Arrowheart

Chapter Four

I drop Hannah off with my father and 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 next week's charity event, tonight is girls' night."

I chuckle.

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

Stephanie: "Maybe."

Then 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, and 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."

Then he is interrupted by what seems to be an intoxicated Oliver.

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

We are 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. The 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 the dirt and walks off, baffling everyone.

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 disapprove of how 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 go home, picking up my daughter from Moira's.

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

Elizabeth: "Sure, honey. Get changed, and I will meet you out there. But don't go in the pool till I am 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 find her sitting on the pool's edge, waiting for me.

Hannah: "Can I go in now, Mommy?"

Elizabeth: "Of course, honey."

She quickly jumps into the 3ft section. I play with her in the pool before Stephanie joins us.

~Time skip a couple days~

We had to postpone our girl's 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 dance while Laurel and I are drinking when Tommy and Oliver show up at the bar.

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

Laurel: "That's cute, Tommy."

Elizabeth: "Real nice, bro."

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 it hasn't been the same without you."

All of a sudden, Thea comes running over.

Thea: "Big brother!"

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

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, but Thea hits his arm off.

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

Then 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 have you been?"

Max: "Happy you drowned."

Then Max dragged Oliver away from us, and Tommy ran after them.

Elizabeth: "So much for a girl's night."

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

Elizabeth: "Yeah, let's go."

We go to where they disappeared and 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 enter the living room and eat breakfast while watching Care Bears: Welcome to Care-a-Lot.

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

Hannah decides we will watch Sharkboy and Lavagirl, so I cut up some apples and get the peanut butter before joining them in the fort and enjoying time with my brother and daughter, 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 make a pretty girl wait on me, so I have to go. Sorry cookie monster."

He hugs her, then says bye to me and leaves to talk to Laurel. Hannah gets tired soon after, and I put her to bed. I sit on the couch with a glass of wine and watch The Phantom of the Opera until I get a call from Laurel, telling 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 will see LiLi 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 enters the foyer.

Elizabeth: "Hello, Thea. Have you heard anything?"

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

Elizabeth: "Thank you."

She takes Hannah 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 brought 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 about 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. Second time tonight that a friend of mine has taken 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 of days after Hannah and Liam were born~

I'm 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 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 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.