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Title: Birds of Prey Present: Black Siren – Siren's Song

Fandom: DC Comics / Arrowverse

Disclaimer: All rights concerning the Arrowverse reserved to Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim, all rights for the comics reserved to DC. This fanfiction on the other hand is entirely mine. No money is made with this, though reviews are more than welcomed.

Tags: found family, hurt/comfort, dealing with grief, m/m, m/f

Pairings: Zatanna/Laurel, Arthur/Laurel, Tommy/Laurel, Oliver/Laurel

Side Pairings: Arthur/Mera, Mick/Len/Barry Oliver/Sara

DC Characters: Laurel Lance, Thomas Merlyn, Quentin Lance, Arthur Curry, Mera, Leonard Snart, Lisa Snart, Mick Rory, Sara Lance, Thea Queen, Oliver Queen, Selina Kyle, Zatanna Zatara

Own Character of the Next Generation: Deeliah Delphina 'DeeDee' Lance, Zachary Zatara

Summary: When Laurel's younger sister Sara and her best friend Oliver die in a ship-wreck, her life takes a nosedive. Or at least that's what it felt like at first, but she actually makes a name for herself and finds a family of her own. She makes the best of her life.

Birds of Prey Present:

Black Siren: Siren's Song

Every good story started with some kind of tragedy. The orphaned princess, who would need saving from a shining knight. The hero, who turned out strong and kind despite the abuse they'd suffered at the hands of a parent. Tragic childhood and early childhood trauma, those were the keys.

Laurel Lance had a good, loving family and a stable home growing up. A mother and a father who loved her and a little sister who adored her. It was a happy and good childhood.

Laurel Lance wasn't a princess and she wasn't a hero either. She was just a girl.

But like every young girl, Laurel was sure that she was a princess and a hero and maybe so many more things. Because young girls had the capacity to be anything. Somehow, she had befriended Oliver Queen and in their real, big city world, Oliver Queen probably constituted being a prince. Queen Industries was a billion dollar corporation, the beating heart of Star City. Robert and Moira Queen were as close to Star City royalty as it could get and Oliver was their firstborn, their son.

Oliver Queen was also her best friend. The bestest even, she would have said back then, chest puffed out and offering a toothy grin. So Laurel, who thought she had the potential to be a princess, thought that Oliver would be her prince. And she wasn't the only one. As heteronormative reporting tended to, when the two became inseparable, the gossip newspapers dreamed up some fated romance. A narrative pushed onto two young children, what else were they supposed to think than that the adults must know, right? So Oliver and Laurel were ten years old when they first kissed.

It was clumsy and really just a peck and both had been incredibly flustered afterward. But this was what they did in Disney movies, right? Press their lips together. True love's kiss.

When they were fourteen and understood romance just a little better, they got together. Newspapers cooed about them! So precious! Young love! The future of Queen Industries! Laurel's parents were very mixed about that. Quentin, in particular, thought his daughter was far too young and also that she could do a hundred times better than Oliver Queen. Her mother however knew it was a young puppy love and children should get the freedom to explore those.

There were four of them, most of the time. Laurel, her little sister Sara who still followed her around everywhere and wanted to be her so desperately, Oliver, and Oliver's other best friend, Thomas Merlyn. The two boys went to the same rich people school together and had quickly forged a bond of brotherhood. Laurel liked Tommy a lot too, so he easily found his place with them.

And yes, Quentin was right, of course. Oliver was trouble. The adorable young boy had grown into a handsome teen, blonde, windswept hair, dark green eyes that always seemed to sparkle with mischief, and a charming grin that could work its magic on teachers and reporters alike. He was the kind of trouble that was exciting for a teenage girl.

It was when they were sixteen that Laurel slowly started to realize that they were no fairy tale.

Oliver loved parties, throwing them and going to them. He loved sneaking the alcohol from his dad without anyone noticing, he loved to ditch responsibility for the sake of fun. And Tommy was right there with him, the two of them enabling each other's nonsense.

But Laurel had lived with that fairy tale in her mind for so long at that point, she wasn't willing to let it go. She just watched them grow apart, as the boys went to parties and Laurel stayed home studying hard. Because at that point, she already knew what she wanted from life. She wanted to become a lawyer, for that she needed to get into law school. Her grades needed to be good. Better even than others, because she came from a humble, normal family. Getting a scholar ship was the best option for her. She wasn't a Queen or a Merlyn, she was just a Lance.

/Laurel's Dorm Room, 2003\

Laurel Lance wasn't a princess or a hero, she realized at that point. She was just a girl and girls got to forge their own paths. And that was so much better than being a princess or a hero.

Still, her and Ollie stayed together through graduation, even as she entered law school. But not long after that. Here, she was even more focused on her studies. And her relationship became more of a distraction to her, something that she was stringing along for sentimental reasons really.

"Ollie, I think we need to talk."

She was sitting on the ground of her room, a book in her lap. Oliver was sitting on her bed, flipping through one of the gossip magazines Laurel's roommate had – Lex Luthor was on the cover, holding his new girlfriend Lana Lang and smiling in the camera; the current golden gossip couple. Ollie's fingers were running through Laurel's hair near absentminded. At her words, he stopped and put the magazine aside, looking at her in doubtful surprise.

"What... is it?" Oliver asked, but he sounded like he already knew.

"You and I," Laurel turned around to face him. "We were good. But I think that we have been drifting apart for a while, haven't we? I want to focus on this. On my studies, my upcoming career. You... don't care. And I don't mean that to sound heartless, but you don't really. You'll inherited your parents' business one day and that's it, but you don't really want it. You want to have fun."

"I do," Oliver agreed reluctantly. "What's wrong with fun?"

"Nothing," Laurel offered a thin-lipped smile. "But it's not what I want. You still... tour clubs every night like you're a teen who has no care about graduation because all doors are open to you. Even Tommy is more focused on his classes now."

"So you want me to be more like Tommy?" Oliver sounded defensive.

"No, no," Laurel sighed, struggling with finding the right words. "I do want you to be you. You're my best friend, Ollie. But I don't think that we're... romantically compatible. I just... I think that our life goals are too different. Don't you? Be honest with me, Ollie. Do you really enjoy playing second place to my career right now? Would you not enjoy partying more free from that obligation? And I'm not saying that you see our relationship as an obligation. But it is, to both of us."

The way Oliver averted his eyes, she knew she'd struck a knife. "Yeah. I... guess. But..."

"We'll still be best friends," she took his hands, gave them a soft smile. "You will always be my best friend. But I think that at this point, we'd both be better off following our own calling."

"Okay... I guess," Oliver shifted a little. "I do want you to be happy."

She smiled, soft and warm, and leaned in to kiss the corner of his mouth. "You too, Ollie."

/2006\

It was the year that felt perfect. Like everything was going exactly where Laurel wanted it to go. She'd started dating Tommy last year. It hadn't been planned, for her to get together with her ex-boyfriend's other best friend, but the two had slowly grown closer, at the university library. Because Tommy had developed a sense of responsibility – he still spent his Saturdays partying with Ollie, but under the week he was focused on his future. They studied together, spent more and more time together, until one night, they kissed, over cold Chinese take-out and open books.

And Ollie was happy too, Laurel thought. For months, he filled the void with meaningless hook-ups, but only a few months ago, he had started dating Sara. Laurel's younger sister. And Laurel thought that too hadn't been planned, but it just happened. It was the four of them, it had always been the four of them and now it was again. Sara had turned out less like Laurel and more like Oliver, a party-mouse, who just wanted to have fun.

Her admiration for Laurel had led her to feel inadequate, Laurel knew that too. She'd put Laurel on a pedestal, too high for her to reach. So Sara found her own outlets. She threw herself into having mindless fun and Laurel couldn't find it in herself to hold it against Sara.

With Tommy spending more time studying now, Oliver had been going out alone for the most part. Now, he went with Sara. The two had fun together. And that wasn't a bad thing, not to Laurel at least. They'd keep each other safe, even if they enabled each other in a way.

"I'd like to say some words, everyone, please, quiet down some!"

They were in a bar, the four of them – yes, even Laurel. Because tonight was a night of celebration. She sat between Tommy and Sara, with Tommy's arm around her shoulder, warm and reassuring. Oliver stood, glass raised. The way Sara looked at him, like a love-sick puppy. It was cute. Laurel didn't know how long they'd last, if they were 'meant to be', or if they were just temporary bliss to each other, but either way, she was happy. Happy for her sister and her best friend.

"We are here tonight to celebrate Laurel," Oliver turned to smile at Laurel. "We're all so proud of you and how hard you've worked these last three years-"

"Boo, stop being so mushy," Sara giggled a little.

"She does have a point, get to it, the beer's getting warm, Ollie," agreed Tommy with a laugh.

"-Let's drink to the future DA of Star City," declared Oliver, raising his glass higher. "To Laurel!"

"To Laurel!" Tommy and Sara chorused, raising their glasses high too.

Flustered and laughing, Laurel clanked her glass against theirs. In that night, her life felt perfect. Everything felt perfect. The people she loved were happy, she was in a loving and supportive relationship, she had graduated from law school and was on her way to achieve her goals. In that night, Laurel thought that just maybe, she was a hero after all. The hero of her own story.

/2007, Star City Graveyard\

Laurel wasn't a princess or a hero, not even of her own story. She was a broken girl. She knew, in stories, tragedy and trauma forged heroes, but she didn't feel like this could forge anything. It was just breaking her, into a billion pieces at once.

"I can't believe they're gone," Laurel sobbed, leaning forward against Tommy's chest.

Tommy wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. Two months ago, the Queen's Gambit had ship-wrecked. Robert Queen had manned the ship, had taken his son and her girlfriend with him. The ship wrecked. They searched, everywhere, for so long. But it had been two months now and neither of the three had turned up anywhere. They were presumed dead. Today, they were burying empty caskets in symbolic graves, while Laurel's sister and best friend were lost at sea.

"I know," Tommy's voice was soft and pained. "I know."

Not even a year ago, the four of them had been so happy. How had it come to this? Laurel didn't feel like she could ever bounce back from this. Ollie had been such an important part of her life for so long now. Sara was her precious baby sister, she'd been a part of Laurel's life as long as Laurel remembered. How was she supposed to function without them...?

Laurel looked up at her boyfriend with teary eyes. "What do we do now...?"

"I..." Tommy looked as lost as she felt. "I don't know."

/2007, Star City\

As a little girl, Laurel had always dreamed about being a princess or hero, but she had never quite put together the price they paid for it. The impact that the trauma and loss really had, on a real person. Laurel didn't think that this would form her into anything more than she was. A broken, hurting young woman, lost and confused. Losing Sara and Ollie was only the start. Her parents couldn't survive losing their daughter. Their marriage fell apart, after months of screaming accusations at each other, searching for someone to blame. When Laurel would have needed them, because all three of them were grieving Sara, all she found was infighting.

"I... can't stay here, Tommy."

She was holding his hands, looking into his eyes. He hadn't shaved in days, his eyes looked tired. They should support each other, help each other out of this. Instead, she felt like they were dragging each other down. Because it had been the four of them, always the four of them. And now it wasn't. Now two of them were dead and neither Laurel nor Tommy knew how to move on.

"But you and I..." Tommy trailed off, like he knew it too, deep down.

Leaning up, Laurel kissed him softly. "I love you, Thomas Merlyn, but... I don't love myself right now. I don't... All I feel is pain. Everywhere I look, I see them. Every time I look at you, I see Ollie next to you, laughing. This place is haunted with their ghosts... and I can't live with them anymore. I need a fresh start, somewhere – anywhere – else."

Tommy turned to look away from her. "I... I understand that. But..."

He didn't have a but. He had a lot of feelings that he didn't know how to express, Laurel knew that. She felt the same way. But Star City? Everything here reminded her of Ollie and Sara. And her parents were too busy fighting with each other than to mourn.

Tommy reached out for her, one last time. "Where will you go?"

"I don't... know yet," Laurel offered a weak smile, tucking her hair behind her ear. "I just want to leave. And figure things out on the way. I promise, I'll not just... disappear off the surface of the Earth, okay? I'll... send you a postcard, from wherever I am, okay?"

"I'm holding you to it," Tommy's smile was pained but sincere. "I hope... this will help you."

/2007, Gotham City\

Laurel had been traveling for a few months when she came across Gotham. There was something awfully twisted about the happy sunshine cities that made her feel worse. But Gotham? It... reflected her current state of mind. The darkness, the loss looming around every corner. The longer she stayed her, the more her style changed. Like she was getting used to that city.

Her savings had run out a few weeks ago and she knew that she needed to find something else. She started working at a bar, first behind the bar and then, one night after singing along to the jukebox in the corner, she got her first gig. Her boss complimented her voice, suggested she get on stage during open mike night. Things had taken off from there and she started having regular nights on stage that she even got paid for. With that, she needed to present differently.

No longer the suits and professional look. The first thing she'd changed was her hair. She'd dyed it a very bright blonde, combed it over onto one side. Trying out what maybe a side-cut might look like on her, but for now she wasn't brave enough to shave it off. It felt like a real new start, the first time she looked into her mirror and no longer saw the upcoming young lawyer. Her ears were lined with piercings now, she wore a lot of leather dresses – those did well on stage.

"You know you could make so much more."

Laurel turned to look at one of the semi-regular customers. A local celebrity of sorts. Selina Kyle, a known philanthropist. Sometimes, the two of them would talk, when Selina was at the bar. She was a single mom, who'd taken in a girl just a few months ago. And sometimes, she needed some time for herself. Laurel could only imagine, and not even that.

Laurel smiled, teasingly. "Like you? Dating a billionaire?"

The golden couple of Gotham City, Wayne Enterprises CEO and owner Bruce Wayne, who was also a well-known philanthropist, and Selina. From what Laurel had seen in the gossip news, he seemed like an airheaded playboy most the time. So there was definitely something going on there; Selina was too bright herself to lower her standards. Either she was playing an angle for his money. That she was a con artist and thief, Laurel had noticed pretty early into knowing her.

"The other thing," Selina offered a cat-like grin. "It's nice to pad your own wallet a bit with the earnings of others. If you know what I mean."

"I'm not a thief," Laurel chuckled, more amused than offended by the suggestion.

"I find it hard to look at it as theft," countered Selina, her eyes wandering over toward a man. "It's more like... redistribution of wealth, I'd say. Taking from those who have too much and giving to those who have too little. And sometimes, that's oneself."

Laurel's eyes were on the man too. The rudest customer possible. He'd kept barking at Laurel and the more drunk he got, the more handsy he got with some other customers. That watch alone was worth 10k at least. Laurel crossed her arms over her chest and leaned forward.

"Say, in theory, that I'm interested in learning more. Purely educational, not practical..."

Selina smirked pleased by that. "I could teach you some good lifts and tricks."

/2007, Amnesty Bay\

Gotham had served its purpose. But at one point, she started feeling too at home there. And... part of her wasn't ready to grow roots again just yet. Part of her wasn't ready to make friends yet either. Selina had been a great mentor, a greater con woman than Laurel had expected, but she'd started seeing Selina as a friend. And her last best friend had died. It... seemed easier to not let anyone in, so she wouldn't get hurt again like that. At least for now.

For the past couple of weeks, she'd been touring bars along the coast. One little town after the other, having gigs singing at the bars and lifting whatever else money she needed from those who had too much. It was strange, not even a year ago, she could have never imagined a life like this for herself. But right here, right now? It made her happy. Even though she knew nobody here, didn't even remember the name of this little town. It was nice, quiet, a bar filled with fishermen mostly.

Tonight's outfit was a tight black leather dress – she'd discovered a love for leather; leather pants, dresses, a black leather jacket too. Clothing she would have never tried on, in her life in Star City. The crowd was as enchanted by her as always and she reveled in the attention. But the attention from one audience member in particular stood out. He was tall, muscular. Handsome. With long, dark hair and a beard, eyes piercing and intense. Deep laugh that echoed in the room.

When her set ended, Laurel headed over to the bar. First ordering a drink for herself and sipping it slowly, her eyes staying on the handsome stranger, who was laughing and talking to some fishermen. Everyone seemed so enthralled by him, as though his good mood and attitude was contagious. Charming. Laurel tilted her head as she finished her drink and approached him.

"Hello, handsome. With how you've been staring at me, I think you owe me at least a drink," Laurel smirked when he looked at her in pleased surprise. "What do you say?"

He scooted over, making room for her at their table. The energy at the table was so warm. Listening to the tales of the fishermen reminded her a bit of when her father would have his cop buddies over. One by one did the fishermen leave, heading home and bidding their goodbyes. Until it was only her and her handsome stranger left at the table.

"You... live around here somewhere?" Laurel asked when the bar emptied more and more.

He offered her a smile and an enthusiastic nod. They didn't have to walk long, thankfully enough, and before they were even through the door did Laurel kiss him. There was hunger and desire in their kiss, his hands on her waist and her arms around his neck.

They parted and he closed the door behind them. "I... think we skipped the introductions."

Tilting her head, she regarded him thoughtfully, her fingers wandering over his tattooed arms. "I'm not big on those these days. Call me whatever you like, handsome."

He looked at her, like he was trying to figure something out. "Black Siren then. Your voice... it drew me in like magic. Yet dressed all in black like that... as though there is a story."

Well, that had a nice ring to it, didn't it? And she'd been looking for a stage-name for a little while now. A pleased smile spread over her lips as she leaned in to kiss him slowly.

"Black Siren? I like the sound of that. And yes. Yes, there is a story there, one I'm trying to put behind me, gorgeous. So... let's stop talking."

That seemed a request he was all too happy to oblige. They spent the night in heated passion, satisfying an urge she'd had for a while now. And he was so tender, strong but gentle. Falling asleep in his arms was unexpectedly comfortable and warm. When she woke up in the morning, he was still deep asleep like a rock. Unmoving and unbothered by her getting up. She put on his shirt and made her way into his kitchen to get at least a coffee before leaving.

At the fridge were various photos, most of the handsome man and an older man, presumably his father, there was some resemblance there, or of him and a beautiful dark-haired woman. She paused at a different picture that stood out. He wasn't in it, but the dark-haired woman was, together with a dark-haired man in glasses, her with a toddler in her arms. The words for uncle Arthur were written on the corner. So the dark-haired woman was... his sister? And his name was Arthur, apparently.

Once her coffee was ready, she took it and sat down at the table. There was a notepad laying on the table, next to some newspapers and other stuff. While drinking her coffee, she absentmindedly doodled on the paper. A bird. She'd always liked birds. When the coffee was empty, she picked up the pen once more to write one last message on it.

Thanks for the good time – xoxo Black Siren

Back in the bedroom, Arthur was still deep asleep. Giving her plenty of time to get changed. She smiled and placed a kiss on his cheek before heading out of his apartment.

/2008, National City Hospital\

Seven months ago, Laurel noticed that she was pregnant. She'd been throwing up a lot, at first she thought that it was due to the food she'd been eating. Irritatingly enough, she had been about a dozen towns over since that fateful night with Arthur. She had lived in so, so many towns and cities since leaving Star City, she... she didn't even remember in which one she had met Arthur since then. And she didn't know his last name either, wasn't even entirely sure if Arthur was his first name.

She spent a few months panicking about what to do. Should she tell her father and mother? There was embarrassment, about not even really knowing the father. She didn't want to disappoint them. She also didn't want to return home and she knew Quentin would insist, he'd worry so much.

After a while, she stopped getting good gigs. Because the hot leather dresses stopped fitting and many bar owners weren't eager to hire a visibly pregnant lady. So for the first time, she found herself relying very much on Selina's teaching. Soon, she realized that being pregnant was actually very helpful in many cons. Rich married men tended to fall for the 'oh, but don't you remember?' and were more than eager to pay for her silence, even though she'd never met them before.

So by the time her pregnancy was in the end stages, she had a very nice cushion that'd serve her well. And she had discovered a real joy to being a con woman. It was strange. As a kid, or even as a teen, she never would have pictured such a life for herself. But after everything that had happened, she was... she was proud of herself, for what she had made for herself.

"Hello there, little one," Laurel smiled, gently caressing her daughter's face. "I'm your mother. And I will always protect you. I'll do everything I can to let you be whatever you want to be."

Her daughter babbled and looked at her, with those big, beautiful eyes of her. One of the nurses who had welcomed her entered, after knocking. Mariah smiled at Laurel and held up a stuffed animal, wiggling it a couple times. A purple dolphin. It looked cute.

"They were all out of teddies," Mariah approached and handed the dolphin over. "A tradition here. Newborn babies get their first stuffy free."

"Thank you," Laurel smiled at her and accepted the gift. "I like it. It's an unusual one, that's fun."

She held the dolphin up in front of her daughter and the baby started reaching for it.

"Did you pick a name for her yet?" Mariah asked as she went about her tasks.

"Deeliah," replied Laurel, earning a curious look. "From the name Delia, a by-name of the goddess Artemis. I think that a strong, fierce warrior is a good namesake for her, mh?"

"That is a lovely name," Mariah leaned in to coo over the baby. "Would you... like for us to call someone? The... father, perhaps? Or your family?"

"No," Laurel shook her head, gently poking Deeliah's cheek with the dolphin's snout. "No. It's just her and me. But thank you, for asking. And for the plushie."

/2009, Star City, the home of Quentin Lance\

Laurel knocked gently on the door, bracing herself. It had taken her months to make this decision. But Tommy kept her updated on her dad and he was... he was not doing too well. He'd been drinking a lot, to the point that Tommy had noticed. While leaving had been the right thing for Laurel and she felt like her life was so much better. She had taken the pieces that broke when Ollie and Sara died and she had created something new with them, something beautiful that was hers. And maybe, just maybe, the beauty she had made for herself could help her father.

"Hello, dad," Laurel offered the softest smile as the door opened.

Quentin looked shocked. He also looked like a mess. Stubble on his chin, messy hair, bags under his eyes. She could smell the stale alcohol scent from here. When was the last time he'd showered, she wondered. The surprise on his face grew as he noticed the toddler in her arms.

"Laurel. Did you... Did you call that you would come over? I would have, ah, cleaned up."

"No. It was... It was a spontaneous idea," Laurel shifted the weight in her arms some. "I thought it was due time that you met your granddaughter, dad."

"Grand..." Quentin trailed off, pure awe spreading over his face. "My granddaughter?"

"Daddy, meet Deeliah Delphina Lance. Your granddaughter."

She held her daughter up so she was on eye-level with Quentin. There were blonde locks on her head and her eyes were as deep and dark as Arthur's. She had considered Deeliah's middle-name for a while. Her first instinct had been to name her Sara, but... that hurt too much. As beautiful as it would have been to honor her sister, she did not want Deeliah to live in Sara's shadow. And Deeliah had latched onto the dolphin toy so fiercely and happily, it had been an easy choice. She'd started calling Deeliah her little dolphin, so she had chosen Delphina as her daughter's middle-name.

"H... Hello..." Quentin's voice was so soft, filled with amazement.

Laurel turned her head away, looking at the mess in the living room. "Dad, I know... I know losing Sara hurt. It hurt us both. But I need you to not give up. I need you to get your life back together. If not for yourself or for me, then do it for DeeDee. She never got to meet her aunt, don't... don't make her lose her grandpa too, because you're not looking out for yourself. Please."

When she returned her gaze to her father, there were tears shimmering in them. If he couldn't find purpose in his own life for his own sake, she truly hoped that this precious bundle of joy would be what does the trick. It wasn't going to happen over night, she knew that. Recovery was a long process. But she hoped that this would finally make him start that process.

/break\

There were more people in Star City that Laurel wanted to see, aside from her father. She was holding a take-away cup of steaming coffee. It was cold, snow covering the gravestones in front of her. Next to her stood Tommy, a solemn look on his face. He looked more mature now, somehow sharper. He'd been working hard, working as a lawyer. Who knew what would have become of the two of them, in a different timeline. On Tommy's other side stood Thea Queen.

Oliver's little sister. A teenager by now, fourteen years old. Kind of lanky, with wild brown hair. The sharpness of her jawline reminded Laurel of Ollie though. She looked good, all things considered.

"How have you been holding up, Thea?"

Thea shrugged, looking so small all of a sudden. "Bonnie's been really helping me, I guess."

At Laurel's inquisitive look did Tommy chuckle. "My aunt, you know. Bonnie King."

Right. The sister of Tommy's dad. She was an archery instructor, Laurel remembered that. One summer, her, Tommy and Ollie had taken classes with her. But only Ollie had stuck with it. He'd found a real passion for it. Hm. Laurel had... She had forgotten about that. About Ollie with his bow and arrows, proud at the first place he'd made in a tournament. A small smile spread over her lips at the warm memory. That was something happening more and more often lately. Good memories. Thinking about Ollie, Sara and Robert no longer made her just sad.

"How so?" Laurel asked after a moment.

"I don't know," Thea tilted her head. "I guess I wasn't... I wasn't coping well at first? Got really angry with the world. After a couple months, Tommy... took me to the range. To meet Bonnie. Everything in our house is like a shrine to dad and Ollie. Everything felt like it was suffocating me. But Bonnie, she... At first, she helped me channel my anger into archery. And then she helped me remember the good things and cherish what I had, instead of mourning that it's gone?"

"I swear, aunt Bonnie is two seconds from adopting Thea," Tommy chuckled. "Says Thea is like the daughter she never had. I think she may like Thea more than me."

"Oh, definitely," Thea offered a cheeky grin to Tommy before turning toward Laurel. "Bonnie has been telling me a lot about... what dad was like, when he was younger. About how Ollie was, as an archer. It... I can't really talk to mom about either of them. She's finally moving on herself too. But I can... I can talk to Bonnie."

"I'm glad you have someone who's helping you through this all."

Laurel smiled and wrapped an arm around Thea's shoulders, pulling her close. She meant it. One of her biggest regrets about leaving was that she had left Tommy and Thea behind. Thea wasn't unlike Sara, in that she followed her older brother around everywhere. But she'd still been so young. It took a large burden off Laurel's shoulders to know that Thea was doing well.

"What about you?" Thea tilted her head up to look at Laurel. "I mean, DeeDee is cute. But you haven't said a word about her dad. Or what exactly you've been up to in the past two years."

"It's really not that exciting," Laurel shrugged, a playful look in her eyes. "I'm a musician now. I tour through the states. I never stay anywhere too long though, so... there isn't much to tell. Never settled down at one place, got friends and a steady relationship. It's just me, DeeDee and the open road leading us wherever we want to go."

At least for now. Once DeeDee would be old enough to attend school, that'd be a whole different story. But that still laid a couple years in the future.

/2010, Las Vegas\

Laurel had more or less settled down in Las Vegas. She'd been living here for half a year now, longer than anywhere else. Because she got a gig, a steady gig at a hotel. The opening show before a great magician. Zatanna Zatara. A real superstar. More often than once had Laurel stayed to watch Zatanna's show. She was magnificent, not just because of her great magical talent but also because of her natural charm. It took about a month before Laurel first ended up in bed with her.

"Breakfast is ready! Anybody hungry?"

Laurel yawned and stretched wide. She could use another hour or two of sleep, but Tanna's pancakes were definitely something worth getting up for. When Laurel walked out of her bedroom, she had to smile. DeeDee was waddling along toward the kitchen too, one hand against the wall to steady herself, steps wobbly and unsure but she was walking. Quentin asked for near daily updates on DeeDee and the first time she'd filmed her daughter walking, she had gotten the most excited call back from her father. He was doing better. Clean-shaved, clean clothes. He'd recently gotten his six month sobriety chip and Laurel could not be prouder of him.

"That smells delicious, Tanna."

Laurel smiled and walked over to Zatanna, wrapping her arms around the magician's waist to pull her close enough to kiss. DeeDee giggled and clapped as she watched. Moments later and Zatanna's son Zachary came running in. He was four, so a bit farther along than DeeDee. Those two might also be the reason why Laurel and Zatanna had orbited toward each other more and more. Both working single moms in the cut-throat entertainment industry of Las Vegas. Well... 'single'.

Laurel's eyes drifted to the calendar on the fridge. "You want me to watch Zach this weekend?"

There was a sparkle in Zatanna's eyes as she tilted her head. "I guess it would be nice to get a weekend with John without Zach. We'll get back Sunday evening."

Zatanna's whatever he was. It was funny, or at least Laurel thought so. Whenever Zatanna spoke of John Constantine, she made him sound like the most infuriating bastard on the planet but also like he was her soulmate, all in the same breath. Half the things she said, Laurel didn't know if she should believe them. That John wasn't her husband because he was married to the devil already, but that he had been her husband in a pocket-dimension they'd lived in for a decade that had resulted in the birth of Zachary. But then, Laurel was aware of Superman and Wonder Woman and all these other superheroes that were very, very real now. Science fiction, come to life. So why shouldn't magic also be real? Though generally, Laurel made it a rule not to follow the superhero news. She'd stopped believing in heroes when Sara and Ollie had died.

"Dad's gonna come home?" Zach turned eager, hopeful eyes on Zatanna.

"Yes, he is," Zatanna smiled, ruffling his messy black hair.

The one thing that Laurel did believe was that Zatanna and John had an open polyamorous relationship. When they met, they were together. But when they were apart, they saw other people. Laurel was one of those other people. The key to this working was honesty though. And in all honesty, Laurel actually liked that. Part of her was still too afraid to get her heart broken by letting someone else in. Zatanna felt safe, because she had her infuriating soulmate out there to whom she would always go back. There was no happily ever after future there for the two, no false hope.

She had this. This very moment, in her kitchen in the penthouse, with Zatanna, DeeDee and Zach. And this moment was all she needed, because she was still too afraid of the future.

/2011, Central City, Saints & Sinners Bar\

So Zatanna was a superhero. The elusive magic-user of the Justice League; Laurel had a vague sense of the league but a certain sense of bitterness always made her tune it out. It wasn't necessarily that she broke up with Zatanna because of that, but... there was so much danger to being a hero. Zach was missing his dad though and Zatanna and him considered moving into John's... magic house, whatever that meant. She didn't hold it against Zatanna. It was her life, her choices and her happiness. But it wasn't the kind of life Laurel wanted to get entangled in.

Besides, Las Vegas was getting old. It was time for a change of pace. There was something about the whole experience that made her dive back into the con life though. Maybe that was her new life, bouncing back and forth between trying to be an upstanding citizen and being a thief.

This time though, things would be different. She had DeeDee's future to consider, after all. College was insanely expensive. Which meant she needed to see the bigger picture. The bigger heists.

Leonard Snart was the most infamous thief in the US and rumor had it, Snart was putting together a team in Central City. Now if the best thief in the US was planning something big enough to need a crew? That seemed like the kind of thing Laurel wanted to be a part of. It sounded exciting.

Rumor led her to the Saints & Sinners, supposedly Snart's favorite bar in Central City. How could a thief be this well known, his hang-out well-known too, and yet there he was... sitting free.

With a smile on her lips did she slide into the seat opposite Leonard Snart in the booth in the corner of the bar. "Mister Snart, I hear you're looking to hire."

Snart lowered his glass of beer, his intense, ice-blue eyes boring into her soul. "Mh. But you know we're going up against a meta-human. A speedster superhero, who's set on defending the city."

Oh, she knew about the Flash. Perhaps she was projecting her mild frustration with Zatanna's profession into this job, who was to say. Smiling, she ran her fingers along the rim of her glass.

"Sounds like a fun change of pace," Laurel shrugged. "You've made a name for yourself and your heists bring in big money. I could use big money. And a good hiding place. Considering the Flash has yet to actually track you down, you seem to be good at staying low."

Snart's eyes wandered over her. "Looking for a place to crash too."

"I'm a very wanted woman, sadly wanted by the wrong kind of people, you know."

And it wasn't even a lie. She may not be as big a name as Catwoman (as Selina Kyle apparently went by in her night-time job), or Leonard Snart, but the Black Siren had made a name for herself. Before Leonard had a chance to speak his mind, his sister came to sit next to him.

"Don't be so grumpy. She's good. I read up on her."

So Laurel had been scooping out the Saints & Sinners since she'd gotten to Central City. One of these nights, she ran into Lisa Snart. They drank and talked and what stood out about the night had been Lisa's offer to introduce Laurel to Leonard. Which was what she'd been aiming for.

"I know," Leonard glared at his sister. "Black Siren's made a name for herself too."

My, so her reputation proceeded her all the way to Leonard Snart? How flattering.

"I also know it's not just you, Black Siren," continued Leonard after a long pause. "There's a, what would you say, guppy? I'm not sure if bringing you and the wee one into our circle is a good idea."

Guppy? Now, Laurel liked that. She preferred calling DeeDee her little dolphin, but guppy would do nicely too. Lifting her glass up, Laurel finished it in one go before bringing it down on the table.

"DeeDee's a good sleeper, she'll not cause you any problems."

"I do not babysit," declared Leonard pointedly. "But I know your skills would be an asset. So you and your guppy can come stay with us. For now."

The thing was, Laurel was good at reading people. And she could see that Snart was much softer than he played here. He wasn't going to send a single mother and her kid away. Laurel smirked.

/break\

Interestingly enough, Leonard Snart had a boyfriend. The 'boy' part wasn't so much the surprise – she highly doubted a straight man would dress as eccentric but impeccable as him – but the steady partner sure was. Mick Rory, the arsonist who was part of the crew too. Though surprisingly enough, Laurel truly liked living with them. And so did DeeDee. Oh, DeeDee loved it.

"Uncle Len, uncle Len, uncle Le—en!"

DeeDee ran over to the couch where Leonard and Mick were sitting together. Mick was drinking a beer, while Leonard was tinkering with some plans, his head resting on Mick's thigh. He put the plans aside when DeeDee ran over to them. He could barely brace for impact before the girl jumped onto him. Of all the people Laurel had met over the years since she's had DeeDee, Leonard Snart was somehow the kid's favorite person. But maybe DeeDee could also sense Laurel's own attachment. Len was an easy person to talk to, he was brilliant, snarky and his morally gray personality made her feel like she had finally found a place where she belonged. She'd lived her life with one foot on either side of the law, feeling like she needed to belong to one side fully. But maybe she didn't. Maybe the life she led, the way she led it, was good as it was.

"What you got there, guppy?"

DeeDee waved a pamphlet around. "Zoo! Can we go to the zoo, uncle Len?"

Mick grunted at that, lowering his own beer. "You just wanna see the dolphins."

"Yes!" DeeDee offered the broadest, toothiest grin. "Uncle Len can look at penguins!"

"Mh, that's a very tempting idea, guppy."

That much for not babysitting, mh? Laurel smirked to herself. She could also see the way Mick caved. He did like seeing the bears, though he wouldn't admit it aloud. Oh, DeeDee really had a lot of her mom. She knew how to wrap anyone around her little finger.

"My, whatever am I going to do with a whole afternoon without my kid?"

Lisa chuckled and patted her on the back. "Oh, I have a really good idea. It involves a spa."

Turning toward her, Laurel smirked. "Why, that is a plan I would like to hear more about."

/2012, Central City\

Were they more than thieves? Were they supervillains? The name Rogues had a nice ring to it and the four of them all had their cheesy alter-ego names by now – Black Siren, Captain Cold, Heat Wave and Golden Glider. Then again, if the heroes got to be cheesy, why shouldn't they? Another reason why Laurel loved Len. Living for the dramatics of it all. And now, thanks to a little prison breakout, they had gained some semi-allies with meta-powers.

Though Laurel had to admit, she found their relationship to the local heroes more than funny. Because Len and Mick had fallen for the little red speedster... and Lisa had fallen for the speedster's nerd. Cisco Ramon. The inventor of Len's Cold Gun and Mick's Heat Gun. The one who had given Lisa the name Golden Glider and made her the Gold Gun. Laurel had gotten a very pretty collar that went well with her costume and doubled as a voice modulator that allowed her a sonic scream. She thought that her power should go along with her moniker as Black Siren; something with her voice.

In a city filled with meta-humans, they needed an advantage as normal humans. Those weapons, they did the trick. This was more than a team now. It had become Laurel's family. Pulling heists together, living together, now legally running the Saints & Sinners together – a legal purchase, after some blackmail had gotten their records cleaned.

"How are you holding up, girl?" Shawna asked, motioning for a drink.

"I'm perfectly fine," Laurel got Shawna the drink.

She was working behind the bar. Took her back, to how she'd started out after leaving Star City. Though it felt different when working in her own bar; the four founding members of the Rogues were equal owners of the Saints & Sinners. Shawna was nice, a meta with the power to jump from space to space. A very handy power for a thief. Then again, so was Mark's weather-control powers – mist and fog were great to cover a getaway.

"You sure about that?" Mark asked before stealing Shawna's beer. "We read the newspaper article."

Laurel's grip on the rag she was holding tightened, even as she continued wiping the counter. The newspaper. Oliver Queen returns from the dead. Taking a deep breath, Laurel continued wiping.

"We heard you were old friends, from Lisa," Shawna continued. "Knew a billionaire, huh."

"He was a billionaire brat back then," Laurel's throat felt tight.

Finally, Lisa spoke up from Shawna's other side. "Are you... going to see him?"

Pausing, Laurel put the rag aside. "I... don't know yet. Yes. Probably. Not now."

Hearing that Ollie was still alive, found alive after five years, it had been so much relief. And then there had been bitterness, because... Ollie was back, but Sara wasn't. And then she felt awful because she should be just happy, right? Which was followed by conflicting feelings about Ollie. Once upon a time, he had been her whole life. Then he'd been her very best friend. She wasn't that person anymore. She had a new life now. Had a new best friend too.

"I'm calling it a night," Laurel turned around. "You take over, Liz?"

Lisa walked around the counter, resting a hand on her shoulder. "sure thing, Lau."

She walked upstairs, where she had to smile when she saw Mick, Len, Barry and DeeDee, watching Hercules together. Babysitting. Even on date night. Because Laurel had been at work. At legal work, in their legally owned bar. Yes, she did like to think that, because it felt... accomplished.

"Hey, you guys," Laurel's voice was a low whisper. "Was she good?"

"Good? She's an angel," replied Barry eagerly.

"Good. Thanks guys. I'll just go and tuck her in."

When she turned away from them, she could see a silent conversation going on between the three of them. Barry was cute. Not just physically. He had a big heart, was very caring. DeeDee grumbled and rolled over, grabbing her purple dolphin (aptly named Dolly the dolphin by now) and hugging it close. Smiling to herself, Laurel brushed a blonde curl out of DeeDee's face.

"Good night, princess," Laurel pressed a kiss to DeeDee's cheek.

Once she was properly tucked in, Laurel left and turned off the big light. There was a moon-shaped night-light shining softly onto DeeDee. For a moment, she considered going back to the living room, but in the end, she just went to get a beer from the fridge and then headed out onto the roof-top. She loved the view from up here, looking out at Central City.

"He—ey there, Laurel."

She didn't bother turning around, just waiting for the awkward nerd to make his way over. It was hard to believe this kid was the Flash, he was so sweet. Not a superhero running around at top-speed to stop robberies and super-villains. Barry grinned when he came to lean next to her.

"Not going to lie, I thought Len would be the one to approach me first."

"He wanted to," Barry chuckled. "But... we talked about it. And... we thought I should."

"Tell me what you want to say and then let me drink in peace, mh? It's been a rough week."

"You know my mom died, right? I'm sure Lenny and Mick mentioned it," Barry shifted into a more serious voice and a sadder face. "I was there, I found her. And aunt Libby. She was one of my parents' best friends and she died the same day."

Laurel could see where this was headed. "Get to the point, lightning lad."

That got her an offended noise from the speedster. "Look. I know Oliver Queen was once very important to you. He died the same as your sister and now he has been found. I just... I know I would feel very conflicted, if aunt Libby would come back somehow but mom didn't. I'd be happy and sad and frustrated and... and I would still want to embrace aunt Libby again."

"Right," Laurel pressed her lips together. "It's more complicated than that. We're not the same people anymore. I'm not... the same person anymore. Look at me."

"Yeah, you're doing fine for yourself," Barry offered a crooked grin. "Look. You lost time with him. Even if you both changed... do you really want to lose more time?"

Laurel huffed annoyed. "Enough with the positive attitude. Go back to your boyfriends."

It made Barry smile, because he knew she didn't mean it. Not in a mean way anyway. Once he was gone, the door opened again shortly after. This time, it really was Len. Sure, they sent Barry because he was all about feelings and talking about them and all that stuff, but the two weren't close. Len and Laurel on the other side. He handed her a glass, ice-cold. His drinks were never missing ice. She accepted it with a smirk, clanking it against Leonard's for a moment.

"You think I should go back to Star City. That's why you sent your little speedster out."

"He's better at delivering these things," Leonard shrugged. "But yeah. I think you should go. You don't have to move back. But maybe it's time for another family visit. See your dad and all."

"Okay, fine. Yeah. Me and DeeDee will go visit, for a bit. But I will be back for DC."

"See you there next week, until then, enjoy sunny Star City."

She huffed and elbowed him. But yes, she knew he was right.

/Star City\

"You look... good, Ollie. For a dead guy anyway."

Laurel forced the smile and opened her arms. He did look good, sharper, much more muscular. Wild blonde hair, a bit of a beard. His eyes still sparkled the same way when he smiled though. And his arms still felt the same way when they hugged. Like they used to when they were kids.

"You look different," Ollie's voice was rough. "I heard from Tommy, that you... but..."

His hand ran over the shaved side of her head. She'd done it, gotten an undercut. Smiling, she leaned in. His hand was rough. His fingers had always been, from the archery he'd done with Bonnie King. But it was stronger now. There was so much familiarity and estrangement at the same time and it was very disorienting. She'd left DeeDee with Quentin for now.

"I also heard you have a daughter now."

"Of course you did," Laurel sighed, but she got her phone out. "There she is. Deeliah Delphina. DeeDee for short. She's... She's my everything. I always thought I'd have the regular thing, you know. Two and a half kids, a nice house in the suburbs. I thought I'd be... on track for becoming DA, maybe married to Tommy, maybe pregnant with our first kid. Instead I got a four year old."

"She's..." Oliver trailed off for a moment. "Amazing. I just... I struggle, with how much everyone has moved on while I was gone. How different everything is."

"I get that," Laurel rested a hand on Oliver's, giving it a squeeze. "I'm sure you'll... find your place."

Oliver relaxed in his seat. "You really think that?"

"After you and Sara..." Laurel shook her head. "I felt lost and without a place. And I spent the past five years working to pick up the pieces and make this life mine again. You... can too. I know that. You survived being stranded on an island for five years. You can find your place here again."

When Oliver smiled at her, she knew she'd done the right thing to come. There was pain but also relief, happiness. They'd find their way to each other again, somehow.

/Washington, DC\

"What is that?" Lisa frowned worried, trying to poke the amulet.

Before she could, Leonard caught her wrist. "Let's... not poke the glowing jewel, sis."

Mick grunted his agreement, his arms crossed over his chest. "Yeah, I don't like this."

They'd gotten their big score in DC. Most was good, but one piece from the private collection was... definitely off. The purple glow and pulse gave it away. Laurel gritted her teeth.

"We should get rid of it," Mick glowered. "I don't like this, Len."

"I know," Leonard sighed. "I don't either. Science is one thing. Aliens are another. But magic?"

"I know someone," Laurel admitted after a moment, earning her looks from the others. "Don't ask. But I know someone. I know some place, where we could leave this. Where it'd be safe."

"Whatever that means, you're not going alone," Leonard narrowed his eyes at her.

"Fine. You guys can come along. Take DeeDee, she makes you seem less suspicious."

They had a good routine with each other, so they quickly got changed and met up at the door of their hotel suite. Laurel smiled at her daughter, DeeDee happily holding her hand and Len's hand.

"Where are we headed?" Mick asked from Len's other side.

"You're not gonna like this one," Laurel smirked at him. "Hall of Justice."

"Hall of what now?" Mick dug his heels in. "No. I know you're a crazy bird, but this crazy-"

"My ex is in the Justice League," Laurel shrugged. "She's specializing in magic. She'll take it."

Neither of the others looked pleased by that, but they'd learned to trust her by now. The Hall of Justice was still pretty new. Justice League's Earth home-base; they had a second one, in orbit. But this was supposed to make them more reachable, look more down to Earth. The hall was impressive and posh and ridiculous, all in one. She could feel Mick tense and he was right to be nervous.

"Hello there," Laurel put on her most charming smile as she walked toward the reception. "I'm here to see Zatanna Zatara, if you could just... send her out."

"Ma'am, you realize how many fans come by to ask for various members of the Justice League and that I can't just simply call everyone out whenever they're requested."

She turned, just enough to check on her team. Mick, Len, Lisa and DeeDee were going through the displays, the adults entertaining DeeDee and pretending to just be tourists. After all, the front of this place doubled as a kind of museum for superhero history. Impossibly cheesy.

Laurel reached into her purse and pulled out the ominously glowing jewel. "Ri—ight, so I'll just leave this cursed gem with you then, to hand it off to Tanna, yeah?"

The lady behind the reception looked absolutely mortified before reaching for her phone and making a quick call. "Miss Zatara is going to be here any moment, please wait."

Cursed gems just did the trick, mh. Leaning against the reception, Laurel relaxed. There was a sense of tenseness when she saw Zatanna actually round the corner. Still as beautiful as ever. The magician looked surprised when she recognized Laurel, though she still went for a hug.

"Laurel. I haven't seen you in so long, I didn't... What brings you here?"

When their hug parted, Laurel dangled the amulet from one finger. "Came into the possession of something I think is much safer with you than where it came from."

Zatanna raised one eyebrow and took the jewelry. "I'm not going to ask where you got it from."

"You know me so well, Tanna," Laurel smiled pleased and leaned in to kiss her cheek. "Though... it is nice to see you. You're looking... gorgeous. How's hero-life treating you?"

"Annoying," Zatanna made a face. "But rewarding. And yes, I will take care of this for you."

"Thank y..." Laurel trailed, the charming smile slipping off her face.

She looked at a point beyond Zatanna's shoulder. Two other people walked out of the same door Zatanna had come from. A pregnant redheaded woman and a gorgeous man with one arm around her. A man she hadn't seen in years, but a man she would never forget. He was laughing at something the redhead had said but he too came to an abrupt pause. Staring directly at Laurel, and then approaching her with a fast stride, directly followed by the redhead.

"You... You're here. You're really here. I didn't... What are you doing here?"

Laurel smiled, a forced expression, motioning at Zatanna. "Came here to see one of my exes."

"Hello, I'm Mera," the redhead reached a hand out. "Mera Curry, Arthur's wife."

"Wife," Laurel's eyes wandered down to her belly. "So... double congratulations are in order?"

Arthur laughed, sheepish and dark and beautiful. "Yeah. Our first kid. I'm about to be a dad."

The smile on Laurel's face grew more genuine and a bit more mischievous as she reached for Mera's hand to shake. "Laurel Lance. And I think I have a... big surprise for... the both of you, then."

She could hear Arthur lean in to whisper to Mera, something like 'that's her'. Zatanna noticed the tension and cleared her throat, hugging Laurel once more before heading off. Leaving them alone. Laurel wandered into the other direction, closer toward where the Rogues were, aware that both Arthur and Mera were following her. She'd never paid attention to the heroes, usually turned off the TV. Maybe she wouldn't even have noticed, seeing him on a TV or something, in this silly orange-green outfit. He was, what? Aquaman was it, right?

"Seeing you sure is a surprise," Arthur looked at her with fond awe. "I was looking for you, for months, after we... I didn't just forget, you know. I mean, I have moved on, as the wife proves, but you weren't just a one-night-stand that slipped from my mind when you left."

"Oh, neither were you, believe me," Laurel paused, with enough distance to the Rogues so none of them would hear her. "See the kid over there, with the big grumpy guy? Her name is DeeDee. Deeliah Delphina Lance. She's four years old now."

It took a moment and Laurel could see the cogs turning, could see him do the math. His eyes widened and he reached for his wife on instinct, for support. Laurel had stopped believing in fairy tales a long time ago so she had never pictured some happy ending for this where she'd meet Arthur again, they'd fall deep, deeply in love with each other and be a whole family. It was still strange to see him with a wife. A highly pregnant wife, at that.

"Yes, Arthur, she's yours," added Laurel, just to make sure he got it. "I... couldn't track you down, when I found out. Didn't know if you'd care much either. We didn't exactly know each other well."

"Yeah," Arthur cleared his throat. "Yeah. We didn't."

Laurel's eyes wandered between DeeDee, Arthur and Mera. She was an excellent judge of character and her ability to assess any given situation had really helped her out making split-second decisions during any given con. Right now, that ability paid off too. She rested a hand on his shoulder.

"I know there is a lot we have to talk about. I didn't expect to see you here either, so I'm not exactly prepared for this meeting either. But I want you to know that, if you want to be a part of DeeDee's life... I'd like that. She's an amazing kid, but she's now in an age where she notices these things. She's been asking about her dad, if she has one. I don't want to force you, if you don't-"

"I do," Arthur interrupted her, with a final, definite note to her voice. "I do."

Laurel smiled softly at that. "Dolphin, come here and meet some of mommy's friends."

DeeDee tore away from Mick and ran over to stand right in front of Arthur and Mera with big eyes. Laurel turned to look at the two too. This was going to be a new, different part of her life now.

"These are Arthur and Mera," Laurel said in ways of introduction. "And this... is DeeDee."

Arthur looked so in awe as DeeDee waved at him. She knew in that moment that her family had just become a bit more complicated and a bit more unorthodox. But then that was what she loved about her family. Ever since she had left Star City behind, she thought she'd be living this life alone, only for herself. Following her own siren song, singing it wherever she went and then moving on. But that wasn't true. All these years, she had gathered a new family of her own – DeeDee, Lenny, Lisa, Mick, Zatanna, Selina – and she knew they made her stronger. They'd helped her become the person she was now. Maybe not a hero, or a princess, but a survivor.

~*~ The End ~*~