I'm going to try to keep these updates semi-regular, because I want you guys to know that this stuff matters to me. I want to really try and see this through to the end. So here we go.


The knocking startled her out of the task currently at hand. As she went towards the door, she couldn't help wondering who it would be at such a late hour. She looked through the peep hole before opening the door. Before her stood two people she had never personally met but whom she knew very well. One tall, blonde, muscular, wearing jeans, a simple white t-shirt, a worn leather jacket, and converse. The other, though similarly blonde, was very different. She was shorter, wearing blue skinny jeans, a light pink blouse, and a tan jacket. If she hadn't already known who she was the ponytail and shoes would have given it away. She was wearing panda flats.

Even though she knew exactly who these people were, she didn't know why they were here. And that worried her.

"Can I help you?"

"Maybe, we're looking for Oliver Queen."

"I'm sorry who are you?" They weren't getting anything from her until she got something from them.

"My name is Felicity Smoak, and this is my friend Sara Lance. We were friends with Oliver, and something's come up that we need to discuss with him."

"I'm sorry. He's not here, but I'd be more than happy to let you wait until he get's back." She put on a reassuring smile, but on the inside, she was nervous. What could possibly have come up that would bring them here? They accepted quickly, and followed her back to the living room. She noticed that their eyes immediately caught on the basket of laundry she had been folding minutes before they arrived. The basket of very small laundry. She moved it quietly before offering them both coffee. It provided her with something to do while we waited. As soon as she got back, she noticed neither of them had sat down.

"Please make yourself at home, he shouldn't be much longer."

They numbly looked around the room, taking it all in. It was filled with pictures. She noticed Felicity's eyes kept straying to one in particular. Her wedding photo. They were snapped back into reality by the door closing closely followed by the sound of her husband's voice.

"Hey Chloe, they were out of rocky road so I just got cookie dough. I hope that's alri-" His brow furrowed as he took in the two other women in front of him. "What the hell are they doing here?"

"Well honey, I had just been wondering the same thing."


4 years ago...

He'd been gone for a year already. The news stations were still talking about the missing vigilante. There was a memorial for him in Star City to support those who assumed he had died and that was why he had disappeared. Most didn't suspect that he had simply moved on. After his term as mayor, Oliver Queen had moved to an unknown location and nobody had heard from him since. Well almost nobody.

"Thea you sound ridiculous. You're saying somebody petitioned the city for a funeral? Why? They aren't even sure he's dead."

"Well I mean he obviously isn't but all I'm saying is maybe it would be best for everyone to think he is."

His head throbbed at the use of all the ridiculous pronouns. Someone wanted to attend a funeral for the Green Arrow. If that's what the people of the city needed to move on then so be it, but he wouldn't be attending. He wasn't bitter about the life he left behind, but he wasn't desperate to go back. He had left it behind for a reason. Since leaving, he had changed. He was happier then he had been in a while, and he had finally gotten over everything he left behind. He no longer held the weight of the world on his shoulders. He was free. He continued walking down the sidewalk desperate for this conversation with his sister to end.

"Even so, I would never come to my own funeral."

As he turned the corner he slammed hard into something. Or rather someone. The women he had run into was short. He blonde hair cut neatly below her chin, her hazel/green eyes startled as the coffee in her hand was thrown onto her shirt. He caught her just before she tipped backwards onto the sidewalk.

"Thea I gotta go." He hung up on his sisters protest and started to help the women pick up her stuff. He started apologizing repeatedly saying it was all his fault.

"No really I'm fine. It's probably a sign that I shouldn't be drinking so much coffee anyway."

"Honestly, it's one hundred percent my fault. I am so sorry. Please let me buy you another one."

"It's alright I don't want to take up anymore of your time."

"Really it wouldn't be any trouble. I was headed there anyway. If you don't I'll just feel like a horrible person. You don't want that do you?"

She finally looked up to meet his eyes and smiled. She really was having a bad day and the man seemed so nice that she just couldn't say no. Plus he was a looker too. At least this way she'd get to look at him a little longer.

"Alright. One cup of coffee though."

"Perfect. My name's Oliver. Oliver Queen."

He stuck his hand out and she gladly accepted, giving it a firm shake.

"Chloe. Chloe Sullivan."


"What's going on? What are you two doing here?" Oliver was talking directly to them and he didn't sound happy. But, Chloe noticed, at least he was being quiet with his anger.

"Aren't you happy to see us? It's been five years Ollie."

"Of course I'm happy Sara, but it's why you're here that I feel the need to be defensive. I'm happy here.

The embodiment of confidence that is Sara Lance faltered as she smiled sadly at the picture on the mantle. The picture held a family that was happy. Really happy.

"You have kids." It was less a question and more a statement, and suddenly Oliver had a sad smile to match. In his previous life, kids were impossible. He would never have been around, and he was constantly in danger. One night he might not have come and years later, they wonder why they didn't have a daddy like everyone else. He didn't want that for his kids. Or Chloe. "Yeah, I do. Two of them."

"Three." Chloe interjected with a smirk.

"Well she already knew about that one. I was only counting the ones she didn't know about."

Chloe just rolled her eyes and took the empty mugs back to the kitchen. Oliver, having held the ice cream the whole time, followed her, leaving the two remaining women to follow like moths to a flame. As they filled into the kitchen, they all took seats around the center island. Chloe tried to keep from acknowledging the looks Oliver was giving her. She knew he wanted to know what was going on and what she knew of the situation, but she knew just as much as he did. Eventually Oliver broke the silence.

"Look, it's been five years. I'm not the same person I was. I don't know why you're here, but whatever it is, I don't think I can be much help."

Sara and Felicity were suddenly very tense now that they were back to the real reason they were here. They both glanced at Chloe who had a look on her face that removed all notions of them asking her to leave the room. It was Sara who finally spoke.

"It's Malcom Merlyn. He's back."


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