Author's note: Sorry this is a bit late... life got in the way... there are 3 chapters today then we start to dive into the bag guys and all... I promise you will love it... also there is a full chapter of SmoaknLance for those who have been asking for it

so enjoy and review

As always thanks to my incredible beta warehouseluver13 for all the insight and help

Disclosure: I own nothing of Arrow but loved the Constantine episode

"Well now that we know her claim to the seat is real, how do we know she is?" Lyla asked as she moved across the Bunker from the computer bay to sit at the large conference table.

Tatsu began to dig through her things, in search of something she had held onto for some time. She knew it was important and would possibly be their salvation in the end. "Because of this." Tatsu pulled out a small dagger. It was bejeweled with sapphire stones on the handle and the blade was short and wavy. It was beautiful but deadly.

"What's that?" Sara asked as she took the blade. She rolled it in her hand to see how the jewels caught the light and felt a sharp sting as the tip punctured into her palm slightly.

Nyssa had recognized the blade instantly. It had been the one Ra's had gifted to her and she in return had given to Talia for her training. "It's Talia's. I gave that to her a week before she had been banished."

Lyla was shocked at this new information. "How do we know it came for though? Someone could have taken it from her. Killed her for it. Or she could have sold it."

"No. Talia would not part with this for the world. She would have to give it away with purpose for anyone else to have it. She would not fall under another's blade. She was a masterful fighter who only became better with time. There were some that believed she could best my father himself. That blade means too much to her."

"Why?"

"It was her mother's. She had it on her the day she married my father. It was all Talia had left of her mother. She had been devastated when our father gifted it to me instead of her. She would not give this way freely. She is alive."

"Okay. But how do we use that to our advantage?" Sara pondered.

Nyssa considered this for a moment. "Malcolm knows nothing of my sister. Everyone under my father's rule were too scared to mention it. They would not relish the torture in their future if they had. All records of her and her mother had been removed years prior to his arrival in Nanda Parbat. He would not know about her claim to his seat or of her skills. Ra's would never have told him of the failed daughter. In his eyes, my father had a single daughter and that was all. That is why he claimed me as his heir until last year. Talia died in his mind the day she was banished. We can use her and the fact she has a blood tie to the seat to our advantage."

"Was she really that good of a fighter? Can she really take down Merlyn?" Lyla wondered.

"Yes. She was the deadliest assassin the League had ever produced. She could take on any man and overpower him no matter his attack form. She would study her opponent as she fought them and learn their moves in a matter of seconds. She was dangerous and ruthless. No one could control her."

"Then how do we? We need to be able to control her after she defeats Malcolm. We need to be able to use the ring to draw Darhk out of hiding so we can defeat him as well. Not to mention ensure that we don't just hand the League over to someone who will use it just as Malcolm is now." Tatsu chimed in after soaking in all the new information.

"I can explain our position to her. Let her know why we are wanting what we do and assure her that we will give the control of the League back to her once we have completed our task. Talia was never one for death unless warranted. She would never follow in the dark steps of our father. I assure you."

"How can you be sure? This is a woman you haven't spoken to in years and could want retaliation against you for the wrongs done against her by your father. He showed more care towards you than he did for her. She may resent you for that." Tatsu questioned.

"She was always neglected by our father in terms of emotions yes but never by me. She knows how scared everyone was of my father and would never hold my actions or lack of support at the time of her banishment against me. I was a child and was terrified of my father. Rightfully so. She will listen because I always treated her as what she is. My sister." Nyssa sounded resound in the fact that she could get Talia to understand and agree to help them in their efforts.

Tatsu and Lyla nodded in agreement, trusting in Nyssa's belief in her connection with her sister. Sara pondered a new issue. "That's all well and good but how do we get in touch with her? It's not like we have her number or anything."

"I may be able to help with that." Lyla grinned as she moved back to the computer bay. "One of my contacts had a number for me that he said would put me in contact with someone who knew about all the history of Darhk and the League. He said he was surprised this person knew what they did due to their age. Seems the person is a female of about 40 years old. Sounds about right for Talia's age, right Nyssa?"

"Correct she would be almost 42 now."

"Let me find out what this contact knows and see if she is who we think she is. If so, we may have found not only our solution to our issue with Malcolm and the League but it sounds like she might be able to help us with Darhk as well." Lyla turned back to the computers and started to work to dig into the past of the contact in question as well as any new information she could on Nyssa's long lost sister Talia.

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"Oh god Oliver! Please don't stop. That feels so good." Felicity moaned.

Thea had stopped by to check on the couple and fill them in on the new developments with the team. They had not been answering their phones for the better part of an hour so she was worried. She had Rob drop her off at Connor's school and had ridden back to the mansion with them. As soon as they were home, Connor bolted to the kitchen in search of something to drink and a snack. So Thea had scoured the house looking for the couple.

"God Oliver! Your hands are seriously magic. I can't even think straight right now." Thea groaned internally as she tried to push the image forming in her head away as fast as possible. This was not what she had hoped to find when she came here. She knew that her brother and sister-in-law were still very much in their honeymoon stage but she hoped they would be at least a bit quieter since they did live with a kid. Not to mention how the staff liked to gossip.

Suddenly Felicity busted into a giggle fit. "Oliver stop! That tickles. You know I hate when you touch me there. And keep that slimy thing away from my legs." Upon hearing this, Thea's confusion grew. What the hell are they doing in there? Nevermind! I seriously do not need to know!

Deciding she had eavesdropped enough she knocked and coughed loudly at their bedroom door. It was followed by thundering footfalls that seemed to charge towards the door. Oliver pried it open and she could see him peer his head around the door and into the small crack he had created. "Hey Speedy! What's up?"

"I need to talk to you about some news that's come up about Darhk and Malcolm. If you guys are busy, I can wait but you really need to get her to be a bit more quiet. We don't need to scar Connor more than he already is."

"Quiet? Oh! No I was giving Felicity a foot rub. Come on in." Oliver laughed as he opened the door wider for Thea to pass through. When she did she was greeted with a relaxed Oliver in a thin t-shirt and sweats.

Felicity could be found perched on a chair next to the bed, her legs and feet extended out in front of her and resting on a nearby ottoman that had a towel draped across it. She was dressed in one of Oliver's button up white shirts and a pair of sleep shorts. She smiled up at Thea as she took the towel and began rubbing some of the moisture off her legs and feet. That's was when Thea noticed the bottle of massage oil next to her. "Wow. You really do have my brother whipped. He never gave massages to girls unless he knew it would end in him getting sex."

"Still does." Oliver snickered as he moved into the bathroom adjacent to wash off his hands.

Felicity blushed and rolled her eyes. "Oliver!" Thea could only laugh at the lighter side of her brother. She had noticed in the weeks following his return to Starling and his acceptance of Felicity in his life fully, that his more playful and silly side had returned. Now it seemed that the dopey grins and cheerful side had become his normal state of being. She wasn't about to complain because it was as if the brother she knew before the island, and donning his mask and mission, had finally fully returned. All because of the small blonde that just seemed to appear in his life but touched him in a way that no one else ever had. "So what did you need to tell us, Thea?" Felicity asked and pulled Thea out of her head.

Thea hesitated, not wanting to spoil their happy mood or say something that could cause Felicity to begin to stress. She knew how important it was that Felicity stay in a relaxed mode at all times now. She was almost into her third trimester and would be needing to keep her blood pressure down as much as possible to insure that the babies would be safe and healthy when they came. Oliver had walked back into the room and sat on the ottoman, taking Felicity's feet in his lap and wiping them with a damp cloth then throwing it in a nearby basket and dried them on another one. He chucked that one as well as the one that had been lying there into the same basket. "It's okay, Speedy. You can tell us. I don't keep secrets from Felicity anymore. Causes way too much trouble in the end."

"Is it safe?" She inclined her head and stared as if silently asking if Felicity could handle it. Oliver turned to look at Felicity, who gave him a short nod while soothing her hand over her belly, then turned back to his sister and nodded. "Okay. So we still don't have much on Damien as far as a location but we seem to be piecing together a bit more on his ghosts. They all work for an organization called HIVE. Lyla had heard of it during her days at A.R.G.U.S. She has reached out to several contacts she still has from there to dig more into not only Damien but HIVE as well. We also haven't really come up with a play on getting to Malcolm. Well at least one the the team could all back. They had thought about sending me in as a distraction buy Sara shot that one down. Fast. So we are still working on that as well. I know that we are down one person since Lis is not allowed in the Bunker pregnant. And Lyla has to watch little Sara while Dig is out so that leaves no one on comms unless Digg stays behind, which won't be happening. And with you wanting to be near Lis as much as possible right now, which I don't blame you for. None of us do. You had said that you wanted time away from the team and the nightly job but came back when we needed you even though you weren't quite ready." Oliver huffed a breath but Thea just rolled her eyes at him. "Please Ollie! I know you would rather be here at home with Lis and Con than freezing out there on some random roof with us. I know you want to help and you want to take down Damien and Malcolm but that doesn't mean you need to be out on patrols every night with us. So I was thinking. We could use some extra help and when we do take on Malcolm and Damien we could really use it. We can rely on Barry and Team Flash but they may have their own thing going on and can't help. I know if they're available, they'll help but we need a plan if they can't."

"Sounds reasonable." Felicity noted, a softness to her tone that showed that she had been considering this as well.

"So I reached out to Roy. I know he can't wear the Arrow hood because it's in lockup. And I'm not giving up my hood. And I know you won't give up yours either. But I was thinking he could bring Arsenal back. Cisco could throw a set together for him in no time flat and Barry could drop it by the Bunker when it's finished. Then I can stay in and run the comms during patrols. That way everyone is safe."

"Safe? Speedy is something wrong? Did something happen?"

Thea released a frustrated huff. She had not planned on telling them this part. She was still trying to wrap her mind around it herself. "There was sort of an incident during training early this week. Everything is okay and no one got hurt. Well expect that training dummy thing. We need a new one by the way."

"Thea, what happened?"

"I was working through some things on my own. Trying to sort out some emotions and thoughts and next thing I know, I was on my butt on the training mat, panting and gasping for air as my lungs burned, and Dig was patching up my hands. They told me later that I had gone off all of sudden and I didn't remember it. I blacked out. I can't remember it at all. Or what caused it. Just that it was scary to come out on the other side and not have any control in that moment."

Oliver's heart stopped. His sister was fighting demons he never wanted her to have. All because the decisions he had made. He felt a stab in his gut twist as he realized she was in pain and suffering all due to him. He had been selfish and put her through the waters of the pit and now she was paying their cost. "Thea I'm so sorry. We will figure this out and fix it. I promise."

"I know but right now we have enough on our plate for me to lose it in the field. I can just imagine the backlash if I snapped while out one night and let it loose on some thug. It scares me that I don't have any control over it and can't stop it either. It's like I'm possessed and that monster wants blood. Sara said she could help me hone it so that I can keep it in check for now. I want to help as long as I can but if I start getting too far off…"

"That's not gonna happen. We won't let it."

"I know bro but I need you to promise to knock me out. Sedate me. Do whatever you need to to keep everyone safe. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I hurt anyone, especially if it was someone on the team or our family. I told Donna about it and we have a plan in place if she can't talk to me. She knows exactly what to do to keep the club running in my absence."

"We'll figure this all out. I promise." Oliver wrapped his arm around her and pulled her into his chest. She rested her chin on his shoulder and closed her eyes soaking in the comfort her brother was giving her. She opened them to find a watery smile from Felicity as she reached out to brush her hand over Thea's shoulder.

"I know. I believe we will. But we have more important matters right now. Like two crazy psychotic, power hungry, murderous bad guys trying to not only wipe each other out but our family and city as well."

"So you guys were able to confirm Malcolm is after Damien as well?"

"Yep. We think he is building and training the army to battle Damien so that he could get that dude's powers. And Damien wants the League and it's forces. Not sure why yet but I have a feeling that his connection to HIVE is mixed in with it and will end like all these stories do; with world domination and/or destruction."

"Okay hate to rain on the parade here but we don't have anything new on either front."

"Yes we do. I just hadn't gotten there yet. Seems there is a new player on the board. Nyssa has a long lost half sister, Talia Al Ghul, and there are whispers that she wants the League. Seems that some of the men under Malcolm have been in contact and it sounds like she is staging a coup. She will fight and take down Malcolm and he won't even know what hit him. He doesn't know about her. Something happened years ago and Ra's banished her before Merlyn even showed up there. Lyla and Nyssa were trying to find a way to contact her when I left. If we can get her on our side, we could easily defeat Malcolm then, with her help, deceive Damien and defeat him as well. She will want the League in the end but I don't think she will want to run it like her father did. Nyssa believes that too. Something about the way she was treated turned her against servitude and blind obedience."

"I could understand that." Felicity chuckled darkly. "So we may have a new visitor to Starling if she agrees. Then we will plan out the take down on Malcolm with her help. But we can't wait forever on her either. Have Lyla and Nyssa keep reaching out. I will search for her from here as well. But have Tatsu and Sara work on a Plan B just in case we can't get in touch with her. We are already a month past deadline with Damien. I don't want to push our luck much further."

"I agree." Oliver mumbled as he nodded along with his wife. "And we still need to figure out how to take him down because I refuse to hand that man the League without a plan in place to defeat him."

"We all do bro. I'll have the team keep working on the plans and tell them what we discussed. As soon as we get in touch with Talia, I'll let you know. But we sort of voted and decided, as a team, that Oliver should stay here with you Lis until after the twins come. You need to relax and you only do that when he is here and not out in the field. So Roy will be here from Coast City tonight. He has cleared it with his boss to be on an extended vacation. He explained that his sister, Felicity, was expecting twins and the pregnancy was being tricky so she needs help. The boss let him go and told him that he would fill his job while he was gone but hire him back once he was back. Sounds kinda like Roy didn't want to go back."

"Speedy…"

"I know. I know. That's up to him. But since things have always been weird between us, can he stay here with you guys? I think he would be more comfortable here anyway."

"Don't be so sure about that." Oliver groaned as he thought about the history between them all.

Felicity patted his arm in support and the soothe him a bit then smiled at Thea. "Sure it's fine Thea. I'll have Raisa make up a room for him."

"Beat ya to it. She is doing it now. I have him in the guest wing so you guys still have a bit of privacy over here." Thea giggled.

"Thanks Speedy." Oliver moaned as he rolled his eyes.