I don't own Arrow. All rights go to their respective owners.

AU: Complete seasons rewritten to feature Canarrow and Slade/Oliver friendship! Keeps mostly to the same storyline, some events are greatly AU.

Prologue

The leaves rustle as they are trodden upon by three sets of feet. Feet belonging to a man in a dark green hood. A beautiful blonde in black and a man with an eyepatch and a scowl to his lips, as they walk through the same part of the island as they do everyday.

It's humid. Too humid, but they are used to the conditions of their prison by now that it doesn't bother them as much as it used to, ohh so long ago now.

The girl entwines her hand with the man in the hood, resting her blonde head on his shoulder as they walk. Despair hanging miserably in the air.

Suddenly, the man with the eyepatch stops. Freezes in place. At first, his companions believe something to be wrong.

"What." The man in the hood simply murmurs.

"Shh, kid!" The man with the eyepatch replies harshly, harshness being his second language after all! Yet as the other two look at their companion in confusion they to freeze in place.

"No…" The girl whispers, in complete disbelief to what she can presently hear. It can't be real, she thinks. Not after all this time! As the sound that can be heard is the sound of an overhead plane…

Positioning themselves carefully on the hill. The man in the hood grabs his bow. Holding it tightly in his strong grasp. His hands shaking ever so slightly as the girl passes him an arrow, which is snatched from her grasp by the other man. The tip of the arrow is a blazing inferno of fire in seconds. It is then he passes it to the man in the hood, who preps his arrow quickly. They only have a short window of opportunity and this needs to go to plan in one simple shot. He keeps his arm straight and taut as his companion leans toward him.

"If you miss this, kid. I'm going to kill you." He growls in his ear. The man in the hood doesn't respond, pretty sure his companion meant it! Yet if he did indeed miss, his companion wouldn't need to kill him. He'd do it himself!

Taking a slight stance. He holds his bow steady, eyes closing for a brief moment.

"Any day now will do it. I'm not getting any younger, kid!" His companion snarls. The girl stands on tiptoes to kiss her lovers cheek. In both encouragement and comfort at the same time and honestly, it does help.

Aiming the bow with precision, the man in the hood looks at his intended victim. An unlit bonfire, sticking out like a sore thumb in the middle of a deserted beach. Taking a deep breath he releases the bow, wanting to shut his eyes tight. What if it misses? He thinks. What if his aim was off by just a few millimeters? It has happened before and his one eyed companion has threatened death to him then!

However, as he'd remarked to his one eyed companion, there had been a breeze!

Then, the almost unbelievable happens. The arrow strikes the heart of the mass of sticks and ignites a fire that could be seen from miles away.

Pushing his hood from his head to reveal straggly blonde hair and an unshaven face. The man laughs in pure relief at what he is witnessing. As what the three of them are witnessing is also being witnessed by a plane overhead, which appears to be making its descent on the island.

"You did it kid, you did it." His companion laughs in pure disbelief.

The girl races into his arms. He presses a long, lingering kiss to her lips as she wraps her arms around his waist. A million and one thoughts going through his head. His family, his best friend. Home.

The thought of home triggers something in the man in the hood and in response he practically leaps up and down, swinging the girl around in his arms. As, after five years of being stuck in this purgatory. Oliver Queen, Sara Lance and Slade Wilson are going home! Sara tightens her grip on Oliver, who looks over at Slade.

"You were right. We're leaving as brothers." Oliver murmurs before something remarkable happens, something unthinkable. Slade pulls them both into a tight embrace.

They spent five years on this hellish island and today they are returning home.

Authors Note: Hey guys thanks for reading! This story came to me after season two practically destroyed my soul! If Tommy Merlyn dying in season one wasn't bad enough! I really ship Canarrow and I loved the friendship between Oliver and Slade before it was destroyed! So this story will heavily feature Canarrow romance and Oliver and Slade friendship! Please tell me what you think of this. Thanks again for reading xxxxxxxxxxxx