Chapter 7: Moira Ann Dearden Queen

I can honestly say that there is practically NO information on DCU!Moira. Some have her killed off in Africa on Safari. Her death witnessed by Oliver. Others have her outliving Robert and raising Oliver (New52), but Arrowverse!Moira was the most comprehensive. She was characterized as very complex. The actress did a wonderful job of portraying her deep love of family and her willingness to do wrong to protect her family.

That said, I decided to take a slightly different angle on this story. She was more a typical protective mother than the evil, conniving villain the show portrayed in later seasons. I have a different AU that hits her manipulation side better. I didn't want that for this one. In this one, she made mistakes, but tried to do the right thing for everyone. But mostly for her family.

I used some of her origin from a fic by ArlyssTolero and Nyame.

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ORIGIN:

Moira Ann Dearden had a hard start to life. She was born to a woman from Suicide Slums in Metropolis. She never knew her father. Her mother didn't know her father, but Moira was very smart. She used her academic achievements to pull herself out of Suicide Slums and get a full scholarship to a West Coast University. Growing up, she was known as Mia. She used her full name on her scholarship to avoid her painful past. She went as far from Metropolis as she could.

Because of her past, Moira pursued a career in the medical fields. She was determined to gain a degree in Pathology. She knew that her knowledge would help her advance in this field, not the lack of a name. While she was attending the University, she became enchanted with Robert Queen. She fell in love with him and agreed to become his wife.

The Queen family were the wealthiest family in Starling City, WA. They were the most powerful family on the West Coast, but Moira didn't care about that. She loved Robert. However, her new mother-in-law, Elizabeth, helped her to realize that her position came with responsibilities to the community. Image was important with the Queen name. She would be responsible for ensuring that nothing could harm the Queen name.

One of her closest friends at the University was Rebecca Swann. Rebecca had a passion for helping those in need. She also helped Moira to realize the depth of family public image that came with a famous name. Rebecca was the sole heiress to the Swann fortune. The Swanns were second only to the Queens on the West Coast, but Rebecca was using her University degree to get a Medical Doctorate. She wanted to use her name and her image to help people. A medical degree could only boost that image. Rebecca's intent was to go into emergency trauma medicine. To provide her services to those who were most in need.

This inspiration helped Moira to accept Robert's proposal for marriage. Moira decided to use her position to assist Robert as he advanced the family company. To help him grow it. She invested her time in her in having children and the charities she managed.

Moira was the one to introduce Rebecca to Malcolm. Robert's best friend. She felt that Rebecca would be a good match for Malcolm. That they would go far together. She was right. Malcolm and Rebecca married shortly after Robert and Moira married. Rebecca and Moira were delighted to discover that they were pregnant at the same time. Moira volunteered to watch the young Merlyn while Rebecca worked at the Clinic. This cemented the bond between the Queens and the Merlyns, ensuring that Oliver and Tommy were raised together.

Moira was in love with her new life as Moira Queen. She dove into hosting and assisting charities. She fully supported her friend Rebecca in completing her MD and then opening a free clinic in the Glades. She never noticed that she was absent from her son's life. She simply told him what to do and how to act. She considered that to be her responsibility as his mother. It was far more than her own mother did for her. Everything else was for the help to do. She tasked Raisa to ensure the safety of the children.

When Rebecca was murdered, Moira was distraught. Robert was having an affair at the time and Moira resented how she wasn't present in his life like she assumed she should be. That she wasn't woman enough for him. She had an affair with Malcolm because he was safe and Malcolm was distraught from the loss of Rebecca as well. She was stunned to discover her pregnancy, but the timing proved that Robert was not the father. She was discreet, but Robert adopted Thea as his own even without her reassurances. Thea's birth certificate reflected her husband, not Thea's blood father. After that incident, Moira never had another affair. The same cannot be said of Robert.

Moira resented Robert's mistresses. They made her feel inadequate, but Robert never showed her that he wanted to end their marriage. She felt that he was a good father to Oliver and Thea in spite of their affairs. He was a good provider. Her friend Rebecca had told her how important image was to the old families. For this reason, Moira never sought to end her marriage with Robert. For all his faults, he did love her and her children.

After Malcolm disappeared following Rebecca's funeral, Moira made sure that Tommy was settled into the Queen home. Oliver took the distraught boy under his wing, making Moira proud of the responsibility that young Oliver had taken on to help his friend. She was further taken in when Oliver and Tommy started to invite Laurel Lance to the manor to study. She could already tell that her son was smitten with the young Gotham girl. She encouraged the Lances to allow their daughters to stay at the manor after school, knowing they would be safe with Raisa. This cemented the bond between the Queens and the Lances.

After Malcolm's return, six years after Rebecca's funeral, Moira was frustrated and angry with the man. He had abandoned his son. Regardless of how Rebecca's death affected him, he ignored his son to attend to his own pain. She resented Malcolm and encouraged Tommy to remain independent of Malcolm. As much as Malcolm would allow. She knew that Rebecca would not approve of the new Malcolm. She had raised both boys since birth and exclusively the past six years. She now considered Tommy her son.

When Robert brought up Malcolm's plans for the Glades, Moira was horrified. She told Robert to put a stop to his madness at once. She could easily see how Malcolm was intent on spreading his madness against the helpless people of the Glades. To blame the masses for the evil of one man. Robert said he would consider it, but he needed time to think. The summer yacht trip with Oliver and Laurel was supposed to give him time to think.

When the yacht was sunk, Moira knew immediately that it was Malcolm's doing. She was certain. She held him responsible for the death of her husband, sons, and future daughter-in-law. She made sure he knew how she felt about his actions prior to and after the sinking of the Gambit. She was distraught to discover that Malcolm knew of Thea's parentage, but grateful that Malcolm had decided to separate himself from her. If Moira had anything to say about it, Thea would never learn of her incidental relation to the horror that Malcolm had become.

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FAMILY:

Moira had never been a big believer in family. Her mother was poor and tried her best to raise her in Suicide Slums. She had no siblings. After her mother's death, Moira was forced to fend for herself as a teenager. She excelled and won a scholarship. She took herself and her scholarship as far from Metropolis as she could. She didn't want to be tied to Metropolis or her hard past. She felt it was best dismissed from her mind. Her opinion on family changed after the birth of her son. She was determined to ensure that her child would never know the hardships she faced. She defined her family as everyone she cared for. Her blood children and the children she had taken into her heart. She became an ardent defender of those children. Of her new family.

RELATIONSHIP-FATHER: Unknown (blood).

RELATIONSHIP-MOTHER: Unknown Dearden (blood):Moira resented her mother and the circumstances her mother found herself in Suicide Slums. She felt that if she could earn her way out of the Slums, then her mother should have been able to as well. This created a resentment and a need for distance from her past.

RELATIONSHIP-SPOUSE (AFFAIR):

Robert Alan Queen (spouse): Moira loved Robert with all of her heart in college, but after they had their first child, Robert started to have an affair with his Executive Assistant. Moira was distraught. She felt that she was not enough for Robert. She would stay with him until her son had grown. She would push Robert if he wanted to end their marriage before her children were grown. Robert always ended any affairs when Moira asked.

Malcolm Arthur Merlyn (affair): Moira had an affair with Malcolm while Robert was involved with another of his distractions. Malcolm was distraught over the loss of Rebecca. Moira was also distraught. The affair was a one-night thing. Malcolm had disappeared the next day. He didn't return for six years. After his return, Moira was certain that he would be a horrible father to her children. Including Thea, who had been conceived on that one-night.

RELATIONSHIP-CHILDREN:

Oliver Jonas Queen (blood): Not long after Moira married Robert, she had conceived her first child. She was delighted to secure an heir for her husband. She tried to encourage Oliver to follow his father's footsteps, but Oliver was hesitant and resistant to being forced. She did her best to keep him on the path he was destined to take.

Athena 'Thea' Dearden Queen (blood): After Moira discovered her pregnancy with Thea, she knew that Thea could not belong to Robert. She struggled with connecting to her daughter. She was grateful to Raisa and the Lance sisters for helping Thea to grow properly. She was not able to bond with Thea as she had Oliver. She attributed that to Thea's origins. She hated herself for blaming a child for the sins of her parents.

Thomas 'Tommy' Arthur Merlyn (adopted): Moira had encouraged Tommy to spend as much time as possible over at Queen Manor before Rebecca's death. After Rebecca's death, Tommy showed up at the manor with a note from Malcolm. Moira became distraught at how callus Malcolm had treated his son. She welcomed Tommy into the manor and into her life. She swore to young Tommy that she would always be there for him since his mother was unable to be. When Malcolm finally returned, she actively encouraged Tommy to keep him at a distance.

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MOTIVATION:

Moira's initial motivation was to distance herself from her past. By plunging into the world with the Queens, Moira found a world completely different than she had grown up in. She cherished it. She felt that it was better if she had no roots. She hated her past and refused to speak of it. The little that Robert knew was from when they were dating.

Robert's mother and Rebecca changed her view of the world of the Queens. She now knew about the obligation of blood. How the wealthiest families were beholden to assist the poorest families. She focused on this aspect of their education rather than bonding with her own family. She felt that as long as the children were cared for and safe, then she could focus on her charity work. She knew personally how important those charities were to the poor. She had received such assistance in Suicide Slums. Assistance that ensured she could eat and sleep safely.

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PERSONALITY:

Moira had a strong personality. She was very forceful in her views. She took her lessons from Elizabeth and Rebecca well. She used her position as Robert's wife to enforce only the positive aspects of his personality. Of the Queen family. She badgered those people who would look poorly on some of his behaviors until they were silent. She wielded her personality as a weapon to secure the family name for her son and daughter.

INTELLIGENCE:Moira had a deep intelligence that was born from the cunning needed to survive the streets in Suicide Slums. What she didn't know, she learned and used her cunning to ensure the stability and positive attitude towards her married family.

RESENTMENT:Moira had always resented her mother and her origins. She felt that her mother could have done better and failed. That her mother failed her. To that end she worked to ensure the safety and security of her children. Physical safety and financial security.

SOCIOLOGY:

Moira used her cunning to integrate herself into the lifestyles of the rich and famous. She did it so well, that most of the socialites had no clue about her origins. She was determined to ensure it stayed that way.

RELATIONSHIP-ROMANTIC PARTNER:

Robert Alan Queen (spouse): Moira had a conflicted relationship with her husband. She loved him, but doubted that he loved her in return. His constant affairs outside of marriage had cast this doubt on their marriage, but both Robert and Moira were determined to stay married for the sake of their children.

Malcolm Arthur Merlyn (affair): Moira had never had a real relationship with Malcolm. Malcolm was the husband to her best friend. Until Rebecca's death, that was all he was. When Rebecca died, she was distraught. So was Malcolm. This led to their one-night affair.

RELATIONSHIP-FRIENDS:

Dr. Rebecca Abigail Swann Merlyn: Moira's best friend from the University until her death. Rebecca never made Moira feel like less than others for her upbringing. She always encouraged Moira to excel. Moira KNEW that Rebecca was from money. The insight that Moira gained from Rebecca helped her to create the person she wanted to become. That person is who enchanted Robert.

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POWERS/ABILITIES:

Skills: Management (Skilled), Laboratory Sciences (Trained, let skill lapse), Language Usage (Expert), Manipulation (Expert), Deception (Skilled)

Manipulation (Expert): Moira had learned from an early age how to manipulate people to providing her with assistance. Her life in Suicide Slums proved difficult. It was only through manipulation that Moira was able to go to school. To earn her scholarship. To be free of Suicide Slums.

Abilities:

Speech (Skilled): Moira had a way with words. She learned to focus and craft this ability into a weapon. She used her words and tone to convey her manipulative aspects. This ability, when combined with her manipulation skills, ensured her a place free of Suicide Slums.

Management (Skilled): Moira discovered that she has a talent for management and organization. She discovered this ability at the University. It helped her to keep her courses organized. She fully utilized this ability with her charity work.

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NOTES:

I honor the source of this backstory to the FanFic authors who first penned it: ArlyssTolero and Nyame. I didn't include more than the Suicide Slums thing, but credit where credit is due.

Arrowverse!Moira was a very complex character. DCU!Moira was barely fleshed out. Moira is one of those anti-hero characters that you can spin either as a hero or a villain. I love that about her. This AU!Moira is more benevolent. I crafted her history to reflect her current personality. I chose Suicide Slums of Metropolis. I could have easily chosen the Narrows of Gotham, or Hell's Kitchen of New York. The history doesn't really change with the location. I just needed to have her use the excuse that it was on the opposite side of the country and a reason to dedicate herself to charity. I likewise wanted to illustrate how she was detached from family.

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