It was going on a week, being stuck in the house, on bed rest for Oliver Queen. Five more weeks to go. You would think someone could go insane, judging by the massive amount of room and things to do inside the Queen Mansion. But Oliver Queen was slowly going crazy. His mother was out, his sister was at school and Walter was at a business meeting. Diggle was the only one that was around.

"I don't think getting out of bed is the best idea."

"And that's only further proof you've never been stuck in bed before." Oliver remarked as he slowly stood from his bed, cringing.

Diggle only rolled his eyes.

Oliver slowly made his way downstairs, just as the doorbell rang. Diggle answered it and there stood a redhead, her fiery red hair pulled in a ponytail. She was dressed up in New York fashion clothes.

"Oh, hi." She smiled lightly, clearing her throat. "I was looking for Moira Queen, does she live here?"

"That's a pretty dumb question, Mercy." Oliver grinned as he opened the door wider to reveal himself.

"Oliver Queen."

"Cora Mercer."

She glanced at the bruises on his arms before walking up to him and giving him a gentle hug. He responded by pulling her into a strong, firm hug, ignoring the stinging pain that followed.

"What are you doing here?" Oliver asked after he let her go.

"I wanted to move back to Starling City and then my father gets a bug up his ass and suddenly he wants to merge companies with yours... or rather your father's." She shrugged her shoulders lightly. "So I got on a plane and came here to warn Moira about his stupid plan."

Cora's father was never a bright man. He hated the fact that it was Cora's mother that was a favorite to the Queens. No one at the Queen household liked Richard Mercer. Some of them even thought he was into the smuggling of drugs at one point. Needless to say that Cora's life was just as fucked up as Oliver's.

"Do you have a place to stay?"

"A non existent beach house that my father has failed to furnish."

Oliver smirked. "Then you can stay here. I could use some company." He looked over at Diggle. "No offense, Diggle."

He caught Cora's snicker as she hid her face in her hand. Bumping her shoulder with his, Oliver chuckled. "Get your mind out of the gutter, Mercy."

"I'm sorry - It's been a really long flight."

"There's extra bedrooms upstairs, if you want to catch a cat nap before your father gets here to destroy the world."

Cora grinned. "He has a tendency to do that, doesn't he? Where's the nearest bedroom?"

"Upstairs, second door on the right."

Cora left them standing there as she headed for the stairs. Oliver followed her with his eyes, shaking his head. When she was out of earshot, Diggle clapped him on the injured shoulder, getting a groan out of Oliver.

"You look like a tiger that's stalking the prey."

"I was just admiring the view. She never used to dress like that, not that I remember. It always used to be a shirt, jeans and converse, not skinny jeans and heels topped with a lace top."

"So you're telling me that she's the only woman in Starling City that you haven't slept with?"

"She wouldn't let me." Oliver grinned as he slowly made his way to the kitchen. "She was the one that I'd get advice from when I needed to get through to Laurel."

"Never saw her that way?"

"I didn't. She was my best friend, Diggle. Her and I would always joke around with each other."

"I can see the joking around part is still intact." Diggle commented, taking a seat on the bar stool at the counter. "What about her father?"

"Mm," Oliver took a bottle of water from the fridge, taking a drink. "He's an ass. He married her mother because she was loaded. When her mother got pregnant, he left. And I'm surprised he's back in her life. He never was a socialite."

"Why do you think he wants with Queen Consolidated?"

"Money. Power. Fame. Who knows?" Oliver lifted his shoulders in a light shrug. "All I know is that her father is a person that you don't want to be standing in front of, because he'll stab you in the back before you can blink."

"And Cora isn't at all like him?"

"Uhuh. Don't go there, Diggle." Oliver shook his head. "Cora takes after her mother. Gentle, kind, and smart."

"Sorry to interrupted." Cora said, standing in the doorway. "I was looking for you, but I didn't think I'd find you in the kitchen, Queen."

"I'm a guy, Mercy."

"This is true." Cora grinned, taking the water bottle from his hands and taking a sip.

"What happened?" Oliver questioned, taking her wrist that held the bottle in his hand. It was a pretty good size bruise going all around her wrist, something like a Indian burn.

"Curling iron."

"You always weren't a very good liar, Mercy."

"I-"

"Oliver, Mr. Diggle?" Moira called out.

Saved by Mrs. Queen, Cora ripped her wrist from Oliver's grip and pulled down her sleeve, hiding the bruise just as Moira walked into the kitchen.

"Oliver, what are you doing out of bed?"

"I was getting stiff, laying in the bed, mother."

"Hi, Mrs. Queen."

"Oh Cora!" Mrs. Queen pulled her into a big hug. "I'm so sorry about your mother."

Oliver's brows drew together. "What happened to her?"

"She died three years ago." Cora replied.

"I'm sorry." Oliver bowed his head slightly at her.

Cora shrugged. "It's okay."

"Well, would you like to stay for dinner?" Moira asked.

Cora pondered the thought for a moment, glancing over at Oliver before turning back toward Moira, nodding lightly. "I'd love to."

Author's Note: What do you think? Should I continue? If I get five curious people wanting more I'll continue, so leave a review!