Chapter 2
AN1: THANK YOU SO MUCH TO Mocking_point who has helped me more than I can put into words.
AN2: I really hope you like the changes to this chapter. PLEASE, PLEASE, let me know what you think.
Four days have passed since Lance made dinner for Laurel and Thea, and finally the day Thea has been dreading has finally come: the day of her mother's funeral. For every second of every single one of the last four days Thea has been struggling, and she has asked Laurel to stay with her every night. Even with how hard the last few days have been, how much she has been struggling, Thea is sure that today is going to be even harder.
While she knows she has to leave for the funeral soon Thea is just sitting on the bed in Laurel's spare room, even though she is partially dressed Thea is sitting on the bed as she isn't ready to go.
"Thea," A familiar voice says, causing Thea to look up and when she does, she sees Laurel completely dressed in black and ready to go.
"Yeah?' Thea asks, even though she knows exactly what Laurel will want.
"Dad and Tommy are almost here," Laurel reveals. "We've got to get going soon," Laurel explains, and to Laurel's concern Thea doesn't even react to that. "Thea? Did you hear me?' Laurel asks, walking over to her.
"Yeah, I heard," Thea confirms. "I don't know if I can do this, Laurel," Thea admits. "I don't know If I can go to another funeral," Thea says as she feels like she has been to too many.
"I know, and you shouldn't have to," Laurel says as she sits down next to Thea. "Today's going to be hard, that I can guarantee, but it's also your chance to say goodbye to you mother, your last chance, so you need to think about how you'd feel if you don't give yourself that chance," Laurel explains.
"I'll never forgive myself," Thea says, without even really needing to think about it.
"I'll be right by your side, and Tommy will be there, and my dad, and Mary is coming from Gotham," Laurel reveals, knowing that because she has talked to Bruce who is the one who will be brining her. "You'll have support and friends, I know it's not the same, but you're not alone," Laurel tells her.
"Thank you," Thea says, before just hugging Laurel. Honestly, Thea has no idea how she would have gotten through the last week if it wasn't for Laurel.
"I'll let you finish getting dressed," Laurel says, Thea nods, and after seeing the look Laurel walks out of the room.
An hour later Thea, flanked either side by Laurel and Tommy, with Lance walking behind them, arrive at the cemetery where Moira's funeral is going to take place. As they arrive Tommy's father, who was very close to Moira and is someone who the entire group knows, walks over to them.
"Thea, I am very sorry for your… loss," Malcom Merlyn says.
"Huh, that's funny I didn't think you could be sorry about anything," Tommy comments, bitterness clear in his voice.
"If you need anything, please let me know," Malcom says, ignoring his son's comment, and honestly Tommy has to hold in a snort at that.
"Thank you," Thea says, having no idea what else to say as she has never been particularly close to Malcom, honestly, she barely knows him.
"Let's take our seats," Laurel suggests wanting to prevent a fight between Malcom and Tommy as she knows that that is the last thing they need.
Ten minutes later Moira's funeral begins, but honestly Thea can't even hear what is going on around her, all she can do is stare at her mother's casket while she feels Laurel take her hand. Staring at the casket just reminds Thea of how she is completely alone, and yet, when she fees Laurel's hand in hers, she knows that there is at least one person who cares about her, who will be there for her.
A while later, though for Thea it feels like mere seconds, the funeral has ended, and its is time for final goodbyes.
"Thea," Laurel says as she gently squeezes her young ward's hand.
"What?" Thea asks confused.
"The funeral's over," Laurel explains in a gentle voice. "We've got to put flowers on the grave," Laurel explains.
"Right, okay," Thea says, and with Laurel by her side Thea heads towards her mother's coffin.
As Laurel and Thea are walking towards the coffin Tommy looks around and standing at the back of the crowd, he sees someone he is very glad to see, Bruce Wayne, so he walks over to the other billionaire, walking past Bruce's step-cousin, Mary Hamilton, who is heading towards Thea as he goes.
"Bruce," Tommy greats once he is close enough.
"Tommy," Bruce responds, with a simple nod.
"Thank you for coming, it means a lot," Tommy responds, knowing that it will mean a lot to Laurel to have Bruce in Star City while it will mean a hell of a lot to Thea to have Mary.
"Thank you for calling," Bruce responds as by the time Laurel called him, he had already been called by Tommy.
While Bruce and Tommy are talking, over by Moira's coffin, Thea and Mary who have been hugging for a while, are finally breaking apart.
"I want to go, can we go?' Thea asks, looking at Laurel
"Of course," Laurel says, putting her arm around Thea's shoulder.
"Can we go to the mansion? I want to talk to Dad and Ollie," Thea explains as she, Laurel and Mary start to walk towards Bruce and Tommy.
"Sure," Laurel says, as even though she hasn't been there since Oliver died, she knows that it is a place Thea needs to go.
"You and Bruce will come too, right?" Thea asks, looking at Mary as she doesn't want to stay goodbye to her friend just yet.
"Of course," Mary responds, as unknown to the two teenagers Bruce and Laurel arranged it so Mary could stay a few days.
"Good," Thea says relieved as the trio get to where Bruce is standing alone as Tommy had to go talk to a couple of people. "Hi Bruce, thank you for coming," Thea says gratefully.
"Of course," Bruce says, and he gives Thea a brief hug before giving Laurel a slightly longer one.
"Can we please get out of here?" Thea asks as Laurel once again puts an arm around her.
"Of course," Laurel responds and the group of four head out of the cemetery.
Ten minutes later Laurel, Thea, Bruce, and Mary, having driven in the car Bruce rented, arrive at the Queen Mansion. As Thea can't bring herself to go inside just yet the foursome walk around the house and to the backyard where the graves are.
"We'll be right here," Laurel assures Thea, giving her a supportive look as she, Bruce and Mary stand back so that Thea can walk towards the graves.
"Hey Dad, Ollie," Thea says as she squats down in front of the graves. "I miss you, I miss you both," Thea admits. "Have you seen Mom yet? Is she okay?" Thea asks. "You guys are together again, and I'm alone," Thea says, looking away from the graves and as she does, she looks towards where Laurel, Bruce and Mary are standing, her eyes focusing on Laurel. "Or kind of alone," Thea corrects. "I can't stay here anymore, I'm going to stay at Laurel's at her place, but you'll always be in my heart," Thea promises. "I'll visit, but this place is too big for one Queen," Thea comments. "Bye Dad, bye Ollie," Thea says before getting up and heading back over to Laurel, Bruce, and Mary.
"Do you want to go back to the apartment?" Laurel asks curious, as Mary walks over to her friend and puts an arm around her shoulder.
"Soon, I just want to grab a few things," Thea admits, as she leans into the arm Mary has around her. "I don't want to make another visit here if I don't have to," Thea explains.
"Okay, I'll catch up with you all soon, I just…" Laurel says, starting to trail off as she looks over to the graves.
"I get it, we'll see you upstairs," Bruce says, and he leads Thea and Mary towards the house as he has realised that Laurel needs a moment alone.
After she watches Thea, Mary, and Bruce walk away Laurel takes a deep breath and walks over to the grave. Just like Thea did she squats down in front of the graves.
"Hi Ollie," Laurel says. "Bet I'm the last person you expected to hear from," Laurel comments. "Why Sara?" Laurel asks, asking the one question she has wanted an answer to for so long. "Out of everyone you could have taken on that damn boat, out of all the people you could have cheated on me with, why my sister?" Laurel asks, anger as well as pain perfectly clear in her voice. "I hate you, and I miss you," Laurel admits, only doing so because she knows that no one will ever know. "I'll look after Thea, Ollie. I'll protect her and teach her, help her become the amazing person I know she can be," Laurel admits. "I can promise you that, and unlike you, I will keep my promises," Laurel says, pausing their as there is so much more that she wants to say, but she isn't sure how to say it. "Goodbye Ollie," Laurel says before heading into the mansion.
A couple of minutes after she left the graves Laurel walks into Thea's room where she finds Thea, Mary and Bruce filling up several bags; it being clear that Thea is telling Bruce and Mary what to pack.
"Thea, you don't have to take everything with you today. We can come back for some of it," Laurel tells Thea as she realises what is going on.
"That's what is said," Bruce reveals.
"And I'll tell you the same thing I told Bruce; I don't want to come back here again," Thea reveals. "I don't think I can," Thea admits, her voice a little quieter.
"Okay, what can I do?" Laurel asks, completely understanding what Thea is feeling.
"Help Mary pack my clothes?" Thea suggests.
"Sure," Laurel says and together Thea, Laurel, Bruce and Mary do their best to pack up the things Thea wants to quick as quickly as possible so that Thea doesn't have to stay in the place, she doesn't want to be any longer than she has to.
A couple of hours later Thea, Laurel, Mary and Bruce are making their second trip up to Laurel's apartment, all three of them carrying as much of Thea's stuff as possible.
"Thankfully this is the last of it," Thea says as she puts the bags she is holding down on the couch.
"That's probably a good thing," Mary comments.
"You know, I'm not entirely sure that all this is going to fit in your room," Laurel tells Thea, as Bruce takes the bags he was holding, and the ones Thea carried, into the room.
"My room?" Thea asks, being pretty sure that that is the first time Laurel has called it that.
"This isn't a temporary thing, Speedy," Laurel says as Bruce comes back in and takes the bags Laurel and Mary are holding and take them into Thea's room. "It's your room now, your private place and you can do with it whatever you like," Laurel explains. "But that being said, I'm pretty sure that you're not going to be able to fit anything in there," Laurel explains.
"I can help with that," Mary offers. "I'm kind of a genius when it comes to fitting a lot of things in a small space," Mary explains. "Plus, we can talk decorating," Mary says, wanting to help her friend make things as comforting as possible.
"Thanks," Thea says and both she and Mary head to Thea's room, leaving Laurel and Bruce in the living area, and the pair stand in silence until they hear Thea's bedroom door close.
"Is this where you tell me I've made a mistake?" Laurel asks curious.
"Do you really think that's something I would do, Dinah?" Bruce, the only person who actually calls her Dinah all the time, asks.
"No, I guess not," Laurel admits.
"What I will ask is if you're sure," Bruce admits.
"When I first met Thea, she wasn't even a week old," Laurel reveals. "Ollie was so proud of his baby sister that he showed her off to Tommy and I," Laurel explains. "I've been a part of her life ever since then, it didn't matter what was going on with Oliver and I, whether we were just friends, or more, it didn't even matter if we weren't even talking; I never let that effect Thea," Laurel admits. "Bruce, when I walked into that house Thea was clutching Moira, she was in so much pain and all I wanted was to hold her and take away that pain," Laurel admits, and Bruce knows exactly what Thea was feeling in that moment. "I don't know what I'm getting myself into, but that's not going to stop me because the one thing I do know, for sure, is that I'm going to do everything I can to make sure Thea doesn't feel alone. I'm going to look out for her, protect her, and help her," Laurel explains, and it is clear how determined she is.
"Guess you're sure," Bruce says, smirking slightly and Laurel rolls her eyes at Bruce's reaction.
While Laurel and Bruce are talking Thea and Mary are in Thea's room, trying to figure out where all of Thea's stuff is going to fit.
"Maybe if I get some storage boxes we can make everything thing," Thea suggests.
"That's a good idea," Mary admits.
"Okay, we can do that," Thea says, as she continues to unpack, using what she has to do to distract herself from everything else going on.
"Thea, you know you can always talk to me, right?" Mary asks her friend.
"I know," Thea admits, looking at her friend. "I just don't know what to say, or even how to say it," Thea admits.
"That's okay," Mary tells her. "Maybe you can just try," Mary suggests.
"You first," Thea responds. "What's been going on with you?" Thea asks, not wanting to talk about herself but also wanting to know how her friend is doing. Deciding that it's the least she can do Mary searches her mind and comes up with an idea about what she can say.
"Well, Kate's still basically ignoring me… but I'm used to that now," Mary admits, even though it is painful for her. "I won the school award for Biology," Mary admits.
"Mary that's great!" Thea says, a proud look on her face.
"You're the only one who knows," Mary says, looking down at the ground, and in response Thea walks over and hugs her friend.
"You should be proud, not hide your achievements," Thea tells her friend as they hug and as they do Thea closes her eyes. "I'm scared that Laurel's going to leave me too, she keeps saying she won't, but I'm scared," Thea admits, and once she does the two friends just continue to hug, neither needing to say anything as they are just there for one another.
Out in the living area of the apartment Bruce and Laurel are sitting on the couch together catching up as they don't often get chances to just talk, but they both always know that they are there for each other if needed.
"And I won, and he didn't show," Laurel explains, her voice sounding pained.
"I'm Sorry Dinah," Bruce says, being able to tell that his friend is hurt even though she won't admit it.
"I am too," Laurel admits. "But I'm sorrier that I'm not surprised anymore," Laurel admits, glancing over to a picture of her and her father from before Sara 'died,'. "Thank you for the wine by the way," Laurel says as Bruce sent her a bottle of her favourite wine after she won.
"I was given it, and I figured you'd enjoy it more than me," Bruce reveals, knowing that it was a very expensive of Laurel's favourite kind of wine.
"I did," Laurel says, deciding not to tell Bruce that she drank it a lot quicker than she should have, as the doorbell rings and Laurel looks towards the door with a confused look on her face.
"I assume you're not expecting anyone," Bruce says, noticing the look.
"No, I'm not," Laurel says, getting up and heading to the door while Bruce quickly looks around for something eh can use as a weapon if necessary.
Getting to the door Laurel looks through the peep whole to make sure that it is someone she knows on the other side.
"It's Tommy," Laurel tells Bruce as she opens the door. "With food," Laurel says, as she notices the bags of food Tommy is holding.
"Enough for five," Tommy reveals, as he assumed that both Mary and Bruce were still at the apartment.
"I'll get plates," Bruce says, heading into the kitchen.
"With everything that happened today I didn't want you to worry about arranging food too," Tommy explains.
"Thanks, but you don't have to keep doing this," Laurel says as she lets Tommy into the apartment.
"I want to," Tommy admits, as he closes the door. "Look, I meant what I said, the best place for Thea is here with you, but that doesn't change the fact that Thea is like a little sister to me too and I want to do whatever I can to help," Tommy explains. "I know you can handle this, Laurel, but if you ever need help or someone to be with Thea while you're at school or interning at CNRI, I'm just a phone call away," Tommy explains and in response Laurel gives him a 'are you serious?' look. "I mean that," Tommy assures Laurel. "I care about Thea, and I want to help her too, especially now that she's lost basically everyone," Tommy explains, and as she has known him so long Laurel can tell that he is serious.
"Okay, I'll remember that," Laurel comments. "What food did you bring?" Laurel asks curious.
"Chinese," Tommy explains.
"Great," Laurel says as Bruce walks back into the living area from the kitchen. "THEA! MARY!" Laurel calls.
"Coming!" Thea calls back and a few moments later both Thea and Mary walk into the living area. "Tommy?' Thea asks surprised.
"Hey Speedy," Tommy greats.
"Okay, you and Laurel do realises that this is like the worse nickname ever, right?" Thea asks curious, though she has to admit tat it feels good to be called that nickname as only four people have ever called her that, Tommy, Laurel, Oliver and Sara; and two of them will never call her that again.
"No, it's not," Laurel comments.
"I don't care," Tommy says, causing Mary to Laugh.
"Tommy brought food, we can finish unpacking later," Laurel explains.
"Sure," Thea responds and the group of five sit down on the floor around the coffee table and start to eat together, before too long Thea actually finds herself enjoying the meal with Laurel, Bruce, Mary and Tommy; so much so that for a few seconds she forgets what day it was.
Two weeks have passed since Thea brought her belongings over from the Queen Mansion and ever since Thea has been using the ways Mary suggested to fit everything into her new room. As Thea has been trying to hide how she is far from okay Laurel has been doing her best to help her. Every single night since the funeral either Laurel has stayed in Thea's room or Thea has stayed in Laurel's. While Laurel Is the one who has been helping Thea the most Tommy has visited frequently, and Mary has been texting multiple times an hour.
It is a Saturday and because Thea wanted to spend some time with some of her school friends Laurel is sitting in the apartment doing some while Thea is at the mall. A few hours have passed since Thea left when Laurel hears the door open.
"Thea?" Laurel calls, assuming that's who it is.
"Yeah, it's me," Thea responds as she walks into Laurel's office. "Are you busy or can you talk?" Thea asks curious, taking notice of all Laurel's work that she has around her.
"I'm never too busy for you," Laurel admits, stressing the 'you,'. "And I could honestly use a break," Laurel admits. "What's up?" Laurel asks curious as she puts her pen down.
"My friends reminded me of a party tonight, at Lucy's," Thea explains. "Mom…." Thea starts to say, her voice full of pain and it hitches before she forces herself to continue what she wants to say. "Mom already said I could go, but I was wondering if that's okay with you," Thea admits.
Hearing the question Laurel feels torn, and uncertain, as in all the time Thea has been staying with her something like this hasn't come up; this will be the first time Laurel has to make a real parental decision.
"Will there be supervision?" Laurel asks, thinking that it is a good place to start, though honestly, she is rather lost about what she is supposed to do in this situation as he mind can't help but flash to the kind of parties she went to, or even just knew about, as a teenager.
"Yes," Thea confirms, assuming that is best. "And as far as I know their will be no alcohol," Thea explains.
"It's Star City, there is a pretty good chance someone will bring it," Laurel comments, knowing that from her own experience. "Thea, I want you to know that you should never be afraid to call me, okay? If you feel uncomfortable or sick, or just want to leave, just call me and I'll come get you, no questions asked," Laurel promises, offering Thea something that she knows both she and Sara could have used when they were teenagers.
"So, I won't be in trouble?' Thea asks, sounding surprised by that as she is trying to figure out what her new bounders will be like.
"First I will make sure you're okay, and get you home, then we'll talk about what you want to tell me about what happened," Laurel explains. "We'll go from there, sound fair?" Laurel asks, as she wants things to always be a discussion between her and Thea, she wants to limit telling her what to do.
"Yeah, it does," Thea says, before walking over and hug her. "Thanks Laurel," Thea says.
"You're welcome," Laurel responds as they break apart.
"Great, I guess I'll let you get back to your boring law stuff," Thea comments.
"It's not actually that boring," Laurel admits as she finds it fascinating.
"I'll take your word for it," Thea says amused before heading to her room, allowing Laurel to get back to her work.
A few hours later Thea is still getting ready for the party even though it's past when Thea said she wanted to leave.
"Thea? Are you almost ready?" Laurel calls from where she is sitting on the couch.
"Almost!" Thea calls back and as she does Laurel can't help but smile to herself as she is pretty sure that she heard Sara give the exact same response, in the same tone, more than once.
For a few more minutes Laurel waits until Thea walks out wearing a dress Laurel recognizes.
"Do you steal that from my closest?" Laurel asks surprised as she stands up.
"Don't be mad, it was Mary's idea," Thea admits, as she called her friend in Gotham who suggested she look in Laurel's closet. "And can you blame me? I look really good," Thea comments. "I didn't know you had clothes like this," Thea admits.
"It's from another life," Laurel admits, knowing that that dress, and others like it, was when she, Oliver, Tommy and even upon occasion Bruce, would go out and do things they really shouldn't have; even though most the time she was trying to prevent the others from getting into even more trouble. "Thea, I don't mind if you borrow my clothes, just ask first," Laurel request.
"Okay," Thea responds. "Does that mean I have to get changed?" Thea asks curious.
"No, but I have something to go with it," Laurel says, heading into her room and walking out with a blue necklace that perfectly matches the blue of the dress Thea is wearing. "The dress you can keep, the necklace I want back," Laurel explains, as she puts the necklace on Thea.
"Deal," Thea responds, then realise something. "What this wasn't a gift from my brother was it?" Thea asks curious.
"No," Laurel responds, not wanting to explain more than that as the necklace was a gift from Sara. "We should go," Laurel says and the two of them head out of the apartment together.
A little while after they left the apartment Thea and Laurel, in Laurel's car, arrive at the location where the party is being held.
"You didn't have to drop me off right outside," Thea tells Laurel.
"It's better this way," Laurel explains, knowing that. "And its Star City, no one pays attention to how anyone arrives at a party, just who's there," Laurel explains.
"Okay, I want to know how you know that later," Thea responds.
"Remember what I said," Laurel tells Thea, not wanting to get into stories that she would rather not think about.
"I will," Thea responds.
"If you don't call, I'll be here to pick you up at eleven thirty," Laurel tells Thea.
"Midnight?' Thea counters.
"Eleven forty-five, and that's my final offer," Laurel says, needing to be stern about that as she knows what usually happens at Star City parties once midnight passes.
"Fine," Thea says annoyed, getting out of the car, Laurel watching her until she can no longer see the teenager. Even though she is feeling annoyed Thea is also feeling touched by Laurel's concern as it feels really good to have Laurel acting more parental towards her.
For the next couple of hours Thea does her best to try and enjoy the party, but she finds herself struggling as all eyes seem to be on her. While no one has said anything it is clear to Thea that no one knows how to act around her, or what to say and so to make things easier on everyone Thea has been mainly standing in the corner texting Mary.
"Thea Queen, standing alone at a party, what's wrong with this sight?" A voice asks, and Thea turns to see one of the high school boys that, before her mother died, she had been spending a lot of time with.
"Don't talk to me, talk to the people who don't know how to act around Thea Queen; pitiful orphan," Thea comments.
"Well, I guess it's a good thing I'm not anyone," The boy, Marcus Clark, says a she hands Thea a shot. "I think you should show everyone that you're still the girl you were," Marcus admits.
"That's the thing; I don't know if I am," Thea admits, not making an effort to take the shot as from what she has heard taking a drink from Marcus may not be a good idea.
"I think you are, drink," Marcus tells Thea who reluctantly takes the shot from Marcus, rases it to her mouth and drinks, doing so partly to get Marcus to leave her alone and partly because she wants to see if she can be the 'old' Thea Queen again.
Ten minutes, and two shots, later Thea, who is feeling far from okay is stumbling out of the party.
"Something's wrong," Thea says to herself and with difficulty she pulls her phone out of her pocket and gets to her recent calls. As she gets to her recent calls Thea is just about to call Laurel when she sees another name, the name of someone who has more experience with things going wrong at a party and through her foggy mind she is able to think coherently enough to call his number enough.
"Tommy," Thea says as soon as the person answers.
"Thea? What's wrong?" Tommy asks, clearly concerned.
"I'm at a party, and something's wrong, can you come get me?" Thea asks, taking deep breaths as she speaks in hopes that that will help.
"Of course," Tommy says, not needing to think about it. "Where are you?" Tommy asks and Thea gives him the location. "I'll be right there," Tommy promises before hanging up.
"Hurry Tommy," Thea says as the line goes dead.
After hanging up with Tommy Thea closes her eyes and tries to brace herself as her head is spinning and she feels sick; something which she knows from experience is something that never happens.
For the two and a half hours that have passed since Laurel dropped off Thea at the party Laurel has been sitting on her floor working on her spread out law school work. As she breaks down a complicated section of an even more complicated piece of legislation Laurel hears the knock on her door.
As she isn't expecting anyone Laurel heads to the door and once there, she looks through the peep whole. Once she sees on the other side Laurel quickly opens the door.
"What happened?" Laurel asks concerned as she sees Tommy with his arm around Thea, who is wearing his jacket.
"I think there was something in my drink," Thea admits, still looking rather out of it. "I called Tommy," Thea explains.
"Oh Sweetheart," Laurel says as she lets Thea and Tommy into the apartment.
"I think I'm going to head to bed," Thea says, as she takes off Tommy's jacket. "Thanks Tommy," Thea says as she hands it back to him.
"You don't have to thank me, get some rest Speedy," Tommy says as Thea heads to her room.
"Is she okay?" Laurel asks concerned, once Thea is out of hearing range.
"Yeah, she didn't drink too much," Tommy explains. "And I'm going to get the party broken up to make sure that boy doesn't do that to anyone else," Tommy explains.
"Doesn't that go against all of your instincts?" Laurel asks, surprised by the care Tommy is showing.
"Potential rapists change the game a bit," Tommy explains, "Night Laurel,"
"Night," Laurel says, as Tommy leaves.
Once Tommy leaves Laurel closes and locks the door behind him and heads to Thea's room via the kitchen so that she can get a glass of water.
Walking into Thea's room Laurel finds the younger girl cuddled up under her blanket, looking very far from well.
"Here, this might help," Laurel says, handing Thea the glass of water.
"Thanks," Thea responds, sitting up a little so that she can drink the water.
"Are you okay?' Laurel asks, once Thea has drunk some of the water, as she pushes the hair out of Thea's face.
"Not really," Thea says, handing the empty glass of water back to Laurel. "I thought I could be the old Thea Queen again, but I don't think I can be," Thea explains, guilt in her voice.
"Thea, this isn't your fault," Laurel assures her. "Someone put something in your drink,"
"I should have known better," Thea admits. "I know Marcus's reputation, but I just wanted to be the old me again," Thea explains.
"Don't blame yourself Speedy," Laurel tells her. "After everything you've lost it's normal to be feeling a little lost, and it's going to take you some time to figure that out, and I promise that I will be here to help you," Laurel promises. Feeling touched by Laurel's words, Thea, with some difficulty, pushes herself forward and hugs Laurel.
"Thank you," Thea says.
"You're welcome," Laurel respond as she and Thea break apart and Thea lays back down. "I'll let you get some rest," Laurel says, but before Laurel can move Thea reaches out and takes her hand.
"Stay," Thea requests.
"Okay," Laurel responds and Thea moves to that Laurel can lay down next to her. "Get some rest, Speedy, I'm right here," Laurel says,
"Don't blame yourself Speedy. After everything you've lost it's normal to be feeling a little lost, and it's going to take you some time to figure that out, and I promise that I will be here to help you." Laurel promises Thea.
Hearing that Thea forces herself up and hugs Laurel, "Thank you." Thea says
"You're welcome." Laurel responds and once she and Thea have broken apart Thea lays back down, "I'll let you get some rest." Laurel tells her, but before Laurel can even move Thea has reached up and taken her hand.
"Stay." Thea asks.
"Okay." Laurel responds and Thea moves so that Laurel can lay down next to her, "Get some rest Speedy, I'm right here." Laurel says as he puts her arm around Thea.
"I know, you're always here for me," Thea responds. "I was going to call you, but then I thought about how Tommy has more experience with out-of-control parties," Thea explains. "Are you mad?" Thea asks worried.
"No," Laurel says. "I'm just glad you called someone," Laurel explains. "Rest Speedy," Laurel says as she once more pushes Thea's hair out of her eyes while Thea's eyes drift open and close.
"Okay," Thea responds and within a couple of minutes Thea is fast asleep leaning on Laurel.
Once the younger girl is fast asleep Laurel, without moving the arm that is around Thea, grabs the blanket and uses it cover them both properly. "Goodnight Speedy," Laurel says, placing a kiss on Thea's forehead and before too long Laurel is fast asleep too, having become rather used to sharing a bed with Thea in recent days.
