Chapter 1:

Oliver felt the cold of the blade against his cheek as the man behind him methodically worked to trim down his shabby and overgrown beard into neat stubble. Oliver felt a pang as his beard was being shredded. Five years on the island had changed him in more ways than possible and the beard was a symbol of the change in him. But right then, he knew he had to look presentable enough before going home. Starling's Bad Boy was back and Oliver knew that the reporters will want every detail of his missing years so Oliver was not surprised when he saw the biggest horde of cameras as his private jet landed. Oliver hadn't noticed that his palms were sweaty as he rubbed them against his fine pleated pants and stepped out. The flashes of hundred or more cameras blinded him for a moment but he composed himself and put on his 'I-survived-an-island-while-smiling-like-an-idiot' smile. The reporters would have smothered him if he wasn't in the ring of protection of a ring of bodyguards who guided him to the car while the crowd around him shouted his name and begged him to answer their questions.

Five years had been lost by Oliver and Starling City was not what he remembered. As the car whizzed through the streets, Oliver recalled every detail he could remember before his stint on the island about the buildings whizzing past but those memories were of a different man. The playboy Oliver Queen was back but with a secret, as dark as the malice he felt in his heart towards the people who had destroyed his city and left its people at their mercy.

Oliver had learnt to control his emotions, to conceal them and to not feel on the island but as his home came into view, he felt the need to loosen the tie around his neck and bring the windows down to let the breeze splash across his face. Oliver tried his best not to look nervous as he walked the steps of the front porch but before he could knock, the door was opened by a familiar face which looked aged but more beautiful, like the browning pages of a book. Oliver hugged Rasia and breathed in the smell of chocolate with a hint of cinnamon as she led him to the foyer where his mother stood, just as he remembered her, but as he got closer he could see the fine lines etched around her eyes and the crinkles on her forehead as she came in closer and landed a kiss on his cheek.

"Oliver, I can't believe it."

Oliver simply let himself enjoy his mother's embrace for a moment longer than necessary and when he looked up, he saw a petite girl with brown eyes descending the stairs with an unknown expression on her face. Oliver knew his sister would have been taller and more beautiful than he last saw her but he hadn't imagined his Thea to be command authority around her. Oliver watched as Thea walked up to him and looked into his eyes searching for her brother.

"Is it you, Ollie?"

Oliver could tell that Thea sensed his hesitation and awkwardness that's why she simply hugged him, enclosing her petite arms around his middle and welcomed him back. Oliver felt his pent up tension dissipate as he hugged her back. He might have come back as a different man but he was home.

Felicity looked at the watch in her office. Oh crap! It was 8 already. She was running major late. She hit the power off button on her laptop, put on her overcoat and started her journey towards the parking lot. Her entire company, correction, the company she worked for, Queen Consolidated had been turned upside down because its rightful heir was back for his throne. Felicity had been well versed with the tabloids and their love for the in-famous Oliver Queen which existed even after he was stranded on an island for five years. It had only been two weeks since he was back and the gossip column was abuzz with news of his crazy party ways. Felicity always thought that five years on deserted island can change an individual; she had watched the movie Cast Away, but apparently those rules didn't apply to billionaires. As Felicity made her way to the precinct, her head was abuzz with scenarios about how she will never forget to carry her tablet everywhere she goes from next time. If she gets stranded on an island, at least she will die with technology; her first love.

The precinct was more crowded than she last remembered and it took her a while to find the person she was looking for. She waited on the sides as her uncle chatted away to his fellow officers, looking weary and sleep deprived. Felicity had always been the life of the precinct, with her colourful clothes and brightly painted nails. Her uncle always told her that he loved it when she visited him so Felicity made it a point to come as often as possible. She caught some of the younger officers looking at her but they their eyes scurried in a different direction as her uncle approached her.

Quentin Lance was one of the bravest men Felicity ever knew and as he planted a kiss on her forehead and led her to the break room for a quiet dinner, Felicity knew that she couldn't have been more proud of him. She took out the sandwiches she had packed along the way from Quentin's favourite place and sat down opposite to him chomping down on her sandwich like a hungry bear.

"Woah, slow down there, munchkin. You are going to choke on your sandwich."

"I was hungry like a pig. I couldn't grab a lunch because of my stupid boss."

"I swear, one of these days I am going to march in there and have a little talk with that douchebag about office rules."

Felicity couldn't help but laugh imagining state her boss might be in if her uncle ever makes a visit.

"I am serious, Lis. They are making you work too hard. I know that you have two mouths to feed but I don't want you to overdo it. Besides, I like these dinners. I wouldn't want anyone to come in between them."

"Don't worry, Uncle. I can handle it. So, how is Laurel?"

"I spoke to her over the phone. She is fine; though it would be even better if she could visit her poor father once in a while."

"Give it some time. After Sarah, all of you have been through a lot, especially Laurel. She will come around."

"When did you grow so big, munchkin? I look at you sometimes and I see the little girl with her big glasses and awkward talk who used to follow her brother. It all looks so surreal now."

Felicity dabbed her hands with the napkin and sat next to her uncle. His face had weathered with time but his eyes were the same. She took his hand in hers and paced a kiss on his cheek.

"We all have to grow up some day. But no matter how much I grow up, I will always love you."

She saw the love in his eyes before he said that he loved her.

"I love you too. Now let me get back to work."

Felicity didn't let go of her hold on her uncle's hand.

"Uncle Quentin, tell me the story again."

"Lis, you have listened to it a million times."

"I know but I just feel like listening to it again. Please?"

Felicity made her best impersonation of a wounded animal and couldn't help but give a small smile as her uncle sighed and began to narrate the story.

"It was a day just like this, calm and peaceful. I had recently been recruited into the violent crime division as a Detective but the crime rate in the city was down so my job was not as interesting as I had initially thought it would be. I was wading though some old cases when a sixteen year old boy walked into the precinct with a wailing baby in his hands and asks to see a Detective. Since I was the rookie, they directed this boy to me. This punk walks up to me with confidence and tells me that he needs to work for the police department. Would you believe his nerves?"

Felicity chuckled as she imagined the look on her uncle's face.

"I thought to myself that the kid was a goner. So I told him to sit down but he kept on insisting that he needed a job, a job to feed the baby with him. At that time, I really thought that the punk was a kidnapper so I handcuffed him to the chair and tried to take the baby away from him but he wouldn't let the baby go. So I asked him his story. He gave me his name and stopped talking, like I was supposed to know who he was. So I did a background check on him while the kid soothed the baby. He was so good with the baby that I would have given him my badge when he stopped its screams. And that's how I first met your elder brother, John Smoak. That sixteen year old lost his parents to a brutal murder so he decided not to live in a foster home and instead kill himself but he couldn't because of you, Lis. He found you in one of the dumpsters near the lake and brought you home. He used to sit in the precinct everyday with you in his hands and beg me give him a job."

Felicity put her head on her uncle's shoulder and she could hear him struggle with his voice.

"I slowly grew fond of him and you, so your brother started from the lowest ranks after studying hard for a year. I still remember the day I asked him to be my partner, he was hardly 22 but he accepted me in a heartbeat. Even until his final breath, he couldn't stop talking about what a blessing you were to him. Your brother, Lis, was one of the bravest I had ever seen so don't forget that. His legacy should live on in Roy and you, always. John Smoak was my best friend, my partner and my son. Always remember that, Lis and guide Roy. Don't let him forget his father."

Felicity felt the tears trickle down her nose and wet her uncle's shirt but she didn't let go. She held onto him till she could. They were finally interrupted by one of his colleagues.

"Detective Lance, Mr. Queen wants to see you."

"Tell him to wait in the interrogation room, I am coming."

Felicity gathered her things as her uncle wiped her tears away and with her brother's memories in her mind and a smile on her face she left the precinct.

So here it is, folks. From the maker and writer of the okay successful Light at the End of the Tunnel comes this Origin Story. Read, enjoy and review because as you know, reviews are what makes it better chapter by chapter.