The idea for dinner with Digg was just something that popped up while writing the story. But I loved it so much I had to continue.

"Are you sure I'm not underdressed? I mean jeans are-"

"Fine," Sara cut across, coming to a stop and tugging on the hand she had looped through Ava's arm, "You look fine."

She spun Ava around to face her.

"Are you sure you want to go? There's no pressure. We can go back to your place,"

"Didn't you already say you were coming?"

Sara shrugged, "I'll text Digg and say there's a tear in the timeline that needs our urgent attention."

"But I don't want your friends to think I'm a flake,"

"They won't. And besides, Felicity and Digg are my friends. I don't know the new guys that well. I don't care if they don't like you,"

Ava's frown told Sara her words weren't comforting as she'd been intending.

"Hey, it's just a dinner. It will be fine. The world isn't under attack or in danger so the night is already off to a better start than most times my friends get together,"

"Hah," Ava exhaled deeply, "I just want to make a good first impression,"

"The Legends are some of my closest friends and you tried to arrest them when you first met,"

"We weren't dating then,"

"Come on Aves. You're amazing. You don't have to be nervous." Sara tugged her in again, rocking up on her toes to press a kiss to Ava's lips, "But I'm serious, I don't want to go if you'll feel uncomfortable. And an evening in with you sounds just as good as seeing my friends. We can have this bottle of Merlot to ourselves." She lifted the gift bag in her hand.

"You should be convincing me to meet your friends, not tempting me away," Ava said with a groan, but it came across as fond rather than annoyed.

"Like I said, I don't care. Once you're okay,"

"I'm not underdressed?"

"You always look sexy to me,"

"Yeah, but you'll say whatever to get me in your bed,"

Laughing, Sara tilted her head back. She wrapped her arms around Ava's neck, "Okay, true. But doesn't mean I'm not being honest. So which way are we going?" She nodded her head in the direction back to Ava's place and then in the opposite way, in the direction of Digg and Lyla's apartment. There was a quiet moment between them, Ava's gaze looked in the direction that would take them back home. With a slow breath in and a shake of her head, she met Sara's eyes again.

"Let's go," She wove her hand into Sara's, heading the direction they'd been going in originally, "We don't want to be late."

"No, we wouldn't. How would it look that the Captain of the Legends and the Director of the Time Bureau are the last ones to show up?" Sara brought up their joined hands to kiss Ava's knuckles.

Ava smiled, nudging Sara lightly as they walked. It was a pretty typical Star City night. A recent rainfall left the city with a hazy glow. Thin puddles shimmered with the lights of the city under their feet.

"So how much do your friends know about me?"

"Besides Digg and Lyla? Almost nothing. I mentioned you to Felicity the last time I saw her. Didn't really have the chance to talk much," Sara grew sombre for a moment. Ava knew it was because the last time she'd seen these people was at her dad's funeral.

"You okay?"

"Yeah. Just thinking my circle of friends should really try to talk to each other more, other than to update each other on any new metahuman villains,"

"How should I introduce myself?"

"As my girlfriend?" Sara gave a bemused grin.

Ava laughed, "Obviously. I meant, would it be safe to tell them about the Time Bureau?"

"The adults, yeah. They all know about the Legends. But William… I don't know how much Oliver has told him. He knew his dad was the Green Arrow, even before Ollie was arrested. But outside of Team Arrow, I can't say,"

"Don't potentially give a kid an existential crisis by letting him know about time travel. Got it,"

They crossed the street, Sara nimbly jumping over a puddle as Ava sidestepped it. Their hands found eachothers' again once they were on the sidewalk again. Sara idly pointed out a building and started narrating a rooftop fight she'd had on it a few years back. Ava listened, watching as Sara's eyes retraced the path across the roofs in a chase. Ava may call Star City home, but not like Sara did. Even after living in the city for five years her intimate knowledge of the city paled next to Sara's. It's like she knew something about every street corner.

"What?" Sara stopped mid-sentence, giving Ava a tepid look.

"What?"

"You're looking at me weird. Is it the vigilante story? Do you not want to hear about it?"

"No, no, of course I do,"

"Then what's with the look?"

"Do you… miss living in the city?"

"That's-" Sara exhaled, "- hard to answer. I'll never regret getting on the Waverider. But then, I've missed so much not being here. Good and Bad. It's funny. Even after being on the Waverider for over three years if someone asked where I lived, I'd say here. And it wouldn't even be part of a cover story. Star City is home. I've always had a place here. Or… I did. But with dad gone, Thea travelling and Oliver behind bars, everyone I used to know is gone,"

"You still have Diggle and Felicity,"

"I know. Don't get me wrong, I'd go to war for either of them. But it's not the same. And they have their kids now. Ex-assassins aren't exactly child-friendly,"

They'd gotten to Diggle and Lyla's building. Sara opened the door for Ava and from the across the lobby floor she heard, "Hey, Sara," and their conversation was over.

She turned to see Curtis standing the elevator, waving with a huge smile, "You're coming to dinner too?" He stuck his hand out to stop the door from closing, "We could have invited team flash too and made a whole night of it," But then his eyes saw Ava and he looked panicked.

Sara laughed as she and Ava joined him in the elevator. "World ending things tend to happen when we all get together. So it might be for the best we didn't. Besides, speedsters make Digg nauseous,"

"True," He said with a sigh, "You didn't freak out when I mentioned the Flash, so I didn't just out we're friends with superheroes. So… you know about us?" He addressed the question to Ava.

Sara snorted, "She's the head of a clandestine agency. She probably knows more than you do,"

"Respect," He said, looking genuinely impressed.

"Curtis, this is my girlfriend, Ava. Ava, Curtis,"

They shook hands, "Which agency?"

"Time Bureau,"

"Oh, so you must work with the Legends. Is that how you met?" His eyes flickered between the two.

"Something like that," Sara, exchanging a quick smirk with Ava.

The elevator dinged open and they walked down the hall, Curtis knocking on the door. Diggle answered the door. "Hey, come on in. Felicity and Rene are already here,"

When they stepped inside Lyla broke away from talking with Rene to greet them. She hugged them each. Felicity was at the table with William, Zoe and JJ, playing some boardgame that apparently JJ didn't quite understand fully if the various stages of frustration on the faces of the other three were anything go by. Curtis waved to Rene going over to join him. Lyla took Ava around the room, introducing her to everyone.

"You're the last to arrive. Dinah can't make it. A case came up," Digg explained to Sara.

"The kind of case that means most of the people in this room can't stay for dinner?"

"Not tonight,"

"I hope it this pairs well with what you cooked." Sara offered the gift bag to him.

Diggle pulled out the bottle from the bag, "I'm sure it will," He did a double take looking at the label, "Sara this is a 20-year-old bottle. It must have a cost an arm and a leg,"

"Or next to nothing the year it was packaged," Sara said, smirking.

Digg jaw's dropped a little more, "Are you allowed to use time travel for things like that?"

"Define allowed," She laughed, "We do it all the time. Buy alcohol cheap, leave it somewhere safe and come back in a few decades. For us, the whole thing could be a few minutes,"

"Is that why all the liquor on your ship is so good?"

"There may or may not be a hidden bunker somewhere in the Hindu Kush socked with different casks and barrels that were put in there between the 15th and 17th centuries. But Ava doesn't know that, so keep it between us,"

"Next time I need a drinking buddy I'm calling you up,"

"I'd be down for that,"

Sara braced herself a second before Felicity was hugging her, "I was so happy when Digg said you were coming tonight,"

Laughing, Sara returned the hug, "Hello to you Felicity,"

"You need to visit more. You can time travel, but you can't drop in for a hello?"

"Time travel is more complicated than you'd think,"

"I'm sure it is," Felicity said in a teasing tone. She looked back over her shoulder, gesturing to William, "Buddy come here for a sec,"

He got up from the game, walking over with an inquisitive look. Felicity placed her hands on his shoulders, "I know you kind of met before, but I want you to officially meet your Aunt Sara,"

"Please, no aunt. I'm just Sara, kid." She extended her hand, giving him a warm smile.

"Hi. So, you knew my dad when he was younger?"

"Yeah. We met when my sister and I transferred to his school. I hope for Felicity's sake you're not going be like your dad when he was a teen,"

"Oh, thankfully troublemaking is one area he doesn't take after Oliver in," Felicity said, giving his shoulders a squeeze.

"I still have a lot growing up to do, you never know what's going to happen in the future," William said, grinning cheekily at Felicity.

"Don't even joke about that,"

Sara gave a full bellied laugh, "I like you kid. If you ever need a partner in a crime, you know who to call,"

"Do not encourage him," Felicity hit Sara's shoulder with a light back hand. She gave William a push back in the direction ctor of the other kids, "Go lose in snakes and ladders some more before Sara gives you any more bad ideas,"

"His eyes are almost like Oliver's were before Lian Yu," Sara mused, mostly to herself, but Felicity still heard.

"Almost?"

"Even we weren't as young as him when we experienced lost for the first time," Sara said softly.

Felicity's eyes soften as she looked at William, "He's not a troublemaker. But he does have Oliver's strength. And his mother's,"

"If you ever need any help, even if it's babysitting for a few hours, I'll be there. Day or night,"

"I know. Thank you, Sara,"

"No thanks needed. I'll even get the Legends to help,"

"The Legends handling babysitting sounds like a disaster waiting to happen," Ava's voice sounded as she stepped up next to Sara.

"You don't think my team can handle one kid?"

"Not at all. You should stick to the easy stuff, like demons,"

"Oh, so demons are easy now?"

"You certainly make them look easy,"

"Nice save Aves,"

"So, this is the impressive woman I've heard about?" Felicity's head had swerved to and fro during that conversation, her smile growing with each passing moment.

"And you're the famous Felicity. Sara talks so highly of you, if I didn't know better I'd be jealous,"

A burst of nervous, excited laughter escaped Felicity, "Famous? I don't know about that,"

"Don't let her fool you, she's brilliant,"

"And Sara loves to flatter,"

"Oh that I'm very aware of," Ava said.

"One of my many skills. You're welcome, by the way,"

Grinning Ava shook her head, amused and slightly exasperated.

Dinner was pleasant and fun. Sara always loved getting the chance to reconnect with Felicity and Diggle. Ava was tense but the kinship she had with Lyla helped ease her in. She was eventually making polite conversation with everyone. There were a few moments where the atmosphere dipped into tense and awkward when certain subjects were broached, namely when Oliver and Quinten were brought up. But the tensest moment came near the end of the night. Rene and Zoe had already taken their leave. It started innocently enough. They'd somehow gotten on the topic of flying and that had led to Digg bring up the time he and Felicity jumped out of a plane.

"…And Felicity lost her lunch when we touch down," Digg finished, earning a round of laughter.

"Where was it you went that this the plane couldn't land?" Curtis asked.

"Lian Yu," Felicity and Diggle answered together.

"That's where dad was after what happened with his ship." The silence crept in after William spoke.

Felicity spoke after a few seconds, "Yeah bud. But this happened after he'd come back to Star City. He went back for certain reasons, and Digg and I when to get him,"

"When he was stranded there, you were with him, weren't you?" William asked, looking at Sara.

If the brief silence before had felt oppressive, this had full on weight. Sara could feel the stares of everyone, but she was just looking at William. In the choking quiet William seemed to understand he'd overstepped.

"S-sorry. When I first learnt who my dad was, I looked him up. I read the articles about the Gambit and him coming back. They all mentioned you,"

"It's okay," Sara said, but the silence continued.

"I think I'll go check on JJ," Lyla said.

"Do you want help with that?" Curtis called after her, grabbing at the excuse to step out of the room.

Sara sighed, "A lot of different things happened to your dad and I after the Gambit. Most the time we'd been separated, but there was a period we were one the island together. I'm not going to tell you what happened because I don't think you need to know,"

"William, that was a very personal question and you know better,"

"I'm sorry," His eyes turned down to his lap.

"Its fine kid, you were just curious."

"I was just… happy that you were there with him. So he wasn't alone all the time. It's not nice being alone,"

Sara swallowed thickly, "No, it's not,"

The tension defused after that, but it was clear that conversation had brought their evening to a close. Not long after than Felicity announced they were calling it a night. As William was getting his coat on Sara pulled her aside.

"Sara, I'm really sorry about that,"

"It's okay. Really. But I wanted to ask about something else. Back when Verdant was around I know Ollie had a separate warehouse stocked with equipment just in case. It was a few miles north of the club. What happened to that?"

Felicity shook her head. "The warehouse had been Queen Consolidated property. But when Palmer Tech acquired it they reassessed all the assets,"

"And Oliver abandoned it to be safe," Sara finished for Felicity.

"Yeah. Sorry. Why the interest in an old warehouse?"

"My dad's place. He left everything to me, but his apartment is on lease. The landlord gave me three months to either renew it or move out and those three months are now down to two weeks,"

"What are you going to do?"

"I don't exactly have the money to renew. I mean, Gideon can fabricate money from any time, but we're not supposed to do large sums at once. It's harder for her to make it seem legit and it raises too many red flags. But all his stuff is there and some of Laurel's old things. I just can't get rid of it,"

"Not enough space on your ship?"

Sara snorted, "We already train in the storeroom. I may just have to rent a storage unit until I can figure out something more permanent,"

"Sorry I couldn't be more help,"

Sara shook her head, "Its fine Felicity. I'll figure it out,"

"Ready to head out?" Ava asked, clearing her throat as she walked up to them.

"Just about,"

They said their goodbyes, taking their leave.

"It's cold out, do you want to take a cab,"

Ava shook her head, wrapping an arm around Sara's waist as they started their walk. They were quiet, but Sara could hear the cogs turning in Ava's mind.

"How did you like everyone?"

"They were nice."

The answer was clipped and even more concise than Sara would expect of Ava.

"What's going on in that head of yours?"

"Nothing really,"

"Ava,"

"So I overheard you talking about your dad's apartment," Ava started, her voice hedging.

"… Okay,"

"Why don't you use my place? I have the space,"

"Wait, what?"

"Do you want to? Only if you to. You don't have to. I can help look for a storage unit,"

Sara stopped walking. "You know that it sounds like you just asked me to move in."

"I'm trying not to think about it like that so I won't be disappointed if you say no."

"Are you asking me to move in?"

"No. That would inefficient for you. You're the captain of the Waverider. You need to be on your ship,"

"And I can also travel to and from the ship in literally no time. So, are you asking?"

"Yes? I get if you spend most nights on your ship anyway. But it could be a place to come back to,"

A smile grew on Sara's lips, "But you know most of the stuff is my dad's,"

"It's important to you,"

"Alright then,"

"Is that a yes?"

"Yes,"

"Yes?"

"Yes, you dork. I want to leave my stuff at your home,"

Ava kissed her, slow and lingering.

"Does this mean I get a key?" Sara asked with a smirk then she gasped, "Does this mean we'll go grocery shopping together? I'm warning you, thanks to Gideon I've gotten used to a certain lifestyle. Think you handle that?"

"Don't make me regret this," Ava said, even as she laughed.

Nardragon~ until the next page.