Chapter Forty-One:
"In one of the most shocking stories of this year, Oliver Queen has been found alive. Along with his companions, Sara and Dinah Laurel Lance, they were found on the island of Lian Yu just a few days ago. Later today, Moira Queen will hold a press conference regarding her son. Tragically, it appears Robert Queen and the rest of the Queen Gambit's crew did not survive their ordeal out to sea."
Oliver, Laurel, and Sara, in the hospital to be looked over because of their five years away, watched the news of their return. Little did they know the truth.
It would be another deception to play the fact they were away for the past five years, but it would have to be done.
"And police have no leads in the strange disappearance of Malcolm Merlyn. While evidence existed Malcolm had been attacked, there is no evidence to his ultimate fate. Just last night, several documents linking Malcolm Merlyn to a project which would be decimated the Glades, making it look like a natural disaster were released. The organization, known as Tempest, had been in operation for some time. Did Malcolm Merlyn run afoul of one of his allies, or was it an enemy from the outside? Starling City Police Department offers no comment on the matter to the ultimate fate."
Oliver knew the information would put some people into defense mode and would make them very nervous. And also very open to be attacked. Oliver leaned back on the bed.
"So, what if your mother gets implicated in this?"
Barbara Gordon popped up so suddenly that Oliver, Sara, and Laurel almost did not see her coming. Almost, but not quite.
"Well, Babs, you should knowcertain people have their way of making evidence disappear," Oliver said. "I've got her well in hand."
A few seconds passed with Barbara blinking and then throwing her hands up in the air.
"I….I really don't need to know," Barbara said. "So, you're finally back, all three of you….and oh by the way, your father is coming to see you."
Sara and Laurel knew it was happening. They both hoped this would end up okay.
"Should I even be here when Quentin shows up?" Oliver asked. "It might...trigger a relapse."
"No, he can handle Oliver Queen," Barbara said with a smile. "And besides, he's...had five years to prepare himself for this...he might not like it, I don't like it, but...we've all changed, I guess. And that's what matters the most."
Barbara moved over to hug Laurel and Sara. She had been glad to see them. Stopping short, she reached over and shook Oliver's hand.
"And I'm sorry about being a creepy cyberstalker," Barbara said with a sheepish smile. "Even though you deserved it, Thea did not deserve to have her phone bugged."
"And I wasn't completely right either," Oliver said. "Guess we're both idiots when we were younger."
"Yeah, guess…..we were," Barbara said. "You would think someone who took college courses at night would not be as stupid to do something which could land her into trouble...but hey, we're mature adults now, water under the bridge….hurt either of them and I can make you disappear though."
She said this good natured, not the threat she would do it either. Perhaps, just perhaps, Oliver thought, Barbara was softening onto him. He would not push his luck and try and get her into bed though, at least not yet. Although, if she jumped him, Oliver was not going to say no.
Of course, Laurel and Sara might have different perspectives on the matter.
Quentin Lance heard the news. He almost broke down, but thankfully, Barbara had been visiting at the moment and reminded him that he needed to keep it together, for the sake of his daughters. She most certainly was Jim's kid, able to get through Quentin's thick skull at times.
And she actually vouched for Oliver, suggesting Sara and Laurel were smart enough not to be manipulated by him, and could make their own choices. And they were all adults, legally speaking. Quentin did not want to insult his own daughters to saying they had been easily duped. Especially by a many times drop out like Oliver Queen..
"Laurel, Sara,' Quentin said.
"Hi, Daddy," Sara said. "Are you okay?"
"I should be the one asking you that…."
"We worried about you, when we were gone, how you would react," Laurel said. "We were going to tell you about...well you know."
"Yeah, I know, and I don't want to think about it," Quentin said. "Guess, you only planned to be gone over the long weekend and that turned out well…..and I guess I have you to thank for taking care of my daughters."
Quentin turned his attention to Oliver and nodded gruffly at him.
"They took care of me just as much," Oliver said. "I would be dead without them."
"Of course they did," Quentin said. "I know what you three are...guess it's one thing that I'm going to have to accept since you're all groan up."
Things had been silent. Quentin had been running over this moment in his mind, of course, most of the times, he bitterly took a few years off of his liver while doing so. And yet he had been at a loss of words. Even after hugging his daughters and even after mentally making peace with the man who was, well with them, Quentin did not know precisely what to say. Grown women and all he could do was frown at their choices.
"Where's Mom?" Sara asked.
"Your mother and I decided we need some time apart," Quentin said. "She's happy about the news, and she'll be in from Central City as soon as she can get a flight out. Airports are a madhouse over there this time a year."
Sara and Laurel closed their eyes. They would be meeting with their mother soon. And most certainly have to deal with a lot of people questioning the nature of their relationship with Oliver. Little do they know how complex things were, but the world would never even know the truth about everything that was happening. Maybe only bits and peaces, but never the entire truth.
It had been a long time coming since Oliver had a good look at his family mansion. His mother barely changed everything since he was gone.
"Home sweet home."
Lexi stepped in front of Oliver. Casually wearing a tank top and a tight pair of jeans, Lexi moved over to join him.
"I've been looking into a couple of things, and I hoped if I could have your help," Lexi said. "It might be something that you're interested in as well."
Oliver just raised his eyebrow and wondered what she was talking about.
"Well, now I'm intrigued," Oliver said.
"Mmm, I figured you would be," Lexi said. "I'm looking for a book...a journal rather. Which belonged to my mother's cousin, Doctor Virgil Swann."
"Yeah, I've heard of him, he passed about a decade ago, though," Oliver said.
"And Mom was obsessively tracking down the book for that time," Lexi said. "The problem is most of the members of the society, Veritas, have long since passed on. Under some strange circumstances. The Queens are about the only ones left, and your father might have had the journal or knew what it was, before he died. And it might have fell into the possession of your mother afterwards."
Oliver mulled it over. He had been very interested to hear even more about this book. Lexi leaned up against the wall, oh so casually with a smile.
"What was in the journal?" Oliver asked. "Do you know?"
"I have an idea. They were studying the possibility of other worlds. Both beyond this planet and the entire multiverse. And let's face it, thanks to Katya, we know other worlds exist. She might have been the traveler Virgil spoke of, or her dead cousin perhaps, but one of them."
"Hmm, that's interesting," Oliver said. "More worlds out there."
Oliver had been intrigued so much. Lexi leaned close to him and put her arms around Oliver's waist.
"So, will you help me?" she asked.
"Of course."
Lexi smiled and leaned in to kiss Oliver. The two stepped inside of the mansion so they would be out of the prying eyes of any members of the press. Under the pretext of reacquainting himself with his home, they could snoop around a bit for the journal to see where it was.
No luck in finding the journal despite a few hours of discrete searching. Oliver would have to ask his mother about it, providing she knew anything about it.
Currently, Oliver arrived, with Aresia, who was posing as his bodyguard. Diana and Hippolyta returned to the island to prepare for Donna's ascension day ceremony. Oliver would come for a visit once things had settled down. This left Aresia as the sole Amazon who had been with Oliver.
And she had sworn to protect Oliver at all costs, for Diana and Hippolyta. Oliver pitied anyone who would try and take a shot at him, given how fanatical Aresia could get.
"I'm glad you could make it," Moira said. "I have a couple of papers to drop off and we can head off for lunch."
"I actually want a word with you, Mom, in private," Oliver said.
Moira nodded and wondered what Oliver wanted to speak to her. Given the authorities currently investigated Tempest, Moira had been a bit nervous. Despite Oliver using the League's resources to mask her involvement been full proof.
"You remember Alexandra Danvers, right?" Oliver asked.
"Yes," Moira said. "Why?"
"She came to see me today," Oliver said. "Her mother was Virgil Swann's cousin and she claimed you and Dad was part of something called Veritas."
Here Moira had been taken off guard. Confused for a moment, and then it dawned into her.
"Oh, that was something we were apart of a long time ago, honey," Moria said. "A secret star-gazing society, with foolish dreams of worlds beyond. I haven't heard the name in almost fifteen years, and haven't even thought of it. I'm kind of glad we put it behind us, as greed destroyed it."
"Lexi mentioned a journal belonging to Virgil Swann and she thinks Dad might have had it," Oliver said.
"If Robert had this journal, I had no idea," Moira said. "I know of it, but I doubt Robert ever kept it. The secrets died with Swann and Lionel Luthor."
"So the Luthors were involved in it," Oliver said.
"Yes, although there are no Luthors left," Moira said. "Well none that are sane anyway, the last surviving one, she was put in Belle Reve after she killed her own brother. It's sad, but that family was toxic. You're better off not having anything to do with them."
As many problems as the Queens could have, Moira always took solace by the fact they were not the Luthors.
"Those secrets are dead and perhaps they should stay buried," Moira said. "For the sake of all of the lives they destroyed. The multiverse, time travel, other planets, all science fiction, and all of the money wasted to prove is silly looking back on it."
Oliver would disagree with his mother, but he would let it go.
"I've been looking into Queen Consolidated's Board of Directors, and I'm concerned they might not have our best interest in mind," Oliver said. "I have a source who told me that some of them are involved in some potentially shady business, and with an organization known as HIVE."
"Yes, although who is your source, Oliver?"
"Isabel Rochev," Oliver said.
It was due to this statement that got Moira very concerned. She knew a lot of Queen family skeletons, and Moira was very concerned exactly what Isabel might have told Oliver.
"She has her own agenda," Moira said. "Consider how biased her perspective might be."
"I want to hear your perspective and I'll make the decision what to do with the people in question," Oliver said. "I know you have information on people who you might think move against you."
Moria nodded. Concerned about what Oliver knew about Robert's past demons through Isabel's obviously skewed filter. Especially the one concerning his daughter. Moira hoped the subject would not be brought up because it was too painful, especially given she was guilty of the same sin.
She only did what she did to protect Oliver's future and not destroy their family reputation.
Back home, Oliver, Sara, and Laurel met up. They had the first big step of their plans done but a lot of work done.
"So, you wanted to see me?"
Thea stepped inside to join Oliver, Sara, and Laurel.
"And is it true you wanted to include me when I was old enough?" Thea asked. "Because, I'm now old enough, I'm older than Oliver was when…."
Oliver silenced Thea with a kiss. Sara and Laurel watched the two siblings enjoy their raw physical and emotional attraction to each other. Oliver slipped the leather jacket Thea wore off of her and Thea did the same to the underside of it.
"Let's take this somewhere where there's a bit more room to explore," Laurel suggested.
Thea told Laurel what she thought of her suggestion by kissing the hell out of the older girl. The kiss Laurel returned weakened Thea's knees with how much the older Lance sister dominated her.
And last but not least, Sara and Thea shared a kiss. If Thea was wearing panties underneath her clothes, they would be ruined right now.
The three lead Thea into the master bedroom to induct her into their circle and Thea could not wait to be closer to her brother and his two lovely wives.
That's it for the plot of this book, but there's one more chapter of shameless smut to go.
