Authors Note: As always thank you all so much for all the support, it means more than I can ever say so I shall post this chapter early for you guys. This is a beast of a chapter at over 7,000 words! But hopefully it has some of the answers you're all looking for. As always this story is painful but I hope you do enjoy…

The club was electric, the buzz of bass pulsed through Oliver's veins as he made his way across the dance floor. The place was bursting with swaying bodies, people constantly on the move, and maybe that's why he was drawn to her. She was motionless, sat on a stool. Her long black hair flowing down her back, only a splash of dark purple cutting through it. He noted her matching attire, and the way her foot tapped to the beat, even if she wasn't actively moving. He ignored the advances of the women around him as he stepped closer towards her. He had no idea why he was walking towards her, why he was so intrigued but he had to speak to her. He placed his hand on her shoulder, leaning slightly over her as he spoke to the bar man.
"Your best champagne, and whatever the lady wants." He nodded towards the mystery woman.

Oliver awoke with a groan pulling the duvet over his head. He'd been dreaming about this mystery woman more and more frequently since he moved into the mansion 4 weeks ago, always the same club and always the same woman from the beginning. He didn't know her, never saw her face other than purple lips. But he always felt a small amount of relief in seeing her, before the confusion once more took over.

He could taste the alcohol on his breath from yet another night out. He knew he was using the excuse of QC as a front to party nearly every day but truthfully he just didn't care anymore. His parents would give him their disapproving looks and occasional sniggers but they never seemed overly concerned. Thea had made it clear that she would support him if he cleaned his act up, but why would he bother with that? He had all he ever wanted, he lived in the mansion, had his trust fund, worked in QC, single and free to do as he pleased with whoever he pleased. But really was that what he wanted?

He grumbled pulling himself out of bed glancing at his clock. It was the middle of the afternoon on a Friday, and he'd basically skipped work. He shrugged with a groan as he pulled on some casual clothes. He needed coffee. He stepped out of his room greeted with the usual silence, no one tended to be around the house much these days. He walked down the corridor, and staircase heading straight towards the kitchen. He didn't stop until he was pouring a mug of freshly brewed coffee.

"So I see you're finally awake," Moira's clipped voice made him jump.

"Mother," he replied sweetly turning to look at her.

Her arms were folded over her chest as she tilted her head at him. "You know when I said you could move back in, I didn't expect you to revert back to your old self too."

"Not you too," he grumbled rolling his eyes.

"Look at yourself Oliver! It's the middle of the day, you're meant to be at work, instead you're here, smelling of stale beer and looking plain miserable! We barely even see you!"

"You're one to talk," he retorted.

"What's that suppose to me?" she asked raising her eyebrow in challenge.

"Well I've been living here for 4 weeks, and I've never actually seen dad here, it's like he lives at the office! In fact I've seen Walter here more times than I have my dad!" he replied with a shrug. "And you're not always here, you have your clubs and duties to worry about."

"That isn't fair! Your father has a lot to deal with and Walter is a dear family friend," she answered with a sharp tone. "They're all excuses for your behaviour and they aren't acceptable."

"Well what are you going to do? Throw me out? Cut off my trust fund? How did that work out for you last time?" he replied sarcastically, crossing his own arms over his chest.

He watched as her anger slowly slipped away, her arms dropped to her sides as her shoulders slumped slightly. "You know, all I ever wanted was for you to live a wonderful life. That's all I ever wanted for both of my children," she admitted giving him a sad smile.

"I'm living a great life, I can do whatever I want-"

"Regardless of the consequences," she mumbled with a small shake of her head.

"I have nothing and no one to be responsible for," he answered with a shrug.

"Your father wants you to attend a gala tonight representing the company, because we can't attend," she added changing the subject.

"Sure," he replied with a shrug.

"Well the car will be ready at 7," she added.

"Is that it?" he asked. "No lecture about not drinking too much? Or showing up the company?"

Moira sighed giving him a clearly sad look. "Once upon a time I would have," she admitted. "But right now all I'm concerned about is you, not a company."

"I'm fine," he answered nonchalantly sipping his coffee.

"You know I wish I could believe that. I couldn't help you with your problem last time, I wasn't exactly the mother you needed back then but things were different." She gave him a soft smile. "And now I'm here to help, in whatever way you need, just say the word."

"I don't need any help," he answered sharply. "I'm perfectly content with this life right here."

"Well if that ever changes all you have to do is ask," she said before walking away and leaving him completely dumb struck in the kitchen.

Oliver leant grumpily against a table in the back glaring as Ray Palmer stood to give his speech. He wasn't even listening to whatever drivel he was talking about, all he cared about was the lack of alcohol. He'd tried with all his might to get an alcoholic beverage but every member of staff had been scared off of serving him. Because of course Thea was the one who organised this gala. He groaned to himself at how long this evening had felt, how boring it had been to attend a company event just to be a face for the company with no knowledge.

"You look a little annoyed," a feminine voice caught him off guard.

He turned to look at the woman, she looked familiar as he tried to remember her. "Well my alcohol supply has been cut off, and this is the most bored I have ever been."

"I think I can fix that," she practically purred, and pulled a bottle of champagne with two glasses from behind her back placing it on the table.

"You do realise who I am, right?" he asked.

"Oliver Queen," she replied pouring out the glasses.

"Yes and you realise my sister cut me off-"

"Oh I'm well aware. But she doesn't bother me," she answered with a smirk. "Neither does your reputation, or your partying."

She handed him a flute. "Who exactly are you?" he asked knocking it back in one gulp.

"Isabel Rochev," she replied with a seductive smirk.

He stared at her, the name sounding really familiar. "Have we met before?"

"Oh yes," she answered with a wink.

"I'm guessing in a pleasure capacity."

"Plenty of pleasure, for the both of us," she replied pouring him another glass. "With a hint of business."

"What sort of business?" He asked.

"You know Richard Gere in Pretty Woman?"

"Yeh."

"That's what I do, I take companies and rip them into pieces, selling the parts off for profit." She shrugged sipping her drink.

"Well what sort of business did we have?"

"I merely enquired about the state of QC a few years back," she answered with a smirk.

"So are you looking for a prostitute like Richard Gere?" he asked sipping at his drink this time.

"Who needs a prostitute when I can get it for free," she answered casually with a shrug.

"Oh so you have men queuing at the door?" he asked finishing his drink off.

"Why do I need a queue when a man with your prowess is right here." She placed her hand on his chest. Her fingers playing with button on his slightly opened shirt.

He stared down at her, her hand feeling completely out of place there. "I mean we are both mutually beneficial in this." Oliver could feel his heart hammering in his chest, but for all the wrong reasons. He could feel a sense of dread over take him as she seductively winked at him.

"Get your hands off him," Thea practically growled.

"Miss Queen," Isabel turned her head to glance at her. "Or rather Mrs Harper," she spat out in a derogatory manner. "This is a free country and I'm allowed to do as I please."

"Not here," she snapped.

"I got the invite from Mr Palmer," she retorted finally removing her hand from Oliver's chest.

"No you didn't, I sorted that guest list personally and you were not on there. So Miss Rochev I must ask you to leave."

"You're just a spiteful little bitch," she replied in anger.

Oliver gaped at the pair as Thea merely shrugged. "At least I haven't wasted my whole life getting revenge for something I put myself into," she answered calmly.

"I put myself into! Your father-"

"Oh please, you are both as bad as each other," she replied as Diggle stepped into view with a pair of his security men. "What exactly were you hoping to gain this time?"

Isabel's spine straightened as the two men made to escort her out. She had a scowl on her face that turned into a smirk before she replied sharply. "Well some traits a girl dreams of run in the family, and let's say stamina is an amazing thing."

Oliver frowned deeply as Thea grimaced, her whole body seemed to recoil as they escorted her out. "What did she mean?" Oliver asked staring at her and glancing at Diggle. Thea quickly looked up and around to find a good majority of the party staring at them.

"You two should talk, I'll talk to Palmer and deal with this," Diggle offered.

"What's going on?" Oliver asked and Thea sighed heavily.

"Let's take this on to the balcony," she said pointing to the doors behind them.

"I'll let you have some privacy, keep people out."

"Thank you," Thea said softly touching his arm before she lead Oliver outside. She headed straight out, looking out onto the city below as Diggle shut the doors and drapes behind them.

"Can you please tell me what the hell is going on?"

"Why were you drinking with her?" Thea countered crossing her arms over her chest turning to face him.

"Because I was bored, and you cut my supply off."

"So you were that desperate for a drink you'd do anything?"

"That isn't fair!"

"And cheating on your wife is?"

He felt his heart break at the mention of Felicity. "NO!" he snapped. "She walked out on me, she gave up on us. So I'm free to do whatever I want, with whoever I want!"

"I think all the partying has made that really clear," she replied with such disappointment he had to look away.

"And so what?" he grunted finally turning back around. "I have no responsibilities and I like it that way."

He watched as her eyes fluttered and her shoulders deflated before she mumbled, "She was right."

"Huh?"

"God you really have no idea how much she loves you," she answered with a shake of her head.

"Yes she loved me that much she ran off!"

"She set you free," she whispered. "She let you do whatever you needed to do whilst she lost out."

"What the hell are you talking about Thea? What does any of this have to do with tonight?"

"Isabel isn't a good person Ollie, and mom and dad have been lying to you."

"About what?" He snarled in frustration.

"It all started about 4 years ago…"

"So you decided to bring your girlfriend to dinner?" Thea asked him with a quirk of her eyebrow.

"She isn't my girlfriend, Speedy."

"Then why are you letting mum and dad meet her?" she asked with genuine curiosity.

"Because of who she is."

"Huh?"

"Lets just say our relationship is more adult than that."

"I might be 18 Ollie but you can say the words fuck buddies."

"Thea!" he exclaimed jokingly.

"Well just saying it as it is." She shrugged.

"Yes but mom and dad don't need to know that."

"So you're bringing her here to what? Show off?"

"Pretty much," se answered with a shrug. "She's CEO of her own company, and she's only 25."

"So she's older than you?"

"Not by much," he replied.

"Well what's the plan then?"

"They keep going on and on at me about having opened the club, and not finishing college, and they keep bugging me about living with Felicity," he sighed before continuing, "and the rumours about us," he whispered.

Thea watched as his eyes softened and he looked genuinely sad. "Well I think Felicity can handle them," she answered.

"Yeh but she shouldn't have to, not for being my friend." Thea couldn't helped the genuinely surprised look on her face. "What?"

"You never care about rumours, or people's reputations," she whispered a little stunned.

"Well Felicity is different," he replied with a shrug. "She's helped me a lot Speedy, and I don't want my past to tarnish that."

"You really care about her," she answered unable to stop staring at him, his whole body relaxed as he spoke about her even if he had a sadness to his tone.

"Yes I do," he replied, rubbing a hand at the back of his neck as if that realisation had only just occurred to him. They sat in silence for a minute as a variety of emotions flittered across his face before he changed the subject quickly. "So where are mom and dad?"

"Dad's at the office as usual," she answered with a shrug. "And I think mom is in the kitchen, making sure everything is perfect for your girlfriend."

"Not my girlfriend," he said instantly.

"What are you two talking about?" Moira asked as she stepped into the living room.

"Ollie was just telling me about his girlfriend." She purposefully looked at him to see him glaring at her.

"Well it will be nice to meet this woman, and see you dating again," she answered.

"You mean away from Felicity."

"Well I don't think it's right for a man and woman to share accommodation who aren't a couple," she replied with an icy stare.

"And whose fault was that?" Oliver retorted and instantly Thea felt the tension in the room.

"You can't keep blaming us for your actions."

"And you can't keep having ago at Felicity for helping me." Oliver stood up abruptly. "How many more times can I repeat that we're just friends before you'll be happy?"

"An eternity," Thea mumbled, earning a glare from her mother and a smile from Oliver.

"When you stop living with her, and see she's only after one thing."

"And what's that?"

"The company!" she exclaimed.

"Honestly mom, it was Felicity that encouraged me to reconnect but then it's things like this, that make me wonder why I bother."

"What's all the commotion about?" Robert said appearing from nowhere.

"Oh just the usual," Thea answered with a smile. "Good to see you dad."

"Always a pleasure Thea. How's college going?"

"I don't start until the fall dad, I'm travelling remember."

"Ah of course! Well it's good to have you home for awhile, and of course to see you too son." Thea looked up to Moira still glaring in Oliver's direction. "Good to see you too dad," he replied stepping forward to hug him. "I see you're still working hard."

"Well a company doesn't run itself," he answered with a smile. "I'll just go freshen up, why don't we all wait for your girlfriend in the dining room?" Thea couldn't help the small giggle that escaped her as Oliver turned his head to glare at her.

"Of course, come on children," Moira said softly gesturing to the next room. Thea dragged herself up nudging Oliver as she went and he merely shook his head with a grin.

Moira nudged the cutlery slightly, being very precise in their placement. "I'm just going to check in the kitchens. Thea you sit there beside me, and your father will be the head of the table, so you and your girlfriend can sit there Oliver." She gestured to the settings so the pair took their seats before she scurried off.

"So how's the club going?" Thea asked leaning on her elbows.

"Great, and no you and your friends will not be drinking in there."

"Spoilsport," she mumbled.

"Don't care."

"As if you weren't drinking at my age," she answered with a cheeky grin.

"Well I'm hoping you learn from my many mistakes."

"Oh please, you were never that bad," she said with a wave of her hand.

"Thea, I am. There are things you have no idea about, you were younger and didn't notice. But I was bad and I never want you to feel like I did, feel that pressure and rather than deal with it throw yourself into drugs and drink."

She stared at the serious expression on his face, one she wasn't accustomed to seeing. "You're being serious," she answered.

"Deadly. It's taken all this and the kindness of friends to realise life isn't always one big party."

She tilted her head at him watching his face. "You mean Felicity," she answered.

"Yes okay, Felicity," he replied with a shake of his head. "But can we please not bring her up in front of-"

"Your girlfriend?" she teased and he groaned.

"Fine, but mom too. You've seen her thoughts."

"Oh ignore mom. Felicity wouldn't hurt a fly, let alone try to steal the company and use you in the process," Thea commented with a beaming smile.

"You took that from meeting her once?"

"Once? Me and Felicity have dinner whenever I'm in town." His mouth fell open in utter shock. "What? I like her she's cool," she replied with a shrug.

Just then Robert appeared heading towards his seat. "So we're meeting your girlfriend tonight?" he enquired.

"Yep," Thea added with a toothy grin.

"We're just dating," he replied quickly.

"Oh is that what the young ones call it these days?" Robert asked with a chuckle.

The doorbell chimed throughout the house. "And on that note, I'll go let her in." He jumped up from his seat, heading out the room without even looking back.

"So what do we know about this woman?" Robert asked Thea.

"I don't know, he just said she was a little older and CEO of her own company."

"That is mighty impressive," he commented as Moira stepped in carrying a tray of different bottles. She placed it down on the side behind Robert, her back turned towards them.

"What's impressive?" she asked.

"Olivers girlfriend," Robert said.

"Everyone I want you to meet Isabel," Oliver's voice rang out. Thea looked up in time to see a brunette dressed in a short black dress. She had a beaming smirk on her face, as there was the sound of shattering glass. Thea spun her head to see the remnants of glass all over the floor by her mother's feet. She glanced up to see a scowl on her face.

"Get out!" Moira snapped.

"Mom!" Oliver answered in shock.

"Get that, that, that bitch out of my house!" she shouted stepping forward waving her arm.

"Nice to see you too Moira," Isabel said with a smug look.

"What are you doing here?" Robert said looking clearly pale.

"I'm here because Oliver asked me to be," she answered.

"What's going on?" Oliver asked staring at them all.

"Yes, what is going on?" Isabel added staring hard at them. Thea sat there glancing at them all stunned into silence.

"I will not have her in this house, and you will not see her!" Moira screeched.

"Mom you do not get to say who I can and can not see."

"She's right," Robert added standing up. "You need to leave Izzy."

"You don't get to call me that!" she snapped in clear anger.

"Please don't do this," he pleaded calmly walking towards her.

"Do what exactly, Robert?" she countered tilting her head.

"You know full well you bitch," Moira snapped.

"Still as cold as you've ever been," she remarked. "And yet you chose to stay."

"I had to," he answered. "I have responsibilities."

"Bullshit!" she snapped.

"What the hell is happening here?" Oliver asked stepping from Isabel slightly.

"Why don't you ask your father how well he really knows me?" she suggested glaring at him. "Why don't you tell them exactly what this family is like?"

"No," Moira snapped.

"Oh then I guess I have to," she answered. "Your dad had an affair with me. I wasn't the first, and I probably won't be the last."

"What?" Oliver stammered. "I... slept with the same woman as my dad," he whispered rubbing his hands over his face. Thea blinked rapidly as her parents froze dead.

"Son-"

"No, what the actual fuck? Why are you still together if he cheated on you?" he shouted towards his mother.

"Oliver it isn't that simple."

"Oh no of course it isn't. There's no wonder you're so messed up with these as your parents," Isabel spat out. "It's enough to give anyone a complex."

"Isabel, ENOUGH," Robert said firmly.

"Oh we're far from over here," she answered with a dry laugh. "I loved you once, as I know you did-"

"But I chose my kids, they come before anything!"

"No but you didn't choose your child did you?" Thea glanced at Oliver who was frowning too.

"You shut your mouth you vicious cow!" Moira snapped rushing towards her.

Robert wrapped his arms around her waist holding her back. "Moira no, she isn't worth it."

Moira huffed loudly. "It was always someone younger! Always some stupid bimbo in the office!" she screeched.

"Yes and you slept with my best friend!" he shouted back. Moira froze in an instant. "Did you really think I wouldn't know? That I didn't know she wasn't mine?"

Thea blinked rapidly, her heart hammering in her chest. "What?" she whispered.

"Now look who's the bitch," Isabel said with a proud grin.

"Get the fuck out!" Robert snapped.

"My pleasure," she answered turning on her heels and happily strutting out.

"Thea, honey," Moira whispered walking towards her.

"I'm... you're not my dad," she said completely stunned.

"No, no I'm not," Robert answered and Moira shot a glare at him.

"My dads Malcolm Merlyn?" she uttered.

"Sweetie, let's talk about this," Moira said, moving slowly as if trying not to spook her.

"I... I..." She looked up to see a pair of arms wrapping around her, hauling her into his chest. "Oliver," she whimpered as she couldn't hold back the tears.

"You're my sister Thea, and nothing changes that."

"It isn't what you think," Moira said her voice shaking.

"You cheated on me with my best friend and got pregnant, there's no other way to see it," Robert snapped.

"And you've been having affairs since Oliver was born!" she shouted back, stopping to glare at him. "I was there for our friend when his wife died, when we lost our best friend, and I made a mistake."

"A mistake which produced me," Thea mumbled feeling her whole world shattering around her.

"Exactly," Robert snapped.

"But you stayed! You never said anything!" Moira answered.

"As you never said anything about my indiscretions," he replied with a sharpness.

"That's why you always worked?" Oliver asked in realisation. "That's why you were barely here because you two actually can't stand to be around each other." They stood in silence, not saying a single word, and it spoke more words than they ever could.

"You... you lied to me, my whole life," Thea whimpered, unable to wrap her head around it all.

"I never meant to," Moira rushed out. "I... Robert has always been a good father, he is your dad, not Malcolm."

Robert snickered, with a shake of his head and Thea struggled to control her emotions still wrapped in Oliver's arms. "I... I can't be here," she mumbled and Oliver nodded.

"We're leaving."

"We need to talk about this."

"No. I think after all this time you can wait awhile longer. I'm going to take care of my sister!" Oliver snapped, leading Thea out the room. They didn't argue or follow, instead Oliver lead them straight outside before pulling his phone from his pocket.

"Hey Tommy, I need your help. Me and Thea."

"You're not my sister?" he stammered out, his mind a jumbled mess. "They lied to us, and they continued lying to us? WAIT YOU LIED TO ME!"

"Wait, wait calm down," she said softly approaching him.

"You're really telling me to calm down right now?" he snapped.

"Hey! I was the one whose "father" basically disowned her from that day, and whose "real" father doesn't even acknowledge she's alive. So do not even dare play that card."

"That's why I was so angry? They… they lied our whole lives…"

"I think so," Thea answered glancing down at her feet. "You were always so much angrier than me, and… I…" she shrugged trying to calm her own emotions.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner? Why didn't anyone tell me sooner?" he asked still trying to control his temper.

"Because you couldn't remember," she answered.

"I can't believe you aren't my sister," he whispered in disbelief.

"I'm still your sister," she replied with a frown. "I'm still exactly the same."

"But you're Tommy's too," he added with a shake of his head.

"Yes, but he always treated me like a sister anyway."

"I… slept with my dad's mistress." he whispered as that finally hit him.

"Yep," she answered with a grimace.

"That's what the comment was about."

"Sadly, yes."

He shuddered, his stomach flipping around. "What the hell happened to our family Thea?"

"Dad cheated on mom nearly their whole married life, and mom in a moment of grief slept with Malcolm after his wife, Rebecca died. 9 months later I'm born and everyone lives in ignorance bliss for 18 years until Isabel decides to ruin it all."

"But why?"

Thea shrugged. "I never asked. It's not like I had the opportunity after that night."

"Why?" he asked.

"I never went home. They agreed to pay my tuition at college, but I worked for my living expenses. Mom tried to stay a part of my life and I was civil but dad never even bothered."

"I just can't believe it," he said with a shake of his head. "Is that why you're nothing to do with QC?"

"Yes, but it's not like I'm interested anyway," she answered with a sad smile.

"But he raised you."

"And he didn't care! After 18 years of raising me, he basically washed his hands of me."

"And so I did the same to them," he whispered.

"Yes, but it was always different for you Ollie. You're the heir, and that's what they saw you as. That's why they treated Felicity so badly, that's why they forced their way back into your life after your accident."

"They rewrote the past," he mumbled out loud.

"They tried to the moment they stepped into that hospital room."

"Why didn't anyone say anything?" he asked.

"Would you, at that point, have believed us? We weren't the same as you remembered, and forcing you into a certain life to suit us, wasn't what we wanted… we wanted you to figure it out."

"But you told me just now."

"Because you nearly made the same mistake again and I couldn't let you do that, not with her."

"So the partying you're okay with but hint of me sleeping with her-"

"I'm not at all okay with the partying, but we can only repeat that so many times. That, that just happened I could stop," she answered. "Do you really think I wanted to lie to you Ollie? After all this? But you weren't in a great place, in fact you still aren't. We gave mom and dad a chance to tell you, but instead you're living back in the mansion and history is repeating itself."

"WELL HOW AM I MEANT TO CHANGE IT WHEN I DON'T REMEMBER!" he shouted in anger.

"Fine, take out all your frustrations on me, and the people closest to you, but god damn it Oliver, you need to start to realise that maybe the reason you can't remember is because you don't want to." He stood there completely frozen at the insinuation. "Maybe you just… you don't want to remember all the pain, and suffering. Maybe you just want to be exactly who you used to be." She shrugged.

"I need to go," he answered turning away from her.

"Fine," she replied with a heavy sigh, the frustration rolling off her in waves. He walked straight out the gala, avoiding everyone's eyes as they watched him. He shrugged off Diggles hand as he made for the exit and before he got to the car he was calling his parents, demanding to see them.

He didn't even wait for the car to stop as he jumped out and practically ran into the house. He was genuinely stunned to find both his parents in the living room waiting. His mother sat on the sofa whilst his father leant against the fireplace.

"You're actually here?" he replied sarcastically to his father.

"Well your call sound pretty important," he answered glancing up at him.

"Oh cut the crap, I know," Oliver said sternly. "I know because I apparently just nearly made the same mistake twice."

Moira tilted her head staring at her. "I don't have the foggiest idea what you mean?"

"Isabel Rochev," he answered and instantly he saw their demeanours change. His mom sat straighter tensing up whilst his father seemed to deflate completely. "So stop lying to me! Thea told me about the affairs, about who her real father is."

"Let us explain," Moira added quickly standing.

"I'd rather you told me the truth," he deadpanned. "I moved back in, and I believed all your lies instead of trusting the people closest to me because you're my parents. Yet you caused everyone pain."

"You abandoned us Oliver," Robert spoke first.

"What you really think after learning the truth I believe everything you say. Are you two even together? Because that would explain your absence around here."

"Look, we'll tell you the truth, we'll tell you everything," Moira interrupted. "God, we thought we finally had a chance to get you back, to be a part of your life but you seem to be reverting back to the boy you were and not the man that we were admiring from afar."

"So you what? Silenced Thea and Felicity? Well everyone?"

"No," Robert said sternly. "No we never asked them to do anything, they just seemed to go along with it."

"They were waiting for you to tell the truth," He answered. "Which was a really stupid decision."

"We didn't want to cause you pain again," Moira whispered and Oliver laughed.

"Honestly just stop lying and tell me the truth!" he argued.

"I cheated on your mother, regularly," Robert supplied as Moira stood there stoically. "It never meant anything at the start, it was just the thrill and pleasure, but it became more and more regular."

"So why bother staying married?" he asked.

"Because I always loved your mom, I just couldn't stay faithful," he answered.

"And I loved your dad, we had you, and I didn't want to destroy our family," Moira added.

"So why cheat with Malcolm?" Oliver directed towards her.

"It wasn't planned, it just happened," she answered as Robert stood there shaking his head. "After Rebecca died, I felt alone. She was my best friend, and she was gone. Your dad was always at work, and I was grieving, and Malcolm was there, and I was there for him and Tommy, and it just happened-"

"You keep saying," Robert mumbled.

"Don't," she snapped. "Don't you dare judge me after everything."

"I didn't get pregnant with my husband's best friend," he retorted.

"No, but can you honestly tell me that you know there aren't anymore Queens out there?" she shouted.

"STOP IT," Oliver's voice broke through before Robert even had a chance to reply. "Jesus, can you not tell me without bickering?" The room fell silent for a moment both not meeting his eyes.

"After your mother fell pregnant again, I suspected some things but I stayed. I realised I'd hurt her and I wanted to do better, so I tried damn hard to make it work and Thea felt like mine, I raised her as mine," he continued, his voice having a soft timber as he seemed to be fighting his emotions.

"Until Isabel," Moira answered sitting back on the sofa looking defeated.

"I fell in love," Robert whispered. "I didn't think it was possible, but Isabel was so different, and she cared about more than the business, she wanted us to leave and start again, and I had every intention of doing so."

"But you didn't," Oliver said softly.

"No, when we were meant to leave Thea got hurt, and I chose her and you over Isabel."

"So why not leave after? Why stay?" Oliver asked.

"Because of you," Moira answered truthfully. "Isabel turned up that night demanding to see Robert, demanding that he leave with her to be happy but he was at the police station with you. It was your first offence."

"So I ruined your life is what you're saying?"

"No," Robert answered. "No, I chose my children and she couldn't accept that. She couldn't understand."

"She tried to make our life harder, she was always there. Work and events, always hovering," Moira added.

"So I gave her money to leave, and she got angry. She questioned if I ever really loved her." He ran a hand at the back of his neck his voice sounding small.

"But she took it and left," Moira continued. "And we went back to our lives."

"I wanted to give you purpose, as well as a legacy for my company. I… I chose that over love," Robert added with an air of regret in his tone.

"So that's when we pushed you into the right colleges, into the right relationships-"

"It didn't feel like that," Oliver answered. "It felt like you already knew what you wanted for my future, and I got no say in that."

"We were desperately trying to stop you making mistakes, we made so many," Moira answered. "When you dropped out the 4the college and had to shadow your father we thought that would straighten you out, you had no reason to party."

"But that failed?" Oliver whispered.

"Greatly," Robert replied. "You did nothing put party, you barely turned up to work, you got in trouble for drugs-"

"And Laurel left you for cheating on her with Sara," Moira added. "And we were at the end of a rope, so we made a decision, and we cut you off."

"Which is how I ended up with Felicity."

"Yes," Robert answered with a sigh. "And she did what we couldn't."

"She helped me get clean."

"Yes," Moira replied. "She was a support that none of us could match."

"Then why were you so against that? Why were you both so angry? Why did she leave QC? And why did I cut you out our lives?" Oliver asked, rushing it all out as he stood there with his heart pounding.

"Because of Isabel," Moira answered dipping her head in shame. "All I saw was another young woman, trying to get her claws into the company, into our money."

"But she was amazing at her job," Robert supplied with a sad sigh. "And she was even better with helping you, you became a better person with her help. We failed that."

"So you were jealous?" he asked with a dry laugh.

"No we were trying to protect you. We wanted you to be a part of the company, and Miss Smoak was a good way to get that. After kicking you out, and you getting help she encouraged you to still be a part of our lives and we took advantage of that," Moira answered grimacing at herself.

"How?" He asked.

"We gave her an ultimatum," Robert replied. "Either she gets you back into the company or she'd never get promoted."

"You did what?" Oliver asked a little stunned.

"I gave her all the lowly IT tasks, I made her life a living hell and I regret that," he whispered softly. "Because she was truly made to do her job."

"And she chose me?" Oliver asked a little taken aback.

"Yes," Moira confirmed. "She said she could never force you into something you didn't want." Oliver nodded feeling a lump in his throat.

"But something happened," Robert said looking at his feet. "Felicity collapsed at work, she was off sick for awhile after and you came to see us."

"You told us that you'd never forgive us for what we had done. That you couldn't even bare to look at us, that Felicity meant more to you than we could ever comprehend because our marriage was toxic, we were toxic," Moira sobbed as a tear rolled down her cheek. "You said that you never wanted to see us again, that you wanted nothing more to do with the company or us."

"And a few days later Miss Smoak handed in her notice," Robert added.

"But what did you do?"

"We have no idea, but we'd never seen you like that before Oliver. Never," Moira replied with a small shake of her head. "The pain and anger that day could be felt rolling off you in waves, and we presumed it was because she got sick, because we pushed her too hard but it seemed so much more."

Oliver stared at them for a while, glancing between them and he could feel the guilt, regret and shame rolling off them. "I don't know why I said those things but-"

"You were right," Robert interrupted. "Our marriage was toxic, our love was and that affected you and Thea. So I did what I thought was best, I cut Thea off and gave her a chance without me and-"

"We got divorced," Moira added looking down at the wedding ring on her finger.

"You aren't even together anymore?" he asked stunned.

"No, your mother kept the house, I have a flat in the city."

"And I'm dating Walter," she whispered with a blush.

"How… why did you lie? Why did you pretend?"

"Because we wanted you to have the life you should have," Moira answered. "And it was nice to see that our son didn't look at us with all the hate in the world, and we wanted to hold onto that."

"We love you, and Thea," Robert said looking at his feet. "And we just wanted to protect you both."

"So that's why you cut Thea off."

"She is better off without me in her life, she's made that perfectly clear. I am not a nice person, and I have hurt everyone I've ever loved-"

"So you pushed her away to protect her?"

He nodded. "How do you carry on when someone you raised for 18 years looks at you like you destroyed her whole life?" he whispered.

"I don't know," Oliver responded staring between them.

"We love you, and we only want what's best for you," Moira rushed out. "And I think we've come to realise that what's best is to stop making decisions for you."

"So you can do what you want," Robert answered. "Stay at QC or don't, live here or don't. We won't choose for you anymore."

"I just, I don't know… I need… I need to think, I need some time."

"Of course," Moira replied with a sad smile.

"You do what you have to," Robert added.

"But we're here if you need us." Oliver merely nodded as he walked out the house. He didn't even entertain the idea of getting back in the car, instead he walked.

He walked and walked, with no aim or purpose. He just let his mind wander over everything, and he didn't know how to think or feel about anything he'd heard over the last few hours. He swallowed hard as he glanced up at the dark sky, finally standing still. He took a deep breath, the cool air filling his lungs before he glanced around to see where he was. He blinked several times when he realised where he'd walked to. His heart clenched in his chest as he took in the dark and quiet scene of their home. Of his and Felicity's house.

He walked up the path, and didn't even think as he pulled out his wallet, and took the key out he'd kept there for 4 weeks. He turned the key in the lock and pushed it open. He stepped inside, closing the door behind him. The house was quiet, too quiet. There was no tapping of keys, no babbling, or singing, no signs of life as he looked at the place. It looked exactly the same but it didn't feel it.

He walked into the kitchen, the space illuminated by the moonlight coming in through the patio doors. He looked around, and it seemed exactly like it had when he was last here. He sighed as he sat down at the table and pulled his phone out. He stared at the screen, only one person he wanted to talk to, one person he wanted to share it all with. With a deep breath he hit call and waited.

The phone rang for what seemed an eternity before a small voice answered. "Hello?"

"Felicity…" he rushed out trying to hide his emotions but failing miserably.

"Oliver? What's wrong?" He could hear the panic, and a bed creak as she presumably must have been sleeping.

"God I woke you," he rushed out. "I shouldn't have called, I'm sorry." He pulled his phone away prepared to hang up.

"OLIVER WAIT! Wait!" He heard her shouting and he pulled it back to his ear. "What's going on?" she asked. "And don't lie I can tell."

"I know." The line fell silent. "I know the truth."

"You… you remember?" she barely whispered.

"No, Thea told me, and I just spoke to my parents and I don't know what to do. I don't know how I'm supposed to feel."

"What exactly did they tell you?" she asked.

"That Thea isn't my sister, that my parents both had affairs, that I slept with my dad's mistress… and that they treated you so badly and all you did was help me. You've always helped me, and I…" he stopped talking pressing his hand to his eyes to stop the tears falling.

"I'll come over, I'll be there by morning."

"No, no don't do that," he whispered. "I've ruined your life enough, my family has ruined your life enough."

"Oliver-"

"No, I… I need help, I have a problem. A lot of problems. And I should have listened to you, and everyone. I have a drinking problem, and I didn't know if I wanted to remember, but I need to try… I need to…"

"Let me help you," she whispered.

"No, I'm not ruining your life anymore. You shouldn't love me Felicity, you shouldn't," he answered rubbing a hand at the back of his neck.

"It's not something I can turn off Oliver," she joked a little.

"I don't know how you ever loved me," he whispered.

"I used to ask the same thing about you loving me," she answered in a whisper. Olivers heart shattered at that thought, and he found himself unable to stop the tears.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled.

"You have nothing to be sorry for," she answered. "I can come back, and I can help."

"No," he replied. "No, I called my parents toxic apparently, I said they and their marriage was toxic and I'm starting to think maybe I was the toxic one."

"No!" she practically shouted. "You weren't, you went through so much, you got help, you changed…"

"But I'm not now. I'm hurting everyone around me."

"That's the first step Oliver, admitting you have a problem."

"What's next?"

"Getting help," she answered. "Honestly I can help you. I can be there for you."

"I just think that will hurt you more," he whispered. "And I'm tired of hurting people."

"Okay," she whispered back.

"I get it you know?"

"Get what?"

"Why you didn't tell me the truth?" He heard her breath coming out as stutters down the phone line waiting for him to continue. "You clearly always try to see the best in people, and you gave my parents the benefit of the doubt even after they treated you so badly, and they gave you that ultimatum."

"They told you that?" she gasped.

"They did, and it wasn't long after that, that I disowned them. You got sick, because of how they treated you."

"Yes," she mumbled.

"Well anyway, you just didn't tell me the full truth so they could, you let me distrust you and trust them rather than cause me all that heartbreak and pain again." He heard her whimper. "You're a remarkable person Felicity, and you deserve so much more than I can offer you. You deserve someone who will cherish a life with you, not someone who can't even remember meeting you," he whispered and he could hear her soft sobs on the other end. "I'm sorry."

"No, no, it's fine," she answered. "I'm sorry too."

"It isn't your fault. Me losing my memories put a strain on our marriage, one that no one can plan for. So it's okay to walk away." He heard her cry a little harder. "I just, I want you to be happy."

"I want you to be happy too."

"Goodnight Felicity," he whispered.

"Goodnight Oliver," she replied and both sat silently on the phone listening to the other breathe. It was a few minutes before Oliver took a deep breath and hung up. He placed his phone on the table taking his head in his hands. He calmed himself before he pulled out his wallet. He searched through it pulling out the card that Tommy had given him all that time ago. He stared at the numbers, before he grabbed his phone dialing the number with purpose. He waited and listened as the phone went to an answer machine.

"Hi, I was wondering if it was possible that I could talk to-"

"Mr Queen, I must say I'm glad you finally called. After hearing about your accident I wondered if you'd need to talk again."