Ignite [Book Three In The "Fire And Lightning" Series]

Chapter Forty-Six- My Friends, My Family

Guys, I'm about ready to cry.

After this chapter, there are only fourteen chapters left until the end of "Ignite"

June 8, 2018. 12:30.
Watchtower.
~~Emma~~

I couldn't remember the last time I'd seen Willow cry. Her hand covered her blissful smile as she looked up at her birth mother, seeing her clearly for the first time since those terrible memories.

Her father looked just like I remembered him, and her brother did look almost exactly like Arsenal. Only Royston wasn't practically bald.

"Mom, Dad." She gasped.

Although she didn't have a physical form, Dinah Ray wrapped her arms around her daughter as best as she could, kissing her forehead gently. her husband, Jon, put and arm around his wife and rubbed Willow's back. Although Willow hated to cry, she was doing so now, without shame. 

Connor must have recognized her crying, because he forced the door open, ready to run to Willow's side like her knight in shining armor, but she didn't need a knight. 

"Oh my..." His voice cracked, recognizing his best friend's parents. 

"Hiya Connor!" Royston waved, his ghost hand going right through Terra's hand. then he turned back to his family. "Hey, Willow! Don't I get a hug?" He held out his arms, almost oblivious to the shock that everyone else shared.

Willow's parents laughed in perfect harmony, and Willow bent down to throw her arms around her older brother.

Either because they heard the commotion or Olivia had told them, Oliver and Dinah forced through the crowd at the door behind Connor, stopping just short of him to see Willow hugging all three spirits and laughing through her tears.

"Dinah, mom," she whispered, catching sight of them.

Black Canary's seemed to have lost her confidence, biting her lip uncertainly. This was Willow, her little Willow. And she had another family.

"Mom, Dad," Willow turned to her ghost parents, "I want you to meet my parents Oliver and Dinah Queen."

"What about me?" Olivia piped up, standing on her tip-toes.

Willow scooped up her little sister. "I could never forget you." She beamed. I noticed that Royston looked a little jealous at that moment.

Mr. and Mrs. Ray floated-slash-walked over to Oliver and Dinah.

"Thank you so much for taking care of our daughter." Dinah Ray told Black Canary. "She loves you very much."

Dinah took a deep breath, looking down at her black boots. "You're welcome." She choked.

Oliver placed his arm around her. "You raised an... amazing daughter." He said, knowing that Willow could hear him. "We'll take care of her for as long as we can."

I looked at Annya in the corner, she was smiling sadly at the two families, connected by this one very special girl.

Willow's father hugged her again, and she started to choke up. "I never wanted you to die for me." She whispered. Connor finally got the guts to walk over to her and wrap his arms around her tightly.

"Willow-" her father brushed his hands across her cheeks, but he couldn't wipe the tears away, "I'm your father, it's what I'm supposed to do."  Already the three of them were staring to fade away.

Willow cried even harder, and Connor rocked her back and forth gently.

"I love you." She gasped. "I love you." She told her mother. She turned to Royston to say good-bye, but he beat her to it.