Forever Fearless Family

by kayemen22

How do you fight an unbeatable opponent? Someone with both physical and mental strength beyond anything ever imagined. The Demon finally makes a move leaving Starling in the middle. Blood is thicker than water, and the demon is coming for his blood. Leaving the Arrow and his team to stop him. They're going to need they're Guardian. That's if she's ready to face her past. Oliver/OC

5. Meant to Be

Chapter 5

Meant to be

"It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves."

-William Shakespeare

---

The past was a foe that never seemed to quit. That was the only reason Katie could even explain sitting in the large office of Queen Consolidated waiting for the meeting Felicity forced her to take. In a huff, Katie stood to her feet and began glancing around the walls at the many pictures of one Ray Palmer, and his ridiculously white teeth.

She dug in her purse when he phone rang, and looked down to the ID and smiled before bring the phone to her ear.

"Yes dear." she answered.

"How do you feel about a chocolate fountain?" David asked. "I know a guy, who knows a guy's cousin who could get us one for the party."

"Isn't this supposed to be a surprise party?" Katie asked walking over to look out the window. "Why do you keep calling me for my input. I thought that was what Felicity was for."

"It was, but you know there's that whole thing with her hating me." David said. "Look it's fine, I can plan a party for my girl on my own."

"Yeah, sure you can. Look I have to go, I'm still waiting for Mr. Palmer to show up for this meeting he apparently was dying to have." Katie sighed. "Look I'm sure whatever you plan will be fine. I have no preference on anything."

"You're no fun. Alright, I'll call you later. Oh, wait...just so we're clear, the donkey show is—"

"I'm going to murder you if the words donkey show comes out of your mouth one more time." Katie said, unable to not laugh. "I'm hanging up on you now." Katie ended the call, before glancing down to the time and finally deciding to leave. She walked over grabbing her jacket before pulling it on, just as the door to the office opened.

"Ms. Robins, I'm so , so sorry, I got caught over in the lab in-"

"Mr. Palmer, it's fine. You're a very busy man, and I'm an equally busy woman which is why I'm going to thoughtfully say screw you and leave you to your day." And with that Katie went stalking out the door.

Felicity was talking to one the associates when she saw the woman headed toward the elevator, and Ray quickly trying to follow. The blonde rushed over to Ray, trying to keep in stride.

"What did you do?"

"I may have gotten tied up in the lab and-"

"You were late! After I specifically told you to be on time. The only reason you even got this meeting with her, was because I had to beg her, and then you show up late." Felicity huffed before quickening her step, to rush in front of Katie before she can step onto the elevator.

"You asked me to show up, I did. You didn't ask me to wait a half an hour after the scheduled meeting time." Katie said, trying to step around the woman, only for Felicity to meet her step and blocking her.

"I know and he's sorry."

"I am!" the man said appearing at Felicity side with a smile. "I feel horrible for making you wait, when I'm the one who wanted the meeting."

"Why did you want to meet with me?" Katie asked losing what little patience she had.

"It's just that RI-"

"RI is under the controlling power of Lucius Fox, any and all meetings concerning the company, should go through him." Katie said before reaching around and once again pressing the button for the elevator.

"I did actually." Ray said and Katie turned to the man. "Me and Mr. Fox had a very long an interesting conversation and he told me that any ideas I had for our companies would have to go through the person whose name is on the building."

"Katie, I've heard everything he's going to tell you and trust me, it's all good stuff. It could really be innovative for both of your companies." Felicity said and Katie glanced from the woman to the man who still wore a bright smile.

"Stop smiling." Katie muttered before walking passed the man, back toward his office.

"What does that mean?" Ray muttered over to Felicity.

"It means you should probably stop smiling." the blonde said before nudging him toward his office.

An hour later Katie sat looking over to the man who sat behind his desk waiting for her to say something. She could tell that he was excited about the meeting, from the way he just couldn't stop talking. She had to admit his ideas were impressive, especially his mention of the advancement of medical technology.

"This all sounds great." Katie said finally and the man smiled wider. "But you get that I'm just a doctor, right? I don't have a business degree, so I'm not sure what moves need to be made, what figures have to be checked. I'm actually just a figure head."

"Ms. Robins—I mean doctor, I'm very much aware that there is a PH. D in front of your name, hey I have one too-" he noticed the annoyed looked the woman gave him and decided to get to the point. "I didn't want this meeting because I wanted to meet with some business savant who knew the numbers and the angles."

"Why did you want to meet with me?"

"Because of your father." the man said and Katie turned away for a moment. Even after so much times had past, her father was still a bit of a sore subject. "I met with Jacob countless times-" Ray said standing to his feet and walking around to take she seat beside the woman. "Every time I was in awe of the man. He had this thing, this intuition about things. I could never figure out how he knew the things he did, how he anticipated the things he shouldn't have, but he did. I admired him, admired his work and the day I read about his death and how he signed his company over to you, I was intrigued."

"Really, everyone else thought he'd gone insane." Katie muttered sitting back in her chair. "Me included."

"Every decision Jacob made had a purpose. You being named the CEO had a purpose, and now your company is different. Sure profit is important but the ventures since you've been there have been for the betterment of the people. Helping people seems to be more important to you then making money, and in the end its what makes you money." Ray said. "That's the kind of business this city needs."

"Alright, I'll talk to Lucius, tell him about our meeting and I will see how he thinks we should proceed." Katie said before standing to her feet and holding out her hand. "I'm supposed to shake your hand now." Ray stood to his feet and shook the woman's hand in slight confusion. "Apparently I'm perceived as cold sometimes, and I read somewhere that a handshake can be as good as a hug."

"Wasn't that on an episode of Fraiser?" Ray asked and Katie shrugged.

"Read, watched one night on television, same difference." Katie replied before grabbing her jacket. "It was nice meeting with you Mr. Palmer."

"Please call me Ray, Mr. Palmer make me feel old." the man said and Katie shook her head.

"Sure, it was nice meeting you Ray, and I'm sure you'll be hearing something soon." Katie said before turning and heading for the door. The moment the man opened the door, they were both surprised by Felicity who was just about to knock.

"Oh, hey, I was just about to stop in and see how things were going." Felicity said looking between the pair. "So-"

"So, I'll be in touch." Katie says before walking around the woman. Felicity turned to Ray, who gave her two thumbs up, before the woman turned and rushed after her friend.

"See I told you he wasn't a bad guy."

"He's a bit pompous." Katie countered as they walked toward Felicity's office. "Nice guy, but some times you just want to punch him, right?"

"I think you just want to punch everybody." Felicity said walking into her office and walking over to her desk.

Katie found herself stuck in a mild state of shock as she walked into the office that once belonged to Oliver. There were memories here, and she had to ignore the twinge she felt as she walked inside.

"It's weird he gave you this office." Katie said walking over to glance out the window to the already setting sun.

"Tell me about it." Felicity said walking over to stand beside the woman.

"So I talked to David." Katie said, and Felicity groaned before walking over to pour herself a glass of water. "I thought we agreed that you would be the one to make sure he doesn't throw me some wild party with a donkey show."

"I tried, I really did, but he annoyed me." Felicity replied taking a sip of her water. "He kept calling me Lis, and I almost stepped on his foot."

"Then tell him to stop calling you Lis. That simple. Look you and him planning this party was supposed to give you a chance to get to know him." Katie said turning to the woman. "I really like him, and this could be something."

"You can really say that after what happened last week?"

"You mean me getting drugged and going insane?"

"I mean you turning into a jealous person who tried to sleep with your ex boyfriend." Felicity replied pointing to the woman. "I'm just saying it meant something."

"It means that I was drugged. I didn't have any control over what I was doing and so it meant nothing." Katie replied before taking a seat in front of the woman's desk.

"Alright, then how about you answer me this." Felicity said walking over to sit behind her desk. "Do you love David?" Katie looked at the woman with a shake of her head.

"What are you even asking me? David and I are in a good place, it's simple and it's normal and-"

"Yeah, I'm still waiting on an answer." Felicity interrupted, and Katie turned away.

"Yeah." Katie replied turning back to the woman. "I love David."

"I would be inclined to believe that if you weren't the most believable liar in the world." Felicity replied with a shake of her head. "You don't love him because you can't love him. Not when you're still in love with Oliver."

"Not this again!" Katie yelled standing to her feet. "Felicity, Oliver and I are never getting back together. He made a choice to end things, and I chose to accept it. I will work with Oliver, say hi every once and a while, mention how strange the weather has been, but that's it. That's the extent of our relationship at the moment."

"And yet you love him." the blonde practically sang, causing Katie to growl in frustration before turning and heading for the door. "Should I make sure he gets an invitation to the party when he gets back to town." Katie stopped walking with a sigh before turning back to the woman. "He found Thea and convinced her to come home. They should be arriving soon."

"That's good that she's home. He needed to see her."

"Seeing his sister isn't the only thing he needs." Felicity replied and Katie simply rolled her eyes about to leave, when there was a knock against the glass door. Both women turned, as a young intern walked in, a bright yellow box with a black bow around it, in her hands.

"Uh, Ms. Robins, you have a delivery." the woman said, handing the box to Katie.

"Oh, early birthday present." Felicity said, hopping to her feet and rushing over. "Thanks Peg." the intern nodded before leaving the woman. "Who is it from?"

"No idea, there's no card." Katie said before walking over to sit the box on Felicity's desk. She carefully slid off the top of the box, her heart dropping at what she saw.

"What is that?" Felicity asked before reaching inside, but Katie quickly caught the woman's wrist. "Katie, what-" Katie placed the lid back on the box before scooping it in her arms and grabbing her jack and rushing from the office. The elevator doors were open, allowing Katie to slip right inside, and also not giving Felicity a chance to stop her before the doors closed. "Shit." she pressed the button repeatedly, hoping it would miraculously open. It was the elevator beside it that opened, and Felicity quickly went over, nearly crashing into the man stepping off. "Oh, I'm so-" she looked up meeting the man's eyes. "Jackass."

"Let me guess, you didn't mean to say that out loud." Bruce replied with a smile.

"No that time, I did. What are you doing here?"

"I heard about the meeting Katie had with Palmer, and wanted to be here in case the guy tried to smile her into a deal." Bruce replied looking over the woman. "You look nice Ms. Vice President."

"You're looking old." The woman said, leaning in a bit. "Is that gray I see in your hair."

"Probably." the man chuckled. "This is nice. Us talking and-"

"Shit." the woman cursed when the elevators once again closed. She moved around the man to press for the elevators once again.

"Where are you trying to go? I can drive you or-"

"I'm trying to catch up to Katie, whose probably half way to the moon at this point." Felicity said with a sigh. "She ran out of her like a bat out of hell after getting a weird birthday present."

"What was the present?"

"Just a single blue flower." Felicity said looking up to the man whose eyes darkened. "That's the same look Katie got. What's going on? What is this flower?" The elevator suddenly rang and the man turned, stepping inside and pressing for the doors to close. "Bruce, what the hell is happening?"

"Ra's Al Ghul." was all the man said before the doors slid closed.

"Shit." Felicity said before rushing back to her office. The first thing the woman did was grab her phone to text Oliver. She was about to try to call Katie when her phone suddenly rang. "STAR Labs?" she muttered before bringing the phone to her ear.

Katie's heart had turned into a drum, and hadn't stopped pounding since she saw that flower. She didn't stop moving, which is when the moment she came through the door of her loft she dropped her jacket and bag to the floor, sitting the box that held the flower on the table before heading off to her room.

Katie knew this day was coming, knew that at some point the demon would make his move, and she had to assume that this was it. She began pulling off her dress, and changing into a pair of jeans and a black hoodie. There was a suit case already packed, and ready to go for this exact occasion that she kept in the very back of her closet. Katie looked down to her watch, as she pulled the handle of her suit case toward the next room down the hall that was locked by a keypad. After unlocking the door, she hurried inside, quickly going over to the chest that was in the far corner of the room. She pulled it open, and looked at the various weapons. They were only a few that she kept in the loft, the others were back at the lair. It didn't matter, because she didn't need much. Katie grabbed one of her glocks, and stuffed behind her before standing to her feet. The moment she did, she froze at the sudden knocking at her door. She grabbed the gun from behind her and began walking slowly toward the door.

"Katie!" the familiar voice of Oliver called. "It's me. Open the door." Katie sighed before reaching forward to open the door. She didn't even greet him before she turned and headed back to get her suit case. "Felicity texted me." Oliver walked in, following behind the woman who still hadn't said a word. "Bruce came by the office, told her the flower was from Ra's." Katie grabbed the handle of her suitcase , and tried to move around the man who was not letting her pass him. "Will you stop?"

"No, I won't stop!" Katie snapped meeting the man's eyes, that pounding in her chest only getting faster. "That's where all my problems began. I stopped, and I knew I should never stop." she once again tried to move around him, only for Oliver to grab her waist, and push her gently to the wall to hold her in place. She closed her eyes, refusing to let the man try to change her mind.

"I promised you that we would deal with this together."

"I know, but you promised me a lot of things Oliver." Katie replied opening her eyes and meeting the intensity in the man's gaze. She tried to pull away from the wall, but the man kept a firm grasp on her waist keeping her in place.

"If this is Ra's finally coming for you-"

"Exactly!" Katie snapped. "Me. He's coming for me, not you. I'm not changing that. This is my fight, and it will be me who fights it." She once again tried to pull free, but he wouldn't let her go. "Oliver, this isn't me needing you to save me. This isn't me asking for you to swoop in and make everything better. This is my problem, I will solve it." Katie finally gave the man a shove, before pulling from his grasp and moving past the man. She was about to grab her suit case, when they heard the noticeable sound of the creaking of the door opening. Katie once again reached for her gun.

"Rob?" she heard and sighed with a shake of her head. She turned to Oliver and motioned for him to stay there. The last thing she wanted to do was explain to her current boyfriend, why her ex boyfriend was in her house. She turned and hurried down the hall, to see the man holding a bouquet of balloons. "The door was open. I thought this was a given, but I don't want you to leave your door open, it's dangerous."

"Right, I must have spaced." Katie replied looking up to the balloons with a smile. "Are these for me?"

"No, there for my other girlfriend." David replied smiling at the glare the woman sent him. "Happy birthday, Katherine Robins." Katie chuckled reaching for the balloons, only for the man to release them to the air, before scooping her into his arms and bringing his lips to hers. Katie pulled away, once again feeling guilty knowing that Oliver was just a few feet away.

"Thank you, detective Parker, but my birthday isn't until tomorrow and you didn't have to leave work to deliver me balloons." Katie replied.

"I didn't." The man replied. "I left work to take you on a pre-birthday adventure." Katie looked at the man in confusion.

"Right now?"

"Right now." the man replied before kicking open the door.

"Dave, now's not really a good-"

"La la la la!" the man yelled over her talking. "You're talking and I'm not listening! This is happening." the man simply carried the woman out of the loft, closing the door behind them.

The moment the door closed, Oliver stormed for it, trying to ignore that emotion inside of him that he's not supposed to have because someone else got to kiss her and touch her the way he wanted. He was about to leave, when his phone suddenly rang. He pulled it from his pocket, and quickly answered at the sight of Felicity's name.

"Felicity-"

"Let her go." came Felicity's voice from the other end. "I'm the one who called David, and told him it might be a good idea to surprise Katie with this birthday adventure thing."

"If the league is here-"

"If they're here, they're not going to strike while she's with a cop." Felicity countered. "Plus if she's with him, she's less likely to try to handle this on her own."

Oliver's eyes glanced up to the door, not liking Katie being in danger and not with him to protect her.

"Has there been any sign of the leagues presence in Starling?" Oliver asked.

"Not from anything that I've noticed, but I don't know much about the league, but there is someone in town who probably does." Felicity replied.

Oliver inwardly cringed because he just knew that at some point this was going to happen and he always knew he wasn't going to like it.

"Where is he?"

Oliver wasn't completely sure why he was surprised that when looking for Bruce Wayne, he would find himself at Starling's shipping yard.

"Are you sure he's here?" Oliver asked through the comlink.

"I traced his phone, and you're just a few feet away." Felicity replied.

Oliver continued walking, following Felicity's directions until he found himself very deep within the shipyard.

"Stop!" Felicity called. "You're right on top of him."

"There's nothing but shipping containers." Oliver said spinning around when he notices something on the container a couple of feet away. "Wait, there's something-" the crate seems to have a slight square outline, and the moment Oliver places his hand on it, some sort of print scanner appears. "Of course." Oliver simply places his hand on the scanner, just on a whim and isn't too surprised when an access granted message appears, and a door suddenly pulls from the container. "I think I found him." Oliver shakes his head, but steps inside the container that actually leads to stairs. "When the hell did he have time to do this?"

"What is it?" Felicity asked.

Oliver stepped from the last step, and his eyes simply went wide at the room he'd just stepped in. There were computer monitors on one of the walls, a case that held a bat suit, a wall that held nothing but weapons. "He built an underground lair, in my city."

"Seriously?"

"You know I never realized how annoying the whole, "my city" thing was until this very moment." Came Bruce's voice. Oliver turned to see the man step from another room, and over to him. "So you found me."

"What the hell is this?" Oliver asked looking around the room, obviously annoyed. "Why do you have a base of operations in Starling?"

"Because I found that I have been spending a lot of time here, and since you're not the most welcoming guy in the world, I just thought-"

"Cut the crap Bruce, what are you doing here?" Oliver asked.

"Waiting for you." Bruce replied and Oliver looked at him in confusion, when he suddenly heard the sound of movement behind him, and he quickly turned to see the arrow aimed at he and Bruce. "Hello Nyssa, it's been a long time."

"Not long enough, Midrab." Nyssa said, her grasp on the bow never wavering.

"You knew she was following me?" Oliver asked glancing over to Bruce who simply shrugged.

"What can I say, sometimes you're just predictable." Bruce said turning back to Nyssa. "So are you. You can lower your bow Nyssa. You're here because I let you in, remember?"

"Where is Sara?" the woman asked, not even attempting to lower her bow. "She came here for the League two weeks ago. We've not heard from her since." Oliver turned away for a moment, his jaw clinching, but he straightened up and turned back to the woman.

"There's something I need to tell you." he said, and it was the way that he said it, the somber tone in his voice that told Nyssa all she needed to know.

"Sara's dead." she stated, the words almost burning her tongue to speak. It almost happens right then and there. She almost melts into a puddle on the floor at the realization that Sara...her Sara is no longer living.

"I'm so sorry." Oliver says trying to console the woman.

"It was an arrow, wasn't it?" she asked suddenly and both men looked at her in confusion.

"How did you know that?" Bruce asked, taking a step toward the woman.

"Where is her body?" Nyssa asked ignoring the question, turning to Oliver for the answer.

"Nyssa-"

"Where is her body!"

"We buried her in her grave from seven years ago." Oliver sighs and without another word, the woman turns to leave.

"The blue flower!" Bruce calls and Nyssa stops and turned back to him. "It was sent to Nura today. It wasn't from him, was it?" the woman turned away, her eyes saying so much, and yet he mouth said nothing and the woman simply turned and rushed away.

"What the hell was that about?" Oliver asked turning back to Bruce who was quickly grabbing his jacket. "What is this blue flower?"

"I wish I could go into this with you, but that woman knows something and I'm going to figure out what." Bruce said heading for the door. "Lock up on your way out!"

"I'm going to punch him soon." Oliver muttered glancing around the lair once more before heading toward the stairs.

Katie stood staring through the glass that lead to the hundreds of sea creatures who swam without a care in in the world. In this moment she envied them.

"Here you are my lady." David said holding out a small bowl of frozen yogurt to the woman. "So how did I do with your adventure."

"Well a late night stroll through the park was fun, and miniature golf was also fun." she turned back to the glass. "This was perfect. My dad used to bring me here on my birthday. Just him and me. There were more people though." Katie glanced around the empty aquarium which was a bit of a theme tonight. David had found a way to rent out the zoo, and the golf course and the aquarium for the night.

"Yeah, but I think this is a little bit more romantic." David said leaning in for a kiss to the woman's lips. Katie jerked away, when she could've sworn she heard something. "What's up?"

"Did you hear that?" Katie asked, her eyes searching the dim lit building.

"I didn't hear anything." David replied, glancing around as well. "It's probably the night guard. He usually does his rounds around this time."

The pounding in Katie's chest returned, because soon reality came flooding back. The league was near, and that meant she didn't have time for a normal life.

"I should get home." Katie said turning to the man. "It's been a long day, and I just get the feeling that tomorrow is probably going to be longer and probably a bit crazier if you have anything to do with it."

"You know me so well." the man replied with a smile leaning in for another kiss, this one deeper, slower, but filled with passion. "Maybe I could stay the night. Get a jump start on the celebrating." Katie pulled back and met the man's eyes. Up until this point they had been taking things slow, and sure it had been a couple of months, but she still doesn't think she's ready to go that far yet. Especially not when it has bit bit her in the ass in the past. "Or not."

"David, it's not you, I just don't want to mess this up by moving too fast. I want to feel that this is like real, you know? I've sort of been careless when it came to matters of the heart, and I don't want to do that now. I want to know this is something real before we get into the serious stuff."

"I understand that." David said and Katie smiled. "I hope one day you can see just how serious I am about this, about you. I'm here for the long haul, Rob." he placed a kiss to her cheek, before holding out his arm. Katie chuckled looping her arm around his as they headed toward the exit.

Katie was having doubts. She sat in her living room, arms folded over her chest as her knee bounced nervously. Her eyes were locked on the suit case in front of her. There wasn't supposed to be doubt in this moment, because there shouldn't be doubt when it's the right thing to do. And yet here she was, not moving, not on a plane, or a bus, or even on a train out of Starling. Her phone beeped and she smiled. It was Felicity once again asking if she were alright. The blonde had gotten a call about Barry, and she was headed to Central City, but only if she knew that everything was alright with Katie. Katie sent another text telling her that everything was alright, and that she would still be here when she returned.

There was a knock on her door, and Katie jumped to her feet. She slowly walked over, peeking through the peep hole, letting out a sigh when she sees who is there. Katie pulled open the door with a smile and was suddenly engulfed in a hug.

"Ollie is an idiot." Thea Queen said, hugging the woman tight. "I mean what was he thinking to let you go. You're perfect for him."

"Hi Thea, good to see you too. I've been fine, how about yourself." Katie said, when Thea pulled back with a quirked brow. "That's my way of saying that I don't want to talk about your brother."

"Why didn't you tell me when I called you?" Thea asked moving around the woman inside the loft.

"Well because it wasn't something you should be worried about." Katie replied closing the door and turning to the woman who was looking around the place.

"It's still weird that you sold your house." Thea said with a shake of her head. "I liked it there. It felt real there."

"To you maybe." Katie muttered walking over to take a seat. "So he convinced you to come back."

"I think it was time." Thea replied. "You can't run forever." Thea walked over, sitting beside the woman, her eyes going to the suit case. "You going somewhere?"

"I don't know." Katie sighed turning to the woman. "I like your hair. You look more grown up."

"I like yours too." Thea said with a chuckle. "You look liberated." both women laughed. "I asked him why he did it. Why he ended things and he couldn't even give me a straight answer. I don't get it."

"Neither do I, but it doesn't change anything. All that we can do is accept it." Katie replied

"You can't leave." Thea said dropping her head to Katie's shoulder. "There's still a Queen in this city who needs you around." Katie smiled placing a kiss on top of the young woman's head.

Bruce stood with his hands in his pocket, staring across the street at the boarded up house that Nyssa had just went inside. He looked down to his watch and sighed, when he heard the distant sound of a motorcycle getting near.

"Took you long enough." Bruce said as the driver stopped and pulled his helmet from his head.

"You're skating on really thin ice Bruce." Oliver muttered as he slid from his bike, letting his eyes scan the area. "Where is she?"

"There." Bruce said nudging his head toward the house.

"Why haven't you gone in yet?" Oliver asked and Bruce turned to him with a shake of his head.

"Nobody wants me left alone with the demon's spawn. It would only cause more trouble then we need." Bruce replied nudging Oliver's arm. "Plus you're a great buffer with your whole boy scout thing." and with that Bruce walked away, toward the house.

"Yep, definitely going to punch him at some point." Oliver muttered before following the man. When they walked in, they found the woman sitting, crying, but she quickly noticed their presence and stood, holding out a blade toward them.

"And here I was thinking that you had no feelings." Bruce said, gaining a dark glare from the woman.

"Bruce, don't." Oliver said taking a step forward. "Are you ready to talk?"

"There's nothing to discuss." Nyssa replied, sheathing her blade.

"The trail for Sara's killer has gone cold. And I could use your help." Oliver spoke and both Bruce and Nyssa gave him questioning looks.

"And this whole time, I thought you were counting the seconds until I was out of your city and away from our dear Nura." the woman replied with a shake of her head.

"That was before I realized why you were here." Oliver countered. "You're here for Sara and-"

"Back at the bunker you said that Sara was here for the league." Bruce said interrupting the man. "She had a target in Starling."

"That would suggest her target could also be her killer." Oliver said turning to Nyssa as well.

"Agreed, but it wasn't her target." Nyssa replied turning away. "Sara came to Starling to confirm rumors- whispers, really-that an enemy of the League was here."

"Who?" Bruce asks, and Nyssa turns to him.

"Malcolm Merlyn." she says, before turning to Oliver. "He's alive."

"The flower." Bruce says, and Nyssa turns to him with a nod. "He knows."

"Knows what?" Oliver asked feeling lost in the conversation happening in front of him. "What the hell is this flower."

"The flower is native to Buhtan. It's quite rare, and difficult to find. It's a test my father uses with many prospects who wish to join the league." Nyssa says looking to Bruce. "Including Midrab, here." Oliver turned to the man with a quirked brow. He didn't know the complete story of Bruce's connection to the league.

"You were a part of the league?" Oliver asked and Bruce turned to him.

"I was a student whose intent was to join, but I soon learned that there's just some points of darkness that I just will not go." Bruce replied turning a glare to Nyssa. "The flower was a threat."

"To Katie."

"To my father." Nyssa replied with a shake of her head.

"He wants to see how Ra's will react." Bruce muttered before turning and stalking out of the house. Oliver glanced back to Nyssa before following behind the man.

"Bruce, wait!" Oliver called before the man could get into his car. "What is going on?"

"What's going on is you were supposed to kill the man who really just needs to be dead." Bruce said jerking his arm from Oliver grip."Find Malcolm before he causes more trouble then he's worth."

"Where are you going?" Oliver asked as Bruce slid into his car and cranked the engine.

"I'm going to go talk to the person who made all of this possible." Bruce replied before speeding off. Oliver stood there for a moment before turning back to Nyssa who walked from the house.

"We should go." the man said.

When Bruce was a young boy, he had an array fears. One of those fears just happened to be cemeteries. But just like his other fear, Bruce has learned to overcome them, which why being in the dark cemetery tonight was just boring him more that anything.

"What are you doing, Mr. Wayne." a voice spoke from behind him and Bruce turned with a sigh.

"I'm sorry Martin, I'm not here to see you." Bruce said before letting his eyes roam about the darkness that surrounded them. "Come out Jacob!"

"The dead does not speak!" Martin snapped taking a step, but stopping at the hard look Bruce turned to him. "The dead can not speak."

"Well the dead spoke to me just fine." Bruce said raising his eyes. "There is a problem, Malcolm Merlyn-"

"Is alive and very well. We are very much aware." Martin says as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Was there anything else?"

"So Jacob knows the man who tried to kill him and his daughter is still out there and possibly targeting his daughter again?"

"There were a lot of tries and possibilities in your sentence, Mr. Wayne. There is a reason Mr. Merlyn has never been successful in any of his attacks." Martin turned to the man. "Malcolm Merlyn will never be a threat that warrants the raising of the dead Mr. Wayne."

"And what if that man is digging into something that many would like kept buried?" Bruce asked. "He sent her a blue flower, only native to a mountain that is part of the League's territory. He knows she was with the league, but he also knows that she's no longer there. He wants to know why." Martin turned away and nodded.

"I'll make sure to pass it along at the next seance." Martin replied before turning and walking off, but stopping and turning back to Bruce. "Oh, I almost forgot. I was told to inform you that your help with keeping Ms. Robins safe is greatly appreciated, but he will not be summoned unless absolutely necessary." and with that the man turned and walked away, disappearing into the dark cemetery like a ghost.

Back at the lair, Oliver couldn't tear his eyes from the screen that showed Malcolm Merlyn very much alive.

"If Lance knew Merlyn was alive, don't you think he would have told you?" Roy asked, and Oliver turned his attention back to the note they found written in Sara's handwriting.

"Only if she told him." Oliver replied. "What matters is what he told her."

" And how do we find that out?"Nyssa asked, and Oliver glanced over to her.

"I'll call Laurel, have her talk to her dad in the morning, see if she figure out why he told Sara." Oliver replied with a nod.

"Morning is a long time away, and someone should be watching Nura in the event Malcolm-"

"You and your league will go no where near her." Oliver replied with darkened eyes before turning to John and Roy. "I will go to Katie's, let her know what's happening."

"You think it's a good idea to tell Katie that Malcolm is still alive?" John asked and Oliver let out a deep sigh, not really excited about the conversation.

"Katie not a Malcolm Merlyn fan?" Roy asked looking between the men.

"Well look at this way, if it we didn't go looking for her the night of the Undertaking, I have no doubt that we wouldn't be having a Malcolm Merlyn problem again." John said with a shake of his head before turning to Oliver. "She's gonna want to be included in any mission that calls to finding him."

"I know that too." Oliver replied, grabbing his jacket and heading for the door.

When Oliver found himself standing outside Katie's door, he was suddenly nervous. His mind suddenly went to that night things happened. Confusing things, that caused the doubts in his head to only grow deeper. He took a deep breath, before raising a fist to knock. When the door opened, he definitely didn't expect his sister to be the first person he saw.

"Thea, what-" he glanced back into the loft before looking back down to his sister. "What are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here?" Thea asked folding her arms over her chest. "Please tell me you're not turning into 'That Guy'"

"What guy?"

"The guy who breaks up with a girl and then hangs around like nothing happened." Thea replied, before suddenly suddenly reaching forward and pinching the man.

"Ow, Thea, I told you to stop doing that." Oliver says.

"Well you're an idiot, and I find the need to make you suffer until you realize that. "Thea replied before slamming the door in her brother's face.

"Speedy?" Katie says walking from her bedroom, now changed to her pajamas. "I thought you were headed out. Who was at the door?"

"Just Ollie, but I pinched him and told him to go away." Thea replied, when there was suddenly more knocking that made the woman groan. "Don't worry, I'll get rid of him."

"Thea, don't. Just let me." Katie said walking over to open door.

"Thea Queen, you little-" Oliver instantly stopped when he met Katie's eyes and gave an apologetic smile. "Sorry, my sister-"

"Yes, Ollie?" Thea said appearing beside Katie at the door. Oliver sent a narrow glare to the woman, before turning back to Katie.

"I just stopped by because I needed to talk to you." Oliver replied.

"Didn't you do enough talking when you broke up with her?" Thea spoke, and Oliver had to bite his tongue. "I mean how much does a person really need to say to the woman he crushed."

"You told me that you would stay out of this." Oliver said turning to his sister.

"I did no such thing." Thea countered with a pointed finger. "I told you that you were an ass and that-"

"Hey!" Katie yelled waving her hands between the siblings. "It is very late and even though this is very amusing, I just can't play referee with you guys tonight." Katie turned back to Oliver. "Why are you here?"

"I found out something about that gift you got earlier." Oliver said and Katie nodded before turning back to Thea.

"What gift?" the youngest Queen asked.

"I'm glad you're back Thea, but not that big nose of yours." Katie replies, before turning and grabbing the woman's jacket and purse before handing it to her. "It's late, and you should get home." Thea glanced suspicious between the pair.

"Wait a minute. Why do I get the feeling this whole gift thing is made up and he's here for a booty call." Thea accused, and Katie simply dropped her face to her palm. "That's what this is, isn't it?"

"Thea, would you just-" Katie simply pointed toward the door.

"Twinkie, you're better than this." Thea said before turning to her brother. "And you're a sleaze if this was your idea." the woman simply pulled on her jacket before turning to Katie. "I'll see you at the party." and with that the woman turned and walked out of the apartment.

"Why did we want Thea back again?" Katie asked looking over to Oliver who simply shook his head as he stared down the hall as his sister stepped onto the elevator.

"I have no idea." the man replied before turning back to Katie who stepped aside. He gave a nod before walking inside, his eyes glancing over to the couch, and is instantly struck with the last time they were alone.

"You're looking into the flower?" Katie asked when Oliver turned to her. "I thought I told you to stay out of it."

"And I thought you knew, telling me not to help you was pointless." Oliver replied. "You're a part of this team, and that means you don't have to do anything alone."

"This I do." Katie says before turning and walking away from the man, who simply followed behind her.

"Nyssa is in Starling." Oliver said, and Katie froze in place. "She's not here for you." Katie suddenly lifted her head and turned back to the man.

"Sara. Does she know Sara is dead?" Katie asked and Oliver nodded. "This is bad. She's going to tear this city apart to find the person who did it."

"She thinks she knows who did it." Oliver replied and Katie awaited for him to continue. "There was a suspected enemy of League rumored to be in Starling, and Sara came to see if the rumors were true."

"You think Sara was killed by whoever she was looking for?" Katie asked and Oliver nodded. Katie let out a sigh as she slid to the stool in front of the counter. "Are there any leads?"

"Yeah." Oliver replied, and Katie turned to him when he didn't continue. "I don't even know how to say this to you."

"With words usually helps." Katie says turning fully to the man. "Just tell me who it is." Oliver looked at her for a moment. "I'm going to hit you if you don't start talking."

"Malcolm Merlyn." Oliver said finally. "He's alive." Katie closed her eyes, her mind traveling back to that moment on the roof of the Merlyn tower as she looked down to the body of the man. She reached down to check his pulse, but the explosions had started before she could. "Katie-" Katie held up a hand to stop him from talking, before she stood to her feet and once again walked away from him. Oliver turned, watching as she walked out onto the terrace and so he followed behind her. "We found a note in Sara's things, we think it may help us get a lead on Malcolm." Katie didn't say anything, and Oliver wasn't sure if there was anything he could say to make this moment better. "Katie, we're going to find him."

"And then what?" Katie asked, her eyes veering to the sky, looking to the bright stars overhead. "Why does this feel like deja vu? Us trying to concoct some plan to find and stop Malcolm Merlyn. Didn't we do this already?" she shook her head, turning away from the man. "How do we move forward if the past just never lets us?"

"Katie-"

"I'm assuming it was Malcolm who sent the flower." Katie stated.

"We think so." Oliver replied and Katie nodded before turning back to him.

"You're working with Nyssa." Katie stated and Oliver opened his mouth to speak, but she held up a hand to stop him. "I don't care. If working with her leads to Sara's killer then great, but I will not be along for this ride. Not with her."

"What are you going to do?" Oliver asked, knowing there was always something toiling in the woman's mind.

"Survive, by any means necessary." she replied before walking past the man back into the loft. Oliver walked inside as well, only to see the woman walk down the hall, her bedroom door slamming closed behind her. The man stared down that hall wanting nothing more than to go to her, and make all of this better, but he couldn't. With Malcolm back, and the League in town, there was no way he could risk being distracted, and so he took a deep breath before turning and heading for the door. He'd only opened the door, before the alarm on his phone went off. He pulled it from his pocket to see that it was finally midnight. He lifted his head with a slight smile.

"Happy Birthday Twinkie." he whispered before disappearing out the door.

Sarab's new home seemed to be a single spot, on the gravel of a building that had the perfect view point of Katie's loft. He usually had to choose a different spot when Oliver took it's residence, but Oliver was too busy to stalk the woman. Sarab's hand, reached for his sword, the moment he heard the distinctive sound of displaced gravel behind him.

"It is just me." Nyssa spoke, and the man turned to her as she walked to the edge of the roof to see the loft across the street.

"Why are you here?" Sarab asked the woman who didn't say a word. He finally realized, and turned away. "Ta-er al-Safar was a fine warrior. I'm sorry for your loss."

"Have you had any sightings of Malcolm Merlyn in this city?" Nyssa asked.

"My time in this city has only been devoted to one thing. The demon wishes that I stick close to Nura, and that is what I have done." Sarab replied looking over to the woman. "Merlyn has not come in direct contact with Nura."

"What about indirect?" Nyssa asked turning to the man who turned back to the loft.

"The demon does not wish for me to hinder any situations that could help bring Nura back to the League." Sarab said, and Nyssa growled in anger before tossing a kick to the man, who easily dodge it. The woman then pulled her blade, and held it firmly toward the man. "If you wish to kill me, then you will have to. My allegiance is to your father." the woman stood there for a long while, gripping her blade before she dropped it to her side and stalked away.

Katie wasn't sure why that on the morning of her birthday she would choose to come to the one place she definitely didn't expect to be.

"To say I'm a little surprised that you're here out of all days is an understatement.." Nick said looking over to the woman who stood near his window. He always wondered what she saw when she looked out. "Especially after our last session. I thought I wasn't going to see you again. What's changed?"

"Nothing." Katie muttered. "Everything." she turned back to look to the man. "I think I get it now. I didn't before, but I do now."

"What do you get?"

"Happiness doesn't exist." Katie turned back to look out the window. "People just get really good at pretending they're happy, until even they believe it. But underneath the lies, is the truth." she shook her head. "And the truth is that underneath all that fake happiness is, lies, and death, and darkness."

"So I'm going to take a wild guess, that you're not a birthday person?" Nick asked and Katie didn't say anything. "Where did this whole dark outlook on life come from?"

"Everything." Katie muttered once again. "Nothing." she shook her head before turning and grabbing her bag and heading for the door.

"Wait!" Nick called standing to his feet and Katie turned to him. "You came here today for something, and I doubt it was to hear yourself ramble on about the shittiness of the world." the man dropped the notepad in his hands, to the table and walked over to the woman. "You're sad." he looked to her eyes. "You're really good at hiding it, but to someone paying attention they can see it. See how sad and scared you are of pretty much everything and your problem comes from not knowing what to do about it."

Katie looked at the man for a moment, before taking just a couple of steps toward him, closing the distance.

"You have absolutely no idea the things I've seen, and the things I've done. I woke up this morning unsure why I was given another year on this earth. So no doc, I'm not sad, and I'm not scared, I'm—I'm about to combust with emotions that I feel are going to explode inside of me and the one thing I need to at least make it quiet, I can't even have."

"Oliver."

Katie dropped her head for a moment before looking back to the doctor. She wasn't sure why she was back here, or even what she was looking for.

"Goodbye Nick." Katie breathed, before leaving.

That night, Katie stood in a room feeling utterly alone, and yet she was surrounded by lots of people. People who smiled, and hugged her. People who wished her a happy birthday, and hoped she had many more. David kept an arm around her, giving her a bit of a reassuring squeeze every once and a while, as if noticing something was wrong.

"Hey, are you alright?" he asked, when they were off to themselves, and Katie simply turned to him with a smile. She looked at him for a few moments and wondered how he could even ask that question. Oliver at this point would have taken her somewhere they would be alone, and demand she tell him what was wrong with her. Katie promised herself that she wouldn't compare David to Oliver, but she found herself breaking that promised more times than one.

"I'm fine, I'm just-" she looked at the crowd of people in the restaurant who all came to celebrate her life, and yet not a single soul knew her life was nothing to be celebrated. "Not a party person." she replied turning back to the man.

"Well come on. Birthdays are a big deal. You've been on this planet another year, and that's something to celebrate." the man replied bringing his arms around her. "Plus you get presents, and I have to tell you that my present is going to be the best one."

"I told you that you didn't have to get me anything." Katie replied and the man shook his head.

"And you should've known that I would buy my girlfriend a birthday gift."

Thea stood off to the side, a glass of champagne in her hand as she watched Katie, and this David guy who she had yet to meet. Katie didn't say much about the guy, but Thea found herself instantly disliking the man.

"I know that look." a voice spoke from beside her, and Thea smiled to see Roy. "That's your thinking look."

"You're late." Thea replied. "The party started hours ago."

"Yeah, well you know me. I like to be fashionably late." Roy replied following the woman's eyes to where Katie and David stood, standing very cozy. "You met him yet?"

"Not yet, but I'm starting to think that I probably should wait." the woman replied. "I have a feeling I might come off as a bitch right now." Roy looked over to her with a quirked brow. "I still can't get over her and my brother not being together anymore." she shook her head turning to Roy. "I mean, I grew up with those two. I saw the looks that no one else did, how crushed my brother was for weeks when Katie left for college." she turned back to the woman, and her boyfriend. "I saw the way she cried at his funeral, and how her dad could barely tear her away from his grave. How did that, turn in to this?" Roy grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and looked around the party. "You think he'll show up?"

"I'm not sure." Roy replies, knowing that only an hour earlier they had found and lost Malcolm Merlyn. He was sure Oliver was in no mood to party or watch Katie on the arm of another man.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, and—" David turned to the crowd. "Those asshats from the SCPD who are drinking all the booze." that got him a few roars from his police buddies who held their glasses to him. "If you all would gather around." Roy and Thea shared a looked before going over to the crowd.

"David, what are you doing?" Katie whispered to the man, who pulled her to the center of the crowd.

"I don't know if most of you know this, but back in high, this beautiful young woman and I dated for a while. Before I got sent to juvie-" the crowd laughed and so did he as he turned to Katie. "And then just a couple of months ago, I was standing in the produce section of the grocery store when the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, picked up a melon that caused every piece of fruit on the shelf to go rolling to the floor." the man smiled even wider, at the confusion on Katie's face. "It was fate. It had to be, because there is just no way in hell I'm lucky enough to have found this woman again. And because of that, I promised myself that I wouldn't tempt it. I wouldn't even give life a chance to take her from me again." David suddenly dropped to one knee, and Katie's eyes went wide.

"David, what—what-" Katie could barely speak as she found herself forced to watch was about to happen.

"My dad used to tell me that in life when you find something good, you hold onto it for as long as possible." David said, pulling a small box from his pocket and flipping it open revealing a diamond engagement ring before slipping it on her finger. "So Katherine Robins, Rob-" he smiled as he took her hand in his. "Will you make me the happiest man on the face of the earth, and be my wife?" Katie had absolutely no words in the moment. And it would seem she wouldn't have to when David's phone began to rang. Actually every member of the SCPD that was in attendance at the party, began getting calls to their phone. David looked over to his friends before turning back to Katie.

"It's fine, take it." Katie said and the man sighed before letting go of her hand.

"I'm so sorry, I meant to-"he looked down to his phone, before bringing it to his ear. "Hey, what's—really? Now?" he looked back over to Katie with a look of guilt. "No, it's just not the best timing. Right, I guess I'll see you soon." David ended the called before standing back to his feet. "This is just great. That was the Captain, he said that a lead we've been following is happening tonight, and-"

"You have to go? That's fine." Katie replied quickly before placing her hands on the man's chest. "It's your job, and it's important." David smiled before turning to the called.

"This is why I'm marrying this woman!" he called before bringing his lips to Katie's for one final kiss before pulling away. "I will call you." and with that the man, and his friends went rushing out of the restaurant. Katie turned to see the crowd still standing with smiles around her.

"The next rounds on me!" Katie called and everyone cheer, giving her a chance to veer off and disappear among them. Thea and Roy watched the woman who quickly headed for the back of the restaurant, and so they decided to follow. They found the woman pacing back and forth in the alley behind the restaurant.

"Uh, Katie?" Roy spoke first and the woman stopped and turned to him. She opened her mouth to speak, but there were still just no words.

"Alright Twinkie." Thea said walking over and placing her hands on the woman's shoulders. "Just breathe. Everything is alright."

"Did you see what just happened? He-" she turned back to the restaurant. "Why did he-" she shook her head before turning back to Thea. "I can't be here." she suddenly turned away, and began walking.

"Where are you going?!" Thea called after her. The woman was about to follow, but Roy caught her arm.

"I'll go." Roy said, and the woman looked over to him. "I think you should try to get a hold of your brother." Thea's eyes widen as she took out her phone.

"Good idea!" she replied before walking back into the restaurant. Roy turned and ran to catch up to Katie.

Katie wasn't sure where she was going, but she knew she needed to be moving, which wasn't easy down the busy streets of downtown Starling. She found herself sifting through the crowds headed somewhere even she didn't know.

"Where are you going?" a voice said suddenly from beside her and Katie looked over and sneered.

"Go away." she ordered with a shake of her head. "I really don't need another reminder of how insane I am."

"What if you're not crazy?" Lian replied and Katie just shook her head. "What if I'm really here?"

"That would make no sense, because it is not possible." Katie muttered.

"Didn't you learn a long time ago that possibility has no limits." the man replied before disappearing in the crowd.

Katie didn't stop walking until she ended up in the middle of the crowded Nelson Plaza. She fell to one of the benches before dropping her head into her palms.

Katie wasn't sure which way was up after escaping from the embassy, or wherever she was being kept. Whatever that place was definitely was not going to be her ticket home. She glanced over to the man, who'd picked her up from the side of the road, and she still didn't know what to make of him.

"So Bosnia isn't really a tourist hot spot." Harrison said, cleaning his glasses with the bottom of his shirt. "What brings you?" he slipped back on his glasses and turned to the woman.

"Doctors Without Borders." Katie replied partially honest. "I was helping out at a clinic in the next village over when I lost my group."

"You're a doctor?" he asked and Katie nodded, sure at the moment as she wore dingy jeans and a ratty button up, she probably didn't look like much of a doctor. "Did you know where your group was? I'm staying in Sarajevo, and once we get there, I could have a car take you-"

"That won't be necessary, I have to make a couple of calls anyway once I get to the city, and I can find a way back." Katie replied and the man simply nodded.

"Well this guy isn't too fast, so it'll probably be a while before we make it to Sarajevo." Harrison replied with a shrug. "So I don't feel nervous about picking the random woman, possible murderer off the side of the road, why don't you tell me about yourself." he looked over to her and Katie shrugged.

"What do you want to know?"

"I don't know, tell me about your family." Harrison replied and Katie turned away. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to pry-"

"No it's fine." Katie said turning back to the man. "There's nothing much to tell. My mom died when I was a teenager, and my dad is back home in Starling."

"I'm sorry about your mother." he said and Katie nodded. "What was she like?" Katie glanced over to the man, now starting to get uncomfortable with how intimate he was getting with his questions.

"I don't really like talking about her." Katie chose to reply.

"Right, that's understandable." he replied before turning to look out his side of the cart. Katie glanced over to him with a quirked brow, now starting to feel very uneasy about the man sitting beside her.

Katie let out a deep breath before lifting her head , her eyes glancing between the people as they walked by. She was about to leave, when her eyes happened upon a very familiar face. She had to close her eyes and open them again to make sure he was real, but when she opened them, there he was, Malcolm Merlyn, not even glancing in her direction. In that moment, something snapped inside of Katie. All rationale, and morality left her in that moment, as she stood to her feet and began following behind the man.

She saw him headed to a car parked up ahead, and quickened her step to hurry around him and try to get to the car before he could.

Malcolm glanced over his shoulder once again, making sure Oliver wasn't following him after their little meeting. He let his eyes scan the crowd, before turning and heading to his car and stepping inside.

"Alright, Hansen, you can-" before the man could even finish his sentence, the car was speeding off down the street. "Hansen, what the hell are you doing?!" suddenly the partition lowered and Malcolm finally saw that Hansen wasn't the one behind the wheel. "Katherine-" his eyes widen as she looked to him from the rear view mirror. "Stop this car!"

"As you wish." Katie said suddenly, before hitting the breaks and causing the man to jerk forward hitting his head and the back of the seat, knocking him out.

The next morning Oliver looked up to the coffee shop where he was going to meet his sister, and finally tell her the truth about Malcolm. He took a final deep breath before walking inside and spotting her instantly, stirring a cup of coffee. When he walked over, she turned with a look of concern.

"From the look on your face, you need something stronger than coffee." Thea said, as Oliver placed a hand around her and lead her to sit at a nearby table. "You must've found out." the woman shook her head. "See if you would answer when I call, it would be me who would've broken the news."

"So you do know?" Oliver asked.

"Of course I know. I was there for the whole thing, front row seat and everything." Thea said with a shake of her head. "I still can't believe it. I mean this is Twinkie and-"

"Wait Twinkie? What happened with Twinkie?" Oliver asked and Thea looked with a quirked brow.

"Wait, what are you talking about?" Thea asked and Oliver sighed.

"First, is everything alright with Twinkie?" Oliver asked and Thea dropped her head. "Speedy-"

"You weren't at her party." Thea replied looking back to her brother. "I thought for sure that's when you'd sweep in and just finally take her back away from detective ass face."

"Thea, I asked you to please just stay out of this. Katie and I have decided to move on and-"

"I get that now, especially after last night." Thea replied. "David asked Katie to marry him." the moment the words came out of his sister's mouth, everything else seemed to fall away. The words seemed to keep repeating in his head, as memories of the moment he slipped a ring on her finger seemed to hit him. "Ollie, are you alright?" Oliver dropped his head and cleared his throat, trying not to let this get to him, trying not to let it distract him from his job. "Ollie-"

"Thea, there's something I have to tell you." Oliver said, getting back to the issues at hand. "Back in Corto Martese, I promised that there would be no more secrets and no more lies and I'm trying to honor that." Oliver took a deep breath, and met the confusion in his sister eyes before finally telling her the truth.
A part of Oliver felt better once he left his sister, letting her in and being honest with her about this. The other part of Oliver was breaking and he could feel it. The thought of Katie marrying someone that wasn't him, was like a knife through the heart. When he arrived back to the foundry, he stopped before he actually went inside, and pulled his phone from his pocket. For some reason he needed to hear it from her, as if it coming from her would make it real.

He held his phone pressed to his ear, silently praying that she just doesn't answer the phone. Once her voice-mail plays in his ear, he actually lets out a relieved breath before speaking.

"Hey it's me. I'm sorry I didn't come to your party, I actually wasn't even sure you wanted me there, but-" he sighed turning and looking up to the sky. "This Malcolm thing is getting confusing and I'm not sure of anything at the moment. I respect you not wanting to get close to this, but I have to admit I miss you-" he closed his eyes and shook his head. "you and your eye for the details. I feel like I'm missing something, and I just feel that if you were here, you'd just see it." he turned back to the door and sighed. "Look, don't worry. We're handling it, I'll call you if we get any new information and uh, happy birthday Twinkie, sorry, Katie." he ended the call and shook his head before finally stepping inside.

"Did he kill him?" Nyssa asked, and Oliver just knew she was talking about Malcolm.

"No." Oliver said and they all looked over to him. "He swore to me that he didn't kill Sara."

Nyssa was livid as she walked over to the man who was showing signs of weakness every time she saw him. Oliver knew she wouldn't believe him, that she would question him. He hoped that when he told her that Malcolm swore on his daughter's head, his sister, that she would find that there was some truth in his words, but she didn't. She said that his relationship with his sister was blinding him to the truth.

"He explained to me- in his own twisted way- that he loves her." Oliver said, hoping the woman was really listening to him. "And then he swore to me on her life."

"And I swore an oath of my own that I would see Sara's killer brought to justice." Nyssa seethed, before walking around the man toward the door.

"Nyssa!" Oliver said about to go after her.

"Oliver, wait!" John called and Oliver turned to her.

"We need to stop her." Oliver said.

"Right now it isn't Nyssa you should worry about ending Malcolm Merlyn." John replied and Oliver looked at the man in confusion as he turned to Roy.

"What are you talking about?" Oliver asked looking between the two men.

"Last night, at Katie's party-"

"David proposed, I know." Oliver muttered.

"Yeah, and she kind of freaked out." Roy said and Oliver turned with a quirked brow. "She left the restaurant, and I tried to follow her but she was quick for someone in heels."

"It's where he lost her that's the interesting part." John adds and Oliver looks back to Roy.

"Nelson Plaza." Oliver says and Roy nods.

Oliver closes his eyes and slides his hands across his face, as he imagines Katie alone with Malcolm Merlyn.

"Has anyone spoken to her since the party?" Oliver asks.

"All calls go to voice mail." John replies watching the man.

"I have to find her, I have to stop her before she-"

"Do you?" John asks and Oliver turns to the man. "Look, Maybe he killed Sara, maybe he didn't."

"He didn't!" Oliver countered.

"Either way! The world is a better place without Malcolm Merlyn in it." John said with a shake of his head. "You made a vow not to kill. Katie didn't. He killed her father, and I have to tell you that if I ever found the guy who killed my brother-"

"Except Malcolm didn't kill her father either." Oliver replied looking over to the man, who stared in confusion.

"What, did he tell you that too?" John asked. "We have proof that the doctor treating Jacob was paid off after his death." Oliver looked at the man, before turning to Roy. "Oliver?" The secret of Jacob Robins had been weighing on Oliver the moment Bruce told him. He'd been tempted so many times to tell her the truth, and yet he didn't. He knew the truth would break her heart. That her father faked his own death, and tore himself away from her on his own freewill. This was big, and he knew at this moment he had to tell them the truth.

Malcolm was struck with the blinding sunlight, the moment he crack open his eyes. He let out a pained groan, the moment he felt the sting of a cut on his forehead. He couldn't touch it, seeing as his hands were tied behind him and his legs were tied to the chair that he was sitting on. Malcolm let his eyes scan around the room they were in. It seemed to be an empty floor of a building that was under construction. "Do you know what he would say if he were here right now?" Malcolm asked looking over to the woman who stood in front of the large pane windows, her back to him. "If the demon had found out that you had brought me here and tied me up and didn't kill me?" the woman didn't say anything, as she kept her back to him. "Did you get my birthday present? I figured you'd appreciate the sentiment." Katie turned grabbing a nearby chair, sliding it across the room leaving nothing in the air but the screeching it caused it against the wood. She placed the chair right in front of the man, before sitting down and folding her arms over her chest. "A true child of the demon would not drag out the inevitable. So just do it."

"You know I admired my mom a lot." Katie said with a slight chuckle. "Loved how she and Rebecca moved through this city and tried their hardest to save it." Malcolm dropped his head at the mention of his late wife's name. He didn't hear it often, which made life seem a little bit easier. "They loved this city. Saw the hope that lied underneath it."

"And it was the city that took them away!" Malcolm snapped angrily. "My wife killed in the street like a dog, and Grace finally couldn't do it any more and decided to take her own life. So please don't tell me of the city that took away the ones that meant the most to me." Katie watched the man, tilting her head slightly. "You're not going to kill me. If you were, you would've done so by now. Just do everyone a favor and let me go."

"Rebecca was the first person I told I wanted to be doctor." Katie said and Malcolm hissed at the mention of his wife's name again. "I was young, but I knew at a very young age what I wanted to do with my life, and one night at one of the many parties rich people feel the need to throw, I was in the back of your house in your garden and she found me and I just told her." Katie chuckled. "She was that kind of person you know. You just felt comfortable telling her anything and she didn't judge or have any ill wishes."

"Are you trying to make me feel guilty?" Malcolm asked meeting the woman's eyes. "I'm so far beyond that."

"I had one person in this world that I loved more than anything in this world. Hell he was my world." Katie dropped her head, letting out a shaky breath. "And you took him away from me." she looked up meeting the man's eyes once again.

"I didn't kill your father Katherine." the words caused something inside of her to just snap, and Katie jumped to her feet, before walking over and grabbing a nail gun that was just lying on the floor. "Katherine-" before the man could even utter another word, the woman pressed the gun to his shoulder and shot a nail right into him causing him to scream in pain. She made absolutely no show of regret or guilt at the action as she walked back over to take a seat, letting the gun rest on her lap.

"The demon believes that death is a gift." Katie spoke, and the man lifted his eyes back to her. "Should only be quick for the noble of men. You Malcolm Merlyn are not noble. Your heart is black and everything you touch just withers and dies. So yes, I know exactly what the demon would say if he were here." a very twisted smile pulled at the woman's lips as she leaned forward a bit. "He'd tell me to make you scream." she tilted her head. "And no one disobeys the demon."

Oliver was tired of waiting. Waiting only gave Oliver time to image what was possibly happening. The others felt as if Katie killing Malcolm was a good thing, and sure maybe the world would be a better place without the man, but what it would do to Katie would probably by a whole lot worse. He knew how the lives ended by her hand still rests on her back, still haunt her dreams. They are her connection to the darkness inside of her, and he's sure killing Malcolm would bring her that much close.

"I can't do this anymore!" Oliver said before walking over and grabbing his jacket.

"Where are you going ?" Roy asked.

"Someone has to know where she's gone." Oliver replied before turning to John. "Call me if there are any leads." he turned about to walk away, before stopping and turning back. "And call Bruce. He's been unusually absent through all of this, and that makes me nervous." and with that Oliver turned and rushed out of the door.

"Where do you think he's going?" Roy asked to John who shook his head.

"No where he should." John muttered before grabbing his phone.

Oliver wholeheartedly knew he shouldn't have come here. He knew he shouldn't be walking into the SCPD to speak to the man whose neck he would like the snap. When Oliver pushed through the doors of the SCPD, his eyes went right for the man who stood leaning over some woman's shoulder, looking at something of her computer.

"This can't be good." a voice spoke, and Oliver turned to see Captain Lance. "What the hell you doing here, Queen?"

"I uh-" Oliver turned back to David who still didn't notice him. Lance followed the man's eyes and sighed. "I just need to talk to him."

"You heard about the engagement." Lance said with a shake of his head. "Look, whatever you want to say to him, I would just not, trust me." Lance looked over to David, who finally noticed Oliver's presence, an annoy expression crossing his face as he walks over.

"Ollie." David greeted, and Oliver suddenly realized how much he hated the nickname coming from the man. "You here for a reason?"

"No, he's just-"

"Have you heard from Katie recently?" Oliver asked, choosing to ignore Lance's warnings. David looked at the man for a moment, before chuckling.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to laugh, but this has to be a joke right?" David glanced over to Lance just rubbed his eyes. "You didn't seriously walk into my place of employment and ask about the whereabouts of my fiance." Oliver jaw clenched at the man's declaration of Katie being his fiance. The words would never make any sense to him.

"Queen, maybe you should go." Quentin suggest not liking the look in the man's eyes.

"Yeah, I'd listen to him Ollie." David countered, and for some reason Oliver just couldn't let it go. He knew he should, that words were words and nothing else, and yet Oliver wanted nothing more than for this guy to eat those words. It's why he took a very dangerous step forward, the look in his eyes clear of his intentions, and so David did the same. The squad room, froze in that moment as all eyes went to the men.

"Oliver think about what you're doing." Lance said standing between the two men. "You're surrounded by people who all have their hands just inches away from their side arms right now." Oliver let out a deep breath through his nose trying to reign in his frustration before turning to Quentin and then just turning and walking out of the squad room.

"Sir, I'm sorry, I didn't-"

"Stop talking Parker." Lance interrupted before looking back to the room. "Alright, shows over, get back to work!" David, was about to walk away, when Lance turned back to him. "Not you." the man turned back to his captain. "Now Oliver Queen is a lot of thing, but stupid isn't one of them, and I have to assume how coming here to you, and asking about Katie looked. I'm sure it was the last thing he wanted to do."

"Yeah, so?"

"People usually don't get to the last thing they want to do if it isn't necessary. Now do you know where Katie is?"

"No, I called earlier, but I didn't get an answer. I just figured she was still passed out from the party." David replied with a shrug. "I was going to stop by after my shift-"

"No, go now." Lance replied with a shake of his head, something about all this not sitting well with him. "Call me when you get there."

"Sir, I'm sure it's nothing. Oliver probably found out about the engagement and now he's trying to force his way back into her life."

"Either way, I would feel better knowing she was alright." Quentin replied and David nodded in reply before grabbing his jacket and keys and heading out. "What the hell have you gotten yourself into now, doc?"

Malcolm Merlyn wanted nothing more in this moment then to just pass out, and finally leave his body which was filling with holes by the minute. The sun was gone, and the room was now illuminated by the moon, and the city lights that reflect from the surrounding buildings.

"Ginger!" Katie called turning and walking over to him, dropping back to her seat. "I couldn't think of that damn dog's name for the life of me, and I don't even know how I could forget." she looked over to the man, unaffected by the blood staining his shirt, or his uneven breaths. "Rebecca loved that dog." a small snort came from Malcolm who lifted his eyes back to the woman.

"I hated that damn dog." he replied. "When she wasn't around, all it did was bark and bark and then she died and-" he stopped because he promised himself a long time ago that he wouldn't allow the memories back to the front of his brain.

"Tommy said Ginger ran away." Katie replied watching the man closely.

"I gave her away. If I didn't, I think I would've killed that dog." Malcolm muttered.

"Don't you hate it sometimes?" Katie asked and he looked at her unsure what she was talking about. "How he made murder one of our instincts. How he made death a possible solution to our problems? Sara was a problem for you. The league was on your ass and she was so close to bringing you back."

"I told you, I didn't kill Sara!" the man yelled. "I swear on the life of my daughter." Katie looked at him for a moment, and she could see it. He was telling the truth, that he didn't kill Sara, but there was something else there. Malcolm Merlyn was the type of man who could twist the truth to suit his own agenda.

"I believe you." Katie said suddenly, before standing to her feet and she suddenly began pacing. "I believe that you didn't personally kill Sara. Something like that, it was kind of close to home, right?" she glanced over to the man. "You don't do personal. You have money, and resources, so you can sleep at night."

"You have money, and resources, do you sleep at night, Katherine?" Malcolm asked and she stopped pacing and looked over to him. "You want to torture me, fine, but you'll never be his monster. You don't have it in you to be the kind of person the demon respects. If you were, I'd be dead by now." he smiled. "You're not going to kill me because at this moment I'm not threatening your survival. Right now I'm tied to a chair, so you killing me wouldn't be you defending yourself."

"You killed five hundred people, and that's only the known victims!" Katie snapped, ignoring the tingling in her fingers. "And here you are, alive, that's not justice."

"And murder is justice?" Malcolm asked and Katie seemed put off by the question. There was this fight happening inside of her at the moment. There was the woman who dedicated her life to healing the sick, saving lives, but then there was the other part of her that wouldn't hesitate to take a life if she deemed it necessary. "Katherine, you-" something out the window caught Malcolm's eye and Katie looked in confusion before following his eyes. She walked over to the window, her eyes wide at the sight of the purple smoke that billowed in the distance.

"Nyssa." Katie muttered at the sight of the familiar signal the league used to communicate. "I have a feeling that message is for you." Katie turned back to the man.

"You have to let me go." Malcolm pleaded. "Nyssa would only use the signal if she knew I would come."

"How would she know you would come?"

"If she had something she knew was important to me."

"And what-" it hit her, and Katie turned back to the cloud of smoke with wide eyes. "Thea. How does she even know-"

"I figure your big mouth of a boyfriend decided to let it slip." Malcolm replied once again trying to pull from the ropes. "You have to let me go, I have to get to my daughter."

"Shit." Katie muttered before walking over to a duffle bag she had in the corner, picking it up and bringing it over to the man. "Nyssa won't be alone." she pulled a knife from the bag. "You're going to need my help to get Thea out of there. So if you try anything, I will gladly hand you over to Nyssa and her bat shit crazy father." Katie went to cutting the ropes, and once the man was free, he grimaced as he stood to his feet. "Oh stop being a baby, the demon has done far worse." she reached down in the bag and pulled out Malcolm's dark archer suit. "I figure you're going to need this. Get dressed."

When they arrived outside the building, they both looked out to the purple smoke. Katie lifted the ski mask from her face, and tilted her head slightly.

"They're not here." she said, and Malcolm turned to her with intrigue. "I think she's alone."

"So is this you telling me that I'm on my own?" Malcolm asked and Katie turned to him before pulling the mask back over her face and heading inside. Malcolm wasn't far behind, and the first thing they saw was Nyssa engaged in a very intense battle with the Arrow. "He's gonna get himself killed." Malcolm suddenly, climbed onto one of the old machines, and silently moved closer to the battle before shooting an arrow and knocking the sword from Nyssa's hand.

"There's a misunderstanding the three of us need to clear up." Malcolm said from on high, and both Nyssa and Oliver looked up to him.

" A conversation I am eager to have... over your rotting corpse." Nyssa growled and the three of them engage in a very intense battle. Katie stood there watching the entire thing not even having the faintest desire to jump in. This was pointless to her and so she did the one thing she knew would get their attention. She pulled the gun from her waist band, and pointed it to the ceiling letting off a couple of rounds, causing everyone to stop and turned to her.

"Oh, good, I'm glad I have your attention." Katie spoke, just as Nyssa moved to grab her sword. "Nyssa!" the woman turned to see Katie's gun aimed right at her. "You're not quicker than my bullet." Malcolm took a step back, and Katie pulled another gun aiming it at the man as well. "And I would love nothing more than to put more holes in your body tonight."

"Do it!" Nyssa screamed looking over to the man. "He did it. He killed Sara!" she turned to Katie. "Tommy, your father."

"Katie-" it was Oliver who spoke, but Katie refused to look at him in this moment. Refused see the look in his eyes as he looked at her.

"Please don't." Katie replied her eyes on the two people in this room she would love to just end tonight. "You two, you're exactly the same." she looks over to Nyssa. "You cry for Sara, but how many lives have you taken, how many people's beloveds have you taken?" she turns to Malcolm. "And you, you piece of shit, I don't even know how you can even stand there and defend your life to anyone."

"There is blood on my hands. Almost too much to contemplate. But none of it is Sara's." Malcolm says and Katie just wants to roll her eyes.

"Blood is blood!" Katie snaps angrily. "I loved Sara, she was my friend, but her life being taken should not downplay the hundreds of lives that the both of you have taken."
"Do not even attempt to insinuated that there isn't blood on everyone's hands here." Malcolm says looking over to Katie.

"You're right." Katie says with a nod. "You are right. Mr. Merlyn, I have absolutely no room to judge you. But people are dead. Very good people. Sara can't just die and person who did it, just gets away with it without any kind of retribution."

"I didn't kill Sara!"

"Liar!" Nyssa screamed.

"Your father doubted Sara's loyalties the moment you brought her home." Malcolm countered turning to the woman. "You know your father. What he is capable of. He will kill without hesitation. Do you really need me to tell you what he would do to the degenerate who would steal his daughter's heart?" Malcolm turned to Katie. "Nyssa doesn't believe me, and if you don't, kill me." Katie didn't says anything for a moment before the man turned to run off, but it was Oliver who rose his bow, and steadied his arrow, causing the man to stop and turn.

"You may not have killed Sara, but you're still a murder." Oliver spoke.

"What are you going to do?" Malcolm asked. "Arrest me?"

"I could have SCPD here in three minutes."

" And in half that time, I will escape from whatever prison they put me in." Malcolm said smugly." You know that, so do they. We were trained by the League; No prison can hold us!" he turned back to Oliver. "Not even your one on Lian Yu. Which leaves you with only one option. To break your vows..." the man took a step forward. "and kill me. Kill your sister's father." Oliver didn't instantly make a move which only proved to Malcolm that wasn't going to do it and so the man turned and ran. Nyssa made to follow, but Oliver turned his arrow to her.

"Nyssa, just don't!" Oliver ordered and the woman dropped her head. The archer turned his head to Katie, only to find the woman was already gone.

Malcolm's feet moved quick, but apparently not quick enough when his path was suddenly blocked.

"I'm in awe of your determination Katherine. But the truth will remain that I didn't kill your father and I didn't kill Sara." Malcolm said. "Just let me-"

"Why were you and my mother friends?" Katie asked unexpectedly and Malcolm seemed thrown off by the random questions. "You weren't in each others worlds. She was friends with Rebecca, and you worked with my father sometimes, but he disliked you, but she didn't. Why?" the man looked at her for a few moments before sighing.

"You know why." the man said. "I know why. The fallen children from the league know one of their own."

"So to you, she was just another one of the demon's runaways?"

"No one runs away from the demon. She never told me how she left, but that much I knew." Malcolm replied. "Is that why you were there? Your mother strike some deal with him. She'd give your life for hers?"

"Does that sound like something she would do?"

"No, but there was always more to the story with Grace. Just like I think there's more to the story with you, I just don't have the time now to figure it out. I need to get as far away from Nyssa as possible." Malcolm began to slowly move, hoping the woman would just give up and let him go.

"Sara's death distracts the league from coming after you!" Katie called to the man, and he stopped. "And I don't think that's a coincidence. If I find out that you're playing us, hell if I find out it was your arrows used, I'm going to find you and I'm going to give the greatest gift you deserve." the man simply nodded before turning and running away.

Katie could practically see the disapproving look the demon would give her in this moment. The truth was, Katie wasn't sure of much of anything anymore. Malcolm Merlyn was either telling the truth or he was the best damn actor in Starling. One way or the other, she was going to find out.

When Katie finally arrived at the club, she didn't immediately go inside. She was in a bit of a daze since her birthday. She felt the darkness still inside her that night she kidnapped Malcolm, and that only verified her fears the Ra's Al Ghul still was inside of her, under her skin. She looked up when the door suddenly burst open and Nyssa angrily stalked out.

"You!" the woman growled the moment she saw Katie. She stalked over, coming dangerously close, and Katie didn't even try to back away. She stood tall and looked the woman right in the eyes. "You let him go, you just-" she shook her head. "You of all people know the reign of hell that is destined on you and this city for coming between me and my justice."

"No one's coming between you and your justice Nyssa, but here in this city we get all the facts before we start taking out people's hearts. If Malcolm killed Sara, if we find the proof that it was him, I promised you that I will be glad to lock you in a room with him and just let you go nuts, until then you're just going to have to be patient. There is still a chance that he didn't do it." Nyssa snarled at the woman.

"You turned your back on the league for the last time. My father does not take kind to traitors, your punishment shall be far worse than Oliver's."

"I'm still here Nyssa, and I will be here when you and your dad, and you league of fucked up murderers decide they want to come for me." Katie replied before walking around the woman. "I'm not going anywhere!"

When Katie walked inside, she looked over to see all eyes suddenly on her. Including the newly arrived Felicity Smoak who still with a look of confusion.

"I hope Barry was dying, since you missed my birthday." Katie said with an accusing finger, before walking over to the combat mat. "I'm just going to lie down." and that's just what the woman did, and everyone looked in confusion before turning back to Oliver.

Katie closed her eyes, letting her mind, catch up to reality. For a moment, she forgot who she was, and that was a scary feeling. She didn't know how long she'd been lying there until she felt eyes on her, and when she opened then, there was Oliver standing above her, now changed into a tshirt and jeans.

"Are you alright?" he asked, trying to hide his concern.

"I don't know." Katie replied closing her eyes and Oliver wasn't sure what he should do. His head was screaming at him to just turn around and leave, but every bit of him was just begging him to stay here with her.

"Do you want me to leave?" he asked and it surprisingly made the woman chuckle. "What?" the woman just slapped the mat beside her and Oliver smiled, before dropping down beside her, his eyes going up to the ceiling. "What if it was a mistake, letting Malcolm go?"

"Then we'll deal with it when we actually know it is a mistake." Katie replied, and Oliver tilted his head to see the side of her face. Her eyes were still closed so she couldn't even see to way he looked at her. She couldn't see the love that had to be written over his face in this moment.

"We?" Oliver asked, and Katie shook her head.

"I don't know how here I can be, but for now I'm here." she said before opening her eyes and turned to the man. It was this moment did they realized just how close they were lying and both knew it was a very dangerous close proximity. Oliver stared deeply into the woman's eyes trying his best to soak up this moment he knew couldn't last forever. Soon a question popped in his head, the one question he just needed answered by her.

"Are you going to marry David?" he asked, and Katie looked confused for a moment before turning away and lifting her hand to see the ring. She can't believe she forgot that moment where everything just stopped making sense. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-" Oliver turned away, taking in a deep breath. "It's just-"

"You were supposed to ask me to marry you." Katie spoke suddenly and Oliver turned to see her eyes still on the ceiling. "There wasn't going to be some psycho mad man trying to destroy the city, or his crazy soldiers blowing things up. You were going to take me back to the quarry where we shot off those stupid fireworks, and I wouldn't expect it when you got on one knee and-" Katie stopped talking, because she just couldn't when the man beside her slammed his lips against hers. All traces of rationale and logic simply floated away, and neither Oliver or Katie seemed to mind as they're bodies intertwined in a way that felt familiar...right. Neither realize just how much they needed this moment until right now when stopping and pulling away just seemed impossible.

And so they didn't stop.

---

Author's Notes:

So yeah...that just happened. So many twist and turns in this chapter from an engagement that didn't even get an answer, to a union that probably was inevitable. Then there are those flashback co-staring someone very unexpected. Harrison Wells is playing at something...I wonder what it is?

P.S For anyone still wondering, the blue flower was from Batman Begins. They're called Buhtan Blue Flowers. I would post the link, but FFnet hasn't become that advanced yet.

Review Replies

Adela: So what did you think? Everything in this chapter will have some very interesting consequences in the next chapter.

Elliebelle4444: I really enjoyed writing this chapter. It was ridiculously fun, and also a great way to get my OC to do and say some things she wouldn't normally do. Including that nice talk between her and Oliver about a life that never was. I'm so glad you're enjoying this so far!

rockyroyal,dr: What was happening wasn't even close to rape. That conversation was my favorite part of the chapter, because it was an important conversation, that I think they both needed to have. It also planted more seeds of doubt in Oliver's head about this break up. Oliver once thought he knew what he was sacrificing by choosing the arrow over Oliver Queen, but now he's seeing so much he will be missing and that is something that's going to start weighing heavily on his mind. Oh Ethan is a character that I enjoy very much. He's a goof ball, but there's another side to him. He's not easily shaken or threatened by authority, especially if he thinks he's right. The whole "Whore" thing was pretty surprising I guess, but I wanted the readers to remember how far back Oliver, Katie and Laurel go, and how for a long time Katie did contribute part of the reason why she and oliver weren't together was because of Laurel. Sure today they're getting past it, and even becoming friends, but Katie still holds on to those memories. Whew...was that long enough for you. I'm glad you're liking the story, and I love your thoughts. Keep them coming!

DarkPhantom101: So someone does know the secret behind the blue flower. I like it!

Wow you guys, this has been a very exciting week that. Yesterday was my birthday, and I usually like to post a chapter, but the day was too hectic. I want to thank everyone who turning in and have added the story to your fav/follow alerts. Special shout outs to those who left reviews, they're always fun to read and make me smile. Keep them coming!

Without delay, here is your sneak peek

Sneak Peek

Katie closed her eyes taking a deep breath before walking toward the kitchen only to stop when she noticed the ringing seemed to get closer. She turned suddenly spotting the phone on the floor.

"David-" she said before picking up the phone, one of the messages catching her attention. She swiped the screen, suddenly reading an array of messages between David and someone listed as 'Unknown'

"Is it in here-" David stopped when he spotted Katie holding his phone, and she looked up meeting his eyes.

"She's wearing the ring, now every thing is in motion for your plan." Katie spoke, repeating the last message she'd read.

"Whatever you're thinking-"

"I'm thinking that Oliver isn't the only one distracted." Katie said with a shake of her head before tossing the man's phone to the floor before stalking toward him. "Who the hell are you working for?"