This is a story I've been planning for a few weeks now, since shortly after I read Aragorn II Elessar's one shot 'A Queen and a Luthor thwart a Queen', which is a great read if you want to check it out. This is going to be a very different season one retelling than I've done before. I would also like to thank Philippe363 for his help with this.

Queen-Luthor Industries (formerly Queen Consolidated)

Early morning

It had been a strange year, Lena Luthor mused as she did some paperwork after getting in, early as usual. After her brother and Walter Steele had decided on a merger after months of talks, Queen Consolidated and Luthor Corp had become Queen-Luthor Industries. She had been sent to help run the Starling City branch, not that she had a choice. She had learned the hard way what happened when you angered Lex, Lena remembered darkly.

As she did her paperwork, she had the news playing in the background when a breaking report came on that caught her attention.

"Oliver Queen is alive!" Lena's head whipped up as she heard this. "The Starling City resident was found by fishermen in the North China Sea five days ago, five years after he went missing and was presumed dead following the accident at sea which claimed 'The Queen's Gambit'."

Lena stared at the screen in stunned disbelief as the report went on to talk about Oliver's sordid past and his father's death. He was alive, after that incident in China two years ago, she had thought he was dead, had mourned for him. But he was alive…he was alive.

Hong Kong Argus base, three years ago

Afternoon

Oliver was led through the base, glaring hatefully at Waller's back. Maybe if he glared at her hard enough, she'd burst into flames. Sure, it sounded crazy, but after the things he'd seen the last two years, crazier things had happened.

"Mr. Queen, unless you're hoping to develop heat vision, I would recommend you stop glaring at me," Waller said without looking at him and Oliver glowered at her. "In any case, we're here."

Oliver was led into a room that reminded Oliver of the computer lab at his old high school. Sitting in a chair in front of a laptop was a young woman with dark hair and green eyes. Oliver thought she looked vaguely familiar for a reason he couldn't name yet.

"Mr. Queen, this is Ms. Luthor, she'll be your supervisor for the moment," Waller said before glancing at Ms. Luthor. "See that he behaves."

Ms. Luthor simply gave a nod as Waller and her escort left the room. As they did, Oliver realized where he knew her from. She was Lena Luthor, younger sister of Lex Luthor, one of his father's biggest competitors. He had seen her on the news once in a while.

"Well, I guess we should get started," Lena said a kindness in her eyes as she looked at him that made him feel slightly at ease.

But not completely. Like he'd told Sara months earlier, Lian Yu had taught him not to trust anyone.

Queen Mansion, present

Night

Oliver sat at the end of the dining room table, staring down at the food on his plate. It was more than he'd usually eaten in a month. Looking around the table, he couldn't help but notice how much his family seemed to take this all for granted. So had he, once upon a time.

Tommy was telling him 'all the things he had missed' as Oliver, only half paying attention, stared out of the corner of his eye at his mother and Walter, trying to hide their relationship from him. It would be amusing if he wasn't so ticked off at that. Not that they were together, he was happy for his mother. No, he was ticked off that she was planning on hiding it from him.

"What was it like there?" Thea suddenly asked and all conversation stopped.

Hell, Oliver wanted to say. It was hell. But he couldn't blame Thea for her naivety; he was the same way once. Let her keep her innocence a bit longer.

"Cold," he said instead.

"Hey, you and me, we're hitting the city tomorrow," Tommy quickly said as he tried to change the subject.

"I think that's a wonderful idea," Moira said optimistically.

"Good. I was hoping to swing by the office," Oliver said and Moira and Walter exchanged an uneasy glance. "What?"

"Well, things have changed a lot at Queen Consolidated," Walter said carefully as he looked over at Oliver. "After...the Gambit, there was chaos for a while. I took over and managed to steady it, but it wasn't quite what it was. I had to make some…difficult decisions. About a year ago, Queen Consolidated went through a merger with Luthor Corp."

For a fraction of a second, noticed only by Tommy, Oliver's shoulders tensed at the name Luthor and a range of emotions - anger, grief and something Tommy couldn't name - crossed Oliver's face. But, before Tommy could name it, it was gone and Oliver's face returned to the blank look he's had all through dinner.

"So, Lex Luthor runs the company now?" Oliver asked blankly.

"Not exactly. He runs the branch in Metropolis. The Starling City branch is run jointly by me and his younger sister, Lena," Walter explained.

Oliver was silent, nothing crossing his face this time. But Tommy could see one of his hands gripping his pants legs tightly, like he was trying not to lash out.

"I see," Oliver said blankly, no hint of his true emotions in his voice. "May I be excused?"

"Of course sweetheart," Moira said gently.

Oliver nodded tensely as he got to his feet, making his way out.

"Don't forget about tomorrow buddy," Tommy said.

Oliver only nodded, patting Tommy on the shoulder before making his way out. Everyone stared after him, worried about him. And Tommy wondered privately why the Luthors provoked such a strong reaction out of Oliver.

Later that night, in his room, Oliver sat at his computer, going over some articles about the Queen Consolidated/Luthor Corp merger, which had formed the new Queen-Luthor Industries. Oliver stopped as he saw a picture of Lena.

It was true, she was alive. And somehow, she'd made it back home. Oliver leaned back in his seat, staring at Lena's picture. He wasn't sure how to feel about this, but he knew one thing for certain: things were not going to be as easy as he'd hoped.

So, is it good? Bad? Tell me what you think.