Chapter 2
Family meals
"Family dinners have the power to heal, to mend broken hearts, and to remind us that we always have a place to belong."
-Unknown
Katie figured Oliver would be late dealing with this other Laurel and whatever she and Alex Faust are getting into, so she figured she should be the one to head up tonight's family dinner. She knew she'd probably burn the house down trying to cook, so instead she just ordered pizza. While waiting for it to be delivered, she made a large bowl of salad that she brought out to the dining room table. She lifted her head at the sound of the doorbell and headed for the door.
"Kids, pizza's here!" she yelled grabbing her purse. She pulled open the door. "Today is your lucky day, because I have no small bills." she lifted her eyes and sighed because it wasn't the pizza delivery guy. It was Oliver holding their pizzas. "You're not Todd." she reached forward and grabbed the pizzas from his hands.
"And you didn't ask who was at the door before opening it." Oliver pulled off his jacket and hung it up before following her into the dining room. "Why do you know the pizza delivery guy's name?"
"He volunteers at the clinic." Katie says sitting the pizza down before looking back over to him. "I didn't expect you home this early. Ethan was here, and told me about evil Laurel and said you guys had a lead."
Oliver looked over to her for a moment. For the past couple of months, she hadn't asked him about any of their vigilant cases, so he was surprised she was inquiring about this one.
"Apparently she calls herself Black Siren and tonight didn't turn out the way I thought it would. Rene was hurt and she and her mercenaries got away."
"Is Rene ok?"
"He's at the hospital, Ethan is taking care of him." he noticed her turn away before they heard the sound of hurried footsteps. A smile came to his face when Ari and William came into the dining room. "So pizza gets everyone out of their rooms." Will looks over to Oliver before turning to Katie and just takes a step back. "Will, it's-" the boy doesn't say anything before turning and heading back upstairs to his room.
Oliver's shoulders dropped before he turned off to go grab Robyn for dinner. When he came back into the dinning room, he noticed Ari was gone now as well.
"Maybe I should've stayed out later." he sighed before placing Robyn into her booster seat. "Seems like no one wants to be in a room with me."
"Ari will be back down. She went up to talk to Will to see if she could get him back down." Katie replied. "He's been having nightmares." Oliver looked over to her with a quirk brow. "He told me about them last night after you left. He's been dreaming about the bad man who took his mom away."
Oliver sighed, "Adrian."
"That's what I thought." Katie replied as Oliver stepped over to her. "I think it's you. I think you're the bad man in his dreams."
Oliver sighed, turning away unsure what to do with that. Katie placed a hand on his chest and he turned back to her.
"Right now all he sees when he looks at you is the guy from his dreams, you just have to let him know that's not who you are." Oliver smiled at her, before his hands came around her waist, slightly tugging her toward him.
"Did you want to talk about earlier?"
"Still no." she replied tugging herself from his grasp before going to grab Robyn a slice of pizza.
Night two of Queen family dinner was slightly better than the night before. Ari was able to talk William into coming back down, but the boy didn't really say much. He sat quietly eating his pizza.
"So I actually have some random news." Katie suddenly announces and they all turned to her. Her eyes turned to Oliver who just quirked a brow. "You're going to be a grandpa."
That was just more information Oliver didn't know how to respond to. His eyes darkened as he turned to Ari who looked over to him with wide eyes and Katie just chuckled.
"Harriet." Katie said and he turned back to her. The dog must've heard her name because she came running into the dining room. "Harriet's going to be having puppies."
"Harriet, you little slut." Ari laughed and Katie turned an unamused look over to her. "Sorry,"
Oliver looked over to Harriet, before turning to Katie who turned away slightly. After dinner, when the kids had gone back up to their rooms, and Robyn was down for the night, Katie headed to the kitchen to get the dishes cleaned. When she came back downstairs, she stopped when she realized Oliver had already loaded the dishwasher.
"Oh, I was going to do that." she said and he looked over to her.
"Well, I beat you to it." he smiled as he walked over to her. She looked at him for a moment before turning away.
"So uh, do you have to head out?"
"Nope, Felicity is working on tracking Black Siren, and John and Dinah are scoping out a possible hideout. So tonight I get to be here with you." she turned back to him.
He nudged his head to the seat behind the counter before he took the seat beside it. Katie sighed, but sat down as well. They sat there in silence for a few minutes. Oliver really wanted her to be the one to start the conversation, to be the one finally ready to talk to him about what she's feeling. After a while he figures that's not going to happen, so he decides to be the one to start.
"I don't know how to fix this." Oliver said and Katie turned back to him. "Just this, us, and the kids and everyone is just sad and angry and I just want to fix it, but I don't know how."
"Why do you think you have to fix it?" she asked.
Oliver dropped his eyes from hers. "Adrian Chase came into our lives because of me." he looked back up to her. "Because of something I did. So everything that came out of this, is my fault. So I should be the one to fix it."
"What happened was just a string of choices. You chose, Adrian chose, and a lot of other people chose. Everything that came out of this is just the result of those choices." Katie turned away. "So you don't get to do that. You don't get to blame yourself for all the problems right now. You just have to work through yours like the rest of us." she stood to her feet about to the head off to find some place to be alone.
"How are you working through it?" Oliver asked and Katie stopped. She didn't turn around to him, mostly because she didn't know how to answer the question. "Earlier, in Robyn's nursery..."
"It was one of her old booties." Katie sighed as she dropped her shoulders. "I thought we packed up all her infant clothes, but we missed that one damn sock." Katie reached into her pocket and pulled it out before turning to Oliver. "And since finding it, I can't seem to stop looking for it." she sat it on the counter and Oliver looked over to the tiny sock, a sad smile on his face. "I think I'm torturing myself with it, because every time I look at, I remind myself that I'm broken." Oliver looked over to her with a furrowed brow. "That thing my body was made to do—biologically designed to do and I can't do it anymore, because I...I chose. I made choices. I chose to put myself in situations that would..." Katie felt the emotions swell up in her throat as tears pricked her eyes.
"Hey, Twinkie-" Oliver stood and walked over to her, but she backed away.
"No-" she shook her head as she continued to move away. "No, you can't fix this. You can't be my shoulder."
"Why not?"
"Because we had a future." she turned to him, and the look in her eyes broke his heart. He once again took a step, but she backed away. "We had a year...and I—I took that away. You wanted—you wanted more kids."
"Twinkie, don't—I told you that we are fine. Our family is fine the way it is."
"You wanted five kids." she continued, no longer listening to his words. She found herself being sucked into those emotions she tried so hard to keep buried. "And I was going to do it." she met his eyes with a tearful smile. "I was going to bicker and groan, but I was going to give you five kids." she felt the heat of the tears as they escaped her eyes. "But now I can't. Now I'm broken." she slides a hand over her eyes to wipe the tears away as best she can before turning. "C'mon Harry!"
Oliver watched as the dog came running into the room, following behind Katie as they stepped out into the backyard. He turned away, his eyes going to that tiny white sock still on the counter, and he feels the twinge of emotion. He turns and heads for the back door, suddenly struck by a cold breeze before looking out to Katie who is standing there watching Harriet. He grabs a jacket and heads out as well, placing the jacket over her shoulders, before placing his hands on her waist, but she attempts to pull away.
"Oliver, don't, just-"
Oliver's hand snakes around her waist and turns her to face him. "You're not broken and you didn't take our future. Our future is you, me, Ari, Will and Robyn." he placed a kiss to her head. "You are not broken."
The next morning Oliver made waffles. He wanted to see if maybe a Queen family breakfast would be better than dinner. He turned at the sound of the kitchen door opening, and smiled at the sight of Ari.
"You're making waffles."
Oliver chuckled, "I'm making waffles."
"You know you don't have to try so hard." Ari took a seat at the counter. Oliver turned to her with a quirked brow. "The dinners and waffles, you don't need to do any of that."
"Well I'm just trying to change the atmosphere, I guess." he folded his arms over his chest and shrugged. "I don't like seeing you guys sad. I like you busting my chops and calling me BM, and I like my wife laughing at a joke no one thinks is funny, but she thinks is hilarious." he sighed and dropped his eyes. "I'd like to get to know my son and for him to get to know me." he lifted his eyes back to Ari. "So if to get that, we have to eat a couple of meals together, then that's what we're going to do."
Ari looked at him for a moment before standing to her feet. "Well it's lame." she said as she headed upstairs to get a shower before breakfast.
Oliver smiled as he watched her leave before turning to start a pot of coffee he knows Katie will soon come down for. He heard the sound of the door again, but didn't turn.
"Do not yell at me, I'm starting the coffee, now." he turned, only now realizing it wasn't Katie, but Will. "Oh, sorry, I thought you were Katie." Will just silently nods before turning away. "Uh, I'm making waffles. I'm told they're pretty awesome." Will still just awkwardly stood there, before turning about to head up to his room. "Will, hey, wait." Will stopped and turned back to Oliver. "I get this is a big adjustment, and I can't even imagine how you're feeling right now. With a new a house, and new family...it's got to be tough. But I want you to know that we're here for you, for whatever you need to make this easier." William looked at Oliver before turning when the door once again opened, this time it was Katie walking in with Robyn. He turned back to Oliver, before hurrying away to head back upstairs.
"Sorry, did we interrupt?" Katie asked and Oliver shook his head before walking over and plucking Robyn from her hands.
"It's fine." he placed a kiss to Robyn's cheek before strapping her into her chair. He smiled as he turned back to her. "How are you doing?
"I'm hanging in there." she glanced around. "Harry!"
"I let her outside, and she didn't want to come back in." Oliver replied walking over to her, only for her to step back.
"I should check on her." Katie turned and headed for the backdoor
Oliver sighed as he watched her leave. He thought after last night, they were getting back to them, but maybe he was wrong.
"Dada, juice!"
Oliver turned to Robyn who held up her sippy cup in the air. He just chuckled before walking over to grab the cup.
Unfortunately, breakfast was much like dinner. Everyone sitting around the table, just silently eating. Ari looked over to Oliver who was looking down to his phone before looking over to Katie who was trying to prevent Robyn from throwing her sippy cup. She glanced across the table to William who just ate his waffle, while playing his game boy. This was just getting way too unbearable and she figured she should do something.
"I heard the police academy graduation is tonight at city hall." she said looking over to Oliver who lifted his eyes to her.
"Yeah, it is." he smiled letting out a breath glad the silence was broken by someone. "I have to give a speech." Ari just nods before turning to take a sip of her juice. "Did you want to come?" she turned back to him with a quirked brow. "I know you haven't been to city hall in a while, but there are actually a few people who'd be happy to see you. I get questions all the time about how you're doing and if you're coming back."
"Oh, I didn't think I could." Ari replied and Oliver looked over to her with a furrowed brow. "I've just been away so long, I didn't think could go back."
"Of course you can come back. Whenever you're ready, your spot is always there."
Ari smiled, "Good to know." she replied before looking over to Will. "Maybe we can find a job for Will too. Get him something to do that doesn't include annoying me."
"I actually like that job." Will repied without missing a beat, not taking his eyes off of his game. Ari threw a piece of granola at him and he glared over to her. "You know I think I might tell Jamie about that stuff you put on your face before you go to bed."
"You wouldn't dare."
"Wouldn't I?"
Oliver chuckled before looking over to Katie who met his gaze with a smile. This was definitely turning out to be a better family meal.
Once again, Will wanted Ari to drive him to school, so they both hurried for the door.
"Yo, hold up!" Katie called and they both turned to her. She just turned a sweet smile to Will before holding out her hand. He just let out a sigh before reaching into his backpack and grabbing his game boy. "Thank you sir, it will be here waiting for you after school." Will just shook his head before heading out the door, Ari laughing behind him.
Katie looked down to the game boy, before glancing over her shoulder to make sure the coast is clear before powering it on.
Oliver came downstairs, dressed and ready for work. He glanced around not hearing anything and figured Ari and Will were already gone for school.
"Son of a bitch." he heard from the living room, and went to check it out. He found Katie sitting on the couch playing Will's game boy. He hovered over her shoulder a bit, watching her play, and he had to admit, she wasn't doing too bad.
"How long have you been playing this?" Oliver asked.
"I don't know." she muttered not tearing her eyes from the screen.
"Ok, why are you playing a game boy."
"Because our baby is boring and this actually keeps me entertained while all of you are out there living lives." Oliver furrowed his brow before walking around to sit beside her on the couch.
"Twinkie?"
"I'm almost passed this level, so I can't have another heart to heart with you right now." she said not even sparing him a glance. That's why Oliver reached over and took the gameboy from her hand, and she turned to him with a glare. "What did you do that for?" she tried to reach out to grab it, but he held it out of reach. "So, you would rather me hurt you than go to work?"
"I'd rather you talk to me." Oliver placed the gameboy on the table before turning to her. "Twinkie, if you need something to occupy your time, you could-"
"If you're going to suggest I come back to the team, save your breath." she stood to her feet and headed over to Robyn's play area where the girl was currently pushing her doll's stroller. Katie moved around the girl, picking up toys and putting them away, Oliver behind her.
"I know, and I respect your decision." Oliver began picking up toys as well. "I was going to suggest maybe working at the hospital or the clinic." she stopped and turned to him. "Robyn's getting older, and she could use some time to play with other kids her age. We could get her back in daycare, and you can-"
"I can, what?" Katie glanced over to him. "I appreciate you trying to help, but I'm good. Yes, it gets boring some times, but I can deal. For me, being a parent is enough."
She turned away to continue cleaning and Oliver looked at her with a furrowed brow. That comment seemed to say more what she was saying.
"That's not fair." Oliver replied and Katie turned to him. "And it's also not true. I know you Twinkie, and I know you're not happy right now. You had dreams and you had aspirations which you can still accomplish. When we were kids, you used to tell me how one day you were going to change the world."
"That was before the world chewed me up and spit me out." Katie placed the toys in the chest and turned to Oliver. "Now, I'm a mom and a wife and I'm probably not doing the best job at either, but I'm not going to give up." she reached up to straighten his tie. "And if you don't leave now, you're going to be late."
"I'm going to be late." Oliver said as he looked down to his wife. Katie lifted her eyes to him. "I have to stop by the bunker first." normally he'd give her more details, but he knows at the moment she wasn't interested. She nods before turning around to pick up more toys. "And you're wrong." she stopped and looked over to him. "Mother and wife, you're doing a great job at both."
Katie let out a snort, "I can't imagine post Lian Yu Twinkie being a great wife or mother." she looked over to him and sighed. "Kind of feel like a part of me is still there, crying her eyes out waiting for her father to come back and now all you guys get is this." she gestured to herself. "This moody shell of a person who-" Oliver walked over to her, and captured her lips in a kiss that took her breath away. It was slow, precise. He wanted her to see it—to feel it. He wanted her to see everything he saw when he looked at her. He wanted her to feel the love and admiration, and just the astonishment.
Oliver pulled away, and smiled down to the women. "What you're feeling won't last forever." he dropped his forehead against hers.
"You don't know that." she whispers.
"Yes I do." he placed a kiss to her cheek and pulled her into a hug.
The day was dragging for Katie. She put Robyn down for her nap, and moved about the house looking for something to do. She's already cleaned everything, did laundry, and made a list of things they would need from the market. Katie just stood in the living room, trying to think of anything she could be doing right now.
She took a seat on the couch before turning on the television. The news was playing, and a smile came to her face at the sight of a picture of Oliver as they mentioned the police academy graduation. Katie sat back on couch with an idea.
Later that day, Oliver stood in the elevator at city hall. The meeting with the team revealed that evil Laurel and her crew were planning on attacking the graduation. Curtis was able to come up with some devices that could sniff out the bombs. So the team would be around city hall hoping to find explosives before anyone was hurt.
Oliver headed off the elevator to his office to grab his note cards that held his speech. When he stepped inside, he really didn't expect to find his children. He stopped and looked over to Ari who was sitting in his chair, her feet on his desk as she looked at her phone, and then over to Will who sat propped up on the couch playing his gameboy.
"Hey...guys." He walked further into his office, suddenly more nervous. There could be a bomb or multiple bombs in this building...a building where his kids now were. He turned when the door to his office opened and in came Katie pushing Robyn in her stroller and he let out a deep breath as he slid a hand through his hair. "Uh, hi."
Katie looked at him in confusion, "I thought you'd be happier to see us."
"Yeah, I—I am, it's just..." he sighed once again before grabbing Robyn's stroller and pushing it around his desk. "Ari, feet down, and watch Robyn for a second." he turned, grabbing Katie's arm and pulling her out into the hall. She stepped out and spotted Curtis.
"Curtis is here?" she asked turning to Oliver who still looked weird. "What's going on with you, do you not want us here?"
"Twinkie, that's not-" he grabbed her hand and pulled her away from everyone into a nearby conference room. "The team is here because we believe the graduation is Black Siren's next target."
"Wait, you think she's going to blow up city hall?"
Oliver nods, "Last night, John and Dinah found the schematics for city hall in one of their hideouts. So yeah, we think this is a target."
"Why?" Katie asked.
"Quentin seems to think it's because of him, we're not sure. He was with us when we found her the first time and she seemed to target him when she saw him. We're thinking maybe she and the Quentin from her universe had issues." Oliver sighed. "So yeah, I am happy you guys are here, just not happy that you're here when there is a possible bomb here." Katie turned away and just shook her head. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be, I'm the one who thought we could be normal." she looked over to Oliver. "Continue this whole family togetherness by surprising you tonight to watch your speech." Katie turned. "I'll grab the kids and head home."
"Hey," Oliver grabbed her arm, and she turned back to him. "I'm sorry."
She placed a hand on his cheek. "I know. Just be safe and come home with all your limbs." Oliver chuckled as he placed a kiss to her cheek before she pulled away to step back into the hall and head back to his office.
Oliver just shook his head, upset that once again bad guys were interfering in his life and with his family and he hated it. He glanced down to his watch, it was nearing time to head down to the graduation. He decided to walk Katie and the kids to the car before heading over.
Katie knew it probably wasn't the healthiest choice, but it was on their route home and so she decided that they would dine out at Big Belly Burger for dinner. She had zoned out, her eyes out the window while the kids ate their food.
"Did you just eat one of my fries?"
Katie is pulled from her thoughts, turning to Ari and Will who are sitting in the seat across from her.
"I ate all of mine, and you weren't even eating them." Will said and Ari just looked at him with a shake of her head.
"Will, you can get some more fries if you want." Katie said before handing him a few bills. She watched as he slid from his seat and went over to make his order.
"So are we going to talk about it?" Ari asked and Katie turned to her. "Why couldn't we stay for the graduation."
"I already told you-"
"It wasn't open to the public, but I could've sworn I saw Curtis and Felicity there. Was something going on?"
"You know that sounds like something someone on the team would know. Which neither one of us are." Katie shrugged as she took a bite from her fry before looking over to Robyn who looked as if she were finished with her chicken nuggets.
"So what? You're like out?" Ari looked over to Katie who didn't say anything. "Why?"
"Because it's safer that way." Katie replied looking back over to her. "Because me and Oliver now have to care for three children, and at least one of us needs to be the parent that's not always in the line of danger, and I've decided to be that parent. So if something is happening at City Hall, I'm sure Oliver and the team can handle it."
"And you're alright with that?" Ari asked. "I thought you two watched each other's back. He's there when you need saving, and you're there when he needs saving. How do you do that if you're just out?"
Katie didn't say anything, mostly because she wasn't sure how to answer the question. A part of her, felt the tug to be with Oliver, to know the dangers he was bolting toward so she could be there to step in if he needed. That's how it usually went. He got himself into situations, and she'd be there to save him. She realized that some times she'd been too afraid to let him get himself out of those situations. She was too afraid he wouldn't be able to. After Lian Yu, she thinks that's the lesson she has to learn. She tried to step in and save the day, and it didn't work. Maybe she had to realize that she couldn't always be there to save Oliver. Maybe she had to stay out of the way.
"I don't." Katie finally replied. "Oliver and his team do a fine job of watching each other's back. You know that as well as I do. So while they're out there being heroes, I get to be here with you." she nudged her head to Robyn. "And with the little bird, and-" she chuckled as Will came back to his seat with a new order of fries and a milk shake. "And the human garbage disposal here. Did they not feed you at school today?"
Will looked over to her and just laughed as he started eating his fries.
That night when Katie pulled into the driveway, she glanced back to Will and Robyn both asleep in the back seat.
"I think it's a mistake." Ari said and Katie looked over to her with a furrowed brow. "You shouldn't just give it up. Not for us. We'll be fine. You shouldn't just change your whole life because of us."
Katie placed a hand on Ari's cheek and smiled. "Yes I can. Because the three of you are so important to me that I would change my entire life just so none of you would have to feel that pain from five months ago. So you got me kid, whether you like it or not, you got me." she nudged her head toward the house. "Head inside, and I'll get them."
Ari looked at Katie for a moment, not saying anything before turning and getting out of the car. The sound of the door jolted William awake with a gasp.
"Hey, you're ok." Katie looked back to him and he turned to her. "We're home." Will looks out the window to the house and lets out a deep breath. "Why don't you head inside and get ready for bed." he nods about to step out of the car but stops and turns back to Katie. After a moment, he holds out his gameboy to her. Katie looks at him in confusion before taking it.
"I can't get past level fifteen" he says and she looks over to him. "I know which levels I've gotten through, and I know you've helped me get through a couple. Could you help me with this one?"
Katie smiled as she glanced down to the gameboy and just nods before looking back over to him.
"I'll see what I can do."
It was late when Oliver finally arrived home. He was exhausted. The attack on city hall was a bust. A distraction set up by Black Siren while she and her crew infiltrated their real target. The bunker. Curtis was still going through everything to figure out why they were there and if they took anything.
When he stepped out of the car, he looked up to the house and smiled. He'd been anxious to get home for most of the day. When he stepped inside, it was quiet as expected. He figured everyone was sleep. He headed for the steps, but stopped when he heard a voice.
"Take that you little bitch." he heard from the kitchen.
He followed the voice to find Katie sitting at the counter, a bowl of melting ice cream in front of her while she played on the gameboy. She didn't turn to him when he walked inside, her eyes never leaving the screen.
"The gameboy again?" Oliver asked as he walked over to take the seat beside her, grabbing her bowl, and eating the ice cream.
"This time I was requested to play." Katie said and Oliver looked over to her. "Will asked me to see if I can get him passed this level and I'm just about...YES!" a big smile came to her face as she turned to Oliver. "I did it. I beat that little green bastard's ass!" she threw her arms around him in excitement and placed a kiss to his lips. She pulled back and placed a hand on the side of his face. "I didn't see anything about an explosion at City Hall, so I assume everything went ok."
"It did," he replied. He actually wanted her to ask for details. To want to know how crappy the night went, but he couldn't push her. She made a choice and he was going to respect it. "Will asked you to play his game?"
"He did," she replied with a smile that Oliver returned. He always knew the boy would take to Katie if he gave her a chance. She pulled away and held out the gameboy to him. "He's still awake I think. You want to give him the good news."
"That you beat the little green bastard?" Oliver chuckled as he took the game before looking up to meet her eyes. "I love you and if you really do want to step away from the team, I'm ok with that. What I'm not ok with is you totally giving up on being something more than my wife and our kids' mother. Like I said earlier, you're great at it, but I know it's not enough for you and I don't want you to regret it one day that you let that island take away anymore from you." he stood to his feet and placed a kiss to the top of her head. "You coming up?"
"I'm going to go check on Harry." she looked over to him. "Then I'll meet you up there." she smiled as he turned and headed upstairs before she stood to her feet and walked out to the backyard where she found Harry curled up under the big tree.
Katie walked over and dropped down to the ground beside her.
"Hey girl, how are you doing?" Harry placed her head on Katie's lap as the woman rubbed the dog's back. "You know what's going on, don't you? You know your babies are coming." Katie felt a tear escape her eyes as she looked down to the dog before lifting her eyes to the sky. "You're honestly jealous of a dog," she muttered.
Oliver walked over to Will's door, hesitant for a moment, but he took a step forward before knocking and pushing open the door. He found Will lying in bed in his pajamas, watching something on television. The boy didn't say anything when he looked over to Oliver.
"Uh hey, I uh—Katie told me to give you this." Oliver walked over to give the game to Will. "I'm supposed to tell you she beat some little green guy I guess, but she seemed excited so I think she got you to the next level." Will looked down to the gameboy before sitting it on the table beside his bed. He turned his eyes back to the television. "William, I know that the last few months have been difficult for you, and I know that you blame me for part of that." Oliver dropped his eyes because he blamed himself as well. "I used to blame my dad for things. He wasn't perfect. Neither am I But he loved me. I know how much your mom loved you." William lifted his eyes to Oliver. "She really did, but you need to know that the last thing that she asked of me and Katie was to take care you. Now you don't have to like me for me to take care of you because I'm your dad. The way that works is I am gonna be there for you whether you want me to be or not. I am never, ever walking away from you." he stopped, hoping for a response, or some indication that Will really did understand how much he loved him. "There's a game on tomorrow if you want to stay up late and watch it." still nothing and Oliver just let out a sigh before turning to leave.
"Football or baseball?" Will asked and Oliver stopped and turned back to him.
"Baseball." Oliver replied.
William nods, "Ok."
"Ok," Oliver replies with a smile before turning and walking from the room. He stops when he sees Ari standing at her door, he figures hearing most of that conversation. He walks over to stand in front of her. "I guess no one is sleeping tonight."
"What happened at City Hall?" Ari asked and Oliver let out a sigh. "And don't make up a story."
"We thought there could possibly be an attack tonight at the graduation. That's why I asked Katie to get you guys out of there." Oliver folded his arms and leaned against the door as he looked down to the girl. "A couple of months ago we found out something happened. Some how people from other universes had been brought over to ours." Ari looked at him with wide eyes. "One of those people calls herself Black Siren. She looks exactly like Laurel Lance, but she is not Laurel. She's bad news, and she is the one behind all the craziness."
"Where's the real Laurel?"
Oliver sighed. "We don't know. This Laurel somehow switched places with our Laurel."
"So that's why Ethan moved back." Ari turned away as she mulled over this new information. "There wasn't an attack tonight, so either you stopped her, or it was a trick." she turned back to Oliver. "If you and the team were at City Hall, it was to get you guys away from something." She turned away as she thought about it. "The bunker?" she turned to Oliver who couldn't help the smile that pulled at his lips. He didn't say anything before leaning forward and pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "You're not going to tell me?"
"I'm not going to tell you. It's late, and you have school in the morning."
"You really expect me to sleep after the story about people from other universes and evil Laurel?" Ari asked and Oliver looked over to her and sighed. "That seems kind of big. Do you know how it even happened?"
"Not yet, but we're working on it, but Ari, you don't have-"
"I've made a decision. I want back on the team." she said and Oliver dropped his head. "What? Can I not come back?"
"That's not it, it's just-" Oliver lifted his eyes back to the girl. He honestly was hoping she'd decide not to come back to the team. After the last few days he'd just had, with bomb threats, and multiverses, the last thing he wants is for any of them to be anywhere near it. "Let's just give it some more time. After everything that's happened, I don't want you jumping into anything unless you're ready." Ari just rolled her eyes before stepping back into her room and shutting the door.
Oliver dropped his head before pulling back and heading toward the bedroom as he pulled off his tie. The truth was, he wasn't ready, and at this point he's not even sure he ever will be.
The next morning Oliver opened his eyes, the sun barely filtering through the windows. It was still early, but that super power kicked in. He glanced over and as expected, Katie was not laying beside him. He sighed as he sat up, glancing over to the bathroom before standing from the bed. He walked over, peeking inside, but she wasn't in there.
Grabbing a shirt and slipping it on, Oliver stepped into the dim lit hallway, about to head downstairs figuring she was probably checking on Harry. Before he could take a step down the stairs, he glanced over to see a sliver of light peeking from his office. With a furrowed brow, Oliver walked over, pushing open the door to his office to find Katie sitting in the chair behind the desk, her eyes out the window. He sighed as he walked over and sat down in the chair in front of the desk.
"You're having nightmares." he said and Katie looked over to meet his eyes. He noticed she wasn't sleeping through the night and he wasn't quite sure why. It was too reminiscent of those nights he'd find her alone in the kitchen. It was nightmares keeping her awake, and he figured that's what was happening now. "How long?"
"Since the island." she replied before her eyes veered back toward the window. "It's of him. My dad. It's always of him. We're on that island, and I'm always too late to save him."
"I dream of everyone." Oliver replied sitting back in his seat. Katie turns back to him. "That I showed up on Lian Yu, stopped the bad guys and everyone got home safe and sound." he drops his eyes. "And then I wake up, and realize it's just a dream. Samantha and Jacob are still dead. Thea is still in a coma all because I killed someone's father." he looked back over to Katie.
"No, Samantha and my father are dead, and Thea is in a coma because bad people did bad things." her brow dipped as she turned away. "But why?" she turned to Oliver who wasn't sure what she was asking. "Why do bad people do bad things? After years of going out there with your bow and your arrows, why are the bad guys still popping up?" Oliver once again turned away and Katie stood to her feet and walked around to him, dropping to sit in his lap. "I'm not saying what you're doing hasn't created change, but..."
"It's not enough. I know, I thought being the mayor could bridge that gap, but it's not." Oliver slid his arms around her waist.
Katie placed a hand on his cheek, and he met her gaze with a smile. "Oliver, I want you to give up the mask." he didn't immediately react, but she's sure her words got his attention. "I want you to feel as if you can give up the mask, which is why you wouldn't walk away when I asked."
"Twinkie, that's not-"
"Fine, Felix Faust, the unknown powerful guy that could possibly be after me, I believe that's why you stayed, but I also believe a part of you wasn't ready to take that step." she dropped her eyes, her hands sliding to his chest. "A lot of things came from that island. Sadness, anger-" she lifted her eyes. "But there was a lesson. For us to be who we need to be for those kids, we have to make choices. I'm choosing another road that you're not ready for, but I think I have an idea to help you along."
Katie stood to her feet and walked back over to the desk. Oliver watched as she pulled open a drawer pulled out a notebook before turning to him.
"This is an idea. I've spent months in this house, with a lot of time to think. So I write them in this notebook and then I put it in that drawer because I tell myself it's stupid." Katie walks over and takes a seat on the edge of the desk in front of Oliver. "The more I think about it, the more I believe it's not that stupid and maybe someone can make this idea real."
Oliver smiled as he watched her and nods as he sits up a bit.
"Tell me."
"It's a second chance." she replies glancing down to the notebook before looking back over to Oliver. "A center that offers people...all of the people in this city who needs it, a second chance. A place that has job training, counseling, legal assistance, mentorship, medical aid assistance, everything a person needs, but never had access to because they don't have the money, or they just got out of jail, or a family member died and they don't know how to cope. There are so many people in this city who make the wrong choices because they feel there are no other choices." she lifted her notebook. "This is the other choice. This is the right choice, we just need to offer it."
Katie looks at Oliver waiting for him to say something, but he silently just stares are her. She lets out a heavy breath.
"I knew it was stupid." she stands to her feet and moves to drop the notebook back into the drawer. "Forget I said anything."
"Yes." Oliver finally responded and Katie looked over to him with a quirked brow.
"Yes, what?"
"Yes," Oliver stands to his feet and walks over to her with a smile. "I'm going to call a meeting in the morning with City Council," he turned away as he kept thinking out loud. "I'll have Quentin meet me first thing to draw up a list."
"Liver, what are you talking about? What list?" Katie asked and Oliver turned to her.
"For the team you're going to need to turn this idea into a reality." a smile pulled at his lips. "I'm hiring you."
Katie let out a snort. "You're hiring me?"
"Yep, Twinkie, you have no idea how big this could be and I just-" his smile grew wider before he suddenly pulled her lips to his. He pulled back, meeting her eyes. "This is it. This is just the thing we need to bridge that gap. So the city is hiring you to head up this project-" he got a thought, "Project Second Chance. What do you say?"
"Liver, I have a few random ideas in a notebook, and now you're offering me a job." Katie's shoulders slumped. This notebook really was just things she'd write down when she was bored. She never planned on showing him and she definitely never thought he'd create a whole project out of it. She shook her head. "I'm definitely not confident in my ability to do this."
"Twinkie, I've told you a million times how you are the strongest person I know. You're also the most determined, the most patient and you have the biggest heart of anyone I know. That makes you the perfect person for the job." he placed another kiss to her lips. "And I'm not taking no for an answer."
They turned at the sound of Robyn's tired cries.
"I should..." Katie placed the notebook on the desk and turned back to Oliver. "Before you start bossing everyone around, let me think about it." she moved around him out of the office to go check on Robyn.
Oliver chuckled, turning and picking up the notebook and flipping through the pages. He just shook his head in awe at some of the ideas she had scribbled inside. He imagined if this could be real, and how big it could be for the city. He smiled before glancing over to the clock and letting out a sigh because it was way too early to start making those calls.
A few hours later, Oliver stood in the kitchen curiously watching as Katie moved about the kitchen to make coffee. Once the machine was started, she turned to him with a quirked brow.
"Why are you starting at me, weirdo?" she folded her arms over her chest and Oliver smiled as he walked over to stand in front of her.
"I won't make any calls until you say yes."
"If I say yes, and I appreciate that." she replied and he just continued to stare and she let out a snort. "And I haven't decided, so stop with the staring."
She slipped around him to the refrigerator. She grabbed a few pieces of fruit to cut up for Robyn's breakfast. Before she could get away, Oliver's arm slipped around her waist, pulling her back to his chest, and pressing a gentle kiss to the crook of her neck. Katie spun around in his arms, her eyes looking up to his, before dropping her head to his chest. Oliver tightened his grasp around her, and let out a relieved sigh. For the longest time, he felt her pulling away from him, but now he could feel her coming back. They stand like that for a while, in a comforting silence and in an embrace they both seem to need.
"We're going to be ok." Katie whispers and a smile tugged at Oliver lips as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. He pulled back and she placed a hand to his cheek. "We have a long road ahead of us, but we're going to be ok."
Oliver feels the twinge of emotion in his throat as he nods, because he's been saying those same words, but not truly believing them. Hearing her say them, makes it feel real. As if it would just happen.
"I'm going to give this Queen family breakfast thing another shot. Maybe the smell of waffles will miraculously make our kids want to spend time with us."
"Oh, you're dreaming big." Katie laughed as she headed over to the refrigerator. She glanced over her shoulder when she heard Oliver's phone ring. They both looked over to the counter to the phone before Oliver reached for it. "You know I thought we got Liver a little longer before he put on the Mayor slash Arrow hat." he chuckled as he looked over to her.
"It's Felicity. They may have figured out what Black Siren was doing in the bunker. I'll make it quick and get started on the waffles."
Katie didn't seem pleased with his answer, but didn't say anything before she turned back to the refrigerator.
Oliver sighed before grabbing his phone and heading out into the living room.
"Felicity, hey, I was heading into the bunker later, you didn't have to call." he glanced back to the kitchen door. "I sort of need to just be Oliver right now."
"I think you're going to have a problem with that plan." Felicity replied. "Turn on the news."
Oliver frowned, but complied, picking up the remote and turning on the tv. He didn't have to flip the channels too many times before his heart dropped
"I don't think waffles are going to work." Katie walked from the kitchen. "We're out of eggs." Katie waited for Oliver to respond, but instead he just turned to her with a look that made her nervous. "What's wrong?"
"with the discovery of a shocking photograph that seems to finally solve the mystery haunting Star City for the past two years- who is the Green Arrow? This photo, which was obtained exclusively by channel 52 provides unequivocal proof of the identity of the vigilante known as the Green Arrow."
Katie heard the voice from the television, but she kept her eyes on Oliver. She took a step to the side, and Oliver did the same.
"Twinkie, we're going to be ok." Oliver tried to reassure her using the words she'd just said moments ago.
He hung up the phone and moved around the couch, bringing his hands to Katie's arms and turning her to face him.
Katie pulled from his grasp and walked around the couch, and the moment she saw the television everything just went quiet. She couldn't hear the voice on the television, or Oliver speaking to her. She dropped to sit on the couch, never tearing her gaze from the screen.
There was an image of Oliver, dawned as the Green Arrow in a high definition photo. There it was. The truth for the whole world to see.
The photograph that just blew up their entire world.
Author's Note
Wowzers, I wonder how Katie is going to handle this?
Review Replies
RoseBud1923 - Thank You! It's going to be a doozy of a story, so hold on it's going to be a bumpy ride.
hunter41963801 - Glad you like it! Oliver and Katie won't have an easy road ahead, year 2 or marriage won't be easy at all.
Adela - I do too. I think Katie really is just trying to create a relationship with Will, and reconnect with Ari after both lost their mothers.
Thank you all for tuning into this story. I can't believe we're now at the sixth story, with only two more after this. I appreciate all the support and hope you're all enjoying the story so far.
Sneak Peek
Katie moved about the house like a ghost. Her mind was a million different places, but that picture, that image of Oliver was at the forefront. She found herself trying to think of a next move. Oliver's optimism made him believe that he could just fix this, her pessimism wouldn't allow her to think it would be that easy. It's why after putting Robyn down for her nap, she trudged down the basement and pulled up all of their suitcases. With everything happening, there only seemed be one plausible solution.
They needed to leave.