Oliver smiled when he felt the plane finally touch the ground, since while he didn't have the same problem with flying that he did with sailing, he was thrilled to finally home and home to stay. He couldn't wait to see the rest of his family again. Especially his little sister Thea, who, from what his mom had told him, had really grown up while he was away. He still could still remember the little 12 year old girl who'd worshiped the ground he walked on and according to his mom, instead of wasting her high school years partying like he had, she'd actually dealt with her grief by doubling down and making sure that she didn't waste the time she had with her loved ones like he kind of had.

She'd become a straight A model student at Balloi Prep and had actually gotten a scholarship to Hudson University, one of the most prestigious Ivy League schools in the country, which meant that while her family could afford to pay for her college, they didn't need to, just like how if Oliver decided to go back to school, the government would pay for it since he is a veteran, but anyways, while Thea went to school in Central City, she'd gotten permission to miss a few days of school so she could be there for her brother's homecoming. Oliver was honestly amazed by how much Thea had grown while he was gone.

As they rode in the limo from the airport, Oliver looked out the window as they drove through the Glades and his heart sank as he saw just how impoverished the area was. While there had been a time where he would've just turned a blind eye to the suffering of the Glades, now he couldn't help but wonder how the rest of the city lived with themselves while the Glades suffered in poverty, people just struggling to survive. The reason the crime rate in the Glades was so high was because no one really gave a damn to try and help them. Something that Oliver intended to fix.

However, his thoughts were sidetracked when the limo came to a stop in front of his childhood home, the Queen Mansion.

"I'm gonna assume that my apartment was sold after I died?" Oliver asked, since he'd already had his own place before the Gambit went down.

"Actually, I moved in there and your mom covered the rent, since your place is much nicer than my old apartment was, it reminded me of you and there was more room to raise Jasmine when she came along." Laurel said, looking down at their daughter, who was entirely focused on Dora the explorer cartoon that was on the tablet Laurel had given her to watch tv on.

"So am I gonna need to stay here or?" Oliver asked.

"Of course not, I've been preparing the apartment for your homecoming, the only reason we're here is because the mansion is better suited for a party, even a small one like this." Laurel said.

"Speaking of, I just got a text from Thea asking where we are, so I think she wants to see her big brother again." Moira said with a smile and Oliver nodded.

"Then let's not keep her and any other guests you have waiting any longer." Oliver said with a smile as they got out of the limo.

When Oliver walked into the mansion, he barely had time to look around the parlor before he was hit by a smaller brunette blur.

"I knew it, I knew you were still alive. You're too stubborn to die." Thea Queen said to her big brother as she hugged him tightly.

"I missed you the whole time." Oliver said.

"I hope you missed me more though." Laurel said as she walked past them with Jasmine in her arms.

"Auntie Thea." Jasmine said as Thea quickly forgot about her brother to take her niece into her arms.

"I see where I rate." Oliver said, amused.

"Please, while I'm happy you're home, you're nowhere near as cute as this little girl." Thea said with a smile.

"Well maybe you should come home more often to visit her." Moira said and Thea rolled her eyes.

"Enough mom, you know I only get so many days off from school." Thea said.

"Who are you and what have you done with my little sister who hated school?" Oliver asked her.

"I grew up. Had to if I want to take over Queen Consolidated to give it a real shot at competing with some of the bigger names out there." Thea said.

"Alright Speedy, you've hugged him long enough." Tommy Merlyn said with a grin as he walked up to hug his best friend.

"Tommy, at least you still seem the same as you were before." Oliver said as he hugged his friend.

"Yeah, unlike the rest of us, Tommy still hasn't learned to grow up." Laurel said, giving her old friend shit as Oliver looked around to see who else was there, which included Laurel's younger sister and his close friend, Sara Lance, who, like himself and his sister, looked like she'd grown up, especially given the fact that she was wearing a suit, along with his former CO from the army and close friend, John Diggle.

"I have to admit, this is a smaller get together than I expected." Oliver said.

"Tommy wanted to throw you this huge blow out, but I convinced him that wasn't appropriate for you anymore, since unlike him, you'd already outgrown that kind of life before the island. But that doesn't mean we weren't going to do something." Laurel said.

"I appreciate that." Oliver said as Sara took her turn.

"I see you grew up while I was gone." Oliver said and Sara smiled.

"You're one to talk. But yeah, I cleaned up my act, finished school, but a real job and I even met someone." Sara said.

"Who are you and what have you done with Sara Lance, because the girl I knew never would've said any of those words." Oliver said with a smile.

"Same could be said about you before you put that ring on my sister. A ring that she never took off." Sara said.

"Speaking of rings." Laurel said and Sara couldn't help but roll her eyes, but held up her own hand to reveal her own ring.

"You're getting married." Oliver said, realizing just how much he'd missed.

"Yep. Her name is Ava and she's the love of my life. You'll meet her soon, but I thought it might be awkward if someone you'd never met was here." Sara said.

"Her. Wow, things really have changed. But congratulations Sara. I'm happy for you." Oliver said.

"Thanks Ollie. And please get along with her, because even though I'm happy you're home, if I have to choose between you and her, I will choose her." Sara said.

"If she makes you happy and she's survived your dad and your sister, then I like her already." Oliver said before moving to John.

"Nice to see you could make it Dig." Oliver said, referring to John by his old nickname.

"I wouldn't miss this for the world and just so you know, after you died, I decided to take your advice and worked things out with Lyla." John said.

"Nice to know one good thing came out of that. But can we eat now? It's been five years since I've had any real American food and I'm starving." Oliver said and Moira nodded as the party moved to the dining room.