Chapter 30

Shattered Illusions

"When you're at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on."

–Theodore Roosevelt


Today was the day. The day she would be awarded Star City's Humanitarian of the Year. Katie was pretty sure she was going to throw up. She could literally feel her stomach churning, which is why she was locked in the bathroom sitting on the floor waiting for it to happen.

She can't explain it, but she just has a bad feeling about the whole thing. She doesn't want to get sucked into the fantasy of the event. Doesn't want to let her guard down and just be happy when she knows at any second, something can come and snatch it away.

There was a knock at the door, and Katie sighed as she lifted her eyes.

"Twinkie, we're going to be late." Oliver's voice announced softly.

Katie took a deep breath, pushing herself up to her feet, and walking over to the sink. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror—hair pulled back in a sleek bun, her makeup artfully done, though she still felt anything but composed. She tried to steady herself, taking another deep breath as if that alone might calm the nervousness brewing in her stomach.

Tonight was meant to be a celebration, a moment to acknowledge her work with the Second Chance Project and the lives she'd helped rebuild. But the pressure of the spotlight, the weight of expectations—those were hard to shake. Katie had spent so long focusing on everyone else that being the center of attention felt almost foreign, like she was playing a part that didn't quite fit.

A second, slightly firmer knock broke through her thoughts.

"Katie?" Oliver's voice was gentle, but there was a trace of concern in it now. She could picture him standing outside, suited up, patiently waiting.

"Coming," she replied, forcing herself to sound steady. "You can do this," she whispered to herself, a quiet pep talk. "Everything's going to be okay." She took one last look in the mirror, forcing a small, reassuring smile before finally opening the door.

Oliver's face lit up when he saw her, and he stepped forward to meet her. "You look beautiful," he murmured, pressing a warm kiss to her cheek. He could sense her nerves, so he gently placed his hands on her waist, hoping to calm her. "Twinkie, you deserve this. All the work you've poured into this—you deserve this more than anyone. Don't forget that." He kissed her cheek again.

Katie managed a grateful smile as she held his gaze. "I'm going to throw up," she admitted.

"You're not—"

But before he could finish, she slipped from his grasp and rushed back into the bathroom, barely making it to the toilet before the nerves finally took over.

Katie gripped the edges of the porcelain, her body tense as she waited to see if the wave of nausea would pass. She felt Oliver's hand come to rest gently on her back, his touch comforting. He didn't say anything, just stayed beside her, a steady presence, letting her take the time she needed.

After a moment, she took a deep breath, and leaned back wiping her mouth with tissue Oliver handed to her.

"I think that was a bad sign," she said.

Oliver chuckled as he continued to gently rub her back. "Nerves are just proof you care, that's it."

She glanced over at him and just shook her head. "You and your optimism Liver." she sighed as she glanced up at the mirror. "I just can't shake the feeling that this is another trap to get my hopes up before something just goes wrong." she glanced over to him. "I don't want to let myself enjoy this and then it all just gets taken away."

"Don't think of this as a reward. Think of it as just a moment to step outside of all the bullshit that we're dealing with and just take a second to be proud of the work you've done." he placed a kiss on the side of her head. "And if anything goes wrong, we'll handle it. Together. Always."

Katie let her head fall to his chest, letting his words dull the nerves and tension.

"Alright," she murmured, lifting her head with a determined smile. "I'm going to believe you." She glanced toward the bathroom. "Now, let me brush this awful taste out of my mouth, and I'll be ready to go." She paused, giving him a playful look. "Oh, and keep an eye on your kids tonight—make sure none of them sneak out with a puppy."

A few minutes later, they were on their way. The award ceremony was being held downtown, so Katie, Oliver, Ari, and Will all sat together in the backseat, gazing out the window as they approached the venue. Robyn was staying with Ethan and Laurel for the evening since the mom-to-be had been ordered to stay off her feet until the baby was born.

"Wow, there's a lot of people," Will murmured, glancing over the crowd gathering outside the ballroom. Ari nudged him sharply in the shoulder.

"Ow! What was that for?" he asked, looking at her in confusion.

Ari tilted her head slightly, gesturing toward Katie, who was sitting quietly, eyes fixed on the crowd as well.

"Oh—uh, sorry," Will mumbled, catching on.

"It's fine," Katie replied, turning to give them both a reassuring smile. "I'll be okay. I can do this. I've spoken in front of crowds before. I'll just tell a few jokes—"

"Please don't," Oliver interjected with a shake of his head, a small smirk playing on his lips.

Katie raised a playful finger. "I am funny, thank you very much." Just then, the car pulled to a stop, and the driver opened her door.

Katie took a steadying breath. "Well, I guess this is it." She looked back at the kids, then turned to Oliver, squeezing his hand briefly before stepping out of the car.

The ceremony was being held in a beautiful ballroom, elegant and gleaming under the soft glow of chandeliers. As they entered, Katie felt the nerves stirring again but took another deep breath, reminding herself of Oliver's words: she deserved to be here.

They were soon greeted by Felicity and Damian, and the unexpected face of Bruce Wayne.

"You're here," Katie said as he walked over to pull her into a hug, placing a kiss on her cheek. "I didn't think you were coming."

"There was no way I was missing this Robins," Bruce replied, turning to Oliver and giving the man a polite nod.

"So, how are you feeling?" Felicity asked and Katie let out a deep breath.

"Like I'm about to jump out of my skin and run around the room," Katie replied and Felicity just chuckled. Katie turned to the rest of the party, waving and noticing John and Lyla across the room. "The Diggles are here." she glanced over to Oliver who just sighed. He and John hadn't seen or spoken to each other since John left the team. "I'm going to go say hi." she placed a hand on Oliver's arm. "I'll be back."

"I'm going to go with," Felicity said, looping her arm with Katie's.

"We're going to check out the food situation," Damian said to his father. "Unless you have a problem with that?" Bruce just shook his head at the boy's snark before Damian and William headed off.

"You're a hard one to pin down," Ari said looking over to Bruce who just chuckled. "I believe we had a deal and you never held up your end of the bargain."

"What deal?" Oliver asked and Ari turned to him.

"I owe her a car." Bruce said and Oliver turned to the man with a furrowed brow. "Long story," he turned back to Ari, "I'm going to hold up my end of the deal, just keep an eye on Damian tonight."

"Yeah, alright, don't forget, my choice." she said before heading off after the boys.

"Why are you and my daughter making deals that involve cars that me and Katie don't know about?" Oliver asked.

Bruce raised an eyebrow. "Better question—how could you let John quit?"

Oliver's expression darkened. "You really don't want to go there, Bruce. Tonight's about Katie, and I'd rather not ruin it by putting you in the hospital." He turned on his heel and walked over to join Quentin, leaving Bruce with a smirk.

"You're delusional!" Bruce called after him.

When they announced for everyone to make their way to their seat, Katie got more nervous. Oliver kept a reassuring arm around her as they all found their table.

As the lights dimmed, they sat and watched the program, which consisted of a few awards to staff and students. Following the program they were handed upon entry, Katie knew her award was next.

"And here with a few words before introducing Star City's Humanitarian of the Year award, Mayor Oliver Queen." announced the MC.

Katie turned to Oliver in confusion and he just smiled as he placed a kiss on her cheek before standing and buttoning his jacket, gaining applause as he made his way to the stage.

Oliver stepped in front of the microphone.

"I know you're probably tired of seeing my face." Oliver said getting some laughs. "But when I was asked to introduce this year's Humanitarian of the Year, I couldn't say no." Oliver's gaze found Katie's in the audience and a smile pulled at his lips. "I probably could take up the rest of the program's time telling you about Katherine Queen and why she is deserving of this award, but I'm not going to do that. Mostly because I'm almost sure she'd drag me off stage halfway through." there were more laughs. "So, I'll keep it short and do my best to fit everything into the time I have."

Oliver paused, his eyes never leaving Katie's as he spoke with genuine admiration.

"She's a force to be reckoned with—someone who has dedicated her life to helping others, not for recognition, but because it's the right thing to do. She's been a constant source of support to this city, making it a better place, not just for those who can give something back, but for those who can't." His voice softened, his smile deepening. "I'm proud to know her, proud to call her my wife, and even prouder to see the impact she's had on so many lives."

The crowd was silent for a moment, touched by the sincerity in his words. Oliver cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure.

"Please join me in honoring Katherine Queen, Star City's Humanitarian of the Year."

As he stepped back, the applause thundered through the ballroom. Katie stood, her heart racing, and her legs feeling weak. She took a deep breath and walked to the stage, her eyes locked on Oliver as he handed her the award. She turned to the microphone, trying to steady herself amid the ongoing applause.

Smiling, her heart swelled with emotion at the sight of so many people in the room.

"Thank you, thank you," she said, her voice wavering slightly despite her nerves. "I want to thank all of you for being here tonight. You have no idea how surreal this moment is for me." She glanced down at the award in her hand, taking a brief pause. "I would like to thank my family," she continued, her eyes scanning the crowd. "Without them and their unwavering support, none of this would have been possible."

She turned to look at Oliver, who stared at her with love and admiration. "And a special thanks to this guy, who is the real mastermind behind this whole project," she added, giving him a playful nod. Oliver laughed softly from the side of the stage.

Katie then looked back to the audience. "I'd also like to give a special thank you to my parents, Jacob and Dr. Grace Robins, who I truly wish were here to see this. I know they'd be so proud, and they—"

Suddenly, the microphone cut off, and her words fell into silence. Katie furrowed her brow and looked over at Oliver in confusion.

Before she could react further, a robotic voice echoed through the speakers, cold and disjointed:

"Katherine Queen is a fraud."

Katie froze as images flickered on the monitors behind her—first, a missing person's photo of her from years ago. Then, to her shock, the screen switched to a wanted poster she had never seen before. It was from a time she had hoped to leave behind, a period when certain factions in the government had mistakenly believed she was a terrorist.

"What the hell is this?" Oliver demanded, his voice rising with frustration. He looked around, trying to identify the source of the disturbance.

The robotic voice continued, unrelenting.

"Katherine is not the woman she pretends to be. She is a fraud, hiding behind a false façade of charity and good deeds. Her past is filled with lies and betrayal—just like her husband."

The voice persisted, almost as if it were enjoying the chaos it was stirring in the room.

"Do you really think she deserves an award for her so-called humanitarian efforts?" it sneered. "A woman who, when it suited her, was willing to become the very thing she now condemns. A woman tied to criminals, terrorists, and murderers."

The room was silent, save for the low hum of the speakers. Katie could feel the eyes of everyone on her. It felt as though the walls were closing in. Her legs wobbled as the voice continued its relentless assault.

"Just like her husband, the so-called Green Arrow, she has blood on her hands. You are all celebrating a woman who, deep down, is no different than the criminals she's fought to bring down."

The video ended, and the lights slowly came back up. Katie turned, feeling the weight of a thousand eyes on her—each look a blend of shock and suspicion. The room seemed to hold its breath as people processed what they had just witnessed.

Oliver's hand slid protectively onto her back, a silent reassurance, but she didn't need it—at least not yet. She didn't wait for him to speak, for the reassuring words she knew he was about to offer. Instead, her gaze remained fixed ahead as she grabbed the award, leaving it on the podium. Without a word, she stormed down the stairs, ignoring the murmurs and curious stares that followed her every move.

"We're leaving," she muttered, barely glancing at Will and Ari as she passed them, her pace relentless.

Ari and Will exchanged a quick look, a silent understanding passing between them before they jumped to their feet and rushed to catch up with her.

Oliver stood frozen for a moment, jaw clenched, his eyes scanning the room as the weight of what had just happened sank in. But the moment passed quickly. With a deep breath, he turned on his heel and followed his family, pushing through the crowd, determined to stand by them no matter what.

Inside the car, an oppressive silence hung in the air. No one knew quite what to say after what had just unfolded. The weight of the evening, of the betrayal, pressed heavily on each of them. When the car finally pulled up to the house, Katie didn't hesitate. She opened the door and stepped out, her movements sharp with purpose, heading straight for the door without a backward glance.

"Twinkie, wait—wait! I'll find out who did this, and I'll—"

"Don't bother," Katie cut him off, her voice a whisper of pain as she turned to face him. Her eyes were filled with unshed tears, her face a mixture of disbelief and sorrow. "It's the truth, isn't it? I don't go from the woman in those pictures to Humanitarian of the Year, and now everyone finally sees it."

She shook her head, her frustration and hurt in every word. Without waiting for a response, she turned and stalked up the steps, leaving Oliver standing there, helpless.

Oliver glanced at Ari and Will, who had quietly followed them inside. Ari shut the door behind them before turning to face Oliver, the tension in the air thick.

"Were those pictures real?" William asked, his voice quiet, but full of the same hurt and confusion Katie had just expressed. Oliver sighed, his heart heavy with regret.

"Yeah, they are. They were taken a very long time ago but what you saw tonight was not her story." His gaze drifted up the stairs, his chest tightening. He felt like a failure—he hadn't been able to stop this, hadn't been able to protect her.

The anger and frustration inside him burned brighter as thoughts of who could be behind this swirled in his mind. One name stood out, and as soon as it entered his head, his blood ran cold.

Diaz.

He pulled his phone from his pocket and stepped away from the kids as he dialed Felicity's number.

"Oliver, is she ok?" Felicity asked.

"No, she's not," Oliver replied, his voice tight with barely contained fury. "This is Diaz. I need to find him—tonight."

"Oliver, I get you're upset-"

"Upset doesn't even begin to cover it, Felicity!" Oliver snapped, the anger rushing out in a wave. "That bastard just—he took this moment away from her. This moment she deserved, and he stole it. Humiliated her in front of everyone, and I'm not letting him get away with it. I'm going to make him pay. Get me a location or someone who can get it for me." Oliver ended the call before turning to the eyes of Will and Ari.

"I'm going to fix this," he promised, his voice firm, but laced with determination. He gave a final nod before he turned and made his way up the stairs.

When he reached their bedroom, he found it empty. His gaze immediately shifted to the closed door of the bathroom. Without a second thought, he walked over, but when he tried the doorknob, it wouldn't turn. The door was locked. He knocked gently.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered, his forehead pressing softly against the door. His voice trembled with the weight of his guilt. "I should've done something sooner. I should've protected you better."

From the other side of the door, Katie's voice came, soft and distant. "You know, I've spent the last few years wondering why no one saw it—why no one saw who I really was. And now they do."

Oliver's heart broke hearing the pain in her voice. He leaned his forehead against the door, wishing with all his might that he could fix everything in an instant.

"That's not who you are, Katie," he said quietly. "What they saw was a lie. What they saw were pictures of a woman torn from her life, and her family, tortured and abused, all with this bastard's twisted narrative over it. I will not let him get away with this. I will show them the truth."

He waited, breath held, but there was no response. He spoke again, quieter now, his voice full of emotion.

"Twinkie, please open the door."

For a long moment, the silence stretched, thick and suffocating. Finally, the door creaked open. Oliver's heart shattered as he saw the tears staining Katie's cheeks. He reached out instinctively, cupping her face in his hands, his thumb gently brushing away a tear.

Katie's eyes met his. "What if you don't do anything about it?" she asked quietly, her voice almost breaking. "I'm pretty sure that's what whoever's behind this wants. They want a reaction. So how about we don't give it to them?"

She placed a hand on his chest, her fingers lingering for a brief moment before she lowered her gaze. "I think I'm going to turn in," she murmured, her tone distant as she walked toward her closet.

At the Wayne household, Bruce walked into the kitchen to find Felicity at the counter, still in her dress from the evening, her laptop open in front of her.

"What's going on?" he asked, concern in his voice.

Felicity sighed, looking up at him. "Oliver called. He thinks Diaz is behind what happened tonight and wants me to track down his location," she replied, her fingers already back on the keyboard.

Bruce shook his head as he took a seat beside her. "I thought today was supposed to be a 'no bad guys' day. Weren't you going to relax?"

"That was before this bastard publicly humiliated my best friend," Felicity said, her eyes hardening. "What happened tonight was awful, and Katie didn't deserve that."

"She didn't," Bruce agreed, resting a hand on her shoulder. "And tomorrow, after you've had some rest, you'll figure out exactly who's behind this. But for now, I think you could use a break."

Felicity scoffed, eyes fixed on the screen. "There are no breaks in this job, Bruce. You, of all people, should know that."

Without a word, Bruce reached over and closed her laptop, prompting an immediate glare from her.

"I do know that," he replied calmly. "But I also know that when my pregnant wife is pushing herself nonstop to take down bad guys, it's time for her to take it easy. If Diaz is responsible, he'll get what's coming to him, but it doesn't have to happen tonight."

Felicity raised an eyebrow. "You want to explain that to Oliver?"

"I'll give him a call." Bruce smiled, leaning in to press a kiss to her lips.

Felicity let herself relax for a moment but then sighed. "Sometimes, I feel like if I get too used to this… it's going to hurt more when you have to go back to Gotham."

Bruce gave her a reassuring smile before placing another kiss on her lips. "We're close to wrapping things up there. Harley showed up with intel that should finally take this sadistic bastard down. It shouldn't be much longer."

Felicity nodded, standing up. "I hope you're right. I'm going to take a bath."

Bruce watched her head up the stairs before he pulled out his phone and dialed Oliver's number.

Meanwhile, Oliver was in his kitchen, having changed out of his suit. When he felt his phone buzz, he quickly grabbed it, hoping for an update from Felicity. Seeing Bruce's name, his face fell with irritation.

"What do you want, Bruce?" he snapped.

"Felicity's not giving you Diaz's location," Bruce replied evenly. "At least, not tonight."

"Why not?" Oliver demanded.

"Because it's the middle of the night, and she's been going nonstop since this guy reappeared. Tonight, my pregnant wife is taking the night off. And instead of focusing on finding someone to fight, maybe you should focus on being there for your own wife. She's the one who needs you right now."

Oliver was silent for a moment, his anger slowly shifting as he took in Bruce's words. Without another word, he ended the call.

Bruce sighed, pocketing his phone, and was about to head upstairs when it buzzed again. He looked down and saw Richard's name.

"Hey, did Joker make a move?" Bruce asked, picking up the call.

"No, Joker's still as secretive as ever," Richard replied. "But I'm watching the news. I saw what happened to Katie. Is she okay?"

Bruce exhaled, the image of Katie on stage flashing through his mind. "She's…probably not."

"Do you have any leads?" Richard asked.

"Oliver suspects Ricardo Diaz. He's made it clear he wants to take Oliver down, and this would be exactly his style."

"I'm coming to help," Richard said.

Bruce hesitated. "I need you here in Gotham in case Joker decides to stop hiding."

"The awards ceremony is being broadcast on repeat, and my Sugar Bear didn't deserve what happened tonight. If Oliver's as shorthanded as you say, he'll need the backup. The Titans can hold things down here, and if anything comes up, they'll call. See you soon."

Oliver didn't want to stand still. The anger in him simmered, and every instinct screamed to make Diaz pay for the pain he'd inflicted on Katie. But Bruce was right. Tonight, his wife needed him more than his rage needed an outlet. He headed back upstairs to check on her, just as he noticed Ari slipping out of her room, clearly planning to leave.

"Where are you going?" he asked, stopping in his tracks.

Ari froze, startled to see him there. She'd assumed he was still in the bedroom with Katie and hadn't expected to be caught. "I was—just going to get some air," she stammered, sidestepping to try and slip past him. But he mirrored her movement, folding his arms and looking down at her with a steady, no-nonsense gaze.

"Yeah, I'm not even going to pretend to buy that," he said. "What's really going on?"

She hesitated, but his dad stare was as unnerving as ever. "Alright, fine. I was heading back to the banquet hall to check out their AV system," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I want to figure out how those pictures got posted and where that voice came from. I don't know the truth about those pictures, but I know what they were saying about her isn't true. She's done so much for everyone else. Who would do this to her?"

"I don't know, but we're going to get to the bottom of it. Just…not tonight." He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I know you're upset and want to take action, and I feel the same way. But right now, our priority is being here for Katie, okay?"

Ari looked up at him, nodding slowly. He pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head and watched her retreat back to her room before he continued down the hall. When he stepped back into the bedroom, he found Katie curled up under the comforter, her form small and still. Kicking off his shoes, he climbed into bed beside her, wrapping his arm around her, and pulling her close.

The weekend passed in a blur of silence and unspoken worries. When Monday arrived, it felt like the beginning of a new week, a fresh start.

Will and Ari came down to the kitchen, surprised to find Katie up and making pancakes. She glanced over with a warm smile.

"Perfect timing, you two," she said, bringing a plate of pancakes to the kitchen table. "Eat up before you head out to school."

The teens exchanged glances, still adjusting to seeing Katie cheerful and making breakfast after she'd spent most of the weekend shut away in her room, recovering from the fallout of the award ceremony.

Katie noticed their hesitation and sighed softly. "I know I pulled away this weekend," she admitted, stepping closer. "And I know you both have questions about what happened. Sit, and I'll explain as much as I can." Just then, the doorbell rang. "That's probably Ethan with Robyn. Go on, start eating—we'll talk when I get back."

She placed a comforting hand on Will's shoulder before heading to the front door, arriving just as Oliver came down the steps.

"I smell pancakes," he said with a soft smile.

"Felt like a pancake morning," she replied with a hint of brightness before pulling open the door to find Ethan holding Robyn. "And there's my girl." Katie scooped Robyn up, peppering her with kisses that made her giggle.

Oliver reached for Robyn's bag, nodding at Ethan. "How was she?"

"Oh, she was wonderful." Ethan's gaze drifted over to Katie, a hint of concern in his eyes. "How's Kit holding up?"

"She's getting there," Oliver replied.

Ethan shifted, then added, "I guess you two haven't seen the news?"

Oliver's brow furrowed. "About the award ceremony?"

"Not quite," Ethan replied, his voice tense.

Moments later, Oliver and Katie stood in the living room, watching a live broadcast of Armand and Captain Hill addressing a crowd of reporters. The words "Mayor Obstructs Justice" ran across the screen in bold.

"Obviously, the mayor terminated us to hinder the prosecution of his actions as the Green Arrow," Sam's voice carried over the crowd. "What Oliver Queen did is an impeachable offense, a gross abuse of power. Our mayor should be held accountable. And if the allegations made at the award ceremony are accurate, his wife will be, too." With a grim nod, he stepped away from the podium.

Oliver switched off the television, the silence settling heavily. He turned to Katie, whose gaze was still fixed on the blank screen, lost in thought.

"Twinkie," he murmured, voice thick with determination. "I'm going to fix this." His focus was solely on protecting her from this storm, no matter the cost to himself.

Katie turned to him, managing a small smile as she pressed a kiss to his cheek. Their response to each crisis was always the same—they'd fix it, no matter what. But deep down, she couldn't shake the nagging sense that "fixing it" was just patching over an endless series of setbacks.

Still, she kept her thoughts to herself. "I know you will," she whispered. "I'm going to go talk to the kids."

Before heading into City Hall, Oliver made a stop at the bunker to meet with Felicity. As he stepped off the elevator, he saw her intently watching the news.

"City Hall maintains the firings were unrelated to the investigation into Mayor Queen's rumored vigilantism as the Green Arrow," the reporter said, "but sources indicate that impeachment is highly possible." Felicity switched off the screen and looked over at him.

"Do you hate me?" she asked, her face a mix of worry and regret.

Oliver sighed but shook his head. "I'm sorry for calling you so late. I lost my temper, and I shouldn't have dragged you into it."

"Oliver, after what happened to Katie, your reaction was totally understandable. Any other day, I'd have been on this full throttle. But, you know, my husband's kind of a protective pain."

"No, he's looking out for you. I don't want to cause you any more stress."

"Trust me, you're not the source of my stress." She tilted her head toward the monitor. "They can't really impeach you for firing two of Diaz's cronies, right?"

"They can if they say I did it to cover for myself." Oliver's jaw clenched. "We need solid proof they were working for Diaz."

"Well, lucky for you, you've got me and Firelight. She sent this over last night—more evidence Diaz has his hooks in the SCPD." Felicity pulled up surveillance footage from the precinct. "Ever since Dinah and her team got ousted, Ari and I have been monitoring the station's security feed. Every night at exactly 10:13, this happens," she pointed to the screen, "and then—boop—45 minutes later, it's back online like clockwork. He's keeping tabs on his people, Oliver."

Oliver studied the footage. "I agree."

"If you're thinking what I think you're thinking, stop. Your wife would kill you, and nobody would stop her." Felicity raised an eyebrow. "This is dangerous."

"I can't move on Diaz without knowing where he is. And now I know where he'll be every night at 10:13."

"Storming the bad cop castle solo is suicide, Oliver."

"If I get Diaz, this all ends—investigation, corruption, impeachment. I can stop it all."

"You're not doing this alone. You'd need backup."

"All our help quit."

"Not true." Felicity folded her arms. "You've got Guardian, Firelight, and soon, Nightwing."

"What?"

"Long story, but Richard is coming to Star City. He's not happy about what happened the other night. If you're set on this, at least wait for backup."

"I'm done waiting," Oliver replied firmly.

"Maybe John's changed his mind," she suggested.

Oliver frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"Hey, Oliver."

Oliver turned, surprised to see John walking in. "John."

"Felicity said you'd be at City Hall," John explained, giving her a look.

"I said he might be here," Felicity shrugged, smiling between the two of them. "And, yeah, I 'Parent Trapped' you two, but only because Ari thought you might talk if you saw each other face to face. We have too many problems for this to get in the way."

"I think John's said all he has to say," Oliver muttered, looking away.

John crossed his arms. "You're right. I have."

Felicity stepped between them. "This isn't about you or your egos. Diaz is still out there, and we have good intel on him."

"Good intel won't help under bad leadership," Oliver muttered bitterly.

"Oliver, come on." John said. "It doesn't have to be this way."

"How exactly would you like it to be?" Oliver shot back.

"Well, one thing's clear—you can't take Diaz down alone," Felicity interjected, hoping to find common ground between them. "We need everyone."

"There's more than one way to catch Diaz." John replied. "I was offered a job at A.R.G.U.S."

Oliver raised an eyebrow. "You going to take it?"

"Thinking about it. Why?"

"Last time you needed something from A.R.G.U.S., you had to steal it."

John's jaw tightened. "Keep up that attitude, Oliver, and you'll end up alone."

"I've listened to your advice for six years." Oliver stared back, his voice hard. "I think I've earned a break." With that, he turned and strode toward the elevator, leaving Felicity and John behind.

Coming into City Hall that morning felt like stepping into a lion's den. Reporters lined the steps, cameras flashing and voices shouting questions, as Oliver slipped through a side entrance.

In his office, he told Maddy to hold all his calls before shutting the door with a frustrated sigh. Moments later, a knock came, and Quentin entered.

"I wasn't sure if you'd come in today," Quentin remarked, taking a seat across from him.

"I almost didn't, but Katie insisted," Oliver replied. "She was doing better this morning. She even made pancakes for the kids. And then—then we turned on the news to find out I'm being impeached."

Quentin nodded grimly. "So, where do we start?"

"We clear my wife's name," Oliver said firmly. "I don't care what it takes. Her reputation can't be dragged through the mud because of someone else's lies."

Before Quentin could respond, the door swung open, and Claire and Tamera strode in, with Maddy rushing in behind them.

"Sorry, sir. They didn't wait," Maddy explained, glancing apologetically before turning to Claire.

"It's fine, Maddy." Oliver waved her off, turning to the two women. "What's this about?"

Claire crossed her arms, a determined look in her eyes. "I want to know what you're going to do about what happened to Katie."

"Claire—" Quentin began, a warning in his tone. "This is the mayor's office, not an open forum. You don't get to barge in here with demands."

"Good thing I don't work for the city, then," Claire shot back. "I'm under contract, just like Katie. Soon, I won't even have to step foot in this place." She turned back to Oliver. "I worked with her for months. I saw how hard she worked, the sacrifices she made, everything she poured into this project for this city. I'm not about to stand by and let some creep with a vendetta ruin her name or tear down what she's built."

Oliver met her gaze, nodding slowly. "I have a friend working on finding the person responsible."

"Good," Claire replied. "Then I'll handle damage control." She turned to Tamera. "Get ready; we may need to go dark."

"Dark? What does that mean?" Tamera asked, but Claire didn't answer as she turned and strode out of the office, her determination evident.

Tamera looked back at Oliver, concerned.

"If she goes too dark, call me." Oliver assured her, watching as she followed Claire out.

Quentin raised an eyebrow as the door closed. "A lot of fire in that little blonde. You sure you're comfortable letting her venture off on her own?"

Oliver sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Right now, I'm willing to let anyone who wants to fight on Katie's behalf do what they need to. Because she deserves it."

"We have a meeting with Kullens about this whole impeachment deal, did you want to cancel?" Quentin asked and Oliver just shook his head.

"No, it's fine. It would be good to hear if he has any ideas of how I should navigate this." Oliver replied before pulling out his phone. "I'm going to check in with Katie before the meeting."

"Sounds good. I'll circle back." Quentin replied before leaving the office.

Once Quentin had gone, Oliver dialed Katie's number. The phone had barely rung before she answered.

"I'm fine," Katie said immediately, which drew a small smile from him. "You really don't have to check on me."

"I'm not checking on you," Oliver said, trying to sound casual. "I'm just…calling to call. So, what are you up to?

"I've decided to take up spying on our neighbors," she said, and Oliver laughed. "Did you know Mrs. Collins across the street lets her dog poop on the Evil Bakers' lawn? I could never be that bold, no matter how much they complain about the height of our grass."

"I'm glad you're spending your time on something so productive," Oliver teased. "And for the record, Mrs. Collins's dog poops on everybody's yard-even ours." He chuckled again, but his tone turned softer. "Are you sure you're okay? I can come home if you need me."

"Oliver, you don't have to come home. With this whole impeachment thing going on, I'm sure you have more important things to deal with," she said.

"Twinkie, when you say you need me, that becomes the most important thing on my plate," he said. She didn't say anything right away, and his mind wandered to their earlier conversation when she said he made her feel that sometimes she wasn't a priority to him. Wanting to prove differently, he piped up with reassurance, adding, "We still need to talk about that conversation."

"I figured you'd bring that up eventually. It's not exactly an easy conversation for me," she admitted softly.

"I know, and it won't be an easy one for me to hear either, but it's something we need to finish."

A knock at the door interrupted them. Oliver looked up to see Quentin peeking in. He nodded and then stood.

"I have to go, but we'll talk later," he promised. "And stop spying on the neighbors, because I'm pretty sure you're going to see something you'll regret."

"It's too late for that," Katie quipped. "Mr. Evil Baker came out to grab his paper in nothing but a towel—and it wasn't a big one. I'm in too deep now; I have to see this through."

"You're ridiculous. I love you. Bye." Oliver chuckled, shaking his head as he hung just as Quentin and Kullens walked in. He motioned to them to have a seat.

Oliver was prepared to defend his actions to the councilman. He hadn't fired the DA and police captain due to their involvement in the case but because they were working for Diaz.

"I wasn't obstructing justice," Oliver replied, straightforward. "I was serving it."

"From what I understand, Ricardo Diaz is a second-rate drug dealer who was released from prison on a technicality," the councilman said, his eyes on Oliver in a challenge.

"I fail to see your point," Oliver replied, his voice level.

"The idea that he could compromise a police captain and a district attorney is laughable," the man argued.

"I presume the mayor will be granted an opportunity to speak before the city council and present the facts as he understands them," Quentin inserted smoothly.

"Preliminary impeachment hearings start this afternoon," Kullens said, casting a sideways glance at the Quentin. "He'll get his chance to plead his case, naturally enough." He faced Oliver again as both of them stood. "For your sake, Mr. Mayor, for the sake of your administration, I pray you have something more concrete for the council than unsupported suspicions," the councilman warned. He paused at the door before turning back. "And though we haven't always seen eye to eye, I believe in due process. I'll see the council sees fair play."

Kullens extended a hand and Oliver shook it firmly.

"I'll see you and the council this afternoon—with evidence," Oliver said.

Once the councilman was gone, Quentin turned to Oliver.

"Uh, you mind if I ask, what evidence exactly?"

"Felicity and Ari are working on it," Oliver said, getting a nod from Quentin in response.

"Oh. I guess that's somewhat reassuring."

"On the bright side, if I get impeached, you get promoted," Oliver said with a wry smile.

Quentin chuckled. "I'm not much of a politician, Oliver.

"Well, with Diaz running the city, it's not really politics, is it?" Oliver's tone turned somber as he stared at the door.

Quentin studied him for a moment, noticing the tension in his features. He figured the combination of political problems and the recent award ceremony was weighing heavily on him.

"You're worried about Katie," Quentin observed.

Oliver turned to him, raising an eyebrow.

"You've got that look," Quentin added. "How did the call go?"

"She's spying on the neighbors," Oliver said, letting out a light chuckle. "She's doing her best to distract herself from everything that's happened." He sighed, his expression growing serious. "She also told me the other day that sometimes she doesn't feel like she's a priority to me."

Quentin's brow furrowed. "Did she say why?"

"She wouldn't elaborate," Oliver said with a head shake. "And I'm all but sure that was more for my benefit than anything else."

"She doesn't want to make you choose," Quentin said.

Oliver turned to him, well confused. "What do you mean?"

"It's something she said a little while ago. Remember the day she went to ARGUS to see Alice? She stopped by your office first, but you were meeting with Armand and Hill. Instead of asking you to go with her, she didn't say anything. When I asked her why, she said that she didn't want to make you choose."

Oliver let out a sigh and ran a hand through his hair. "She said it's easier that was—easier for her. But she wouldn't explain what that meant." He paused, then added, "And to top it off, John quit. Not just the team-there is no team anymore. And he seems to think that's my fault."

"Well, I don't see it that way," Quentin said firmly.

"You're not there, Quentin," Oliver responded, shaking his head.

"No, I'm not. But I was there when the Hood first showed up, remember? That guy bears very little resemblance to the man I'm talking to now," Quentin said, gesturing toward him. "Look at you. You're the mayor, you've got a wife and kids, and you're out busting your hump every night for this city. I've seen how much you've changed, Oliver."

Oliver shrugged. His frustration was obvious. "So why is all of this happening?"

"Cayden James and Diaz," Quentin said. "They have really done a number on this city, but things will get better. You just have to stay the course."

Oliver nodded, with a look of uncertainty. He turned toward the door.

"Where are you going?" Quentin asked.

"To check in on Ari, see if she's making any progress," Oliver replied. "And I promised William I'd take him to his science fair." He glanced back at Quentin. "It's not exactly the best timing."

Quentin smirked. "Eh, I think schools plan it that way."

Katie was certain that she was more excited about Will's science fair than he was. Ever since the shock of having her life exposed in public during the ceremony, Katie had resolved to divert her energy elsewhere. Helping Will was one of her outlets. But all the same, she couldn't help feeling sad knowing today was the fair—soon enough she would have to find something else to put her energy into.

When William and Ari got home, Katie reluctantly set aside her selfassigned neighborhood watch duties to help Will prepare.

"I must say, I think cloning a cabbage is pretty cool," Katie said. She and Will stood in the kitchen, both staring at the cloned cabbage inside its glass container on the counter.

"I mean, it's cool," Ari said, breezing into the kitchen with her laptop under her arm, "but it's not cooler than my science fair project." She walked over and peered down at the cabbage. "I built a sound-tracking rescue robot. But, you know. cabbage is fine, I guess."

"Whatever, Armpit," Will shot back, nudging her playfully before turning to Katie. "We're going to be late. Where's Dad?"

"It's fine, he'll be here in—" Katie started but was cut off by the sound of the front door opening and closing. Moments later, Oliver walked into the kitchen.

"Speak of the devil," Katie said with a small smile.

"Finally." Will grabbed his backpack. "Let's go."

"Yeah, I know," Oliver said, looking over at Will. "But I need to talk to Ari real quick."

"But we're already late," Will said, irritation seeping into his voice.

"Just one minute," Oliver replied before rounding on Ari. "The council's convening. I promised them I'd present something, and when I called Felicity, she said you had it.

"I do indeed have it. Prepare to turn that frown upside down." Ari pulled a flash drive from her pocket and handed it to him. "Documentation of threats from Diaz to Hill's family and bank statements proving he paid for Armand's son's cancer treatment."

Oliver took the flash drive, his eyes wide. "This is it. That's solid work." He looked at her with a rare smile.

"That's great work," Ari replied, smirking. "Maybe too great."

Oliver's smile faltered. "What do you mean?"

"Without the SCPD, the only person who could reasonably obtain evidence like this is. well, as far as city council is concerned, you."

"You're telling me the evidence that could stop my impeachment is also the very thing that could expose me as the Green Arrow?"

"Exactly," Ari said with a shrug. "Or you could just tell them a high school genius got it for you."

"This isn't funny," Oliver snapped.

"Alright, maybe there's another way to frame it," Katie said, stepping into the tense exchange.

"Me and Felicity tried to plant a fake trail, but we ran out of time," Ari admitted.

"Right, because you two were too busy playing Parent Trap to focus on your jobs," Oliver said, his voice going up an octave.

"Hey, calm down," Katie said, placing herself in front of him. "Everyone in this room is on your side."

"Are you?" Oliver asked, turning on her, his voice cutting.

Katie's eyes widened as she took a step back. "Of course I am. How could you even ask that?"

"Well, you've given me plenty of reasons to doubt it," he returned, and Katie stared up at him, perplexed and hurt.

"Dad, you said—" Will cut in, sensing an argument brewing in the room.

"William, I'm in the middle of something," Oliver snapped, his frustration finally boiling over.

"But we're going to be late!"

"Well, then we're going to be late!" Oliver snapped, turning too quickly. His outstretched hand hit Will's glass container, sending the cloned cabbage crashing to the floor in a cascade of glass and dirt.

The room fell silent. Everyone stared at Oliver, stunned.

"Buddy, I'm sorry," Oliver said, his voice softer now. But Will didn't respond. He turned and walked upstairs without a word.

Ari scoffed before following him.

Katie stood quite still for a moment, took a deep breath, and said, her voice steady yet firm, "You need to leave."

"Twinkie, it was an accident," Oliver tried to explain, but Katie shook her head.

"I'm going to take care of them," she said, "but I need you to get out. If you need to yell at someone, you yell at me—but don't ever yell at them like that again." She pointed toward the door. "Now go. And while you're out, maybe find the mind you seem to have lost on your way home."

She shook her head in disappointment before walking out of the kitchen to check on Will and Ari.

Oliver went to the bunker, his mind consumed by the look on his family's faces when he lost control. He didn't know what had come over him; he never intended to lash out like that. The guilt was alive and gnawing at him, and he couldn't stop replaying the moment in his mind, wondering how he could possibly make things right.

He knew they needed space before he could approach them in an attempt to apologize. For now, he turned his attention to re-viewing the SCPD footage again, hoping he'd missed something useful. As he scanned the footage, a sudden tapping sound made him snap his head around. His breath caught when he saw Katie standing there, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable.

"What's wrong?" Katie asked casually, though her tone was sharp. "You look like you were expecting the boogeyman."

Oliver exhaled a weak, slight chuckle. "How's William?"

Katie let out a sigh. "Neither Ari or I could get him to come out of his room. Then Ari locked herself in hers. It was a miracle I got her to open up just long enough to ask her to watch Robyn while I came here.

Oliver closed his eyes, shaking his head. "I don't-I don't know what came over me," he finally said, his voice breaking. "I have no idea why I lost it like that. Everything's piling up, and I just-" His shoulders slumped, weight from his guilt evident.

Katie nodded, her face softening for a moment before hardening once more. "Yeah, I know." The arms crossed over her chest squeezed a little tighter. "But right now, I think it's best if we take some space."

The words hit Oliver like a punch to the gut. He froze, his heart hammering in his chest. "I-" He shook his head, as if trying to clear it. "I'm sorry, what?

Katie's voice didn't waiver, though her eyes brimmed with pain and a fixed sense of resolve. "I warned you. I told you if you ever broke my heart or hurt those children, I would leave-and I'd take them with me." She slowly shook her head. "I understand the unimaginable amount of pressure-with Diaz, John, and the impeachment on your back. But what you did tonight? That was unacceptable. You showed them a side of yourself that I've never seen, and that is not the man I married.

The words were final, and Oliver stood frozen, unable to find a response. Before he could utter one word, Katie turned and disappeared into the elevator, leaving him alone in the bunker silence.

Oliver was quiet, the echoes of Katie's words loud in his mind. That's not the man I married. Her voice, her expression, her absolute certainty-it all struck him harder than any enemy ever had.

Briefly, he was paralyzed. The weight of the guilt, shame, and fear pressed in on him, threatening to squash what little resolve he had remaining. He ran a hand over his face, clenching his jaw as if trying to physically hold himself together.

Forcibly, he made his legs move after several long moments; pacing the length of the bunker, his thoughts were racing. He couldn't lose them, not Katie, not William, not Ari or Robyn. They were his anchor, his purpose. Without them, everything that he had fought for, sacrificed for, would mean nothing.

But Katie was right. His behavior tonight was unacceptable, and he couldn't blame the pressure or the stress. He needed to be better, do better.

He sat back down at the console and stared at the SCPD footage, determined to fix things. He wanted to throw himself into his work, channel his frustration and guilt into something productive. But the footage blurred as his focus loosened and his mind returned to the look on William's face, the way Ari had scoffed and walked away, the finality in Katie's tone.

He lifted his head at the sudden tapping again, before turning to see Quentin.

Katie trailed Ari, William, and Robyn inside that night. She hesitated just inside the door, turning once more hoping for Oliver's appearance in the yard. She'd been angry today, but a part of her had anticipated he'd show up and apologize at some point. Since his departure, there had been silence.

"Thanks for helping me fix my science fair project," William said, snapping Katie out of her thoughts. She smiled at him as she stepped inside, closing the door behind her.

"No problem at all," Katie replied, her voice warm. "There was no way I was letting a little broken glass take us out of the race.

"What about that girl with the solar-powered hot dog cooker?" Ari chimed in, flopping onto the couch next to Katie. "I swear that thing's on Amazon." She pulled out her phone, determined to prove her point.

William glanced around the living room, noticing Oliver's absence. "Where's Dad?" he asked, turning to Katie.

She let out a sigh. "I'm sure he's somewhere planning some big extravagant apology for everyone."

"I wouldn't count on that," Ari muttered, shooting a meaningful glance at William. "Will, go play video games."

The boy glared at her, but she added, "Please, just go. Take the stinker with you." With a resigned sigh, William grabbed Robyn and led her out of the room.

Once they were out of earshot, Ari leaned forward, holding out her phone. "So, Oliver might have a tracker on his bow. Something Felicity planted. You know, in case of emergencies."

Katie frowned, taking the phone and studying the screen. It showed Oliver's location moving steadily through the city.

She pulled her phone from her pocket and dialed Quentin's number in a hurry. The impeachment hearing was today, and she prayed Oliver was at City Hall.

"Quentin, hi," she said as he picked up. "Please tell me Oliver's with you."

"No, he's not," Quentin replied, and he sounded tired. "After the meeting with city council, I sent him back to the bunker. Told him to call you."

"Well, he didn't," Katie said, her frustration mounting as she continued tracking Oliver's movements.

"It's been a hell of an afternoon," Quentin sighed. "Oliver was dosed with Vertigo. Kullens did it."

Katie closed her eyes, a knot forming in her chest. That explained his erratic behavior earlier. "That explains why he lashed out at the kids," she muttered.

Quentin hesitated. "He said...uh, you asked for a separation."

Katie's eyes flew open. "What? I never said anything like that! The last time I saw Oliver, I told him to leave and calm down. I've been half expecting him to show up here!"

"Well, he's not thinking straight," Quentin said. "I'll see if I can stop him before he does something stupid.

Katie glanced back at the phone screen. "He's heading to the precinct," she realized aloud. Ari, now standing beside her, leaned over to confirm.

"He met with Felicity earlier," Ari explained. "She probably told him Diaz is always at the precinct around this time every night."

"This is a suicide mission," Katie said, her stomach tightening. "I have to stop him."

"I'm closer," Quentin said. "I'll try to catch him first."

Katie nodded bed hanging up, already moving towards the door. "Oliver's on drugs," she muttered, then winced at how that sounded. "Not those kinds of drugs—I'll explain later!"

She turned to Ari. "You're in charge. I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Is Dad okay?" William asked, stepping back into the room with Robyn in tow.

"I'm going to make sure he is," Katie promised, and in a reassuring tone, turned back to Ari taking the phone. "I'm borrowing this. Use one of the hidden ones you think I don't know about." With that, she grabbed her bag and ran out the door.

Katie was suddenly near the precinct and parked quickly, wasting no more time as she sprinted the rest of the way. Unarmed, no suit , and in no condition for a fight—but none of that mattered. She had to get to Oliver before he did anything stupid.

Turning a corner, she froze at the sight of Quentin on the ground. "Quentin!" she called, rushing to his side. His lip was bleeding, and he grimaced as she helped him up.

"That husband of yours packs a mean punch," he muttered.

"You need to leave," Katie said firmly. "The deputy mayor can't be seen out here, especially with Diaz's men around. Go!" Without waiting for his reply, she sprinted up the steps to the precinct's entrance.

Inside, the station was dark and eerily silent, with unconscious officers strewn across the floor. Katie pulled Ari's phone from her pocket, following the tracker as it led her toward a room filled with other dots—Diaz's crooked cops, no doubt.

"Son of a bitch," she hissed, quickening her pace.

She found Oliver just as he was about to open the door. "Wait, don't do that!" she shouted, causing him to turn.

His hand flew to his quiver, but he stopped when he saw her face.

"On the other side of that door are a bunch of trigger-happy cops waiting for you," she warned. "It's a trap."

"You're not here," he growled, pointing accusingly at her.

Katie shook her head, stepping closer. "Yes, I am. I'm right here with you. You can't open that door. I won't let you."

"I have to," Oliver insisted, his voice filled with desperation. "I have to stop Diaz."

"And you will," Katie assured him, edging closer. "But not like this. The Vertigo is messing with your head, making you irrational. That's why I'm here.

"He's right there," Oliver said, his eyes wild. "On the other side of that door!"

"And so are a bunch of armed idiots waiting to gun you down," Katie shot back. "You go through that door, what happens to our kids?"

"They have you," he replied flatly.

"Okay," Katie said, her voice softening. "Then what happens to me? This doesn't work without you, Oliver."

"You left," he said, his voice breaking.

"No, I didn't," Katie firmly said. "I'm right here. That wasn't me, Liver. This is me, and I'm not going anywhere. You're not alone. You'll never be alone as long as I'm breathing."

Oliver stared at her, clearly fighting to process her words through the haze of Vertigo. "I don't know how to tell if you're real," he admitted.

Katie's heart ached at the words. She needed to reach him. She knew she could. She knew if anyone could it was her. She moved closer, hands up and palms facing him in a peaceful gesture.

"Then trust me," she said softly. "I know it's hard right now, I know it feels like everything's spinning, but look at me, Liver. Feel my hand." She reached out-slowly, carefully-so she didn't spook him. She gently took his hand, and intertwined her fingers with his. "I'm real, you know I'm real, and I know you can feel it." she placed his hand above her heart. "I know you can feel me."

Oliver's muscles were tense, his body seeming to still hesitate and ready to spring. But as he stood there, his eyes on hers, as he feels the beat of her heart underneath his finger tips, it's undeniable. He closes his eyes and shut out every voice except for hers and lets out a deep breath.

"I'm right here, baby." she said.

When his eyes open, he meets her gaze and a smile pulls at his lips. The Vertigo was twisting his perceptions, but the tone of Katie's voice-her determination-seemed to cut through the fog.

Oliver's grip on her hand tightened, the tension in his body shifting. "Come on," he said, his voice steadier now. He began pulling her with him, his steps more purposeful, his focus clear: he needed to get her out of here.

They began running, when they hear the door open and cops behind them. Oliver shot up a grappling arrow up toward the glass roof before slipping an arm around Katie.

"I've never liked this part." Katie groans, burying her head in his shoulder as she closes her eyes.

"You think you'd be used to it by now." he joked, before they shoot off from the ground before the gun shots.

They caught up with Quentin and returned to the bunker. Quentin sank into a chair, rubbing his sore face, while Katie hurried to the bathroom. Oliver stood motionless, replaying the day's events in his mind, struggling to process it all. A few minutes later, Katie emerged, looking more composed.

"Are you okay?" Oliver asked, his voice laced with concern.

Katie chuckled softly. "I'm supposed to ask you that," she replied, stepping closer and giving him a quick once-over. Her expression shifted. "Wait, I think I've got something." Without explaining, she hurried to the medical supplies.

Oliver's brows furrowed as he watched her rush off. When she returned, she handed Quentin an ice pack and then approached Oliver with a smile. Before he could react, she jabbed a syringe into his arm.

"Ow! What the hell?" he yelped, flinching as she withdrew the needle.

"Relax, you big baby," Katie teased. "This will flush out whatever Vertigo is still in your system." She set the syringe aside and stepped back toward him, gently taking his arm to check his pulse.

As her fingers pressed against his wrist, Oliver couldn't help but watch her—her concentration, the slight furrow of her brow, the way she bit her lip in thought. His heart thudded harder, and she noticed, glancing up at him.

"Was I your only hallucination?" she asked, her tone light but curious.

Oliver shook his head. "No, it was strange. Everything felt so real. The people, the situations... Adrian Chase."

Katie grimaced. "I bet he talked a lot, didn't he?"

"Yeah, wouldn't shut up," Oliver admitted with a small, humorless laugh.

"That was a gutsy move, walking into the precinct as Katherine Queen instead of the Guardian," Quentin chimed in from his chair.

Katie shrugged, turning back to Oliver with a smile. "It didn't seem to matter much at the time."

"Maybe not, but there are still cameras," Quentin pointed out.

"That didn't mean anything to me either." she replied with a shrug. "But I think Ari said something about Diaz cutting the cameras when he's there. So we lucked out."

Quentin's phone vibrated and he pulled it from his pocket. "Excuse me, I got to take this." the man stood and walk off to take the call.

Katie settled herself on the arm of the chair, and let out a tired sigh. Oliver's gaze lingered on her. "Are you sure you're okay?" he asked again.

"I'm fine. I may have indulged in one—or two—of Sarah Epstein's solar-powered hot dogs, and my stomach's regretting it." she said and Oliver looked at her in confusion. "The things you miss when you don't go to the science fair." she replied, her eyes finally noticing the hood he was wearing. It was an older version he wore during his early days as a vigilante.

"Huh? Haven't seen that one in a while." she replied, remembering the first time she saw him wear it. It was when she returned home, and he rang her doorbell in full vigilante gear. "Decided to take a trip down memory lane?"

"Something like that." he replied. "The Vertigo did give me some clarity."

Katie let out a snort, "Are you still high?" she turned her head. "I think I have another syringe-"

"John was right," Oliver interrupted, his tone turning serious. Katie's teasing faded as she looked at him. "I've spread myself too thin. I'm sure you've noticed. But I'm not giving up—on you, on the kids. And if, by some miracle, I'm not impeached, I'll keep being mayor. I believe in the good I can do as the Green Arrow... but I need to bring the mission back to basics, to where it started."

Katie frowned slightly. "It started with you by yourself. Are you saying you want to do this alone?"

Before Oliver could answer, Quentin reentered the room, his face grave. "Sorry to interrupt, but you'll want to turn on the TV."

Katie exchanged a look with Oliver before grabbing the remote. She switched to the news, and the screen lit up with a live broadcast.

"In a shocking fall from grace, the Star City council has voted to impeach Mayor Oliver Queen and remove him from office. We now go live to Councilman Kullens' statement."

The screen cut to Kullens at a press conference. "Mr. Queen's conduct at today's inquiry certainly called his fitness for office into question, but it was his unilateral firing of Captain Hill and D.A. Armand that sealed his fate."

Katie quickly turned off the TV with a scoff. "Yeah, no thanks. I can't listen to any more of that nonsense."

Quentin turned to Oliver. "I'll call Jean Loring. There's got to be some legal avenue we can pursue."

"No," Oliver said with a sigh. "I don't want you wasting any more time or political capital on me."

"I don't give a damn about political capital!" Quentin shot back.

"You should," Oliver said firmly. "Because you're the mayor now."

When it rains, it pours.

That thought lingered in Katie's mind as they drove home. It seemed like life kept throwing challenges their way, one after the other. She glanced at Oliver, his expression focused on the road ahead, but the set of his jaw and the silence between them told her he was disappointed in the council's decision.

When they pulled into the driveway, neither moved for a few moments. They simply sat, staring at their house.

Katie broke the quiet first. "Oh, I forgot to tell you," she said, turning to Oliver. "Mrs. Evil Baker saw the poop on her lawn and immediately stormed over to Mrs. Collins' house. There would've been an old-lady smackdown if I hadn't stepped in to break it up."

Oliver let out a small laugh, a rare glimmer of humor amidst the day's frustrations. He leaned over, pressing a kiss to her lips. "I love you," he murmured as he pulled back.

Katie placed a hand on his cheek, a soft smile gracing her lips. "Of course you do. Who wouldn't?" She leaned in, kissing him again before pulling away. "I love you too. Now, we should go check in with our little terrors."

Oliver nodded, and they stepped out of the car together, heading inside.

The sound of barking and Robyn's laughter greeted them from upstairs. Katie and Oliver exchanged smiles.

"We need to talk about this Green Arrow thing," Katie said, turning to him with a serious expression. "I have some thoughts."

Oliver placed his hands gently on her shoulders. "I know, and we will. But first, I need to talk to the kids—start my apology world tour." He kissed her cheek before heading upstairs.

Katie watched him go, her heart heavy with unspoken worries. She headed to the kitchen, her stomach in knots. She couldn't tell if it was stress or the questionable hot dogs from earlier. Needing fresh air, she stepped out into the backyard.

Upstairs, Oliver stopped outside Ari's door and knocked. After a moment, Robyn opened the door, beaming up at him in her pajamas.

"Daddy!" she squealed, throwing her tiny arms up towards him.

"Hi, sweetheart. You're supposed to be sleeping," Oliver said, scooping her up and pressing a kiss to her cheek as he stepped into the room. Ari was lounging on her bed, her laptop balanced on her knees. She glanced up and smirked.

"I had so many jokes ready for when you got back, but then I saw Councilman Douche's press conference. You get a pass," she teased, closing her laptop. "So… are you okay?"

"Better now. I want to apologize for earlier. I wouldn't—"

"I know. You were stoned," Ari interrupted with a grin.

"Stone!" Robyn repeated gleefully, and Oliver shot Ari a pointed look.

"You're a bad influence," he muttered before crossing the room to kiss the top of Ari's head. "Go to bed."

Ari watched him leave, the door clicking shut behind him. She quickly opened her laptop again, pulling a tiny flash drive from under her pillow. She'd found it in the hallway at the awards ceremony, plugged into one of their computers. Staring at it for a moment, she muttered, "You messed with the wrong mom," before inserting it into her laptop.

Oliver knocked on Will's door next, but before he could, Robyn pounded her tiny fist against it.

"Will!" she yelled.

The door opened, and the puppies bounded out, barking excitedly.

"How did you get all the puppies?" Oliver asked looking over to Will who just chuckled. "I'm almost afraid to ask how you and Ari came to that agreement."

"She said because I missed first place because of Sarah Epstine cheating, that she would let me have the puppies tonight." Will said walking back over to sit on his bed.

Robyn tugged from his arms to be let down.

"Alright, five minutes to play with the puppies, and then bedtime." he pressed a kiss to her cheek before placing her on the floor and watching her chase the puppies around the room. "I didn't think you all would still be awake."

"I couldn't sleep," Will admitted. "I heard about your… impairment."

"Impeachment," Oliver corrected, though he chuckled at the unintended honesty. "Don't worry. I'll be fine. I'm more concerned about you. I'm sorry for what happened earlier. I would never do anything to make you afraid."

"Ari said you were on drugs," Will said bluntly.

"Not like that." he replied. "I was dosed by someone who works for the man I'm trying to stop."

"Ricardo Diaz?" Will asked, and Oliver nods. "Can you stop him?"

"I think I might have a way," Oliver said, resting a reassuring hand on Will's shoulder. "Most importantly, I need you to know that I'll never lose you, your sisters, or Katie. Ever."

"You won't," Will promised with a smile.

"Get to sleep." Oliver replied before placing a kiss to the top of his son's head. He turned to see Robyn still chasing the puppies. "And you little Queen, it's time to go to sleep."

"No sleep!" Robyn whined as Oliver picked her up and carried her out of the room.

Oliver brought her to her room, and sat down in the rocking chair where she put up a fight for a little while longer before letting out a yawn. She dropped her head to his shoulder before finally going to sleep.

Oliver's mind traveled back to the terrible hallucinations he'd had earlier today. Thoughts of his family being hurt had stirred an unbearable fear inside of him. He couldn't lose them. He sat with her for a while longer before standing to his feet and taking her over to her bed.

Downstairs Oliver pulled off his jacket and tie and tossed them on the couch before searching for Katie. He found her in the backyard with Harry.

"Hey," Oliver said appearing behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist. Katie sighed as she let herself fall back into his embrace. He placed a kiss to her cheek and neck before closing his eyes and settling into this quiet moment with his wife.

"You know I get it." Katie spoke, breaking the silence. "Getting back to the original mission, you doing this job alone. It's easier." she spun around to face him. "It's easier for you to tell us to let you do this alone. Because it would hurt more if we chose to leave. Just like it did with the first team, and the second and John." she shook her head, before dropping her eyes from his. "I understand, because it's easier for me to not make you choose between me and whatever mayoral or hero duty falls into your lap. Because it would hurt more if you did have to choose, and you didn't choose me." she brought her eyes back to his, willing herself not to cry after sharing something she thought she never would.

Oliver slid his hands along her face and leaned in. "I will always choose you. Every time."

"Our anniversary, date nights, lunch dates," she turned to wipe a tear from her cheek before turning back to him. "And I told myself that I would never tell you this because I know how much you wish things were different and I know how much you try, but intentions aside, it still hurt. So I get it." she placed a hand on his chest above his heart. "I need you to understand, I will respect your decision, even if it keeps me up at night. But you should make your peace that no matter how many declarations you make, how many times you tell me that you have to do this alone, when you need me I will be there."

Oliver leaned in, capturing her lips in a tender kiss. In the chaos of their lives, she was his constant—a reminder of what mattered most. He's not sure how he got so lucky.

"I am going to make up for our anniversary and the dates." Oliver said pulling back to look into her eyes. He used his thumb to wipe a stray tear from under her eye, as emotion settled in his throat threatening to take his words. "I will choose you. I will choose the kids. This family—this family is the reason I wake up in the morning. And you're the reason I believe that I can beat any problem that comes our way."

He pulled her into a hug, vowing to keep all the promises he's made tonight.

The next morning, the house was jolted awake by the persistent ringing of the doorbell. Oliver and Katie shot up in bed, exchanging groggy, confused looks.

Katie's phone buzzed loudly on the bedside table, snapping her further out of her haze. She fumbled for it, swiping to answer.

"Hello?" she mumbled, her voice still thick with sleep. "Claire? Do you realize what time it is?" The doorbell chimed again, more insistent this time. Katie sighed. "Fine! Just stop ringing the doorbell," she snapped before ending the call.

Turning to Oliver, she groaned in frustration. "Apparently, there's something I have to see." Tossing the covers aside, she swung her legs out of bed, already dreading whatever awaited her at the door.

She threw on her robe and opened the bedroom door to find Ari and Will standing groggily in the hallway.

"What's going on?" Will asked, rubbing his eyes.

"It's fine," Katie said quickly. "Go back to bed."

Both teens disregarded the request as she padded toward the door, Oliver at her heels.

Just as they reached the front hall, Robyn's door creaked open, and the little girl ran out clutching her stuffed bunny.

"Dad forgot to set your lock again," Will sighed, scooping her up effortlessly. "C'mon, Nugget, let's see what all the noise is about."

Katie flung open the front door to reveal Claire standing on the porch and beaming as though she might just bring news of an inheritance, while Tamera stood a few feet back and looked more subdued.

"Good morning!" Claire greeted as she pushed her way inside without awaiting invitation. "Now, where is—" Her eyes brightened as she spotted the remote on the coffee table. She snatched that up and turned the television on.

Tamera hesitated at the door until Oliver waved her in. She offered an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry. She insisted we come."

"Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on?" Katie demanded, her patience wearing thin.

"Well, boss—" Claire began.

"I'm not your boss," Katie interrupted sharply, crossing her arms.

Claire heaved a melodramatic sigh then reached out and tugged Katie toward the couch. "Just sit. You have to see the morning news."

Katie sat down, Oliver standing protectively beside her. "The news hasn't exactly been kind to us lately," he said.

Claire flashed him a surefire grin. "Today will be different."

She clicked through the channels until she found one and waved her hand toward the screen. "Oh, it's starting!

"What's starting?" Katie asked, to which Claire shushed her, pointing towards the television.

The Channel 52 anchor greeted the audience. "Good morning, Star City. Today, we start with an exclusive follow-up on a story that has captured the attention of the entire nation. Yesterday, our station received new information about Katherine Queen and the viral incident during her acceptance speech.

Katie's stomach plummeted as footage from the awards ceremony flashed on the screen, showing her standing in front of the monitor with the missing and wanted posters up:

"A few days ago," the anchor said, "a hacker disrupted Katherine Queen's speech with some outrageous pictures—a missing poster followed by a wanted notice. Channel 52 authenticated them but left many questions open—until today."

"What is this?" Oliver asked, turning to Tamera, who waved her hand at him to continue watching.

The anchor smiled. "To help shed light on this matter, we welcome a special guest: Lois Lane, formerly of the Daily Planet and now with the Smallville Gazette.

"Thank you, Heather," Lois began. "Like many, I watched the viral video of Katherine Queen. I requested this opportunity to share insights from my years-long investigation."

"Into Mrs. Queen specifically?" the anchor asked.

"Yes," Lois confirmed. "There was always a mystery about her that I wanted to unravel. But what I uncovered was more compelling than I ever imagined."

Lois held up the missing poster. "Nine years ago, Katherine volunteered with Doctors Without Borders. One of her assignments took her to Bosnia, a war-torn region at the time. While saving a young boy's life, extremists stormed the clinic, abducting Katherine and several others."

Katie stiffened, her hands gripping the edge of the couch. Oliver placed a steadying hand on her shoulder.

"So, no scandal there," Lois continued, holding up the wanted poster. "But then I found this—a CIA-issued notice. There's little public information about it, but I learned Katherine appeared at the U.S. Embassy in Bosnia seeking help after her captivity. For reasons unclear, this notice was issued shortly after. That's all I found, but I just had more questions. So I decided to go to the source, which is who I've brought today."

The feed transitioned to a live video of Frederick Cole, the director of the CIA.

"Wait—is that the CIA director?" Ari blurted, her eyes widening. When everyone turned to her, she added quickly, "Don't ask me how I know that."

They all turned back to the screen.

"Ms. Lane." the director greeted from a different office. "I am here to read a statement." he dropped his eyes to read the paper in front of him. "The wanted notice issued by the agency, is no longer active. It was issued prematurely, before we had completed our investigation. Once the investigation concluded, we confirmed that Katherine Queen, then Katherine Robins, was not a threat to the United States." the man lifted his eyes to the camera. "We were wrong. She came looking for help, and instead of giving it to her, we treated her like she was a criminal instead of the victim of a horrible crime. For that, I would like to personally apologize to her."

The feed returned to Lois, who looked directly into the camera. "Thank you director." Lois dropped her eyes to the two pictures. "By the end of my investigation, I realized there was no mystery—only a heartbreaking story of resilience and courage. " Lois looked up to the camera. "And I can only imagine how she felt on one of the biggest nights of her life, these memories were forced back into her life. My final thought Heather, Katherine Queen isn't a saint, she has a past, just like most of us. But she also has a present, which she is using to create things like the Second Chance Project that has been overshadowed by lies and bad news reporting. This world doesn't get many heroes that choose to stand in the light, so the last thing we should ever do is tear them down."

The broadcast ended, and the room fell silent.

Katie exhaled slowly, her grip loosening on the couch cushion. Oliver leaned down and kissed the top of her head, his hand warm and steady on her shoulder.

Claire grinned triumphantly. "Told you today would be different."

"How?" Oliver looked over to Claire totally amazed at how she was able to pull this off in just a few days.

"I made a call to a friend of yours." Claire said to Katie. "That Martin guy. He gave me Lois' number and a plan started formulating." Claire went to sit beside Katie. "I couldn't let some robotic voice rewrite your story when I knew it was a lie, and now the rest of the world knows it too. Now we see Second Chance to the end, all of us."

"Claire, I can't tell you how much I appreciate all of this. I have no words and I will forever be grateful. It's just right now, we have a lot going on, I don't think I can finish it."

"Twinkie," Oliver said and she turned to him. "Do not let what's happening with me stop you from seeing this through till the end. You've worked too hard for too long to let anyone steal this moment from you." Katie looked at him for a moment before turning back to Claire.

"Alright, we finish it, all of us." she replied looking from Claire to Tamera. "And by all of us, I think it should be everyone who made this possible."

"You mean Adam." Claire replied and Katie nods. "Are you sure?"

Katie once again glances over to Oliver and then Ari who don't say a word.

"We talked. I think he was put in a bad spot and he made some bad decisions, but there's no way I can create something like this, and not offer him a second chance."

"You're the boss, boss," Claire said with a teasing grin, earning an exasperated look from Katie. "We'll follow your lead all the way to the end."

Tamera stood and placed a hand on Claire's shoulder. "We should probably go and give you all your morning back," she said, before casting a mock-serious glance at Claire. "Next time, I'm getting a leash."

Claire just laughed, giving everyone a cheerful wave as they went toward the door.

Katie followed them, offering one final wave before she was closing the door. She paused for a moment, taking a deep breath, then turned and made her way back into the living room. Her family stared, their eyes curious, as she entered.

"That was… a lot," Katie said, gesturing to the television. "Does anyone have questions about what you saw or heard? Anything you want to talk about?"

Will and Ari exchanged glances before turning back to her.

"I'm good," Ari said with a shrug.

"Same here," Will added.

Katie gave a small smile, relieved. "Alright, so are we going back to sleep, or are we doing an early breakfast?

"No sleep!" Robyn's voice piped up from her spot next to her brother.

Everyone turned toward her and laughed.

"Looks like the little Queen has spoken," Oliver said with a smirk. "Guess it's officially a waffle day. Go wash up, and I'll get started."

The kids all headed upstairs, their footsteps fading as Oliver crossed the room to Katie. She turned to him, her brow furrowed slightly.

"We can do this, right?" she asked softly.

He wrapped his arms around her, and his warmth and confidence steadied her. "We definitely can."

Katie leaned into him, trying to believe his optimism as she ignored the knotting in her stomach.

"Waffle day it is," she murmured with a small smile.

Together, they moved toward the kitchen, ready to greet whatever the day, and the future, had in store.


Author's Note

Ummm, there's like 4 chapters left if this story.

Review Replies

Adela: Thank You!

As this story winds down, I have to once again tell you all how much your support is appreciated!

Sneak Peek

When Ari arrived at the warehouse. The party had already started. She heard the gun fire from inside the second she appeared outside. "Guys!" she called through the com, but she didn't get a response. "Damn," she reached behind her to grab her grapple gun.

She aimed for the top of the building about to send the grapple flying, when suddenly another grapple cord is shot. Ari turns her head and curses at the sight of Damian dawned as the Robin before shooting off to the roof.

"Somehow I'm going to get blamed for this." she muttered before shooting her grapple gun and flying up to the roof.