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
"Here you are ma'am. Your server will be right with you." the hostess smiled as she sawed Laurel to the table. Tommy had been nervously waiting there for about 15 minutes. He saw her approach and smiled at her as he rose from his seat. He then moved around the table and held out her seat for her. Tommy helped her move closer to the table and breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried that she would show up.
"Nervous?"
"A little. It's silly right? I mean we've known each other for years." Tommy chuckled as he took his seat again.
"Yes and no. A lot has changed in the last two years. Including myself. We've been through a lot these years. Even if you had no control over it, you still went through a lot and do did I so we knew who we used to be but maybe we need to leave that in the past and get to know who we are now."
Tommy released another uneasy breath and grinned. "I would like that."
Just then their waiter stepped up and asked for their drink orders. When Tommy saw Laurel pass on her usual glass of wine, he decided to follow suit and ordered a sweet tea. "No wine?"
"Yeah. Me and dad have more in common than I thought. I had some issues with alcohol and drugs a couple years ago so I avoid them now."
"I know. I'm sorry for that too. I never wanted you to hurt like that."
"It wasn't your fault Tommy. I was blaming myself for your death and grieving in the worst way. Everyone tried to help but it took me hitting rock bottom to realize that I was wrong with how I was dealing with everything. I'm better now."
"But if I hadn't…"
Laurel reached out and grasped his hand. "Tommy you saved me. If you hadn't come for me, I would have been the one in that building that night. I should've listened to you and Oliver. I was just stubborn and hard-headed."
"Something I don't think went away." Tommy teased.
"No just got more focused on better things. Like my family and friends and making this city safe."
"Glad to see that passionate side of you made it through everything these last couple years. I always loved how driven you were. Hated it too."
"Really?" Laurel asked as the waiter stepped up with their drinks. They took a couple minutes to place their orders and when the waiter left, Laurel questioned, "Why did you hate it?"
Tommy blushed and squirmed slightly. "It just… it always made me feel useless. Lost. You were so driven and knew exactly where you were heading. Kinda hard to live up to."
"Tommy I never thought you couldn't do whatever you put your mind to. I just wanted you to actually do something worthwhile and not live off your trust fund."
"I think the best thing my dad ever did for me was when he cut me off that one time. It made me grow up. Make my own way. Decide what my life was going to be. I guess I am back there now."
"Any ideas?"
"Well Ollie and Lis were talking about a lot of green solution ideas for QI last night and some new divisions. Growing in the company. Thea has her charities and the club. I'm not sure yet."
"Well I will tell you, Thea loves the club but she is so much better as a party planner. She is a natural at it. She had Ollie and Lis' wedding planned down to a T and then she threw a beautiful bridal shower and baby reveal party from them. Not to mention the birthday parties and bachelor and bachelorette parties we told you about."
"Yeah she showed me photos. They looked amazing."
"They were. Unique and specific to the theme and person in mind. Every detail mattered. I think she could have a future there. And the charities include some incredible clinics and law offices in the Glades that she opened in your name. I think she wouldn't mind her big brother helping her out. Maybe taking back the club? Running it. Donna makes it pretty easy."
"Donna?"
"Yeah when Donna moved here a few months back, Thea hired her as an assistant manager. She does all the inventory and deals with the orders and suppliers. Thea says Donna has them wrapped around her finger so easily that they will do just about anything for her, including murder we think." Laurel laughed. "She's dating my dad as well."
"Woah! Lance dating?! Now that is something."
"Yeah it shocked us all when they told us Wednesday night at dinner but Dad has been so happy. I knew he was dating someone. I caught him humming and smiling at work and at home a few times now. I was glad that he was that happy."
"And now?"
"I love Donna and I'm glad she is making my dad that happy. Thea says he is actually romantic with her. Sending flowers and gifts and asking her out to every date. And she is good for him too. Goes to meetings with him and helps him stay sober. He fell off the wagon last year when we told him about Sara."
"Ollie told me. About your falling out. How are you guys doing?"
"It took a while but we're better now. And I think Donna may have had something to do with that too. She has this way of mothering all of us instantly. Her being here has given all of us something we have been missing; a rose-colored view of our world. She always sees the best in our world."
"She seems unique. Much like her daughter."
"Oh trust me. Lis used to say she was nothing like her mom but I see touches of Donna in Lis' heart. And how she is with Connor. And Thea. And even Ollie. It's like they all have a mom and grandmother that they never knew they did have. She just accepted them as part of Lis' life from her first trip here. Lis had been nervous about it but it turned out great."
"Speedy told me about the brunch and how everything sort happened really fast that week."
"Yeah. Seems like it has been nothing but forward for all of us. Ollie and Lis taking off together then being called back. Them getting getting the company and deciding to keep it and run it together. Them moving in together and getting engaged. Then Connor and the babies. At first we thought it was only one but then we found out at the reveal patty that it was twins. And while all this was going on, we built the team stronger. The new Bunker. I became DA for the city. We patched things up with dad. He started dating Donna. And somewhere in there we took down the Irish mob here in town, put Lis' dad away as well and now we have taken down your dad and given the League to Talia and are about to take on Darhk. Plus we found out you and Sara weren't as gone as we all thought. Last few months have been a rollercoaster. A good one but still."
"Lots to process."
Laurel chuckled. "Yeah. I think we could all use a bit of quiet for a bit. I'm glad the Ollie and Lis went away for the weekend. They need to get away from all this stress and craziness. Especially for the baby. And now Connor knows about all of us."
"Yeah. Sorry about that as well. I would never have…"
"Oh! No, we all know that Tommy." Laurel sat her glass down and reached for his hand again. Feeling the warmth of his skin against hers started to charge her like it used to. "You had no control. Trust me. We don't blame you. We all know about not controlling yourself and being forced to act. Thea was forced by your dad to take out Sara and Ollie kidnapped Lyla to convince Ra's he didn't care for us anymore. We have all acted without thinking or say and regretted our decisions afterwards. You won't find any judgement in this group. Not on that anyways."
The two sat in silence for a few minutes. Their waiter brought their food and refilled their drinks but that was all the broke the restless tension at the table. Finally, unable to take the tension anymore, Tommy asked, "I know there hasn't been anyone new in my life. What with the while resurrected and brainwashed into serving an evil nut job thing. So what about you? Any lucky guy getting to stare helplessly into those gorgeous eyes?" Tommy chuckled, trying to ease the tension with a little of his old charm.
Laurel smiled as she recognized his playful side and shook her head. "Not really. There was a guy but it was going to work. We were both in bad places and needed to figure ourselves out first."
"His loss." Tommy smiled at her as he ate his lunch. The two continued talking for a bit about Laurel's new position and all that came with it. They also discussed the team and her nightly duties as well as her training with Sara, Thea and Nyssa. Soon they had finished not only their meals but a bit of dessert as well and we're enjoying some coffees together.
"I have to admit. This was fun. A lot more fun than I thought it would be." Tommy chuckled as he paid the bill for them. Thea had given him some money for the time being to cover any expenses that may come up.
"Think I'd lost my edge, Merlyn?" Laurel laughed as she stood and gathered her stuff.
"Not a chance, Counselor. Just afraid that we would have a hard time talking. A lot has happened between us over the years but me you know dying really makes it difficult to connect. Especially with all that you went through afterwards."
They had just stepped back outside into the sunshine of the cool crisp fall day. The temperature had begun to drop for winter already but the sun was still warming the space around them. "Tommy listen. I know you feel responsible for that in some weird but sweet way. But it wasn't your fault. I chose to live like that and deal with my anger and pain that way. Ollie felt your loss just as much. So did Thea. But they didn't try to cope with it at the bottom of a bottle. Ollie actually took on a new pact. No killing. He did that to honor you and your memory. He only kills now when completely necessary. I think he has only killed like two guys since. The Count because he took Felicity and was going to flood her system with a highly constraited version of vertigo. In his office at QC no less. And Ra's because he was willing to take this entire city away from Ollie. That's really it. His vow to you means a lot to him."
"It's because one of the last things I ever said to him was after I found out about him being you know. It was went I quit the club. I called him a murderer."
"I think he was trying to prove to you he wasn't. After everything that happened with your dad and the Undertaking, he would to think that if you were looking down on him, you would be proud of him." Laurel smiled sweetly at him.
"For the Hood thing I would have. But I definitely would have been trying to hit him with lightening bolts or something for all the hell he put Lis through."
"Trust me. Last year we all wanted to hit him for that mess at one point or another." Laurel laughed and Tommy followed. "But you're right. This was nice."
"Maybe we can do it again?" Tommy asked hopefully. He hoped he had been reading all the signs right that she had been sending his way. She may have changed a lot over the last two years but she was still the Laurel he know deep down. She still flirted and blushed at his stories and jokes and she still smiled warmly at him like she did so long ago.
"I would like that. But take it slow? Let's get this right this time."
"Slow. I can handle slow. So how about coffee tomorrow before you head to the Bunker for patrols? I have to meet Ollie and Lis at the airport about the same time so we can meet up before then?"
Laurel smiled blissfully at him. "Sounds good."
"Good. Well have a good night Laurel and be safe."
"I will. Behave, please."
"I will. Im heading back to the mansion to check out a few more things and wait for Constantine and his team to return anyway. Wanna catch up on everything I have missed these last two years."
"Not much. Social media has made it even easier for fake celebrities to get their 15 minutes of fame. More comic book movies came out. Oh! And Kim Kardashian. Still a thing."
"Huh! Who knew?"
"Yeah that and Bruce Jenner is now a woman."
"So basically reality TV has caused the beginning of the end of the world." Tommy joked as he held the door open to Laurel's car for her.
"Exactly. Have a good day Tommy and I'll see you tomorrow. Text if you need anything, okay?"
"Will do. And thank you. For coming. I had fun."
Laurel considered an idea for a moment, her heart and brain warring inside her, before she threw cause to the wind. She leaned in and kissed Tommy on the cheek. "Goodnight Tommy." Laurel whispered tenderly as she took in his scent before leaning away and getting into her car. He somehow still smell like she remembered.
She drove off leaving a stunned and blissfully blushing Tommy Merlyn in the parking lot of Table Salt. His hand grazing his cheek where she had kissed him.
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The Queen Inc jet taxied down the runway and was pulled to a stop right before the hanger. Darren was standing outside the town car he had delivered the family in just the day prior while Tommy was sitting in the backseat. He climbed out when he saw the door of the small plane begin to open. He fought his laughter when he saw Felicity gripping with Diggle and Oliver as they tried to help her out of the plane.
"I swear Oliver you try to corral me again and you will become overly familiar and friendly with your arrows. And I don't mean that in a nice or pleasant way."
"Is there a nice or pleasant way to take that comment?" Tommy snickered as he came up to the group.
"Uncle Tommy!" Connor called out then ran straight towards the man, nearly knocking him down when he ran full force into Tommy's legs and waist.
"Hey pal! Have fun this weekend?"
"Yeah we had a blast. I got to see all my friends in Central including Aunt Iris and Aunt Cait and Uncle Barry and Uncle Ronnie and Uncle Cisco. I showed him how I looked in my Halloween costume he made me."
"Yes the one I didn't know you had brought young man. Now you are allowed to wear that again until Halloween. Understand?"
"Yes Mommy." Connor pouted.
"Costume?"
"Cisco made Oliver's suit so we had him make something similar for Connor here. Plenty of unique touches so it is all his but looks close. Most would say it is a very expensive copy or cosplay version of Oliver's suit." Felicity explained as Tommy leaned in to hug her.
"So how did little Harper and Tommy take the trip? Were they good for mommy?"
"Hardly. I barely got 3 hours of sleep last night. If one was up, that other was. Then the many trips to the bathroom and no pregnancy pillow so of course I couldn't get comfortable."
"And that was my fault. I'm sorry. Again. I promise to never forget the pillow again." Oliver grinned and stated as if he had said it countless times all weekend.
"Oh trust me, we won't be needing one ever again because I am not planning on letting you anywhere near me again, Mr. Queen." Felicity stated coldly then climbed into the car, Connor following behind.
Tommy playfully shivered as he walked to the bag of the car where Oliver was helping Diggle get all the bags loaded. "Burr! What did you do to cause Lis to turn ice queen?"
"Nothing!" Oliver snapped. Diggle snickered behind him and Tommy knew something had happened.
"Buddy you better fess up so we can help you figure a way out of this one or I see you sleeping on the couch in the near future." Tommy teased.
"First off, I would not sleep on a couch. We have 8 bedrooms. I would just take one of those. And secondly, it's not that big a deal."
"Uh huh! If it wasn't that big a deal, Lis would not look like she could castrate you with her eyes."
"Fine! We were discussing things and I may have hinted that I felt she didn't need to return to QI or the Bunker after the babies come. I felt that maybe she would want to be home with them and Connor."
"You called her a housewife?! Wow now even I know not to do that."
"I didn't call her that. I offered the option to her."
"And what, in that pea size brain of yours, has ever given you the idea that she would want that? This is Lis we're talking about. The genius who was raised by a hard working single mother. Who studied hard and graduated high school early. Who earned a full ride to MIT. Who graduated top of her class with not one but two degrees in computer stuff. And she did it all by the age of 19. Then she started working at QC where she devoted herself to her work and the company and did up until you gave it away. Then she joined it back when Palmer bought it and now she shares it with you, which I am sure was her idea. Ollie she isn't your mom or one of those socialite idiots. She doesn't want to be home all day wanting for you to get home and making pies and cleaning house. Or attending countless lunches at the club or whatever those women do. She is a hard worker and wants to help make your company great. So let her. She is going to be home as much as she wants with the babies and when she is ready she will tell you when she feels she can return. When that happens, welcome her back with open arms cause if not your company will lose its greatest asset."
Oliver shook his head because he knew his friend was right. "I know. I know. It was stupid. I was tired and so was she and it just came out."
"Then I think you both should get your brain to mouth filters checked. Her malfunctions and she says dirty things. Yours makes you say stupid things. And most of them to your wife." Oliver glared at him and Diggle chuckled behind them.
"As for the Bunker, I know it will be hard but she mostly stays inside right?"
"That's the deal we struck."
"Then stay with it. If anything changes then talk it out then. No yelling or rash decisions. You need to learn to talk to that woman in there. She is your partner, not your subordinate. So treat her like one."
"Okay who are you and what have you done with Tommy Merlyn?" Oliver teased.
Tommy smacked him playfully in the shoulder. "I have spent the weekend hearing all about these last two years. Reading about them. And all that woman has put up with from you. If I were her and I went through all that I don't know if I would've stayed. I mean two words. Nanda. Parbat."
"Hey that was a good memory. A great one. Until she tried to drug me and kidnap me."
"No I mean the last trip there. When she got a bunch of people together and flew halfway around the world to rescue your sorry as and you let her and the rest of your friends get locked in a dungeon and think they are getting poisoned and killed because you were too stupid and stubborn to get their help with your problem. You got in over your head with Ra's. You know it and so do I. You panicked and didn't know what to do which caused a lot of pain and confusion in your team."
"I know." Oliver snapped, upset over reliving his bad decisions.
Tommy slapped Oliver upside the head. "Well then stop doing it again. Stop making plans in that head of yours for everyone else's lives. Talk to them about it instead. Get their feedback. Offer the idea, in a much better way than you did with Lis, and allow them to decide. I swear this is almost the dumbest thing you have done to that woman."
"Almost?"
"Again two words. Slade. Wilson. You really had to tell her right at that moment? And string her along like that? I would have killed you for doing that. You know that right?"
Before Oliver could answer, Felicity popped her head out the backdoor. "Either bring this inside and hurry up or we are leaving you here. I need to pee and having two growing babies using your bladder as a watered doesn't help."
Tommy shook his head to try and get the image out of his mind but he couldn't help the smile that grew on his face. She was definitely one of a kind and perfect in every way for his best friend.