Thanks for reading and the reviews! There will be some major Oliver and Felicity screen time in the next chapter, I promise!


"Slade, I'm sorry to keep you waiting." Moira flipped on the light switch when she entered the drawing room. The sun disappeared hours ago and dusk brought a eerie fog that scattered under the lamp light.

"It was worth the wait," Slade took her hands, "you look lovely."

Moira meant to reply but his mouth found hers. Slade's hands roamed over her shoulders and down her back. She pushed him away and gasped.

"Slade, please!" She smoothed away the wrinkles in her dress. "Thea will be down any second."

Slade grinned and then settled into the couch as if he owned it.

"You like it, Moira."

She scowled at him.

"Now," Slade ran his hand along the seat beside him. "Come here."

Moira folded her arms. Part of her wanted to obey. She resisted.

"Don't make me tell you twice."

"You conceded, infuriating lout." Moira dropped her arms and stepped toward the couch. He grinned and held out his hand. Moira was tempted to slap him across the face rather than give in.

"Mr. Steele is here to see you." The voice of the maid caused Moira to jump. She turned in time to see Walter enter the room. He stopped. Moira pulled her hand out of Slade's.

"I'm sorry, I didn't..." The bank manager looked as though he wanted to bolt for the door. Moira inhaled.

"It's quite alright. Walter, I'd like you to meet Slade Wilson."

Walter's shoulders straightened and he cross the room with his hand extended. Slade stood slowly. He took Walter's hand and put his other on Moira's shoulder. The action should not have made her uncomfortable but it did.

Walter's eyes briefly landed on the spot where Slade's hand fused to her. The tension in the room elevated.

"Walter, can I offer you a drink?" Moira moved out from under Slade's touch.

"No, thank you."

Her ex-husband's eyes met Slade's. They stood like two male grizzly bears about to engage in a battle over territory.

"Moira, could I have a word in private?"

Moira agreed and watched Slade. He waited about three seconds longer than he should have before he stepped toward Moira.

"Don't be too long." She gave him a warning glare but he leaned in and kiss her cheek. She watched him go then poured herself a drink. The liquid courage burned all the way down.

"What is it?" She asked.

Walter looked at the ground. She knew exactly what he was thinking. They had been divorced for a year but she could still read him like a book. Never did she hate him more than when he gave her hope that he might care. Both of them needed to move on. She knew that was Walter's thought as he looked back up.

"Felicity wanted me to tell you something. She said you probably wouldn't see her yourself."

Moira tilted her head to the side.

"She was right."

Walter scrutinized her, his eyes like narrow windows.

"She wanted to warn us-"

"Warn us?" Moira shook her head. Felicity Smoak told Moira not long ago that she did not trust her. The feeling was mutual.

"She thinks someone maybe trying to hack Queen Consolidated. She thinks they are digging for dirt to ruin the campaign."

"And you believed her?" Moira paced across the room.

"Why shouldn't I? She is highly skilled. Intelligent."

Moira clenched her jaw.

"Yes. I know. She found out about Thea. She told Oliver after I asked her not to."

Walter's narrowed eyes widened with the revelation. Moira leaned on the sofa.

"That warning sounds to me like a threat to go to the media herself. What she hopes to gain I couldn't say."

Walter ran a hand over his chin. He always did that when he was engaged in deep thought.

"I don't think you're right."

"That's not a surprise."

Walter avoided her eyes. He looked angry. She did not think he had the right to be. Moira walked across the room then stopped next to him.

"If you will excuse me, Thea and I have a date."

Good, she thought as she studied his expression. I've wounded him.

Moira was relieved that Walter exited before Thea descended the stairs. They missed each other by only a few seconds.

Moira looked across the hallway. Slade stood in the doorway of the ballroom. Darkness from the unlit room behind him draped around his shoulders. She wanted to apologize for the domestic argument. His eye reassured her.

"Alright, Mr. Wilson. Impress us," Thea said. She hopped off the last step and Slade offered her his elbow.


Moira adjusted the seat belt in the passenger seat of Slade's Lamborghini. Thea had squeezed into back seat. She leaned forward between the front seats. The motor audibly purred as Slade accelerated.

"This car is so cool!"

Slade only touched the steering wheel with the underside of his wrist. Thea's compliment prompted a small upward turn at the corner of his mouth. She remembered his mouth tasted as good as it looked. Moira glanced out the window. She tugged on the seatbelt again. For some reason she could not find a comfortable position.

"I am proud of it. Fully customized."

After a few seconds Moira realized it was not the seatbelt that made her irritable, it was the conversation. Slade and Thea formed a bond. The fact should have pleased her but instead it made her feel... old. Slade was younger than herself but that had not bothered her until now. She realized he could easily seduce a woman of Thea's age. Her suspicions about his motives in dating her bubbled to the surface.

"Would you like to drive?"

Thea gasped and then laughed.

"You would let me?"

In reply, Slade pulled the car off the road and into a gas station parking lot. A group of teenagers on the sidewalk catcalled. Thea hopped out of the car and exchanged places with Slade. The grin that appeared on Thea's face when she put her hands on the wheel reached from ear to ear.

"Mom," she faced Moira, "I totally like him."

Moira did not answer. Thea put the car in drive and pulled out onto the street. A small squeal of enjoyment emerged from her lips. Slade laughed. Moira felt his hand touch her arm through the space between the seat and passenger side door. Thea was enthralled in driving, but even had she not been she would not have seen the movement.

"You're very quiet." Slade leaned forward between the seats just as Thea had. His hand gently squeezed her arm.

"Just thinking."

"That doesn't bode well for me, does it?"

Moira turned her head so she could see part of his face with her peripheral vision. She held her tongue. Slade did not let go of her arm.

"If this is you two flirting it's really weird. Just saying." Thea's eyes swept over the rear view mirror.

"Take a right and pull into that parking lot."

Thea obeyed Slade's directions. Moira looked out the window. Slade led them to a deserted lot behind a back alley soaked with the familiar grit of Starling City. In this part of town Moira was not keen on letting her attractive young daughter get out of the car. She was not sure she wanted to.

"Everyone out." Slade let go of Moira's arm.

"This is your favorite place in Starling City?" The disgust that lined Thea's tone reflected on her upturned nose.

"Trust me."

Moira exchanged a glance with her daughter. They both exited the car. Moira again felt her age as she attempted to wiggle out of the low lying seat.

Slade exited on Moira side of the car and held out his hand to Thea. She tossed him the keys and he caught them with exact precision. He locked the car and then took Moira's hand. Thea watched the interaction but Moira could not read her expression in the darkness.

He led them to a door on the backside of an old brick building. The dumpsters nearby reeked of rotten fish. Without letting go of Moira's hand he used his keys to unlock the door.

"Your car impresses me Wilson, but this? Nope."

Slade grinned at Thea. He pushed open the door.

"After you."

Thea shook her head and cautiously stepped inside. Slade followed, and pulled Moira along with him. The inside of the building was pitch black. Moira was completely dependent on Slade to guide her.

Moira heard a thud.

"Ouch!" Thea stopped somewhere in front of them. "Can't you turn on the lights?" From the way her voice carried, Moira sensed they were in a warehouse of some sort.

"It will ruin the affect."

They kept moving, and a pale blue glow appeared from around a wall. Thea reached the threshold first. The blue light illuminated her body. Her mouth dropped. Moira narrowed her eyes, trying to read Thea's expression. She squeezed Slade's hand.

Thea turned to them, and the bright beam brought on by driving the car appeared again.

"Awesome!" She stepped into the glow and disappeared behind the wall. Moira put her hand on Slade's shoulder as they turned the corner.

Enormous tanks of sea-life lined each side of the warehouse. The glow from the florescent lights made the yellows, oranges, and blues come to life in high definition.

"My pet project. The Starling City Aquarium. Not open to the public yet." Slade leaned close to Moira.

"It will be a hit!" Thea was already halfway across the warehouse. She made a bee line for the glass that enclosed the dolphins.

Slade and Moira strolled down the aisle slowly. He stopped at each tank and studied the aquatic life with a child-like wonder.

"The sea has always fascinated me."

Moira watched a group of sea-horses swim above squiggly stands of moss.

"Why is that?"

"When you spend as much time with it as I have you learn to respect its dangers and appreciate its beauty."

Moira studied the lines of his face. She wondered how he got his scars.

"You do have secrets, don't you?"

He turned his eye away from the tank.

"No more than you, Moira."

She half smiled and broke the gaze.

Thea was on the other side of the warehouse, looking at the jellyfish tank.

"This is really beautiful. Thank you."

Slade stopped and turned to her. He let go of her hand and touched her face.

"I want you to know, I will stand by you, no matter what happens."

Moira stiffened. The statement confirmed that he had heard her conversation with Walter.

"I can take care of myself."

Slade drop his hand from her face and ran his fingers down her arm.

"I know. That's what makes you sexier than the fish tanks."

Moira laughed.

"Oh, sexier than a fish tank, what a compliment."

Slade kissed her but she only half enjoyed the sensation. She was not sure she wanted Thea to see just how involved she had become with Slade.

"Get a room!" Thea's teasing voice echoed across the warehouse. Slade ended the kiss with laughter. He left Moira's side and approached the young woman.

"What do you think, Thea? Impressed now?"

"The jury is still out, Wilson, but... Not a bad start." She playfully hit his shoulder with her fist.

"Just so you know, I have mostly honorable intentions toward your mother."

Moira shook her head. He took things too far and too fast. Thea blinked a few times but the shock seemed to wear off.

"If you break her heart, I will have my brother beat you up."

Slade glanced between the two of them. He looked as pleased as the cat the swallowed the canary.

"I can't ask for a better deal than that."

Moira put her hand on her daughter's arm.

"Alright you two, stop talking about me in the third person."

"Mom, come look at the dolphins." The way Thea pulled on Moira sleeve took her back ten years. Thea was a little girl again. A girl with complete trust in her parents.

Moira mouthed the words thank you to Slade. He inclined his head. For the first time in years Moira felt surrounded by a family that was whole and complete.