Summary: What if Season One ended with Oliver and Laurel being together? What if Oliver tells Laurel everything the night they sleep together? Canon up until episode 1 x 22.

Disclaimer: WB/DC own these characters. I'm only borrowing them for a while. I own the original ideas found in this.

Some dialogue from episode 1 x 23, "Sacrifice" written by Marc Guggenheim and Andrew Kreisberg.

AU: Thanks for returning to my little AU story. Well, my first chapter hit a snag, that's for sure. Sorry about that. And here I was all excited to see my reviews for this new story, only to find out I posted the wrong chapter. Sh**. And here I was trying to impress a potentially new audience. Sigh. Sorry. Thanks for returning and continuing to check this AU story out.

I appreciate all the reviews, favs and follows for this new story. It is certainly a little different for me. So let's see what happens next, shall we?

Previously:

Placing his hands on her shoulder, Oliver said, "I'm not sure what will happen. All I know is, we have to stop Merlyn from destroying the Glades. He's under the misguided notion that he is honoring his dead wife by killing thousands of people." After releasing a deep breath, Oliver added, "Someone has to stop him."

Laurel kissed him one last time. "I know you will be, but be careful anyway. Come back to me."

Oliver gave her a blinding smile. "You know I will."

She watched as he ran out of the house, again running away from her.

~~OQ~~LL~~

Previously:

Looking into her beautiful eyes, Oliver knew it was going to be difficult for her to do what he was going to ask. "I know you care about CNRI, and the Glades, but I need you to be safe. Please stay out of the Glades today. If you need to, please call Jo Ann and CNRI and warn them, but please stay out." As Laurel was about to protest, Oliver pleaded with her. "Please Laurel, I don't know if we will be able to stop the device from exploding."

"But what about important papers, my clients?"

Laurel's heart broke at the look on Oliver's face. "Please, Laurel. I know it will be difficult but please stay out of there today. We don't know the damage Merlyn's device can cause, or how wide the damage will be, but I don't want to lose you after only getting you back." Capturing her gaze, he said, "Your life is so much more important than any papers. Please, Laurel."

"All right, Oliver. I promise."

All Laurel could think about, after Oliver left, was the huge news Oliver had shared with her. The Glades might be destroyed, by the end of tonight, unless Oliver and…his friends? His team? Did Oliver mention he had someone helping him?...unless Oliver and his team stop Tommy's own father from destroying the Glades. It was enough to absolutely drive a person insane from the absurdity of it all.

And Oliver telling her to stay home, and not risk her life in helping her clients? The more she thought about it, the more irritated she became with his request. She could tell he was hesitant to ask her. If anyone knew her, it was Oliver. He knew there was a very good chance she wasn't going to listen to him. That she would risk her life to help others. But wasn't that exactly what he was doing as well? Yet, he asked her not to?

And what would it hurt, going down to CNRI for a while, help Jo Ann get what they needed out of there? Tell everyone they could to start evacuating the Glades? And then get out before whatever was going to happen, happen? Why shouldn't that be possible?

Her telephone rang, her father's face appearing on the screen. "Hi, Dad."

He proceeded to tell her that the Arrow had called him with some "crazy" idea about the Glades. She spent the next five minutes convincing her father to believe the vigilante but in the end she was successful in convincing hi. Mostly by also promising her father she will stay out of the Glades. Feeling like she was back in pre-school, Laurel crossed her fingers as she made the promise. Rolling her eyes at her behavior, she rapidly got her belongings together as she hung up the phone. The quicker she got to CNRI, the quicker she could get back home to safety.

~~OQ~~LL~~OQ~~LL~~

Laurel and Jo Ann had their hands full all afternoon, packing up only "essential" files and notifying everyone they could about the need to evacuate the Glades. Then came the surprise at 6pm. Moira Queen's news conference confirming what Oliver had told Laurel. The Glades exploded in a rage of riots and confusion.

Laurel suddenly doubted her decision to remain at CNRI for so long. She caught a glimpse at the chaos outside the building and wondered how she and Jo Ann were going to get to safety. Luckily, several volunteers had transported many boxes of papers out to the police station for safety. However, instead of leaving with them, the two lawyers stayed to get even more papers packed.

Everything suddenly began to shift. Indeed, an earthquake was hitting Starling City. They had waited too long to leave. Laurel pushed Jo Ann towards the door, encouraging her to get into the street. As she made her way across the floor as well, trying to keep her own balance, Laurel whispered an apology to Oliver. Why didn't I listen to you, my love? Now that we found each other, I may have ruined it with my foolishness. She avoided several pieces of roof as they fell, covering her head and trying not to panic.

Laurel had made it halfway across the room when a large piece of cement fell, crushing her to the ground. Once she was able to catch some breath, she tried to move. Then she tried to move the cement off her, but wasn't able to. She was trapped in a building that could collapse at any moment, with no one around to help her.

Before her anxiety was able to develop into a full-grown panic, Tommy was in front of her. "Laurel! Laurel! Are you okay?" he asked as he knelt down beside her.

"I can't get this off me, Tommy!"

Tommy, trying not to panic, was able to slowly lift the cement high enough for Laurel to get out. "Run! Get out of here," Tommy yelled at Laurel as he tried to place the cement down without harming himself. He turned, and barely missed a rebar which would've speared through him if someone hadn't pushed him out of the way. He got up quickly and looked. "Oliver!" Indeed, Oliver, in the Arrow suit, was standing there. He grabbed Tommy by the arm, and began to run. "Let's talk later. We need to get the hell out of here!"

Oliver led Tommy outside, avoiding falling tile, cement and support beams, and they barely made it across the street before the rest of the CNRI building collapsed behind them. Laurel ran to Tommy and hugged him. "I was so worried. When you weren't right behind me, I thought…."

"Laurel! Why are you just standing there?" Oliver looked up to observe Laurel's father running towards him.

"Get out of here, Hood. Please!" Laurel gave Oliver a small push, and ran to her father and began to pull on him, away from the direction of the Hood. "Dad! Dad, please! He saved Tommy! Let him go. He has work to do."

"I know, Laurel. He helped me stop one earthquake machine, but that lunatic had a second one." He nodded at the Hood, who returned his nod. He exchanged glances with Tommy then ran into the darkness. Tommy walked the distance separating them and looked at Lance. "What was that about my father?"

Lance had the decency to look a little sheepish. "Sorry, Tommy. This is all a shock to us as well."

"My father actually had two earthquake machines set up to explode?"

"Yes, it appears so. With the Hood's help I was able to disconnect one, but we didn't know about the second until it exploded."

Looking down the street where Oliver had disappeared, Tommy asked, "Is my father in custody then?"

"I don't know, Tommy. I better go. I'm sure I'm needed." Looking at Laurel, he asked, "Are you alright, Laurel?"

"Yes, Tommy did get me out in time."

Looking at the younger Merlyn, Lance asked, "Tommy, will you please take Laurel home? Drive safely, and don't stop for any reason."

"Yes, Sir."

The young people watched Lance leave, then hurried in the other direction to Tommy's car. Tommy helped Laurel get into the passenger seat, got in and took off.

They were quiet until they got to Laurel's house. Laurel was lost in her thoughts, and Tommy was busy with avoiding pedestrians and debris. Pulling up to her apartment building, they sat in silence for a moment.

"Thank you for the ride, Tommy." Clearing her throat, she said, "And coming to CNRI to save me. I'm sure I'd be dead if it hadn't been for you."

Tommy thought back to seeing Oliver and Laurel kissing in her window, sighed, and said softly, "I'd do anything for you, Laurel."

"Then why did you break up with me?"

"You still love Oliver." After a pause, he added, "I saw you two in your window last night."

Laurel looked confused, then her face turned red. "I…I am sorry, Tommy. I wouldn't want you to find out that way. Ever."

Tommy looked down at his hands on the steering wheel. "Well, I did." Looking at Laurel, he asked, "Do you really, truly love him? Does he love you?"

"I know you think I'm crazy. Probably half the people who know the story would. But Oliver is different now. It feels right."

Tommy reached out and caressed her cheek. "As long as you are sure. Just know I am here. But I don't want to be anyone's second choice."

Laurel's eyes showed her realization of the significance of what he had just said. "That's why you broke up with me. You thought I'd considered you a…a consolation prize? You in second place?"

"Well? Don't you? Who could be better than the all-almighty Oliver Queen?" Tommy said, not hiding his bitterness. "And now, he's saving the city by…." Tommy stopped, trying to cover up his horror at almost revealing Oliver's secret.

Laurel looked at Tommy. "You know?"

It was Tommy's turn not knowing what to say. "Know what?"

"Know he's the Hood."

Tommy's face fell. "Oh, he told you. Of course he would. I suppose, in bed."

Laurel didn't hide her disgust. "Tommy, one thing I've never liked about you is when you're crude."

"Oh, sorry, my princess. I didn't mean to offend." Tommy couldn't hide the hurt he was feeling.

Laurel said softly, "I am sorry, Tommy. I never meant to hurt you. I am sorry for everything. I never meant to lead you on; it was never my intention. I do care about you, a lot. I do love you." She continued, "But me and Oliver…being gone really messed Oliver up. Part of our difficulty this year was he didn't think he could be with me because of his mission. But now, he thinks it's done."

Placing a hand on his forearm, Laurel said, "That's why he kept giving me mixed signals all this year. He truly wanted to be with me, but he didn't feel like he deserved to be."

"You know what's the worst of all of this? Because of all we've gone through, the three of us, all these years…I can't stay angry at you two." Tommy looked at Laurel with such sadness. "I do hope he doesn't hurt you again, Laurel."

"I don't think he will." Opening the car door, Laurel got out. Turning, she said, "I hope we can all stay friends. And that you will help Oliver like I'm planning to do. What he's doing is noble, and even though he thinks he's finished, there's still work for the Hood to do."

Tommy found himself hiding a smile as the side of Laurel, the micro-managing side of her, he never liked made yet another appearance. He never would tell her, but Tommy believed that was what Oliver was always rebelling against in their relationship. For whatever reason, Laurel always was trying to manage everyone's life. Tommy wasn't sure if Laurel was even aware of that tendency of hers.

Pulling himself out of his thoughts, Tommy answered her question, "I don't know Laurel, about helping him that is. We shall have to see." His features softened as he continued. "As being friends? I hope so." Clearing his throat, he said, "Get some sleep. I'll call you tomorrow. Perhaps we three could do lunch. Or something."

Laurel nodded and headed up her stairs. She turned before unlocking the main door to watch Tommy's car leave her sight. She was one fortunate woman, having two absolutely wonderful men to choose from. However, sometimes she didn't feel so lucky, especially when she thought of Tommy's heartbreak clearly written on his face. She sighed and walked into her building.

AN: I at first was going to have Laurel stay home, so Tommy wouldn't have to rescue her and thus die. But…I just couldn't wrap my head over her not going to help CNRI. So…I luckily came up with a third option. Hope you enjoyed it, and let me know in a review. Always appreciated! This was sure fun to write. Especially keeping Tommy alive. (and I plan to show how Laurel can become Black Canary without Tommy having to die).

Hope you return when the next chapter gets posted, and leave me a review of what you thought of this one. Always appreciated!