The Emerald

Chapter 48 - The Queen Mother

Moira and Walter were walking through the foyer when they heard a groan from the den where Andrew and Roy had been watching a movie. Moira turned to look but didn't see anyone there and she wondered if she had been hearing things. They started to walk away when she suddenly heard a pained cry from the room. It was clearly Roy and it sounded as though he was in the throes of a nightmare. She turned and met Walter's eyes before they both moved quickly to the den.

Walter and Moira found Roy tossing and turning on the couch, a sheen of sweat covering his face. He was moaning and writhing around as if in a great deal of pain. They knew instantly that they were right about it being a nightmare and Moira was brought back to Oliver's first night back from Lian Yu.

"Should we wake him?" Moira wondered aloud.

"We don't know how he'll react." Walter answered, also remembering Oliver's violent reaction to be awoken on that stormy night.

"No, Thea!" Roy cried out.

"Walter, I can't just leave him like this. I'm going to wake him." Moira told her husband determinedly. She quickly stepped up to where Roy lay on the couch, her heart breaking at the cries coming from the young man. "Roy. Roy! Wake up! It's just a nightmare." Moira called to the young man. She was nervous to touch him at first, however, taking in his weakened state and his injuries she decided to take the chance.

Moira tentatively reached out and placed a gentle hand on Roy's shoulder, careful not to put too much pressure as his arm was still in a sling.

"Roy, you need to wake up!" Moira said forcefully. "Thea is fine. She is safe, you both are!" She continued to murmur words of comfort and encouragement as she gently shook Roy. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, but was only just a couple of moments, Roy's eyes popped open.

"Thea?" Roy asked upon waking.

"She is fine. She is safe and out with Felicity, Diggle, and Sara at the dress shop. She is unharmed and perfectly safe." Moira explained, trying to put Roy at ease.

Roy blinked several times after opening his eyes. He could clearly see Moira kneeling next to him with a hand on his shoulder and a look of concern on her face. For the first time Roy saw Moira for the mother that she was. Not even my own mother would comfort me like this. He thought sadly as he fought to bring his breathing back under control and to move to a sitting position.

"You are fine Roy. You are safe and no one will hurt you here." Moira continued to murmur words of comfort to the young man. It pained her to know that he was struggling, especially when the nightmare was apparently about her daughter. "Do you want to talk about it?" Moira offered as she helped Roy who was struggling to sit up.

Roy sat and thought for a moment, unsure if he should tell Thea's mother about what had happened, about his nightmare. He finally decided that if he was going to do what he had been thinking about then he might as well tell her how he feels.

Moira looked up and met Walter's eyes while Roy gathered his thoughts. She could see that he was concerned for Roy as well. In the brief moment that their eyes met she heard her son returning from the back deck, probably due to the sounds of Roy's nightmare. Walter turned at the sound before quietly letting her know that he would hold off Oliver so that she could talk to the young man. She smiled her thanks before returning her attention to Roy.

"It was about my dad, and Thea." Roy started softly. He was a bit afraid to open up to Moira about this, however, he felt strangely comforted with her here next to him. He paused for a moment to gather his thoughts before continuing. "My dad abused me as a child and my mom was a drug addict so she never did anything about it." Roy admitted as he stared at his hands. "In my nightmare my dad had both Thea and I. He wasn't as much concerned with me because he knew that whatever he did to Thea would affect me. He..." Roy swallowed hard as the images from his nightmare replayed in his mind. "He hurt her, like he used to hurt me."

Moira felt a tightening in her chest as she listened to Roy. Her heart hurt for what this young man had had to endure as a child. No child should have to suffer, especially not at the hands of their own parents.

"Roy, I can't even fathom what your childhood was like. But I can tell you this." Moira said softly as she looked at the young man next to her, a young man plagued by his past. "Despite your past you have grown into a strong young man. Oliver trusts you with his life, as does the rest of the Team, and that is not something to take lightly. Your past is what has made you into who you are today." Moira smiled at Roy as he turned to look at her. "I may not have been the best mother to my children and I have done things that I am not proud of. But, I can honestly say that without those experiences I would not be able to be the mother I am today."

Moira took a deep breath to steady her emotions. She knew first-hand how your past could plague you. However, she also knew how it could make you stronger.

"Roy, since Oliver has come home I've learned three very important lessons." Moira could tell that she had Roy's full attention now. "The first is that no matter what you have gone through in your past, it defines who you are today. Oliver has been through things that none of us could even imagine, but look at what those experiences have done. He has grown into more of a man than his father or I could have ever hoped. The second is that you can't let your guilt overwhelm you. I know Oliver lives with guilt, I live with guilt, everyone does. But we can't let it consume us. Don't let it destroy you."

Roy closed his eyes and swallowed hard. Yes, he was dealing with guilt. Guilt over the fact that he wasn't able to get to the Team fast enough when Merlyn had them. Guilt over the fact that he hadn't been able to stop Slade from torturing his friends. Most recently, guilt over the fact that Thea had been captured, by his dad, and he hadn't been able to get her out of there sooner. Moira was right, the guilt could eat you alive. But, if what she was saying was true, then the only way to move on would be to let that guilt go.

"What's the third thing?" Roy asked curiously after a moment of silence.

"There is never enough time!" Moira stated sadly. "When Robert and Oliver left on the Gambit I thought I would see them both in just a few short weeks. There were things that were left unsaid. I honestly don't know if Robert knew just how much he meant to me, how much I loved him. And Oliver, my dear boy. I hadn't been the mother that he needed. When we got word that the Gambit was lost at sea I realized that I would never get the chance to tell them how much I love them. My time with them was gone." Moira took a moment to gather her emotions. She didn't need to break down in tears in front of Roy right now. "I learned that you can never take a single moment for granted. I thought I would have more time with my husband and my boy. I couldn't have been more wrong. I was given a second chance with Oliver, and I will never let a day go by without telling him how much I love him and am proud of him. Life is simply too short!"

"I've come to that realization recently too." Roy murmured. "I thought for sure that I was going to die having never had the chance to really tell Thea how I feel." He looked up and his eyes met Moira's. "I love your daughter and I will do anything for her."

"I can see how much you love Thea." Moira told Roy. "I know that your relationship didn't start in a conventional way, but I can see how much you care for her. You have already proven that you would do anything for my baby girl."

"I want to marry her." Roy whispered.

Moira gave Roy a small smile before looking up to Walter who had just come to stand behind her, his hands on her shoulders.

"I think she would like that." Moira said softly.

"I think that what Moira is trying to say is that you have our blessing." Walter commented with a smile.

"Thank you!" Roy said sincerely. "Now all I have to do is get permission from Oliver."