Disclaimer: WB/DC own these characters. I'm only borrowing them for a while. I own the original ideas found in this.
AN:I am so very happy that the last chapter was so well-received, and that you all enjoyed Felicity being able to beat up on Slade. Hope you enjoy this chapter as well. I also want to thank those reviewers without accounts, including Supes Fan and D, for also writing reviews.
Previously:
Moira, after watching everything in silence, cleared her throat. "I hope you'll be able to explain this to me some time soon, Oliver."
Diggle enjoyed watching his friend squirm in front of his mother.
"Yes, Mom, both you and Thea are owed complete explanations for everything."
"Everything?" Dig and Felicity asked simultaneously.
Oliver nodded. "It's about time, don't you think?"
Even though there had been a problem before, Oliver decided to call ARGUS once again for them to collect Slade and Isabel. He decided to wait for Lyla and Amanda himself, with Sara providing backup. Nothing was going to allow Slade to escape this time. Meanwhile, he suggested Digg accompany Moira, Thea and Felicity to the mansion.
His mother and Thea voiced their objections to this, wanting instead to stay with him. Oliver swallowed his irritation and overrode their objections by telling them, "Mom, Thea, I know you have questions. But I think it would serve you better to go home, get washed up, get something to eat, and by then I should be home. We'll have a long over-due talk then."
The women left with Dig while Oliver and Sara checked the bonds binding their prisoners. Both Slade and Isabel continued to remain unconscious, which was perfectly fine with Oliver. He was in no mood to handle any attitude they might have given him, given his intention to hand them over alive. It would not take much to push him over the edge, encouraging him to break his vow to not kill.
"If you brood any harder, you're going to grind your teeth off your jaws," Sara teased.
All she got was a grunt while Oliver sat staring into space.
"What is wrong, Ollie?"
"I simply want to turn Slade and Isabel over, and be done with all of this."
"We will, and Dad just texted me a while ago. They picked up Blood on many charges, including conspiracy. So, it looks like we've collected everyone."
All Sara got in answer was another grunt. She shook her head at her friend and remained silent.
Upon their arrival, Lyla nodded in understanding of Oliver's overzealous checking of the restraints which the ARGUS agents placed on the prisoners, and the transport ARGUS had brought. Amanda, on the other hand, gave Oliver an especially difficult time about his nitpicking regarding the transport of the prisoners. Sara watched as Oliver only gritted his teeth and continued his actions, refusing to rise to Amanda's bait.
After ARGUS left with their prisoners safely secured, Sara asked the stoic man beside her, "What's your history with that woman anyway?"
"Why do you ask that?"
Sara simply stared at him in silence, waiting patiently for his response. Oliver shrugged and said, "I'll explain later. Now I have to tell my family about Slade." They walked in silence to their bikes.
~~FS~~OQ~~FS~~
Meanwhile, upon their return to the mansion, the women separated to their individual bedrooms. However, Moira did first instruct Raisa to put together sandwiches, fruit, and juices and to bring them to the living room. She then instructed Diggle to make himself comfortable while waiting for everyone in the living room. Meanwhile Thea went to her room to call the hospital to check on Roy.
As she entered her guest room, Felicity breathed a sigh of relief and allowed herself to fall backwards onto the bed. Their ordeal was finally over. She had complete trust and faith that Oliver was going to ensure Slade was behind bars for good this time. There were still questions to be answered. And issues to be addressed. Especially for her. But also between her and Oliver.
Of course, she wouldn't be able to share in group therapy the exultation she felt when she was able to get in a few especially good punches at Slade. Even though it wasn't realistic, due to her lack of fighting experience, she still wished she could've beat him to death herself. Shaking herself, Felicity knew that it wouldn't have done her good in the long run. Hearing Oliver tell of his experiences with killing over the years had convinced her that killing out of revenge was never healthy in the long run. But a part of her still regretted not being able to kill Slade. A smile crossed her face as she reminded herself she did draw enough blood from him in their fight. 'Little girl', indeed. She showed him, all right.
Felicity debated whether she'd have time for a quick shower. Deciding she was simply too tired, she washed herself up in the sink, getting the surface grime off. She carefully washed her face, marveling that the bruises and cut she had received from Slade were now healed. Hopefully she will be able to take a quick shower before bed. From what she knew about the Queen women, the upcoming discussion will most certainly be eye-opening and explosive. So much as to revive her from the fatigue she was currently feeling, she was sure.
Her mind wandered back to her own questions. One such question was whether she should take the cure. There hadn't been a doubt in her mind, before today, that she would take it after Slade was captured. However, after experiencing more satisfaction with taking down Slade than she ever had from computer coding, she wondered what the harm could be. Couldn't her city benefit from a super strong vigilante?
The other issue facing her is the possible relationship with Oliver. Could she be with him even with the memory of Slade and his violation of her possibly always in between them? Did Oliver look at her differently now? After knowing him for two years, she knew he didn't consider women to be "fallen" if attacked. However, the fear remained within her that Oliver may be a little chauvinistic regarding the women he himself dated and held that belief despite himself.
Time would tell. She shelved the questions for now due to being called downstairs. Sara and Oliver must have arrived. Luckily, she was ready to face the discussion ahead.
~~FS~~OQ~~FS~~
When Felicity entered the Queen sitting room, she found everyone else already seated. She quickly walked over to Oliver, who had patted the empty seat beside him on the sofa. She slid next to him, then looked anxiously at Mrs. Queen, who was sitting in an armchair on the other side of Oliver. Across from Felicity and Oliver, Diggle and Sara sat on the other sofa, with Thea to Sara's left in an armchair. They all held plates and were eating the food which Raisa had prepared for them. Felicity grabbed a sandwich and a glass of water and sat back on the sofa.
"Well, Oliver, now that we all are here, and unable to sleep, tell us what this has been all about?" Moira asked her son.
Oliver studied his mother. Too much had been revealed to her to attempt to hide anything from her now. Since the Undertaking, he looked at her with new eyes, wondering what other lies his mother had that were left for them to discover. However, now wasn't the time to wonder about such things. He had to take a chance and trust his mother and sister to be careful with his greatest secret.
His gaze then moved to include everyone else in the room. Thea, waiting expectantly, while his team gave him looks of encouragement. Oliver's eyes fell last on Felicity, who looked beautiful despite her fight to the death with a powerful villain. He marveled that her cuts and bruises had already healed. She gave him a bright smile, nodding, her eyes shining with trust. He gave her a small nod and began his story.
"Mom, Thea, Slade was with me on the island."
"Yes, Thea told me what Slade had said, about you killing the woman he loved? How's that possible, Oliver?" his mother asked.
"It wasn't his fault, Moira." His mother jumped at the sound of Sara's voice. "A criminal named Ivo had me and Shado tied up in front of them, and he was trying to make Oliver choose which of us Ivo should kill. Oliver told Ivo to shoot him instead. However, when Ivo pointed the gun at me, Oliver jumped in front of me. But Ivo quickly aimed the gun at Shado and shot her instead." Looking at Oliver, drilling her eyes into him, she said, "It was never Oliver's fault Shado died."
"I meant for him to shoot me instead, the bastard," Oliver said.
"I, for one, am glad he didn't, but I do feel for this young woman named Shado." Moira said. "That explains the little incident Slade staged at the warehouse with Thea and me."
Oliver glared at his mother, "About that…."
Moira shrugged. "What else could I do, Oliver? I couldn't let that bastard kill my baby girl."
"And both Mom and I wonder how your executive assistant could have the strength to break handcuffs and beat up a criminal supposedly 'roided up," Thea interjected.
Felicity swallowed noisily as everyone's eyes flew to her. Sara and Roy smirked as Oliver cleared his own throat. "Mom, some things are going to be rather difficult for you to believe, but…."
"Is that why you haven't told us the truth since your return?"
"Partially. But I am ready now to try to be truthful to both of you from now on. Even though it may be dangerous for you." Through clenched teeth he added, "And difficult for you to believe."
"What do you mean?"
As Thea opened her mouth to answer their mother, Oliver caught her eye. "Thea, please allow me to tell Mom. Slade must have told you?"
Thea nodded and Oliver continued as Moira looked at her children questioning what they were talking about. "Mother, I am the Arrow."
Moira sat back in her chair and nodded. "I'm glad you finally told me. I've gotten tired of pretending not knowing."
Both of her children exclaimed, "What!"
"Yes, Oliver, I've known. Since the night of the Undertaking. Do you really think I wouldn't know what you were doing? Especially with that last talk we had before the quake? I kept quiet because I thought you'd be in more danger, be less cautious, if I knew and you weren't ready to tell me."
Oliver was at a loss for words. His mother knew for the past eight months about his nightly activities and hid that knowledge from him. He was about to ask her what she thought of it all when she interrupted him.
Reaching out and taking his hand in hers, she said, "I have never been as proud of you as I have the past eight months. And yet so scared."
"Thank you, Mom. I'm sorry you've been scared, but you really don't need to be."
Diggle coughed and Felicity hurriedly took a sip of her water. Oliver glared at his teammates. Felicity spoke up, her mind to mouth filter not working, "You know how you are, Oliver, always leaping without looking. And worrying us always practically to death. Even if you think you aren't like that. You are. There could be one day, God forbid, you don't get out of a mess. Oh, I suppose I shouldn't have said that before your mother and sister. I will now be quiet, counting 3,2,1…."
Moira leaned over and grasped Felicity's hand. "I seem to think my son has become more cautious because of your influence, Ms. Smoak. So, I would like to thank you," and turning to look up at Digg, "and you, Mr. Diggle." Catching Sara looking at her, Moira smiled. "Of course, thank you, Sara, as well."
"Enough of all this," Thea said impatiently. "I want to know how tiny Felicity was able to kick Slade's butt!"
"Thea!" her mother rebuked her.
"Sorry, Mom." Looking at Felicity, she caught the other woman's eyes, outside her mother's gaze, and rolled her eyes. Felicity looked down to cover a smile. "Please tell us, Felicity, how you were able to do it."
Turning towards Oliver, Felicity asked, "Do you want to tell them, or shall I?"
Oliver shrugged and proceeded to tell his mother and sister about how Mirakuru was created, what it did, and how Slade had been injected with it. He then went on to tell how Roy and Felicity had also been injected with the serum.
"Simply incredible," Moira said, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Yeah," Thea took everyone by surprise with her sarcastic tone. "I don't understand why you had Roy lie to me. My very own boyfriend. Not to mention why you lied to us, Oliver. Why you kept the fact you were the Arrow away from us."
"It was for your own safety."
Extending her arms in front of her, palms up, Thea asked "And in what way were Mom and I kept safe today?"
Oliver let out a deep sigh in aggravation. "It worked very well until a man with a personal grudge came after me."
Moira slid to the edge of her seat in preparation to standing up. "Well, I do believe that is all Thea and I can handle for one night. Or is there something else we should know before we go to bed?"
"I can think of one question I want an answer to. When did you and Felicity start dating?" Thea asked her older brother.
Thea smirked as she watched her brother choke on his own saliva and Felicity turn redder than a radish. Thea sat back in her chair in triumph, waiting for their answer, alternating her gaze between her brother and the woman she hoped would become her sister-in-law someday.
AN: Is that much of a cliffhanger? We are nearing the end of this story. I hoped you enjoyed this chapter. I hope it was entertaining, the updating of the Queen family. I would really appreciate it if you'd tell me what you liked about it, what worked and what didn't. Always helpful.