Hello, lovely readers! Life has still been crazy busy but I had time to grammar check this story and now I want to bring you one of my favorite chapters I have written for this story. I hope you all enjoy it too!

Merle's girl26: Thank you for your review! I love your profile pic btw ;) He is rather handsome with longer hair and leather. I hope you also love this chapter as well!

swingrlm: Thank you so very much for your review! Always love seeing my readers return! Well, if you loved the last chapter because of a lot of Toria and Slade I think you'll be overjoyed about this one! Yeah, fanfiction is awesome. Though sometimes weird. ;) From the moment that Slade was on the screen I have completely loved his character. I don't like all the choices that the show has made but I think Menu has shone in every scene that he is in. He really is dreamy, isn't he? *sigh* I was tired of how Slade can't be happy at all so this is what I decided to do! Honestly, I think him and Toria are great together.

Thank you! I might take you up on that offer! Well, the wait is over! Hopefully, you like this chapter! Please let me know what you think in the comments!

The Other Queen

Chapter 20

Lian Yu 2008

It felt refreshing to be under a blanket of stars in the night air and a roaring fire. Shado was sitting next to Oliver and they were talking, they were supposed to be on watch, but Toria figured they also were just enjoying each other's company. Shado will be able to do both. Slade was adding fuel to the fire. Victoria hugged her arms around herself as a chilling breeze swept past. Slade slides his jacket off his form and offered it to her.

"Aren't you cold as well?" Victoria asked.

"I'll be fine. You're shivering," Slade answered.

"Thank you."

She pulled her arms through the sleeves, the warmth of the oversized jacket made her sigh in relief. The sleeves were way too big for her small arms, and the rest of it hung off her frame. Slade flashed a giant smile at her as he took in her appearance. Looking down in embarrassment when heat crept up her neck to her cheeks. Soon she was sitting next to the fire, Slade seated beside her, his gaze wandering away from the fire. Most likely lost in his own thoughts. She relaxed from the heat of both the jacket and the fire.

Several moments passed in comfortable silence. Her mind wandered to easier times when she was young. A memory of her father came to mind, the first time he had taught her how to waltz. He had placed an old record on his player and hands outreached, one wrapping around her thin, eight-year-old frame, another grasping hers. They were moving in a box that started to move gently from where they had begun. A giant smile and giggle had escaped from her lips as her daddy spun her. Lyrics of the song came into her mind, a favorite of her father's that he had always loved. The beautiful voice of Doris Day echoed through her mind. Before she knew it, twenty-one-year-old Victoria Queen began to whisper the lyrics.

"Stars shining above you

Night breezes seem to whisper "I love you"

Birds singing in the sycamore trees

Dream a little dream of me"

Toria saw Slade's face lit up beside her, "That's an oldie."

"It was one of dad's favorites. He taught me to waltz to it."

"Say nighty-night and kiss me

Just hold me tight and tell me you'll miss me

While I'm alone and blue as can be

Dream a little dream of me

"Stars fading but I linger on dear

Still craving your kiss

I'm longing to linger till dawn dear

Just saying this

"Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you

Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you

But in your dreams whatever they be

Dream a little dream of me

"Stars fading but I linger on dear

Still craving your kiss

I'm longing to linger till dawn dear

Just saying this

"Sweet dreams, till sunbeams find you

Gotta keep dreaming leave all worries behind you

But in your dreams, whatever they be

Dream a little dream of me."

"You sing a bit like Doris Day," Slade remarked.

"That's what dad always said."

Slade smiled. Victoria felt the heat rising to her cheeks once more. Another one of her father's favorites came to mind. A classic in every sense of the word. This time she simple hummed the lovely tune. At Last, by Etta James could never be redone in a way that matched the original. She was near the end of the first verse when Slade sat up beside her and offered her his hand. Toria looked down at it quizzically.

"Would you dance with me?" he asked.

She looked up at him in surprise but nodded her head. Her hand gently grasping his.

"I didn't know you knew how to dance."

"My mum taught me when I was twelve."

"My dad taught me when I was eight."

Slade chuckled and wrapped his arm around her waist. She took in a deep breath with how close they were. His face was hovering above her and soon she heard him humming the song again, from the beginning. It wasn't long before she was humming along. He danced gracefully as he continued to hum along-side her. Her heart was racing when he inched closer towards her. Halfway through the song, her muscles relaxed and she rested her head on his shoulder. His hums vibrated through to her spine and caused her to shiver. Or at least that is the reason she gave in her head. His close proximity made her feel both safe and yet excited. She could feel the prickly hairs on his jaw touch her forehead. Breathing in his scent, the familiar smell causing her to relax more into him. She noticed a slight hitch in his breathing at the contact. This is perfect. In all her life. Of all the little sweet and precious moments this had to be one of the best. Slade was here, he was alive, he was dancing with her and him… and he felt like home.

"I love you," she whispered in his ear.

Suddenly their movement stopped. He kept his hold around her but it loosened. Oh no, has he changed his mind? A look of shock greeted her when she looked up at him. She was about to pull away when the firelight showed her the warm smile that had replaced the surprise on Slade's face. He leaned down and captured her lips with his own.

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A few days had passed since Toria had admitted her feelings to Slade, and their relationship seemed to be moving in a bit of a different direction than they had been. One that Toria was growing comfortable in, despite the newness of it. Slade grew more confident with public displays of affection, often kissing her on the cheek or opening holding her hand when the other two could see. Even Oliver was able to see that their relationship had taken a turn. And from the goofy grins that he often shoots her, Victoria figured that he was happy about it or at the least, accepting of it.

It was early in the morning, Victoria and Shado had both gone out to hunt together. Shado was teaching Toria a method of hunting with cages, that her father had taught her. They were heading back to camp, both pretty successful with two birds each. A companionable silence passed between them for several moments before Shado broke it, "So you and Slade huh?"

A smirk was plastered across her face, both affectionate and teasing. A blush crept it's way to Toria's cheeks and she looked down at the ground with a wide, goofy grin.

"Yeah. I figured that you had noticed by now," she teased back.

"Well, of course, I knew he was always interested in you. What I'm referring to is the difference of behavior that I've noticed between you in the last couple of days."

"Oh that," another chuckle and goofy grin.

"Yes, that."

"I told Slade I love him."

A wide smile spread across Shado's face and she seemed to walk closer to the blonde. Slowly she nodded her head in acknowledgment, "Let me guess… it was when you both were dancing?"

Victoria looked up at her in surprise but a smile was still plastered on her face. She figured she was looking pretty stupid smiling so much in the last couple of days, but she could honestly care less. I'm genuinely happy and I'm not afraid to show it. It felt nice to have a reason to smile for. She loved Slade and Slade loved her. And for right now that was enough for her.

"Yeah. How were you able to guess?" she pointed a suspicious eye on her.

"You both started acting differently around each other."

Shado's face suddenly dropped and Toria became slightly nervous. Normally she didn't care what people thought, but she valued Shado's option. It seemed strange to her that the Asian youth would have a problem with Slade and her relationship. Still, she couldn't help herself from asking, "That doesn't bother you does it?"

"No, not at all," Shado reassured her.

"Then what is it?"

Shado let out a sigh, "I was just thinking about how everything was at the beginning. How different things were when I first came to the camp."

Around five months ago they had defeated and killed Fyers. Before then Shado had just barely made it to their camp, without her father. Then she was training both Oliver and Victoria, adding to the training that Slade had been doing with them for months. The days that Toria had felt jealous because of the beautiful Asian, worried that Slade had feelings for Shado instead of her. In so many ways it felt like another lifetime ago. Yet, it had only been six months; a half a year ago. It had been around a year since they had been deserted here. And so many things had changed for them.

"It honestly feels like another lifetime ago," Toria declared.

"It does, doesn't it?"

The same sad smile flickered across Shado's face and Toria wished that she could help her grieving friend. They had both lost their fathers in the last year. She feared they'd never fully recover from that loss. Instead of feeding her empty words she offered her a smile, hoping that Shado knew that she was here for her. The Asian beauty offered her one as well and they continued to make their way to camp in silence. Toria wanted to say something to lessen the tension, but the only topics she thought of seemed trivial compared to the loss of their fathers. So she decided to remain silent.

They were walking into camp. Shado went first into the wrecked plane, Toria was right behind her and what greeted them was the sight of Slade slapping Oliver across the face with one of the bamboo training sticks. Toria chuckled outright, because of the face that was flashed on Oliver's. Shado grabbed her cage from her and placed them both down before she headed towards the pair, Toria continued to watch in amusement.

"You're not the first man to learn the hard way; that women are a distraction," Slade said.

"What was that?" Toria quipped. She tried to turn a serious, stern look towards him, but a smile threatened to tug at the corner of her mouth.

"Nothing," Slade lied. A playful smile on his face.

Toria couldn't help but smile back up at him and shook her head with a chuckle. Oliver and Shado were behind her, talking about something, but she paid them no mind. Until Slade remarked, "And I love my job, though I would trade it for a way off this island."

I guess I missed something Oliver said. It was probably just sarcastic anyway.

"Well, while you two were training, Toria and I went hunting," Shado explained.

Slade walked towards her and with a smirk remarked, "Well, there is nothing more attractive than a lady who can hunt."

Smiling up at him like an idiot, feeling a blush warm her cheeks, she walked beside him. He offered her another smirk with a little wink. Oliver and Shado were whispering in the background. Slade walked over to the cages and she found herself looking away when he snaps the bird's neck. You'd think that after all this time it wouldn't bother me. Thinking about it though, she hadn't often done that to the animals they captured, that normally was something Shado and Slade did. Sometimes Oliver even did it, but normally she was on skinning duty.

"Gosh I'm starving," Slade declared.

Just then a noise sounded in the background.

"What is that?" Oliver asked in bewilderment.

Everyone began to run towards the sound. Slade and Toria were close behind Shado and Oliver.

"It's Fyers proximity detector," Slade replied.

"We salvaged it from the soldier's camp. There is something moving outside our safe zone," Shado explained.

"Maybe it is Billy," Victoria added.

"Maybe," Shado nodded.

"Or maybe it is an animal," Oliver suggested.

"There is an image interface," Shado explained as she changes a few settings.

Soon an image appeared on the scene, three human shaped, silhouettes. Victoria felt her hand shake as she grasped onto Slade's arm. Silently she tried to steady herself. Three more people were now on the island with them. From the looks of it, all three men had guns. Most likely these guys weren't here to help them out. Closing her eyes to try to calm herself, she was greeted by the face of Fyers. Her stomach churned and she quickly opened her eyes to be rid herself of the image. Because of Fyers Oliver had been tortured, because of Fyers Slade had to go into hiding here, in this wrecked plane, Fyers had killed Yao Fei. Slade's gaze broke her from her thoughts, his face showed the concern that she was feeling.

"Great," he muttered under his breath. His hands clutching into fists at his sides.

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"We need to look around a see what the hell is going on," Slade said.

"Okay, I'm coming with you," Oliver replied, walking towards him.

"I think we all should go," Shado voiced.

Slade nodded in agreement and his eyes landed on Victoria.

She nodded her head and then tightened the sword holder that was placed on her back. Everyone made themselves busy getting ready. Though Slade had the most gear he still managed to finish first. Silently, he walked over towards Toria and placed a hand on her arm.

"Are you alright? I saw you shaking earlier."

Toria sighed and ran a hand through her long blonde hair, "I just can't believe we have to do this again. First Fyers, now this? Isn't dealing with Billy enough?"

His face was solemn and he nodded in understanding. She made to walk in front of him, to pass him but gentle as he grabbed her wrist.

"Stay beside me, I'll keep you safe," he whispered.

His eyes shone with sincerity. He meant every word he had said. Her heart warmed in her chest. A slight tingle settled into her stomach as she stared up at him. It felt so good hearing those words. Even though she wasn't sure if he'd be able to deliver on his promise, she knew he'd try his hardest. Gently she cupped his cheek in her hand. A smile tugging at the corner of her mouth as he leaned into the touch. Victoria smiled and then dropped her hand to the side. Shado and Oliver headed silently out of the camp and they followed.

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All four of them were moving through the forest as quietly as they were able. Slade held the proximity detector firmly in his hands. Toria stood beside him, every once in a while looking down at the screen, seeing the dots moving closer towards them.

"Well, there is definitely someone out there. And they are getting closer."

They were heading towards a slope. One side slightly raised while the trail in front of the remained at the same level. Silently Shado moved away from the group of four and walked towards the slope.

"Where are you going?" Slade asked. His voice laced with a bit of concern.

"Flanking position. If they get the drop on you, you're going to need backup," Shado explained.

Victoria looked towards her. Sending her a silent look asking her if she needs any help and wanted her to join her.

"Stay with Slade and Oliver," Shado replied out loud.

Then Shado turned towards Oliver, he was smiling back at her as they carried on in Chinese. Afterward, she faded out of view. Besides Victoria, Slade stood, rolling his eyes and muttered, "She's teaching you Chinese how sweet."

Toria chuckled in response. Oliver's giant grin never wavered.

"I'm sure she'd be happy to teach you."

That's actually a really good idea. It would give us an advantage. Victoria made to reply when they heard a loud noise in the background.

All three of them rushed up the slope towards the direction Shado was last seen. Oliver was in front of the group. He picked up Shado green hood. Shado! Victoria looked around to see any sign of her. They ran forward, Slade's eyes quickly picked up the trail and they were making their way through the forest. As they moved a mantra echoed in Victoria's brain, that was pushing her forward, "Please be alright Shado. Please be alright Shado. We are coming for you. Just hold them a little while longer." Toria knew in the back of her mind if she allowed Shado's disappearance to sink into her mind she'd be a mess. This can't be happening again. Please, God, I'm begging you to protect her; just till we get her. Please, she prayed.

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It was dark when they closed in on where the men had taken Shado. Slade, Oliver, and Victoria all made their way as silently as they could. Slade was the first to make out the figures. Gently he elbowed Oliver beside him. Toria nodded her head towards Slade and the three of them crept closer. Soon it was only a lone bush that could work as a cover, Victoria stood at Slade's right side. Oliver was walking past them when Slade grabbed his arm and pulled her back to them.

"What in the hell are you doing?" Slade whispered.

"Trying to save her," Oliver replied back, his face was serious and he made to pull out of Slade's hold.

Tightening his grip on Oliver, "Listen, kid, you aren't the only one who cares for her safety."

"Ollie, we are going to try to get her back," Toria reassured.

"We have to be smart about it though. Wait for my signal."

Oliver, Victoria, and Slade watched on as Shado was questioned by one of the men. They were wearing camo and military gear, but Toria couldn't help but notice that not all of them carried themselves like soldiers. They were probably mercenaries like Fyers men. One of the men was growling at Shado, a knife was in his hand and was pointed towards her, "Where are the graves?"

Shado sneered back at him, "I don't know what you're talking about."

He took the hilt of the knife and smack her in the face with it. Then grabbed her forcibly by the hair with his free hand, the blade rested on Shado's chin, "Tell me."

Toria was able to make out a gash on Shado's cheek, the skin around it quickly turning dark.

In the next moment, Oliver ran forward and tackled the man. Slade rushed after him, pistol in hand as he shot one of the men down. Victoria followed behind Slade with her sword in hand, she focuses her attention on one of the men. He put up a bit of a fight he tried blocked her with his large gun but she saw an opening and thrust her blade into the man's chest. Both Slade and Shado were beside her.

"Oliver!" Shado and Victoria cried at once.

Oliver had grasped a large stone from the ground and was raising it above the man's head.

"Oliver!" Slade cried as well.

Oliver brought the stone down upon the man's head repeatedly. Blood splashing across his face. Victoria felt her stomach churn as the man's face stopped resembling a face but was instead covered in blood and torn tissue. She wanted to look away, needed to look away but her eyes seemed glued to the man's mutilated face.

"Oliver!" Shado exclaimed.

Finally, Oliver dropped the large stone and stumbled backward. His face covered in blood and grasping his breath. Victoria reached out her hand towards him but quickly dropped it to her side. What could she offer as comfort right now? They had killed before. That was just how you had to survive on this island. But with his bare hands and such a crude tool? Oliver hadn't ever taken a life like that. And she doubted any words that she could think to say we're going to be enough for him right now.

Silently Oliver got up, Shado rushed towards him and wrapped her arms around him. His face was expressionless, his arms hung to the side. Victoria caught one look at his face before she turned her eye away. His face was fearful, shocked and other emotions that she had never seen before in him. But most of all he looked lost. More lost than when they had lost their father or Yao Fei or even when he had killed Fyers. He feels that he has lost a piece of himself. One that he will never get back. Again, she wanted to comfort him but words were gambled in her head and refused to escape her lips.

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