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Glass crashed down around Roy, but he kept Annabelle's body protected with his own. She lay curled on her side, her face pressed against Roy's chest as he held himself over her. He used his arms to cushion her head and to cover his own neck from the showering glass. They heard the Ferris Wheel creak and groan as the mechanical robot arm pushed past it. Echoing screams from the people below and the others on the Ferris Wheel triggered an instinctual reaction in Roy. People were in trouble and they were going to get hurt if he didn't do something…fast.

"Come on." he said, voice full of unquestionable authority as he lifted himself off of Annabelle and pulled her up beside him. Annabelle looked around in bewilderment at the destruction the robot was causing.

"I need to get you out of here and back to the car. All my weapons are there." Roy stated taking her hand and moving across the suspended compartment towards and interior of the Ferris Wheel. Annabelle followed him in a trance like state, her mind not really processing what was happening.

"Hold on to me. I'm going to get us down from here." Roy pushed the side of his sleeve and a tiny black hook shot out from the contraption and swung around an iron support beam. Roy wrapped his arm around Annabelle's torso and she clung to him for dear life as he stepped off the platform. Annabelle couldn't help but shriek as they freefell down towards the ground. The hook slowed them to a near halt, and Roy lowered them to the ground expertly. Annabelle took a shaky breath and allowed Roy to pull her away from the Ferris Wheel. She watched the robot from the corner of her eye as it began to crash through the rest of the park. A sudden thought came to her as they past a gift shop.

"Wait Roy!" she said twisting out of his grip and grabbing a $5 disposable camera off the shelf. Roy looked at her incredulously.

"What are you doing? I have to get you out of here!" he yelled pointing at the robot that stomped around the park. Annabelle rolled her eyes.

"That thing is going towards the parking lot anyway…I will be safer if I'm out of range right? Plus, its my job to take pictures of monsters and heroes fighting. In case you haven't noticed, I do this all the time…not necessarily with robots…but, don't worry, I can take care of myself." She grabbed Roy's shirt and pulled him toward her for a quick kiss. He looked a little dazed and confused when she backed away from him and said,

"Now do what heroes are supposed to do and go save the day. I'll be right there with my camera!" Annabelle ran off before Roy could stop her and he stood in shocked silence for a moment.

"Shit…" he muttered before he raced off towards his car. He knew he couldn't stop Annabelle, but if he was there fighting the robot, at least he could make sure she didn't get hurt…

XXX

Annabelle raced towards the monster, passing through the destroyed amusement park with a growing sadness. She hoped Red Arrow would destroy this stupid robot because it was ruining not only her childhood vision of absolute happiness, but also her date! She tore the cheap camera out of its box, moved her purse out of the way of a stray trash can as it rolled past her, her Superman plush doll sticking out slightly. She rolled her thumb impatiently around the advance wheel as crowds of people ran frantically past her screaming and pushing to get out of the park. Annabelle dodged a few people until she had to dance around the hysterical mob and climbed on top of a park bench. She paid no attention to them, tapping her foot as she waited for the camera to be ready. The wheel finally stopped turning, and Annabelle snapped a shot of the crowd running away from the destroyed roller coaster. The flames from the destruction cast a great light on the scene, but Annabelle couldn't appreciate it like she usually did. Maybe it was because this was what her subconscious mind related to Sam at his happiest. All she knew was that the crumbling coaster gave her stomach a sick, sinking feeling, like she had just gotten off El Diablo again.

As the remaining people rushed towards the main gates, Annabelle slipped past them to get a closer shot of the robot. Mr. Stanford would be so happy with her he'd probably kiss her. With that thought making the corners of her mouth turn up in disgust, Annabelle put the camera in her pocket and began to run after the robot. She looked each direction for it, but couldn't seem to see the gargantuan machine. She raced around a corner and was thrown off her feet when one of the robots mechanical arms came crashing down on the pavement just in front of her. The ground beneath her was launched and Annabelle was thrown into the indoor arcade, landing in the ring toss pond with a splash. She came out from under the water, dripping wet, spitting out the stagnate water.

"MOMMY! Mommy, Help!" the heart wrenching cry made Annabelle and the robot turn towards the sound. A little girl, auburn hair done up in pigtails, suspender shorts hooked over a red and white stripped shirt, stood in terror in the middle of the paved road staring up at the robot and crying her tiny eyes out. Annabelle didn't hesitate to throw herself over the side of the pond and sprint towards the little girl. She reached her in seconds, picking her up into her arms and running for cover as the robots mechanical arms came down behind her.

Annabelle dove behind a concession stand and tried to untangle herself from the little girls grip. She was extremely strong for someone so little.

"Sweetie, let go of me just for one second…" Annabelle said as she tried to see where the robot had gone, but the girl refused to loosen her grip. Finally Annabelle gave up struggling with her and looked up towards the sky. She screamed and blocked the little girls body with her own as she saw one of the robots arms come crashing down above them.

XXX

Roy ran to the car, his body trembling with a sensation that he hadn't felt in a long time. A fire, a raw energy was flowing through his veins heightening his sense and making his actions almost superhuman. He reached the car and quickly grabbed his gear, changing within seconds into his costume. After those few moments, he was no longer Roy Harper, the druggie trying to find his way in life. He became Red Arrow, strong, fierce, a hero…

People slowed their frantic escape to gawk and cheer as Red Arrow sprinted back towards the destruction pulling an arrow from the shaft on his back and preparing for a fight. He climbed over a side fence in his rush to get back to Annabelle, not bothering with the congested main gates. He launched himself from a park bench onto the roof of a nearby souvenir store. He sprinted from building to building following the sounds and traces of destruction towards the robots hulking form. Just as he was about to leap of a building down to the ground, a flash of green from the corner of his eye startled him. Red Arrow spun on his heel, arrow notched, and saw his mentor, Green Arrow, leaning against an air conditioning vent lazily watching the scene below.

"You haven't been returning my calls Roy…" Green Arrow said, blonde mustache twitching as he spoke. Red Arrow glared from behind his mask, he had bigger things to worry about right now, namely a giant robot.

"There's been nothing to say." he stated turning away.

"We're only here for back up and evacuation duty…" Green Arrow explained, shifting into a more comfortable position. Red Arrow kept his back to his former teacher as he surveyed the area below him. There was no sign of Annabelle, though the robot was considerably close. Suddenly, he saw movement at the far corner of the street by a vendors cart. He saw Annabelle's small frame dive into his line of sight, a little girl holding onto to her tightly. Red Arrow stiffened as he watched Annabelle look around frantically. He needed to get her out of there…

As Red Arrow went towards the edge of the buildings roof, Green Arrow stopped him with a firm hand over his shoulder, preventing the boy from moving.

"Wait…" he hissed, pointing at Annabelle as the robot raised its mechanical arm over her. Red Arrow spun and tore out of his grip just as Annabelle screamed and the arm came crashing down to the ground.

"Nooo!" Red Arrow yelled, looking frantically towards the settling dust from the debris. Before he could turn on his mentor, Red Arrow saw a streak of yellow dart towards them. Red Arrow leaped down from the building without a word to Green Arrow and landed as Kid Flash came to a halt, Annabelle and the little girl in his arms looking frazzled and surprise. Red Arrow reached them just as Annabelle was saying a shaky thank you. The little girl clung to her leg like it was a lifeline.

Red Arrow pulled Annabelle into a hug, holding her tightly against him. His heart felt like it was lodged in his throat, and it was hard to swallow. Feeling her hang onto him with the same desperation was comforting. She buried her face against his neck, her frightened breathing tickling his skin.

"Hey Speedy…uh, I mean, Red Arrow. We could really use your help bringing this thing down. If your not to busy or anything." Kid Flash said, rubbing the back of his neck, shifting from foot to foot restlessly.

"Yeah, I'll be there in a second." Red Arrow sighed. Kid Flash smiled brightly and zipped away. Annabelle relaxed her grip on him and stepped back, the little girl moving with her.

"Sorry…" she said with a nervous giggle, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. The little girl tugged on the hem of Annabelle's black denim shorts lightly.

"Yeah?" Annabelle asked looking down at her cling-on smiling.

"Where's my mommy?" the little girl asked, not an ounce of fear in her face, only confusion.

"I think I can help with that…" Green Arrow stated, walking up to the small group. He opened his hand invitingly and the little girl took it quickly after Annabelle nodded at her reassuringly. As he walked away back towards the main gates, Green Arrow turned back and said,

"We'll talk more about this later." he gestured to Annabelle and Red Arrow before continuing on his way. Red Arrow sighed heavily and looked to Annabelle. She gave him a weak smile and took out the camera to snap a shot of the little girl and Green Arrow walking away hand in hand.

"Cute…" she commented, before turning back to Red Arrow with a expectant look on her face.

"What?" he asked distractedly, emotions running through his head like crazy. Confusion over his surprise run-in with his former partner. Panic that Annabelle had come so close to turning into a pancake. Relief that she was alright and standing next to him. Anger that Green Arrow still acted like he cared for him and had stopped him from saving Annabelle himself.

"Aren't you going to help the others take that robot down? I still could use a few more pictures…" Annabelle explained waving the camera. Red Arrow laughed and ran a hand through his hair.

"When you get an idea in your head…." he said between chuckles. Annabelle huffed and rolled her eyes at him. She turned and made her way towards the sounds of fighting.

"Okay, okay…wait up!" he said jogging to catch up to her, still laughing. He grabbed her arm and spun her towards him gently. He bent his head down and kissed her before she could get away. Annabelle felt her breath leave her as she marveled at how amazing his lips felt against hers. Her eyes fluttered closed as the kiss deepened and she reached up to run her fingers in Red Arrows hair, pulling him closer. They broke apart with a gasp.

"Okay, I'm ready." Red Arrow said reaching for his bow and turning towards the fight. Annabelle felt a blush creep onto her cheeks as she stood watching him go.

"Hey…" she called after him. Red Arrow turned towards her, looking like every bit of the hero he was.

"This is still the best date ever…" she said smiling brightly as she saw his face break into a goofy grin.

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