Things are about to pick up again! Hope you all enjoy this chapter. As always, let me know your thoughts!

CHAPTER 26

After Harmony was released from the hospital a few days later, she returned home to the Queen mansion. She was greeted by Moira and Thea who were greatly relieved to see her getting better. Questions burned behind their concerned eyes, but they kept their curiosity in check. Oliver had given them very few details except that Allen had kidnapped her that Oliver went after and that he was now dead. At the moment, they didn't need more information.

Harmony once settled into hers and Oliver's Queen sized bed, sighed in contentment. She had missed this bed and she had missed being able to get closer to Oliver than just holding his hand. She knew sex was off limits at the moment, but that wasn't what she was craving. She just missed being able to feel his arms around her and the security it gave her. But for now she would have to wait for that . Oliver had been by her side since she first was admitted to the hospital, and now he had to take care of business at Queen Consolidated. He had told her that he wouldn't be gone long. He said he only had a few things to check and some papers to sign before he could head back.

Harmony stared up the ceiling for the better part of a half hour before she felt her pain medication kicking in and her eyelids began to droop. It wasn't long before the pain in her body faded and she slipped into sleep.

Oliver returned to the mansion a few hours later to find Harmony asleep in their bed. He was glad to see her resting. It had been a long day and traveling, even just from the hospital home, took its toll on her.

Quietly Oliver walked over to the closet and stripped out of his suit and tie, and stepping into sweatpants and a t-shirt. Once changed he went to the bed where Harmony lie sleeping and slid in. He sighed contentedly as he felt her body curl against his. He had missed feeling her is his arms. After watching her pass out after killing Allen, he was terrified that he would never get moments like this again. And then after the way she had tried to run from him at the hospital, it was too much to think of losing her. He'd never admit it but her trying to turn him away from her hurt more than he could bare. She had become everything to him and he didn't think he could survive if she was lost to him.

Gently kissing the top of her head, Oliver silently sent a prayer of thanks that he still had her in his arms. No matter what else came their way, he knew that it would be okay as long as she was in his arms.

Over the next few weeks, Harmony healed at home. Oliver did most of his business from home and they spent quite a bit of time with each other. At first there was tension with the news that they had received about not being able to have children, but soon they talked it out and discovered that the fears they had been hiding weren't valid. After that the two settled back into their relationship and began to move forward. Harmony focused on healing and Oliver focused on helping her to heal.

When they finally went for Harmony's check up, they were relieved to find that she was healing properly. Harmony had been anxious about wanting to get up and move again and the doctor said that she could resume her normal lifestyle, with the exception of resuming sex. According to the doctor, she had been healing well, but she still had areas that needed more time to recover and heal before venturing into that particular type of physical activity.

Once given the okay to resume normal activities, Harmony returned to the foundry to workout and train. Oliver had been completely against the idea of her returning to the streets with him.

"No, absolutely not!"

"Oliver," Harmony huffed, "I'm not going to sit at home afraid to ever go outside again because of him. I can't let him control me like that!"

Oliver sighed, rubbing his eyes in frustration.

"Don't you see, I can't lose you. I just got you back." His voice cracked on the last word, showing how much this all still scared him.

Harmony placed her hand on his shoulder. She knew what he was feeling. She had felt the same way when he got hurt, but she couldn't sit at home anymore. "Ollie, I'm not saying that I go out on the streets and fight crime right this moment. But I will need to eventually, and I to do that I have to start getting in shape again."

Oliver sighed and turned to face her. "Alright, but we both have to agree that you will take it slow and not just jump the gun, okay?"

Harmony nodded and pushed up on her toes to kiss Oliver. "Of course." Then she turned and walked over to the salmon ladder. She stared up for a few seconds taking in the ladder. Then deciding that she better get to work, she stripped off her t-shirt and grabbed the bar.

As Oliver watched Harmony begin to climb the ladder, he noticed all of the new scars on her body. He hadn't really seen any of them since she had always made sure to change when he wasn't around or just stepping into the closet to avoid him seeing her. He couldn't blame her for that though. She had been through a lot and having any man, even her husband, stare at her was difficult. The scars weren't all that bad. The cuts that she had received had healed pretty well. It was the burns that left the real marks on her. But now looking at her scars, his heart broke. Once again she had been beaten and abused and used and he couldn't stop it, even though he promised he would.

Turning to grab his bow Oliver went off for some target practice. He needed to burn off some energy and some anger. Harmony watched and he strode away bow in hand. She knew that seeing her hurt had been hard for him, but there was nothing for it now. She would try and talk to him normally, but she knew nothing she said would help, in fact, it would probably make it worse. So she continued to workout and let him calm himself.

Four more weeks passed before Oliver and Harmony were given the green light to begin their sexual relationship again, but man was Oliver amped up about that. Despite not being happy about the new scars that Harmony had received due to his lack of ability to protect her, he was more than happy to be able to truly be with her again. Harmony on the other hand was afraid of the idea. Oliver had expected her to be shy or scared, but not for the reasons that were really there. It wasn't until later that night that he finally understood.

Stepping into their bedroom, Oliver found Harmony changed into pajama shorts and a tank top, sitting cross-legged on their bed.

"Hey baby." Oliver strode over to her and placed a quick kiss on her lips and then he turned to the closet to change into sweatpants. He wasn't going to push her for anything tonight, but certain parts of his anatomy were more excited than he would have liked at the moment. Turning he walked back into their room to find her standing at the side of the bed.

"What are you doing?" Oliver was confused to be sure.

"Waiting for you." It was a simple statement, but he could see the fear and determination in her eyes.

"Baby, we don't have to do anything tonight if you don't want. I mean, we can ease into it."

Harmony just shook her head. This had to be done and it had to be done tonight. "No, you need this and so do I." Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled him down for a quick kiss. Oliver immediately responded to her, wrapping his arms around her waste. Her lips were soft and her kiss urgent. It sent Oliver's heart rate skyrocketing. Picking her up, he placed her on the bed.

"Mmm." Harmony hummed in the back of her throat. She threw her legs around his hips and pulled him down to her. Oliver was surprised by how aggressive she was being. He pulled back to move down and kiss her neck, but caught tears running down her face.

"Baby, baby. What's wrong? Are you hurting? Are we going to fast?" Fear laced his voice.

She shook her head. "No, I just though," she swallowed, "that I would never get to do this with you again. And now knowing that we can't have kids, I'm just…"

Oliver wiped her tears away and kissed her softly. "I know and I was scared that I would never have this with you again as well. But we're here now."

"But we can't have children." She began again.

"I don't care. I love you. No matter if we ever have children or not, I want you." He kissed her again softly. She responded to his kiss, but this time it was slower. There was nothing frantic in her actions now, just love and a need to be with him.

As they continued to kiss, Oliver removed them of their clothes. Then slowly, he positioned himself on top of her. Staring down into her eyes, he slowly entered her. She gasped and he froze, scared he had hurt her, but she bucked her hips up into him to urge him on. Slowly he rocked into her, keeping a steady pace. For a long time they continued to move and stare into each other's eyes.

Tears rolled down both of their faces as they made love. It had been so long and so much had happened since they were last together. It felt like they were finally home after traveling for ages. Finally they both began to climb higher, both reaching for their finish. Oliver rocked hard into her and hit just the right spot to sent her over the edge, pulling him with her.

Afterward, they lie together, wrapped up in each other's arms. They were both finally at peace with the world.