Was all of this really worth it?

That's the question that has been running through Oliver's head for the past thirty minutes. Here he is, standing in front of the cases where they hold the suits, in the middle of the destroyed lair. And as he looks at each one, he can't stop asking himself that very question.

Four years ago, he started his crusade alone. And now, when he looks at every one of those suits, he can't help but wonder if anything has really changed since then. What has he actually accomplished?.

Darhk didn't just break out of prison by himself, he also helped a lot of the people that Oliver and the team had put away escape. There is a giant crater in the middle of the city which he doesn't even know how to start to repair, and as mayor, that responsibility now falls on his shoulders. Merlyn is still the very morally ambiguous person and father he was when he came back from the island.

And most of all, he's all alone. Just like he was four years ago. It seems like being a mask and joining him on his mission to save the city has brought nothing but grief to every one around him.

He glances towards the Spartan suit, and he can't help but recall Diggle telling him he had reenlisted and was going for another tour. This life style has messed him up so bad that he felt the need to leave his family and go back to fighting a war he had left behind long ago. Was that what Oliver brought to his life? Pain and grief?

His eyes then travel towards the red suit, which had first belonged to Roy, and then Thea. And now, they are both gone. Roy has been run out of Star City and Thea doesn't even know who she is anymore. Thea, his once happy and full of life sister, felt the need to walk away from him so she could find herself and rebuild her life. His past decisions and working with the Arrow messed her up so badly that she felt she couldn't even come to him for help. And what kind of brother does that make him?

One that was so focussed on everyone else that he didn't even realize his own sister was struggling so much. It isn't the brother he wants to be, and it isn't the brother Thea deserves.

Finally, he looks at the Canary suit and he feels his throat clench with emotion. Laurel. This suit is the one which hurts most of all, because Laurel hasn't just left and decided to pursue her work as the DA like she originally planned. She died. Laurel died fighting for something she didn't even initially believe. Maybe if he'd stayed away from her, Laurel would have continued to see the Arrow as this criminal wrecking havoc in the city, and she would have never gotten involved, never been killed. He doesn't feel responsible for her death, he knows it was her choice. But he can't help the huge sadness that overpowers him when he thinks of her being gone from his life forever.

Every single one of these people decided to put on a mask because they believed that they were helping the city, they believed in him. And he can't help but wonder if it hadn't all been a huge mistake after all.

Was all of this really worth it?

He's lost so many people since the Gambit went down, and he's lost even more since he decided to become the Arrow. Tommy, his mother, Maseo, Laurel… Too many people have been lost since he started his crusade.

The goal was always to save the city, and now that he's mayor maybe he can do it another way. Maybe he can be the light this city needs for once, instead of pulling people to the darkness with him. And he has to admit, standing alone in the light seems a lot more appealing than standing here in the dark, wondering if everything he's done since he came back from the island was for nothing.

The sound of steps coming from behind him pulls him out of his thoughts, and Oliver turns slightly towards the noise, coming face to face with Felicity.

"I didn't know you'd be here," he says, his voice a little rough from the emotion still pulling at him.

He can't quite bring himself to look at her, afraid of what she's going to say to him. He doesn't know what he'll do if Felicity announces that she's leaving. He's doesn't know how he'll survive that.

"You thought I was leaving too?" she asks, sending him a knowing look. Oliver turns towards her, not knowing what to say. Yes, in fact. He had thought she would be leaving too.

"Not a chance," she continues with so much certainty in her eyes. Oliver feels a huge weight lift from his heart.

Maybe he isn't alone after all.

In spite of everything that happened between them, in spite of everything Darhk has put all of them though, Felicity is still here. She still believes in what they do, and is willing to continue this journey with him. He's still not sure that coming back from Ivy Town and becoming the Green Arrow was the right call. Maybe being the mayor, helping out in the light of day, would be enough.

But if there is one person he believes in, it's Felicity. And if she is here now, it's because she believes in the good they are doing. Believes in them, as a team. And that will have to be enough for him now. Her presence in the lair means more to Oliver than he'll ever be able to express.

Last year, Felicity decided to leave with him. And this time, Felicity decided to stay with him.

"You're wrong you know," she says softly, facing the suit cases in front of them.

"About what?" he asks, even though he has an idea what she means. This is Felicity, he didn't really stand a chance at hiding what he was feeling from her.

"I know what you're thinking, looking at all of those," she answers, pointing towards the suits. "And you're wrong. Yes, John and Thea are a little lost right now. And yes, Laurel… Laurel is gone. And it's awful and we all have to live with it. But they are — We are — still better off than before we met you."

"How can you say that Felicity? Diggle felt so awful that he reenlisted for a war he hasn't fought in in years. My sister doesn't even know who she is and what she is fighting for anymore. You got shot, you lost the company, you got hu- I hurt you," he says his voice breaking a little on the last word.

Because he had. He had hurt her. And if they have any chances of moving on from this, he needs to accept that and do everything in his power to never hurt her that way again.

"And Laurel… Laurel died for this," he says, after taking a moment to recompose himself.

He knows everything isn't his fault, and he promised himself that he wouldn't go there. He promised he wouldn't blame himself and he knows that they all made their own decisions. But Felicity can't just stand here and tell him they weren't better off before they met him either.

"You're right," she says, and Oliver turns towards her, not quite believeing that she is agreeing with him that easily. "John reenlisted. But you know what else? He also reconnected with Lyla and has a beautiful daughter, and that's partly thanks to you, Oliver. If you're taking credit for the bad stuff, then you have to take credit for the good stuff."

She pauses a moment, and Oliver stays silent. He knows she isn't finished, and is probably thinking over how she wants to phrase things.

"And yes, Thea is lost right now. But when you came back she was a young grieving girl who was using drugs whenever she could and didn't know what she wanted in life. And now she's a strong, smart, and kind woman who dedicates her life to helping others, just like her brother. And Laurel's gone, and it is tragic. But she died a hero who was fighting for something she believed in, something we all believe in. Don't take that away from her. Don't second guess yourself now. As for me well… There isn't a single moment I wish I hadn't met you. Don't ever doubt that. In spite of everything that happened, my life is a lot better with you in it."

By the end of her speech, Felicity is looking at him with fire in her eyes, begging him to believe her.

Oliver stays silent for a while, thinking over her words. Deep down, he knows she's right. He hadn't lost hope while facing Darhk because he knew that they were doing what was right, and that Team Arrow had the best chance at saving the city.

He hadn't given up after Laurel's death because he knew that it wasn't his fault, and that she had died a hero, fighting for what she believed in. He couldn't let the fact that most of the team left alter everything he believed in a few days ago.

After a few minutes of silence, he turns back towards Felicity and smiles gently at her.

"Maybe you should have been the one to run for mayor. You're very good at those inspirational speeches," he says teasingly.

"First, don't even pretend you're bad at them Mr. "Let's jump on the hood of a car and inspire the entire city," she says laughing. "And second, you clearly need these speeches to get it through your thick head that we are all better off with you, than we ever were without you."

"Maybe I do," he says still smiling. "And it worked, thank you."

"Anytime," she answers with a matching smile, before turning back towards the suits in front of them.

Things are far from perfect. All of them are a little broken right now, and everything is a bit of a mess. But standing there, with Felicity by his side, Oliver feels hope swell into his chest.

Maybe they all need a little time to put themselves back together, and eventually come back stronger, as a team. And if all of this was just a way for him to create great friendships with Diggle and Laurel, to build a strong relationship with his baby sister, to meet Felicity...

Maybe all of it was worth it after all.