Four

Tessa screamed as the boat tore apart and she was thrown into water. She was a good swimmer, had even been on the school swim team but she was so afraid. She struggled through water to the surface yelling out. A hand grabbed her and she fought until she heard Oliver's voice break through to her. She wrapped herself around him, both of them fighting to stay held up. A light flashed over them and they were greeted by a life raft holding Robert Queen and two others on it.

"Tessa, Oliver," he said pulling them up.

"Robert," she gasped hugging him.

"Dad," Oliver said hugging them both.

Tessa watched tears in her eyes as Oliver realized Sara was not on board and turned fighting to go back to the water. It was a cut to her heart hearing him scream out like that but she also understood because Sara had done nothing wrong. She curled up into a ball burying her head in her arms as her best friend fell apart.

~Mockingjay~

Oliver looked over at the woman he was going to make his wife as soon as possible and knew that she was remembering the time the boat had sunk. He had been such a brat back then not realizing the hearts he broke and he sighed wrapping an arm around her waist as she held their son and looked back down at the picture of him and his father. The front door opened and Oliver set the picture down sharing a look with Tessa both of them knowing that it was Tommy.

"What did I tell you guys, yachts suck," he greeted them a smirk on his face.

"Tommy Merlyn," Oliver said hugging his dear friend seeing the change though his friend tried to hide it.

"And look we have a mini Oliver," he said pulling away to see the child in Tessa's arms knowing that Laurel was not going to be happy but he did not care one bit because his friends deserved some type of happiness.

"His name is Connor Robert Queen," Tessa introduced a smile on her face watching as her son turned to the newcomer and touched his face. Connor must have seen something he liked because he giggled clapping his hands together reaching for the other man.

"Your kid has good taste," Tommy greeted taking the child in his arms thankful he knew how to hold him.

Oliver and Tessa shared a look as they watched in happiness as their friend held their child with love in his eyes. Tommy had always been a big believer in the two of them getting together and he was a good man. Tessa was happy to see that he had grown in the five years they had been dead even if he was trying to hide it. She heard her son cry and was ready to move but froze when Tommy settled him down immediately a soothing hand on his back. The fact that Connor settled down for the other man showed that they could trust him and it also made their hearts just a little lighter.

~Mockingjay~

Tessa smiled sadly at Moira the next day knowing the woman finally realized the horrors that Oliver and she had faced the five years they were dead. She walked up the stairs intending on finding Thea when she saw Oliver and Tommy coming out of her room. She shook her head knowing that the man she loved was going to see Laurel today and couldn't help the irrational feeling of jealousy that filled her body.

"Try not to get him into too much trouble," she warned her dear friend hugging the young Merlyn heir.

"Of course," he reassured kissing her forehead leaving Oliver and her to have a moment alone.

Words were not needed with the two of them because they knew each other inside and out. He smiled at her reassuringly leaning down to kiss her softly on the lips squeezing her hand as he pulled away to follow Tommy. She shook her head dispelling thoughts of Laurel and turned to see Thea coming out with her friend. She narrowed her eyes seeing the dilated pupils but decided not to say anything at the moment.

"Thea I was wondering if you wanted to go shopping. I need an updated wardrobe and couldn't think of anybody else," Tessa said smiling at her.

"I would love to but it has to wait because I can't skip again otherwise mom will kill me," Thea told her rolling her eyes.

"Alright I'll pick you up at the school," Tessa informed the girl.

"Are you sure that is a good idea?" Thea asked knowing it had been five years.

"Thea while it has been five years since I have driven you forget that I am a damn good driver and I am the only reason that Tommy and Oliver passed the damn test in the first place," she answered laughing as she remembered.

"This is true so yes after school it is," the young girl laughed leaving with her friend.

Tessa sighed knowing she had something to do today that would probably take hours and closed her eyes trying to ignore the pain. Raisa had told her the news but it was still so hard to believe and she needed proof before she could begin to deal with it all. She walked with a determined look in her eyes prepared to face whatever came no matter the consequences.

~MockingJay~

Ra's Al Ghul stood looking at the man in front of him with suspicious eyes wondering why he should not just kill him right now. The man had been his pupil but after he had left the League with his blessing he had went against his rules. The problem was that the man had not yet acted and was offering him a deal, one he was tempted to take. He stepped forward smirking at the fear in the man's blue eyes and stopped right in front of him.

"This information better be true otherwise you will pay the price," he informed the man.

"I understand," the man reassured trying not to rear back in fear.

"Keep an eye on this girl and send me all news on her," Ra's ordered.

Malcolm Merlyn walked out of the room trying not to show weakness and sighed in relief when he came out alive. Offering information on a woman that could potentially be the man's lost daughter had been hard especially knowing the way that the man would possible react but it would help him in the end and if he could set off his device without fear of retribution then it would all be worth it in the end.