Who: Chloe and Dan What: talking about the appearance of certain people Where: their kitchen When: Sun. evening Warnings: LOW Status: closed/in progress
Dan knew the girls would get back from their trip today, and borrowed Chloe’s car to go buy groceries. He kept hoping his car would show up in town, but in the meantime, he could borrow Chloe’s, especially to go buy food for the house. On the list were a lot of staples, and a bakery department cake, even though he knew they’d probably consumed a lot of sugar already.
The grocery store parking lot didn’t seem too busy, which worked for Dan. He finished shopping and was taking the cart back to the cart collection area when he heard his name. “Dan?” As he turned around, Dan really hoped he imagined Charlotte’s voice, but not. There she stood in front of him. “Char…you’re dead?”
“Well, apparently not at the moment.” Dan stared for a moment. “I need…sorry. I have food in Chloe’s car. I need…” he stopped talking because the welcoming committee interrupted and when finished, left. “I can drop you off at the apartment and then we can catch up tomorrow? Trixie gets home today.”
He drove her and dropped her off, answering the questions she had about the town. When Dan got home, he unloaded the groceries in a daze and finally sat down with a glass of water. What…the hell? What the hell?
Chloe had been upstairs in her room when she heard Dan pull into the driveway and she finished up her message to Sam before heading downstairs to help him with the groceries. “Hey, how was-” she knew instantly that something had happened and she moved to stand beside him, reaching out to touch his face with a gentle caress. “Dan, what’s wrong? What happened?” Her ex had certainly been through a lot over the years and she had never seen him like this before.
She shifted against him and moved her fingers to run them through his hair, doing her best to comfort him.
Dan’s eyes closed for a moment to focus on the comfort, before he opened them and looked at Chloe. “I…ran into Charlotte. And drove her to her apartment.” Charlotte looked so happy to see him and Dan’s emotions could best be summarized as ‘mixed’. “I wasn’t ready to see her. And I probably wasn’t as happy to see her as I would before Elena…” He looked at Chloe. “I don’t know how to tell her about Elena or vice versa. Mostly because I don’t know how I feel.”
“Okay, well…” Her hand moved to rest on the back of his chair and she paused to think over what to say. It was definitely not what she was expecting to hear, but in the grand scheme of things, it could have been so much worse. “That’s a difficult situation, Dan, and I’m sure that Charlotte will understand. It’s always jarring to see someone that you love show up. Why don’t you just take it one step at a time? First, figure out how you feel about things, and, considering Elena has been here a while and you’re dating now, I would tell her about things first. You don’t want her to find out and jump to conclusions that aren’t true.”
Dan nodded. He hoped Charlotte understood. Back home he loved her. And he’d always love her. But he moved on here and…he couldn’t imagine not being with Elena.
“I think…I love Char. I always will. But, I moved on here. Is that terrible?” Dan didn’t want to hurt anyone, but he had to do what felt right for him. “I don’t even know what to say. ‘Sorry it’s been a few years and I met someone new? Hope we can hang out sometime?” Then he shook his head. “Oh God that sounded even worse out loud.” He did manage a bit of a laugh.
“No, Dan, it’s not terrible at all. I’m moving on from Lucifer, and I don’t feel guilty about that.” Chloe shrugged, not seeing why he was so worried about it all. “Maybe she’s in a relationship herself and just wants to be friends with you? I mean, given that you’re so concerned about hurting her feelings, you must not have asked.” It was definitely a difficult situation to be in, and she of course sympathized with him, but he was just making it worse for himself with all the thinking and not so much doing.
“Just talk to her, Dan. She might be disappointed, but it’s better to let her know sooner, rather than later.”
Dan nodded and felt so much better after his conversation with Chloe. “Thanks. How are things going with Sam anyway?” He felt with his work schedule he didn’t run into Chloe as much as he’d like.
“No, I will ask. It’s only fair to her.” He started to unpack some groceries. “But you’re happy?” Dan wanted Chloe to be happy. And with Lucifer’s leaving, he’d been worried.
“Sam? Oh, we’re just friends, that’s all.” Chloe assured him with a smile, moving over to the cabinet to get a wine glass and then a bottle from the refrigerator. “Do you want some?” She questioned, pouring herself a glass. “I get to live here in this wonderfully crime free town where I mostly sit around and do nothing all day, and even though I have more time to spend with my daughters, Trixie is getting to the age where it’s not cool to hang out with your mother, so, yes, I’m happy.” She nodded for added emphasis, taking a slow sip from her glass.
Dan raised an eyebrow at the ‘just friends’ comment, but he wouldn’t press Chloe. Somehow he thought it might be more than just friends, but Chloe needed to figure it out on her own without Dan’s pressuring her. Besides, he knew how hard it had been with Lucifer leaving town…again.
“Yes, please,” Dan grinned at the wine offer.
“But, at least it seems like Rory likes to hang out with you, so it seems she passed that age. Maybe Trixie will as well?” Dan had no idea, but he thought it a shame if Trixie passed up time with her family. Of course, Dan was a bit biased, considering his death back home.
Chloe grabbed another glass from the cabinet and poured the wine for Dan, handing it over to him with a smile. “My little baby is all grown up, I can’t believe it.” She sipped at her wine, still in disbelief that Trixie had gone overseas all by herself. Well, unaccompanied by Chloe, that was. “Honestly, I’m just glad she’s happy here. That’s all I can really ask for. Anything else is just a bonus.” Although, if Lucifer were around, she was sure Trixie would be even happier, but it was probably for the best. “Speaking of, I think they should be home soon.”
Dan checked the time and nodded. “They’ll definitely be home soon. Might as well get dinner ready for their return.” He looked at Chloe. “You’re okay she went without us, right?” For Dan, he wanted his daughter to have a full life, because he wouldn’t be around for any big milestones. Here he could be.
“I mean, that depends on your definition of okay.” Chloe laughed and moved to lean back against the counter, taking a drink from her glass. “I’m not okay that she’s growing up so fast, but I know she needs her independence, and I’m okay with that. It’s just really hard to let go, that’s all.”
Dan stared at Chloe for a moment and pondered the best way to say what he thought. He loved Chloe and didn’t want to hurt her. “I think…it’s always going to be harder for you in some ways, because you haven’t had to say goodbye yet. But she deserves a big and wonderful life, Chloe. I know it’s hard. I get it.” He went over and gave her a quick, but tight, hug.
“Dan, I-” She started to protest, as she knew that she had no choice but to let her go, but the mention of him having had to say goodbye hit her emotionally and she fell silent, returning the hug from Dan. “I have no plans to hold her back, don’t worry.”
“It’s okay Chloe. It sucks. And it sucks she doesn’t know.” Dan hated to hide this huge thing from his daughter, but he realized she couldn’t handle it right now. Maybe in the future, but way in the future.