Oliver had Laurel sitting on the table and he was examining the wounds on her body. Bruises were all over her ribs and her face and Oliver lightly touched them to get an idea of how painful they were. Then he hugged her.
"I am glad you're okay," Oliver said. "Are you sure that you don't want to see a doctor. I've gotten pretty good at making up reasons for my field injuries".
"I'll heal. I just need ice" Laurel persisted.
"Of course," Oliver said and got some ice for her.
"I'm glad your home" Laurel said. "I missed you, the kids missed you, but I missed you more".
Oliver moved close to her and kissed her. Kissing progressed to more kissing and touching before a small voice interrupted. "Ew".
Oliver smiled at William. "Hey, buddy". He walked over and picked the small boy up. William looked at Laurel over Oliver's shoulder, really seeing her in the light.
"Mommy, what's wrong?" William asked.
"I'm okay, William. Mommy may look hurt, but I feel great".
Oliver placed William on his feet and slowly turned around because he sensed that his family was not alone. There was an intruding presence, not necessarily hostile, but enough to raise Oliver's alert. "I know you're here".
Laurel gave Oliver a strange look, just as Nyssa Al Ghul stepped out of hiding. "Nyssa?" Laurel asked.
"What are you doing here?" Oliver asked.
"On business for my father of course" Nyssa replied.
Laurel looked down and looked she was about to excuse herself. "No," Oliver said, gesturing to her. "Stay". He turned his attention back to Nyssa. "What business?"
"Malcolm Merlyn" Nyssa replied.
"He's dead" Oliver lied.
"The league knows he is not. My father has been keeping tabs on you" Nyssa confessed.
"The league has been spying on us," Laurel asked, enraged.
Oliver didn't look angry, just annoyed. He rolled his eyes and muttered, "Figures. So, what? Does your father want to kill me twice?"
"No, my father is prepared to offer you what Laurel might call a plea bargain," Nyssa said.
"And what are the terms of the deal," Laurel said, stalely. "If it involves your father not killing Oliver, we'll take it".
"Nyssa, what is it?" Oliver asked calmly.
"Kill Malcolm Merlyn. If you kill him, my father will call off the impending fight" Nyssa said.
Oliver looked at Laurel and he turned back to look at Nyssa. "Give me some time to think about the deal".
"48 hours, Oliver," Nyssa said and took her leave.
Oliver turned to look at Laurel, bracing himself for an angry lecture. "Laurel, I understand not taking the deal right away probably upsets you"
Laurel's face didn't portray anger. She said quietly, "It's your life. My position remains the same as it has always been. Make your decisions, Ollie. But don't think for a second that your choices only affect you".
Laurel had a moment to herself after playing with her daughter for what felt like all morning. Her face was aching badly so she grabbed some ice and went to sit on the couch. There was a knock on the door.
Laurel groaned. She looked through the peephole and pulled the door open. There was a little girl standing there. "Hi," the little girl said. "Is this the home of Oliver Queen?"
"Yes," said Laurel.
"My name is Emiko Queen. I am Oliver's sister" the girl said.
"Oliver's-" The little girl cut Laurel off.
"My mother's name was Isabel Rochev and my father was Robert Queen. My mother died in the Seige and I have been living in the glades" Laurel looked this little girl up and down. She had been living in the Glades without adult supervision and it showed. Her clothes were stained and torn, she was dirty and bruised.
Laurel couldn't do anything but look for a moment. Then she knelt down and put her hands on the little girl's shoulders. "Emiko, I'm glad you came. Why don't you take a shower? I'll wash your clothes and make you a hot meal".
Emiko looked gratefully at Laurel. "How do you know my brother?"
"I've known your brother for almost my entire life," Laurel said, smiling while thinking of Oliver. It was then that Laurel realized that she really wasn't angry about the deal. She trusted Oliver and would support his decision about Merlyn.
While Emiko showered, Laurel cooked and called Oliver. "Hey" Oliver answered, sounding like he was about to apologize to her.
"Ollie, before you say anything, especially I'm sorry, you don't have to, I just miss you. Are you coming home?"
Laurel could hear Oliver's smile in his voice. "Of course I am. See you soon, pretty bird".
As soon as Oliver got home, he hugged Laurel tightly and kissed her. "What's up with all the love?" Laurel asked, kissing Oliver's forehead.
"I was thinking about how lucky I am. I mean, I could understand if you were upset...and it is okay, to be honest with me...you're not gonna lose me" Oliver said.
"I know and I am. You've come home to me before, and you will again" Laurel said, drawing in a deep breath, not wanting to share her next thought. "But if you don't,-"
"We don't have to talk about that" Oliver said.
"You're right, not right now," Laurel said. "Ollie, I have something important I need to tell you- or really show you".
Oliver just looked on at Emiko sleeping on the couch. "She said was my sister and- and Rochev was her mother". Laurel nodded. Oliver placed his head in his hands. Then he looked up at Laurel. "Okay tomorrow, I'll go to the courthouse and file legal guardianship"
"Wait, Oliver," Laurel said. "We should talk about this"
"Laurel, she's my sister. She will never forgive me if I turn her over to foster care" Laurel said.
"Okay, Ollie. But what about when finds out what really happened to her mom, or that you're are the Arrow and that I am the Black Canary" Laurel asked.
"We didn't kill her mom. That was Nyssa" Oliver said.
"Yes, and Nyssa is our friend," Laurel said. "Besides, with our lives, we have trouble just being there for William and Mia".Oliver looked annoyed but Laurel could tell she was getting through to him. "And Oliver, if you don't take Ra's deal, and you lose, I will be responsible for three kids on my own".
"Hey, you will never be alone" Oliver consoled.
"Just think about what I'm saying," Laurel said.
After work that night, Laurel decided to swing by the cemetery and visit Sara. When she did visit Sara, she didn't say anything. She just looked. She didn't have anything to say to Sara. Nyssa walked up to Laurel. "What are you doing here?" Laurel asked.
"Like I said, I am here for 48 hours, Laurel. I thought you could use a training session and possibly a friend" Nyssa said.
"I trained with Ted and I am exhausted," Laurel said. "But a friend sounds nice".
Oliver knocked on the door of Thea and Roy's apartment. Thea answered the door and had a huge smile on her face at the sight of her brother. "Ollie". She hugged him. "Are you hungry? I'm making spaghetti".
"Um... yeah, I'll have spaghetti," Oliver said.
"Where are Laurel and the kids?" Thea asked.
"Mia is being watched, William is at his first sleepover, and Laurel is having dinner with Nyssa. Indian food" Oliver said. "Where's Roy?"
"Out" was all Thea said.
During dinner, both siblings were quiet until Thea finally said: "Ollie, what's on your mind? You have that "inner battle" look on your face"
"Did going to Corto Maltese get you what you were looking for? I was preoccupied, I know, but whatever your father is planning, Thea, we're gonna stop him I promise" Oliver said.
"Ollie, I was wrong, there is no need to worry about Malcolm, he's changed" Thea explained.
"Th-" Oliver began to say but Thea cut him off.
"Oliver, I am not forgetting what he did. I could never, but I also haven't forgotten what our mother did, what dad did, what you've done" Thea said. "But I still love you, and I love my father".
"Thea, I'm telling not to-" Oliver said. Thea cut him off.
"Yeah, Ollie, you are. You are telling me exactly what to and what not to do. Before, Corto Maltese, you said you trusted me, so trust me now" Thea demanded.
"I trust you," Oliver said.
"Good," Thea said.
Nyssa and Laurel were the first to arrive at the Arrow-cave when Oliver texted the team. "What's wrong," Laurel asked.
"Speedy. There is something wrong" Oliver said.
"In Corto Maltese, didn't Thea spend all of her time with Malcolm?" Laurel asked.
"Yeah" Roy answered as he walked in. "And ever since she's been different. I think Malcolm drugged her"
"With what?" Oliver asked.
"Malcolm told me..." Before Roy was able to finish, he was hit with a tranq dart. Then Oliver and Laurel were. Oliver fought to stay awake and was able to see Nyssa and Malcolm begin to fight before he lost consciousness.