Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Sibling Bonds and New Friends
Thea's life as a Queen continued to unfold with a mix of calm routine and quiet preparation. By the time she was five years old, she had settled into her role as the youngest member of the family, blending in seamlessly while secretly honing her skills and planning for the future. Her days were filled with the simple joys of childhood—playing with Oliver, exploring the sprawling Queen mansion, and occasionally sneaking off to practice her combat skills in the woods. To everyone around her, she was just a bright, slightly precocious little girl. But beneath the surface, Thea was anything but ordinary.
One sunny afternoon, Thea and Oliver were playing in the Queen mansion's sprawling backyard. Oliver, ever the energetic preteen, had challenged Thea to a game of tag.
"You're it!" Oliver shouted, darting away from her with a laugh.
Thea smirked, her small legs carrying her surprisingly fast as she chased after him. Despite her age, she was quick—quicker than Oliver expected. She weaved around trees and flowerbeds, her movements precise and calculated. Within moments, she caught up to him, tagging him on the shoulder.
"Got you!" she declared, grinning triumphantly.
Oliver stopped, panting and laughing. "How are you so fast? You're, like, half my size!"
Thea shrugged, her expression casual. "Maybe you're just slow."
Oliver laughed again, ruffling her hair. "Alright, Speedy. You win this round."
Thea tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Speedy?"
"Yeah," Oliver said, grinning. "You're always catching me. Speedy suits you."
Thea smiled, a warmth spreading through her chest. She liked the nickname—not just because it reminded her of her past life, but because it came from Oliver. It felt like a bond, a secret between siblings.
Thea's first day of school arrived with all the fanfare one would expect for a Queen. Moira fussed over her outfit, smoothing down the pleats of her plaid skirt and adjusting the bow in her hair. Robert snapped a dozen photos, while Oliver, now **eleven**, stood by, grinning and teasing her about being a "kindergarten baby."
"You're gonna love it, Thea," Oliver said, ruffling her hair. "School's awesome. You get to play, make friends, and eat cookies at snack time."
Thea rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. "I'm not a baby, Ollie. I know what school is."
Oliver laughed. "Sure you do, *Speedy*."
At school, Thea quickly became known as the quiet, observant girl who always seemed to know the answers but never raised her hand too eagerly. She made a few friends—mostly kids who shared her love of books and puzzles—but she kept her distance from the more rambunctious crowd. She wasn't here to stand out; she was here to blend in.
Oliver, meanwhile, was starting to show signs of the charm and popularity that would later define him. At school, he was well-liked, with a group of friends who admired his confidence and easygoing nature. He wasn't a full-blown playboy yet, but he had a knack for making people laugh and a natural charisma that drew others to him.
One afternoon, Thea overheard Oliver talking to Tommy Merlyn, his best friend, in the living room. Tommy, who was the same age as Oliver, often visited the Queen mansion since his father, Malcolm, was rarely home. Thea knew Malcolm was already with the League of Assassins, though she kept that knowledge to herself.
"So, Laurel Lance, huh?" Tommy said, leaning back on the couch with a grin. "You've got it bad, man."
Oliver shrugged, trying to play it cool. "She's just a friend, Tommy."
Tommy laughed. "Sure she is. You've been talking about her nonstop. Face it, Ollie, you're smitten."
Oliver rolled his eyes but couldn't hide his smile. "Whatever. She's cool, that's all."
Thea, sitting on the stairs and pretending to read a book, smirked to herself. Oliver might not admit it, but it was clear he had a crush on Laurel. She made a mental note to tease him about it later.
One weekend, Oliver invited Laurel and her younger sister, **Sara**, over to the Queen mansion. Thea was curious to meet the Lance sisters, knowing how important they would become in the Arrowverse. She watched from the top of the staircase as Oliver greeted them at the door, his usual confidence tempered by a hint of nervousness.
"Hey, Laurel. Sara. Welcome to my house," Oliver said, gesturing grandly to the foyer.
Laurel, who was **eleven** like Oliver, laughed, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Wow, Oliver. You weren't kidding about the whole 'mansion' thing."
Sara, who was **nine**, looked around with wide eyes. "This place is huge! Do you, like, have a secret dungeon or something?"
Oliver grinned. "Not that I know of. But I'll show you around."
Thea decided it was time to make her entrance. She descended the stairs with deliberate slowness, her hands clasped behind her back. "Hi," she said, her voice soft but steady. "I'm Thea."
Laurel turned to her with a warm smile. "Hey, Thea. I'm Laurel, and this is my sister, Sara."
Sara waved enthusiastically. "Hi, Thea! You're so tiny!"
Thea raised an eyebrow, her tone dry. "I'm five. How tall are you supposed to be?"
Sara laughed, clearly impressed by Thea's quick retort. "Fair point. You're cool, though. Wanna show us around?"
Thea glanced at Oliver, who nodded encouragingly. "Sure," she said, leading the way. "But if you find any secret dungeons, let me know first."
As the afternoon unfolded, Thea found herself enjoying the company of the Lance sisters. Laurel was as sharp and kind as Oliver had described, while Sara was a bundle of energy with a mischievous streak that reminded Thea of herself. They explored the mansion together, with Oliver and Sara racing ahead while Thea and Laurel followed at a more leisurely pace.
"So, Thea," Laurel said, glancing down at her. "Oliver says you're really smart for your age."
Thea shrugged. "I guess. I just like reading a lot."
Laurel smiled. "That's cool. I love reading too. Maybe we can swap books sometime."
Thea nodded, feeling a flicker of warmth. Laurel was easy to talk to, and Thea could see why Oliver liked her so much. She wondered, not for the first time, how much of the future she could change—and whether she should.
Later, as the Lance sisters prepared to leave, Sara turned to Thea with a grin. "You're awesome, Thea. We should hang out again."
Thea smiled back. "Yeah. That'd be fun."
As Laurel and Sara were leaving, Thea leaned over to Oliver with a mischievous grin and whispered, "So, *just a friend*, huh? You're not fooling anyone, Ollie."
Oliver's face turned red as he shot her a glare, but Thea just laughed, knowing she'd hit the mark.
That night, as Thea lay in bed, she thought about the day. Meeting Laurel and Sara had been interesting, and she could already see how they fit into Oliver's life. She didn't dwell on it too much, though. There were more important things to focus on—like how she is gonna take over QC and deal with the future threats.
Oliver poked his head into her room, his face lit up with excitement. "So? What did you think of Laurel and Sara?"
Thea smiled. "They're cool. Laurel's nice, and Sara's… a lot."
Oliver laughed. "Yeah, she's something else. But I'm glad you liked them. They're gonna be around a lot, I think."
Thea nodded, her mind already racing with plans. She didn't know what the future held, but she knew one thing for sure: she wasn't going to let anyone she cared about get hurt. Not if she could help it.
As she drifted off to sleep, Thea felt a sense of calm settle over her. She was exactly where she was meant to be, and she was ready for whatever came next.
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**Author's Note:**
Hey everyone!
I wanna ask you guys to vote on which sister do you prefer Sara or Laurel for the love interest? I have a storyline for both but i have no idea who to choose.
Laurel
Sara
Once again thanks for reading, and I hope you're as excited as I am to see where this story goes. Let me know what you think, and I'll see you in the next chapter!