I sat at the bar, and was organizing and stacking coasters I had prepped with our new logo. Tommy sat to my right, and Adler to my left. It was quiet, the only sounds coming from the cork circles being moved around and the pen Tommy was using to write up alcohol orders.

He looked over at me, then cleared his throat. I glanced over at him, but continued my work at making sure the logo stickers were centered.

"I know this is a stupid question," Tommy began. "But how are the two of you holding up?"

I hesitated, only for Adler to say, "Well, it's not every day you discover your parents separated to keep the fact you have a twin a secret for whatever reason, and then discover your mom is missing, possibly dead, and so is your dad, so... yeah. Maybe a little stressed?"

I rolled my eyes to the ceiling, and glanced over to see Tommy looked horrified. He shifted a bit uncomfortably, then said, "I lost my mom. She was murdered. And my dad is never around. I... absent parents, I get that. Not exactly the same situation, but I'm here for you if you need it."

I smiled softly. "Thank you, Tommy."

Adler looked over at Tommy and asked, "So how did you and my sister meet?"

Tommy blinked. "Ah. Through Oliver, actually. We were in high school, and it was strange how it happened. Kinda natural. She was like the sister I never had."

"And he was kinda like a brother," I said, looking Adler, who met my eyes, a strange, vulnerable expression flashing in his eyes and I said, "Not to replace you."

"I would have been there, too, if I could," he said softly. "If I knew you were even real."

I frowned. "There's nothing we can do about that now. You're here now and that's all that matters to me. It'll be ok. I promise."

The door opened, and we looked back to see Laurel enter the club, holding a book in her arm, and Oliver walking with her, looking a little annoyed. His eyes met mine, and a small smile crossed his lips.

I smiled back, and looked to see Adler was smirking at me. I shoved his shoulder, and he yelped as he almost fell off his stool as I stood and faced them.

Tommy smirked, leaning back. "Laurel. Welcome to Operation Boring Shit. What have you brought to us this fine afternoon?"

Laurel glanced over at Adler, then said, "I don't believe we've met. My name is Laurel Lance." She held a hand out to him and Adler's eyebrows raised at the last name, and I immediately shook my head.

He glanced over at Laurel, then took her hand and shook it, before pulling back. "Adler Walker."

Her eyebrows raised and looked at me. "Like..."

"Yes. Laurel, this is my twin brother. We didn't know about each others' existence until now."

"Oh. Why is that?"

"Our parents separated and each one took a twin," Adler said coolly. He paused, his head tilting to the side as he studied Laurel. He cleared his throat, then crossed his arms over his chest. "I mean no offense, Laurel, but if you're here to pick on my sister in some way, which, as I've heard, you like to do," he said, standing and glared down at her. "I'd turn yourself around and fuck right out of here because I won't tolerate it like she does."

The room went silent, and Laurel looked actually frightened as she stepped back away from my brother, Tommy standing to move to Laurel's side.

Oliver met my eyes, as if trying to discern if this was going to become a fight or not.

"Alright, guys... let's not be so tense, alright? Laurel actually came to say something to Mia, didn't you, Laurel?" Tommy asked, raising his hands placating, as if trying to calm down a snarling wolf. In Adler's case, a wolf would be a good analogy.

She nodded and side-eyed Adler, but looked at me. I raised an eyebrow. "You came to talk to me?"

She paused, and crossed her arms over her chest. She didn't meet my eyes right away, but when she finally did, her eyes were misty with tears. "I came to apologize. I've been unfair to you. You're not the reason my sister is gone, and neither is Oliver. I was wrong to blame you both for it. I was angry, but it still didn't make what I did or said ok."

I raised both my eyebrows, genuinely shocked I was getting an apology from her, then said, "Oh. Well, I didn't expect that. Thank you for your apology, Laurel. I hope we can just start fresh."

She nodded slowly, and said, "Alright. What are you all doing right now?"

"Well... I'm putting stickers on coasters..." I said, and drifted off. The tension was palpable, and I hated it. I didn't know what to say, or if I could say anything more than I already had, but she was looking at me as if I alone held the answers to all her questions in this world. As if I was the root of our problems and it was up to me to solve it as she laid her meager offering of a half-assed apology that sounded like it came from either Oliver or Tommy.

I made note that Oliver was looking at me hopefully, confirming my suspicions. He wanted unity between us. I could understand it. But our issues went beyond the Queen's Gambit sinking and Oliver and the rest.

"How about this," Adler spoke up. "Let's all go to Big Belly Burger. I for one am starving, and seeing as it's already almost 4, we could just have an early dinner. All of us. Get to know each other."

"Thea did say she wanted some Big Belly Burger," Oliver offered.

"Sounds good to me," I said. "Can you text her to meet us there?"

Oliver nodded, and with that, we left the club, and piled into our respective cars, and made our way to the burger joint.

I sat in the front of Oliver's car, Adler sitting in the backseat. It was quiet for a few moments before Adler observed, "Wow. She really is a bitch, isn't she?"

"So is her sister," Oliver said with a clenched jaw.

Adler smirked. "So you know she's still alive?"

"Yeah," Oliver said. "We had a... falling out, I guess you could say."

"Seems to be a trend with Lance sisters, I imagine."

"You have no idea." Oliver's grip tightened on the steering wheel.

***On the Island***

"So," Oliver said as he sat down next to me on the ground, where I was using a knife to cut apart strips of old clothing to weave it into a bag. "You and Slade?"

"Mhm," I said and nodded my head, trying to ignore him as he bumped his shoulder into mine.

"Isn't he... I don't know... too old for you?"

I sent him a look that could kill. "I don't need dating advice from Oliver Queen of all people."

He raised his hands in defense. "Hey, listen. I'm just looking out for you."

I clenched my jaw, anger rising in my chest suddenly and I ripped a strip of cloth. "You haven't."

"What?" He asked.

"You haven't looked out for me. You invited me onto that fucking yacht, Olly, with the promise it would be us. Just us. To go out so I could explore the ocean. And you promised I could read my research to you. And you promised we'd be only a few days. And then you brought Sara on board. And then we landed here. And you disappeared for three months."

Oliver didn't say anything, merely picking at the grass, ripping up a few strands. Finally, he said, "Yeah. And then we shipwrecked. And Sara died. And my dad killed that guy. And then he killed himself. And then we floated in the ocean for a couple days with his corpse. And then we buried him. And then I got shot with an arrow and we were separated. You're not being fair."

"Fair? No. None of this is fair, Olly," I said harshly.

He let out a shaky breath, then said hoarsely, "I understand you're mad. I am too. I wasn't judging you about Slade..." he drifted off and sniffled and I looked over at him to see him wipe at his eyes. "I'm happy you have someone. I'm happy to have found you, Mi. I'm happy for you. I just... he's kinda scary. And a decade older than you pretty much. I was just... forget it."

I felt a pang of guilt blossom in my chest. I was being unreasonable, I knew I was, but I was angry. It wasn't Oliver's fault we were here, and it wasn't mine. Neither of us could have known this would happen. And yet I was still angry. I was still upset. And I didn't know how to process any apology he was giving me at the moment.

If anything, I wanted to be alone, to process everything that's happened and think about what I wanted to do for myself, but that wasn't a possible option.

"I'm sorry, Oliver. That wasn't fair," I said softly.

He nodded, going back to pulling at the grass, the only sound between us the ripping of the small plants from the ground beneath us. "I forgive you, Mia. I can't say I didn't have my own thoughts similar to you. If you didn't have to do that project, we wouldn't have needed a boat, either," he laughed bitterly and looked at me, his blue eyes shining. "Maybe we're both at fault."

I shook my head, wiping at the unexpected tears coming to my eyes. "Maybe, Oliver. Maybe. So much has changed... do you really think we'll get out of here?"

Oliver jutted his chin towards Slade, who was hacking away at firewood, shirtless, and the object of my distraction before Oliver joined me. "I think he's more committed to getting you off the island than anything. He may be kinda scary, but he does care about you, and that I can respect. It's good to see you have that in your life."

"Thank you, Oliver," I said with a small smile, then looked down, picking at a scab on my wrist. "I'm sorry about Sara. And Laurel," I said softly.

"Sara is my fault," he said softly, his eyes taking on a far-off look. "And so is Laurel. I don't know what I was thinking. I was an idiot. And I still am. And I'd be surprised if she ever forgave me, or gave me another chance."

I shrugged. "Maybe there's a nice girl for you on this island."

He smirked at me. "Oh? Like that nice guy over there for you?"

I rolled my eyes. "Sure, anything can happen."

He nodded slowly, his eyes drifting up towards Slade, who had stopped chopping wood and was staring at us, his eyes directed at Oliver with a fierce edge. "Yeah. And maybe that guy will kill me for getting too close to you."

I scoffed. "I doubt that anything like that will happen with the three of us."

He shrugged. "I guess we'll see. Anything can happen, right?"

I rolled my eyes, but his words stayed with me, and I surprised myself as I thought about the possibility of there no longer being the three of us, and that thought scared me.

No. I refused to lose anyone. We'd get off this island. Together. The three of us. I promised Slade. I'd keep that promise.

******

I woke up slowly, facing Oliver. He was sleeping still, his bare chest rising and falling steadily with his breathing. I pulled up the blankets to cover myself more, and moved an arm around his waist, pulling myself closer to him as I tucked my face into his neck.

He stirred slightly, and then his arms wrapped tightly around me, pulling me closer to him. I smiled a little as he nearly crushed me in his tight embrace, and I gently pushed on his chest.

"Oliver..." I mumbled.

"Mfmm..." he mumbled, shifting as he pulled me up and lowered himself to use me as a pillow.

I smiled, lifting my hands to comb through his hair, scratching along his scalp as my eyes fluttered closed again.

I wasn't sure how long we laid like that, but I fell back asleep, only to wake up with a start to find Oliver gone. I sat up, adjusting his shirt on my shoulders as I rubbed at my eyes, yawning.

I looked around the room, the rest of our clothes scattered across the floor around the bed. I rubbed my feet together under the sheets and comforter, my eyes finally falling on my discarded underwear, and bent to pick them up, slipping out of bed and pulling them on, collecting my clothes, then walking over to the door that connected our rooms.

I slipped into my room, and dumped the clothes into the nearby hamper, and turned on the water in my private bathroom connected to my room.

Sometimes it astonished me how rich the Queens were, that they could afford a house where all the rooms had their own bathrooms. Adler had made a similar remark when he was presented with one of the fancy guest suites down the hall from us. He had also asked if there was room service, but it had made Moira and Walter chuckle.

I showered, then got dressed in a new pair of jeans, and worked at massaging the hickeys that dotted my neck and collarbone with some concealer.

I smirked a bit to myself, thinking how Oliver would have a harder time covering the ones I had left on him.

I left my room, and after ensuring that Oliver really wasn't in his room anymore, headed down the stairs, pulling my long black hair, still damp, into a claw clip.

I found him in the dining room with Adler, where they sat, talking quietly, over mugs of coffee and plates piled high with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage links, and French toast.

Adler looked up as I entered, and I walked over to Oliver and kissed the top of his head, before sitting down next to him, my eyes trained on the platters of food.

"So," Adler said, his eyes darting between the two of us. "I guess we're all lucky the Queen family is rich enough for soundproofing in their walls."

Oliver choked on his coffee, coughing, and I glared at Adler.

"Get yourself a girlfriend, then, if you're that bothered," I said. "I won't apologize for being in a healthy and active relationship."

Adler snorted. "Hm. Is Felicity single?"

Oliver sighed heavily. "Seriously?"

"What?" Adler asked defensively. "Have you seen her? She's stunning. And a nerd. I have a thing for nerds, you should know."

"She's the first woman you've seen outside the League, Adler," I said, raising an eyebrow. "It wouldn't be fair to her if you're lying."

He smirked, his gray eyes flashing as he scratched at the stubble along his jaw. "Why would I lie? Don't they say that a huge part of this is attraction? I mean... the two of you literally can't keep your hands off each other."

I shrugged. "Hm. There is that. Fine. Ask her on a date, then, get to know her, and shut up about us."

He smiled, then stabbed at his French toast. "Maybe I'll ask her to Big Belly Burger..." he nodded. "Ah. That reminds me. I need to go to the bank. To cash a check."

I nodded slowly. "And open an account and deposit it. Get a debit card. I don't want that much cash just floating around."

"And... what are you both talking about?" Oliver asked.

Adler smirked, his eyes flashing. "I'm an assassin, Mr. Queen. My services cost money. I'm a very popular choice because I never miss." He leaned back in his chair, savoring the uncomfortable look on Oliver's face, and said, "Maria has made more than me. I am used to a certain amount of unsettled expressions, but understand that I do not care what you think of me, and as long as no one signs off a contract in you, we're all good."

I met his eyes and said darkly, "I'd like to see someone try to make a contract succeed against him."

Oliver chuckled, then leaned over and kissed my cheek. "I don't have much to worry about with you around."

I shrugged and picked up the serving spoon and scooped some scrambled eggs onto my plate, and a few slices of toast. I picked one up, studying the crust, before looking at Adler and saying,

"We have a lot to catch you up on."

"Bring it," he said with a smirk.