Disclaimer: WB/DC own these characters. I do not, just the original ideas.

Summary: An AU story taking place during season 2 episode 15, The Promise. The beginning of the episode is unchanged, but then it radically goes off of canon from there. What if Oliver confronted Slade right away when in the Queen mansion? I'm taking aspects of what has happened on the show, but presenting them in different ways.

What if there were less secrets? What if Moira admitted to Oliver she knows he was the Arrow?

It had begun as an ordinary night. Oliver had been at the foundry, taking care of Arrow business, when he had gotten a '911' text from Thea, which meant he was needed at home. The one place where he didn't want to be due to the continued strain between him and his mother.

Oliver entered the mansion, slamming the door behind him. He yelled for his sister as he walked towards the living room, unaware of anyone else being present. His mother met him instead. "Why are you yelling, Oliver? I have company" she reprimanded him in a low, stern voice.

Moira gave him one of her characteristic steely glares, and motioned for him to follow her into the meticulously decorated living room. "Please act like the courteous young man I know you can be."

As she entered the living room, she stated, "Oliver, I would like you to meet Mr. Slade Wilson."

Oliver, carried by his momentum, swung around the corner and almost got whiplash at suddenly stopping upon hearing the name his mother had just spoken so nonchalantly. His eyes widened in surprise as he observed his sworn enemy slowly uncross his long legs, rose from the elegant armchair, and approach Oliver with his hand held out.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Queen," said the familiar Australian voice, with a note of derision Oliver was certain only he could hear through the pounding of the blood rushing in his ears.

Slade then gripped his hand in a deathly grasp. The clap which resulted echoed throughout the room, and Oliver stifled a grimace as his hand was threatened to be crushed by Slade's supernatural strength. Slade's glance pierced into Oliver as if he was attempting to peer into his soul.

How could the man who had tortured and tried to kill him on the island be alive and in his family's living room? Oliver had left him for dead on the Amazo three years ago.

"What... are… you…doing… here," Oliver barely got out through gritted teeth.

"Mr. Wilson is here to discuss my mayoral campaign. He has offered to make a sizable contribution to the cause." His mother explained, narrowing her eyes into her characteristic glare, the kind of look which usually would put Oliver in his place.

It took every bit of self-control Oliver had ever possessed to state in an even tone, "How generous of him," with a small, forced smile.

In an apparently friendly fashion, Slade looked earnestly at Oliver and stated, "I felt compelled. It was the least I could do for your mother. She's exactly what this city needs."

Oliver had no idea what to do. Should he play along until he could figure out what Slade was up to? Should he come up with some excuse and get his mother out of the house and away from Slade? He decided on a third option.

Looking at Slade, Oliver addressed his mother. "Could I have a moment alone with Mr. Wilson, Mother?"

Moira looked at her son in surprise. "Oliver, may I ask why?"

"Mother, please. Trust me on this."

Slade looked at Oliver, a grin slowly appearing on his face. "You see, Moira, your son and I are old acquaintances."

Moira looked first at her son, feeling the tension radiating from him, to the newest contributor to her campaign, who was as calm as he had been moments before. Deciding to play the courteous high-society woman, and avoid a scene, she decided to agree to her son's request.

"I will leave you two gentlemen to your business then. I will check on those quotes we were talking about, Mr. Wilson, and be back shortly."

Oliver watched his mother leave and walk across the hall to her office and close the door. He then abruptly turned towards Slade, who had nonchalantly taken a seat on one of the couches in the room. Oliver watched Slade lean comfortably into the cushions, casually stretching his arm out on the back of the couch.

Slade smiled again at Oliver. "Looks like you've done quite well for yourself this past year."

"Let's cut to the chase, Slade. What are you doing here?"

"Oh, you want to go straight to business? Okay. You showing up here at this time has caused me to change my plans."

"In what way?" Oliver asked, suddenly wary. But not wary enough.

"This way," and before Oliver could react, Slade had reached his side and knocked Oliver on the back of his head with a carefully placed karate chop. Oliver fell over, unconscious. Slade caught him before he fell to the ground and carried him over to a chair.

Sometime later, Oliver first became aware of being very uncomfortable with his arms bound painfully behind his back and his head throbbing from the hit he had received. His memory then returned in a flash. His eyes opened in alarm, and he looked around frantically. He didn't like the sight welcoming him.

His mother was sitting in a chair next to him, unconscious, with her hands tied behind her. He didn't see any other apparent injury. No blood stains, he breathed in relief. Oliver's gaze then fell across from him. Sitting across from them on the couch was Slade, again reclining comfortably back into the luxurious cushions. "Glad you're awake, Oliver. Now we can get to business."

"What did you do to my mother?"

"Just a little chloroform. Unlike you, your mother didn't rush my hand. And before you ask, I also took care of the housekeeping staff on tonight. "

"What do you want, Slade?"

Slade leaned towards Oliver and looked him in the eye. Holding Oliver's gaze, Slade then reached into his jacket and pulled out a knife with a three inch blade. "What do you think I want, Oliver?" He slid his gaze toward to the unconscious Moira next to Oliver.

Oliver swallowed, but held Slade's gaze. He knew how fragile Slade's hold on sanity was five years ago on the island, but now? Now, he had no idea where the Australian's mind was going. "Do you want me to beg for my life? For my mother's life? Would my begging bring Shado back?"

At the mention of his dead beloved's name, Slade jumped up and grabbed Oliver by the collar. "Don't you think I know that? I know it won't bring her back, but you need to be punished for what you didn't do for her. She chose you, and you let her down. Miserably."

"Slade, it wasn't my fault. Ivo was going to pull the trigger no matter what I did."

"Yes, but you brought that woman with you on the yacht. So no matter how you look at it, it was your fault she died."

"No it wasn't. I never wanted to be held prisoner on Lian Vu. I never asked to meet you. I never wanted to be there at all!"

"You do make some good points." Slade shrugged his shoulders. "But, I really don't care." He released his grip around Oliver's collar and straightened up. "I'm back in town for a particular reason. A very special reason." He looked at his knife then back at Oliver. "Do you remember what I promised you, back on the Amazo?"

Slade trailed the knife along Oliver's collarbone, ending at his Adam's apple. "I'm here to make good on that promise." Oliver stilled his body so that it wouldn't react to the memories of the last time Slade had held a knife to his throat. "It would be so easy to do this!" Oliver watched as Slade brought the knife down to his abdomen and quickly thrust it towards tender flesh.

Oliver closed his eyes without volition, thinking he was going to get stabbed. When no pain was felt, he opened his eyes only to meet the snide smile of his enemy. Slade had stopped the knife millimeters away from entering his skin.

Slade leaned back. "Scared you, didn't I? I did say it would be so easy. Too easy. Time for such games later. Maybe with your sister. Or with your mother."

Suddenly, Slade brought the knife up and made a superficial cut along Oliver's cheekbone.

"We'll start with that, however."

Opening his jacket and holding Oliver's gaze, Slade replaced the knife into the side pocket. He brushed off his hands and walked behind the couch. "Now that I've accomplished my goals for tonight, I shall take my leave. I'm sure someone will come by, or wake up, to release you and your mother." Slade walked to the doorway and turned around. "Don't worry, though, I'll be back. To have another conversation… with your mother. And meet your sister."

Oliver watched Slade leave through the front door. Before attempting again at his bonds, he looked around the room. Oliver wondered what else Slade had been up to with his visit while he and his mother were unconscious. Noting nothing out of place, he directed his attention to loosening his bonds.

"Oliver? What happened?" his mother said in a groggy voice. Oliver looked at his mother, surprised he hadn't noticed her waking up.

"Mom, I'm sorry. This is all my fault. How are you? He didn't hurt you, did he?"

Moira groaned. "No, I don't think so. I don't know what happened. I was on my way back to this room when…I don't know what happened next. It went all dark." She looked Oliver in the eye. "What exactly happened between you and Slade?"

Oliver sighed. "It's a long story." Looking down, he continued. "I do apologize about not telling you everything that happened to me in the five years I was gone. I…I haven't told anyone everything. Perhaps someday I will."

"So, just tell me what I need to know now. Did you know Slade on the island?"

"Yes, we were friends at first. Then a woman he loved died because of a choice I made, which made him kinda insane. He blamed me then and he blames me now for her dying. He threatened to take away everything and everyone I love in retaliation, and now he's back to make good on that promise."

Moira swallowed the fear resulting from her son's frightening statement. Now her family had yet another enemy. She reminded herself they had indeed survived the undertaking, Malcolm Merlyn, and her trial. They will survive this man Slade Wilson and his evil plans for her family.

"Oliver, we've survived much this year. We will survive this as well." Testing her bonds, she asked her son, "So, what's next?"

"I've been working on these ropes, and I might be able to get them loosened." Oliver suddenly was able to snap the remaining ropes off his wrists. "Whew. I thought maybe I was losing my touch," he said, half-way to himself.

Moira gave her son one of her characteristic 'are you keeping something from me?' mother looks upon hearing what he had said.

"What?" Oliver asked, adopting his characteristic wide-eyed innocent look he used when avoiding the truth.

"Oliver, I think it's way beyond time for us to have an over-due discussion. First, though, check on Raisa and Luis and make sure they're okay." She smiled. "After you untie me first."

Oliver had momentarily forgotten about the housekeeping staff. He felt a tinge of guilt, but he hurried over to his mother and untied her. He then rushed off to find the staff, the kitchen being the first place he searched. There he found Raisa and Luis tied up and sitting on the floor, apparently unharmed He untied their bonds, assisted them into a sitting position, and assessed for injuries.

"Mr. Oliver, don't worry about us. We're all right. Are you and Mrs. Queen okay?" Raisa raised her hand to Oliver's cheek and looked him in the eye.

Oliver smiled, appreciative of the love and loyalty Raisa once again showed him and his family. "Do you think you and Luis can make it to your homes without difficulty?"

"Mr. Oliver, aren't we calling the police about this?"

Oliver thought about it. How would this appear if they didn't report this to the police? Luckily both Raisa and Luis were loyal employees, and so Oliver made a decision

"This is a private family matter, Raisa, so we won't be involving the police at this time. I hope you can understand."

"Of course, Mr. Oliver. Luis and I will be able to find our ways home without a problem. You just take care of what you need to, my boy." She gave Oliver a look he felt held more meaning than it would appear on the surface.

As she walked away Oliver wondered again about the chances whether she actually didn't know about the Arrow. He had his suspicions before this night, but with her reactions to this latest incident, he could hardly doubt she didn't know. And she loved him regardless. It warmed his heart.

His attention then went back to his mother. Who was waiting in the living room for a "discussion". He had a feeling tonight was the night both women who had raised him realized the truth about him. He squared his shoulders and headed back to the living room to face the more difficult woman of the two.

"It's getting late, Mom. Maybe we should discuss this tomorrow," Oliver suggested, hoping she would agree but doubted she would.

"Now, Oliver, I don't buy it. I don't know what happened, but I woke up tied up in my own living room, and my son has blood on his face from a cut he didn't have before. This is something we can't wait to discuss until tomorrow." She rose from the couch and began to pace. "And we haven't even discussed why we're not calling the police about this. Someone assaulted us in our own home, and you don't appear to be affected by this."

"Like I said, I have a past history with this guy. I just don't know if we want the kind of publicity resulting from bringing the police in to investigate."

"Or is it that you're afraid they would discover evidence that you're actually the Arrow?"

AN: What did you think? If you be so kind, please let me know via a review. Thanks for reading and enjoying this twist on one of my favorite Arrow episodes!