Chapter 11: Invasion!

"So. Aliens," Felicity said into the darkness of her and Oliver's bedroom.

"Aliens," Oliver agreed.

They both lay in silence, appreciating the fact that the world still turned and that the Dominators hadn't managed to pull off their plan to massacre the meta-humans of earth. Felicity had to admit that, while the danger had been intense, she had thoroughly enjoyed teaming up with Team Flash, Sara and Ray's new team, the Legends, and meeting a real-life, good alien in Supergirl. The celebration with so many new friends following such real danger was sure to become the kind of memory Felicity would share with her grandchildren. She would be leaned over a walker with little tennis balls on the front feet, waving her hand with a pointed finger and croak out, "I once partied with the greatest heroes of my generation!" And frankly, Kara Danvers was 100% pulling off the Felicity Smoak look.

Despite that, Oliver had a stillness about him since their return from Central City, and Felicity wondered if it had something to with his time in the Dominators' captivity. Really, Felicity and Oliver hadn't found a chance to talk. Oliver, Felicity, and Digg had taken a flight home to avoid the long drive – it was such an oversight to send the Legends on their way without asking for a lift home.

Felicity broke the stillness. "You scared the crap out of me when you vanished," she said. Oliver reached out with his hand, feeling around for hers. Felicity grasped his. "Watching Sara just – poof. Then Thea and Digg. And Ray. And to turn around and find you gone. God, it was like I had just watched my world evaporate in front of me."

She remembered the moments after. Looking out of STAR Labs' front doors to see Barry standing alone, staring back with shock on his face. The frantic moments of demanding where Oliver and the others had gone while Mick had stood silently, clearly uncomfortable with Felicity's hysteria. Barry trying to break through her yells of horror, his voice, shaking but trying to sound firm, saying "We are going to get them back." The look of determination on Cisco's face as he agreed to Vibe Felicity back to Star City so she had access to her tech in the Bunker. Laurel and Josh appearing in the Bunker, Laurel looking every bit as desperate as Felicity felt.

She could tell he was listening, even though he didn't speak. "Cisco and Curtis and Laurel and I worked so hard to find you, and we didn't really even have a moment to stop to think about it, but – Oliver – what if we hadn't found you? What if they had killed you?"

"Those are just what ifs," Oliver said soothingly. "It didn't happen."

"We were almost too late," Felicity said. "Nate said that the Waverider reached you just as you were being surrounded by a horde of Dominator ships." Oliver squeezed her hand. "I mean – Oliver. You, Digg, Thea, Sara, and Ray – what would I have done – what would Laurel have done - if we lost all of you at the same time?"

Oliver quipped, "You could have saved on funeral expenses."

"Oliver," Felicity hissed, pulling her hand out of his and popping him lightly in the chest with her open palm. "That's not even funny."

"No, it's not," Oliver agreed apologetically. He took her hand back and kissed it. "Thank you for finding us." He paused and then said, "Would you believe the person who figured out how to start up the alien pod was Thea? A group full of honest to god pilots, and the twenty-one-year-old high school grad just touches stuff and 'bam', it powers up." He snorted at the image.

Felicity was quiet, remembering again that, while she and Laurel had been wildly trying to find them, Oliver and their friends had been held captive … by aliens. She asked softly, unsure if Oliver would answer, "What happened to you all while you were on that ship?" Oliver fell silent. Felicity said quickly, explaining, "We were in the thick of fighting off the meta-bomb when you got back, and then we were celebrating, but – whenever there was a lull, all of you - you seemed … sad. And Cisco said that he vibed you and you were in some kind of stasis. And I know they were looking into your minds for intel to use against us."

Oliver drew in a deep breath and released it. "They … messed with our heads." Oliver said slowly, like putting into words was forcing him to consider what had really happened. "While they were looking in our heads, they were trying to keep us calm, so we wouldn't fight back. So we were presented with a kind of … other reality."

"It was a world that gave us all a glimpse of something we always wanted. And in this world, it was as though the Queen's Gambit never sank – or, that Sara and I never got on it." There was a pained wistfulness to Oliver's voice. "We were all gathered for Tommy and Laurel's wedding. I worked for my dad at Queen Enterprises, which is evidently where I had met you. We were engaged. And my parents were alive and proud of me and what I had accomplished. Digg was the Hood, trying to repent for things that happened while he was deployed - and Andy was still alive. Palmer was working with the Hood, providing tech and support. And Sara – she was happy and carefree and close with Laurel. Would you believe she was working as a language interpreter and travelling the world?"

As Oliver fell silent, Felicity noticed who Oliver was failing to mention. She asked gently, "And Thea?"

Oliver's voice was so soft it was almost nonexistent. "Thea …" he said hesitantly. "Thea was healthy. And engaged to Roy." He fell silent, failing to expand on his halting description.

The explanation was enough. Felicity could feel Oliver's hurt in it. It was a reminder of all Thea had lost and how much this dream world had offered her. Allowing Oliver to move on, Felicity asked, "So how did you escape?"

Oliver, grateful for the chance to talk about something else, said, "I started having flashes that something wasn't right. I would look at my dad and have a sudden memory of him shooting himself aboard the lifeboat or of Tommy lying under the beams of CNRI." Felicity cringed, thinking about how painful that must have been. "Some guy tried to mug my dad and I, and Digg as the Hood saved us. And I had this feeling like that was supposed to be me."

Oliver sighed and said, "I guess the same thing was happening to everyone else too – Ray remembered fighting alongside Sara and being held captive as the Atom. Sara remembered dying as the Canary and training with Nyssa and the League. Digg remembered Andy's death and seeing me dressed as the Arrow. Thea remembered Mom's murder and getting stabbed by Ra's."

"When you realized those memories were real, what did you do?" Felicity asked.

"We compared notes – first with Digg, who pointed out that there was an odd building in Star which felt like it didn't belong. We thought that might be our way out. Then Sara. Sara was the one who remembered the moment we were abducted by the Dominators and was able to tell us that Ray and Thea were the other two who were being held captive with us."

Felicity was surprised. "So, you were in a shared dream?" she asked. She could feel Oliver nod in the darkness. "So you decided to go towards that weird building?"

"Yes," Oliver agreed. "We all were ready to find our way home – except Thea."

"Oh," Felicity said softly.

"She knew that the world was fake. But – she said she couldn't give it up. She had our parents - our childhood home. Tommy. Roy. She said she knew it wasn't real, but she couldn't lose her family again. She couldn't lose Roy again. And … she said, for the first time in months, that she could run without getting tired and eat without feeling sick. She felt good. And she didn't have to take pills and she didn't have a port." Oliver was silent. "What could I do? How could I … tell her to give all of that up? What could I ask her to return to? So I didn't. I told her that I wanted her to be happy and well. And I went to meet up with the others."

Felicity felt on edge, even knowing the story ended with Thea returning with the others. "So … what happened?"

"When we tried to leave the manor, we were blocked by enemies – phantoms - of our pasts. Malcolm. Slade. Andy. Darhk. Ra's. And as we were about to attack, Thea appeared. She … she said that she meant it: she wasn't going to lose her family."

"We broke past the apparitions and reached that strange tower. There was a portal, and when we stepped through, we woke up in those stasis chambers." Oliver paused, sounding disturbed. "And they had taken our suits! And our weapons."

Felicity seemed confused, "Then how were you back in your suit when I saw you at the Bunker?"

"Oh, the Waverider has a clothing replicator. Nate got us all of our stuff back."

"Thea seemed really worn out when you all got back," Felicity said. "It couldn't have been good for her to be without her meds or food and water for more than a day."

"Laurel texted me," Oliver said wearily. "She and Josh took Thea to the hospital to get checked out. They released her after they gave her some IV fluids and sent her with some antibiotics. She picked up some kind of infection between Central City and outer space." He sighed. "It turns out even Gideon didn't know what to do with Thea's HIV. Doesn't give me a lot of hope for the future if they still don't have a cure in whatever future time she's from."

Felicity nodded into the darkness. Felicity could better understand the sadness Oliver had to feel regaining so much – his parents, his home, and seeing Thea well. She said softly, "For whatever it's worth – I'm grateful that you gave up that perfect world to be here. With me."

She could feel the bed move with Oliver's nod and then felt Oliver grip her hand in his.

6 hours earlier

Kara approached Oliver as he stood off to the side, watching his friends mingle in the STAR Labs hanger, celebrating their victory. Kara had been a gamechanger in their fight, and there was something about her optimism and determination that had drawn this team together – it reminded him a lot of Barry.

Oliver cleared his throat and said, "I owe you an apology. Keeping you at arm's length was the wrong move, and, uh -" Oliver thought about when Barry had first discovered his speed, how Oliver had told him that Barry could inspire people in a way that Oliver as the Green Arrow never could. Supergirl exuded that same light. "Well, the truth is that this earth could probably use a Supergirl."

Kara gave Oliver a wide, sincere smile. She said, "Well, that's funny, because I was just thinking that my earth could use an Oliver Queen." Oliver chuckled at her gentle encouragement. Kara became thoughtful and said, "I know you said you don't get unnerved, but if you did, I think hardship is what makes us stronger. That's probably why these people look to you as their rock." Oliver looked over at her, shooting her a look with a question.

Kara said gently, "I'm no stranger to grief, so don't think I don't recognize the look on someone else." Oliver stayed silent, but Kara seemed to read the interest on his face. "There is a reason I am an alien living on my earth. When I was 13 years old, my planet was destroyed. My mom tucked me into an escape pod and as I travelled into space, I looked behind to see my world engulfed by flame. My parents – aunts, uncles – friends. Gone." Oliver was struck by the image.

"I can't imagine," Oliver said softly. "I lost my parents and my best friend – each violently and feet away from me. I have buried countless friends. It never gets any easier." He was quiet. "My losses have left me broken, but – you remind me of Barry. Bright. Hopeful. In spite of everything you've experienced." Oliver shook his head in confusion. "How do you do it? How do you keep on living?"

Kara looked thoughtful, taking to heart Oliver's question. She said, "I have my friends, and my work. I have my sister."

"A sister?" Oliver asked, surprised. "Is she like you?"

Kara gave a soft laugh, "No, she's not Kryptonian. She's the daughter of my foster parents. I had parents on Krypton, so Eliza and Jeremiah were always Eliza and Jeremiah, the loving couple that took care of me. But – Alex became my sister. I couldn't do any of this without her."

The comment unwittingly dug into the open wound in Oliver's heart. Because how could he do any of this without Thea? But what he said was, "Older or younger?"

"Older."

Oliver said sincerely, "I am sure she's very proud of you. Big siblings are." He paused to sip from his champagne glass.

Kara smiled warmly and noted, "I'm sure you feel the same way about Thea."

Oliver felt his breath freeze within him. The shock of pain was intense – the revelation of Thea's diagnosis and prognosis was so fresh, and their time in captivity from the Dominators when Thea had felt healthy and well had only served to make her illness that much more bitter.

Kara seemed to realize she had said something wrong. She asked gently, "Oliver? I'm so sorry, what did I say?"

Oliver choked out in a voice that was scarcely more than a whisper, "We recently found out my sister is sick. She has a disease that will kill her – sooner, rather than later."

Kara seemed stunned and said in surprise, "Thea seemed so strong and … and well!"

Oliver nodded numbly. "She is. Strong, that is. She's the strongest person I know." Oliver drew in a deep breath, trying to center himself, feeling the grief ensnaring his thoughts. "But over the next months and … hopefully years – she will get sicker and sicker and – there is no cure."

Kara said heartfeltly, "I am – so sorry, for you and for Thea."

Oliver admitted to this kind stranger what he hadn't even been able to say to Felicity. "I don't know how I'm meant to go on – after. Thea, she's – the last member of my family. I would give anything - do anything – to keep her safe and well."

Kara said gently, "It is possible to grieve, even while the person you are preparing to lose is still here." Oliver's brow furrowed, not having seen his heartache of the last weeks as the same mourning that followed the loss of his parents or Tommy. Kara advised warmly, "Take it easy on yourself. And lean on those who care about you."

Present, at STAR Labs

Barry turned sharply at the sound of Iris's scream – his body, primed to run and fend off any intruder.

But as Iris demanded, horrified, "Who are you?", Barry's eyes lit up. Before he could offer a greeting, Cisco beat him to it:

"Roy Harper! Looks like you found us!"

It may have been two years since Barry had last seen Roy, but the wide blue eyes in the boyish face hadn't changed. The man who bore them certainly had. Roy's face looked tired, with dark circles under those striking eyes. His body was tense and, instead of his red hood, he wore a simple pair of jeans and black leather jacket.

"What are you doing here?" Barry asked, as confused as he was pleased.

Roy looked back with matching confusion. "You don't know?" Roy asked warily. "I got a message on my encrypted line to come here."

"Sorry," Caitlin said. "That was us." Barry turned to look at her, surprised.

Cisco added, "Felicity helped us get the message out." Cisco's brow suddenly furrowed. "Wait. Did you come in through the roof?"

Roy shot Cisco a raised eyebrow. He shook his head and said, "You don't even have a roof."

Barry muttered, "Really gotta fix that."

Roy relaxed his stance slightly, knowing he really had been summoned by Team Flash. He crossed his arms across his chest, gripping onto his bike helmet in one hand. "Okay – does someone want to tell me what I'm doing here?"

Cisco and Caitlin shared a look.