"Are you sure that you want to do this?" Laurel asked as she lit the candle at the center. "The conversation you had with Thea... I know it was difficult"
"Yeah, but this will be a good distraction and good for my friendship with Kara. She is an amazing woman, Laurel. I think you are gonna like her a lot" Oliver said and Laurel smiled.
"As long she is not blasting me with her heat vision, I am sure I will love her" she joked.
"Hey, Emiko, wanna set the table. And that includes a seat for yourself" Oliver said as his little sister walked into the room.
"You want me to have dinner with you and your friends?" Emiko asked.
"Yeah. I want them to meet you... if that is okay of course" Oliver said as a smile spread across his little sister's face.
The friends that joined Laurel and Oliver that night were Barry, who brought his friend, Iris, and Kara, who brought Winn. Oliver caught up with Barry, while Laurel greeted Kara.
"Congratulations, hero" Laurel said, extending her hand to shake Kara's. Kara shook it.
"Laurel, it is good to see you again. Listen, I need to apologize to you for attacking the city-" Before Kara could continue, Laurel, hugged her.
"Sorry, I hope that was not to forward, but I wanted to express that it's water under the bridge. You were scared, Kara. I don't blame you at all" Kara nodded with a smile.
"You really do see the best in everyone, just like Oliver told me" She said.
"Ollie talked about me?" Laurel asked
"Yeah, all the time, you and the kids. I really appreciated it. He always made me feel like a friend, not like I was damaged" Kara said.
"Oliver knows how it feels... he would never do that to anyone" Laurel replied.
"So..." Oliver said to Barry, "remind me why Felicity couldn't make it".
"She's working," Barry said.
"So who is watching Jacob?" Oliver asked.
"Palmer Tech is providing childcare for us," Barry said.
"Oh, that's generous," Oliver remarked.
"Uh-huh," Barry replied. "If can tell you the truth, I am thinking about breaking up with Felicity".
"What?" Oliver said, but he was only half-surprised.
"Felicity and I's relationship hasn't been working for a while now and we both know it. And we also both know that Felicity's boss has a thing for her, and I think it's mutual" Barry confessed.
Oliver nodded. "I have noticed that the two of you aren't as happy as you used to be".
Barry nodded. "But, uh, enough about me and Felicity, this is a joyous occasion. I am so proud of Kara".
"And you should be. You influenced her a lot during your visits with her at ARGUS" Oliver said.
"Well, I was happy to do it," Barry said. "I would say we both did a pretty good job".
"With what?" Oliver asked.
"Helping Kara. Being there when she needed us, training her, letting her into our lives" Barry said.
"Yeah, you're right," Oliver said.
During dinner, Oliver introduced Emiko to the guests and they all talked and got to know each other a little better. Everyone at the table was working on their last few bites when there was a knock on the door. "I'll get it" Laurel volunteered.
After checking the peephole, Laurel slowly pulled the door open. "Hey," said Nate.
"Nate" Laurel said, her voice barely audible. "I-I- what are you doing here?"
"It's been a long time," Nate said.
"Yeah, I know," Laurel said, as Oliver joined them at the door. "Ollie, this is Nate, I don't know if you guys ever met".
"He looks familiar... Sara... Sara's best friend right".
"Yeah," Nate said.
"What are you doing here, Nate?" Laurel asked.
"Can I come in?" Nate asked.
"Normally, I would say yes, but it's not a good time" Laurel replied.
"Okay, well I really need to talk to you... can we grab lunch tomorrow?"
"Sure, yeah" Laurel agreed.
Thea sat on the couch in her apartment the next day just staring at her cell phone. How could Oliver do this? Kill her father, for god sake, their mother had been murdered right in front of her less than a year ago. She knew Malcolm had made mistakes, though she couldn't quite remember what they were, but were they punishable by death, were they really? Did Laurel really approve of this? What happened to a fair trial.
Roy quietly entered the apartment. Neither of them said a word until finally, Thea said: "I am going to warn my dad that Oliver is going to try to kill him"
After a few more moments of silence, Roy said. "I think that is a good idea".
"Really?" Thea asked him.
"Yes, I do. I don't really remember clearly what happened the night of the Undertaking or how involved Malcolm really was. I know what I've read on the internet... but bottom line, what I am supposed to fight for is justice, and Oliver isn't not looking to kill your father to serve justice, his motives are selfish".
"It almost makes my brother no better than Ra's" Thea said coldly as she began dialing Malcolm's number.
Laurel pushed around the contents of her salad with her fork. "Laurel?" Nate asked grabbing her attention.
"Nate, why now?" Laurel said.
Nate nodded like he had been expecting the question. "I know you must be hurt that I haven't reached out since Sara died," Nate said.
"No, you were Sara's friend, not mine. But I am curious why Sara's best friend in life skipped her funeral?" Laurel asked.
"I'm sorry," Nate said. "I wish I had gone".
"Me too. Sara would've wanted you to be there" Laurel said.
"I- wasn't ready to except Sara was gone. I loved her" Nate said.
"I know," said Laurel.
"How?" Nate asked.
"The way you looked at her" Laurel said and she and Nate shared a smile.
"I just couldn't help it even though I knew she never felt the same way. I miss her every day. I always planned on asking her to marry me" Nate asked.
"Even though you knew Sara didn't feel the same way?" Laurel asked.
"I thought she might say yes anyway" Nate shared.
Ronnie pulled open his front door and saw Oliver. "What are you doing here, Oliver?" Ronnie asked coldly.
"Well, I was here to talk to Caitlin" Oliver answered.
"Caitlin isn't home," Ronnie said.
"Well then I guess I will talk to you instead," Oliver said.
"I'm busy," Ronnie said.
"I got that Ronnie, you are busy avoiding me" Oliver called him out.
"I don't think we really have anything to talk about, Oliver" Ronnie said.
Oliver turned around and closed his eyes in frustration. Then he turned back around. "Ronnie, I might die soon. I made a deal with the most lethal man on earth, and if I fail to keep up my end, in a few short weeks I may have to fight him. There is a good chance he'll kill me".
Ronnie was quiet for a few minutes but he stepped back to let Oliver in. "I don't know why you are telling me this. I know resent me, Oliver".
"I don't resent you" Oliver said.
Ronnie rolled his eyes. "From the guy who skipped my funeral".
"I can see how that stung," Oliver said.
"Yeah," Ronnie said simply.
"Well, you should know I am sorry." Oliver said.
"Sorry. Oliver please. You? You have never been for anything in your whole life" Ronnie said.
Oliver laughed. "Ronnie, I am sorry about the past. You were right. Right about me then. But you haven't known me in a really long time.. By your choice, by the way. I would've been at that funeral if I felt you would've wanted there. But you didn't, not Thea or my mother, or even your own father".
"Well, that didn't keep him away" Ronnie said.
"I was as present at your funeral, as you were when I came home after 5 years... presumed dead. You went missing, presumed dead a year and a half after I came home. Where you all that time, Ronnie? And to think I would have never met your fiance if she didn't reach out to me herself" Oliver reprimanded.
"So, we have both done things wrong" Ronnie admitted, opening his eyes. "But I think you know why I stayed away".
"Yeah, you made that clear, Ronnie" Oliver said. "You didn't like the Queen lifestyle, we all got that when you dropped the surname".
"Not just the lifestyle, the legacy. I hated what being a Queen meant, the legacy our family was leaving. I wanted to forge my own path" Ronnie argued.
"You think that I am proud of our family's sins. Proud of how my father has hurt innocent people. Everyday, everyday Ronnie, I try to give back to Starling city. I know that we both do" Oliver said. Ronnie didn't respond long enough to hear Oliver's phone buzz. Oliver pulled his phone from his pocket. "I have to go" Oliver said.
"Why?"
"Because your fiance has been working on a antidote for a dangerous drug that Thea and her boyfriend were exposed to and she has something ready for me" Oliver explained and Ronnie actually smiled. "Why are you smiling?"
"Even though you and I have a strained relationship... it does mean something to me that Caitlin is part of your life" Ronnie admitted.
"She's your family... and we're family" Oliver said.
"So Laurel, I have a confession to make, but I am sure you knew that already" Nate said.
"Sure" Laurel replied. "I am an attorney. I can tell someone isn't telling me the truth.
"Well, I know that you are The Black Canary and Oliver is The Arrow," Nate said. Laurel scrunched up her forehead. "Don't try to deny it, I pieced it together. Your secrets are safe though. I am here because I have superpowers"
"Really?" Laurel asked. "Are you sure?"
"Yes," said Nate.
"Were you in Starling when the Particle Accelerator went off?" Laurel asked.
"Nope," Nate said. "My powers result from experimental treatment I went under for my hemophilia, well that is my theory. I'm still waiting for test results from the supervising doctor".
"So, your powers, what can you do?" Laurel asked.
"Turn my skin to steel" Nate answered. "I just don't know how. It has only happened twice and both times by accident".
"Well, fortunately, Ollie and I know a lot of people that can help you," Laurel said. "And then if you want, we can train you".
"Like as a hero?" Nate asked.
"I guess so" Laurel replied.
"Laurel, I would love that. See, I'm a historian, I uh, dedicated my life to studying the Queen's Gambit accident after Sara... but now I can do so much more to help people. I have to take that chance... Laurel, are you okay?"
"Yes," Laurel said. "I just, I need you to be 100% on this, it isn't easy, it isn't an easy life even if you have powers".
Nate nodded. "That is why I came here, Starling city is the central hub of heroes and if I can learn from them, when I go back to Central City, I will know what I really want".
Oliver arrived in the Arrowcave, ready to meet Caitlin. Caitlin had told him that she would bring the potential cure there for him. When she arrived, he found Caitlin on the floor, a black arrow in her chest.
"Caitlin" he gasped.
"You think I wanted to do this, Oliver," Malcolm's voice said as he stepped into view. "You shouldn't have involved Caitlin. She was going destroy everything"
Oliver's face went red with anger. He picked up his bow.