This chapter is mostly a filler but I do hope you guys enjoy it anyway.

Ellie Bishop: I didn't like killing Turner but I really couldn't see a way to keep him alive. Exactly, it is selfish. And maybe if she'd been called on it instead of being treated like she was right, Felicity wouldn't have been so unbearable in later seasons.

Guest 1: Glad to hear it. Thank you.

Queen Mansion

Morning

Oliver walked into the living room, seeing Thea sitting on the couch. As he entered, he noticed the red around his sister's eyes. She'd been crying, he realized.

"Everything okay Speedy?" Oliver asked and Thea wiped her eyes before she answered.

"Roy and I…we had a fight," Thea admitted.

"Do I need to kill him?" Oliver asked, only half joking and Thea let out a sound that was a mix between a laugh and a sob.

"No. I just…I want him to stop but…I can't change him, any more than I can change you. I don't want to. But I can't sit up at night, worrying that I'll get that call that he's in some sort of trouble he couldn't get out of," Thea vented.

Olive frowned but, before he could say anything, his attention was drawn by the news report.

"Breaking news. Last night, in the warehouse district, a fire fight broke out, leaving several dead. Among the casualties was Chinese Triad Assassin China White."

Unspecified location

Same time

Slade was sitting in his chair, watching the news report with a smirk as Isobel walked up to him.

"How'd you get a body that was an exact replica for Chien Na Wei so quickly?" Isobel asked curiously.

"You're assuming this was a split second decision. I knew she would not stand down at first. She required a firmer hand," Slade said with a smirk. "It just required the proper plastic surgery. And the ME was easily bribed."

"And now Oliver thinks that China White is dead. Well played," Isobel said, impressed. "I wish I could report better news. I failed to acquire the last shares of Queen Consolidated. My men were assaulted by men with Russian accents. I know Oliver is involved."

"I recall that one of the prisoners on the Amazo was Russian," Slade noted before shaking his head. "Either way, it matters not. For now, you will monitor Oliver's activities closely. And then, while his guard is down, we will strike."

Starling City

Not long after

In his apartment, Quentin was going over some files when his phone rang. Pulling it out, he saw 'unknown umber' flash across the screen. Frowning, Quentin answered.

"Hello?"

"Detective," The Hood's modulated voice spoke to him.

"Where ya been?" Quentin asked casually. "You don't call, you don't write."

"China White, was she among the casualties of the fire fight?" Oliver demanded.

"Yeah, she was. Department thinks that Bertinelli's crew came after her for revenge for the attack on his house last year," Quentin explained.

"And what do you think?" Oliver demanded.

"I don't know. But either way, it looks she was killed. What's it to you?" Quentin inquired.

Quentin's only response was the dial tone.

Arrow lair

Mid-morning

"So China White gets taken out by a rival gangster? Seems anti-climactic," Felicity mentioned as she, Oliver and Diggle stood in the lair.

"Either way, it's a good thing. Now Glades Memorial will be in better shape," Oliver said before grabbing his jacket. "I'm gonna be out of town for a few days. I have some business to take care of in Central City."

"What kind of business?" Felicity asked confused but Diggle's eyes widened in realization as he understood what Oliver was saying.

"The personal kind," Oliver said vaguely. "If you need me for anything, call me on my cell."

"Oliver," Diggle called out and Oliver looked over at him. "Good luck."

Oliver simply nodded; having a feeling he'd need it.

Verdant

Night

The club was in full swing, music blaring as the clubbers danced the night away. Thea was standing by the bar when she spotted someone making his way through the crowd. She stared, shocked, as Roy made his way over to her.

"Hey, can we talk…privately?" Roy asked, not wanting to do this with music blaring in their ears.

Thea nodded mutely. She hadn't expected to see him for another few days and she honestly wasn't sure whether him being here was a good or bad thing. She led him off the lower level and into her office. She turned around to face him as the next words out of Roy's mouth stunned her.

"I quit," Roy said and she stared at him, not comprehending what he was saying.

"What?" Thea asked shocked.

"I quit," Roy repeated. "I can't do this anymore Thea. You say that you can't worry about me and your brother at the same time. But I have to be true to who I am. If it's a choice between you and my home, my home will win, every time."

"Well then, I guess you made your choice," Thea said, tears filling her eyes.

"Yeah, I guess I have," Roy said lowly, hating hurting her but knowing there wasn't any other way. "I'll be by in a few days to pick up my las paycheck."

Roy then turned and walked out, each step causing him to feel more pain than he'd ever known. But he had, he had to hurt her now to save her more pain down the line.

Once the door closed behind him, Thea collapsed into her desk chair, putting her hand to her face as she began to sob.

Central City, next day

Morning

Oliver walked up the sidewalk, towards the house he knew Samantha and William lived. He stopped at the gate, staring at the house. He knew that, once he walked up and knocked on the door, his life would change forever. Taking a calming breath, Oliver walked up to the front door and knocked. After a few moments, the door opened to reveal the shocked face of Samantha Clayton.

"Oliver?" she asked surprised.

"I know Samantha. My mom told me everything," Oliver said bluntly and Samantha paled. "I wanna see him."

"Just calm down, okay? Keep your voice down," Samantha hissed, even as she stepped aside so he could enter the house. "He's in the backyard. Just… I never expected Moira to tell you."

"Well, when you're guilty of being complacent in mass murder, telling your son that you bribed the girl carrying your child to tell you she lost the baby seems pretty small," Oliver said sarcastically.

"I never cashed the check," Samantha assured him and he looked at her surprised. "I knew I never wanted that woman around my son."

"I agree," Oliver said, taking Samantha back.

"What?" she asked, sure she had misheard him.

"I don't want my mother around William either," Oliver said.

"I…wasn't expecting that," Samantha said after a moment.

"When I found out about William, I realized that this is what my mother does: she lies to people, telling herself it's to protect them. But really, it's to protect herself," Oliver paused, wondering if he was the same way before continuing. "I don't want her anywhere near my son. But I want to be part of his life. And I am prepared to take you to court if that's what it takes."

"It's funny. Just last week, William asked me why he didn't have a dad," Samantha said after a moment.

"What'd you tell him?" Oliver asked curiously.

"I told him his dad was far away, that he wanted to be with him but couldn't," Samantha said. "I planned to tell him when he was older."

"Samantha…I'm not the person I was seven years ago," Oliver said and she nodded.

"I know…but can you tell me your life is any less chaotic?" Samantha asked and Oliver was silent. "If you want to be part of his life, he can't know you're his father. And you can't tell anyone about him either."

Part of Oliver wanted to protest, to argue with her on this point. But the more rational part of him could see her point. His family was now associated with Malcolm Merlyn's Undertaking, with the deaths of over five hundred people. Not to mention the double life he led as The Hood.

"Okay," Oliver said after a moment. "I'll go along with this…for now."

"Thank you," Samantha said. "Come on."

Oliver then followed Samantha as she led him through the house and to a door at the back. She opened it, leading Oliver into the backyard. A young boy, almost seven, was throwing a baseball, trying to hit a target, missing by a few inches. The boy groaned in frustration as Oliver studied him.

He had Samantha's hair and eyes but his face, the frustrated look he bore; there was little doubt that he was Oliver's son.

"Raise your arm a little higher," Oliver called out and William jumped, turning around to face him. "You're missing because your arm isn't long enough. You need to compensate by raising it."

William looked at Samantha unsure but she just gave him an encouraging smile. Hesitantly, William picked the ball and followed Oliver's instructions. Raising his arm slightly, William threw the ball and it hit his mark this time.

"Thanks Mister," William said as he picked up the ball and looked over at Oliver.

"William, this is Oliver. He's an old friend," Samantha said as she glanced between father and son.

"Nice to meet you Mr. Oliver," William said and Oliver smiled weakly.

"It's nice to meet you two," Oliver said, swallowing past the lump in his throat. "I was hoping it would be okay if I dropped in to say hello once in a while."

"Sure," William said before holding out the ball to Oliver. "Wanna play?"

Oliver simply smiled as he walked over and accepted the ball. It wasn't much right now, but it was something. For right now, Oliver would simply be content to play ball with his son.

This story is not going to be an easy ride for Roy and Thea. I do plan for them to find their way back to each other, but it's not gonna be easy or anytime soon.

Stay safe from the virus everyone.