An Open Fire. With chloeas.

[dl_greenarrow]

Oliver lay on the floor of the cabin, stretched out in front of the fireplace, watching the flames dance and flicker before him. He glanced up when he caught sight of movement from the corner of his eye and smiled a bit when he turned to see Chloe staring out the window at the rapidly falling snow

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[dl_greenarrow]

He opened his mouth to respond, but found he was a little speechless for a moment. "You know me scarily well."

[chloeas]

With a shrug, she cocked her head slightly, watching him, "I'm observant." She teased.

[dl_greenarrow]

He smiled. "That you are," he agreed, giving her hand another light squeeze.

[chloeas]

Chloe watched him silently for a second, "I know you have been worried about me," she had had that feeling since they saw Lois' memory from the future and she had nearly broken down, he had since made more of an effort to be around her, so much that he had left his perfectly comfortable clock tower behind and had moved into the Watchtower with her, "and I appreciate you concern. A lot."

Probably more than she could actually tell him, "and I also appreciate the opportunity to relax and try to get my mind off of things."

[dl_greenarrow]

Oliver drew in a breath and let it out slowly, studying her. "You're right, I have been worried," he said softly. But the worry had begun long before Lois's visions of the future. "And I hope this trip's helped at least some."

[chloeas]

"It is helping," she said softly, eyes on his, the fact that he had been going out of his way to take care of her alone was already a huge help, especially now that she knew for sure was what he was doing, "thank you."

[dl_greenarrow]

"You're welcome," he said softly, nodding, holding her gaze. "Anytime you need anything, Chloe, I'm always available. I don't care what else is going on."

[chloeas]

She linked her fingers through his and squeezed his hand once more, "I know, thank you," she felt like she couldn't stop thanking him, "same goes to you."

[dl_greenarrow]

He leaned in and kissed her forehead gently, not really sure what made him do it, but unable to resist the impulse just the same. "Thank you."

[chloeas]

It should have felt awkward, or in the very least, she should have been surprised by his actions, but she wasn't, instead, she just lowered his head slightly for him and closed her eyes.

[dl_greenarrow]

He leaned his head against hers for a moment, then rested his head on his arm once more, gazing at her. "This is new for me."

[chloeas]

Blinking, she looked up at him and raised her eyebrows, "what is?"

[dl_greenarrow]

"Having an actual best friend," he admitted. He smiled a bit, almost embarrassed by the admission, despite the honesty of it. He'd never let anyone too close, but somehow Chloe had managed to sneak past his well-guarded walls and wheedle her way into his life to claim the position, whether she'd wanted or meant to or not.

[chloeas]

Her face softened at his words and she felt like leaning closer and wrapping her arms around him tightly, but she settled for squeezing his hand hard, without hurting him, Oliver's life sounded so lonely if she thought about it and all this time she had been so focused on herself and on her work, she hadn't noticed him reaching out to her time and time again "that's not going to change anymore." She told him quietly.

[dl_greenarrow]

He grinned. "No, you're stuck with me now," he teased. He squeezed her hand gently in return.

[chloeas]

"Lucky me," she told him with a smile, not even a hint of sarcasm in her voice.