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.

AN: Thanks for returning to this AU story. I hope you are enjoying it as much as I am. So happy with all the reviews, favs and follows I received so far for this. Always greatly appreciated! Since I can't thank them personally, I want to thank the guest reviewers as well.

Previously:

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.

Laurel entered her apartment with a sigh of relief. It had been quite a day. She had indeed seen her life pass by when she was trapped in the collapsing building. If it hadn't been for the two men in her life, she'd be dead. It was all because of her stubbornness their lives had been threatened.

Laurel shook her head. Her father had certainly tried to warn her throughout the years about how her stubbornness would only get her into trouble. She always thought it ironic that it was her father warning her of that, because he was as stubborn as she. But to think, he was almost right. It almost killed her tonight. Or killed someone she cared about. They were all lucky.

Even though she wanted to collapse into bed, she knew she had to first wash off the dirt of the earthquake. She stumbled her way to the shower, washed herself off quickly, then took a moment to enjoy the sensation of the water flowing over her. Realizing how close she came to dying, and never feeling such things as a shower ever again, Laurel started to cry. Getting lost in her grief and her fear, she remained in the shower until the water grew cold. The change in temperature brought her out of the trance she was in, and she shut the water off.

All her tears gone for now, she got out of the shower and wrapped herself in her robe. Wondering where Oliver would be, she made her way to her purse, which she had dropped in the living room. She rummaged for her phone, and was disappointed to find no calls. She wondered if she should call Tommy, to check to see he got home all right, but…was it really her place, as an ex-girlfriend, to do so? Probably not. His neighborhood was in the opposite direction of the Glades, so he should be all right.

Her father probably was still working the streets, helping where he could in the aftermath of the quake. She still called his landline and left him a message to call her when he got home. Going over to her couch, Laurel curled herself on it, and felt the remaining anxiety leave her body. She was home; she was safe.

While she was debating about what she should do next, Laurel ended up falling asleep on the couch. The next thing she knew, she was being lifted up. Her eyes fluttered open to find Oliver looking down at her, a reflective look on his face. She could tell the beginnings of several bruises on his face were forming and wondered where they were from.

"Oliver? Are you okay?" she asked as she gently touched the discolored areas.

"Yes, now that I am here with you." He lowered her gently onto her bed, stripped off his Hood outfit, leaving on only his briefs, and crawled into bed with her.

Laurel wanted to ask him so many questions, but feeling so weary with the adrenaline drained from her, and the relief from knowing he was safe at home with her, she fell back asleep again as Oliver wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.

The next time she woke was to the smell of eggs and bacon frying. She stretched her long, lean body to get out some kinks, and rolled over to find the space next to her empty. Of course, who did she think was making breakfast? She got up and patted out to the kitchen to find Oliver, shirtless, wearing sweatpants low at the waist, at the stove.

His back to her, Laurel approached him and wrapped her arms around him. She was surprised when he let out a small groan. She stepped back, turned him towards her, and looked at his torso, only to find several large bruises forming across his front.

"What happened last night?"

"I had to fight Merlyn. He almost killed me." Oliver returned to cooking the eggs and bacon.

The reality of the situation finally became crystal clear to Laurel. "Tommy's father? He almost killed you? Why?" Drawing back, she shook her head. "I'm sorry. This is all so…mind-boggling. To think Tommy's father trying to destroy the city. I...I've eaten supper with the man. He tried to get me on his good side. I tried to impress him, the father of my boyfriend." Feeling weak suddenly, she stumbled her way to a kitchen chair.

"I know. He hasn't always been the best father to Tommy, but I wouldn't have guessed something like this from him in a million years. But, yes, he indeed caused the death of over five hundred people last night." He pursed his lips to try to control the anger bubbling inside of him. "Including almost you and Tommy. You and Tommy almost died last night."

"About that…"

Oliver sighed, took two plates out of her cupboard, and dished up servings onto both of them. He placed the plates in front of them and sat down next to her at the kitchen table. "Yeah, about that. Why did you go to CNRI when I expressly asked you to stay away?"

"I…I thought I could get what we needed done and get out of there in time. We almost did…."

"Well, you almost got killed, Laurel. And you almost got Tommy killed as well." He shoveled a forkful of food into his mouth as he waited for her reply.

"Oliver, I'm sorry. I…I tried to stay home, but then I thought of all my poor clients depending upon me, and I thought of you risking yourself, and wondered why I wasn't doing the same…"

"Because it's different, Laurel!"

"How is it different, Oliver? What makes your life more expendable than mine?"

Oliver raked his hands through his hair, trying to come up with an explanation. He always had difficulty putting feelings into words, and this time was no exception. "It just is, Laurel. I did things while I was gone…terrible things, things I need to do penance for. I signed up for this life, you didn't."

"Well, I want to. I want to help you, now that I know. You've done great things for the city over this past year, and I want to change things for the better as well."

Oliver's hand found its way to his forehead, where he put pressure on his temples with his index finger and thumb. He shook his head and then looked at Laurel. "I was afraid of this happening."

"What?"

"You thinking you can become part of the mission."

"Why not? Are you going to pull some sort of chauvinistic crap and tell me I can't?"

"No, Laurel, it's dangerous out there. It's not as simple as putting a costume and mask on and looking for criminals. You…you could very well get killed out there."

"I can take care of myself. Who got you and Tommy out of that mess with Adam at his bar anyway? All those years of karate and kickboxing classes have to start paying off some time."

"It's not the same…"

"Besides, you know I spent half my childhood thinking I was going to be a cop like Dad."

"But you didn't, Laurel. You…you're not exactly the physical type."

"Yeah, I may have decided not to become a cop because I didn't like being called a model wannabe, or dealing with all the male chauvinism within the force, but with a mask on, it'll be different. When I'm kicking a criminal's butt, I don't think they'll care whether I'm pretty or a woman."

Oliver didn't know what to do. First he began to pace around the kitchen, then he sat back down again. "We're also trying to begin a relationship again, Laurel. Or don't you want that?"

Anger flashed in her eyes. "Of course I want it, you ass! Why can't we have it all? Why can't we have both?"

It slipped out of Oliver before he could stop it. "Because you and I are too much alike. We're both too stubborn for our own good. I'm afraid we can't have both."

"Stubborn? You…?"

"That's the other thing. I've changed since the island. It tore bits off of me, letting some of my true nature show through. Other times, it…I'm a different person, Laurel. One who can be very stubborn at times."

"So…if I want a romantic relationship with you, I can't help you fight crime? And if I want to make a difference in this city, I can't be involved with you?"

"Laurel, I…."

"That is what you're saying, isn't it Oliver?"

Oliver suddenly flashed to all the fights they ever had. Laurel hadn't changed. Her anger was always quick and fast-burning. And most of the time justified. As in this case. Oliver wasn't sure he liked it, but…he really wasn't sure as to all the reasons he didn't like her taking up the vigilante mantle. At least, the non-chauvinistic ones, that is.

Oliver looked at her and said softly, "I don't want anything to happen to you. You too often rush into things without thinking, and you can not do that as a vigilante."

"I can learn, Oliver."

He sighed. "I hope so." Looking at the clock on the wall, Oliver got a determined look on his face. "I got some things to do, but why don't you meet me at Verdant at 6pm?"

Laurel looked at him, a question in her eyes. "I don't feel like clubbing tonight, Oliver…."

"Um, my…hideout is underneath Verdant. In a hidden basement."

Her lips formed a silent 'oh'. Oliver got up, leaned over and kissed her. He would've pulled away, but Laurel grabbed his shoulders to bring him closer for another, deeper kiss. She then pulled away and looked into his eyes. "We will work this out, Oliver. Trust me."

He nodded. "Bring some workout clothes," he said as he went to the bedroom to find a shirt. Laurel sat in silence as she pulled her legs up under her and nibbled on a piece of toast.

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

The morning's "discussion" had ended up surprising Laurel. She had to admit, she knew Oliver had changed. But she never really fully realized how much, until they were at opposite ends of a down-and-out quarrel. Could it be called their first "lovers' quarrel", this time around? She wasn't sure how she liked it.

True, their relationship before the yacht was mostly her telling him what to do. Most of the time. Unless he'd pull some passive-aggressive tactic, such as fooling around with some girl, when he ended up wishing to disagree with her. Which took several years for Laurel to understand that was what those "flings" really meant. Back then, all her friends wondered why she kept taking Oliver back every time he cheated on her. She was smart enough then to recognize why he was having the flings, but she wasn't personally aware enough to change the way she related to him to prevent the same behavior from reoccurring.

After he and Sara had supposedly been killed, Laurel spent the last several years mourning her sister's death. Also, she had to admit, Oliver's as well. Even though he had betrayed her. Even though she hated him, she also still loved him. But she hadn't been quite as selfless as she could have. She felt like she needed to atone for sins she had committed while being upset at them both. Mostly things she should have done, good acts she should have volunteered for, instead of spending her time being bitter at two people who she thought were dead.

Even though she worked at CNRI, it didn't seem enough. There was so much injustice in this world, and she herself was getting frustrated at the little amount of progress she and Jo Ann had been able to make these past two years. The more she thought about it, finding about Oliver being the Hood now gave her the perfect opportunity to help fix what was wrong with the world.

But what about a costume? What should she wear? One Halloween she had worn this leather bustier with fishnet stockings, a disguise which Oliver commented made her look like a sexy crimefighter. So…even though she had flippantly told Oliver she hated the fishnets when he mentioned it earlier this year, the more she thought about it, the more potential it had for being the perfect disguise. No one would certainly associate her with wearing such an outfit, that's for sure. Add a mask, and she was set. Perhaps a bright blonde wig as well, to really make it as different from her as possible.

Disguise down. Now to come up with an argument for Oliver. Somehow she knew he was probably going to still give her a fight about her joining his crusade full-time. But, couldn't he get twice as much done if he had help? Hopefully, she will get a lot more information about everything tonight when she meets him. In his hideout, he said. Laurel smiled a little. I can hardly wait.

AN: Another chapter done. Some progress made, possibly, with adding Laurel to Team Arrow. But with those two personalities, it's not going to be easy. Thanks to highlander348 for the little bug in the ear about Laurel's costume, which got me thinking in the first place regarding going the traditional route with it. And for WinterRain36 for input as well regarding how to describe the costume in words. I appreciate you both.

I also appreciate everyone who reads my stories! And if you let me know what you think…makes my day! Maybe even my week. Hope to see you with the next chapter, and I sure hope you all are enjoying this AU story as much as I am. So much fun! Thanks again.