The Emerald

Chapter 30 - Birthday Party

"I need to call Sara and make sure she can swing by Verdant and pick up Digg's gift." Oliver commented as he pulled out his phone.

"I'm going to go check on the food for the evening." Moira told the group as she started to head to the kitchen. "Thea, Felicity, would you ladies like to join me?"

"Yeah!" Thea answered enthusiastically. She quickly gave Roy a small kiss and a smile letting him know that they would have that discussion, later.

The women all left to meet Raisa in the kitchen and finish the preparations for the birthday dinner.

"Sara's going to run by the club and get Digg's gift." Oliver told the men with a smile as he joined Roy and Walter.

"He's going to love it!" Roy commented, knowing what the Team had gotten Diggle.

"What do you want to do until everyone gets here?" Oliver asked Roy.

"Honestly, I'd be perfectly content chilling with a beer." Roy answered with a small smile. "My ribs are sore and taped up so a workout probably isn't a good idea. Besides, we'd just have to shower and change again for dinner if we did."

"Good point." Oliver chuckled. "What do you say we go get that beer and raid the desserts for tonight?"

"Perfect plan." Roy smiled mischievously.

"Don't get into too much trouble." Walter warned as the guys left the sitting room. He shook his head and laughed at the mental image of Oliver and Roy, the Arrow and Arsenal, getting into trouble over sneaking desserts before dinner.

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At about six thirty Sara, Laurel, and Detective Lance arrived with Diggle's gift in tow. Moira greeted them at the door and welcomed them in with a smile.

"The children are in the kitchen." Moira commented, laughing at the look on Quentine's face at her use of the word children. "You will have to see it for yourself Quentine." Was the only explanation that she provided.

The sight that greeted them in the kitchen caused Detective Lance, Sara, Laurel, Moira, and Walter who had also joined them, to start laughing out loud. Apparently Oliver and Roy were in trouble for trying to sneak some desserts before dinner and Thea and Felicity were having none of it. The were all brandishing wooden spoons and appeared to be in the throes of what Moira could only describe as a sword fight of epic proportions. The four of them were laughing quite hard at themselves and Walter couldn't believe that he had been right about what would happen.

"What have you done now?!" Sara asked in mock horror.

"These criminals were trying to sneak some of Digg's birthday cake!" Felicity explained as she swatted Oliver's spoon away. "We need reinforcements!"

"On it!" Sara commented with mock seriousness as she ran to the broom closet just off the kitchen. She reappeared moments later with a broom handle and she quickly aligned herself with the women.

"Hey, no fair!" Roy cried as Sara hit him lightly on the thigh with her new 'bo staff'.

"No, what's not fair was you guys ganging up on poor Felicity and I." Thea retorted.

The standoff lasted for another few minutes until Moira called it off at the sound of the doorbell.

"Okay children, time to put the toys away. That will be Mr. Diggle and Lyla." Moira sternly told the group much to the amusement of Laurel, Lance, and Walter. "Someone take the gift to the other room and clean up in here - quickly." She issued her orders as she went to answer the front door.