Disclaimer: I do not own Arrow.
I'm sorry that this is so short after it's been a while since I've updated but I felt that this was a good place to stop the chapter.
A few weeks had passed since the ordeal with Helena Bertinelli. With help from Ted, Laurel and Oliver were able to infiltrate the Bertinelli home and find a laptop hidden in a safe. On it was every last detail of Frank Bertinelli's illegal activities and, one anonymous delivery to one Quentin Lance later, Frank was arrested and so were all members of his organization.
Oliver and Diggle were currently in the lair, taking a break after a spar. Diggle mentioned taking his nephew to Santa and Oliver looked up, realization on his face.
"Christmas…I didn't even realize." Oliver whispered under his breath.
"I would say so. Ever since Helena, you've been crossing off names on your father's list left and right." Diggle pointed out.
"That's not exactly what I meant," Oliver explained and Diggle looked over at him, "there was no Christmas or anything like it on the island. Every day was just 'how do I survive?' To do that, I had to forget things like Christmas. I remember…my dad would throw this huge party and put a tree in every room of the house. The place just smelled like Christmas."
"Maybe you should give the list a rest and focus on the holidays with your family…and others," Diggle gave Oliver a significant look and Oliver knows Diggle is talking about Laurel, "St. Nick has a list of his own and I wager you'd be in the nice column. Go home Oliver."
Arrow Lair, next day
Morning
Oliver and Diggle stood in the lair, discussing last night's events. Someone had killed Adam Hunt, with an arrow. Oliver thought it might be to set him up but Diggle wasn't so sure.
"Why would someone want to frame you for killing Adam Hunt?" Diggle inquired.
"I don't know, but he was good. The grouping on his chest, a compound bow most likely. This guy is…this guy is a legitimate archer." Oliver theorized.
"So someone who's pretty particular about his choice of Arrows." Diggle noted and Oliver nodded.
"We get an arrow; we get a beat on where he purchased them." Oliver confirmed.
"So what are you gonna do?" Diggle inquired.
"What anyone does when they need help, call a cop." Oliver said idly.
Starling City Police Department
Afternoon
Quentin signs for his delivery and the delivery boy hands him his package. The delivery boy walked off and Quentin opens it to reveal a cell phone. Quentin sat down in his chair and stared at it before it began ringing. Seeing the blocked number, Quentin frowned before answering it cautiously.
"Lance." He said.
"I didn't kill Adam Hunt." A disguised voice said and Quentin nearly bolted out of his chair.
"You!" Quentin snarled.
"You call me The Hood; it's not a good nickname. You told Commissioner Nudocerdo we're dealing with a copycat archer, which makes me your best bet to stop him. But I need your help; I need one of the arrows from this murder." The Hood told him.
"Well, we're pretty good at pulling down leads off evidence. Thanks." Quentin said sarcastically as he prepared to hang up.
"Not like I am," The Hood's voice made him pause, "I can do things the police can't, go places they won't."
"Like I said, I don't even know-"
"If this archer doesn't stop with Adam Hunt, we both have a problem! Think about it and call me, number's programmed in." The Hood said before the line went dead.
Laurel's apartment, next day
Morning
Laurel is putting away some dishes when someone knocks on her door. Laurel puts the last plate away before walking over to the front door and opening it. Oliver stands on the other side and Laurel smiles at him as she lets him inside.
"Hey, I heard about Adam Hunt. It wasn't you, was it?" Laurel asked knowingly and Oliver shook his head.
"No, but it was someone good. The way the arrow was handled and fires…it's a legitimate archer. Probably someone trying to frame me. I'm working on it but that's not actually why I'm here," Oliver pulls out a small box the size of his hand, "I was gonna give this to you for your birthday but I figured it's my first Christmas in five years, might as well go big."
Laughing, Laurel takes the box and opens it. Reaching inside, she pulls out a heart shaped locket attached to a golden chain. Looking at Oliver who simply smiles at her mysteriously, Laurel opens it and promptly gasps. Inside is a picture of her and Sara from when they were younger, both still in high school. Tears welling in her eyes, Laurel looks back up at Oliver, whose smile has turned from mysterious to sad.
"I know I can never bring her back and that you can never forgive me…but I thought you should have it." Oliver said softly before turning to leave.
Something seems to snap inside Laurel at that and, almost before she knew what she was doing, she placed the locket on the coffee table near her before rushing to Oliver. Oliver, feeling her approach, turns around just as Laurel reaches him and pulls him in for a kiss. For a moment, Oliver loses all sense of reasoning and pulls her to him as kiss passionately and heavily. After a moment though, Oliver's brain catches up with the rest of him and pulls back, stepping away from Laurel as they both breathe heavily.
"I-I don't want you to be in a vulnerable place and regret whatever happens between us Laurel." Oliver said after a moment.
"I'm not. I've been fighting the feelings I've had for you since you came back…and I don't want to fight them anymore." Laurel said as she took a step closer to Oliver.
Oliver paused, looking at her for any sign of doubt. There was none. Oliver took her face in his hands and kissed her again, which she eagerly returned. Oliver removed his shirt and Laurel jumped up, wrapping her legs around his waist, before they walked backwards, towards Laurel's bedroom.
So, what do you guys think? Please leave any thoughts or comments in a review, feedback is greatly appreciated.
