Hi! Here is another Arrow fanfiction that I couldn't get out of my head. I was thinking about the final (yeah I know but I just can't stop ok? :P) and I thought about the moment when Felicity lies to Roy and tells him he was "out the whole time". So my mind came up with this… originally it was supposed to be a one shot, but there will be a sequel that is A LOT funnier than the first chapter.
Hope you'll enjoy it! Leave reviews and tell me what you think!

(Sorry for the mistakes, I really try to do my best!) :)

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters.

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A New Beginning
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Chapter 1: Are We Ever Going To Be Alright ?

Felicity was still getting used to their new lair. It had taken much longer than the last time to settle all their usual equipment, mostly because they didn't have unlimited resources anymore, but also because they didn't want to rush things. A lot had happened during only a few weeks and Team Arrow definitely needed some time to process everything.

But, it had been a month now since Slade had been put in Purgatory. They had a new lair and they were back in the fighting crime business.

Felicity was completely focusing on the screen in front of her. Her computers weren't as powerful as the ones she used to have and it was all the more annoying since she had seen ARGUS technology. So she was desperately trying to upgrade them the best she could.

That's why she didn't hear when the lair door slammed wildly shut in the distance and angry footsteps hurried toward her. But when Roy smashed his bow down on the table at her left she jumped off her chair with a scream backing away from the loud noise.

It took her a second to realize that it was only Roy and another for relief to wash over her. She put her hands on her racing heart, closed her eyes and took deep breaths to try to settle down.

"Oh my… Roy! Are you nuts?! I almost had a heart attack here!" She reopened her eyes and the expression on Roy's face told her that he wasn't joking. At all.

"Hey! What's going on here? Felicity, you're ok?" Oliver said hurrying toward them, the stick he was training with still clenched in his right hand.

"You lied to me!" Roy growled pointing an accusing finger at Felicity.

"What… What are you talking about?" Felicity was utterly confused by his behavior and she had to remind herself that he wasn't under the Mirakuru anymore so there were only slight chances that he would knock over her computer settle once again.

"You were the only one who I thought would never lie to me! But you did. Right at my face!"

Roy was mad. Really mad. She could see it at his shaking hand still pointed at her. She hated when she was yelled at like that, especially when she had no idea why.

"What are you talking about?" She repeated louder.

"I talked to Sin." He said in a low voice, as if she would understand what that was supposed to imply.

"So?" Her tone was harsh.

"So you said I was out the WHOLE TIME!" He yelled.

It took her a few seconds to remember because it had happened during that night and so much was going on at the moment so she had totally forgot about it. And now she felt the guilt again. And the pain. Because Roy was a good boy, with a big heart. He was like a mini Diggle to her, only he was a lot more reckless and impulsive. But he didn't deserve anything that had happened to him.
So when he had asked her, back then, while they were filling the arrows with the Mirakuru cure, she didn't have it in her to tell him the truth. He already seemed so lost and unsure of himself. She didn't want to burden him even more with what had happened to him. She didn't want to lie to him either but she did. Because it was definitely not the good time to tell him the truth.

"Roy, I'm sorry… I swear I promised myself I would tell you afterward. It just… Slipped my mind."

"You're kidding me?! It's been a whole MONTH and you never thought it was time that you told me?!"

"We were busy and so much had happened and I…" She trailed off because she had thought about telling him several times. She just couldn't bring herself to do it. He would've blamed himself and she wouldn't bear it because he had just begun to smile again.

"Do you know how it feels… When you meet your friend or your girlfriend and they're afraid of you? Do you know how it feels when they back away from you? And you figure it's because you acted weird and you lied to them. But no! It's because you FUCKIN' tried to kill them!"

"Roy. Calm down."
Oliver had remained silenced until then. He hadn't wanted to get in the middle of something that didn't concern him but he couldn't let Roy yell at Felicity while he knew she only did to protect the boy. He was standing by her side, a little ahead of her as if he was afraid that Roy would try to hurt Felicity, which was ridiculous.

"Don't even talk to me!" Roy's glare shifted toward him. "I lied for you that night. Thea trusted me and I lied to her to protect you. Again. And if I had known, I wouldn't have said that. She wouldn't have doubted me. And she would still be here." His voice broke. "You took her twice away from me." His hand dropped at his side.

Roy looked like he was broken and unfixable, and Felicity fought the urge to round the table that separated them to take him into her arms. He was still so young… He shouldn't feel that way. He should be enjoying his life and be happy, go out with friends, do pranks and laugh and travel around the world. Instead, he was out there every night, trying to make his city a better place, risking his life.
She swallowed the sob that was forming in her throat, bowing her head in shame.

"I'll tell you everything if you want me to." She said in a small voice, peering up at him.

"Does it matter anymore? She's gone." He was drained. As if yelling at her had consumed every bit of strength he had. "And she's never coming back."

Roy turned around and headed toward the exit. It snapped Oliver out of his trance.

"Where are you goin'?"

"Far, far away from the lies."

When the door shut behind him, Felicity rapped her arms around herself and dropped on her chair. Lies again. She hated lies. She hated lying. And right now, she hated herself for not telling the truth when she had had the chance.

"He'll come around, Felicity." Oliver said but it seemed more like he was trying to convince himself. "We just need to give him time."

"I hope you're right."

She knew Oliver was hurt too. Because of what Roy had said. Because he blamed himself too. And because he lost his sister too.

"Hey." Oliver put his hand on her shoulder and waited until she lifted her eyes at him. "He's going to be alright. And so are you." He smiled but it didn't reach his eyes. And she hated when he smiled like that.

"Are you?" She asked. It took him a second to understand what she meant. He sighted heavily and removed his hand from her shoulder. She shivered slightly when he did, even though it wasn't cold in the basement but she kept her eyes on his face.

Oliver nodded his head. "I'm not alone, remember?"

And this time, when he smiled, it reached his eyes.