Chapter 2

Oliver Queen

Oliver clenched his fist, wondering how to tell Kara that he hadn't told his family that they were… something.

They were both sat on the bed, struggling to silently determine who was going to speak first.

This was idiotic. He was a grown man; he could tell the woman he was seeing that he hadn't told his family about their relationship. Kara was reasonable, and she understood him. She would understand this.

But he could ease into the conversation.

"First and foremost, I am so happy to see you – I would have visited earlier, but I had missed almost three months as mayor, and things are only just starting to slow down."

Kara turned to him, smiling kindly, "Of course! I totally understand. It's been busy for me too, although hopefully we can start those weekly date nights? I miss just talking to you," she trailed off, before hastily interjecting, "and I know J'onn is eager for those sparring lessons with the DEO."

"Ah, yes, how could I forget? And date night sounds nice." Oliver swallowed before continuing, "Kara, I haven't exactly gotten around to telling anyone—"

"That we are dating?" Kara finished his sentence, relief evident in her voice. "Thank Rao! Me neither! It just felt weird seeing as we hadn't actually been on a date yet."

Oliver's breath normalized. "Exactly. But I was thinking tonight, with everyone here, maybe we could tell them? If it's all right with you. I know you were hesitant before."

"No, I think it's time. If we are going to try this, I think we should start out being honest with those we trust. We both have enough secrets in our lives as is. We should try not to keep any from those we love."

Oliver just stared at her, a lazy grin on his face. He had almost forgotten how in sync they had gotten.

Kara caught him staring, and said "what?"

"Nothing, I just missed you."

She blushed lightly. "Well, I'm glad."

"How long are you here? Just the night?"

"Well, actually, if it's alright with you, I have the week off of work. And James misses his instructor. And you know, if James and I are going, that means Winn wants to tag along too. " She grinned at him, looking nervous.

Kara was one thing, but all three? "What about National City? Doesn't it need Supergirl?"

"Yes, but J'onn volunteered to be Supergirl for the week. I think he knows that I need a break. And…"

"And?" Oliver prompted.

"And I might have been somewhat distracted recently."

"Kara…" Oliver said, a reprimand on the way.

"I know, I know! Its just different, without you."

"The whole week, huh? That sounds good." Good was the most passionate adjective he would allow.

"Great! Okay, that's all of my topics of conversation out of the way, you?"

"That's all for me. You ready to face the music. And my sister?" Oliver asked.

"Only if you're ready to face mine."

Oliver stood, and extended his hand to Kara. She promptly ignored it, and jumped to her feet, opening the door for him. "After you Mr. Queen."

He shook his head in fake exasperation, and placed his hand on the small of Kara's back, as he led her out of the room.

The pair stood by the doorway for a moment, unseen among the bustle of the party. Oliver looked to Kara quickly, which she responded to by smiling and nodding her head. So Oliver cleared his voice, gaining the attention of the room.

"Hi everybody. First of all, thank you for coming! It means a lot to me, and I am glad you could all be here. Second of all, some of you know her, this is Kara Danvers, my girlfriend." An awkward silence followed. "Cisco, music."

At his prompt, Cisco once turned the music on, and Oliver looked to Kara, who grabbed his hand, and together they headed to both of their sisters, who were conveniently standing next to each other.

"Kara," Thea began as Alex eyed her warily, "I'm happy for you two. Not exactly what I had in mind when I told you to go to National City, Olly, but good for you. Maybe Kara will have better luck than I do getting you to go out."

Kara grinned, "Oh absolutely. Plus, while I'm visiting, we are going to be having game night. Mandatory. I can't wait to see you there. The more witnesses there are to me destroying your brother at Sorry!, the better."

"You hurt her, I use all of those fun tricks you taught me to kill you." Alex said to Oliver.

"I'll help," Thea chimed in, always eager for an opportunity to spar with Oliver.

"I'll hold you to that, but I'm pretty sure if I hurt Kara, which I have no intention of doing, she'd injure me all on her own."

"That's true." Kara added, matter-of-factly.

Oliver saw James talking to Renee, Dinah, and Curtis, and he shared a look with Kara, before heading over to them, leaving Kara, Thea, and Alex to discuss the various ways that they could hurt him. He saw Sara head over to them, no doubt to contribute her creative torture ideas.

He doubted she even knew whom they were talking about torturing.

He switched his attention to his trainees.

"James, I hear you're staying in Star City for the week." Oliver interrupted.

"Yes, I am."

"I expect you to be at the Lair at 5 a.m. tomorrow morning."

"5 a.m.? It used to be 5:30 in National City!" James protested.

"I was on vacation."

"Let me guess, the Island and Russia and China you didn't have a choice and didn't sleep. Cry me a river but I need my beauty sleep."

Rene, Dinah, and Curtis, who had all been laughing, were silenced immediately. They never spoke to Oliver about his time on the Island, they knew little about Russia, and Oliver doubted they even knew that he was in China. Further, none of them had ever spoken to him that flippantly.

But Oliver just laughed, and said, "I bet you do need your beauty sleep, because it certainly hasn't been working."

Oliver ignored the other three staring at him in disbelief, instead just calling "Winn!"

Winn popped up, seemingly from nowhere, "Yes, sir?"

"Has James here been practicing?"

"Well…." Winn trailed off.

"Winn! Come on, man, you know I have. Oliver, I have been practicing everyday."

"Barely," Winn mumbled.

"Kids, kids. Behave," Oliver laughed.

The three friends continued to talk, laughing, eventually coaxing Rene, Dinah, and Curtis out of their stupor. Oliver was so wrapped up in the conversation, that he didn't pay attention to Kara standing to the side, watching the six of them having a good time.

Kara Zor-El

He looks happy. She hadn't been able to stop herself from worrying that, in her absence; Oliver would have retreated back into himself.

But it seemed like he hadn't, he had really tried, like he promised her.

She was sipping some wine, despite its inability to effect her, content to just sit back and watch the party, when Dig approached.

Kara knew how much Oliver respected Dig, and from what she had seen of him, which was admittedly little, she could understand why. Despite this, there was something daunting about the man.

"It seems as though a lot has changed between the two of you since the last time you were in Star City."

"It has. A lot."

"I have known Oliver for almost six years now, and I know him better than almost anyone. He is happy, Kara, and I think that's in big part due to you. He deserves this."

"For the record, Mr. Diggle, he makes me happy too."

"Good. It's different for him, with you and your friends. He is more relaxed, at ease, he needs that in his life. But let me just say this, he is a lot more vulnerable than he allows himself to seem. He feels everything deeply, just, be careful not to add to his burden." John said.

"I don't know if you know this, John, but I can lift a lot." Kara smiled.

"Good, I'm happy for you two." He took a sip of his bourbon, before adding, "I would also make sure to talk to Felicity, sooner rather than later. She's not one to be upset about this, but I care about her too, and I think it might be good to have that conversation."

"Will do, Mr. Diggle. Should it be Mr. Diggle? Or Dig? Probably not Spartan, because, duh, not in the field. I'm rambling."

John laughed, "John is fine. Thanks, Kara."

"For what?"

"For that," John pointed to where Oliver was sitting, laughing with James and Winn.

After about two hours, those who weren't that familiar with Oliver left, meaning those who weren't associated with him as a hero. The remaining people, Oliver, Thea, Dig, Felicity, Rene, Curtis, Dinah, Quentin, Sara, Ray, Barry, Iris, Cisco, Caitlin, J'onn, Winn, James, Alex, and Kara, were seated in the living room.

They were all exchanging stories about spectacular failures, and Kara was having a great time. Barry just finished telling a story about returning from the Speed Force, after Cisco had upgraded his suit, leading to many things going wrong, when Felicity and Cisco's phones buzzed. Upon checking, they both immediately sat up straight. Oliver, of course, noticed immediately, and stood, saying "What's wrong?"

"The Star City dam broke. People are being washed away, and more people will get hurt if we don't stop it."

Oliver paused, thinking. Everyone turned to him – it was his world, his city, and he knew what was best for it.

"I need Kara and Caitlin, you two can refreeze the dam. And then Barry, Sara, Ray, and I are on rescue. Everyone else to the Arrow Cave, run backup, get eyes in the sky, let us know if we miss anybody. Sound good?"

Everyone nodded, standing resolutely.

No one even bothered to point out that Oliver had called it the Arrow Cave.