AN: I do not own Arrow, what a shame.

"I need a vacation."

Ray looked up from his computer. "What?"

Felicity swallowed nervously. She had been planning the way should would ask all of the day and night before, and in her head it hadn't sounded so blunt. Keep your cool Felicity, She reminded herself.

"I have more than enough vacation days and I really just need a break." She took a deep breath.

Ray came out from behind the desk and stood in front of her. "Is this because of me?" He asked worriedly.

"No. Well, a little." Felicity admitted, her face growing red. "It's just...there's a lot going in for me right now and I need to collect my thoughts. I need a little time off and to be perfectly honest, considering your plans to help Starling are just developing, you don't really need me yet." She bit her lip anxiously.

"I don't know." Ray said reluctantly.

"Please Ray!" Felicity pouted. "I promise you won't regret it."

After a moment he nodded. "See you in a week."

Felicity squealed and hugged him. "See you."

The minute she turned a corner and was out of sight, she dropped the enthusiastic act. She was relieved more than anything. Now all she had to do was talk to Oliver.

...

Conner watched his father scale the salmon ladder in awe. He had thought his dad was awesome before but now...

"Can I ask you a question?" Conner said, turning away from his fathers work out to face Diggle.

"Sure." Diggle smiled. He liked having the kid around.

"Has my dad ever killed anyone?" You could have heard a pin drop.

The clanging of the bar against the rungs immediately ceased. Oliver cautiously came to stand by Diggle, in front of Conner.

"Why do you ask?" Oliver finally managed to ask.

"My gran and gramps used to talk about it with my mom. About the Hood in Starling killing a bunch rich people." Conner paused, his cheeks red with shame. "I-I just wanted to know if it was true and why?"

Diggle anticipated Oliver's speech and began to interject before Oliver could lay the heavy, dramatic stuff on his impressionably eight year old son. Sometimes Diggle though Oliver forgot that Conner was his son and not his comrade.

"It's a long story." Diggle said, shooting Oliver a glare.

"Actually-" Oliver began.

"Oliver." Diggle warned.

"Actually," Oliver stared calmly back at his friend, "It's not that long. I made a promise to my father and I misinterpreted the promise. I made a promise to my friend, and now I live everyday to fix my mistakes. I can't tell you I've never killed anyone, but I can tell you I never will again." Oliver sighed. "I don't want you to hate me for this Conner, but if you do I understand."

Conner shook his head. "It's not who you are now, as my dad. I don't care who you were before you were my father, before two months ago."

Roy clapped from the bottom of the stairs where he'd been listening in. "Bravo." He smiled. "Crises averted."

...

As much as Conner had begged, Oliver refused to let the little boy hang around the foundry past five in the evening or before eleven in the morning. Felicity and Diggle were able to handle the situation long enough for Oliver to have the rare opportunity to bring Conner back to the apartment, eat dinner with Thea and Conner, and tuck Conner in.

"What am I looking for again?" Roy's voice came through the phone on Felicities side.

"Your looking for a league of shadows member."

Diggle exchanged a worried look with his red-leather clad partner. "Could you be a bit more specific?"

Felicity was having a hard time focusing all night. Her plan was to ask Oliver for the vacation the next day and it had become all she could think about. "What? Oh...Someone trying to kill you I guess?"

"Wow, that's really helpful Lis, I a-" Roy was cut off mid sentence. There was a sudden burst of static on the other line.

"Diggle, Roy, guys?" Felicity felt panic rise in her chest. "Hello?"

...

"Well, I should go." Oliver announced, pulling his coat on.

"Already?" Both Thea and Conner groaned.

"What?" Oliver grinned. "You're lucky I was able to eat dinner with and now you want me to stay?" Oliver shook his head and laughed. "Aren't you two needy."

Thea raised her hand to smack Oliver playfully when the apartment window shattered. Oliver immediately went into Arrow mode, stepping out in front of his sister and son and grabbing the nearest weapon: a kitchen knife.

"Make your son leave the room please Mr. Queen." The figure commanded.

"Take Conner, Thea." Oliver calmly ordered.

Thea knew she could help Oliver take down the black garbed figure before them. "But-"

"Now." Thea conceded and with Conner.

"What do you want." Oliver growled.

"Sorry for the scare. We needed to speak and I am in a bit of a hurry." The voice was feminine.

"Nyssa?"

Nyssa pushed back her hood to reveal a worried expression. "Yes. We need to speak."

"If it's about me being alive, well, no one needs to know that." Ra's ah Ghul's daughter smiled a little.

"No, It is regarding your son. He is in danger."

Oliver felt every muscle in his body tense. "Why, By who?"

Nyssa looked at him sympathetically. "It would seem Slade Wilson has a protégé. His son. He's set on the same vengeful path as his father. First was Conner's mother, than his grandparents, and soon enough your son will suffer the same fate."

"No."

Nyssa frowned. "You refuse to believe you sons destiny is death? So be it. I wish you luck in keeping him alive." Nyssa turned to go back out the shattered window, but paused. "Your a strong man Oliver, Sarah would have wanted me to help you. If I can help you more, I will."