Dedicated to @NewYorkDoll, @CamrynKissel, and NoraXSWest-AllenFam for their awesome support :)

"Great job, Oliver. She's known you for less than a week and she already hates you, again. That's gotta be some record," thought Oliver, frustratedly as he absentmindedly loaded his black compound bow with a green-tipped arrow.

The plane wasn't set to arrive in Russia for another hour, but the Archer was a strong believer in preparation being key to success. Though, that particular lesson was something he had yet to have the opportunity to teach his daughter, like so many other things.

It's honestly for the best that she's relaxing, especially since I'd probably just mess things up between us again anyway.

The determined, confident vigilante wasn't the type of person to bash on himself for no reason

(I have enough people who do it for me) but when it came to his kids, he always wanted everything to be perfect. Nothing ever seemed to be good enough to show the amount of love he held for them, even if he tried to wrap the entire week in a pretty green Christmas bow and pretend like he wasn't possible days from dying.

I guess the jokes on me for wanting a few days of normalcy in my life.

"So, it's that bad?" Confirmed William as he leaned up against the cargo door's sturdy frame, his hands casually stuffed into his pockets.

"Huh?" Grunted Oliver as he whipped his head around in surprise, his bow's riser still gripped tightly in his right hand.

Their eyes met with a sort of understanding glimmer, the younger man carefully searching through his father's many feelings.

"C'mon, you don't have to be a genius to see when your dad's upset. Though, it does help that I am one," joked William, a sympathetic smile covering his gentle face.

It's nice to see that he gained more confidence over the years because he's always been one of the best people in this world, even if he didn't know it then.

"Yeah, you're right," half-smiled Oliver as he placed the weapon down a nearby table, its body clinking quietly against the slick metal surface.

His hand seemed to idle over the weapon, regret rushing up his loudly beating heart.

Whenever he got nervous, he got this sudden urge to fidget with something, letting a familiar object's surface touch his anxious fingertips. A habit that only the people closest to him knew about.

"Thanks, but to be honest, I kinda saw Mia brooding in the back of the plane and put to and to together," admitted William, slight embarrassment ringing throughout his voice.

Oliver laughed softly, the echo of his happiness slowly dissipating within the stale air that occupied the room.

These are the times that I really miss having you around, Felicity.

William didn't say anything for a few seconds, an encouraging kindness filling his big brown eyes as he looked across the room at his father. Oliver felt a small flicker of hope building in his muscular chest as every minute passed by the father-son pair with a sort of uncertainty as to what was to come.

"I've just been trying so hard over these last few days to make everything perfect for you and your sister, but nothing seems to be working," explained Oliver, disappointedly.

"What are you talking about? You're doing a great job. Maybe even too good of one," protested William, his gaze slightly shifting to the itchy sweater that brushed against his ribs.

"Not for her," sighed Oliver, his fingers aggressively tapping against the tabletop.

The metal felt cold beneath his fingers, almost as if he were once again on the journey of solitude he'd vow to take all those years ago.

"Mia's well... she's complicated and not a very easy person to read, either," reasoned William as he walked up to his father, his light blue snow boots clicking softly against the plane's polished wooden flooring.

If there's anyone who understands not wanting to be open about their feelings then, it's me. I just wish that I could be one of the people who she does open up to.

"I know that but, if she doesn't want me in her life, I should respect her decision. I was the one who made the choice to leave her behind which means I have to be willing to deal with the consequences of my actions," stated Oliver, a sharp pain ringing throughout his body as he remembered the fateful day when he left his wife and baby daughter in that cabin, alone. Sentencing Mia to a life where she never got to know her father. For him to never know his daughter.

"Look, dad. I know we didn't always agree on the whole superhero dilemma when I was younger. Being honest, we probably never really did, but one thing I can tell you is above everything else, I just wanted to know that you would always be there for me. And now that I'm here with you, I've realized that you always were," explained William, a sense of pride hanging in his throat at those last few words.

A lot of mistakes were made in our relationship, but I was the adult in the situation and I should've never let him leave with his grandparents.

"But we both know I can't promise her that," said Oliver, his voice now only a whisper of its former self.

Tears of sadness would've forced themselves to his eyes if not for his powerful will to stay strong for his children.

"You're right, you can't promise her that you'll always be there for her, especially considering none of us know when we'll be going back to the future, but you can show her that your love will," finished William, a few tears now falling down his cheeks.

Oliver nodded his head, a look of appreciation covering his scruffy face.

"I know hugging isn't typically your thing, but could you make an exception just this once?" Asked William, his voice cracking ambivalently.

"Always," smiled Oliver as he wrapped a comforting arm around his son, both parent and child soaking in the warmth of each other's embrace with content glee.

He's right. I shouldn't focus on Crisis until it comes because right now, my family is all that matters.

"Okay, um, dad, I think that it's been just a little too long," commented William, politely as he unsuccessfully tried to pull out of their hug.

"No such thing, William, no such thing," replied Oliver as he squeezed his son a little tighter, pushing their bodies against one another for several more seconds before finally releasing William from his powerful grasp.

William just laughed, playfully rolling his eyes at his dad's antics.

I always told him when he was a kid that one day I was gonna get him with one of these long hugs and now, my mission is accomplished. But I still have one more kid to go...

"Now, I think it might be time for us to get back to your sister," stated Oliver, half-smilingly.

"Yeah, that would probably be a good idea. Wouldn't wanna let her brood for too long," joked William as he gestured towards the door.

But just as the two men were turning to leave, they suddenly felt the floor shake below them.

It was as if the plane was a spinning dreidel, each second vigorously vibrating stronger than the last until they would finally land on their goal of victory.

"I'm not the only one who feels that, right?" Confirmed William as they both struggled to maintain any semblance of balance on their own two feet.

"We need to grab onto something," instructed Oliver as he slowly made his way towards the closest wall, his right hand gripping tightly onto William's left arm so as to try and help him stay upright.

What could even be causing this much turbulence when we're barely even in Russia's borders?!

Oliver finally made his way to the open door, his free hand firmly holding onto the frame as he felt the pressure pulling at his back like thousands of tiny pine needles.

"William, I need you to move quicker," ordered Oliver, a sense of urgency carrying his voice as he watched his son wobble towards the exit.

They needed to get Mia to safety before whatever intruder had disrupted their family trip attempted to hurt her.

"I'm trying, dad, but I'm not exactly as coordinated as you are," responded William nervously as he shuffled to the next wall closest to him, his left arm still supported by his father.

You're only a few feet away, William. You've got this...

But as Oliver watched his son slowly moving towards him, he felt something warm blow down the back of his neck as he heard an all-too familiar sparking sound whisper from within the corner of the room.

"Get down now!" Shouted Oliver as he jumped forward to protect his son from the blast with his own body, though it was much too late for any form of escape for the unsuspecting heroes.

And with a thundering boom!

Both men were blown off their feet and into the wall, their bodies slamming harshly against its hard surface. It felt as if the pounding pressure of the atmosphere that just hit them, the Green Arrow's muscles weakly trying to push himself to the steady floor before the world disappeared into the infinite darkness that surrounded them.

No, William, Mia...