A disclaimer: I do not own anything DC or anything, I borrowed from other media.

*The next scene shows Oliver visiting Diggle to tell him the big news concerning Laurel*

"I walked into the bunker, and she was just there like nothing had happened like it was some gift." Oliver expresses to Diggle from the other side of the window, still in disbelief that his Laurel was back.

"My Laurel?" Oliver thinks to himself, wondering since when he started calling her that.

"How much does she know about what's happened?" Diggle, who is shocked as well but doesn't show it, asks in a serious tone.

"We're easing her in." Oliver directly answers.

"There's a lot to process. The recruits." Diggle mentions with Oliver chiming in saying, "Prometheus."

"The fact that you killed his dad." Diggle turns to make sure no one was eavesdropping on their conversation leading to Oliver to sign in frustration from remembering that fact. "Tell me about it."

"How are you feeling?" Diggle questions out of nowhere, throwing Oliver off guard.

"I'm all right."

"Oliver, I know you better than that to where you can mask your emotions around me, so let's try again. How are you feeling concerning Laurel?" Diggle restates his question wanting to see where Oliver's mindset is at.

Though Oliver already knew the reason why Diggle ask that question, he was hoping to avoid going in-depth since he still is trying to figure out everything concerning him and Laurel. "During the moment of seeing her back, me and her kiss. Honestly, in a long time, I just felt alive when it had happened."

"Wow, I'm sure Felicity had a particular reaction to seeing that." Diggle assumes only for Oliver to tell him that wasn't the case. "She didn't see it. We had stopped when we heard arriving in the lair."

"Wow, lover boy is already back at it returning girlfriend." Oliver could hear the sarcasm in his voice. It's no secret to Oliver that Diggle was team Felicity when it came to his love life. Little did Diggle know, Oliver someone resented him due to when it came to their relationship, it seems like Diggle most of the time would choose Felicity side rather than be mutual.

"Dig come on you know whatever Felicity and I once had, is now history. We both moved on for good reasons plus with Billy's death, she's in no condition to be with anyone right now." Oliver said, hoping to get Diggle to see reason.

"But, you are in good condition to reconnect with Laurel after her supposed return from the dead?" Diggle argues.

"I told you we just kiss it's not like I put a label on anything yet. If anything, you know me and Laurel have a long history, so you can't blame me for feeling the way that I feel. No relationship is perfect, hell being with Felicity was nowhere near perfect, but I lasted as long as I could until she broke things off." Oliver shoots back, making Diggle rethink his next choice of words.

"Oliver, I know when Laurel died that affected you in more ways than one. I just want you to be careful, man." Diggle responds with sincerely.

Oliver reveals a small smile before saying, "That's why we are brothers, always looking out for each other."

*At the lair*

After finishing up his meeting with Diggle, Oliver returns to the hideout where Laurel already there waiting to see him.

"How it goes with John?" She walks up to him with a warm smile on her face.

"Pretty much expected, he had the same reaction as me about you being back and all. Still trying to figure out a way to get him out." Oliver answers with a smile on his face. "Oh, how I miss that beautiful smile of hers."

"Don't worry; we will. Meanwhile, since no one is here..." Laurel wraps her arms around his neck, and right before she kisses his lips, Oliver stops her.

"Wait, Laurel, don't you think this a bit rush?" As much as he wants to feel her lips again, certain things were going through his mind keeping him from doing so.

"Considering we don't know when Ms. Smoak will make a surprise appearance, nope." Laurel jokes, trying to go in for another kiss.

"Come on Laurel, be serious." Oliver chuckles nervously. He isn't used to this much forwardness from Laurel in the past, not that he didn't like it, but he couldn't help but notice a difference in her behavior.

"I am Ollie. I missed this with you, and I can tell you do too when we first had kissed." She said softly before biting her lips while looking into his eye.

Gently pushing her away, Oliver takes a sit and decides to address his concerns. "Laurel, I need to tell you something that has occurred recently, which will explain why I'm a bit reluctant about us."

"What's wrong?" Laurel sits right beside him and rubs his hand to let him know that she is here to listen.

Oliver takes a deep breath and speaks his mind. "A few days ago, some aliens called the Dominators evaded earth, and we had to team up with Barry's and Sara's team to stop them."

"Really Ollie? Aliens?" Laurel asks playfully.

"After dealing with metahumans, it's not that hard to believe." Beforehand Oliver wouldn't have thought aliens do exist, but after his latest team-up, he would consider anything at this point in his life.

"I'm sure that was a crazy experience."

Oliver chuckles, recalling the whole event. "Yeah it was, but we got through it, fortunately. So during the invasion, one of the Dominator's ship kidnapped me, Thea, Sara, Diggle, and Ray and trap us in this virtue alternative reality where my parents were alive, Diggle was the Green Arrow, Sara was never assassin..." A flashback of his time with the fake Laurel pops up in his head as he slowly looks back up to Laurel with a somewhat sad expression and says, "and you were alive and set to be Mrs. Queen."

Hearing this causes Laurel to gasp in shock. "We were going to get married..."

Oliver nods his head and says, "I was so happy, and seeing you in your wedding dress like you were an angel made it even better and believable. However, we all started getting our memories back and realize none of it was real, so we had to escape. It was hard for me to want to leave. In that world, I had everything I wanted with my parents around and getting married to the love of my life."

Telling her all this brought tears to Laurel's eyes as he continues, "I thought Felicity and I would work since I figure you had moved on, but I had seen too many signs that we aren't a good match and when she called off the engagement. Truthfully I felt relieved in a way because we both at one point lost ourselves when we were a couple. Then the night you died, and you told me that I was the love of your life, it finally hit me that with everything we have been through, it always comes back to you, and that's when I realize you're the love of my life as well. The problem now is part of me feels this is some cruel joke and that you are not real like I need reassurance that you are alive and that me and you can..."

Oliver didn't finish for Laurel quickly grabs his face and kisses him with passion and climbs on his lap. She rubs the side of his face and assures him saying, "I promise you that I am real, this is real, and I'm not going anywhere, Ollie. Let me back in so I can remind you how much I love you and want you."

Laurel's request breaks Oliver for he kisses her this time with Laurel returning the kiss both filled with passion, they don't realize in the background a certain blonde girl quietly witnesses the two lip locking and with tears in her eyes. She walks away, letting the two enjoy their time together and plans for the party tonight.

*Later at the party*

After their heated session, Oliver and Laurel spent more time together until it was time to get ready for the welcome back party. The two met up in front of the penthouse, not being able to take their eyes off each other.

"You sure you ready for this? I can understand if this is too much with you just coming back?" Oliver wasn't trying to come across overprotective, but he just didn't want Laurel to feel pressure to have this party just because Felicity suggested doing one.

Laurel can't help but giggle over how protective Oliver is acting towards her. "While I appreciate you being worry about me, you can relax. It will be fun Mr. Handsome." She purrs, enjoying seeing Oliver in a hot suit.

"Had to step my game up for a confident woman who is looking hot as ever." Oliver flirts as the two share a few quick kisses. Not wanting to go too far, the pair enters the room arm in arms being greeted by everyone though Felicity wasn't too happy seeing them together but kept a straight face. During the party, Thea calls so she could talk to Laurel for a bit while Oliver gave Renee the short version of how the Lance sisters have a way of coming back to life. Afterward, Oliver prepares to say a speech and notices the tension between Laurel and Felicity.

"Looks like I'm going to have to talk to Felicity later." Putting that thought to the side, Oliver gathers everyone around and starts his speech. "A little over a year ago, I-I stood right here, and I remarked that I wished it wasn't just the dark times that brought us together. With all the loss that we have suffered, I think it's important that we embrace the miracles, too, and that we remember they are still possible."

Oliver winks at Laurel with Laurel returning one. "Welcome home, Laurel." He announces with everyone lifting their cups together.

"Cheers," Laurel said. With Felicity watching Laurel drink her water as the first part of her plan now finish. On to her next phase, which is determining if this Laurel is real or fake.

TBC

AU: Other than my busy schedule with now starting my pay internship as well as dealing with my other job and school, I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue this, but for now, I will still don't know how long yet. Somewhat surprised by the attention I have gained on this story since the chapter was short, but thanks to those who follow, favorite, review. So I saw the new canary episode, and while I already a fan of the actress before she had appeared on the show, I still feel like the new canary role should be for Black Siren, just my opinion, but I wish Juliana the best.

I have been rewatching 5x10 and found myself only watching the scenes between Oliver and E2 Laurel, and I couldn't help but think if this was a legit Green Arrow show, that's how the episode would have been with the focus on those two. When you think about it, Oliver seems to be able to reach E2 Laurel, but of course, they had to remind us that Felicity runs things, thus making it hard for Laurel not to want to take on the hero path at that current time. I also think 5x10 should have been a two-part episode because one at least we would have enjoyed more screen time with Katie and two it wouldn't make Felicity finding Laurel's secret so fast look cheap. That's my rant for now.

As far as any possible CW content plans, I am considering extending my Oliver/Helena story (not a lot of the pairing on this site anyways), a one-shot series featuring Oliver/Mckenna, and a Flarrow crossover, for now, depending on my schedule.