Oliver had snuck silently into her hospital room and had been quietly watching her sleep for a few hours now.

"Hey there, sleeping beauty…"

Over his shoulder, the sky had deepened to a dark denim blue.

"How long have you been here?" Cora mumbled.

Oliver was propped on the bed, using his arm to support his head. He placed his hand on hers and her chest fluttered in response. He smiled softly at her.

"Not long." His eyes searched mine. "I had a few things to take care. My mother wanted to know the whole details of your condition."

She rolled her eyes. "Aren't you tired?"

He shrugged, looking right into her eyes. "Right now, this is all I feel." He held their intertwined hands up for her to see and she wanted to look away, but she couldn't break the hold his gaze had on her, like he could see more than anyone else saw. Things she couldn't see herself. Even more than the cold, She was frozen by the sadness in his beautiful eyes, deep and true. He squeezed them closed a moment and breathed deeply through his nose. Then, with one swift movement, he cupped the back of her neck with a strong hand, pulled her head forward, and pressed his lips to hers. He wasted precious moments kissing her, his tongue gliding across her lips, darting at her teeth. Cora open her mouth and kiss back just as eagerly.

When he finally let go, Cora spoke.

"What was that for?"

"For being alive." Oliver leaned closer, staring into her eyes so intently she was sure he could see everything she was thinking, but too afraid to say. "You're the brightest thing I've ever seen, Mercy. You're this beautiful ball of fire spitting sparks out at the world, burning fiercely, holding back the dark by sheer will. After everything you've been through, you deserve happiness."

Cora's lips turned up into a smile. "But I do have happiness."

"How?"

Cora lifted her hand and rested it against his face. "Because of you."

Oliver gave her a look of bewilderment.

"Ever since I moved back to Starling City, you've always protected me. You have this vigilante side to you and you risked your life to give my father a few rules that he didn't go by. When we were kids, you and Vince were always there. My knights in shining armor. And I owe you two my life."

"You don't owe me anything."

"Why did you marry me?"

"Because... I love you, for one."

"And then, because if you and I were married, my father couldn't touch me."

If you're betwixt and between, trust the one with red hair.

Oliver 's gaze ripped through her. "You always were too smart for your own good."

He knew himself well enough to know his own faults. Impatient and judgmental and stubborn and often too quick to act: he would try never to crush her, never to overwhelm her or bend her to his will, but if she did not demand only the best from him, it would happen. It might happen. Possibly.

She knew his secret: for all his wandering, his independence and his unorthodox ways, he took his responsibilities very seriously. He even borrowed others' responsibilities, making them his own simply because he thought this sort of service was owed to those whom he loved.

That explained a great many things he'd observed about Cora Mercer. No wonder she came near to throwing a blue fit every time he approached. He threatened to collapse the carefully respectability she'd worked nonstop for six years to build. On the other hand, he couldn't forget the way she'd responded to his kiss,, or the way she'd shivered at his light caresses. She liked being touched. She liked his touch. Oliver gave a slight smile. Perhaps the angel secretly wondered what it would be like to be in the devil's embrace. The devil certainly wondered.

Their time together was interrupted by Vincent as he threw open his sister's hospital room door and turned the TV on. What came on, was the news. The headline as big as the TV; RICHARD MERCER ARRESTED. Cora's mouth dropped open as she glanced between Oliver and Vincent.

"On what grounds?"

"On everything you can imagine - smuggling, embezzlement, battery, attempted murder. He's lucky he's arrested, apparently the Russians aren't too happy with him." Vincent replied. "A security guard at Star Labs told me when I walked into the building."

"I say throw him to the Russians. See how fast he can lose his limbs." Oliver muttered.

"I'd like to see that." Vincent grinned. He turned his attention to Cora, raising an eyebrow. "How are you feeling?"

"Still no feeling from the waist down, if that's what you're implying."

The corner of Vincent's eyes twitched.

Oliver had to look away from his brother-in-law. He knew that look. The look that he often saw in the mirror, a look of guilt. Like if he would have stopped her from leaving, she wouldn't be in the accident in the first place.

"I've got doughnuts!" Tess called out as she walked into the room, Vincent's face changed from guilt to fake happiness. Tess sat on the bed at Cora's feet and handed her one. "Sorry it took so long, I had to sneak it in." Her lips curved into a smile as Cora looked like she wanted to inhale the whole thing in one bite.

"She shouldn't be eating that."

"Oh stop being a paramedic for two minutes, Vince." Tess chastised, giving him a pointed glare.

Vincent rolled his eyes.

"I wonder if Laurel is going to be at the trial."

Cora looked at Oliver with one eyebrow raised.

"I'm just saying, if she's taking his case, there's a likely chance he'll be put away."

Cora was the next one to roll her eyes. Yeah, because Laurel Lance was the last person she wanted to see if she had to go to the trial. If her father lasted that long.

If.

If was good.

Author's Note: What'd you think? Richard Mercer was finally arrested for his crimes! Cora seems to be paralyzed from the waist down and Vincent seems to have some trouble dealing with the fact that he didn't protect his baby sister. What do you think is going to happen next? Leave your thoughts below! :)
Another little note, I have a few days to myself and I have about maybe five or six chapters planned out and all they need is to be written, so expect a few more updates! And I just wanted to thank all of you that have reviewed and left such kind messages. You guys are awesome! Keep them coming, because I read and enjoy each one! (: