The meeting

Belle was getting fidgety in Laurel's apartment so she asked Laurel if there was anywhere close she could go to just relax. Laurel told her of this great ice cream shop just across the street. Laurel packed up her work and the two ladies headed over to Tales as old as time creamery. The two ordered sundaes and sat at one of the booths.

Damien's limo pulled up to his daughters favorite ice cream shop, tales as old as time creamery, and they got out. Damien told the driver he would call when they were ready and the limo took off. Holding his daughter close to him Damien went inside. The two ordered a banana split to share and chose a booth next to the window.

Damien got his daughter set up and sat down next to her when all of a sudden she pointed and said "daddy it's the canary and she is sitting with Belle". Damien looked around and only saw Laurel Lance and a young lady sitting with her. "Kairi I think..." He didn't finish his sentence because Kairi was already running over to the women. He got up and followed her hoping that wouldn't recognize him.

Kairi put her hand on Belle's arm. The minute she did Belle changed from faded jeans and an old t-shirt to a bright yellow gown with frills on the arms and her hair looking like she just spent hours at a salon. At this Kairi did a happy dance for the ages. Laurel, Belle and Damien were left gasping for thought when Kairi reached out and touched Laurels arm. At her touch Laurel was in all black leather with a black face mask on. Again Kairi did her happy dance. Damien couldn't move. Kairi had touched his arm before they entered so he knew for sure now that the Lance girl knew exactly who they were. Before commotion could commence, Damien waived his hand and they all appeared in Laurel's living room.

Kairi didn't stop dancing even at the change of venue. She kept running around Laurel and Belle and asking a million questions at once. More than once she hugged Laurel's leg and thanked her for saving her and her mommy. Laurel would say thank you and smile though she never took her eyes off of Damien who looked just as bewildered as the other two.

Damien finally caught Kairi and sat her down on the couch. "Darling, sit here for a few minutes while the grownups talk in the kitchen" said Damien. Kairi nodded, grabbed the tv remote and started flipping channels. The three adults walked into the kitchen and tried to talk calmly.

"He is the one who blew up the limo Oliver and Felicity was in" Laurel said trying to keep her voice down. Belle looked at Damien who was staring at Kairi like a dragon was hovering over her. "Laurel, I know he has done an awful thing but he obviously needs help" belle said with concern in her voice. Snapping back into the conversation at hand Damien begged the girls not to hurt him or his daughter and asked if they could just stay there one night because his wife was in one of her moods. Laurel looked at Belle and decided to allow it this one time because saying no to Belle was near impossible. Laurel went into the living room and sat next to Kairi who had found the Disney channel.

Damien sat at the kitchen table and put his head down on it. Belle came over and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Can I get you anything?" she asked. Damien smiled and asked for some tea. Belle found the kettle and got the water boiling. She sat down next to Damien and put her hand on his. "I know a man who everyone thinks is evil but truly he isn't but he does believe magic and power are more important than people. I don't believe your evil and I truly don't believe you would put magic first" Belle said following his gaze to where Kairi was sitting with Laurel. "If I promise to listen, would you tell me your story?" Belle asked with a true smile on her face. Damien nodded and Belle got two cups of tea and sat back down. "Now, begin at the beginning".