Oliver took a deep breath, unsure what to do or think. That couldn't be her. It couldn't be. He was dreaming or-

"Oliver, I'm real", Laurel's voice echoed.

Oliver finally looked up, barely allowing himself to believe it. Sure, he had seen her doppelganger a few weeks ago, but she had died on Lian Yu with Felicity, Thea, and the others. He and Dig were all that was left and he…was he dead too?

"Am I dead?"

Laurel laughed, a sound that the blonde-haired man had missed so much that he had almost started crying just at the sound. She seemed to understand how his mental state was deteriorating, because she grabbed his hand and pressed it to her cheek.

"See?", she said with a sad smile, "I'm real, Ollie."

Oliver didn't know what to say. He had dreamed of seeing her and touching her for so long that he had no idea how to respond to this. He had convinced himself he was in love with Felicity for so long, but no one could compare to Laurel. His Laurel. There was a reason that when the Dominators had abducted him and put him into that machine, it was a future with Laurel that was exposed as his deepest desire. Diggle hadn't mentioned it to him in the aftermath, but he could see his friend notice how Oliver wouldn't even mention her after that. He knew.

It had been too painful for Oliver to even think about her. But now, she was back, and he could have a future with her, couldn't he? He could make things right. He could make up for all his past mistakes.

Oliver had no idea what to say to her, how to express to her how he felt and how much her missed her and how much he loved her, so he did the thing he could think of, he pulled her to him and kissed her.

She made a little whimper when the kiss started but started kissing him back almost immediately. He wrapped his arms around her, wanting to bring her as close to him as possible as he tasted her soft lips for the first time in so long, in much too long. Eventually, the too had to come up for air, both panting. Laaurel looked at him with a goofy smile.

"Well, I wasn't expecting THAT, but…good to see you too", she said.

Oliver smiled back before a horrible realization hit him…Quinten. Laurel's father had died on the Island too and now Laurel couldn't be reunited with her father, a thought that destroyed.

"Laurel, your…father…he…", Oliver tried to get out, struggling to get the words out.

Laurel's expression changed to one of sadness immediately, "I know, Ollie. Diggle told me."

"You talked to John?", he asked.

John had left with his family almost immediately after they returned from Lian Yu as the only two survivors. He had told Oliver he couldn't do this anymore and took his family away. Oliver hadn't asked him where he took them, not wanting to drag him down as well.

"Yeah. He's struggling just like you are", she said, her eyes looking at him with sympathy.

Oliver shook his head, "I brought them all into my crusade and now they're all de-"

Laurel grasped his hand tightly, "You don't get to make people's decision for them, Ollie. They all chose to join your crusade and they all knew the risks. A psychotic madman killing them all isn't on you."

Her words were sincere, but Oliver had a hard time believing them. Suddenly, another thought came to mind. "How are you back? Where have you been?"

"I was kidnapped by Hive. They faked my death and took my as prisoner, trying to make me their newest asset."

Oliver cringed; He should have looked for her. He let his emotions and grief take control of him once again. Stupid always stupid.

"You escaped?"

Laurel shook her head, "I was rescued and nursed back to health by the vigilante from Gotham."

Oliver knew he couldn't be hiding his shock very well, "Batman is real??"

Laurel laughed, "And quite anti-social. There's a reason most people think he's nothing more than a legend."

Oliver shook his head. Man, apparently, he wasn't the original vigilante after all. The two just stood in silence for a while, neither saying a word or more likely, nether knowing what to say. Eventually, Oliver met her eyes and opened his mouth to speak.

"What now? I…I don't know what to do, Laurel."

Laurel smiled at him and took his hand, "I don't know what to do either, Ollie, but I know one thing…we will do it together. We've been through too much to for it be any other way."

Oliver grasped her hand tightly, nodded his head and closing his eyes. She was right as she always was. The future was uncertain, but together, he knew they could face it.