"Oliver Queen and Tommy Merlyn are alive! The Starling City residents were found by fishermen in the North China sea five days ago, alongside Sara and Laurel Lance, five years after they were missing and were presumed dead following the accident at sea which claimed "The Queen's Gambit". Queen and Merlyn were regular tabloid presences and fixtures at the Starling City club scene. Shortly before his disappearance, Queen was acquitted of assault charges stemming from a highly publicized drunken altercation with paparazzi. Queen is the son of Starling City billionaire Robert Queen, who was also on board but now officially confirmed as deceased. Merlyn is the son of Malcolm Merlyn, the head of Merlyn Global. Sara and Laurel are the daughters of Detective Quentin Larry Lance."
Moira Queen hurried down the hospital corridor, Quentin Lance and Malcolm Merlyn hot on her heels.
All three were desperate to see their children after years of grief, mourning, and sleepless nights believing them to be gone forever.
Having been told at the service desk that the four had refused to be separated, they stopped just outside the door, where they were met by a man whose badge identified him as Dr. Lamb.
"Where are they? Are they alright?" They questioned, rapidly
Dr. Lamb held his hands up placatingly.
"Mrs. Queen, Mr. Merlyn, Detective Lance, I understand your concern, and you may see them in a moment but I need to talk to the three of you first." Dr. Lamb said
Malcolm frowned.
"Why, what's wrong?" Malcolm asked
The doctor took a deep breath.
"Did something happen to them... while there were... gone?" Moira asked, nervously
Dr. Lamb fixed them with a serious look, one that brought a lump to their throats.
"I'm afraid so..." Dr. Lamb said, sadly
He turned to Moira.
"Twenty percent of Oliver's body is covered in scar tissue. Second-degree burns on his back and arms. X-rays show at least 12 fractures that never properly healed." Dr. Lamb revealed
Moira gasped, and clutched her chest in anguish at the description of what had happened to her son.
"Laurel? Sara? What about my baby girls?" Quentin asked
"Laurel seems to have roughly ten percent of her body covered in scar tissue. There appears to be a shark bite on her hip. Along with deep tissue damage on Laurel's lower stomach that is indicative of an improvised caesarean." Dr. Lamb said, gravely
Quentin choked, and felt like he was about to collapse where he stood. Laurel could have been pregnant? What the hell had happened on that island?
"Sara looks to have about twelve percent of her body covered in scar tissue. We found the remnants of blade incisions all across her torso and we identified ten imperfectly healed fractures, most of which were ribs." Dr. Lamb said
"What about Tommy? What about my son?" Malcolm asked
"Fifteen percent of his body is covered in burns and scar tissues. X-rays show at least fifteen fractures that never properly healed." Dr. Lamb said
"Have they said anything about what happened?" Moira asked
Dr. Lamb shook his head sadly.
"No. They've barely said anything. Moira, Quentin, Malcolm, I'd like you to prepare yourselves. The Oliver, Tommy, Laurel, and Sara you lost... might not be the ones they found." Dr. Lamb said
He bowed his head, and Moira muttered a sombre 'thank you' as she moved past and prepared to open the door to the room.
"Oliver?" Moira called
Sara, Laurel, Tommy, and Oliver slowly turn around to face their parents, their hands entwined. Empty looks upon all of their faces.
"Mom." Oliver said
His voice was filled with emotion. He slowly moved over to stand in front of his mother, watching as tears welled in her eyes as he approached.
"My beautiful boy." Moira said
She broke down, hugging Oliver tightly and pressing a kiss to the side of his head. She squeezed him tighter, not wanting to release him, reassuring herself that he was real and there.
"Sara? Laurel?" Quentin said
"Daddy!" Sara exclaimed
She raced into her father's outstretched arms followed by Laurel. Quentin laughed out of pure relief and slight disbelief as he holds his daughters in his arms after five, excruciatingly painful years.
"I've got you babies, I've got you. You're home." Quentin whispered
Hot, fresh tears streamed down all of their cheeks.
Malcolm approached Tommy, carefully. He gently placed his hand on his son's shoulder. He felt Tommy's body relax and the young man turned around.
"Hey Dad." Tommy said
Malcolm did not waste a second to pull him in an embrace. Tommy was his son and a proof that Rebecca once existed. He was not going to lose his son again. Never again.
After what seems like a millennium to Oliver, Laurel, Tommy, and Sara, their parents release them from almost bone crushing hugs. The four quickly take each other's hands again.
After being kept in the hospital overnight, Oliver, Sara, Laurel, and Tommy were told they were free to go the following morning. They were greeted by Moira, who signed for their discharge papers as well as Oliver's green crate – the only possession they had brought back with them - before leading the foursome discreetly to a side exit so as to avoid the swarming paparazzi at the front.
In fact, most of the drive back was in silence, save for Sara asking where her father was, to which Moira replied that, after a long discussion the night before, the two parents, along with Malcolm, had admitted it would probably be best if the four stayed together, at least while they were recovering, and Quentin and Malcolm had reluctantly agreed that the Queen mansion was best.
Sara was careful to disguise her relief that her father hadn't fought too hard to get her and Laurel separated from Oliver and Tommy. As much as she was happy to be home, and to see her parents again, she just wasn't ready yet.
She mulled over her thoughts in silence, staring absently out the window of the limousine at the passing scenery. As if sensing the blonde's distress, Tommy wordlessly offered his hand. Sara took it gratefully, squeezing his hand as they pulled off the road and onto the Queens' extensive driveway.
Upon pulling up at the entrance to the mansion, Oliver was quick to exit his seat, racing around to the back of the car and halting the butler from picking up his crate.
"I've got it." Oliver said
This and the look from Oliver was all it took for the driver to back away, allowing Oliver to lift the box out of the trunk. Laurel stepped up to his side and he offered her his free hand. Looking up, Oliver saw his mother watching him, the briefest of smiles ghosting her face. Oliver and Laurel stepped up to the front door as Moira turned and opened the double doors into the house.
"Your room is exactly as you left it." Moira said
She led them into the house.
"I never had the heart to change a thing." Moira said
Laurel released Oliver's hand as he set the box on the ground just inside the doors, giving him a moment to take in the house he hadn't seen in years. The four noticed an older man approaching from a room off the foyer.
"Oliver, it's damn good to see you." The man said
Oliver stepped up to the man, looking him up and down before shaking the offered hand.
"It's Walter..." The man, Walter, introduced himself
He had taken Oliver's silence as not knowing who he was.
"Walter Steele." Walter said
"You remember Walter, you're father's friend from the company." Moira urged
Walter moved onto Tommy and the two shook hands.
"I'm glad the four of you survived. I can't imagine what you must have gone through." Walter said
"We had each other, Mr. Steele." Laurel said
"That was enough." Sara added
"It's good to see you, Raisa." Oliver said
He stepped up to a smiling older, raven-haired woman wearing a maid's uniform. Tommy jumped and wrapped his arms around the older woman's waist.
"I missed you so much Raisa!" Tommy said.
"Welcome home, Mr. Oliver. It's good to have the four of you back." Raisa said
"The food was horrible on the island." Tommy said
Raisa laughed.
"Good thing you are home then." Raisa said
Oliver looked towards the top of the stairs.
"Oliver?" Moira called
Oliver moved to the bottom of the stairs. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Thea descending the steps before turning and pausing to look down at her brother.
"Hey, sis." Oliver called
Thea stared at him for a moment before her face broke into a smile as she practically skipped down the stairs and leaped into her brother's arms.
"I knew it. I knew you were alive. I missed you so much." Thea said
"You were with me the whole time." Oliver reassured her
He returned her hug, his hand on the back of her neck.
After Thea reunited with Laurel, Tommy, and Sara, the four excused themselves to Oliver's room. Once they were all inside, Oliver shut the door and flicked the lock shut with a barely audible 'click'.
Oliver turned to look at the entrance to the bathroom.
"I'm going to take a shower, get rid of the smell of hospital. Care to join?" Oliver asked
Laurel walked past him, but stopped at the door.
"Aren't you coming?" Laurel asked
Oliver looked back at Sara and Tommy.
"Go, Sara and I will be here when you get out." Tommy said
Fifteen minutes later, Oliver exited the shower with Laurel behind him. He walked over to a mirror and examined himself, standing there with only a towel around his waist.
"Admiring your body?" Tommy asked, cheekily
"Stop it Tommy." Sara scolded
"This needs to stop Tommy. You being all cheery and normal is not going to help us. We came back from hell, Tommy. Do you really think they are going believe you being all chirpy and exactly the way you were before? That it's going to help us?" Oliver asked
"And you being your brooding self will help?" Tommy retorted
He sighed and wrapped his arm around Oliver's waist.
"I know this is hard for you, Oliver. You've had it worse than I had at points. But please do remember that we're back. And we need to act normal. And me being chirpy is normal." Tommy said
Oliver sighed and Sara walked over to him.
"What do you see?" Sara asked
"A stranger." Oliver said softly, almost sadly
He looked over his torso, noting the various scars and tattoos that adorned it and remembering how they came to be marked upon him.
"After five years, everything that was once familiar is now unrecognizable. The face I see in the mirror is a stranger." Oliver said
"You're our husband." Sara said
She wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Do you recognize that?" Sara asked
"I do." Oliver replied
He wrapped his arms around her and Tommy. Laurel made her way over to the three and stood next to Tommy, who wrapped his arm around her.
"Our scars tell a story. They hurt us, they broke us, but they also brought us together. We four are one, and nothing will break us apart." Laurel said, wisely
Thunder echoed from outside, causing Laurel to break her gaze from her husbands and sister to look outside.
"Storm's coming." Laurel commented
"Yep." Tommy agreed
He sighed.
"You two should get dressed. Dinner's gonna be ready soon and they're gonna come looking for us." Tommy said
Queen's Gambit – 5 Years Ago. Robert Queen stared at the ship radar whilst a man emerged from outside soaking wet.
"The storm's a category 2. The captain's recommending we head back." A crew member said
"All right. Inform the crew." Robert said
Robert turned to see his son, Oliver, come out from his room.
"Are we in trouble?" Oliver asked
He looked around worried.
"One of us is." Robert said
Sara approached from one of the cabins followed by Tommy.
"Ollie? Where do you keep the bottle opener on this thing?" Sara asked
"It's where the bottles are you dork!" Oliver said, grinning
Tommy rolled his eyes.
"I hate yachts. No offense Mr. Queen." Tommy said
"None taken, Tommy." Robert said
Tommy nodded and grabbing Sara's hand, mouthed to Oliver to come soon. Oliver sent him a gesture as he rolled his eyes and walked away with Sara.
"Hurry up, Ollie." Sara called over her shoulder
"I'll be there in a minute, Sara." Oliver said
Robert sighed and looked at his only son.
"You know, son, that is not going to finish well." Robert said
Oliver grinned at his father.
"We'll see Dad." Oliver said
At dinner, Oliver sat at the head of the table with Sara and Laurel on his right side, and Tommy and Thea on his left side. Moira sat at the other end of the table with Walter on her right side.
At dinner, Tommy was telling his lovers about what they missed while on the island.
"So I looked up a bunch of stuff that we missed when we were gone on the computer. Super bowl winners: Giants, Steelers, Saints, Packers, Giants again. A black president, that's new. Oh, and Lost, they were all dead... I think." Tommy recalled
Oliver, Sara, and Laurel chuckle at their husband's information. But the joyous mood was ended when Thea spoke up.
"What was it like there?" Thea asked
Her question had been totally innocent, but there was a nervous tension that suddenly descended around the room. Oliver, Sara, Laurel, and Tommy all exchanged glances, seeming to have a silent conversation with each other. The telepathy between them was unquestionable. Eventually, Oliver turned back to Thea.
"Cold." Oliver said
Thea just stared at her brother and Oliver knew that his answer would not be sufficient to quell his sister's curiosity. Tommy turned to his wives and husband.
"Tomorrow, we're doing the city. We've all got a lot to catch up on." Tommy said, grinning
"That sounds like a great idea." Moira agreed
"Good. Then I was hoping to stop by the office." Oliver said
Walter paused, wineglass halfway to his lips.
"Hm. Well, there's plenty of time for all that. Queen Consolidated isn't going anywhere." Walter said
Anything else that was going to be said was interrupted by Oliver catching Raisa as she tripped on the carpet. One hand caught the fruit bowl she was carrying while the prevented her from falling further then she already had.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Oliver." Raisa apologized
Oliver responded in Russian, to everyone's surprise.
"Ollie, you speak Russian?" Thea asked
"I didn't realize you took Russian at college, Oliver." Walter said
"I didn't realize you wanted to sleep with my mother, Walter." Oliver countered
Silence fills the room and the tension returns. Moira looks at Oliver then at Thea.
"I didn't say anything." Thea said, defensively
"She didn't have to." Oliver said
Moira nods in acknowledgement.
"Oliver... Walter and I are married, and I don't want you to think that either one of us did anything to disrespect your father." Moira said
"We both believed that Robert, like you, was uh, well, gone." Walter admitted
"It's fine." Oliver assured
He nodded at Moira, then stood.
"May I be excused?" Oliver asked
Moira nodded and Oliver left the room. Tommy, Laurel, and Sara stood up.
"If you would excuse us, Mrs. Queen, I think it best if we go with Oliver." Laurel said
She, Tommy, and Sara exited the room, before following Oliver up the stairs. They enter his room, carefully.
"Ollie?" Laurel called
"I'm sorry. I thought I would be able to cope being around them again." Oliver said
"You have nothing to be sorry for." Laurel said
She approached her husband. She could see the struggle that he was going through but she wasn't sure what she could do to ease the pain.
"I think that both you and your family will need time to adjust to each other. Just as we will have to adjust with our families. Five years is a long time." Laurel said
"How did I get so lucky?" Oliver asked
Laurel smiled up at her husband, before grabbing Tommy and Sara's hands and pushing them down onto their bed. She took Oliver's hand and the two got in on the left side of Tommy and Sara. Oliver was instantly more comfortable with his lovers next to him. He drew comfort from their warmth, the protection they provided each other. The reassurance.
"Sara... Tommy... Laurel... I love you." Oliver said
"We love you too, Ollie. Now, let's go to sleep." Sara said
And Oliver did so. As he slept, his mind was plagued with visions from the past, memories that had brought him to where he was now...