Chapter 9

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"I…..." Laurel says amazed as she looks around, not sure what to say, "Thank you." Laurel tells everyone, "Thank you so much."

"You don't have to thank us." Thea says walking towards Laurel, "We wanted to do something to celebrate you coming home from hospital and so we decided to combine it with Christmas." Thea explains.

"Thank you." Laurel says, hugging Thea.

"I didn't work alone we all played our parts." Thea responds in a whisper as they hug.

"So, this is what you all did today." Laurel says, once she and Thea break apart, looking around at everyone, at all the people who matter most to her.

"Yep, we wanted it to be a surprise." Sara explains, "You're not still mad are you?" he asks her sister curious.

"No, I'm not." Laurel responds before hugging her little sister. Once Sara and Laurel break apart Laurel smiles at her parents before walking over to Oliver, Felicity, Donna, Diggle and Lyla who is holding Baby Sara.

"Everything looks so amazing; you didn't have to do all this." Laurel says, looking at her friends, her family, in amazement.

"We know we didn't have to, we wanted to." Oliver explains and he and Laurel exchange looks and everyone drifts into silence.

"Well I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm starving. So, how about we eat." Lance suggests, breaking the silence.

"Yeah, that sounds good." Laurel say and everyone walks over to the tables. Oliver sits at the head of the table with Felicity on his right and Thea on his left, Laurel is next to Thea and Diggle next to Felicity, Sara is next to her big sister, Lyla's next to her husband, with baby Sara between them, Donna is next to Lyla and Dinah is next to Sara with Lance sitting at the other end of the table with.

"Wow, this all look so great, Oliver." Dinah comments, looking amazed by the food.

"You cooked?" Laurel asks, looking at Oliver.

"Yeah."

"Wow, Ollie, I'm impressed." Laurel says amazed, "I hope it tastes as good as it looks."

"It will." Felicity says, "Oliver's become a great cook." She reveals.

"Then I say we shouldn't let all this amazing food just sit here." Donna comment.

"Here, here." Lyla says, agreeing.

"Before we eat I want to say a few things." Oliver says standing up.

"Wow, you really have gotten used to this whole giving speeches thing." Thea comments and those who know about Oliver being the Green Arrow share amuse looks while Dinah and Donna are just thinking that Felicity is talking about the fact that he is running for mayor.

"Everyone in this room has been hurt, quiet often by someone else in this room, or more than one person." Oliver says, his eyes briefly lingering on Laurel and Sara, "We've made mistakes and made bad choices, been lost and found, and yet here we all are, together; being there for each other when we need one another the most. Because we're a family. Not the most conventional of course, but a family none the less. So, as we all sit her together, dreading what may happen in days to come, we need to remember what it's taken to have us all here together, what we've been through, what we lost and what we've gained. And, so let's raise our glasses and toast to that, to Family." Oliver says, picking up his glass.

"To family." Everyone else says raising their glasses and toasting too.

"That really well said, Oliver." Laurel tells him and he nods, "And now I would like to say something." Laurel says sanding up, "First I want to thank you all for all this, it's so incredible and means more than I could say." Laurel reveals, "Second, like Oliver said we've all been through a lot of things, and we're all going to go through a lot of things in the future, but the fact that we're all hear together, despite our differences and history, is incredible. And, I know that as hard as the days to come are going to be the fact that we're all here for each other will help make whatever is to come just a bit easier to deal with." Laurel says before sitting down.

"Wow, you two, way to bring down the mood." Sara says jokingly.

"Sara's right, let's eat." Felicity says smiling and they do just that, everyone trying not to think about the fact that this could very well be the last Christmas that they spend together.

A few hours later after having a great dinner together, after which they all just spend some time together, basically everyone has gone home leaving just Laurel, Sara, Dinah and Lance.

"Maybe I should stay." Dinah says as Laurel tries to get her parents to leave.

"Mom, I'll be fine and Sara and Thea are here, I'm not alone." Laurel tells her mother, "You should go get some rest. I'll see you tomorrow." Laurel tells her mother.

"Call if you need anything." Dinah says before hugging Laurel, "I love you."

"Love you too." Laurel respond and she and Dinah break apart.

"I'll see you tomorrow." Lance tells his daughter, having just hugged Sara, "I love you."

"Love you too." Laurel responds and Dinah and Lance leave the apartment leaving just Sara, Thea and Laurel.

"So, I don't know if you're interested but I have loaded ever Christmas episode of Friends in chronological order, interested?" Sara asks her sister curious once their parents have left.

"Very." Laurel responds.

"And I had Ollie pick up a few extra things when he was doing the shopping, I think it's time to break it out." Thea says heading to the freezer where she pulls out a pint of chocolate fudge brownie ice cream.

"Nice." Sara says with a smile as Thea grabs three spoons and all three of them make themselves comfortable on the couch and start to watch friends. As they do Laurel looks between Sara and Thea, thinking that if she is dead in four months then she wants to spend as many nights like this as possible.

Hours later, hours after she finished watching Friends with Sara and Thea Laurel finds herself unable to sleep and so, being careful not to wake her little sister, Laurel gets up and climbs out onto the fire escape where she just sits and thinking about everything. Laurel thinks about everything that is going to happen, and how it's going to affect everyone that she cares about.

Laurel isn't even sure how long she has been sitting out on the fire escape when she hears someone else climb out and she turns just in time to see Sara sit down next to her.

"Here, you seemed like you could use this." Sara says, handing her sister a cup of tea.

"Thanks." Laurel says as she accepts the cup and uses it to warm her hands, "Did I wake you up?" Laurel asks her sister, worried that she did.

"Nah, I woke up on my own." Sara responds. "Are you okay?" Sara asks her sister curious.

"Yeah. I'm just thinking." Laurel responds.

"Anything you want to talk about?" Sara asks curious.

"Not really, I just want to sit here." Laurel responds.

"Okay." Sara respond and she makes herself comfortable and together the Lance sisters sit in silence while they watch the city.

For a while Laurel and Sara just sit out on the fire escape. They sit for so long that they end up watching the sunrise together before heading back inside. Honestly Laurel isn't even the smallest bit surprised when both her parents show up at the apartment by nine and then by eleven Laurel is kind of over her parents hovering over her.

"Is it going to be a while before lunch?" Laurel asks her father, who is cooking with her mother, curious.

"Yeah, why?" Lance ask curious.

"I need some air. I'll be back soon." Laurel tells her parents.

"Maybe I should come with you." Dinah tells her daughter.

"I can take a walk by myself. I'll be back soon." Laurel tells her mother, trying to keep the annoyance out of her voice asks she knows that her mother is worried and she understand that, but that doesn't stop her from being annoyed by it, which is why she needs to go for a walk, so that she doesn't say something she doesn't really mean.

"Okay." Dinah responds and after giving her parents a look Laurel walks across her apartment, grabbing her jacket and leaving.

After Laurel leaves her apartment she hasn't even gone more than a few steps when she hears the door open,

"Laurel." Thea says and Laurel turns around, "You okay?"

"Yeah, things are just getting a bit crowded in there." Laurel explains, "I'll be back soon."

"Sure, just don't do anything that will pull your stiches." Thea requests, "Coz that might be difficult to explain."

"Don't worry, I'm just going for a walk. I'll see you later." Laurel says.

"Okay." Thea says before the two of them go their separate ways, Thea heads back inside to have lunch with the Lance's before going to Oliver's and Felicity's while Laurel heads off for her walk.

After leaving her apartment Laurel isn't really sure where she is going, but then as she walks Laurel realises exactly where she wants to go, the graveyard where Tommy is buried and so she heads straight there.

When Laurel gets to there commentary, once she is at Tommy's grave, Laurel walks over and places her hand on the top and closes her eyes,

"I miss you Tommy, I love you." Laurel says out loud in a quiet voice. After she does Laurel takes several steps back a sits down on the ground where she just stairs at the name, Thomas Merlyn.

It has been a couple of hours since Laurel left her apartment to go on her walk and even though no one has said it Dinah, Quieten, Sara and Thea are all beginning to become worried. While Lance and Dinah are talking Sara quickly pulls Thea into Laurel's room.

"Do you think something has happened? Do you think Darkh has done something to her?" Sara asks Thea in a worried hushed voice.

"I don't know." Thea responds, her voice also quiet and hushed, "But I know that neither of us can leave to find out without worrying your mother." Thea explains.

"You're right about that." Sara admits, "Call Ollie, ask him to ask Felicity to track Laurel's phone, at least then we might get some answers."

"On it." Thea says, pulling out her phone to call her brother.

Having no idea about how long she has been sitting there, or how worried her family is, Laurel just continues to sit at Tommy's grave, staring at the name, thinking about how much she misses him. It has been fifteen minutes since Thea called Oliver and because Felicity easily found out where she was he headed straight there.

"Laurel." Oliver says as he sits down next to her

"Oliver, what are you doing here?" Laurel asks confused, not looking away from Tommy's name, "How'd you find me?"

"Thea and Sara called, they were worried. So, Felicity tracked your phone." Oliver explains.

"Of course." Laurel says, realising that she really shouldn't be surprised, and the two of them drift into silence.

"Why'd you come here?" Oliver asks curious, breaking the silence.

"I just wanted to." Laurel tells him, "I loved, Tommy. I loved him so much. He was the first person in a long time, I saw a future with." She tells Oliver.

"I know." Oliver says as he reaches over and takes Laurel's hand, "I'm sorry that I couldn't save him."

"That wasn't your fault." Laurel tells him, "I want that for you. I want you to have a family with Felicity, kids, a normal life. You deserve that." Laurel says, once more not looking away from the gravestone.

Hearing Laurel's comment Oliver can't help but think about what he learnt while he was in Central City and what that means, "I have a son." Oliver tells Laurel, saying the words before he really thinks about what the revelation will mean.

"What?" Laurel ask, turning to look at Oliver in completely shock.

"I only found out when we were in Central City." Oliver explains, "I'm sorry, Laurel. With Sara wasn't the first time I cheated." Oliver reveals, looking guilty about that.

"I always wondered." Laurel admits, trying not to allow herself to feel hurt by that as she wants some answers, "What happened?"

"It was after you suggested we move in together. I wanted that, I wanted to be with you, but I was terrified about what that meant." Oliver explains.

"You should have told me that you were feeling that way." Laurel says, trying to keep the anger out of her voice, but Oliver can still tell that she is angry.

"I know that now, but I didn't know that then." Oliver explains, "I was confused and so I reacted badly. I screwed up and I'm sorry. I don't expect you to forgive me." Oliver says, telling the truth as he doesn't think he deserves forgiveness for what he has done.

"I do." Laurel says to Oliver's shock. "I'm dying; I don't have time to hold grudges." Laurel says as even though she is hurt and upset she doesn't want to hold a grudge, not when she has so little time left, "Tell me about him, your son." Laurel requests, "I want to know." She says and for a few seconds Oliver just watches, trying to determine if Laurel really wants to know or if she is just asking to be polite and after a few seconds he is able to determine that Laurel does really wants to know and he is amazed by that.

"His names William. I don't really know much about him, except he loves The Flash." Oliver reveals and Laurel can't help but laugh at that, "We've only spent a little bit of time together and he doesn't even know that I'm his father." Oliver explains, "Back then Samantha told me that she was pregnant, but then she told me that she lost the baby. It turns out that my mother paid her to do that."

"Oh god. I'm sorry, Ollie." Laurel says as even though she is hurt by the knowledge that he cheated on her she can't imagine how hard this is for Oliver.

"Yeah." Oliver responds his voice breaking slightly, "Samantha said that I can't tell William about me, and that I'm not to tell Felicity about William." He explains.

"Wait, you haven't told Felicity?" Laurel says shocked.

"No."

"Oliver…" Laurel says in a shocked and disapproving voice, but before she can anymore Oliver cuts her off.

"What else am I supposed to do? Samantha said if I told Felicity then I can't see William, and I want to get to know my son. I need to." Oliver explains.

"I get that, I do." Laurel admits, "But you not telling Felicity this is just going to end badly." Laurel tells Oliver, wanting him to realise that.

"I know. But I want to get to know my son and I don't see how I can do that without lying to Felicity, and I hate that." Oliver admits, it feeling good to talk to someone about this, looking lost as he doesn't know what to do.

Seeing the look that is on Oliver's face, even with how hurt she is, Laurel wants to help him, she desperately wants to help him.

"Do you want my advice?" Laurel asks, not wanting to overstep.

"Of course."

"Spend time with William, was it?" Laurel asks and Oliver nods, "Get to know him and after a little bit of time sit down with his mother, explain to her what you want, be calm about it, and…" Laurel says not being that she is about to say what she is going to say, but wanting to help, "If it gets to the point where you need a lawyer, if I'm still here, I'll help you, and if I'm not then I'll make sure I leave you the names of people I know who can help." Laurel tells Oliver.

"Laurel, you don't have to do that." Oliver says, looking amazed.

"I want to." Laurel says, "And as much as I hate to say it because it's not fair to Felicity, I don't see a way for you to tell her the truth without risky not being able to get to know, William." Laurel explains, feeling bad for Oliver and even Felicity because Oliver is in a horrible position and Felicity is going to get hurt.

"That's what I realised too." Oliver admits, "Felicity is going to hate me when she finds out, isn't she?" he asks, it being clear that he is worried about that.

"I don't know." Laurel admits truthfully, "But I do know that I'll keep your secret."

"Thank you." Oliver says, "Barry knows too. You're the only ones that do and it has to stay that way. At least for a little while."

"It will, no one will hear it from me." Laurel assures, "Congratulations, Oliver. Once you have the chance you'll be a great father." Laurel tells him, meaning that as if there is one thing that knowing she is dying has taught her it is that life's short, and even though she could show how angry she is with Oliver, even though she could hold a grudge, she isn't going to because she doesn't have long left and doesn't want to spend the little time she does have fighting with someone that is so important to her.

"I hope so." Oliver says and they drift into silence, and for a few minutes they just sit side by side in silence.

"We should get back home. If Sara and Thea called you then they were already worried and Felicity will be worrying before too long too." Laurel comments.

"Yeah, guess we should." Oliver says, then realises something, "Do you mind coming with me to the office first? I have something for you." Oliver explains, giving Laurel a look and making it clear that he is talking about the lair and not the office.

"Sure." Laurel responds, "I guess great minds thing alike. That's where I hid your present too." Laurel reveals, as she needed a place to hid presents that Thea wouldn't find and even though she collected her family's and Thea's she had left Oliver, Felicity's and Diggle's at the lair so that she could give them to them at a later date, as she stands up. As she stands Laurel walks over to the grave stone, "Merry Christmas, Tommy. I miss you." Laurel says to the grave and once Laurel steps back Oliver stands up and walk over to the grave, he says something in a voice too quiet for Laurel to hear and the two of them head out of the cemetery.

Not long after Oliver and Laurel leave the cemetery they arrive at the Arrow Cave and when they get their they both go their separate direction to get the presents that they hid. A few minutes later both Laurel and Oliver arrive back at the meeting table, Oliver holding a large wrapped box and Laurel holding a larger present and a smaller one on top.

"Merry Christmas, Laurel." Oliver says, handing over the box.

"Merry Christmas, Oliver." Laurel responds handing over her presents for Oliver.

For the next minute or so both Oliver and Laurel are quiet as Laurel opens her present and Oliver opens the top, smaller present.

"Oh wow, thank you, Ollie." Laurel says, looking amazed when she realises what is in the box.

"You're welcome." Oliver responds, "They should be lighter for you to use, but produce more force when you hit someone." He explains

"Nice." Laurel says as she picks up the two new Tactical Tonfa's that Oliver got her.

"I know that I haven't been the biggest supporter of you being The Black Canary, but that's was because all I've wanted since I came back is to protect you, and Thea, from this world. I was so afraid of one of you getting hurt or something happening to you that I didn't see how strong both of you are. Your hero's and more than capable of protecting yourselves and I'll do a better job of remembering that." Oliver informs Laurel.

"Thank you." Laurel says before hugging Oliver, his words meaning a lot to her, and for about a minute the two of them just hug, "Open your presents." Laurel tells him as they break apart and Oliver does just that.

Frist Oliver finishes opening the first present and he can't help but smile when he sees it, "A green tie?" Oliver ask Laurel with a smile.

"You're wearing ties again and you've certainly proved that you like green." Laurel explains with a smirk and Oliver just grins before opening the second present, which turns out to be arrows, "I put an order in for you. You go through them quickly so I thought you could use some more." Laurel explains.

"Thank you." Oliver responds, looking grateful.

"You're very welcome." Laurel says and she and Oliver hug once more.

"We should head out, before Thea, Sara and Felicity start to get really worried." Oliver comments as they once more break apart.

"Yeah. We should." Laurel says and leaving their presents where they are Oliver and Laurel leave the Arrow Cave so that they can spend Christmas with their families.