CHAPTER 1

LONG DISTANCE HEARTACHE

"We loved with a love that was more than love."

-Edgar Allen Poe


There's this old saying, "Wisdom is to live in the present, plan for the future and profit from the past" Katie liked to think of herself as a wise person and for some reason this saying rang so true in her life all of a sudden. A year ago Katie stood in a hotel room and listened to a story that shook her entire word.

"Say something Robins." Bruce said to Katie who stood staring out the window after Waller told her this impossible story of her father the ARGUS agent who orchestrated her kidnapping in an effort to prepare her for a fight he believed that she could take on in his absence. It's strange how in the span of a couple of minutes, hundreds of questions Katie carried with her since that night a group of extremists broke into a small hospital and took her with them, were just answered. A part of her didn't want to believe it. A part of her couldn't imagine her father, the kindhearted man who bled business, would carry such a secret as this.

"Katie I think it's time we discussed the next step." Waller said walking to Katie's side.

"I think you should give her a minute." Bruce said, his voice full of warning. "You just threw an atomic bomb on her life, she needs to process this."

"I love how you assume time is something we have the luxury of wasting" Amanda bit back to the man before turning to Katie. "Jacob's place here in Starling was crucial to this operation. We've set up agents all over the world whose mission is to pass along information to us so we can possibly stop astronomical things from happening."

"And the Undertaking?" Katie asked not even bothering to turn to the woman.

"Your father was still gathering information, we didn't know what this Undertaking really was. If we did, we would've helped stop it."

"Why do I find that hard to believe?" Katie muttered with a shake of her head.

"At this point what you believe truly doesn't matter. These are the facts and now we must discuss what comes next."

"No." Katie said with a nod to herself. She finally turned to the woman who stared in obvious annoyance. "No." she turned and walked over to her suit case, grabbing the handle before turning to Waller and Bruce. "Four years ago my life went to shit and right now you're telling me that the person who loved me the most is the reason. You're telling me that he concocted this plan to prepare me for a fight that he thought me and Oliver could take on for this city."

"Robins-"

"You do not speak now!" Katie growled angrily with a look so dark that it caused a chill down his spine. "You lied to me, you kept things from me and I do not trust you anymore. I want you to leave Starling, get on your plane, forget what ever noble reason you had to create for yourself for why you're here and take your ass home." Katie's eyes turned to Waller and the darkened look in her eyes seemed to get even darker. " I do not see you again in my city unless I call for you, do you understand?" The woman opened her mouth to speak, but Katie wasn't going to let her. "You are a self serving bitch whose sole purpose is self preservation and I doubt my father even cared for you. There is more to this story, something you're not telling me and I will figure it out, but until I do, you need to make your presence in this city very seldom." Katie cast a final glance to Bruce before turning and stalking out of that room.

Katie made a decision that day she walked out of that hotel room. She decided that her life wasn't something she was going to allow to be orchestrated or maneuvered without her input. And so a year later, she laid in a very uncomfortable hospital bed, staring up to the pale white ceiling that looked utterly depressing in the moon light that filtered through the window.

"Wakey, wakey, eggs and-" the voice stopped when Katie sat up, her eyes clearly open. "Oh, you're up. I thought you'd be dead to the world at this point. Especially after the night you've had"

"Oh, Becks, I probably should, but something about trying to stop of man from bleeding after knife fight in a bar doesn't really make me want to count sheep." Katie said sitting up from the bed.

"Well maybe you'll be telling a different story once you get home. Samson's here and your shift is finally over." Rebecca replied to which Katie let out a dramatic sigh of relief as she stepped from the bed. "You here tomorrow?"

"Absolutely not." Katie said heading out the door as the women walked down the now calmed halls of the hospital. "I am off for the next three days since I picked up that shift for Barnes last week. It's going to be my own little mini vacation."

"Well aren't you lucky?" Rebecca replied giving Katie a nudge. "Well enjoy it while you can, because this place will be waiting for you when you get back."

"Don't I know it." Katie sighed before pushing her way inside the locker room. After changing out of her scrubs, Katie pulled on her hoodie and tossed her bag over her shoulder before heading for the door. She thought a clean getaway was possible, until a familiar face appeared beside her. "I've had to endure your presence for an entire night, could you just quit while you're ahead Ethan."

"Aw, but Kit Kat, I quite enjoy our nights together." the man said bringing an arm around her shoulder. "Life here at Glades Memorial Hospital was dull and dreary and then the gods smiled down on me and they finally hired a hot doctor who's actually good at what she does. Shoot me for being excited."

"Alright, I will." Katie said as they passed through the sliding doors. "Shoot that is." she pushed his arm from around her, tossing up her hood as she began walking away.

"Let me give you a ride!" he called after her, and Katie simply turned walking backwards.

"No thanks, I like to walk!" she called back to him before turning back around.

"I have absolutely no idea why you just won't buy a car. You're loaded!"

"Thanks for screaming that Ethan!" Katie called over her shoulder with a shake of her head. In all reality Katie wasn't really going to far. She was sure this time of night Felicity and John would still be at the foundry and so she decided to check in.

She was standing at an intersection about to cross the street when a blood curdling scream met her ears. It was really late, but there were still a few people around, but no one that she could see who was in distress. The signal changed telling her that she could finally cross the street and for the briefest of moments Katie thought she would, and yet when she heard the scream once more, instincts she wished she didn't have kicked in. She turned on her heel and ran in search of the source of scream. It was the third scream, where Katie finally pinpointed where it was coming from.

"Creepy dark alley, of course." Katie said taking a deep breath before walking toward the apparent danger. She almost wanted to laugh at the cliche scene before her. A woman fighting against an attacker in a dark alley. She would laugh if this scene wasn't now an everyday occurrence in the battered streets of the Glades. "Let her go!" the man stopped his attacked and turned to Katie, a smile coming to his lips at the woman. "Haven't you ever heard the saying, no means no you bastard?" the man let the woman go, and turned his full attention to Katie.

"No, but I have heard the one about a little girl trying to beat the big bad wolf. Let me tell you it doesn't end well for the girl." The man ran to tackle Katie who easily dodged him, letting him barrel into the cold concrete instead. "You know what's funny, is that you assume you're the wolf in this scenario." Katie looked over to the woman who stood shaking, holding her purse against her chest. "Get out of here and if you insist on walking down these streets, get some self defense training, or a gun" the man tried to get up, but Katie simply gave him a hard kick to the gut before looking back over to the woman who seemed scared still. "Seriously, go!" that seemed to snap some sense into the woman, who just took off running. Katie looked down to the perp, who laid face down on the ground. "Now what shall we do with you?"

"Bite me bitch!" he growled and Katie couldn't help but chuckle.

"I would, but just being around you now is making my skin crawl." Katie said looking around for an idea. That's when she spotted some rope, loosely tied to a nearby fence. "Well that could work."

Soon Katie found herself back in route toward the foundry, after stopping by a nearby payphone to give the police the heads up on a guy she was sure is a wanted man. When she arrived at the foundry, she chose to take the basement entrance, seeing the lights of the club on and bright.

Thea needed a distraction from her life and the things that were happening with her mother, and Verdant was that distraction. When Katie walked inside, she found Felicity and John standing in front of one of Felicity's computers. Katie couldn't help but let her eyes wander over the new tricked out arrow cave as they were calling it. Her eyes went to the display case that held the green hood of a man who abandoned his city and a sigh escaped her lips.

"Oh!" Felicity said looking up finally noticing the new face. "Hi, we didn't even hear you come in." she looked over to Katie who looked a little worn. "Long night?"

"If you consider a twelve hour shift followed by kicking a mugger's ass a long night, well then yes, I did I have a long night" Katie said dropping her bag to the floor and stretching out her tired muscles.

"You know I think I remember us having a discussion about you out there-"

"I'm not a vigilante." Katie said stopping the man's lecture before it can even start. "I'm not looking to put on a mask and fight crime, but in the case that I'm walking down the street and I hear someone screaming for their life because some prick decided they wanted a little extra cash, then I get involved."

"Sweetie, that's kind of a vigilante." Felicity said and Katie turned a glare toward her. "Normal people call the police to handle things like that. I mean there's nothing wrong if you want to go out there, it's just you should really protect yourself, some sort of identity protection you know."

" I don't need a mask."

"You're saying that now, but one day someone's going to get wind of the doctor who fights crime in her free time and you're going to wish you had that mask." John said before looking back down to the computer.

"Alright dad, so what are you guys up to this fine crime filled night?" Katie asked and they both looked over to her with very serious looks. " Did my puppy die? Do I have a puppy?" she turned away slightly in thought. "Did you guys get me a puppy and then he died?" she turned back to them and not even a crack of a smile. "I don't care, even with my lack of sleep and caffeine, that was pretty damn funny."

"We found him." Felicity said finally and Katie turned to her. "Oliver, John used some of his old contacts to track some of his purchases and-" Felicity noticed the blank stare that the woman now wore and so she just stopped. "We found him."

"And we're going to get him and bring him home." John said and Katie turned her eyes to him. "I was going to call you, but now that you're here-" Katie still had yet to speak, which made them both nervous. "What are you thinking?" Katie's mind flashed to the moment she heard words she'd been desperate to hear pass through the lips of the man she'd tried her best to forget. "Katie?"

"Good luck." Katie said bending down to pick up her bag and pulling it back on her shoulder.

"We could use your help" Felicity spoke as Katie turned about to leave. "He thinks he's failed and we need to convince him that this city still needs him and we think that no one could do that better than you." Katie turned, her eyes going to the display.

"Look we've assumed that things ended badly with you two, but this city it needs Oliver and-"

"You ever hear the saying, "Wisdom is to live in the present, plan for the future and profit from the past." Katie asked and both stared waiting for her to continue. "Oliver burned me twice and I would be a fool to let him do it again."

"This might sound kind of heartless and I'm sorry, but yhis is no longer just about you and Oliver, this is about the city and-"

"Are you still apart of this team?" John asked finally and Katie turned to him. "I think that's what it all boils down to right. We are a team of people who protect this city and when one of us strays we do what we can to bring them back." Katie dropped her head letting out a deep breath. Since Oliver's departure her closest friends have been the two people in front of her. They were there even when she didn't want them to and now they're asking her to do the one thing she really doesn't want to do.

"He broke my heart." Katie whispered bringing her eyes back to them. "So you need my help finding bad guys or you need me to stitch you up, then I will be there with bells on. But you ask me to go with you to god knows where and look the man in the eye who reached inside my chest and took my heart before stomping on it, and beg him to return to a city he abandoned, then no if that's what being apart of this team is, then I can't be apart of it."

"Fine." Felicity said with a nod. "We understand, and we won't push you." she looked over to John who nodded as well. "And this isn't some you either do it or you're off the team sort of thing." she looked back to Katie. "John and I can do this, and hell maybe someone staying back could be a good thing, right?"

"Yeah, if something happens it would be good to have someone know where we are." John said looking over to Katie who nodded. "According to my contacts Oliver has returned to the island where he was marooned." Katie turned away with a slight shake of her head. She knew how horrible Oliver thought that place was and for him to return, then he really did must want to punish himself. "Lian Yu." The moment the words came of John's mouth, Katie's eyes snapped back to him. "What?" Katie dropped her bag before walking over and looking down to the computer to a map that highlighted the island.

"The name of Oliver's island, is Lian Yu?" Katie asked seeing the name right there in front of her. It was a name of her own tormentor and she didn't understand the significance until now.

"Yeah, why, did he not tell you about it?" John asked.

"No" Katie replied with a shake of her head, her eye unable to turn from the screen. "He kept his secrets and I kept mine and we didn't push"

"But you know the name?" Felicity asked and Katie turned to her. "How?" Katie shook her head before walking back over to her bag.

"I don't, it just sounded familiar." Katie replied turning back to them. "Email me all of your flight information and how long you will be gone for. If you're one minute late, I'm sending the national guard to find you."

"You know that does sound a bit reassuring." Felicity said with a smile turning to John. "I mean the national guard?" she turned back to Katie with a sudden furrow brow. "Can you do that?"

"You will find out Smoaks." Katie replied giving them both a wave before turning and leaving.

When Katie arrived home, she showered and changed before ending up in the place in front of her bed. This happened quite often, where the need to sleep was obvious, but the actual sleeping part just didn't happen. Since Oliver left her demons have come and practically become an everyday part of her life. It's just when she sleeps, it's worse. She's forced into a past that she would rather forget and for a while she had no idea how to fight it. That is until she discovered the white pills in her hand. Her eyes looked down to the pills before she placed them in her mouth and washed them down with water. After that she went to where all her nights were spent.

Katie's basement has gone through renovations itself in the past couple of week. There have been some additions, one in particular is the katana that hangs on her wall. The moment her foot touches the floor she heads over and plucks the sword from the wall, a feeling of calmness passes over her at the weight in her hand. Her eyes close as she stretches her neck from side to side, taking in a deep breath.

The room was filled with the sharp clangs of the swords striking one another. Katie's eyes fell to Bruce, one too many times, and just like that she's falling on her back, with his sword being pointed right in her face.

"You need to focus Robins." Bruce said moving his sword before taking a step forward to hold out a hand to help her to her feet.

"I'm not sure how I can do that" Katie whispered letting him help her to her feet. "Bruce, this is crazy. I don't even know why I'm here, and now you're here and I find out that at some point we are going to have to fight to the death." Bruce didn't say anything as he reached forward to pick up Katie's sword and hold it out to her. "Aren't you a little concerned because I am. I can't kill you, I can't-"

"You need to stop talking." Bruce said grabbing her top and shoving her against a nearby wall. He brought his face in close, not allowing any of the wondering eyes of Ra's league to see what they were saying. "Do you trust me?" Katie stared at him for a moment before nodding. "Then trust me. I will get you out of here." Katie nodded once again before shoving the man back, before taking a step forward, swinging her sword to meet his.

Katie found herself lying on her matted floor, her heart ramming in her chest, the sword in her hand lying at her side. Her eyes looked to the ceiling of the now dark room as quick images flashed in her head letting her know that her pills were wearing off.

She heard the sound of her doorbell and got to her feet, placing the katana back in it's place against the wall before turning and rushing up the stairs.

"Who is it?" she asks instinctively before opening the door.

"Your worst enemy" a voice sang from the other side of the door and Katie let out a long sigh before reaching forward and pulling open the door. "Why are you all sweaty and gross, it's like six o'clock in the morning."

"You know I think we've talked about you just showing up at my house Jeremy" Katie said when the man just walked in without an invitation. He pushed the garment bag in his hand into her chest before heading off to the kitchen.

"I know, but this is important!" he called back to her. Katie rolled her eyes, closing her door before heading off after him. "Stellmoor International." the man says his head in her refrigerator.

"What is that?"

"Our new worse nightmare." Jeremy said pulling out a carton of milk and grabbing a box of cereal from the top of the refrigerator. "They're this big company who takes other companies and eats them, taking all their assets with them."

"What are you talking about?"

"This company likes to buy other companies and a guts them like a fish after they drain all the assets they can. "Jeremy replied grabbing a bowl. "Word on wall street is that they're in Starling and QC and RI are in their sights."

"They just can't buy my company" Katie said tossing the garment bag on the table. "I'm not selling it."

"Oh, my dear cousin, why didn't my uncle force you to taken a business major." Jeremy replied walking around the counter to stand in front of her. "Look, how this works is if Stellmoor brings enough money to our investors, they can choose to sell their shares. If they own the majority of our shares then the company is theirs."

"Well then you talk to the investors, tell them not to sell. That's your job right? Why I hired you after you called me a whore-"

"Hey, I did not call you whore. I simply implied that Oliver Queen had worked his way into your-" Katie punched his shoulder. "Ow, you freakishly strong woman." he grabbed his shoulder and walked around the island to continue preparing his cereal. "It's not that simple. This is a business, and money talks. The only way to dissuade our investors from selling is to give them a promise."

"What kind of promise?"

"That staying with us will keep making them rich." Jeremy said looking over to her. "Which is where you come in."

"What?" Katie said with a shake of her head. "I made you the COO so I wouldn't have to do anything. My involvement is supposed to be limited to a few waves at those meetings I have to go to."

"Fifty percent of a company's profit is based on image. Your father's image of the business man who could make you rich, kept this company booming. But now he's gone and do you want to know what image is keeping us afloat?"

"What?" Katie asked and the man pointed to her.

"You, my ridiculously annoying cousin. If I didn't need that face, I would've already concocted a coup to get you thrown out of the driver's seat." the man said before taking a bite of his cereal. "We were losing investors, stocks were going down and then you went out there and you saved the city."

"I didn't save the city, hundreds of people were killed."

"That's not the part they care about. They care about the woman who went out on the streets of a collapsing city to help person after person get to safety. You were a hero and people invest in heroes because they know consumers support heroes. So you're going to smile and wave and shake your ass if you have to and it all begins tonight."

"Ok, one, if the words 'shake your ass' ever come out of your mouth directed at me, I will break your nose and two, what's tonight?"

"The Mayor is heading up another fundraiser for the Glades today, some relief fund and I thought what better time for you to make an appearance. Shake some hands, take some pictures. You know let investors know you're doing your part to make them even more money."

"There's only one problem." Katie said turning and stalking off. "I don't want to!"

"I don't care!" Jeremy called after her. "You're doing this or all the work your father did to create this company will have been for nothing! It's one night, put on the damn dress. I will be here to pick you up at seven."

"And then I have to go with you!"

"Yes, you lucky, lucky woman." Jeremy said glancing down to his watch. "Shit, I have to go." he rushed toward the door, stopping and looking up the stairs. "Seven o'clock!"

"Whatever!" Katie called and he just shook his head before rushing out of the door.

The moment Oliver's foot step from the plane, and stepped back into Starling he was bombarded with the images of the destruction from the Undertaking.

"Hey, you alright?" Felicity asked placing a hand on his arm and he simply nodded before following them to the car. When he returned to the island, he was prepared to stay until he felt he'd truly paid for his failure, but he didn't know that his family's company was being threatened or that his sister was on her own. The one thing that truly made him realize that he needed to come back was the fact that the torture of leaving the woman he loves behind was proving to be too much for the man who believed he could endure almost any pain. But not that.

During their drive, Felicity gave him the low down on this company, Stellmoor International and it's head of acquisitions, a woman named Isabel Rochev.

"So where to?" Felicity asked from her spot beside him in the back seat. "Office? Home?" The word 'home' played in Oliver's head and a place didn't come to mind. It was a woman. It was her. She was his home and he doesn't think he can face her just yet.

"I want to check in with Thea" he decides, that reunion will be the easiest.

When Katie was all showered and dressed, she stopped by the first place she always went to start her day. She sat in a very cold room, her eyes over to the family in the corner talking with their dark gray jumpsuit wearing mother. At least that what she guesses. It's become sort of thing now when she waits where she creates these back stories for the families she observes. Soon there's a loud buzzer that tells her that someone new is coming into the room. She lifts her head to see the familiar face of Moira Queen walking toward her.

"You've come back?" the woman asks, just as she always does when she sees Katie. She takes her seat across from her, a smile tugging at her lips. "You have no idea how much this confuses me? How after learning everything, you can still show up here to visit with me."

"Malcolm manipulated you, and though I wish you would've had the courage to fight back sooner than you did, I won't fault you for being scared." Katie replied folding her hands over to table. "And since your daughter is being quite stubborn, I thought you could at least use one friendly face."

"I've become quite found of these visits, so once again thank you."

"Don't thank me. I'm sure if I ever get locked up, you'll visit me." Katie said with a laugh. "Oh, do you remember that time Oliver and I got arrested when my dad was out of town. It was that one summer and he talked me into going with him down to the quarry to light fireworks he bought."

"I do remember that, and I remember you crying because you thought it would be on your permanent record and you'd never get into a good college." Moira said unable to not laugh herself. "I had to have that officer literally explain to you that you weren't really arrested, just detained for being out past curfew."

"I didn't speak to Oliver for a whole week after that."

"I know, he moped around that entire week." Moira said as she watched the smile drop from Katie's face. "Have you spoken with him?"

"Nope." Katie said with a shake of her head. "Maybe he's having fun in Europe." Katie turned away once again to the family in the corner letting out a sigh before turning back to the woman. "Trial's coming up soon."

"It's is." Moira said with a nod. "I'm not sure of my chances when my own daughter can't even forgive me."

"I will keep talking to Thea. Just stay strong. We can convince twelve jurors that if they were put in the impossible situation where they had to choose between taking orders from a crazy person or protecting their family they would've done the same thing."

"You just said we" Moira said leaning over to the table slightly with a smile.

"You Moira Queen are like family and I don't have much of that anymore and so I can't afford to lose the ones I do have. So yes 'we' are going to get through this. You have my full support."

"Times up!" the guard yelled over to them from his place by the door and Katie and Moira shared a smile.

"I guess that's it, huh?" Katie said reaching over to give the woman's hand a squeeze. "Take care Moira, and I will see you next week." she released the woman's hand and they both stood to their feet. It was Moira who stopped and turned back to the woman.

"Don't give up on him." Moira said. "My son has had a lot taken from him and sometimes I think he believes that if he gives it up first then it won't be as painful. Just don't give up so soon." Katie didn't say anything, but she did give a slight nod, more to just reassure the woman than anything. She wasn't sure if she could give Oliver another chance. Once Moira was gone, Katie looked down to her own watch and decided to begin preparing herself for this stupid dinner she was being forced to attend.

That night, Katie stared at herself and just shook her head at the pale blue dress her cousin had chosen for her. It wasn't too revealing, but it was tight and very uncomfortable. She combed her fingers through the curls she had pinned back. Over the course of a year, Katie has learned a few things about style and what works best for her and now as she looks at herself, minimal make up a little lip stick, she feels comfortable to leave her house.

When the doorbell finally rings, she knows that it is time to finally be tossed into the lions den. Katie hikes her leg up on the bed to check the knives she has tucked away on her thigh. They're the only thing she can really hide in this dress. Once she's comfortable that they're secure, Katie takes a deep breath before grabbing her purse and heading downstairs. When she pulls open the door, her cousin is too busy looking at his cell phone to even greet her.

"C'mon, we're going to be late." he says before turning and heading for the car.

"You're an ass!" she calls after him.

"I know, now come on!" he calls back over his shoulder.

"Oh, I'm going to kill him before this night is over, I just know it."

The ride to the fundraiser was spent in a very welcomed silence that wasn't broken until Jeremy shoved his phone in her face.

"Did you know about this?" he asked and Katie looked down to the phone to see a picture of Oliver, the headline "Oliver Queen Returns to Starling" underneath it. "Because if you did, this is something you should tell me."

"I didn't know he was back." Katie lied pushing his phone away. The truth is, Felicity had texted her earlier about their return, Oliver with them. She'd tried not to think about it, to put it out of her mind, because thinking of Oliver Queen was not something she was choosing to do today. Well not a lot anyway.

"Well if he's back it means QC is worried. It means we should probably be worried." Jeremy replied with a shake of his head as he looked down to his phone.

"Well lets hope me shaking my ass tonight helps" Katie muttered turning to look back out the window, trying to ignore that twinge in her stomach at the mention of Oliver's name.

Katie wished she had a gun, because if she did she would probably shoot herself right now. She stood surrounded by people who were telling her how brave she was to go in such a seedy part of the city and save those people. It was the, "those people" comments that had been in the mouths of many that night that made her have to restrain herself from hitting someone. This was definitely like those events her parents dragged her to as a child, the ones she promised herself she'd never return and yet here she was.

With some luck, she was able to slip away to a far corner away from the crowds, a glass of champagne in her hand that she'd been nursing since she snagged it from a passing tray minutes ago.

"Don't you look like you're having fun" a voice spoke slightly startling Katie. She lifted her head, and was met with the familiar face of Laurel Lance.

"DA assistant Laurel Lance" Katie greeted raising her glass to the woman. "How have you been?"

"Busy" Laurel replied with a slight smile. "I see you have been too. How are you liking your new job?"

"Honestly I love it. It's a very good distraction from a lot of things."

"Including Oliver?" Laurel asked and Katie had to fight to not roll her eyes. Oliver Queen was definitely not a topic she wanted to touch on with the women in front of her. Since the Undertaking, they were cordial when they ran into each other, nice even, but Katie was sure Laurel was aware that Katie knew about what happened between her and Oliver. It was something Katie couldn't put out of her mind whenever she saw the woman. She assumed the woman was aware that Oliver was an untouchable subject, but she guess she was wrong. "Have you heard from him since he's been back?"

"No I haven't." Katie said bringing the glass to her lips and draining it's contents. "Well look at that, I need another." Katie walked around the woman in search of another waiter when the mayor took his place at the podium. Everyone stopped and turned their attention to him.

"Good evening." the mayor greeted.

"Hey, you should be mingling." Jeremy said appearing at Katie's side. She chose to ignore him and keep her attention to the mayor.

"It has been a very difficult year for Starling City. Our losses have been incalculable, our grief unimaginable. But with the generous donations you people are making tonight, we will come back from this tragedy."

"Mr. Mayor!" a modulated voice sounds from around them, and everyone looks up searching for the source. "You have failed this city." the glass in Katie's hands drops to the floor, as her eyes search the crowd. "The Glades descended into hell on your watch! You swore to protect all the citizens of Starling, not just the wealthy!"

"We're sorry about this folks" The mayor said trying to calm the crowd. "We'll have this sorted out in just minute." Before the mayor could even make that statement true, he was cut down in hail of gun fire that took him off his feet and caused everything in that room to erupt in chaos.

"C'mon!" Jeremy said grabbing Katie's arm, but Katie pulled away. "What are you doing?"

"Get to safety" Was all Katie said before running up the stairs just as men in hoods that covered their face came in, machine guns in their hands as they shot at the few officers who were in attendance at the event. Katie saw as one of the men appeared in front of the DA, but Laurel threw a right hook knocking the man out, but there was another that was coming right behind her. Katie quickened her step as best she could in heels and a tight dress, pushing Laurel out of the way before grabbing the man's gun hand and forcing it up to the ceiling. A few shots rang off, before Katie felt the barrel of a gun on her back. She released the gun and held up her hands in surrender.

"We are the Hoods. And what was taken from us, we will take back."

The fake vigilantes got away with hundreds of thousands of dollars in money and jewelry that night. Katie was left with a very bruised ego, that she decided to push down inside of her as she tried to help some of the people injured.

"You're a genius!" Jeremy said from his spot above Katie as she bandaged the arm of one of the officers injured. "I have a couple witnesses who all saw you save the DA and his assistant's life. Your picture's already in the news, look-" he held his phone down so she could see, but she only ignored him.

"You're going to need some stitches, but you should be fine." Katie said as the EMTs came to help the officer to his feet. Katie stood as well, pulling the latex gloves from her hands and tossing them into a nearby trash can.

"Do you know what this means?" Jeremy asked his eyes bright like a kid on Christmas morning. "You're a hero kid and the investors are going to eat this up."

"Jeremy." Katie said stopping and turning to him. "Men with guns came here, shot innocent people and stole our things. I don't care about investors right now, or the company. I care about making sure someone finds and stops these people."

"I'm sure the police have it handled."the man replied when his phone rang. "Oh, I have to take this" and with that the man went walking away. "Yeah, tell them I'll give a full interview." Katie only shook her head when she saw Detective Lance, well she guess it's officer Lance now walking over and bringing his daughter into an embrace. The man was demoted after it's revealed that he had been working with the vigilante. She can't help the hint of jealousy that strikes her in that moment as she watches the man with his daughter. Laurel has someone who cares enough to show up when she's in danger and all Katie has is an annoying money hungry cousin who still has yet to ask her if she's ok.

Katie let out a tired sigh as she ran her hand over her tired eyes. It's when she dropped her hand when she saw him. For a moment she thought she was suddenly dreaming or hallucinating, so she blinked a couple of times and each time she opened her eyes he was still there. Oliver's eyes seemed to go straight for Laurel, who noticed him as well before walking over. Katie felt her insides churn at the sight of the pair together, before they turned and walked away.

"I guess I should be thanking you." a voice said from behind her and Katie spun around to see Lance. "I heard what you did for my daughter."

"It was nothing-"

"No, it was stupid." The man said and Katie looked to him with wide eyes. "It was really stupid and you were lucky one of those guys didn't decide to put a bullet in you."

"I guess I wasn't thinking" Katie replied with a shake of her head, which was true. The situation happened and she stopped thinking and just acted.

"One day that's going to get you killed if you're not careful." Lance said placing a hand on her shoulder. "I think the world still needs someone like you doc."

"Someone like me?" Katie asked.

"Someone who cares enough to actually do something" the man said with a nod before turning and walking off. Katie stood there for a moment and wondered if that was that moment she'd been hoping for. Someone who seemed to care about her well being telling her to be careful. A small smile crept to her lips before she turned and headed for the exit. She definitely didn't plan on looking for Jeremy, so when she stepped outside she fully intended on hailing a cab.

Katie passed through the crowd of officers that congregated at the door, before stopping when she sees him again. He once again doesn't notice her before he steps inside the back seat of his car. John closes his door, but stops when he sees her. She shakes her head before turning and heading in the opposite direction.

Katie returned home that night and headed straight down her basement, the lights flickering on the moment he foot touches the floor. She turns and heads to another new addition to her sanctuary. A desk with a single computer and a wall of headlines. Each headline was about the so called vigilantes and their crime sprees around the city. She would tell John that she has no desire to be a vigilante, and yet she's drawn to figuring out who these guys are. Katie logged onto her computer to see if any new information on the vigilantes had been discovered.

"You're kidding me?" Katie muttered as she read the only headline on tonight's events. "Oliver Queen Returns." she shook her head at the news in this city. "They shot the mayor. That was meant to be statement." she tilted her head as a sudden thought struck her. "A statement that wasn't heard because of Oliver." Katie grabbed her phone and quickly dialed a familiar number.

"Hey, what's up?" Felicity answered.

"I need a favor and I don't want a lot of questions about it."

"That worries me. Like a lot. What is it?"

"I need to know what Oliver's plans are for tomorrow"

It was a hunch, one Katie couldn't prove or back up in any way or form, but she couldn't let it go. So the next morning, Katie grabbed a cab and told them to take her to Queen Consolidated. She would've been right on time to talk to Oliver before his meeting, but they ran into traffic. Katie ran inside the building, rushing for the elevator. When the doors opened on her intended floor, Katie was met with the sound of gunfire.

"Oliver!" Katie called dropping her bag and running as fast as she could toward the sound, it seemed everyone she saw was running away from. The moment she burst into the boardroom, she was met with the familiar hood wearing vigilantes, their guns blazing. She spotted Oliver, his back turned across the room, just as one of the vigilantes appeared behind him. Without thinking Katie climbed on top of the boardroom table, and ran across before kicking the hooded man before he could hit Oliver. She thought for sure she was going to land on the floor, but Oliver's arms reached out quickly to grab her and for the quickest second, their eyes met. It was Oliver who noticed the guns that were being pointed at him. And so he wrapped an arm around Katie's waist, pulling her with him. Before she knew what was happening, they were crashing out of one window, just to burst through another.

Katie didn't move for a moment, her heart ramming in her chest as she feels the glass beneath her. A hand touches her shoulder and Katie turns to once again meet eyes she'd only daydreamed about.

"Are you alright?" he asked and for the life of her, Katie couldn't speak. She just nodded in response before turning to try an push herself to her feet. When she actually stood to her feet, a sudden dizzy spell hit her, but strong hands were right there, grabbing her waist to steady her. She grabbed his arms to brace herself until she felt the room had stopped spinning before she lifted her eyes to meet his. It was in this moment did she notice how close they were, and that his hands were still gripping her waist. "Are you sure you're alright?" he seemed to be searching her eyes for an answer to that question, until he stopped and found something else. It was the eyes of the woman he thought about everyday he was on that island. As he stood there, holding her in his arms did he have to ask himself how he ever walked away from her.

"I'm fine." Katie said pulling from his grasp and taking a few steps away from him. He wanted to say so much to her, but he knew the timing was all wrong, and there were still people upstairs he needed to make sure were alright.

When they returned the vigilantes were gone, and soon the entire floor was filled with police trying to survey the area. Katie sat in a chair off to the side, her head resting on her hand and her eyes closed.

"Here" a voice spoke and Katie opened her eyes to see a glass of water in her face. She lifted her head to see Oliver who was holding it out to her. "You look like you could use it." Katie didn't say anything before taking the glass from his hand and taking a sip. "Maybe you should get looked at."

"I fine." she said once again, her tone revealing way too much of what she was feeling at the moment. She dropped her eyes from his and just shook her head. "You should check on everyone else." Oliver stood there for a moment, hesitating, but he soon turned to leave.

"So I hear you're still being stupid." a voice said and Katie turned her head to see Lance, now dressed in his officer's uniform. "Maybe I should save my breath this time?"

"Don't." Katie said giving the man a small smile. "I could use a rational person in my life." he knelt down in front of her, letting his eyes go over her. It was strange that in this last year the man in front of her seemed to have a change of heart about a lot of things. Her being one of them. "You don't look too hot. Are you alright?"

"You sound like you care Officer Lance." Katie said dropping her head back against her hand.

"Just doing my job." he says before standing up straight and giving her shoulder a squeeze before walking off.

She closed her eyes once again, trying to ignore the pounding in her head when another hand touched her shoulder. Katie opened her eyes and looked up see John standing beside her and the swarm of police that were once there now gone. She didn't want to freak out at the sudden loss of time, not until she had to. John held out a hand to her and she took it graciously as he helped her to her feet.

"C'mon." he said and so Katie followed behind him until they met up with both Oliver and Felicity who were headed into an office.

"You could have stopped those guys." Felicity said angrily as she looked over to Oliver who walked behind the desk. John and Katie came in as well, but John went to stand closer, whereas Katie chose to stand a bit further away. This was not a room she wanted to be in at the moment. Oliver glanced over to her for a second before turning back to Felicity.

"Not without giving Isabel Rochev and the hoods a pretty good idea of what I'm capable of." Oliver countered.

"I think what Felicity's wondering is whether you avoided taking those hoods on. And, Oliver, she's not the only one wondering." John added.

"I told you, I did not come back to Starling City to be the Vigilante. " Oliver said and Katie couldn't help but look over to him with confusion. His eyes once again found hers, and she had to turn away. Actually she needed to get out of this room that seemed to be sucking the air from her lungs. She turned to look out the window, hoping no one was noticing her trying to just breathe.

"Because when I put on the hood, it's kill or be killed. That is what kept me alive. That's why I should have stayed on the island." the moment the words came out of Oliver's mouth he wished they hadn't because the one person avoiding his gaze turned back to him with a look as if she'd been slapped in the face.

Katie shook her head before turning and heading for the door, but she stopped. God help her, she wanted to leave, to never turn back, but her feet stopped moving and she turned back to face him. It was out of habit really. Sometimes Oliver Queen said something so stupid, she just had to correct him.

"We all make choices. It's what makes us human, because we can either choose one option over the other. Right now you're standing here telling us that an article of clothing takes that choice away from you and I'm calling bullshit." she takes a very slight step forward, her eyes on his and his never leaving hers. "You are Oliver Queen and when you put that hood on you're Olive Queen. You decide where that arrow goes, how deep it penetrates and just how lethal it can be. You want to run from being what this city needs, fine, but don't stand there and say it's because you don't want to kill and with that hood there's no choice. Say you're scared, say you're afraid of being the murderer Tommy once accused you of being. When you admit that you're afraid, maybe then can you over come it. Maybe then you can-" her lungs were burning for air and she just needed out of this room and away from the man who crushed all of her hope for the love she's always wanted.. "You can see what fear has been keeping you from." Katie turned and rushed out of there, not daring to look back. When she finally stepped outside the doors of QC to the outside, it felt as if she could breathe again.


Author's Notes:

We're back! Sorry for the wait, but a new job has been sucking up all of my time lately. I do have a couple of chapter written already, so I should be able to keep the one chapter a week schedule I had with the last story. Hopefully.

Long Live Love...thoughts?

For any newcomers, you may want to read through the previous story (Home. Heart. Hero) just to get a little back ground info on some of the new characters and different story lines that are going to come up in this story.

This chapter...

A whole year later and a lot has happened since the Undertaking and Oliver ran away. He's back now and emotions Katie had been ignoring are now bursting out of her. We also got to see Katie fighting the idea of vigilantism when she's obviously so interested. *hint hint*

Review Responses (Chapter 24 Home, Heart Hero)

thehairypotter: Sorry not sorry for the cliffy! But we're back and the story's getting better.

MissShellyBabes: Yes, darling yes!

Estrelinha19: Thank you very much! I'm glad you're enjoying it and hope the first chapter of this story hasn't disappointed.

hayden: Ahh, thanks a million. That chapter was filled with so many different emotions, but that ending just did it, right? Don't worry, your questions will definitely be answered in this story. Oh and this is just part one of the reunion, these two will definitely has out Oliver choice of exit.

Ashilz: I'm glad you loved that chapter. I literally finished that chapter and was just surprised myself, and I'm the one who wrote. I have to say my favorite scene was when all the pussyfooting stopped and Katie and Oliver finally stopped being so scared to say the things they were feeling. Then Oliver had to screw it all up once again. Don't worry though, I think a little distance has really made the heart grow fonder and we are going to see a different Oliver Queen. One who knows what he wants and won't stop until he gets it.

P.S Twiver crime fighting duo? Are you in my head right now? You're going to love some of these upcoming chapters.

GhostofaGirl03:I'm glad you liked it and yes I have seen season two and know all about that bomb shell that dropped, but what if I told you that in this story there will be another that no one sees coming. *inserts evil laugh*

katylovesdogs10: Don't worry, it's back and expect more twists and turns!

Thanks to everyone who has added me to their author's lists and to all the fav and follows from the last story. I will now take on the challenge of season two and trying to fit the girl with the weird nickname in someway that totally awesome and interesting at the same time. I am going to do my very best here, I promise!

And now for your sneak peek

Sneak Peek

"Is this the part where you tell me you're sorry?" she asked choosing to look at his chest instead of his eyes. She wants to be angry and speak strongly and she doesn't think she can do that if she's looking into his eyes. Actually she's afraid that if she does look in his eyes she just might jump him right here in the middle of this hospital hallway. "Or where you say that if you could change what happened you would?" she once again felt the air in her lungs leaving her. "Are you going to tell me that it was all a mistake and that-" Oliver placed his hands on her shoulders and her eyes shot up to meet his.

"No, this is where I tell you that I love you."