City Hall Christmas Party, Night

After stopping an alien invasion with Barry, The Legends, and Supergirl; Oliver was actually in the mood to celebrate the holidays. Attending the annual City Hall Christmas Party, Oliver eventually found Thea who was in charge of setting the whole event up. "This is incredible, Speedy," Oliver commented as he looked around amazed by how decorative and festive it was, as there was a full audience. "I can't believe you pulled it off, especially after the whole-"

"Ok. I thought we decided not to talk about aliens anymore. Right?" Thea reminded him as they could both remember the "other life" they had when the Dominators stuck their minds in virtual reality where Oliver never got on the Queen's Gambit and their parents were still alive. "Besides, how can you be so surprised? I'm Moira Queen's daughter, and that means throwing a killer Christmas party is in my blood." She added.

"Mom and Dad would be very proud of you, Speedy." He commented with a smile.

"Me? Come on. You're the mayor." She happily countered. "They'd be so happy, they wouldn't know what to do with themselves."

"Are you all right?" He asked as Thea was in surprisingly good spirits lately. "Because what the Dominators showed, it was a little like losing them all over again."

"They didn't take anything away from me. They gave me something." She countered as like him she was choosing to look at their experience as a gift. "Reminded me how lucky I am to be a part of this family and to have you as my brother."

"That's very sweet." He said kindly as he pulled her in and kissed her forehead.

Looking over at the crowd, the siblings caught sight of Laurel walking over to them and both thought she looked particularly gorgeous in the shoulderless white dress she was wearing. "Here comes the bride, all dressed in white." Thea teased her brother in low voice.

"Stop it," Oliver responded knowing she was referring to Laurel's role as his soon-to-be bride in the virtual world.

"Yeah, sorry I'm late," Laurel said as she went up and hugged them both.

"It's fine, you look beautiful," Oliver said with a loving smile.

"Thank you," Laurel replied with a smile.

"So is this a date or something?" Thea asked curiously.

"If it is it's one between friends." Laurel clarified.

"Right," Oliver said.

"Okay, I'll leave you two to it. I'm gonna go mingle." Thea said as she joined the crowd.

"Are you two alright?" Laurel asked once Thea left.

"What do you mean?" Oliver countered with his own question.

"I mean you two have been looking at me differently ever since Central City." She clarified. "Is it about how you two escaped the Matrix?"

"Yeah, it is. Our lives were ... really different, and so were the people in them. And it's sorta given me and her some new insights and revelations." He revealed to her and Laurel seemed satisfied by her answer. Oliver hadn't told her that they were together in the virtual reality, that they were about to get married. He was trying to figure out the right moment because one of the things he realized in the other reality was that he still loved her. These last few months he hadn't been entirely sure, but now, he knew with certainty. "I'll be right back, I've got to go give a speech."

Arrowcave Bunker, The Next Night

It never ceases to amaze Laurel how fast some situations can go from bad to worse in such a short amount of time. First, Prometheus attacks Curtis while he's with his husband, Paul. Then when the team tracks him down they find out that Evelyn has been working with Prometheus, her betrayal meant that the serial killer knew probably everything about their security systems and their identities; though he knew the last part already. They also found out Prometheus, whoever he is, is not Justin Claybourne, a corrupt Pharmaterical CEO that Oliver killed when he first came back home whose name was on The List. In other news, Felicity's new boyfriend, Detective Billy Malone, sent them an old photo of a baby.

"Talk to me?" Oliver asked as he walked in with Laurel and Felicity with the photo of the baby on the computer screen.

"Facial recognition did kick something back on the baby photo," Felicity told him.

"Court records related to Claybourne's divorce. Oliver, the baby is Claybourne's son." Laurel revealed surprising Oliver.

"You told me that Claybourne didn't have any kids." He confusingly reminded Felicity.

"Not of the legitimate variety, but the divorce petition Claybourne's ex-wife filled says otherwise," Felicity revealed. "There's no record of the kid's name in the files, but due to the filing date, he'd be about 30 today."

"Oh," Oliver sighed as the pieces were finally coming together.

"Just old enough to put on a hood and a mask," Laurel pointed out.

"Old enough to want revenge on the man who murdered his father." Oliver sighed heavily as he turned around resting his hands to hold the bar.

"Ollie, I know what your thinking and this isn't on you," Laurel assured him.

"Yes, it is." He countered and turned to face his two exes. "Yes, it is. John warned me about this, that there would be unintended consequences to my actions regarding the List, and I didn't listen. This is them finally catching up to me." He brought it up as he began to calm himself. "We were wrong about him, Prometheus he's more dangerous than we originally thought."

"What do you mean?" Laurel inquired.

"Prometheus surprised me at the plant with a move, a very specific move." He revealed recalling it earlier from their fight. "It was taught to me by a woman I met in Russia." He revealed to them.

"You think you and Prometheus have the same teacher?" Felicity said with surprise.

"Worse, he's suggesting that Prometheus has had over four years to learn everything he does." Laurel corrected her.

"Right," Oliver answered with a nod. "Felicity, Billy has gone missing. Chase thinks it's Prometheus." He revealed startling her. "We've informed the police. They're gonna shoot Prometheus on sight. Now we are gonna find Billy, we are gonna bring him back to you. I promise. Let's call Rory and Rene. We're gonna hit the streets. If you learn anything, contact me. Do not engage this enemy under any circumstances." He ordered as he took his leave to suit up which Laurel soon followed.

In the changing room, Oliver and Laurel were about finished suiting up with Rory and Rene coming over to the lair shortly to do the same. Putting her tonfa/staff in one of her holsters, Laurel turned to talk to Oliver who just zipped up his Green Arrow suit. "You know Ollie-"

"Laurel, don't." He said cut her off immediately as he put his quiver over his shoulder. "I already know what you're gonna say."

"And what am I gonna say?" She asked rhetorically.

"That everything that Prometheus has done up til' this point isn't my fault. And your wrong." He told her adamantly.

"Am I? Oliver, you didn't know that Claybourne had a son ... and certainly didn't know that his son would end up becoming the Zodiac." She reminded him.

"No, but that doesn't change the fact that I killed his father. Laurel, you told me that you didn't approve of everything that I did back when I first started out ... that sometimes I went too far. What if this was one of those times?" He proposed.

"Oliver, Claybourne wasn't exactly innocent far from it actually ... I remember finding out what he did in the tabloids. Sounds like he gave you a pretty compelling reason." She told him.

"That doesn't mean it was the right one. And now ... now with what's going on with his son, I think it's pretty obvious that I made the wrong call." He finished and grabbed his bow to head out.

"Oliver!" She spoke out loud as was about to join me however, her phone then rang. It was Michelle, an old co-worker in the DA's office. "Michelle, hi it's been a while. Listen can I call you back later something just-" Laurel started to say but was dumbfounded by what she heard next. "Wait, what!" She said out loud catching Oliver's attention. "How?! Oh, that is such crap!" She yelled but immediately calmed herself. "Alright, thanks for the heads up."

"What was that?" He asked.

"A friend from the DA's office just told me that the State Department has been investigating me for allegations of legal misconduct ... Oliver I just found out they've decided to suspend my license upon further investigation." She revealed clearly upset.

"Laurel, that's-" He was going to sorry but he felt like that wouldn't cover it. "I'm sorry."

"I'll deal with it later let's go." She told him.

"Laurel, no." He countered. "Go. Go talk to your friend, sort this out."

"Oliver now's not the time." She told him.

"Laurel, your law degree's important. Besides, without it, you can't help John. And we need to get him out of prison." He told her in an authoritative tone. "Besides, Prometheus is my mess to clean up."

Reluctantly, Laurel decided to take his advice. But just to be sure, she pulled out her phone as she headed back to the changing room. "Thea, listen I know you're retired but I need you to come back. Ollie's not in a good place right now." She told Thea.

Arrowcave Bunker, Past Midnight

Sitting on the steps of the center circle, Oliver couldn't bring himself to get up. He just kept playing the events in his head over and over again, how Prometheus set him up to kill Billy Malone who was dressed like Prometheus. He recreated the scene of where Claybourne died at the same place he died, to where Oliver either killed or injured Claybourne's security. God knows where he got the corpses. Playing his mind games with him, Oliver failed to notice at the last minute the sword duct tapped to Malone's hand. It killed him to tell Felicity what had happened ... she didn't blame him but a part of him wondered if she should have. The team left him alone by himself, he didn't feel like changing out of his Green Arrow outfit and he didn't even realize Laurel coming in.

"I heard what happened with Malone ... how's Felicity?" Laurel asked as she was wearing her Black Canary suit with a gift-wrapped present in her hand.

"She's heartbroken. She ... she blames Prometheus ... part of me wonders if she should blame me though." Oliver mentioned in a depressing tone.

"Well, she shouldn't." She countered since he was doing his "Guilt Arrow" routine and walked over and sat next to him.

Looking at her, Oliver couldn't help but notice the obvious. "I thought you were going to talk to your friend?" He remembered.

"I did, it didn't go well. It's gonna take some time to sort my license matters out. The moment I was finished, I suited up. But ... by the time I got the news about Malone it was too late, so ... then I swung by my place to get this." She said handing him the Christmas present. "Thought you could use an early Christmas present." She added with a smile.

Developing a sad smile, Oliver unwrapped his gift and saw it was a Blu-Ray copy of Die Hard. His favorite Christmas movie. "Die Hard?" He said with a weak chuckle.

"Signed by John McClane himself." She noted. "Getting a copy with Bruce Willis's signature was ... difficult to say the least."

"This is a really nice gift ... thank you, Laurel." He said weakly but very touched.

"You're welcome." She replied but developed a frown. "Are you gonna be okay?"

"To tell you the truth I'm not sure anymore." He admitted as he put his gift down. "Laurel ... did I ... did I ruin your life?" He reluctantly

"What, what brought that up all of the sudden?" She asked incredulously.

"When I confronted Prometheus, he told me that I ruin the lives of the people I touch. That ... no matter much I love them ... or how much I care ... if I'm in their life, then their life turns to ash." He explained in a grim and depressing tone.

"Oliver you're listening to the reasoning of a psychopath." She reminded him.

"That doesn't mean he doesn't have a point. The more I think about it ... the more I can't help but wonder if it's true." Oliver reluctantly admitted.

"Well, he's not," Laurel said confidently. "Look ... you did hurt me, Ollie, deeply, ... and I know I once told you that I wished to God that I never met you. But ... a lot has changed since then." She brought up and he looked at her intently, and she did the same. "And it took time but I forgave you ... my family forgave you; including my dad. And both know that man could nurse a grudge like nobody else." She said as they both chuckled slightly. "I know it hasn't always been easy for us ... but honestly when it comes to you Ollie, your one of the few people that I can't imagine living my life without; and I can't say that about most people."

Looking at her for a moment, Oliver then hugged her causing Laurel to smile. "Thank you." He told her.

"Anytime," She said softly.

As he slowly parted from her, Oliver was overcome with emotions from tonight's events and from his recently rediscovered feelings for Laurel; he immediately kissed her in a sudden but tender manner. Although for a brief second, Laurel reflexively kissed him back; she quickly pulled away. "Ollie, you're not thinking straight."

"I love you." He told her immediately.

"What? No ... Ollie, you are just upset and confused." She rationalized in disbelief.

"You're right ... I am confused, and I am not in a good place right now. But I am not confused about this." He agreed as clasped her face to make sure she would listen. "Ever since your Dad died ... he told me to move forward with my life. And that when I did ... I'd find my way back to you. For months I've ... I've wondered if there was still something between you and me. I found the answer when I was with the Dominators. In that other world, I told you about, we were together, we were getting married. We were happy. That world wasn't just a world where I never on the Gambit ... it's was a world I where I never cheated on you." He told her as his voice was breaking slightly.

Feeling overwhelmed by everything that was happening between her and Ollie, and everything he revealed; Laurel couldn't believe this was her response. "We were getting married?" She surprisingly replied.

"Yeah. I know that this is ... probably the worst time to tell you that I'm in love with you. But we both know how I'm a ... "passionate idiot" with these kinds of things. But I love you, Laurel." He finally admitted.

Pulling away from Laurel got up and turned around to face him. "Ollie that's ..." She started to say but couldn't. "Oliver ... look ... I'm not gonna lie. I have thought about us sometimes ... especially recently. But ... after everything that's happened between us ... a part of me thinks that ... maybe we just don't work like that." She reluctantly spoke from the heart.

"I know ... and I know I've screwed up when it comes to us." He admitted.

"So have I," She added.

"But ... maybe the people we are now can actually make this work. I now know that I want to find out ... do you?" He reluctantly asked her.

Oliver noticed Laurel steeling her face up, but then immediately walked away from him. Closing his eyes, Oliver sighed deeply but then heard her walk back to him with something in her hand; something Laurel got from her purse. Giving it to him, Oliver saw it was a worn-out photo of Laurel herself; the same one he held on to during his five years in hell. "I can't believe you kept this." He smiled with some surprise as he looked at it.

"Yeah. I used to think that I kept it because ... it reminded me of a simpler time in my life." She explained. "But now, now I think I kept because it was a reminder of us. And the way we used to be." She went on and gradually her eyes started to become watery from tears that were forming. "I love you too, Ollie. God help me, you've given reasons not to. But I do ... and I always will. And you're right ... maybe the people we are now can actually make this work. And I want to find that out too." She admitted.

(Adele's Water Under the Bridge begins playing)

Dropping the photo, Oliver rushed over and kissed Laurel fiercely which she returned with the same vigor. As she wrapped her arms around him, Oliver lifted her up and felt her legs wrapping around his waist. Moving over to the sleeping quarters which Oliver stayed briefly before he got an apartment, he sat down with Laurel straddling and kissing him. Briefly parting, the two unzipped the tops of their superhero outfits. Oliver was shirtless but Laurel had a black tee; which they both helped her out of. Laurel then pulled Oliver back onto her lips as her hands roamed across his muscular frame; their kisses were deep and heavy. Playfully, Laurel pushed Oliver onto the mattress. As the two unzipped each other's pants, Laurel unclipped her bra exposing her lovely breasts. Leaning down they're lips met again and Oliver flipped Laurel onto her back to get on top of her. For a brief second, they parted and gazed lovingly in each other's eyes before their lips clashed again, only more tenderly as their long night together had begun.

Author's Notes: The earlier conversation between Oliver and Laurel is basically the basis for my "You Weren't a Serial Killer" story, which I used to present my own personal insights into Oliver's actions during Season 1; just in case some of you were wondering.

Also, yes, Prometheus pulled some strings to get Laurel's license temporarily suspended so that he could put the screws to Oliver and at the same later aid him with Dig in order to further gain his trust.

I think I might've put a little too much Lauriver in this chapter, especially since I added a song during their lovemaking scene. Though "Water Under the Bridge by Adele" is favorite of mine and a great song to play during a tv sex scene in my opinion.