Note: Ollie didn't cheat on Laurel with Sara in this universe.
So, last chapter was pretty harsh… At least I think it was. So, here's an alternative that I hope is a lot less sad and a lot more happy.
Her heart clenched as his face appeared on the tv news in front of her. Ollie, her Ollie, was alive. After five long years of being told he had died with the Gambit, he was coming home to her.
Hastily she dumped all of the files in her arms onto her already piling up desk. "I have to go." She told her coworker, as she pulled her jacket on and grabbed her purse. Turning on her heel she nearly ran past the desks and offices out to her car.
Instead of driving towards the Queen mansion, she was driving back to her apartment. There was someone else there who needed to know about Oliver, to be prepared to see him.
"You're home early." Her sister's greeting reached her ears before she even closed the door behind herself. "Yeah." She agreed almost absentmindedly.
"Something's happened." Reaching up into her bookshelf she pulled out a small photo-album. "Sweetie, I need to talk to you." She ignored her sister's questioning eyes and turned to her daughter as she sat on the couch, patting the spot next to her. Sara's question would be answered at the same time anyway.
The five-year-old jumped up onto the couch, bouncing as she sat. Sara's eyes were on the book in Laurel's hand even as she sat on the other side of the couch, next to the little girl.
"Do you remember what I told you happened to daddy?" Laurel asked softly, brushing her fingers through the girl's blonde hair.
"You said daddy went on a boat trip." The little girl said, "You said he couldn't come home." Laurel nodded, "And then we visited that place with all those stones."
"Yes, the cemetery." She supplied the word. "Well, sweetie," she took a breath, "Everyone thought your daddy died on that boat trip." She opened the book so she could look at the many pictures with him in them. Of course, there were pictures in the apartment already, but there was a great deal that weren't on display. They were in an apartment after all, not a ton of room. "Well, it turns out your daddy is alive. They found him on an island in the middle of the ocean."
Big eyes looked up at her, "Really mommy? I get to meet daddy?"
"Yes, really. Your daddy gets to come home."
Shoving the book into Sara's arms the little girl jumped off the couch and ran towards her room, only stopping to grab paper on her way. "What are you doing?" Sara asked, standing up. "It's a surprise for daddy!" she announced, "No peeking!" she waved her tiny finger at them before closing the door.
"Ah, of course." Sara shook her head, still in disbelief.
The two sat on the couch, still absorbing it all. An hour later, they were still sitting together, coffee on the table in front of them, when a knock came from the door. They shared a look and Laurel shot to her feet, her heart pounding as she rushed to the door.
She yanked it open and it only took a split second to recognize Oliver in front of her. Laurel threw herself forward and tucked herself into his chest, arms around his torso hugging him tightly. "Ollie." She choked out, she was sure it was the only coherent thing she could say at the moment.
"Laurel." He greeted a bit breathlessly, as all the air rushed out of his lungs from her force. His arms came to wrap around her too, locking her into place. She felt a soft kiss pressed to the top of her head and she let out a breath, almost a sigh, in contentment.
Suddenly another force collided with them, wedging itself up to their sides. Pulling back so they could adjust their heads, the couple looked down to the small blonde child who was staring up at them. "Ollie, this is your daughter." Laurel whispered to him as she nuzzled his neck, resting her forehead there so she could see her daughter's face she continued loud enough for the little girl to hear. "Ollie, this Raina. Raina, sweetie, this is daddy." Laurel's heart constricted with happiness, she'd never thought a moment like this would come and by some miracle it did.
"I made this for you daddy! Surprise!" Raina shoved her now semi crumped paper up towards their faces, as close as she could get it being so much shorter than he was. It was a drawing, there were two blonde women, Sara and Laurel, and one blonde man, Oliver. Between the man and one of the women was a smaller blonde girl, which was Raina, she was holding hands with the two adults, making them Laurel and Oliver.
"It's us! See!" she exclaimed excitedly, "That's me. That's you. That's mommy. And that's Auntie Sara." She pointed at each on and smiled proudly.
"It's perfect. I love it Raina. He accepted it and pulled her up into his arms so that he could hug both at the same time. Raina in one arm and the other holding Laurel close.
"Raina?" He would whisper as he kissed her later.
"It means Queen." She would respond, smiling into his lips.
It was all she'd ever wanted, and more.
It was all he'd ever needed, and more.
Laurel and Oliver brought the best out in each other. They loved and supported one another, and now, they had regained their chance to truly be together, to be a family.