Ava woke up early today. Her neck and back were loud in showing their protest that they didn't like the uncomfortable couch she slept in. She sat up and rubbed her face, annoyed by the ten different kinds of pain she is feeling right now.

She tried to make of what happened yesterday: Her ex-wife had been shot and she came crawling back to Star City like an idiot. Her eyes traveled to Sara's sleeping form. For a moment she thought she was still in haze when she saw Sara's finger move in the subtlest way possible but then she finally stirred, her eyes opening.

"You're awake" that was all she could muster as she walked towards the bed. She almost rolled her eyes when Sara propped herself up. She immediately went to her side and eased her down "easy, easy. You shouldn't be up" she coaxed as she adjusted the hospital bed for Sara's comfort

Sara looked confused though, her face scrunched up trying to register what was going on. She must be still high on pain medication because the first thing she croaked out was "Am I dead?"

Ava almost smiled. "Almost" she whispered when a lump formed in her throat. The thought of it sent shivers down her spine. She gently lifted Sara's head and placed a pillow asking Sara if it hurt. She explains where Quentin and Laurel were as she adjusted Sara's blanket. When she reached to untuck the blanket near her arm Sara poked her.

"What are you doing?" Sara then proclaimed her observation that she was real. Pain meds. She remembered. Sara was being silly and if they were still married she could have had a laugh with her, share a kiss or two but she wasn't, not anymore. She brushed the thought away.

"Of course I'm real. How are you?" It sounded too concerned than shed like. Sara however didn't share the same gentleness in her voice when she asked her what she was doing there. Suddenly they were back to being whatever attitude this is.

"Normally when someone flies a couple hundred miles to come see you in the hospital, you just say thank you" Ava replied. She noticed Sara's scrunched up face and she started to worry. "Sara?" When the other woman didn't answer, she immediately called the doctor.

Laurel was there in a heartbeat. Sara had just passed out due to exhaustion and a mild concussion. The doctor assured them that it was normal for patients to be so tired because their body experienced trauma. Ava sighed in relief. She couldn't bear the thought of something happening to Sara while she was on watch.

Laurel handed her coffee and she murmured a quiet thanks. She sat back down on the couch as her nausea rose to her throat. However the warm coffee toned it down.

Her phone buzzed quietly in her pocket. Gary had just informed her that her clothes have arrived in her house and that her car was sent to pick her up. "Laurel? Mind if I go and clean up? I won't be long" She didn't want to leave Sara, but Laurel was there and her outfit wasn't really comfortable anymore.

Laurel smiled sweetly at her. Even when things didn't go well with Sara, before and after they were divorced, the other woman was always kind to her. They developed closeness in the past couple of years she had missed. Laurel would help her with cases and she helped her in return, she helped her when she proposed to Sara and many more times she couldn't count. She has become the sister she never thought she could have.

"Of course. Take your time"

After grabbing her things she strolled to the parking lot where her driver and her car waited for her. The drive home was quiet. She checked her emails and messages and left a few chores for Gary to run.

She looked up to see the subdivision gate. The scene was welcoming and suddenly she felt home, a feeling she hasn't felt in a while.

Their house was huge, one of the biggest in the area but the emptiness of it made it bigger than it looked. She eyed the furniture the caretaker had polished to perfection, leaving the place like it used to be.

A combination of heavy and light footsteps drummed the wooden floor. Laurel's giggle echoed through the living room and a loud roar from the scary dinosaur, namely Sara, followed through. Ava was at the couch reading the latest copy of Star City newspaper while her girls ran around playing pretend. Her heart melted when she looked up and saw Sara with a dino hat and her hands raised up forming claws as she chased little Laurel.

"I'm coming to get you!" said Sara as she stomped a little faster. When Laurel caught her eye the little girl shouted MAMA and ran to her screaming. Ava stood up with opened her arms to catch the little girl. Laurel's tiny but strong two year old legs carried her really fast that she let out a quiet 'oomph' when her tiny body hit hers with force.

Sara roared again as she neared Laurel. She threatened to bite but when she reached the little girl she showered her with kisses. Laurel laughed and wiggled. Ava never felt purer joy than this. She gazed at Sara lovingly who immediately looked back at her, blue orbs smiling along with her lips. She dips her head to meet Sara's and a joyous ache crept on her heart as their lips met.

When they pulled away, Laurel grabbed her head and rotated it to face her. She laughed when she saw their little princess with a pout on her face and her eyes closed ready to be kissed. Laurel laughed and clapped her hands when she finally kissed her, after which their nose met for a little Eskimo kiss Laurel loved doing.

Their laughter still echoed in the walls a she remembered Sara tickling Laurel like it was yesterday. She felt ten different kinds of emotions just staring at the cream walls. A couple of pictures of Laurel, her and Sara and the three of them was hanged or framed in the furniture that surrounds the house.

She nodded to the housemaids as they welcomed her to the house, still numb and reeling from the unforgotten memories. She didn't expect it to be this painful; Climbing up the stairs and walking towards their bedroom or technically hers because it hasn't been theirs, not in a long time at least.

She was quite hesitant to open the door, unsure of what the other side might hold. When she finally had the courage to turn the doorknob, the scent of the room flooded her. It smelled so much like Sara, or at least she think it does. She sat in the bed and closed her eyes, embracing the entirety of it. She softly falls back on the mattress and succumbs to its comfort. Her back and neck's protest hushed.

When she felt like it was about time to stop feeling sorry for herself she took a quick shower and changed into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Her phone buzzed at the bed when she received a text.

Laurel: Dinah asked if you could swing by the house on the way back, they want to hitch a ride to the hospital if that's okay

Her hands went from warm to cold as she felt fear creep through her body. She had planned to go see Laurel but right now was too soon. She didn't want to be unprepared when she finally face her girl. She regretted her response before she sends it. Sure.

She ran a couple of scenarios in mind; one that involves Laurel hating her and another where Laurel was ecstatic to see her. None of which however, help ease the knot in her stomach. She tastes the bile in her throat when she pulled over in the driveway and she didn't stop tasting it, not even when she knocked on the front door and by any chance, it got worse.

A little bit of relief washed over her when she saw Dinah open the door. She invited her in with a smile on her face. "Wait over here, she's going down in a few minutes" she said as she gestured Ava to the couch.

Then Dinah was gone, climbing up the stairs to go check on Laurel. Suddenly she felt claustrophobic in the open space of the living room. The time slowed and the anticipation is killing her. She unconsciously wiped the bead of sweat that formed on her forehead.

Ava didn't know she could be this nervous. As a lawyer, she faced every case with confidence and pride, but even then, with the handful of experience, she couldn't be tough enough to face her own daughter.

A couple of footsteps broke her thoughts. She slowly lifted her head to get a glimpse of who is coming, her hand pressed together and knees shaking in anticipation.

And then there she was, her little girl. Only, she doesn't look so little anymore. Laurel grew a couple of inches; she looked so tall for her age. She was in white and black striped long sleeves and overalls, her hair cut just a little over her shoulders. Of course she saw her in pictures Sara sent or the times Laurel had them on face time and the one time she took her to visit, but that visit was 8 months ago and she couldn't believe that her little girl looked like a young woman, for her eyes at least.

She felt terrible for missing out on Laurels life in the past year, in which she couldn't be with her in tough times and achievements she celebrated or her birthday even. She and Sara tried to agree on a proper living arrangement for them and Laurel, but every time they do, they fight. Up until Ava decided that she couldn't bear to be in Star City anymore.

She returned to Ivy Town and Laurel was left to Sara's care, promising she wouldn't let their daughter grow up without knowing she loved her and it was a difficult choice. Sara had sent pictures just like they agreed on, Sara never showed her face to any of them. Every time she faced time Laurel it would be her aunt that held the phone with her or Dinah or anybody else but Sara.

"Hey princess" She wiped a tear that ran down her cheek. "Its mama" she whispered. Laurel had her face down as she walked towards Ava. She was fidgeting her hands, a nervous gesture she got from Sara.

When Laurel looked up Ava smiled. Laurels eyes were a darker blue like hers which almost seemed impossible because she was Sara's through and through. The shape of her eyes, nose and lips however, resembled Sara's perfectly.

Ava kneeled down to Laurel's height. The little girl didn't say a word and Ava's heart sank, afraid of what was going through her daughter's mind. Laurel however, took a step closer to Ava, leaned down until their noses touched.

Ava stills as she gently moves her head from side to side. It took only a couple of seconds until Ava realized what she was doing. Tears fell down her cheeks as she reciprocated the Eskimo kiss she had gotten so familiar with ever since her daughter learned how to do it. She lets out a laugh and pulls Laurel into a hug. She couldn't stop herself from breaking down.

The little girl hugged her back and lets her pour out all the pain she has been feeling: All the guilt for leaving Laurel and the pain of seeing Sara again. "Mama?" she pulled away when she hears Laurel call out.

"What is it princess?" Laurel buried her face against her chest. Her voice was low and muffled but Ava was pretty sure she heard "I missed you" She kissed the little girls forehead repeatedly just like she always would.

"Me too little bean, I missed you so much" She grabbed Laurels hand who wiped her tears away. She kissed it and pulled Laurel back into another hug. She sees Dinah at the bottom of the stairs smiling sadly at her, giving her an 'I understand ' look.

After a few more minutes of talking to Laurel they finally got into the car. They drove to the hospital as Laurel told Ava about everything she possibly could in the span of the car ride. When they got down Laurels hand was linked to her grandmother's up until they got inside.

When they reached the lobby Dinah had to go to the bathroom and told them they go ahead since Laurel was excited to see her mom. Ava gladly agreed and started to walk Laurel to where Sara's room was. She was surprised to feel her tiny hands reach her when they were about to go up the stairs. They walked hand in hand and Laurel let Ava guide her like everything was natural and Ava couldn't be any happier to take her daughters hand.

Sara's room was filled with hushed conversations when they entered. Laurel was the first to come in and later on Ava, who finally placed faces on the voices. Sara's cop friends were there along with a few others. She recognizes all of them because they used to be friends too. Zari who is Sara's closest friend, the one who pushed them to be together, Amaya and Nate her couple friends who are also cops, Ray Palmer a business man Sara had been good friends with and Mick Rory, Sara's partner.

She doesn't even know how they all were allowed to visit in the room at the same time but knowing Sara's friends she didn't bother to ask. All of the conversations however, suddenly dropped when all eyes were on her. Ava could feel the hotness on her cheeks grow.

"Mommy?" Laurels voice cut through the silence. Everybody then greeted the little girl. Between that, Amaya smiled at her and gestured her to come closer.

Zari clasped a hand on Ava's arm "Sharpe! It's been a while" She smiled. It was good to see that nothing's changed between her and the legends, as they liked to call themselves. She had been friends with them too, before all the crap that has happened in her and Sara's marriage.

She sees Laurel climbing up to Sara's bed in her peripheral view. She was then carried up by Ray when he saw she was having a difficult time.

Ava stared at them painfully when she saw Laurel bury her face in the crook of Sara's neck. She sees her ex-wife struggling to ease the pain their daughter's weight was giving her. Ava felt her legs move before she decided to. She slowly rubbed Laurels back.

"Hey little bean, we have to be careful around mommy okay?" her heart broke when she heard Laurel was sobbing. Her daughter nodded her head still buried on Sara's chest. Sara gave her an it's okay look in which she nodded in return.

Sara rubbed Laurel's back too after she did. She coaxed the little girl to stop crying. "I'm okay Laur, mommy is okay now. I can't be home for a few days so Aunt Laurel and grandma will be taking care of you okay?" She explained to the little girl.

"Will mama be there too?" her tiny voice was muffled by her sobs and Sara's body. She looked up to Sara with a hopeful face.

Sara looked at Ava, asking for something or anything she could say to Laurel. "Of course little bean, mama's not going anytime soon. I promise" The taller blonde replied. She smoothed her daughter's hair and leaned in to kiss her forehead.

Her ex-wife nodded and almost has a grateful look on her face. As much as they both deny, they need to set their differences aside for Laurel's sake and right now they need to pretend that everything was okay between them. She and Sara are going to have an inevitable talk soon and it is going to be one hell of a stay.