Chapter 21
The Plan
"Expect the best, plan for the worst, and prepare to be surprised. "
-Denis Waitley
Robyn Maisie Queen was officially a one year old. Katie was there the moment the clock struck a little after 1:30 am. It was the exact time she was born. Katie was standing above the sleeping child and didn't turn at the footsteps because she knew whose heavy steps they were. The door slightly creaked before an arm slid around her.
"I thought I was going to miss it." Oliver said slightly out of breath. Katie imagined he did everything possible to make it here in time. They just stood there in silence as they stared down to their daughter.
"I was so scared the moment I found out about her." Katie whispered as she wrapped her arm around Oliver, dropping her head against his chest. "I was petrified. And then I saw her and I couldn't imagine my life without her." Oliver placed a kiss to the top her head before looking back down to their daughter.
"The moment I laid eyes on her, I-" he shook he shook his head. "It didn't seem real. Thinking about everything that had happened to me until that point, it just didn't seem possible." they once again fell silent, staring at their daughter and taking it in.
"Liver, we were actually able to keep this child alive, and relatively safe for a year." Katie said before turning to meet his eyes. "We're parents."
"Yeah, for an entire year." he chuckled before turning back to the child. He placed another kiss to the top of Katie's head. "We should get to bed, it's going to be a busy day." he tugged Katie and she reluctantly let him.
Katie went to sit on the bed as Oliver closed the door. He went about pulling off his clothes for a shower and Katie watched as he moved around to the closet.
"I have to tell you something." she suddenly said and Oliver stepped out of the closet his eyes on her. She looked over to him and let out a sigh.
"What's wrong?" Oliver asked walking over to take a seat beside her on the bed.
"Ok, so you're going to be upset." she said and Oliver frowned slightly. "I got a call a couple of days ago from Christian." Oliver felt his heart race, not able to shake the feeling that something was wrong. "There was some sort of issue with their lab that lead to an investigation. The day I came in after fainting at the police station, the blood samples he took were stolen."
"What do you mean stolen?" Oliver asked and Katie reached over and placed a hand on his. "What—" he shook his head. "He ran tests, and called us and told us that you were fine, that you weren't pregnant. How-"
"A blood sample in the lab was labeled with my information." Oliver didn't say anything as he just looked at her trying to come to terms with what she'd just told him. "Liver, I'm fine."
"But we don't know that. You have to-" he stood to his feet. "I'm taking you to the hospital."
"Liver, I already have an appointment scheduled. Given that I have not experienced any other symptoms, and I'm still not pregnant, we have to believe that I'm fine." Oliver shook his head as he slid a hand over his face. "Liver-"
"Was any other blood samples missing?" Oliver asked and Katie shook her head. "Twinkie-" Katie stood to her feet and walked over to him, placing her hands on his chest hoping to calm him down. "You were the target. Someone took your blood because they didn't want it tested."
"Liver, you have to calm down." Katie said and Oliver turned to her in confusion.
"Why are you so calm about all of this?" he said pulling away from her. He turned and slid a hand over his head. "someone didn't want your blood ran because they-" he turned back to her. "Because you fainting wasn't just some random occurrence." he shook his head. "The reason you fainted was in your blood. It had to be a drug, right?" he turned to her. "Someone drugged you?" it made his blood boil. He wanted to hit something, to just punch something over and over again. "Do you have any idea-"
"I don't." Katie said letting out a sigh and walking over to take a seat on the bed. "That day is just fuzzy. I barely remember anything that happened before I woke up in the hospital. I mean it could've happened at any time, right?" she turned away. "I mean I probably grabbed a coffee or two. Maybe I grabbed a pretzel, or stopped for lunch." she let out a sigh. "Liver, you want to know why I'm so calm, well it's because if I dig my self too deep in this, I won't come out." she turned to him. "Today's my daughter's birthday and that means, I can't think about this. I'm fine." she turned at the sound of Robyn's whines from the baby monitor and she jumped to her feet. "I'll go check on the birthday girl, and you can get to your shower." she didn't wait for him to respond before rushing out.
Oliver found himself stuck in the spot in their bedroom, still thinking about what she'd just told him and all the implications. Someone drugged his wife. He needed to know who was responsible, because he was almost positive he was going to kill them.
Suffice to say Oliver didn't sleep, and neither did Katie. Katie lied tucked in Oliver's arms until the alarm went off and their day needed to start. They heard the sound of a party horn from outside the room and figured Ari was awake and with Robyn.
Katie silently stood from the bed, and grabbed her robe as Oliver stood as well. She made to walk toward the door, but Oliver called her name.
"Twinkie-" she stopped and let out a sigh before turning to him. "We have to deal with this."
"I know." she said. "Really, I know, but not today, ok?" he didn't say anything, but he did give a nod before turning and pulling on a shirt.
Ari knew something was up as she sat at the kitchen table with Robyn in her arms. Oliver was moving around the kitchen making breakfast while Katie sat in front of her laptop.
"You guys are being weird." she said suddenly and they glanced over to her as she went to put Robyn in her high chair. "What's up?"
"Nothing's up." Katie said turning back to her laptop. "Alright, so we have a day and it's going to have to be all hands on deck." she said looking between Oliver and Ari. "Robyn has her birthday pictures, which I'm almost certain will end with her screaming her head off, but we're taking those damn pictures." she turned o Ari. "You are heading over to Enchanted Kingdom with Felicity and Thea to make sure everything is set up for the party, and to make sure everything is set up for those ponies you hijacked." she turned to Oliver as he brought over a plate of pancakes to the table before turning and grabbing a tiny plate of bite size pancakes topped with whipped cream and placed it in front of Robyn. He placed a kiss to the top of her head and smiled as she happily ate her birthday pancakes. "I'm just not sure that amount of sugar is going to bode well for us." Oliver laughed as he turned to her. "And your job is-" his cell phone rang and Oliver sighed as he walked over to pick it up. "I thought you had the day off."
"I do." Oliver said looking down to see Thea's name before quickly answering. "Speedy, hey what's-" Oliver let out a sigh before turning to Katie and she knew from the look on his face what he was going to say. "It's fine Thea, I'll see you soon." Oliver hung up the phone.
"You're leaving?" it was Ari who asked the question and Oliver looked over to her and sighed before turning to Katie.
"Thea promised it's just a quick meeting, I should be there and back to jump back into operation birthday party with you guys." he said and Katie just gave a nod before turning back to her laptop. "Twinkie, she says it's important. And given that Thea knows it's Robyn's birthday and how much I really don't want to leave her, I got to assume it really is an emergency."
"Liver, it's fine." Katie says looking over to him. "You're right, if Thea says it's important, then it probably is, so you should go and just find us when you're done." he knew her tone probably didn't reflect what she was actually feeling. It also didn't make him feel any less guilty about leaving. He wouldn't if Thea didn't make it seem so urgent. He let out a sigh before turning to head upstairs to get changed.
Ari turned to Katie for a moment before dropping her head to her shoulder causing Katie to stop and glance over to her.
"I'm fine." Katie says with a slight smile to reassure the girl. "Yes it sucks, but we knew this was going to be a tough job before he ran for mayor." she placed a kiss to her head. "Eat your breakfast."
Oliver glanced down to his watch as the rode the elevator up to his office. If he was out of here in at least an hour, he could make it to help Katie with fussy Robyn during her pictures. The moment the doors opened, he looked up to see Thea waiting for him, a look of guilt on her face.
"Ollie, I'm so sorry, I know it's Robyn's birthday and you guys are super busy, but I've been here trying to deal with the whole Quentin situation." Thea said and Oliver looked over to her in confusion.
In Oliver's office, Thea took a deep breath as she looked over to her brother.
"We need to talk about Quentin." she said and Oliver gave a nod.
"Ok."
"He found this in his apartment last week." Thea said reaching into her pocket and pulling out a throwing star and placing it on Oliver's desk. Oliver picked up the throwing star realizing it was the same as the throwing stars used by Prometheus. "Somebody is going through a lot of trouble to make it look like he's behind the throwing star killings."
Oliver looked up to his sister with a furrowed brow. "Why would Quentin believe that?"
"Because he's been blacking out." Thea said. "Look. He's-he's in rehab. He's just taking some time." she looked down to the throwing star and sighed. "I-I've been wondering why would somebody be targeting him, and...the only thing I can think of—"
Oliver looked at the throwing star and then back to his sister. "What if Prometheus knows I'm the Green Arrow?" Oliver sat back in his seat and looked down to the throwing star before suddenly remembering what Katie told him this morning. " Son of a bitch."
Thea looked over to him confused. "Yeah, I get this is bad. If this is anything like with Church finding out, I can only imagine-"
"That's not it." Oliver said and Thea watched as he stood to his feet and walked over to stand by the window. "Early this morning, Twinkie told me she got a call from Dr. James." he turned to his sister. "The blood that was drawn the day she fainted was stolen."
"Stolen? But why?" Thea asked standing and walking over to her brother.
"I can only assume to prevent any tests from being ran." Oliver said and Thea shook her head.
"So someone didn't want her blood tested, because-" Thea turned to her brother and suddenly realized. "That's why she fainted. Someone gave her something and they didn't want it discovered in her blood work." Oliver didn't say anything as he turned to look back out the window. "And you think Prometheus is behind it."
"I think this son of a bitch wants to hurt me." Oliver said turning back to his sister. "And Twinkie, the kids, that's how he gets me. If he knows who I am, he knows my weakness."
"I still don't understand." Thea said. "If whatever he gave her caused her to faint—she faints in a police station and then is taken by paramedic to the hospital. She's never alone. What was the point?" Oliver turned away, not sure of the answer. He just shook his head before turning back to her.
"I don't know, but when I find him, I'll make sure to ask him before I kill him." he glanced down to his watch. "I have go. If Prometheus does know who I am, then I need to get to Katie and Robyn." he looked back over to his sister. "Ari is helping get everything set up for the party."
"I'll go, what should I say?"
"For now, nothing. Today is my daughter's birthday and I will not let this bastard ruin it." Oliver said and Thea just gave a nod.
Katie thinks she's a sucker for punishment. She absolutely knew the moment she made the appointment for Robyn's birthday pictures that it was going to be an absolute disaster, and yet she couldn't resist. She really wanted some nice pictures of the girl to remember this day. She had absolutely no doubt she would remember this day as she sat in the middle of the studio trying to calm her daughter who was in the middle of throwing a full blown, arms waving, leg kicking tantrum. She attempted to shush the girl and pull her into her arms, but she just slipped out of her grasp. Katie looked over to the photographer and his assistants as they seemed to be watching them. Katie let out a huff before standing to her feet.
"We're going to try a different route." Katie says. "If everyone can turn around and not look at her. Let's just hope the lack of attention finally gets her to settle down."
"Why don't we just give you a few minutes." the photographer says before looking over to his assistants and gesturing for them to leave with him.
"That's not really-" Katie couldn't even finish the sentence before they were leaving. She just dropped her face to her hands as the sound of the crying child grated her skin. She hated this method, but she tried everything, and tried to provide comfort and it wasn't working. The door to the studio opened and Katie looked up to see Oliver whose attention went to his daughter immediately. Katie watched as he began walking toward his child, but she quickly moved to stop him.
"Twinkie, what-" she grabbed him and spun him around so his back was to Robyn. "So this is the tantrum we knew was coming."
"Yep." Katie says. "She got upset that she couldn't crawl around, and the last time I put her back in place she just went grr, and now nothing will calm her down."
"Maybe we should just nix the whole birthday pictures thing." Oliver attempted to peek over to his daughter, but Katie reached up to keep his eyes ahead.
"We are taking these pictures." Katie said. "Let's just give her some time."
"Yeah and after that time, her eyes are going to be all puffy, her cheeks are going to be red, and it won't make for a good picture anyway. We can just get the photographer to take some pictures at the party." Oliver shook his head before turning and walking over to Robyn.
"Liver, wait, don't-" he was already picking her up in his arms and gently rocking her against his chest.
"You're alright sweetie, daddy's here." he placed a kiss to the top of her head and soon found her getting calm. He looked over to Katie. "Where are her things so we can go."
The drive home was quiet. Oliver glanced to the backseat where Robyn sat happily drinking from her sippy cup. He looked over to Katie who hadn't said a word as she looked out the window.
"Twinkie, I'm sorry." he said, but Katie didn't respond. "She was upset and I just thought taking pictures at that moment just wasn't the best thing. Why put her through that if it's not necessary." still nothing and Oliver let out sigh. "And now I'm getting the silent treatment."
When they arrived at the house, Oliver followed Katie inside as she headed upstairs. Katie took Robyn to the nursery, changing her out of her dress and into a onsie. The girl was practically asleep, which was perfect timing for her nap before the party. Katie gently laid the girl in her crib before turning and stalking out, not even sparing Oliver a glance as she heads down the hall and downstairs into the kitchen. She was heading back over to her laptop, but before she could get too far, Oliver quickly reached forward, catching the woman in his arms.
"Hey, what are you-" he turned her around and tossed her over his shoulder. "You're so annoying, put me down!" he simply turned, and sat her down on the counter where he placed his hands on either side of her to keep her in place. She gave him a bit of a shove, but he didn't move as she turned away and folded her arms over his chest.
"You can't be mad at me." Oliver said and Katie didn't turn to him. "Today is our daughter's birthday and tomorrow is our anniversary, so that means you just can't be mad at me." he placed his hands on her thighs and she just shook her head. "Twinkie-"
"Do you know how long I've been planing this day?" Katie asked turning to him. "Not just the party, but this entire day. I have a list, like an actual list that details every moment of this day." she looked over to the clock. "We were supposed to just now be leaving the photographer to come home so Robyn could take her nap. Maybe grab some frozen yogurt before sitting at the park. Now we have maybe two or three decent pictures before you came in and totally hijacked the plan I had."
"It wasn't my intention to mess up your plan, I just saw that my daughter was upset and wanted to fix it. We will just get the photographer to come to the party and-"
"He's not party photographer." Katie said with a shake of her head. "We already have a photographer to take pictures at the party."
"Ok, then she'll just take pictures at the party and you will have these pictures that are so important." Katie turned a glare to him. "I'm sorry, I'm supposed to be helping you not be mad."
"Yeah, that went out the window the moment you chose to go to work on your daughter's birthday."
"Twinkie, I told you-"
"I know what you told me, but I just feel that for one day nothing should've been more important than just being here." she attempted to get off the counter, but he held his grasp around her. "Let me go."
"No, because we're not done." Oliver let out a sigh. "I'm sorry I left, it really was an urgent matter and I needed to talk to Thea." Katie turned to him with a quirked brow.
"And what was the urgent matter?" she asked and Oliver looked at her for a moment. He really didn't want to push any more on her and he really didn't want her to be worried. He would tell her later.
He shook his head. "It was just a project was in danger of not being passed. I just needed to review some additional plans." Katie looked at him for a moment before turning away once again. "Twinkie, I'm sorry. I know you've worked hard, planning this day for Robyn."
"Not just for Robyn, but for us. This is her first birthday, and we're going to want to remember every moment of it which is why I wanted those pictures. Nice professional pictures I could add to her photo album." Katie shook her head. "She was fine, the tantrum was for attention which you gave her when you swooped in and hijacked my plan."
"Well I'm still not used to the whole tough love approach, when she's crying and I see she's upset, I can't just stand there and do nothing." Katie turned away from him. "How do I make this better?" she turned back to him. "you're not leaving this counter still upset with me. I'm leaving this house with a happy wife and happy daughter."
"Tell me you remember your one and only job for today." she asked and Oliver looked at her for a moment and she saw the nervousness. She swat his arm and tried to stand from the counter, but he held her in place.
"I'm sorry, I promise, I really am. I totally forgot and I didn't tell you I forgot because I knew you were going to be upset with me. Please tell me I wasn't given some big important job."
"You weren't, which makes it's even more annoying." Katie says. "This is a costume party. A Royal theme for the littlest Queen. You were supposed to pick up your costume because you also needed to make sure it fit." she once again glanced over to the clock and sighed. "And now the costume shop is closed." she turned back to the man. "You had months to pick up one stupid costume and you forgot." Oliver dropped his head, because it was only this moment did he actually remember her telling him about the costume.
Katie let out a sigh, before reaching forward and placing her hands on the sides of his face and lifting his eyes to hers.
"My next husband will remember these things, and he won't mess up any of my plans." she slid her hands to his chest. "But for now I have you, and I'm just going to have to deal with it." Oliver smiled as he brought his arms around her. "I don't want to be mad at you today. I just want this day to be perfect."
"I know and I promise to do anything I can to make this day perfect." Oliver said and Katie smiled. "But if I find anyone claiming to be this next husband you keep bringing up, I will beat the crap out of him."
Katie just brought her lips to his, and he wrapped his arms around her to pull her closer.
"You know-" he said pulling away after a moment. "Robyn's naps usually run a little long. I mean we have a bit a free time. We could take a bit of a nap ourselves."
"And by nap you mean sex right, because I'm not really tired and-" Oliver grabbed the woman once again and tossed her over his shoulder. "Why do you continue to do this?" he just gave her a slap to her butt as he carried her upstairs.
It seemed the moment Robyn's party started, everything just seemed to fall in place. The Enchanted Kingdom, an indoor activity park for kids of all ages was a place they'd visited before and Robyn loved it. It's why it made sense to rent the place out for her party. Katie stood tugging at the scratchy material of her Cinderella costume as she paused to let a few rowdy children run past her. She let out a sigh as she continued walking only to stop when she finally finds Oliver who is rolling around with Robyn and a couple of other smaller kids in the toddler area. She smiled as she walked over to see the Robyn in a fit of laughter as her daddy grabbed her.
"It looks like you're having more fun than she is." Katie said and Oliver looked over to her with a smile.
"Well maybe I am, Cinderella." he says pulling Robyn into his arms and standing to his feet.
She smoothed out the dress, "If only my prince charming remembered to pick up his outfit."
"I'm sorry, but hey, if you lose your shoe, I promise to bring it right to you." he said and she just laughed with a shake of her head. She looked over to see Thea and Felicity.
"Uh Oh." she said and Oliver turned just as the women walked over, their hands already extended.
"You two have been hogging the birthday girl, and now it's our turn." Thea said with a big smile as she tugged Robyn into her arms, and Oliver just rolled his eyes. "You're a big girl, aren't you a big girl." Thea peppered kisses on Robyn's cheeks and the girl just giggled. "How would you like to go pet the ponies?"
"Speedy-"
"I have her." Thea said looking over to his brother. "Super aunt, aka Snow White, is here and she's extra vigilant." Thea placed a kiss to Robyn's cheek before turning and sauntering away.
"Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on her." Felicity, dressed as princess Leia, said glancing over her shoulder. "Plus I'll have to find the perfect time to snag Robyn."
"Smoaks-" Felicity turned with a smile. "You and Thea play nice."
"sure, sure," Felicity said before turning and going to catch up.
Katie let out a sigh before Oliver's arm wrapped around her. They looked around to all the kids and just shook their heads.
"This is actually going good. Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves-" she glanced over to see Ari playing some kind of interactive game with Jamie. "Even the teenager who said this party would be lame." Oliver followed her eyes and frowned the moment he saw the boy with Ari. Katie looked over to him and nudged his arm. "You know he's not a bad kid. You should get to know him. He's terrified of you."
"Good, he should be." Oliver said just as the boy looked over and met his eyes and the smile instantly fell from his face.
Katie shook her head. "I'm going to make sure everything is good with the food. We should probably get everyone gathered to bring out the cake soon." Katie turned and began walking, when Oliver's arm came around her and she looked over to him.
"What?" he asked.
"Nothing, you've just been sticking close to me since you got back from City Hall." she said before stopping and turning to him. "This is about what I told you? Because Oliver really, I'm fine and I'm being careful. You don't have to play husband bodyguard."
"I know, but I would just like to play husband." he brought his arms around her. "You know stick close in case one of the single dads try anything." Katie laughed and he smiled at the sight. "You think I'm joking, but I'm not."
After a while Katie needed to get away from all the screaming children. The park had a quiet area she assumes for people like her who need a break from the madness. It was just a dimlit lounge with tables and chairs. When she walked inside, she spotted a few other parents, but a familiar face as well. She walked over to take the seat across from Ari who was looking down to her phone.
"Great minds think alike." Katie said and Ari looked over to her. Katie smiled as she reached over and ran her fingers through Ari's big curly red hair. The girl came to the party as princess Merida and curly hair was a must. "Have I told you how great it is to see these curls again."
Ari just swat her cousin's hand away. "Stop that. So where'd Oliver go?"
"No idea, I ditched him when he wasn't looking. I'm pretty sure he's looking for me and will more than likely be walking through that door any minute." Katie said. Ari's phone rang and the girl looked down and let out a groan. "You still getting those weird phone calls?" Ari looked looked back up to Katie and sat back in her chair. "Ari-" the teen turned when the door to the quiet room opened and in came Oliver who spotted them and walked over to take a seat. He looked over to Katie and she refused to look at him.
"That wasn't funny." he said and she let out a snort before turning to him.
"Well I thought it was hilarious." she said before turning back to Ari. "Now, you, what's going on?"
"Fine, so the weird phone calls I've been getting aren't just random calls." Ari said as she slid over her phone. "They're calls from my mother's lawyer." Oliver frowned as he reached down to grab the phone. "I never answer, but he keeps calling and leaving messages. He wants me to speak at my mother's parole hearing." Oliver and Katie looked over to Ari.
"What parole hearing?" Katie asked glancing over to Oliver before turning to Ari. "We weren't told about a parole hearing."
"Her lawyers petitioned for a closed court parole hearing and asked that the case be kept sealed." Ari said and they just looked at her. "I should've told you sooner-
"You should've." Oliver said and Katie reached over to place a hand on his and he let out a sigh. "Ari, why didn't you tell us?"
Ari shook her head.
"Ari why does he want you to speak at his hearing?" Katie asked and the teen didn't say anything. "Ari-"
"He wants me to say that I miss her. That I need her. That she's my mom and that I love her." Ari let out a heavy sigh. "He wants me to say that I want her released so I can live with her." the quiet room got even quieter. Neither Katie or Oliver said anything for a moment before Katie finally asked the question.
"And do you want to live with her?" Katie asked and Ari looked at them for a moment before dropping her head. "Hey Ari, there's no wrong answer. Remember what I told you. Nothing happens that you don't want to happen." Ari didn't lift her head and Katie glanced over to Oliver who just looked at the girl and she gave his hand a squeeze because she knew this was one of his fears. Ari leaving them.
"It's been a year." Oliver finally spoke and Ari lifted her head to him. "Yeah, it's Robyn's birthday, but that's not the only significant thing about today. Today is also the anniversary of the day that you came into our lives." he let out a sigh. "We were going to wait until later today-"
"Liver-" he glanced over to Katie who shook her head. "I don't think that can happen right now."
"What?" Ari said and they both turned to her.
"Ari, it's nothing, it's-"
"We have a cake at home, made just for you." Oliver said and Katie let out a sigh. "When we got home tonight we were going to surprise you with it because it's our anniversary too, with you. And we were going to celebrate that with you." He shook his head. "To mark the occasion we were going to ask you how you felt about us adopting you." Ari's eyes went wide as she looked between to the couple. The teen felt the suddenly emotion rise in her throat as the guilt and anger threatened to show themselves as tears she was really hoping wouldn't fall. "Because we want you Ari, we want you forever." she couldn't stop the tears and Katie stood up and walked around to bring her arms around her.
"I'm so-sorry." Ari said with a shaky breath.
"Ari, it's fine. You don't have to be sorry." Katie pulled back grabbing some paper towel from the dispenser and wiping her face. "Don't cry." Ari looked up to Katie's eyes and in that moment she wanted to tell them yes. She wanted to tell them that she wanted them to adopt her and for her life to always be with them and yet she couldn't stop thinking about her mother. She knew her mother was relentless. She wouldn't just give up and she's afraid that if she doesn't give her mother what she wants, then she'll make trouble she knows Oliver and Katie don't need. That was a truth she couldn't share with them because she knew they'd just tell her not to worry about them. That they would take care of themselves. Ari decided she would just prevent it before it happened. She turned away from Katie who went back to sit. "Ari-"
"She's my mom." the teen said. Oliver and Katie just looked at her for a moment before Katie smiled and gave her a nod.
"Ok." she said. Ari's phone beeped and she looked down to see that it was a text.
"It's Jamie, he's looking for me. I should go." she looked back up to Katie and Oliver. "You guys don't hate me, do you?"
"Of course not." Katie says reaching over and taking Ari's hand. "We want what you want, and if this is what you want, we will support you, one hundred percent." Ari smiled before turning to Oliver who hadn't said anything.
"What about you?" he looked over to the girl before standing up and bringing his arms around her in a hug that she couldn't help but to return.
"We love you Ari." Oliver said. He placed a kiss to her forehead before pulling away to let the girl stand. She looked between them, her heart breaking in this moment and she's so tempted to tell them the truth. Instead she turns and leaves without another word. Oliver stood there for a moment before turning to Katie who looked at him before dropping her head into her folded arms on the table. He walked over to her and brought his arms around her.
The rest of the party the couple wore smiles that weren't entirely genuine as they thought about Ari and the possibility of losing her. By the end of the party, little one year old Robyn Maisie Queen was all tuckered out with a belly full of cake. Oliver held his daughter in his arms as he walked around the park. He seemed to need this quiet moment alone with her to calm his raging emotions. She was always the key to pulling him back to the rails he was always so tempt fall off whenever he was put into a situation he felt he had no control over. He glanced up to see Katie walking over to them with a smile.
"Everyone seems to be heading home and we should probably figure out where all these presents are going to go." she placed a hand on Robyn's back. She looked over and noticed the sad look in Oliver's eyes and she placed a hand on his cheek.
"I don't want her to go." he said and she nods.
"Me neither, but we can't stop her if it's what she wants." Katie said. They turned at the sound of footsteps to see Felicity, and it's the look in her eyes that let them know something is wrong.
"Hi, sorry, but we have a hit on Vigilante." Felicity said looking over to Oliver. Oliver opened his mouth to respond, but heard the subtle sigh that came from his wife. He looked over to Katie before turning to Felicity. "I should-" the blonde nudged her head and walked away.
Oliver turned his eyes back to Katie who turned away from him. This was a moment he hated. This moment where he was forced to choose when the choice should be obvious. Today was his daughter's birthday. His only child and he should absolutely spend this entire day with her. And yet he also had this undeniable responsibility to finally find and stop Vigilante. He saw the look on his wife's face and he knew what choice he had to make.
"I'm not leaving." Oliver said suddenly and he hoped that would make her feel a little bit better, and yet her expression never changed. "Twinkie, it's fine, we can head home. The team can handle Vigilante. " she still didn't say anything. "Twinkie, I-" she turned slipping her hands carefully around Robyn before gently tugging her from her father's arms. Not wanting to stir the girl, Oliver relinquished his grasp. "Twinkie, I will stay with you."
"You're not." Katie says looking over to him as she settle a sleeping Robyn against her chest. "You're going to go, find this guy and try to stop him." she didn't say anything else before turning.
"No," Oliver said and she stopped and turned to him and she could see it. How much he wanted his words to be the truth and yet she could see it in his eyes. The internal battle happening. She let out a sigh before turning back to Oliver.
"Oliver, I don't want you to choose us because you feel like you should. When you're with us, it shouldn't be an internal debate. It should just be. Right now you feel like you have to stop Vigilante. If you were to come home with us, that's all you would be thinking about. So go, find the bad guy, stop him and then come home to us." she turned and Oliver could feel the heaviness of guilt right in his gut. He couldn't help but feel like this wasn't how he wanted to leave this conversation.
"Twinkie, wait, just wait, just-" Katie stopped and let out a deep breath before turning back to Oliver. "We can't leave it like this." he walked toward her to close the distance. "Today is our daughter's birthday and tomorrow is our anniversary and you can't be upset. I won't leave you while you're upset, no matter what you say."
"You assume when these moments happen and you have to leave, that I'm upset about it, and yeah, they don't make me happy, but it's more just-" she let out a sigh before turning to meet his eyes. "When you're with me, I can breathe. I can smile and I can laugh and I can just be content with life." she placed a hand on his cheek. "When you're gone I don't breathe." he let out a sigh. "And I'm not saying this to make you more guilty, because I'm not. It's the truth. What is also true is that you're the Green Arrow and there will be times when that is who you have to be. This is one of those times, so go, kick ass and then come home." she placed a kiss to his cheek before turning and walking away from him.
Oliver stood frozen in that spot watching her walk away from him, feeling that urge to quit everything, the Green Arrow and Mayor, and just go home with his wife. He knew she was right. That if he went home with them, a part of him would always be thinking about Vigilante and if he should've chosen to go and he hated that. He hated that he still hadn't figured out a way to compartmentalize his life.
"How much did I mess up your life?" came the timid voice of Felicity Smoak as she walked back over to Oliver. The man turned back to her. "I'm sorry, I know today was Robyn's day, it's just you said if anything popped up-"
"It's fine Felicity." Oliver sighed glancing over his shoulder once more. Even though he wanted to go after Vigilante, he thought about Prometheus and the fact that his family could once again be targets. He turned back to Felicity. "I need a favor."
Katie thought it was weird that Thea volunteered to drive her and Robyn home. She glanced back to Robyn before looking back down to her cell.
"Ari and Jamie have gone to the movies and will be grabbing food after." Katie said and Thea glanced over to her.
"Which theater?" Thea asked and Katie looked over to her with a quirked brow. "Just curious. Uh, are there any guards with her?"
"Yeah, Hank is following them. I think he has two other guys, but they're keeping their distance." Katie said looking over to Thea who nodded before turning back to the road. "What's going on?"
"Nothing, just being a concerned aunt." Thea replied. Katie looked at her for a moment before shaking her head and turning back to look out the window.
They'd been driving for a while when Katie realized something. "Where are we going?" she turned to Thea. "This isn't the way home."
Thea cleared her throat. "Right, I uh-" she looked over to Katie. "I'm not taking you to your house." she glanced over to Katie with a nervous smile. "Ollie wanted me to take you somewhere else."
"Oliver—so you volunteering to drive us was because Oliver asked you to." Katie shook her head before turning back to look out the window. "But where are we go-" soon a familiar street came into view and Katie rolled her eyes before turning back to Thea. "Stop the car." Thea didn't say anything as she continued drive. "Speedy, I said stop the car. We're not-" Thea turned the car into the driveway and shifted the car to park before turning to Katie. "Thea-"
"Oliver doesn't want you at home alone." Thea said turning to Katie. "So he asked me to bring you here. Once he's done, he will come here to pick you up and take you home." Katie shook her head as she turned back to the house.
"Is he in there?" Katie asked and Thea turned as well.
"Yes." Thea replied and Katie closed her eyes and dropped her head back against the seat. She knew Oliver would get crazy protective after she told him about the missing blood, but she didn't know he'd go this far.
Katie found herself standing with Robyn in her arms as she stood beside Thea waiting for the door to open. Soon it opened, and both turned to see Bruce whose eyes went from Thea to Katie. He didn't say anything as he took a step back to let them inside.
"Hey, uh Bruce." Thea said nervously as she glanced over to Katie who let out a sigh before turning to the man. "Thanks for this."
"Absolutely," Bruce said once again turning his gaze to Katie hoping for some kind of interaction.
"Yeah, thanks Bruce." she said before turning to Thea. "I need to change her and lay her down."
"Right, I will grab her bag and her playpen." Thea turned but Bruce held up a hand.
"I got it." he said glancing over to Katie before turning and heading out the door.
"Ok, so I know I don't know the complete story of you and Bruce, but I mean, you've been friends since you were kids. Is there really nothing that can save that friendship?" Katie looked over to the woman before turning at the sound of Bruce coming back into the house, the baby bag on one arm, the playpen tucked under his arm.
"I'll take this upstairs to the guest room." he said before heading up.
The child didn't even stir as Katie laid her down. Katie took a few steps back and took a seat on the edge of the bed, before glancing around the spacious room. She hadn't spent much time at Bruce and Felicity's house for obvious reasons. It was nice. There was a light knock on the door before it opened and in popped Bruce's head.
"Hey, I made some coffee if you want some." he said with a slight smile. "If you want I could-"
"What are you doing, Bruce?" Katie asked and the man looked at her with a quirked brow. "Coffee, really?"
"I thought I was being hospitable." he said. "Look if you don't want any coffee fine, I'll just head back down stairs." the man turned to leave, but before actually stepping out of the door he stopped and turned back to Katie. "So is this really is it? How we're going to be? I apologized."
"And I accepted your apology." Katie replied with a shrug of her shoulders. "I'm not sure what else you want."
"I want my friend back." Bruce said. "Because whether you believe it or not, everything I've done was done because I care about you. I know I overstepped, and I honestly know that it was the wrong decision."
"I know Bruce, really I do. I believe your apology was sincere, and that your motives were only fueled by this desire to keep me safe."
"Then what is it?"
Katie turned away with a shake of her head. "You don't get it." she turned back to the man. She turned back to Bruce. "You have no idea what I had been through before I saw you that day in Nanda Parbat. You were the very first face that ignited hope I thought I had lost and every day since you were my saving grace Bruce. You were the only thing in this world I held onto. I wouldn't have made it if I hadn't found you. You saved me and I trusted you more than anyone in the world." she pointed at the man. "You broke that trust."
"I know, and I will do anything to gain that trust back, Robins." Bruce said taking a step toward her, but she sighed and turned away. "I'm not giving up Robins." she turned back to him. "The moment I saw you that day, I saw a light. For the first time since that damn trial, and I fell completely into darkness, I saw you and there was a light. You're my family Robins, I'm not going to give up." he gave a nod before turning and walking from the room.
Katie just let out a sigh before turning and walking over to stand by the window.
Felicity walked into the house frowning slightly at how quiet it was. She walked further inside, heading into the kitchen where she found Thea and Bruce sitting at the table.
"Hey," she said and Bruce turned to her with a smile before standing and walking over to her. Felicity brought her arms around him when he was close. "Where's Twinkie?"
"Upstairs with Robyn." Thea said. "Ollie?"
"He and John are on their way. Hopefully they catch this guy." she turned to Bruce and placed a hand on his cheek. "You alright?"
"Yeah, perfect." he placed a kiss to her lips.
"sure you are," she replied. "I should grab my laptop, they will be there soon."
Robyn woke up from her nap and wanted to play. Katie laughed as she fluttered her fingers on the girls tummy as they sat on the floor in front of the bed. Robyn found herself squirming in a fit of laughter as she tried to escape the tickles. There was a sudden crash, and Katie lifted her head before grasping Robyn to her chest as she stood to her feet. She turned to the door before hurrying over and turning the lock and taking a few steps back.
It was happening again. Her heart racing and that tingling under her skin. She held onto Robyn as she looked around the room. There was no way out. She turned back to the door when she heard footsteps and of course she didn't see a need to be armed while attending her daughter's birthday party. She placed a kiss to Robyn's head before taking her back to the playpen. The child whined, reaching up to her mother. Katie just slid a hand over her head before turning to the door.
The door knob turned and Katie's fists clenched at her side. Then there was knocking and she frowned.
"Twinkie?" it was Oliver. Katie walked over and pulled open the door to see Oliver standing there in full on Green Arrow gear.
"Liver, what-" she looked him over. "It's still daylight out, did you drive here?" Oliver let out a sigh.
"Not exactly." he replied.
"Mama!" Robyn called and Katie turned, hurrying back over to pick the girl up into her arms, but the moment Robyn saw Oliver she lifted her hands to him. Katie let out a snort as Oliver chuckled taking the girl into his arms and placing a kiss to her head.
"Hi sweetie. I'm sorry I left you." he brought her closer to his chest and turned to Katie. "We should get back downstairs."
Katie followed Oliver downstairs still not sure what was going on. When she followed him into the living room, she was struck with a face she hadn't see in a while.
"Barry Allen." Katie said looking over to the man who currently dawned his Flash gear. He turned to her with a smile before walking over and engulfing the woman in a tight hug. "And now we're hugging."
"I'm sorry." Barry said pulling back from the hug.
"For which part, joining a team of heroes to kill me or for not showing your face since I've been back?" Katie asked and the man nervously laughed.
"Honestly, all of it." he replied before turning at the sound of a tiny voice and his eyes went wide. "And that has to be the birthday girl!" Barry walked over to make funny faces at Robyn. "I actually have a gift for you, but I forgot to bring it."
"What's going on?" Katie asked looking over to Barry.
"That's what I would like to know." Oliver says turning his body to pull his daughter away from the man. "We nearly had Vigilante if you hadn't intervened."
"You nearly had him, Ollie?" Barry asked. "It looked like he was about to "Scarface" you guys."
"I'm sorry, what?" Katie asked looking over to Oliver before turning to Barry. "What does that mean? You took the team, right?" Oliver sent a glare to Barry. "Oliver Queen, if you-
"Barry, what are you doing here?" Oliver asked instead hoping to avoid the lecture he knows is coming. "Another evil speedster to help you with, or-"
"Maybe, actually. That's not why I'm here though."
"What's so urgent that you had to rush all the way to Star City?" Felicity asked and Barry looked from her to Oliver.
"Aliens." he said.
Oliver frowned, "Aliens?"
"Aliens," Barry said. Oliver opened his mouth to speak but turned to Katie who was still looking over to Barry. Barry followed his eyes. "I know it may be hard to believe but-"
"I swear to God Barry, my life was somewhat normal before I met you." John said and Barry gave the man an apologetic look.
"I—I mean, I'm sorry." he said before turning to Katie. "Look, okay, they're real, and they're already here, and, from what Lyla told us, it does not appear to be for peace."
"Lyla knows about this?" John asked and Barry turned to the man with a nod.
"Lyla... yeah, she came to... where are you..." Barry didn't need to finish his sentence. John heard Lyla's name and nothing else mattered. He needed to make sure his wife was alright.
Oliver groaned before turning back to his wife who was uncharacteristically quiet after hearing the news of aliens.
"Twinkie?" she turned to him. "Say something." she opened her mouth, but stopped herself because the first thing she wanted to say she shouldn't really say. It was going to be a tirade filled with profanity and then she was probably going to punch Barry for popping in after months and bringing Aliens to mess up both her daughter's birthday and her and Oliver's wedding anniversary.
She turned to Barry. "Is there a plan?" Barry shrugged slightly.
"At the moment, no, but I was hoping to put one of those together." he gave a nervous smile that he turned to Oliver.
"How are the three of you supposed to fight Aliens?" Felicity asked.
"Hey, count me in." Thea said and they turned to her.
"For what?" Oliver turned to his sister. "I thought you retired."
"Yeah, but it's...aliens." she said with a slight smile.
"Aw that's cute." Felicity said. "You guys are going to fight aliens together. Have you lost your minds!" she turned to Oliver. "They're aliens and there's four of you."
"Five." Bruce said and Felicity looked over to him with a quirked brow. "Like Thea said...aliens." she just shook her head as she turned back to Barry.
"Still-"
"We could get Stein and, you know, all the others." Barry said turning to Oliver who sighed.
"They're calling themselves the Legends." Oliver said, once again glancing over to his wife who turned away.
"Egotistical but catchy." Thea muttered.
"Do you know where they are?" Barry asked and Oliver turned away.
"I know where they were." Oliver said before looking down to his daughter who entertained herself with the zipper of his hood. Doing this, leaving, meant having to once again leave this little girl, and given that it was aliens they were going up against, there was a chance he wouldn't make it back.
"So you have to go, right?" Katie turned to Oliver. "I mean of course you have to go, it's aliens, that's like a big deal." she shook her head before turning to Bruce. "Where was that coffee?" Bruce looked at her for a moment before pointing toward the kitchen. Katie just nodded before turning and walking out of the room.
"I feel like I'm probably coming at a particularly inconvenient time." Barry said before turning back to Robyn and then it hit him and his eyes widened. "If Robyn's birthday is today, then your-" he turned to Oliver who sighed as he went to check on Katie.
Oliver walked into the kitchen where he found Katie walking around the kitchen, opening up cabinets.
"They don't have cookies! Who doesn't have cookies?!" she shuts the cabinet and growled in frustration. She turned to see that guilty look on his face and let out a sigh. "I'm fine, really, I just want cookies or-" her eyes widened. "There were extra cupcakes from the party. I think they sent them home." she took a step to leave the kitchen, but Oliver moved to block her. She let out a huff, before placing a hand on her daughter's back. She turned to meet Oliver's eyes. "Aliens. When we remember our daughter's birthday, we will remember the day aliens came to earth."
"I'm sorry." Oliver said and Katie shook her head.
"I mean you didn't invite them here." she said before letting out a snort before turning to meet his eyes. "Unless you did to distract me from the fact that you didn't get me an anniversary gift." the man smiled before leaning forward to place a kiss to her lips. "One year anniversary and we won't even spend it together."
"Wait, you're not coming?" Oliver and Katie turned to see Barry standing there with a slight smile. "Before you ask, no I wasn't eavesdropping, I mean, not really, I guess I kind of overheard and-" he shook his head before turning back to Katie, "But you're not coming?"
"No, I think I'm the only one here not overly excited about aliens." Katie said before reaching over and taking Robyn from Oliver. "Plus I should stay here with Robyn and Ari." she turned back to Barry who looked like he wanted to say something. "But you have a team, and I figure a lot to do." she turned to Oliver. "You have to pack and-"
"You should come too." Barry suddenly said and Katie and Oliver turned to him with furrowed brows. "I mean, we could use all hands on deck and-" Oliver took a step forward to stand in front of Katie.
"What's going on Barry?" Oliver asked and Barry cleared the nervousness in his throat, not really having the courage to say the words, but after a moment Oliver just knew what Barry was getting at and he clenched his jaw. "You need to leave, now."
"Ollie, I-" Oliver took a step and Barry held up his hands before turning and hurrying out of the kitchen.
"What was that about?" Katie asked and Oliver turned, walking back over to her. "Why was he being weird."
"He's Barry, he's always weird." Oliver said bringing his arms around her. "If you're staying here, then I don't want you to stay at the house."
"Liver, I know you're worried, but we will be fine at home." she said moving around him.
"And what if you're not?" Oliver said and Katie stopped and glanced back over to him. "I just—leaving is absolutely the last thing I want to do right now. Leaving you, and Robyn and Ari-" he shook his head. "But for me to walk away from you, I need to know you're going to be safe."
Katie let out a sigh. "Well if everyone is leaving, where exactly are we going?" Oliver turned away in thought. When he turned back to Katie's eyes, he tilted his head slightly and Katie just narrowed her eyes. "I don't like that look."
Katie should've known that Oliver's solution to his impossible dilemma was going to be something she wouldn't like. Katie let out a sigh as she stood gripping the porch railing staring out to the familiar waves from the perfect view of their Blue Hill beach house. She turned at the creek of the door to see Ari walk over to stand beside her.
"So I kind of assumed when you and Oliver went away for your anniversary, it wouldn't be some weird family trip and definitely not back to the place you were kidnapped from." Ari said and Katie let out a chuckle. "Are you really not going to tell me what this is about?" Katie continued to look out to the waves, watching as they crashed against distant rocks. "If something is going on, I deserve to know."
"Sometimes you don't." Katie said suddenly before turning to the teen. "Sometimes me and Oliver will withhold information for period of time in an effort to keep you safe. That's what we're doing right now, when we feel that you won't be in any danger, then we will tell you the truth."
Ari frowned, "Seriously?"
"Seriously." Katie replied before nudging her head to the house. "Go finish getting unpacked. The pizza should be here soon."
Ari just scoffed before storming into the house. Katie let out another heavy sigh as she walked into the house as well. Upstairs she walked down the hall until she came upon the nursery, smiling the moment she peeked inside to see Oliver holding a sleeping Robyn in his arms as they rocked back and forth in the rocking chair.
"It's not easy." Oliver whispered as he placed a gentle kiss to the top of Robyn's hair. "It's never easy leaving you and your mommy and Ari." he let out a sigh. "Today is your birthday. It's supposed to be your day and I'm supposed to give you all of me, but I can't because Barry just had to show up with aliens." he heard a light chuckle behind him and glanced over his shoulder to see his wife leaning against the door frame. She walked over, bringing her arms around his shoulders and placing a kiss to his head. "Twinkie-"
"No, this is her time." Katie placed a kiss to his head once again before releasing her grasp. "I'm going to head downstairs to see what we're going to need from the market tomorrow." she didn't say anything before turning and leaving the nursery. Oliver watched until she was gone before turning back to his daughter.
"I love you sweetheart. More than I could ever express to you. It's that reason that I have to go. There is a threat, possibly to the planet it would seem." he let out a sigh. "Never thought I would have to say that again, but whatever. I will always fight to protect you. I will always fight to protect our family." Oliver lifted his head at the sound of the doorbell and he stood to his feet. "I should probably get down there before there's another fight I have to join." he placed a kiss to the top of her head before lowering her into the crib. "I'm going to be back." He allowed himself just a few more minutes before he finally forced himself to leave. Oliver stepped into the hallway just as Ari opened her door and peeked out as well. She looked over to him with a frown.
"Who's that?" she asked and Oliver let out a sigh. "More secrets? Whatever, forget it." she shook her head before turning and walking back into her room.
"Ari, wait," Oliver went over to her and she stopped and turned back to him. "I know you're confused, but I promise when I get back I will tell you everything."
"You know this is kind of like deja vu." Ari said folding her arms over her chest. "You dropping us off in Blue Hill while you go off on some secret mission. Should we expect Katie to be kidnapped or-" Oliver just shook his head before leaning forward and bringing his arms around her in a hug. "You know hugging me won't make me any less upset with you."
"I know." he placed a kiss to her head. "I'll be back as soon as I can. Keep an eye on your cousins." he pulled back from the hug, but she grabbed his jacket.
"Just make sure you come back, ok?" she said and Oliver gave a nod before turning and heading down the hall.
It was quieter than he assumed it would be as he walked downstairs. He let his eyes look around searching for sound from somewhere. It wasn't until he reached the front door did he spot his wife. He stepped outside, and climbed down the steps of the porch, his eyes going from his wife to the woman he called to meet them here.
"Nyssa, thanks for coming." Oliver said and the woman looked from him to her cousin. "I'm glad you could make it."
"It would seem like you're the only one." Nyssa said still staring at her cousin who hadn't said a word since she opened up the door and walked out of the house. Katie looked at Nyssa for a moment before glancing over to Oliver and without a word turned and walked off down the beach. "Oliver-"
"Just give me a sec." Oliver said before turning and hurrying after his wife. "Twinkie, wait!" she let out a growl before stopping and turning back to him.
"We can't do this. We can't—there are freaking aliens invading the planet and you have to-" she shook her head. "Just go, Nyssa can stay, we won't kill each other, but just go." he walked over to her, but she shoved him back. "I'm not happy—about any of this and I know you can't control this and I know you would change it if you could." she glanced back to see Nyssa in the distance and let out a sigh. "Of all the people I wished you would've called, she is the very last person." she turned back to Oliver. "You have to go."
"I'm not walking away from you right now." Oliver said once again attempting to close the distance between them. "Twinkie, I'm sorry, but Nyssa was the only person I could think of that could help keep you and the kids safe if needed. I assumed the two of you were—at the tolerating each other's existence part of your relationship."
"Oliver, seriously it's fine." Katie sighed meeting his eyes. "I mean it's not fine, but it is what it is. I will deal. You should be going."
"I am, I just thought-" Oliver let out a frustrated sigh. "Tomorrow-"
"I know, but it is what it is." she slid a hand through her hair turning away to look out to the water. She turned back to Oliver who kept his eyes on her and she knew this moment was tearing him up just as much as it was her. There was definitely something in the air. A slight hint of fear. This was aliens. They'd never fought aliens before so they didn't know what type of fight Oliver would be heading into which made the moment of walking away from each other that much more difficult. "I love you." Oliver chanced another step forward, snaking his arms around her waist and pulling her closer. "You better come back to me." he dropped his lips to hers in a kiss that started off slow. They wanted this moment to last longer than it could. This kiss deepened, intensified, and somehow brought them to another plane of existence where there were no masks and aliens. When they broke apart, Katie's head fell to Oliver's chest, and his grasp around her tightened. They stood like that for only a few moments longer as reality, as it always did, seeped back in. Time was not on their side and there was still a looming threat.
"I am going to do everything possible to make sure I come back to you." Oliver promised, placing a kiss to her head. They lingered there for just a few minutes longer before Katie pulled away and looked up to him.
"You have to go." she said once again and he still hated it. Leaving was the absolute last thing he wanted to do right now. "Drawing this out won't make it easier. So tell me that you love me and then go." he didn't say anything as he looked at her and she dropped her head. "Liver-"
"I love you." he said and she lifted her eyes to his. "I love you with all of my heart Katherine Queen. I will come back." Oliver took a hesitant step back, his eyes still on his wife. He knew she was right. Drawing it out was only making it harder and so with a deep breath he turned and walked away from her. He stopped in front of Nyssa who still stood in front of the house. "She's going to be alright with you staying, just don't-" he glanced down the beach to see Katie still standing out there looking out to the water. He shook his head before turning back to Nyssa. "Don't make her want to kill you because given everything that's happening, there's a chance she might succeed."
"So, aliens?" Nyssa asked and Oliver sighed but gave a nod. "Well good luck."
"Thanks, just-" Oliver looked over to the house before turning back to Nyssa. "Protect our family." Nyssa simply nodded before she watched Oliver once again glance down that beach before turning and heading toward his car. Once he had driven away, she turned to see her cousin still standing down the beach.
Katie looked out to the water, the setting sun in the distance, and an intense need to just break down in tears right here on this beach. She might've if she didn't hear the footsteps in the sand.
"You really think it's smart sneaking up on me?" Katie asked not turning to her cousin as she looks out to the water. "I still can't believe you even agreed to do this."
"To be honest, I'm more surprised." Nyssa says walking over to stand beside her cousin, but still at a distance. "But that husband of ours knows how to make a situation sound dire and just left me without a choice." Katie let out a heavy sigh before turning to Nyssa.
"I'm not in the mood Nyssa. So just don't-" Katie shook her head before stalking away back toward the house.
Oliver didn't say anything when he arrived at the air field where everyone was waiting outside of Bruce's plane. When he got out of the car, Thea walked over.
"How did it go?" she asked and Oliver just looked over to her and she could see that look in his eyes. "Ollie, they're going to be fine." he just gave a nod before heading back to his trunk to get his bag. "I think everything's mostly packed, so we should be ready to go when you are." Oliver just gave a nod before opening the trunk to grab his bags only to stop. Thea turned as well a smile coming to her lips as she looks down to see a beautifully wrapped box sitting on top of his bag. She placed a hand on his arm. "I'll see you on the plane."
When she walked away, Oliver reached forward and picked up the box, smiling at a card with his name written on it in his wife's handwriting. He plucked it from the box, and opened it.
"One year ago, we started the journey to forever. And though there have been twists and turns, evil entities and amnesia, I wouldn't trade a second of being your wife...I mean, I would change a few things...all the bad parts...but none of the good parts. Happy Anniversary Liver. Love Twinkie XOXO"
Oliver laughed, but let out a sad sigh once again. Their one year wedding anniversary and they wouldn't be spending it together and that just made him angry. She was right, this year was crazy, but on that one day they could soak in the fact that they made it through it. Oliver looked down to the box slipping the lid up to see what was inside and he burst out laughing as he pulled out a tshirt that read, "My wife went to Las Vegas and all she brought me was this shirt." Oliver couldn't stop laughing as he lifted the shirt only to see something underneath. It was another box, this one smaller. With a furrowed brow he placed the shirt and the bigger box down before picking up and opening the smaller box. That's when he saw something that made his eyes go wide. It was a watch. The black dial, and the smooth black strap that he'd know from anywhere. Oliver had seen a watch exactly like this worn by his father. It was a gift from his mother for one of their anniversaries, apparently belonging to her grandfather.
"Twinkie, how-" he pulled the watch from the box, looking at it closely. It really did look exactly like his dad's watch, but it couldn't be. He glanced over to his sister who was now the only one standing outside of the plane looking over to him and he noticed the smile on her face. He looked back down to the watch and smiled. He grabbed his bags and headed over to the plane, stopping in front of his sister who was still smiling. "How?"
"She wanted to get you something super special, something that meant something. So we looked through mom and dad's things and she found that watch." Oliver looked back down to the watch and shook his head.
"I can't believe she-" that nagging feeling crept back in. He didn't want to leave. He wanted to get back in his car and go back to his wife.
"Don't worry, you're going to be back to give her her gift, whatever that may be." Thea said and Oliver turned to her. "I can't believe you won't just tell me." Oliver just shook his head before moving around her to step inside of the plane. Thea just rolled her eyes before she followed him inside.
Early the next morning, Katie found herself tossing and turning in bed. She didn't get much sleep, and when she did she was haunted with the sight of little green men hurting her husband. With a huff Katie finally opened her eyes deciding to just give up. She glanced over to her phone on the table beside the bed, wondering if it was too early to call Oliver. At this point, she's sure he's gotten his gift. She wonders if he likes it. She was afraid it would maybe make him sad, but she was hoping that it would still make him happy. She knows how much he and Thea miss their parents. She grabbed her phone, still hesitating.
Oliver stood looking around the old Star Labs hangar that Barry apparently owned. He let out a sigh. The place was big, plenty of room to do whatever they were going to do to prepare to fight aliens. He was still trying to come up with a plan, but he was coming up empty. Oliver stood in the hangar alone as the others waited for Stein and his team to arrive. He was about to see if they were close when his phone beeped. He slipped it out of his pocket, and lifted up the screen and a smile came to his face. He swiped open a text from Katie.
"Good Morning, I know it's super early, and you're probably either sleeping, busy or being probed right now. I really hope it's not that one. Either way, I felt a text was safer than calling."
Oliver chuckled before dialing her number and bringing his phone to his ear. He listened to the ringing before she finally answered.
"Probed, really?" he said and she laughed.
"If you dreamed what I dreamed last night, you wouldn't be laughing." Katie said. Oliver smiled. He was happy to hear her voice. "I thought I should talk to you at least once today, you know, say happy anniversary and all that hoopla."
"Hoopla?" Oliver chuckled. He turned at the sound of voices and sighed.
"I know that sound." Katie sighed. "You have to go."
"No, I'm-" he turned his back, walking further into the hangar away from the others. "It's fine, I can talk."
"Even on the phone you're a terrible liar." she laughed. "It's fine Liver, go save the world and be like a hero or whatever."
"Ollie, they're here!" Thea called over to him and he turned to her and she whispered an apology when she saw the phone to his ear. "Twinkie?" she whispered and Oliver nodded. Thea just gave a nod before turning and giving him some privacy.
"So I opened your gift." Oliver said and Katie sighed. He really had a thing for delaying the inevitable.
"You did? Cool shirt right?" she said and Oliver laughed.
"Yeah it was, but I was talking about the watch." Oliver said lifting his wrist to look down to the watch with a smile. "You got me my dad's watch. I can't believe it."
"So you like it?"
"I love it. It's kind of the best gift I've ever gotten." Oliver said before clearing his throat. "I mean beside our daughter." Katie laughed.
"Well I'm glad you like it Liver." Katie said. "I remember the time you got in trouble for wearing that watch without asking your dad first. You wore it to take some big exam."
Oliver lightly chuckled. "My dad called it his lucky watch and I needed all the luck I could get for that exam. You weren't in that class with me."
"Are you saying I was your good luck charm for all your other exams?" Katie laughed.
"I'm saying I never failed a test when you were in the room."
"Well yeah that's because we cheated most of the time."
"And we never got caught and I say that made us lucky." Oliver laughed as well. Soon the laughter stopped and he just stood there listening to her breathe. It was coming to the point where they would have to hang up and he didn't want to yet. "Happy anniversary Twinkie. I would've given you your gift if I knew you were going to give mine."
"So...what did you get me? A lifetime supply of cookies because I would love you forever if you got me that."
He chuckled. "How long would you love me if I got you something else?"
"Depends on what this something else is?" Katie replied. "I mean if it's something good, I might give you until Robyn turns eighteen. After that I go in search of my next husband, who laughs at my jokes and makes sure my cookie stash never goes empty."
"The way you eat those cookies, I would love to see that." Oliver laughed and so did she. He heard the sound of distant voices again and knew reality was once again tugging at him.
"I'm going to have to hang up first, aren't I?" she asked and Oliver just sighed. "You know Liver, it's been a tough year, but I think we still kicked it's ass."
"We did." Oliver said with a smile. "I look forward to many more years with you, kicking ass, including whoever you think this next husband is."
"Alright, I hear the Little bird, so I should go. Be safe, I love you."
"Love you too." Oliver said and then she finally hung up the phone.
It was a strange day, Katie thought. Walking downstairs, finding Nyssa sitting beside Ari as the two eat cereal. It just seemed wildly bizarre given the woman she once knew Nyssa to be and now that person was just gone.
Ari suggested that she and Nyssa go into town and pick up food from the market. Katie was still a bit hesitant, but she let them go.
Katie took Robyn for little walk down the beach. It was a bit chilly out, but the sun was shining against the water. Katie was just humming with Robyn snuggled against her chest as they walked. She stopped when she felt a slight tingle in the back of her head, and so she turned, taking a slight step back at the sight of Constantine and Zatanna. Seeing them, on this beach just made her nervous. She remembered the last time they popped up on her here and how after she spent months away from her family.
"I thought I made myself really clear the last time I saw you two." Katie says grasping her daughter tighter in her arms.
"Hey, hey love-" Constantine held up his hands. "Don't worry we come in peace." Katie turned from him to Zatanna who kept her distance. Constantine looked back to the woman before gesturing to her. "You know I don't think you've two have been formally introduced." he turned back to Katie. "Love, this is Zatanna Zatara-" he turned to Zatanna. "Zee, this is Katherine Queen." she gave him an annoyed look before they turned back to Katie.
"What are you doing here?" Katie asked still looking between the two warily. "I'm still not evil so there's nothing for you to worry about."
"That's not why we're here." Zatanna said with a slight smile. "Barry called Constantine." Katie turned to Constantine in confusion. "He told us about the Dominators."
"Then what are you doing here?" Katie asked. "I'm sure they could use some of your mysticism."
"Or maybe he could use some of yours." Zatanna replied and Katie looked over to her with a furrowed brow. "If Barry is right, and there are beings from a different planet coming to earth, then there will need to be lines of defense beyond Barry and whatever team he has gotten together. Constantine and I are going to split up, try to cover as much area as we can."
"I still don't know what you're doing here." Katie says turning to Constantine.
"C'mon, you didn't think that just because the darkness is gone, that those nifty tricks you could do would just be gone did you?" he took a step toward her. "I told you, you can't just get rid of it, and you didn't. It's still there."
"We can feel it." Zatanna said and Katie turned to her. "It's how we found you. It's sort of like a beacon." Katie shook her head before turning and walking away back toward the house. "Katherine, you can run away, but you can not change what is inside of you, and if that power could help your friends stop these things before the world is put in the balance, don't you think you should at least give it a shot!" Katie didn't stop walking, and Zatanna just let out a sigh before turning to Constantine.
"At least she didn't try to kill us." Constantine said turning to the woman.
"That probably had more to do with the child in her arms than anything." the woman said before turning back to see the woman gone. "You know I get it. She's confused about all of this, and has no one to actually teach her how to use her abilities. And she hates us too much to give us the chance."
"Yeah well we made those beds and laid in them." the man said before stuffing his hands in his pockets. "But if one thing is true, it's that Katherine Queen doesn't bow out of a fight." he looked back over to Zatanna. "She's going to remember that."
"You sound so sure of yourself." the woman replied before turning and walking away.
"Well I have a knack for these things, love." he said before turning and following behind her.
Katie let out a huff as she stalked inside of the house. She didn't need more complications in her life, but she should've known that the appearance of Constantine and Zatanna just meant complications.
She just shook her head before heading into the kitchen to distract herself by making Robyn lunch.
Ari and Nyssa walked in the house, Ari laughing at the look on Nyssa's face.
"I can't believe you almost broke that guy's hand. You really need to chill out." Ari said and Nyssa just shook her head as they walked into the kitchen. Ari looked up with a smile as she looked over to see Robyn happily eating some little chunks of fruit. She turns to see Katie standing over the sink, her back to them. "You won't believe what happened at the market." Ari laughed looking over to Nyssa before sitting the bag in her hand on the table. "She—" Ari turned back to her cousin who still stood silently, her back still to them. "Katie?" Ari frowned, glancing over to Nyssa who sat the bag in her hands down as well before walking over cautiously to Katie who hadn't acknowledged their presence. "Katie!" that's when the woman slightly jumped and turned to see Ari and Nyssa. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah, I-" she turned to Nyssa, still slightly wary to be in the woman's presence. She just assumes that small pit of doubt deep in her gut to trust this woman would probably always be there. "I'm fine, just in my head." she turned back to Ari. "I'm fine."
"You're thinking about Oliver, aren't you?" Ari asked walking over to lean over the counter that separated them. "Have you talked to him?"
"Yeah, I did. I talked to him a little while ago." she said turning away slightly. Ari looked at the woman for a moment before glancing over to Nyssa and then Robyn before turning back to Katie.
"You know we would be good, right?" Ari said and Katie turned to her with a quirked brow. "It's killing you that you're not with him and what ever he's doing he may need you." Katie just shook her head.
"Ari-"
"When you're in trouble, he saves you and when he's in trouble you save him. You guys watch each other's back, right?" Ari asked and Katie looked at her for a moment before turning to Nyssa. Even considering leaving meant trusting this woman with the two most important people in her life. Ari followed her eyes to Nyssa and saw the hesitancy. "Nyssa is-"
"Ari-" Katie said turning to the teen. "I know who Nyssa is. I've spent an awful long time getting to know Nyssa in ways that you could never imagine." Katie turned back to Nyssa. "Ari, take Robyn upstairs and get her cleaned up for her nap." Ari didn't move for a moment, but let out a sigh before walking over to the baby.
"C'mon Stinker." she muttered before picking up the child and heading out of the kitchen upstairs.
Katie kept her gaze fixed on Nyssa who didn't turn away. Silence swallowed the air around them.
"If you leave, I will protect them with my life." Nyssa said, but Katie didn't say anything. "You know I can't-" Nyssa sighed. "I can't take it back. I can't change what my father and I—I can't change it. I am not that person anymore, and I think you know that."
"What I know is that absolutely nothing can happen to Ari or Robyn. So for me to even consider walking out of that door I can have no doubt in your ability to protect my kids." Katie looked at the woman and shook her head before turning away and walking back over to stand by the sink, once again looking out the window. Her eyes glanced down to her hand, looking to her wedding ring not able to stop thinking about Oliver. Ari was right, it was killing her not being the one there to watch his back.
"You should go pack." Nyssa said and Katie turned to her. "You and I both know of my abilities. So what you really need to decide is if you trust me enough to leave them with me."
"Can I trust you?" the question really wasn't for the woman. Katie was actually asking herself, looking for the truth she knew the woman in front of her could never answer. That answer was right there, and yet a part of Katie just didn't—couldn't accept it. Nyssa looked over to her for a moment before a slight smirk came to her face before she turned and went over to the grocery bag and began pulling out food. Katie shook her head before walking over to the woman. "Nyssa-"
"Save whatever threats you have and just go." the woman said glancing over to her cousin. "I'm here to keep our family safe." Katie looked in the woman's eyes and could see it. The certainty. Her words were true, and despite their past Katie found it in herself to believe it.
Author's Note:
Nyssa the babysitter. Sounds like a hoot, but Katie is jumping into the invasion!
Review Replies:
EchoMoment: I loved writing that date and giving our Twiver a break from all the doom and gloom. I wanted it to be fun but also weird. I feel like Katie would plan a totally bizarre date an Elvis bar.
Yes, Oliver going into dad mode when he fears his kids are growing up too fast is adorbs. He really doesn't want to let them go and I think he's turning Robyn into a real daddy's girl.
You were right about the phone call. It was about her visit to the hospital! Her fainting was because of something done to her. We will figure out by who soon.
Thanks to all for your support!
Sneak Peek
Katie turned back to Nyssa who just stood with her arms folded over her chest. "you can do this, right? Like how much experience do you have with children? Can you change a diaper?"
"I have been trained to kill a man with my thumb, I think I can handle a diaper." Nyssa said before nudging her head. "You should go. If this fight is as bad as Oliver made it seem, then he really may need you."
"Fine." Katie says before turning and walking back over to grab the handle of her bag before turning back to Nyssa. "And you may have been trained to kill a man, but absolutely nothing we were trained to do has prepared us for babies.