And it had started as such a nice day, too. That's what Oliver thought solemnly as he chased his stalker across multiple rooftops.
Oliver was waiting until after the holidays to track down whoever was following him and Mei, but after what had just happened, he decided enough was enough. He wasn't going to let this person get away with possibly hurting his family while he sat around and twiddled his thumbs.
The week before Christmas Oliver dedicated every waking moment to making sure Mei's first Christmas was perfect. Every year the Queens would pay someone to get them a large, glorious tree for their living room, but not this year. This year Oliver dragged his whole family to a Christmas tree farm and let Mei pick out her favorite.
That's what lead them to grab the smallest, most pathetic tree on the lot. Standing at less than four feet tall, Mei practically clung to the tree as she begged Oliver to buy it.
"But Daddy, we're her only chance," Mei pleaded as she stuck out her lower lip and gave her best puppy dog eyes. She was smart enough to know that if they didn't take it, no one would. Oliver couldn't deny his daughter's bigger than average heart, so he strapped it to the top of their car. The smile Mei had on the drive home was worth it.
He then drove her all over town to grab as many ornaments as she wanted. She had become obsessed with Power Rangers, Ninja Turtles, and Doc McStuffins, so they grabbed as many as they could and spent the evening decorating the tree as Thea introduced Mei to Frosty the Snowman.
Mei didn't feel like sitting on a stranger's lap, so instead, they wrote letters to Santa and mailed them in. Mei wouldn't let Oliver read her letter, going as far as sealing the envelope and handing it to the mailman herself so he wouldn't peak. Oliver tried multiple attempts to get out of her what she wanted, but her lips were as sealed as the envelope.
"Come on, tell me just in case Santa can't get you everything," Oliver pleaded, worried his daughter would be disappointed when she didn't see what she asked for Christmas morning.
"No, you said Santa can make anything, so why can't he bring me what was on my list?" Mei asked as she sipped her hot cocoa. Oliver rolled his eyes as he laid on the sofa while the fire heated them and Mei was wrapped in his side, dressed in a snowman onesie.
"Well, Santa only brings three gifts, so what if you asked for more than three? Then I would need to know," Oliver fought.
"Luckily for me, I only asked for one," Mei then decided to show that was the end of their conversation by placing her mug on the table and falling asleep on Oliver's lap.
Oliver huffed. He had his work cut out for him.
They waited. They knew they didn't have long, but they had to take as much time as they could to be together as a family. A not so typical family, but a family. Oliver loved every moment he got to spend with his two favorite girls.
Sara and he had grown quite close to each other. Every day Oliver found another thing to love about her. The way she smelled, her smile, her beautiful laugh that made him forget for a moment he was stuck on an island fighting for his life. They kissed frequently but were worried to go further, so they didn't have another child running around to worry about.
Oliver had spent any time Sara was resting, to work on carving two rings out of wood. He wanted Sara to know how he felt before he decided to try and cure Slade as he might not make it back alive. Earlier, he did everything he could to make himself look more presentable, even though he didn't have a mirror or a shirt, besides the hood given to him by Shado.
When the sun went down, he rocked Mei to sleep before putting her in a basket they put together for her, then sat by Sara as they ate the last bits of a pheasant.
Sara kept sighing as she brushed her hand against Oliver's chest. He could tell she kept thinking about what was going to happen tomorrow, so he decided to take her mind off it. "Sara," Oliver said as he moved from where he sat beside her to be in front of her. He moved to a kneeling position and pulled the engagement ring out of his pocket. Sara gasped as she realized what he was doing.
"Sara, the last year and a half have been crazy. Like, crazier than anything I could've ever imagined. When we left to go on the boat that day, I think we both we're using stupid childish tactics to get at Laurel. I was scared of commitment and you were mad she started dating me when you had a crush on me. We went on that boat thinking we'd get what we wanted and go home, but obviously, things changed.
When I found you pregnant, my entire world changed. I went from being set on getting myself off this island to making sure if anyone got off this island it would be the two of you. Watching you be a mother to our daughter these past nine months and getting to know you as a person and not as Laurel's little sister, has been eye-opening.
I have never felt this kind of love for someone before. Never have I been more okay with the thought of settling down with someone and raising a family together. I love you so much, the way you laugh, smile, love. I couldn't imagine going another day without being by your side, so please, please say you'll marry me?"
"Oliver, this is crazy," Sara said after a few moments of silence. "We're stuck on an island."
"I know, I just couldn't go out tomorrow not knowing if you knew how much I loved you."
"Merry Christmas Eve," Laurel said happily as she opened the door and lifted Mei into the air swinging her around.
"Merry Christmas Eve," Mei said in response with a giggle. Once she was put back on the ground she ran up to Quentin who was squatting on the floor with wide arms.
"Hey, baby girl," he said as he squeezed her tight.
"Pops, I can't breathe," Mei said, making Lance immediately let her go.
Oliver, Lance, Laurel, and Mei had had a few meetups over the past few weeks where they hung out for a few hours and Mei got to know her aunt and grandfather. Mei had Lance wrapped around her finger as she could convince him to do anything from getting her an extra scoop of ice cream to carrying her around on his shoulders for as long as his old man body could take.
Oliver smiled as he saw Quentin and Mei's interaction. He thought back to a few weeks before when he had shown up at their front door. His shirt was messed up, he kept tripping over himself, and his breath had the thick stench of whiskey. Oliver pressed his hand to his chest until he was out of the doorway and shut the door behind him.
"Come on, let me see her. I just wanna say high," he begged.
"I can smell the alcohol on your breath and she's asleep anyway," Oliver said, which made Lance push back against him again.
"You can't keep me away from her," he said with tear-filled eyes, "you already killed my daughter, she's the only thing I have left of her," he said with one last attempt to get inside.
"And as I said, I want nothing more than for you to be a part of Mei's life, but you have to be sober. My daughter has already been through enough in her life, she doesn't need a drunk grandfather."
Lance hit his knees and started to hyperventilate. Oliver stayed with him till Laurel arrived. A few days later Lance called, embarrassed of what he'd done, and he asked Oliver if there was anything he could do to make up for it. That's when Oliver came up with weekly meetups. All Lance had to do was stay sober and go to meetings. He hadn't picked up a drink since.
"So," Lance said as he leaned down to Mei eating her banana pudding, "what did you ask Santa for, for Christmas?"
"I can't tell you," she said with a mouth full of bananas.
"Come on, you can tell me, I promise I won't tell anyone," he said.
Mei giggled with a shake of the head. Lance turned to Oliver and mouthed, 'I tried.'
After dinner, they walked to the living room and watched as Mei tore into her presents. Lance bought her a few different Power Ranger seasons and a scooter, while Laurel bought her a pair of Ninja Turtle footie pajamas and a stuffed canary. After all the fun and commotion, Mei ended up falling asleep in Lance's lap. They sat and talked for a while, just about casual things as they tried to keep things light for Mei until it was getting late, so Oliver thanked them and carried Mei to the car.
After he tucked her in bed, he went over to the stockings and placed a few smaller items in hers before placing her presents under the tree. He was just finishing putting her bike together when he saw something out of the corner of his eye. He looked all around and was about to put it off to his mind playing tricks on his when he came into his room and saw a terrifying sight. Standing there, right outside his window, was a man wearing all black, staring down at his sleeping daughter.
The person must've noticed Oliver walk in because their eyes shot up, then they darted into the night. Oliver wasn't going to let this person get away with watching them any longer. He ran out into the freezing night wearing nothing but a t-shirt and pair of khakis. He ran into the direction the person ran towards until he caught up with them.
Whoever this person was, they were well trained. Oliver chased them for miles, but just when his legs were growing tired, the person tripped. They were immediately back on their feet, but it gave Oliver the advantage he needed. Within two minutes he was right next to the person, who now that he was closer looked a lot smaller than he originally thought.
He jumped over and threw the person to the ground. The man threw Oliver off of him and tried to get away, but Oliver grabbed his arm and threw the man over his shoulder. The man started crawling, but Oliver turned them over and pinned them to the ground. As he held him down with one hand he pulled the mask off with the other.
Immediately his chest tightened, his eyes widened, and his breath was caught in his throat. He backed away from the person slowly, gently and whispered, "Sara?"