A/N - A double post for the final two chapters. It's going to feel weird not writing this series anymore. I hope you enjoy it.

Long after everyone left the funeral for Ted Grant, Oliver stood beside Laurel, one hand holding their son, the other wrapped around Laurel's waist. They said nothing as they watched Ted's grave being interned. He was thankful that Connor was silent, and hadn't made a fuss. They watched quietly as a man scooped up the last of the soil.

"I wanted to have some final words for Teddy…"The man that helped her to become the woman she was today. Her voice hitched as she spoke, "I don't have any, Ollie."

"Ted was a great man." Oliver said, "I didn't really like him, and the feeling was mutual, but I respected that he treated you as his family. And he helped you to become the woman that you were always meant to be. May he rest in peace."

Laurel gave a tearful smile, before resting her head against his shoulder. "I remember once in college, I bought him a bottle of port. That night he took a sip, he then handed me the wine back and gave me this look of disappointment and asked if I happened to get him some normal beer, that wasn't overpriced and overrated." She then chuckled at the memory. "I just wanted to see his reaction to receiving something fancier than he was used to. He was always a man of the basics."

"He loved his family, Laurel. He died protecting the people he loved you, Connor, and Thea. And for protecting my family, I owe him everything." Ted Grant did a lot more than what both John and Felicity did for his wife. And they better have a damn good reason why they left Laurel to the wolves.

He still couldn't fathom why they would betray one of their own. And his wife of all people, the mother of his infant son.

He then kissed her head. "You are the bravest woman I have ever known. Thank you for being so strong and protecting our family when I couldn't and the others wouldn't."

He gently led Laurel away from the grave and headed to their car.

:-:-:-:-:

After leaving Connor, Laurel, and Thea in his and Laurel's loft, he made his way down to the bunker that was once the secondary bunker. There he found John, Felicity, and Roy. Oliver moved so quickly, he didn't even know what happened until his fist collided with Diggle's face, sending his former bodyguard stumbling backwards, followed by another to his sternum.

"You abandoned my wife!" He growled. "You put my family in danger!" He then glared at Felicity, who shrunk in her chair. " I died protecting my sister, a member of our team. And neither of you could help Laurel!?"

Roy, playing the mediator, dragged Oliver a few steps back. "John at least helped with looking after Connor. Saved Thea from Brick."

John nodded slightly, his right eye starting to swell. " I deserved that and more, man. I called you a brother, and I left not just your wife. I left a woman that I consider a sister in the lurch. We were too focused on the threat The League faced and protecting the city that we didn't want to see, or wanted to see Brickwell as a threat. I'm sorry." John wheezed.

Oliver exhaled through his nose and took his eyes off the man he once considered a brother and looked at the I.T. specialist. "Anything you want to say in your defense, Felicity?"

She rapidly shook her head, and avoided his eye contact, she sounded scared. "We thought that Laurel was just trying to find someone to hit and Brick was a convenient excuse. And we didn't realize that she was right until it was too late. I'm sorry, Oliver."

Oliver nodded slightly, he didn't know if what they were saying was genuine or not, and right now, he didn't care. They left Laurel to die, and only by luck, skill, and the fact that her family stepped up did she, Connor, and Thea live. "And what if the roles were reversed?" He asked slowly. Ra's killed Laurel and brainwashed her into The League, and even though I was grieving and was filled with rage, I told you that Daniel Brickwell was the real threat?"

The silence was his answer. They didn't think that Laurel had earned her stripes. That she was just acting out her anger at a convenient target. Oliver nodded silently before speaking in a low growl, "This team is supposed to protect and look after one another. Trust that we have each other's back and won't leave each other to fend for themselves."

He could feel himself fuming, his heart ached. They hadn't just betrayed Laurel, Thea, and Connor, but also him. He felt so stupid that he actually believed that they would look after his family and help Laurel through the tough times. And the only people that did so, proved themselves to be their actual family. Thea, Roy, Ted, and Nyssa. Hell, even Barry and The Wests showed more comradery than they did.

Connor was almost killed and would have if he hadn't by sheer luck, that he inherited Laurel's powers. If he had been killed, he wouldn't be having this conversation with them.

Before he could speak more, his phone rang, Oliver pulled out his phone and answered it, as he moved away from his so-called friends and teammates, but his eyes never strayed from them. "Ollie, I heard that you are back! How's Laurel, and your son?"

Oliver exhaled, finally looking away from Felicity and Diggle, his voice losing its hard edge, as he spoke to Barry. His friend didn't deserve his ire. There was no doubt in his mind if Laurel asked, and Barry didn't have his hands tied, he would have been there for his wife, and son. In some ways, he, like Roy, was more like a brother to him, in a different way to Tommy.

"Yeah, I'm back. My family brought me back home. Laurel is resting. And Connor is fine, I don't think he really understands what happened." He swallowed to try to moisten his dry throat."Thank you for asking, Barry."

"That's what friends are for. And... Ollie, I'm not a professional, but you may want to keep an eye on Connor. Who knows how much of this he will remember."

Oliver clenched his jaw and nodded. His son being traumatized is another thing that could have been avoided if there hadn't been a mutiny. I appreciate the advice, and we will do that." If anyone knew the most about childhood trauma, it was certainly Barry.

Oliver could hear Barry tapping something as if he wasn't sure he should ask or say something. "I know that this is a bad time, but I really need your help. Dr. Wells… Isn't who he says he is, he is a speedster like me… He was the man who killed my mother and framed my dad. I wouldn't ask this of you and Laurel, but I really need your help."

"I'll talk to Laurel, but I'll be there soon," Oliver said almost immediately. As much as he would loathe leaving his son behind once again, duty called.

Roy looked up, he was still leaning against one of the steel tables, "What happened?"

Oliver sighed, he was about to get back into the trenches. "Barry needs Laurel and I to help him with the man that killed his mother." Felicity started typing fast on the computer. "What are you doing?"

She didn't look at him as she spoke, but she pulled up several windows and programs, some with the STAR Labs logo, others with the Palmer Tech insignia. "Getting ready to help from down here."

"No." He said in a low growl. "I can't trust either of you. This can only work with trust, and both of you broke that the moment you betrayed Laurel and endangered our son!"

Oliver clenched his fists, hard enough that he could hear his knuckles popping. "My son was almost killed by the woman framing Laurel. The woman that Brickwell sent to kill them. And would have if not for Thea, Roy, Ted, and Laurel."

He then shook his head, with a clenched jaw. "No, I'm suspending both of you from working with the team until I come back. And then, and only then can we discuss your further involvement with the team. Get out, now." He commanded, he hadn't raised his voice, but he could tell they saw his anger in his demeanor.

Oliver and Roy watched as John and Felicity left the bunker, muttering their apologies. Oliver patted Roy on the shoulder. "Thank you for protecting my family, Roy."

"Our family, Oliver." Roy then hesitated, taking a small step back. The small retreat had Oliver curious. "I never really had a family growing up on the streets. But you, Thea, Connor, and Laurel are that for me… and since both of your parents are gone." He swallowed. "I was hoping that I could receive your blessing to ask your sister to marry me?"

Oliver smiled, "A bit old fashioned." Oliver chuckled lightly, before sobering slightly. "You make Thea happy, and you protected our family when I was dead. I would be honored if you became my brother-in-law."

Roy smiled, looking relieved. "First you have to officially marry Laurel. Thea has already got the paperwork, all you two have to do is sign it, and have another small wedding with just our family."

Oliver chuckled slightly and felt slightly misty-eyed. "Thank you."

Roy cleared his throat. "I'm a free man now and my record has been cleared thanks for helping to take down Daniel Brickwell, Silver Banshee, and Ra's. I would be honored to babysit my future nephew."

"He has a pair of lungs on him." Oliver joked, before he sighed, sounding exhausted. "Thank god that he inherited Laurel's cry."

"It was nothing short of a miracle. Connor saved not just himself, but his mother and aunt. He certainly takes after Mom and Dad, saving people. Maybe we should create a cadetship for budding heroes?" Roy sniggered.

It was certainly something that he and Laurel would have to talk about more. Connor's future. His son may feel the need to follow him and Laurel into this life, from either his powers or otherwise. They would have to assure him that he never has to become a vigilante. And god help him for sounding like his own mother, but he would prefer to push Connor towards Queen Industries, something much safer. Regardless, he was sure he and Laurel would support Connor the best they could.

:-:-:-:-:

Laurel watched as Roy and her husband walked into the loft. She honestly never thought she would see Ollie walk through their front door ever again. Oliver looked more pensive than he usually did, she stood up from her seat on the couch and moved towards him. "Ollie?"

He gently held her hands in his, the redness around her throat had started to ebb, but he couldn't help but feel guilty for his part. "Barry needs our help with Wells. Barry will understand if you want to sit this out and stay with Connie. If anyone is entitled to a rest from fighting it's you, Pretty Bird." He then gave her a small smile, "I won't hold it against you either."

Laurel shook her head in disagreement almost immediately. "He, Iris, and Joe helped Thea, Connor, and myself. I owe Barry." She then looked back at Connor's room, which was left ajar, and could only just make out her son's snoring. She felt Thea pat her back, "I will look after Connor."

Oliver smiled and kissed Thea's cheek in gratitude. "Thanks, Speedy. We both owe you and Roy so much."

"No, you don't," Thea said dismissively. She then shrugged her shoulders dismissively, "We are family, we take care of each other. Besides, Mom, Dad, and Quentin would haunt me until the end of my days if I didn't help my family."

Oliver couldn't help but smile at the thought that she still considered Robert her true father despite knowing her true parentage.

Oliver walked with Laurel towards the bunker to get their suits and equipment and headed to Ray Palmer for some technology that may help with dealing with speedsters, before heading to Central.

:-:-:-:-:

Barry watched in anger as he watched Eobard Thawne masquerading around as Harrison Wells entered the premises of STAR Labs. The manipulative bastard kept his eyes on the security cameras with a goading smirk.

The bastard was always ahead of him. He looked up to the man, who killed his mother in cold blood!

He could hear Joe behind him telling him to calm down. It was easier said than done. The man had killed his mother in front of him as a child. The reason why his father was in prison. He briefly wondered if Laurel had felt the same way when she found out about Daniel Brickwell.

"You can't go out there by yourself," Caitlin warned.

Barry shook his head, not taking his eyes off the manipulative bastard. "Yeah, I can." He said adamantly, before speeding off to face off against Wells or Thawne, or whatever name he was going by now, it didn't matter his plans would end tonight. He would get justice for his parents and everyone else the man had hurt.

Thawne kept walking forward slowly, his sinister smirk not leaving his face, not his mocking tone of voice. "I heard that your prison transfer didn't go so well. I'm so sorry."

"All part of your plan?" Barry asked. He felt like such a stupid idiot for being strung along. He couldn't believe that he admired the man that killed his mother and framed his father. He felt betrayed, angry, and dirty all at the same time.

Thawne smirked, looking amused. "Actually, no. But you certainly impressed me with the amount of effort you went through to keep them safe. Always the hero, huh, Barry?"

Barry kept his eye on the manipulative bastard. Eobard Thawne, Daniel Brickwell, Malcolm Merlyn, Slade Wilson, and Ra's Al Ghul. All four men had hurt enough people with their machinations and deceit. "You have hurt enough people."

"You see me as the villain, but, Barry, if you were to look back, look back carefully at everything I've done, every wheel I have set in motion, you would realize I have only done what I had to do. Nothing more. Nothing less."

Everything he had to do? Murder wasn't something that he had to do. Did the men that Oliver the others over in Starling face the same kind of belief system that Thawne possesses? Did Daniel Brickwell believe he was doing what he had to? "And the Particle Accelerator? How does that fit into your grand plan?"

Wells chuckled, "Well, why don't you go on inside, and let me show you?"

Barry shook his head as he remembered an old saying that he remembered Joe saying to him when he was younger. Once bitten, twice shy. Barry had to learn this lesson the hard way. "You know, I just learned the hard way not to trust the bad guy. "

Wells still seemed amused, "And yet... I've shown you time and time again you can't beat me, Barry."

It was at that moment that a roar of fire echoed through the area, as Ronny and Dr. Stein, aka Firestorm, descended and stood next to Barry. In the faint distance, he could just hear a motorcycle speeding down the streets.

"Wow. You brought yourself a friend." His mother's murderer sounded amused as if Firestorm was not worthy of being a threat.

The sound of a motorcycle skidding to a halt behind Not-Wells, Black Canary and the Green Arrow climbed off the vehicle, reading themselves for the fight. Wells seemed undeterred, amused even. "Welcome, Mr., and Mrs. Queen."

" Hope we're not too late?" The Green Arrow asked Barry as he nocked an arrow to his bow, while Black Canary unclipped her baton.

Barry smiled at his friends, Ronnie, Doctor Stein, Laurel and Oliver all came because he asked. A team of heroes. "You're just in time." He then glared at his former mentor. "I don't care how fast you are. You can't fight all four of us at the same time."

Thawne scoffed in amusement at Barry's boast, "Oh, can't I?" He raised his hand revealing a ring, "Trust me. This... band of heroes, this Justice League, won't stand a chance. No, it will be rather fun, ending the Age of Heroes, before it starts." Within a blink of an eye, Not-Wells had changed into a yellow-clad speedster with red lightning. His voice became distorted as he spoke, "You can't stop me, Flash, nor can your friends; The Green Arrow, Black Canary, nor Firestorm."

Both red and yellow speedsters ran towards each other like two lightning-fast horses out of the gate. None of Barry's fellow heroes could make out anything between the two colors of lightening twirling together like a small vortex.

Oliver clenched his bow harder, in frustration. With them going so fast, he wouldn't be able to make the shot, even with the Reverse Flash being distracted, He, like his wife next to him, wouldn't be able to either fire an arrow nor use her scream without either missing their target or endangering their friend. "Move, Barry. Barry, move!" He bellowed at the mass of lightning in front of them.

After some time, Barry was pinned against a nearby fence, his neck held tightly by the Reverse-Flash. Oliver could only watch as Firestorm flew into the air before Barry was thrown into the air and into an illuminated sign for STAR Labs.

The Reverse-Flash stood there watching as Barry slumped to the ground as if he were silently gloating over the onslaught he gave his nemesis. Oliver, without hesitation, fired his arrow into the speedster's thigh, before Firestorm hit him with a fireball. The yellow-clad speedster didn't look put off. He waved his arm to push the fiery hero across the city, Barry whisked himself away to save his comrade.

The evil speedster sluggishly yanked out the trick arrow out of his thigh, "Nanites, courtesy of Ray Palmer. They're delivering a high-frequency pulse that's disabling your speed. You're not gonna be running around for quite a while."

The speedster stopped vibrating but looked amused at the married vigilantes as he moved towards them. Green Arrow, using his bow as a quarter-staff blocked each and every strike before sending his bow into the speedster's face.

The Reverse-Flash kicked out hitting Oliver in the stomach, aggravating his wound from Ra's, while Black Canary sent a hard right-hook into the speedster's kidneys from behind. Eobard stumbled forward before he sent his elbow backwards narrowly missing Black Canary's head, he turned towards the heroine, as he did, The Green Arrow flipped him over his shoulder, and into some debris.

The Reverse-Flash picked up a steel bar, narrowly missing both of Starling's heroes, before slugging Laurel in the side, and using his bar to block Oliver's onslaught with his bow. Only his defenses didn't last, Oliver brutally sent a sharp blow to his adversary's chest, causing him to wheeze, before throwing him back into the debris.

Eobard stayed slumped in the debris, unmoving, so Oliver took a quick glimpse at his wife, trying hard to get to her feet. He smiled at her resilience, she was never one to lose easily, she was always getting back to her feet.

Oliver turned back to his foe, quickly nocking and aiming another arrow at the speedster as he heard a vibrating sound, in the blink of an eye, the yellow-clad speedster pinned The Emerald Archer to the asphalt, one hand wrapped around his neck, the other vibrating just above Oliver's chest

"The history books say you live to be 86 years old, Mr. Queen. Well, I guess the history books are wrong." He then noticed out of the corner of his eye as he watched as Laurel slowly hobbled her way towards them. "The future, my future, has already changed, but it's not too late to change it back, or make it close enough. In my future, there is no Dinah Laurel Lance-Queen nor a Connor. I will fix that curse for you."

"Stay away from my family!" Oliver growled, trying valiantly to prevent the speedster from plunging his vibrating hand into his chest, and just like with Ra's before, Oliver felt Laurel was ready, he lifted his knee holding the speedster away from him by a few more inches, before it came.

SCREEEEEEEE

Oliver exhaled as The Reverse-Flash was sent tumbling backwards and into the side of a car before he jumped back up to his feet and was forced to run as Barry was hot on his heels.

Oliver exhaled again, which resembled a groan, as Laurel twirled her baton and offered him a hand and a small kiss. He watched as Eobard and Barry sped around and on top of the building of STAR Labs.

He turned to her, cupping her cheek in his gloved hand, "You alright, Pretty Bird?"

She gave him a small nod, her green eyes dancing in the limited light. "I wasn't the one that was almost killed, you ok?"

"I am with you here." He whispered, kissing her again, before they both reluctantly separated, watching red and yellow dance in and around STAR labs. Oliver held his bow tight, another arrow nocked, as he could see Laurel also holding her nightstick in a defensive position.

All of a sudden, with a loud crash, The Reverse Flash landed onto a car roof, the roof concaving beneath him. He slowly got up, and before he could take another step, he was pushed back into the side of the car, by Black Canary's cry, followed a second later, by another nanite-arrow.

There was a collective sigh of relief as the Reverse-Flash slammed back onto the ground, not moving. Barry lowered his cowl, giving them an appreciative nod, "Thanks, guys."

"No problem." Firestorm said, before shaking hands with Barry.

Barry smiled, returning the shake, then did the same with Oliver and Laurel. "I appreciate you both coming out of your way, especially after the hell you both had to endure."

Laurel smiled, and hugged Barry, "Thank you for helping me when I needed it. You are part of our extended family, as far as we are concerned."

Barry felt his cheeks heated up, as he blushed at the heartfelt compliment. "Uh, thanks." He cleared his throat as he looked at the three heroes. "Cisco had an idea that sometimes there will be threats that are too much to deal with, and we need a team of all of us to stop. He said we should call it: The Justice League."

Oliver frowned immediately, "We are not calling ourselves that."

Barry found himself chuckling for the first time in a while. He then noticed that both Stein and Ronnie had separated and looked just as amused as Laurel. "We can discuss it at a later date."

Oliver nodded, his lips turning into a smile, "Absolutely, we will, and we still won't be calling ourselves that." He said as Stein and Ronnie started making their way into STAR Labs.

Laurel smiled but sobered quickly. "We will also have to discuss our options regarding Connor having inherited my powers at a later date." Barry noticed that Oliver looked just as anxious at the topic, it just served as a reminder that despite how people including him sometimes sees these two heroes, they were still human.

"Cisco had made a proto-type for Connor in the chance that he developed powers." He then sped off, taking Thawne with him, and reappearing in the blink of an eye, with a small steel bracelet. "The bracelet should dampen his powers while it is on, it's a temporary solution until we can figure something out for your son in the long term."

Oliver smiled as Laurel held the bracelet in her hands. "Thank you, Barry."

:-:-:-:-:

Oliver called a group meeting in The Bunker, which included Diggle and Felicity. Oliver sighed as he stood next to Laurel, who had been cradling Connor in her arms since they returned home from Central, and she and Oliver were reluctant to separate from their son.

"Laurel and I are going to go on a break for a few months. After everything that has happened in the past year or so, it has made us need to take a step back, and spend time with our son, and each other, and reevaluate what we are going to do, both as parents, and as vigilantes."

Ray Palmer blinked, "You're thinking of retiring?"

Oliver wrapped his hand around Laurel's waist, "It's one of the possibilities." He said, if they were to go down that route, they would only don their suits if the situation was very bad. "The other is that we are just taking a break, and will return but things will change. Either way, I think all of us need to take a breather. It's only for a few months."

Ray cleared his throat, "I was actually thinking of moving back to Ivy Town. I've been hearing some rumblings happening in my home town, but I will hold down the fort here for a couple of months to ensure that you and your family are safe while you recuperate, and enjoy your family time."

Felicity, for the first time, spoke up, "I'll be moving with Ray to Ivy town to help him establish himself there. I won't be coming back. Until then, I will be helping Ray here."

Oliver nodded, before looking at Diggle, his swelling had died down, but he still had the purplish reminder on his face of his betrayal."John?"

"I would like to spend more time with Lyla and Baby Sara. I need to do a few projects around the house, but, if you will have me, I would like to return to the team."

Oliver turned his gaze to Laurel, who gave a small nod of agreement. Oliver exhaled, "You can be back on the team, but you are on probation, I won't hesitate to kick you out of this team if you betray one of our own again. This team is a family, and it can only work if we trust each other. Laurel and I are co-leaders in this, her voice holds equal weight to my own. If you can't handle that, there's the door."

"Thank you for the second chance, you won't regret it." With that, Diggle left, Felicity returned to the command center, and Ray moved towards his exo-suit to make adjustments.

:-:-:-:-:

Upon entering their loft with Thea and Roy following in tow, Laurel placed her son into his playpen and placed his bracelet around his wrist. She turned from staring at her baby when she heard Thea's voice, "So where are you three headed to?"

"Nowhere." Oliver answered, "We are staying here in Starling. It's home. Though we may be looking for a house to ensure that Connor has a place to learn how to use his cry without hurting himself or others."

"We will also be getting married at the courthouse, and we would love it if you two were our witnesses since our other one wasn't legally binding."

"We would love to." Thea smiled, "Mom, dad, Quentin, and Ted would be proud of both of you, for all you have done, and now taking your time to ensure that your son is happy and healthy, along with finally tying the knot."

Roy added, "Don't forget that CNRI is coming back, and Oliver will be running Queen Industries."

Oliver smiled at his future brother-in-law, "Queen Industries will need a man that I can trust as the head of security, and I can think of no one that I trust more for that position than you, Roy. It's a family business after all, and that's who you are. Family."

That's what the five of them were, a family.

A/N- Thank you, everyone, who has supported this fic, by reading it, commenting or leaving a fav, or follow. I really appreciate it. A special thanks to the Lauriver Discord for their help.