Notes:

Thank you for everyone's patience with me.

Not sure about this chapter, it feels sort of like a filler which might be why it took me forever to finish it... I'm not happy with it, but it is what it is, lol.


Chapter 11: Dads and daughters, they go together like boats and water, they're meant for each other

"Don't be too hard on them, Quentin." It was important to her to remind her husband of this once again after the doorbell rang, before walking out of the kitchen to let their guests in. It was something she had insisted on several times since she had filled him in on their younger daughter's return to Starling and the unexpected changes to her life this had brought to light.

Even though he had taken it a lot better than she had expected. It could also be that he needed to see for himself to really believe it and come to a conclusion about how to feel about the entire situation. Plus, the knowledge that their baby was in the same city as they for the first time in a good five years might also play into his reaction, the happiness about getting to see her again winning above all the other emotions. And the time to adjust to the knowledge before meeting with her.

"Quentin, my love." She entered their home only to find him sitting on the couch reading. Dinah watched her husband of almost thirty years, contemplating how to share what she had learnt in the last couple of hours with him and what his reaction to the rather unexpected twist in their younger daughter's life would be.

"Dinah, how was coffee with Laurel?" Her husband looked up from the paper, slightly confused at the way she addressed him. It wasn't an endearment she used often.

"It was interesting... good... Sara was there." There was no reason to not get straight to the point and let him know about Sara's surprise appearance.

"She was? I wasn't even aware she's in the States, even less home. She didn't say anything, and neither did Laurel." No, no, she had not given any indication she was home or simply the fact she was in the US as opposed to Europe as they were in the belief the last time they had spoken on the phone just a few short weeks ago. But then again, it wasn't that surprising. There was plenty Sara never said anything about, as she had found out earlier today. But her husband didn't know that, yet and was in for one huge surprise, just as she had been.

"No, she didn't. There's a lot she never actually mentioned in any of the conversations we've had. There are some developments our daughter has kept from us over the last several years, very significant ones. And Laurel only learnt about Sara being home through coincidence and thought it wasn't her place to tell us, but Sara's." Dinah wasn't sure how to break the news to her husband, unsure what the best way was but, in the end, did it really matter? There was no way around the pain that would come with the knowledge that their daughter had lied to them for years, had kept the truth about her life, her family, her children from them.

"Don't tell me she got herself in trouble. I knew we should've gone and checked up on her at least once during the last five years. I don't even want to imagine what she managed to get herself into in a country like France." It looked like the initial approach wasn't the right one, not that Quentin's assumption was surprising. It had become a default setting somewhere in their youngest's mid to late teenage years, given all the trouble she had gotten into.

"No, no, nothing like that, actually. Quite the contrary. She has matured a lot and seems to have everything under control concerning her life. Sara seems to have found her way and place and identified her purpose in the process; she's married and he's wonderful. We're grandparents to two beautiful children and will soon be of three. Her husband adores both our daughter and our grandchildren." She decided the best way was to just spring it on him, sort of like it had been sprung on her. There was no easy way to tell it and no point in trying to ease into it. The shock would be the same no matter how she told him.

"Married? Did you say… we have grandchildren?" Her husband's double take and the shocked look on his face was very understandable, so was the onslaught of emotions crossing his face. Yes, she could relate very well.

"Yes, Eloise, she's four and Benjamin is nine months old. And I'd say Sara's around seven months pregnant with their third baby." Dinah still wasn't sure she had processed it all yet and how she was feeling about the new knowledge. She was proud of Sara and the life she had built for herself, of course she was, but she also wished her baby girl hadn't felt the need to keep this from them. She understood why, but it still stung. They would've helped the kids out if they'd known, if they'd gotten the chance to. She understood they had been worried about everyone's reaction to them having a child together but she just wished they had gotten the chance to let the kids know they didn't have to do it alone, that they had people in their lives who were willing to help them out, no matter the situation. Not that it mattered anymore. And she truly was proud of them and what they had achieved. It was very impressive, especially given the fact Oliver didn't have his family's fortune to rely on, as were the down to earth and responsible adults the two reckless and irresponsible youths had turned into.

"Four years and nine months, you said? And pregnant again? And all of them from the same guy? Are you saying our baby, who would've needed a revolving door as quickly as her boyfriends came and went, has been in a relationship with the same person for five years? That must be quite the guy." Dinah considered for a moment if she should be offended on Sara's behalf, but decided against it, because Quentin wasn't wrong. Sara had never settled for the same person for longer than two, maybe three months, and commitment had never been something that had come easy to her or something she seemed to have really wanted. So, it really was rather surprising. But then again, she couldn't say for sure they'd been together for the entire five years. On the other hand, she was certain all three children were Oliver's. No matter what their relationship statues might have been before they'd had Eloise or between her birth and Benjamin's conception, she assumed, or birth possibly, it was obvious they were in a committed relationship now. There was still a lot they hadn't shared, and she wasn't entirely sure they would ever share, which was their call and their right, whatever the situation between them might have been was none of their business and it seemed to have worked for them and they very clearly had a healthy and happy marriage now, so it really didn't matter.

"You'd be positively surprised." At least she hoped it was going to be a 'positively', it was hard to say with her husband, as much as he loved the boy, he could also be very frustrated and irritated at some of his behavior, also very understandable. Oliver could be very irritating and frustrating at times. He had always been a good boy, though, with a heart of gold who had adored their daughters, almost to the point of worship.

"I'm almost afraid to ask. Positively, you say? Well, that's something you had me worried there for a moment, given her track record with guys and the criminal records that usually came with them. Tell me." She had to chuckle at his words and the amused and relieved look on his face, probably remembering the long list of juvenile delinquents Sara had brought home to get a rise out of him most of the time anyway, just as she did. Plus, it wasn't like Oliver didn't have a criminal record, fair enough it wasn't quite as long as some of the other boys their daughter had been involved with, but then again, it would've been a lot longer had Robert and Moira not been able to buy him out of some of the trouble he had gotten into over the years.

"Oliver." Yes, he was most definitely one hell of an upgrade to the boys Sara used to bring home, none of which had even come remotely close to being good enough for her baby. Dinah was proud of her daughter, and that she had realized she deserved better than those guys, and she had chosen so very well when it came to her life partner and the father of her children. Dinah was almost certain there was no one better she could've chosen. No one who would treat her better and knew just how special she was than Oliver did. Yes, Oliver had always known just how unique and precious her free-spirited baby was and treated her accordingly.

"Oliver...?" There was a slight undertone of disbelieve underlying the question, almost as if he needed her to spell it out for him to be sure they were talking about the same Oliver, as if they knew more than one that was even just remotely significant to their daughters' lives.

"Oliver Jonas, as in Robert and Moira Queen's son. Yes. That Oliver." She watched his face closely and was amused by the different emotions flitting across it, while his mind was wrapping around all the information she'd been giving him, which she admitted was a lot to process.

"Four-year-old, you said?" Huh, interesting point, he decided to settle on. But then again, he was a very fine detective, and he always got to the bone of the matter and came to conclusions others took a lot longer to reach.

"The same thought might have crossed my mind, so far there's no reason to assume that..." She had done the math, not that she knew Eloise's birthdate and it wasn't too far-fetched, but she was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt until she was proven right and that was reason enough for her to just slightly defend them, or at least keep Quentin from rushing to assumptions that might not be true.

"Oliver got Sara pregnant and broke up with Laurel because of it?" Of course, her husband would bluntly state it and not hold back. It was something she loved about him, but it could also sometimes be a bit annoying. Like now. She was trying to keep him from being or getting mad at the kids for their behavior and choices, and he was not making it easy for her.

"Even if... They love each other, Quentin. You should've seen them together and with their kids..." They had all been aware of Oliver's tendency to stray. And it wasn't too difficult for her to imagine her younger daughter and her now husband sharing an indiscretion while being drunk, which could've led to Eloise. Plus, there had been a time in Laurel and Oliver's relationship when they all almost got whiplash from the frequent off-and-on statues, so there was that possibility too, that Oliver and Sara had been involved during an off period in his relationship with Laurel. But they knew nothing concerning Eloise's conception yet, not for sure. The timing seemed to be peculiar. Nevertheless, she was a firm believer in innocent until proven guilty and it was something her husband lived by. And part of her knew the knowledge concerning Oliver's tendency to stray should trouble her and make her worry about her younger daughter, but… Oliver had never looked or treated Laurel the way he had Sara today. Not that he had mistreated Laurel or not shown affection towards her, not at all. He had very obviously been in love with her first born but still… it felt different to how he was with Sara now. It was difficult to describe and the right words eluded her, but there was just something about them that had her convinced Oliver wouldn't stray, wouldn't cheat on Sara and risk destroying the family they had built.

They've also had a long conversation with Laurel during Sunday dinner with her and Tommy, which had been a very good thing. She was sure Quentin, learning that their older daughter was alright with the situation and happy for both her sister and her ex-boyfriend, helped him look at the entire situation with more of an open mind. And to him not judging both, but especially Oliver, too harshly. Knowing her husband, it would be a lot easier for him to put blame solely on the young man instead of Oliver and their two daughters alike. He tended to turn a blind eye to their daughters' flaws, unless he was hit over the head with them, but even then, he was mostly focussing on their mistakes and the possibility of putting the blame elsewhere. Oliver and Tommy had always been a pleasant option for that. Not that her husband didn't have a soft spot for the two boys. This had been one of the reasons why Oliver breaking up with Laurel had surprised and hurt them both, not as much as it had their daughter but they had been so used to having Oliver be a part of their lives and just like everyone else assumed they'd make it official sooner or later… well how wrong they had all been, well, at least to some degree. Oliver was officially a part of their family now and had been for years unbeknownst to them.

Tommy, sharing some details about breakfast with his best friend and baby boy, also helped sway Quentin in Oliver's direction, especially the part about Oliver not even having noticed the women fawning over him and his son. That had been a nice and unexpected surprise. And Dinah was sure all three of them had been just as surprised by it as Tommy had been while witnessing this enormous change in Oliver's behavior.

She wasn't sure if inviting Sara, Oliver and the kids over had been her best idea, but Quentin deserved to see their daughter too and get to know his grandchildren. This was why she had called Sara Sunday morning, wondering if they'd be available for lunch on Quentin's day off, which coincidentally happened to be on the same day she only had two lectures in the morning and the rest of the day was usually spent to prepare her future lectures or for grading papers, but she could do that at another day. She had planned to take the afternoon off anyway, since it was rare that her and Quentin's days off or, in her case, lecture free time fell together.

"Mom, hi." Her daughter looked a little flustered when she opened the door to welcome them in. She could understand that it was strange; having her baby girl ring their doorbell instead of just walking in as she always had before, obviously, and Laurel still did. It had been her home, even though different from Laurel, she had chosen to live on campus at the dorms. But still it had been a good five years since she had set foot into the house, she couldn't even imagine what it must feel like for Sara, who was the one who had lived away from here and now had a family of her own, since it was a little strange for her. She wondered if Sara felt like a stranger in what used to be her home, like a guest maybe? Or if the place still had the same feeling of home and belonging as it used to. Probably not. Her eyes strayed to Oliver and the kids. She would bet everything she had that the young man and small children were the source of those feelings for her daughter now. Because home is where the heart is, and it was obvious where Sara's heart was.

Dinah stepped aside to let Sara, Oliver, and the kids inside, who were both being carried by the young man.

"It's good to see you again, Dinah." Polite and charming as ever, yes, even with all the changes, this hadn't changed and was a clear indicator that he was Robert and Moira Queen's son.

"You too, Oliver. And hi Eloise and Benjamin." She returned her son-in-law's greeting and addressed the kids from a safe distance, given both of their body languages and the way they were leaning into Oliver. It was an understandable reaction; it was only the second time they had seen her and they were in an unfamiliar place. Seeing Oliver provide them with a safe haven warmed her heart. He was such a wonderful dad.

"Why don't we head on inside? Your father's in the kitchen, making his famous chicken cacciatore." A dish she knew her daughter loved and one of Oliver's favorites, too. At least it used to be. She led them down the short corridor towards the living room and kitchen.

Watching Quentin and Sara interact for the first time in years warmed her heart. They used to have such a special bond before Sara began to rebel and act out in her teenage years. She really hoped they could go back to the easy comradery they used to have when Sara was a kid. They shared so many interests and she felt this might be a second chance for them to meet on another level. The way Sara had matured and probably understood her father's stance on matters better now that she had children of her own, was a good pre-condition to sort of start over in a way, to possibly admit they had both been wrong in some of their behavior and that they could work through the issues they'd had and forward rebuilding what they used to have and renew that bond between father and daughter.

It impressed her how well Sara and Oliver seemed to adjust to any situation and find a fitting solution for any problem. Like the lack of furniture fit for small children in their house. She put it on her mental list of things to get, just like some toys the little ones could play with whenever they came over for visits, something she hoped would be frequent, now that Sara was home and they seemed to have plans to stay.

Dinah spent a lot of the time watching the young family, just as she had done at Laurel's. Once the children got acclimated and came out of their shells, it didn't take her long to see just how alike mother and daughter were and how their little family seemed to be very similar to the ones the parents came from. Watching Oliver with Eloise reminded her of Quentin and Sara, and the bond the two used to share, especially when Sara was still a kid, before she began to rebel against everything her father stood for in her mid to late teens.

And Benjamin appeared to be his father's son, not that she had known Oliver when he had been her little grandson's age but there was no denying the fact that Oliver had been a momma's boy, and his son appeared to be seeking out his mother more than his father. Of course, it could also just simply be his age, but there was just something about the way he behaved that made her think he might also end up being a momma's boy. Not that there was anything wrong with that, not at all. She simply found it interesting and a little amusing. The sayings appeared to be true in her daughter's family; like father like son, like mother like daughter.

Not that Oliver or Sara had a favorite, far from it from what she could tell during the limited time she had spent with them. Both times Oliver had spent a significant amount of time entertaining both kids, to give Sara the chance to actually have a more or less uninterrupted conversation and she also assumed probably a bit of a break, given her advanced stage of pregnancy. She wasn't sure if and how much Oliver was currently working and how much time Sara therefore spent alone with the kids during the day, which could be very taxing.

She vaguely remembered how exhausted she had been while being pregnant with Sara and also having to take care of a two-year-old. Sara was taking care of two kids, one of which was still fully dependent on her and needed to be carried around most of the time, since just letting him crawl all the time wasn't an option. While Eloise was a ball of energy that needed to be released and entertained, at least to some degree. Chasing a four-year-old around, while also carrying a nine-month-old everywhere and being seven months pregnant was a lot, and she was sure it was rather challenging, even if Sara didn't let on.

That might have been one of the biggest and most surprising changes. Sara seemingly having given up her independence completely. She didn't have a college degree, having dropped out before joining Oliver on the Gambit, as they had learnt now. And from what she could gather from the little they shared about their time away, she didn't really have any work experience on top of that. Oliver seemed to be the sole provider for the family, while Sara was spending all her time taking care of their children, and with that, being fully dependent on Oliver financially, but also emotionally. Well, the emotional part appeared to be on both sides. It didn't sound like they had any permanent or real friendships or regular human interactions outside of each other. This, of course, might simply be because they had just moved here. It might very well change now, especially with Tommy back in their lives. This reminded her that there had never been a lot of other people they had allowed in their inner circle and there had been a serious case of codependency among those three.

This was such an enormous show of trust and commitment, given her baby's need for independence and resistance to rely on anyone. Now here she was, taking on the role of a traditional housewife and mother, and Dinah had to admit, she had never seen her free-spirited, independent, and rule-breaking daughter more balanced and happier than she appeared now, in the life and role she had chosen for herself. Sara looked fulfilled.


Notes:

As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts. It might take me a while to update this one, still working out most of the plot and where I want to take it... so bare with me.

Also neither Quentin nor Dinah meant any disrespect towards their daughter. They were simply stating facts. Lol.

The chapter title is from the song "Dads and Daughters" by MaRynn Taylor.