Coming home to dl_greenarrow and <lj site="livejournal.com" user=

[chloesullivan]

Chloe got home a little later than she'd been expecting to, she had expected to be there nearly two hours ago and she was relieved Oliver was living with them now and felt comfortable enough to stay with Maddie, but she didn't want to abuse him or even for Maddie to get too attached to him only for them to have to go their separate ways again.

She had missed dinner time and she was glad she had bathed Maddie before she left for her work meeting and the to go see Lois, which had turned into her seeing Clark instead, but it was almost Maddie's bedtime and she couldn't help but wonder how behind on her schedule her daughter would be.

With a deep breath, Chloe unlocked the door and stepped inside, stilling when she saw her daughter leaning sleepily against Oliver even as she colored whatever drawing that was in front of her. Chloe took a deep breath and pursed her lips together, for someone who had never had a father figure in her life, Maddie seemed to like having him around a lot.

"Hey," she said quietly, "sorry I'm late."

Comments

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

Oliver was intently focused on the drawing that he and Maddie were both coloring, and he was actually a little startled when Chloe stepped inside. "Oh. Hey. It's all right," he told her, glancing down at Maddie and smiling a little.

[ifeelittoo.livejournal.com]

"Mommy!" Maddie said, pushing herself up and running up to her mom, wrapping her arms around her leg.

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

Chloe smiled and hugged Maddie back for a second before reaching down and picking her up, hugging her to her chest, "hey honey," she told her quietly, kissing her cheek, "did you have fun today?"

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

Oliver held his breath as he rose to his feet, wondering what the girl's answer would be. He wasn't even sure why it mattered to him that she answered in the affirmative, it just was.

[ifeelittoo.livejournal.com]

"Yes!" She said, bouncing a little in her mom's arms, "we made cookies and then we ate and then uncle Ollie played with me and then I got on my pajamas and then we were coloring!"

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

Chloe smiled and nodded glancing at Ollie then back at her daughter, "sounds like an eventful day."

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

"We stayed busy," he told her with a grin, looking from Maddie to Chloe, and rubbing the back of his neck.

[ifeelittoo.livejournal.com]

"Can we read Tinkerbell tonight?" Maddie asked, adjusting on the bed and making room for her mom.

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

Chloe smiled and nodded, walking over to the bookshelf and picking up the book from it, "have a seat," she offered Oliver, motioning toward the rocking chair that was by the bed before laying down next to Maddie.

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

Drawing in a breath, he hesitantly crossed the floor, careful not to step on any of the little girl's toys as he made his way toward the rocking chair and sat down. He looked from her to Chloe and then back again.

[ifeelittoo.livejournal.com]

Maddie snuggled against her mom and smiled over at Ollie, waving at him then sighing softly and listening to her story, her eyes starting to close a moment later.

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

Chloe kept on reading as she felt Maddie relax against her, once her breathing had evened out, she took a deep breath and pressed a soft kiss to Maddie's head, closing the book and glancing over at Oliver.

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

There was a soft smile on his face as he gazed at the now-sleeping Maddie and it took him a moment to realize Chloe was looking at him. He met her gaze and rose to his feet once more, rubbing the back of his neck as he headed for the door.

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

Oliver considered that, watching her for a moment. "Actually, I have another idea," he murmured, raising his eyebrows.

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

She cocked her head and arched her eyebrows a little, facing him, "okay?"

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

He smiled a little bit. "If we can narrow down where the files are, I have an old friend who could be in and out of wherever in the blink of an eye."

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

"You're still in contact with Bart?" She asked, surprised.

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

He paused at that. "No. I was thinking of someone else actually," he admitted quietly. "Someone who owes me a no-questions asked favor and who has no ties to the whole Doomsday situation."

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

Her eyes narrowed a little and Chloe stared at him, not liking this as much all of the sudden, bringing more people in was not ideal, especially someone who wasn't a part of the team, "who?"

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

Oliver nodded slowly at that. "Because of Maddie," he murmured, searching her eyes.

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

Chloe nodded, watching him closely, "I didn't want Clark to be able to find me, especially before I knew for sure if she was going to be okay."

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

He held her gaze without waver, then held his hand out to her wordlessly, nodding toward the sofa.

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

She raised her eyebrows a little then took a deep breath and took his hand then sat back down, her eyes still on his face.

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

"I'm sorry you had to go through all of this alone," he whispered, not letting go of her hand.

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

"Ollie," she let out a breath and shook her head, squeezing his hand, "you don't have to apologize, I didn't want anyone around," she admitted quietly.