A/N: Hi all! This is a little different than what I'm used to. I've decided to try my hand at a re-write of the show beginning with season one, episode one. Changing it up a bit and adding a different back story for Felicity. Reviews (compliments, complaints, words of wisdom, etc.) are most welcome! Also, big thanks to my wonderful betas westernbeauty and Emifaith!
October 1st, 2012
She slipped her hand into his and squeezed, watching the blaze as it rose into the gloomy sky above. The ship was there, just offshore, and she knew that they were safe. Help had come. They were going home.
"It's over," she breathed, her heart racing, "It's finally over."
The pressure on her hand increased but he remained silent beside her. He was frightened. He had every right to be. And she understood, she was frightened, too. They would return to Starling City, to his home, and people would have questions. They would want to know what had happened to him – to them – and he would be expected to provide them with answers.
"We're going to be okay, Oliver."
He nodded, "We're going back."
She moved further into the side of his hard body and his arm came around her shoulders out of habit.
"Back to to your family."
"They can't know what we've done. What I've done. We can't – we can't tell them."
"We won't, Oliver."
She turned her face into his shoulder, breathing him in, and closed her eyes.
The ship was moving closer, a life raft was being dispatched. They didn't have much time.
"What about Sara's family? What do we tell them?"
"The truth. Sara died when the Gambit sank."
"Oliver, I –"
"No, Felicity. Promise me. That's all they need to know. We can't tell them anything else. Promise me you won't tell them."
Felicity thought of the woman that she had called her friend. The woman who had kept her alive, who'd kept her sane. The same woman who had - unintentionally – led her to Oliver.
"Okay. I promise."