DISCLAIMER: This is a nonprofit, for-fun-only piece of literature. Arrow, Green Arrow, all its characters and everything related to that are property of DC Comics and The CW. Only the story and a few original characters are mine.

Author's Note: While this is not the first fanfiction I have ever written, it is the first I am writing within the Arrow fandom. Also, I am still familiarizing myself with the world of all things Green Arrow/Arrow; there is a lot of the history I am still unclear on. As to this story, this idea has been swirling around in my head for weeks now, and I am finally putting it to paper. I hope you enjoy reading it as much I enjoyed imagining it up.

Also in case it is unclear this story picks up right after episode 2X13: Heir to the Demon.

Finally, there are going to be a few original characters introduced into this story. I personally like for my readers to see what I see, so I will tell you what actors I think best look like the characters I have in mind.

Original Characters Cast

Tobias Argent – Corbin Bleu (younger, HS Musical)

Priya Argent – Amandla Stenberg

Jeremiah Argent – Jared Padalecki

Davina Argent – Scarlett Johansson

Egypt Argent – Beyoncé Knowles-Carter

Xavier Argent – Henry Cavill

Jonathan Argent – Russell Crowe

Camille Argent – Nicole Kidman

Dr. Josephine Nowak – Jane Fonda

Stephanie Evans – Michelle Pfeiffer

Lily Young – Angela Bassett

Chapter One

Sliding into her chair at behind her computers in the foundry, Felicity felt an uncomfortably easy smile adorned her face. As she watched Oliver led Sara affectionately by the hand out of the foundry she did her best to suppress the unrest that settled in the bottom of her stomach. However it was a feeling she has had the misfortune of becoming increasingly familiar with as she watched the ever growing exchanges of PDA's between Oliver and Sara over the past week.

She told herself that it didn't bother her; that there was no reason for it to bother her. But just like in Russia when Oliver had been with Isabelle – Felicity tried to let it go; she tried to shut out all the uneasy feelings that information caused within her – she was having the hardest time convincing herself that she was not bothered by seeing Oliver show affection towards another woman … especially one that he really cares about.

"Are you going to be all right down here by yourself," she heard Diggle say; providing her with a much needed distraction from she from the stampede of thoughts racing around in her mind.

Turning towards him, she watched as Diggle grab his coat and began to put it on. "Of course. Why won't I be," she asked with a raised brow; the smile on her face more sincere than the one she just had moment before. The concern in his tone was undeniable. Diggle had an uncanny way of seeing things that most others didn't see … or want to see. She knew that this concern wasn't really about leaving her here alone, "It's not like this is the first time I have been left down here by myself," she reminded him; her tone playfully. She did not wanted Diggle to concern himself with petty things like her hurt feelings.

He with leaving with the two action heros to attend the party Oliver was hosting in celebration of Sara's return. A party she was not technically invited to because she really had no reason to be there. Diggle was going because to the world he was Oliver's driver and bodyguard; there was no function – business or personal – these days that Diggle did not attend with Owner and C.E.O. of Queen Consolidated. But conversations about being partners aside, to the outside world Felicity was just Oliver's E.A. and there was no reason for her to be in attention of a party celebrating a family friend she supposedly did not know. Now to be fair Oliver did not outright say that that she couldn't come, he just neglected to include her … even though she was the one that planned the party.

Coming to stand in front of her, Diggle gave her one of his patented looks that made her feel like he was looking right into her; that he was uncovering all her secrets. "Yeah I know, but that does not mean I ever like it," he said after a while. The smile he gave her was one that told he saw what he needed to see but her secrets were safe with him.

"And for that I love you," she told him; her declaration extending beyond his displeasure at leaving her alone, but also for his secrecy. "But I'm a big girl; I can handle it." The double meaning behind her words not lost on either of them.

Despite himself Diggle chuckled lightly as he cupped the back of her head and placed a brotherly kiss on her forehead. "I know," he told her as he started to exit the way that Oliver and Sara had just moments before. But just before he went through the door he stopped short, looking at her in all seriousness. "But you promise to call when you can't handle it, right?" Felicity was the little sister he never had and never knew he wanted. Now that he has her, he wanted to protect her … even from hurt feelings. He hated seeing her in any form of pain.

Felicity couldn't help the smile that spread across her face. "I promise," she responded softly; a gentle nod of her head to emphasis the point. Then she put on her brave face, making her smile wider though not exactly bright. "Now go; I'm surprised Oliver hasn't called looking for you already," she said shooing him away.

Diggle left after that, leaving her alone with her thoughts and computers. So not to be overrun with her thoughts, she focused on her computers. This was really a typical Saturday night: trying not to think about Oliver while she went into an auto-pilot of sorts as she ran different software updates while scanning different programs to see if anything was amidst.

Normally she would get some kind of hit; even if it was just something as small as a routine stop. While she wouldn't call Oliver for something like that, the chatter over the police radios sometimes proved to be interesting. But tonight, as time ticked around her clock, Felicity was both pleased and disheartened that things were extraordinarily quiet in Starling City tonight. While she loved that the city was at peace, she really wished for a distraction right now.

Checking the clock again; Felicity noticed that only ten minutes has passed since the last time she looked. She had been at this for an hour and still she had nothing to report. She should really call it a night; there was obviously nothing more she could do here. But for reasons she didn't want to analyze she wasn't ready to go home.

Home being a four story architectural beauty located in a lovely residential area on the harbor about a ten minute drive from downtown. Felicity inherited the impressive brownstone from her maternal grandmother, Josephine Nowak. Josephine was an extraordinary woman of her time having graduated the top of her class at Wesley College to only go on to receive an MBA from Harvard University. She was able to accomplish while being a single mother; with only minimal help. Josephine's academic achievements landed her an executive position in research and development firm based in Starling City; a firm that in a few short years she was to climb the ranks to VP of operations and eventually the CEO.

Thanks to her nice job Josephine purchased the brownstone new over forty years ago and kept it modern with all updated appliances through different renovations over time. The security system and technology in the brownstone was state-of-art, which never surprised Felicity given that her grandmother worked for a research and development firm. There was even an elevator that ran to all four floors. By the time Felicity inherited the property, it was just over 3,400 square feet and the wiring in the place was so extensive that Felicity only had to make minor changes to satisfy her own IT needs.

The brownstone was a place Felicity loved coming as a little girl and the placed that became her sanctuary when she moved to Starling City after graduating MIT. But tonight she dreaded being in that big empty brownstone all by herself. And as much as she loved her home, sometimes the sheer size of it reminded her of just how alone she was.

So she sat the computers in the foundry for twenty more minutes hoping for something to happen before deciding there was really wasn't anything more for her to do. Besides it wasn't like she couldn't monitor things remotely from home. Giving up on the idea of anything happening, she did one more cursory scan of her system. Once it was finished Felicity began the process of shutting down all non-essential programs and made sure the security settings were at their highest. If anything were to happen while she was way, she would get an instant notification on her phone.

So when Felicity's phone began to vibrate as she was exiting through the back way of the foundry, she couldn't help her initial excitement. She knew that it wasn't great to get excited about potential danger, but right now anything was better than going home … alone. But then the song "So Fresh, So Clean" by Outkast began to float into the air along with the vibrations from her phone, and Felicity's excitement was instantly replaced with pure delight. She didn't even look at the caller ID as she answered phone and finished setting the alarm to the foundry. "Hey TB," she said with sincere enthusiasm as made her way to her car. TB was the nickname she had given her sixteen-year-old nephew, Tobias. It has been a couple of weeks since she last spoke to him. "How are you doing? It's been…"She began but was instantly cut off by a slightly familiar female voice.

"Hello Felicity," the female said; her tone unsure and slightly timid, "This is Ariel Erickson. I don't know if you remember me but I went to school with Egypt; I was on the dance team with her."

The reference instantly jogged Felicity's memory; she knew exactly who Ariel was. In all the ways that matter Egypt was Felicity's older sister; she had known her all her life. Ariel graduated from high school the same year as Egypt, six years before Felicity did. But Felicity was still very familiar with Ariel because Egypt used to take her to most of her practices and all of the games. "Yes, I remember you. You were the one that always snuck me little snacks." And if memory served her correct, Egypt recently had told her that Ariel had become a nurse and was currently working at Coast City General Hospital. Suddenly the fact that Ariel was calling from Tobias's phone and the timid tone in which she spoke caused an undesirable chill to run down her spine. "Ariel why are you calling me from my nephew's phone," she all but chocked out the question, because she was having a hard time speaking over the bile forming in her throat. "He's … I mean he isn't…" She was trying to find the words to ask the question she really didn't want the answer to.

"Oh no Felicity, Tobias is all right," Ariel hurriedly replied. "He is actually standing right here beside me."

Relief; it washed over Felicity like a blanket. The idea of something happening to Tobias was not something she wanted to think about. "Oh good," Felicity said finding that she has the ability to move again and began walking towards her car again. "But why are you calling me instead of him, or rather why are you using his phone instead of him? Did he lose it and you are trying to find him? But then why didn't you call Egypt or even Xavier for that matter. I'm sure you know that his parents could find him easier than I can. I mean not that I am implying that you aren't smart or anything … because you are. You used to help with my homework; I really how smart you were … maybe you tried to call them and they didn't answer. I just don't understand why you are calling me if everything is all right. Because everything is all right … right?" Felicity ramble her way all the way to her car and was already sitting in her seat when she heard Ariel take a deep sigh in response to her ramble. Come to think of it she was slightly surprised that Ariel let her ramble like she did. And just like that the nasty chill that had been washed away was slowly overtaking her again. "Ariel," Felicity's tone was scared and apprehensive.

"Felicity, Tobias is all right," Ariel began in a slow and steady voice; her tone reminded Felicity of a pre-school teacher trying to explain something to her class. "But everything is not all right. I regret to inform you that Egypt and Xavier were in car accident tonight and …" Everything Ariel said after that was a blur. There was something about a drunk driver and that everyone was rushed to the hospital; Egypt and Xavier were surgery right now. Apparently, the police had gone to the house and informed Tobias and his thirteen year old sister, Priya, of the accident; the officer brought them to the hospital because they did not want Tobias driving. "I am calling you be Xavier's parents are…"

"…on a Two-week cruise," Felicity finished for automatically for her. "They are celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary." It was a gift from Xavier and his siblings. Felicity contributed by purchasing the first class airline tickets to Miami, where the cruise left from. Jonathan and Camille Argent weren't expected back until Monday.

"That's right," Ariel replied. "And you are listed as Egypt and Xavier's contingent emergency contact." She paused for a moment to let Felicity absorb what was going on, "And Tobias thought it was better to call from his phone; he said you would definitely answer."

"He's right," she chuckled mirthlessly. Felicity always told both Tobias and Priya that she would always answer their call no matter what, and if she didn't it was because she didn't hear the phone and would call them right back. The same was true for their parents, especially Egypt.

"Umm Felicity, I know that you leave in Starling City but are you…," Ariel began to ask.

As if pulled out of her daze, Felicity answered the question before Ariel could finish. "I'm on my way; I should be there within two hours." Of course she was coming. Tobias and Priya were alone at a hospital waiting for news on their parents. More than that her best friend … her sister was hurt and in surgery; there was nothing that would prevent Felicity from going to her now.

"Felicity," Ariel's tone was one of caution. "I can only imagine what you are feeling right now. I know personally how close you were to Egypt … and Xavier for that matter. But please be safe as to make your way here. Don't…" She trails off not sure of how to say what she needed to say.

But Felicity already knew. "I won't. I'll get there in one piece. Thanks for calling Ariel," she told her as she prepared to get off the phone. "Oh, please tell Tobias and Priya I am on my way."

And that lovelies is the first chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it.

Also, at this time I would like to mention that I am currently looking for a beta. Of course, I need someone that is a good proofreading but also someone who knows the show well. I need someone I can go to when I have questions about cannon.