A/N: I guess this was made to be a two parter... I hope you all enjoyed the first part and enjoy this one. Let me know what you think. Usual disclaimers apply.
Laurel quietly turned to Nyssa and the man calling himself Al Sah-him. He stared at her unblinkingly and she returned his gaze. Nyssa stepped forward. "Your presence has been requested."
Laurel raised an eyebrow. "By whom?"
"Me," Al Sah-him responded. Laurel's eyes never wavered as he took a step closer. Nyssa tensed up as Laurel and Al Sah-him stood toe to toe. "Destiny has us intertwined… or so it seems."
A sharp intake of breath came from behind Laurel. Nyssa's eyes shot up and she saw Felicity holding a hand to her chest. Nyssa watched the blonde woman march toward Laurel. "Get away from her! I won't let you hurt her!"
Laurel held up her hand. Her eyes never tore away from Al Sah-him as she took the moment in. "Let me say my goodbyes first."
He gave her a single nod. Laurel walked toward Thea and grabbed Thea's arm. The two walked over to a corner.
"Thea, listen to me, we don't' have a lot of time," Laurel hurriedly said. Thea shook her head.
"You're not going with them. I won't lose you too," Thea raged. Laurel put her hands on Thea's shoulders and smiled calmly at the other woman.
"Nothing will happen to me," Laurel stated. She smiled grimly. "He won't let anything happen."
"Why are you doing this? How are you so sure? You two have sacrificed enough," Thea lamented. "I don't want you to disappear, too. I can't bear it if someone else leaves me."
Laurel hugged Thea close. "We're always with you… I need to go. I'm bringing him back to us. Let me bring him back."
"He chose to leave," Thea cried into Laurel's shoulder. She heard Laurel's breathing rhythm and felt Laurel stroke her hair softly.
"And I would've done the same thing." Laurel carefully chose her next few words. "He… I don't know if he would do for me, what I'm doing for him, but all I know… All I know is that he is the love of my life. I won't let anything bad happen… and I'm bringing Ollie back home."
Thea wiped her tears away and saw Nyssa staring at them with worry. Thea gazed at Laurel. "What do you…?"
Laurel whispered information in Thea's ear. She pressed a set of keys into Thea's palm and told her very precise instructions. Thea nodded and gazed at her brother. She hugged Laurel tightly. "Come back to me. Please."
"I will. Keep the fort calm. If you need anything, call Barry. He'll help out… and tell Ray…." Laurel whispered more instructions and hugged Thea once more. She started to make her way back to Al Sah-him, but Felicity's hand snagged her arm.
"Don't go." Felicity looked at Al Sah-him with a mix of terror and apprehension. Laurel turned herself toward Nyssa. She raised an eyebrow.
"If you want that hand, please remove it from Laurel." Nyssa walked up to Felicity. Felicity paled and released Laurel's arm. "Thank you. Have a good day."
Nyssa guided Laurel to Al Sah-him. Al Sah-him looked at Laurel. "Are we finished?"
Laurel nodded and the two Assassins took her on a journey.
Laurel didn't remember the next few days very well. As soon as they made it to Nanda Parbat. She spoke vows in front of Nyssa's sister, with Oliver, and they were shipped off to another room. Nyssa had knelt before her and said, "I pledge my life to protect yours… for so ever how long I live."
It was very busy those last few days.
Laurel sat down on the extravagant red bed and sighed. She put her elbows on her knees and her head in her hands. She heard the door open and heard familiar footsteps come to the bed. He sat next to her and took a deep breath in. "Ra's wants us…"
"To consummate the marriage?" Laurel finished. She felt his nod. She turned her head toward him. "Why me?"
"We asked the waters… and they gave me a vision of you." He shook his head. "How hard is that to understand?"
Laurel ran a hand through her hair. "You're supposed to be…"
"It is not just about what Oliver wanted," he retorted. She smiled at his tone. He gazed at her with a confused stare. "What?"
"I… heard you, I guess," she stated carefully. She took his wedding ring hand and put it in her own. "I forgot how… much we think alike."
"The wedding," Al Sah-him stated. Laurel turned her head to look at him. He was deep in thought and he seemed to be finding difficulty with his words. "We were… standing next to each other. The bride and groom were dancing. I thought… we almost had that. If nothing had gone wrong, we would've been happy."
"You are happy, though.. aren't you? Doesn't Felicity make you happy?" Laurel hesitantly asked. His head shot up and she saw the deep sorrow in his eyes. Tears formed at her eyes. "Why not?"
"She told me… not to trade myself for Thea. Told me to… I had to." He wiped the tears away from her eyes.
"Thea's all we have left," Laurel finished. He nodded. She touched his cheek. "Why… You wanted to save her and run. Everything caught up to you, didn't it?"
He froze for a long moment. Laurel wrapped her arms around him. She kissed his cheek. "Please. Stop… Let go."
He paused and gazed into her eyes. She smiled at him sadly. Tears began to form around his eyes and he buried his face into her warmth. Laurel held him close until his tears dried. She kissed his forehead and they fell asleep on the bed with her protecting him.
She woke up to a heartbeat beneath her ear. She blinked sleep away and bleary-eyed him. He smiled at her. He touched her cheek. She nodded and curled against him. "Are we really married?"
"Until we're dead," he offered. She chuckled at his remark and whacked his chest. He groaned. "Ouch, woman. I need my body parts."
Laurel chuckled and her gaze turned serious. "Why'd you turn back so quick?"
He considered her for a long moment and shrugged. "The waters revealed you… and I relaxed. I don't know how to tell you…"
"You're stalling," she stated and rose from the bed. Laurel observed the room and then him. "How are we getting home?"
"We are home," he answered simply. She shook her head at him. He smiled and rose to stand next to her. "You are my home…"
"Stop the pick up lines," she admonished. She looked at him seriously. "We both have responsibilities at home, and people worrying about you."
Oliver took a step back. "I made sure that person was safe from everything. She will be fine."
"Surviving is not thriving," Laurel countered. Oliver crossed his arms. "We have our city to protect. I'm not willing to let those lives die."
"I was chosen to be Heir!" he shouted at her. Laurel rolled her eyes. "What do you want from me?"
"To be the man I know you are," she yelled back. Oliver stiffened. "You are a quarter of what you should be. I'm here to help you… but you need to do this yourself."
"Then we should find a solution," he compromised. She nodded. He fought back a grin. "What do you suggest?"
"Why can't there be more than one demon's head?" she asked. He smiled at her. She approached him and put her hands on his forearms. "Why can't the League have multiple leaders?"
"A set of teachers and one person to decide the kills," he theorized. She smiled at him and removed her hands. "I may know a few people… but, Ra's…"
"Ra's will deal with his daughters," Laurel countered. She offered him her hand. Oliver grabbed her hand and they went to change the world. Together.
"I forbid it." Ra's vehement statement permeated the entire chamber. Oliver gazed at Laurel expectantly. He, in return, was given a raised eyebrow and crossed arms. He sighed.
"I'm telling you, not asking," Oliver countered. The entire room became tense. Ra's gazed at Oliver for a long moment. "I am your heir, but I am not the only one. Every person in this room is. We are your legacy. And we will run the League how we see fit."
"Strength in numbers, Father," Talia supplemented. She gazed at Laurel. "The waters showed me this future… it is where our strength is best served."
Ra's gazed at them quietly and then turned his eyes to Laurel. "You truly think the League will allow this?"
"Yes," Laurel responded. "We're not in the nineteenth century anymore."
Nyssa smiled and hid her face by looking at the ground. Talia moved toward Laurel, semi-shielding her from Ra's. Oliver stepped in front of Talia. He gazed at Ra's. "She's correct. The League needs to adapt to the new world… We are stronger with more than one head. No one can destroy us if we act as one."
"Each person presents strengths that cover the others' weaknesses," Talia continued. "We must change in order to survive and anticipate any battle that come… and we teach every person what you taught us. Each of us was shown a different side of you. We cannot reflect that with just one leader. Your power is too great for one person to fully bear it."
Laurel gazed at Nyssa for a moment. She saw the tiniest shrug come from Nyssa and she hid a chuckle.
"Very well… We will try this approach," Ra's conceded. Laurel gazed at him with amazement. "I am not always… irrational."
Nyssa looked like she was ready to snort, and Talia held up her hand. "Thank you, Father. We will make you proud."
Laurel watched Talia approach Ra's. "We… can make the decisions in time. It will be a learning process… and we're letting the Heir and his bride go home. Without destroying their city. We wouldn't want to let Damien's wishes come true, would we?"
Laurel gazed at Talia in amazement. She felt Oliver take her hand and he squeezed it lightly. She leaned against him and Ra's gazed at both of them. His stare was hard. "Very well. You two shall have a brief… honeymoon, I believe the term is."
Nyssa approached the newlyweds. "I will be going with them. We will be back in one month's time, Talia."
Talia nodded. "We can start arranging the transferral process while you are away. Enjoy your relaxing… honeymoon."
Oliver dragged Laurel out of the room. He hugged her tightly when they were alone, before Nyssa came through the door. He whispered in her ear, "Will you marry me?"
"I guess, Mr. Queen," she stated. Oliver chuckled and kissed her forehead. Laurel whacked his side and he grunted.
"Very well, Ms. Lance," he retorted. Laurel smiled. "Where do you want to get married?"
"We need to get a license first," Laurel retorted. She thought for a long moment. "How about a corny Elvis chapel in Vegas?"
Oliver shook his head. "You're really trying to get an uncoventional story out of this, aren't you?"
Laurel nodded. Her expression turned serious. "What about your other relationship? I'm not… very good with a polygamous relationship."
"Here I was going to ask you about your new relationship," he responded. Laurel's eyes lit up in laughter. "She sacrificed a lot for you."
"And she is coming with us so she can heal from her father's… parenting skills." Laurel concluded. She crossed her arms. "Where are we going to get hitched?"
"There are beautiful beaches in Thailand," Nyssa interjected. "It is beautiful there this time of year."
Laurel gazed at Oliver. "How long would it take for us to get a license?"
"We can get it there by tomorrow morning," Nyssa provided. Oliver looked at her skeptically. She gazed at Laurel. "Do you want it?"
Laurel smiled at Oliver. "We can get married on a beach… Please?"
He nodded. "As long as we don't go on a boat."
Laurel smiled at him and kissed him. Nyssa began to walk toward the entrance. Oliver threw Laurel over his shoulder and they laughed the entire way out of Nanda Parbat.
They all stood on the beach fourteen hours later, both Nyssa and Laurel wearing dresses. Laurel wore a white flowing dress and Oliver wore beach shorts and an unbuttoned shirt. Laurel smiled at him as she said her vows.
"I vow to protect, support, and stand by you until our dying breaths," Laurel stated. "I want to be broken with you, and I want to stand against the world with you by my side. Sickness and death won't stop my love for you."
"I vow to protect, love, and support you until our dying breaths," Oliver replied. "I will shield your light from any harm, and I promise to protect your love… and never leave your side. I will stand by you in whatever life throws our way."
They kissed and the preacher pronounced them husband and wife. Nyssa smiled and wiped a tear from her eye. Laurel gazed at Oliver for a long moment. She smiled mischieviously. "Thea's going to kill us."
"We can do a dramatic reenactment," Oliver chuckled. Laurel swatted him again and he grinned at her. He leaned toward her ear. "I can't wait for our wedding night."
"Which won't happen until you call your sister," Laurel stated firmly. Oliver sighed and looked at Nyssa. Laurel laughed at Nyssa's shrug. "We can call when we get back to the hotel."
Thea sat across the table from Walter with a very large contract in front of her. Ray sat beside her, fidgeting over something, and Thea looked at Walter. "What does this all mean?"
"That we're becoming business partners," Ray stated. Thea gazed at him confusedly. "We both agree that Queen Enterprises will be the title… and that you'll be a subdivision of Palmer Tech… and I'll oversee the business when you need me to, but otherwise, you and your brother are major decision makers."
"Do you think Ollie will agree to this?" Thea asked Walter. Walter simply nodded. Thea was about to ask more questions when her phone rang. She answered without looking at the number, thinking it was Felicity. "Hello?"
"Thea?" Oliver's voice cracked over the connection. Thea brought a hand to her mouth and turned pale. "Please say something."
"Ollie," she breathed. She heard a woman chuckle in the background and Ollie's scoff. "Is Laurel there?"
"Yes," Oliver's tense response came. Thea heard him groan and then heard some rustling.
"We're in Thailand," Laurel stated. "We'll be back by the end of the week. Tell Ray and Walter we say hello."
"I will," Thea stated. She wiped tears away from her eyes. "Come back safe, please?"
"We will… Or else Laurel'll have my head," Oliver joked. Thea laughed and they said their goodbyes. Thea looked at Walter and Ray with a goofy smile on her face.
"I think I just got a sister in-law," she joked. Ray's eyes were surprised. Walter chuckled. "Please don't tell anyone… at least until I'm sure."
"We wouldn't dream of it," Walter smirked. Ray nodded with a very confused expression on his face. "Take a few days to look over the contract. You'll need Oliver's signature, anyways."
Thea nodded and hoisted the large stack of papers into her bag. She smiled at both of the men. "Thank you. I'll see you on Monday."
Ray turned to Walter after Thea left. "Laurel and Oliver… I didn't think he'd give Felicity up."
"Felicity was never competition," Walter countered. "It's always been about Laurel. Even if the rest of the world thought differently… his first thoughts were always about Laurel and Thea. They're his entire world."
One week later, Oliver stepped off the private plane with Laurel. Nyssa trailed behind them. Oliver was bombarded with Thea the moment he put his feet on the ground. Oliver hugged his sister tightly. She cried in his arms. Oliver smiled at her. He looked up at Laurel, who had paused on the plane's stairs. She smiled back at him. He offered his hand and she took it.
Their wedding rings glowed in the daylight. Nyssa stood behind them with a smug grin on her face that no one could see. Oliver pulled Laurel off the steps and Nyssa followed quickly behind them.
Thea took in the three of them and then Oliver's content face. "What happened?"
"His dreams came true," Nyssa offered as an explanation. Thea looked at Oliver's hand intertwined with Laurel's. The rings gleamed in the sunlight. She squealed at them.
"You did do it! Yes! We're officially family now!" Thea hugged Laurel tightly. Laurel laughed and hugged her back. Thea's death grip on Laurel didn't loosen for ten minutes. Laurel heard Thea give a sigh of contentment. "I'm happy that it happened… I wish that it didn't like this… but you've made me so happy."
Laurel laughed as Oliver scoffed at his sister. Thea smiled at the both and walked away with a huge grin on her face. He and Laurel quietly walked toward the car Thea got into. Nyssa stood beside them. She gazed at the couple. "What are you going to tell Felicity?"
"I got married," Oliver supplied. Laurel rolled her eyes at him. Nyssa watched him with amazement. "And I'm not getting a divorce."
"Unless I say so," Laurel countered. Oliver scowled at her. "Just saying."
Nyssa followed them to the car and Laurel turned to Thea. Thea spoke before Laurel could. "I did what you asked. I've got it for us to read over."
Laurel smiled at Oliver. "Rest your eyes, sunshine. You'll be reading a lot tonight."
"The city," he stated. Laurel shook her head. He looked at Nyssa, who shrugged at his unspoken question. Thea smiled at him. "What?"
"I've got it covered," Thea told him. Oliver gaped at Thea. "Someone's had to cover while you've been away… and since I'm the only one who knows you're here… you two can take a few days to settle in."
"Everything worked out?" Laurel asked. Thea nodded and handed her two sets of keys. Laurel passed one to Oliver. Oliver frowned. "We're sharing a condo now. Or is it more like a penthouse?"
"Penthouse condo," Thea provided. Laurel nodded. "Mom knew how to pick out something we would like."
"Mom picked it out?" Oliver asked. Thea nodded and Laurel looked down at her lap. "What happened while we were away?"
"Oh, you know… Normal Queen family business. Negotiating family business stuff, rearranging employee structure, fixing random flow charts. Basics, big bro," Thea commented. Laurel chuckled and then gazed at Thea with a hard stare. "No, I didn't do anything bad. I just… moved certain nuisances."
"Thea," Laurel warned. Thea shrugged. Laurel shook her head again. "You'll deal with the aftermath."
"Already did," Thea muttered. Laurel looked at her questioningly. "Extended vacation or family stuff. Something like that."
"What happened?" Oliver asked. Thea grimaced. Laurel sighed. "What did you two do?"
"Technically, I did it," Thea told him. Oliver looked at her expectantly. "Well, there was this thing. Lots of things, actually. We kind of got the company back under our name. Ray's still the overhead, but we've got our company name and label back. And, I sort of… took free liberty on rearranging department heads."
"Felicity was a department head," Oliver looked at his sister. He gazed at Laurel. Laurel shook her head at him. "What did you do?"
"Made her technologies and medicine assistant department head. I feel like she could learn more in that department… that could help with extracurricular activities." Thea smiled warmly. "Ray approved the decision."
"But Felicity didn't take it too well." Oliver shook his head at his sister. "May I ask where you decided to put the department?"
"The basement," Thea replied. Oliver laughed. Thea looked at him surprised. "You're not mad?"
"Why does everyone…?" he asked Laurel. Laurel frowned at him. "Was I that bad?"
Laurel nodded and settled back against the seat. She yawned and nestled against his shoulder. Thea smiled at Laurel fondly. Nyssa settled back against her seat and Thea looked at Oliver.
"She brought you home," Thea whispered. Oliver nodded. He squeezed Laurel's hand slightly.
"It wasn't much of a fight," he commented. "She's always been home."
And she always would be.
A/N: So, here's another longwinded reaction to the show… I didn't think I'd have something up this soon, but you know, what happens when you get angry and you write about it…
It will be very interesting to see how I fare the next few episodes.
Until Next Time,
DBA
