Fanfic: In Our Hands - Chlollie

[slytherinpunk]

Title: In Our Hands
Authors: slytherinpunk  and sxymami0909
Rating: M for Mature (eventually NC-17)
Summary: “The palms’ don’t lie, Oliver.” Zatanna acclaimed as he snatched his hand away from her grip, “You have a son."
Spoilers: Canon til Season 10 episode 3... And goes AU from there (Oliver never revealed himself as Green Arrow, and Tess never ran Watchtower) runs with the timeline of the five years of Superman Returns.
Pairings: Chlollie
Status: 18/27
Previous Chapters: Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three, Chapter Four, Chapter Five, Chapter Six, Chapter Seven, Chapter Eight, Chapter Nine, Chapter Ten, Chapter Eleven, Chapter Twelve, Chapter Thirteen, Chapter Fourteen, Chapter Fifteen, Chapter Sixteen, Chapter Seventeen
Disclaimer: We do not own Smallville, nor do we claim to own any other characters therefore owned by DC Comics or CW network.
Fic Banner by: dhfreak
Chapter Banners by: sanaazzy
Special Thanks to: dhfreak  and sanaazzy  for contributing their art skills to this story.
Dedicated to: The wonderful sanaazzy  who fell in love with this fic when I shared the first few chapters, and for never letting me give up on this story, even after brainstorming and failing for a year. Thank you so much for everything. ♥





Chapter Eighteen

Oliver grinned at Chloe as they waited at the bottom of the staircase for Connor to finish getting ready. She had given him the easiest and basic directions to the stores Connor wanted to visit and he had nodded after listening to every detail.

“This feels so surreal,” he whispered to her. He licked his lips anxiously, “If everything goes alright today... Maybe we could tell him soon.”

Taking a sharp breath, he held her gaze, “After we talk I mean...”

Chloe swallowed hard. She knew it would only be a matter of time before Oliver brought up talking again, she'd been trying to put it off for as long as possible because she knew as soon as they talked, everything would change.

She wanted nothing more than to tell Connor who Oliver was. He deserved to know and she didn't like not being honest with him, but she was afraid of what would happen after that. Would Connor be angry that they didn't tell him right away? Would Connor resent her for never telling him who his father was before Oliver had entered their lives?

Would he be happy knowing Oliver was his father only to have him leave and go back home to the team... And his fiance? Because as ridiculous as it sounded Chloe had once again gotten used to his presence in her life and apparently so had Connor or he wouldn't have asked Oliver to take him out today.

What if she left Oliver all those years ago only to have the moment she'd been avoiding all this time find her now? How would she and Connor deal with the fallout? It was clear to her by now that she'd been kidding herself these last six years and she was far from over Oliver.

Chloe was still very much in love with him, so she'd spent the last couple of weeks pretending; letting him into their family because he wanted to know Connor, and because having him there with them was something she had always dreamed of.

She knew she was setting herself up for heartbreak, Oliver was only around for Connor, but for right now, until the other show dropped, Chloe would take what she could get. She glanced over at Oliver and gave him a half smile.

"If you think you're ready to tell him... I can probably get on board with that. This is a big step." Chloe's hand found Oliver's arm and she squeezed it lightly, "He's never asked to go anywhere alone without me before. I mean sure Adrian's driven him home and he's hung out at her house, but he asked for you to take him."

She ran her hand up and down his arm, "This is really good Ollie. I was worried for a little bit... Not because of you, but just because Connor doesn't trust many people. I'm really happy that out of all the people he could trust though, he trusts you." She took a deep breath, her hand stilling on his arm, as their eyes locked, causing her heart to beat slightly faster than normal.

Oliver took her hand, squeezing it gently while hoping he wasn’t over stepping his boundaries with her, Thanks... That means a lot.” He swallowed, shifting his feet slightly as he tried to ignore how fast his heart started pounding at her words and his skin warming at her touch.

He had always had feelings for Chloe, and the affect she had on him was nothing new. But it was becoming increasingly harder for him to ignore.

“I’m all set!” Connor called as he barreled down the stairs and stopped on the last step, trying not to frown at their joined hands, “Are you ready?” He raised a brow at Oliver.

Oliver cleared his throat, letting go of Chloe before patting Connor’s back, “Yup. Your mom just finished giving me directions.”

Connor threw his moms around his mother’s waist, “I love you.”

Chloe grinned, wrapping her arms around him and rubbing his back lightly, "I love you too, kid. Make sure you behave for Ollie, and stay with him."

She released their son and he stepped back from her and glanced at Oliver motioning toward the door. Chloe sucked in a breath as her eyes turned back to Oliver and she gave him a nervous smile, "You boys have fun... I'll see you two when you get home."

Connor waved just before they headed out the door, “I’ll see you when I get home.” He ducked under Oliver’s arm, and Oliver grinned at Chloe over his shoulder, mouthing a ‘thank you’ before they stepped outside.

They headed to the car, and Oliver unlocked the doors and they were off on the road as soon as Connor was buckled up safely in the backseat. Oliver tried to make small talk, but even with what little soccer conversation he could manage, Connor didn’t say much without Oliver having to pry an answer out of him. Even then, most of his responses had been one-worded, like: yeah, sure, and then the one time he used two words; I guess.

By the time they reached the store, Oliver had lost all his confidence about their trip together. As he got out of the car and locked it once Connor was out as well, he shifted, tucking his hands into his back pockets.

Pursing his lips, he glimpsed down at Connor, “So... What kind of target did you have in mind? I’m not sure exactly what you were looking for...”

Connor frowned, “You said you were good at archery.”

A noise escaped Oliver that sounded like a cross between a snort and a humorless chuckle, “Yeah, but not as a kid... I only learned when I had to survive, and then it became a hobby once I got home.” Oliver let out a content sigh, “Sort of the only way I could relax after a long business day.”

Connor shrugged, "Regular targets with plastic covers I guess... The suction cup has to stick to something... So it needs good backing," he started to move forward towards the store and paused when he realized Oliver wasn't following him. He turned and tilted his head up towards the older man, "Well... Are you coming?"

“Yeah,” Oliver walked to catch up with Connor as they headed into the store. It was a sports store, though it was specifically targeted toward the sport of hunting. The front of the store appeared to be the fishing section as there were racks and the wall to their left aligned with fishing poles and tools.

Despite Queen Industries advancement in technologies, Oliver’s father had been big on hunting, insisting it had set a leader apart from the weak and the men from boys, and ultimately would prove a person could survive on their own.

And his father had been right. It was the hunting skills he had acquired on the island that had ensured Oliver his survival. But his father hadn’t taught him to hunt. He had just been a small child when his parents had died in the plane crash, and thus canceled all the hunting trips and holidays Robert Queen had promised to make up to his son in the course of his lifetime.

His eyes scanned to the open back of the store, with the obvious tools, rifles and other assorted guns used for hunting animals. Forsaking archery though, Oliver knew nothing else outside of hunting, and it certainly looked like they had the wrong store.

Raising a brow, he glanced down at Connor, “Where did your mom get the childrens archery set you have now?”

“The internet,” said Connor has he began walking away toward the right of the store.

Oliver opened his mouth, his jaw tensing as he glanced around and tried to think of , “Uh... Con... I don’t think your mom would appreciate me bringing you here... They can’t have anything for children to use.”

“Can I help you?” A store associate popped up from one of the aisles, an older gentleman with a small smile on his face as he addressed them in German.

Oliver shook his head, “Well actually, we were looking for something a child could practice archery with but clearly--”

“Ah, our archery section is this way,” the man directed them, and before Oliver could protest, Connor was following the salesman back to the right corner of the store.

It was an archery section--bows were mounted on the wall behind a glass counter that held arrows of all different types, wood, metal, plastic from the looks of it...

The man strolled behind the counter, nodding to the first row of bows. They were smaller bows, more or less for a child’s size.

“These are our children’s bows,” the salesman lifted his hand and pointed to the section as Connor’s eyes fell over the bows curiously.

They were simple, two stringed, bows and Oliver wondered if the ones Chloe had picked out had been the same.

“This is the Barnett Lil' Banshee Junior bow and arrow set for kids.” The gentleman’s eyes glanced over at Connor for a moment before he reached under the counter and pulled out a box of dull arrows, “Well, he looks about the right age...”

The man turned his attention back to Oliver, “And the set comes with a target.”

Oliver let out an awkward chuckle as he shook his head, “Uh, actually he has a set... We were just looking for a target.”

“Yeah but these are like, real arrows,” Connor objected in English.

Oliver noticed the gentleman raise his brows, and he let out another nervous chuckle as he knelt down closer to Connor, “Con... Your mom got you the safety set for a reason.” Standing up straighter he gave a short nod to the salesman, “Thank you, but his mother would kill me...”

The man frowned slightly, “Its not uncommon for a man to teach his son how to hunt. Your wife will understand.”

Oliver’s mouth fell open as he tried to form words to correct the man, wondering what on Earth Connor had thought of the mans assumption of parentage.

Connor didn’t dwell on the mans words though, he was too busy focusing on what Oliver had said. And he wondered if his mother would really be upset if Oliver purchased the archery set for him. It was a gamble, but he figured it was a good back up plan should his plan A, fail today, as his plan did yesterday.

“Oliver,” Connor spoke in English again. “There are archery clubs all around Europe and Asia... In all different types of schools and academies. Heck, theres one in my school,” he shrugged.

Oliver frowned, “Don’t say heck.” He glanced back at the set on the glass counter as the man observed them, and he sighed, turning back to Connor. “The thing is Con, your mom would be concerned about your safety. Those are dull... But you could still probably manage to poke an eye out.”

Connor’s brows furrowed as he wondered where Oliver had picked up on all these parenting ideas. He had researched him on his computer before they left the house. Oliver had no children, it didn’t even look like he had friends that had children, and the man was an only child; his track of mine didn’t make sense. And Connor had to wonder if Oliver just really knew his mom that well.

“If you’re as good of a teacher that mom claims you to be, then I won’t get hurt,” Connor tried the logic, hoping the flattery worked. “You’ll teach me the right way,” he quickly added when he noticed Oliver hesitating.

Glimpsing back at the man behind the counter, Oliver looked for back up but the man only lifted his shoulders, “They really are very dull arrows.”

Sighing, Oliver dropped his shoulders in defeat and relented, “Alright... We’ll take the set.” He looked down at Connor, “I just hope you can beg your mom not to kill me when we get back.”

Connor wouldn't be begging his Mom not to do anything. If anything this would only help his case. He watched as the man behind the counter smiled and started ringing up the set. Connor pursed his lips before tugging on Oliver's shirt lightly causing the older man to look down on him.

He gave him a small smile and pointed to the aisle a few feet away, "I'm gonna go back down that aisle right there. I think I saw some more cool bows over there. I'll wait there for you okay?" Oliver hesitated but Connor was already moving towards the aisle.

“Uh... Alright, just...” Oliver glanced back as the man began to get the set out to ring up. “Just don’t go anywhere else.” He pulled out his wallet and froze, “And don’t talk to strangers!” He called, taking out his card to hand to the salesman.

The store clerk merely shook his head, “Children... Keep your head up, they never listen.” He studied Oliver for a moment, a knowing look in his eye, “This is your first I take it...?”

Oliver pursed his lips before nodding after a long moment, “Yes..”

The man nodded nearly before Oliver answered, already knowing the answer, “Like I said... Keep your eyes on him,” the man advised him as he handed Oliver the archery set after setting it into a bag.

“Thank you,” Oliver gave his appreciation as he took the set and turned around, heading for one of the aisles Connor motioned he would be near. He didn’t spot him right away, so he tried the next aisle and then the next, until he reached the other side of the store and he felt panic fuel his heart with adrenaline.

Cursing, he rushed back to the counter in the archery section, just catching the salesman leaving his counter for another direction before Oliver held out a hand, and halted the man. “He’s not here! Do you have a restroom?”

Surprise flashed across his face before he shook his head, “Employees only, and its locked.”

Oliver swore in English before rushing out of the store faster than he knew he could run. He reached Chloe’s car, and felt an enormous amount of fear stabbed internally in his chest when he didn’t see Connor waiting beside or in it.

He ripped open the drivers side door, tossing the archery set into the back before he slammed his keys into the ignition while pulling out his cellphone and instantly dialing watchtowers main number, simultaneously turning the while and throwing the car in reverse and pulled out of the parking lot.

He knew there was a time difference, so he wasn’t surprised when Victor didn’t pick up immediately. But every time a ring went unanswered another fear tormented Oliver in his mind at what could have happened or where Connor could be.

Victor picked up the phone on the third ring, his voice slightly groggy as he shifted in his seat, "Hey man, I haven't heard from you in a few days. How's it going over there?"

“Vic,” Oliver felt his throat constrict as he drove up and down the streets while driving by, with no signs of Connor anywhere. “Connor’s gone, Vic.” He swallowed hard, “I’m going to give you a location, and I need you to check all cameras in the area and help me find him.”

Victor sucked in a deep breath and swallowed hard. Oliver had been in Germany for a while and he had thought things were going well. The last email he had gotten from Oliver even said that they were all starting to settle into a routine with each other. He hesitated briefly, "Did Chloe... Did she run again?" He practically held his breath waiting for the other mans answer.

“No... Connor and I were alone and he went down an aisle in a store and...” Oliver paused, and licked his lips, “He was gone... Taken... Ran away... I don’t know.” He took a deep breath before giving Victor the address of the store they had been at. “Use the satellite, hack cameras, I’m driving up the streets now, I need to know where to go.”

Victor could hear the panic in Oliver's voice, so he did his best to stay calm as he leaned forward and pulled up maps of the location Oliver had given him, while hacking into the electrical grid of the town Oliver was staying in. Once he was in, Victor pulled up several cameras, hacking into the video feeds, but there weren't many.

He frowned as he rewound some footage. Victor pursed his lips as he watched a young boy that looked like the photo he'd found of Oliver's son a while back, glance both ways before walking calmly out of the hunting store. He followed his progress for a few blocks, but then there were no more cameras for him to tap into.

He swore softly before clearing his throat, "Okay... I think I saw him. He left the store about five to six minutes before you called me. He was alone, no one coerced him. The camera's caught sight of him turning right when he left the store and going down at least two blocks. He drops off grid for me after that though."

Victor sighed as he tried a few more things, only to hit a dead end, "There aren't any camera's for me to get any footage from... Did you call Chloe? Maybe she knows where he would go..."

Oliver felt his jaw clench at Victor’s relay of camera footage. Connor had runaway on his own?--Willingly? Why?

He couldn’t figure it out, it didn’t even make sense. He and Connor had been getting along and they’d actually made progress, right? Why would he run?

One of his hands tightened on the phone while the other tightened on the wheel, “Look... I should have called her but... I called you first.” He pursed his lips, “And if Connor willingly left the store...” His jaw hardened again, “I need to find him... To work out what issues Con has with me before we alert Chloe on this.”

Victor's brows furrowed, "Oliver... I really think you should call Chloe... If she finds out about this on her own, any ground you've made with her is gonna be lost," when there was no response he sighed. Oliver was going to do what he wanted either way, so he might as well do what he can to help.

Victor pressed a few more buttons as he spoke, "Look if you aren't going to call Chloe, which I think is a bad call, at least tell me what kinds of things Connor is into so we can try to narrow down where he would go."

“I can’t tell Chloe... If I tell her--” Oliver inhaled sharply, “Then I fail... She trusted me with our son... And I can’t--” He tried to ignore the burning of his eyes as the familiar salt filled tears welled and threatened to fall from them. “I can’t fail her, or Connor.”

He glanced at the side streets as he continued to drive in the direction Victor had guided him to, “The problem is I don’t know where he would go... I don’t really know him that well.” He bit his lip as he tried to think of a list of possible places, “His friends maybe?”

Victor shifted as he stared at the screen as he pulled up Connor's school records and started searching through them for to dins out his known acquaintances and if he was involved in any after school activities.

He squinted, voice steady as he spoke, "What about a friends? It says here he plays football, would he go to a teammates...? Have you tried the local fields?"

Victor pursed his lips, tilting his head to the side as he took in the areal map of the town, "Oliver, I need you to take a minute and think like a six year old. He's on foot, so he couldn't have gotten far. If he left on his own... He must have had a reason. Are you two... Getting along? Does he like you?"

“I thought he did!” Oliver pressed his tongue into his cheek as he tried to think, “I don’t know... I mean, everything was going good, I was helping him with soccer... Football practices and then next thing I know he’s locking me in the bathroom while Chloe was in the shower, after lying to get me in there.”

He let out a slow exhale, “Okay... Like a six year old... He loves soccer. Is there a stadium or field near by?”

Victor hit a few more buttons and shook his head even though Oliver could see it, "Not within walking distance and I'm sure he knows that. What else does he like to do Oliver?" Victor panned out, and moved the map to the touch screen monitor as he pointed to certain locations maximizing the size of the images he couldn't see.

Oliver rolled his eyes, “I don’t know! I’ve only known him a little while and I know he loves football and he’s over-protective of his mom and he likes to--” He caught sight of a public library on the corner and he took his foot off the gas pedal, slowing it down. “Read,” he said simply. “He likes to read.”

He took another deep breath as he parked the car, “I think I figured out where he is...” He glanced up at the library, “Vic... Can you tell me if this library has any cameras? And if you can spot Connor going in on the footage?” He gave him the intersecting streets, waiting patiently.

Victor brought up the streets on the map, cross referenced the camera feeds and grinned, "One six-year-old coming right up. The video feed shows him entering the library about five minutes ago. I'm fast forwarding through the footage and it doesn't look like he's left. He should still be inside. I can't get a visual of the inside of the library though." Victor typed in a few codes and hacked into the library's computer system to try and see if Connor maybe used his library card, but as of yet it hadn't been used.

“Perfect. I’ll call you when we get back,” Oliver paused for a moment, feeling his heart steady now that he knew where Connor was and that he was safe. “Thanks again Vic.”

Victor cleared his throat, "No problem man... Glad I can help. Let me know if you need anything else." They said their goodbyes as Oliver pulled open the door and got out of the car, making his way towards the library.

He walked through the the front doors, passing by the kids section and finding no sign of Connor. Frowning, he turned and started walking through the different sections, glancing around at the tables some of the library’s readers were seated at but his eyes still hadn’t caught sight of his son.

“Think like a six year old,” Oliver repeated Victor’s previous words before an idea hit him and he shuffled off toward a section he hadn’t checked yet. He counted a few aisles before stopping when he noticed two small feet in tennis shoes just barely sticking out of one of the aisles.

He moved slowly, leaning a shoulder against the aisle’s bookcase as he peeked around it slowly, catching Connor defenseless, laying down in the middle of the aisle with his nose in a first edition of ‘The Adventures of Robin Hood.’

“I thought you were supposed to wait to read that with your mom,” Oliver pointed out casually.

Connor shot straight up, his eyes widening in surprise, “Y-You...? How... How did you find me?”

Oliver pursed his lips, “The better question is why did you run, Connor?”

Connor scowled before closing the book, and sat up before returning the book to its proper place on its shelf. When he was done he turned to Oliver, crossing his arms over his chest, “Don’t act like you don’t know.”

Narrowing his eyes, Oliver took a step forward, “I really don’t Connor... I thought we were getting along.”

“We were, until--” Connor glared, “I saw it.”

Oliver’s brows furrowed, “Saw what?”

“It,” Connor repeated more harshly. “The way you looked at her.”

“W-What? Who?” Oliver tried to pry Connor for more information.

“My mom,” Connor said bitterly. “I saw the way you looked at her.”

Oliver was taken aback, startled even. “Chloe--I mean... Your mom?” He swallowed, putting on his best poker face, “I don’t know what you mean. How did I look at her, Connor?”

Connor gave him a look of disbelief, “You know how.”

Nodding, Oliver took a deep breath and knelt down till he was nearly level with Connor. “I know you have your assumptions...” He licked his lips nervously, a habit he was beginning to notice that was a constant around Chloe and Connor lately. “But I promise you, I’m not trying to come between you and your mom.”

Connor studied him silently for a moment before raising a brow, “And my dad? Are you trying to come between him and my mom?”

Oliver froze, “Con... It’s--”

“Because she still loves him!” Connor shouted, loud enough for it to echo. “She does! Thats why she doesn’t date other men.”

“I--” Oliver paused, his mouth quivering just slightly, and he attempted to swallow the complicated words he didn’t know how to deliver to Connor. “I can see this upsets you, Connor... But I promise, I’m not trying to take your mom away from you... Or your dad.”

Green eyes watched him closely for several long breaths, “But you love her.” Connor held his gaze strongly, “You love my mom.”

Leaning back, Oliver opened his mouth, ready to deny Connor’s claim when he noticed the determination in his son’s eyes. The color, and the intense determination mirrored Chloe’s perfectly, and Oliver realized if he was truly going to get Connor to trust him, he had to be one hundred percent honest.

“Yes,” he admitted just above a whisper.

Connor swallowed, “For how long?”

Oliver’s lips lifted into a weak, bittersweet smile, “Long before you were born.”

Nodding Connor exhaled slowly, “Okay...”

Standing up straight, Oliver gave a small smile before ruffling Connor’s hair, “Now lets get back to your mom... You’re going to tell her what you did today.”

Connor wrinkled his nose, “Um... Do we have to?”

Oliver chuckled as he put his hand on Connor’s shoulder and ushered him toward the exit, “Oh yeah... You have to.”

----------------------------

Chloe sat on the couch in an olive green blouse and casual jeans, red pen in hand, coffee on the side table next to her as she graded the last of the papers for her class. Oliver and Connor had been gone for a good two hours and she was starting to get slightly antsy. It wasn't that she didn't trust Oliver, because there wasn't anyone she trusted more, she was just anxious to know how things were going between them.

She let out a small sigh as she started marking up the paper in front of her. Chloe was flipping to the last page when she heard the sound of the door opening. She grinned and tossed the papers aside, lifting her coffee mug and moving toward the archway separating the living room from the hallway. She leaned up against the wall, a warm smile settling on her face, "Well if it isn't my two favorite men... How was the store?"

She caught sight of the bag in Oliver's hand before glancing between them, "Were you able to find the targets?"

Connor’s lips thinned together tightly at his mom’s statement... Oliver was one of her favorite men? Yeah... He didn’t like that statement...

He raised an eyebrow while glimpsing up at Oliver, waiting to see how he answered.

Oliver noticed Connor waiting for him and he grunted before turning to Chloe. “We had to buy a different archery set... But Connor’s not going to be using it yet.” He nudged Connor closer to Chloe, “Connor has something to tell you..”

Connor opened his mouth, readying a glare at Oliver before he attempted to close it. Sighing, he turned to his mom and gave her a sheepish look, casting his eyes downward, “I may have runaway from Oliver today...”

Chloe's eyes widened, a hand flying to her stomach as panic settled there. Oliver could tell it took effort for her voice to stay marginally calm. "You may have run away? Connor..." She paused, closing her eyes briefly, and counted to ten in her head before reopening them.

Even though Chloe wanted to yell at both of them, Oliver for not calling her and Connor for running away, she kept her words even. "Connor, I want you to go upstairs, think about what you did. I'll be up there in ten minutes so you can explain to me why you would do something so incredibly dangerous."

Connor frowned, "But Mom..."

She held up a hand, effectively cutting his words off. "Not now, Connor. I will give you a chance to explain, but right now you need to go upstairs, please." He sighed, shoulders slouching as he mumbled to himself while making his way up the stairs.

When he was no longer in sight she glanced at Oliver, arms crossing over her chest as she studied the man in front of her. She pursed her lips as she tried to find the words to express what she was thinking calmly, "I'm not sure what's going on with Connor. He's never run away before... I'm sorry he did that to you..."

Her jaw clenched a spark of anger in her eyes, "But Oliver... If I can't trust you to call me and let me know when something like this happens, how am I supposed to trust you with our son?"

Oliver held up his hand, “Calm down. You have to know I would never put Connor in danger... The second I knew he ran away willingly, I found him easily...” He paused and ran his hand through his hair while sighing, “The thing is... Your trust wasn’t the one I had to earn today, it was Connor’s. You can be mad at me, and you have a right to be. But given I’ve only had two weeks of this, it’s not incredibly fair.”

Chloe opened and closed her mouth several times, surprise on her face trying to digest what Oliver was telling her. She took a calming breath addressing one issue at a time as she let her hands fall to her sides, eyes meeting his, "First off... This is calm. Secondly, I know you'd never put Connor in danger. And yes, it's important for Connor to trust you Oliver, but calling me to let me know he was missing is important too. I know you're new at this. I'm not angry because he ran away from you. That is Connor's fault, not yours. He knows better. I'm angry because you didn't call me and tell me. A simple, ‘Chloe , Connor took off, he's fine I found him and we're heading home would have sufficed’."

Oliver shook his head, “First of all... I didn’t want to be the one to tell you. I wanted Connor to admit to you what he done.”

His eyes lifted to the the top of the staircase, making sure Connor wasn’t listening. “The thing is... He did this because of you. He was trying to protect you and his father’s spot next to you.” He hesitated on whether or not to tell her how Connor had accused of him.

“He just doesn’t want to see you get hurt... And he thought I was trying to... Make a move on you,” he supplied her with a lesser version before giving her a grin. “But we’re okay now. I promised him I wasn’t here to come between you two.”

She sucked in a deep breath, doing her best to release the tension that was in her shoulders, "That doesn't make any sense... Why would Connor feel he needs to protect me? I thought the two of you were okay... Did something happen that made him think you were... Over stepping your bounds?"

She tilted her head to the side a hint of confusion on her face as she swallowed hard, voice soft, "Why would Connor think he needs to protect his Father's place in my life...When he has no idea who you are?"

His lips locked together then before he pursed his lips, “Connor thinks you haven’t dated anyone because you’re... Waiting for his dad.”

Chloe froze, her heart pounding against her chest as she sucked in a heavy breath, her body tensing while she rubbed her arms lightly as if she were cold. It took a great deal of effort for her to hold back tears, her voice barely a whisper when she spoke, "He said that?... Connor talks to you about his Father?"

Oliver swallowed, “Yes.” He said the word so lightly he wasn’t sure if she had heard it at first. “Which is why its so important to me that he gets to know me first.” His eyes lowered, “He already has high expectations...”

She hesitated before speaking, trying to keep her voice calm even though she was anything but. Somehow their son had not only kept the fact that he talked about his Father to Oliver on a regular basis from her, but he also knew that she was still in love with him.

Chloe swallowed hard before speaking. "Why didn't you tell me? Does he talk about him often? What does he say... And more importantly why wouldn't he say anything to me about it?"

“I didn’t tell you because Connor asked me not to.” Oliver drew in a deep breath, “He doesn’t mention it to you because he’s afraid it will hurt you.”

Chloe opened her mouth, but shut it quickly. She had absolutely no clue what to say to that. She'd obviously given away more to their son than she'd ever intended to and he had gone and told Oliver. That was exactly what she needed, for him to know how she'd spent all the years pinning for him while he moved on and started a family with Dinah. She shifted and walked around Oliver as she headed towards the stairs. She needed to talk to Connor.

Oliver reached out, grasping onto her forearm to stop her, “Chloe, don’t... Connor just has things he has to realize on his own...”

She glanced at him and gently shook her arm free, putting some distance between them, "I need to go talk to my son. He needs to know it's not okay to run away from any adult he's with. I'm not going to say anything about what you said."

She let out a bitter laugh, "He obviously doesn't want me to know. But regardless, his behavior needs to be dealt with," when she finished speaking she once again went to move around him.

Oliver moved around her and blocked her path, “Let Connor think about what he did, he knows it was wrong.”

He noticed her mouth twitch slightly, an objection forming on her lips and he quickly sought to strike it out before she could state her case, “We could start dinner...” His eyes softened as he tried to plead with her, “Please.”

Chloe pursed her lips as she glanced towards the stairs and then back at Oliver. She shifted from foot to foot and nodded, "Um... I actually have a few more papers to grade..." She paused before continuing to speak, "Would you mind starting dinner? I have everything out and ready... I can come keep you company.... If you want." Her voice trailed off as she gnawed on her lower lip.

Oliver felt his chest lighten with her words and he nodded, “Sure...” He gave her a small smile before turning into the kitchen and inwardly scorning himself not to show too much affection toward her this time. If a six year old had figured out how he felt about Chloe, then there was no doubt in his mind Chloe had already realized it and was trying to keep her distance. He tried not to read too much into her keeping him company in the kitchen...

“Oh and I think as punishment, Connor shouldn’t be able to practice his archery till Spring.” Oliver chuckled a bit too nervously as they entered the kitchen alone together, and he tried to ignore the way his heart beat seemed to pick up.

Connor had been right... Oliver was still in love with Chloe. He just didn’t know what to do about it.

Next Chapter
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Authors note: Sorry for the late update. Was waiting for the finale-high to die down a bit. Thanks to everyone who begged for an update! Also, for easier navigation for my Chlollie fics, I've created a Chlollie Master-fic List. Also, its highly unlikely I will be posting links to future fics in the Chlollie community. Sad when a few ruin it for others, but what can you do. All updates will have the Chlollie fanfiction tags, and will be posted in the master-fic list.