The next chapter is here! I would like to thank you all for your support and encouragement for this story. I wanted this chapter up earlier but I have been busy, but it is here. Also, please read chapter seven, it has been revised. I truly hope you enjoy and I hope to be back soon!

Oliver lays on the cold floor of the prison cell, John sits beside him. Both of them chained to the ground. John looks over to the archer. "Oliver."

The archer slowly comes to and quickly sits up, then pulls on the chains.

"I already tried that and nothing's happening." Oliver continues to pull on the chains, as he growls. "We need to get out of here now."

John looks down at his hands as the archer looks around, still pulling on the chains. "Yeah, you need to save your strength on a feeling that you're going to need it." Oliver looks at his friend with determination. "I am not going to let you die down here."

The former solider looks up. "I don't think that's up to you." Oliver pulls the chain one last time, but to no avail. "I shouldn't have let you go.

John turns to his friend. "Also not up to you, Oliver."

Oliver releases the chain and lets out a breath, as he turns to look at his friend. "You don't understand." John raises an eyebrow and looks down at his chained hands. "I think I do."

Oliver pauses to really focus on John, who looks up from his hand. "You forget that I know you better than you know yourself."

"Maybe you could have told me I wasn't doing this for Thea before we left." John nods his head and moves his body around. "You are doing it for Thea, well not just for Thea. Yeah, you're right. It's not just about her. "

Oliver lets out a heavy sigh. "Every time I close my eyes: all I can see, all I can hear of feel is the fall."

There is a pause between them as Oliver gathers up his words. "I couldn't live like that, live knowing that somewhere out there beat me."

Yet, it makes sense." The former soldier adds. Oliver grows angry for a moment. "No, it's egotistical and insane."

John looks at his friend. "Yeah so is putting on a mask and jumping off rooftops, Oliver. To do something like that, you need to be in a certain mindset. Every soldier on the battlefield has to believe he's coming home; otherwise he's paralyzed." The former solider nods his head as Oliver continues to look at him, and share eye contact. "Ra's got in your head."

Oliver looks away, knowing full well his friend was telling the truth. This mission was no longer about his sister, or rescuing Malcolm but about him. Because of that, he gave his friend a death sentence. He takes a deep breath. "What was that favor you wanted to ask me?"

A small smile appears on the former soldier's face. "I don't think right now is the best time."

"We're not dead yet." John turns to look at the archer. "Now may be the only time."

John nods his head. "I always assumed that if I ever got married again, Andy would be by my side. When I lost my brother, I never thought I get another one."

The two men stare at one another and again, John moves around. "Still pretending for a moment that we aren't two dead men chained to the floor. How do you feel about being my best man?"

A somewhat smile appears on Oliver's face. "I feel pretty good about it."

The door to the cell opens and Maseo, and a disguised Tommy Merlyn walk in. They look at Oliver, who jumps to his feet and quickly moves in front of his friend. Maseo looks at the archer, his old friend. "It is time Oliver."

Oliver remains quiet as Tommy comes forward and takes the chain off the restrains, and walks around Oliver so that he is behind him. Silently and without looking back, Oliver follows Maseo out of the cell with Tommy behind them. They walk quietly down a short hall and enter a large room, where Ra's al Ghul stands at the head. They trio stop in the middle of the room and Oliver falls to his knees. Maseo and Tommy stand behind the archer, as he faces the demon's head with determination.

"Kill me but spare John Diggle Let him go." He pauses for a second, waiting for some kind of response. "I will bet for it."

Ra's stares at the archer quietly for a moment, then slowly walks towards his prisoner and stopping before him. He looks down at the archer. ""You show tremendous strength, fortitude, power."

He pauses for just a moment, and then continues. "No Mr. Queen, I don't want to kill you. I want you to take my place. I want you to become the next Ra's al Ghul."

Oliver looks at the man in disbelief at the request. He does not respond but remain silent. "Ra's is a title greater than anyone man."

Again, Oliver does not answer but instead listens to the man as he speaks another language for that brief moment. Behind the archer, Tommy approaches him and releases him from his restraints. Oliver stands up and rubs his wrist as he looks at the older man. 'Am I suppose to know what that means?"

"No. It's from a dialect no longer spoken." Ra's pauses for a effect. "It was said to me by a man, whose place I took. Contemplating the same off and what it mean it: The to be told begins thus".

Ra's walks out of the room, glancing at the archer as he signals to follow him. Oliver walks behind the man, following him down a different hallway. At the end and in an open room, a group of assassins train together, showing off their skills for their master. Oliver watches them as the small group approaches the open room, and sees one member slip and his sword is knock out his hand, which catches Ra's attention.

"Hold!" The group comes a stop and pull their weapons back, as their master enters the room. Ra's walks to the individual, who slipped and picks up the sword and faces the solider. He lifts up the weapon to the solider in a position, which would end his life. Oliver takes a step forward; ready to protest to the demon's head. Ra's expression softens as he puts the weapon down, and hands it back to his follower. "Don't let your footing betray you. Let your power come not from your strength of your attack, but from the ground that holds your feet."

The assassin bows his head in understanding and takes his sword, and the training continues. Ra's walks out of the room and stops in front of his guest. "All men seek guidance, a purpose, means to live without pain. Those who journey here are given such an exchange for their fealty."

He walks away and Oliver turns his body to look at the man, calling his attention as spoke. "You mean they have to kill for you."

Ra's stops in his tracks and turns to look at the archer with a hard expression. "No Mr. Queen. They have to die for me."

OQ

The two men sit at a long table, Ra's at the head of the table as man comes to serve him. Oliver looks around the room then to the assassin, who takes a bite of his food.

"Is all of this supposed to impress me?" Ra's looks up from his plate and puts his fork down. "No, it's to inform you. Surely men have branded you a murder, torturer. You see, I would never shame you with such bluntness because I see it your eyes, the struggle with your dual identity. Oliver Queen and the Arrow, neither giving you what you crave."

Oliver looks at the man, biting his lips. "But becoming Ra's al Ghul will?"

"Oliver Queen is a man destined to be alone. He loves a woman, he cannot have but also who continues to run from at every turn." He states sadly and reminds Oliver, the situation with Felicity. Oliver grows angry. "You don't know me."

"But I know the arrow." Ra's speak in a tone of confidence before continuing. "Al Sah-him will never be more than a vigilante for those, whose lives you saved at the risk of your own. Your city will turn on you and your closes allies in the police department will call you a criminal. You will be scorned and hunted, and then killed; dying as you begun your crusade: alone."

Oliver silently stares at the man, unable to come up a response to small his speech. Ra's return to his food and continues his meal. Oliver sits and watches, not bothering to eat as he thinks of John but most importantly the offer he was just given.

OQ

Ra's and Oliver walk back into the room where it all began. This time, Ra's kneels down by the pit and sticks his hand in the water. He pulls his hand out and stands, and walks away from the pit.

"You don't seem fazed by what I told you." Oliver sighs, his shoulders dropping. "I've seen things that helped me to believe that this world is a much bigger place than people realized."

Ra's stops a few feet away from the archer. "As I told you on the mountain, boy: men could only evaded death for so long. These waters' powers are losing their effect on me. My time is almost over. My legacy won't just be ash and bone, it'll be history."

"You think that I'll help secure that legacy?" Ra's takes a step further, his hands clasped behind his back. "You survived my sword. Your resurrection was not from these waters, but rather by force of your own will. What better heir to immortality than someone, who has already claimed victory over death."

Oliver tenses up at the memory of the mountain and the duel, he did not consider his survival a victory in any way. " I didn't defy death to become an instrument of it."

"We are justice." Ra's announces. "Isn't that what you dedicated your life to? Why confided your crusade to a single city, when I can give you a whole world to save."

"By executing anyone who stands in your way." Oliver points out with some anger in his voice. "You will command resources cannot even imagine. Numbers greater than any army and more loyal. Now if you wish for them to renounce killing as you do, they will."

Oliver scoffs at the notion. "I doubt that. It's called the League of Assassins for a reason.

"The league's reason will be your own. You would be Ra's al Ghul." Behind Oliver, John and a beat-up Malcolm walk into the room and stand behind them. Both of them looking at the demon's head, as he tries to compose himself and control his anger. "And what I say no?"

Ra's does not move but shrugs his shoulder. "Then you are free to leave with your compatriots. As a gesture of good will, all debits forgiven and all blood oaths waived."

Oliver looks at the man one last time and turns, he looks at his friend. "We're going home."

"Have you guys pick out a song yet?" Felicity turns around and walks to the small bar in her kitchen, with two glasses of wine in her hands. She sets them down at the bar and pushes one to her guest. Lyla Michaels picks up the glass and takes a sip before answering. She puts the glass down and looks at the blonde with a small smile. "No, I am letting Johnny pick it. It's easier that way."

Felicity lets out a laugh. "You know that it's going to cliché, right?"

"Yes I do, Johnny is very sentimental when it comes to us." The secret agent points out, making Felicity smile as she sips her wine. Lyla moves her glass, spinning the wine in her glass then looking at Felicity. "Have you spoken to Oliver yet?"

Felicity looks down at her wine for a brief minute, and then looks up at her friend. "No, I haven't. We got into an argument before he took off."

There is a moment of silence and Felicity chuckles at her relationship with Oliver. "That's all we know how to do now, argue. I mean we use to before but it was always about the little things, and at the end, we would just laugh."

Lyla smiles at Felicity. "You guys can still have that, you know?" Felicity sighs and shakes her head. "No, we can't. Too much has happen and there is too much that can never be said. We are not the same people. At least, I am not the same."

The secret agent nods her head. "That maybe but you both still love each other."

Felicity looks at her friend but remains silent. Instead, she takes a sip of wine then puts her glass down. Lyla's smile disappears at Felicity's reaction. "I am sorry, Felicity. I shouldn't have said that."

"It's fine, Lyla." She puts on a small smile. "But you're right, I still love Oliver. I never stopped but we can't be together, not when there is o much unsaid."

The secret agent nods her head and does not argue further. Felicity takes another sip of wine, looking around her living room.

FS

Felicity walks to the edge of the rooftop and looks out at the busy city. Her eyes move back and forth as she surveys the city for any trouble. She extends her weapon with a flick of her wrist, as an unwanted guest approaches. The blonde turns around and faces her ally, and her somewhat protector.

"Nyssa." The assassin steps out the shadow with a grim expression on her face. She walks to the blonde and stops, standing a few feet away from her. "How?"

"Oliver let me go." Felicity stares are her in confusion. "Why?"

"I am aware so tell me, why did he let me go?" She takes a step forward, as Felicity takes a step back and holds tight to her weapon. Felicity can see the anger in Nyssa's body language. "I don't know. I haven't talked to Oliver since he got back and it's not like he trusts me right now."

Nyssa remains silent and studies Felicity. Felicity stands before her with no mask but only her hood on, a little of her blonde hair sneaking out. "Something has happened, my father let Oliver live along with Merlyn."

"Malcolm is still alive?" Felicity questions as she looks at the assassin in disbelief at the news. "How is that possible? Your father has made it a mission to find him and kill him."

"I don't know but whatever his reason behind it, but to my father it will be a good reason if any." Nyssa walks pass Felicity and stops at the edge of the rooftop, and looks out. Felicity turns around and looks at the assassin's back. "What will you do now?"

"Go home and learn what has happen, and why my father allowed Sara's killer free." Nyssa turns to look at Felicity; a deathly expression covers her face. Felicity does not flinch nor does she step back, not afraid at the assassin. "Good luck then."

The heir nods her head and jumps off the roof, without another word to the blonde. Felicity looks down and watches the assassin disappear into the shadows. She sighs and hears a small beep in her ear; she presses the button on her uniform, which connects her call. "Hey Felicity!"

"Ray!" She states a little loudly, quickly looking around her. "Why are you calling? Is something wrong?"

"No, if anything, everything is good." Felicity's face scrunches up in confusion, the noise in the background too loud. "Ray, where are you?"

"Look up." Felicity looks up and feels her hood fall, as she spots something in the dark sky. She steps back from the edge of rooftop as the small dot quickly approaches. Her face still scrunched up, suddenly turns to shock as she Ray in his unit approach. She spins around as he lands in front of her. She doesn't move as he takes off his helmet and smiles at her. Felicity opens her mouth then closes, for the first, she is speechless.

"What do you think?" Ray takes a step forward, allowing Felicity to look him over. She opens her mouth and again, closes. "Uh."

"I know right, it's speechless." She puts on a smile for him. "Yeah, it sure is. I didn't know you finished it. You never-

"I know I never said anything and I am sorry. But after you worked out that particular part, everything else came together." He stretches out his hands. "It took a couple of weeks but its working fine, no kinks or set backs this time."

Felicity nods her head slowly, trying to take in this surprise. Ray looks at her. "You're happy, right? I can finally come out and help you."

"Yeah, that sounds fun." The words come out of her without warning. Ray walks to her and stops in front of her. He looks down at her as he puts a hand on her arm, and smiles. "I know you're mad I didn't tell you, but I wanted to surprise you when I finished it and it was working."

"You surprised me." She looks up at him with a genuine smile. "And I am not mad you didn't tell me that you were almost done. Trust me."

"Good." He steps back and walks to the edge of the rooftop as Nyssa did, and looks out to the city. "This city needs saving and we are going to start saving it by stopping, and capturing the arrow."

He turns around to look at Felicity, as she tenses up at the proclamation. Rather than say anything, she nods her head as a reaction. Silently, she screams at Ray as things just got a lot more complicated now.

Felicity throws the small stack of files on her desk, as she pulls her chair back and drops down on her chair. She moves her chair with her foot to face the window leans back and closes her eyes. 'We are going to start saving it by stopping and capturing the arrow'. She opens her eyes as she hears Ray's voice in her head, and sighs. She closes her eyes again and tries to find a moment of peace. Outside in her office, Oliver Queen walks down the hall towards her office. He turns into the small office and finds the secretary missing, and continues walking. He stops at the doorway and looks in. A small smile appears on his face as he watches Felicity sleep. Felicity opens her eyes for a second time and turns, jumping at the sight of Oliver in her doorway.

"Seriously Oliver, do you have to stand there like that?" He smiles as he walks in. "I would have thought you would have sensed me standing there."

Felicity moves her chair so that she faces the archer. "Yeah well, ugh, I don't have an excuse."

The archer's smile drops as he looks at the blonde with concern. "Everything okay? Tommy okay?"

"Yeah, Tommy is fine and to answer the first question: everything is great?" She sits back in her chair, a tired expression on her face. "I am guessing you talked to Nyssa."

"It's more like I listened to her rant. She wasn't too pleased before she left, asking questions that I did not have the answers too." Oliver nods his head, a dark and worry expression now on showing. Felicity sits up in her chair. "I assume that your trip was successful, you got Malcolm back and manage to piss off Nyssa for whatever reason."

He sighs at the situation. "Nyssa getting upset was more at her father, than me. And I don't want to talk about Malcolm, he is the least of our problems."

"He is the source of all our problems. People from the league keep coming, especially Nyssa. I know I shouldn't ask this because it totally doesn't sound like me but, was it worth saving Merlyn?" Oliver chuckles at her question, knowing deep down she was right. "I don't know if saving him was worth it, but I did it for Thea."

"I know you did but did you ever ask her, why she turned her own father in?" There is a moment of silence and Felicity knows Oliver knows that answer. She sighs. "Thea was mad you brought him back, wasn't she?"

"She wasn't thrilled but we talk, and she knows why I did it." Felicity nods her head silently. Oliver looks down and sees a picture of their son, smiling up. He smiles for a moment. Felicity leans her head to the side, a trait that makes Oliver smile. "Oliver, is everything okay?"

He looks away from the picture and looks to her, and sighs. "There was a reason Ra's let Malcolm go, and why I was able to come home."

She looks at him confused. Oliver takes a deep breath then continues. "Ra's offer me to take his place as the new Ra's al Ghul."

Felicity's eyes widen at the information as she sits back. "You said no, right? Oliver, you can't say yes."

Oliver stays quiet, unable to answer her question. Felicity observes him and got her answer in the silence. "You're actually considering his offer? They are called the League of Assassins for a reason and it's not a good one, no matter what that monster says."

"I have been an assassin, Felicity. Nyssa trained you as one too. You and I both know there is more than one way to get justice." She stands up from her chair and walks around her desk, and stands in front of him. "That is not the point. For you to consider his offer is crazy, Oliver. There is more than just being an assassin and you have proven that."

"And where has that gotten me?" He walks past her in anger, and stands in front of the window. He turns around to look at her. "In the last three years, I have lost everything. I lost my mom, Tommy, Sara and Thea is in ten different kinds of pain right now. The crime in this city has not gone down. What have I accomplished?"

"And you think leaving is the answer?" She throws out. "It worked for you, didn't?"

She bites her tongue at his response, knowing his response was fair to her past actions. She takes a deep breath. "No, it didn't. But all the people you lost and the sacrifices you made, would be for nothing."

"Felicity, I don't know why I am doing this anymore." He confesses, sadness etching across his face. Her frustration dies and she walks to him, but stops about a foot away from him. "When you died on that mountain, everyone had to rethink why they were saving this city. I had to remind myself why I went out there and it was to make this place better, to have a better future for our son."

He takes a deep breath at the mention of their son. Felicity walks over to them and stands in front of him, and reaches out. Her hand lands on his forearm and holds on, as she looks up at him. "I know that we aren't together and that was my choice, but there is more than just being the arrow or Ra's al Ghul. I should know that. You being the arrow has given some hope to the city and every night that you go out, you remind them that someone is looking out for them. You did that last night."

He looks at the blonde and nods his head. For a moment, they share a comfortable silence. A silence that they haven't shared since her return, which is interrupted as a knock on the door grabs their attention. Ray smiles at both of them as he steps in, just as Felicity jumps back from the archer, taking her hand with her. Ray looks between the two. "I hope I am not interrupting."

"No, Felicity and I were just done." Oliver puts a smile for his partner and looks at Felicity. "Thank you for the advice and for the lookout."

Felicity smiles back at the archer. "Anytime."

She watches Oliver walk away, past Ray and exits the office. Ray turns to watch Oliver leave and turns back to Felicity. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah." She walks back to her desk and looks at Ray. "We were talking about Lyla and Diggle's wedding, he's the best man."

Ray nods his head and looks around her office. Felicity looks at her boss then sighs, and smiles at him. "Would you like to come with me, as my plus one?"

His smile grows and he nods his head. "I would love you too, I assume Tommy will be joining us."

"Yes, he actually has to be there, he is the ring bearer." Felicity sits down and pulls her chair to her desk, as Ray moves to stand in front of her desk. "I didn't know he was part of the ceremony."

"Uh, yeah. Lyla asked me a couple of weeks ago and since Tommy can walk, I didn't see why not." She opens a file but keeps her attention on the man. "That is going to fun to watch. Okay, I am going and letting you get to work."

Felicity nods her head and looks down at the file, as Ray turns and leaves the office.

OQ

"Ms. Smoak, I don't think this is a good idea." Felicity comes to a sudden stop at the edge of the rooftop and looks at the police station. "Did you hear me, Ms. Smoak?"

Felicity sighs at the Stein's voice. "Yes I heard you, Dr. Stein but can we talk about this later. Captain Lance needs my help."

Felicity steps away from the edge and walks to the middle of the building, and turns back around. "Dr. Stein, can you expand my communications frequency? I need to get in touch with the Arrow."

"I can but I do not see how this will help." Felicity sighs as she takes off, running across half the building and jumping to police building next door. She lands on the building as she hears a beep in her ear. "Oliver?"

"Felicity, what are you doing on this channel?" She stands up and pulls out one of her botans, and looks around the roof for an opening. "I don't think this is the time for questions, where are you?"

"Two minutes out from the police station." Felicity turns in the direction of the verdant, and then looks back down at the roof. "That's too much time, you'll be too late."

"Felicity, don't go after these guys. We can deal with it." Felicity kicks a skylight open and looks out to Oliver's direction. "Too late."

She jumps into the building and lands into a dark hall; she stands up and quickly defends herself against one of the criminals. She pushes the man back as she pulls out her second botan, and manages knocks the gun of the man's hand. She spins around and kicks the man in the chest, followed by hitting him on the head and knocking him out. She turns a corner and enters another small hallway; one she knows leads to the large police office. At the end, a man turns to her with a gun aimed at her. She puts her botans together, forming a staff she runs towards the man, ducking as he begins shooting at her. She reaches him and stabs him in the gut, then hits him in the face with her staff. The man falls to the floor as she turns her attention to the large room. She walks in and breaks her staff apart, and hits another man with his back to her.

She moves her eyes to the police captain's office and find the windows smashed, and the office empty. At the sound of a gun going off, Felicity ducks behind a small wall and wait for the gun to go off so she can stand up. She turns to her right and finds a police officer down, she turns left and finds Laurel Lance before her. Laurel stops when she spots Felicity. "Where is the captain?"

"He is back in his office, he told me to get out of here." Felicity nods her head and moves a bit closer, but still good enough distance from the lawyer. "I will go get the captain, you get out here."

Laurel nods her head as Felicity takes off and runs pass the lawyer. Laurel runs in the opposite direction and out of the room. Felicity stands up just as Captain Lance walks out of his office and into the room, with his gun in his hands. He shoots the first guy then points his gun at another, who puts his hands and his boss comes and attacks the captain from behind. Felicity runs to the other man, who quickly puts his gun up but is unable to shot at her as she hits him first. The roof cracks open and Oliver and Roy enter the building, Oliver runs to the captain and saves him; Roy goes the other way and takes down a man. Felicity steps back as Oliver pulls back the criminal and saves the Captain, and the criminal disappears. Captain Lance looks to the arrow, which looks up at Felicity. She nods her head at him and runs out of the room, and he quickly follows. Felicity reaches the roof and walks to the edge, and looks down at the alley below. She hears Oliver join her on the roof and walks to her side, and also looks down.

"Anything?" Her response is quickly cover by an automatic assault weapon going off and drawing their attention to the left of the alley. "There!"

Oliver takes off without a word and Felicity watches him. Oliver swings into the alley and takes the criminal down. The two men wrestle until the criminal; Murmur is on top of Oliver and begins to punch him. Watching enough of the scene, Felicity jumps down into the alley and runs towards with her botan out. She pulls off the criminal and quickly hits up, then knocks him unconscious. She turns around as Oliver gets up and the door opens behind her, and Captain Lance walks out She spins around to see the police captain pointing a gun at the unconscious man then at the two of them. He stops in front of them, his gun still on them.

"Are you waiting for a thank you?" Felicity puts her weapon away as Oliver flicks his bow, and looks at the Captain for only a moment. "This isn't why I do this."
Oliver looks at Felicity, who nods her head and follows him. He pulls out an arrow and shots it, and grabs Felicity as they both take off into the air.

FS

They land on a random roof, a good distance from the police station. Oliver release Felicity and walks a few steps away. She looks at him in confusion. "What is going on with you and Lance?"

Oliver turns around as Felicity takes off her mask but keeps her hood on. "Lance knows about Sara and that Laurel is the one behind the mask."
She nods her head silently. "So he is mad at you because you didn't tell him?"

"I was suppose to protect her." Oliver states with anger and defeat. Felicity sighs and takes a step forward. "Oliver, you cannot protect all of us. You know that. Captain Lance is grieving for his daughter; he has lost her for a second time. It can't be easy on him."

"It doesn't matter." She stands in front him and puts a hand on his arm. "Sara has always done what she wants, no one could stop her. Lance needs someone to blame and right now that person is you, and possibly Laurel."
Oliver nods his head as Felicity gives him a small smile. "Thank you for helping and for not listening."

"You're welcome, I am good at not listening. That's what Barry tells me." Oliver chuckles at her comment as he put his own hand over hers. Above them and unaware, Ray Palmer scans the arrow and Oliver's face appears on the screen of his helmet. "Oliver is the Arrow."

He looks back down as his suit scans Felicity and her face appears on his screen. Anger starts to build in him as he continues to stare at Felicity and Oliver, who continue to talk unawares of their secret revealed.