Flashback (A Road to Redemption follow up story)

A Familiar Face

CHAPTER 1: A Familiar Face

Hey everyone! Before we get to the story, I just had a few things I wanted to say! I wrote "Road to Redemption" over a year and a half ago now and I have been so overjoyed with how popular it has been and how well people have liked it! In the beginning, I had no idea there would be anyone out there who liked Slade the way I did. I simply wrote the story I wished I could read. Since then my confidence has been boosted as a writer, in big part to all of you, my fans! THANK YOU SO SO MUCH FOR ALL THE VOTES, COMMENTS, SUPPORT, AND FOLLOWS! YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME! 

I've heard lots of requests from readers for another Slade and Chastity story over this time, but I just didn't have much to offer. I did however, have the idea for this story, since Chastity's backstory is so deep. And when I started writing this, I remembered all the things I had not gotten to do with Slade and Chas in RTR that I had regretted. So I took this chance and did them! So thank you all! You actually helped me get the venue to do everything I wanted!

Well, enough about that. This story is for you guys! I hope you enjoy it!

"Oh, you brought, Chastity?" Oliver says it politely and cheerily enough, but I can tell that, though it's nothing personal, he didn't expect me to come.

"Yes, I thought if this ended up being something I need to get involved in, it'd be best if Chastity were here with me." Slade says, his hand at the small of my back; supportive and gentle.

I give Oliver a smile and he gives one in return before leading us down the hall. It makes sense to have a hideout under a nightclub as cover, but right now the din of music from the other room is so loud I feel like the bass is shaking my brain.

I look up to Slade, who in turn smiles down at me. These past months have been great. Slade and I are sharing an apartment and though sometimes he's away on business and I'm off doing A.R.G.U.S stuff, we spend as much time together as we can and we talk all the time. The more I know about him, the more I fall in love with him. I couldn't be happier.

I'm left wondering however, when will he propose?

"Here we are." Oliver announces as we reach the metal door. He punches a code into the keypad and leads the way down the stairs into his lair.

I walk in and a smile finds its way onto my face. It's so nice to see everyone again. There's Dig leaning against a support beam, he looks up and gives us a nod. Next to him, only a few feet away is Crystal, her baby bump starting to show. She looks up and gives a toothy grin, her dark hair pulled back into a bun. Then there's Sara standing over the table, talking in earnest to Felicity, Roy and some tall, skinny, dark haired dude I don't recognize. His face isn't visible, his back turned to us.

"Well, we're all here." Oliver says, hopping off the last step and clapping his hands together.

Felicity looks up and smiles. "Hey, Chastity!"

"Hey!" I lift my arm, giving a small wave as I make my way towards the group. Oliver leans against the table, his palms on the glass. "I asked all of you to come here today so that we could talk about a recent problem that's come up." Then the tall lanky dude turns and our eyes meet. I freeze in my tracks.

"Oh my god." I breathe, eyes wide as I stare at him. My breath catches in my throat, it can't be, it can't be. He stares back, his expression equally shocked.

"Chastity, what's wrong?" Slade asks, putting his hands on my shoulders, his body suddenly right beside me, close and comforting. I see the guy's eyes widen at my name.

"Chas? Oh my gosh, it's really you?" Barry asks, his face going slack.

Bear-Bear? This is impossible. It can't be him. I haven't seen him in years. Not since...high school.