Chapter 3: Old Faces

Laurel Lance flipped through the number of letters and documents in her hands. She was prepping for a class action suit against Starling City scumbag #247, Adam Hunt, and she needed her case to be ironclad. Hunt had filed for a change of venue and had gotten it – in front of Judge Grell, whose reelection campaign he had financed.

She was about to call out her friend and coworker Joanna to help her when she caught sight of familiar face, and stopped in her tracks. It took all her self-control not to cry – she imagined he had already seen enough tears.

"Hey." she smiled.

"Hey." Oliver smiled back.

The Palm was a high-end restaurant for Starling City's elite. Billionaires, millionaires, lawyers, judges – the very top (or bottom, some of the nastier whispers said) of society dined and mingled there, sometimes for pleasure, usually for business.

Today however, the Palm was playing host to a pair of old friends who wanted to catch up after being (involuntarily) separated for ten years.

"Lawyer, huh?"

Laurel took a big gulp of her wine and hummed. "For the City's Necessary Resource Initiative, or CNRI, as we're usually called. We're a law firm that provides its services to the city's underprivileged, those that typically can't afford a decent lawyer."

Oliver smirked as he took another bite of his steak. "Laurel Lance. Always trying to save the world."

Laurel shrugged. "Hey, if I don't, who will?" she didn't notice Oliver slightly stiffen at that. "And besides, I'm not the only Lance sister trying to save the world."

Oliver looked surprised. "Sara?" he asked dubiously.

Laurel smiled fondly at him. "Our little Sare-Bear grew up, Ollie. She's a traveling humanitarian these days. Goes around third world countries and gives them whatever aid she can."

"Wow." Oliver leaned back in his chair. "Your parents must be proud of you both." he commented.

"Very." the lawyer muttered softly. "Though I imagine seeing Tommy as a responsible adult is what surprised you the most." she jabbed back, though the grin on her face betrayed her mirth.

The billionaire shuddered. "You have no idea. He has job now. A job!" he complained. Laurel giggled.

Once lunch was done, Laurel was about to hop into her car. She had a case put together, after all. But before she left, she gave her friend a large hug.

"It's good to see you, Ollie." she said once they separated. "Next time, we'll visit the precinct. I'm sure dad will be happy to see you."

Oliver chuckled. "Your dad will slap me on the back, shake my hand, and then warn me to stay out of trouble." Oliver gave a wistful sigh. "It'll be good to see him too."

"Hey." he looked at her. "Whenever you want to go out again, just give me a call, alright? It's been far too long, Ollie, and the last thing I want is to spend another ten years without speaking to you again." Then, to Oliver's astonishment, she kissed him on the cheek, before getting back into her car. Oliver lightly rubbed the spot where her lips met, and waved goodbye as she drove away.

It hadn't changed a bit.

Barry remembered the first time he had to come to live in this house. The next day, he had tried to run away.

He had resented this place at first, before he realized that his situation wasn't going to change anytime soon, if at all. After that, the West house had become a reluctant home, not all that different from Lian Yu – just with less near-death experiences. The only bright spot had been Iris, and how he got to spend almost every moment, every single day, with her.

Now, Barry's thoughts about this place had shifted. After being forced to live on a death trap of an island for a year and then having to live in Nanda Parbat, with its lack of luxuries and single-minded devotion to training, training, and more training, Barry was far more appreciative of the West house, with all its basic amenities and quirks. He felt almost relieved to see that things hadn't changed all that much, even though they were unrecognizable in a way.

"Not all that different from the last time I was here." Iris muttered beside him. Barry nodded.

Joe popped out of the staircase. "Come on you two! Let's drop off Barry's stuff and then we can go out to eat and shop for some new clothes."

Barry found his room virtually untouched as well. His anime posters were still on the wall. Old notebooks were scattered about. Some of his old tools. Pencils. Pens. Trading Cards. He might've even seen a toy or two. Never before had Barry felt so out of place, not even in the League.

This was a child's room. And Barry hadn't been a child in a long, long time.

But before he could lament how much he had changed, something else found his attention. A familiar picture on the nightstand. Silently, fully aware that Iris and Joe were watching him from the door sill, he walked towards it, and picked it up. He idly caressed the still image of his mother and father, and himself, all of ten years old.

Sharply, he turned his head towards his foster family.

"Before we go out…could we go somewhere else first?"

Henry Allen ambled into the visitation center. He had been getting a lot of visits this month. He made his way to his usual spot, but before he could sit down, he froze.

There was a man sitting there.

He was a young man. Handsome. He had dark hair, and while face was "babyish", it was sharp and angled. And his eyes…those were Nora's eyes.

Quietly, slowly, he sat down, never taking his gaze off the young man who sat in Iris' usual spot. He picked up the connector.

"…Barry?"

"Hey, Dad."

Henry couldn't help it. For the second time in a month, he cried tears of joy.

"You weren't alone?"

"No, Dad. I wasn't even the first person to wash up on the island. That was Oliver. Then it was me, and then it was Kara and Kal. We were all young, and we all knew that if we tried to go at it alone, we would die. So, we stuck by each other, for ten years, waiting for the day we could finally go home."

Henry beamed. "I'm glad." Barry looked at him. "I'm glad that even while you were still in that hell…you managed to find friends. That you had that one bit of happiness."

Barry grinned at him. "I am too. I'll be sure to introduce you to them when you got out of here."

Henry's expression changed, becoming somber. "Barry…"

Barry held up his hand, stopping him. Then he pushed his hand forward, allowing his palm to rest against the cool, clear crystal. Henry, confused, mirrored him, and like he had with Iris weeks before, placed his hand against his son's, wishing, not for the first time, that the barrier was no longer present.

"Don't ask me to give it up, Dad." Barry seethed. "Don't. One of the only things that kept me going those ten years, was the fact that I needed to get you out of the place, because I knew no one else would try. I know what you're going to say – that I've already lost ten years of my life. And I have. And that's why I can't give this up. It's my life, Dad, and this is my choice. And I won't stop until I can find a way to get you out."

Hearing the conviction in his son's voice, Henry finally conceded. "Very well. Just promise me something, Barry." Barry looked hard at him, and slowly nodded his assent.

"Promise me you won't stop living. Promise you won't let this consume your life. You've lost ten years, Barry: ten years of doing all the things you wanted to do, all the people who could've been a part of your life. I don't want you to lose anymore."

The former castaway sighed. "I won't, Dad. I won't."

Since this was a special occasion, the guards allowed Henry to hug Barry goodbye. For the first time in a long time, Henry and Barry Allen embraced.

Moira Queen listened to the hustle and bustle of the city as her pen scratched onto the paper. Right now, she would love nothing more to be with her son and the rest of their family, but work was work and if Moira ignored it would just pile up.

"Mrs. Queen? You're 2:00 appointment is here."

"Send them in." She called out to her secretary. Also male – last thing she needed was for Robert to be tempted again.

"Mrs. Queen." Moira looked up. Kara.

Kara Danvers had become a fixture at the Queen Mansion for the last week, and was poised to do so for the foreseeable future; both her and her baby cousin/adoptive brother, Clark, or "Kal" as he liked to be called. Moira didn't know what to think about the younger woman. On one hand, she had been Oliver's companion for the last ten years, and clearly had no intentions of pursuing their relationship any further than surrogate brother/sister. She was also very mature for her age, almost as composed and controlled as the Queen matriarch herself. Moira imagined that had to do with being forced to raise a baby while stranded on an island for the last ten years, and had to admire the former castaway for her strength of character. It also helped that Kara was barely twenty-two years old, almost jailbait age, and certainly not a tempting target for Robert these days. After Isabel Rochev, Robert knew better than to try for the impressionable young ones.

On the other hand, Kara, and by extension, Clark, were strange. Kara certainly blended well in normal society, but more than once Moira caught her staring at something mundane, almost as if it were foreign to her. Normally she would chalk that up to the island, but that didn't feel right. It wasn't just unfamiliarity – it was almost as if Kara genuinely had no idea what it was. And when she was staring at something like signs or nail cutters like that, well, forgive Moira for being a little suspicious.

But she was Oliver's friend, her and Clark, so Moira gave her the benefit of the doubt. Moira had faith in her son, knowing in her heart that ten years hadn't changed who he was at his core, and that was good person. He wouldn't bring anyone untoward into their home.

"Kara. I assume this isn't something that can be discussed back at the mansion."

Kara nodded. "Yes. I'm planning to enroll Clark into Balliol Prep."

Moira leaned back in her chair at that. Yes, that would be something that couldn't be discussed at the mansion. Balliol Prep was hard to get into for anyone who wasn't the one percent of the one percent like the Queens and Merlyns were. The only reason the Lances had managed to enroll their children there despite being a middle-class family was because Dinah Lance was one of the professors at Balliol's college. Laurel and Sara managed to get scholarships, though both Dinah and Quentin had to work extra hour to pay for extra fees.

Kara had inherited a large amount of money, enough for her and Clark to live comfortably off of for the rest of their lives. She would easily be able to afford the tuition. But if it were just tuition that was needed to get into Balliol, she wouldn't be here. No, for Clark to attend Balliol, his family needed to prove that they were suitably connected enough to provide for the academy.

Balliol was a top institution for many reasons, but the first and foremost was its network of alumni and their associated families. Alumni that were found in every top college in the country, and had gone on to do great things in their life. Graduating from Balliol Prep almost guaranteed success – look no further than the Lance sisters. One was a successful lawyer for CNRI (and Moira had no doubt that if Laurel ever joined the DA's office, which was likely to happen within the next five years, she'd eventually become the DA herself), and the other was a high-in-demand humanitarian, at twenty-six and twenty-four respectively. Nothing to scoff at.

It would make sense Kara would want to enroll Clark there, and it would make sense she would try to take advantage of what connections she now had to get him there. After ten years of being stranded on an island in the middle of nowhere, she would want her baby cousin to have the best in life, no matter what it took.

Moira was appreciative of such efforts, because, in a way, she had done the exact same thing. Moira Queen had been born Moira Dearden, and had clawed her way out of the Glades to get to where she was. It was long, hard slog, one she wouldn't wish on anyone, and the day she found out she could send her children to Balliol Prep just by her last name alone had been one of the happiest of her life.

So yes, she would help Kara get Clark into Balliol Prep. It would take a couple of phone calls and a few donations, but Clark would be attending by the start of next week if she had her way.

But before that, she had a few questions for Kara. Ones that had been nagging her ever since her firstborn had come home.

"I'll help you, but on one condition." Kara adopted a questioning look. "Please sit, Kara."

Kara sat down, watching the older woman curiously.

Moira decided there was no beating around the bush any longer. "What is your relationship with my son?"

Kara blinked. "Mrs. Queen, let me assure you that I have no romantic inclinations towards your son." she shuddered. "Actually, the thought of that repulses me. It would be like dating my brother, or Kal."

Moira gave a light laugh and shook her head, "As relieving as that is, that's not what I meant." Her tone lowered. "At dinner that night, you said Oliver saved your life."

Kara stiffened at that. Moira, realizing she was being a tad insensitive, sat up and immediately started to back track. "Now, Kara, I realize things on the island must've been hard for all of you, so if you want me stop –"

The Kryptonian shook her head and gathered up her courage. "No." she stated firmly. "I'll tell you." She took a deep breath.

"When Kal and I first arrived on Lian Yu, I had no idea where we were. I was alone and frightened, and realized that the baby in my arms was my responsibility. My parents weren't coming back, and neither were Kal's. I was twelve years old and completely on my own. I almost wanted to give up then and there, and the only thing keeping me from doing so was Kal."

"Then Oliver and Barry appeared. They had gotten out of a bad situation a few days ago and were worse for wear. But that didn't stop them from trying to help me. They got me to calm down, and then, when things got…dicey, they got me and Kal out of danger. That was just the first of many times they saved my life." Kara's eyes got a little misty, something that Moira didn't miss.

"Your son was our leader. Not because he was the oldest, or the biggest. No, it was because, in a way, he was the strongest. Whenever one of us was on the verge of giving up, he picked us up and he forced us to go forward. He never faltered, not even once. He told us that it was his job to protect us, and he would never forgive himself if something happened to us under his watch. If he couldn't get us home."

Kara exhaled, and she began to choke a little, but pushed it down. "I wasn't lying…when I said we owed everything to your son – and to Barry – Mrs. Queen. Barry was the one who took care of us. Who patched up our wounds, and cheered us up. Oliver, however? He was our rock. We leaned on him whenever things got rough. If it hadn't been for him…if it hadn't been for him, Kal and I wouldn't be here today."

For a moment, Moira could say nothing. She stared at Kara, shocked at what she'd heard.

When she saw her son for the first time in ten years, she had a hard time reconciling him with the boy who had left on the Queen's Gambit a decade ago. Oliver had become a man, that much was obvious. But she had never imagined something like this.

Oliver had not just become a man. He had become a man. The type of man that would go on to do great things with his life. The man she, and Robert, and Laurel, and everyone else in their circle knew he could be.

The Queen matriarch sighed, and leaned back into her chair. Then, almost conversationally, she said, "I was planning on asking Oliver to take on a leadership position in the company."

Kara rubbed the tears out of her eyes. "He'll do it, to make you happy, and do it well. But…"

"But he wouldn't be happy himself." Moira finished for her. She would deny it, but it was true. Oliver wasn't ready for something like that yet, and the last thing she wanted to do was alienate her son when she had just gotten him back.

"If I could be frank with you, Mrs. Queen?" At Moira's assent, Kara continued. "Oliver lost ten years of his life. When he came back home, he saw that his seven-year old baby sister was almost an adult, that his irresponsible best friend was now an executive at his father's company, and that his other closest friend had already moved on with her adult life, with a job and everything. He doesn't want to miss out anymore. Before he can take on any major responsibility, he must figure out where he fits in everyone's lives first, and how they all fit into his."

Moira nodded. "Thank you for the advice Kara. You've given much to think about. And don't worry about Balliol – just send in Clark's application. He'll start next week. I'll make sure of it."

Kara smiled beatifically, and moved to stand up. "Thank you, Mrs. Queen." She turned around and made her way to the door.

Only to stop, when Moira called out to her one more time. "And Kara?"

Kara looked back.

"Please, call me Moira from now on."

On Saturday, just a few days after her meeting with Kara, Moira called a family meeting in the living room. Kara and Kal were taking a day just for themselves, so only the Queens were present at Queen Mansion.

Oliver was the last to arrive, and with that, Moira knew it was time to start.

"I've taken the liberty of clearing all our schedules for today." She announced, much to everyone's shock.

"But Moira, there's a luncheon –"

"Robert, I've already sent a letter with an apology and a gift. And besides, you're Robert Queen. They'd be fools to snub you."

"Well," Thea flounced back into the "It's Saturday, so that doesn't change much for me."

Oliver shrugged. "Or me. I was just planning on taking the day to relax for a bit."

"Good, good. Now, we're going to spend today as a family. Our family has been whole for the first time in a decade, and it's about time we enjoyed it." Moira looked at her son. "And Oliver, since it's your return that made this possible, you get to choose where we go out."

Olive looked like a deer in the headlights, until a thoughtful look appeared on his face.

"You know, Big Belly Burger isn't what one would call a respectable establishment for the Queens to be seen in." Thea teased her older brother. Oliver smirked.

"No, but it is perfect for a family outing, and that's what this is, isn't it?"

Robert popped a fry into a mouth. "Where'd you find out about this place, Oliver?"

"Laurel. Fast food is a staple for middle class families such as her, and she was horrified when she realized Tommy and I had never had Big Belly Burger." Oliver admitted as he took a bite of his burger.

Moira went to use her utensils, but at the sight of her family's disbelieving looks, thought better of it. She placed the burger into her hands and took a huge bite, giving off an almost orgasmic moan as the meat overloaded her taste buds. "Thank you, Laurel. Remind me to get her something nice for Christmas this year, dear."

"But of course."

As the outing winded down, Robert and Thea went to throw their trash away in the waste, allowing Moira a moment alone with her son.

"You know, I was planning on asking you to take a position in the company." she abruptly stated.

Oliver looked at her, and his expression strained slightly as he tried to smile. "Mom…"

"But someone convinced me that wasn't the way to go." Oliver blinked.

Moira continued speaking, gently. "Oliver, you've lost ten years of your life, and I understand that you want to figure out who you are first before you tackle something like that. So, the offer will remain open, but only when you think you're read for that next step. The company isn't going anywhere, and I'm not going to push you to do something that makes you unhappy, Oliver."

The Queen scion gave an authentic smile this time. "Thanks, Mom."

More feels. More hugs. More crying. I'm sorry if that annoys anyone, but that's what happens when two loved ones come back from the dead after ten years.

As for the Kara/Moira scene – well, a big part of Supergirl was the theme of mother figures. There was Eliza, Alura, Astra, Cat Grant, and I figured Moira would be someone Kara would look up to and bond with easily, especially after the island.