"What happened out there?" Felicity asked Oliver as he entered the lair to find the others already there.
"The power outage was a trick. Slade was there. He did this to draw me to him." Oliver said.
"Sounds like this earth's version of Slade prefers to do his own dirty work." John said and Oliver nodded.
"I uh, I nearly lost it out there with him. I forgot that I wanted to help him. I nearly killed him." Oliver said.
"What, even before, he never got in your head like that. You never wanted to kill him immediately, it took him kidnapping Laurel to get you to even consider it before." Felicity said.
"Yeah well, last time I didn't have an innocent 5 year old daughter to protect." Oliver said.
"Wait, he threatened Jasmine?" Thea asked and Oliver nodded.
"He threatened Laurel, you, mom, dad and I still remained true to my morals, since he'd made those threats before. But when he threatened Jasmine, something inside me just snapped and I nearly lashed out at him." Oliver said.
"He provoked the parent in you, it's natural." Thea said.
"I know, but I'm changing my mind about something. If we don't have the cure the next time Slade and I lock horns, then I will put him down. I have to choose between the daughter I have with the love of my life or the man I once called a brother but is now trying to kill me, my daughter will win every time. End of discussion." Oliver said.
"You really should try to get Laurel out of the city, since in her current state, she's vulnerable." Thea said and Oliver nodded.
"Wait, what current state?" John asked.
"Laurel's pregnant again." Oliver said.
"You're gonna be a father again?" John asked.
"I am and that's another reason why I wanted to kill him." Oliver said.
"I'll check with Lyla, see if Argus is any closer to that cure." John said as he walked out.
"Oliver, are you okay?" Thea asked.
"Yeah, it's just, there's a part of me that will always have hope that Slade can change, especially after he did back on earth one, but now there's another part of me that's asking if risking Jasmine's life is really worth that risk." Oliver said.
"I think you already know the answer to that." Thea said and Oliver nodded.
"Jasmine is the reason I'm doing what I'm doing. Every single thing I've done since I got back has been to protect her." Oliver said and Thea nodded.
"I know. You want to keep her safe. I get that. And Slade's life is not worth her's. I'm not saying you shouldn't try to help him, but if it comes down to his life or Jasmine's, you know who you'll choose." Thea said and Oliver nodded.
"Thanks Speedy. Now I have to get back to Sara's party before they start asking questions." Oliver said and Thea chuckled as Oliver left.
After Oliver, Laurel and Jasmine returned home that night and Oliver managed to get Jasmine to go to sleep, he entered his and Laurel's bedroom to find her waiting for him.
"So, want to tell me what really happened out there tonight?" Laurel asked.
"Slade's decided to do his own dirty work this time. He and I exchanged strikes." Oliver said.
"Oliver, something's changed. Before you had this desire to save Slade. But it's like that's gone now. What happened?" Laurel asked.
"I could handle him threatening my parents and Thea and even you, since he's made those threats before. But tonight he threatened Jasmine." Oliver and Laurel's blood ran cold.
"Once my maternity leave starts at work, I am taking Jasmine as far away from Star City as I can get her." Laurel said and Oliver nodded.
"I'll let you know when the Slade situation is resolved, one way or another." Oliver said.
"I guess that speeds up our wedding plans even more." Laurel said and Oliver nodded.
"Actually, maybe we should wait until after you have the baby, so that way we can actually go on a honeymoon afterwards. I hear Aruba is a very nice place." Oliver said.
"You sure you can wait that long?" Laurel asked.
"I've waited years to marry you, I can wait a little longer." Oliver said.
"You do realize that we're going to have to wait an additional nine months at least, since we're going to have to wait until I finish nursing to leave the kid for more than an hour." Laurel said.
"I waited 5 years to come home to you twice. I can wait another 18 months to marry you if you can." Oliver said.
"Promise this kid will be our last, since you're already pulling a double shift between your job at QC and being the Green Arrow and I will already be outnumbered. I can't do this, raise 2 kids without you Ollie. Certainly not more." Laurel said.
"I think that 2 kids is all we need." Oliver agreed.
"Good. Then I think we can wait until then. Good thing we haven't even sent out save the date cards yet." Laurel said.
"Come on, something tells me you're going to be having a rough morning tomorrow, considering your morning sickness is getting worse, so let's get some sleep." Oliver said.
"One more thing before we do." Laurel said as Oliver climbed into bed after changing and just like he'd done every night since she'd told him she was pregnant, he placed his hand on her now still flat belly.
"What." Oliver asked.
"I think we should start coming up with names for our baby. We should each have a choice." Laurel said.
"I'll choose for a boy if you'll choose for a girl?" Oliver said and Laurel nodded.
"How about Alexandra if it's a girl?" Laurel asked.
"Alexandra Queen. Has a nice ring to it." Oliver said.
"Now what about you?" Laurel asked.
"William." Oliver said.
"After your son from Earth One." Laurel said.
"I know he doesn't exist on this earth, but this is probably the closest I am going to get." Oliver said.
"I never said I had a problem with it. If anything, I like it, since this time, William will be my son to." Laurel said and Oliver smiled as he kissed her before they fell asleep.