Predicament

It had been three days since she had been home and the old crew was back up to their old antics. Nora, Anthony and Ben, Slade and Klara's kids, were awesome. Sara, William, and James were John and Lyla's kids were hilarious. Tonight they were going to Verdant for teen night, karaoke and fun. They arrived and went straight to the VIP booth.

Everyone was dressed in their best, Jonathan was a spitting image of their father, and looked older than he was. He looked much older and so did Anthony, Ben, James and William, they all looked like they were in their early twenties. They were all intimidating on their own, but as a group? Forget about it. They sat down laughing and were picking out their songs to sing. Since Verdant was her father's club and when she got older he made sure to add a Teen Night, to always make sure she could have fun in a safe place.

The music was pumping during the break, their drinks and appetizers arrived. They all munched away and soon Hope got up to go sing. She stood on the side of the stage taking with Liz, their MC. She laughed at Liz's antics, something she truly had missed. She got up to the mic just as the lights dimmed. She always felt at home on the mic. She decided to go old school tonight and sing an Adele song when she was done Liz announced another dance break. She climbed down and started heading back to the group. Her arm was yanked back she was staring up at a tall handsome man who had his head on swivel. She knew he was Bratva just be his demeanor, her father was the same way when there was danger.

"Ms. Queen, we need to leave."

"Who the hell are you?"

"Nick, your father sent me. Your brother and friends are leaving also. There's been a threat."

"I'm not going anywhere until you tell me the damn password," he sighed and leaned down.

"Ms. Queen the password is," the sound of shot being fired filled the air. Screams and gunshots rang out as he covered her head leading her to an exit to the alley. Outside they began to make their way away from the danger. A side door opened and a group of men filled the alley. Nick put her behind him protectively, her hand on his bicep.

"Ms. Queen, it's nice to see you here in Starling once again. We're going to need you to come with us."

"She's not going anywhere," Nick said, his voice was more like a growl.

"You and what army?" The man laughed. "Get her!"

All hell broke loose. The men started to come towards them as the fight broke out. She started to swing, punching whoever in the face, remembering her Uncle John and Aunt Sara had taught her. Nick beside her was taking no captors. The man who had talked before stood aside watching everything. He got frustrated and lifted his gun, just as Nick took down another guy and so had she. Everything slowed down as she called out his name as the gun went off, she screamed as he pulled a dart out of his chest as he fell to the ground.

"Now, Ms. Queen let's go," the man said aiming the gun at her.

"He needs help," she said pointing to Nick, hoping it would buy her some more time. Her left hand went up to her necklace she always wore and squeezed it knowing it sent a panic alarm to everyone.

"Ms. Queen my orders were not to harm you. Please do not make me hurt you."

"Not until you get him some help," she said standing in front of Nick.

"I'm sorry Ms. Queen," he said pulling the trigger a silent shot rang out and she felt a pain in her neck. She yanked it out and looked at it her vision blurring.

"Run," Nick gasped out before his closed. She started to run, but didn't get too far. She could feel herself slowing down. The ground came fast and she was sure she heard someone screaming her name. Flashing lights were in her eyesight, her brothers panicked face and then blackness again. Next time she swore she heard her father yelling, the rumble of his voice, she was floating, he was carrying her.

"Hope you're okay, you're safe," she heard him say softly and then she went limp again.

The throbbing in her neck and head was the first thing she felt. Her tongue felt like sandpaper and she was too warm. Her eyelids felt like they weighed a million pounds. 'Wake up Hope' she mentally told herself. She finally got her eyelids open and started to sit up, but a small groan escaped her lips as her head spun.

"You're okay," her father said. She focused on him still kind of fuzzy and started to cry. He embraced her and held her and started to hush and comfort her. "You're safe now. Shh, you're okay baby"

"Daddy what happened?"

"Slade received word that someone would be attacking Verdant. I sent a team to come get you guys."
"Oh God Nick?! Is he okay?"

"He's fine, he's up and about and has already come to check on you a few times. You'll be fine too."

"What?"

"You were drugged and have scrapes on your hands and knees, your knuckles were pretty bad too. Nick said you put up one hell of a fight."

"I learned from the best," she smiled. "Is there a water bottle?" He handed it to her put the straw in.

"Small sips."

"Thanks that's horrible. Is everyone else okay?"

"Yeah. Everyone's fine. Your brother freaked out when he saw you hit the ground."

"Where's mom?"

"She's researching."

"You mean figuring who did this?"

"Yeah."

"I can help too."

"No, you need to rest. I'm going to have Tanja bring you something to eat. Nora and Aunt Sara will be here with you when the Doctor arrives. I have to go to take care of some business."

"Also, known as beat the hell out of the guy that pulled this stunt."

"Yes, get some rest."

"Dad, I need a shower and fresh pajamas and a pot of coffee before I do anything."

"God you're so much like your mother."

"You mean smart, beautiful and a badass?" She winced when her knuckles grazed the headboard as she stretched.

"All of that and my princess. I love you. The house is already on lockdown, just so you know."

"Okay, I'm going to shower. I'll see you later I love you."

"Love you too kiddo," he said leaning down to kiss the top of her head. He missed his girl so much that he wanted her to stay here with him and not go back to Boston.

She showered once her dad left her room, she took in her bruises. Her head wasn't as foggy as it had been. She washed her hair and soon was back in another pair of pajamas. These were her favorites, black short Bermuda shorts that had little white dots on them, she slipped on one of her dads t-shirts and sat back in her bed. Not even a few minutes later Sara and Nora showed up.

"Hey Sleeping Beauty, we brought food," Sara smiled placing the food down.

"Thank you guys. How's the air?"

"Well, everyone is on high alert." Sara said sitting down.

"Figured. Who is this Nick guy?"

"Nora, you're on deck."

"He's cute huh?" she said smiling.

"Cut the crap. Who is he?"

"Okay, geez keep your panties on. He's a Captain. His father passed last year and he has basically taken over. He's Uncle Oliver's favorite," the redhead said.

"Oh?" Hope said.

"Yep."

"So I was a little bit more brash with him than I should've been. Can I see him?"

"Not until at least tomorrow, he's hit the streets with some of the men to get information. You need to eat and rest," Sara said sternly.

"Okay, geez. What'd you bring me?" Hope asked lifting the cover to reveal a grilled cheese sandwich and a chocolate milkshake, her favorite. She gave Sara and Nora a huge smile. "My favorite, thank you guys."

The rest of the day she spent in bed with Nora watching Netflix, while Sara alternated between a chair and the couch in her room. She was feeling herself get tired and before she knew it she was asleep. When she awoke again it was to hushed raised voices. Her father and mother were arguing, she reached over grabbing her glasses and slipped them on.

"Mom? Dad? What's going on?" she asked sitting up.

"Nothing," her mother said clearly upset.

"Okay seriously what is going on?" she asked again, looking between her mom and dad.

"Tell her Oliver or I will," Felicity challenged.

"Felicity, drop it," her father said, his voice scary.

"Daddy, what is it?"

"The man who sent those men to get you last night was trying to get you as leverage."

"Leverage, for what?" she asked confused.

"To make me handover the Bratva to him, he wants to be Pahkan."

"So by getting me he wins?"

"Hope, this is more difficult than you know. He believes if he makes you his, he can have me killed so he can become Pahkan." Hope sat there processing his words. It finally hit her and she stood up pacing in her room.

"By his you mean?" she asked putting her left hand up.

"Yes," Felicity said her eyes tearing up.

"Nope, not going to happen," she said confidently.

"Hope," he began to say, his voice almost breaking. "The only way is to marry you to someone."

"What?! Daddy you're kidding right? Mom, no, mom." Hope was struggling to breathe. She was having an anxiety attack. The spots started to come in her vision, she couldn't feel anything, one moment she was standing and the next her father had wrapped his arms around, and Felicity tried talking with her. Soon enough it did pass, but the panic didn't.

"Honey, sit down. Listen, at first I didn't want to marry your father. Pop-Pop set everything up, it was for my safety and it seems the cycle is repeating itself. You have to understand sweetheart this is for your own safety," Felicity explained.

"This is just ridiculous, I can't even. You guys need to go. I just need to be alone right now."

Oliver's face shifted, Hope had never seen her father so defeated. He stood up and left the room, their eyes never meeting. Felicity sniffled and began to follow him out of the room. She paused and looked back at her daughter.

"Hope, we just want you to be safe and this is the only way. Your father is ready to step down if it means keeping you safe."

"Mom, this is just so unfair. What if we have nothing in common? What if behind closed doors he's abusive? What if, oh God, mom just go please. I need to be alone."

Felicity nodded, Hope saw the tears streaming down her face as she closed the door. She locked the door behind her mom and slid down and cried. She stood up and went to her bed and cried and screamed into the pillow. She ended up crying herself to sleep.

The feeling of someone was watching her was what woke her up. The lights were off, except the glow from under bedroom door and the glow from the cracked bathroom door. Someone was in her room, she remembered she had locked her bedroom door but now she didn't know who or how they got into her room. 'Focus Hope, where are they and how are you going to defend yourself?'

She focused and steadied her breathing and focused on the sounds of her bedroom. She heard the hum of her ceiling fan, the fan on her laptop and then she could hear the breathing. It was a man in her bedroom, he was coming closer to her. She lay still waiting to make her move, when she could feel his body heat she kicked as hard as she could and screamed loud enough, someone in Hawaii could hear her.

The houses alarm went off and she rushed to the door, he got to her before she could unlock it. She elbowed him as hard as she could, her back hit the bathroom door, and the light flooded the bedroom. She could hear yelling outside her door and banging trying to get in. The man towered over her and she swore he was taller than Uncle John. He grimaced at her and she kicked him as hard as she could in the knee, he fell down like a sack of potatoes.

He cried out and she punched him with all her might. He fell back as fire shot through her wrist and arm. The door cracked open and in rushed her father, brother, Uncle Roy, Uncle John and some other men. Roy and her brother attacked the man handcuffing him. Nick walked over to her and helped her stand, he placed his hand under her chin to lift her face up to him so he could look her over.

"I'm okay," she said softly. She locked eyes with her father letting him know she was fine.

"Why are your cradling your wrist," Nick asked his voice deep and serious.

"I, uh, punched him, really hard."

"Let me see," he asked. Hesitantly she showed him her wrist, when he jostled it his green eyes bore into her hazel eyes when she cried out. "We need to get that checked out, John?"

"Yeah," he said walking over.

"Her wrist." John observed her now swelling wrist.

"I taught you better than that," he chided.

"Really? Right now we're going to do this?" she asked as he took her wrist gently in his large hands.

"We need Sara to x-ray this, Sara," he said into his comm. "We'll need your assistance up here please."

"Hope looked over at her father, he was pulling the man's head back by the hair. He looked terrifying. Roy and Jonathan dragged him away. He father looked at her, his face changing, he crossed the room in tow steps pulling her into his arms. She was engulfed in his scent and she could feel the adrenaline high wearing off. The rumble under her head let her know he was talking to someone.

Soon they were moving out of her room, Oliver held her left elbow as he led her down the hall. Inside her parents' bedroom she found Aunt Sara and her mother in a dark green dress robe. As soon as she saw Hope she pulled her into her arms. Sara gave her a small smile as Felicity let her go to speak with Oliver in the hallway. Sara sat her down on the bench in front of her parents bed.

"Your Uncle John and I taught you how to punch better than this," she said as she poked and prodded.

"Well, I was a little in the moment, ow!"

"Stop crying like a baby," she said. After asking Hope a lot of questions she figured her wrist wasn't broken just badly sprained. She would need a splint but until it was x-rayed she wouldn't put her in one.

"Aunt Sara?"

"Yeah honey."

"I have to marry someone or people are going to keep coming for me and my dad's going to be murdered if I don't do this."
"Sweetie, you need to understand that when your father Pahkan he swore things would be different. He got rid of all the arranged marriages, he didn't agree with men marrying babies half their age. If it was your father's choice you would never marry unless it was for love. You'd be sacrificing yourself for your safety and your fathers."

"What if this guy doesn't understand me? What if he's cruel, abusive, oh God if he wants to you know and I don't?"

"First of all don't worry, you need to take a deep breath. Our father would vet and threaten this person within an inch of his life."

"What if we pretend?"

"That's not going to work. Just, please trust your dad, please."

Hope didn't say anything just nodded her head. The door opened and Felicity walked in and Sara walked into the hallway to talk with Oliver. Felicity next to hope, patted her knee and let out a huge sigh.

"Mom?"

"Yeah baby."

"Will you promise me the guy daddy makes me no wait wants me to marry isn't a creeper?"

"He isn't honey. I promise, he's a sweetheart."

"You guys already picked someone? Seriously?"

"IT's Nick," felicity rushed out.

"Nick, like," Hope made a tall hand motion, "tall Nick?"

"Yeah, Nick is just like another son to your father. He only hurts those who need to be hurt. You know, he's saved your father and more a few more times than your father will ever admit. Jonathan and him are inseparable and Nik will not touch the women your brother tries to get him to hook up with."

"Mom, I don't think I can do this."

"I married your father within two weeks of meeting him."

"You what?"

"Yeah, there were threats and I basically sacrificed myself to save Pop-Pop. Look at us now. The man can barely keep his hands to himself and we have you guys," she said moving a strand of her daughter hair back behind her ear.

"Why? Seriously, two weeks?"

"Yeah. Ya-Ya loved him from the start, me not so much. But slowly I learned your father would do anything to keep me safe, and soon you and your brother. Don't tell your brother but, you're your father's favorite." Hope laughed, everyone knew that.

"I could never tell, mom?"

"Yeah."

"I'm scared."

"I know baby, I know," felicity said leaning over to kiss her forehead. The door opened and Oliver walked in, he kneeled in front of her.

"Hey," he said cupping his daughter's cheek.

"Hi."

"Sara thinks its not too bad. You broke his nose, I'm proud of you."

"Thanks, I guess? So, you guys picked Nick?"

"Yes, out of everyone, Captain wise, he's the only one I can see going along with this. Plus, he's the only I can trust with you."

"Dad, I don't even know him."

"I know, I know but you will I promise. Felicity we need our go bags. We're leaving tonight."

"Okay," she said walking into their closet.

"Sara is going to get your hand fixed and your mom will get your things."

"But…"

"Not buts, do as your told, please," he begged.

She nodded, stood up and opened the door to find Sara in the hallway.

"Can I get changed first, please?"

"Yeah, but quickly."

Sara helped her change into jeans, a short sleeve shirt and sneakers. They left the room and headed downstairs. There were men all around holding guns, nodding to her as she walked by. She gave them all small smiles. Once in the med room Sara did some quick x-rays and put her in a brace. She was right, it wasn't broken. She handed her a pill and she took it, Sara said it was aspirin. Back in the entry way they met up with the family, Nick stood to the side talking to Felicity. Jonathan walked up to his sister, squeezing her shoulder.

"You okay?" he asked looking down at her.

"Yea, 'tis just a scratch," she said slurring the words a little.

"What'd you give her?" he asked Sara, his brows furrowed.

"God, you're just like your dad, aspirin," she said then mouthed oxycodone and Jon just smiled.

"Let's go," their father yelled out.

Hope followed out to the garage, stopping momentarily when the room began to spin. A hand on her left elbow guided her to the back of an SUV. She looked to see who helped her and although he was blurry, she knew it was Nick. Inside she moved to the middle, Jonathan helped her with her seatbelt. Once everyone was in, her head found Nick's shoulder and her eyelids became really heavy. Her soft snores let everyone know she was asleep.

"She needs the rest," Jonathan spoke up.

"Yeah," Nick replied.

"You alright man?"

"Other than the fact I'm marrying your sister, because douchebags want to her to get to your dad, I'm fine."

"My sister is awesome, you'll be fine."

"Says the man who says he'll be a bachelor until he's sixty."

"Hey, we're not talking about me, we're talking about you."

Even in the dark of the car Jonathan knew that Nick had just rolled his eyes. The car was silent other than Hope's snores. At one point her head found her brothers shoulder. Jonathan embraced her moving her blonde curls away. He was a spitting image of their father and was one of the best at hand to hand combat, just like Nick.

For the last few years the two were inseparable and had become Oliver's most efficient Captains. Jonathan trusted him with his life and honestly hearing that his sister would be marrying him made him happy to call him brother. Nick was twenty two years old and had been trained the old-school Bratva way but with respect towards women.

His father instilled those values from an early age. To always treat his wife or any woman with respect and values. His mother passed from cancer when he was thirteen. He engrossed himself in the family business, he was trained very well. By eighteen he met eleven year Jonathan who trained with him. Now they were both running the Starling City branch of the Bratva and had increased profits in not illegal ways.

When Nick's father died of a heart attack, Jonathan was the first to call him. After his father's memorial service he broke down in front of Felicity, who let him cry it out on her lap while Jonathan sat next to them. It was the most heartbreaking thing he had ever seen, his best friend was suffering and there was nothing he could say or do to help him.

A few days after the memorial he was called into Oliver's, the Pahkan's office. The different scenarios of what he may or may not have done flooded his mind. His meeting was scheduled for ten am, he arrived at nine thirty, and he was always early. He was asked to come into the office, and by ten fifteen he had taken over his father's commands and charges.

Within the last year he had set up a scholarship program for under privileged kids in The Glades. He had opened a non-profit gym there also to get kids off the streets, the only requirement was to get good grades and not get into fights in school. Within six months he opened another location. To say Oliver was impressed was an understatement.

When Frederick came in with the intel Jonathan rushed to get to Hope. He had seen her from afar and had seen her pictures but he had never seen her in person. It only took fifteen minutes instead of thirty minutes to get to Verdant. When he walked through the door she was on stage singing, he fell in love instantly. He watched her come down and the rest was history.

Now they were going somewhere to regroup, he reminded himself she was safe. From the moment he saw her on the stage he knew he would do anything for her, even if it meant dying to save her. A rush of images filled his head, a vision of her in a wedding gown, pregnant with his child, running behind their toddler, he gasped for breath. He had only been with her not even forty eight hours and she had already infiltrated every part of his being. He vowed in that moment that until the day he died, he would do whatever it took to keep her safe.

A/N: Told you I got a little carried away. Two updates so quickly? Don't get used to it. I just wanted to get this out to the person who begged me J