Sanctuary Secrets Sacrifice

Family Reunions

"In every conceivable manner,
the family is link to our past,
bridge to our future."
-Alex Haley

Oliver Queen sometimes think he has a super power. Not one that could save lives, but one he finds use for. It doesn't matter how deep in his sleep he is, or how tired he'd been, he can feel the moment Katie's side of the bed is empty for more than a few minutes.

He opens his eyes suddenly, turning and noticing the woman's empty side of the bed, before he sits up. He glances over to the bathroom, noticing the lights are off. He stands from bed, instantly worried. His mind went back to that night with the rose pedals, a night his heart stopped and didn't beat again until he saw her.

"Son of a bitch!" he hears her yell and Oliver rushes out of the room, stalking through down the hall in search of the voice, but stopping when he hears movement from the guest room. The man takes a step forward, pushing the door open to see Katie sitting in the middle of the room surrounded by boxes.

"Twinkie, what are you doing?" the woman lifted her eyes to the man. He glanced over to the clock against the wall, now able to see how ridiculously early it was. "It's three o'clock in the morning-" he turned back to the woman. "Why are you awake?"

"I couldn't sleep, I thought I would actually unpack this room." the woman replied glancing around the room. "But there's so much stuff, and not a lot of space and it's getting frustrating."

"Twinkie-

"I'm fine, just go back to sleep." Katie turned to the box beside, before turning back to Oliver. "Wait, did you pick up the paint?" Oliver dropped his face to his palm and sighed.

"I'm so sorry, I forgot and-"

"It's fine." Katie replied closing her eyes and letting her head fall back against the wall. Oliver walked over and crouched in front of the woman, placing his hands on her knees.

"Twinkie, I'm sorry I've been looking into the whole public office thing and then there was another run in with the ghosts and-"

"You forgot the paint." Katie said looking back to the man. "The paint for our daughter's room. That's just great-" The woman attempted to stand up, and Oliver quickly grabbed her arm to help her, but she pulled away from him the moment she was standing. The woman stalked out of the room, and Oliver stood there for a moment unsure if he should follow her. He's suffered the wrath of the various moods of pregnant Twinkie, and he feels like this one might be a doozie. He let out a deep sigh, before turning and heading out to the hall. He heard her downstairs and decided to dive in because he loved the woman no matter what mood she was in.

When he found her, she was standing at the sink filling a tea pot with water.

"I will pick up the paint today." Oliver spoke and she looked up to the man and just shook her head. "This isn't about paint-"

"Aren't you the bright deductionist." Katie muttered turning and bringing the tea pot to the stove. "Oliver, it's fine. I will get the paint, and I will choose a crib and finally unpack that room because you know there's gonna be a baby here like really soon." she looked back over to the man. "You just focus on running for Mayor, and catching ghosts. That's what's important." she stalked out of the kitchen, but Oliver caught her arm and brought his arms around her. She turned her eyes away from his, almost defiantly avoiding his gaze.

"You want to tell me what's really going on?" Oliver asked, but Katie didn't say anything. She didn't bring her arms around him or even pretend that she wanted to be in this embrace right now. "Is it the Mayor thing? Do you not want me to run?" she still didn't say anything and Oliver wasn't sure how to fix this or even where to start. "Twinkie, tell me what do you need?" she finally turned back to the man, meeting the seriousness in his eyes and she felt something inside of her break. Something she'd been trying to hold inside, but it was cracking inside of her. "Twinkie-" Katie dropped her head to Oliver's chest. "Twinkie, talk to me-" she wanted to spill her guts, to tell him how angry she was, and how scared she was, but she was afraid he would do what he always did. Try to protect her. But she knows he's never gone against a person who can stop bullets with a simple wave of a hand.