HELLO, WORLD! SORRY I NEGLECTED YOU!!! 

I had exams and now i'm helping my family with some moving furnature and there is no WiFi! I have to go to an Internet Cafe (a place specifically for using a computer with Internet connection) to upload chapters and check my social media most of the time.

That doesn't mean i'm not working on new chapters and new stories!

This chapter is that long because i don't know in how long i will be able to upload because it's not only the Internet access i also don't have as much time, helping my family and spending time with them is taking up all my day...

I hope in a month i will be able to return to more consistent updates...

Enjoy!

The sun rose in Chicago signaling another day for its residents. It could be a very important day for thousands of people but one particular was ready to fast forward the day because he was nerve wrecked with anticipation.

That someone was none other Doctor Connor Rhodes.

It was his turn to visit the Chaplin after his shift in the hospital and he was aware how therapy works he had gone when his mum died. Then he visited one again when his step mum committed suicide before his eyes. And resumed visiting one during Oliver's missing days and supposedly death he visited a therapist once a day in secret from Malcolm, his step dad.

And during his Med school years the stress of studying was enough for him to seek help for a therapist yet again...he saw that talking to a therapist helped him solve his thoughts and anxieties while listening to himself and at times he liked to have the help of the therapist who decoded many of his thoughts for him.

It saw that this ritual gave him peace of mind and patience his job and his home life required. He saw that it helped him become a better person and understand better the human mind or the world in other words.

Yet this time he felt different it didn't concern just his mental health but the health of his marriage and his wife's mental health, part of his new life that held most dear.

He closed his alarm clock and turn to his side and looked at Felicity, his wife, who seemed to still be sleeping then he saw a small hand on his wife's waist and he smiled remembering that Grayson was refusing to sleep in his bed so the family slept in the same bed.

He stood up from the bed and walked to the other side of the room and rubbed his son's back waking him up. Then he took him in his arms and walked to the kitchen but not before putting his son in the couch that was facing the kitchen's TV and turned on to cartoons.

He started making coffee, packed lunch for Grayson since he will take him to his sister's house for the day, then he made breakfast for all of them.

Once he was done he looked at his son who was half watching the cartoon half sleeping. He walked to his and Felicity's bedroom and started waking her up with kisses.

In Starling City Thea was twirling around her room packing in order to visit Connor in Chicago, she couldn't be in the same town or room with Oliver knowing what he knew and didn't tell her.

Her mental list of things she needed to have with her stopped when she heard the door of her room screeching as it opened.

"Honey? What are you doing?" Moira asked her daughter and Thea sighed...she had forgotten she existed...I know it sounds bad of her to think like that but with every lie Moira or Oliver kept Thea felt as if she was losing her family.

"Laurel and I are going to her cottage for the weekend." Thea lied as she offered a smile to her mum.

"Oh! Have fun!" Moira said smiling to her daughter as she left the room.

"Fuck you, mum." Thea whispered after her as the smile fade off and she went back to packing.

Once she was done she looked at her phone and she dialed Laurel's phone number.

Laurel was at a similar phase as Thea but she was happy and eager for her book tour. Once she was done she was admiring her pastel colored suitcases as her phone ranged.

"Good morning, Thea! Are you ready?" She asked Thea with a smile and eager tone.

"Yeah, meet you at the airport?" Thea asked Laurel with an anxious voice.

"Yes, in thirteen minutes." Laurel said as she started picking up her suitcases.

Thirteen minutes later the two girls met at the airport and waited for half an hour to be boarded on the plane.

In Chicago though Connor was rushing to wake Felicity up reminding her that not only she had to work but she had to meet Laurel with Thea and pick them up from the airport because today was Laurel's first book read.

"I'll be up in a second..." Felicity mumbled asleep Connor just shook his head while smiling and walked out of their room.

After twenty minutes Felicity walked out with clothes in her arms and headed to the bathroom not even saying hi to her family because she had her eyes closed still.

Connor took Grayson in his arms after laughing after his wife and went to his son's room to get him dressed.

"Daddy, Auntie Claire is letting me have ice cream today but I don't know what flavor I want..." Grayson told his dad as he put his shirt on while Connor searched for a pair of pants in his son's drawers.

"Oh, really? Lucky you! I would recommend trying caramel or peanut butter. Then if Claire doesn't have those flavors try sour cherry and yogurt. It's Claire's favorite flavor so I know she's bound to have in her freezer." Connor suggested as he searched for a pair of pants and found some jeans and then turned to his son to see if they matched.

He nodded being satisfied with it he walked to his son and helped him get dressed as Grayson thought his father's recommendations.

"Thanks, dad!" Grayson exclaimed as he kissed and hugged him before he run out of the room to go see some cartoons.

Connor chuckled as he stood up and marveled how much his life had changed.

Then his phone rang and saw it was Laurel.

"Hey! Nervous?" Connor asked his friend with a smile.

"Yes like hell!" Thea's voice shocked him but his smile didn't fade it widen even more.

"Good morning Thea! It's normal to be nervous after all you've been through. Is Laurel near you? Are you about to go on the plane?" Connor asked his....um...he had no idea what Thea was to him...she was a friend to him before he left Starling but now after so many years of not talking...

"Yes, we just sat in our seats and we are waiting for takeoff I just wanted to let you know that we are on our way. My mum thinks I and Laurel are spending the weekend in Laurel's cottage while Oliver has no idea. Now take Laurel!" Thea told Connor in one breath and he sighed...

More lies...

"Good to know just be careful both of you." Connor said serious as he watched his son jumping to the rhythm of theme song of his favorite cartoon.

"Hey, Connor! We are okay we are about to takeoff so I have to hang up! See you in eight hours. Have a great day at work both you and Felicity!" Laurel said happily and quickly before hanging up.

Connor smiled as he wished them a safe flight before, he too hanging up.

"Good morning, husband!" Felicity said smiling as she hugged him from behind.

"Good morning, wife!" He said chuckling as he turned around and kissed her while hugging her.

"Ewww!" Grayson's voice surprised them and they laughed.

She smiled at her son and she kissed him in both of his cheeks and he giggled.

"Momma will you drop me off to Auntie Claire's?" Grayson asked with puppy dog eyes as he hugged her leg as she tried to walk towards the table.

"I will, honey, now just let mommy have breakfast." Felicity said to her son who nodded and went back to watching cartoons.

An hour later Felicity walked up to Claire's door holding Grayson in her arms and his bag on her shoulder as Grayson stretched to ring the bell with a sneaky smile.

Felicity sighed in a tired manner, her son seemed to have endless energy unlike his parents...she often wondered if this is how it felt like for her mother...

"Good morning!" Claire exclaimed excited which caused Felicity to wince and close her eyes...today was not a good day for her...she had a headache the moment she opened her eyes. She felt her brain was on fire from the inside out.

"Not, so loud, Claire!" Felicity said tiredly and Claire apologized in a whisper stretching her arms for her nephew.

"How is my little man?" Claire asked Grayson who laughed.

"Ready to play!" He exclaimed in a whisper as he watched him mum who rubbed her forehead.

"Mommy, you should go to doctor." Grayson said with a whispering voice.

"Maybe I will. Now be a good boy while you are here alright?" Felicity asked her son with a smile and she kissed his cheek.

"I will! Bye!" Grayson said after he momentarily hugged his mum and gave her a kiss.

Claire then waved goodbye as she closed the door.

"Who is ready to make a cake?" Claire asked Grayson who nodded.

Everyone from the adults minus Claire seemed to forget that today was Cornelius 59th birthday!

"Does grandpa like pineapple?" Grayson asked Claire as Claire was putting some ingredients on the kitchen table where the baking will take place.

"I think so...but I don't think he likes the sugary dried fruit type. Besides I don't think chocolate and pineapple go together." Claire said as she read the instruction on how to use the new mixer she and her husband to be had gotten as a pre-wedding gift.

Hers and Russell's marriage was taking place this summer where though were still in discussion half of the family wanted to do it in US but Russell's family were in Ireland. Both soon to be wed couple wanted a beach wedding.

"Auntie Claire can I be the kid in your wedding that throws flowers on the ground?" Grayson asked his aunt once he understood she was done reading the instructions.

"Of course! Once we decide where my wedding will take place." Claire said with a smile to her nephew.

"Why don't you and uncle Russell do it in a beach in Ireland? Like that everyone is happy." Grayson suggested completely oblivious to Claire shocked face.

Grayson many times had shocked his family with wise inputs a child his age shouldn't have thought...I guess it pays off that his mum is a genius. Maybe he was one too.

Felicity dropped her son off to her sister-in-law's house and then went back home to get ready for her work, she was filling in half way through the day for her husband who was going for a session with the Chaplin.

She had five more hours until she had to go into the hospital so she cleaned a little her son's room and put the laundry after that she cooked a meal for Connor to find once he was done and wrote a lovely note to him. Saying how proud she was of him for going to the Chaplin.

Then she received a text from Laurel saying they were on the plane with Thea. She smiled remembering that Connor and her had a very long pillow talk about Thea and Felicity agree to help the girl sort things out, she was her age when she needed an adult to see past her strong façade and she had no one. Now, she is going to be the adult she needed herself for someone else.

She texted back saying she will pick them up, drive Laurel to her book reading and hotel and then play the tour guide for an hour with Thea then Felicity received a message from Laurel saying that there was no need for a tour guide since Thea would stay with Laurel for the book read. She nodded satisfied and then made a quick calculation of her time, took an aspirin for her headache with a brave gulp of water, grabbed the keys and rush out to the car.

At O'Hare Airport the girls laughed as Laurel explained to Thea how book reads work and she was happy to see Thea smile after all this time.

"So, can we all meet for lunch? You, me, Felicity and Tommy with their son?" Thea asked as she saw the cars.

"Today yes, from my side, Felicity will pick us up soon, you ask her." Laurel said with a happy smile as they dragged their suitcase and saw Felicity waiting for them.

Felicity had a cup of coffee at hand and glasses on for some reason she had a massive headache and she couldn't wake up for the life of her not even taking an aspirin before she hit the road again helped...

"Felicity! Hi! Oh! I missed you!!! How is the little heartthrob with a heart of gold?" Laurel asked excited and ran to hug her leaving her suitcase and she hugged her so tight Felicity had to gulp oxygen afterwards.

Thea watched the scene before her in shock, in all her life she hadn't seen her so happy and so huggy. She used to be a little reserved when it came to hugs before Oliver left and her sister was told to have died with time she stopped hugging people completely.

She seemed so happy and light weighted.

"He is fine, he's at Claire's soon I have to go work too. I'm filling in for Connor since he agreed to go see the Chaplin. Hello, Thea! How are you?" Felicity answered to Laurel with a smile once she was out of Laurel's embrace and looked at Thea who sat awkwardly and held the suitcases.

"Hi, Felicity. I'm good." Thea said smiling kindly but didn't move to greet her physically she felt as if she wasn't supposed to.

Laurel noticed that awkward interaction and decided to break the ice by asking what Thea had asked her about lunch.

"So, Thea suggested earlier that all of us including Grayson and Connor could go for lunch and catch up. What do you think, Felicity?" Laurel asked Felicity as she looked between Thea and Felicity who stare at each other with plastered smiles.

"We can't tonight...what about an early breakfast tomorrow before you leave for the tour?" Felicity asked Laurel breaking the staring contest with Thea.

"Sure!" Laurel exclaimed happily and then proceeded to put hers and Thea's suitcases in the bootlid of the car.

"Felicity can I say that I'm sorry for coming unannounced...I don't plan to make matters worse...Laurel told me how my brother...my half brother has effected yours and Connor's wedding. I'm so sorry! Ollie isn't used to people saying no to him especially girls." Thea started apologizing in the car and as Thea stopped talking Felicity opened her mouth to say something but Thea raised her hand in a stop sign signaling her that she wasn't done.

"And I'm aware that things might have changed in him after the island but I don't think he's changed that much in that sector...I mean the girls sector." Thea finished with an apologetic tone and expression.

"I'm aware of the fact that he might have been worse before the island. And I don't blame you." Felicity said with an understanding as she started driving.

Thea nodded satisfied and then she saw Felicity grimaced in pain as she tried to make a turn left in order to exit the airport's parking lot.

"You okay?" Thea asked worried and Felicity sighed in tiredness.

"Honestly, no, I woke up with a headache that makes me feel like my head is on fire from the inside out and I can't wake up to faction properly I did everything that I know to get rid of it so I can be physically ready for the ED today but nothing works..." Felicity complained and Thea's mind ran in circles.

"Have you tried to put wet towel over your head and stay in a dark room for an hour with nothing but your breathing as a sound?" Thea suggested and Felicity looked at her from the review mirror and shook negatively her head.

"I don't have time for that I have to be at work in one and half hour I'll be barely on time." Felicity said in a very anxious manner.

Thea nodded understanding how hard the fast pace life she and Connor were leading could affect one's head. Laurel though was too busy admiring the world that moved at great speed out of the car.

The girls reached the hotel and unload the passengers while they exchanged goodbyes and good lucks.

Felicity drove to Med and waited for her husband in the doctor's common room while she checked in with Claire and her son. She was also reminded of her father-in-law's birthday which meant they had to arrange a surprise birthday party and quickly! She texted Laurel and Thea asking if they would like to attended while Claire reached her dad's colleagues and some of hers and her dad's closest friends.

Then she reminded her husband and she was glad that he hadn't forgotten and he had arranged to buy him a present while going to his session with the Chaplin.

"Doctor Petrakis-Rhodes you are in room 54!" Maggie exclaimed half an hour later once her shift started and she rushed to the room.

"Hello, my name is Doctor Petrakis-Rhodes and you are?" She walked in her doctor's coat and her ipad at hand.

"Why you have two names?" A girl around fourteen asked and Felicity looked at her, she looked sick and pale and she had bandages on her hands.

"Because I'm married and I don't want to have only one last name." Felicity said smiling to the fourteen year olds but her smile vanished as she studied her patient.

"I'm Stella and this is my twin Andrew...we were trying to cook birthday dinner for our mum and I burned my hands..." Stella said smiling and she showed her hands.

"And you burned your wrists how?" Felicity asked suspiciously.

"Andrew had the grill on and I was about to grab the mustard for the sauce and salad. And here we are!" Stella said smiling and her brother looked down in shame.

"Andrew is there something you want to tell me?" Felicity asked him suspicious and he sighed.

"I didn't know what she wanted to reach so I pushed her with my hip and she touched the grill hence the burn might be serious that is why I put them in bandages." Andrew said in shame and Felicity felt relieved that it was not domestic abuse.

"Okay let's see what we can do, may i?" She asked Stella who nodded and got to work.

Once she was done she moved to the next patient and as she opened the curtain she stumbled back cursing in Greek from the shock.

"Τι στο διάολο;!" (What The Hell?!)

"Oh! Hi!" Caitlyn said smiling as she held a seven year old boy.

"Caitlyn what are you doing here?" She asked shocked and Caitlyn sighed.

"Long story. Short version; I became a mum at sixteen and gave him up for an open adoption. Today was my day with my son, Charlie, when he complained about chest and tummy pains. So I brought him to the nearest place. So, can you fix him?" She asked desperate and Felicity nodded.

"Hello, Charlie I'm Doctor Felicity would you let me see your tummy?" She asked kindly and the boy nodded with a painful smile.

Charlie had to undergo surgery for his tummy which was very low danger procedure and then they found out that he needed a peacemaker in his heart. The boy's tummy was hurting because something seemed to block the boy's stomach from processing the foods correctly causing the leftover food to rot in the boy's stomach. He needed to have the way unblocked and he stomach cleaned and for a few days to eat only soup, water and a little bread without the crust.

"Are you sure? Can't you fix it without the peacemaker? I don't want to burden his health much longer?" Caitlyn said in worry, she was wreaked with worry.

"His adoptive parents arriving here in Chicago in twelve hours I need to talk to them, consult them about the peacemaker and the operation, to hear what they think we should do since we are his parents. They gave me the okay for the stomach surgery but not the peacemaker since they needed time to digest it. I'm scared, Felicity!" Caitlyn cried in the waiting room. Felicity hugged her tight understanding her pain, the pain of a mother not being able to completely heal her child.

"What are you doing here, Felicity?" She asked confused which Felicity realized that after she met Barry and visited him while he was in coma up until he woke up and became The Flash. She left right after Slade was defeated.

"Oh, you know leading a normal life..." She said awkwardly but Caitlyn looked at her confused and Felicity sighed and said;

"I'm married with Tommy Merlyn who is now named Doctor Connor Rhodes and have a kid named Grayson, he is three and half years old, with him." Felicity exclaimed with a shrug like it was nothing and Caitlyn gape at her in shock.

"WOW! It's only been two and half years and your life has changed it's been unrecognizable! You're a doctor now?!" Caitlyn exclaimed in shock and Felicity smiled as she blushed.

"I was always a doctor I just now put my degree to use." Felicity explained with a welcome smile.

"As for your ten year old son he can be on life support for twelve hours only but it might be risky to operate afterwards. But I'll try my absolutely best, I promise!" Felicity promised to Caitlyn.

Caitlyn smiled nervously and she sighed.

"The good thing is that you brought him hereright away. Do you know if he had complained to his adoptive parents?" She asked in a calculative way.

"Um...no, I would know. We talk all the time for everything concerning our son." Caitlyn said in a nervous way.

Felicity then was paged and said goodbye to her and rushed back to the ED.

She worked in fever pitch for five hours before she got a chance for a break and decided to check in with Connor then Laurel and Thea and once she was done with the phone calls she checked with Caitlyn.

They had seven more hours until Charlie's adoptive parents were in Chicago.

In the other side of Chicago Laurel was smiling like a million bucks. She walked across the stage and she smiled as she stood under the lime light and opened her book and took a deep breath.

"Hello, guys! Thank you so much for being here! I would never in a million years thought that I would be here, right now, holding this...THIS book that its home was in the pages of my personal diary. Writing this book helped me get back to my feet after my parents' divorce, the days my ex boyfriend and my sister were missing, my other boyfriend's brush with death and my alcoholism and pill addiction habits that cost my job as a lawyer. This book is literarily the only good thing that came out of it and I'm so happy to share it with the world." Laurel said with a smile and everyone applauded.

"So, my name is Heather Dinah and I'm going to read the first chapter of the book." She said smiling as she took a sip of water from the glass near the stand where she was. She opened her book and started reading the first chapter.

First Chapter read by Laurel:

"Ariel slammed her bedroom's door and she slide behind it while hugging her knees. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She looked at her pink painted room only to feel disgust and sorrow.

She was not the same giddy girl like a few months ago.

She let out a sob before she continued crying. She wished she could travel to a parallel dimension. Then she looked at her bed and had this strong urge to fall asleep, to escape.

She climbed to her bed and closed her eyes as she allowed sleep to take over her.

She opened her eyes confused because she felt the sun warming her skin which was surreal since she was asleep!

"Arry come one! We will be late!" A voice yelled at her and she turned towards the voice only to see a shadow over the sun.

She put her hand over her eyes in attempt to see clearly and yet she couldn't see but she understood that this man or boy was clearly her trusted friend. Something...no someone she never had.

"Okay, so where are we going?" Ariel asked as she grabbed his hand.

"You're birthday party of course! Don't tell me you forgot!" He said with a smile as he dragged her towards the familiar house.

Ariel remembered the reason why she was crying in the first place before she fell asleep. Her parents were too busy to realize that it was her birthday and when she asked them if they knew what day it was her own mother said; "stop annoying us you little ungrateful brat! Go to your room and don't come downstairs! You're grounded, young lady!"

Remembering that made her feel sad but most of all angry. She wanted to have fun so much fun that would make her ungrateful mother angry and ashamed for neglecting her.

She smiled determined to have fun no matter what.

Where was she though didn't seem to make her wonder she just needed to feel happy. To feel something other than shame, anger and loneliness."

End of Laurel's reading:

She stopped reading and looked at the crowd and Thea who seemed to hold their breaths and waited for her. She smiled proudly and giddy before she said;

"Would you guys like to read some chapters forward?"

The crowd's applauded gave her the answer. She flipped the pages towards the end of her book but not the end of it. She took another sip of water and started reading;

Laurel's reading again from the book:

"Ariel laughed as Maddy and Eloise exchanged vows in the alter while in her lap she curdled a few months old baby girl while next to her stood a two year old boy and next to him her husband, her best friend, Adam Seth and their kids, Thomas Oliver and Sara Amy Seth.

This was her dream life but she knew deep down she had to go back to the real world and make this life happen!

And like that she closed her eyes took a deep breath and exhale it. When she opened her eyes she saw her room. She was gone only for 30 minutes yet for her felt 30 years of life.

She smiled as tears rolled down her cheeks and then grabbed her phone searched for Adam Seth, Paul Stefan, Maia Gullen, Madison Stefan, Trevor Smith, Elliot Costa and Eloise Garner on Google and every social media she was part of.

She found them just like she remembered them. She added them on social media and texted every single one of them hello.

Something that might have looked creepy from someone else's point of view. To her surprise everyone answered to her back and they started talking.

Let's fast forward into a week later Ariel smiled as she saw them walk into Jitters in Central City.

"Hey!" Maddy hugged her while Adam squeezed her shoulder and sat next to her.

"So, all of us had this weird ass dream?" Eloise asked as she blushed when Maddy smiled at her.

"I think so yes." Ariel said in an anxious manner.

"Then we are a family already!" Trevor said smiling as he hugged Elliot and Maia who were next to him.

The group laughed while Adam kissed Ariel's cheek.

"And soon Thomas Oliver and Sara Amy would come." Adam said with a smile and Ariel blushed.

"Just like the movie Jumanji!" Paul exclaimed laughing which caused them to laugh loudly and receive weird glances from around them.

Ariel felt so happy...she was overjoyed! Like she was ready to burst!

So happy!

Laurel's stopped reading:

"Don't worry this is not the end." Laurel said smiling and the crowd applauded.

"I'm definitely buying this book!" Suddenly Thea exclaimed as she jumped up and started clapping even more energetic.

Which caused Laurel to laugh and blush.

She felt so proud! So proud!

She spent two hours signing copies and smiling and meeting people until she got a call from Connor telling her about his dad's birthday party which caused Laurel and Thea to panic and run to the stores after she was done with the book read to find a present for Cornelius.

When the three hours of them searching for two presents was done they received a call from Felicity inviting them to the party and they already knew but that didn't stop them from getting even more anxious and stressed about it until they passed an antique shop and both of them froze.

In the window of the shop it showed an old antique guitar and an old car figure which Laurel knew from last time she met Cornelius that he was collecting old guitars and small car figures so seeing them in the window was everything they needed. They purchased them quickly and they took the bus to their hotels to get some rest so they can be in party mode later in the day.

As for Connor he was in his house and ate his wife's lunch he nodded in appreciation since Felicity's cooking had become better with the years since he met her.

Then he walked to a book store near the Chaplin's office and bought the entire Arthur Clarke's 2001 book series and the new book by Dan Brown remembering how sad his dad was when the mice ate his Arthur Clarke collection of books in his childhood home and he remembers it vividly because his dad hadn't shed a tear in his father's funeral but broke down into heartbreaking sobs seeing his books in scarps on the basement's floor.

After that he walked to the Chaplin's office and knock on his door.

"Here we go!" He whispered to himself and smiled at Chaplin's welcoming face.

"Hello, my boy! Come in! Come in!" Chaplin said with a smile as Connor walked and sat on the famous couch between the Chicago's finest.

Chaplin had helped them through every shit they faced would it be death, PTSD, depression, pill addiction, suicide tendencies, suicide attempts, they celebrated weddings, engagements, baby births and baby miscarriages. He was family.

"Before we start, I invite you to my dad's birthday party at eight o'clock meaning once we are done with this session. Would you like to come?" Connor said with a smile and the Chaplin smiled happily.

"It would be my honor. Now let's get this started, my boy." The Chaplin said smiling and Connor sighed as he rubbed his hands together.

Connor then opened his mouth and started talking he started from the start and finished with his reunion with Laurel and Thea.

"How does that make you feel? Oliver knowing that you are alive? Would you take him back as a friend?" The Chaplin asked and Connor sighed;

"No. I don't want him as my friend but I do wish him all the best life has to offer." Connor said with a clenched jaw and hard eyes.

"Why?"

"Because I'm afraid he will take my wife. He always used to get the girls and for once I want to keep the girl. Sorry, a woman who I don't want see cheat on me with him from the window of her apartment...while I'm about to propose to her!" Connor said in an angry tone as he faced the Chaplin's knowing eyes.

"You have to let it go, son." Chaplin said in a sad tone.

"I know but it's hard to do so. Where and how do I start?" Connor asked the Chaplin in a pleading manner.

"First you forgive both parties, have you forgiving them?" The Chaplin asked in worry.

"I forgave Laurel, she is my friend again. And I'm aware it takes two to tango but I'm not ready to forgive Oliver, he was always so...so...so..."I take first then you're second". I was always the second. I always took the seconds. I don't want that. I want to be seen as equal by him...God! That sounds like I'm a child that seeks the approval of his neglecting father! He survived five years in a deserted island, in Russia and Hong Kong fighting for his survival being forced into becoming an agent with ARGUS. And I'm me...just a doctor." Connor rambled in a low self esteem manner, downsizing his true worth.

"NOW, I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANY MORE STUPID WORDS COME FROM YOUR VERY INTELLEGENT MOUTH, SON!" Suddenly a voice was heard from the door which made both Chaplin and Connor jump from their seats.

"Sorry, to barge in I was hoping to spent time with my son on my birthday and Claire told me where you were. I couldn't believe how proud I was. You always had a way of knowing when you needed help to solve your own emotions and thoughts! You always seemed to think that you weren't important in comparison to other kids which it was not true! Because you are important to your family, to me and your sister both your mum and step-mum! Every human being has its purpose, Oliver is a survivor, you are a healer. You are someone the survivor could not do without! You are helping people survive. That makes you a hero. You are a hero! Only someone so brave will go searching for his friend in the other side of the world, go to Riyadh and help people every day here in Chicago." Cornelius said to his son as he walked to him and sat in the couch. Connor's eyes watered and he hugged him.

The Chaplin's eyes teared in all his years of experience he never seen such thing. 

"Thank you dad!" Connor said crying in his father's embrace.

"No, thank you for always making me prouder than I can hope. You and your sister have turned out to be such an inspiration, an inspiration my dad wished for me and I for both of you." Cornelius said with tears in his eyes.

"Now, Mr. Senior Rhodes I would kindly ask you to leave us we have one more hour of session. And I would like to discuss more about his self-esteem issues." The Chaplin said kindly as he wiped his own tears.

"Of course, Chaplin! Sorry I walked in like that, I felt it was my duty as a dad." Cornelius said with a kind smile and a friendly nod as he stood up wiped his tears and left the room only to wait outside of it, giving time to his son to deal with his own demons.

In Starling City, Sara was trying to make sense the mystery her sister had become. She ravished her sister's place but found nothing. Then she came across her voicemail machine.

It had one unread voice message.

Sara pressed it and listened to it;

"Hello! I wanted to wish you good luck! I knew you could do this! We will meet at the hotel. Have a safe flight, Laurel!"

The caller's id showed "Christina Amalie Seth."

Sara instantly Googled her and found she was a publisher.

"A publisher for what?" Sara wondered out loud. She had no idea what could possible Laurel has to do with a publisher.

She looked around her sister's house for her laptop but found nothing. She let a sigh of defeat before leaving the place and heading to the Foundry.

At Chicago Med again a few hours had passed and Felicity decided to check on the Charlie and Caitlyn once again before she signed off and went to have a shower and get ready for father-in-law's birthday party.

"And he's awake!" Felicity said smiling as he saw the small boy having a tube and a mask yet he had a white board and a marker writing whatever he wanted to say in order not to take the mask off.

"How are you feeling, Charlie?" Felicity asked kindly and waited for him to write the answer.

He wrote;

"Better now. My tummy stopped hurting, thank you! Can you say I'm sorry to the nurse who tried to be anesthesia on me and I called her a Delek? She seemed to laugh but her eyes were sad...I didn't want to hurt her feelings. She had a weird mole on her forehead that is why she looked like a Delek."

Felicity couldn't help but laugh at the Delek joke and noted to go talk to Nurse Evelyn and apologize on behalf of Charlie.

"I will. Now, Charlie, can you tell me if you felt the weird chest pains before today? And if yes from scale 1 to 10 how bad were they?" Felicity asked as she gave the white board back to Charlie and he started writing his answer.

He wrote;

"I felt it three times before after PE and after an exam in science. Another time I felt it in my sleep but I thought I might have slept over Mr. Huggy Bear and his nose was poking at my chest. I asked my friend Nigel if he felt the same pains before he was told by the doctor he had anxiety and took pills. My pains were similar to his yet if I could number them I would say 13 out of 10...sometimes I would have this strong urge to faint during the pain."

"So, your pains are similar to anxiety attacks? Okay, are you under a lot of stress at home or at school?" Felicity asked her patient.

He wrote again;

"Um...no. Does it count that I worry about the Decathlon Championship that is coming up in a few weeks? Oh! And I worry that my dad is going to be in trouble because of the senior year in his school are taking a trip abroad in Europe and I've watched the news and the terrorist attacks...I don't want him to go."

Caitlyn read this and tears picked up in her eyes. Her son was worrying too much!

"Oh! Charlie! My sweet boy!" Caitlyn exclaimed as she kissed his forehead lovingly and Charlie's eyes closed enjoying his mum's touch.

"Charlie, in your condition and age you can't worry about terrorist attacks, you can't control them I know. Your dad will be fine!" Felicity tried to calm the poor boy but she knew his feeling, she felt that way all the time when Connor was in Riyadh even though they weren't dating at the time.

Charlie nodded too tired to write again so he waved goodbye to Felicity and closed his eyes in order to fall asleep. Felicity smiled sadly and Caitlyn understood it was a queue to walk outside to talk.

"His chest pains might be more painful because of his anxieties, we will have to put a peacemaker in order to avoid heart failure and prescribe him anxiety relief medication. I would strongly advise he takes a sport like riding a bike or painting to keep him in shape and in peace. Also, he should go to a therapist in order to find coping mechanisms for his anxiety. I will refer you to my good friend Doctor Natalie Manning for more info, alright?" Felicity advised Caitlyn who recorded everything she said in order for Charlie's parents to be up to date.

"Felicity, what did you say when you first saw us? That was not English." Caitlyn asked in confusion and Felicity smiled and said;

"It was Greek. I'm half Greek."

"Oh!" Was all Caitlyn could say she needed time to digest everything she had learnt today.

Felicity walked into the ED and with her eyes searched for Natalie and found her talking to Maggie.

"Oh! Good I found you!" Felicity exclaimed as she run to her.

"Shouldn't you be of the clock?" Maggie asked in a rhetorical tone and Felicity smiled in a guilty way.

"I swear you and your handsome husband of yours always work overtime!" Maggie semi scolded semi joked.

"I will be out in a minute I just need to consult Natalie!" Felicity said in a take it easy manner.

"What can I do?" Natalie asked confused as she diverted the conversation back to the main subject. She had patients to take care of.

"There is this boy, Charlie and he has heart problems. Here is his file. His parents need some advice on anxiety counseling and relief medication." Felicity said quickly so she won't disturb Natalie's rounds.

"Okay, I'll see what I can do. Now, you are off the clock, go to your family!" Natalie ushered Felicity into the doctor's lounge.

"Alright! Alright! I'll leave! You know it's hurtful to know that I'm not always wanted here, I thought you loved me! It hurts right here!" Felicity said dramatically in a very awful British accent as she pointed her heart and Natalie looked at her with a pointy look. Then the girls chuckled as Felicity took off her stethoscope and her doctor's coat.

"Good night, drama queen! See you next shift!" Natalie said smiling as she walked out of the doctor's lounge and Felicity waved goodbye.

She texted Connor to see where and how he was then she texted a goodnight to Caitlyn and she walked out waving goodbye to Maggie, Sarah and Ethan who were in the ED entrance as she walked out.

She got into her car and started driving to her sister-in-law's house to pick up her son and ask for the party details.

As for Connor he finished his session with the Chaplin and in hushed voices and mischievous smiles agreed to meet in an hour from now in the Rhode mansion where the surprise party will take place.

Cornelius' day was good up until he was asked to leave the mansion so his maid and his cleaning crew can clean it spotless they claimed that after the last get together took place the house needed a very meticulous cleaning. Of course it was a lie all house staff and his family were in on the surprise party.

Connor was aware that he had to distract his dad for an hour or so before they drove back to the house. He was ready to go to his dad's favorite book store and then go see a movie.

At least that was his plan but unknowingly to Connor, Cornelius had other plans. After listening to his son's doubts they needed to talk about them discuss.

So, he suggested to go to his favorite steak house, Connor insisted they buy cheddar covered fries and a stuffed sausage instead of their regular orders in that place. Cornelius was confused as to what kept his son's appetite but agreed nonetheless since he was always curious how the staffed sausage would taste like.

As they ate Cornelius didn't lose time.

"So, son, do you believe that your self esteem issues come from living with Malcolm?"

"I suppose so. He always treated me differently but when mum died...things got more...alienated. Mr. Queen did everything in his power to fill the void of his neglection but still I was grieving alone for the weekdays...I'm not saying that seeing you and Claire and Chicago on weekends didn't help ease the pain but it became unbearable when Elizabeth died...then I was truly alone. I tried in all my power to justify your grieving and Claire's but I couldn't work as hard in school and my grades dropped then Malcolm started yelling at me for being a failure. After awhile those words became the things my inner voice was saying whenever I was failing at something. Then one day he raised his hand on me. He slapped me for taking a D in Algebra and threaten that if next semester the D becomes an A that I won't have anywhere to hide from his wrath. It scared me shitless, dad! I should have realized that it was the first warning bell that he was driven mad...Then I was beat up in the streets of Starling City while I was returning from a night out with Oliver and Laurel...later in the week I contacted Laurel's dad and asked if there was a way for me to find out if someone hired someone to beat me up. He laughed and said that I might have pissed of some rich dude by fucking his wife or daughter...he didn't understand that my gut was telling me it wasn't it. Then the second time the same thing happen was when I expressed to Malcolm my intention to go search for Oliver in Hong Kong. After that I knew it was him so I didn't return to Starling City again." Connor explained to his dad who was fuming in anger.

"Malcolm was a shit! I warned your mother but I truly thought her love would change him...I was wrong." Cornelius said in anger.

"People don't change dad, circumstances do." Connor said wisely and Cornelius nodded agreeing with his son.

"I'm glad that you are and were seeking professional help during those times, they helped you not sink into the depth of depression." He said and Connor nodded as he ate a fry.

"Did something else happen?" Cornelius asked his son who thought for awhile but then shook his head no.

"Does he count he dropped a building on top of me?" Connor asked rhetorically and Cornelius exclaimed loudly yes.

"Then that's about it. Let's change topic, dad, let's talk about how is your business is doing or better yet where do you think Claire and Russell will choose to have their wedding?" Connor said as he took a handful of fries and staffed his mouth.

"I believe they will choose a beach wedding in Ireland and honestly I would love to visit Ireland." He said with a smile and Connor nodded with a full mouth.

An hour had passed and the Rhodes males arrived at the mansion everything seemed normal until they walked inside.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!"

A bunch of people exclaimed in happiness scaring Cornelius and he let out a surprised laugh.

"Happy birthday, dad!" Connor and Claire exclaimed as they hugged him both at the same time.

Cornelius heart was full of happiness. He honestly thought his kids had forgotten his birthday like he had when they were kids, he had a business trip in Australia and with time differences, work meetings and jet lag he had forgotten to wish happy birthday to Claire and Connor because both kids had their birthdays a week apart and normally would share a party.

He was happy that they hadn't forgotten.

"Mister Rhodes!" Laurel rush towards him and handed him his present.

"Thank you so much, Laurel! I was told by Claire and Aubrey that you had a book reading today, how did it go?" Cornelius asked with a kind smile and surprised eyes.

"It went very well! Tomorrow I'm starting the tour! I hope you like the present! Now, excuse me I have brought a friend of mine who also has a present for you." Laurel said smiling as she looked around the room searching for Thea and found her talking with Connor a few steps from them, she quickly grabbed her hand and pulled towards her and Cornelius causing Thea to protest how rude Laurel was.

"Hello!" Thea said awkwardly and Cornelius could see Malcolm's features in the girls face. He realized who she was, she was the love child of Malcolm and Moira Queen, the woman that he cheated on Rebecca with eighteen years ago.

But the poor child wasn't to blame so he swallowed his anger towards Malcolm and smiled politely.

Who in their right mind would cheat on a lovely woman like Rebecca! They might have taken a divorce because they couldn't work as a team and life got harder and harder thus killing the love that was between him and Rebecca but he never ever cheated on her! He respected her with all he had! Even Elizabeth respected Rebecca when she met her, she even requested Rebecca's approval after Cornelius proposed to her!

Both women were incredible they were the human equivalent of girl power, they weren't back stabbing each other, they were empowering one another!

He wished Claire and Felicity with Aubrey could be like his late wives.

"Hello! You must be Thea Queen! Thank you for the present and for coming!" Cornelius said kindly and Thea nodded clearly embarrassed for something.

"Are you okay?" He asked her and Thea looked at him in surprise.

"Um...yeah...I just don't know any of these peopleand I don't know how to start a conversation with other than Connor, Laurel andFelicity." Thea admitted in defeat and Cornelius laughed remembering howawkward he felt whenever he was in Thea's  shoes.  

"Don't worry, go sit by the side of any group listen what they are talking about if you know anything about the topic add your opinion if you don't know enough about ask for an explanation, these people around you love talk and teaching the young generation! Don't be afraid! My father used to say that you only learn when you ask questions and listen the answer." Cornelius said wisely to Thea who nodded and tried to calm her nerves.

She thanked him and walked to a group of old women who were sitting by the window discussing how much the center of Chicago had changed in a matter of 50 years.

She listened and then said;

"Excuse me I don't mean to be rude, it's my first time in Chicago, so how was it 50 years ago?"

The women laughed at her and one woman opened her wallet and pulled out an old black and white photo, she started explaining soon more women copied her and Thea was circled by them showing her photos of their youth.

Thea felt so proud of herself! She looked at Cornelius who watched her and he showed her thumbs up and a victorious smile while Thea smiled thankful towards him and went back to listening the women telling her stories.

Cornelius watched how Thea interacted she was so polite and not the fake polite he was so used in seeing from both the Queen and Merlyn family. She was the exception. He guessed Robert and Moira did something right when it came to Thea.

"I know exactly what you mean! My boyfriend, Roy, he leaves in the Glades, well the Glades 50 years ago according to records was a river! They drained it when the big universities opened sectors in our town in order to house students and their families then they added the working class and soon the place where I was raised turned from a busy normal looking neighborhood to a expensive lonely suburbs. I have seen photographs and honestly I wish I was raised in the old Starling City." Cornelius heard Thea said to the women who agreed with her.

"Now, during the rainy months the Glades always flood and the streets from all the water are starting to crack! Also they haven't left any tree in sight that could have helped the situation by absorbing the water!" Thea continue saying to the ladies and Cornelius along with many other by standards stopped talking amongst themselves and started listening to her.

Cornelius smiled in happiness. Thea knew what she was talking about.

"Excuse me, miss but how old are you? Have you thought of a future employment in construction?" A man asked her and Cornelius smiled, Mr. Cerullo was a very old friend of his from his diaper days, that's how old, and he always loved construction he made a living out of it.

"I'm eighteen, sir. And until recently I never paid attention to how building and streets were constructed up until the Undertaking...I volunteered to built some of the most useful street and that is when I realized that is what I was looking for. So, I ditched my social life and started reading upon my town's construction history. There are some pretty interesting stuff there and I could see that if I could bring some of them back the town would benefit both economically and environmentally also!"

"What I mean by that is that would could re-open the subway and build bus lanes on the road in order to avoid busses crushing to cars or getting stuck in traffic and messing up their schedules. Furthermore, if we could plant more trees in the Glades and apply waterproof cement over the town's street we could prevent floods especially on May! Of course there are three drawbacks to these improvements. First drawback is the economic funds a topic I haven't thought through yet. Second, is that the waterproof cement is a very new creation and we don't know if it will contain glitches and if we apply before being 1000% sure we are going to be faced with dire consequences which our budget as city can't afford and the people in it can't risk losing more property and family over. Last but not least, those changes might create new job opportunities but we have lost the trust of the people hence no one will believe these changes could be made resulting into them not doing their jobs right because they just don't care enough. I know I sound cruel but I have understood in the short amount of time that a city has to have the people's faith in order to faction properly! If the people aren't happy then the city isn't happy!"

Thea continued her speech too invested to realize that by now she was the soul of the party and in all honesty Cornelius couldn't care less, what he loved about these types of parties was the intellectual conversations taking places during, just like this one.

Felicity, Laurel and Connor were gaping in shock listening to Thea's speech! Who knew Thea Queen cared about something other than parties, clothes and gossips.

Felicity was proud of her.

Laurel was amazed and proud.

Connor was just in shock! He couldn't fathom what Thea must have gone through to make a 180 turn in her behavior. In his mind Thea was still the bratty little sister of Oliver who during Oliver Lian Yu days she became just like pre island Oliver including drugs in the mix.

The party continued with people now exchanging theories about how they could make Chicago and other cities more echo-friendly that the food and birthday cake were long forgotten until the children of the party started asking for food. That interruption didn't faze the guests who continued their discussion over the table as they served themselves since the house staff was part of guest crowd.

Around twelve thirty Laurel's phone rang as she walked into her hotel room she saw Sara's number she didn't want to spoil her good mood so she ignored it while she did her night routine.

She and Felicity had agreed to meet at 8 am for breakfast before her 10:30 flight to New York.

In the other room Thea was smiling proudly at her reflection as she took her earrings and makeup off.

"You did great today! Well done!" She empowered herself before she smiled and started washing her teeth.

In Starling City the mood wasn't the same The Arrow was badly hurt from fighting some criminals just because Laurel wasn't in the computers so Sara had to stayed behind making Oliver have less allies on the street.

Sara was calling desperately her older sister to tell her the news but no answer!

"Come on! Pick it up!" Sara hissed in frustration and worry.

But there was no answer since the receiver of the call was already in dream land.

So? What do you think of this chapter? What do you think will happen next?

Tell me in your comments!

Have a nice summer, people!

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