Title: Silver ARROW

Rated for: T though ratings will change depending on the chapter content. I will label each accordingly.

Genre: Adventure/ Suspense/ Family/ Dram and Revenge so expect some pain and lots of fun fights.

Fandom/Universe: Arrow

Characters: Oliver Queen. Thea Queen. Laurel Lance. Tommy Merlyn. Malcolm Merlyn. (OC) Balere Merlyn.

Pairings: Oliver /Balere. Tommy / Laurel.

Spoilers/Warning: None.

Disclaimer: Arrow and all related characters are NOT MINE. No infringement intended.

Summary: Not every Merlyn is dead and this one is going to make them pay.

Status: In-Progress

Chapter: Let Me Tell You The Reasons Why

AN: I'm trying to post before I lose anything and move things along a bit. Ok so I've added a bit more to the end.


"We are enemies."

Why?

Oliver always comes back to that question. Why is he the enemy? Is it vengeance she's after?

Oliver tired to talk to her in the car. He made the 'attempt' at conversation once he was done kissing Balere. She hadn't retaliated, not physically but she did 'insist' on being returned to her home. Oliver had reluctantly ordered Diggle to drive to the Merlyn Mansion. There was no doubt Balere would find a way out of the Queen Mansion. She'd done so before.

"Focus on one life. You can't be successful at both."

That was her answer when Oliver asked why she was insistent in putting an arrow in him. He'd seen a flash of confusion and surprise cross her features when he asked her why she couldn't answer him straight. Why it was she tried to hate him?

"You and Laurel. You're responsible for my Father, for my brother. Their deaths."

Tommy was an accident. But Oliver couldn't deny he'd killed Malcolm Merlyn. Even trying to explain it as self defense… He wasn't going to lie to Balere. Not about that night.

He's pacing the length of the 2nd floor hall. He's only just made it in to Starling City. Dr. Martin has assured him Balere and his grandchild are safe. He's also made mention of Oliver Queen being at her side and Malcolm has read the news papers, all of them crediting the Arrow with his daughters rescue.

Malcolm has been very carefully holding his emotions in check. Fear of arriving too late to save his daughter. Guilt for not showing her half the affection he'd showered on Tommy before Rebecca… Anger, that Oliver would put Balere in this situation because he's been too stupid, too weak to take out the threat Slade Wilson is. Annoyance, because he's left the Lance girl back at his hideaway and who knows what sorts of antics she'll get up to in his absence. It's almost as if Laurel wants to get rid of his grandchild. All her abusive behavior hasn't harmed the fetus. Yet… But it hasn't been for lack of trying on her part. And what a waste. What had his son seen in that girl to begin with?

A creak in the boards stops him mid step. He listens because he knows it wasn't his tread that made that board creak. Malcolm knows every inch of this house and then its softer but still a creaking board. He steps into the shadows of the corner where a suit of armor stands. He waits listening to the lengthening silence. Someone is in his home and Malcolm isn't going to allow his daughter to walk in on someone trying to cause her any harm.

Not in his home.

"Malcolm's machine is the reason he's dead."

No matter, no matter the reason, there is always someone else to blame. She hasn't met anyone in Starling City that takes responsibility for their actions. There is always an excuse, a reason why they aren't to blame. She's sick of it. Sick of the city her Father wanted to rescue.

"You're both blind to your own complicity."

She couldn't hide her disappointment. The fact she doesn't hate him is alarming. He is her enemy. He has to be punished. Its all her Father has asked of her.

"You know where she is… Laurel."

"Are you accusing me again? Tell me, have I lied to you?"

They both know that she has. Even if Oliver doubts when she says she hasn't, something tells him that isn't true but he can't know and it throws him.

And she told him.

Balere shuts the heavy door behind her and drags in a heavy breath.

"You're Mother is a liar. Thea is a Merlyn."

The shock hadn't worn off even when he followed her out of the car. She had though to push him away, make him angry, somehow get Oliver to leave her alone until she was stronger. When she could stop feeling guilty for the pain she's going to inflict on him. When she doesn't hesitate to follow through with the plan.

That's why she did it.

"Isabel Rochev is a snake. Your lack of focus at Queen Industries will cost you. Decide if your Father's legacy is more important than running around at night crossing off names from your list, trying to right the wrongs of Starling City. This is the one cake you can't have and eat as well."

She warned him. And she's just as certain that Oliver wont listen. He's going to pay…

"Mnawr." The name was given to her, not chosen like all the others. "Abanh al-Sahr."

The familiar voice is one she isn't expecting. It isn't difficult to spot the assassin and what she wants is the one thing Balere wont give. "Ta-er al-Sahfer."

"Tell me where he is." Canary slowly makes her way down the stairs, her eyes never leaving Balere who slowly pushes away from the door.

"The Demons Heir is going to miss you." Balere makes sure to keep her stance relaxed, hiding any sign of weakness The Canary may have seen.

Canary is no fool. She knows that Balere is deadly and the fact she's making no move to attack only has her on alert. "I've been sent to bring him back."

"You know the cemetery in Starling City. I'm sure you wont have trouble locating my Father's grave." Balere takes a step towards Canary, moving up the staircase and ignores the staff as Canary brings it up in preparation for a fight.

"Balere-."

"Leave." She barely turns, the sight of her bruised face and the rounded belly draw the Canary's eyes. She lowers her staff and takes a step back.

"If you don't help me catch Al Sa-Her, they will send others." She gives the warning, her eyes skim over Balere's stomach and then back to her face. "And they wont ask you politely."

"Don't forget who it was taught you to use that staff." Balere reminds her.

The Canary takes another step back, a slight nod of her head the only acknowledgement she's heard the warning before she leaves.

Balere watches the door for a moment before her vision goes black. She looks around and doesn't realize when she sat on the steps but her grip on the railing is firm.

"You're hurt."

Balere looks up, to the sound of the voice she thinks might just be in her head.

Malcolm is very gentle with his daughter. The sight of her face makes him angry and his fingers lightly skim over the bruises before brushing strands of hair out of her eyes.

"Father…"

"You're safe, Balere." He promises in a soft whisper. He places a kiss to the top of her head. "I'm here and I'll protect you." He picks her up easily. Her head tucking into his shoulder and Malcolm is reminded of the little girl he would put to bed. He feels regret, that he didn't give her more of his love but Malcolm doesn't know that he has any left. The young woman in his arms is almost as much a stranger as his dead son had been. Balere Merlyn is his daughter, she's also his weapons in his war to make Starling City what it should be.

Malcolm drops his gaze to the face resting on his shoulder, complete trust is her gift to him. "I'm here."

Laurel broke her promise. She vowed not to make the same mistakes as her Father… But a little bit of hurt, a little pain, the loss and guilt of surviving the Glades… its more than enough to push her into drinking. She abused pills and threw herself into Oliver's arms only a week after Tommy broke up with her.

And Tommy still saved her. He cared about her and risked his life for hers. Was Malcolm punishing her? What would he do if the baby wasn't a Merlyn? What if the child was Oliver's?

Laurel just couldn't be sure. She had hoped, at first, because Tommy was gone and having a little bit of him to love was better than the guilt of knowing he died to save her.

'What am I going to do?'

Moira has been thinking about this since Oliver cut ties with her. The lie she had thought and hoped would never be discovered. The fact she'd been unfaithful to her husband and with Malcolm Merlyn of all the men she could have … and all the trouble she had gone through to keep it all quiet. To hide the truth…

Oliver knew about the $2million. Would he go looking for the girl and that first child? Moira hoped not. She had been disappointed, to find out the girl was a liar, the child was not a Queen, not at all. Moira had felt the loss, so she had paid the girl to leave, to go away. So what? She had made sure to provide enough money they would live comfortably. And Moira would have made the occasional appearance, just to see how the child was doing. To get to know her grandchild…

But there had been complications. There was nothing to do, not enough and the autopsy… at least it hadn't been a Queen. She would have to make sure Oliver didn't find out. There was no sense is hurting him more. He'd lost enough already.

Balere doesn't understand why. She's mucked it up somehow, that's the only explanation.

"You're not safe here." Malcolm says once again. He can see she's trying to hide the disappointment be he wonders if it has anything to do with Oliver Queen. "Think of my grandchild."

"Of course." Balere murmurs. She looks up from her folded hands and nods dutifully but she still feels like this is a punishment. She has failed somehow, in some way.

"Dr. Martin will allow you to fly." He paces the length of the foot of her bed. "Take the private jet. I'll meet you at the dock and we'll take it slow. You'll enjoy some time at sea. It'll be good for you and the baby." He smiles but she's still looking disappointed. Malcolm sighs and moves to sit beside her. "Have you thought of a name?"

Balere looks up, startled. "No, Father." She frowns and wonders at how that had not come up before.

"Well, there's some time yet." He pats her hands smiling.

Thea is watching TV in the living room when Oliver walks in. She barely says a word of hello to her brother though she's curious about the last few days. His constant phone calls in secret whispers. Rushing out of the house with barely any explanation though she's pretty sure it had to do with Balere Merlyn's kidnapping. Every channel has played the clip some orderly or nurse taped, of the Arrow dropping off Balere in the emergency room…

And all the pictures of Oliver running into the hospital just a few hours later and again of Oliver picking up Balere from the wheelchair and getting into the back of a car.

"She's all over the news."

Oliver sighs hearing the tone of his sisters voice. He can't help but stare and wonder if what Balere said in the car is true. Would his Mother really…?

"…and pictures of you with her. What are you doing, Ollie? Why are you even wasting time on that-?"

"She's hurt, Thea." Oliver cuts in, his features morphing into a frown. "She's the Mother of my unborn child and she was attacked. She was…" he stands abruptly, his mind wandering down the path of 'what if' because he'd been allowed to rescue Balere. It was too easy, Slade allowed them to leave. But why if he's made it clear all he wants it take away everyone that Oliver loves.

And who is the masked blond? Because Oliver can't shake the feeling of familiarity.

"Gone." Thea snaps at him. She stands up and tosses the remote on the couch. "The so called Mother of your child just hopped on the Merlyn jet and took off." She stomps off unable to understand what her brother is thinking when it comes to Balere Merlyn.

"What?" Oliver is caught off guard. "Thea!" he takes an aborted step after her when the TV gets his attention.

"… statement released ; 'Due to recent events it has been recommended that Ms. Merlyn, in her delicate condition, be moved to a more secure location where she can rest comfortably.' Sources say the heiress has opted for a private spa retreat in the mountains and speculation as to how she will give birth to the Merlyn-Queen heir…"

He slowly sits on the couch blocking out the rest of the noise and watches clips of Balere, still bruised, leaving the mansion. Images of her as she's caught arriving at the airport and another view of her doing exactly as Thea says; leaving.

"We are enemies."