Discovery Devotion Destiny

by kayemen22

In the blink of an eye, everything changed. Oliver now had to figure out how to balance being the Mayor of Star City with being the Green Arrow. He had to do it all while being the parent to a crawling baby and a mischevous teen. New enemies would threaten all of it. He's going to need his wife...except she doesn't even remember he's her husband. Or that she has freaky powers.

6. Taken

Chapter 6

Taken

"Who so loves believes the impossible."

-Elizabeth Barrett Browning

---

Silence swallowed the air inside of a large conference room as one CEO found herself in a place she did not anticipate.

Annabelle let her eyes sweep over the members of the board as they wait for her to speak. "We all knew this wasn't going to be an easy quarter. With more time-"

"More time?" Annabelle had to fight the sneer that threatened to escape her. It was the man who'd been plotting her downfall since she was named CEO. She slowly turned to her left to see Michael Carroll looking to her with a furrowed brow. The board decided to retain him as COO and since she wanted to ease into this position she didn't want her first decision to be that of against the board. "You know if I remember correctly from your little speech when you were applying for this job, you made promises of increase of profits, an improvement of image, and a better response to marketability and you promised it would happen in no time." Michael glanced around the table at the members of the board. "And for a second there, we thought you were actually doing what you promised, but the truth was, the world thought Katherine Queen was dead," he looked back to the woman whose glare only amused him. "They supported us because they thought they were supporting her."

"What are you trying to say Carroll?" Joshua asked and Michael turned that look of amusement to the man. Annabelle was Joshua's pick for CEO and since, he's backed every decision she's made without his usual argument.

"Well I'm glad you asked Josh." Michael replied turning to the other. "Katherine is alive. And now the city remembers we made her step down as CEO." he let out a snort. "The board made her step down for making us pull our support of Ruvé Adams who turned out to be the wife of a mass murderer, which was possibly the best thing she could've ever done and the board didn't see it. She wanted all of our eggs in the Oliver Queen basket, and look where that would've taken us." once again silence took over the room and Michael stood to his feet. "I would like to bring to the table the possibility of adding Katherine Queen to the board of directors, over which time she be voted back as CEO of her company." he turned back to Annabelle. "No offense Ms. Grey, but your name won't fix what's broken with this company. Your image has not helped and your recent fiasco with that picture of you and the Mayor certainly didn't help. Your name never will. Her's will."

Annabelle stood to her feet. "If I'm not mistaken, Queen isn't on the side of that building." her glare on Michael not wavering as she turns her eyes to the other members of the board. "It is common knowledge that Mrs. Queen's accident has made her unfit to serve on this board, much less be the CEO. I'm telling you if we stay the course, we will see improvement. Let's not worry until the end of the fourth quarter, and if by then-"

"By then we could be boarding up the windows!" Michael turned to his colleagues. "Take the time to really think about this. Letting her go was the mistake that could've buried us, not bringing her back will bury us." he gave a nod before returning to his seat. He glanced back to Annabelle, having to fight the urge to laugh at the look on her face.

After the meeting, Annabelle stalked out of the conference room, her high heels clacked on the linoleum and anyone in her path quickly cleared the way. She stormed into her office, slamming the door behind her and letting out a frustrated growl as she walked over to the mini bar behind her desk to pour herself a drink.

Her body was buzzing with anger at having to sit in that room and listen to that imbecile attempt to take what she deserved.

A knock at the door seemed to ignite her frustration. "What?!" the door slowly opened and appeared her annoying assistant.

"Uh, ma'am you wanted me to remind you about the press conference. It's starting in an hour." Claire said quickly before ducking out of the office. Annabelle grabbed the remote and turned on the television letting out a huff through her nose at the picture of Katherine Queen smiling as if taunting her.

Oliver was walking quickly in an effort to get away from his sister who hadn't stopped talking since they left the meeting with their public relations office on how the press conference needed to be handled.

"Oliver, the questions thrown at you today could get you into trouble if you're not careful. " Thea said walking and glancing down to her notes. She'd been given a sample of potential questions and she did not like them at all. "You're still a new mayor and your wife being connected to Damien Darhk will pose a lot of questions. Just keep it simple and-" Not paying attention, Thea ran right into Oliver's back. She took a step back and looked up to him to see that he'd stopped walking. "Hey, what-" Oliver turned to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You think I'm overreacting, but Ollie-"

"You're worried, and so am I. We have a narrative that can't have any holes, and I get that. No one can know the truth and they won't." Oliver turned, and pushing open his door to see that there was someone waiting for him.

Katie was sitting there in his office chair when she turned to him."You know sneaking in here wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. You may want to talk to your security about that."

"Twinkie, when did you-" Thea made to walk inside, but Oliver turned blocking her. She looked up to Oliver face and sighed. "You can't be late."

"I won't."

"History has told me that those words don't mean much." Thea looked around her brother to Katie. "We have to leave in a half an hour, please make sure he leaves on time." she turned back to her brother who just shook his head as she turned around and left. Oliver closed the door behind her and turned back to his wife. He smiled, because she was here, in this office. She stood behind him when he wanted to become mayor and the moment he was named he always wanted to share it with her.

"I should probably-" she began standing from his seat.

Oliver shook his head before waving a hand for her to sit. "Sit. I didn't expect to see you here today."

"Yeah, well I've been seeing so many articles about this stupid press conference, I just had to know why it was such a big deal." She turned to one of the pictures on Oliver's desk. It was of them from their wedding day and she hated she couldn't remember why she was smiling so widely. She wanted to remember that look of pure happiness. She sighed before turning back to Oliver. Part of the reason she came here was because there were some things she read that she hoped Oliver could explain. One name in particular. "Damien Darhk—" she turned back to Oliver who frowned and she noticed the slight tension in his jaw. "My name keeps popping up in connection to this lunatic and from what I read online, apparently I faked my death in effort to assist the police catch this guy." she waited for Oliver to confirm or deny the story or even to provide additional details. "I just don't get it. I was a doctor for a while, then I ran my father's company for a bit, and then I'm helping catch bad guys." he didn't say anything which only verified her suspicions that there was something more to the story.

"Damien Darhk was a bad man, who did bad things to this to city, and to us personally."

"The campaign Christmas party." Oliver turned away and she knew that meant he didn't want to talk about this. "Ok-" she stood to her feet and Oliver turned back to her with a furrowed brow. "You probably have some pre press conference ritual you usually do and I'm probably messing that up. I should go." she moved to leave, but Oliver moved to stop her. "You don't want to talk about this and I do. Apparently my little escapade happened right before my coma so there's a chance that this could explain why I can't remember anything." she looked up to Oliver's eyes and sighed and he could see her frustration, and honestly he understood it. He's just not sure how helpful the topic of Damien Darhk could be. He's spent the last five months trying to move forward and forget the hell that man caused him and his family.

"It's just a lot happened. A lot of things I would rather not trudge up." Oliver said and Katie turned away from him. "But I will." she turned back to him. "You know I forget sometimes just how strong you are. I forget that even though I try and even though I probably won't stop trying, I can't protect you from everything." Oliver sighed because he knew the information she wanted could possibly trigger something that brings that darkness back, but he also knows that she's determined to find out what happened to her and he wants to be the source of that information. He wants to show her the truth. "I'm going to tell you everything."

"Everything?" she was both surprised and skeptical. What she's learned so far is that the man in front of her would like to shield her from the things he's afraid could upset her. The problem is, he doesn't see that it's impossible to shield her from it.

Oliver gave a nod, before reaching forward and taking her hand. "Yes, tonight I will tell you everything." she looked at him for a moment as if to determine if he were being honest with her. His eyes were locked on hers, no rapid blinking or turning away. She believed him. She also really wanted to kiss him right now. She probably could and he wouldn't be upset about it. There was just still something so strange about this. This life she was plopped in the middle of. She felt like she really didn't belong here. That this man wasn't truly her husband and this life didn't really belong to her. So she pulled her hand and turned away.

"You're going to be late if you don't leave now." she turned back to Oliver with a smile. "You've never been on time for anything. It's one of the traits you've don't seem to have grown out of."

"That's not true. I've actually gotten a lot better. Plus you've kind of been the reason I've been late most of the time." he watched her eyes widen with amusement at the accusation and he couldn't help but smile.

"I would refute that, but I guess you actually would know more than me." she replied before moving around the man. "I should try to sneak out of here."

Oliver turns to follow her. "You know you don't actually have to sneak in or out of here." and he heard her chuckle. "People would actually be happy to see you here." she got to the door and stopped, but she didn't turn to him. "Twinkie-" he heard her snort as she turned to face him as she leaned her back against the door. "You know I'm probably going to do that a lot." he walked over, to close the distance between them, but then she held a hand to stop him, to keep some space between them that she could use for holding onto clarity he usually sucked out of the room when he was close to her. "You know you finally realized that you are not the things that was done to you." she looked at him for a moment, dropping her head as the words tugged something inside of her.

"I don't think that's true." she looked up to meet his eyes. "I think I just got really good at hiding it from everyone and maybe myself. Too many things were done to me Oliver that are now apart of me. I can pretend that it's not there, but it usually shows it's face at some point." she turned around, and opened the door, pausing before actually leaving. She glanced back to him. " Good luck at the press conference." Oliver silently nodded watching as she ducked out of his office. He actually couldn't get over her words, because he thinks they're the truth. Maybe his wife carried around the terrible things that happened to her and just never shared them with him.

Oliver told himself to focus, and yet as he sat in the car waiting for his sister to come get him for the press conference, he couldn't stop thinking about his wife. He couldn't stop thinking about the darkness she carried from her past. He thought about his own darkness, about his own past and how no matter how far he gets, it's always right there on his heels. Maybe he was ignoring it as well, pretending as if it were all just a messed up dream. There was a knock on the window and Oliver sat up and turned.

Thea opened the door quickly, and a bit out of breath as if she'd run to the car. "It's time." Oliver quickly slid out of the car.

"What's going on?" Oliver asked walking along his sister who was walking quicker than usual.

"Oh nothing, just that damn picture of you and Annabelle still working it's way through the internet." she pulled out her phone and Oliver looking down to the picture that was now photo-shopped with both of them practically naked. He let out a huff. "Expect questions about this as well."

"She's not here is she?"

"Absolutely not, and if she does decide to make an appearance, I will have her escorted off the premises." Thea shook her head. She hoped it didn't get that far. "Just always circle back to you love your wife, she's back and she's fine."

"I do love my wife, she is back, but I'm not completely sure she's fine." Oliver said and Thea abruptly stopped and turned to him.

"What happened?" she asked, focus now shifting to concern.

"Nothing, just it's strange, but she's actually sharing more with me about how she's feeling about things. Her past, which she rarely did before." Oliver turned away, looking up to the stage that was set up just in front of the bay. The crowd was thick with reporters and civilians and he let out a sigh. "I'm going to tell her the truth." Oliver turned back to Thea who stared in confusion. "About everything. Its the same realization I came to years ago. If I want her to be honest with me, then I have to do the same with every aspect of my life. I vowed that to her the day I married her. Probably even before then." Thea saw the certainty in her brother's eyes and gave a nod.

"Ok," she let out a breath before turning back to the stage. "I'll let them know you're ready."

Katie chewed on the finger nail of her thumb as she looked through the tinted windows of the crowd across the street near the bay.

"I'm not sure this is a good idea." Katie glanced over to her driver who was also her security guard. "When there are crowds like this, I need more of my guys with me." he turned and looked over to the woman who still kept her eyes out the window. "Which you don't care about."

"I don't, Steve," she said turning to the man with a half smile before holding out her hand. He let out a sigh before handing her a baseball cap and sunglasses. She slipped the hat over her head and pulled the hood of her jacket up as well, hiding her hair inside. She turned back to the man and pointed a finger. "You stay far enough so people don't get suspicions, but close enough to save me in case this is a stupid idea." She turned and stepped out of the car. She slipped on the sunglasses before running over to sift through the crowd. Soon Oliver's voice filtered through the air.

"...and I know you have questions. I know most of you are here to ask those questions, but I think I should remind you all of one thing." Oliver eyes washed over the crowd of reporters and concerned citizens. "Our city has endured it's share of hard times, has faced monsters who attempt to destroy what we have all built in this city. My wife is an example how despite how harsh reality is, we can still come back strong."

Katie watched as he continued to speak, a smile on her face. It was the strength in his voice, the way his words tied around you and made you believe them. Oliver Queen was Mayor and she actually thinks he may be good at the job.

"And with that I will begin taking questions-" no questions could be asked as the popping of gunfire elicited screams and cries from the crowd. Katie felt a hand grab her arm and when she turned, she saw Steve who nodded for her to follow him. Katie's eyes turn back, searching for Oliver. Too many people are running and screaming for her to see him, and she panics. She pulls from Steve's grasp, turning fully and letting her eyes scan the crowd, and that's when she sees him. One of the men holding a gun run to him and he punches him, but more are coming and Katie pushes her way through the crowd to get to him. She tries to keep her eyes on him when she sees him punch another guy, and he looks as if he's about to keep fighting, but he stops and lifts his hands in surrender. Two armed men grab Oliver's arm and begin pulling and Katie furiously tries to push through the crowd to get to him. A SWAT truck pulls, tires squeaking as it comes to a stop. Soon Oliver and a couple of other people she doesn't know are pushed into the back of the truck. The doors had only slammed closed when Katie was finally close enough and when it pulled off, she ran after it as if she could even catch up. She stumbled to a stop when the distance had gotten too far.

"Stop," she muttered her labored breaths coming out quick and jagged. She saw the back of that truck hoping her words could some how manifest themselves into reality...but they didn't. The truck kept going...Oliver inside.

"Mrs. Queen," a breathless voice spoke, but Katie didn't turn around. Her eyes were locked on the strip of road ahead of her, the truck now gone, and the panic filling her chest was growing. "Mrs. Queen-" a hand came to her arm and she realized the voice was speaking to her. She turned to see Steve who was breathing heavily too. Her eyes turned behind him as she saw the crowd now staring at her. She touched her head, the hat now gone and her hair a frizzy mess from running. She dropped her hand to her sides. "Mrs. Queen we need to leave." She couldn't turn away from the crowd and they couldn't turn away from her. She felt the need to say something.

Soon Thea pushed through the crowd despite the protests of her own security, rushing over to Katie, taking her hands. "Hey," Katie's eyes weren't pulled from the crowd of people who seemed too surprised at the string of events that lead to this moment,

"I-" Katie's voice was working against her as emotions ravaged her insides. "I need to find Oliver." she turned around, finally meeting Thea's eyes. "We have to-"

"We are. Look, I'm going to talk to the police, but I will meet you back at the house." Katie nodded before turning and continuing on toward the car with Steve. She only stopped when a man walked over, and unsure who he was took a slight step back, but soon noticed Steve didn't hold the same uncertainty.

"Hey, you alright?" the man asked, his eyes on Katie, and she turned back to him with a furrowed brow. He was an older man, probably around her dad's age and the way he looked at her meant she probably knew him too. "You don't remember me do you?"

"I don't, I'm sorry, but I need to-" she turned to Steve. "We need to get home to the kids." she turned back to the man and just gave him a nod before turning and rushing back to the car with Steve.

Thea walked over to stand beside the man as they watched Katie and Steve step into the car and drive away. "I didn't know you were back, Quentin."

"Yeah, Oliver paid me a visit, told me about the press conference. Didn't know know it was going to go this sideways though." he looked over to her and she sighed before turning back to the crowd. "I'll meet you at the bunker." she gave a nod before stepping forward to hopefully give some reassuring words.

When they pulled in front of the house, there were already a few squad cars parked out front. Officers mulled around the front of the house, along with a few of their personal guards. Katie didn't even let the car come to a complete stop before she jumped out of the car and rushed inside of the house. She stopped at the sight of an officer standing at the base of the steps talking to Hank.

Both turned to her, but Hank stepped forward. "Mrs. Queen-"

"Where are they?'" no pleasantries needed, only reassurance.

"Ari and Robyn are both upstairs. I've secured both levels of the house before they were permitted inside. I have a guard upstairs watching over both of them. So far everything has been quiet."

"Mrs. Queen-" Katie turned, once remembering again that was her name. She looked over to the man who took a step forward. "I am Captain Frank Pike with the SCPD. I want to assure you that we are putting all of our efforts into finding your husband and the others who were taken today."

"Captain Pike, all your efforts should be out there actually finding them, not here." Katie says, trying to ignore the pins and needles feeling under her skin. She could feel herself getting more and more nervous at the thought of what could be happening to Oliver right now. "I need you out there finding him."

"And I will, but right now I would like to ensure you and your children's safety. I would like to move you all to a safe-house, and—"

"No, that's not happening." She dismissed immediately. "I'm not leaving this house, and neither are those children." she turned to Hank. "I'm pulling the guard you have upstairs." It wasn't a question or something she needed a response to, and so she moved around him and went upstairs.

Hank turned back to the Captain, a smirk on his face. "As I was saying, the boss isn't going to go for the whole hiding thing. Me and my guys have a handle here. You and your guys can focus on going out there and finding the Mayor of this city." Pike scoffed as he glanced up the steps before turning and stalking out the door.

When Katie hurried upstairs, she went straight for the nursery. She couldn't explain the pull and need of her body to hold that baby in her arms and verify with her own eyes that she was alright. And yet when her feet appeared in front of that door, she froze unable to simply push open the door and walk inside. Despite that pull, there was still the twinge of fear that kept her away.

"Katie?" the woman turned to Ari who rushed forward, throwing her arms around her in a hug. "Is Oliver—"

"He's-" Katie wasn't sure what she was supposed to say. She didn't want to scare the girl and say the wrong thing. She wanted to say something reassuring, and yet the pessimist in her couldn't think of a single thing to say. Which she should. She was a guardian...a parent. And so she said the only thing she knew. "The police are doing everything they can to find him." Ari pulled back and looked to Katie whose words didn't hold their usual certainty. She had the feeling that even her cousin didn't hold the most confidence in the SCPD. "We just have to-" she sighed turning away. "Wait."

"Is that what you want?"

Katie looked back to the girl. "What else is there to do?" Ari turned away, biting the corner of her lip. She was about to do something that was either completely stupid or totally genius. At the moment she wasn't sure, but she was still going to do it. "Ari?" the teen turned back to her cousin.

"What if I told you that you didn't have to to wait? What if I told you that you could actually help find Oliver?"

"Yeah, I doubt the police let people just help on their cases."

"I wasn't talking about the police." Ari replied before glancing down the hall to make sure the coast was clear. She turned back to Katie, before leaning in. "Right now there are people who I bet are looking for Oliver, and I'm certain they would let you help." Katie continued to stare at the girl in confusion, before a sudden thought came to her and she shook her head.

"You're not talking about that Green Arrow guy, are you? Because Ari, I'm not letting you—"

"You don't have to. We can stay here, but you have to go." Ari turned and rushed into her room and Katie stood there for a moment before going after her. She walked over to the door to see Ari scribbling something on a piece of paper. "All you have to do is follow everything I write on this sheet of paper." when she was done, she held out the paper to Katie who didn't even reach for it.

"Ari—"

"It doesn't make sense, but it will. You just need to go. Please just trust me." Ari watched as Katie slid a hand over her face. "This is your opportunity to help him." Katie looked back over to the girl. "Right now he's in trouble and needs to be saved. This is what you guys do. You don't remember, but it's what you two do. When you're in trouble, he saves you, and when he needs saving, it's you who saves him." Katie's eyes drop to that slip of paper. Nothing the girl was proposing made sense. Going out in search of some psycho in a green hood to help her find Oliver sounded insane, and yet her hand reached forward and took the slip of paper. She read over Ari's instructions before looking back up to the girl. "Trust me."

Katie slipped the piece of paper into her pocket. "You do not leave this house, do you understand?" Ari nodded. "Keep an eye on Robyn, and if at any point something feels wrong, you grab her and get the hell out of here, ok?"

"Ok." Ari once again threw her arms around Katie in a hug, and Katie hugged her back. "Just find him and bring him back." Katie pulled from the hug and looked down to the girl before doing something she probably shouldn't have done.

"Ok, I will bring him back." she wasn't supposed to say that. She wasn't supposed to give the girl hope, and yet she felt with every fiber of her being that she would do anything and everything possible to make it happen. She turned and headed back toward the stairs, once again stopping in front of the door to the nursery. That tug on her heart getting stronger, and yet she simply places a palm on the door, making another silent promise.

When she came back downstairs, she glanced around seeing that there was no one around.

"I cleared everyone out," she turned at Steve's voice as he came from the kitchen. "I figured you and your family could do without a bunch of people hanging around your house." Katie gave a nod as the man neared. "We've got all possible entrances covered."

"Has there been any news from the police?"

"Not yet, but I have a friend over in the precinct and I told him to give me a call when they found out something." Katie turned away, and Steve saw the slight worry in her eyes. "Ma'am, your husband is strong and he's a fighter, I'm sure he's going to be alright?"

"Do they know who did this?" she asked, shifting the topic. She needed to focus on something that could help her find him.

"Not yet, but they're working tirelessly to find something." Katie turned away at the words taking a couple of steps away. She glanced over to the doors, and the windows, something Steve seemed to notice. "Ma'am, you have my word, me and my men are here to keep you and your family safe." she turned back to him, his features, stern with certainty.

"I believe you," she walked over to stand in front of the man before releasing a breath. She was actually going to do this. "I have to leave." the guard stared in a silent moment hoping to gather if she were serious or not. "Like right now, and I will need to go alone." he still didn't say anything and neither did Katie. "Ok," she turned and headed for the door.

"You're serious?" she stopped and turned back to him. He let out a deep breath before taking a careful step toward her. "You do understand my job ma'am, don't you?"

"I do, I also understand that at this moment I don't require your protection," she glanced up the steps before turning back to him. "Ari, and Robyn are here, and you will protect them." she once again turned for the door.

"I get it." he said and Katie let out a huff from her nose. He wasn't going to let this go, which was strange, seeing as she believed she was actually his boss. She turned back to him. "You don't remember a lot about your life. I've been informed that certain aspects about your life may confuse you. Ma'am, men showed up today and took your husband, and we're unsure about if they want some kind of ransom, or if their intention was to somehow draw you out."

"You think this is about me?"

"I think that a week after your return, your husband is publicly kidnapped." Steve was being blunt and he knew it, but he also knew sometimes with this job, his clients needed to hear the truth. "This could be about you, or maybe it's about him. Maybe this is all someone's twisted game. But in all of it, I have one job. I protect you and your family, and you need to let me do that."

"Steve—"

"The last time you disobeyed my request for protection, you disappeared and we couldn't find you." Katie looked at the man in confusion. No one had told her about any disappearance. It was only adding to her fear that there was just so much of her life she just doesn't know. "We thought you were dead. Please, just stay here, let the police do their job while you and your kids are here safe."

It was sound advice. It was actually smart advice, but she let her thumb glide over her wedding ring. Rationality escaped her. She remembered Ari's words. This is what they did. When she's in trouble, he saves her. Right now he needed saving and she was going to help do it.

"How often have I listened to a request of yours?" he sighed because he just knew it was hopeless trying to convince her.

"Never."

"Protect those kids. I'll be back." she once again turned, and this time he didn't stop her.

Thea was nervous. For a variety of reasons really. Her brother was just kidnapped in public. Katie appeared out of no where to witness the entire thing. City Hall was a mad house. She actually had to turn off her cell phone. Right now she stood in the bunker. The place she promised herself she would stay away from. For the past couple of months, she was successful. Honestly Thea couldn't feel more at peace than she has in these past couple of months. It was just freeing to worry about normal things, like work or guys asking her out on dates. She couldn't help but think that putting down that mask was the best decision she'd ever made and now she thinks she may be forced to put it back on.

"Are you sure Bruce wouldn't make it back in time?" Thea asked once again from behind Felicity who spun her chair around to face her. Felicity saw Thea's nervousness, and yet right now she was the only hero around to save their friend.

"Thea I'm sorry, Bruce had some work emergency he didn't give me details about. I was actually going to harass him about it before all of this happened. I've texted and he says he's not close enough to help on this." Thea sighed, her eyes turned back to the display case that held the Speedy suit and she felt the nervousness prickling at her skin.

"Thea-" Quentin walked over to her and she turned her eyes to him. "I get it."

"You don't. I'm not a vigilante. I am—I am a normal version of me. And I think just after everything that happened with Katie, I—I really needed to know that life like this was even possible, and now that I do, I—I don't want to give it up."

"Yeah. Yeah, yeah. I-I get where you're coming from." Quentin shook his head because he truly understood Thea's reluctance. "I do. I lost my job, I lost my girl, both my daughters have moved hundreds of miles away, and, you know, I just wanted to hit pause on the world, you know?" he dropped his head because he didn't want to be reminded of the pitfalls of his life. "Yeah. But then I, uh- you know what, I listened to Oliver's speech. You know, that's when I realized that I- I can't do that. I can't hit pause on the world. I got to get on with my life, you know? Even if that life isn't what I want it to be." Thea once again turned to that display case knowing Quentin's words were true.

"Uh, guys, I think another option just walked through the door." both turned to Curtis who was staring intently at the monitor before they went over to see what had him so entranced. They all stared wide eyed at the sight of Katie walking into the back entrance of the upstairs offices.

"What is she doing here?" Thea asked and suddenly a thought flitted into all of their minds and they turned to each other. "Do you think she remembers?" they turned back to the screen and saw Katie spinning around in confusion as she looks down to a sheet of paper.

"She looks confused as if she doesn't know where she is." Felicity said unable to tear her eyes from the screen.

Quentin shook his head. "I don't think she knows what this place is."

"If she doesn't know, then how-" Thea sighed because another metaphorical light bulb appeared over her head. "Oh Ari, what did you do?"

"Should we go up?" Felicity looked between Quentin and Thea, both unsure how to answer. "I mean she's here."

"Yeah she is, but there's a lot to explain down here, and I think that's a conversation Oliver wanted to have with her." Thea replied before pulling out her cell phone. "I'll call her to try to get her leave." Thea had only powered on her phone when her eyes went back to the screen just as Katie turned and took a step toward the hidden wall that lead to the elevator.

"I think you're too late." Curtis said and soon the wall moved revealing the elevator. When it opened, they all watched as she stood frozen not moving an inch. "Do you think she'll—" Katie walked into the elevator before Felicity could answer the question. "Never mind." they all jumped to their feet and walked over to the elevator and impatiently waited for the door to open.

"How do we handle this?" Thea asked.

"The truth," Felicity replied firmly as they stared at the doors. "She can handle the truth."

"And if she can't?" Quentin asked, but the doors opened before he received an answer.

All four of them held their breath as they looked upon the elevator to Katie who looked back to them with an expression none of them could decipher. They all just stood there waiting for some kind of reaction, and yet silence swallowed the air around them. Someone needed to say something, and so Felicity took a step toward her.

"Hi, I'm sure you have questions." Katie turned to the blonde before her eyes shifted to the bunker behind her. She silently took a few steps forward, her eyes taking in the place she didn't expect when those elevator doors opened. Her eyes looked over, suddenly spotting the hero suits all proudly on display, and her feet moved of their own accord until she was standing there looking up to them. She let her eyes scan over each suit until they landed on the one placed in the middle. It was the familiar green leather she'd seen worn on the stranger—at least she assumed he was a stranger—only a few nights before. To the right of the suit, was one that made Katie frown and take a step closer. It was black, with yellow embellishments, her eyes looked up to the domino mask and she gasped suddenly feeling her heart begin to ram in her chest.

"Hey," Thea appeared beside her, bringing an arm around her and Katie whipped her eyes to her, before pulling from her grasp. "I know this is a lot, and it probably doesn't make a lot of sense, but-"

"Oliver is the Green Arrow." Katie turned back to the suit. It wasn't as confusing to put together once she walked into bunker and saw Thea and Felicity and the stranger from the bay. "The articles online about vigilantes roaming around this city stopping the bad guys, it's him-" she turned back to Thea and then looked over to Felicity. "It's all of you."

"It was." Thea replied. Katie turned away, walking further inside, wanting to see everything. This place felt familiar.

"I've been here before, haven't I?" she asked and they watched as she moved around, her eyes trying to take in every detail. "I-" there was a sudden beep from the computer beside her and Katie turned to see Felicity and Curtis hurry over to sit. Felicity began typing before looking over to Thea and Quentin. "What is it?" Felicity turned to Katie before standing to her feet. "Oliver, do you know where he is?"

"Yes, but-"

"Tell me." Katie took a step toward the woman, moving around her and looking down to the computer.

Felicity once again glanced over to Thea and Quentin who wasn't sure how to proceed. She glanced over to Katie. "He's just a few miles outside of the city in a warehouse here," Felicity pointed on the map, and Katie looked at the spot for a moment before standing up straight and heading over to the elevator .

"Wait!" this time it was Quentin who spoke and Katie stopped and turned to him. "You can't just go there."

"Actually, I can."

"No, you can't. Katherine Queen just can't show up in some warehouse in the middle of nowhere to save her husband. Too many questions would come up."

Katie shook her head. "I don't care about questions. I care about Oliver and right now he needs help and I can help him." Her eyes looked around the bunker once more and she sucked in a sharp breath. "I can help him."

"Memories or not, you're still as stubborn as ever, aren't you Doc?" Quentin walked over to her and she watched him warily. "Everyone in this room knows there's nothing we can do to stop you from helping him, but to do that you're also going to have to protect yourself."

"And how do I do that?" he looked at her for a moment before turning around. Katie followed his eyes to the display of suits, his eyes lingering on the one that tugged on something inside of her. She took a step forward to stand beside him before something clicked. "Wait, did I wear that?" she looked over to the man who turned back to her and gave a nod. She walked over to stand in front of the suit once again before reaching out and placing her hand on the glass that encased it. Thea, Felicity, Curtis, and Quentin all walked over to stand behind her.

"Once upon a time Oliver had an idea." Felicity spoke softly. "What if someone finally stood up against the bad guys in this city? What if someone took a stand and showed them that they couldn't win. This city needed protection and Oliver took on the task. Along the way, he drafted a few strangers that became his family. We protect this city." Felicity walked over to stand beside Katie who turned to her. "You protect this city." Katie's gaze once again is pulled to the suit. "You don't remember her, but she was important. She was this city's Guardian. Quentin was right, Katherine Queen can't show up in some factory in the middle of nowhere, but the Guardian..."

Katie turned back to the suit before unzipping her jacket. "Tell me everything about the people who have Oliver."

Oliver's ears were opened the moment the van came to a stop. Their heads were covered with bags unable to see anything or anyone. They were pulled into a building, some place big from the echo he heard. Soon he was tied to a chair before hearing a voice he'd never heard before and yet he knew exactly who it was. Tobias Church.

Church moved past them before stopping beside Oliver. "Gentlemen and lady, this is not personal. I know it feels personal, but it is not. You are all here as a means to an end. I finally figured out a way to make politicians useful." Oliver's brow furrowed when he realized what this was all about.

"You want the Green Arrow?" Oliver asked and Tobias turned to him before pulling the bag from his head.

"Ooh. Your honor." Oliver squinted a bit when the light assaulted his eyes before turning to Tobias.

"Listen, the Green Arrow is not coming. You're wasting your time."

Church chuckled. "Just for the fun of it, how is it that you know so much about Mr. Arrow?"

"I have it on pretty good authority that he's tied up right now."

"Are you his buddy?" Church's skepticism showed in his tone.

"I have connections, and I-listen. You let these people go, and I'll make something happen. Do we have a deal?"

"No, we most certainly do not. I don't need your help, Mr. Mayor. Do you think I would go to all this trouble without a plan?" Oliver turned away and sighed before turning back to the man.

"Yeah. But that's because I think you're stupid." Tobias shoved the bag back over Oliver's head.

"Take Mr. Queen to a quiet place and teach him some manners." Church threw one final punch to Oliver's head before one one of his thugs grabs his chair and pulls him away.

Katie stepped off of the bike and followed behind Thea as they neared the warehouse. Thea ducked behind a tree, peering over to the building in search of the best way to get inside to Oliver's location. Katie watched her closely. The sudden change in her demeanor the moment she pulled on that suit and mask. Katie also noticed the reluctance in her eyes and she figures the only reason she's here was more the be her back up.

"You didn't have to come." Katie said and Thea looked up to her in confusion. "You don't want to do this, I can tell."

"Doesn't really matter what I want right now. My brother is in trouble and I—"

"I got it from here." Katie said suddenly walking over to Thea and peering behind the tree.

"I'm not leaving you here to do this alone." Thea watched Katie who didn't seem to be paying attention to her objection. "Twinkie, I'm not—" Katie turned back to her with a sharp look. "I can't leave you to do this by yourself."

"You can, because it does matter what you want. What I want is inside of that building and I will do what I need to get him back." Katie shook her head. "I don't remember a lot, but I can tell from the look in your eyes right now that this life wasn't something you wanted to jump back into." she took a step toward Thea and smiled. "What you want does matter, now go. I'll save the idiot." and with that Katie moved around her and Thea stood there not moving.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Felicity's voice spoke from the comlink. "This—in essence— is kind of like her first time with the mask." Thea turned, peaking once again from behind the tree, only she didn't see Katie.

A smile came to Thea's lips as a sigh of relief escape her. "She's got this."

Oliver was punched again by Church's thug, who as it turns out was an SCPD officer.

"I didn't vote for you."

"That's ok. I ran unopposed." Another punch. Oliver tasted the zing of his blood before spitting it out. "Mayor Handsome," they call you." he chuckled as Oliver turned back to him. "Not for long, though."

Oliver's dark gaze was fixed on the man. "If you hit me again... I'm going to kill you."

"You're delusional. Your zip-cuffed to that chair." Oliver had long gotten out of the zip ties, and brought his hands up to show the man that he was free. The officer stared in confusion before quickly throwing a punch, but Oliver jumped to his feet grabbing the chair swinging it to block his fist. Oliver swung the chair once more knocking the man to the floor before twisting his arm into the legs of the chair. With a final jerk of the chair, the officer's arm breaks with a snap eliciting a shriek of pain. Oliver reaches down, jerking the man up and his neck under his arm. "Please...don't," his pleas should reach something in Oliver. They should remind him of his oath of not killing and yet his mind remembers how said oath has caused so many problems in the past. That oath lead to problems that took his wife away and right now he would never let that happen again.

"I'm sorry, but no one can know my secret." and with a jerk of his arm he snaps the man's neck before letting him fall to the floor. He heard footsteps figuring more of Church's men were coming and so he reached down, grabbing a sharp piece of the broken chair before turning about to throw it, but his entire body seized in shock the moment she walked into the room.

"Twinkie," she scoffed before quickly grabbing two blades from the harness attached to her vest, sending them flying to the two men who ran toward them, knocking them off their feet. Oliver quickly ran over and knocked them unconscious. She turned back to Oliver who walked over to her, his eyes unable to not just stare in awe. "How—"

"Not the time." she said before turning and skulking away. Oliver let out a sigh figuring a lot has happened since he was taken which means he probably has a lot of explaining to do when this was all over. He quickly went to follow after her.
Oliver found her peering over the side of second level, looking down to see Tobias using his free time to rough up the other hostages that were taken. She stopped when she noticed a red laser, dropping down to look at it.

"Hey, careful—" Oliver ran over, dropping down beside her. "They have wires. They've been rigging explosives to set up a kill cordon."

Katie looked over to him in confusion. "A what?"

"If we try to get down there, we're gonna blow everything up." Katie turned back, looking down to see those men and woman tied up and being hurt.

"How do we-" she looked over to Oliver. "We can't just leave them there." more footsteps and they both stood to see more of Church's thugs running toward them. Katie grabbed more blades as Oliver went to attack. She struck two guys when the other went for his gun. She rolled away out of the line of fire, just as Oliver came up behind the gun men, knocking him from behind before grabbing his side arm and shooting him. He turned to Katie.

"We have to come back for them, let's go."

Oliver wasn't sure what to make of Katie's silence. When they arrived back to the bunker, Katie slid off the bike and headed inside.

"Twinkie, wait—" she didn't stop walking and he huffed before quickening his steps to catch up to her. When she walked inside, Felicity and Thea stood there looking over to her, but both scattered when Oliver came in rushing after her. He stopped and watched as she approached a nearby table where she pulled off her mask and sat it down. "We should talk."

"About getting the rest of those people out of there." she didn't turn to him as she reached behind her to unclasp the holstered blades from around her waist. "That's what we talk about now." she finally turned to face him before walking over and unexpectedly grabbing his chin and tilting it to the side. Her hands began sliding down his arms, attempting to feel if anything was broken or fractured. "Anything broken?" Oliver would've answered but he was now hyper aware of the amount of physical contact happening right now. In all of the time since her return, this was the most physical contact he'd had with her. Her hands dropped now, pushing and tugging on his ribs and he groaned when she pushed a sore spot. She met his eyes, now realizing he hadn't answered her question. "Oliver-" his eyes fixed on her, and the fact that she was standing incredibly close right now pulling all of his focus away from the matter at hand. She soon wondered if her touching him was unwelcome and so she dropped her hands and took a step away. "Are you injured?"

"No more than usual," she looked at him for a moment before giving him a nod. When she turned and once again walked away, he had to follow. "Twinkie, I was going to tell you about this. About all of this tonight." she stopped walking, her back still to him. "I know you probably have questions and I will answer each and every one of them and more." the air continued to be filled with silence and she refused to turn to him and he felt the nervousness rise in his chest. What if this really was too much for her? What if this was something she couldn't accept? What if she left him because of this? He rushed over to stand in front of her, needing to see her eyes and for her to see his. She lifted her head to meet his gaze. "Say something."

"What is this?" she asked and Oliver looked at her for a moment trying think of how he could answer that question as honestly as possible.

"This is...me fighting for this city the way no one else did." He wondered if she understood what sounded like vague response, and yet it was the complete truth to him. She turned away from his eyes, and he desperately needed to know what she was thinking, but he didn't want to push.

Katie caught her reflection in the glass of one of the display cases, and she frowned looking at herself. What was she doing? She wasn't hero. Not after everything she's done. She shook her head before turning in search of her clothes.

"I have to go," Oliver went to follow after her. "I don't belong here." she spotted her clothes and gathered them in her arms. Oliver reached forward grabbing her arm, and the sudden act caused her to drop her clothes to the floor. In a fit of frustration she turned and shoved him back. "Just leave me alone!" she turned, feeling the sudden anxiety rising in her chest as the sudden realization of all of this just hits her. "This isn't my life!" she turned back to him to see that even though she'd shoved him, he was still close. "This can't be my life!" Oliver wasn't sure what to say because her words had a multitude of meanings and he wasn't sure what he was supposed to assume from them. "I'm not some crime fighting hero. I don't get to wear that title." she turned, but he once again grabbed her arm. She shoved him again, and yet he stepped back to her. He wouldn't let her push him away.

"Why not?" she looked at him for a moment, hesitant to answer that question, and yet she felt that with him she could.

"Because you don't do the things I've done and then turn around and call yourself a hero." she turned glancing over to the others who were all moving about and she let out a heavy sigh. "Look we can have this all out later, right now, you need to get over there and figure out a way to get the rest of those people out." she once again turned, but then she stopped herself because for the life of her, she need to say something else to him. She turned back to Oliver who looked right back to her. "That guy...you broke his neck, and you didn't...you didn't hesitate." Oliver turned away because that was a moment he really didn't want her to see.

"Well I hesitated in the past," he turned back to her. "I stopped myself so many times, and in the end bad things happened to the people who mean the world to me. I won't let that happen again, so now I won't hesitate." she didn't say anything to that, unsure if she really had the right to and so she turned to gather her clothes before disappearing into the bathroom. Oliver let out a sigh before turning to see his sister walking over.

"You know of all the people I expected would swoop in with the surprise rescue, it was you,"

"Well it would've been," Thea and Oliver walked slowly to where Felicity and Curtis were. "But your wife, and those instincts of hers got the feeling that I didn't want to be that person behind the mask hurting people." Oliver stopped and turned to his sister. "She saved me and she doesn't even know she did it."

"Welcome to my life." Oliver looked over to Felicity and Curtis. "How are they coming along?"

"I think they're close to hacking the cordon." Oliver gave a nod before glancing around the bunker.

"Where's Bruce?"

"No idea, Felicity said he went off on some super secret trip that he didn't even tell her about." Oliver looked over to Thea who just shrugged. "Felicity will find out more when we deal with all of this." They turned to see Katie walking from the bathroom, now changed out of the suit. She placed the folded suit on the table before sliding her hand through her hair and walking off. "How's she handling all of this?"

"She doesn't think she should be here." Oliver said taking short steps forward to keep her in sights. He watches as she walks further into the bunker looking around. Thea walked along side of him, glancing over to the woman as well. "I think I should show her that she does." without another word, Oliver walks off, over to Katie who glances over to him before attempting to walk away from him.

"Tobias Church," Oliver says and Katie stops and turns to him. "How much do you know?" Katie turned away with a shake of her head.

"Felicity gave me a run down of his wrap sheet I guess. Guy's a narcissist, murderer, and a psycho." she turned back to the man with a furrowed brow. "Why do you ask?"

"How do you think we should come at this guy?" she looked at him for a moment and scoffed before turning to walk away. "Hey, wait-" he grabbed her arm, but she jerked away from his touch.

"Please don't. I know what you're doing and I'm not playing this game with you. I'll just go home and wait until you figure all of this out."

"So you're running away?" he asked and she stopped and turned her darkened gaze toward the man who wouldn't back down. "Believe it or not, this is your life. You are a hero." she turned away. "What you did, what was done to you, doesn't change the fact that every day since, you've done everything you can to help and protect others." he walked over to her, closing the distance, glad she didn't pull away. "You're the Guardian." she turned to back to his eyes. "This city needs you. I need you. You have no idea-" he dropped his head and swallowed the emotion threatening to take over this moment. He lifted his eyes to hers wondering if she could see it. The truth of his words in his eyes as he looked at her. "You have no idea how much I need you." she didn't say anything to that. Afraid her words would be more than what they should be in this moment and so she turned away from his gaze and walked over to stand in front of the display cases that held the suits of heroes.

"Tobias Church. He wants the Green Arrow." she glanced over to him. "He wants you. The Green Arrow is the only person standing between him and his status as the top dog of criminals in this city." she turned back to the Green Arrow suit still trying to understand how that pompous, jerk friend of hers ended up here as some sort of hero. "He thinks he has to stop you before you stop him, which means, you can stop him."

"And how do I do that?" he asked and she looked over to him with a quirked brow.

"Do you really not know or are you still trying to get me to feel useful?" she asked and he smiled and she turned away because his smile usually sucked all rationale from the room. "Which you don't have to do."

"Tell me anyway," she glanced over to him once more, his attention completely on her with that look she wished he would just stop with. "How do I beat him?"

"You beat him by removing his advantage against you." she turned and looked across the bunker to where Thea, Felicity, Curtis and Quentin all hovered around one of the computers. "He has an entire crew and you have an amnesiac wife, two computer geeks, a sister who wants nothing to do with fighting crime and an old guy who I still have no idea what his deal is." she looked over to Oliver who chuckled before turning to her in amusement. "You need a team." he looked at her for a moment before turning away with a shake of his head. "What?"

"Nothing, it's just Felicity has been hounding me about drafting some new people to bring in to help me and I turned her down."

"Why?" he turned back to her and sighed.

"Well I was kind of hoping that with time, things would go back to the way they were. Everyone would come back and we'd be a team again." she looked at him for a moment before rolling her eyes. "What?"

"You're getting a new team," that was a statement, not a question and Oliver looked over to her waiting for her to continue. "This is ridiculous." she turned back to his and waved her hands around the room. "all of this is completely and utterly ridiculous and you're an idiot." she poked him in this chest and he stared in disbelief. She let out a huff before looking up to meet his eyes. "But you did something, not a lot of people would do. You're standing up, which is a trait the old Oliver never did." she took a step toward him, closing the distance between them. "It's just the guy under the mask has children who expect to see him when he comes home, he has a city who expects him to be there as the Mayor-" she turned away for a moment before turning back to him. "The guy underneath that hood has wife who, although she wished she didn't, depends on him. So you're getting a team."

"It's not that easy. The people she's looking at are amateurs, and doing this is dangerous. It's just not something you pull people into." Katie once again turned away from him before glancing back up to the Green Arrow's suit. "Hey, I'm going to see where Felicity is with shutting down this cordon."

"Right, and I'll head home."

"No, I'll take you home." Oliver said and she turned back to him with a furrowed brow. "I just would feel more comfortable making sure you get home safely." she looked at him for a moment before giving him nod.

Katie stood there a moment longer, her eyes still taking in this place and all of it's implications. With every passing moment she's realizing just how much of her life was still a mystery. She wasn't sure what to make of it. She had the feeling this place...this part of her life was big and yet nothing here triggered a memory. How does a damn stuffed banana trigger a memory and yet an entire hero lair triggers nothing? A hand on her back pulled her back to the moment and she turned to see Oliver.

"It's going to take a bit of time, so I'll get you home and she'll call me when she has something." Katie gave a nod. "I'm going to change and then we can go."

Katie expected a quiet drive home. She was actually hoping for it. The world had become just a bit stranger as she learned more about herself and the people around her. If she were actually paying attention she would've realized a while ago that the route they were driving wasn't taking them home. When the car stopped, she snapped from her thoughts, frowning as she looked out of the window.

"Where are we?" she turned back to Oliver. "I thought you were taking me home."

"I will, I just needed a moment." her brow furrowed in confusion when Oliver stepped out of the car. He walked around, pulling open her door. She looked up to him for a moment, not moving before she let out a sigh and finally stepped out of the car. Her eyes looked around for a moment before she realized she recognized this place.

"This is that stupid quarry." she said turning back to Oliver who chuckled with a shake of his head. "You got me arrested at this quarry." he was exhausted, both mentally and physically but at that he laughed.

"We weren't arrested, we were detained, and I didn't bring you here because of that." he looked over the quarry, and Katie walked over to stand beside him. He didn't say anything and when Katie looked over to him she could see that he was deep in thought. Maybe he didn't bring her here to talk.

"You're not taking me home, are you?" he looked over to her with a smile and she rolled her eyes. "I'm not a hero Oliver."

"You can say that after what you did tonight?"

"Well it looked as if you would've been fine if I didn't show up." she turned to look up to dark sky. "I was foolish enough to believe that I really needed to save you."

"Then why did you?" she turned her gaze to him, her mind traveling back to the moment she saw him tugged into the back of that van. The only thing she could think about was finding him and making sure he was alright. She didn't want to say that so she would counter with another question.

"Why did you come looking for me in that train station?" she turned away from the man, but he continued staring at the side of her face.

"Because I love you and I'd do anything to protect you." his answer was without hesitation. She turned her gaze to him, seeing the certainty and truth on his face as he looked at her. "Why did you?"

"Because you're—" she knew the truth. Knew she shouldn't pause with her words and yet she felt as if she didn't have the right to say them. She still felt like a traveler stuck in someone else's life and she didn't have the right to make such declarations that involved her feelings for him. She smiled and turned to him. "It's because you make a damn good waffle. I don't think I'd be able to survive without them." he walked over to stand in front of her and she sucked in a breath. "Please, don't," she took a step away from him, and he sighed. "I'm sorry, I just-" she met the intensity of his gaze. His phone suddenly rang, and she expected him to quickly answer it, and yet he just continuing staring at her. "Answer it." he let out a huff before taking out the phone and answering.

It was Felicity. She had a way to shut down the kill cordon. "Right, I'm on my way back." he ended the call before looking back to Katie. She didn't say anything, afraid that the words she said weren't the words he would want to hear, and so she turned and headed back to the car. Oliver watched her before sliding a hand across his face. This was definitely not how he expected this to go.

They were taking the familiar route back to the bunker which confirmed Katie's fears that he really wasn't taking her back home. She wondered why he was so insistent on her helping with this when she wasn't even totally aware of what all of this really was. They were riding the elevator in silence, when she glanced over to him. When the doors slid, open he moved to step off, but she grabbed his arm. He turned back to her with a quirked brow.

"I went to save you tonight, because me doing anything else didn't seem possible. I needed to find you. I needed to make sure you were safe. I have absolutely no idea why, but I am certain that whenever you are in trouble I will be there to save you." he opened his mouth to say something, but she held up her hand. " And I'm pretty sure you would do the same, but to do that you actually have to be here." she slid her hand into his, and felt his grasp. "I need you here. So if you are going to continue doing this, then you're getting a team. Whatever you're afraid of, it's time to let it go and move on." She was right. He knew she was right and he actually knew Curtis and Felicity were right when they brought up the idea. He wanted to hold out hope that everything could go back to the way it was, but every day was proving just how impossible that may be. The moment was removing them from reality which they knew couldn't happen right now and so Katie cleared her throat and attempted to pull away, but Oliver held her hand. "You have to go, we can talk later."

Oliver didn't want to push. He really wanted to move at a pace that was comfortable for her. Sometimes it was easy, but other times, much like this one, was very hard. He wanted to grab her and kiss her, and tell her every thing he felt for her. This was one time he wished things would go back to the way they were before. Before Damien Darhk, and before dark entities inhabited his wife's body. He released her hands, giving a nod before going over to Felicity to see what she had found.

Katie watched as he walked away, and she couldn't ignore the twisting in her gut. She turned away, spotting a door and heading over. She assumed it was just another bathroom, but when she opened it, she stopped when she realized it was actually a bedroom. Her eyes scanned the room, before they rested on a playpen in the corner. She walked further inside before letting out a sigh and sitting on the edge of the bed. She dropped her face to her hands feeling as if she were doing everything wrong. She could see it in Oliver's eyes that he needed something from her that she isn't sure she could give him. Stepping into a life in the middle felt wrong, and intrusive. She didn't want to mess up this life she doesn't even remember starting.

Suddenly an impossible hot wind blew past her, and when she lifted her head, her eyes widened as she found herself no longer in that room. She stood to her feet as she found herself surrounded by nothing but white space that felt both never ending and suffocating at the same time. Katie could feel her heart racing in her chest as she spun around looking for a way out which seemed impossible since she had no idea how she even got here.

She'd only taken a step before something slid under her feet knocking her to the ground hard. She quickly flipped over on her back to see the culprit, but there was no one there. When she jumped back to her feet, she spun around now very much aware that she was not alone.

"What is this?!" she yelled, her voice echoing around her. There was a tap on her shoulder, and when she whipped around, her eyes widen to see herself staring back to her. "What-" she stumbled back.

"I told you not to come back here," came the voice of her double whose expression seemed to match the annoyed tone of her voice. "You can't come back here!" Katie watched the doppelganger glance over her shoulder warily as if expecting to see someone. "It's not safe." she turned back to Katie who just stared in bewilderment unsure what to even say. "Why do you keep coming back here?"

"I don't-" the answer to that question wasn't simple for a variety reasons. The number one answer was the fact that Katie wasn't even sure how she got here in the first place. Then she thought about it. How the explosion of emotions bubbling inside of her could go away if only she could bring this woman back. Katie took a deep breath. "You have to come back." the double shook her head and took a step back.

"That's not possible." she turned once again, this time Katie recognized the look. Someone was coming. "I have to stay here," she turned back to Katie. "And you have to go back and live."

Katie let out a frustrated growl as she took a step forward. "That's just it, I can't! I don't remember this life, your life. I have this husband who looks at me like I'm not-" she shook her head. "A daughter I can't hold and I don't even know why." she looked back up to the tired and worn face that mirrored her own. "I don't fit. Just come back and-"

"That's not possible!" she repeated once again annoyed. Suddenly a sword appeared in her hand and she looked down to it and sighed. She looked back up to Katie. "I have to keep fighting in here while you fight out there." she began backing away. The bright room began to get darker as if someone was dimming the lights. "Liver will always look at you and never see a monster. Sooner or later he'll make even you believe it. It's one of the reasons we love him." the double turned as the bright space around them began to take shape and form. Katie realized the walls of the demon's fortress was forming around them. She was about to run off, but she stopped and turned back to Katie. "That feeling you get when you're near Robyn, that fear...it's ok. Just hold her. We would never hurt her. That's why I fight. I protect them and I protect you." the sound of footsteps echoed down the hall and the double turned and gripped the sword. "You should leave."

Katie wanted to say more. To volunteer to stay and fight, but she never got the chance. Katie's eyes flicked open, immediately struck with the sight of the pale tan ceiling. She sat up quickly and looked around only to realize she was back in that strange room within the bunker. Her head whipped around at a knock and she turned to see Thea who cautiously stepped inside.

"You're awake. I stopped by earlier, but you were sleeping." Katie frowned turning away. Was she asleep? Was it all a dream? "Oliver is on his way back." Katie turned back to the woman. "He was able to save the others and stop a few of Church's men, but the bastard got away." Katie frowned and stood to her feet. "It sucks but at least lives were saved today. That's always a plus."

"Yeah, but Tobias went through a lot of trouble for his plans to just fail." Katie said sliding a hand across her face. "That man found a way to kidnap Oliver and a few others in broad day light with a police presence."

"Apparently he had police on his payroll." Katie looked over to the woman and just shook her head before stalking out of the room. The only person there was Felicity who looked up from her computer. She frowned as she noticed the look on Katie's face.

"Hi, what's happening?"

"Oliver needs a team."

"He does. He's just being a pain about not checking out any of the people Curtis and I have been looking into."

"Show me." Katie says and Felicity looked over to her with a quirked brow before looking over to Thea who walked over as well. "Felicity-" the blonde turned back to her. "I'm pretty sure after today Oliver has realized he's a little understaffed, but it doesn't matter if he doesn't. He's getting a team. Now, show me who you've got." Felicity seemed to smile a bit, glancing over to Thea who shared the same look. Felicity gave a nod before turning and picking up the folder and handing it to Katie before walking over and pulling up some files on the computer.

"Now, don't focus too much on the code names. Just-" Katie took the folder and headed off to the other side of the bunker. Thea walked over to stand beside Felicity as the watched as Katie went up to the meeting room and began sliding the files along the table.

"We should probably stop staring right now." Thea said as the pair continued to blatantly stared.

"We so should, but I'm finding it hard to turn away. That-" she looked over to Thea. "That was such a Twinkie thing to do and I-" Katie lifted her eyes to them and both women just turned and dispersed quickly.

When Oliver returned to the bunker, he stepped from the elevator not seeing anyone at first. He walked further inside stopping at the sound of what sounded like a snort. He followed the sound until he spotted his wife. Her back was to him as she looked down to something that was on the table in front of her. He sat down his quiver and bow and pulled his hood from over his head before walking over to see what she was so focused on. He walked over to stand beside her and she didn't even flinch at his sudden appearance. He looked down to see the familiar photos of the perspective new recruits Felicity wanted him to look over.

"Felicity went home. I guess Bruce is back and she's has to yell at him." Katie says moving around the table and looking over another sheet a paper. She shook her head before picking it up and crumpling it into a ball and tossing it over her shoulder. "Thea headed home to check on the kids. I've been calling though and everything has been quiet since we've been gone." Oliver simply watched her as she continued to move around the table.

"Twinkie-"

"Tobias Church got away."

"I know and-"

"He's going to come back." she lifted her head to him. "Either for Oliver Queen or the Green Arrow."

"I will be fine, I don't-"

"You're getting team." she looked back down to the perspectives and sighed. "I mean, yeah it's going to take a lot of work. They're going to need training...a lot of training." she picked up one of the papers and hand it to Oliver. "You'll start with him." Oliver looked over to the woman before taking the paper from his hand. "You've met him before I believe. His name is Rene Ramirez, but Felicity and Curtis came up with the name Wild Dog. There's this kid, Evelyn Sharp, she calling herself the Black Canary apparently taking the name from Laurel Lance. Couldn't believe that one." Oliver lifted his eyes from the paper and looked over to Katie who walked back over to him.

"Maybe you're right." Oliver tossed the paper to the table before looking over to the woman who came closer to him. He watches as her eyes seemed to look over him.

"So how injured are you right now?" she asked and Oliver smirked down to her. She didn't see it though as she continued to let her eyes search for any visible cuts or bruises. "How are-" she reached forward and grabbed at his stomach and he grimaced as she expected he would.

"I'm fine," he replied and she looked up to meet his eyes and there it was. That look she'd probably never get used to. When he looks at you he doesn't see a monster. Sooner or later he'll make you believe it.

"Why don't I be the judge of that." she said moving around him. Oliver turned and followed behind her and watched as she went over to the first aid station. He quirked a brow as he watched her sift through drawers as if she knew where everything was. When she turned back to him, she noticed the confused look on his face. "What?" he looked at her for a moment and just shook his head.

"Nothing. Twinkie, really I'm fine. My ribs are just a bit bruised. I'll take care of them later." it was an argument he knew she wouldn't go for, but he couldn't help himself. Maybe this helped. The familiar banter could trigger a memory. She opened her mouth to respond, but then stopped and just gave a nod. She turned away for a moment and Oliver was glad she couldn't see him visibly deflate at how easily she gave up. "Right, we should get home and-"

"Actually, no," she turned back to the man and stalked over to him, staring up to his green eyes. "Take off your shirt so I can make sure your ribs are just bruised and not broken. Either way they need to be secured as soon as possible." she turned away and rolled up her sleeves as she went to wash her hands. She looked over to Oliver who hadn't moved, as he just stands there and stares dumbly. "Seriously, Liver if I have to do it, you're not gonna like it." he smiled as he watched her go about washing her hands. He was actually pretty sure he would like it if she took off his shirt, but he simply shook away the thought before grabbing the bottom of his shirt and pulling over his head.

The days and weeks that followed Oliver's last press conference weren't too eventful. Church hadn't made any moves which was a good thing at the moment. But Oliver knew men like Tobias. The man was going to take the time to plan his next move which meant Oliver needed to make his own plans. One of those plans was happening at this very moment.

"Good morning. I had intended to state my position on the anti-crime initiative during my previous press conference, but that speech was cut short. In the intervening days, I have refined my position. Now, I have been reluctant to embrace the A.C.I," Oliver stood at the podium in front of city hall, his eyes going to the officers standing off to the side of him. "Because of widespread corruption within our police department, but these 4 officers have shown me and the entire city that there are still good men and women in the SCPD. Today I am announcing the formation of the anti-crime unit. These 4 officers will report directly to me, and by working together, we will begin the process of saving our city." there was applause before reporters rushed forward for further questioning. There were questions about his recent announcement but as expected one topic slipped in as well.

"Mr. Queen, we're all excited about your announcement about the ACI, but your last press conference was to be an update on your wife which still hasn't happened." Oliver looked over to the reporter who asked the question. When Oliver opened his mouth to respond, suddenly the reporters looked behind him and began moving. Oliver looked over to Thea who was looking back as well and when he followed her eyes that's when he saw Katie who slowly stepped out the doors. She came today with the intent to watch his speech from his office, but he didn't expect for her to step outside. He quickly rushed over, bringing an arm around her and leaning over to her ear.

"Hey, you don't have to do this." he pulled back to meet her eyes. She glanced around the man to see the camera flashes and reporters being held back by officers.

"I know, but I think I should," she reached forward and took his hand as she let out a deep breath. "Just don't leave me." she glanced up to him and he dropped his head to hers.

"Never," he whispered.

Oliver walked back over to the podium, stopping and letting Katie stand in front of the microphone. She dropped her head slightly when the camera flashes seemed to be non stop. She felt Oliver's hand on her back and the fact that he was right there beside drew away some of the nervousness. And so she turned back to the crowd, her head held high and smiled.

"Hello." her voice echoed. She opened her mouth about speak, but before she could even continue, they were already firing off questions.

That same night, Katie found herself sitting on the floor in the hallway, staring at the door that lead to the nursery.

"How long do we have to sit out here?" came the whiny voice of the teenager sitting on Katie's right.

"Ari, really, you don't have to sit out here." Oliver responded from his place at Katie's left. Katie simply silently stared at the door. Both joined her when they happened upon her when walking by, along with Thea who was downstairs getting snacks.

Ari let out an exaggerated sigh. "I know I don't have to, I just want to be here when it happens. When she finally gets over her crap and goes to hold the little stinker." Oliver shook his head. "You know while I have you both here, I was thinking, next month-"

"Ari, we know it's your birthday."

"Right-"

"And you've already sent me lists of the things you want."

"Yeah, but you've been busy and I just want to make sure-" Katie stood to her feet and both Oliver and Ari went still at the move. They watched as her feet stepped closer to the door before reaching forward and wrapping a hand around the doorknob.

"Hey, popcorn's-" Thea's voice drifted to stop the moment she neared and saw Katie outside of the nursery.

Katie closed her eyes, trying to will the heaviness in her chest away. "You won't hurt her." she needed to say the words again and again as she done so in her head countless times while sitting out here. She opened her eyes and turned the doorknob, pushing open the door.

It was late, but one little Robyn Queen was wide awake, and the moment the door opened, her eyes lit up at the sight of her mother. The girl brightly smiled as she bounced up and down in excitement. And in that moment, little Robin Queen said her third word as clear as day.

"Ma ma!" and with the utterance of that word, Katie found all hesitation...all fear just completely gone. Her steps quickened before she reached forward and scooped the child in her arms, hugging her to her chest as she peppered feverish kisses on her head. Katie closed her eyes, and sighed as she felt tears prickling her eyes.

"Twinkie-"

Katie didn't hear anyone else in that room. In the matter of seconds, the present was stolen by little moments of the past all staring one tiny face. Katie stood there as moment after moment came hitting her one after the other and they were all of Robyn. The first time she held her after she was born. Nights she spent just watching her sleep. Rocking in that chair while the child's heavy eyes fought the need for sleep. Soon a moment comes back that she doesn't quite understand.

"Don't worry baby," she whispers placing a kiss to Robyn's head. "Mommy is going to do everything she has to, the make sure it doesn't come back."

Katie's eyes opened and she looked down to the child who clutched her tightly as her eyes lazily blinked before finally closing in sleep. Katie placed another kiss to Robyn's head before looking up to see three set of eyes on her.

"Oh-" Thea turned, slyly trying to wipe the tears from her eyes. She looked over to Ari, grabbing her arm. "We should go," she turned back to Katie and smiled. "Good night," Thea tugged Ari from the room, closing the door behind them.

Katie turned to Oliver who wore a smile on his face as he simply stares in adoration at a sight he only dreamed of. This was the moment he wanted. The moment his daughter finally could be held in her mother's arms. He probably needed this moment more than either of them. Seeing Katie holding Robyn somehow solidified the fact that this was really happening. The nightmare these last couple of months without her here, at home, was over. She was really back.
Katie felt as if she could hold Robyn in her arms for the rest of her life, and yet she settled for a couple of minutes more before she gently lowered her back into the crib. She didn't leave right away. Too mesmerized by just staring down to this child who, the longer she looked, she could pin point each feature she got from her and which she got from Oliver.

"This is so weird," she finally spoke and Oliver let out a chuckle. She looked up to meet his eyes. "We have a baby." she shook her head. "Oliver Queen and Katherine Robins got married and had a baby." she looked back to the child who was now completely asleep. "I remember her." she looked back over to Oliver who looked slightly surprised. She hadn't brought up remembering anything since her return. She looked back down to the girl's face. "I don't know what happened to me, or why I can't remember everything, but for some reason I can remember every moment with her, every small smile, every hungry cry, every funny face-" she chuckled feeling more tears in her eyes, because she's starting to realize that for five months she wasn't here for moments with her daughter. She missed it and she has no idea why. She lifted her eyes back to his to see that smile still on his face.

"That's great, that's-" emotion threatened to take his words. He let out a breath before looking back over to her. "Of everything I wished you could remember, she was at the top of the list." Katie smiled as she looked back down to her daughter. Her mind drifting to that memory of a promise. She had questions. Her eyes glanced up to Oliver who was looking down to their daughter as well. She had no idea what the memory meant, or if Oliver knew anything about it either. She knows he would tell her to just talk to him about it, but for some reason she's afraid. She has no idea why. She just felt that whatever it was would change everything, and even though she wants her memories back...even though she wants to not feel so disconnected from her life, she's just not sure she's even ready to know what bomb blew up her entire life.

His eyes looks back up to hers and he smiles.

"What?"

She drops her eyes back down to the baby with a shake of her head. "Nothing."

---

Author's note:

Ahh, another chapter! What did you think?

Review Replies:

Purplestan: I'm not sure Annabelle has learned her lesson yet. Yes the famous Josè Banana. It's may seem like an insignificant toy, but it represents one of many defining moments in her life. It will come up again, don't worry.

Adela: Oh Ari hasn't given up just yet, and Katie and Oliver will realize how persistent she can be. Thanks so much I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter!

Thanks everyone! I appreciate all the support I'm getting on this story and it inspires to keep going! Thanks to those who've added this story to your fav/follow alerts, and a big shout out to those who left reviews. You are awesome!

Now check below for your sneak peek.

Katie stopped when curiosity suddenly got the best of her. She looked back over to Ari. "Who's Will?" Ari stopped and looked over to her cousin. "I remember reading that he'd been taken by Damien, but there was never a reason given." Ari turned away and shrugged.

"I don't know. His mom and Oliver were friends I guess, maybe it was a way to manipulate Oliver." Ari replied and Katie simply nodded before walking back into the hall. She stood there for a moment before turning and heading to her room. She grabbed the laptop and flipped it open, pulling up the article once again.

"Samantha Clayton?" Katie lifted her head, the name not ringing any bells. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was missing something with this. She glanced back down to the article, scrolling down until she saw a picture of William and his mother. Katie tilted her head a bit, zooming in on William's face. It was his eyes that made her gasp, snap the laptop closed and toss it on her bed.