Arrowheart

Chapter Four

I drop Hannah off with my father, so I can go to the opening for Queen Consolidated's new Applied Sciences Division. I meet up with Stephanie, once I arrive.

Stephanie: "So I believe, now that everything is ready for the charity event next week, tonight is girls' night."

I chuckle.

Elizabeth: "Alright, I think you're right. It's been pretty chaotic lately, and I need to chill for a night. After this, we just need to go shopping for the event. Maybe Thea and/or Laurel would like to join us."

Stephanie: "Maybe."

Walter steps up to the podium and begins speaking.

Walter: "Good afternoon, and thank you all for coming. Welcome to the future sight of the Robert Queen Memorial Applied Sciences Center."

Everyone claps as Walter picks up a golden shovel.

Walter: "Now this is a building that will stand as a monument to the man whose company and vision are his greatest legacy."

He is interrupted by what seems to be an intoxicated Oliver.

Oliver: "Woah, woah, [grabs and drinks part of a glass before putting it back on the waitress' tray and continues forward through the crowd] What about me? Right? I'm a legacy. Hey, thanks for warming them up, Walt."

We are all stunned at his behavior as he gets up on stage, and takes the golden shovel before standing at the podium, and pretending to drop it.

Oliver: "Some of you may not know me. My name is Oliver Queen. Uh, watch some television, read a newspaper, I'm kinda famous right now. Mostly though, I'm famous cause I'm Robert Queen's son. Uh, but as Walter, who's my new dad, as Walter was saying, I'm not much of a legacy, per se. See, I was supposed to come here today, and I'm supposed to take my rightful place at the company. Prodigal son returns home and becomes the heir parent. But I'm not my father. I'm not the man he was; I'm not half the man he was. I never will be. So, please, stop asking me to be."

He sticks the shovel in some dirt and walks off, leaving everyone baffled. After the press conference is finally over, Stephanie and I go back to my company.

Stephanie: "That was some statement Oliver made."

Elizabeth: "While I don't approve of the way he did that, I believe it was the only way Moira and Walter would stop for a while. So it was understandable."

Stephanie: "I guess I can see that."

Elizabeth: "Now then, how are the plans for the event coming along?"

Stephanie: "Plans are set, the preparations are almost complete, and we are ready with backups in case anything goes wrong."

Elizabeth: "Excellent. Laurel has agreed to go out with us tonight."

Stephanie: "Wonderful, I'll leave you to your paperwork now."

Elizabeth: "Thank you, Stephanie."

After work, I pick up my daughter from my father, and go home.

Hannah: "Mommy, can I go in the pool?"

Elizabeth: "Sure, honey. Go get changed and I will meet you out there. But don't go in the pool till I am out there with you, okay."

Hannah: "Okay mommy."

She runs to her room, super excited, and I chuckle before going to my room and changing into my bathing suit.

I go outside to see her sitting on the edge of the pool, waiting for me.

Hannah: "Can I go in now mommy?"

Elizabeth: "Of course honey."

She quickly jumps into the 3 ft section. I play with her in the pool for a while before Stephanie comes out to join us.

~Time skip a couple days~

We had to postpone our girls’ night by a couple of nights, and now it is me, Stephanie, Laurel, and Joanna. Moira is taking care of Hannah tonight.

We decided to go to club Poison. Joanna and Stephanie are dancing while Laurel and I are at a table, drinking, when Tommy and Oliver show up.

Tommy: "Oh wow. Doesn't the two of you going out and having fun violate some kind of law, you know, like the ones that are carved on a stone tablet?"

Laurel: "That's cute."

Elizabeth: "Real nice, Tommy."

Tommy: "Thanks."

Laurel: "I can see you two are up to your old hunting patterns."

Oliver: "Just seeing what passes for fun in Starling City after five years."

Laurel: "Ah."

Elizabeth: "Well, I'm sure you'll find that it just hasn't been the same without you."

Suddenly, Thea comes running over.

Thea: "Big brother!"

She gets right in front of Oliver and puts her hands on his shoulders, swaying with him.

Thea: "Oh! I am so wasted right now. There is . . . there is two of you."

Tommy, Laurel, and I turn to the bar.

Oliver: "I thought you were grounded."

Thea: "I am. And thank you, thank you for that, by the way."

Oliver: "You're done for the night."

Thea: "Oh, what are you gonna do? Tell mom?"

Oliver: "Thea! You are hanging with the wrong people."

Thea: "You're one to talk. Uh, how much do you know about your own so-called friends over here?"

Laurel looks at Tommy, and Tommy quickly turns toward Thea. I get another temptress passed to me.

Tommy: "Oh, Thea, maybe you should-"

Thea: "Tommy, I think your BFF has a right to know."

Oliver: "Thea, let's go."

Thea: "Well, I guess they never told you that they've been screwing while you were gone."

I turn to see Oliver doesn't even look shocked.

Tommy: "Look, man, I-"

Oliver: "Tommy, it's okay."

He turns back to Thea.

Oliver: "You and me, we're done for the night."

He tries to walk away with his hand on her arm, but Thea hits his hand off.

Thea: "Take your hands off of me. You're not my father. And you're barely my brother."

She walks away. Then Max Fuller shows up; the owner of the club, and the one who Oliver slept with his fiancé at the wedding rehearsal dinner; with his bouncers.

Max: "Well, well. Look at this. Oliver Queen."

Oliver: "Max Fuller. How’ve you been?"

Max: "Happy you drowned."

Max drags Oliver away from us and Tommy runs after them.

Elizabeth: "So much for a girls’ night."

Laurel: "Yeah. We should probably go help them."

Elizabeth: "Yeah, let's go."

We head over to find the fight just starting, so we help Oliver and Tommy. Laurel beats up Max while I beat up his bodyguard, and then he bans all four of us for life. Laurel and I text our friends, and they join us in going to another bar for a couple of drinks before going home. From there, we end up having to take a taxi home.

The next day is Saturday, so I spend the day at home with Hannah.

Elizabeth: "Alright little munchkin, it's breakfast time."

Hannah: "Yay!"

She is bouncing in the kitchen after helping me make pancakes and bacon. We go into the living room and eat our breakfast while watching Care Bears: Welcome to Care-a-Lot.

After breakfast, we clean up the kitchen before Tommy comes over. Hannah wants to make a fort in the living room, so we each grab a bunch of blankets and pillows, covering the windows with the curtains, making it dark in the room.

Hannah decides we are going to watch Sharkboy and Lavagirl. I cut up some apples and get the peanut butter, before joining them in the fort. We enjoy our time together, watching movies and snacking all day. Once it gets late, Tommy has to go.

Tommy: "I'll see you two later."

Hannah: "But Uncle Tommy, why do you have to go?"

Tommy: "Well, I can't keep a pretty girl waiting for me, so I have to go. Sorry cookie monster."

He gives her a big hug, says bye to me, and leaves to go talk to Laurel. Hannah gets tired soon after and I put her to bed. I sit on the couch with a glass of wine while watching The Phantom of the Opera, until I get a call from Laurel. She tells me there's been a shooting at a stock auction that the Queens were attending. I immediately call Moira.

E: Moira, are you alright? Was anyone hurt?

M: Elizabeth, we're fine, but we can't find Oliver anywhere.

E: I will be right over.

I get Hannah’s coat and shoes on her, and she slightly wakes up when I pick her up.

Hannah: “Mommy ….where are we going?”

Elizabeth: “We are going to see Mimi at her house for the night. Go back to sleep, honey.”

She nods off once I put her in her car seat, and I drive us to the Queen estate. I arrive, carrying Hannah in my arms and Thea comes into the foyer.

Elizabeth: "Hey Thea, have you heard anything?"

Thea: "Not yet. I'll carry Hannah upstairs for you."

Elizabeth: "Thank you."

She takes Hannah up to her room and I go into the living room to find Moira and Walter on the couch, very worried.

Moira: "Elizabeth, where's Hannah?"

Elizabeth: "Thea took her upstairs for me. How are you doing?"

Moira: "Not too well I'm afraid."

A little while later, Laurel stopped by and Oliver finally came home. Laurel confronted him in the foyer about him worrying his family before she left. I walk into the foyer as he is walking up the steps.

Elizabeth: "Rough night, huh?"

Oliver: "Yeah, you could say that. The second time tonight that a friend of mine took me to the woodshed. It kind of tires you out."

Elizabeth: "Yeah, sounds like it."

Oliver: "Is Hannah here too?"

Elizabeth: "She's sleeping upstairs."

Oliver: "I guess we shouldn't disturb her then. Goodnight, Liz."

Elizabeth: "Goodnight Ollie."

~Flashback to a couple days after Hannah and Luke were born~

I am lying in the hospital bed, with Tommy and my father by my side, when the doctor comes in.

Doctor: "Ms. Merlyn, I'm afraid I have some really bad news for you."

Elizabeth: "What is it?"

Doctor: "It's about your son,"

My heart starts pounding hard as my body runs cold at what he could possibly be telling me.

Doctor: "I'm afraid he didn't make it."

Elizabeth: "No, you're wrong. My baby can't possibly be . . . No . . . No . . ."

My dad puts a hand on my shoulder, trying to keep me calm along with my brother.

Doctor: "I'm very sorry for your loss."

Elizabeth: "No, it's impossible! This can't be happening!"

Malcolm: "Hey, Elizabeth, calm down."

Tommy and my father try to stop me from getting up as I feel my heart shatter into a million pieces when only my daughter is brought in. I can't believe my son is dead.