So this is the last chapter of the "episode". I'm still having a difficult time with my TomOllie since TPTB are not giving me TomOllie time! It'll happen, or should, with what has gone on in the last three episodes. Once these silly holidays are over and I have a little time to rewatch the final three episodes, I will proceed with The Story of Us...for now, DocWatson has decided TomOllie needs a short hiatus...sorry...


The quiet in the car was unnerving as Tommy drove Thea home. He really didn't know what to say to her. She obviously liked him a lot more than he ever realized or than she should. Truth be told, if she had not been only twelve years old when Oliver was lost at sea, things might have developed between the two of them. But she had been only twelve. And he'd watched her grow into a beautiful young woman.

However, she had always been Ollie's annoying little, tag-along sister that they would find trying to do the things they were doing. At first, it had been funny to watch her take her first sip of beer and smoke her first joint, but when it got to the point that it no longer made her reel, they'd tried to keep her away from their activities. Oliver had been more of a father to at those times then either of their fathers had ever been to them. He'd yelled at Thea that she was too young to being that stupid crap and sent her away. She would always retort that if she shouldn't do it then neither should they. They'd stopped the drugs. They never had the chance to stop anything else, because Oliver had disappeared.

But when it all came down to it, he would never see Thea as anything other than Oliver's little sister. He would never treat her as anything other than the little sister he never had.

"Look, Tommy," she said quietly from the passenger seat of the car, "let's just forget everything that happened tonight, okay?"

"Thea-" he started.

"No, Tommy!" she interrupted, "It's obvious that you've got a thing for Laurel the Lawyer. I wish you well with that. But she's gonna break your heart."

"Why do you say that?" he asked, unable to keep his curiosity in check.

"Because regardless of the fact that you guys screwed while Ollie was gone, she's still in love with my brother. And he's in love with her."

"Oh," he said in response. It wasn't anything he wasn't aware of and didn't already suspect, but it still hurt to hear someone else say it. He didn't realize that Thea had observed her brother enough with Laurel to come to that conclusion.

They arrived at Queen Mansion and Tommy walked Thea inside. She was still a little unsteady on her feet, so he handed her off to one of the security guards. He figured it would be safer for one of them to get her up to her room given her attempt at seduction earlier in the night.

"Take care, Speedy," he said softly as she climbed the stairs with assistance.

She stopped in the middle of the steps and looked down at him sadly, "Yeah, Tommy," she said, "Thanks again."

She turned her back on him and walked up the stairs, her back stiff. Tommy turned to another guard and asked about Oliver.

"I believe he and Mrs. Steele went out for dinner," the guard responded.

That answered that question and saved him the hassle. He felt a strange pricking in the back or his eyes and squeezed them tight. He was done crying over Oliver Queen. The next opportunity he had, he would tell him why.


I know! I know, it's short and Tommy chickened out, but are we to do? TPTB aren't giving me face time and I HATE it! But soon, very soon, Tommy will have to spill his guts or go nuts! Either way, Happy Holidays, all and please review!