Her office is immaculate, just like it always is. The sun shone through the full glass window, illuminating the white walls, making the navy accents pop. She enjoyed the calmness after winning another case earlier today, finally locking up the bastard charged with embezzlement and fraud. Now that her cases were finally over she can have time for herself or at least have complete hours sleep.

Atty. Ava Sharpe; Says so on the gold plate on her desk. After years and years of studying and hard work, she finally made a name for herself. Not just an extension of the family name she is known for. The Sharpe's were wealthy, Dr. Victoria and the CEO of The Bureau, William Sharpe, are amongst the prominent and respected people in Ivy Town. And of course, being their daughter meant she had to be perfect as well. Instead of following her father or mother's footsteps, she chose to reject the company and became a lawyer instead. She was good at it, won case after case after case until her name was the first offer to someone in need of a defense attorney. It didn't take long until she started her own firm and became big in the business.

Her eyes traveled to her desk in hopes of finding something to do, still unaccustomed to the lack of stress and work. She scrambled through her drawers but instead of paperwork, a picture frame caught her eye.

She smiled for a second before her heart ached. She was about to pick it up when, Gary, her assistant, walked into the office with a loud Miss Sharpe! She immediately flinched. Gary pushed through the glass doors using his arm while his hands carried two coffees, one that Ava asked for earlier and the other, she assumed was his.

"What did I say about loud voices Gary?" she said calmly but the annoyance in her face was evident. She opened her mouth the same time Gary does, encouraging him to say the words along with her. "I don't like them" she said in unison with Gary's you don't like them. She felt bad a little bit, but it was funny to see the poor guy squirm. She shook her head and grabbed her coffee.

She murmured a quick thanks and Gary scurried out. Her thoughts wandered to a relaxing vacation when the taste of the latte hit her tongue. Suddenly she pictured herself back in Bali enjoying the heat of the sun and the beauty of the beach, the place was too good to be true. Memories were made there; it was one of the few stops for their honeymoon. It's been almost a year, a year since their divorce was finally settled, a year since she last saw Sara. A pang of guilt struck her.

Her thoughts were intervened when her phone suddenly rang. She sighed, thankful for the distraction. Her thanks however, were soon forgotten when she answered the call. "Hello?"

It took her a second to decide to drop everything and fly back to Star City after receiving a phone call from the hospital. Ava, Sara's been shot. She stopped breathing for a second; the world sank dragging her ability to respond with it. The rest of the sentences just became a high pitched ring in the background.

When she felt sure that Laurel, Sara's sister, was finished talking, she responded with a hushed "I'll be there" still unable to compensate what she just heard. The moment she ended the call her legs became jelly that she needed to sit back on her chair, not knowing she stood up in the first place, her throat dry when she swallowed.

"Gary" She called, barely a whisper. Suddenly her suit was too tight and she couldn't breathe. She sloppily opened two buttons, her hand shaking. She gathered all her strength to stand up and walk out of the office. Gary was there to meet her at the door with a worried face.

"I'm going to Star City, I don't have time to explain" She ran down the office without caring what anyone would think. The world felt like it was spinning but it didn't stop her from reaching the door. She was so lost that she was in the car without her knowing. Not until the driver asked her where to.

One perk of being a Sharpe is that private jets are at your beck and call. In a matter of minutes they were ready to take off. She was a wreck when she arrived at the plane. The whole flight was even worse. Her anxiety was building and the stress and anticipation made her want to hurl. She gathered herself and called Gary, asked him to cancel all her appointments for the week and pack her a bag to be sent in Star City.

When the phone call ended she was finally able to think clearly. She tried to recall what Laurel said earlier. Sara was shot, she is in the hospital, little Laurel needs her mama. She was too caught up on worrying that she forgot about her daughter. The poor little girl was four now, if Ava recalled correctly, she must be confused and alone. It made Ava sick to her stomach. The pent up feeling on her gut was too much to bear that she finally heaved.

She had time to compose herself, to fix her hair and her blouse before the plane touched down. She looked at herself once more in the rear view mirror of the rental car Gary had arranged for her. She grabbed her jacket and settled it in her arm.

Walking in Starling General was nostalgic almost, her mind was scattered again trying to figure out where to go. "Sara Lance?" she asked she arrived at the reception desk.

"Are you family?" the receptionist asked. A lumped formed in her throat before she could answer. She nodded instead. "I'm her wife" ex-wife, she reminded herself. But she was too desperate to get in that she didn't even correct herself.

"She's still in the operating room" she nodded and thanked the girl. Her feet felt heavy as she walked towards the wing where Sara was. She had a million thoughts running through her mind. What will she do? What will she say? What would Laurel think of her? She gathered every drop of courage she had to walk the never ending hallway.

"She's still inside" Laurel said when she arrived at the waiting area. She had been crying, her voice was strained and her eyes rimmed with red. She stared at Ava inviting her to sit in one of the empty chairs.

She couldn't though; standing up was more appealing for the tall blonde at the moment. "Laurel?" Ava asked. It didn't take the other woman long to understand who she meant.

"With Dinah" She replied.

There was no conversation after that. She couldn't even ask what happened and how Sara was. They both stayed there in comfortable silence not having any idea what to do but wait. A few moments later Quentin arrived with takeout, offered her an extra container without saying a word. They barely touched the food; Ava was hesitant to eat with the threat of her vomiting again. Everybody was too scared and worried that you can hear a pin drop. It was deafening and it made everything more concentrated. She tried her best to focus on something positive, sure that if she lingered too long in the silence it will drive her mad. Her mind wandered off to the one time going to Starling General became one of the happiest day of her life.

Sara was having contractions for more than 8 hours now. She was too stubborn to go to the hospital just yet. "Ava I'm pretty sure that this little bean isn't ready to come out. The doctor said that this could be just an episode like the one last week. You're too excited" Sara said as she breathed out another contraction, rubbing her belly to ease the pain.

She sure was though. She was more than just excited, she was prepared. She had already packed the hospital bag a month before, with all the things their little angel could need when they finally welcome her to the world.

"This one is longer! This couldn't just be an episode babe. You said it yourself, it's getting stronger now so come on" Ava combatted as she digs the closet for the bag. She felt triumphant when she finally managed to pull the mini pink duffle out.

Sara had the sweetest smile on her lips when she turned around. Her eyes sparkled like she was seeing the best thing in the world. She lets out a hushed laugh and raised her hand in defeat. "You know I regret having a lawyer for a wife" Ava rolled her eyes at her. She let her wife help her up.

True enough, it wasn't just another episode, a couple of hours later Sara was pushing, holding Ava's hand until it hurt. It was a life changing experience being with her wife as she delivered their little girl. She whispered comforting words into her ear, supported her in the best way she could. A cry pierced through the entire room as the midwife held the tiniest, most beautiful human baby Ava has ever seen in her life.

"Laurel Adriana Lance" Named after the ' coolest aunt' according to Laurel. She held their baby girl in her arms as Sara slept in her room and for the first time in her entire life she felt happy to be in her most dreaded place in the world.

"Ava" Laurel's voice broke through her flashback. She was back at the hospital again, this time the doctor was standing across them. He explained the severity of her injury and that they managed to get the bullet out. He also mentioned something about Sara being lucky and that the bullet didn't puncture any organs. The intensity in the room dialed down. Everybody can breathe easily now knowing Sara was safe.

They moved the shorter blonde to the room. The doctor then further explained that her body needs to rest and that she will be unconscious for a while. The three had nothing much to discuss after that. Ava finally asked Captain Lance what happened to Sara. "A mission gone south, too many of them and just one of her" explained Quentin.

It was night time and they barely noticed. Laurel was the first to leave, she had to finish something for a case and it was urgent. She asked for updates if anything changes in Sara's condition in which Ava nodded to. Quentin stayed for a little while longer but then he was called back to the precinct for an emergency situation. Ava volunteered to stay and watch her since she had nothing to do for the rest of the evening.

She stared at Sara sleeping peacefully on the bed, like nothing bad happened earlier. Aside from the fact that she was supported by an oxygen tank and has an IV attached to her, she seemed okay. Ava moved from the couch to a stool beside Sara's bed. The monitor was beeping steadily and it felt louder than it really was in the dead of the night.

"You just can't help yourself can you?" She whispered, unable to stop herself. "Sara Lance, always risking her life to save others" Ava didn't know why she was getting angry. It wasn't like it was Sara's fault but she just hated seeing her so vulnerable, so fragile, that it was better to project anger than admit she still cared.

Almost a year without seeing her and she still hasn't changed a bit. The same blonde hair she used to hate cleaning in the bathroom, the same blue eyes that pierced through her soul, the same lips that kissed her every morning and the same fierce and strong Sara she married. The familiar ache found its way back into her heart.

Ava suddenly couldn't bring herself to look at her anymore. Memories she had been pushing down for the past months came rushing back up the moment she heard her name on the phone. Now that she was alone with her in the room she suddenly regrets the decision to come. Along with the good memories they shared, the horrible ones followed. Things did not end well for the two of them and she shouldn't have any reason to care. They were over, and as much as it was hard to accept, the only reason she should be staying was for their daughter's sake.

***

Her eyes felt heavy despite the effort she exerts to open them. The memory of the previous day was lost to her until it came crashing back. She wanted to jolt up but her body was glued to the floor or the bed when she realized she was lying on a soft mattress with even softer sheets. She tried to move the rest of her body however her strength was failing her. A few moments later she moved a finger. Barely. Then, she finally was able to open her eyes and the sudden brightness of the room overwhelmed her.

The walls were white, the ceiling too. She felt something move on her head when she looked around. She raised a hand to touch it. Nose tube. The next thing she saw was the IV on her hand. Her head throbbed and her body felt like it was on fire. She remembers the dealers she encountered last night, the gun shots and the blood. Her hand traveled to her abdomen where she was hit.

"You're awake" she hears a familiar voice. A voice she hasn't heard in a long time. For a second she thought it was just the nurse and her mind was playing tricks on her but then she saw her.

She tried to speak but her throat was dry. She mustered all her strength and finally lifted her back from the pillow. She hissed at the burning sensation in her stomach. Ava who was in the edge of the bed was suddenly beside her. Easing her back down, murmuring something she couldn't register. The hospital bed was suddenly inclining, allowing her a better view of her ex-wife.

She was so confused that she asked the first question that came into her mind. "Am I dead?" Her head was still foggy and everything felt painful, even breathing.

"Almost" She almost didn't catch that. It was just above a whisper. Her mind still couldn't process the fact that Ava was here. The taller blonde lifted her head carefully placing a pillow to prop her up. "Does this hurt?" she shook her head.

"Laurel just grabbed coffee, Quentin was here earlier but then he had to go to work" Ava explains as she fixes the blanket around her. She stared at Ava, studying her carefully, considering for a second that maybe she was just hallucinating. She had the perfect opportunity to poke Ava's face when she leaned a little closer. "What are you doing?" she asked clearly confused of what just happened

Sara closed her eyes tight. The pain in her head was growing stronger. "You're real, huh" she concludes.

"Of course I'm real, how are you feeling?" She wanted to reply something snarky because she clearly doesn't feel okay. It just didn't feel right, joking and Ava being here. Instead of a straight answer, she responds with a question.

"What are you doing here Ava?" It came out colder than she wanted it too. It wasn't like they were on good terms anyway. Things were getting clearer now and Ava in star city, with her in a hospital room was the only thing that was unclear, followed by her vision that suddenly dimmed.

She feels like passing out. Shit. The room started to spin and she couldn't hear the beeping of her monitor which she was unconsciously aware of. Ava's voice was muffled too. She can hear her answer but the words aren't coming. She tried to open her eyes and then world was just engulfed by blackness.