Sadly I don't own Arrow. This is exactly how I want the start of the next season to go :)

Felicity sat hunched in a corner of the ARGUS ship they had reached just in time. Her head in her hands as tears fell down her cheeks.

"He could still be alive Felicity" Curtis said as he sat down and place his arm around her shoulders.

"Oliver was on the island, he was determined to find William. The place was rigged with thousands of explosives, anyone still on that island is dead Curtis... there's no denying that." Felicity replied her heart full of guilt and despair. "I appreciate your help but I need to be alone" she finished letting her head collapse into her hands once more.

Her mind raced, she thought of every moment she had shared with Oliver. From their first kiss to the moment she had handed him back the engagement ring and every thing in between. She thought of every moment they could have shared together if she hadn't had been so stubborn. She had loved him every moment that they were apart but just couldn't get past the fear that he didn't trust her. In the last 3 weeks she had learnt that he did, and she finally believed it. But no, she was too afraid to run to him and tell him she loves him and that she wants to be with him every single second for the rest of their lives. She just didn't quite realise how short that time would be.

The boat swayed in the water bringing Felicity out of her trance. She looked around the boat deck, the whole team was there, every one of them alive and well but not one of them happy. Their leader, their friend and their brother was gone, and in this moment it was clear that neither one of them would be the same without him. He sacrificed himself for them, and any one of them would gladly take his place to have Oliver back again.

...

Oliver stood frozen on the tiny speed boat. His arms still in a tight embrace around his son but his mind racing far away from where he stood.

A very young Thea Queen stood in their living room overwhelmed by all the attention as she moved her foot forward and took her very first step. Their parents cheered, he smiled happily and raced to pick up his baby sister and hug her tightly. The type of hug he would never be able to give her again.

There was an all too common feeling growing in Olivers stomach. The feeling of immense guilt and regret. Regret for not protecting his loved ones more, regret for involving them all in the first place and regret for developing emotional attachments. He closed his eyes slowly as his mind raced back once more.

Felicity stood in their bedroom, rambling to her self about something incoherent. "What do you think about this dress... I think it makes me look like an old woman" she had asked him. Oliver had just smiled and laughed and told her it looked nice. It wasn't until now that he wished he had told her that she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen and that he desperately wanted to spend the rest of his life making her feel like that was the truth. But in typical Oliver fashion, he would never show that much of himself.

The boat rattled beneath his feet, quickly pulling him out of his trance and back to reality. Quickly encouraging William to sit down he rushed to the controls in an attempt to get the small boat moving away from the shore that was now a mess of flames and explosives. He fiddled with one lever and quickly pushed it all the way forward sending the boat speeding far away from the shore. Content that they were safe he let his mind wander once more.

Diggle stood on the opposite side of the old arrow cave, not looking at Oliver or even really acknowledging his existence. Oliver thought of the months the two had spent arguing, and being too stubborn to try and resolve it. Now Oliver would give anything to force his mental image of himself go and apologise to Diggle and hug it out. But he couldn't, he'd never be able to again. His brother was gone with everyone else.

Oliver brought himself back to reality but the thoughts lingered. Everyone he has ever really loved is gone. His Sister, Brother, Mother of his son, the love of his life, his team, and his companion on this island so many years previously. He had saved his son... but as he stood in this moment he wasn't sure the price he paid was worth it.

Hope you guys enjoyed this. Let me know what you think :) x