Author's note: Hey so my muse got so inspired by what I planned for the rest of this story that what I planned to be only a couple chapters turned into 9 CHAPTERS! And I got them written and read for posting in just a few days so here is a special treat... enjoy and review!

Also check out my polyvore for the story!

A special shout out to my beta warehouseluver13... I just sated betaing for another author and now I realize all that your do for me... YOU ARE TRULY REMARKABLE

Disclosure: I own nothing of Arrow and I also used some dialogue from the show because the writers are just so amazing and I couldn't help myself

"Man I am so sorry. I hate that you lost them both." Tommy whispered as he and Oliver stood before Moira and Robert's graves. Oliver and Tommy had started walking around the gardens as Oliver told him about the wedding and everything that had changed around the house.

"Yeah but it's okay. I still have Thea. And now I have Connor and Felicity and the babies on the way. Plus Walter and Donna and the team. We have made a little family out of it all."

"Yeah. They seem to really make you happy."

Oliver chuckled warmly. "Yeah they do. You know when I started out with my mission, when I came home from the island, I planned on doing it all alone. Now I can't imagine my life without a single one of them. It's strange how life changes your plans."

"I can see that. I never thought I would see the great Oliver Queen married and settled down. And to Lis no less. You were never pulled to a woman like her. But I knew there was something there from day one. I could see it. In the way you looked at her. She's good for you."

"That she is."

"Your folks would be happy for you two. And the kids. Man those kids would be spoiled rotten the second your folks got their hands on them. Especially Connor."

"Trust me. He is getting enough of that from our sister."

"Yeah. Still. He's a great kid."

"That was all his mom's doing." Oliver noted quietly.

Tommy shook his head as they stepped away from the graves. "I don't think so. He has his dad's charm and curiosity. Plus his heart. Ollie, you always loved those around you wholeheartedly; if they meant something to you. Look at all you did for Speedy while she grew up. Most guys wouldn't give up full weekends to spend at home with their sick siblings. You gave up an entire spring break once so that you could take her to Disneyland just cause she wanted to feel like a princess."

Oliver smiled as he remembered that week. "Yeah but she deserved that. She deserves the best from her brothers. I'm sorry you never knew."

"Hey you didn't know. Trust me. I don't blame you or her. Our folks should have told us. It was just another way they tried to control our lives."

"I also owe you a thank you. I know you took care of Speedy a lot better than I thought while I was gone. She told me a lot about those times while you were gone. She's clean now. Going on two years. She is determined too. No drugs and easy with the booze. She has grown up a lot these last few years. And telling her my secret and letting her in that world has helped. She has a purpose. She runs the club and even created a few clinics in the Glades to help those our folks hurt."

"Sounds like she is just like her big brother."

"Brothers. You are going to do good things as well. We just have to figure out how. And we will. Together."

"Man, I don't know about that." Tommy huffed as he sat down on the bench in the gazebo. "The Merlyn name is not something people want to hear around here anymore."

Oliver sat down beside him and was silent for a bit then smiled. "Felicity told me something once; something that has stayed with me for a long time now. 'You deserve better.' It was after the whole Isabel and Russia thing. I told her that I thought that with the life I lived I couldn't be with someone I really cared about. She just shook her head and told me that. Stopped me in my place. She was always so sure of who I was. Not Oliver Queen, CEO or Oliver Queen, Arrow. But just Oliver."

"She's a smart woman."

"That she is. Still trying to figure out why she picked me of all the men she could have but I work to earn her love everyday. She makes me see that I am more than just my name. So is Thea and so are you. The Merlyn name is all that your dad gave you. No real role model or love. So take that and make it your own. Show the world that it is just a name and you are more than it. Work for what you want. I remember how hard you helped me with the club. You were proud of that place because it was the first time you were doing something for you. Not because you were a Merlyn. So we will find you something like that again. Trust me."

"You really have grown up." Tommy smiled, proud of how much his friend had changed and discovered about himself over the years.

"I have. Having the right people beside me helped and you have all of us behind you. Rooting for you. Your family."

"Thanks man." Tommy wrapped Oliver in a hug.

Oliver pulled back, nervous to broach the next subject. "Listen there is one other thing I want to talk to you about. It's about one of the last times you saw me before you died. At Laurel's. Tommy I was in a messed up state of mind and didn't know where to turn. She came to me saying she still loved me and we fell into old patterns. After your death, we knew it was wrong. We were bad for each other. So nothing happened after that day. You need to know that. I love Laurel and always will but we just never were right for each other. And nothing will ever happen between us again."

"I would hope not. You have a great thing going here. You seriously mess this up and I'll hunt you down and put one of your arrows in you." Oliver laughed, glad that Tommy had tried to see the light in their problem. "Listen man, I know back then you were all messed up. And with the whole Undertaking thing and your mom and my dad."

"Turns out my dad too." Oliver added.

"Yeah. I know it really shook both of us. I mean for the first time in my life, I was questioning what type of man my best friend was. The same guy who had saved my life at least twice as well as my dad's even though he knew he was trying to do something to the city."

"And tried to kill me once."

"What?"

"Yeah that first Christmas I was back, the Hood went up against the Dark Archer and saved those hostages. That was me and your dad. Although I didn't know it was him when I saved him. I was doing that for you."

"And I am thankful for that. For all you guys have done. It seems that you all have done a lot for this city and it's people over the years. Given up a lot and lost even more. But never really got a thank you like you all deserve so I want to take the time and say thanks."

"We don't do it for the thank yous." Oliver smiled proudly as he remembered a moment with Felicity a few months prior.

"Lis again?" When Oliver nodded and blushed, Tommy laughed. "I swear man, that woman is too good for the likes of men alone, nonetheless you."

"Don't tell Sara that. She has had a crush on her for years I think. Keeps calling her cute. Doesn't help Felicity took a bullet for her."

"Okay that's it. You're wife is a badass! Hands down. She's killer with a computer, takes on board members and eat them alive, runs over psycho ex mistresses and stares down drugged up super soldiers and highly trained nut jobs. Takes bullets. Not to mention looks like she just walked out some sexy librarian wet dream."

"Hey! That's my wife!" Oliver snapped, not liking how Tommy was alluding to Felicity's sensual side.

Tommy threw his hands up. "Duly noted! I'm just saying. Whatever made you go into her office that day, blessed you with a gift. So treat her that way or she will have a line forming for others willing to. Some may even have familiar faces." Tommy teased causing Oliver to growl at his lifelong friend.

After a few moments of shared laughter, Oliver glanced over at the man sitting beside him. "So we're okay?"

"Yeah man. We're good. I had already forgiven you before everything happened. I knew you were just looking for your place and for happiness. I'm glad you finally found it." Tommy smiled as they stood and started walking back to the house, Felicity standing on the porch waving them in.

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"Hey Speedy!" Tommy smiled as he walked into the sitting room.

"God! It's gonna take some getting used to. Seeing you around here again. I was starting to think it would never happen."

Tommy plopped down on the sofa next to her, where she was watching Connor play on the floor. "Well seems you're stuck with me now."

Thea reached over and hugged him, nuzzling herself into his side. "Wouldn't have it any other way." Tommy smiled down at her, loving how easy it was to get close to the young brunette that was his only true family left these days. He heard her giggle and looked at her puzzled. "What are you wearing?"

Tommy looked down at the clothes he had on. Because of his size difference from Oliver's, he was able to borrow a pair of Oliver's sleep pants but had to get one of Felicity's baggy shirts she had taken to wearing during her pregnancy. This one was dark blue t-shirt with the phrase "I'm why we can't have nice things" printed on the front of it. "I had to borrow a shirt from Lis last night. Otherwise I would have been swimming in one of Oliver's. Why? Does it make me look fat?" Tommy teased.

"I guess we should get you some clothes of your own. Maybe Ollie has some old jeans and shirts from before the island that you can borrow until then. I think we packed them away in the attic. Hey King Con, wanna help us find Uncle Tommy so better clothes to wear?"

"Do we really have to go shopping?" Connor groaned.

"I thought you liked shopping?"

"Yeah but you take all day and I want to be home when Mommy and Dad get home." Connor explained and Tommy tried, rather unsuccessfully, to bite back the laughs that bubbled up in him at the young blonde's remark.

Thea slapped Tommy and smiled at her nephew. "We do need to get him some clothes or he is going to wear all of your Mommy's clothes and tear them up."

"Okay but can we get ice cream?"

"How about we go to a couple stores, get him some clothes then we head to QI. We can show him the company and ask your Mommy and Dad."

"Uh Speedy, is that a good idea? I mean everyone still thinks I am dead."

"Yeah it's fine. We'll keep it low profile. Plus Oliver was meeting with Rebecca and Max about your story today. And Lis already fixed everything for your backstory. Including records showing where you had lived at a villa in Corto Maltese for the last two years. One that you owned since our dad bought it in your name anyway." Thea shrugged as she climbed off the sofa. "Keep an eye on the squirt. I'll go see about some clothes for you to wear outside."

Tommy grabbed her wrist to stop her as she passed the sofa. "Thanks. For everything."

"Of course. Your family. At least all the Merlyn family that means anything to me."

"I know Speedy. And I know it's been hard but thank you for all you've done. Seems you and Ollie grew up a bit while I was gone. Talking and sharing and acting mature. It's a lot to take in."

"It's all Lis. She did it for Ollie and then for me. She's great. You'll grow to love her. Trust me. Everyone does."

"I already do. She took care of my family for me."

"She made us a family. And never let us forget anyone we lost along the way." Thea smiled down at him then kissed his cheek. She left the room, in search of some clothes for him.

"So you knew my Mommy and Dad for a while?"

"You could say that. I knew your dad and you Aunt Thea and Aunt Laurel and her sister Sara a lot longer than I knew your mommy but I knew Lis from just about the beginning of her relationship with Ollie. But I have known your dad for a very long time."

"Is that why you were at the wedding? Well your picture?"

"What do you mean?"

"He means this." Laurel smiled as she came into the room. She handed him the wedding album that always rested on the coffee table. Tommy sat it in his lap and Laurel sat down beside him. She reached over and opened it up. After flipping a few pages, Tommy quickly scanning over the images as she did, she came to the one she wanted to show him. There before him were three black and white still shots of the three chairs meant to honor Moira, Robert and Tommy. Each had a small candle, some flowers and a gorgeous picture frame on them with a photo of each person inside it. Tommy saw his smiling face looking back at him and his heart stopped. He never imagined they would do something like that you him after he was gone. "It was Lis. She wanted you there for Ollie. She knew that if you were able, you would've been standing right beside him but since you weren't she said this was perfect to help us feel you there that day."

"I wish I was there. It looks perfect. And Ollie looks so happy. Wow! Is that Thea?" Tommy had turned back to the front of the book to start looking at all the photos.

"Yeah she was the maid of honor. She was so proud of that. Dig was the best man. Roy the usher. And Connor was a very handsome ring bearer."

"And who is that little princess?" Tommy pointed at one photo.

"That is Sara Diggle, Dig's daughter. They had her about a year ago. Actually the night Ollie called it off with Lis. They were in the hospital and he did it right after visiting them. Ollie told me seeing her there he knew he was holding her back from what she truly deserved but he just wasn't ready."

"Glad he wised up. Oh woah! Now that is a dress! Lis was stunning."

"Yeah. She was about 14 weeks pregnant at the time. She had only started showing a couple weeks before. Ollie wanted her to have everything she ever dreamed of on that day so he wanted to see he until she was walking down the aisle to him. See here. That was the first time he saw her in her dress."

"He looks knocked out." Tommy laughed. "Oh the gardens look amazing. The whole thing looks great. Moira would have loved it."

"Yeah it was sweet. Connor walked little Sara up the aisle, just like they had practiced the entire week prior, Ollie and Lis wrote their own vows. Ollie even gave her everything she wanted that day and so much more. They are so cute around each other. You would never recognize Ollie with how he acts around her."

"I noticed this morning. She does bring out a different side to him."

"Yeah a really romantic side. He still takes her out for dates. Says that he needs to show her that he is still earning her love. It's crazy to think this is the same guy that I practically had to beg and bribe to move in with me. He gave her the sweetest gift at her bridal shower. A sign they have in their room and a personalized note on the back of it. He had Thea set it all up and she text him a photo of Lis opening it. He gave her the Dearden family ring from Moira's mom the night of their rehearsal dinner. The list goes on. He is always giving her something sweet and meaningful, even if it is just a flower he stops and picks during his morning runs. Just something to let her know he's thinking about her. At least that's what he says." Laurel smiled as she looked at a photo of the couple dancing during the ceremony.

"So he's good to her. What about her to him?"

"Lis? Oh yeah." Thea giggled as she came back into the room, a pair of old jeans, a sweater and a button up in hand. "She is always checking on him at work. Helping him anyway she can. Not to mention every night when he would go out, she would wait for him to get back and before anything could happen, she has to give him what he calls his welcome back hug. Once she was mad with him, she slapped him instead of the hug. They had their fight and within minutes they were okay again. Then he gave her this puppy dog eyes look and asked her for his hug. It was too adorable. And she surprises him as well. Remember the Bachelor party?" Thea asked while glancing up at Laurel, who started to giggle.

"Don't tell me she threw him a party?"

"Sort of. I planned a Bachelor and Bachelorette party for each of them on the same night. Us girls took Lis out to a club and had fun while the boys went to the Royal to drink and played cards all night. Lis had special gifts ordered for each of the guys, even a special tumbler for you and Dad made so you were there in spirit. Anyway we had been out drinking when I get a call from Ollie. He is freaking out. See when I started planning this, he gave me one rule… " Thea looked over to see Connor playing on the floor while paying attention to them. "No dancers." Thea winked and Tommy nodded as he caught on. "Well he was pissed because somehow a dancer showed up at the suite and was asking for him. By name. She was dressed like a cop and all."

"Oh man! That is too good."

"Gets better. Not only was Ollie and Dig there but so was Walter, Roy, Lance, as well as some friends from Central City that worked for CCPD."

"What?! Lance was there?! Oh man!"

"Yeah well she came in and started giving Ollie a dance. Refused to let any of the rest of the party have fun until she had at least one dance with him. She was paid to do so. Once it was over, he passed her off and called me. Come to find out Lis had ordered her."

"No way! Classic!" Tommy laughed openly, bending over and all as tears welled up in his eyes. "I bet his face was priceless when he found out!"

Thea and Laurel were laughing with him. "Oh yeah. From what Roy told me, he could have tripped over his jaw at that moment. He looked like something from the cartoons. She told him that she did it because no matter what he said or made you promise, you would've done the same and she didn't want him to miss out on anything."

"I would've sent two." Tommy noted as he calmed from his laughter. "Well I owe that woman a drink."

"Make it a extra chocolaty chocolate shake from Big Belly and she will love you for it. Now go put these on so we can head out."

"Out?"

"Yeah just a little light shopping to get him some clothes and stuff he needs. Then we are going to swing by QI. Maybe even get some ice cream with King Con. Wanna come?"

"Wish I could. On lunch. Just wanted to stop by and see how he was doing. Maybe catch up a bit. Talk."

"Another time?" Tommy asked nervously. He still loved Laurel but he knew that his death had changed her. As well as Sara's. He wanted a chance to get to know the woman she was no and see if there was anything there any more.

"I'd like that. I'm on patrols this weekend but maybe we can do lunch Saturday?"

"Sure. Just let me know when. I guess call the mansion since I don't have a phone."

"Gotcha covered bro." Thea pulled a cell out of her pocket and handed it to him. "Just picked it up this morning but already have everyone's numbers in it and texted yours to everyone as well. So you all set."

"Thanks Speedy." Tommy took the phone and started to check it out.

"Now go get dressed!" Thea smacked his arm and pushed his clothes at him again. Tommy grabbed them and jumped up. He kissed her on the cheek as he moved past her and started out of the room. He glanced over his shoulder once more and smiled at Laurel as well.