Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Arrow or Twilight. Those rights are reserved for Stephanie Myer and Greg Berlanti. I do own the rights to the original characters created for the storyline. Please support the official release.
Writer's Notes: I know the last chapter was really heartbreaking. I have never cried so much while writing before so I was hit pretty hard with the tragedy. I hope you all liked the story otherwise. Here is the last part of the story and despite the pain with losing Ren, I am happy with how this story turned out. Thank you everyone for your support! Don't forget to follow, favorite and review!
Nothing prepares a mother for the loss of a child. Nothing could replace Renesme in Bella's life and she wouldn't want to. No one would be able to replace Ren. She was full of life, always smiling, always full of love and excitement. It was Christmas day now, a full week since Ren passed away. Everyone's hearts were heavy with that loss. But Bella had to live, she had to move on. She made a promise to Ren to not fall into depression and she intended to keep it.
Everyone was gathered at the Cullen house. Christmas day was always spent at their larger home. This Christmas wasn't joyous like it typically was, but everyone tried to get into the spirit. Esme put the tree up, even though she cried through it all, and she cooked a large dinner.
Everyone was invited though, Laurel and Tommy, even detective Lance was making an appearance. Thea Queen was invited as was Moira, even though Oliver could have spent this holiday without his mother nagging at him. Bella mom flew in from Japan to come and spend the week since Ren's death was a big deal, Renee wasn't ready to go anywhere for a while, and he husband understood. Phillip Dwyer, major league baseball player, turned real estate mogul.
The only ones that knew about Bella's pregnancy was Oliver and Bella. They had an ultrasound done at the hospital to confirm that Bella was pregnant. It was a good thing for her to be pregnant, even with such a heavy loss with Ren, but Bella wasn't just pregnant with a baby, she was pregnant with the hopes and dreams of Renesme Cullen. And those hopes and dreams came in more than one. Twins.
Rosalie carried around the baby that her and Emmett adopted before everything bad happened at the restaurant. Their son, Hamilton Jonas Cullen was beautiful. He was six months old and always smiling. She set him down so she could help Esme with the gifts and Hamilton sat in his little walker in the living room blowing raspberries and fidgeting with his hands like it was the first time he discovered that he had hands. His hair was dark and curly and his hazel eyes were mesmerizing and there was some sort of islander heritage blossoming in his facial features.
Renee was helping Esme and Rosalie, the three women were a sight to see. Renee was always very beautiful, but she the happy nature of Renee is where Ren had got her cheery attitude from. But today, Renee was a little sullen, though she tried to keep a smile on her face. Christmas music was lightly playing off the Google speaker in the living room to help with the atmosphere since Christmas music was one of Ren's favorite thing to listen to, even if it was the middle of July.
Bella rolled the sleeves up on her navy sweater she was wearing. It had a reindeer on it and it was the sweater that Ren picked out for Bella to wear this year. Her dark hair was a cascade of waves past her shoulders and she was wearing the sapphire earrings that Ren got her last year for Christmas and also the bracelet that Oliver had retrieved from CNRI when Edward had kidnapped her and she thought she had lost it. Hamilton started to fuss a little, so Bella picked him up and smiled at the baby and cooed. Everyone watched her, afraid that at any moment Bella was going to break down, but she had been doing well to keep her tears at bay and she was going to be happy today, even though Ren wasn't here to celebrate it with her.
"Oh! The turkey!" Esme exclaimed suddenly when she heard the timer go off.
Oliver spoke up. "I got it." He announced and moved towards the kitchen and opened the over and grabbed the red oven mitts to slide them over his hands before pulling the turkey out of the oven. Moira came to help, grabbing towel to lay on the counter so Oliver could set the turkey pan without scorching the countertop. "Thanks." He mumbled to his mom, but didn't look at her. The turkey was beautiful looking, a golden crisp color and the smell filtered through the air, which instantly made everyone hungry. Emmett took Hamilton from Bella so she could go help in the kitchen since he was useless and Esme, Renee and Rosalie were all busy.
The front door opened and Carlisle walked in, Jasper and Tommy behind him. They had went out to get more firewood, and their arms were full of firewood for the fireplace in the living room.
"The snow is coming down pretty hard out there. I think we're snowed in." Tommy commented as he carried his armload of firewood to the firewood box that kept all the firewood in one spot.
Esme looked stacked presents in an organized order. "That's okay, we'll have the guest rooms made up so you and Laurel will have a room. You as well Larry." She said with a smile at Larry Lance.
Larry nodded and sipped his eggnog. He was only here because Laurel told him he needed to spend more time with her and her family and she considered Bella to be family, so here he was.
Bella moved around Oliver in the kitchen putting things out on the counter bar and Thea helped set the large table in the dinning room that Alice was working on. Alice and Thea got along, which wasn't surprising since Alice typically got along with everyone. Carlisle walked into the kitchen. "Oh Bella, can you grab the good wine from the wine cooler." He motioned and Bella shifted, opening the wine cooler and grabbed the wine and handed it off to Carlisle. "Thank you." He said and disappeared into the dining room.
Everything was coming together nicely. Christmas was about being with family and right now, Bella needed her family the most, especially if she was going to remain calm and strong without Ren. Jasper was the only one that couldn't bring himself to smile at all. No one blamed him. Jasper took Ren's death really hard, and he was having a hard time with it…coming to terms. No one expected anyone to get over it quickly. This sort of loss would stick with them for years, and some days will be harder than others. Everyone gathered at the table when everything was set on the table, and Carlisle carved the turkey and everyone went around and put food on their plates. Esme was talking about redoing the kitchen with Renee and Moira was actually adding to the conversation. There were different conversations going on around the table, which was normal with a party this size. Carlisle grabbed another bottle of wine when the other one seemed to not stretch as far as they thought it would. He came back and opened it and poured some in Alice's cup and then went to pour some in Bella's but she shook her head.
"Not tonight Carlisle. Thank you." Bella said and he just moved on to Oliver who accepted wine.
"So Thea, Oliver said that you are going to Paris soon?" Alice asked as she lifted her wine to her lips.
Thea smiled. She was a vision of beauty. She just turned eighteen not long ago. She had dark hair and dark eyes and was slightly smaller than Bella, but not by much. "It was my birthday present from Ollie." She said, looking over at her brother, who smiled at her.
"Jazz and I have a place in Paris if you want to have a great view of the Eiffel tower." Alice offered.
Thea smiled brightly. "Oh, that sounds great. I would certainly appreciate it."
Jasper nodded. "I'll be sure to give you the entrance codes." He said, still without a smile, but he was polite to Thea but then he excused himself to leave the room.
Thea frowned and looked at Bella. "I'm sorry. Did I…did I do something wrong?" she asked her voice low.
Bella shook her head. "No you didn't Thea." She said and patted her hand and then excused herself to go after Jasper.
Carlisle cleared his throat and changed the subject to draw attention away from Jasper.
Bella found Jasper by the fireplace in the living room tossing wood into the fireplace. "Jazz…"
"I can't right now Bella." Jasper said, his voice tight with emotion.
"Talk to me." Bella said as she got close to him.
Jasper turned and looked at Bella, his honey eyes sad. "I am hurting. I don't…."he shook his head. "I lost my light." He said, his voice choked up. "Bells, she was my little girl." He started crying right then, and Bella went to him and put her arms around him and he put his arms around her, his head resting on her shoulder as they embraced one another and he cried.
"I know." Bella said her voice emotional too. "I miss her…so much and I wish there was a time machine so I could just…go back and never even agree to that dinner. I am to blame for that horrid night and I will never forgive myself for it."
Jasper leaned back and brought his hands up and framed her face and Bella's hands slid up to his forearms as she stared up at him, her eyes twinkling with a couple tears. "This isn't your fault. The gunman that came into the restaurant…Vertigo….the Vigilante, Edward…anyone but you. I know…I am being difficult…it's Christmas and everyone wants to have a joyous occasion and it's what….it's what Ren wanted. I know this. I'm sorry, please don't ever feel like I blame you. Ever. I love you too much to be angry at you for something out of your control. Never Bells." He whispered, tears running down his face. "I was more than just her uncle Jasper."
"I know."
"She was mine." Jasper whispered again. "My light and the closest thing to a daughter I will ever have." He said and then he kissed her forehead, sniffing a little as tears ran down his face.
Bella sniffed too and then he pulled her to him, her head resting on his chest as he hugged her firmly. She sighed, hugging him back.
After dinner, everyone gathered in the living room opening presents. Bella put on a cheery face, smiling at her family and trying hard to keep from breaking down and crying thinking about Ren not being there and so far she was doing okay.
When Bella's queasiness made it's appearance, she got up and went towards the bathroom suddenly.
Oliver got up from his spot on the couch and stepped over Thea and followed Bella out of the room. He knocked on the door, leaning against the outer door frame, one hand in his pocket. "Babe?"
Bella groaned as she emptied her stomach. She was hoping that she would make it through the evening without the morning sickness coming to her. She would have to take more of the medicine to help with nausea. She flushed the toilet and then rinsed her mouth before opening the door and looking at Oliver. "It just hits sometimes. I'll be okay." She said with a small smile.
Oliver nodded and leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead. "The medicine isn't working that well anymore?"
"I suppose so. It might just be the turkey or something unsettling my stomach. I'll be okay. Promise." She said and Oliver leaned in and kissed her on the lips this time. They returned to the living room and Bella kept her smile, to hopefully not alarm anyone, but that didn't matter.
"Are you okay?" Rosalie asked, concern in her voice. She knew that today would be hard and Bella had been putting on a brave face since Ren passed, so it was expected that she would have to take a moment or two to gather herself.
Bella smiled at Rosalie and then looked around the room at the other concerned faces. "I know today is hard for all of us." Her eyes looked to Jasper and he nodded, solemnly. "Ren loved Christmas so much. She had so many wishes for Christmas, but the biggest one every year….never came true because I didn't find my soulmate until now." She said and looked at Oliver and slid her hand in his and he squeezed it, smiling at her. "This year," she said and looked back at the others. "Ren's Christmas wish did come true. I told her…I told her before she passed that her dreams were coming true, and that I would be okay, and I want everyone to know….I am okay. It hurts…everyday," her voice was emotional. "There is not a moment that goes by that I don't feel a little loss without my baby girl…but I am strong and I will be okay because I need to be…not just for Ren, but for myself." She swallowed. "Ren's Christmas wish was to be a big sister." She said, her voice cracking a little. "I found out while she was in the hospital…that I am pregnant. And she gets to be a big sister finally after all."
There were tears in everyone's eyes. Esme and Renee were all misty eyed and so was Rosalie and Alice. Emmett was grinning wide and Tommy and Laurel were smiling as well, but Laurel had her hands clasped together and up to her lips as she smiled, tears in her own eyes. Jasper seemed shocked, his honey eyes tearing up in the corners as he looked at Bella and Oliver. Moira and Thea were shocked at the announcement and Moira's mouth was just slightly open in shock as she looked at her son.
"We are due July 21st." Bella said and Oliver took a photo from inside his suit pocket and handed it to Bella. She took it and looked down at the image of the twins. The two little blips that were inside her right now. "Um. This is a miracle and a blessing and I am happy…I am happy that I get to be a mother again and that Ollie gets to be a father." She smiled at him. "We want nothing more than to raise them with so much love and remind them that their big sister loved them very much even before they existed." She said and swiped a tear from her face.
"Them?" Jasper asked, his voice strained.
"Twins." Oliver said with a nod.
"Oh my." Esme clasped her hands together and rose at the same time Renee did and the two went to Bella, hugging her first before everyone else followed suit and soon everyone was in a giant group hug. Moira stood off to the side with Larry Lance, not wanting to intrude on an important family moment, but Thea didn't care, she was in the fray as well, hugging Bella and her brother.
The sonogram was passed around and everyone cooed over the image of the twins. Jasper went to her, standing in front of her, his amber eyes a shade of happiness for her, but also the grief. "I am so happy for you Bells. I truly am, I know it doesn't seem like I am, but I really am. It's hard because of Ren not being here, but she wanted this so bad." He whispered and tears rolled down his face.
"I know Jazz…I know you're happy for us." Bella nodded and then she reached for him and pulled him into an embrace and hugged him. Her best friend, her better half for all intents and purposes.
Oliver glanced over to his own mother and saw that she was tense and he knew that she would be. That after everything that had happened with him, he knew that his mother was not easy to approve of Bella because she wasn't in the high society circle of the Queen's. But that didn't matter to Oliver. He loved Bella and one day she would be his wife, and his mother wouldn't have a say in it, because she didn't matter to him. Bella mattered to him and the babies she carried inside her.
[Two Weeks Later]
Oliver was having a hard time with Moira. She didn't like how Bella had trapped him with getting pregnant, and Oliver told his mother that he didn't want anything to do with her. He found out some information when he was the Hood, that didn't sit well with him. Moira Queen and Malcom Merlyn were planning on something devastating for Starling City. He was at Verdant working out in his secret lair when Felicity walked in with Diggle.
"Oliver, Felicity found something." Diggle said outloud.
Oliver dropped down from the pull up bar. He was shirtless, the scars that layered his body was usually startling, but Diggle and Felicity were used to it. "What's up?"
Felicity went to the computer and hit a few keys and pulled something up on her screens. Oliver pulled on his shirt and leaned over her shoulder to look. "So, we managed to find these blueprints off the Merlyn computers that Tommy was able to get access to. It's some sort of machine that can cause Earthquakes, and it's already been built."
Oliver frowned. "That's how Malcom and Moira plan on taking out the Glades." Discovering that your mother wanted to level an entire community under the guise of wanting to save it, was sitting heavy on him. He thought that his father's mission was to save Starling City, and so far Oliver had taken out the people on the list his father had, but he had started to think that perhaps it wasn't the names on the list that mattered.
"We have to stop them." Felicity said, looking up at Oliver.
Oliver nodded his agreement. "We will." He said and then he was gearing up to go after Malcom and Moira.
Bella's pregnancy made her glow. She was exhausted of course because pregnancy could be exhausting, but she was happy nonetheless. When she felt the twins kick for the first time, it made things so real for her. The proof of life. She walked into the doctor's office, Oliver was coming in behind her. He told her he would meet her there. She smiled and leaned in and kissed him before they walked up to the counter and they checked in.
"Things going okay at the club?" Bella asked as they sat together in the waiting room.
"Yeah, just meeting vendors. Tommy was busy with Laurel and so I did it instead. Thea is going to handle some of the operations so I can focus on the company since well…Walter is still missing." Oliver explained.
Bella frowned. "Have the police not found anything?"
Oliver sighed. "No, but I'm half convinced that he ran away from my mother." He said and shook his head. "It's nothing you should be worrying about." He said and took her hand in his. "How are you feeling today?"
"I'm okay I suppose. Just tired more. Going back to work feels so weird since I have been out for so long it seems, but getting back to normal." Bella admitted. It was hard at first. Everyone was whispering around her it felt, but no one was saying anything other than they were sorry about Ren. It wasn't their fault that her daughter died, and sometimes she just wanted to say that, but it was like she was stuck between a rock and hard place because she didn't want to make anyone feel bad. So she would just nod and say thank you.
Oliver rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand, giving her a light squeeze. He could tell that she was tired for the day and that there was likely more to what she was feeling than what she was saying right now.
"Ms. Cullen?" A nurse came out to the waiting room and Bella stood.
"I need to update my paperwork. My name changed-"
"Queen." Oliver inputted and smiled at the nurse. "We'll handle that part later." He said and Bella nodded. He put a hand on the small of her back and the two went back with the nurse.
Bella was gaining weight appropriately, and so far her blood pressure seemed stable and everything else seemed healthy. Now she was laying on the exam table, Oliver next to her while the technician swirled the wand around on her belly.
They looked at the screen together and they saw the babies moving and Bella felt the twins roll inside and getting to see if on the screen was just amazing. There were no words to describe that special feeling.
Jason, the ultrasound tech that had been doing Bella's ultrasounds since the start smiled at her. "Well, are we wanting to keep the gender a surprise, or are we ready to know?"
Bella looked at Oliver and smiled. "I want to know. What about you?"
"I want what you want." Oliver said with a smile.
Jason smiled. "Well, baby A right here," He swirled the wand and moved the wand around, trying to get the best angle and when he did, he captured the picture and typed on the screen.
I'm a girl!!!!!
Bella teared up a little but smiled. "A girl." She murmured and looked at Oliver, who leaned in and kissed her softly.
Jason smiled and swirled the wand around to the other twin and managed to get a good angle and then snapped the shot and typed on the screen.
I'm a boy!!!!!!
"Congrats you two." Jason said with a wide smile.
"A son and a daughter." Bella said and looked at Oliver, and he was tearing up a little. "What's wrong honey?"
"Nothing um. I'm just so happy." Oliver said and kissed her again.
Jason printed out several pictures, took other measurements and gave Oliver and Bella some of the pictures before he left them to gather themselves.
"This is exciting." Bella said. "Ren would be ecstatic right now having a brother and a sister. She always wanted both. She wanted so many brothers and sisters. If it had been up to her, she wouldn't have been an only child for so long."
Oliver looked at the sonogram of the twins. "Her dream and wishes are coming true."
"They are." Bella agreed. They were quiet as she looked at the sonogram together. They were both thinking about Ren, and that wouldn't ever go away. Everything they did, the thought of Ren would be with them, forever.
[Breaking News!!!!!! Moira Queen has confessed to conspiring to destroy the Glade with a special device created by Merlyn Empires. At this time, Moira Queen has been arrested by Detective Larry Lance and is awaiting a bail hearing. Malcom Merlyn has not been found for questioning and it is believed that he has gone into hiding due to Moira Queen's confession. Thomas Merlyn was not available for questions. ]
Oliver cut off the news and growled as he hit the wing chun dummy.
"She admitted to it at least. "Felicity tried to calm Oliver.
Tommy and Diggle stood, their arms crossed and watched Oliver take out his anger on the dummy. "My father isn't answering any of his phones. He is gone." Tommy said out loud. "I wish I knew where this device was and what the plan is."
"Not your fault Tommy. It's mine, I should have seen this coming. After everything that we have worked hard for to protect this city, it's still not going to be enough." Oliver said and then the screens by Felicity started going crazy. "What's wrong?"
"Oh no." Felicity said as she looked at the screens. "The device. He's activated it."
"Fuck." Oliver cursed and then grabbed his gear and started gearing up. "We have to evacuate the Glade." He said and pulled a phone from his pocket and called Larry. The voice modulator kicked in. "Detective Lance, the device has been activated. The Glade needs to be evacuated now." He said and hung up and then grabbed his cellphone and called Bella.
"Hey, what-"
"You need to leave CNRI, get to safety. The Glade isn't safe right now." Oliver said quickly.
"Malcom activated the device?"
"Yes." Oliver said as he changed his clothes in a hurry. "I love you, please get to safety."
"I love you too. You do the same!" Bella said and then the call ended.
Bella grabbed files and Laurel helped stack papers together with other files and it felt like chaos around them. "Bella, go ahead and leave, Oliver wants you to get to safety."
"But what about you?" Bella said, her eyes showing her concern for her friend.
Laurel shook her head. "You have the twins to think about. I'm right behind you. I promise," She said and ushered Bella away.
Bella hesitated a moment, feeling the Earth shake beneath her feet and it almost sent her flying, but she grabbed a hold of the desk to keep herself from toppling over. "Laurel!" She called out and she saw Laurel land against the desk sharply, but she was still on her feet. The tremor stopped and they were able to get their balance back. "Laurel, we have to go." She said and reached her hand out to her friend, but the ground shook again and the building started to give way. She heard the crashing of a window and the Hood appeared. He moved towards Bella, but she motioned for him to save Laurel as the debris of the ceiling had collapsed some and Laurel was trapped under her desk.
The Hood moved quickly, moving rubble away before the next tremor hit. He grabbed Laurel's hand and pulled her free and the building shook again and Laurel fell against the Hood. He steadied her and he looked to Bella, his voice modulator disguising his voice. "We need-"
The building shook again, and it made Oliver as the Hood, go to Bella immediately to catch her before she could fall, his hands secure around her, one hand at her belly to make sure the babies were okay.
"I'm okay. Thank you." Bella murmured as she looked up at the Hood. The familiarity of his hard body had her brain trying to play tricks on her.
"Let's get you both to safety. Others are evacuating the building." Oliver said and he grabbed Laurel and shot an arrow out the window and moved her towards the broken window. "It's okay, swing down." He said and handed her a rope. Laurel nodded, flutters in her body as she got nervous about swinging out of the building, but it was that or let the building collapse on top of them. Oliver turned for Bella and hooked his arm around her and fired an arrow. "Hold on tight." He murmured low, and Bella did as she was instructed. She closed her eyes as she was flying through the air, latched to the Hood as he swung out of the building. The building started to collapse in on itself, so they made it just in time. The ground was shaking again and the arrow swung around, and landed on the ground gracefully as the tremor stopped.
Bella was breathing a little hard as her heart raced. The babies flipped inside her and her hands went to her stomach over her bump.
"What's wrong? Are they okay?" Oliver asked, the voice modulator still disguising his voice, but it didn't disguise the alarm.
Bella nodded taking a breath. "Yes, I'm fine. They're fine." She said as she felt the babies shift inside her barely. They were like little rolls and flutters and it was a joyous feeling and even more so since she almost had a building collapse on her.
"Thank God." Oliver said and then he bent to kiss her out of habit but Bella shifted away.
"I'm sorry. I'm…I have someone I love. He's…my life but I appreciate your worried gesture." Bella stammered a little and tucked hair behind her ear. "Thank you Mr…Hood."
Oliver was a little stunned and he blinked a little. He could have blown his entire cover just now with her, but she had turned him away because he was the Hood right now. He didn't know why he did it, but he hit the button for his modulator. "Bella." He murmured, his voice a little shaky.
Bella frowned and she looked back at the Hood. She moved closer to him, peering up at him. She lifted her hand and shifted the hood just slightly. "Oliver." She murmured, her heart racing a little. This didn't make sense. Why was Oliver dressed as the Hood.
"I want to tell you so much. I want to…talk about this because I love you so much. I never want you to be in danger, which is why I have…hid this from you because the moment my enemies know…you're in danger and the twins. I can't ever lose any of you."
Bella nodded, tears coming down her face, but he wiped them away. "I understand." She said out loud but really she didn't understand. She didn't understand how Oliver was this other person and she didn't see it before. How could she have missed something this important? Was she that foolish or blind.
The Earth trembled again, reminding them both of the situation. Oliver reached for her and steadied her so she wouldn't fall over.
"I love you….please…please let me explain all of this later. I need you to get to safety. Take Laurel and go to the Queen mansion. I have to stop Malcom and my mother from killing everyone in the Glades."
Bella nodded and she pulled Oliver to her, his hands going to her belly, and her hand over his. "Promise me you will come home to me. To us." She said as she stared up at him. The dark paint around his eyes hid his face well, and the Hood helped cast a shadow but his green eyes were still the same. He nodded and then he took a step back and fired his arrow and he was gone again. Bella felt a little shaky but she pulled herself together. She started towards where she heard the sirens and she found Laurel, who was hugging her tightly.
"Oh my God! You're safe!" Laurel said and then her hands were moving over Bella's belly bump. "Are the twins okay?"
"I'm fine. The Hood he saved me. He left quickly to make sure others are safe. Malcom set this device off. Where is Tommy?"
"Tommy is at Verdant. Oh God, we have to get him out of there." Laurel said and took her phone out and her hand trembled as the ground trembled.
"We should get to the Queen Mansion. Call him on the way." Bella said and spotted Diggle. "Diggle!" She said and rushed over towards him.
Diggle was sent here to pick up Bella and Laurel and take them back to the mansion so they would be safe. "Bella, Oliver sent me to get you and Ms. Lance." He said quickly.
Bella went to Laurel and grabbed her hand. "Come on, call in the car. Let's go!" She said and Laurel followed Bella and Diggle with tears streaming down her face.
Laurel tried calling Tommy's phone again and when he answered, she was relieved. "Tommy! Are you at the club?"
" I'm at the mansion. I got Thea out of Verdant in time. Oliver called and said that he has Diggle picking you and Bella up and bringing you to the mansion." Tommy said quickly.
Laurel was instantly relieved that Tommy was okay and that Thea was okay as well. "Good. We're on our way. I love you." She said, her voice breaking a little.
"I love you too. Be safe." Tommy said and hung up.
"Tommy is at the mansion. He got Thea to safety." Laurel relayed and Bella let out a breath.
"Good."
"Where's Oliver?" Laurel asked, fear coming back.
Bella nodded. "I talked to Oliver, he said he was at Queen Enterprises right now. He's safe." She lied easily. She knew that he wasn't safe right now and for some reason she looked up and caught Diggle's gaze in the mirror and she felt like he also knew that Oliver wasn't safe right now and that he was fighting to save the Glades and it felt like that she was going to lose someone else she loved.
Oliver found the second device and put a stop to it, but not without a fight. Malcom was anticipating Oliver's arrival, and the shocking part was that Malcom was the dark Hood that he had seen in passing. His archery skills were amazing, but in the end, Oliver was the better archer.
"Malcom Merlyn…you have failed this city." Oliver said before his arrow pierced Malcom's heart.
Malcom smiled as he stared up at the blue sky. "This isn't the end." He said as the light left his eyes and his breath rattled out from him.
Oliver pushed his hood back off his head as he watched Malcom Merlyn take his last breath. Everything that was happening, the Glades, his mother. It was all because of him. His manipulative ways. Tommy had said his father was ruthless, but he didn't realize just what he was capable of. He was glad that Tommy didn't fall victim to Malcom's traps to pull Tommy into this way of life.
Felicity sounded in Oliver's ear. "Good job cowboy. You got it done. Diggle has Bella and Laurel at the mansion. Tommy is there running interference and Thea is safe. There are a reported 502 deaths so far. Many more are injured. A lot of the Glades are in ruin." She reported.
Oliver sighed. "That's 502 lives I could have saved. I should have saved."
"Oliver, you did what you could. Many more would have died without your interference." Felicity was used to talking Oliver off a ledge.
Oliver looked around the rooftop that he was on. He went to the edge and looked down at the smoke billing in areas of the Glades. Buildings were shattered and it was likely that death toll would climb. All for what? Malcom and Moira's sick agenda to shatter the community for profit? He shook his head. "I should have stopped it." He said and ended the communication with Felicity, before he pulled his hood back up and he fired his arrow and swung down off the rooftop and into the background of the chaos.
Bella was still nervous, waiting on Oliver to come home. Hours passed since the last shock wave and the news came on and announced that the device was destroyed thanks to the vigilante known as the Hood. That made Bella fell better, but she still hadn't heard from Oliver and she was worried.
Tommy and Diggle were talking together lowly, and Laurel was sitting on the couch with Thea's head in her lap and the two were dozing off, fatigue clearly taking hold of both of them.
Bella got up from the chair she was sitting in and she walked over to Tommy and Diggle and she looked at them both. "He's okay. Right?"
"Bella, I assure you that Queen Enterprises is still standing and-" Diggle started.
"Cut the crap." Bella said, her voice low. "I know what and who he is. The device was stopped but is he okay?"
Tommy looked at Bella, a little shocked that Oliver shared his secret with Bella because of everything that Oliver was afraid of happening. "He talked to Felicity about three hours ago. We haven't…actually been able to reach him."
Bella frowned. "What? Why?"
"I don't know." Diggle said. "Felicity said he was taking this all hard."
Bella pulled her phone from her pocket and she called Oliver and waited, hoping and praying that he answered.
"I'm okay." Oliver breathed the words. " I'm so sorry. I'm okay. God, I love you. I'm so sorry."
Bella felt tears and she sobbed a little. "Come home." She croaked out.
"I'm coming." Oliver said and he hung up.
Tommy reached for Bella and pulled her into his arms as she cried against his chest. "He's okay. See…Ollie is fine."
Bella just nodded and cried as she waited for Oliver to come back home.
Oliver had lost track of time. He was brooding, he knew it and he shouldn't have let that affect Bella. He had worried her and he should have thought more on making sure she knew that he was safe. He went by the club and saw that everything was still standing here. It was crazy to think that eighty percent of the Glades were in ruins. It would take a lot to repair things and for lives to get back to normal. He washed his face and changed his clothes, before he took a car back to the mansion to be with Bella.
When he got there, he walked in and Bella moved towards him in an instant. Her arms went around him, and he hugged her to him. She was shaking and he realized it was because she was crying. "Shhh…I'm okay." He said but winced a little. One of Malcom's arrows had hit him in his side and he did his best to fix it, but he was certain he just popped a stitch hugging her.
Bella sniffed and leaned back, her hand automatically finding the blood on his side. She looked at her hand. "Oliver you-"
"I am fine. Listen. Let's go upstairs. I will explain everything." Oliver said and kissed her forehead. "Diggle make sure that Laurel and Tommy get set up in the guest room." He said and Diggle nodded and Oliver slapped Tommy's shoulder and paused. "I'm sorry…I couldn't-"
"He was his own undoing. I understand Oliver." Tommy interrupted his friend. Oliver had mentioned to Felicity what happened with his father and he felt nothing for the death of his father. He should have felt something, but the hell that man put him through made him numb to this situation. "Go take care of Bella. We'll talk in the morning." He said and went into the sitting room and gently stirred Laurel and Thea to get them to a room to lay down so they could rest properly.
Bella followed Oliver up the stairs and he brought her to his room and closed the door behind him. He turned and looked at her, but she was pushing at his jacket, pushing it off of him and undoing his buttons on his shirt. "Let me." She snapped at him and he stopped, letting her hands move over his body so she could assess the damage. She gasped when she saw the arrow wound and his stitches that were done poorly. "Oliver…"she murmured.
"I have a med kit in the closet." Oliver said and she moved to the closet and looked around. "Top shelf. On the right." He relayed.
Bella found a bag and she pulled it down. It wasn't heavy at all, very light, so it wasn't hard for her to manage. It was a myth about reaching over your head while pregnant anyways. She brought it out and made Oliver sit on the bed. She started by cleaning the wound on his side, her hands were cool against his hot skin and he sighed, welcoming her gentle touch. They were silent and Bella preferred that right now because she was mad and upset and worried and she just didn't know what to say right now.
When she cleaned his wound up and made sure it was sutered closed, she let out a sigh. She looked up at him and his green eyes looked saddened. "Who was it?"
"Malcom Merlyn." Oliver answered. "He was the dark Hood. He shot me, I….I pulled the arrow out and stitched it up."
"Is he…."
"He's dead." Oliver nearly whispered.
Bella nodded and closed her eyes to force tears back. "You saved me today."
"I had to make sure you were actually leaving. I couldn't live without you Bella…you or our babies."
Bella opened her eyes and a tear slid down her face. "You kept this from me." She shook her head.
"I didn't want you to become a target. Bella," he paused and took her hands in his, his thumbs rubbing over the backs of them gently. "Baby, I promise you that I never wanted to lie to you or keep anything from you. This was only for your safety. I would never dream of endangering you. I wish, so many times that I was superman." He let out a half laugh when he thought about that absurdity.
Bella studied Oliver and then perched her hands on her hips. "Get up."
Oliver frowned but he stood, looking down at her. "What-"
"Hold your arms out and close your eyes." Bella instructed and Oliver did it without protest. "Think about everything you have been through in the last six years."
Oliver's brows scrunched together as he frowned again. "Bella…that's hard for me to do."
"I know." Bella said. "Remember the island. You were there and it was hard. You had to survive. People were there and they hurt you, but you survived. You don't have to be the man of steel to be strong Ollie." She said. "You're my iron. My strength. With Edward, with Ren, and now with everything…you are strong and worthy. Don't for a second, doubt your abilities. Don't you dare dwell on the losses of the Glades. People died yes…and that is not your fault. It will never be your burden to carry just because you are the Hood. Putting on that Hood and going out and bringing justice to this city…doesn't make you any less of a superhero. You don't have to be Superman to be that. Ever."
Oliver sucked in a breath, tears coming to the surface and he opened his green eyes and looked at her. "Bella…"
"I love you Oliver Queen…that is never going to change. I will be Bella Queen. The woman that will stand by you through anything. I'm not running away because things are dangerous for you. I'm not running away because that would be simple. I'm not doing that. Not anymore. I've done that and it cost me…greatly. I will not be a coward and think that the world is damned and there's nothing we can do. I will not succomb to that. I promised Ren…I promised her I wouldn't break, and I won't." She said, tears streaming down her own face. She reached for his hands then and brough them to her belly. "Our children….will be here and you are going to be an amazing father and you are going to be their superhero just as well. You are their strength, just as I am. We don't give up. We don't pity ourselves because something else could have been done. Should of, could of, would of. Those words don't exist anymore. Do you here me Oliver Queen?"
Oliver nodded and his hands smoothed over her belly. "God Bella, I love you so fucking much." He sniffed and then his mouth crushed over hers and they were kissing deeply, their tongues meshing together, their tears mixing as they drank each other in. They were strong for each other even if they had weaknesses. They were each other's other half, and he would never let her down…not again. Never.
Bella's hands moved to his pants, unfastening them with ease. His skin was still hot under her touch. Their breathing was ragged as they kissed, bringing out passion and desire in both of them. Oliver's hands moved over her body, shedding her clothes into a pile on the floor. She was gloriously beautiful, her bump was proof of their love and that sent thrills through him, happiness that she was his and he was hers. He lay her on the bed gently, his mouth traveling over her collar bone to between her breasts, his tongue teasing, testing as she sighed and moaned from the pleasured tingles that shot through her body like small bolts of electricity. His mouth sank lower, kissing over her belly and the life inside her before he dipped his mouth to her hip, nipping there lightly causing her to shift her hips a little. Her heat was moist and dripping, waiting for him to explore her mound and he did not hesitate to pull away her panties, his tongue licking up her slit making her shiver and moan a little. His hands kneaded her thighs gently and she moaned against as his tongue dove deeper into her folds. She cried out his name as her body tightened and spurted out, her orgasm a sweet release that relaxed her completely. But she was reaching for him, to merge with her and he complied, his cock dripping as he pushed inside her. Each stroke felt like time was stopped and it was only the two of them. His stamina could be incredible at times but right now, with his wound to his side, he wasn't going to last long but that was okay. Bella needed him just as he was and he needed her just as she was. They climbed their pleasure high together, there mouths tasting each other as he propelled them high. Her body tingled as her orgasm washed through her and crashed into Oliver and she moaned. Oliver moaned too, his moans melting with hers as he cock swelled full before he came inside her. He paused a moment as his cock twitched inside before he pulled out of her and lay in the bed beside her. She rolled, snuggling close to him as he pulled blankets up over them. His right hand traced circles over her belly as they lay in silence, just enjoying the pleasure they just went through. He was completely relaxed. Her stitches were good since they held up for all of that and he was impressed considering she was a lawyer not a doctor.
"I love you." Oliver murmured into the silence.
Bella smiled. "I love you too." She murmured back and snuggled her face against his chest, kissing him lightly, before her eyes closed. She was happy and comforted. She just hoped that he was feeling the same way. Sleep found her and soon she was fully relaxed into his body and a light snore was coming from her.
Oliver smiled as he listened to her sleep. She always had the cutest little snore. He thought about Renesme. How she had also snored like this. He missed her greatly. His biggest regret was not saving her life. He tried to not blame himself, but the fact was, he didn't make it to the restaurant in time and she was shot. He worried about Bella being anywhere with their children in the future. It was a stray bullet and that was all it took. He felt tears well up in his eyes and he let them fall silently. He closed his eyes in hopes of stopping more from coming out, but it was useless. He had to get up, sliding out from under Bella easily, so he wouldn't wake her. He wiped at his face before he pulled on his pants and opened the door and went downstairs to the sitting room and found the liquor cabinet and poured himself a glass of whisky. His eyes were still a little red with tears as memories of Ren haunted him.
"Oliver." Tommy's voice sounded from behind him.
Oliver closed his eyes, sighing. He wasn't prepared to let his best friend see him like this. "Tommy." He said, his voice tight.
"It's okay man." Tommy said and joined Oliver and grabbed a whiskey glass and Oliver poured whiskey in it. Tommy looked at Oliver's exposed side. "Malcom…he got you."
"I'm okay." Oliver said and downed the whiskey quickly before wiping his face. "Um. Bella knows. I…don't have an excuse for it Tommy. I just…"he shook his head. "Everything that happened today. Her and Laurel in that building and it crumbling around them.
"Laurel said the Hood rescued her and Bella. If it wasn't for you man…she would be-"
"I will always….always, make sure that Laurel never suffers the same fate as her sister." Oliver said and poured more whiskey. The two were quiet for another moment. "Um. Moira is heading to trial…they're going to seek the death penalty. She essentially killed….502 people today." He said and sighed "Thea…she's not handling this well."
Tommy drank on his whiskey and nodded his agreement. "Thea is angry at everything right now. She was willing to go down with the club and she was searching for Roy that boy that helps out at the club. The one that seems like he's not an anger issue."
"Roy is harmless." Oliver said and sighed. "He's helping the vigilante with tips. After saving him two months back, he's really been pretty keen on the crime in Glades. Though I have to admit, it is worrisome that Thea will be pulled into the danger."
"I'm keeping an eye on her. It's why I've been having her handle more stuff at the club. It's a good distraction, and well, you're under the club more and are capable of getting to her fast if there was something immediate." Tommy explained and paused. "How is Bella? She was really worried."
Oliver sighed. "She's…stronger. I don't know Tommy. I thought after Ren," his voice broke a little as he said her name and he shook his head to push back the emotion. "I thought that she would have a harder time just living, but she is staying strong. Stronger than me most days. Jasper has been…concerning. Alice mentioned to Bella that Jasper was just fading, and I want to get him out of that. So, I am having him come to the club to bartend for a while. Get him out of the funk. I played it off as you and Thea really need the help and he agreed to come help because of Bella."
Tommy nodded. "How's the Doc and the others?"
Oliver sighed again. "Carlisle is grieving and so is Esme. But they are trying to be strong. They have Hamilton to run after when Emmett and Rosalie are busy, so that keeps their spirits up. They're looking forward to the twins, and to be honest, I am too. I'm scared and nervous about anything wrong happening, and then Bella. I'm worried for the after. She's strong right now, but then what about after the twins? She's agreed to marry me and take my name for the twins, but I feel like I'm pushing her too fast. If I hadn't…if I hadn't told her that night that I loved her…and she didn't run away, then maybe things would have been different. Ren would be here, maybe things would have just….I don't know Tommy." His voice was tight.
Tommy shook his head. "You're blaming yourself for something out of your control. You love her, there is nothing wrong with that, and Bella loves you Oliver. I see the way she looks at you. I have known her for a long time. Hell we all grew up together. She always had eyes for you Oliver. Always. When she moved back and you were gone for so long and then you returned. She tried not to let it get to her, but I could tell that she was affected by your return."
"I ran into her in the street Tommy. I did that on purpose because I knew she was here. I pretended to not know she was in town, but I knew. I knew when I came back and I saw here with Laurel. I was curious what had happened in all the time that had passed, and I just…hung back. Doing the creepy stalker thing."
Tommy chuckled a little. "Don't doubt things man. I'm telling you, you and Bella are a happy ending. She's in love with you and no matter what happened in the past, there is only the future. Keep your chin up. Keep going forward or you will drive yourself mad." He said and finished his whiskey. "Go get sleep." He said and slapped Oliver on the back and left him there in the sitting room.
Oliver looked down at the whiskey in his glass as he thought about Tommy's words. He was right. He couldn't keep reliving his past. It wasn't healthy for him and it wasn't healthy for Bella. She was ahead of him and handling life so much better than he was. He needed to keep up, and that meant to not stay still. He finished the whiskey and went back up the stairs to his room. He looked at Bella's sleeping body laying there in the bed sleeping. His heart swelled at the sight of her. She was truly his soulmate…his everything. His world.
[July 2nd: 5 months after the Glades episode]
Bella was really pregnant and that was mostly because of carrying twins, you tended to get bigger with them. They confirmed that they were boy/girl twins with another ultrasound since the other one was earlier than the 20 week mark, and they were excited to welcome the twins into the world. Of course news broke about Oliver Queen becoming a father. Pictures of Bella and Oliver made the paper, and Oliver hated that their privacy was violated in many ways, but Bella handled it really well. She didn't mind it and told Oliver that it didn't matter what the papers said or tabloids. They would live their lives unashamed for anything. They hadn't tied the knot yet, but Bella wanted the twins to get here first before a wedding, and Oliver agreed.
Moira Queen managed to escape the death penalty, but she was sentenced to sixty years in prison, and so she wasn't getting out any time soon and money wouldn't save her. Tommy and Laurel got engaged and they were in no rush to walk down the aisle either and just wanted to enjoy being engaged for a while.
Thea and Roy seemed to be getting serious, and Oliver had to swear Roy to secrecy when Roy found out Oliver was the Arrow, the new pseudonym that Oliver wanted for himself instead of the Hood. The Hood stood for all the wrong things and he wanted Arrow to make a different in the city. Detective Lance seemed to lay off the vigilante angle, but that was mostly because he was demoted and was sent back to the streets as an uniformed officer, which Laurel said served him right since her dad was so blinded by his hatred for Oliver, but after seeing how Oliver was with Bella and that he was manning up and being responsible, he was letting things go, at least for now. Detective Lance also used the Arrow as a source to get things done in the city ,officially changing his allegiance to the Arrow, since the Arrow saved his daughters life, and the lives of so many people and he warned him about the events that unfolded in the Glades. Who knew that would actually change the mind of someone like Larry Lance.
Jasper was still bartending for Oliver at the club and even though he was still sullen most days, he was getting back to a normal space. Alice and him were having issues, and Jasper knew it was his fault. Alice was distraught as well over Ren's death and seeing Jasper like he was, so depressed. She overhear him tell Bella that she was the closest thing he had to a daughter and that made her heart sink. She had never wanted children before. But she was reconsidering for Jasper's sake, but she was having a hard time with that herself. Even as the test turned positive for her she still struggled with it, but she had yet to tell Jasper about the pregnancy. But she told Bella, and Bella was happy for her, and she wanted that for Alice and Jasper and hoped that Alice would tell Jasper soon.
Rosalie and Emmett were adopting another baby, a little girl, her name will be Juliette Lenalee Cullen.
Bella was happy that her family was happy or at least they were trying. She was happy even with Ren gone, she really wasn't gone. She was still a light in Bella's life and she refused to let her absence from the physical realm be the reason that makes Bella sad. Bella was sitting in lair at the moment watching Felicity work while Oliver was hunting down one of the men that they were trying pin down because of the Veritgo epidemic. She heard Oliver's voice through the speaker, since Felicity was kind enough to let Bella listen.
"Who is supplying you with Vertigo!" Oliver's graveled voice was demanding and authoratitive and it sent tingles through Bella.
"the Count! I swear!" The man sounded scared and then he cried out as Oliver probably put an arrow in his leg or arm. "I'm telling the truth! He is the one supplying!"
Oliver growled. " That can't be. The Count is dead. Tell me now!"
"Please man, I'm telling you. He calls himself the Count! He has dark hair, green eyes…but his stare is empty, like he's pure chaos or-or-or evil!"
"Dalton Grimes, you have failed this city." Oliver said and then there was muffling and some shuffling and then Oliver's audio cut.
Bella frowned. "The Count? Is that the man that Oliver ran into earlier last year? Didn't he take care of the Count?"
"Well the Count was injected with a heavy dose of Vertigo that he tried to inject Ollie with. We assumed he was dead." Felicity said and her fingers flew over the keys and then she heard Oliver's voice again.
"Felicity. Anything?"
"Wait, what's that." Bella said and pointed to the screen. It was something cryptic. Felicity frowned and hit more keys and a file opened. "I've seen this before." She said and she snapped her fingers and Roy came towards her. "Roy, my briefcase."
Roy grabbed the briefcase. He was strong looking and still youthful, not much older than Thea. His dirty reddish blonde hair was styled perfectly on his head and his green eyes were something to get lost in sometimes, and Bella definitely saw what Thea saw in him. His red hoodie was tight on his arms and he was definitely the silent brooding type.
Bella shuffled through her papers and then she found the symbol and looked at it. "This was found at a warehouse." She said and showed it to Felicity. "This is connected to the Count, but this warehouse is owned by a man named Kael Jax." She said. "Oliver does that matter?"
Oliver was quiet a moment. "Kael Jax is a big name over in Central City. He owns a lot of property and he is the CEO of Jax Enterprises. I've never met him. Do we have an image of him?"
Felicity's fingers flailed over the keys again and she shook her head. "No. We don't. In fact, no one knows what he looks like. He's done well to protect his face." She said with a frown.
Oliver sighed. " Okay. I'm going to drop this guy off at the station. I'll be back." He said and ended the audio.
Bella straightened and felt her belly tighten and pain wrapped around her. She sucked in a breath and it alarmed Felicity and Roy. "It's just practice contractions." She said, when she saw their alarm.
"Bella you're 38 weeks pregnant with twins." Felicity pointed out. "Roy get Tommy." She said and Roy dashed away to go get Tommy like he was instructed.
Bella sat down in the chair and took some breaths as the contraction took hold of her. She knew that breathing through the contractions was the best thing to do and when it subsided, Tommy was coming down the stairs. "Tommy I'm okay. It's just braxton hicks."
"We don't know that." Tommy said. "Oliver told me not to take chances. Come on, I'm taking you to the hospital. Felicity tell Oliver to redirect and come to the hospital." He said and Felicity nodded and was getting Oliver back on the line.
[Starling General]
Carlisle was already at the hospital when Tommy got Bella there and the contractions were getting worse. Carlisle wasn't her obgyn, but he was a doctor and knew what to do to get her admitted faster. "Call Dr. Haynes, tell him that my daughter is in labor and to get here!" He shouted as they wheeled Bella back to a delivery room.
Nurses were in the room and Tommy was pushed to the side but Bella snagged his hand and gripped it as a contraction ripped through her again, essentially crushing his hand in the process.
Tommy felt the pain in his hand but it was nothing compared to what Bella was experiencing right now, so he kept quiet about the pain and coaxed Bella through the contraction.
It didn't take long for Oliver to make it back to the room and was relieved to see that Tommy was with Bella so she wasn't having to go through anything alone. "Hey baby, are you okay?"
"No! I'm about to have twins!" Bella screeched as she felt more contraction pain.
Tommy smirked at his friend. "I'm calling Laurel and updating everyone." He said and kissed Bella's forehead and she released his hand and Oliver took his place.
The taller nurse, who was blonde and brown eyed smiled at Bella as she checked to see how far dilated she was. "Okay Miss Cullen, you are doing great. You are almost fully dilated. Dr. Haynes will be here soon. Dr. Cullen is here for right now, but let's just take a few moments to breathe and try to relax the best you can." She said and was reassuring with her tone.
Carlisle moved to the other side of Bella, his hand taking her other hand. "Honey, you are doing great. Esme is on her way, she'll be here soon okay? And Rosalie will be here soon as well."
Bella nodded as she savored the brief moment of no pain. "Oliver, if something happens to me and I have to go back for surgery, make sure you follow the babies okay."
Oliver brought he hand to his lips and kissed her hand. "Baby, nothing is going to happen to you, but I know. I know the plan. I love you. You've got this. Ren is here with you okay. She's watching over you."
Bella nodded and she felt another contraction ripple through her and she screamed a little as the pressure got intense.
The nurse looked up at Dr. Haynes as he walked in. Dr. Haynes was an older doctor, and he was greying at his temples like Carlisle, but his hair was dark compared to Carlisle's blonde hair. His eyes were a sage color but they had a lot of life in them and he smiled at Bella when he came in. "Oh boy, looks like we're about to start pushing. How are we feeling? Dizziness?"
Bella shook her head and she relaxed back against the bed. "Just lots of pressure." She said trying to steady her breathing.
"Rachel, how is she?" Dr. Haynes asked as he washed his hands.
"She's there Doc." The nurse responded.
"Good good. Bella on the next contraction we're going to start pushing okay?" Dr. Haynes said and rolled over on the stool and looked at what was going on.
Bella blew out a breath, her eyes turning up to Oliver. "I love you." She said and felt the contraction rip through her and she leaned up, her hands crushing both Carlisle and Oliver's hands as she screamed as she pushed, focusing at her bottom.
"Good good. Yeah, the baby is decending, looks good Bella, your daughter or son is going to be here soon. Next contraction push, let your body work for you." Dr. Haynes coaxed.
Bella followed all the commands, but at a point her body took over and she pushed when she felt the need. The pressure and pain was intense but after five more pushes, her son made it into the world, air filling his lungs and he belted out the loudest cry and Bella cried with him as she heard him take his breaths proof that he was alive.
Dr. Haynes got the cord clamped and Oliver was able to cut the cord, and the nurse set the screaming bundle on Bella's chest while Dr. Haynes made sure everything was okay for the next baby to descend and everything was going smoothly.
"Ollie, he's beautiful," Bella cried as she looked at the dark haired little baby boy settling down as he lay against Bella's chest so comforting.
Tears were in Oliver's eyes. "He's perfect Bella, so beautiful." He said and kissed her head.
"Okay mom, we're taking him to weigh him over here, contractions are going to start again. You have to deliver your daughter." Rachel the nurse said and took the baby boy and the cold hit him and he screamed out again, hating that he was taken away from his mother again. They were putting him on the scale and cleaning him up some so they could get him bundled and warm again.
Bella felt the intense pressure again and she leaned up and screamed as she pushed. Oliver helped count through the contraction with her, and he was so supportive as she pushed and pushed for their daughter to come into the world.
"Okay Bella wait, she's coming out foot first." Dr. Haynes said frowning. He had suspected that this would happen, but this wouldn't be his first breech birth he would deliver. "I need you to be careful when you push. Try to focus only spurts. I have to make sure her shoulders and arms are in the right spot. This will hurt so I apologize." He said before Bella felt the doctor's hands inside her. She clamped down on both Carlisle and Oliver's hands as she screamed. The contraction ripped through her at the same time and she felt dizzy. "Okay Bella push." The doctor instructed and she tried her best to follow all of his instructions.
Time felt like it passed by so slow, and Bella looked around the room and she saw the shape of Renesme and tears came to her eyes. Her spirit was here, it had to be real. It had to be her. Renesme gave Bella a smile and then Bella was pushing again, the image of Renesme disappearing as her baby daughter came into the world. She wasn't screaming like her brother and Bella felt faint, like something was wrong. "Oliver why isn't she crying."
"Hold on baby," Oliver murmured and his worried eyes met Carlisle's.
Carlisle released Bella's hand to get closer. He was a neonatal surgeon and he moved into doctor mode. "Let me David." He said and the nurse handed off the girl to Carlisle and he worked on her, his hands were faster than the nurses as he swept fluid from the baby's mouth and he gave her a few compressions and the nurse hovered the oxygen mask just over her face until her color came to her and she sucked in a crackled breath. Her chest rose and fell and Carlisle grabbed the bulb and suctioned and then flipped the baby over in his hands, his beautiful granddaughter and he rubbed her back, his finger clearing more gunk out of her airway and then the beautiful cry split the air and she cried as loud as her brother had before her.
Bella cried as she heard her daughter take her breath and cried. "She's okay." She cried hard and looked up at Oliver. "She's alive."
Dr. Haynes was looking at the field and frowned and then looked up at Bella. "Bella, are you feeling okay?"
"Tired." Bella said, her eyes getting heavy.
"I need you to push when you feel the contraction okay. We missed this on the ultrasounds. Stay with me okay?"
Bella nodded and she leaned up as she felt pain radiate again and she was pushing like the doctor told her to. Oliver was in a state of shock and worry when the doctor had Bella push more and more. Finally a baby was born and within a couple of seconds cries were mimicking the other babies and it was a harmonious joy.
"Hidden girl. Congrats you two. Triplets." Dr. Haynes said as Oliver mechanically cut the cord when the doctor instructed.
Bella smiled, seeing Renesme spirit hover over the third baby. She smiled at Bella again and then she disappeared inside the baby. "Ren…"She murmured as she felt a terrible fatigue roll over her.
"Bella…"Oliver said and squeezed her hand. "Baby, stay with us okay."
"Rachel hit the code blue, she's about to code. Stand back." He ordered Oliver and the doctor got to his feet and he got Bella laying flat. He started compressions and code blue came over the intercom and then the room was filling with machines and an entire team. Carlisle pulled Oliver out of the way and two other nurses helped to move the babies out of the room. Everything was happening so fast and Oliver was following Carlisle, Bella's words echoing in his head to be with the babies, and he fought everything inside him to stay with her, she was flat lining and his heart was breaking.
Oliver was pacing outside the OR doors. The triplets were stable and in NICU for the time being. The boy weighed 6 lbs and 2 oz, the first girl was 6 lbs exactly and the last little girl was 5 lbs and 12 oz. Rosalie and Esme were up there making sure they were okay, so Oliver could be at the OR with Bella. Carlisle, Tommy ,and Jasper were all with him right now and nothing they said was helping him.
"She's going to be okay." Jasper tried again.
"I left her there." Oliver said, shaking his head and looking at Jasper. "I just…"
"She told you to stay with the babies. That was her wishes. She's not going to be upset."
"She said Ren's name. She said her name." Oliver said. "W-when the surprise triplet was born, she said Ren's name. Then she just…"
Carlisle looked at his watch. "I'll be right back. I'll go and have a look." He said, not sure he wanted to see Bella on the table like that, but he needed to put Oliver at ease and himself. He went through the doors and went to the OR that Bella was in and took the stairs up to the galley to look down at the surgery they were performing. Bella had lost a lot of blood before this, but right now she was stable. He hit the button and spoke. "David. How is she?"
Dr. Haynes looked up at the glass and saw Carlisle. "Carlisle, you shouldn't be here."
"I know. But my son in law…he's not doing great. I need to know." Carlisle said.
"This was rare Carlisle. This should have never happened. If I would have known she was having triplets, I would have brought her in for a c-section. I promise you I would never let her life be in danger."
"I know David. You're an excellent doctor."
David was quiet a moment as he worked on what he was doing. "I couldn't save the fourth baby." He said.
"The fourth baby?" Carlisle frowned.
"A baby implanted on the outside. It's rare. This doesn't happen….I've never seen this happen. She must have ovulated during pregnancy. I couldn't save one of her tubes. Her uterus is intact. I've had to repair part of her gut and she's lost a kidney. But she's stable. Tell Mr. Queen that I'm doing everything I can." David said.
Carlisle ran a hand over his face. "How far along was the other baby?"
David looked over at his assistant and nodded and glanced up at Carlisle. "26 weeks."
"Doctor. It's breathing." A nurse said.
"Carlisle!"
Carlisle rushed down to scrub in and he threw on his gown. David paged more assistance. Carlisle finished scrubbing and burst into the OR and a team surrounded him and numbers were being shouted around him as he helped the tiny life in front of him. A little boy. So tiny and frail, but his chest rose and fell, jittering a little with each struggled breath. "I've got him David."
"I've got her." David said and they touched elbows before Carlisle rushed with the small baby boy away to NICU.
Oliver was worried when Carlisle didn't come back. Time went by another two hours and he was worried as to what was going on. "He hasn't come back. What is happening?"
Jasper looked at his watch and then looked up at a nurse as she came out of the OR. "Sheila. How is she?" Sheila was a friend of Esme's and one of Carlisle's normal scrub nurses.
"Bella is stable. Carlisle was called into an emergency-"
"What?" Oliver asked. "How and why would they call him away at a time like this?"
"It was part of Bella's emergency." Sheila explained. "Mr. Queen, Dr. Haynes will come out to give you all the information, but he told me to go ahead and tell you that Bella is fine and she is being closed up right now and that she'll be moved to ICU soon for recovery and then when she wakes she will be moved back to a room."
Oliver ran his hands over his face, tears coming to the surface. "She's okay?"
"She is Mr. Queen."
Tommy's arms went around Oliver before Oliver's legs gave out under him and he held him up as he cried. He had never seen Oliver this upset before or to cry this much, but he was now.
Jasper looked at Sheila. "Where's my dad now?"
"He's up in NICU." Sheila relayed and then Dr. Haynes was walking out of the doors and Oliver tried to straighten a little, and with Tommy's help he managed to get his feet under him.
"Mr. Queen. Bella suffered an ectopic rupture. She lost a kidney, and one of her fallopian tubes and I had to recess part of her intestine."
Oliver shook his head. "Ectopic? She had a baby outside the uterus?" He new some terminology. He read way too much on pregnancy so he would be prepared.
"That's correct. Carlisle was there to take your other son into surgery to help him survive. He is alive and he is in NICU right now with the triplets. He was only 26-27 weeks gestation, meaning he survived outside the womb as far as he could. When she went into labor, it ruptured the placenta that was attached in her intestine and in the process ruptured her kidney and she started to bleed out. We have her stable like I said. She lost a lot of blood and we transfused her but she did not flat line again. Just that once in the delivery room and we got her back after two minutes, so I do not foresee any brain damage. " David explained.
Oliver took in a breath. Everything had went so smoothly for the first two delivers at least for the most part. Their first daughter being born breech was not so smooth, but Bella was okay, at least he thought she was until after the third. "Um. How long will she be in recovery?"
"Well, the anesthesia will wear off on it's own and likely it'll be a couple hours. She's going to be sore. I had to open her up more than I wanted to get to her intestines, so she isn't going to be feeling too great. I will be sure she has pain meds to keep her comfortable, but once we have her in her room, you'll be able to sit with her. We have a no visitor policy in effect right now for the ICU. But you can go up to NICU, be with your children. I am headed that way to check on the 27 weeker."
"Wait, how did that happen?" Oliver asked, his brain finally catching up. "27 weeks, the triplets were 38 weeks."
Dr. Haynes nodded. "It's something that is extremely rare. She ovulated during pregnancy and instead of implanting in the uterus, it implanted outside. It's a miracle that the baby survived to a viable age. He was 2 lbs and 13 oz."
Oliver nodded. "Okay. Um. NICU." He murmured.
Jasper and Tommy put their hands on Oliver's shoulders and guided him with the doctor and Sheila towards the elevator to go to the NICU floor.
[4 Hours Later]
Oliver looked at the incubator that was keeping his second son alive. He had wires and tubes hooked up to him. Carlisle had did a surgery, but Oliver's brain was too tired to understand what it was for. But his son, was there, so tiny, yet he was alive. The triplets were doing wonderful. They were in NICU just briefly for checkups since the third baby had come into the world not breathing, so they were just keeping an eye on her, but they were all in the regular nursery now. Esme and Rosalie were there with them and Bella hadn't been moved yet, and he was getting antsy about it. Carlisle made sure to get constant updates and they would move Bella to a VIP room whenever she was able to be moved.
"Oliver, they're moving her now." Carlisle's voice sounded behind Oliver and it broke Oliver out of his thought bubble.
Oliver looked at Carlisle, his face was tired, and he hadn't slept, not since the night before everything happened. He had vigilante work to do, and then Queen Enterprises, and then Bella went into labor so he was exhausted, but he felt new energy as he walked with Carlisle to the VIP room that they had set up for Bella. He sucked in a breath when he saw her face, her eyes were open, but there were shadows there. She was tired, he could tell. Her face was a little thin from the trauma she experienced in the birth. Her eyes found him though when he entered the room. A light came into them.
"Ollie…"
"Hey baby." Oliver's voice shook and he went to her side immediately. His hands grabbed hers shakily and he brought them up to his lips and kissed them gently. He sniffed, a tear falling down his face.
Bella frowned. "Are the babies-"
"They're okay. They're in the nursery. Rosalie and Esme are with them." He sniffed again. "Did Doc tell you what happened?"
Bella nodded. "How is he?"
"He's okay. He's strong. Um. He's so little." Oliver said and then he paused, taking one of his hands away from hers to fish his phone out of his pocket. He had taken a picture of their tiny son so he could show Bella when she woke up. He showed her the picture and saw her tear up. "He's okay though. Um. Carlisle did a surgery…on his bowel I believe is what he said. A lot happened, I'm sorry I should have paid more attention."
Bella shook her head. "You did good. Thank you." She said and smiled. She glanced up when she saw Tommy knock on the door carrying balloons and flowers and Laurel was right behind him. "You guys made I told dad to make sure they let you back." She said, her throat sounded strained, like it was dry and Oliver grabbed water and helped her sit up a little more so she could drink it easier.
Carlisle smiled and then kissed the top of Bella's head. "I am going to go make my rounds. I will check on you in a bit." He said and left Bella there with Oliver and her friends. He saw Jasper coming out of the elevator. "Hey, how are you?"
"I'm okay. I was just upstairs in the NICU. I dropped by but then Sheila said that they moved Bella, so I came here. Is Ollie with Bells?"
"Yeah. Tommy and Laurel just got here. Go on, she wanted you to be there."
Jasper hesitated and then grabbed his dad's arm. "Alice is pregnant dad." He whispered.
Carlisle's face lit up in surprise. "What? When did this happen?"
"She just told me. After everything with Bella, she got so scared and she blurted it out and she was crying and I don't know what she's thinking. I thought she didn't want children. This whole time I just…I had Ren," Jasper's voice broke. "So I never…I never wanted to force Alice into something she didn't want. She told me that she wanted me to be happy, so she stopped taking her birth control on a whim and then she's really pregnant." He ran his hands over his face. "I don't know what she wants. She told me she's scared and is unsure. I don't get why she thought…"he drifted off.
Carlisle sighed and then he pulled his son into his arms to hug him. "She loves you and was afraid of losing you. You were lost to a lot of us for a while. We were all scared."
Jasper pulled away from his dad, wiping his face. "I know. I'm sorry, I'm a fucking mess."
"You're not a mess. You're grieving. You lost…a daughter. It's okay to grieve."
Jasper nodded and looked down at his hands. "I know." He said and shuddered a little as he let out a breath. "I…want a child…I always wanted to be a father. But Alice doesn't want this. She…she's doing this because of me."
"Maybe…but did she tell you she doesn't want the baby?"
"She did. She told me she is too scared. She can't do it. After what happened to Bella, she told me she can't do it." Jasper said and sniffed. "I told her that I supported her. If she didn't want to keep the baby. Then, I will support her. Because I don't want to be the person that makes her do something she never wanted to do. She loved Ren and she adores Hamilton, don't get me wrong, but she just. She doesn't want that. She wants to be free and I don't fault her for that. I never will."
Carlisle studied Jasper. "But…"
"I don't know when it happened." Jasper said and looked towards Bella's room. "I fell out of love with Alice." He whispered.
Carlisle nodded, understanding. "Is it because of Bella, or is it because you are hurting?"
Jasper looked back at his dad. "It's not because of Bella dad. It was never about Bella. She's my sister I could never…would never think of her that way." He said and wiped his face.
"Then who?"
Jasper swallowed, closing his eyes. "Thea." He said out loud an his honey eyes met his dad's blue ones. "She's young, I know. I swear I didn't even really look her direction until literally….Christmas."
Carlisle put a hand on Jasper's shoulder. "She's nineteen now. She is an adult. She's…"
"Dating Roy from the club. I know. I haven't acted on feelings. Her smile just …felt like a light in a darkness. With Ren gone…I don't know dad. I'm fucked up. I should just-"
"No, you're not fucked up and you don't get to hide behind a wall anymore. Talk to her. Talk to Alice. Figure it out." Carlisle said and then he kissed Jasper's forehead like a father would his son. "Go be with Bella. I have rounds." He said gently and left Jasper there.
Jasper blew out a breath, looking towards Bella's room when he saw the elevator open and Thea stepped off. She was radiating beauty and her smile was so contagious sometimes.
Thea's dark hair was shiny and long normally, but she had it pulled up in a ponytail right now. She was wearing pink spandex pants that looked like something she would wear for yoga, and she was wearing a black top and had a black light jacket on. She had just got done helping Roy with the truck orders and wanted to get over to the hospital to check on Oliver and Bella and the babies. She saw Jasper and she smiled at him, going over to him. "Hey, is everything okay? Bella, is she in recovery now?"
"Yeah, I was just about to go see her. Are you okay? You seem tired."
"Oh right. IT was just me and Roy at the club with the truck."
Jasper frowned. "Oh shit, I should have come by. I'm sorry Thea, I wasn't thinking."
"It's no biggy. Nothing we couldn't handle." Thea said and then she looked at her watch as it vibrated, a message from Roy popping up.
[Roy] Please can we talk.
Thea frowned and then ignored his message. They had another fight. She felt like it was the same thing all the time. He was disappearing at odd hours and he was coming back beat up. She knew he was fighting again, but he wouldn't tell her the truth, and she caught him lying so many times. She couldn't handle it. She didn't know why she was trying so hard with him.
"Something wrong?" Jasper asked.
"It's just Roy. He's…"Thea paused and then sighed and shook her head. "Nothing. Let's go check on Bella, and then I want to see the babies." She said and then frowned. "Well, maybe I should let her have time with Laurel and Tommy and Ollie first. I should go see babies first and then maybe we can switch."
Jasper smiled a little. He hadn't smiled often, but seeing Thea's thought process in real time was funny sometimes. "Come on, lets go look at the babies." He said and steered her towards the nursery.
Thea's mouth dropped open in awe as she saw the triplets. "Oh my god, look at them. Jasper, they are the prettiest babies in the nursery."
"Maybe that's biased since you are their aunt." Jasper poked fun.
"Nonsense, they are. Where's the fourth one. Ollie said that there was another one?"
"NICU, up one floor." Jasper said. "He was the ectopic baby. He was growing outside her womb instead of inside. Dad said it was a million in one thing to happen. Normally women don't ovulate twice like that, but Bella did and so he made it to 27 weeks before the triplets. He's in an incubator right now."
Thea felt a little stressed about that situation. "But he's going to be okay?"
"Yeah, dad says he doesn't see why he wouldn't be. He's had one surgery, and he is doing actually really good in NICU." Jasper explained.
Thea smiled at Jasper and then looked back at the babies. "God, I want so many babies one day. I'd be a good mom don't you think?"
Jasper felt something pull at his heart and he smiled at her. "I think you would be an excellent mother Thea." He said, his voice gentle.
Thea looked back at Jasper, her green eyes that were so similar to Oliver's smiled when she smiled. She found Jasper's honey eyes unique and unusual. She found sadness in them since Ren had died, and at the club he was working hard to just be alive most days, but right now, she saw something different in the way he looked at her. Like admiration. Did he admire her? Thea didn't know what to think but she felt something inside her that she hadn't felt in a while. Perhaps it was the strain with Roy that made her look in Jasper's direction and for a moment, she forgot where she was. She felt herself lean towards him, and for a moment, she felt like he had leaned towards her too. Their eyes never left each other and before either of them could do something dumb, Carlisle cleared his throat, startling them both.
Jasper looked at his dad, his cheeks flushing only slightly. "Hey dad. How is number four?"
"He is fine. We aren't going to have to keep him intubated long. He seems like he'll be okay with the CPAP. I don't think he'll need more surgery. I thought you were going to go see Bella?" Carlisle asked with a raise of his brow.
"Well, Thea wanted to see the babies." Jasper mentioned and motioned to Thea.
Thea smiled and looked at Carlisle. "You are a proud pop pop again. How does it feel?"
Carlisle smiled at Thea. "Well, it's all still catching up to me. Hamilton keeps us on our toes, and Rose and Em are bringing home Juliette in two days. The mother gave birth here a couple days ago, so all the paperwork is being signed and soon Juliette will be home so that will be an adjustment."
"That's right. I nearly forgot that they were adopting again. That's so sweet. Rose and Em they haven't tried on their own?" Thea was curious.
Jasper and Carlisle's smiles faltered a little. But Carlisle nodded. "Rosalie has a hostile uterus. She has had several miscarriages. So they adopted."
Thea frowned. "What about surrogacy?"
"They thought about that, but Rosalie is paranoid about the surrogate keeping the baby or something like that." Jasper explained.
Thea looked at Carlisle and she didn't know why she said it, but she did. "I'll do it."
"What?" Carlisle said, not sure he understood and Jasper was too stunned to speak.
"Yeah, I'll do it. I am perfectly healthy. I'm young and I don't need money I will do it just for them because they're family. I want to be a mother one day, so this would be me experiencing pregnancy like a practice." Thea thought it all out in real time.
Carlisle smiled a little. "That's very admirable Thea. Maybe you should sit down and talk to Rose and Em. See what they think."
"Yeah, I'll do that. Do you think they would be upset if I suggest it?" Thea frowned as she thought about it. Maybe Rosalie would not like the suggestion.
Rosalie walked up just then. "What's up guys how are the babies?" she was holding a teddy bear and flowers.
"Oh, they're great." Carlisle said. "Did you see Bella?"
"I poked my head in, but she's still visiting with Laurel and Tommy. I didn't want to overwhelm her so I told her I'll come and check on the babies again. Emmett is on a call, so he didn't get a chance to come with." She said and tucked a golden lock of her hair behind her ear.
Thea smiled at Rosalie. "Rosalie, I heard about Juliette, that's amazing."
"Oh thank you." Rosalie smiled at Thea and then hugged her. "I have missed you little Queen. Oliver hides you away from everyone." She joked.
Thea smiled more. "I missed you too."
Carlisle smiled and looked at Rosalie. "Rose, Thea had an idea that I thought perhaps you and Emmett would like to hear. Thea, go ahead."
Rosalie looked at Thea and saw her get nervous and she smiled. "Whatever it is, don't be nervous."
Thea nodded and swallowed. "I would like to be your surrogate. I mean, well, if you and Em want more babies I will be happy to you know, carry your baby. Yours and Em's I mean. Like I think they call in invitro-"
Rosalie smiled and then pulled Thea into a hug. "Oh Thea. You are beautiful inside and out." She said and then leaned back and looked at her, tears in her eyes. "I really really appreciated this offer. Em and I have longed to conceive on our own, but we can't and so adoption has been such a blessing. I want you to be sure this is something you want. Pregnancy is scary and things can happen, Bella's experience-"
"I know." Thea said with a nod. "I'm not afraid. I know that things can happen but here's the thing. I want to help you and Em. I want you guys to feel complete and I think it's beautiful to be a part of that. I look at these babies and I just want that joy for everyone. Even myself. I hope that I will have lots of babies myself and be a good mom. It's a dream of mine and I know being a mother is your dream as well. You have Hamilton and Juliette, and nothing will make them different from your own because I see how much love you have to share and I want to help you share your love." She said beautifully.
Jasper was tearing up again and he didn't know why he found that so emotional, but he did. He wiped his face and cleared his throat a little. "I'm going to go…see Bells. I'll leave you ladies here to chat." He said and kissed Rosalie's cheek. Even though she was married into the family, she was still his sister. He left and went back towards the VIP wing to see Bella.
[Four weeks later]
Ezekiel Robert Queen was the oldest Queen son, followed by his two twin sisters, Maia Leigh Queen, and Kaela Renesme Queen. The youngest Queen son was Alexander Charles Queen, who was still in NICU at Starling General Hospital. He was thriving and would be able to come home in a few weeks if he passed all his tests. Bella was still feeling a little sore in places, but she was able to walk around without too much issue. She wasn't allowed to lift anything still, and Oliver was sure to make sure that she adhered to those rules.
The Queen mansion was plenty big for the entire family, and because it would be beneficial to Bella and the triplets and soon Alexander when he made it home, Carlisle agreed that living at the mansion would be okay. Rosalie and Emmett agreed as well, since there was plenty of space for Hamilton and Juliette and Thea was thrilled to have them all there as well, since two weeks ago she started the surrogacy route with Emmett and Rosalie. She was going in later today for the implanting of three of Rosalie's embryo's that they managed to get started.
Jasper didn't mind being closer to Bella and the babies again. Alice and him broke up. They weren't married officially, and Alice was upset. Jasper told her that it wasn't because of her getting rid of the baby. That this was something coming for a while. That he lost himself when Ren died, and he couldn't be the person that she deserved and that she deserved so much more than what he was. He gave her the house in Paris, which she didn't care about she pleaded with him and even promised that she would have a baby for him, but that desperation made Jasper realize he was making the right decision. They were together for nearly a decade, so it was hard, for both of them and for the rest of the family. He told his family not to shun her and to not treat her as anything less than the daughter they came to love because it was important that they didn't abandon her. Carlisle thought it was mature of Jasper and while Esme was a little upset with how things turned out, she understood and she gave Alice many reassurances that she was still there for her, no matter what.
Thea and Roy were in a rut. Roy didn't understand why Thea would have a baby for Rosalie and Emmett without talking to him first about it, and so she decided to end things, but she still had to see him at work. Roy was distraught over this, and it was clear to Oliver that Roy was struggling with the breakup, so he gave Roy more tasks to do for the Arrow to keep him out of trouble and occupied so he wouldn't dwell on Thea.
Oliver was surprised that Thea wanted to be a surrogate for Rosalie and Emmett, and he thought that was very mature of Thea, and he found that his little sister, wasn't so little anymore. He was proud of the woman she was becoming and already was, and he supported her.
Everything was joyous, everything was grand. Everyone was happy….
"Oliver, I've got a location on another dealer." Felicity's voice rang out in Oliver's ear.
Oliver frowned and looked at Bella as they stood in the living room area. Everyone was around them. They were celebrating the triplets with a late baby shower that Bella didn't really want when she was pregnant but she caved for Thea and Rosalie's sake. "Baby, Felicity is pinging me." He said, his voice low.
Bella frowned. "Now?" She asked and looked up at him.
"I'm afraid so. I'm so sorry." Oliver said and leaned down and kissed her softly. He nodded to Diggle and they left the room.
Jasper took notice that Oliver had walked away with Diggle and he looked at Bella, who seemed worried, but she put a smile on her face anyway and then opened another present.
When all the presents were opened, and food was served and everyone cooed over the triplets, Bella was pretty tired of having so many people in the mansion. They were old colleagues from work, and then friends of the Queen's of course showed up, and it felt like it was neverending. But she put on a brave front for everyone.
Jasper came up to her he bumped her shoulder with his. "Hey."
Bella bumped his shoulder back. "Hey."
"Oliver left suddenly. Everything okay?"
"Oh yes, just business. He's busy sometimes. It happens." Bella said with a shrug. She was mostly worried about his vigilante part of his job. She knew it was something with the Vertigo and that Oliver had been working hard at shutting it down and figuring out where Kael Jax played into all of this and with the new babies, it had been quite exhausting.
Jasper nodded and took a drink of his champagne. "Well, if you need anything, or if he needs anything, you know that you can just ask me. I live like….several hallways that way." He said with a motion of his hand and a smile formed on her lips. "There she is."
"Thanks Jazz." Bella said and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Oliver wants the wedding to happen after we get Alexander home. I told him that is a good plan. We really don't want something huge, but Rosalie, Alice, and Thea have already got big plans."
"Leave it to Allie, Rose, and Thea to make everything extravagant." Jasper said and then looked over where Thea was holding Juliette. She was such a natural holding her. Alice was holding Hamilton on her hip and smiling at Rosalie as they talked about something really exciting.
Bella looked at how Jasper looked at Thea. "So, are you ever going to ask her out?"
"What?" Jasper frowned and looked down at Bella.
Bella smiled. "I see how you're looking at Thea."
"Bells, that…I'm just admiring her. She's doing something amazing for my brother and Rose. That is amazing to me." Jasper said with another shrug and a drink of his champagne.
Bella smiled, knowing that there was more to that gaze that Jasper gave Thea.
Oliver hunted down the dealer that Felicity had sent him after and found the poor bastard. He had to chase him down and after an arrow in the leg, the man, Devon Chambers, gave up a location that he has met this Kael Jax. According to him, Jax was working with the Count with shipping the Vertigo from Central City to Starling. The Count was alive, but he wasn't really all there. The Vertigo dose that Oliver had given him, fried his brain, so the Count was in a facility, but because the Count kept records and had a right hand man, that person was now known as the Count and he was working with Kael Jax with the Vertigo operation. He was only conned into doing these runs because Jax threatened his family and he didn't want to lose his children and his wife. Oliver felt sorry for Devon, and he released him, bandaging him up and returned to the lair to fill Diggle and Felicity in before he made it back to the mansion towards the end of the celebration when everyone was leaving.
Jasper helped get things situated in the nursery for the triplets and Alexander when Thea walked in carrying more things. "Oh let me," he said, taking the gifts from Thea's arms and set them down for her. He smiled. "When do you go in to see about the embryos?" He asked.
"Well, they said it would take a couple weeks. I'm supposed to take a pregnancy test in 10 days and then again 4 days later." Thea said and tucked a strand of her dark hair behind her ear.
"Three embryos right?" Jasper asked, rolling his sleeves up casually.
"Yeah, hoping one sticks." Thea said with a smile. "I really hope everything works out for Em and Rose. She's such a great mother."
Jasper smiled. "It will. Trust me."
Thea looked at Jasper. His soft, honey eyes called to her. She didn't realize how charming Jasper was before. She felt herself getting a little lost in the stare, leaning towards him, invitingly.
Jasper noticed that her gaze had changed and that she was looking at him with a hint of desire. He leaned towards her too, his body responding to his own deep rooted desire for Thea. He heard footsteps, and then moved away, seeing Alice walk in carrying things from the baby shower.
"This is the last of it." Alice chimed. "I have a flight to catch so do you mind sorting everything?" She asked, looking at Jasper. Her heart still hurt a little when she looked at him. She was an idiot, but at the same time, they both wanted different things and at this point in her life, she needed to figure out what she really wanted and not tie him down so he had the freedom to be happy again. She hated that she had caused him so much misery already.
Jasper gave a simple nod. "Sure thing. Have a safe flight. Paris?"
Alice nodded. "Yes, Paris and then I'm going to Greece for the fall." She said with a light smile. "Marcus has a villa or something out that way."
Marcus was an older gentlemen that Alice was friends with. He was a photographer by trade and so Alice had been to plenty of photoshoots for him as a model.
Jasper nodded. "Well, safe travels and have fun." He offered a kind smile.
"Be safe Allie. I'll miss you," Thea said and the two girls hugged.
Alice smiled at Thea. "Of course, and if you want to join me later in Paris you are welcome to it."
"I shouldn't travel right now. For Rose and Em." Thea said with a smile at her new friend. "But thank you. Have fun, take pictures and I'll see you around."
Alice nodded, giving Thea one more hug before she left the nursery. Thea looked at Jasper, clearing her throat a little. "Um. I know that…things are weird right now for you. I don't want to complicate things. Alice is…special to you and I don't know where my head was for a moment. Um. I won't-"
Jasper interrupted her. "Alice and I have been over for a while Thea. When you fall out of love with someone, it takes a moment to realize it. Especially since her and I had been together for the best part of a decade." He put his hands in his pockets, mostly to refrain from reaching out and touching Thea. "Things are complicated only if I make it. I don't have any ill feelings towards Alice. She is a friend and I care. I wish her the best in her future, with whoever that is. She deserves someone that wants the same things as she does. I want…to settle down and get married. I don't want to travel anymore. I've seen the world. I like it here in Starling." He shrugged.
Thea still saw the saddness in his eyes. He was not willing to leave because of Ren. The memory of her was all he had left and he was dealing with the sadness the best way he could. She didn't like to see him so broken so she reached a hand out, putting it on his chest. She felt his warmth, the slight thud of his heart under her palm. "You deserve happiness too." She murmured.
Jasper knew she was right. Ren would had wanted him to be happy, no matter what. He dwelled for so long and if he was being honest with himself, he was still dwelling on her death. It was hard to move on. He swallowed and looked down at Thea, her eyes reeling him in like so many times before. "I know. I know I do. I'm a mess and I'm angry at losing Ren. She was my little girl, my everything and I lashed out because of it. People deserved better from me, and I apologize for that."
"You were hurting."
"I'm still hurting. It's no excuse to be an asshole." Jasper said, his golden eyes were tired now, the mental pressure of just talking about Ren weighed heavy. "Thea…I think you're incredible. You are a light that I saw and since Christmas…I felt like I was being pulled out of dark waters. I can see clearer." He started and took his hand out of his pocket and put it over her hand on his chest. "No one tells you this enough…but you are amazing. You are special and worthy of being treated like the Queen you are. No pun intended."
Thea felt herself tear up a little and she chuckled to disguise her emotion, but she looked up at Jasper and saw the sincerity in his words. "You are worthy too." She murmured and then he closed the small distance between them and his lips were on hers. It felt amazing, like a wonderful shock that warmed her heart. It didn't feel like an ordinary kiss. It felt like so much more than that. It felt like her whole world shifted and it was just him and her standing there together.
Jasper slowed the kiss, keeping the passion in the slow drag of their tongues against each other. His other hand came out of his pocket to caress her cheek, a weary heat of lust or love, maybe both, tangling together to create a bond that he felt couldn't be broken now that he had kissed her. He didn't want to stop. He didn't want to feel cold again because right now, he felt the fire, the heat of her lips to his and he wanted more.
Oliver walked up the stairs, looking at his phone briefly only to stop and glance up to see Thea and Jasper kissing. He felt embarassed somehow seeing his sister and Jasper kiss, so he turned away and quietly left them be. He made it back down the stairs when he saw Bella heading up. "Uh, Jasper and Thea are…having a moment, let's give them privacy."
"Jasper and Thea?" Bella was shocked that Jasper would even make a move on Thea considering everything he just went through with Alice and what Thea was going through with Roy.
"Yes, so I am going to let them be…for now." Oliver said and then his phone rang and he groaned.
"Arrow stuff or Queen stuff?" Bella asked, raising a brow.
Oliver took his phone from his pocket and answered it. "This is Oliver."
"Mr. Queen, Walter Stone has been found alive!" One of the assistants at Queen Enterprises spoke rapidly.
Oliver's eyes lit up and he looked at Bella. "Is he okay? Where is he now?"
"They've taken him to Starling General. He was in pretty bad shape."
"I'm on my way now." Oliver said and hung up. "Walter was found alive." He told Bella.
Bella's mouth dropped open with a little shock. "Really? That's great."
"I've got to make it over to Starling General to see him. Find out what happened. I will check on Alexander while I'm there, and I'll call you from the car." He said and kissed her quickly. "I love you."
"I love you too, be careful!" She called after him.
Walter Stone being alive was amazing. Everyone had thought that he was dead, since he was missing for so long. Conveniently after Malcom Merlyn's demise and Moira Queen's lock out, he was found alive.
[Three Weeks Later]
Alexander Queen was strong enough to move to an open air bed, but they were still keeping him another couple weeks, just to be sure that he was perfect before sending him home. Walter was adjusting to life now that Moira was in prison. He had no clue that she was even working with Malcom Merlyn and when he was kidnapped and taken prisoner, he wasn't sure who had him. His disappearance had taken a toll on Queen Enterprises, and after Moira Queen's arrest and sentencing, Queen Enterprises was not doing as well as Oliver would like. But now that Walter was back, Oliver was stepping to the side and letting him take control as the CEO. Walter was the better man for the job and Oliver liked his stepfather.
Thea was going to the doctor to confirm the positive pregnancy test that she got. Rosalie cried and Emmett cried that she got the positive. So her, Emmett, and Rosalie were waiting in the doctor's office now to get the blood results and to see to do the ultrasound to look at the placement if they could.
Rosalie was nervous and excited at the same time and Emmett was just estatic that this was even happening.
A technician came into the room after the nurse left and Thea was instructed to slide down to the end of the exam table, and the tech draped a privacy blanket over her before rolling over the ultrasound machine. "So who do we have here?"
"Um, this is Rosalie and Emmett Cullen. They are the parents of the little one inside me." Thea said with a smile.
"OH that's wonderful! Surrogacy?" The tech asked and Thea nodded with a smile. "Well, we will hopefully get some pretty pictures today. The chart said that you went through the Intro three weeks ago?"
Thea nodded. "I did. The embryos were eight days old before implantation." The tech recalled details from the chart. "So you should be closing in on six weeks gestational age." She said and inserted the probe carefully. "I'm sorry it's uncomfortable."
"It's okay. I don't mind." Thea said, even though it was uncomfortable, she didn't show it on her face. She watched the monitor while the technician looked for the baby. Everyone was quiet, and if felt like the anxiety in the room was palpable.
"Oh, there we are." The tech said as she moved the wand a little deeper. "Really good placement. See this. One, two, and three." She said with a smile.
"Three?" Rosalie asked, her heart stopping.
The tech nodded. "All the embryos stuck. We've got excellent placement for all three embryos. You can see part of the fetal pole in the sacs." She explained and shifted the wand more to take more angle pictures.
Thea was smiling big. "That's amazing. Rose, Em, all your babies made it!" She said looking over at them. Emmett was in shock and Rosalie was crying. She frowned. "Rose? Are you okay?"
"Oh Thea, this is a lot for you. Triplets!" Rosalie looked at Thea. "You're so young, maybe we should have tried just one embryo at a time."
Thea shook her head. "This is fine and great. Guys, I am perfectly healthy and fine with this. I am carrying your future and you get to have the large family you and Em want. Look at Bella and Ollie's triplets. They're so precious and amazing."
Emmett thought about Bella and he frowned. "There's only three right? Nothing hidden outside the womb. I don't want Thea to be in danger."
The technican moved the wand around in some uncomfortable spots. She shook her head after a moment. "Nothing outside the womb. All the babies are inside. We'll get heartbeats in a couple weeks. Things look great so far. Doctor Haynes will like to talk to you about high risk and safety for the pregnancy. I can do all your ultrasounds whenever you want. Mr. Queen was very specific that he wants you to have the best care so we will be sure to follow all your wants and needs." She said.
Thea nodded. "Thank you, just be sure to print lots of pictures for them for their baby book." She told the tech.
Rosalie wiped her face and took Thea's hand. "You are an angel. I can't believe this is happening and it's triplets. Are you sure this isn't too much. There's selective-"
"Absolutely not. These babies, I will carry all of them. Even if it was four or five, I would never ever want you to choose which life. I am okay. I promise you Rose. I can do this."
Rosalie studied Thea for a moment and then nodded, sniffing. "I love you."
"I love you too." Thea said, smiling at Rosalie and taking her hand again and giving it a squeeze. Emmett leaned over and kissed Thea's forehead gently. "Love you too Em." She said and the three of them looked at the screen again to see the three little blips that would be here sooner than they know.
Oliver was a little in shock. "Triplets?" He said as he looked at the sonogram picture that Thea brought home with Rosalie and Emmett. "That's insane."
"Not any more insane when you and Bella ended up with triplets and Alexander." Thea pointed out.
Bella smiled and hugged Rosalie. "Congrats you guys! This is amazing."
"It is." Rosalie said and then she hugged Oliver. "We're going to have to find a place before the triplets get here."
Oliver frowned. "No you don't. This place is plenty big. There's also the guest house out back if being in the mansion is too much."
"Guest house?" Rosalie asked.
"Oh right. The guest house." Thea said. "I forget it's there I haven't been there in ages. So daddy had a guest house put in back when Oliver went through his wild stage, before the whole lost at sea thing happened."
Oliver cleared his throat. "It probably needs remodeling, but I don't see what not. Would that be better for you guys? It's like five bedrooms I think."
"Five bedrooms?" Emmett said incredulously.
Thea nodded. "Yeah. It's pretty big. Has it's own pool too. Oh, the Jacuzzi in that house is better than the one in the basement." She mentioned.
Bella smiled. Sometimes seeing people's reactions to how rich Oliver Queen was humorous to watch. "I don't think they're over the shock of triplets Ollie."
"Oh, well, whatever you guys need or want, that's what we're here for. The market isn't great right for buying a house anyways, so it's solely up to you guys. I'm okay with whatever. You're family and I will always ensure family is taken care of." Oliver said with a smile.
Rosalie looked at her husband. "What do you say Em?"
Emmett blinked a few times, thinking. "I think that sounds really awesome. Hamiliton and Juliette would love it too. Then the triplets. It would mean a lot to me man."
"Of course. Diggle," Oliver looked at Diggle. "Can you have Gina come by to see Rose and Em so they can go through designs to have the guest house remodeled to their liking."
"Oh that's not necessary. I'm sure it's fine the way it is." Rosalie spoke up.
Oliver waved a hand. "Needs updating. Appliances and whatnot. Gina is excellent at decorating. Think of the house as a canvas and you can create whatever you want. Honest Rose, it's fine." He said with a small smile.
Rosalie nodded, accepting the generous offer. She never imagined living a life like this and somehow she wasn't hating this kind of life. "I do wish that you will let me do some administrative work or something. I usually work and-"
"Rose, whatever you want to do, I am fine with. Go to Queen Enterprises, tell Felicity I sent you and she'll set you up with Walter. He's needing a new assistant and I'm positive you'll be the perfect fit. As for Emmett, I talked to my buddy at EMS, they said that they have non-volunteer positions opening up soon so I threw your name in there. He should be reaching out to you soon."
Emmett smiled wide. "Seriously? That's awesome man, thank you."
"Not a problem." Oliver said with a smile. He didn't know how he got to be this lucky. After the island, he had lost hope for a happy ending. So much happened on that island, and coming back to Starling, and meeting Bella again after all these years. It was something that he didn't seek out or want at first. But love was blinding. He loved Bella, had loved Ren, and now his family was expanding so much that he couldn't ask for anything better. The only thing he had left was finding out who Kael Jax was and taking him down. The Vertigo situation was getting worse and since the Glades were leveled with Malcom and Moira's device, the Vertigo was getting out of control and it was time to take back the city and rid it from the disaster that was Kael Jax. He would find him, even if it took him years.
Jasper and Roy unloaded the truck from the alcohol vendor, moving the crates into storage when Thea walked in. She was wearing a dark green dress that was tight and her small bump was protruding a little. She was wearing heels and she intended to keep wearing them until she couldn't anymore. The last ultrasound was just yesterday and she was now nearing ten weeks with the triplets. They already knew that two were girls and one was a boy because of the DNA testing before the implantation. Alexander made it home to be with his siblings and was a happy, healthy little boy that couldn't stop smiling. The guest house was still under reconstruction and Rosalie was excited about making the space their own. Carlisle was very thankful that Oliver was willing to do something like that and Oliver offered to give Carlisle and Esme a piece of the Queen property to build a house on since Carlisle felt bad for being in their space, even after Bella was certain the mansion was big enough for them all, but Carlisle and Esme wanted their own home eventually, so blueprints were being drawn up just to satisfy Carlisle and Esme. The Queen property had well over a hundred acres, so it wouldn't be much to part with some of it so Carlisle and Esme could be happy.
Jasper was content staying in the mansion because he got to be close to his nephews and nieces. He looked up at Thea and smiled. He thought that she was incredible for doing what she was doing for his brother and Rose.
Thea looked up from the tablet she was looking at and saw Jasper and smiled. Things had been somewhat awkward with her and Jasper as well as Roy, but she was trying to put things to the side that were personal so they could work together. "Hey, were we missing anything off the truck this time?"
Jasper shook his head. "Nope. We got everything this time. I think they were too afraid of what would happen again if they did." He poked fun at Thea. She had went off on the delivery guy the last time when stuff was missed.
Thea smiled and looked at her watch. "Tommy should be in later. He's handling some things at Merlyn Industries. " She said and looked back at Jasper who walked over to her. Roy disappeared to drag another crate out.
"How are you feeling today?" Jasper asked, genuinely concerned. Roy didn't like that she was pregnant, so he hadn't said much about it. He was still brooding since they broke up.
"I feel great actually. I have energy and I'm no nauseous. I look super cute with a bump, don't you think?" Thea said with a big smile.
Jasper chuckled a little. "You do. But you're always cute." He said and she giggled a little, leaning closer to him. "Thea…" he murmured as her green eyes swept up at him. "You are impossible to resist." He said and dipped down and stole a kiss from her. It was their second kiss. After their maddening kiss at the baby shower, they hadn't kissed again, and it was mainly because Jasper was afraid of pushing her too far too fast. He tried to break the kiss, but Thea grabbed him and pulled him closer, changing the angle on the kiss.
Roy walked back up and saw Thea and Jasper locking lips and his jaw clenched tight. He set the crate down and left to the back, trying to get the image out of his head of Thea and Jasper. He was the reason why Thea wouldn't talk to him or come back to him.
Jasper felt her tongue sweep across his and the kiss deepened, and he heard her moan a little in her throat. His hands went to her waist to steady her, finally breaking the kiss. He smiled. "Easy. We're at work."
Thea smiled, biting her lip a little. "Well, I am the boss."
"Exactly. Can't be caught fraternizing." Jasper teased.
"I am…extremely turned on right now and I don't know why." Thea said, feeling a heat between her legs.
Jasper chucked again. "Hormones." He said and then he kissed her lightly. "I think perhaps you need some water and I am going to finish moving crates."
Thea pouted a little, wanting to just keep kissing him but they weren't dating and it would be silly to beg him to keep humoring her like this.
Jasper chuckled again and kissed her, both hands coming up and framing her face. The kiss turned passionate by each of their own desires for the other, and Roy walked back in hoping that the kissing had stopped, but it hadn't. He made a sound of clearing his throat, because his anger levels were getting dangerously high now. Jasper pulled away from the kiss. "Thea, I've got to work." He murmured, realizing that Roy was in the room with him making a sound. He never intended to offend Roy or to make him upset. Jasper liked the kid, but he also didn't want to apologize for liking Thea.
Thea smiled a little Jasper, understanding what he meant by ending the kiss. "Of course. I have some paperwork to do in the office. Come get me if you need something." She said and she watched him turn away from her. She caught Roy's burning gaze. He wasn't happy with what he walked in on, and even though she wanted to be sorry, she wouldn't be sorry for being happy. Not that being with Roy made her sad, in the beginning it was nice, but it got to be too much and his temper was not desirable. She had to let him go, and for that she was sorry, but she wouldn't be sorry about moving on with her life.
Oliver swung through the air after he fired his arrow, using both feet to kick into the man he was chasing, knocking him over. "Where is he!" Oliver yelled at the man as he tried to gather his feet under him to prepare himself to run.
"I can't!"
"You're meeting Kael Jax, where is he!" Oliver yelled again, stringing an arrow.
The man was younger than Oliver by perhaps a couple years. His dark hair was cut short and his dark eyes looked at Oliver, frightened by Oliver's arrow pointing straight at him. "We're supposed to meet at the warehouse in the Glades. The old coal one." The man blabbered immediately.
Oliver narrowed his eyes. "How is he getting the Vertigo past the police check points?"
"He's hiding them."
"Hiding them in what!"
"He's turning it into a powder!"
Oliver frowned. "It's a liquid, how is he turning it back?"
"He has a chemist working for him. They add some sort of…something to is, and then they're cutting it with liquid cocaine." The man was shivering as he cowered before Oliver, stammering over some of his words.
"Is that how it's killing people?" Oliver asked.
The man shook his head. "I don't know! I don't use the stuff! I just run it."
Oliver growled a little. "Peter Hance, you have failed this city." He said and he shot an arrow through his leg and Peter cried out in pain. Oliver tied him up and called Detective Lance. "Shipping container yard. Row twelve. Peter Hance." He said and then hung up. He turned his back on the man.
"Wait! You can't leave me here!"
"Don't worry, you won't be alone long." Oliver said and then fired his arrow up and swung over and top of a shipping container out of sight. He disappeared, heading for his motorcycle to head to the warehouse to meet this Kael Jax, face-to-face.
Edward paced as he waited at the warehouse. Peter was supposed to be here ten minutes ago. He was tired of him always being late. It was stupid that he was having to spend his time away from Central City. The Arrow had been scaring off all of his dealers and he had to put an end to the vigilante if he wanted to have more success with Vertigo he stole from the Count. He pulled his phone out and called Peter's phone but Peter didn't answer. "God damn it Peter." He growled and then he heard a noise and he looked around, trying to find the source of the sound. "Peter! It's about damn time. I've been waiting-"
Oliver dropped down from the shadows, his bow strung. He wanted to be shocked that Edward Cullen was Kael Jax, but he wasn't. Edward was a weasel and was more than a thorn in his side.
"How kind of you to show up." Edward said, his voice condescending.
"Kael Jax." Oliver spoke and Edward stopped, his eyes narrowing. "You have failed this city." He said and let loose an arrow, but Edward ran, dodging and taking cover. Oliver let loose several arrows as he tracked Edward's movements, but he was faster than normal.
"I'm not stupid to come alone." Edward said and then there was gunfire coming from somewhere. Oliver ducked, taking cover as he used his senses to find where the gunshots came from. When the gunfire settled, he whisked around the corner and fired his arrow, hitting the gunman and he fell to the ground in pain. Edward fired at Oliver and Oliver moved out of the way just in time. "You are a pain in my ass." Edward growled as he reloaded quickly.
Oliver strung another arrow and fired it towards Edward's voice and he missed him. How did he miss? He didn't miss often, and he found out quickly that Edward was super fast, as in, inhumanly fast. Edward fired at Oliver this time, hitting Oliver right in the chest and it knocked Oliver back as he gasped, the pain ricocheting through him.
Edward moved towards Oliver laughing maniacally. "You thought that you were the hero. That you could stop me!" He howled with laughter. "You are an insect, merely an irritant in my plans. I'm worse than the boogeyman that haunts your dreams. I thought you would have put up a bigger fight since you are the Arrow and all." He said mockingly, still laughing.
Oliver felt the impact the bullet had left in his body, the blood pooling fast, but he had one trick up his sleeve. "I thought that Kael Jax was some Central City tycoon, but it turns out, he's just a scum bag wife beater." He coughed a little.
Edward frowned. "You don't know who I am."
"Edward Cullen. You have failed…this city." Oliver said and he flicked his wrist, the small dagger sized arrows attached to the wrist crossbow mechanism fired out, hitting Edward in the throat.
Edward gagged and spurted as he fell to his knees. His eyes were large, rounded from the terror of his life slipping away from him.
Oliver sat up, struggling a little as he did. He pushed his hood back to reveal that he was the vigilante in the hood.
"Queennnnn," Edward gurgled, his hands going to his throat, pulling the arrow how to stop the gushing blood, but it poured out over his hands.
Oliver got to his feet, blood dripping as he did. The bullet hit right in his rib and it barely skipped past his lung, but he felt that it had been a through and through. "You failed Bella…you failed Ren. Because of you, Vertigo thrived in these streets that got my little girl killed." He wheezed out. "You deserve a painful death but I will settle for this death as well." He said through grit teeth.
"You're dying." Edward coughed, his hands trying desperately to cling to his throat for his life.
"I'm okay with that." Oliver said. "She's safe now." He said, his vison doubling a little. He swayed a little on his feet, but he planted himself a little firmer. "I'll see you in Hell." He said and he used all of his strength he could muster and he kicked Edward backwards. Edward moved his hands instinctively to catch himself, but in doing so, he started bleeding out faster. He gurgled and coughed, the light in his eyes dimming, before his breath rattled out and blood spurted from his lips. He may have been faster than a human but that didn't make him immortal. Oliver didn't know how he was capable of moving that fast and he didn't care.
"Felicity," Oliver said, her name slurred.
"Oliver! What's going on! I lost audio."
"I was shot." Oliver wheezed a little as he put a hand over his side, pressing against the wound. "I'm going to pass out, I might not make it. I need you to tell Bella that I love her and the kids. That I'm sorry that it ended like this."
"What no Oliver! I'm sending help. Where is your location?!"
"Old coal warehouse district in the Glades. Thank you Felicity…for being my Oz." Oliver wheezed a little more before he felt himself slump to the ground, his knees hitting the hard concrete of the warehouse floor. "Tell Diggle, he can have the car." He wheezed again.
Suddenly there was a flash of red, like a blur and Oliver was disoriented. The combination of pain and blood loss making him not trust his vision right now. "What?"
"Uh, I don't know how you got yourself in this mess, but I am here to help." The red blur said and then gathered Oliver against him. "I'll get you help." He said quickly and then he flashed away.
Felicity had tears running down her face as she sobbed out, hearing the audio cut out, but she swore she heard Barry Allen's voice before the audio cut out. That made her feel better that Barry was there, he was fast and could help Oliver.
Diggle came rushing down the stairs, Tommy with him. "Felicity! Barry said he's bringing Oliver here." He said and as soon as he said it, Barry flashed in holding an unconscious Oliver.
"Here he is. Um, I'm not a doctor but he's bleeding a lot."
Diggle rolled up his sleeves and started moving quickly. "Tommy, refrigerator, blood bags, Felicity the defibrillator." He barked out orders. He had experience from the military, but he didn't know if he could actually save him.
Tommy moved, a little in shock that Oliver was this bad. He was used to Oliver coming back with scrapes and some near misses, but this was totally different.
Barry crossed his arms, dancing his foot a little with anxiety. "Um, should I get a doctor or…something?"
Felicity rolled machines over. "Oh shit. Bella. We have to tell Bella. HE said that I should-"
"She'll just be worried." Tommy said. "Let's just-"
Bella came down the stairs, holding coffees for Diggle and Felicity. She didn't see Tommy up top so she had his coffee too. She wanted to drop by and see how things were going and maybe help Felicity. When she saw Oliver bleeding out on a table, and Diggle was rushing to stop the blood, she dropped all the coffees and she ran the rest of the way down the stairs. "What happened, oh my god!"
Felicity looked up at Bella with red eyes. "He was shot."
"Where was he when he got shot?" Bella asked.
"Uh, at the warehouse in the Glades. The old coal one." Barry said. "Sorry, I'm Barry Allen, or the Flash," he introduced himself awkwardly.
Bella sniffed, tears coming down her face. She pulled her phone out.
"Wait," Tommy said, putting a hand on her arm. " You can't call Carlisle."
"He's a surgeon Tommy, of course I can call him. He's my dad he's not going to give Oliver up." Bella said, shaking Tommy's hand off her.
"He didn't like it when I brought Felicity in on the secret suddenly." Diggle said as he worked to save Oliver's life by doing the transfusion.
Bella shook her head. "He needs a surgeon. Are either of you going to do it?" She said and no one said anything. She sniffed again and called Carlisle. He answered immediately. "Dad. I need you at Verdant. Hurry." Was all she said and she hung up.
Felicity looked at Bella, her eyes red still. "I hope you're right."
"I am right. Because the father of my children cannot die. I can't lose him too. I won't." She said, her lip quivering.
Carlisle made it to Verdant and the music was really loud. Bella had sounded upset on the phone. Tommy met him outside and waved him over to a separate entrance. He followed Tommy into the club and down some stairs. They walked into what was underneath the club and there were computers and equipment and Oliver was laying on a table bleeding out.
"Oh my god." Carlisle rushed to Oliver's side and tried to assess the damage. "Who shot him and why isn't he at the hospital?" He asked as his hands went over the wound that oozed around the packing that Diggle had done.
"Well, I'm guessing the guy that was laying there dead when I got to Oliver." Barry spoke up.
Carlisle looked over at Barry.
"Hi, Barry Allen, aka the Flash." Barry said with a wave of his hand.
Carlisle's brows knitted together and he looked down at Oliver and noticed the green, the hood pushed back off his face. "He's the Arrow." He said it out loud. He shook his head. "Diggle, I need to stop the bleeding. Transfusing him is not going to do any good. His stats seem clear. Do you have saline?"
Felicity nodded, rushing to grab the fluids from the fridge. "Here."
"Hook that up. Tommy, any sort of surgical tools?" Carlisle asked. Bella hugged her arms around her body as she watched, afraid that Oliver was going to die, but Carlisle was here now and he would save Oliver, she just knew it.
Tommy nodded. "He has everything here for like, typical first aid. Surgical wire, needle."
"Okay, that'll do. I need a scalpel and-"
Barry flashed out of the room and the wind blew papers up around everyone and it startled Bella and Carlisle, but Diggle, Tommy, and Felicity didn't seem as phased. He returned just as fast with a surgical kit and dumped it on the table next to Oliver.
"Okay." Carlisle grabbed a few utensils and he started working on opening Oliver up more around the wound to see what was bleeding. "I need light."
Felicity moved, moving the led lights closer and adjusting the brightness.
Everyone was silent, even Barry who had a harder time shutting up, while Carlisle moved quick. He let out a sigh of relief when he saw pressure coming up on the monitor that had been flashing low.
"Is he okay?" Bella asked, her voice shaking.
Carlisle looked at his daughter for all intents and purposes and nodded. "He's going to be okay." He said and leaned back. "Hand me that thread, it's thicker, better to close the outside wound." He said to Felicity and she handed it to him. He went to work closing the wound on the front and back. Once he was settled, he relaxed a bit more. "Hang another unit of blood and saline. He's going to be out for a while. Do you have morphine?"
Tommy nodded. "Yeah, how much."
Carlisle was quiet as he did the math. "Give him 20 milligrams. He'll do okay with that. I'll get him some antibiotics. This wasn't a sterile field so I want to combat infection." He said. "I'll get those from the pharmacy for him." He said and looked at his watch. "Esme is worried sick. I didn't say anything. I rushed out."
"Dad," Bella croaked out a little.
Carlisle looked at her. "Honey, he's going to be okay. I promise."
"It's not that." Tommy said. "No one can know who he is."
Carlisle looked back at Oliver's unconscious state and then back at Tommy. "I would never betray Oliver. I swear that on my own life. His secret is safe with me. I admire what the Arrow does. Oliver is a great man, nothing will diminish that."
Tommy was relieved and so was Diggle and Felicity. It was hard carrying a secret like Oliver's and usually Oliver chose who he wanted to tell and when, it was part of his code, and it seemed there wasn't a choice because Bella wanted to save Oliver, like the rest of them, and so Carlisle was now privledged to know his identity and now Barry. They hadn't introduced Barry to Oliver yet because of Barry's quirks, and how offputting Oliver could be, but Felicity had met Barry at a convention in Central City and then he showed up in Starling because there were some similar cases and then they realized the Vertigo was linked to all the cases, so Felicity was getting ready to bring Barry and Oliver together when this happened.
"So uh, this Edward guy," Barry held up a wallet. "Yeah, I grabbed his wallet so we could figure out what happened." He said and handed it to Diggle.
Diggle frowned and took the wallet and opened it. "Edward Cullen. No fucking way."
Bella frowned. "Edward shot Oliver! Why would they be together at a warehouse?"
"Well, he was hunting down Kael Jax Bella. Remember we got that lead and he found Peter earlier and Peter said there was a meet at the warehouse."
Barry pulled out his phone and looked at it, typing something in really fast. "Kael Jax of Jax incorporated, and also enterprises, and a bunch of other acronyms. No picture, but he was a new start. Owns a lot of property in Central City. Vertigo was started to bleed into the society around the same time he came to the city." He said and looked up. "What?"
"Edward spent a lot of time in Central City. He said his job was there." Bella said and wiped her face. "Um. Can you take me to his body. I have to see."
"I don't think that's a good idea." Tommy started and Carlisle agreed.
"No, I have to be sure. He's dead." Bella shook her head. "Barry, can you take me?"
Barry nodded. "Sure but hold on tight." He said and scooped her into his arms and then he flashed away.
Bella's head spun as they came to a stop in the warehouse. She didn't know what to think and it make her stomach churn just a little bit. She looked at Edward's dead body. He took an arrow to the throat and then there was a blood trail to where maybe there was another guy, but there was nobody there. "I don't understand why he would become…a drug lord?"
Barry shrugged. "From what I know, I'm a forensics tech by the way, the Vertigo that was making it out of Central City and passing police check points was in a powder form. I guess they disguised it as laundry soap? Once here, they had to liquefy it again. I heard that things were getting worse over here. Vertigo is killing people. It's apparently easy to overdose on."
Bella nodded. "I know, I'm a lawyer, I've had a lot of drug related cases. OR well, before Malcom Merlyn and Moira Queen leveled the Glades, I worked for CNRI and helped defend people that had a right to a public defender." She explained. "The Vertigo issue was getting out of hand. Oliver said after he took out the Count, it got better but I guess Edward swooped in when he saw the opportunity and he stole whatever formula the Count had, and started recreating it. Dealing it outside of Central City made it harder to draw the connection and why it took so long for Oliver to catch up to him. But then again, I assume Edward was having a hard time finding people to run the drugs because Oliver was taking out all prospect runners off the streets and they were being locked up. Then whoever that would be a potential runner got scared because the Arrow is cleaning up the city." She rationalized. "But why drugs? I know he was a bastard, and he beat me and worse, but drugs? What the fuck was wrong with him?"
"Well, I say an arrow to the throat was too quick a death." Barry said and scratched the back of his head. "So I have to call this in though. There's at least one guy that left on foot that is injured, so someone is going to know that Edward is dead and if they were working with Edward, then they know what kind of operation he was running, so this nightmare isn't quite over."
Bella sighed, a headache starting to edge in above her brow. "Okay. Let's go then. I'm going to see if I can't get Felicity to get access to Jax inc, and see if we can find out any hidden partners." She said and looked at her watch when it sent an alert. "And I have to check on Oliver and get home and act like nothing is going on at all." She said.
Barry grabbed her in his arms again. "Well, hold on tight." He warned and then they flashed away again.
Oliver felt stiff as he woke. He was at the lair under Verdant still, but he was laying in a bed that wasn't there before. He had a monitor hooked to him, but it was quiet. He glanced around and saw Carlisle sitting on a stool eating Chinese takeout from Jade Dragon. He frowned not knowing why Carlisle was here.
Carlisle glanced up when he saw Oliver move. "Easy son, don't get up too quickly." He said and sat his food down and looked at his watch.
"What's going on?"
"Bella went home to be with the kids. Felicity is helping Barry with something and Tommy and Diggle are upstairs in the club. A fight broke out, they're just bouncing some guys." Carlisle explained.
Oliver nodded and felt his head swim a little. "How long have I been out?"
"Several hours. It's nearing midnight now." Carlisle said and grabbed his stethoscope and put it to Oliver's chest. "Breathe in." He instructed and Oliver did as he was told. "Out." He said and nodded when Oliver breathed out. He repeated this several times over his chest and back. "Well, you're lucky. Bullet was through and through, didn't do any big damage. Fixed some bleeders, you've had two units of blood. Good idea storing your blood for later." He said and crossed his arms. "Before you say anything. I'm going to tell you something. Bella was out of her mind. She was worried you were dying. After Ren got shot, seeing you shot like that, triggered her. She called me." He put a hand up to stop Oliver from talking. "I know you're big on honor and telling people your identity when you want to, but this was an emergency and I will not betray you. Not ever. I love my daughter," Carlisle said and his voice cracked a little. "And I love you. You are my son now and I care. So," he cleared his throat. "Don't be upset or angry with her for calling me."
Oliver listened to Carlisle speak and saw the emotion on his face and hearing him call him son did something to Oliver inside and he teared up a little. He nodded. "I would never be mad at her." He said, his voice tight. "Thank you, for saving my life."
"Anytime, but please don't make it a habit. You shaved a decade off my life." Carlisle said with a light smile.
Oliver smiled back but then his smile fell as he thought about Edward. "Carlisle, I killed Edward."
"I know. Barry took Bella to identify him against all our protests. She connected him to Jax Inc. Felicity and Barry are working on gaining access to their systems so we can figure out if there are others working with him. Barry and Bella found evidence of another person at the warehouse."
"Yeah, another guy. He shot at me. I shot him with an arrow, not sure how I hit because I shot into darkness. Edward was fast, like inhumanly fast." Oliver said and shook his head. "I don't know how or why."
Carlisle frowned. "He was meta?"
"That's my only guess. Since Star Labs has been experimenting, more and more meta humans are popping up everywhere." Oliver said and shook his head. "But how and when was Edward affected?"
"I'm not sure." Carlisle said, crossing his arms. "That is a good question. If he was meta during the dinner when Ren died, then why wouldn't he move out of danger?"
"Unless he got his powers after Ren." Oliver pieced together. "But why start an entire corporation under a fake name?"
Carlisle didn't understand that part either. "I'm not sure."
"He's working for someone. He doesn't want the connection." Oliver said.
Then they were both quiet and then at the same time they spoke. "He's not Kael Jax."
Roy was getting ready to quit at Verdant. He didn't know if he could stand seeing Thea pregnant and Jasper and her flirting back and forward. He just didn't know if he could stomach something like that. He was down in the lair, just working out when Carlisle walked in and it confused Roy.
Carlisle looked at Roy and raised a brow. "Well, I think they forgot to mention you were part of the team."
"Well, they forgot to mention you're apart of the team now too," Roy said back, his tone was irritated and Carlisle took note of this.
"Hmm, nonetheless. I'm dropping off supplies for just in case of emergencies." Carlisle said, lifting bags.
Roy had heard about Oliver's run in. That was apparently five days ago, and he wasn't aware it was happening because he was too caught up in his annoyance of Jasper and Thea's flirt story. "Right. I don't do any of the dangerous stuff. I'm the mole, I get information."
"People talkative at the club?"
"Mostly, yeah, but it's been quiet since Oliver took out Edward, or Kael or whatever." Roy mentioned.
Carlisle nodded. "Well, still be careful either way." He said and put stuff away. He had organized things the way he would use it, and Oliver let him do whatever. Diggle was relieved to have a surgeon on their side because stitching Oliver up was getting old. Sure he was his bodyguard, not that Oliver really needed one, but he was also his partner. He wanted to clean up the streets of Starling just as much as Oliver and for a while, he had to don the Hood to throw off Detective Lance, but it was easy to fall into a cycle of always having to make sure Oliver wasn't dying because Oliver had gotten careless. Or maybe Edward really was that good of a shot. Carlisle was happy to join the team because that meant he was part of the greater good and he rather be part of the solution. It also put Bella's mind at ease having Carlisle know about the vigilante adventures because if Oliver got hurt again, he would be there to help fix him.
Tommy trotted down the stairs from the club. "Okay, so club is about to open soon Roy, we have a late delivery. Thea is at an appointment and Jasper is running late."
"Of course he is." Roy muttered.
Tommy raised a brow. "Well, Thea asked him to be there for the triplets since Emmett couldn't get off for it because he is an EMT after all, and Rosalie doesn't drive."
Roy rolled his eyes. "Got it." He said and went up the stairs, to go unload the truck by himself.
Tommy looked at Carlisle and frowned. "Something wrong with him?"
"I have noticed that Thea and Jasper are getting closer." Carlisle said as he put supplies up.
Tommy understood then. "Ohhh. Okay, love triangle."
"I don't think it's as much a triangle as Thea has moved on and Roy hasn't." Carlisle didn't usually get caught up in the drama of his children, but lately it was hard to miss.
Tommy understood that feeling. "Well, thank you for supplying the Oliver medical emergency station." He said lightheartedly.
Carlisle smiled at Tommy. "Well, I'm happy to help. He should be taking it easy because he's not healed."
Tommy made a pffft sound. "Right, Oliver take it easy. That'll be the day." He said and walked away laughing.
[Six Weeks Later]
Thea was absolutely glowing with the pregnancy she was at the halfway mark now, eighteen weeks. Dr. Haynes wanted to deliver the triplets at 36 weeks if she made it that far, but Rosalie and Emmett were excited to meet the new babies. The two girls were going to be named Viola Noelle and Titania Nicole while the boy was being named Harlow Oberon. They had a knack for Shakespearean names and kept the theme going with the triplets.
Maia, Kaela, Alexander, and Ezekiel were doing amazing. Alexander was catching up, but he was still smaller. He would be behind for a while growth wise, because he had come so premature. Having them home and they were all such easy, happy babies, that Bella wasn't having a hard time with them. Ren would have loved to be around all the chatter and chaos of having four new siblings. She would have been a huge help as well, and some days were harder for Bella to get through because Ren wasn't there physically with them.
The guesthouse was coming along great. The kitchen was finished and the bathrooms were done, but the nursery was not finished yet. There was still furniture to be put together and moved in and painted but everything was coming along just fine.
Felicity and Barry were flirting more with each other and Oliver approved of Barry for Felicity. He only wanted Felicity to be happy and seeing how happy she got with Barry around, was refreshing for him to see.
Tommy and Laurel seemed to be having a hard time since everything happened with Ren and Christmas. Laurel was certainly happy that Oliver and Bella were happy and getting married soon, and the triplets and Alexander. It just made Laurel feel like Tommy wasn't wanting the same things as she was because he never mentioned starting a family, or getting married. He seemed to be content just staying like they were and she was getting tired of being the girlfriend.
Bella started working at the new office that was built outside the Glades, with Oliver's funding of course. Bella was starting her own firm, and since her and Oliver technically got married at the courthouse, they just hadn't had a wedding yet and went through the process of telling everyone because they wanted to still have a celebration, they just didn't want to make a big deal out of it, they were branding the new law office Lance Queen Premium Law Group. Laurel was excited about being a partner in a firm but she wasn't aware the actual name was Queen and not Cullen since that was technically Bella's legal last name.
The building wasn't too far from Queen enterprises, so the building was more in the city and it was taller than the building CNRI was in before the Glades were destroyed. Bella wanted to represent people she wanted to represent and not whoever a company wanted and so she had the opportunity to that now since she was able to have the funding for it. She felt a little bad about asking Oliver for something like this, but he had laughed and said that his money was her money too, that anything she desired, he would be sure she would get.
"What do you mean you got married!" Laurel squeaked out. She was at the new building with Bella and saw the sign. "And my name is first? How is that even fair?" She was beside herself. Finding out her best friend was legally married and that the new sign had Lance first.
Bella smiled. "First of all. We just got married at the courthouse so things like this would be easier for the business angle. We're still doing a celebration, we just wanted things to look right for tax and legal purposes. Secondly, Lance and Queen sounded better than Queen and Lance. Also L comes before Q in the alphabet." She said and took a drink of her latte.
Laurel looked at the sign and the reception area and just shook her head. "This place is amazing. Six floors and it's all ours?" She asked and looked at Bella.
Bella nodded. "Yeah. Crazy I know. Oliver bought then entire building. Top floor is our offices. Oliver said it was important to make sure we kept ourselves on top. It's authoritative. Ground floor is obviously reception and conferences. First floor should be our paralegal team. I want them to have a nice set up and I don't want them boxed in together in cubicles. I want the space and I want the peace and happiness. Second floor, I'm thinking junior associates. Third floor is for potentially our customer service and IT department. We want expansion and I already have a list of lawyers willing to be apart of the group. Fourth floor for senior associates. Fifth floor is for executive partners or associates." Bella explained.
Laurel nodded, agreeing with that layout. "I like that. That could work. Who are we taking on from CNRI?"
"Angela Weber is coming on as an Executive associate. She was doing family law before CNRI and she expressed wanting to continue that. Divorce law and estate planning. I think that's good to have. Um, Leah Clearwater is a junior associate that I agreed to take on. I told her that we're going to be doing interviewing processes, but I thought that you would be okay with her since you liked her over at CNRI. As for the others, I wanted that to be a partner deal. You and me, going through applicants. We have attracted attention of some other smaller law groups that aren't making it well on their own that want to explore business opportunities. The Queen name is actually working in attracting people. Oliver has done a good job trying to redeem the Queen name after what Moira did.
Laurel nodded. She hated that Oliver even had to go through any of that. It was crazy to see Oliver Queen, of all people, settled down with a family. It hit Laurel in her heart. She wanted that, so bad. She had loved Oliver for years, was with him through his playboy phase and when he had left with her sister on the Queen's Gambit, she thought she would never forgive him, but she had. She got over that pain because Oliver was different. She was different after five years. Oliver had expressed his regret and his feelings for her when he first came back, but she had chose Tommy. Because she did love Tommy. She had no reason to think that Tommy would step out on her. He was mature more than he was back then when he was running around with Oliver and partying all the time, but he still hadn't asked her to marry him. He hadn't even asked to move in. They were casually sleeping over at each other's apartments, but that wasn't enough anymore. She needed to feel like they were working towards the same things. But she felt disconnected, even more so now that Bella and Oliver were settled down with a family. It was heartbreaking sometimes. But she was happy for her friends. She never wanted to diminish that happiness, so she held all of her frustrations with Tommy inside.
"What are you thinking about?" Bella asked when Laurel got quiet.
Laurel looked at Bella. "Nothing," she said with a small smile.
Bella raised a brow. "I know you. Something is up. Just tell me."
Laurel sighed. "Tommy hasn't even popped the question or anything. I feel like most days we are existing together."
Bella chuckled a little. "Tommy is Tommy. I wouldn't put too much into him not proposing. He's one of those, I'm content type of guys. I never really thought Tommy would be the marrying type."
Laurel sighed. "I once thought the same thing about Oliver, but he is settling down."
Bella thought Laurel had a point but she just nodded. "Yeah, but I think the island settled him. He's not the same playboy Ollie we once used to know. He's…different." She knew why he was different. Going around dealing out justice to the criminals of Starling City tended to age you or mature you faster.
"I just wish some of that charm would rub off on Tommy. I want to get married, buy a house, have kids. I'm not getting any younger." Laurel pointed out.
"Maybe you need to ask him. It's the 21st century. Who says it has to be the man to do it?" Bella suggested.
Laurel smiled. "You know what. You're right. I shouldn't wait around for him to do it. I can do it just the same." She looked back at the sign and nodded. This was going to be a better year for them all.
[Two Months Later]
Bella wore a shimmering champagne colored gown that hugged her curves delicately. The neckline drooped a little giving a slight view of her cleavage but not distasteful. The A-line style suited Bella, and the back of the dress left her back bare. She was getting used to dressing up more since she was a Queen now. Their wedding celebration drew attention from the media. Paparazzi arrived and Diggle managed to keep them from getting too close to Bella and Oliver. The children were all dressed dazzling to match their famous parents. The new law firm was taking off like a rocket. There were twenty junior associates, and fifteen senior associates, and there were eight executive partners or associates. They had a full staff for customer service and IT, which Felicity graciously helped set up and run. The paralegal team was fully staffed and Rosalie was helping out managing the paralegal team when she wasn't helping Walter. Rosalie was a very organized individual and she thrived on the chaos of both her jobs.
Naturally this huge success with the new firm, shot Bella up in popularity in Starling not only as the wife of Oliver Queen, but as one of the best defense attorneys in the city.
Thea's pregnancy went out public and they did a story piece on the surrogacy journey and Thea had quickly become Starling's sweetheart for doing something so grand, even though Thea preferred to keep it private, Rosalie and Emmett didn't mind much that people knew how amazing Thea was for helping them grow their family.
Crime was down in Starling City since Edward was taken out and the flow of Vertigo stopped. Things were coming together nicely for the city. Oliver and Carlisle had bounced around the idea that Edward wasn't Kael Jax before, but they had no evidence otherwise, because Felicity and Barry didn't find out any information that stated otherwise. They found a license with Kael Jax on it in the system that Felicity hacked and Edward's picture was along with the ID, so they lay that case to rest, and Oliver's night time job got a lot easier, but he was still there to put criminals away when it called to him.
Tommy dinged his glass, gathering everyone's attention. "Hello my fellow Starling compatriots. It is a great pleasure to be the best friend of the groom and a dear friend of the bride." He said with a bright smile. "I have known Bella and Oliver for….way too many years to go back and count." He chuckled a little and so did everyone else. "Oliver has been through a lot. He was dead for five years and then he came back. He's faced hardships like no other, but he still manages to keep his spirits. He has done exceptional work in helping the Glades be rebuilt. He has brought Queen Enterprises from the brink of loss and he has somehow, convinced Bella to marry him." He paused while people laughed. "Oliver is a great man. He's a great husband and he's a great father. I have never seen him happier than when he found Bella and Ren." He said nodding, looking over at his two friends. "He has taught me what family meant. My father was pretty useless, yes he was the reason why the Glades are suffering, but Oliver has taught me that you didn't need blood to make a family. He's my brother. Always will be my brother and I couldn't be happier that he has finally found his happiness. A happiness that he deserves. I can't imagine life without you." He said, looking at Oliver. "I seriously couldn't be the man I am today, without your influence man, and I'm thankful to have you in my life, every single day." He said and then he looked at Bella. "Bella." He smiled and she smiled back at him. "You are a dazzling light. You are proof there is hope in this world. You have rose above all the odds stacked against you. You have lost so much and have experienced more heartache and pain in a lifetime, but you are strong. You made Oliver stronger, and by association, you have made me stronger. You are my sister and my friend and my family. I love you." He said and then he looked around the room. "Help me wish these two a happy, long marriage, and to a happily every after they both deserve." He said and everyone erupted with cheers and applause.
Bella winked at Tommy and Tommy nodded. Tommy asked her and Oliver if he could propose to Laurel tonight. Laurel finally asked Tommy to move in with her and he agreed. Laurel didn't want to scare him off by moving too fast and backed out of proposing but moving in together was a big step.
Tommy cleared his throat. "If I could hang on to everyone's attention just a tad bit longer." He said and everyone focused on him again. "I want to take the time to shine the spotlight on my girlfriend. Laurel Lance." He said and Laurel smiled at him. "Laurel has been my rock. Lately I have been having a hard time with what my father did and everything that happened when I lost my best friend and brother for five years. I could never be any more grateful for someone like her. I couldn't ask for a better partner in crime, and I certainly couldn't ask for anyone else to put up with me, because hey, I'm a mess and a lot to handle." He said and he got some laughs. "Dinah Laurel Lance." He said as he moved towards her. "I love you. I will always love you and can't imagine my life without you in it." He said and got down on one knee, pulling the ring box from his pocket.
Laurel's face went from shock to joy and back to shock as her hands came up to her face and tears breached the surface.
Tommy opened the ring box, the beautiful ring was square cut with smaller diamonds creating a border around the bigger diamond. It was white gold and it sparkled as the light hit it. "It will be my honor, if you would agree to be my wife."
Laurel nodded, smiling wide as the tears ran down her face. "Yes yes yes!" She said and he slipped the ring onto her left hand and then they were kissing as everyone clapped around them.
Bella made sure the babies were all asleep in their cribs and she came back to their bedroom. Oliver walked out of the bathroom wearing just pajama pants, his chest bare and you could see his scars from his time on the island, and the new ones from being the Arrow. Bella smiled at him. "Well, the kids are asleep and today didn't completely wear me out." She was referring to the wedding ceremony. It was definitely a great celebration. Dancing, and laughing. Oliver and Bella made headlines, but she didn't really pay attention to all the magazines anyways. She didn't care.
Oliver moved to her, pulling her into his arms, placing a kiss on her lips. "Well, Mrs. Queen, how do you feel right now?"
"Mmm. I feel like, my period is two weeks late and I took a test earlier and we are definitely pregnant." Bella dropped the news on Oliver.
Oliver was stunned, not sure what to say. He didn't even think about this happening. "Wait, what? You're pregnant? Are you serious?" He was getting excited, different emotions running through him.
Bella smiled and reached her hands up and framed his face to force him to focus on her. "Yes. I am, and I am going to the doctor to get checked out. I didn't realize it would happen so soon. I know that I lost one of my tubes but I am pregnant and I am happy." She said and Oliver kissed her passionately. Happiness wasn't even the right word to describe all the emotion and feelings Oliver was feeling. He couldn't believe this was happening and he was so happy that it was happening all at the same time.
"God, Bella, I love you so much." Oliver murmured against her lips.
Bella smiled, kissing him again and again. "I love you too." She said and she pushed him lightly towards the bed. "Come on, bed and sleep before the babies wake up."
Oliver pulled her with him to the bed. "Mmm. But I can think of some ways to celebrate not only our marriage, but the best news I've gotten today." He said and his mouth captured hers, their tongues weaving against each other instantly. The heat flowed between them, their hands trailing over each other's bodies, sending thrills through them. They didn't waste time, getting naked quickly. Oliver's hands moved over her breasts lightly before dragging them to her hips and then her heated core. Her cunt dripped with anticipation before he slipped a finger inside her to test how tight she was. She moaned a little as he rubbed his thumb over her clit, his mouth moving back over hers, drinking in the moan that started again on her lips. Her hips lifted and met his hand, pushing him to drive her closer and closer to her orgasm that teased her body as tingles ran through her.
Oliver kissed her fiercely, the emotion and passion pouring into the kiss as if it were the last one they would ever have. When her body shuddered under his hand he shifted in the bed, his pulsing cock dipping inside her, filling her up. They moved together in unison, their bodies yielding to the other as they raced towards their climax.
[Thea: 35 Weeks Pregnant]
Thea was feeling a little miserable. It was cold outside and she didn't care too much for the snow, but she was happy that it was warm inside the mansion. She was on bed rest, doctor's orders, and she didn't dare defy the doctor in any way. She would never jeopardize the triplets. Rosalie was hovering more and more, trying to make sure Thea was comfortable and Emmett was getting nervous as it got closer to the 36 week mark. But he was still keeping a level head.
Jasper was very supportive and helpful throughout the entire pregnancy for Thea. They hadn't officially started dating. He didn't want her to make that decision while she had extra hormones going through her body because of the pregnancy. He was starting to feel happier lately, and it was because he was near Thea more. They lived in the same house, and despite having a strong desire, he didn't pressure her to take anything to a sexual level. He would never want her to do something like that for him because she felt she had to. But he was just as nervous as his brother and sister-in-law. He was going to be an uncle again, and he was worried about how this would affect Thea as well. Finding out that Bella was pregnant again sent instant worry through everyone, but after several ultrasounds, they were positive there was just a single baby inside, and she was having a little girl and was due in May, which didn't feel like that far off.
"Thea, are you having pain?" Jasper asked as he walked into the bedroom and saw Thea sitting up more, rubbing her hand over her swollen belly and there was a pained expression on her face.
Thea blew out a breath as the pain subsided. "A little. I was about to call the doctor to tell him and see what he wants to do." She said and Jasper grabbed Thea's phone off the side table for her and handed it to her. "Rosalie went to go check on Hamilton, he was crying a bit ago." She answered Jasper's thought before he could ask where Rosalie was. "Hey, Doctor Haynes. It's Thea," She said and paused. "Alright, we're heading to the hospital." She said and hung up and looked at Jasper. "He wants me to go ahead and go to the hospital."
Jasper smiled. "Alright. Let's get going," He said and helped her out of bed. The moment she got to her feet she felt a gush of water go down her leg. Jasper frowned. "Your water just broke?"
Thea nodded as pain hit her harder and she groaned, moaning a little as the pain rocked through her body. She trembled and if it wasn't for Jasper, she would have fallen over.
Rosalie walked back in the room her smile fading when she saw Thea up and trembling. "Is it time?"
"Her water just broke. Call Em, see if he can just come with the ambulance. We'll get to Starling General faster that way." Jasper said and Rosalie pulled her phone out and quickly called her husband. "Breathe Thea, breathe."
Thea nodded, breathing like she learned from the birthing class her and Rosalie took together with Emmett and Jasper had come as a secondary support. When the pain subsided again, she looked at Jasper. "Okay, let's move." She said and Jasper helped her get out of the room and towards the stairs. She paused looking down the staircase.
Jasper didn't hesitate to lift her into his strong arms and go down the stairs. "I have you." He reassured her as they descended the stairs. Bella was at the law firm, and Oliver was at Verdant with Felicity and Diggle. Carlisle was at the hospital and Esme was coming out of the kitchen area when Jasper got to the bottom stair. "Mom, Thea is in labor. Rosalie is calling Em right now for the ambulance. Can you grab her bag, I didn't grab it."
Esme ran up the stairs quickly without a word only a squeak of excitement to go fetch Thea's bag for her.
Rosalie rushed down the stairs. "Okay, Em is two minutes out. Okay, Thea, are you doing okay? How's the pain? Do you need-"
"I'm okay Rose. The contractions aren't super close yet. We're going to do fine." Thea said and reached a hand out and took Rosalie's. "We're doing this."
Rosalie teared up and nodded. "We're doing this."
[Seventeen Hours later]
The triplets entered the world safely and healthy. Harlow was the heaviest, weighing 5 lbs and 9 ounces. Viola was the next weighing 5 lbs and 5 ounces. And Titania was the smallest weighing just 5 lbs. They were all doing well on their own and Dr. Haynes didn't see a reason to keep the triplets in the hospital in NICU when they didn't need assistance. Thea was recovering well. She delivered the triplets without a surgery with the help of an epidural because the pain did get so great and Rosalie coaxed her, telling her it was okay to take pain medicine and finally Thea caved. She was more afraid of it hurting the babies, but Dr. Haynes had reassured her it was safe for the labor. It was a miracle the triplets. They had made it into this world and Thea helped do that.
"You really don't have to pump." Rosalie said as they sat in the recovery room, the three bundles of joy snoozing away.
Thea smiled. "Dr. Haynes and the pediatrician said it was good for them. Especially for the first part of their lives. I don't mind, really Rose. You're going to do the hormone therapy to start producing milk for them, I can definitely be the supply until then. That way you don't have to deal with formula and give them everything you wanted."
Rosalie teared up again. "Thea, you are too good to us. You are seriously an angel."
Thea smiled, her body feeling tired, but she wanted to be sure that Rosalie and Emmett were okay first before she closed her eyes. "It's not a problem. I am happy to do it."
Rosalie saw the sleepy look on Thea's face. "Rest now Thea." She whispered and Thea closed her eyes and she fell to sleep. Rosalie looked at Viola snuggled in her arms. She never thought this would be possible. Holding a piece of her and Emmett. The triplets were a joy and she couldn't wait for Hamilton and Juliette to see their new sisters and brother. She just knew that her family would be so happy, all meshed together.
[June 1st]
Coraline Rose Marie Queen born 7 lbs, 7 ounces.
It was a joyous occasion to welcome Coraline into the world. Oliver was happy that she was here finally. Bella went to 41 weeks before she went into labor, and they all thought she would be bigger, but she was still a healthy weight and wasn't too hard for Bella.
The Cullen triplets were thriving, and Rosalie and Emmett lived in the guest house full time now, but they were always there to help with the other kids and it was a large, happy family.
The Queen triplets were trying to walk already, standing and falling over, and babbling. They took on the dark hair of Bella and the green eyes of Oliver, which made them all look so stunning. Thea swore they could all be baby models with how beautiful they all looked. Alexander hadn't quite grasped the standing and trying to walk yet, but he was preemie so he would take some time to get to that part, but he was a speed crawler and the one that cackled the loudest out of the bunch.
Laurel and Tommy got married in a small ceremony with family and friends, and they were spending time just enjoying being married before Tommy was ready to be a father, and Laurel was okay with, at least for a couple years, but she reminded him she wasn't getting younger and she didn't want to run out of time.
Felicity and Barry were dating still and it was a cute kind of love. The two of them were like two pieces of a puzzle finally coming together.
Thea and Jasper officially started dating. Roy couldn't handle it and he left the club, but he stayed in the circle that helped the Arrow fight the crime in Starling City. He would never turn his back on the city. That wasn't what a hero did. He was getting stronger and he was learning how to use the bow better and soon, Oliver promised that Roy could help him on the streets in his own disguise and pseudo name.
Things were bliss and things were perfect. Bella couldn't ask for a better family. She looked back at everything that had happened in her life since coming back home to Starling. She knew that she could never get Ren back. That part of her still hurt and she didn't think it would ever feel any better. Losing a child was not something any parent should have to experience, but she had, and instead of dwelling on it, she let Ren's gift of strength, carry her to make her stronger so she could be the mother the Triplets needed, and Alexander and Coraline. She needed to be there for them because she was their mother and she didn't want to fail again. She always felt like she failed Ren, and she promised herself, and her children, that she wouldn't let that happen again, and she intended to keep that promise.
Oliver Queen on the other hand, promised to always make it up. To never let what happened to Ren, happen to anyone else. Now that Edward was gone and the Vertigo situation cleared up, things were going better for Starling City. He had the family he thought he would never have and he had the love of his life by his side. He couldn't ask for more and he didn't dare ask for more. He was happy and so was Bella, and that's all either of them wanted or needed.
The End