A/N: The masses have spoken so here is another chapter. This has actually been one of my favorites to write, I really felt Oliver's true character come through in it a bit more than normally. Anyways, take it, I hope you enjoy it. I chose Time To Go by Dean Lewis because I cried the first time I listened to it and I feel like it somewhat captures Oliver's feelings for Logan.

Oliver sat on the beat up leather couch in the living room, reading a book he'd picked up from the library, it was just some mystery that Judas had recommended to him. He looked behind him to the small kitchen before looking back to his book with a soft sigh. The apartment was small and one of them was always sleeping on the couch, but it was fine. It was better than living with his dad anyways. They had a small bathroom, a bedroom, a kitchen, and a living room with a tv that they'd found at a garage sale before Christmas, it had a crack in the corner, but it worked.

It was a quiet Saturday afternoon and Oliver didn't have much to do. Judas was out at work and Oliver had work in a few hours but he had some time to hang out, get homework done, watch tv, and of course, read. It was a week into the new year, but he didn't feel any different. He didn't make resolutions, he didn't really see any point. New Year's resolutions were for rich people who could afford to wait until the beginning of every year to try and make life changes.

He dog-earred his page, closing his book and setting it down as he laid down on the couch, staring up at the ceiling. He had a lot of time to think now that his life was quieting down and settling. He hadn't been hanging out with Logan as much, not because he didn't want to, but Logan was always with Syrus and he didn't want to come in the way of their happy relationship lest he ruin it. He missed Logan sometimes, he mostly only talked to him at school now, but he was kept busy. He had a job at the mall at a clothing outlet, they thought he looked young and attractive enough to sell people clothes and they offered him a discount on everything, but he still refused to spend forty dollars on a shirt even if it used to be eighty. He was also busy with schoolwork, his only shot at college was a scholarship or drowning in student loans. Actually, he'd probably be drowing in loans either way.

He wondered if he'd even need to go to college to get into professional photography. Sure, it was encouraged, but it seemed like something he could do without college. He thought he'd just go to community college for photography and if that career failed, maybe Logan would offer him a job at the already wildly successful business he was being handed. At least he'd be working under a friend even if it was a mind-numbing 9-5 job that he'd inevitably hate for the rest of his life but couldn't leave. He didn't want to think about his future, people like him didn't get futures, he wondered how many people expected that he'd fall into alcohol addiction and end up like his father, a bum living only for visits to bars. He couldn't end up like that, he refused to. He'd live a million boring, mediocre lives before he lived a life as pathetic and destructive as his father's. Oliver needed to at least be a good dad if nothing else, he had to prove to himself that he wasn't his father and he wasn't going to be him. Sometimes when he wanted to give up, he thought about Logan, how the nicest boy he knew was born into the worst life possible, Oliver knew Logan would still be just as sweet and caring even if he was still there, because he just had a kind heart and nothing could ruin that.

He wondered what Logan was doing, if he was okay, if he was happy. He wanted to be a part of Logan's life, but not if he was going to make it worse, and right now, being in it would cause problems because he got the feeling Syrus didn't really like him and he knew Logan didn't want to upset Syrus. Above all, he just wanted Logan to be happy and healthy, he wanted to see him smiling that adorable way he did when his perfect teeth showed with that one that was just a little tilted, his freckles and button nose and the way his face tinted red when Oliver teased him, it was unforgettable.

There was a knock at the door and Oliver sat up, looking towards it before stretching and getting up, walking over to answer it. He unslid the chain lock and unlocked the knob, pulling it open and pausing when he saw who was standing before him. An anger flared up in him just at the sight, but he kept calm.

"Jace." He said. Jace didn't seem like he was picking a fight, he didn't look angry, but Oliver hadn't talked to him since the morning they'd got in a fight, or, more accurately, the morning that he'd beat Jace up.

"Oliver, hey." Jace said, almost seeming cautious.

"I'm not interested in being friends."

"I know, I just..I just need to stay somewhere for a few hours, then I'll leave." Jace said and Oliver looked at him, his arms crossed as he stood at the door deciding whether he should tell Jace to get lost or not. He knew he didn't have any other friends.

"Fine, I'm going to work at 3, you can stay until then. I don't want you in my house when I'm gone." He said. He'd never known Jace to steal, but he'd also never known him to be a liar and look how that turned out.

Jace walked in and they sat on the couch for a while, just watching shows and not talking but sometimes looking over at eachother until Oliver had gotten tired of it and ran his fingers through his hair with a soft sigh.

"What's going on?" He asked quietly and Jace stayed quietly staring at the TV for so long, he wondered if he'd even answer.

"Dad found out..about Tom. They started fighting three hours ago, they're still going at it, they're throwing shit and there's a hole in the wall and it's just..it's never a good idea to get in the middle of all that..but he said he's leaving." Jace said and Oliver nodded a little, folding his hands in his lap.

"Do you think he actually is?" Oliver asked and Jace sat for a minute before licking his lip and then taking a shaky breath.

"Yeah." He said quietly and Oliver looked at him, his jaw locking before he sighed.

"You want a smoke?" He asked and Jace smiled a little, nodding as Oliver stood and walked to the door. "There's a little gazebo out front."

They walked out into the cold, hands shoved in pockets. Oliver still didn't consider him a friend, he didn't trust Jace, but he also knew there were some moments in life where you just have to throw aside your differences and hatred because he didn't want to fight this peaceful offering of vulnerability with fire.

"So what's up with you?" Jace asked and Oliver shrugged.

"Got out of my dad's house. After Judas came home, we got a place together."

"Thought your brother was a dick though." Jace said, taking a drag of his cigarette.

"He's changed. I guess the whole prison thing actually does work for some people." He said and Jace nodded a little.

"I'm happy for him."

"Yeah..me too."

They stood for a minute, staring at the streets glistening with ice and puddles of water and the snow on the ground. It was weird to have snow in January, it usually didn't come til early February, but Oliver supposed winter had just come early.

"What's going on with you and that pierce kid?" Oliver breathed out gray smoke, shaking his head a bit, almost in warning.

"Don't talk about Logan."

"But he's a fag-" Oliver knew Jace's dad was homophobic, he'd be surprised if he wasn't racist too, but he wasn't about to let that give him a pass to talk shit about Logan.

"You don't even know him, Jace, he's the kindest kid I've ever met." Oliver said.

"But he's rich, you know how easy it is to be nice when you're rich?"

"You don't know where he grew up, he was in the system for three fucking years, you even know how much it must suck being tossed around thinking maybe nobody will ever want you? And his parents, fucking hell, they were worse than yours or mine and the things he's fucking seen, he hasn't even told me all of it, I don't know if he even knows all of it." Oliver said. "You hurt a kid who was already broken, Jace, you're a grade A asshole, you know that? That'd be bad enough if he was mean, but he's not, he's sweet to everyone he knows, he wouldn't hurt a fly and you fucking..you hurt him, Jace." Oliver said, shaking his head as he crushed out his cigarette and Jace stood, quiet. Oliver could tell he was thinking.

"I'm sorry.." Jace said quietly.

"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to." Oliver said, looking Jace in the eye. Jace seemed to realize something.

"Are you in love with him or something?" He asked and Oliver took a breath, trying to figure out how to respond. He looked away, lighting another cigarette.

"Yeah, something like that. Don't get your panties in a twist about it." He said, taking a drag.

"Isn't he dating one of the Scott twins?" Jace asked and Oliver nodded.

"And Sy hates me."

"Shit.."

"Yeah, but it's fine, I just..I think this is it? You know? If he wants someone else, I'll be okay, I just probably won't ever fall in love with someone like this again, he's just..perfect in every way." Oliver said softly, looking off at the road again.

"Maybe it'll work out." Jace said and Oliver shrugged. "I mean, I don't know Logan really, but I know you're pretty damn likeable." Jace said and Oliver chuckled, taking another drag of his cigarette as he looked back at Jace.

"You're not so bad when you're not trying to act tough, you know that?" He asked and Jace smiled.

"Least I'm not weak."

"Being nice doesn't make you weak."

"It makes you vulnerable, vulnerable makes you weak."

"Sometimes being vulnerable isn't a bad thing." Oliver pointed out and Jace shrugged, putting out his cigarette with a soft sigh. Oliver checked his watched and looked at Jace.

"I gotta go get ready." He said and Jace nodded.

"Guess I'll be on my way then." Jace said and Oliver nodded in response.

"Find some decent friends, alright? Don't put yourself in the wrong crowd." Oliver said and Jace smiled a bit before walking off to his car and Oliver went inside to get ready for work.

---

When Oliver got home, Judas was in the kitchen making something.

"Hey, squirt, I made chicken noodle soup, you want any?" He asked and Oliver smiled.

"Yeah."

"Alright, grab a bowl, I'll get you some."

"Thanks." He said.

They sat together at their small, foldable table in plastic chairs, but at least it was theirs.

"How was work?" Judas asked and Oliver shrugged.

"It was fine, same as always. I get this huge discount and I was thinking I might get a new jacket because mines starting to wear out." He said referring to the leather jacket sitting on the hook by the door and Judas nodded.

"That's awesome."

"What about you?"

"It was good, I've gotta go back in a bit to work night shift. Do you have your homework done?" Judas asked, talking between bites as they both scarfed down the food.

"Yeah, all but English, but I can do that tomorrow. Oh, I forgot to tell you, I got an offer to do engagement photos." Oliver said with a smiled and Judas grinned, high-fiving him.

"Hey, you go, kid." He said.

For the first time, Oliver felt like he had real family, he had his brother back, the brother that he imagined having, and he didn't care that he had him later than he wanted to, the past was in the past and he wasn't going to keep pretending Judas was still the same as when he was 18.

After dinner they watched a movie and Judas got ready to go back to work while Oliver took a shower and headed to bed. He didn't think there'd ever be a time where his life was less than chaotic, but maybe this was what that felt like, being content, peaceful, instead of constantly angry. He laid his head on his pillow, a small smile on his face as he thought for once that maybe everything would be alright.