Pivotal chapter for the sequel after this kinda-very-long-multi-chapter-still-not-finished-sorta-prologue.
Huge thanks to everyone who is still leaving comments and following this story, regardless of its "all over the place for now" quality. You guys rock!
Chapter 08: 3 a.m.
"Nyssa?" Sara whispered staring at the ceiling and waited for an answer "Are you asleep?"
"Profoundly"
She smiled and turned her head to Nyssa's side of the bed "You sure?"
"Positive"
The blonde chuckled and moved to lay on her side, facing her girlfriend "Why weren't you freaking out before?"
Nyssa opened her eyes and looked at her, frowning in the dark "I am not certain I'm following you, beloved. Care to be more specific?"
"Before, you know…" she sighed and moved closer when the other woman rolled onto her side to face her "...when Dig was asking about kids"
"Oh" she smiled in the dark "Should I 'freak out'?"
"No! I mean, it's actually good that you didn't. But since I kinda did…" she moved her hand to the other woman's hip, rubbing the soft skin with her thumb "...I was wondering. We never talked about it and I don't want you to get the wrong impression"
"What would 'the wrong impression' be?"
"That I don't want 'em"
Nyssa smiled and kissed her softly "Then what was the reason behind your reaction?"
"He caught me off guard, I guess"
"Why is this topic keeping you wide awake at 3 a.m.?"
"I told you, I don't want you to get the wrong impression"
"Is that all?"
"Maybe"
The brunette smiled softly. She moved her hand up her girlfriend's arm "Do you wish to discuss it further?" she asked running her fingers through Sara's messy blonde hair, feeling the woman nod her answer "Alright, then"
"Why didn't we talk about this before?"
"Should I start confectioning a list containing all of the reasons?"
Her quick answer made Sara laugh wholeheartedly "No, but even before I…" she paused, sighed and frowned sadly "...left after the undertaking, we never really talked about our future, and we've already been together for years. Isn't that weird?"
"I wouldn't know, beloved"
"Well, me neither, not an expert on healthy relationships, but I think people usually discuss that kinda stuff"
Nyssa took a deep breath and looked at her fingers, still moving through Sara's hair "If I am being entirely honest with you and myself, I never thought I would live long enough to plan a future"
"Are you serious?"
"Yes"
"You wanted to take your father's place someday; that meant you kinda had to live long enough. And why am I hearing about all of this just now?"
Nyssa smiled and used her thumb to rub the blonde's jaw "I wanted to take my rightful place, yes, that is what I was raised and trained to do. But, deep down, I knew that changed the day I heard you laugh at my father's demonstration of power. That was the moment I fell in love with you. I realized then that it would never happen"
"What? Why?"
"Either because I would die protecting you, or because I wouldn't have a future to plan if I failed and something ever happened to you. Look at what happened, Sara: I ended up married to Oliver Queen, for heaven's sake!"
"Don't remind me of that, will ya? But, yeah, kinda know what you mean" Sara tried to smile, but the sadness was evident in her eyes, even in the dark of their bedroom "You never, I don't know, thought about starting a family of your own before finding me?"
"Before we met I never even entertained the idea of bringing children into the world, no; because the world I used to live in was simply not suitable for children. I would never subject my own child to the same fate I had no choice but to embrace. The way we used to live, beloved, did not leave room to contemplate some delusional happy ending. You, of all people, know that. Sooner or later—"
"But what if we both lived and..." she interrupted her girlfriend, not wanting to hear the rest of that sentence "...dunno, maybe, with you as Ra's al Ghul—"
Now it was Nyssa's turn to interrupt her "I would have released you the very second I became the Demon's Head"
Sara fell silent and took a few seconds to compose herself, trying to decide how she felt about it "Who says I would've wanted that?"
"Your wishes would be irrelevant"
"Comforting" she rolled her eyes and sighed loudly "I'm serious, Nyssa"
"So am I. That was not the life I wished for you, beloved. You got dragged into it because it was a choice between training or execution. Joining the League was the lesser of two evils"
"Look…" the blonde sighed and moved her hand to her girlfriend's back, her fingers tracing soft circles on the exposed skin "...I get it. And I would probably do the same in your place; but it's stupid to discuss that now 'cause there's no more League. So, whatever…" she kissed Nyssa's lips softly and felt her smile into the kiss "...do you want a life and future with me now?"
"Undoubtedly"
"Do you want kids now that we can have a sorta normal life?"
"Eventually" she smiled softly "Do you?"
Sara smiled, too, and wrapped her arm tighter around her girlfriend's waist "Never thought I would be saying this, but yeah, definitely"
"Why is that?"
The blonde shrugged "Dunno, I like kids, don't get me wrong, but never wanted some of my own before" she saw her girlfriend frown "I really, really do now that I'm with you, Nyssa. You changed the way I see… well, everything, to be honest. I'm not afraid of screwing them up or be a bad mom, 'cause you'll be there with me"
"You could never be a bad mother, habibti; you have the biggest and purest heart I have ever seen. Your capacity to love never ceases to amaze me" The brunette smiled softly and kissed Sara's lips tenderly "Now, should I expect more 'freaking out' from you after discussing this topic?"
The other woman shook her head and giggled "No, but we should probably, you know, get married before we discuss actually having kids. I mean, if we are doing one, we might as well do both. Not that it'll change anything between us, anyway; you're stuck with my annoying ass, married or not. But it will make starting a family way easier"
"Then we shall get married" Nyssa smiled and kissed her again before yawning "Will you be able to sleep now, beloved? I have to admit I'm exhausted"
Sara smiled and scooted even closer, allowing her girlfriend to wrap her arms around her and kiss her forehead "Yeah, sorry"
"Goodnight, habibti"
"Night, babe"
Sara sighed happily, comfortable in her girlfriend's arms and more relaxed now that she got the chance to talk about what was bothering her. She took a deep breath, Nyssa's perfume calming her even more, and closed her eyes.
"Nyssa?" she asked after about a minute of silence.
"Mm?"
"Did we just get engaged?"
"Yes, Sara" Nyssa answered sleepily "Now sleep"
"Why can't you do anything like a normal person, Sara?!" Laurel asked beyond irritated. She was sitting on the counter glaring at her sister, who was occupying a stool by the kitchen island, while Nyssa and Tommy cooked dinner a few feet away from them. Or, actually, Nyssa cooked and Tommy helped her however he could.
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
"What kinda proposal is that?" her older sister asked to explain her previous question.
Sara rolled her eyes and took a sip from her beer bottle "What's your problem? Not like it was your proposal. We're more than happy with the way it happened"
"I think it was romantic" Tommy commented, not that any of the Lances cared, but Nyssa was nice enough to smile at him.
Laurel huffed grumpily "I would have liked the opportunity to help pick a ring"
"No ring…" her sister said holding her left hand in the air "...see?" then she looked at her fiancée "Hold your hand up, babe, so Laurel can see there's no ring there either"
Nyssa smiled and did as instructed "Engagement rings are an inconvenience for us, Laurel"
"How? Engagement rings can't be an inconvenience for anyone!" the woman answered looking fondly at hers.
"Have you tried to throw a punch with that rock on your finger?" Sara asked smirking.
"No, I'm civil now"
"Sure" the younger woman snorted.
"Oh, shut up! You are not assassins anymore!"
"We still train every day. I have the bruises to prove it" Sara said lifting her shirt and pointing at her ribs, showing her sister the big blue-ish bruise that laid there, making her wince.
"Seriously? Every day?" Tommy asked looking at Nyssa.
"Yes, that is the main reason we bought the apartment below this one and turned it into a gym" she explained smiling.
"Hey, now that I think of it, weren't you supposed to be broke, Merlyn?" the blonde asked frowning "How the hell did you get her that ring?"
"I have my resources" he laughed shrugging his shoulders.
"You mean you borrowed money from Oliver?"
"Please, he was as broke as I was when I proposed!" he smirked and winked at Laurel before focusing on Sara again "That's none of your business, kiddo"
The blonde narrowed her eyes and glared at him "I'll find out"
"I'm sure you will. Anyway! What about an engagement dagger or some other lethal weapon, then?" the older Lance sister asked not letting Sara change the subject.
"Did you just suggest an 'engagement dagger'?" Tommy asked smirking at his wife.
Laurel shrugged and took a sip of wine "I don't know what they're into"
"You wanna know what we're into, perv?" Sara asked with a smirk of her own.
"Oh, gross, Sara!"
"Get it out of you system now, Sara" Tommy said turning around to face her "You won't be able to do it once Dinah gets here; you're not that crazy"
"You'd be surprised" Sara said chuckling "I don't embarrass easily and don't really care what people think about me"
"There is no way you are making your little jokes and innuendos during dinner with mom"
"Challenge accepted, Dinah Laurel Lance"
Nyssa turned around next to Tommy to look at Laurel "Dear God, Laurel. What have you done?"
Before Laurel could regret her words, there was a knock on the door and Sara jumped from her seat, faking the most ridiculous evil laugh anyone had ever heard "Oh! By the way, don't tell mom we're engaged yet, okay? Cool!" she whispered, then ran to the door before anyone could answer.
"Hi, mom!" she greeted her mother excitedly after opening the door.
"Hi, baby" Dinah hugged her stepping inside the apartment "It's so good to see you"
"You too, mom" Sara smiled while her mother held her face in her hands, smiling but looking closely at her features to make sure her daughter was okay "Did you come alone?" the blonde asked, looking past her mother to check the hallway.
"Yes, David had a conference he couldn't miss. He sends his regards and apologies for missing dinner"
"How very polite of him" Sara smirked closing the door after her mother and leading her inside "Please, send him our regards, too"
"You could learn a thing or two from polite people instead of making fun of them, Sara"
The blonde rolled her eyes and went back to her previous spot, taking a sip from her beer bottle "I make fun of Nyssa because of that, pretty sure anyone else will get at least the same treatment"
Dinah frowned at the name of her daughter's girlfriend, but quickly covered it with a warm smile as soon as she spotted Laurel "Hi, honey"
Her eldest daughter jumped off the counter and moved to hug her, looking at Sara over her mother's shoulder, who was rolling her eyes again after noticing Dinah's frown "Hi mom, glad you could make it"
"Dinah" Tommy greeted her, extending his hand, after Laurel released her mother and went back to her spot.
The woman shook his hand with a smile and watched curiously as Sara moved to stand next to Nyssa, placing her hand on the woman's lower back.
She looked at her and gave her a short nod "Hello, Nyssa"
"Professor Lance" the brunette greeted her with a nod of her own "I'm glad you could attend tonight; hope you had a pleasant trip?"
"I did, Nyssa, thank you" Dinah answered, alternating her gaze between Sara and her girlfriend "And thank you for having me tonight. You have a gorgeous apartment"
"I can assure you that was all Sara. I had no idea this place existed until about ten days ago"
The woman smiled and took Sara's previous seat while Nyssa poured a glass of wine before handing it to her "Thank you" she took the glass and looked at her youngest "Do I want to know how you managed to get this place?"
"Nope!"
"Yeah, that's what I thought" she giggled softly and took a sip of wine "Great wine"
Laurel nodded in agreement while taking a sip, too "Yeah, Nyssa always finds the most amazing ones around the world"
"Go easy on the wine, Lance, I'm keeping an eye on you" the blonde warned her older sister, then asked offended "I can find good wine, too, you know?"
"I think you should stick to beer, that's your specialty; you don't wanna ruin that for us" Tommy said with a smirk and held his up, leaning closer to Sara so they could clink their bottles.
"Do you get to travel a lot, Nyssa?" Dinah asked politely. Whether she liked it or not, everything in Sara's body language indicated she was one hundred and ten percent on her girlfriend's side, and she had to admire that. If those two could sort things out after everything that happened between them, then she should at least give the very intriguing, very frightening woman a chance.
"Not as much as I used to" the brunette answered truthfully "But I did gather quite a nice collection over the years"
The older woman nodded "Why don't you get to travel anymore? Are you staying in Star City?"
"What's with the interrogation, mom?" Sara asked annoyed.
"Habibti" Nyssa said touching her arm "She is just making conversation"
"Yeah, don't get all defensive, it's a good thing" Laurel added and shrugged "She's trying"
"And I greatly appreciate that you are, Professor Lance" the brunette looked at Dinah and smiled a sad, apologetic smile "And regarding your previous questions, after my father's demise it is not required, nor expected of me to travel as much as I used to; so I am taking permanent residence in Star City with Sara"
"I'm sorry to hear about your father" the woman said honestly.
Nyssa gave her a short nod "Thank you"
"Was he the one in charge of the…" she paused, taking a few seconds to find the right way to voice her unusual question "...'kidnapping family business'?"
"Mom!" Sara yelled and Laurel snorted, trying not to laugh.
"Well, I don't know how else to ask, Sara!"
"Then how about you just don't?" she rolled her eyes "Seriously, mom? 'Kidnapping family business'?! Who even says that?!"
But to her surprise, Nyssa snorted trying to stifle her laughter, which made Laurel and Tommy laugh openly.
"Oh, for fuck's sake! Why do I even bother?" Sara groaned and rolled her eyes again.
"I apologize, beloved" Nyssa said smiling before kissing her forehead "Even you have to admit that was a most humorous way to address it" she rubbed Sara's back softly and looked at Dinah, who was trying very hard not to laugh "Yes, I believe you could say he was the head of the family business"
The woman nodded accepting her answer "Will you girls ever tell me what that was all about?"
"Why would you need to know now?" her youngest asked.
"Because, Sara, I find it hard to believe—even though I know everything was extremely real—that it actually happened" she sighed and shook her head "I'm at your beautiful home, seeing this well educated, respectful, caring and loving woman standing by your side and I cannot get my head around the fact that she's the same woman who kidnapped me a few years ago. So, yes, I need to understand, because I want to leave all of that behind and feel happy about the fact that you are finally in a serious, committed relationship; settling down with someone who obviously loves and respects you like you deserve. Holding a grudge this big is exhausting and I have better things to do with my time"
Sara closed her open mouth after a few seconds and looked at her girlfriend "Well, it's hard to argue with that"
"It really is" Nyssa nodded her agreement and sighed "Would it be enough for the moment if I promised to tell you everything some other time?"
Dinah looked at her, gathering her options "Will you keep that promise?"
"After your daughter, my word is what I value the most"
The woman sighed and nodded "Okay, but I won't forget"
Laurel decided to break the tension and looked at Tommy "What else did she miss from that list? Well educated, respectful, caring and loving…" she paused smiling "...classy"
"Smart" he added after thinking, then smiled at her.
"Hot" Laurel said winking at Nyssa.
"Hey!" Sara glared at her sister "I'm the only one allowed to think she's hot"
"Yeah, good luck with that, sis"
"Linguist?" Tommy asked.
"Yeah, she's a linguist alright" the youngest Lance smirked, getting elbowed hard "Ow! That hurt, Nyssa! I have a bruise there, remember?"
"Gross, Sara"
The blonde turned to focus on her sister again, one hand rubbing her sore ribs "I feel sorry for you if you think that's gross, sis"
"I don't! That's not what I meant" she looked at her husband and repeated "That's not what I meant"
"Then what did you mean?" Sara asked, teasing her even more.
"You know what I meant"
"I really don't" the blonde smirked defiantly "I had more respect for Mr. Merlyn. Have to say, I'm disappointed. Thought the beard had something to do with that, even tho I find it highly unsanitary if it does" she chucked and looked at her sister again "No wonder you're always so cranky"
"What's that supposed to mean?" her older sister asked glaring at her.
"Tommy, if you need classes, Nyssa excels at that"
"Sara!" her fiancée gasped, blushing furiously.
"What? It's true!"
"Mom doesn't need to hear about your sex life, you know?"
"Please, leave me out of this, Laurel" Dinah said laughing at their exchange and took another sip of wine.
"Dude, I'm talking about linguistics. Nyssa is fluent in nine languages and fairly competent in a few more. I have no idea what you are talking about…" she smirked again and winked at her sister "...perv"