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.

11. Stepping Up

Chapter 11

Stepping Up

"Growing up is losing some illusions, in order to acquire others. "

Virginia Wolf

---

Arianna Locke opened her eyes this morning expecting to feel different. Well she was a bit sore from the previous night's mission. They got a lead of one of Church's cronies. It was yet a teachable moment Oliver had in place for all of them and of course Rene did the opposite of the plan leaving Oliver to step in and finish the job with an arrow to the perp's leg. The whole thing put Oliver in a mood, and he left them there with the expectation that they deliver the bad guy, and his mysterious brief case from Kord industries, to the Anti-Crime Unit.

But that was yesterday. Today though was her sixteenth birthday. She expected to feel older...maybe wiser, and yet she felt the same as she did the day before. She laid in bed for a moment, looking up to her ceiling wondering if maybe there was just a delay in that feeling. She gave up hope after a while and finally stood from her bed. She walked over to the mirror and looked over herself figuring maybe the change was more physical. She turned a bit, sliding a hand over her stomach and looking at her butt and it was all still the same. She frowned slightly when she heard sounds outside of her door, and when she turned there was a knock before the door opened and in came Katie, and Oliver who held Robyn in his arms all wearing birthday hats while blowing noise makers.

"Good you're awake." Katie says with a smile as she looks over to the girl. She turned to Oliver and gave a nod before they turned back to Ari.

"Do not sing!" Ari said suddenly and they turned back to her in confusion. "I've heard both of you sing and I don't think my ears could handle it." Ari says walking over to them. "Why are you busting in my room?"

"Because it's your birthday, you sour puss." Katie replied reaching over and messing with the girl's wild curls before she's shooed away. "We were going to annoy you as much as you annoy us because that's how much we love you."

"Ha ha," Ari says looking over to Oliver who stood there looking at her not saying a word. "What's with you?" Oliver still didn't say anything before he shook his head and left the room. Ari quirked a brow and turned back to Katie. "What was that?"

"Do worry about it. Oliver is having issues of his own today. He'll get over it." Katie says with a smile. "So are you ready for your first birthday present?" a smile pulled at Ari's lips. "Close your eyes and hold out your hands." The teen did as she was told, hoping a pair of car keys were about to be dropped in her hands. She frowned at the feel of paper. "Ok open." Ari opened her eyes to see a folded letter. She looked over to Katie who lightly laughed. "Read it." Ari unfolded the letter and began skimming it.

"I'm not getting expelled?" Ari asked looking back over to Katie.

"Nope. You're going to continue the after school tutoring twice a week for the rest of the month, but that's the extent of your punishment. I talked to Principal Harris and he says he talked to some other students who witnessed what happened and even though he doesn't agree with how you handled the situation he and the rest of the school board see the entire altercation was instigated by Brandon. I guess Brandon will have his own punishment soon."

"What about his parents?"

"No idea, but I'm hoping the fact that I helped Mr. Burns with getting a new job will make them more susceptible to the whole thing." Katie shrugged. "Alright, get cleaned up. Oliver's making you birthday waffles."

"What's the difference between the regular waffles he makes?"

"Sprinkles!" Katie says laughing as she leaves the girl's room.

When Katie walked into the kitchen, she smiled over to Robyn who was sitting in her child seat watching her father who moved about the kitchen.

"So do you want to talk about what just happened?" Katie asked and Oliver glanced over to her for a moment before going to the refrigerator and grabbing some milk.

"There's nothing to talk about." he said and Katie shook her head with a smile before walking over and stopping him. "I'm fine."

"You're not." Katie says looking up to his eyes. "She's just turning sixteen, she's not moving out."

"No yet." he muttered as he pulled away to continue making the waffles. "I remember when I turned sixteen. I had a car, and I hung out with my friends and I was never home. I barely saw my parents." Katie watched him in a slight amusement. She really didn't expect him to react to Ari's birthday like this.

"You do know she's apart of your super secret hero team, so you'll see her a lot more than I will." Oliver looked over his shoulder to the woman. "She's not going to abandon you. " Oliver hadn't said the words, but he knows that's what he was feeling. For the months that Katie was gone it really was just him, Robyn and Ari. Thea was there, but her focus was mostly on City Hall. Ari was his saving grace. She was here, she helped out, poked fun at him and made him laugh when he didn't want to laugh. In those months, her place in his heart was cemented even more. No blood was shared between them, but she was like his daughter. Oliver let his back fall against the counter as he looked over this wife.

"Why can't she just stay the same age forever?" Oliver says and Katie walked over and brought her arms around him in a hug.

"Because then she'll be telling us how lame and corny we are for the rest of our lives." Katie says making Oliver laugh before pulling back. "She's not going anywhere anytime soon."

They turned at the sound of the front door opening and closing. "Anyone awake?!" came Thea's voice.

"That would probably do it if we were asleep." Oliver says turning as the door to the kitchen opened and in walked his sister. "Thea how many times do I have to tell you to not come in the house screaming."

"It wasn't screaming Ollie, I was just talking loud enough for everyone to hear me." Thea walked over to Robyn who laughed as her aunt picked her up in her arms. "Are you going to say Thea today. Theee-Yuh." Robyn just continued to play with Thea's shirt.

"She'll probably say it when you're not around," Oliver said and Katie laughed at him.

"Oliver taught her the word apple, and she said it once for him but now she only says it when he's not around." Katie says walking around Oliver to grab a mug for coffee.

"Seriously? she says it all the time with me." Thea said and Oliver looked over to her with a slight frown that made her laugh a bit. "So where's Ari, I so can not wait for this birthday girl's day. I have everything planned." Ari's birthday celebration would be split up between the next couple of days and ending on Sunday with the party. Today was a girl's day out with a spa day, hair and nails, tomorrow Ari would be taking her road test for her license followed by shopping and then Sunday would be the party. Oliver turned to Thea and she looked over to him with a furrowed brow. "What?"

"No, I'm interested. Where are you going?" he asked and Thea looked a bit surprised in her brother interest. She turned to Katie who sighed.

"He heard me talking to you yesterday and when the words "makeover" and "Ari" came out of my mouth, I had a riot act waiting for me when I hung up with you."

"That's because she doesn't need a makeover." Oliver began and Katie just shook her head. "There's nothing wrong with the way she looks." he turned to his sister. "She's fine the way she is."

"If you haven't guessed, Oliver is having some serious issues today with Ari's birthday and her getting older. " Katie says taking a sip of her coffee. "I even explained that it was Ari's idea to change up her look."

"I just don't see why no one told her that there wasn't anything wrong with the way she looks now." Oliver said before turning and continuing with making the waffles.

Thea looked over to Katie, and mouthed a "Wow," as Katie just shook her head.

They turned at the sound of the front door once again opening and closing.

"Is everyone awake and properly dressed?!" Came Felicity's voice.

"Why does everyone yell when they come in our house?" Oliver asked looking over to the kitchen door as Felicity entered the kitchen.

"Ooh, something smells good." Felicity says pulling off her jacket. She walked over to place a kiss to Robyn's cheek. Before going to grab a cup for coffee. She stopped when she saw Oliver staring at her. "What did I do?"

"The yelling, Felicity. You don't have to yell when you come in here." Oliver says with a shake of his head. "Actually, why do you two no longer ring the door bell?"

"Because we have keys." Thea said as if it were obvious.

"Yeah, those keys are for emergencies, not so you two can just walk in whenever you feel like it."

"Someone's in a mood this morning." Felicity muttered as she went to get her coffee.

Ari heard the sound of doorbell as she came downstairs. "I got it!" she called as she pulled open the door, a frown instantly taking over her face at the sight of Evelyn. "Ugh, what are you doing here?"

"I was invited." Evelyn said slipping inside of the house without an invitation. Ari let out a huff as she closed the door and turned to see the girl walking further inside letting her eyes scan around. "I expected bigger."

"Seriously, what are you doing here?" Ari asked and Evelyn turned back to her.

"I told you I was invited to this whole girl's day out birthday thing for you." Evelyn let out a snort as she shook her head.

"Who the hell would invite you?" Ari asked and Evelyn smiled.

"Felicity," the girl said before she smelled food from the kitchen and went to check it out without another word. Ari let out a groan before stomping inside of the kitchen. She was immediately bombarded with a birthday cheer.

"Happy birthday!" the frown on Ari's face still in place.

"What's wrong?" Katie asked and Ari just looked over to her before turning to Evelyn who was comfortably grabbing a waffle without a care in a word.

"That's my birthday waffle!" Ari snapped before walking over and taking the waffle off the girl's plate and stalking back upstairs.

Everyone in the kitchen stood unsure what just happened.

"And you were afraid she was growing up too fast." Katie says looking over to Oliver who was not amused.

"I will talk to her." Oliver said before grabbing her actual birthday waffle which was topped with whipped cream, and sprinkles and headed upstairs.

Katie turned to Evelyn who simply went to grab another waffle before heading over to sit at the kitchen table.

"I thought it was a good idea for them to get to know each other better." Felicity whispered over to Katie who just continued looking over to the girl.

"I'm going to see how they're doing." Katie says before heading upstairs as well.

"What's the deal between her and Ari?" Thea whispered over to Felicity who shrugged.

"No idea, but Ari has been clashing with Evelyn and Rene since she joined the team." Felicity said with a shake of head. "At first I thought it was because they didn't think she could actually do this, but she's shown them that she can." Felicity looked over to Evelyn. "I just figured since Ari and Evelyn are the same age they could somehow find some common interests."

"Doesn't seem to be working out that well." Thea said and Felicity turned a glare her way before reaching out to take Robyn. "Oh no you don't!" Thea moved away. "Robyn, tell fake auntie Felicity to wait her turn."

"I told you to stop calling me that!"

Katie arrived upstairs just as Oliver was stepping out of Ari's room and closing the door.

"How did that go?" Katie asked as Oliver turned to her.

"Not great." Oliver replied as they moved away from Ari's door to the bedroom. "I knew they weren't getting along, but I didn't know it was that bad."

"So am I kicking Evelyn out or..."Oliver turned to her and she just laughed. "Sorry, but it's Ari's birthday and if she doesn't want to spend it with the mean girl then she doesn't have to."

"No, she agreed to give it a shot. I told her that these people aren't just her team when they're wearing that mask. They have to be more than that."

"From your lips to the stubborn ears of our cousin." Katie sighed as Oliver brought an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to her. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing," he replied as his lips fell to the crook of her neck.

"This nothing seems like a whole lot of something that can't happen with all the people in this house." Katie replies as her eyes fluttered closed as his lips moved to her shoulder. Oliver pulled back and sighed.

"I know, but I think I have a solution." he said and Katie quirked a brow.

"Really, and what's that?"

"It's a surprise." Oliver replied placing another kiss to her lips before heading out of the bedroom. Katie laughed with a shake of her head as she followed him.

"I hate you!" she called and he just laughed.

Soon all the women were gone leaving Oliver to clean up. Once he was finished he dried his hands and turned to his daughter who sat in her child seat playing with her stuffed rabbit.

"Can you believe I actually have the day off." Oliver said walking over and picking Robyn up in his arms. "And I get to spend it with you. So what do you want to do today?" the doorbell rang and Oliver turned with a furrowed brow. "Let's see who that is."

Oliver walked over and pulled open the door. He let out a sigh when he saw who it was."Bruce."

"I hear you wanted to talk to me." Bruce said before looking down to Robyn with a smile.

"I did, but I thought you would've at least called first." Oliver shook his head. Bruce looked back up to the man and shrugged. Oliver took a step back to allow Bruce inside, but the man didn't move.

"I'm not alone. Apparently I'm not capable of having this conversation with you alone because apparently I won't say the right things." Bruce said with a shake of his head. "Constantine, Zatanna and Diana are in the car." Oliver looked over to Bruce's car as the window came down and Constantine waved a hand. He turned back to Bruce before slamming the door in his face. Bruce just laughed because he knew that was going to happen. He turned back to his car. "Exactly what I said would happen." the door behind him opened once again and when he turned Oliver was standing there, this time without Robyn in his arms.

"I'm pretty sure I may hurt someone with this conversation and I didn't want my daughter to witness it." with that Oliver turned and walked off leaving the door open.

A pin could drop in the Queen dining room at the moment and they all would hear it. Oliver had to check on Robyn who was not liking being left in her crib alone.

"Why doesn't he bring the child down here?" Diana asked suddenly and they glanced over to her.

"Because he doesn't trust the people in this room who all tried to kill his wife a few months ago." Bruce replied before standing to his feet and moving around the room. "I told you I should've come alone."

"You've talked to him multiple times and they've ended with him threatening to kill you." Zatanna sighed getting inpatient with waiting. She looked around the room with a frown. "Where is Constantine? No one takes that long to use the restroom?" they all shared a look when they realized their British friend was probably up to something.

Oliver had successfully distracted his daughter with the spinning mobile and the music it played. He eased out of the room knowing it probably wouldn't last for long. He was about to head downstairs when the sound of something down the hall caught his attention. Oliver turned and headed toward the bedroom where he didn't expect to see Constantine lying in their bed, his eyes closed.

"What the hell are you doing?" Oliver asked and Constantine held up a finger, signally he needed a minute. "You have five seconds and then I'm going to hurt you."

"A person's residual energy stays in places that person spends a lot of their time." Constantine opened his eyes. "I can feel her in this bed. You not so much." he looked over to the man. "You two still not sleeping in the same bed?"

"In what world would that be any of your business?" Oliver asked. "Get the hell out our bed, now!" Constantine let out a huff before standing to his feet.

"Fine, if you're curious, I didn't get any sense of dark energy here."

"Like I've said hundreds of times before, it's gone. The blade worked, it removed the dark entity."

"If you believe that, then why are we here?"

"You're here to make sure what I feel in my heart is true so you all can stop hounding me and leave my city," Oliver took a step to the side. "Out." Constantine simply nodded before walking out of the bedroom. Oliver let out a sigh before looking over to the bed he hadn't slept in since his wife's return. They'd agreed that if they slept in the same bed they wouldn't be able to stop themselves, and they'd more than likely ignore the world outside of these walls. He was hoping his surprise would help them get over this obstacle.

Katie felt utterly ridiculous at the moment. Her face was covered in some weird goop with cucumbers over her eyelids as she, Felicity and Thea laid in some weird room with soft music playing from somewhere.

"It's been about ten minutes and we haven't heard anything. Maybe Ari and Evie are actually getting along." Felicity said and Katie let out a snort.

"Well I don't know about Evelyn, but I'm sure Ari's been trained to subdue someone without gaining any attention." Katie said as she let out sigh. "How long do we have to stay in here?"

"This is supposed to be relaxing." Thea said.

"Yeah, well I'm not relaxed and I just want to eat the cucumbers." Katie replied taking one of the cucumbers from her eyes and taking a bite.

"I guess someone else is in a mood." Felicity said. "What is going on with you and Oliver?"

"Nothing is going on," Katie took the other cucumber and ate it as well. "Nothing at all." Felicity pulled the cucumbers from her eyes and looked over to Katie.

"Wait, I get it." Felicity laughed a bit before laying back down. "You two haven't done the deed."

"Ugh, could this not be a topic right now." Thea groaned. "I would rather not know whether or not my brother is doing the deed. Plus there's no talking in the relaxation room." Felicity just laughed.

"Close your ears, Speedy." Felicity turned back to Katie. "I've seen the way you two have been looking at each other and the fact that you two haven't bow-chicka-wow wow, is totally surprising."

"Well there are a lot of other factors we have to take into consideration, and I really don't want to talk about it." Katie sighed, but Felicity just hummed in response.

"What other factors? I mean you both have the necessary parts to relieve your frustrations."

"And I'm out." Thea plucked the cucumbers from her eyes and sat up before glaring over to Felicity. "I seriously don't want to hear about my brother's necessary parts." with that, she tightened the towel around her body and stood to her feet. "I'm going to see if that mud bath is still available." Felicity let out a snort as Thea stalked away.

"What's going on?" Felicity asked again and Katie just shrugged before turning to Felicity.

"I don't know. I told him it was because the kids were there, but that was only part of the truth."

"What's the other part?"

Katie turned away, her eyes looking up to the skylight that allowed the sun to shine in. "What if it's different?" she looked over to Felicity. "For him, like he's done the deed with me before and I'm assuming it was enjoyable. What if this me—this version of me—is different."

"Yeah, I'm going to circle back to my original answer that you both have the necessary parts to relieve your frustrations." Felicity said. "Don't overthink it. I'm sure it will be a pleasurable experience for both of you."

Katie groaned wanting to talk about something else. "Lets talk about the newbies. How are they doing?"

"Ok I guess. You know about the friction with Ari." Felicity sighed. " and then there's Rory and keeping the fact that-" Felicity caught herself before too much information slipped.

"Keeping the fact that, what?" Katie asked looking over to the blonde who suddenly stopped talking. Felicity turned her head to meet Katie's eyes and it was the look that made Katie let out a sigh. "You're not going to tell me. Which means there's something about it that connects to the past everyone is so afraid of me knowing."

"That's not it. It's just out of context it could be confusing. There's just a lot that you would need to know beforehand." Felicity said and Katie didn't say anything before she turned away. Without another word, Katie sat up and stood to her feet. "Katie, wait, don't-" Katie didn't wait and Felicity let out a sigh as she dropped back to lay down.

Evelyn let her eyes sweep across the rows of nail polish as she searched for the color she wanted. She glanced over her shoulder when she heard the quiet laughter of Ari. Ari was currently looking for a color of her own on the other side of the room, but she'd been distracted by something on her phone. Evelyn, curious, quietly walked over, peeking over Ari's shoulder to see what she was looking at. It was a picture of some boy dancing with a dog, the caption underneath reading, "Getting ready for the party of the year, #HappyBdayLocke"

"He's cute." Evelyn said and Ari quickly turned, bringing the phone to her chest. "Is he your boyfriend?"

"Not that it's any of your business, but no he's not. He's just my friend." Ari rolled her eyes before plucking a bottle of nail polish from the wall and going over to the waiting area. Both girls were getting manicures and pedicures before their hair was styled. Ari just hated that they seemed to be on the same schedule and every time she looked over her shoulder there was Evelyn and that annoying face of hers.

"Who am I kidding, Oliver probably wouldn't even let you have a boyfriend." Evelyn walked over and took the seat across from Ari. Ari just ignored her as she looked down to her phone. "It has to suck though, right? Having to live with the woman who killed your father and who's responsible for your mother being in prison." Ari looked over to the girl with a furrowed brow.

"What is your problem with me?" Ari asked dropping her phone in her lap. "Like seriously, what is your actual problem with me as person? Have I somehow offended you in some way?"

"Your entire existence offends me." Evelyn replied. "The fact that you've been given everything you've ever wanted even though your parents were the scum of the earth. Just doesn't seem fair." Ari turned away and let out a long breath though her nose.

"You know I know you." Ari said turning back to Evelyn. "When I had you and Rene's names I dug up as much as I could about you. You were the class president, decathlon, gymnast. Of the both of you, I actually thought I would get along with you the most." Ari shook her head. "But then your parents died and you dropped off the face of the earth and became this miserable excuse for a human being blaming the world when it was really only one man."

"Well that's one opinion." Evelyn remarked before standing to her feet and taking a step toward Ari who stood to her feet as well. "But we should get one thing straight, you know nothing about me."

"It has to suck though, right?" Ari said with a tilt of her head. "We both lost our parents, but I had people who actually cared enough about me to take me in. I guess that's the part of my existence that really offends you." Ari shrugged. "Well I can't change that. So you can either keep being offended or get over it."

"We're ready for you Arianna." came the voice of the manicurist. Ari simply smiled before walking around Evelyn for her manicure.

Oliver stood at the head of the table, listening to Zatanna and Constantine go back and forth about the perfect way to decide if the entity could still be in his wife.

"You know I figured you all would actually have a plan in place before you came to me!" Oliver called over them to stop their bickering.

"We do, Zee just wants to take the safe approach that might not work."

"And John wants to take the dangerous route that has bit us in the ass before." Zatanna says turning back to Oliver. "Yes, we can travel back into your wife's consciousnesses again, poke around and risk being tricked again." she turned back to Constantine who was shaking his head.

"I see no problem with not going with that option." Oliver says turning to Constantine who turned to Zatanna.

"Yeah, but the alternative, a spell that says either yes or no doesn't really help her." Constantine turns to Oliver. "My way may help determine what's causing the memory loss."

Oliver looked between them both now seeing the reason for the back and forth. Both options accomplished the same thing, but with different levels of risk. It was just Constantine's option could recreate a past he wants to stay in the past, but it could also help bring back her memories.

The sound of the doorbell interrupted Oliver's thoughts and so he let out a sigh. "Are we expecting anymore people to this messed up brain trust?" he said as he moved around the table and headed down the hall for the door. Oliver pulled it open, actually surprised to see a face he hadn't see in a while. "Lyla?"

"Hi, we need to talk about John."

That got Oliver's attention. "Is he alright?"

"No. He's back in the country and he's in prison." Oliver's eyes widened in surprise. "I need you to break him out." Oliver didn't say anything as he took a step to the side to let her inside. Lyla followed behind Oliver, not expecting to find the group of people in the dining room. She looked at the faces she's seen numerous times in pictures or videos at ARGUS. "I didn't know you were busy."

"No, it's fine." Oliver turned to the others. "We're going to have to do this later."

"After you discuss breaking John out of prison." Diana said, and both Oliver and Lyla sighed forgetting the woman's super hearing.

"Right, you all can see yourselves out." Oliver said.

"Oliver," Zatanna stood to her feet and walked around to him. "We need to do this as soon as possible." Oliver looked at her for a moment and just gave a nod before they all...well almost all filtered out of the house. Oliver and Lyla turned to Bruce who didn't make any moves to leave.

"Bruce-"

"John is my friend too. If he needs help, then I'm in." Bruce replied and Oliver let out a sigh before turning to Lyla who gave a nod.

Katie was totally over this girl's day out. She really only stuck around for Ari. So she endured the day. Getting a manicure and a pedicure and even getting things waxed. She was currently sitting in the stylist chair after getting a hair cut she never knew she needed. She looked at herself in the mirror, her hair now just past a few inches past her shoulders in loose layered curls, fringed bangs covering her eye brows. The stylist had chosen the look after Katie told her to just surprise her. The woman was saying a bunch of words Katie didn't quite understand, but she heard blonde balayage which she figures is the now blonde streaks that are now blended in with her dark hair. Of all the pictures she has seen of herself, she's never seen the face looking back to her right now. This person was new. It was her and not some shadow of someone she use to be.

Katie was pulled from her thoughts by the sound of her ringing phone. She pulled it from her purse to see Oliver's number and quickly answered.

"What's wrong?" she immediately asked, and she heard him chuckled.

"You know a 'hi Liver' is a better greeting." Oliver says and Katie couldn't help but smile.

"Hi Liver, what's up? You miss me already?"

"Always," Oliver replied, but then he let out a sigh.

"I don't like that sound."

"We need to talk. Could you and Felicity meet me at the bunker?" Oliver asked and Katie frowned slightly.

"Now?" she asked glancing back to see Ari sitting under a dryer.

"It's important and I need to talk to the both of you as soon as possible."

"Ok, we're on our way." Katie ended the call, now completely nervous, but she grabbed her bag and went in search for Felicity.

It was tough to get out of that salon without Ari and Evelyn who both insisted that they should come in case this important meeting was vigilante related. Katie assured them both that Oliver didn't say it was and so they wouldn't assume. She wanted Ari to to continue her day of pampering and hopefully forming a better relationship with Evelyn.

As they rode the elevator, both Katie and Felicity stood nervously as they waited for the doors to open. Once they did, both women hurried out, their eyes darting around for Oliver. They didn't expect to find Oliver and Bruce together by one of the computers.

"Oh god, what's wrong?" Felicity asked hurrying over and both men turned to her before looking over to Katie. "You two are actually working together which means the world is probably ending."

"No, John is in prison." Oliver says. Felicity's eyes widen as she looks between Bruce and Oliver.

"Oh my gosh, how, why?" Felicity asks.

"He's being framed." they turned at the voice of Lyla who walks over, Robyn in her arms and it was the sight that rubbed Katie the wrong way.

"Why are you holding my daughter?" Katie rushed over, reaching forward and taking Robyn into her arms, looking her over before glaring up to the woman. "What are you doing here?" Oliver hurried over, bringing an arm around Katie to calm her down. He probably should've given a better heads up on the call. He has explained who Lyla is to them, how she's John's wife and their friend, but it was still one of those topics she was finding it hard to accept. "Will someone explain to me what is going on?" Katie turned to Oliver.

"Lyla, came to the house and told me what was going on with John." Oliver said and Katie nods. "She asked me for my help."

"Help with what? Does he need lawyers?" Oliver glanced over to Lyla and sighed before turning back to Katie.

"You're going to break him out of prison, aren't you?" Felicity said and they looked over to her. Katie looked from the woman back to Oliver who didn't immediately say no to the question. Oliver turned to Katie, and she realized he was waiting for her to react to what was apparently the truth. Katie turned away from his eyes before turning back to Lyla. "Wait, so you're going to break him out of a military prison? And then what? John is just a fugitive for the rest of his life."

"Better than being punished for something he didn't do." Lyla says over to the woman before turning back to Katie who hadn't said a word even though she's pretty sure the woman has a lot to say.

Without a word Katie walked over to Felicity. "Could you hold her for a sec?" Felicity saw the seriousness in her eyes and simply nodded before pulling Robyn into her arms. Katie turned to Oliver with a silent look before she turned and headed for the team's conference room.

"Is this going to be a problem?" Lyla asked over to Oliver who turned to her.

"Just give me a minute to talk to her." with those words, Oliver headed over to the conference room as well where Katie stood with her back to him.

"Uh-you cut your hair. It looks nice." it was an attempt to ease the mood, but he's not sure it would work.

"You should close the door." she said, still not turning and that made Oliver slightly nervous. He shook his head before turning and shutting the glass door.

Lyla looked over to the couple in the room and let out a sigh. "We don't have time for this?" she turned back to Felicity and Bruce.

"You're going to make time if you expect her to be ok with risking the life of her husband and the father of her daughter." Felicity said. Lyla glanced over to Bruce and Felicity followed her eyes. "What?"

"I was going to go as well." Bruce said and Felicity's eyes widened her mouth opening as if she were going to say something, but looked she looked down to the child in her arms and just swallowed the words. "Felicity-"

"Nuh uh," she shook her head before walking away from him.

Oliver waited for a moment, before he decided to be the one to start this conversation.

"John is my best friend...no he's like a brother and right now he needs my help." Oliver says, and Katie doesn't say anything or turn to face him. "He's being framed for something he didn't do and if I don't do something he's going to die there and never see his son or wife again." Katie let out a sigh before turning to Oliver.

"No," she said simply. "You're not doing this. I understand that he's important you and that you want to help him, but you have a wife and you have Robyn and Ari. Are you really going to do this with the risk that you could be taken from us?"

"I can do this. I will be careful, and I will come back to you."

"You didn't answer my question!" Katie slapped a palm to the table that separated them. "Why do we keep having this conversation Oliver? Why do I have to remind you that your life can't be this bargaining chip?"

"I can do this. I will be careful, and I will come back to you." Oliver repeated which Katie assumed meant what she said actually didn't matter. She slid a hand over her eyes and turned her back to him. "Look, John is our friend, he's family, and if you actually remembered him- remembered who he was to us- you wouldn't be fighting me on this. You would be helping me." Oliver knew the moment the words came out of his mouth , that he should not have said them. "Twinkie, that's not-I'm sorry."

"I don't remember John. I can't remember how we met or any conversations we've ever had." she turned back to Oliver. "I wish I did. I really wish I remembered a lot about my life, about who this person you think I would be if I did. It's just the me now, standing in front of you doesn't think that there would be a time where I would value your life less than someone else." Katie walked around the table to stand in front of Oliver. "The problem is that you do. You agreed to help break John out of a military prison knowing the risk you were taking. You know that the risks you take aren't just your risks, and you're ok with that." Oliver placed his hands on her shoulders, but she pushed him away.

"Twinkie, I can do this." Katie looked at him for a moment and realized he really wasn't seeing the entire picture. She needed to make him see it.

"I know you can you do this Oliver," she took a step closer to him. "But I'm not going to let you." she turned and walked out of the door, a confused Oliver following behind her as she walks over to Lyla. "I'm going to help you. Just me."

"No, that's absolutely not-" Oliver appeared at her side.

"Call Flag, tell him we're pulling another Belle Reeve." Katie says ignoring the protests of Oliver. Lyla looked at her for a moment before she turning to Oliver. "C'mon Lyla, I'm the soldier Waller always wanted and you can have me right now." Lyla turned back to her. "Call Flag. Tell him I need his help and he will be here." Without another word, Lyla glanced over to Oliver before pulling out her phone and stalking off.

"What do you think you're doing?" Oliver asked angrily appearing in front of Katie. "I'm not letting you do this."

"And why not?" she asked crossing her arms over her chest. "I can do this Liver. I will be careful, and I'll come back to you." Katie heard the whimpers come from Robyn and so she walked over to take the girl from Felicity.

Oliver let out a huff before walking over to Lyla just as she ended the call. "We're not doing this. She can't do this."

"You tell her that." Lyla replies before holding up her phone. "I called Flag, he answered, he's on his way."

"Rick is ARGUS and if's caught and you're tied into this-"

"Rick isn't ARGUS, Richard Flag currently doesn't exist for the work he's doing now." Lyla looked over to Katie who held her daughter to her chest. "Oliver I'm sorry, but right now I just want Johnny back, and I will take it anyway I can get it." Lyla walked over to Katie. "Flag will be here soon. What else will you need?" Katie glanced over to Oliver who looked completely upset, and it was a feeling she wanted him to have. She needed him to feel what she felt far too often.

"If you're doing this, then I'm coming with you." Oliver says walking over to them. Katie looked over to him, seeing that he was not handling the loss of control well.

"That's not going to work. In the event that you are caught and arrested, you'd face countless felony charges, and then there's the fact that you're the Mayor and this city actually looks up to you and I don't think that a felon for a mayor would really boost the city's morale."

"And you're risking just as much." Oliver said and Katie turned to him.

"Well I lost my memories, remember?" she said and Oliver glared. "If I get caught, I can chuck it off to some sort of psychotic break or something." she turned back to Lyla. "You have the schematics for the prison?" Lyla nodded before walking around to the computer and pulling them up. Katie walked over to Oliver and held out their daughter. He let out a sigh before taking her in his arms and watching as Katie walked over to Lyla.

Ari currently sat in the passenger side of Thea's car. Katie and Felicity never returned and they weren't answering any of her calls.

"I'm sure they're fine." Thea said looking over to Ari. "C'mon, this is your birthday relaxation day."

"Some painted nails and a new hair style isn't relaxing." Ari muttered, her eyes glancing over to the car's side mirror catching a glimpse of herself. Her once big, curly hair was now bone straight as it framed her face. The girl looking back at her definitely looked different. She even thought she looked less like a little kid. She rolled her eyes at the thought before looking out the window. "Where are we going anyway?"

"Well Katie was supposed to be taking you to your next surprise, but they're still busy so she asked me to do it." Thea replied. Ari looked over to the woman in confusion before she looked back outside, suddenly realizing she was familiar with this route. Soon her eyes saw Iron Heights in the distance. "She said it's been a while since you've seen your mom." Ari didn't say anything.

Her silence continued through they entire prison check in process. Soon she found herself sitting in a familiar room as she waits for her mother. The sound of the door buzzing causes Ari to turn just as the door opens. She stands to her feet as her mother comes in and it's this moment she realizes just how long it's been since she's seen her. Heather looks over to Ari with a smile as she pauses near the door so the guard can unlock her cuffs. As soon as she's unchained, she goes over to Ari and brings a hand to her mouth in shock.

"Look at you." Heather sighs. "You look so grown up." Heather brings her arms around Ari in a hug that Ari isn't quite sure how to respond to for a moment before she brings her arms around her as well. "It has been too long since I've seen. I can't believe they've been keeping you from me." Ari frowned pulling back to look up to her mother. "But that will all be fixed soon." she smiled down to Ari. "Come sit with me."

Oliver felt as if he were going to explode at any moment. He probably would have already if there wasn't a certain little human currently using his body as a jungle gym. He pulled Robyn from his shoulder back into his arms before he looked back over to where Katie and Lyla stood as they stared intently at the screen going over a plan. He stood there knowing absolutely one thing for certain. He was not letting her do this.

Lyla looked over to Katie's face as her eyes trailed over the schematics and she could see it. Well she always saw it. That thing Amanda Waller wanted for her agency. The brilliant mind of the doctor beside her.

"You're not actually doing this are you?" Lyla whispered over to her.

"Of course not, I still have a birthday party I have to make sure goes off without a hitch." Katie said her eyes never leaving the monitor. "Oliver needs to be taught a lesson." Lyla looked over her shoulder to where Oliver stood watching them. She knew at any moment he was going to make his feelings about this known once again. "I understand he cares about John, but that concern seems to be shielding him from the bigger picture. He's just so-"

"Self-sacrificing." Lyla says turning back to the screen. "Him and his friend John have a lot in common. Even those annoying habits we have found ourselves trying to save them from." Lyla looked back over to Katie. "Katie, I promise I will make sure they both get out of there." Katie finally turned her eyes from the screen to the woman standing beside her.

"You know I'm not sure how we became friends." Katie said with a slight frown. "Sure you were kind to me, but you've never been completely honest with me. You were Waller's puppet and I was the shiny trinket she wanted for some reason and you made sure she got it." Katie looked over to the angry eyes of her husband before turning back to Lyla. "Your promises mean nothing to me. There has only been one person with ARGUS who has ever come through on a promise."

"I will get an ETA on Flag." Lyla says before taking out her phone and stepping away.

When Lyla walked away, Oliver took this as his moment to once again try to talk some sense into his wife.

"Twinkie, you're not doing this." Oliver said, but Katie didn't say anything as she reached forward and expanded a part of the screen. "Twinkie, I'm not letting you risk your life doing this." she stopped and turned to look at the man. "I know what you're going to say, that I'm being hypocritical, and maybe you're right, but on this I am not bending. You're not doing this." Katie looked over to him without a word and what he thinks is amusement on her face. She simply turns away back to the monitor. "You were never going, were you?"

"Depended on the details of this plan and if I thought you really could handle it. "she replied. Oliver looked over to her for a moment before letting out a sigh. "Oliver you have a tendency to play fast and loose with your life."

"Twinkie-"

She turned back to him. "You do not accept any dangerous job before talking to me first. Because this is your friend, and you're emotionally connected to him means you don't think about the risks."

"Twinkie, I can-"

"Whether I remember John or not would not change how I feel about the value of your life." she looked down to her daughter who seemed to be amusing herself with the buttons on her father's shirt. She looked up to meet Oliver's eyes. "You can do this. With help, you will make it out of this." she turned back to look up to the monitor. "You can not risk your life as if it's only yours to risk." Oliver took a step forward, and dropped his head to hers.

"There is nothing that will keep me from coming back to you." Oliver whispered before he placed a kiss to her cheek. He turned to face the screen beside her. "I assume you've come up with a plan."

"One you will follow precisely." Katie says and Oliver looked over to the concentration on her face as she looked up to the monitor.

"Twinkie, about what I said, I'm sorry. Your emotions are not dependent on what you do and don't remember. I'm actually pretty sure you would've reacted the same way if you did remember." Katie didn't say anything and Oliver let out a sigh. "I will never make a decision like this without talking to you first." still nothing. "Do you forgive me?"

"No," she replied before turning and taking Robyn in her arms. "Lyla will go over the plan with you after she fills in Rick. I was surprising Ari by taking her to Iron Heights to visit her mother. I missed that chance and so Thea had to take her. I would like to be home when she gets back just to make sure she's alright." she moved around him to gather Robyn's things.

"Twinkie-"

"Ask me to forgive you when this is all done." she said stopping and looking back to him. "Ask her to forgive you too." she held up her daughter slightly. "For totally ditching the daddy/daughter day you were supposed to have with her." Oliver stood there and watched as Katie packed Robyn's things. Felicity walked over to her and the two spoke in hushed tones before they all stepped into the elevator.

Bruce walked over to stand beside Oliver and both men just watched as the doors of the elevator closed.

"So Felicity's not helping." Oliver says.

"Well she knows John doesn't even support this plan, and the fact that it's completely risky, I'm going to say no, she's not helping. I'm almost ninety five percent sure I'm sleeping on the couch when I get home."

"I'll be lucky if Twinkie lets me in the house when this is all done." Oliver sighs before both men turn back to the schematics on the screen. "I really hope John knows how much we love him."

Felicity just shook her head and she mumbles to herself.

"I can't believe they're doing this." she said looking over to Katie. "I can't believe you're letting Oliver do this."

"Well he wouldn't if I didn't have contingencies in place." Katie says looking down to her daughter in her arms.

"You're really betting a lot of Rick Flag." Felicity replied and Katie let out a snort.

"He's one of a few people I would bet on." they turned as the doors opened. "But I'm going to need more." she glanced over to Felicity. "Would you mind watching Robyn for a bit? I have to make a stop."

"How dangerous is this stop?"

"For me, not at all." they stepped off of the elevator. "For the person I'm meeting, well that's up in the air."

Ari glanced over to the clock once again and this time her mother noticed it. "Somewhere you need to be?"

Ari turned back to her and shook her head. "No, it's just getting late, and I don't want you to get in trouble for staying out too late."

"Well you won't have to worry about that." Heather said. "Your magically resurrected cousin has thrown her money around and pulled a few strings so we can stay here as long as we want." Ari slightly frowned. She hated this place and really wanted to leave. "But you don't want to stay here, do you?" Heather shook her head. "I knew the longer you stayed with them, they would poison you against me."

"Mom, they haven't done anything. I just-" Ari shook her head. "I don't like seeing you like this." Heather glanced down to the tan jumpsuit she wore and sighed.

"Hopefully I won't have to stay in here much longer." Heather looked back up to meet Ari's eyes. "And when I do get out of here, you and I can get back to our lives." Ari looked over to her mother unsure how to respond to that. She wonders if she was a bad person for not thinking about her mother being in here. For totally accepting this new life with Katie and Oliver and actually liking it. It was her life. "I just have to ensure there is no push back from that cousin of yours and her husband. I already have a plan though."

"What are you talking about, what plan?" Ari asked and Heather looked to her daughter for a moment and just shook her head.

"Don't worry yourself about it. Just know that I'm going to gather enough evidence against them that proves they're unfit so no judge in this city would not think of giving me custody back." Ari looked at her mother for a moment trying to determine if she were serious.

"Are you crazy? You can't do that. For one you could put them at risk of losing their daughter, and then there's the fact that you don't know that if anyone would give you custody. If you are released, you'll be a felon and they don't just give custody of kids to felons." Heather just shook her head.

"Is that what they told you. That I would never get out of here, that we could never be together again." Heather dropped her head as tears streamed down her face. She looked back up to Ari. "Nothing will keep me from my daughter. You're the only thing I have left in this world, and I will not let them take you away from me. I'll watch them burn before I let that happen." Heather stood to her feet and Ari felt helpless unsure how to fix this. Heather headed for the door and Ari only saw one option.

"Ok!" she called and Heather stopped and turned back to her. "If you stop whatever plans you have to hurt them, I will go back to you if you're released. Oliver told me that it would be my choice and I believe him." Heather looked over to her daughter with a smile. "They're good people mom, and if you hurt them you will lose me forever." Heather didn't say anything before she turned to the door.

"I'm ready." she spoke through the door. Ari watched as the guard opened the door, once again cuffing her mother before pulling her away.

Thea was scrolling through her phone, ignoring the ogling of the guard behind the desk in front of her when Ari finally stepped back into the lobby. She looked over to the girl and the sad expression on her face.

"What happened?" Thea asked and Ari simply glared before storming for the door.

Katie wasn't quite sure what she was doing. She stepped into her car and ended up outside of a building that she'd escaped only a few months ago. The moment her car pulled up the gate, a guard stepped from the security booth and when he saw her, a flash of recognition passed his eyes. She frowned slightly. "I'm here to see-" she really wasn't sure how to request permission inside to visit a dead man. But it would seem that she wouldn't have to.

"You're good to go, Mrs. Queen." The guard stepped back inside, and pressed the button to open the gate. Katie looked at him in confusion before turning and driving inside. Walking inside of the building was just as easy and she wonders just how familiar she was to the people here. She wondered if she came here often. Did she finally get over her disdain for ARGUS and actually become accustomed to venturing down these halls. When she walked through the doors, her eyes looked upon a man who looked back to her. He was apparently waiting for her.

"Katherine, it is good to see you." he greeted with a smile, and the moment he took a step forward, she stepped back. "Oh, I'm sorry, you're probably wondering who the hell I am. I guess you don't recognize this face." he placed a hand on his chest. "My name is Martin Ellis." Katie frowned as she looked back to the man. She'd seen Martin before, knew his face and his hair color, and the man in front of her didn't match that image at all. "I know I look different, but the old me had a few enemies and I needed to become someone else." she did notice the familiarity of his voice. "I'm assuming you're here to see your father." Katie didn't say anything as she looked at the man. "I'm also assuming you may have questions for me about our past encounters."

"I'm guessing you were just following Jacob's orders right?" Katie said before turning away. "Yes, I need to speak to him." she turned back to Martin who gave a nod.

"Follow me." Martin turned and walked off and Katie stood there for a moment, still hesitant to venture further inside of these walls. She let out a heavy breath before continuing after the man to what looked like a security check. There was a guard who stood near a metal detector. Katie walked through the machine, it beeping as she did, and her and Martin both stopped. She looked over to the man.

"So yeah, I'm armed." she turned back to the guard. "And I'm gonna stay that way. Is that a problem?" she looked at the guard who looked over to Martin who simply gave a nod.

"Some things never change." Martin muttered. "Lets go." he said and Katie turned and followed behind him.

They stood in an uncomfortable silence on the elevator as they waited for the doors to open.

"So how are you doing?" Martin asked breaking that silence and Katie turned to him. "With navigating through this life you don't remember?" she looked at him for a moment before turning back to the doors. Martin turned away as well figuring she probably wasn't up for small talk. "You know you should ask him."

"Ask him what?"

"The why." Martin glanced over her. "You've never asked him. Even before the memory loss, you never asked him why he did all of this this."

"Well I would assume I didn't ask because "the why" doesn't matter." Katie says looking over to the man. "Motive, intention doesn't change what is and what was. He wants to absolve himself, he just won't get that from me." the doors finally opened and Martin gave a nod before walking out, Katie in step behind him. They appeared outside of a door where Martin stopped and turned to her.

"He's expecting you, so you can walk in whenever you're ready." Martin moved around her and Katie watched as he headed down the hall. Her eyes turned back to door unsure if she would ever be ready, but she needed to do this. She reached forward, turning the door knob and walked inside.

Jacob was at his desk when she walked inside. A smile came to his face and he stood to his feet and walked around the desk over to her.

"Sunshine, you-" he took a step he figured was too close because she took a step back. The smile fell because he now knew this visit wasn't for him. "You need something."

"John Diggle was arrested for a crime I'm told he didn't commit." Katie says with a shake of her head. "I don't know if he did or didn't do it, but Oliver believes he didn't, and I believe Oliver." she turned back to Jacob. "Oliver, Bruce and Rick Flag are planning on breaking John out of prison." Jacob looked back to her still waiting on the reason she was here. "I need you to make sure they don't get caught." Jacob gave a nod as he turned and walked back over to sit behind his desk.

"You know I'm aware of who they all are." he said looking back over to his daughter who hadn't moved from her place in front of the door. "Oliver and Bruce, the Green Arrow and the Batman, so I find it difficult to believe they would get themselves caught."

"That may be so, but an extra line of defense couldn't hurt. Can you help?" he looked at her for a moment before he gave a nod.

"I can." he said and Katie let out sigh. "But I want something in return." she looked back to him with a frown. "I want you to have a meal with me. Actually several. Once a week for the next month." she continued to stare, unsure if he was being serious. "Just the month and then we can go back to this estranged father-daughter thing we have."

"You're serious."

"It's food. You sit, I sit, we talk about the world, or about Robyn or Ari. Like a family."

"A family?" Katie shook her head. "Because lots of families allow their daughters to be kidnapped and tortured for kicks and giggles." Jacob slapped a palm to his desk and stood to his feet.

"That's not true and I know you know that!" he said seriously. "If you want to know the reason, then ask, if not that's fine too." Katie scoffed turning away from the man. "It's food. Food for an extra line of defense for your husband and friends." Katie crossed her arms over her chest angrily and he couldn't help but smile. "Pout all you want sunshine, but those are my conditions. What do you say?" Katie shook her head before turning and storming for the door, pulling it open and stopping.

"Just make sure they're not caught, and pray I don't stab you with a steak knife." and with that she stormed out of the office.

Jacob chuckled to himself as he dropped down to his seat and glanced up.

"Don't worry, I won't mess it up this time, Gracie." he sighed.

After a long drive, Ari stormed into the house, fully prepared to go up to her room and lock herself away. She stopped when a smiling Katie came out of the kitchen.

"Oh, you're back. How did your visit go?" Ari looked at her cousin for a moment unsure if she should actually tell the truth about her mother's ultimatum. She was actually afraid it would only cause more problems and so she would just avoid the question.

"What's going on with Oliver?" Ari asked and Katie let out a sigh as she walked over to her.

"He's fine, he's just being an idiot. Right now it's best if that's all you know."

"What does that mean?" Ari frowned, glancing over her shoulder as Thea walked inside. The teen just shook her head before running upstairs and letting the slam of her door echo through the house. Katie turned to Thea who just shook her head with a shrug.

"So I'm assuming it wasn't a nice visit."

"No idea. But she came out of that room clearly upset about something. I wonder what Heather could've said to her."

"No idea, but I should probably schedule a visit with her to figure it out." Katie says sliding a hand over her face.

"So what's really going on with Ollie?" Thea asked and Katie lifted her eyes back to the woman.

"I think it's a conversation that should happen over booze. Interested?"

"Just thinking about the fires I'm going to have to put out tomorrow with me and Oliver taking the day off means I'm more than interested." Thea sighed as she closed the door behind her and followed Katie into the kitchen.

The next morning, Katie stood outside of Ari's door. The night before, she tried to coax the girl out of her room for birthday pizza and a movie, but Ari refused. Katie just hoped today would be better.

Katie knocked, "Hey Ari, you awake? I thought we should go driving around one more time before the test." she listened for a response.

"Ok, let me get dressed." Ari responded a bit groggily from the other side. The door bell rang and Katie turned with a furrowed brow.

"I'll get the door." she let out a sigh before venturing downstairs and pulling open the door to a slightly short woman, with over-sized glasses.

"Oh, hi, Mrs. Queen it's very nice to meet you." the woman said and Katie continued to look at her in confusion. Actually she was mostly confused that the woman was able to ring the doorbell without any interference from the guards. "I'm sorry, you're probably wondering who I am." the woman held out a hand. "I'm Clarice Watson, Ari's case worker." Katie's eyes widened with a nod.

"Oh, right, hi." she reached out to shake the woman's hand. "Please come in. Oliver mentioned that you could routinely stop by." Clarice walked inside the house, her eyes instinctively glancing around.

"Yeah, I've been checking in over the last couple of months and thought I would stop in today." she turned back to Katie as she closed the door.

"Sure, could I get you something, coffee, water, tea?"

"Actually I would take some tea." the woman said and Katie gave a nod.

"Ok, you can take a seat in here, and I will put the pot on." Katie says leading the woman into the living room, picking up toys as she did. "Sorry for the mess. I think my Robyn likes everyone to know she lives here." Clarice chuckled as she took a seat.

"Oh, I remember when my son was that age. Every room walked in, I was stepping on one of his toys."

Once the water was on the stove, the two woman sat in the living room.

"So how are things going with Ari? I know yesterday was her birthday."

"Yes, we're actually giving her this big birthday weekend. Yesterday we took her to this spa downtown where she was able to be pampered for the day."

"Gosh, I'm jealous. That sounds like the perfect way to spend a birthday." Clarice sighed. "And how did she seem?"

"Fine, happy. I've been planning this for a while because I know it might be tough for her. This being her first birthday without her parents. I just wanted it to be perfect."

"And she seems receptive to all of this from you?" Katie wasn't sure what the question was asking. "I just mean, in essence the reason she's not with her parents this year is because of their actions against you. I just wouldn't be surprised if she showed signs of resentment with all of this." Katie didn't say anything as she turned away.

"I don't believe so, no." Katie thought about the girl's behavior and wondered if there was some resentment toward her behind it.

"There have just been some concerns, especially with your return that Ari isn't taking this well."

"What concerns?" Katie asked turning back to the woman. "Concerns from who?"

Clarice let out a sigh. "I received a call from Mrs. Locke who has expressed concern with her daughter being here in the care of you and Mayor Queen."

"Really, and what has Heather concerned?"

"Well there are some things you may not remember. Uh, there was kidnapping months ago, Ari and another child were taken. There was a shooting at a Christmas party that she attended."

"All things that happened before you were appointed as Ari's case worker I believe." Katie replied. "I heard about the whole Ms. Sanburg catastrophe and the possibility that it was she who had part in that kidnapping."

"I'm aware of that and all of this information has been shared with Mrs. Locke who still sees the situations stemming from you and your husband. There are other instances that she mentioned. Your husband's kidnapping not too long ago. Then there's the fact that Ari was pulled from Havenrock and sent to SC Prep."

"My husband is a influential public official who has enemies, but we have extra security here to ensure Robyn or Ari are not harmed. And I believe Ari leaving Havenrock was her idea. She didn't want to go to some boarding school. She wanted to go to a local school where she could come back to a home with family who cared about her."

"And yet her grades have been dropping recently." Clarice said. Katie stared in confusion as the woman reached inside of her bag and handed Katie a folder. "They're not bad grades, but in the past her grades were consistently exceptional. Recently there have been slight drops in grades on homework assignments and tests, and there are even notes from her teachers that she seems more distracted. The timing of all of this seems to coincide with your return." Katie looked down to the papers in the folders, all photo copies of some of Ari's assignment and even some of those teacher notes. Katie had reason to believe she wasn't the reason for Ari's distraction. Katie closed the folder and handed it back to the woman.

"I will talk to Ari about this." Katie says and the woman gave a nod. "She's getting older, and I figure there are probably a lot of things that could be distracting her from her school work. Did Heather share any other concerns?"

"No, that is it, but she is asking for copies of our notes on these situations." the woman replied.

"Why?"

Clarice looked over to the woman and sighed. "I believe she plans to use them at some point in an effort to regain custody of Ari." Katie frowned with a shake of her head.

"But she's in prison."

"Yes, but she seems to believe that it may not be too much longer before her lawyers are able to set up some kind of deal for her release." Clarice replied when both women turned at the whistle of the tea pot.

"I got it!" came Ari's voice from the kitchen.

Katie turned back to Clarice who stood to her feet. "How about a rain check on the tea?" Katie gave a nod before walking the woman to the door. Clarice stopped before leaving and turned to Katie. "I shouldn't tell you this. I probably shouldn't have shared as much as I have, but I truly believe Ari is happy here, and I do believe her returning to the custody of her mother could be a bad idea. You and Mayor Queen just need to make sure nothing else happens that could endanger her." Katie simply gave a nod before watching as the woman walked to her car. Katie closed the door and let her back fall against it.

Oliver hadn't even been gone that long and she felt as if she were already screwing up everything. She pulled out her phone, tempted to call him and tell him to come back, but she didn't, knowing he really was doing something that needed his full attention.

Katie walked into the kitchen where she found Ari eating a bowl of cereal.

"Oliver didn't come home last night." she said when Katie entered. "Are you seriously not going to tell me what's going on with him?"

"I'm seriously not." Katie says walking over and taking a seat at the table beside her. "How much of that conversation did you hear?" Ari turned away. "So all of it?"

"It's all just stupid."

"I'm guessing your mother may have shared some of this with you yesterday which is why you were so upset." Ari didn't say anything as she continued to eat her cereal. "Do you want to talk about it?"

After a long moment, Ari shook her head. "Nope."

"Ok," Katie stood to her feet and placed a kiss to the top of Ari's head and wrapped her arms around her in a hug. Ari seemed to let herself be pulled into the embrace needing the comfort. "When you're ready, let me know. Always remember nothing happens to you that you do not want to happen." Ari remembered her mother's veiled threats to Oliver and Katie and couldn't help but believe she truly had no choice in the matter. "We want whatever you want." she placed another kiss to her head. "I'm going get Robyn dressed and then we can head out." Ari turned and watched as Katie left the kitchen and she so wanted to just spill her guts about everything in hopes that her cousin could just fix it. Because if her mother was released, she didn't want to leave this place that has felt like home. Something she hasn't felt in a very long time. She feels if she doesn't figure out a way out of this deal with her mother then she had no other choice.

One of the most important parts of Diggle's extraction was making sure they left without a trace. That meant Bruce and Oliver had to stake out at some old abandoned warehouse just a couple of miles from the prison.

Oliver and Bruce stood above the map once again going over every detail of this plan. They heard the side door open, and Bruce quickly pulled out a gun and aimed only to drop it as Lyla walked inside with a face he hadn't seen in ages.

"Flag." Bruce greeted.

"Wayne," the man replied before turning to Oliver. "Oliver." he glanced around the warehouse for a moment. "So she really isn't here?" Oliver frowned slightly before looking over to Lyla who cleared her throat and headed over to the table to look down to the map. Oliver walked over to the man and held out a hand to which Rick shook.

"Thanks for doing this, but I'm sure Bruce and I could've pulled this off."

"Apparently your wife didn't share that opinion which is why she called me." Rick dropped his bag to the floor. "I've got experience in prison breaks."

"Well this one won't be as loud and proud as Belle Reeve." Bruce said and Rick just laughed. "This has to be clean and quiet and quick."

"I've gone over the plan. It's very precise which I assume is also Bird's doing." Rick walked over to the table and glanced down to the map."

"Bird?" Oliver said and they all turned to him and he looked back to them before he realized who the man was referring to. "You mean Katie." Rick didn't say anything before looking back down to the map for a second before going over to check out the tech they would be using. Oliver looked over to Bruce and Lyla who seemed to nervously look over to him as if they were worried about something. "What?" they both just shook their heads before looking back down to the map. Oliver stood there for a moment before looking over to Rick unsure why he felt as if he were missing something.

Katie thinks Ari's mood improved immensely the moment her instructor told her that she'd passed her driving test. Katie even nervously let the new driver drive them to City Hall where they would meet Thea who insisted on going shopping with them.

They silently rode the elevator and Katie glanced over to the girl who stared down to her driver's license with a smile.

"Oliver is going to freak out when he sees that." Katie says and Ari laughed turning to her.

"He's probably going to freak even more when I bring up the topic of driving myself to school instead of Hank." she sighed. "I can hear the riot act now."

"So school," Katie said. "Ms. Watson mentioned some of your grades dropping." Ari let out a sigh.

"That's totally my fault." Ari said with a slight shrug. "I'm still trying to figure out how to split my attention between the whole vigilante thing and studying for my exams." the doors opened Ari made to leave, but Katie moved Robyn's stroller to block her.

"Studying for exams should come before the vigilante thing." Katie said.

"I don't even know why I need to go to school in the first place." Ari muttered before walking around her cousin. Katie scoffed grabbing the stroller and following after the girl. "Evelyn is the same age and she doesn't have to go."

"I don't give a crap about what Evelyn doesn't do, I care about you and the fact that you are going to go to school and you're going to graduate and then go to college and be great."

"Except I don't need any of that to be a hero." Ari said before just walking into Thea's office, stopping when she realized the woman wasn't alone. "Oh, sorry." Katie walked behind her, now able to see Thea in a meeting with Quentin and a man she didn't recognize.

"Sorry, teens and knocking is totally unheard of." Katie says before looking over to Thea.

"No its fine." Thea stood to her feet and turned to the man beside her. "Adrian Chase this is Katherine Queen and Arianna Locke." she turned back to Katie. "Katie, this is the city's district Attorney, Adrian Chase." the man smiled as he walked over to shake Katie's hand.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Katherine." the man greeted and Ari frowned slightly at the man's informal greeting. People usually didn't go directly to a first name basis with a mayor's wife at a first meeting. It was a thought she assumes went right over Katie's head as the woman smiled and shook the man's hand.

"And you as well, Mr. Chase. I'm sorry for interrupting your meeting, we really can just wait outside." Thea was about to respond, but Adrian beat her to it.

"Actually we had just finished up," he said, that smile still on his face and Ari just rolled her eyes. "You know I've been wanting to meet with you."

"Really?" Katie said looking over to Thea who looked just as confused before she turned back to the man. "Why is that?"

"Well for you assistance in apprehending Damien Darhk." he said and Katie still looked confused while the others in the room looked slightly nervous about the topic. "I know you probably don't remember most of it, and I know we don't have much of the details but what we do know is that monster is off of the streets and you helped with that. Just thought I would pick your brain about anything you could tell me about it." Katie looked at the man for a moment and she suddenly felt uneasy about the question itself.

"Everything that pertains to the Damien Darhk arrest is in the files." Quentin says taking a step forward. "I'm also pretty sure that's not a question you should be asking her without her own lawyer present."

"Hey, it was honestly just curiosity," he looked from the man back to Katie. "You're kind of like a hero in this city and I truly believe you should be recognized for it." he shook her hand once more, this time placing his other on top of their joined hands. "It was a pleasure meeting you." with that the man left the office and Ari closed the door before turning to the others who were looking over to Katie.

"What?" she asked.

"No-nothing, just sorry, I didn't know he was going to ask you that." Thea said glancing over to Quentin.

"So I really have to babysit some evidence?"

"Well we trust you, and I'm sure this is also what Oliver would want."

"I'm not too sure about that, but I'll take your word for it." he chuckled before turning back to Katie and then Ari. "So I heard someone turned 16 yesterday," Ari just shook her head with a roll of her eyes. "That is the exact same reaction I got from both my daughters." he chuckled before turning back to Katie. "Well I guess I should get going."

"See ya," Katie says as the man passes her. Once he's gone they turned to Thea. "So are you still able to go shopping with us?"

"Oh absolutely!" Thea said in excitement. "I've been looking forward to it all day." she looked over to Ari with a smile. "Any thoughts on what you want to wear to the party, because I have ideas."

"Of course you do." Ari sighed before turning and leaving the office. "I don't care as long as I get to drive."

Thea turned to Katie. "She got her license?" Katie nodded. "Oh, Ollie is going to freak." both women just laughed as they went to catch up to the girl.

A day of shopping with Thea Queen was like a whirl wind. The woman seemed to know every clerk in every store. She moved around each store pulling things from the racks for both Ari and Katie and herself. Soon the trio found themselves sitting in the food court surrounded by shopping bags. Katie placed a hand on top of Robyn's head who too had tuckered herself out from the shopping and was now sleeping.

"I should get this one home to bed." Katie says looking over to Ari and Thea. "So was today a fun day?" Ari looked over and shrugged.

"I mean it was ok." she replied and Thea just shook her head. "Fine, yes, I had a good time, leave me alone." Thea and Katie just laughed.

"I think I'm more excited about the party tomorrow." Thea said and Katie looked over to her with a quirked brow.

"Why, it's a bunch of teenagers dancing to music way too loud. What about that excites you?"

"The nostalgia of it. I remember my sweet sixteenth birthday and it was sort of the best day of my teenage experience. All my friends called it the party of the century." Katie just shook her head. "What about you, what did you do for your sixteenth birthday?" Katie just shrugged.

"Nothing." she replied. "My dad was on one of his explicably timed business trips to who knows where. I went to school where not a single person even knew it was my birthday. I went home, ate pizza and watched movies alone for the rest of the night."

"Well that's sad." Ari said and Katie looked over to her. "Sorry,"

"No, it is kind of sad I guess, but it was whatever."

"Is that why you've been trying so hard with making my birthday this big thing?" Katie just once again shrugged. Katie turned to Thea who looked slightly confused about something.

"What?"

"It's just Ollie knew about your birthday. I distinctively remembered him buying you something that was wrapped in this pretty pink paper. I only remember because I spotted it one morning I came into his room and asked what it was and he threw a fit about me coming into his room uninvited. But I saw your name on it." Thea said and Katie just shrugged.

"Did you say pink paper?" Katie asked and Thea nodded. "That doofus."

"What?" Thea asked and Katie just shook her head.

"While I was watching movies, the doorbell rang. So when I go to see who it was, no one was there, but there was this small box wrapped in this shiny pink wrapping paper." Katie shook her head. "I looked around but no one was there, so I grabbed it and brought in the house."

"What was it?" Ari asked.

"It was a charm bracelet. Really pretty." Katie said. "I had no idea who sent it, but I figured someone knew it was my birthday. I wore it like everyday until I lost it. I searched for it everywhere, but couldn't find it." she turned back to Thea. "I can't believe Oliver gave it to me. Why wouldn't he just give it to me himself?"

"Maybe he chickened out." Thea said.

"Yeah, maybe." Katie replies glancing over to Ari whose phone buzzed. She pulled it out and frowned.

"It's Felicity, she's asking the team to meet at the bunker." she looked over to Katie.

"Is everything alright?"

"Doesn't say. I have to go though." Ari stood to her feet. "Can I take the car?"

"Fine, but drive safe. Check your blind spots, and don't run any more stop signs."

"Well I learned it from someone who works for the city." Ari said sending a sideways glance to Thea who looked back to her with wide eyes.

"I –I-" she turned to Katie. "I was late and no one was around and-" she turned back to Ari. "And you promised it would stay between us."

"No I didn't." Ari laughed before turning and leaving.

"Gah, she's so evil sometimes." Thea said and Katie looked over to her with a smile. "What?"

"Nothing, just she reminds me of a certain someone who works for the city as well." Thea just scoffed before throwing a fry over to her. Thea just laughed when her phone suddenly beeped as well. She looked down to the text and frown. "Everything alright?"

"No," she looked back up to Katie. "I have to go. There was an explosion at the police station."

"Wow, is everyone alright?"

"I'm not sure. Quentin was there with Adrian Chase to walk through the chain of evidence for Church's brief case that was brought in."

"It was the case the blew up, wasn't it?"

"I don't know." Thea stood to her feet. "I'm going to get you guys a car home."

"It's fine, I will call one of the guards to pick us up. Just go. We'll be fine." Thea simply nodded before turning and rushing away. Katie let out a sigh as she looked at all the bags she would have to be lugging with her. "I'm never going shopping with your auntie again."

Ari hurried into the bunker finding that she was the last to arrive. They all turned to her when she arrived and she noticed their stares were lingering.

"What?"

"Your hair is different." Curtis says with a smile. "It looks nice. You look more grown up." he walked over to her and gave her a bit of a hug. "Happy birthday."

"Thanks Curtis," she turned to the others who were standing behind Felicity. That's also when she noticed Quentin among the group and he looked a bit bruised. "What happened, are you ok?" she went over to the man who gave a nod. They turned at the sound of the elevator once again opening and this time it was Thea who was rushing in. Her eyes went to Quentin and she quickly came over.

"I'm fine."

"And who are you?" came Rene's abrasive question and Thea turned to him.

"I'm Thea, Oliver's chief of staff."

"she's also his sister," Curtis said in a tone he hoped Rene understood meant to tone back his aggressive tone with the woman.

"What happened?" Ari asked.

"Tobias Church happened." Quentin moved back over to the computers. "That evidence that you guys recovered from Kord Industries- modified to go boom."

"He wanted it to be put into lockup." Felicity said.

"And he wanted to raid it. One-stop shopping for weapons." Thea added with a shake of her head she looked down to the monitor.

"Including those RPGs that he took from Amertek if this report's right." Felicity said.

"We got to find out what he's planning to do with those weapons- because it ain't nothing good." Rene said looking around to the others.

Evelyn let out a sigh before looking over to Felicity."This is a really bad time for Oliver to be out of town."

"Yeah. I just tried him. He's gone dark." Felicity said, "Why don't you guys hit the streets? We want to figure out what Church is up to before it's too late." that seemed to confuse the others. Up until this point they hadn't done anything without Oliver's approval.

"You sure?" Curtis asked thinking about their previous screw ups and how Oliver was there to fix them which wouldn't happen this time.

Felicity nodded."Mm-hmm."

"I don't think Oliver would want us out there without him." Evelyn said what the team was thinking.

"Right. Well, Oliver forfeited his opinion when he left."

"Ok, but this is an all hands on deck situation, rag-covered hands included." Curtis said and Felicity turned to him. Ari glanced around only now realizing that Rory wasn't there.

"Where is Rory?" Ari asked and Felicity looked over to her.

"Not here, but I will get him here."

"What about Mrs. Queen?" Evelyn asked and they all turned to her. "She is the Guardian. Couldn't she be a good substitute for an absent Green Arrow?"

"I'm also positive Oliver wouldn't want his wife on the hunt for Tobias Church." Curtis said turning to Felicity who was apparently calling the shots.

"That will be a last resort." Felicity said turning and grabbing her jacket.

Katie sat in her living room now filled with shopping bags she didn't have the strength to put away. She sat with her eyes closed back against the couch ever so often cracking open an eye to look at the phone in her hand. She couldn't stop worrying about Oliver, about Ari and she hated this feeling. She hated that she would have to sit and wait until they walked through to door to alleviate her fears. She let out a huff before swiping open her phone to send Oliver a text.

"Your phone better be off right now so you shouldn't be reading this. I just thought I would tell you that I'm still mad at you, but I miss your stupid face. It's kind of been a crazy day. I'm not sure how you did all of this on your own, because I'm just exhausted. Just...come home soon." she sent the message and tossed her phone before standing to her feet. She probably wouldn't be sleeping tonight. She decided she was going to take a shower and find something to watch on the television. She walked out of the living room, stopping at the stairs when she heard something behind her. Katie turned to the door, her eyes looking down to the white envelope that was slid underneath her door.

There was a sudden dread that hit her as she stepped toward the envelope. Something about the situation seemed familiar and yet she couldn't place it. There was a voice inside of her head yelling at her not to pick up the envelope, and yet she reached down and picked it up before pulling open the door and glancing out. The neighborhood was dark and she didn't see anyone, not even one of the guards who once again didn't prevent someone from just appearing at their door. Katie stepped back inside the house, closing the door behind her before looking back down to the envelope. She flipped it around now seeing something written.

"To the bitch." Katie read. "I guess that's me." she peeled open the envelope looking inside to only see a piece of paper. She pulled it out and unfolded it and what looked like sand fell out. Katie looked down to it confused before looking back up to what was written.

"The grains of sand in the hourglass are running out for you."

Katie looked at the words, the message pretty clear.

"Of course, someone is trying to kill me." Katie muttered with a shake of her head as she turned and headed upstairs.

---

Author's note:

And there we have it. What did you think?

Review Replies:

Kara-X: I actually haven't decided on a villain name. I just know who it is. I don't want to give a face claim just yet because I haven't revealed them in the story yet, but once I do, I give my take on who I would say who would play them.

Adela: Yes! I love writing the Twiver moments. And I think Bruce giving the suit was a good idea since he's been behind the idea of bringing her into the superhero clan. He mentioned before how she reminded him of Richard.

BlueBloodsSVUOrder: Ah, the Twiver moments are the best. There will be more! That elevator scene was fun to write but that is also where I wanted Annabelle's true colors finally come to light. It's a dot that will help connect to a big reveal in later chapters.

Jason Hunter: FFN is very stressful sometimes! I'm glad it's back up.

Kara-X: Oh I'll give you a clue. So the villain has appeared in the story, but we haven't reveal them as one just yet. They have been moving in the shadows and our protagonists haven't even realized it yet.

As always, I have to give my appreciation to everyone tagging along on this journey with me on this story. Thanks for your patience and understanding as I try to crank out these chapters in between life. Thanks to everyone who has added this story to your fav/follow alerts, and virtual hugs to everyone who left reviews. You all rock!

The moment the doors opened, Katie hurried off, she saw them all crowded around Curtis who was lying face down on one of the tables unconscious. Evelyn had her hand around the knife in his back about to pull it out.

"Don't touch that!" Katie yelled and the girl jumped, everyone's eyes turning to her. She looked around the room, relieved to see Ari. "Just don't touch anything." she turned back to Evelyn. "Back away from him." Evelyn did as she was told. Katie pulled off her jacket. "I need everyone to get as far away from me and Curtis as possible right now." she turned to Ari. "Go, put Robyn down in the back." Ari nodded before taking Robyn's stroller. Katie turned to see Evelyn, and Rory still standing near Curtis. "I don't like to say things twice."