Go see the wizard

Damian Dark was angry because he hated having been defeated but he smiled. They believed that he was gone, dead. They were wrong. He was weakened and unable to fight yet but after a while to rest and gather his forces, he'd be ready to fight them, and, this time, he'd take them by surprise and kill them all. He'd make them pay for what they did to him, for the humiliation he had suffered.

They had ruined his plans to start the world over, to rule it and they'd have to pay for it. It would take him time to start over, and he would, after he had taken revenge on those so called heroes.

.

Life in Star City went back to normal for the Queen family.

Hunter went back to school and to having good grades, Karma and Green Arrow managed to take a night off once in a while because the city was calmer and well protected, Moira did a good job as Mayor, Thea was still doing fine managing Verdant and had even started taking some college classes in business and management so she could improve her business... Everyone was rather happy.

Mac had worked on her new powers with the help of Star Labs and she even managed to travel from their lair to Star Labs once while using her powers. She hadn't been able to do it the other way around and had had to take the train back but this new possibility enchanted her and she tried to work on it as soon as she had some time, which she had since her power helped her do her job at Queen Consolidated much faster than before.

Queen Consolidated was doing extremely well. Veronica and Oliver were working great together and the family company was prospering, especially since Veronica managed to unmask any conspiracy or fraud trying to undermine them before they could ever start to take root. She was a real asset and doing great at her job. They were doing so well that they needed to hire new people.

"Hunter was happy to see your father at his recital last week. I know he's glad he stayed a few days too, he was afraid Raz would just come to see the show and leave right after." Oliver told Veronica as they had lunch together, out of the office for the first time in a while.

It's something they still did. Even though they spent most of their time together, working, vigilante-ing or free time, they loved to eat out just the two of them once in a while.

"I know. He didn't tell me but I could tell that he was happy. He was afraid of not being completely accepted by him, since he's not his grandfather by blood, but dad made him feel like he was his own grandson, he helped him understand that blood didn't matter when family is concerned." Veronica smiled.

"He told me about it last night, after your father left and before we drove him back to school." Oliver informed her.

"I'm glad dad stayed a few days too. It was weird to see him dressed normally and joining our day to day life, but it was good... You know what I mean?" She asked him.

"Absolutely." He smiled.

"I forgot to tell you, Lilly called earlier. She's having dinner with Duncan and her niece tonight, since they're temporarily in the same city."

"It'll give Constantine a night off, I don't think he was quite ready for the tornado that is Lilly Kane, well, Mars now." Oliver chuckled, making Veronica smile too.

"By the way, I... I wanted to bring a subject we've both been avoiding for a few weeks... I know dealing with the loss of the baby wasn't easy but... Do you think you're ready for us to try?" Oliver asked her, looking and sounding a bit nervous.

"I... I think so... I mean, we both know that if we wait for the town to be free of all vilains demanding a vigilante's attention, we'll never do it. I'm not really needed on the field that much anymore, and neither are you. We can both take time off and the city is still safe, we trained our team well." She replied with a smile and an eager nod.

"You're sure? It's kind of a big move... Last time wasn't exactly planned... This time it will be." He insisted, wanting to make sure she agreed.

"I'm sure if you are." she smiled.

"Oh, I'm sure. I want children with you. Lots of them." he smiled.

"Let's start with one. But I'm afraid it's going to have to wait though, we have to go and prepare for the press conference we're having this afternoon to promote our new projects and tell everyone that because we're doing so well we'll need to hire people." She told him after looking at the time on her cell phone.

"You're right, I didn't see time pass but then again, I never do when I'm with you." he nodded, getting up to pay so they could go back to work.

.

A couple of hours later, Veronica and Oliver stood on a podium along with the heads of several departments, in front of the press, ready to announce all the changes and the good news. Of course there was a lot of people. Many of the employees were present, along with the TV, the radio and the written press. There was a lot of security as well, it was always a must in these sort of events.

John Diggle was standing on the edge of the podium, watching the crowd, trying to see if anything was out of the ordinary. It was his job to prevent incidents after all. He was their head of security while at Queen Consolidated, and their body guard out of the building, only because he didn't trust anyone completely with his good friends.

"Pony's at Verdant with your sister, Mister Queen." Oliver's secretary told him when she arrived, out of breath.

"Thanks for dropping her off for us, but you didn't have to run. Take your time." Oliver replied with a charming smile that made her blush before he took the stand and started exposing the positive changes the company would face.

Of course the announce of the coming hiring of over 200 people in their city was met with a very positive crowd, along with the new projects and they were being cheered on when, surprising everyone, a loud bang was heard from between two journalists. The man was immediately restrained but Oliver's eyes were on Veronica, who had been hit in the head.

"A rubber bullet? I've never seen one like this before..." One of the department head said as he examined the projectile that had hit Veronica.

"Probably so he could get it passed security and the metal detectors." One of the security agent declared as he packed the bullet in a plastic bag.

"The ambulance is on its way, Mister Queen." Veronica's assistant told him.

Oliver nodded and kept his wife in his arms.

"She's not bleeding, that's a good thing, right?" John asked.

"She could have internal bleeding... it doesn't mean anything, especially since she hasn't woken up yet." Another person said.

"Don't worry, Oliver, Veronica's been through a lot, she's strong. She'll be fine." One of the department head they had both worked a lot with lately told him, trying to sound reassuring.

"John, can you call Hunter to warn him before the news reaches him? If he wants to come back, arrange it, if he wants to stay at school until we have more news, make sure he knows it's okay too." Oliver told his bodyguard and friend.

"Of course." He nodded, also planning on calling Moira and Thea so they could meet Oliver and Veronica at the hospital.

.

A few hours later, the entire Queen family was waiting at the hospital and the shooter was in a jail cell, at the police station. Hunter had decided to come back and Barry had ran to get him and drop him off with his family.

The boy wasn't too concerned with his grades. He was the best student in his year and he managed to stay on top even when he stayed at home and worked from a distance. Plus, his family was the most important to him.

"The guy who shot her escaped from the psychiatric hospital two days ago. He was completely out of his mind. Apparently he suffers from sever delusions, hallucinations and other things like that... He thought we were in Coast City and that he was shooting the woman who 'stole' his wife from him a few years ago." Laurel explained to the Queen family after she hung up with her father.

"Apparently Veronica woke up a few minutes ago, but they won't let us see her until they've examined her completely." Thea told Laurel while Oliver simply nodded.

"I'm sure she'll be fine." Laurel smiled.

"Did someone tell grandpa?" Hunter asked, concerned.

"I left him a message, I'm pretty sure he'll be on his way soon." John nodded.

"Mister Queen?" The doctor asked and Oliver rushed to the man, followed by Hunter, Thea and Moira.

"Your wife has awoken and seems fine except for the fact that... Well, the blow to the head seems to have caused some sort of amnesia." The doctor told them nervously.

"Amnesia? How much has she forgotten?" Oliver asked.

"She thinks she's 16... Her last memories were her best friend's murder and a party were she was..." The doctor stopped, hesitating because of Hunter's presence.

"Shelley Pomeroy's party and Lilly's murder..." Oliver whispered in horror.

"Yes... She's asking for her father, we haven't told her that he was dead yet... We tried telling her how old she is now, even showed her her reflection in a mirror but accepting all of this is hard for her. She's having a very hard time accepting everything. A nurse is trying to tell her that her father is dead but it's not easy for her to believe..." The doctor explained.

"Does she know that we're married?" Oliver asked in a tight voice.

"We told her, even showed her a picture of your wedding that was published in the press... In her head she's still 16 though... We've managed to convince her to let you see her but it would be best if you could bring in someone she knew back then to see her." The doctor told them.

"Mac's on her way." Thea suggested.

"They became friends after that. Veronica didn't know Mac or Wallace at that point. I'll call Duncan. I think he and his daughter were spending a few days with his parents and sister." Oliver declared.

"Let me do it. You go and see Veronica." Thea offered and he nodded.

The doctor left at that point, reminding them to go slowly with Veronica until she was ready to remember and to call him or a nurse if they needed anything.

"What about me? What do we tell her?" Hunter asked.

"What do you mean buddy?" Oliver asked him, confused.

"You're my parents now, and I love you like my parents, but my real mother was her mother... She left her around that moment right?" Hunter explained.

"You're very wise, buddy." Oliver nodded with a sight.

"For the moment we could simply introduce him like a child I took in?" Moira suggested.

"Or maybe I should stay away until she remembers or is ready to accept it... Pretend I'm uncle Tommy's or something." Hunter suggested.

"I think it's a good idea." Tommy nodded, always willing to step up and help, like the few times he dressed like Green Arrow in public while Oliver was somewhere else public so that the few people who thought he was the Arrow would be proven wrong.

"Alright, that's very smart and brave of you, buddy. I promise it'll all be okay." Oliver nodded before he hugged his son.

"Duncan is on his way with his sister. His parents are going to keep an eye on his daughter until someone from Argus can pick her up." Thea explained.

"Maybe Lilly should stay hidden, it wouldn't do Veronica any good to see her now since she remembers seeing her dead." Oliver suggested before he entered the hospital room on his own at first.

.

"Hi... I figured it would be easier if I came in alone at first... Make things easier for you..." Oliver declared when he entered his wife's hospital room.

He made sure to keep his distances with her, creating a safety zone around her so she'd feel safer with him and she was grateful for it, at least he knew her, understood her.

"They told me you and I... They said I forgot all theses years... Where's my father?" She asked him, thankful for his distance.

"I... Veronica honey... Sorry. I... Keith died over a couple of years ago... He was attacked while working on a case... The ones who did this to him were arrested and punished though." He told her, thinking that the truth would be best for her and that telling her now that he was never her father wasn't a good idea.

"No! The nurse said that too after the doctor left to speak to you but... I... No! I need him!" She refused to believe him, shaking her head.

"I know it's hard to process... I can't even imagine how you must feel right now, especially with those two horrible events as the last things you remember..." Oliver whispered, slowly coming closer to her.

He wanted to comfort her, hug her, but he couldn't, he knew that she wouldn't accept it.

"How do you know?" She asked him, on her guards.

"We're married, Veronica. We're in love and we share everything. There's no secrets between us. My family was close to you even before I met you. My sister thinks we were always meant to be but it's not the point now. You told me everything that's happened to you, just like I told you everything I've been through on the Island I was stranded on for 5 years." He confessed.

"I don't remember that, I..." She shook her head, tears in her eyes.

"I know that seeing someone you were close to back then would help. We've called Duncan, he's on the way." Oliver told her with a smile.

"You know Duncan?" She asked, surprised.

"Of course. He's a friend of ours. You're his daughter's godmother." He replied.

"He's married?"

"It's complicated... I'm sure it'll go over better if he's the one to explain it all to you... Now, I know you don't remember any of us but our friends and family are waiting out there to see you. Can I let them in?" Oliver asked her, giving her a choice.

"I don't remember any of them!" Veronica shook her head.

"I know, but maybe seeing them could trigger a memory. Or not. It would also help them be reassured to see you." He argued softly.

"Fine, but... Can... Can you ask them to keep their distance, like you did? Please?" She pleaded.

"Of course." He nodded.

Oliver opened the door and motioned for them to come in, insisting that they gave Veronica her space. Before he joined them inside once more, Oliver wiped the tears that were forming in his eyes. Now wasn't the moment to cry. He needed to be strong for his wife, even if it was hard that she didn't remember him and still believed that she was in love with Duncan. He needed to be strong, he couldn't break down, even though he felt like hitting his fist against the wall several hundred times.

.

On the way to Star City to see Veronica, Duncan couldn't help but remember the first time he saw Veronica again, when he was on the run. It was the time she helped him get the job that changed his life, the job at Argus that gave him and his daughter a safe place to be and a group of people who had their backs. At first, they thought they could have a future together and be a family with Lilly.

He could see it back then, Veronica and him living happily together and his daughter calling Veronica 'mom'. He could see them having more children, and a dog. He had even gone on a date with her, but she had told him that what she felt for him wasn't love anymore. She had told him that she'd always love him in a way, because he was her first love, but that too much had happened for them to ever be completely happy together.

"You're okay Duncan?" Lilly asked her brother.

"Just thinking of the past and of what could have been." He shook his head.

"If she really thinks she's 16, then she still thinks she's in love with you." Lilly declared, a silent warning in her tone.

"I know..."

"You still love her." Lilly insisted.

"I think I'll always love her but don't worry, I know that we don't have a future. I dreamt of it a while back, even tried for us to go for it but she was pretty clear that she didn't feel the same anymore." he replied.

"I just want to be sure you don't use this to come in the way of her and Oliver. They're good together." Lilly insisted.

"I know, don't worry." He nodded.

.

In Star City, Veronica had been allowed out of the hospital and was now at the Queen's house. Since she had no memory of being married to Oliver and still felt like she was 16, they helped her settle in one of the guest rooms, giving her all the photo albums they had that could potentially trigger a memory.

Raz and Nyssa had arrived in town. It had been decided to introduce them as friends of the family and to not tell Veronica about Raz being her father right away. Oliver had hopped that it would trigger a memory in Veronica to see them but nothing happened.

"I'm sorry, Oliver... I can't imagine how hard it must be for you." Raz told his son in law.

"I've been doing my best to give her her space until she accepted the entire situation... I've kept my distances, I haven't touched her, kissed her or held her in my arms even though I crave it. I try to appear strong for her, to hide how sad and distraught I am... and I keep on hoping for things to change but it never does. Every time someone new comes to see her, I hope it will trigger a memory and that she'll remember everything but it never happens. When she came home and Pony rushed to her I hoped it would bring memories back or trigger something but there was nothing. She managed to bond with our dog now and lets Pony sit by her side and even plays with her but she doesn't remember the day we got her together." Oliver confided in the elder man.

"Maybe Duncan will help her remember, son." Raz told him softly.

"He still loves her. And now she remembers that she's 16 and in love with him."

"She'll remember that she loves you, don't worry. I'd offer the Lazarus pit but it won't work. According to the doctor, it's mostly a psychological block and the water won't help with this."

"Don't worry, I understand." Oliver nodded before he left the house to go to the office, hoping everything would be different once he came back.

Once Oliver arrived in his office, his assistant came to see him.

"Mister Queen, the calls are still being transferred from your cell phone to the office. A lawyer from Neptune tried to call you." She told him nervously.

"A lawyer from Neptune? Did you take a message? A name?" He asked her.

"Of course, here, his name is McCormack, it's about your wife."

"Thank you, I'll call him back right away." He replied, informing her that he'd be unavailable for anything that wasn't an extreme emergency until he hung up.

"Oliver? I was hoping you'd call back soon." Cliff said as soon as he answered the call, knowing who it was thanks to caller ID.

"Thanks for calling, you probably saw what happened on the news... i'm sorry, I completely forgot to call you. I know you were close to her father, she said you were like an uncle..."

"It's understandable, you had a lot on your mind. How is she?" Cliff asked.

"Physically, she's perfectly fine, the only problem is her memories. The doctor thinks that they will come back on her own, right now she thinks that she's 16 and that Lilly just died." Oliver explained.

"She didn't choose the best time of her life to get back to." Cliff sighted.

"The doctor thinks that seeing someone she knew back then could help her memories come back, Duncan will stop by but I completely forgot that you knew her then too... Would you mind coming over for a few days?" Oliver asked him.

"I was thinking the same thing. I have to be in court today and tomorrow morning, but I managed to find someone to take over my cases for the next few days. I'll have to see which plane I can catch." Cliff replied, making Oliver smile gratefully.

"Don't worry about the plane, I'll send the Queen jet over and get you a room ready here." Oliver told him.

"Thanks Oliver. I'll be there tomorrow afternoon then." Cliff told Oliver before they both hung up and Oliver warned his assistant to send the jet over in Neptune for the next day, so that Cliff could use it.

.

Veronica read the newspaper and watched the news everyday, to try and get a sense of familiarity with something and every time they spoke of the vigilantes, either those from their city or the others, she felt like she should remember something, like, maybe she knew them, but there was nothing more.

"Why are they so interested in the fact that this Karma woman isn't seen out there? Doesn't she deserve to live her own life? I mean, she got married a while back, right? Maybe she's pregnant or something." Veronica told Moira, who was watching the news with her that early evening.

"People are naturally curious, it makes them feel better to talk about this. They like knowing that the vigilante's are out there for them and when one is missing, they get worried that they got hurt." Moira smiled.

"I don't even know why I feel so passionately about this. Did I know her or something?" Veronica asked her mother in law.

"You and her are close, yes. I can't tell you more though, it's part of something you need to remember on your own." Moira replied kindly.

"I keep trying but nothing's coming back... I know Oliver is just as frustrated as I am, maybe more. That's probably why he's always away." She frowned.

"He loves you a lot and I think he's doing his best to keep as busy as possible to give you your space until you're ready to talk to him. He's probably afraid that if he spends too much time here, he'll end up pushing you before your ready and that's not something he wants." Moira explained and Veronica nodded with a small smile.

"I can't deny that he seems to know me well." Veronica commented.

"By the way, Oliver called earlier, when he warned that he'd be home late. You do remember Cliff right?" Moira asked her daughter in law.

"Cliff McCormack, dad's friend from Neptune?" She asked.

"Yes, we were hopping you'd remember him. He called, worried about you. He's managed to free his schedule and he'll be here tomorrow afternoon." Moira replied.

"Is he still a public defender?" She asked curiously.

"Yes, this hasn't changed, though he had a few offers."

"You seem to know him." Veronica noticed.

"I met him at your wedding, we got to know each other and now we keep in touch." Moira replied.

"Dad always said that he was good at pretending he wasn't as smart as he really was. He used to say that Cliff could do well in a big law firm if he wanted to, but I think he likes helping the people who can't afford it." Veronica said, feeling at ease now.

"I know that Oliver offered him a job here. He told me that he was more and more tempted to take it now that he wasn't so young anymore."

"He's not that old... But I guess time passes for everyone." She nodded.

"Were you close to him growing up?" Moira asked.

"Well, dad didn't have any siblings, neither did mom. Cliff got to know dad over time. At first I didn't know him, other that when he was mentioned on TV or at home over dinner. Then over time they got closer and Cliff was a guest to every dinner party or barbecue we held. I grew to think of him as an uncle. He's a good man." Veronica explained.

"Yes, he is. I mean, as soon as he heard what happened to you, he did his best to free his schedule so he could come to see you. Only a good person will do that." Moira smiled.

.

When Duncan arrived the next morning, he was nervous. Lilly was nervous too, especially since she knew that she'd have to hide and stay away.

"Oliver, I... I'm sorry all of this is happening..." Duncan told Oliver, unsure of what he should be saying.

"Just... Please try not to trouble her more than she already is." Oliver nodded before he left the room.

Duncan followed Thea to Veronica who was hanging out in the garden with Pony.

"I'm sorry for Oliver's reaction, it's been hard on him. He's trying to give Veronica the space she needs but being away from her hurts him more than he lets people see." Thea told Duncan.

"I can understand that..." He nodded.

"Veronica, Duncan's here." Thea announced before she left the two of them alone.

Happy to finally see a familiar face, Veronica jumped up and rushed to hug Duncan. Immediately, Duncan hugged her back before he gently pushed her back.

"What changed?" Veronica asked him with a frown.

"A lot of time passed Veronica, we're not 16 anymore." Duncan replied with a tight smile.

"That's not what I was talking about, they told me that and I've accepted it, sort of. But... When I woke up I felt... Nothing had changed but just now, when we hugged... It's different, I don't feel the same anymore." Veronica frowned.

"Sit down Veronica, please. A few years ago, I was on the run with my daughter. The reason why is not important, you'll remember soon enough but the point is, we accidentally met and you helped me find a good career. At that time, I hope we'd have a chance to be together, I even took you out on a date, but you told me clearly that you didn't feel the same way anymore. When I saw you and Oliver together for the first time, I understood why it didn't work between us. It was so that you could meet him, and be with him. He's the love of your life Veronica, not me. You have a level of trust and complicity that I've never seen before... The kind you expect to see in TV shows, movies or books, but not in real life." Duncan explained.

"But he's avoiding me... he's never around... I think he's mad at me." Veronica frowned, confused.

"He knows what you went through at that party and he understands how hard this is all for you. He's trying to give you your space. He doesn't want to scare you or confuse you. In your head, you're still 16 and he doesn't want to risk hurting your feelings or anything else but I saw him and I can tell you that this situation hurts him. He loves you so deeply... He's burying himself in work to force himself away from you, to give you space until you're ready to talk to him, until you remember. I know that he's been talking with scientist friends of yours at Star labs, hoping they'd find a way to give you your memories back. He loves you and I know that you love him to. That feeling you were expecting to get when you hugged me, I'm willing to bet you anything that you'll find it when you finally hug him, when you give him a chance to get close to you." Duncan told her, speaking with passion.

"Were we happy together?" Veronica asked Duncan.

"You and Oliver? Of course you were. I've never seen two people happier together. You work together, you spend most of your free time together and you still find things to talk about. I doubt you ever had a fight or an argument that lasted more than 10 minutes, you always find a way to compromise. I think you fell in love with him soon after meeting him. It really looked like you were meant to be." Duncan assured her.

"But why is he never around? I get that he stayed away at the hospital, I needed that distance to feel safe, to accept everything. He didn't force anything on me and I'm grateful for that but now? I only see him around breakfast and dinner with the rest of the family... He barely speaks to me..." Veronica asked her old friend.

"I think that it's so hard for him to see you and see that you don't recognize him, that you don't remember what you had together... it hurts him so much that he thinks that by staying away, he's helping you by not forcing anything on you and protecting himself from disappointment. I think he's waiting for you to give him a sign that you're ready to talk to him, to give him a chance to help you remember." Duncan told her.

"He's waiting for me?" Veronica asked for confirmation.

"I think so, yes." Duncan nodded.

"I... Oliver mentioned that you have a daughter... Is she here?"

"No, she's away at the moment. I've brought pictures though. I don't think you have many of them." Duncan told her.

"I saw the pictures from the wedding she was in. She looks a lot like her aunt." Veronica smiled.

"Yes, she's the perfect mix of her mother, Meg, and her namesake." Duncan chuckled.

Duncan and Veronica talked for a while longer before he had to leave, taking his sister along with him.

.

"I tried something Constantine taught me to ask for help, to see if I can use my powers to help Veronica remember but the only answer I got was that fairy tales were true and that True Love cures all. I swear the answer was exactly that: 'True Love cures all'. Weird." Lilly told Thea as they both watched from afar Duncan and Veronica talk.

"Oliver thinks that she'll get her memories back with familiar people. Since she didn't remember anything when he saw her in the hospital room, he thinks that the answer is with other people, her friends, even Pony... He barely spends any time with her now. Cliff is supposed to arrive this afternoon." Thea replied.

"I think he's the only one who can make her remember. She needs to accept that she could love him, that he wasn't like the 09ers who hurt her after my death and she needs to let him in." Lilly commented.

"I agree, I'll talk to him afterward." Thea smiled.

"What about you, how are you handling everything? I know how much you love her. When I was dead, I saw how deep your bond grew." Lilly asked her new friend with concern.

"It isn't easy but I try to keep a happy mood for everyone around. After everything Veronica's done for me and the rest of this family... I've been wanting to talk to her about this, tell her how important she is to me but every time I chicken out, afraid I'll do more damage than good."

"I think you should talk to her before Oliver does, it will help her understand and accept to give Oliver a chance faster." Lilly insisted.

"I will, thank you Lilly. I know it can't be easy for you not to be able to go to her and help her."

"I'm used to it. When I was dead, there wasn't much I could do to help her." Lilly reminded Thea who nodded.

"I... I never got around to thank you for guiding her to me, that night. I really appreciate it, you know." Thea confided.

"I know." Lilly smiled as they watched Duncan walk away from Veronica and towards them.

.

Oliver had spent a lot of time at the office lately and, whenever he wasn't working at Queen Consolidated, he was at the Team Arrow Bunker, training, hitting whatever he could find to pass his anger on something. It helped him a bit and he managed to be relatively calm when he got home and had to face the love of his life who didn't remember him.

"Barry called. Cisco can vibe you to Central City if you want to help. They have a very strong meta human for you to hit. I mean, the goal is to stop him and keep him alive but it could help you to blow some steam. You'd still be home in time for dinner with your family. If you don't want to go it's okay, they can manage without you." Mac offered Oliver.

"Great idea. I'll suit up." Oliver nodded.

Having a real person to hit would help him and if it was someone who deserved it, all for the better. He was grateful for Barry and his team for thinking about him for this. They knew he'd need this.

.

After Duncan and Lilly left, Thea decided to follow Lilly's advice and went to speak with Veronica, hoping to remind her how important they were to each other.

"Veronica, are you okay?" Thea asked her sister in law, sitting by her side with glasses of iced tea and cookies for them.

"I'm not sure." She replied honestly.

"I get it... How did the talk with Duncan go?"

"Pretty well, I think... He explained a few things, told me how happy Oliver and I were together... I was afraid at first, thinking that if I forgot, then maybe it meant that we weren't happy, maybe he was violent or something like that... I know how rich people can be... But according to Duncan, we were happy and Oliver loves me." Veronica replied honestly.

"Oliver has never been violent with you. He loves you more than anything, I know that the situation hurts him a lot, he's frustrated that he can't help you and he's been blowing a lot of steam at the gym, to get all of his frustrations out by the time he sees you." Thea explained.

"Duncan said that Oliver was probably waiting for me to be ready and give him a sign to talk to me... Do you think it's true?"

"I do, yes. I... I want you to know that I'm here for you, too, if you need to talk. You saved me when you didn't have to and we grew close, before Oliver came back from the island alive. You quickly became a big sister to me, we talked a lot, about everything and I've been trying to give you your space too but I miss you, I miss talking to you. I love you Veronica, we all do here. We all want you to remember. I know it's hard for you to understand that you married into such a family after what happened to you, given where you lived... I figured maybe if I told you more about the way we met, the way we bonded, then it would help you understand... Even if you don't remember, you'll at least understand why we're so close, why you're so important to me, to us." Thea offered.

"I... Alright. It's not like I have a lot of things to do anyway..." Veronica nodded.

Indeed, she had spent the past few days in the house, looking at pictures or newspaper articles about her and her new life. She had a lot of visitors but many of them worked and it was mostly her and Pony, with Thea around during the day. When Thea left to work at Verdant, Moira took over. Veronica could tell that they cared about her, that they loved her and were worried about her but she had kept her guards up, afraid of being hurt. She simply let them take care of her, accepting their affection from afar but maybe Thea and Duncan were right, it was time she trusted a little, opened up and let them in a little more. Maybe this was the key to her memories coming back.

Veronica and Thea talked for a long time. Well, it was mostly Thea talking and Veronica listening, asking an occasional question. Veronica seemed to be slowly accepting what she was being told and, when Thea left for work, she still didn't remember anything but she was willing to believe that what they said was true, ready to speak with Oliver as well.

"Do you want me to warn him? To tell him to plan a dinner with just the two of you for tonight so you can speak?" Thea asked her sister in law.

"I think I'd like that, yes. I feel like I'm ready to trust him, to listen to what he has to say. I'm ready to be alone with him." Veronica nodded.

"That's great! I have a good feeling about this." Thea smiled before she hugged Veronica and left the room, her cell phone in hand as she conference called Oliver and her mother to warn them about the change of plans for the evening.

"I will spend the night out, go try that new Hotel that opened with the SPA that's supposed to be great. You'll have the house to yourselves." Moira declared.

"And I'll stay with Roy tonight." Thea agreed.

"What about Cliff, the jet just landed, he'll be at the house in less than an hour, we can't just send him away." Oliver replied.

"Well, I'll invite him along with me. i'm sure once we explain what we want to try, he'll agree." Moira commented.

"You're taking Cliff with you to a hotel and spa?" Thea asked her mother with a smile.

"They have lots of rooms, Thea, I didn't mean it like that!" Moire frowned.

"Thanks. I'll go grocery shopping for tonight's dinner then." Oliver told them, a spark of hope in his voice.

"You're cooking?" Thea asked him, surprised.

"If I'm going to try and jog her memory, might as well put all chances on my side." Oliver told them before he hung up and went to shower in the Arrow Bunker, already thinking of the night's dinner.

He didn't have much time in front of him, so it would have to be something rather quick to make but he was confident that he'd manage.

.

When Cliff arrived, he was relieved to see that Veronica was, indeed, fine despite the memory loss. She was happy to see him of course and when Thea explained what Oliver wanted to try that night, he was only too happy to go with Moira and give them a chance. Seeing him didn't trigger any new memories in Veronica but it made her happy and it was the most important to everyone, plus, Cliff was happy for the break it gave him. Coming to see Veronica gave him an excuse to take some well deserved vacation days, something he hadn't done in a very long time, for the simple reason that he had too much work to take a vacation.

.

When Oliver came home, Veronica was even more nervous than she used to be for her first date with Duncan. Oliver came inside with two bags full of groceries in his arms and he was greeted by an overly excited Pony who almost knocked him over as Veronica rushed to hold the dog back.

"Sorry, I think she misses you. Thea tells me that she usually spends a lot of time with you... And me... With us, at the office." Veronica told him with a smile, trying to hide her embrassement.

"Don't worry, it's okay. I brought her something special for tonight's dinner too." He smiled.

"You brought take out?" She asked him curiously.

"No, I bought what I'll need to cook our dinner." he smiled.

"You cook?"

"Don't repeat it, very few people know about it, this is my best kept secret. But you usually love it when I cook, I figured it might jog your memory, or at least it'll please your stomach." Oliver told her, trying to joke a bit and guiding her to the kitchen.

"And do I usually help?" She asked, doubtful.

"You try sometimes, but you mostly watch." he replied, remembering the few times she had helped and it had turned into something other than cooking between us.

"Well, at least you seem at ease in the kitchen." She complimented him after a few minutes of silence watching him prepare the food as though he had done it his entire life.

"You'll see once you try it. You usually love it." He smiled, doing his best to remain hopeful and positive.

"Oliver, I... I know that it hasn't been easy for you lately. Me not remembering you, or us... Not remembering our past together... I'm sorry for the pain it's caused you." Veronica started to say.

"Don't worry about it, Veronica, I completely understand your position." He smiled reassuringly while expertly cutting vegetables.

"I'm ready now though. Ready to listen to you, ready to talk, to give you, and us, a chance." she added.

"I'm glad. Is there anything particular you'd like to talk about?" He asked her.

"I think I'd rather listen to you talk, tell me how we got together, how we met... Everything." She shrugged her shoulders.

For the rest of the evening, Oliver told Veronica everything they had been through together. She listened and even asked him question, she seemed truly open and interested in finding out more. He started by the first time they had met and told her about their common hobby: being vigilantes. She listened, asked a question here and there and , by the end of the meal, when they took a walk outside with Pony, even though she didn't remember anything more than she had earlier, she was more at ease with Oliver. She trusted him and she had to agree with Duncan, now that she was open to the idea of them together, she could feel serious and deep feelings waking up deep inside her.

"I still don't remember anything, but I... I trust you, I have to admit that being here, near you, feels right. I wish I could remember everything though." Veronica told him.

"Don't worry, it will come with time." Oliver reassured her, feeling better now that she accepted that their relationship was real.

"Is that where you've been by the way? Out in your green outfit?" She asked him.

"Yes, it helped to let the frustration out." He nodded.

"Is it harder with me gone?"

"A bit, because it's always better when you're by my side, but we have a well trained team around us. That's why we were discussing having a baby. Our team can take over most of the time. And when something too big comes along, we can always ask help from our friends from other places, just like they know we'll come to help them if they need it." Oliver replied.

"And am I good at this Vigilante thing?" She asked, unable to imagine herself doing the kind of things she had seen on tv.

"You're one of the best, Veronica." He nodded, a smile on his face.

Oliver was glad that she wasn't keeping her distance anymore, even though she wasn't in his arms, she was walking so close to him that their hands were brushing and it was enough to give him hope. Hope that, maybe, her memories will come back.

"Do you have any idea how we can make my memories come back." Veronica asked him.

"Not really. We have friends at Star labs who have been looking into it, but they don't know how to fix this memory block you seem to have. Other people have more... inventive ideas." Oliver chuckled.

"Other people?"

"Hunter."

"My little brother and our adoptive son, right?" She asked him, showing that she had listened and that she remembered everything he had said earlier.

"Yes." He nodded.

"What's his idea?" She asked curiously.

"He thinks that I should kiss you. That since our love is strong and true, it'll be like in a fairy tale and that our kiss, true love's kiss, will bring back your memories. Other friend of ours who have magic have suggested the same thing." Oliver explained, deciding that telling her that Lilly had been brought back to life would be too confusing for the time being.

"True love's kiss? Really? It's going to bring back my memories?" Veronica asked him, doubtful.

"Apparently. I don't know if I believe in it either but after everything I've seen, I'm open to believing in anything." He confessed.

"Anything, really? Even Aliens?" She chuckled.

"Aliens? Why not. We can't possibly be the only planet with life on it in the univers." He nodded.

"Alright, I... I'll try." Veronica stated.

"Try? Try what?" He asked her, confused.

"The true love's kiss thing. I have a hard time believing in it but after everything you've told me, either it's true or you have a very big imagination and with all the trouble you've been through creating this story, just to get a kiss from me, you deserve it." Veronica replied seriously with a smile.

"Really, are you sure?" He asked her.

"I'm sure." She nodded.

Smiling, Oliver stepped slowly closer to her, testing her new resolution and, seeing that she didn't run away and that she was still smiling, he bent down and put his hands on her shoulders.

"I love you Veronica." He whispered before he placed his lips on hers and wrapped her in his arms.

He didn't know if it was working, if Veronica was getting her memories back, but she was answering his kiss, and he couldn't deny that he was enjoying it after what seemed like an eternity away from her. After what felt like forever, they finally pulled appart.

"I love you too, Oliver." Veronica whispered.

"Veronica?" he asked her.

"Who would have thought that True Love's kiss was what would work to give me my memories back?" She told him, letting him know that she did remember everything.

"You remember? Really? It worked?" He asked her and when she nodded, he took her in his arms again and kissed her deeper, ignoring their dog jumping around them.

"Was it Lilly or Constantine who suggested the Kiss?" She asked him, proving that she did remember even the things he hadn't told her about.

"Lilly." he replied.

"I'll call her later to thank her." Veronica replied before she went back to kissing her husband.

.

The next morning, everyone was happy to know that Veronica had gotten her memory back, especially Hunter, who, even though he was back in school, had talked to her on the phone she had gotten him.

"Well, me coming didn't help, but I'm glad you're better, Veronica." Cliff told her as they had lunch together.

"Thanks for coming all the way here, Cliff, I appreciate it, really." She replied.

"It's nothing, V. I needed the time away. Being a public defender get tiring over time. Always the same sort of clients, the same deal to make, the same small salary..." Cliff replied.

"You could always start working for a big firm." She suggested.

"No, it's too late now, I'm too close to retiring." He shook his head.

"Well, in any case, I'm glad you came. How long are you staying with us?"

"I have to be back the day after tomorrow."

"It gives you two days to rest and have fun then." She smiled at him.

One more chapter after this one,

sorry for the time it took, my only excuse is being a single mom to a small child. Gives me very little time.

Review please?

Lorelei Candice Black