Tonight's Episode - Spoilers Quite Obviously in Comments

[trustbutverify]

[Her breathing is ragged.  Her heart is racing.  her face is white.]

[Moira Queen has been through a lot of things in the last five years.  The loss of a husband.  The near loss of her son.  Murder.  Corruption.  Kidnapping.  The Trial.  Laurel.]

[But this?]



NO!

Comments

[madrelationshipskills]

Wait. What's to freak out about? So ... you wanted it to go the other way? I thought you'd be okay with that verdict, as surprising as it was for everyone.

[trustbutverify]

It's...

[Deep breath. No more secrets. No more lies. But she had to approach this subject so delicately. Not for her sake, but for Thea's.]

It's not about that, sweetheart.

It's something else. Something so much worse.

[madrelationshipskills]

[The expression on her face is somewhere between confused and concerned right now.] There's something worse than nearly being sentenced to death by a jury? Or, you know, the Malcom Merlyn thing as discussed before your Q and A with Laurel. I think I've heard it all at this point in the past six years, so what's up now?

[trustbutverify]

[You would think that, wouldn't you.]

Malcom Merlyn.

He's...alive. I saw him myself.

[forgedmyself]

Mom?

[Even though he didn't want them to give her the death sentence... he knows how it should've gone. Something isn't right here.]

[trustbutverify]

Ollie.

[The trial was the furthest thing from her mind at this moment. She could only think of her children, and what this would mean for them both.]

Are you alright?

[forgedmyself]

I'm more worried about you than I am myself. What's wrong?

[trustbutverify]

[Everything.]

I...don't even know where to begin.

I saw something tonight. Someone.

[forgedmyself]

Saw who?

[You know he won't let it go.]

[trustbutverify]

[She does know. If nothing else, she's come to learn this of her Son. He was stubborn. Even moreso than his father. And they had promised no more secrets. Not after everything.]

...Malcolm. I saw Malcolm. He's alive.

[forgedmyself]

[Except he really had no fence to stand on where the secrets were concerned. She didn't know that though. He frowns.]

And you're positive it was him?

[trustbutverify]

I don't...I don't know.

You have no idea how badly I want to say it wasn't. Any moment, I was expecting to wake up and find out it had been some horrible dream.

[Especially after what he'd told her.]

[forgedmyself]

Do you know where he's at?

[Really not something he needs to be told but he's a stubborn thing.]

[trustbutverify]

Right now, no.

If it's him...he'll be careful. More careful than before. He won't tell me where he's staying.

[forgedmyself]

You need some company tonight, mom?

[He'll call Felicity later and have her track Malcolm down.]

[trustbutverify]

[She would love nothing more than to spend the night curled on the couch with a child in each arm. Her family, back together again.]

Are you sure you can spare the time? [Smiling faintly. She already knew what he would say to that.] You and your sister have so many obligations.

[forgedmyself]

[She knows him all too well but he can't help but give her a smile.]

How about we give Dig the night off and I spend it with my wonderful mother?

[trustbutverify]

I'm sure he would be even more thrilled to hear the news than we are.

[forgedmyself]

[He can't help but laugh]

Either thrilled or asking when I was going to run off into the night. One of the two or both.

[trustbutverify]

[She smiles. It's been so long since she'd heard him laugh. How she missed it. Seeing a genuine hint of happiness on her son's face.]

Do I need to have a word with him?

You know, just so you have a solid alibi.

[forgedmyself]

[She gets a genuine smile out of him. Probably something that's not been there in a long time.]

That might be the better route to take. Because he'll trust you not to let me go running off.

[trustbutverify]

I can certainly do my best.

Even if it means I have to ground you and take away your cell phone privileges for the next twelve hours.

[A faint tease. Except she would do it, if it became necessary.]

[forgedmyself]

Ground me? Wow. I can't remember the last time I heard you say those words. Should I just hand over my cellphone now?

[trustbutverify]

If you insist.

[Congratulations, Oliver, your mother is actually extending her hand at you, flingers lightly twitching in anticipation of your unwavering compliance.]

[forgedmyself]

[Well... he did open his big mouth. So the cellphone and bluetooth to it get handed to her. He can handle being with her for the next twelve hours. Felicity nor Dig would need him within those hours. Or at least hopefully they wouldn't.]

[trustbutverify]

[Her eyes widen only slightly when he hands them both over. Without question. She...hadn't really expected that to work.]

There.

Although I suppose it's only fair that your sister and I do the same. Would you like to be the one to tell her, or should I?

[forgedmyself]

Maybe I should be there when you tell her. For support.

[trustbutverify]

That sounds like the best plan I've heard in a long while.

Shall we?

[forgedmyself]

[He wraps an arm around her shoulders]

I'm ready whenever you are.

[trustbutverify]

[Reaching up to give his fingers the lightest of squeezes--a silent thank you--she straightens her posture and nods.]

Let's go.

[forgedmyself]

[He's glad he can do something for her. Something that he's not really been able to do. As long as she gets time with them then that was all that mattered.]