brittany2922 | Everything Changes With Time Chapter 3/?

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Title: Everything Changes With Time…
Author: brittany2922
Summary: 4 years after the events of Lazarus, Chloe Sullivan suddenly comes back to Metropolis. But her relief to be home is short lived when she realizes how long she's been gone and how much has changed…
Characters: Chloe Sullivan, Oliver Queen, Lois Lane, Clark Kent, Dinah Lance, Bart Allen, Victor Stone, Author Curry, John Jones, Perry White
Rating: PG-13 for now
Genre: Angst/Romance
Words:2,491
Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Chapter 3

The feel of the warm Kansas sun shining through the bedroom window pulled Chloe from her slumber. She was amazed that she had actually managed to sleep so well given everything she had found out the night before. Images of Oliver flooded her mind, but she quickly forced them away. As she went to sit up she felt the warmth of another person under her and realized that she must have fallen asleep while crying in her cousin's lap the night before.

She lifted her head and frowned at the sight of Lois still leaning against the headboard her head cocked to one side in an obviously uncomfortable angle. Chloe slowly reached out and gently touched her cousin's upper arm, "Lois," she said just above a whisper. When she received no response she repeated her name this time a little louder, but still received no reply.

A very small smile played across her lips as she remembered that her cousin always did sleep like the dead. 'At least some things haven't changed' she thought sadly.

Chloe stood from the bed and stretched her arms above her head trying to work out the kinks in her body from sleeping in practically the fetal position all night.

"You're awake," a groggy voice noted from behind her.

"Yeah, I'm sorry about the break down last night." she sighed heavily, "I'm just feeling a little overwhelmed by everything."

"I can't even begin to imagine," Lois said standing from the bed and walking to her. She wrapped her arms tightly around her cousin and held her close, "Thank God you're back."

Chloe leaned into her cousin's embrace and fought back the tears that were threatening to begin falling again.

"Do you want something to eat?" Lois asked gently as she pulled back.

"You cook? I guess a lot has changed." she teased lightly.

Lois pulled back and tossed her a playful glare, "don't worry; it'll be Clark making it."

"Oh thank God, it would suck to come back from the dead only to die again less then twenty four hours later." Lois flinched and Chloe sighed deeply realizing that her way of trying to push aside what had happened to her might not be beneficial to the people around her that she had left behind, "Sorry, bad joke." She said halfheartedly.

"No it's fine really, it's just… you've been gone for so long Chlo." Lois stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her again. She pulled back and smiled at her again, "Okay," she started wiping away a single stray tear that had fallen down her left cheek, "I'm gonna go get Clark to get started on your food." she smiled "what would you like?"

"Anything sounds good," she answered practically salivating at the idea of a real meal. "I'm just gonna take a shower real quick and then I'll be down, okay?"

"Sure thing." Lois answered heading toward the door.

"Hey Lo?" Chloe called out to her cousin.

"Yeah." she turned around and Chloe realized that she was crying again.

"I was just wondering if you had some clothes I could borrow." she pointed to her tattered and dirty clothes that she was still wearing from the night before.

"Of course," Lois said making her way toward the master bedroom that she and Clark now shared.

When she returned she handed Chloe a pile of folded clothes, "there's plenty there to choose from, pick whatever you want." Lois told her with a small smile.

"Thanks Lo." Chloe said as she watched her cousin leave her.

Chloe stood in front of the shower and turned the water onto straight hot. She removed her clothes and climbed in. Standing directly under the scalding water she let her tears begin to fall again praying that the sound of the water drowned out her sobs.

Lois stood in front of Clark her mouth hanging open, "You called him?" she asked her eyes narrowed as she tried to keep from raising her voice at him, the last thing she wanted was for Chloe to hear what she and Clark were talking about. She knew Chloe better then almost anybody and she knew that the last thing she would want right now was to have to face Oliver.

"I had to tell him Lois, you know what she means to him." he answered turning back toward the stove to tend to Chloe's breakfast.

"Yes, I do, and I also know what he means to his wife." She stepped away from him and leaned back against the island in the center of the kitchen her arms crossed over her chest.

"What did you expect me to do Lois? He's our friend too, and he has been living with what happened to her for years. He had a right to know." He stated firmly.

"You may be right, but you know Ollie as well as I do, and we both know that he's probably on his way here as we speak."

Clark lowered his gaze and turned his attention back to the stove; not bothering to deny what they both knew was true.

"How long before he gets here?"

"I spoke to him a couple of hours ago and he was just taking off, he should be here in a couple of hours."

"Way to bury the lead there Clark." she uncrossed her arms and ran her hands over her face, "there's barely anytime to prepare her."

"Prepare me for what?" Chloe spoke up standing on the bottom step. Lois stared at her for a moment taking in the sight of her cousin actually standing in front of her. To say that Chloe's body had taken some kind of abuse over the past few years would be the understatement of the century. She was visibly thinner, her cheeks slightly sunken in and her normally vibrant expressive eyes had lost all their sparkle not to mention the fact that they were marred by the dark circles under them.

Chloe self-consciously ran a hand through her hair now much longer hair, "am I gonna get an answer?" she asked the pair her voice low, 'What do you need to prepare me for?"

Clark handed Lois the spatula he was using to flip the pancakes and walked over to Chloe his eyes filled with guilt, "I called Oliver," he admitted.

"What? Why would you do that? I asked you not to."

"Chloe, I had to tell him. You have no idea what losing you did to him. He was never the same after you disappeared."

"I don't doubt that it did, it hurt me to be away from him, but none of that matters now."

"Chlo, I know things have changed, but you need to see him." he pulled his eyes away from hers, "and he needs to see you." he added softly.

"When?"

"What?"

"When is he going to be here?" she demanded

"In just a couple of hours. He's already on his way."

"Right," she turned her attention to her Lois, "can you please get me out of here?" she asked her voice practically begging.

"Of course." Lois answered picking up Clark's truck keys from the counter,

"Lois…" Clark said with disapproval in his voice.

"Don't 'Lois' me Clark. My main concern here is my cousin, and if she says she's not ready to see him yet then that is her decision to make." She did her best to keep her voice stern.

She knew that Chloe needed to see Oliver but that didn't mean that it should be his and Clark's decision to decide when. She was the one who had been through the real trauma of the situation and everyone needed to do whatever was in their power to help her until she was comfortable enough to face her past.

Chloe side stepped Clark and the cousins made their way toward the front door.

"What am I supposed to tell him when he gets here?" Clark called after them.

Chloe turned back to him wringing her hands gently in front of her, "tell him I'll get in contact with him when I'm ready."

"Chloe wait," Clark said suddenly appearing in front of the women. He placed his hands tenderly on her upper arms, "you have to see him sooner or later. So why don't you just sit down, have some breakfast and wait for him?"

"Is he…" she paused for a moment and took several deep breaths, "is he coming alone?"

It was then that Lois realized that what her cousin was more afraid of then anything was seeing Oliver and Dinah together.

"Just him, I promise. Will you please stay?" he pleaded.

"Okay." she agreed weakly.

Chloe sat at the table the meal that Clark had cooked now sat in front of her cold as she poked at it with her fork. Her stomach was tied in knots at the thought of seeing the man she had been stupid enough to believe had waited for her all this time.

"Chlo?" Lois said pulling her from her thoughts. She looked up at her cousin, "are you sure you're up for this?" she asked her forehead furrowed in concern.

"No, but Clark is right. Putting off seeing him won't make it any easier." she admitted softly, "where did he go anyway?" she asked noticing that Clark was no longer sitting across from her.

"You know he's off," she lifted her hand in a swooping flying motion, "taking care of business."

"Right… wait so he can finally do the flying thing!"

"Yeah it started when he finally fully embraced his destiny," Lois said proudly.

"I'm glad you know the truth about everything now, Lo," she lowered her gaze to the table, "I always felt guilty keeping you in the dark like I did, it just wasn't…"

"I know," Lois interrupted, "it wasn't your secret to tell."

"Yeah."

"I understand Chlo; if there's anyone who would get it it's me. I mean I've been keeping the secrets of our little club of super friends for years now."

"How long has it been Lo?" Chloe asked finally feeling strong enough to find out long she had actually been gone.

"About four years." Lois said so low her voice was just barely above a whisper.

"Four years." Chloe repeated her cousin's words. "No wonder he didn't wait. Four years is a pretty long time."

Lois reached across the table and placed her hand over Chloe's, "He never got over you."

Chloe cleared her throat and fought back tears, "it doesn't matter now anyway… everything's changed."

"I don't wanna lie to you and tell you that everything is going to work out exactly the way you thought it would when you got back, but I know better then anyone how strong you are. You'll make it through. No matter what happens."

Chloe nodded she knew Lois was right, after everything she had been through in her life she knew she could survive anything, even losing the love of her life.

Oliver climbed out of his car and walked toward the Kent farmhouse. It only took him a moment to see her.

She was sitting on the porch swing. Her normally short bobbed hair had grown out and was now past her shoulders. She looked like an angel the way the sunlight reflected off her golden hair, of course that made sense considering she was his angel, and long before she traded her life for his. She had been for years before that, watching out for him and their team and making sure they got out of every scrape they managed to find themselves in during their missions and during their everyday lives.

She didn't look at him as he climbed the steps and made his way across the porch, but he knew she knew he was there when her posture tensed. He sat down on the swing beside her his hands itching to reach out and touch her, but he fought the urge and just kept his eyes locked on her profile as she continued to look out across the Kent property. It wasn't until he saw her lower lip tremble slightly that he rose from the swing and turned. He knelt down in front of her and lifted his hand to her cheek.

She finally lowered her gaze to him, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears. Neither of them spoke as he pulled his hand from her face and wrapped his arms tightly around her and then lowered his head to her lap.

They sat there in silence, as he fought the urge to say something to her just so he could hear her voice, but he knew once he did the spell would be broken and they would have to talk about everything that had happened, so he didn't move, didn't speak just reveled in the feel of her and the knowledge that she was alive and sitting right in front of him. When he felt her fingertips begin to run gently through his hair he let go and cried.

A/N Hope everyone liked chapter 3, I know there wasn't much Chlollie in this chapter but I promise next chapter there will be a lot.

I won't be able to post until early next week because tomorrow is my anniversary but I think it'll be worth the wait…

Read Chapter 4 HERE!

Current Mood: excited

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

iluvaqt.livejournal.com

:(((( The end of the chapter nearly made me cry. But it was a perfect scene. How can you find the words after so long.

I was a little apprehensive to hit and read since I've started my own Lazarus follow on but you've got such a different tone and story behind her return that I'm not so anxious that it's going to impact my writing. Also I'm nearly past her meeting up with Oliver again, so I'm pretty sure it's going to play out very differently. :D

I love your Chlo-Lo in this. I love when they show that on SV. They're like best friends and sisters more than cousins.

"I'm glad you know the truth about everything now, Lo," she lowered her gaze to the table, "I always felt guilty keeping you in the dark like I did, it just wasn't…"

"I know," Lois interrupted, "it wasn't your secret to tell."

I especially loved that. You know it had to be hard for Chloe, especially when Clark started dating Lois, and she noticed how much Lois loved him, and all the trouble with doing things for the Blur and the ZodBlur the danger and such. :) So I loved that you put it out there and addressed it.

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Everything Changes With Time Chapter 3/?

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