Page 101 of Keeping Kara

“Because of you,” Kara said without hesitation. “If I didn’t have you, I’d be a complete mess.”

“No, you wouldn’t,” he countered.

“Yes, I would. From the first second I realized that I’d walked into a trap, and that Nolan had the upper hand, my first thought was of you. That you’d do everything in your power to find me. That you wouldn’t let Nolan live to haunt me again.”

“Damn straight.”

“I got my strength from you. From your love. From knowing you were out there. I swear I even heard you in my head, telling me to hang on just a little longer, that you were on your way.”

Arrow’s eyes closed for a moment, and the love she saw when he opened them again made tingles shoot through Kara.

“At some point when we go visit my mom, we’re getting married,” Arrow said. “Exactly how we’ve planned.”

Her brow lifted. “You aren’t even going to ask me?”

“Will you marry me?”

She blinked, not expecting a marriage proposal in an elevator. But she didn’t hesitate to answer.

“Yes.”

He nodded, and the elevator dinged when the door opened at their floor.

Arrow had a smile on his face as they exited, and Kara could practically see the wheels turning in his head as they walked down the hall. It wasn’t a marriage proposal most women would dream of, but for her, it was perfect. She loved this man. He was her world. He’d proven over and over again how precious she was to him, and she looked forward to spending the rest of her life with him at her side.

In front of Penny’s door, Arrow turned to her and said solemnly. “I’m keeping you, Kara. Finders keepers and all that.”

She giggled. “Seriously?”

“Yup,” he said with a mischievous grin.

“Fine with me.”

“Good.” He reached out without looking and knocked on Penny’s door. “You’re going to get through to her, I know it. I’ll be right here when you’re ready to go.”

His unbending support was just one of the many reasons she loved this man. He leaned in and kissed her just as Penny opened the door.

She had a huge grin on her face as she said, “Hey.”

“Penny,” Arrow said.

Kara knew Pyro was at work, and next week Arrow would join his team back on base, after his leave was up.

“Hi, Chaos!” Bowie said, coming up behind her mom. “You want to play Uno with me?”

“Sure!”

“You’re gonna lose,” Penny said, still smiling. “She’s a card shark. I’m convinced she’s counting cards.”

Arrow gave Kara one last look before he stepped inside, giving his attention to little Bowie.

Before Penny closed the door, she whispered, “I’ll send you the video from the security camera of his little ‘Keeping Kara’ comment.”

Kara returned her grin. “Awesome.”

Then Penny’s smile faded. “Good luck. I hope you can reach her, because nothing I’ve tried seems to do a damn thing.”

“I’ll do my best.”