Chapter 7
AN: Sorry about the delay in this chapter. I have been catching up on a few tv shows. Hope you like this chapter.
Star City
Having successfully managed to stop the robbery Oliver, Roy and John are back at the Foundry with Laurel and Felicity. Due to it being a slow night Laurel, Oliver, Roy and John are training by stick fighting all in workout gear rather than any costumes.
"Wow, have you been doing extra lessons?" Felicity asks shocked as Laurel knocks Roy to the ground, as this version of Laurel has the skills of both Laurel from this universe and Laurel from Earth 1 combined together, which makes her very good.
"You can say that," Laurel says, as she helps Roy back to his feet.
"I'd say that you are ready to join us out there," Diggle says, as he hopes it will help make things less suspicious.
"Thanks John," Laurel says, giving him a grateful look as she recognizes what he is doing, and before anyone can say anything John's phone rings.
"That's yours Dig," Felicity says and so he walks over and answers his phone.
"Yeah," Diggle answers, and he pauses while the person on the other end speaks. "Sara, Sara, slow down," Diggle requests, causing Laurel and Oliver to exchange worried looks. "We'll be right there," John says, before hanging up.
"What's wrong?" Oliver asks worried.
"Lyla's in labor, and she and Sara think something is wrong," Diggle explains.
"Sara? How does she know? When did she get back?" Felicity asks, looking confused.
"I'll drive, let's go," Laurel says, not answering Felicity as it will be too hard to explain, and she, Oliver and John hurry out of the Foundry, with Roy and Felicity right behind them, the ladder two exchanging confused looks as they go.
Not long after they left the Foundry Laurel, Oliver, Diggle, Felicity and Roy arrive at the hospital.
"Where are they?" Diggle asks worried.
"I'm sure they're around here somewhere," Laurel says, as she puts a comforting hand on Diggle's shoulder.
"Dig," Oliver says gesturing to a hospital room, as he found them, and as soon as he speaks Diggle goes running to the room, with the others right behind him.
"Jonny," Lyla says, looking glad to see him.
"Lyla, what happened?" Diggle asks worried as he runs to his wives' side, noticing that Sara is standing on the other side.
"I went into labor, but something felt wrong, different," Lyla explains, and those who know the truth can't help but wonder if this is a consequence of all the changes.
"I was on my way to the Foundry, but I decided to check on Lyla, give her a present, when I found her in pain," Sara explains, for the benefit of Felicity and Roy, it being the explanation that is a close to the truth as she can give.
"Thank you," John says, as he knows he can't be sure what would have happened if Sara hadn't arrived.
"What are the doctors saying?" Laurel asks curious.
"That everything is normal, but it doesn't feel normal," Lyla admits.
Corto Maltese
Having moved carefully to make sure she snuck away from Merlyn Thea, who got a message on a cellphone she brought before coming to Corto Maltese, is waiting in a clearing when Wally speeds in.
"I checked the area, Merlyn didn't follow you," Wally assures her.
"Good, I didn't think so but it's nice to be sure," Thea comments. "So, Lena made it?" Thea asks.
"Yes," Wally says, showing the vial. "Lena says once you take it that it will act as a block for about thirty days," Wally says as he hands it over.
"Good," Thea says, before drinking it, pulling a face as she drinks it, knowing that Malcolm could drug her at any time and so she has to be protected.
"How does it feel?" Wally asks.
"Disgusting, but okay," Thea admits. "I should get back, the last thing I need is for Malcom to be suspicious," Thea reveals.
"Good idea," Wally says, as from what he has heard he knows it would be bad. "Thea if you need anything I'm just…." Wally starts to say.
"I know, thanks Wally," Thea says, and she turns to go back then she realizes something. "Wally, will you keep an eye out on my family?" Thea asks curious as she knows before long things are going to get bad in Star City as she is sure that Oliver and Laurel will start to make enemies soon.
"Of course," Wally says before speeding away, and once he does Thea heads back to the house she shares with her father.
Central City
After a day where it took all of Barry's self-control not to attack Thawne, Barry and Iris are sitting in the living room together of the West house.
"Do you think we'll be able to get our apartment in this reality?" Iris asks curious, as she would really like her home back.
"I don't know, I hope so," Barry admits, as he puts an arm around Iris, and gets his message. "Lyla's still in labor, no update yet," Barry says, reading the message. "Laurel said she will keep us updated," Barry says, feeling like Laurel fits perfectly within in the group despite, not having been in it for that long in the previous reality.
"Good," Iris says relieved, like Barry she is thinking about Laurel and how much she would love to get to know her better in this reality.
"Today was a hard life, how do you feel?" Barry asks concerned.
"Hurting Eddie was hard, but I know it was right," Iris admits. "I just can't help but wonder if maybe this will save him," Iris says, and in response Barry just kisses his head, not sure what to say because he hopes that too, but to his relief, before he has to come up with an answer Joe walks in, and Wally speeds in, holding Pizza.
"Dinner!" Wally says, excited, and they proceed to eat together.
Star City
A few hours have passed since Laurel, Oliver, John, Felicity and Roy arrived at the hospital. While Sara and John are with Lyla the others are in the waiting room.
"I don't understand, why is Sara in there?" Felicity asks confused.
"Do you really want to be?" Roy asks curious.
"Well no, but it doesn't make sense," Felicity admits, glancing over to Laurel and Oliver who seem to be sitting even closer than she would expect.
"Sara is the one who found Lyla, got her to hospital, she feels better having her around," Laurel explains, having heard what Felicity said.
"What was Sara even doing in Star City?" Roy asks, as he thought Sara was with the League.
"Probably something for the League," Oliver says, despite knowing the truth, as Diggle walks out of the delivery room.
"How's Lyla?" Oliver asks, as he, Laurel, Roy and Felicity all stand up.
"Getting closer, but it's still going to be a while," Diggle explains, and even though he knows what happened in multiple timeless he still feels concerned about what is going on.
"How about we get some coffee," Oliver suggests, and Diggle looks worried. "Sara's with Lyla, she'll be okay," Oliver says, and he leads Diggle down the corridor, glancing back at Laurel as he goes, clearly telling her to let him know if anything changes.
"Who are you texting?" Felicity asks curious as she sees what Laurel is doing.
"Just work," Laurel says, when the truth is that she is texting all her friends who know about the truth of the Universe. "I'm going to go check to see if Sara and Lyla need anything," Laurel says, before heading into the delivery room, causing Felicity to frown as she feels like she is not being included in everything, which she doesn't like.
National City
As it is getting quite late J'onn, Clark and Lois have left Kara's apartment after a truly enjoyable night, and Alex is in the processes of leaving.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Alex tells her sister. "Get some sleep," Alex says, hugging her sister.
"You too," Kara responds as she and Alex break apart, and once they do Alex leaves. As she does Alex knows she has to go back to her apartment, which will be empty and she is not looking forward to that.
After saying goodbye to her sister Kara walks over to Lena who is looking at one of the first pictures that was taken of Kara when she came to Earth.
"Lena?" Kara asks curious as she approaches her friend.
"When my mother died, I felt like I lost my world, but you actually did," Lena says, as she never really comprehended that. "You were a teenager, you had vivid memories of Krypton, had a whole life there," Lena says, looking at her friend, not even being able to comprehend how much of a shock that was.
"When I first came to earth, I was so scared," Kara admits, talking about something which she doesn't like talking about. "I felt abandoned, I hated my parents for putting me in that pod alone," Kara admits, tears coming to her eyes and so Lena reaches over and puts her hand on Kara's shoulder. "I was meant to look after and protect Kal, but by the time I got here he didn't need me. I was so lost, so afraid, felt so alone, didn't know what I was supposed to be doing," Kara explains.
"I'm so sorry," Lena tells her friend. "You've been through so much, and still remain so full of hope, it's amazing, you're amazing," Lena says, so much emotion in her voice that it is clear that she means what she is saying.
"You're pretty amazing yourself," Kara says, as the two of them look into each other's eyes. While Neither is sure who moves first Kara and Lena both move forward and after a few moments their lips meet, and the two of them kiss.
As she and Lena kiss Kara realizes that the rest of the world slips away and for the first time everything feels right, she feels like this is something that was always supposed to happen. While Kara can go without air longer Lena does need to breathe and so they finally break apart so Lena can get the air she desperately needs.
"I think I have been wanting to do that for a while," Lena admits.
"I think I have too," Kara responds, and the two of them exchange amused, but loving looks. "Stay?" Kara asks curious.
"I have a really early meeting in the morning and no change of clothes," Lena admits, looking disappointed.
"Well, I can get you anywhere pretty quickly," Kara says, with a grin. "I will get you back to your apartment, and then to L Coup with plenty of time," Kara explains, as she pusses Lena's hair out of her face. "Stay," Kara asks, in a gentle voice.
"Okay," Lena responds, not really needing to think about it, before kissing Kara once more.
Gotham City
Due to being so focused on trying to find Alice and Mouse Kate has completely lost track of time. Feeling bad because she was meant to meet Mary Kate has, quiet quickly made her way to her step-sisters' secret clinic.
"You know, most people have dinner at seven, not one am," Mary tells Kate, as Kate walks towards her, from where she is sitting alone, with no patients, having had some drinks while she was waiting for her sister.
"I know, I'm sorry, I got distracted," Kate explains.
"By your psycho sister no doubt," Mary says bitterly. "Kate, I wasn't the one who asked to go to dinner, you did," Mary reminds her sister.
"I know," Kate confirms.
"I get it, you've been gone for so long, lost your faith in people because of the way you were hurt, so you've shut yourself off, but you're also lonely," Mary comments. "So maybe instead of making plans you have no intention of keeping, you could start small, like with a phone call where you say something true, it will save all of us who care a lot of pain," Mary says, getting up and stumbling past her step-sister.
As she watches Mary go Kate can't deny that her words hit home for her, she can't deny that there is truth in them. and so, deciding to give Mary's advice a try she pulls out her phone and dials a number that has been sending her messages over the last few hours.
"Hey, it's Kate," Kate says, even though she is pretty sure that the person on the other end would already know that.
"You okay?" Laurel asks curious. "Kate?" Laurel asks, when she doesn't answer. "Talk to me," Laurel says, in a caring voice.
"Laurel, I'm scared," Kate admits. "I'm scared that I am going to be able to help Beth or stop her. I'm worried that I am going to fail, and hurt everyone," Kate reveals. "I don't know if I can be the hero the rest of you are," she admits.
"You already are," Laurel assures her. "I know that, Kate I see that," Laurel admits. "I believe you will get through to Beth, and I know you are not going to fail because you are the same girl who leant to get out of ropes just because Bruce and I said it was difficult," Laurel reminds her.
"You two really had some weird conversations," Kara tells her friend, as she remembers that well.
"Yeah, we did," Laurel admits, knowing that they were both hurting, but she didn't truly understand why to after her death. "Kate, I've never known you to give up, so I know you won't give up now. Lean on the people around you, it will help more than you know, and you know I'm always here," Laurel assures her friend.
"I know, thanks Laurel," Kate says gratefully. "I should go, night," Kate says.
"Night," Laurel says, before hanging up.
"Is everything okay?" Oliver asks concerned, as he walks up to Laurel.
"Yeah, it was Kate," Laurel explains. "She's struggling, needed some reassurance," Laurel explains, and because of her tone of voice Oliver realizes something.
"You really care about her," Oliver says as the tone of voice Laurel is using is the same one Laurel uses when talking about someone she truly cares about.
"I do," Laurel confirms. "When I met Kate, scratch that, whenever I went to Gotham, it was because I wasn't okay, because I was in a dark places, and Kate never judged," Laurel reveals, knowing that she would have had every reason to. "Kate, and Bruce, were just there for me, they helped me in whatever ways they could," Laurel explains. "The least I can do is offer Kate the same support," Laurel explains, knowing that in this version of the Universe she knew Bruce and Kate even longer, they were even closer, and she has memories of that.
"She's lucky to have you," Oliver says, and the two of them exchange smiles.
"Did you need something Ollie? Or did you just come to see who I was on the phone with?" Laurel asks curious.
"Dig came out, he and Lyla want everyone in the room," Oliver explains.
"Has she given birth?" Laurel asks curious, as they head towards the delivery room.
"I'm not sure," Oliver admits, as he and Laurel walk into the delivery room where Sara, Felicity, Roy, Diggle, Lyla and to the complete shock of both Laurel and Oliver, two babies are.
"Twins?" Laurel asks, not sure what else to say.
"Looks like it," Lyla says, looking at her children in amazement.
"They're adorable," Felicity comments.
"They are, congrats guys," Sara says, looking between her friends.
"Thank you," Lyla says to Sara, for more than one reason.
"Have you guys figured out names yet?" Roy asks curious.
"Yeah, we have," Lyla confirms and Laurel, Sara and Oliver all feel like they can guess.
"We would like you to meet Sara and John Diggle," Diggle introduces, as he smiles proudly at his children.
"I'm honoured," Sara says amazed, as Laurel puts an arm around her little sister, while Team Arrow start to get to know the newest members of their family.