her shoulder and held her close to him. Her own arm automatically went around his waist and she smiled up at him, feeling extremely content.
Content and…well, fearful. Because she’d never experienced true happiness on such a grand scale, and couldn’t help but feel it wasn’t destined to last.
“What is it?” Oliver asked suddenly, interrupting her train of thought.
She gave him a too-bright smile and shrugged. “Nothing, I’m fine.”
“And I’m a Showgirl-in-Sequins,” he replied sardonically. “Something’s bothering you, Chloe. What is it?”
She shook her head. “It’s not important…”
“It is to me,” he replied bluntly, and stopped walking. “Chloe, we decided that we’d always talk to each other about anything, doesn’t matter how big or small.” He took her face in his hands and stared straight into her eyes. “Now, what is it?”
“Are you always this insistent?” she grumbled.
“Don’t try and change the subject,” he said sternly. “Talk to me, woman. I’m not letting this go until you tell me.”
Chloe stared up at him in wonder. It was amazing, how well he’d come to know her in such a short time. She sighed and gave voice to her fears.
“I just…keep waiting for the other shoe to drop,” she said tremulously. “I’ve never been as happy in my life as I am right now, and I’m…I’m terrified it’s all going to be taken away from me somehow.”
“Oh, Chloe,” he breathed, and pulled her towards him. “Come here.”
She went willingly into his arms and clutched him tight, blinking rapidly to dispel the tears gathering behind her eyelids.
“You always think too much, my cerebral little princess,” he said soothingly, stroking her back. “If you go through life like that, you’ll never be able to enjoy anything.”
“I want to be happy, Ollie, I really do,” she said, her voice breaking. “But every time I get even a hint of a happy ending, it all slips through my fingers like quicksand.”
“Have you ever considered that maybe those weren’t your happy endings to begin with?”
Chloe stilled, his words penetrating in their simplicity. It was something she’d never once stopped to consider. She’d known Clark for so him and loved him so deeply that she’d never questioned that they were meant to end up together. But what if, all this time, she’d been looking for love in the wrong place?
“Chloe, you and I have gotten the best possible start to this relationship, and it can only get better from here,” he went on, whispering into her hair. “I can’t promise that nothing challenging will ever happen to us, but I will do my absolute best to put a smile on your face, and keep it there. D’you understand me?”
“Mmm-hmm,” she mumbled, nodding at the same time.
He leaned back and smiled down at her. “Good. Try not to over-think things, and just enjoy every day as it comes. That way, you’ll always be happy.”
Chloe swallowed. “Oliver, I hear what you’re saying, and I want this more than anything, but…” she stopped.
“But what, honey?” he prompted.
She sighed, and a solitary tear rolled down her cheek. “I don’t deserve to be happy,” she said quietly.
“And why on earth would you believe that, huh?” he asked gently, brushing away the tear with his thumb.
She swallowed hard before answering with a quiet whisper:
“Because I got Jimmy killed.”
***
Chapter 12…