Home Again. With chloeas.

[olliequeen]

The Watchtower was quiet.

Even though they'd arrived home with Mia over an hour ago, they had all been pretty silent. Emil had allowed Mia to leave under the condition she get plenty of rest at least for the next twenty-four hours, so she was currently curled up asleep--or at least feigning sleep very well (with Mia it was almost impossible to tell)--in her bed. He stood in the doorway of her room, listening intently. Occasionally he heard the faint sound of Chloe's heels on the floor below, and the electronic whirring noise of all the computers.

He leaned his head against the wooden frame of the door, as if simply watching over her would keep her safe. He knew better.

Oliver drew in a breath and let it out slowly, folding his arms across his chest. He heard footsteps on the stairs and he resisted the urge to look over his shoulder, even when he felt the familiar touch land there a moment later. He shut his eyes for a second, then turned slowly, his expression uncertain as he met Chloe's eyes.

Comments

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

He pulled her closer, resting his chin atop her head. "That's not really what I meant," he whispered. "I meant...I dragged her into this life. I didn't stop to think if it was really what was best for her. "I didn't stop to think about the possible consequences."

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

Sighing softly, she rested her cheek against his chest and closed her eyes, "considering the alternative, I think this is a lot better." She told him seriously, rubbing a hand over his back soothingly.

"We need to figure out a way to protect her better, but everything you've given her, Ollie, a home, a family, a chance to belong and do good and take care of herself, love and respect, these things count too."

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

He buried his face against her hair. "I know," he murmured. "I know it counts. It just doesn't feel like enough," he confessed.

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

Chloe lifted a hand to the back of his head, running her fingers through his hair gently, "and it probably never will, because that's just who you are."

She pulled back enough to look at him and smiled slightly, "you always want to make things better for people, you always want to help them more, but what you're doing for her is more than anyone else has, if not her entire life, at least for a while and you need to give yourself a break every now and then."

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

He swallowed hard, relaxing at her touch without even realizing it. He exhaled slowly and nodded, letting his eyes drift shut. "A break huh?"

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

"A break," she repeated quietly, turning her head and pressing a kiss to his cheek, still moving her fingers slowly over his hair, "relax, slow down, let someone else take care of you instead, because there is only so much worrying you can do until you can't take it anymore."

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

He was quiet for a moment. "Mia's on Easter break this week." His voice was soft. "Maybe we could go somewhere now."

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

Chloe took a deep breath and pulled back enough to look at him, "I think that's a good idea."

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

"You think she'll want to go somewhere?" he asked, reaching out and tucking some hair behind her ear.

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," she told him, smiling softly as she leaned into his touch, "I think it will be good for all of us to go out of town for a little while and she will want to be around us. Especially you."

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

He was quiet for a moment, holding her gaze, then leaning forward and kissing her forehead. "I should talk to her when she wakes up."

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

Chloe relaxed, closing her eyes for a second then looking up at him, "where do you think we should go?"

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

He paused, meeting her gaze once more. "Actually, I was thinking maybe we could let Mia pick," he said softly.

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

"Sounds good to me," she agreed with him, studying him closely for a long moment, "and I think being away will help you too."