Laurel had been in the hospital for 4 days. Malcolm and Slade refused to allow Laurel to leave Frost's hospital, wanting her to heal completely before allowing her to move. They took shifts staying with her, Malcolm was sitting next to her, taking a nap while Laurel read the newspaper, the shoot out was front page. 

"Hey" Dinah came in.

"Hi" Laurel smiled. 

"Everyone is getting crazy out there," Dinah said, "What is happening?"

"The Danvers and Diggles are coming back, we need to find out what to do," Laurel said. "The Darhks declared war on us when they hit dad than when they hit Thea, and now me. Star City will be a war zone"

"What about Lord's wife and co-leader? Have you alerted them about Lord's betrayal?" Dinah asked.

"I don't know," Laurel said, "They might do it after the meeting"

Dinah was about to say something when Malcolm began waking up, "What time is it?" He asked.

"Almost lunch," Dinah said.

"I'm starving" Laurel groaned.

"I'll go get you a sandwich or something" Dinah stood up, "I still have something to talk to you about later"

"I'll be here, waiting for my fiancees to let me leave" Laurel tossed her head back. Dinah left and Malcolm began reading the newspaper, Laurel rolled her head to look at him. "You know the something my mom wants to talk about is kids right?"

Malcolm stopped and looked up, "What?" 

"Yea, always the first conversation we have when I get into relationships," Laurel said, "She'll go on her rant about age, kids, money, then I tell her to bother Veronica or Sara about it, then we never mention it again. It's a tradition at this point"

"Well... Do you want kids?" Malcolm put the newspaper down. 

"I mean, I wouldn't mind kids" Laurel shrugged, "Listen we don't have to talk about this now, we can wait for Slade"

"Okay," He said. "The Danvers should be arriving tonight at dinner, and the Diggles will arrive shortly after"

"Will I be allowed to join the meeting?" Laurel asked.

"Yes, in fact, we need you in there," Malcolm said. "We are also going to need you to talk to Lena"

"What? Me?" Laurel asked.

"Woman-to-woman," Malcolm said, "We were going to get Kara to talk to her, but we felt like it would be better if it was you"

"Okay," Laurel sighed, "Can I leave the hospital now?"

"No, nice try distracting me though" Malcolm smirked, leaning back. Laurel sighed and laid back. 

"Dammit"

~

Alex and Barry were walking up the hallway when Sara ran in and tackled Barry, "Jesus" Barry sighed, "Oh"

"You owe me a drink," Sara said.

"I can get you that after this meeting" Barry smiled.

Alex was about to say something when Laurel and Caitlin came out of the hospital, "Hi"

"Oh, hi," Caitlin said. Laurel gave a look. 

"How are you, Queen Merlyn?" Barry asked.

"I'm good, bullet wounds are part of the life now," Laurel said, "We should get to the office"

"I'll come by your apartment after," Barry tells Sara who nods.

Laurel, Caitlin, Alex, and Barry headed to the office, Slade and Malcolm were going through the file again. "Slade, Malcolm" Alex greeted.

"Alex," Slade said.

"Welcome back" Malcolm greeted.

"Wish it was on better circumstances," Alex said, "The Diggles?"

"Well be here shortly," Malcolm said, "Kara and Oliver?"

"I've extended their honeymoon, they're going to need it," Alex said.

"Good," Malcolm said, "It's going to get crazy here"

~

The meeting had commenced, Malcolm listing off the evidence. "Lord sent 40,000 dollars to the Darhk's telling the bank it was for a charity" Malcolm stated, "That's what first tipped off the government about their supposed alliance"

"James would never align himself with the Darhks, Lucy hated them, and Lena could never stand them," Alex said.

"Lord must've really hit rock bottom" Diggle sighed.

"That's what happens when your love dies," Malcolm said, "He has also invested money into the Darhk's companies" 

"Is he even trying to hide it?" Roy asked.

"Apparently not" Laurel sighed. 

"It's undeniable, Maxwell Lord is working with the Darhks," Slade said, "The Darhk's pissed us off when they shot Quentin, they declared war on us shooting Thea, but they signed their death certificate when they shot Laurel"

"The Danvers stand beside you," Alex said.

"The Diggles as well," Diggle said.

"Thank you" Malcolm smiled.

"I think we should call Lena now" Slade suggests, handing the phone to Laurel. Laurel sighed, sitting down and dialling Lena's direct line.

"Hello?" The female's voice came over the line.

"Hi, Lena, this is Laurel Lance" Laurel said.

"Oh right, the new Queen of Merlyn," Lena said, "What can I do for you?"

"Are you with your husbands?" Laurel asked.

"No, James is in Corto Maltese and Max is visiting a friend on the coast," Lena said.

"Okay" Laurel sighed, "I have some information that my fiancee's and I stumbled across, about Max"

Laurel could tell Lena was going to guess it, "He's betrayed us hasn't he?"

"He's working with the Darhks" Laurel sighed. "Undeniable evidence"

"I knew he was working with someone, someone me and James hated," Lena said, "Oh god, this is bad"

"I'm sorry," Laurel said.

"Don't be, I needed to know." Lena said, "Does Alex know?"

"Yes, she's here with me now" Laurel looked up at Alex, "Here, talk to her"

Alex took the phone and began talking with her, "How did she react?" Diggle asked.

"Surprisingly calm," Laurel said, "She said she had been suspecting him to be working with someone" 

"But she couldn't say anything" Roy sighed, "The perks of been a mob wife"

"What?" Laurel asked.

"Let's just say, your one of the only mob wives to be included in mob business," Malcolm said, "But that's because you're second generation Mob, most wives aren't"

Laurel nodded, "Lena is going to tell James," Alex said, hanging up, "She's going to need protection if Max finds out"

"We can provide it," Slade said, "Her children and her are innocent, we can agree on that"

"This is going to be messy"

~

Laurel was relaxing in the Lance apartment, Roy and Thea were sitting by the window talking, god knows where Sara and Barry ran off to, Veronica was just relaxing with Laurel, mostly making sure she didn't open her wound again. "Something blue and Something old?"

"Mom's veil" Laurel pointed.

"Something blue?" Veronica asked.

Laurel thought, "That locket that dad bought me for my 17th birthday," Laurel said.

"Nice" Veronica said, "Dress?"

"I am going to try some on in November, you better come with me by the way," Laurel said.

"Duh," Veronica smiled.

Tommy, Sara, and Barry came in, "That makes no sense," Barry said, "The beer is more expensive than the whiskey"

"That beer comes from the source" Tommy pointed.

"Doesn't mean the source is good" Sara smirked.

"Hey" Laurel greeted.

"Step-mom," Tommy said, Laurel took a pillow and threw it at him as he sat next to Veronica.

"Wouldn't that make me your Step-aunt?" Sara asked.

"Gross" Tommy said. 

"How is the wedding planning?" Barry asked.

"Honestly, the rest of the planning needs to be with Malcolm and Slade, then basically it's done" Laurel shrugged.

"And dad," Veronica said.

"Right, dad" Laurel said, "Hopefully he comes back soon"

"Why don't we watch a movie?" Sara suggests.

"Sure," Tommy said.

"I'll make some popcorn," Laurel said. As soon as she stood up Dinah ran in.

"Your father sent a letter" She exclaimed.

"What!?" Veronica shouted. Veronica and Sara jumped over the couch and Laurel rushed over, Dinah began reading the letter out loud.

"'Dear my beautiful family, I am okay and safe. We are working our way up the ranks fast, that means our mission might be short" Dinah read. "I wanted to ask, there are rumours Laurel is engaged to Malcolm and Slade, I need to know my pretty bird. Other than that, my letter can't be too long. Just know I love you all, I can't wait to be back with you, stay safe. All my love, Quentin'"

"When did he send this?" Laurel asked.

"Maybe 4 days ago," Dinah said.

"I'll write a response," Laurel said.

"At least he is okay," Sara said.

Laurel grabbed a pen and paper and sat down to write.

Dear Dad,

     Laurel here. I really didn't want to tell you in a letter, but I am engaged to Malcolm and Slade. They asked me to be their queen before you left, but I didn't accept until just after you left. They asked me to marry them 3 weeks later. I agreed. We aren't going to set a date until you come back.
     I know what you're going to say; "Do you actually love them?". I can hear you asking and the answer? I care for them, they care for me. And like everyone says, there is no way out of the mob, so minus well have a husband (in my case husbands) to take care of me.
     We're all doing good, Sara has made a new 'friend', Veronica has relaxed and has accepted living in the Hall, Mom has come back and is spending time with us.
     You better be safe to dad, I want you to walk me down the aisle. 

All our love,
Your pretty birds

Laurel gave the letter to mom, "Can you get it to the messenger?" she asked.

"Yea" Dinah smiled.

"I'm going actually going to go lay down, I'm tired" Laurel sighed.

"Okay, don't stress yourself out," Sara said.

~

Laurel was laying in bed, thinking over what her father was doing. Trying to relax, Slade and Malcolm came in, "Are you okay?" Slade asked, sitting down on the bed with her.

"I'm worried," she said.

"About your father?" Malcolm asked.

"About everything," Laurel said. 

"You don't have to worry about anything" Slade rubbed her back. "Everything will be okay"

"Do you want anything?" Malcolm asked.

"Just stay with me," Laurel said. They climbed into bed on either side of her and just relaxed.

"We're here for you"

_________________________

Written by: EmpressOfFandomzzz