Surprise

The plane had just landed in Starling City, she was excited but terrified at the same time. She hadn't seen them since Christmas and the butterflies in her stomach wouldn't leave her alone. The door to the private jet opened and soon she was walking down the stairs, her blonde curly hair getting caught in the wind as she made it down to the tall and still muscular salt and peppered man. She smiled big when she saw him and he returned the gesture.

"Hey Uncle John," she said embracing him.

"Hey kiddo, I've missed you," he said hugging her tight.

"And I you, you haven't told anyone right?"

"Not even Sara."

"Great, let's go then."

After her suitcase was loaded and she was settled, they were off to her childhood home, Queen Manor. Sitting in the backseat she watched out the window to see if anything had changed in the last few months. Not much had changed, much to her surprise. They had made it to the light before the highway when her brain clicked.

"Uncle John, is everyone home?"

"Surprisingly enough, yes."

"That's perfect, how mischievous do you want to be?"

"You just can't make anything simple can you?"

"Would I be me Uncle John? Come on!"

He just smirked at her, he called ahead to the guards house letting them know the plan. She just snickered knowing they wouldn't know what happened. Her father, Oliver Queen, the Pahkan of the Bratva, had been informed that John had found a spy who was currently unconscious in the backseat of his car. Much to their chagrin he asked to bring them to the main house.

They had arrived and the whole crew was outside, tense and ready for a fight. John got out and headed around to her door, he opened it slowly. He helped her out, her back facing them. When she turned around everyone was shocked. Her dad was the first to break, the smile that broke across his face was one of her favorites.

"Hopey!" her brother and mother called out.

"Surprise! I'm home for Spring Break!"

The rush of joy that filled her as everyone became excited to see her and rushed down to her. Her dad was the first to come over and hug her, he held her tight, the top of her head fitting perfectly underneath his chin. He kissed the top of her head and let her go to look her over.

"I've missed you," he said.

"I've missed you too," she said hugging him again.

"Oliver share," Felicity said crushing her daughter in an almost bruising hug.

"Mom, can't breathe," she said hoarse tapping her mom's arm.

"You're a twig," she said looking at her over her glasses.

"Mom, I eat three square meals a day, unless I'm coding then you know," she motioned with her hands.

"I know, let's get you inside."

Hours later and after she had seen and greeted everyone they all sat down to dinner. For the first time in a while she was relaxed. She'd be graduating soon and would be coming home soon afterwards. When she had first left to go to MIT she left home with four bodyguards, now she only had the one. Her father wasn't too happy with the arrangement but after she moved into a building with tighter security, he relented. She was happy she wasn't looked at like a freak anymore.

"So Hope, you're here all week?" Jonathan asked putting food in his mouth.

"Yeah, just this week and then back to Boston," she said sipping her water.

"Well, we definitely need to hang out with the old crew while you're here."

"I really just need to relax and shut my brain down for a bit okay?" She said a little more snarky than she meant to, it stopped everyone at the table. "I'm sorry, it's just been a long day, may I be excused please?"

"Yes," her mother said watching her every move.

After Hope showered and put on her pajamas she sat cross-legged on the bed looking at one of her photo albums. She smiled at the memories, seeing the pictures of her Pop-Pop and her Ya-Ya. They were both in Russia on vacation and would be home in time for her graduation, they promised. A knock on her door had her freeze and look up.

"Hope, can I come in?" Felicity said loud enough for her to hear.

"Yeah mom, come on in, "the door opened and her mom stepped in. Hope tapped on her bed and the two twin-like women sat next to each other.

"Honey, are you okay?"

"I'm fi-," she began to say but was interrupted by her mom.

"And don't say you're fine. Your father does the same crap. Now tell me what it is."

"Ian broke up with me."

"Oh honey, I'm sorry. What happened?"

"We hit the six month mark and he wanted more than I was willing to give. Mom I'm not ready for that level of commitment right now. He just didn't understand."

"He didn't try anything did he?"

"Um, I may have kneed him in the hallway and locked the door. I broke up with him through a text message."

"That's my girl, maybe it was all for the best."

"Mom, is anyone really going to love me for me? I mean I see you and dad and you guys are like perfect. How did you guys meet? You never told me."

"That is a funny and long story, but now is not a good time. Things are different now that your father is Pahkan."

"What do you mean?"

"Okay, before I met your father I really didn't have a boyfriend. Your father is and was my first in so many ways. Your Pop-Pop, matched us."

"Wait, you and daddy were an arranged marriage?"

"Yes, that's how things were back then. Pop-Pop even letting me go to college was a huge deal. It changed things for other girls."

"It's just, am I ever going to find love?"

"Oh honey, you will. I promise, come here."

Hope put her head in her mother lap, Felicity ran her fingers through her hair. Soon Hope fell asleep, Felicity's fingers had magical powers everyone said, Hope was no exception to the rule. The door opened and she saw Oliver peek his head in and walked in closing the door behind him.

"She okay?" he whispered.

"She will be, help me get her under the covers?"

After they got her comfortable, they etched kissed her forehead, Oliver closed the blinds and checked the looks and soon the two were heading back to their bedroom. Once there she sat down to take her shoes off.

"So, what's up?" he asked.

"Ian and she broke up."

"Oh," he said smiling taking off his shoes, "wait why?" his face changed to serious quickly.

"Oh calm down honey, nothing happened, she not ready."

"She'll never be ready, that's not going to happen ever."
"Oliver, be realistic. You said the same thing about Jonathan. He's just like you when you were younger."

"I've talked to him a million times about that, even Nick has."

"Yeah well, he's a heathen already and he just turned sixteen. Hope is going to be twenty one soon, we can't protect her forever."

"I know, every time I see her, I see my little girl. Not the young woman she is today. It's hard."

"Face it, our kids aren't kids anymore."

"I know," he said unbutton his shirt, showing off his toned chest.

"That still doesn't get old," she giggled as he leaned down to kiss her.

The rest of the night was spent exploring themselves until they each were sated and spent.

A/N: Okay so here's the sequel. Let me know what y'all think. Just a reminder….fifteen days until my birthday. Any other July 24th babies out there?