After they graduated from high school, both Sara and Kara were accepted to National City University, Kara for journalism and Sara for science and engineering, since she'd decided she wanted to be a scientist like her mother had been.

Anyways, Laurel was also attending National City University for law school and even though he wasn't in college, Oliver visited often and usually started frat parties on the campus.

However, this weekend his mother had forced him to go on a boat trip with his father to learn about the family business, so Laurel decided to spend the weekend with Sara and Kara.

"Is it safe to come in yet?" Laurel asked as she knocked on the door, as since Sara had given her a key to their room, Laurel had had the pleasure of walking in on her little sister making out with her girlfriend among other things.

"Relax, you're safe." Sara's voice said as Laurel opened the door to see Sara was on her bed watching TV while it sounded like Kara was in the shower.

"So, what's the plan for the weekend?" Laurel asked.

"Well, Kara has an interview for an internship at Catco Worldwide Media later today, so I guess we are on our own." Sara said as Kara exited the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her waist.

"Hey Laurel." Kara said as she went to grab her outfit for her interview so she could go back into the bathroom to change.

"So, how are things between you and Ollie, has he shown any interest in settling down yet?" Sara asked.

"I think I may have gotten him to agree to go apartment hunting when he gets back from his boat trip." Laurel said.

"And you're sure that he isn't taking some bitch with him for one last week of adultery before settling down?" Sara asked, now just trying to rile her big sister up.

"Ollie's done a lot, but he's never cheated on me, although he did confess that a year ago while we were broken up, he did have a one night stand with an old college friend, Samantha Clayton." Laurel said and she had been relieved that he'd told her.

"Even so, you know the reputation the man has Laurel." Sara said.

"Stop it. I agreed to stop teasing you about your relationship, but now you can't do it to me." Laurel said and Sara laughed.

"Relax, I got you worked up, mission accomplished, now I'll stop." Sara said and Laurel smiled as she brought out some ads she'd brought with her for apartments.

"Ollie was thinking of moving out here to be with me, so I was hoping you could help me find something before he got back." Laurel said and Sara nodded eagerly, however, the look on her face changed when she saw what was on the TV.

"Uh, Laurel, you might want to check the news." Sara said as she turned up the volume to get Laurel's attention.

"A mayday transmission was heard, but so far there has been no trace of the 'Queen's Gambit'." Laurel dropped the plat she had been holding, and it shattering on the floor drew Lance's attention to the small TV as well. 'Among those missing are local residents Robert and Oliver Queen." the newscast said and Laurel felt her heart shatter when she heard this.

"No. No this isn't happening." Laurel said, going into denial.

"Laurel." Sara said cautiously.

"He's not gone. He can't be." Laurel said.

"Laurel, you know there is a way for me to find out. I could be there and back before anyone even knows I was gone." Sara said.

"And doing so would expose you as an alien and would destroy everything you've worked so hard to get. I can't ask that of you Sara." Laurel said.

"Then what about me?" Kara asked.

"No Kara, you would have the same problem." Laurel said.

"Well, there's always Kara's cousin." Sara suggested.

"No, Superman has more important things to worry about." Laurel said.

"Laurel, what do you want us to do? You're in pain and I want to help you through it." Sara said.

"You can do that by just being there for me like I've always been there for you." Laurel said and Sara nodded.

"I'll leave you both alone." Kara said, giving the sisters some time alone as she went to prepare for her interview.


After Oliver died, Laurel's life began to fall apart. She started drinking and partying excessively to the point where Sara actually told her it was like she was trying to have Oliver keep living through her, though that wasn't what he'd want for her. While she kept up her grades, Laurel was too depressed to show the same dedication to being a lawyer as she'd once had.

Anyways, one night after a party, Laurel was pulled over for a DUI and was placed in a holding cell at NCPD.

"Laurel Lance." a male voice said from behind her as she sat in the cell.

"I didn't ask to speak to a lawyer." Laurel said, annoyed.

"Good thing I'm not a lawyer then." the man said.

"Then what are you? A priest? You're wasting your time. I'm not exactly a prime candidate for jailhouse conversion." Laurel said.

"I wouldn't think so. I doubt that you'd be here if you believed in any sort of deity." the man said.

"What are you talking about?" Laurel asked.

"Religious figures have a tendency to throw themselves into God when they're mourning. Not booze." the man said, causing Laurel to actually turn to face him to reveal a tall black man.

"How'd you know I was mourning?" Laurel asked.

"For one thing, I watch the news. I know you Laurel. I know that you're having a hard time accepting what happened to Oliver Queen. Losing the person you love, it makes you feel like you have no reason left to keep on living." the man said.

"You don't know anything about me." Laurel snapped.

"I know about your house in Star City, where you and your sister would sit on the roof at night and count all the different constellations in the sky. I know how got that scar on your ribs, from a car accident when you 17. And I know about your sister." the man said.

"What about my sister?" Laurel asked.

"It's hard, isn't it? Someone comes into your life with these extraordinary powers, and you feel like you can never measure up. Like there's nothing special about you." the man said.

"That's not true. I've never felt that way about Sara." Laurel denied, but the man just smiled.

"We both know there have been times when that wasn't true. But you are special, Laurel. And you can't afford to throw your life down the drain. You owe that to yourself. And to Oliver." the man said

"Who are you?" Laurel asked.

"My name is Hank Henshaw. I work for a government organization dedicated to defending this planet. And we need you, Laurel." Hank said and Laurel actually considered his offer before nodding, wondering how she was going to explain this to her parents.