Author's Comment: The final chapter - so titled because every Robin Hood story is supposed to end with the return of King Richard, regardless of the absurdities of the most recent movie. Nothing against Russell Crow, but I was vastly let down by that movie overall.

Chapter 23:

The Lion Heart Returns to England

"I think you should wear the green one," Annette said finally.

Chloe bit her lip. "Are you sure?"

"I'm serious. The pink is pretty on you, but the green brings out your eyes, and I thought you said green was Oliver's favorite color."

"All right," Chloe relented. "Green it is." Annette grinned triumphantly, and began pulling the lacy forrest green concoction off the hanger. "Thanks for coming over, by the way." She paused. "Why are you here again?"

"To help you get ready!" Annette insisted, her tone full of undisclosed meaning.

Chloe narrowed her eyes. "What are you hiding?"

Annette's eyes turned round and innocent. "Me? Hiding something? I can't imagine what you mean! Where are the earrings he gave you on your birthday last year? They'll look perfect with that dress," she added hurriedly, instantly busying herself in going through Chloe's jewelry. "Can I do your makeup?" she asked excitedly, straightening up so quickly Chloe was forcibly reminded of a prairie dog.

Chloe raised her eyebrows. "Um...okay?"

Annette squealed with delight. "Awesome! I brought false eyelashes!" she brandished them happily.

Chloe blinked at her. "Umm...Annette?"

"Yes?"

"First, you're not putting those on my face. Second, what's going on?"

Annette sighed. "Okay, okay. My boyfriend is out of town visiting family and I'm living vicariously through you."

Chloe laughed. "Is that what this is about?" She sat down on the couch. "All right, do your worst."

Oliver was laughing good-naturedly over a joke one of his father's friends had just told, but his laughter died away when he looked up and saw her.

He doubted whether Chloe had ever looked more beautiful in her entire life. He absently passed his drink off to a startled bystander and made his way across the floor to find her.

"What," he asked, placing an appreciative kiss on her lips, "took you so long?"

"Annette," Chloe said, smiling at his welcome, his fingers intertwining with hers. "She went on this big make-over trip. I couldn't break away."

"Makeover, huh?" He dropped one of her hands and used the other to spin her around for his viewing pleasure. "Well I'll have to thank her tomorrow. You look absolutely amazing." He spun her back into his arms and kissed her again.

"Well, thank you. I guess I'll have to thank her as well," Chloe said, pleased. Then a slight crease formed at her brow. "What's got you so on edge?"

He looked confused. "On edge?" he repeated. "I'm fine."

Eyebrow still quirked, she turned her attention to other things. "Where are your parents? I've missed them."

"They're over talking to the Porters. I'll...catch up with you in just a moment."

Chloe didn't miss the way his hand dove unconsciously into his pocket for a second before resurfacing. "Right," she said, staring at his hand. "Don't be long," she added after a moment, smiling again.

He nodded, swallowing tightly as he watched her vanish into the crowd with a swish of green lace.

He nearly jumped a mile when a hand came to rest on his shoulder. He turned to see his father.

"Dad!" he said in surprise. He looked in the direction Chloe had gone. "I just sent - "

"Don't worry, I'll visit with Chloe in a minute. I've missed her, as well."

Oliver nodded, his hand automatically dipping into his pocket again.

"Son, we need to have a chat," Robert said, steering Oliver out of the room and into the hallway.

Oliver barely had time to stutter in surprise.

"Are you absolutely sure you're ready for this?" Robert asked.

"I...um...what?" Oliver asked, confused.

"Please, I think pretty much everyone in that room has figured out what this evening is really about Oliver. The presence of all of Chloe's friends from Metropolis in our kitchen as well as her father were a pretty big giveaway. Not that I mind that the party wasn't solely for your mother and I, of course," he added good-naturedly.

Oliver just stared at his father. "I thought you liked Chloe..." he said weakly, wondering why his father had brought him out there.

"Like her? I love her. I think she's amazing. I have strong suspicions that she's too good for you."

"Thanks, Dad. Love you, too."

"Oliver, look, I don't want us to be missing from the festivities for too long, so I'll just out with it: you won't be able to have a real marriage with Chloe - one that will last forever - if you can't be honest with her. Does she know?"

Oliver's jaw fell open slightly. "Know?" he repeated.

Robert rolled his eyes. "Yes, Oliver. Does she know that you're the Green Arrow?"

Oliver stood stock still, incapable of speaking for a full two minutes before he finally managed the single word, "What?"

"Your mother figured it out. Apparently she's been keeping it from me for a while now and finally told me shortly after our little incident over the Atlantic Ocean."

"How did she -"

Robert shook his head. "She's a mother. They know these things. Don't ask me how. They just do. The more important matter at hand is whether or not Chloe knows."

Oliver, still shell-shocked from this information, barely managed, "I...yeah. She does. Has for almost a year now."

Robert Queen looked mildly surprised and thoroughly impressed. "Does she? Well, good. I guess maybe you do know what you're getting into. We should get back out there."

He turned to leave, and Oliver followed, a man in a trance. Just at the doorway, however, his father turned around abruptly. "I almost forgot to say," he began, resting a hand on Oliver's shoulder and looking him sternly in the eye, "how proud I am of the man you've become, and how much I approve of Chloe and hope she'll give you the answer you're looking for." With that, he squeezed Oliver's shoulder affectionately, and turned away to rejoin the throng of the party.

Oliver wasn't sure what to do. He stood for a moment, staring after his father, still not entirely sure he'd just had the conversation he thought he'd had.

Finally he shook himself, remembering that he was on a mission. He crossed the room to look for Chloe. When he found her, she was being fussed over by his mother.

"Oliver, darling, there you are!" His mother said, coming to give him a kiss on the cheek. "Did your father find you?" she asked, smoothing his lapel.

Oliver nodded, eyes on Chloe.

"Good. I was just telling Chloe about Edinburgh. The two of you should go there sometime. It's absolutely lovely." At this, Chloe's face flushed bright pink in embarrassment.

Oliver grinned. "Yeah, we should."

"You know, I think I see a friend," Laura said, as though she weren't in a room full of people she was friends with. "I'll just leave you two alone," she said, shooting Oliver a significant look.

Oliver tried not to wish the ground would swallow him. At least his mother was leaving before she could drop any more hints.

Chloe was slipping a hand around his elbow, giggling. "I missed your mother," she sighed. "She makes me feel like I'm the most amazing girl she's ever known."

"Well you're the most amazing girl I've ever known," Oliver grinned, "so I guess it's not that much of a stretch."

Chloe beamed, cheeks flushing again.

Oliver steeled himself "Hey, there's something -"

"Chloe Sullivan, you beautiful woman!" Oliver was interrupted by another man pulling Chloe from his arms to give her a fervent kiss on the cheek. "Between you and me, I've been through so many different galaxies I've lost track, but I still haven't seen anyone pretty enough to top Carol or you."

"Hal," Chloe greeted him, pleased to see the Green Lantern safely back in the Milky Way. She gave him a hug. "How are you?"

"I'm great, Chloe. And I owe you big time for the story you set up for me. Looks like it was airtight. I haven't run into one complication since I've been back." He turned to see Oliver. "Ollie. Glad to see you two quit being idiots about each other since I left." He grinned roguishly at Oliver, clapping him on the shoulder.

"Good to see you, too, Hal," Oliver responded with grim sarcasm, though Chloe could tell he was secretly pleased to see Hal.

"So when are you going to make an honest woman out of her?" Hal asked, completely unaware of the context of his joke.

Oliver's ears grew hot and Chloe laughed.

"God knows I could use a little honestly in my life, eh, Ollie?" she asked him, eyes dancing.

"Yep. Definitely. Honesty. Right."

Chloe and Hal both looked at him with raised eyebrows. Suddenly a look of realization came over Hal's face. "Well, I think I see Bruce Wayne. I owe him a good rodent joke. Talk to you kids later."

"Are you feeling all right, Ollie?" Chloe asked when he was gone.

"Yeah, I -"

"Hey, bossman, you seen - hey, Chloelicious!" Chloe allowed herself to be embraced, a startled expression etched across her face.

"Bart? What are you doing here?"

Bart looked like he'd just realized he'd done something stupid, and before he could speak, Oliver intervened.

"That thing you're looking for, Bart? I think it's in-the-kitchen," Oliver said pointedly.

"What are you doing here?" Chloe repeated, still confused.

"Me? Gate-crashing," Bart said unconvincingly. "Free food. Hot ladies. You know me. Right, well I'm going to go get the - the thing. Bye."

Chloe watched him leave with a cinched brow.

"What's Bart doing here?" she asked Oliver.

"Bart? Like he said. Gate-crashing. I asked him to drop by some intel early today. Guess he postponed so he could check out the party."

"He was wearing a tie."

Oliver looked mirthlessly in the direction Bart had run off to and silently promised to clobber him later. "Never mind that. Chloe, let's step outside. I need some air."

She smiled amusedly. "We've barely been here an hour, but okay."

Oliver took her hand and led her outside, both of them blissfully ignorant of the expectant eyes watching their retreating backs.

In the fresh night air, Chloe took an appreciative breath, shivering just a little at the change in climate. "My gosh it's absolutely beautiful out tonight, isn't it?" she asked, looking up at the stars. With no moon out, she could see each and every one. The Queen's gardens were remarkable, floral perfumes dancing daintily on the cool night breeze and the faint rustle of leaves just audible to her. The music from the party hung muffled in the background.

"Stunning," Oliver agreed. He opened his mouth again, but the words didn't come out. Really? Really? After a lifetime of over-confidence, arrogance, and egotism, now he was chickening out?

All of a sudden the words spilled out of him before he could gather himself. "Chloe, will you marry me?" he asked abruptly. So much for smooth.

Chloe's body started violently before it went rigid with surprise. Slowly, she turned to face Oliver.

Taking heart in the fact that she wasn't already stammering out a no, he forged ahead. "I had this whole fantastic speech planned out about how much I love you and care about you and how you bring out the best in me, and there was a great line about sidekicks and partners but for the life of me, I can't remember a word of it, but Chloe," he got down on his knee and pulled a ring out of his pocket, "I love you more than anything in the world and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Please say yes."

Chloe opened her mouth several times and closed it several times. A strangled sob of joy escaped her throat before she finally gave up any attempt at speech and nodded her head fervently, a happy hiccup escaping her as tears filled her eyes. It was all Oliver needed. The next moment he was slipping the ring on her finger and sweeping her into a kiss, happiness so overwhelming him that that kiss was the only outlet he could find for it.

The laughter finally bubbling to Chloe's lips forced their mouths to break apart.

"Please share the joke," Oliver said, grinning as he leaned his forehead against hers.

"You actually managed to keep a secret from me. All of you," she giggled. "I mean, I knew something was up, but I honestly didn't see this coming.

When the two of them finally re-entered the manor and Oliver announced their engagement, they were met with applause and cheers and congratulations a-plenty.

The long list of people who had been hiding in the kitchen finally made their appearances. Clark, Lois, the Justice League, Mrs. Kent, Lana Lang, and of course, her father all had to make their individual sentiments known, most of them pleased. Bart feigned broken-heartedness, and Clark, Lois, and her dad all made some sort of thinly-veiled threat about hurting Chloe, but still smiled and beamed just the same. Oliver was told to "kiss the bride" at least a dozen times, not that he complained. He took the opportunity to kiss her soundly on the mouth every time, leaving Chloe just about swooning by the end of the night.

Oliver's parents in particular were overflowing with congratulations and happiness.

When Chloe and Oliver finally found themselves alone later that night, it was a startling relief to have their hands to themselves.

And Oliver certainly was keeping his hands to himself, Chloe noted with displeasure. Then something finally occurred to her. "Oh my gosh!" she exclaimed abruptly.

"What?" he looked up.

"You're saving yourself!" she accused mirthfully.

He grinned slyly. "Well, not exactly. But sort of."

"What do you mean, 'sort of?' "

"Well," he said, walking up to her to slide his hands over her hips. "I sort of came to the conclusion that it would be particularly romantic to wait for the honeymoon."

Chloe pouted. "That long? What if I don't want to wait?" she asked, smiling deviously as she slid her hands up his chest.

"Well then," he told her with a smirk, "I guess we'll have to see who has the stronger willpower."

Chloe grinned. "Really? It'll be that easy, huh?"

"I've waited this long, haven't I?"

The corner of her lip twitched. "Exactly."

He rolled his eyes. "Have I mentioned how very, very much I love you, future wife?"

Chloe smile softened into a warm glow. "I love you, too, Ollie." She rose up on her toes to kiss him gently. "You're my hero."

Author's Comment: Yes, that's all there is. There isn't any more. If you're wondering what's up to bat, check my profile.

Thanks for everything!

BlueSuedeShoes