Chapter Title: Chapter 12: Do Not Let the Need for a New World Divert You from Saving the Good That is Left of the Old Part 2

Chapter Rating: T- for language and violence

Word Count: 13,283

Chapter Summary: Having come to a truce of sort's Felicity and Oliver now must face the Dark Archer and the Holidays.

AN: SOOORRRRYYYYY! I waited way too long but life complications from a new job to having to move but here it is the second part to the Chapter. Hopefully you all like the way I handled the dark archer and that the second half of the flashbacks reveal just a bit more about Felicity. Let me know what you all think. As Always I own nothing, but regardless I am now officially taking Diggle and Tommy.

TEEN FELICITY ROBERT'S RESCUE *www*.*polyvore*.*com*/teen_felicity_roberts_rescue/set?id=120341159

NIA RUNNING THE WHARF *www*.*polyvore*.*com*/nias_running_outfit_wharf/set?id=120160631

CORDELIA CHIRISTMAS PARTY *www*.*polyvore*.*com*/cordelia_todd_chirstmas_party/set?id=118817196

previously...

"Not sure about what exactly he told you I retreated, I waited. I knew five years on a not so deserted island could change a person into many things and I was worried of who was coming back. I was afraid of what Robert's confession would of done to you. Then the Hood happened and well you know the rest."

"I have a feeling I really don't" he says with narrowed eyes.

"Excuse me?"

"You skipped over 5 years of information, and gave no personal details of who you are. Is that you trusting me? Lying to me by omission."

"Not omission just personal. I don't see you scurrying to tell me about your island adventure" she countered with a raised eyebrow.

" Some truths…"

"Are our own to keep." she smiled at him

"My father talked about you." At her surprised look and rigid stance he clarified.

"When we were on the lifeboat he mentioned a woman that would help me. An ally. He said you would find me and that I should trust you. I guess he was right, on all accounts."

She chuckled, "I guess somehow he always knew I would never let go of this, I guess he knew me better than I thought. That was Robert always so perceptive and ahead of everyone. Yet, somehow I doubt this is what he had in mind. A vigilante" she says pointing at him "a soldier" she says pointing at Diggle "and a woman that doesn't exist. Teaming up to finish his work."

"To right his wrongs" adds Oliver

"To save this city." finishes Diggle


Felicity liked this, the comfortable back and forth. The way it seemed like this partnership might work even when there were still many secrets and untold truths between them. She knew in time those would reveal themselves, yet, for now this was good, this was better than good, these were partners.

"Are we good, at least for now?" she asked with a smirk she knew they couldn't see as she walked up to them and extended her hand. Both Oliver and Diggle stood straight and contemplated her for a bit before Oliver took her hand and shook it, slightly squeezing as he said "Yes, we are good" and then letting go of her hand.

Felicity nodded and let out a small sigh as she turned her back to them and reached up to remove the face cover and hair cover. Then as she turned she reached up with both hands grabbing her hood and pulling it down as she looked at them with a genuine smile. Oliver and Dig's eyes both widened in shock not expecting her to reveal so much of herself so quickly. At their genuine surprise she let out a soft chuckle and then winked at them.

"Well, boys I would love to just stand here and stare, the view is quite nice" she internally winced at her comment and took a deep stabling breath, She was getting too comfortable, her Felicity was showing, if Oliver's slight tilt of the head and twitch of his lip was anything to go by. Diggle much like she expected from him was full on grinning. She continued completely ignoring her previous comment.

"But, there is a reason I asked to meet with you both and end my radio silence. The new player in town. I think I know what we are dealing with and it is not good."

"You know who the new archer is?" asked Diggle

"No, but I know who sent him or at least who trained him. Have you ever heard of the League of Assassins?"

"In Starling?" asked Oliver. At his reaction and the way Diggle had gone rigid she guessed they both knew who they were.

"Wouldn't be the first time" at their questioning look she brushed past gesturing with her hand that it was not important. Oliver made sure to remember to ask about it later.

"This archer, I am almost certain is from the league. So either he is here on a mission sent by the league or his mission here is personal and that makes him far more dangerous and unpredictable."

"I think the fact that he is hitting all my old targets points a pretty clear picture as to whom he is after."

"Not necessarily, the league is also a business and there are some pretty heavy hitters here in Starling so we can't make any assumptions."

"So then, what do we do?" asked Diggle agreeing with her that a plan was necessary. Oliver decided it was time to share his inel with her.

"I think I know where he is or at least where he is working out of…"

"10245 Wharf" interrupted Nia, at both of their surprised looks she smirks as she says

"I am everywhere boys" she punctuates with a wink. "Although, that blonde of yours" she lets out a long low whistle "she's good." Instantly, Oliver feels the need to make it clear that Felicity is not part of this, that she is not like them.

"She doesn't know anything, she is just…"

"I know. Ms. Smoak is safe, don't worry. Just a useful resource" she sees the almost imperceptible wince he gives at her statement. She's not sure if it's because of her dismissal or the accuracy in her description. She doesn't linger on it too much, bigger fish after all.

"You think he is here for you, right?" Oliver nods, heavily.

"Okay, then how do you want to play this?"

By the time they are done strategizing they have a plan set for not only investigating the warehouse but also drawing out the archer and figuring out his motives. She tells them that she already has pieces in motion trying to gather more intel from the source itself, the league, and that as soon as she knows more she will let them know. They set up a meet time for five the next day, Oliver will go in while she searches the surrounding areas and ask around about the warehouse, and meanwhile Dig follows another lead and some of his contacts about the league. It takes a bit of convincing on Oliver's part and a whole lot of compromising, seeing as his hero complex kept getting in the way. They set a rendezvous point for 8pm. She tells them she has comms they can all use to stay in contact plus some other toys she thinks they might like. She makes sure that he understands that if they are to work as a team now there is no room for solo heroics. She wants to tell him he is not on an island anymore but knows that type of conversation is too much too soon. She settles for simple directness and he seems to appreciate it although he is not too thrilled about putting Dig or her in danger and alone out in the field. She knows given time he will come to learn that more than likely she will be saving his ass more often than not. They shake hands and she places her face cover and hood back on, gives them a nod and starts to walk up the stairs. Oliver calling out her name "Nia" stops her in her tracks only slightly turning her head over her shoulder.

"That goes for you too. Don't you go out on your own either. Like you said we are a team now and by the way, thank you." she smiles even though she knows he can't see it, nods once and walks out of the foundry. He truly is so much like his dad.

FLASHBACK

"What were you thinking Felicity? You could have been seriously hurt, you could have been killed."

"You would have been killed" she shouts back. "Had I not gotten there when I did, we wouldn't be having this conversation or any conversation for that matter." she says in a much softer tone.

"That is not the point, Felicity. I told you to not come. I told you not to get involved. Maybe this partnership wasn't such a good idea"

"Don't. Don't you dare, Robert Queen. I am invested, 100%. Have been for almost a year. This was one incident this was one exception. You don't scrap the whole thing over one incident. I mean who does that, crazy people that's who. Come on, you have to admit my plan worked. No one got hurt and we put some very bad people away. This is a win. Can you just take the win, please." she can see she is breaching his defenses as he tries to fight the uptick of his lip, the amusement and what she thinks is pride in his eyes.

"Felicity. You got lucky. We all got lucky. Besides who knows who could have seen, they might be able to connect you to me and then what. You will never be safe, anywhere."

"Well, damn, you certainly know how to talk a girl out of a victory" at that he smirks

"It's a gift, Felicity"

"Can you give it back, or is that bad etiquette?" he simply shakes his head in amusement and continues walking, well limping, into his penthouse in the city where they had taken to meeting every time she was in the city. Figuring that the Manor and QC were too close to home. She asked once why he had a penthouse when he had such a big house. The look he gave her told her all she needed and she knew never to bring that up again. The look some neighbors gave her after her third time there told her more than she needed to know about what they thought of her and that was enough to have her sneaking in at odd hours in the future avoiding everyone.

Once they were in the penthouse she dropped herself into the armchair, finally feeling the exhaustion of the last 48 hours. Robert dropped onto the couch with a heavy sigh and a glass of scotch. They sat in silence for a bit until Felicity couldn't take it anymore and her energy bursts through in a plethora of questions.

"So what did they want you to do? Is QC's applied sciences in jeopardy? Do you need me to upgrade security? Do you think they will try again? Do you really think someone could identify me? Oh my god, should I change my identity? I could start all over, go into WITSEC? Maybe I should change my appearance? You know throw them off. I could be blonde, don't you think? I could rock the blonde look?"

"Felicity…. breathe" she gulps a big breath of air which causes him to laugh at her theatrics. He was incredibly worried when he heard her as she made her presence known in the warehouse not more than 3 hours ago.. This immense heaviness took over his chest at the thought that his mistakes, his mission could cost her, her life. When he saw half the guns in the room turn to point in her general direction he felt all his blood drain and a scream get caught in his throat. He wanted to tell her to run, to get away, and disappear. He couldn't. All he could do was watch, wide eyed, panic coursing through his body as she walked closer, hands raised with a stack of files and a duffle bag. He silently pleaded with her, all she did was raise her chin and nod at him trying to reassure him. Yet, he could see she was scared beyond belief. Her hands were shaking, her steps were unsteady and when she spoke he could hear the tremor, the break. She was scared. She should be terrified, because he was.

"I think we are in the clear. I don't think they will come after QC anytime soon and if anyone did get away I doubt the story they will tell their bosses is that a petite teenage girl with bright red hair outsmarted them all, took out the base and rescued Robert Queen."

"That would be pretty ridiculous, wouldn't it?"

"Yes, yes it would be. I can't even imagine what they thought when they saw you walk in, dressed like that."

"I was going with 'lost teen in the scary city, please don't hurt me' I think it worked. I think it threw them off."

"Yeah, I think it really threw them off. The trench coat was a nice touch" he adds obviously mocking her.

"It is the most ominous thing I own." They both laugh letting a bit of lightness and humor take them over. They were safe. They had made it and they were thankful. They sat in comfortable silence as Felicity's laughter died out. Robert takes a deep breath and turns a more serious face at her.

"You know you can't ever take a risk like that again. You get that, don't you Felicity?"

"I do. But do you get that I had to make an executive decision, you weren't there so, I made my choice"

"You told me the last time I tried to end our partnership that we were a team, if that is true then you can't go out alone and put your life in danger like that."

"My life wasn't ever really in danger. I had planned everything out."

"Felicity…" he calls with a much harsher tone than before

"Yes, I get it. Sorry"

"No more solo reckless missions, Felicity. Now rest, stay here. I have to go home and see the rest of my family." he said as he got up and kissed the top of her head. She smiled up at him. As he made his way out he stopped and called her name "Felicity" she turned over her shoulder as she stood in the bathroom doorway.

"Thank you" she smiles and nods as he walks out and she makes her way into a long hot shower, her favorite place to contemplate.

She knows her choice to go into the lion's den alone and ridiculously outnumbered, out skilled and scared shitless hadn't been her best idea. Yet, she wasn't wrong, she had no choice, she couldn't leave him there to die. Because that is exactly what would have happened. Robert would have never given them what they wanted and they would have killed him and although he was okay with that, what he didn't know and she refused to tell him even now was that they had gone after his family too. They had been following his children and had she not intervened they would have taken Thea.

When she saw the same car the cameras had spotted outside of the manor and then again at the restaurant where Moira and her children were having dinner, she knew something was wrong and she knew it had everything to do with Robert and his sudden disappearance two days ago. No one had questioned anything because emails and phone calls had been made that he had to leave on a sudden business trip. What his kidnappers didn't know was that she had been meeting with him every day since she had arrived for spring break in Starling. They had no way of knowing that she would notice he was missing. They also had no way of knowing that she wouldn't stop until she found him.

So when she saw the familiar car outside Thea's school she was thankful for her more than impressive memory. She thought about calling the police, the school with an urgent message from Moira but then there was young Thea just a couple of years younger than her walking out of school and two men were exiting the car and heading towards her. Felicity did the only thing she could think of, she took a bike from the rails and darted straight for them she made a show of crashing into them and Thea calling all the attention to her disruption. Thea immediately dropped her bag and tried to help her as she yelped and moaned in pain. Soon the school's security was approaching along with the Queen's chauffeur. The men noticing the unwanted attention quickly retreated. When she saw the car leave she quickly stood up brushed her pants off and walked away smiling leaving everyone confused. As she walked away she opened her palm and her fist shot up in excitement, she had managed to swipe one of their cell phones and that was all she needed to find out everything. To find Robert.

It took her a couple of hours to gather everything she needed. She had a location and now she needed a flawless plan. She broke into QC's applied sciences department and took some of their prototypes. Including some delayed explosives, a little nifty gadget that took out the entire power grid and lastly a little gift from LexCorp, an unmanned air assault ship, with the manual. She was proud to say she learned to program and fly it in an hour, okay maybe an hour and a half. She was ready and those men in the warehouse never saw her coming and they never saw that airship that blew up their shipments and kept them all inside while the cops arrived and as the pièce de résistance, she blew up the entire warehouse once everyone was out.

That should have told Robert all he needed to know. Felicity was a force to be reckoned with and if he ever thought he could turn her away from this mission if the price grew to be too much, he was wrong. He tried nonetheless. He didn't allow her to return to Starling City, with a sorry excuse she saw right through. He kept her as busy as he could so she would stop asking questions and he contacted her less. The day after the incident, he set up contingencies to deal with Felicity, he tried to cover all his bases to assure she wouldn't be able to finish his work if he was ever not around. Five months later those contingencies went into effect. They never deterred her, not once. He should have known.

END OF FLASHBACK


The next day Felicity itches to go and investigate the warehouse she had held out for two days already, but she can't help but feel that she should have been tracing this lead long ago, old habits after all. She knows she has to stick to the plan and she will do just that. As her day comes to an end at QC she receives a text from Tommy reminding her that they have a party to attend. She curses having forgotten and lets him know that she will be there just a little late. He warns her that he and Oliver will take personal offense if she does not show and she promises it won't happen. She heads out from QC to get ready and meet up with Oliver and Dig.

Diggle and Oliver almost don't recognize her when she shows up in another disguise as a "civilian". She gives them a look "If I am going around asking questions I very well can't do it wearing a hood and 20 plus weapons, now can I? To anyone paying attention I am just a girl out for a run."

As they both stare at her still a little perplexed she tilts her head and places her hands on her hips "What?"

"How do you do that? If it wasn't for your voice I would have never recognized you"

"Thanks." she eyed them both "Eyes up here Queen" she says with great amusement. He gives her an exasperated look which she simply just laughs at along with Diggle.

"So are we ready?"

They each head out in different directions. She quickly takes off running to talk to some locals. Oliver eyes her one more time and then heads up to the rooftops.

He approaches the warehouse carefully letting them know that he will be in radio silence while he investigates.

As he approaches the door he opens it carefully bow armed and ready taking small guided steps and every precaution he can. He enters the room and finds a single black arrow pierced through the floor in the center of the room. He rounds the room to get a better view, as he reaches the center of the room the door slams shut and he instantly hears Nia ask "What was that?"

He gives a faint response which she acknowledges. She has managed to speak to a few of the dock workers and they have only been able to provide very vague if not useless information. The minute she hears the noise come over Oliver's comm she stops dead in her tracks and is ready to head back to him. Even though he reassures her that everything is okay, well he grunted which she took to mean that, she decides to start making her way back towards the warehouse as she listens to every last noise coming over the comms.

Oliver pulls the arrow out as he spots a machine across the room and starts making his way towards it. As if sensing his presence the machine begins to work lighting up as some chemicals begin to mix. Nia hears the distinct sound of machinery and liquids and then she hears the sharp intake of breath from Oliver as a single lit spark comes to life. As Nia's voice comes through a little louder and more strained since she is now running full speed, Oliver realizes it is a bomb.

Nia is now rounding the corner and can see the warehouse in the distance as she hears Oliver whisper "bomb" she shouts for him to "get out now". He turns and shoots an exploding arrow at the door just as Nia reaches the building the door flies open and Oliver jumps out, straight into her. As they both go rolling into the ground they feel the heat of the explosion on their backs as they hit the ground hard just in time only getting slightly hurt. Oliver takes the bigger brunt of the impact as he made sure to soften her fall with his body only realizing after that she was trying to do the same thing for him as her hands end up bound behind his head preventing it from making direct impact with the concrete. As they regain a little composure yet, still on the ground they finally register Dig's frantic voice coming over the comms.

"What happened? Oliver, Nia are you okay?"

"We are fine Dig, just a minor hiccup" At Oliver's disbelieving look at her word choice, she merely shrugs and tells Dig that she is going to pick up some samples from the explosion and they will meet at the rendezvous point like planned in 10 minutes. She clicks her link and then looks down at Oliver before raising an eyebrow and simply saying

"Do you mind?" he stares at her a bit confused for half a second before he quickly pulls his arm back and to his side averting his eyes. he feels a bit foolish not really sure when that started to happen and even less sure when intimidation came into the picture. But here he was trying to keep his composure as she braced her ars beside him and jumped to her feet seemingly unbothered by anything including the explosion. He wondered for a bit just what she had seen in her life that brought about this lack of reaction and quickly realized that they had far more in common than he first thought.

She quickly picks up some samples as he looks around for anything and everything when she is done she whistles to call his attention and nods in the direction of Dig with a simple nod they both began to climb the nearby building, Nia smirking as she beat him to the top. They both take off running leaping until they reach their destination every so often looking through their peripherals at the other yet, giving nothing away.

They meet up with Dig and before they can say anything she tells them she will take care of the samples but she needs to leave because she has somewhere to be. At Digs questioning look she reassures him that she is fine and that Oliver will give him the details. She promises to check in the next day and let them know what their samples turn up. She takes off running as Dig reminds Oliver that he also has somewhere to be. He curses under his breath as he hears, before he sees a motorcycle take off at full speed.


It isn't until she is getting ready that she realizes her hands are scrapped and her knuckles are slightly bruised, she figures her hands are better than Oliver's head and decides to disregard the bruises. She finishes getting ready in record time and heads out as soon as the concierge calls her to let her know her car has arrived.

She had made sure to get a room at her usual Hotel and leave everything ready for her to become Cordelia Todd. She uses the drive down to Queen Manor to finish her makeup and try as best she can to cover the damage to her hands. She fidgets in her seat, feeling exhausted and struggling to get into character. The gown itches, the shoes pinch, and the makeup prevents her from rubbing her eyes like she desperately wants to. She resorts to adjusting the lace holster holding her gun to her inner thigh. She decides to focus on the cool metal rather than everything else as the car pulls up to the front door of the manor and a valet opens the door for her. As she walks into the party she quickly scans the room and notes that neither Oliver or Tommy are there yet, she worries a bit but then sees Oliver make his way to the top of the stairs. Not ready quite yet to be Cordelia Todd she makes her way into the crowd and gathers a drink from a passing tray.

By the time Oliver makes it out of his room he is aching and the party, his party is in full swing. Dig is waiting for him and immediately notices his discomfort

"Are you okay"

"I will manage. At least it seems everyone is having fun."

"Sure you want to do this, maybe this isn't the best time to be Martha Stewart's elf." joked Diggle

"My family needs this, I need it" Dig nods towards the door as Shane, Thea's friend comes in carrying flowers for Moira. He can't help the annoyance that creeps up as he sees Thea come and take him away.

He makes his way into the main room and seeing his family together he's inspired to have them document this moment by taking a family picture. They all agree and Oliver feels that this might end up working out, he figures something has to tonight. Yet, he can't help but notice that something isn't quite right. Thea leaves the room with Shane and he sees Walter talking to Moira and it seems to be serious. He approaches Walter and ask him if everything is okay and he reassures him that things will work themselves out. Yet, he can't seem but doubt that. Just then he sees Thea heading to the foyer with that damn kid, he really hopes that means he is leaving. As he contemplates his family he doesn't notice the woman in the long green dress approach him until he hears the unmistakable British accent.

"Little sisters will be the bloody death of you." she says with a wide smile, more at the fact that she noticed he was surprised at her ability to catch him off guard than her comment, but he didn't need to know that.

"You speak from experience Ms. Todd?"

"Cordelia, please and something like that. As a woman who was once a 'boy crazed' teen can I offer a bit of advice?"

"Please, at this point anything helps"

"The more you negate and put your foot down the more she will rebel. Not because she doesn't think or know that you are right or have a valid point but, simply because she wants you to trust that she will make the right choices and that even when she doesn't that you will understand they are her mistakes to make. Plus it's always much more fun when the big brother does not approve."

At his raised eyebrow and surprised look she simply smiles and says "I never said my opinion would make you feel better." He couldn't help but laugh at her comment. They continue in friendly conversation when Tommy and Laurel finally arrive.

"If it isn't two of my favorite people" greets Tommy with his usual charming smile and with a more than visibly uncomfortable Laurel in tow. "Getting a head start on the apologies, Ollie"

"Apologies?" asked Cordelia

"Cordy, don't play coy you know very well that our" he says pointing at all of them "last encounter was less than cordial, especially towards you."

"Wait, Tommy. You were serious before? I am sorry, I had no idea. I genuinely thought you were being humorous. This is quite awkward now. I really don't see the need for apologies from any of you. It was quite evident that tensions were high and they had very little to do with me. I just happen to be there. I completely understand and believe me when I say apologies are completely unnecessary."

"I would personally beg to differ Cordelia. I accept that I was terribly rude and unfair with you. But as you know we do have some history and I think our past encounters have all been a series of miscommunications and for that I apologize. Now, I realize that you are helping Tommy and that my behavior was unfounded."

"Well, sorry to interrupt you Laurel but I think I hold some responsibility in that as well so I also apologize and reaffirm that all's forgotten and forgiven."

"On that note, once again Cordelia a million apologies for the outburst and then sticking you with the check?" added a sheepish Oliver. He truly had been embarrassed by that little detail but his mind had been heavily clouded by Helena at the time.

"What?" interrupted a more than shocked Tommy.

"Really, Tommy, it was nothing. I offered so that Oliver could follow after his girlfriend whom was very upset and should not be leaving alone. It was no trouble at all, it was my pleasure and I really hope things worked out for you Oliver."

"Cordy, I had no idea. I will absolutely pay you back for that."

"Definitely" added Oliver

"Please you insult me, both of you. It was just a meal and like I told Oliver you can make it up to me next time." noticing that Tommy wasn't ready to drop the subject she decided to put an end to it.

"I will not discuss this any further Tommy. It is done and forgotten. No more apologies, this is a Christmas party so let us join in the festivities and forgive and forget, agreed?" she said looking at all of them. Laurel was the first to smile and raise her glass as they all followed.

"Now if you'll excuse me I need to freshen up." added Cordelia as she walked away from the group. They, as had become habit lately, fall straight into an uncomfortable silence realizing that Cordelia was acting as a very effective buffer up until that point. Trying to break the tension, Tommy was the first to speak.

"So how long until it's not weird- the three of us."

"It's not weird...at all." added Oliver with a knowing smile causing them all to fall into a comfortable laughter. Oliver realized just then how much he had missed his two best friends. He knew he had to make an effort to reintegrate them into his life.

Having left Laurel and Tommy with mutual friends Oliver goes about mingling and looking for his family.

Unbeknownst to him, having detected the tension between Walter and Moira, Cordelia had done the same thing. Which is how she was now pressed against the hall in the east wing of the manor eavesdropping on their conversation. A conversation that earns her more knowledge than she was ready to learn. She realizes that everything Walter and her had been investigating, Moira was fully aware of and much like her she was also worried about the risk this posed to Walter's life. Yet, Walter seemed undeterred and determined to know the truth.

"Do you take me for a man that wouldn't avenge his best friend's murder- I can't- you lied too much Moira. Why?" Yes, why Cordelia asked herself as well.

"For leverage"

"Against who?"

"People that are angry"

"Who, Moira? What people? We can fight them"

"I am them, you were my salvation"

"Whatever you have done, tell me. The time for lies is over" she wants to believe him, but time and Malcolm Merlyn have taught her better than to be fooled by false hope.

"After the party" she lies to him with a kiss.

Cordelia makes her way back unseen and finds Laurel alone with some one percenter she recognizes. She does a quick sweep to find Oliver and Tommy and soon spots Diggle which tells her they can't be too far away. She contemplates making her way over but settles that they might have a lot to talk about given the past couple of weeks.

She isn't mistaken, just in the other room, clearly roped off to guest Tommy and Oliver settle into catching up.

"So I take it from your reaction and lack of a tall brunette at the party that things with Helena didn't end well."

"We had a falling out but I have a feeling that I will be seeing her again."

"That would be new for us, staying in touch with an ex." they both laugh before Oliver ask something he had caught from the previous conversation as well.

"Tommy, what did Laurel mean when she said Cordelia was helping you?"

"Once again I was being stupid. I haven't been entirely honest with you, my dad cut me off. He froze all my funds. I am living on fumes."

"Really? Why didn't you say anything?" ask a surprised Oliver

"Embarrassment, shame, jealousy, probably fear and other emotions I'm not used to feeling."

"Tommy, you know my trust fund is your trust fund."

"No! That is the easy answer and believe me I have loved the easy answers. I am trying to change not sure into what, yet. But I do know I don't want to be what I was, anymore. That is where Cordy came in. What I needed was a job and like a godsend Cordelia came right when I needed her."

"So that, is why you are working for Cordelia, but not why Laurel was so upset about it. What history do her and Cordelia have?"

"Man, that is a long story but yes, Laurel wanted me to ask you for a job at your club so she was upset when I took the job with Cordelia. I couldn't pass up a job that I earned by my own merits. Cordelia saw something in me, I don't even know what it was, but she saw it and came to me directly with this job."

"That's great man. Well, if you do decide you need something local or more I do need a general manager, and no one knows clubs like you do. I actually thought of you but I never thought you would actually want or need the job. I know you are working with Cordelia but, I could really use someone I trust, maybe even just part time"

"Hmmm would I still get dental? This smile wasn't cheap."

"We can come to some agreement"

"Do you really need help or are you just..."

"I need the help man. I need a friend and no one better than you."

"Okay, I'll talk to Cordelia about working something out. Luckily the work I do with her allows me to work at my own time and mainly make contacts and I guess being your manager, even part time could help with that. Not to mention with Laurel."

"Great, well just let me know"

"Thank you, brother"

"No, thank you"

"Okay, now I don't mean to sound insensitive but seeing as you are single again, I don't know if you might have noticed that my new boss is incredibly attractive and single if I am not mistaken"

"Thank you, Tommy. I had no idea you found me incredibly attractive."

"My other boss, dumbass."

"I will neither confirm nor deny what I have noticed."

"You don't have to, I know you have noticed and I know she is just your type, like she was handmade just for you, tall, smart, gorgeous, brunette. So I thought maybe we could try that whole dinner thing again. Who knows could be good."

"You can take the trust fund from the playboy but you can't take the playboy from the life"

"Ouch that hurts"

"What too soon?"

"Shut up. But seriously think about it. When I first met Cordelia the first thing I thought was damn Ollie would have loved her."

"The first?" he questioned a smirk on his lips and a knowing look in his eyes.

"Okay maybe the second... or third thing but, I still thought of you. And no more of that kind of talk, she is my boss after all"

"Never stopped us before"

"More like never had a boss before"

"That too" they both laugh as they make their way back to the party both feeling much better and in a better holiday mood when Laurel approaches them.

"Tommy do you mind if I talk to Oliver a minute." he looks between them gives her a kiss on her temple and goes to get some drinks.

"Oliver, I know it might not be easy to see us together"

"Hey Laurel, the invitation said plus one not minus Laurel"

"Yes I know. It is just that I want to move forward but something's been holding me back, I keep making excuses and then realized it was you. I have been emotionally off since your death and now he has made me feel…" Oliver interrupts her not sure he is ready or wants to hear the rest of what she has to say.

"Above everything Laurel, be certain of one thing, I am happy for both you" he says with great conviction.

"Thank you" she says with a hug that leaves him feeling a bit off kilter.

He is a bit struck by it all but as he walks away nodding towards Tommy with a smile he realizes he hasn't seen Thea in a while, so he decides to look for her, focus on her and not what that hug might have meant. He notes that if this whole holiday party idea feels off and almost overwhelming to him then maybe that is why Thea had been so put off since the beginning. He realizes she might feel the same way. As he makes his way to her room and knocks he's taken aback by her tone so he opens the door to find a half dressed Thea with that damn boy. He points directly at him and tells him "to hit the road".

"What are you doing?" ask a furious Thea

"Funny I was going to ask you the same thing because there's a party downstairs that I threw for you." he accuses

"I didn't want a party but you didn't care because you came down with the holiday blues. I've been trying to open up for months. All this party is doing is bringing back memories I've been trying to forget."

"Thea! Why would you want to forget?"

"No matter how fancy the party. Things will never be the way they used to be in our family, ever again." she takes off just then. As Oliver goes to follow her Diggle appears calling after him. He might have not stopped had it not been for the tone he immediately picked up on.

"Oliver."

"What is it now?"

"The other archer moved to the next level. He has taken hostages." he tells him as they walk into one of the studies and he turns on the TV to show him the live news report. There is a frightened crying woman on the screen reading what are obviously, instructions.

"I will kill one hostage every hour until the vigilante turns himself over to the archer." states the woman.

"Oliver, the police are there, let them handle it."

"Those people are there because of me. I have to end this, once and for all Dig"

"We should call Nia?"

"I am sure she already knows. We will call her once we are ready to go"

Cordelia had already seen the report and had quickly made her exit from the party. She called the driver and told him to head home that she wouldn't be requiring his services any longer. By the time she gives her goodbyes a taxi is outside waiting, she pays him more than enough to drive her to an abandoned lot about a mile and a half away and not to ask any questions. The driver gladly obliges and drops her off. She waits until the tail lights are gone and she walks a couple of feet then pops out her phone punches in a series of numbers and presses her thumbprint and gives a command causing a small hatch to open up from the seemingly innocuous ground.

She quickly makes her way in, lights turning on as she jogs down the long hallway shoes in hand. She maneuvers shedding layers of clothing as she walks into a room that is full of clothes and weapons. She emerges through a larger hatch only 15 minutes later on her motorcycle in her full Nia gear and heads straight for the foundry.

She is standing outside for less than two minutes when she hears the clear sounds of the secret side entrance opening. Her phone begins to ring, as she looks down she sees it is Oliver and she smiles at the phone as the secret door opens and he and Diggle emerge.

"Oliver, this guy is very dangerous. You heard what Nia said"

"Diggle there wasn't anything on the island that wasn't twice as dangerous as this pretender and I survived there for five years."

They both simultaneously react to her too loud too cheery voice as she begins to speak.

"But back up is always good, not to belittle your whole five years speech. By the way boys, I am touched truly, that you called." she says with a hand over her heart as she holds up her phone. "Here I was worried you were about to have fun without me. Especially after our whole bonding moment."

"I said no more solo missions and I meant it Nia. But, this is my fight ultimately. He is here for me and I will give him what he wants. Yet, I will need the backup to help with the hostages. I won't have anyone get hurt because of me, not anymore. I will face the archer. Nia, you will get the hostages and Dig, you will secure the perimeter"

"You are a stubborn, prideful one, aren't you? Got it all figured out, huh?" at his smirk she continues "don't be so impressed with yourself, you're not as unique as you think."

FLASHBACK

"Be careful little girl. You are a bit out of your league here. This is your one opportunity to turn around and leave this be and preferably leave my city"

"Well, the all-powerful Batman has spoken I should really be shaking in my boots and following his every command. Unfortunately, for him I might be a genius and all, but I am not always all that smart."

"Looks like I will be teaching more than one lesson today"

"I can't wait to hear what you sound like"

"What sound?"

"The sound of you choking on your own words." he lets out a dark chuckle as he extends his hand towards her.

"Ladies first"

"Aw such a gentleman" she says as she releases three throwing knives in quick succession. He looks back at her and smirks at the fact that not a single one touched him. She stands up straight and tilts her head. He takes a step forward and his utility belt falls to his feet. He quickly looks down and then at her as he releases two batarangs she diverts one but the other curves and manages to slice her forearm. She gives nothing away. But she can tell that he knows he got her. She pulls out her bo staff which had become her weapon of choice after she had severely injured someone with her sword while only trying to subdue them.

Batman extends his arm and calls her over with a curl of his fingers. She takes her fighting stance and leaps forward with an overhead attack landing a strong blow across his back and left side. He manages to wrap his arm around the staff as it impacts his side and uses it to pull her forward and land a knee in her side as his elbow slams down hard on her back. As she drops to her knees she takes advantage of her new position and uses her body weight to take his legs out from under him as she donkey kicks up into his chest and sends him flying back, his ass hitting the concrete hard. She quickly backflips and throws four more knives pinning his cape to the ground as he is trying to get up and regain his breath. She is pretty sure she heard something crack and from his faltering breaths she bets it was a rib or his sternum. That is a weakness she can exploit.

She immediately attacks again taking advantage that he is pinned she manages to land one hard blow to the side of his knee before his rage takes over and he growls loud as he wraps his arms around her and slams her to the floor using his full body to cause as much damage as possible. All the air flees from her lungs and her back arches off the hard floor in pain. She hears him tear the cape as the knives go flying across the alley. Before she knows it he is on top of her and pinning her down talking through gritted teeth.

"Enough. I don't want to hurt you but I will to make a point. I will make it so you never fight again, do you hear me. Go back home little girl"

Felicity takes advantage of his proximity and slams her forehead into his mouth sending him reeling back sputtering blood. She can feel the cut on her forehead but she doesn't care because all she wants to see is the Bat on his back. She kicks-up and unleashes one attack after another. Her knee comes up to finish the job her forehead started. She steps on his cape to keep him in position as she lands a right hook followed by a left uppercut to his face. He goes back but takes her with him managing to grab onto her holster. He flips her and locks his arms around her neck. She can feel the blood from his mouth sputtering on the side of her face and she can hear the gurgling. A sure sign that he is having a hard time breathing while on his back. She decides to make it a bit harder by slamming her elbow repeatedly into his ribs hoping to aggravate the previous damage. That earns her a few quick jabs to her ribs and she knows she won't be standing up straight for a couple of weeks.

He flips them so that he is on top of her smashing her face into the ground and pulls her arm back while placing his forearm on the back of her neck.

"Stop fighting" he shouts his voice low and menacing

"Sorry can't hear you through all the blood in your mouth" she grunts out as best she can in her position. She knows she only has one choice at this point and for the first time ever she is glad for this one particular injury Dragon had inflicted on her. Maneuvering her body she dislocates her shoulder allowing her to buck her hips up enough to turn her lower body and throw him off balance. She manages to release one of her legs and wraps it around his body slamming him back onto the ground as the move lifts her up to a sitting position in an almost seesaw motion. With her new advantage she takes her now free hand and slams it against his sternum hard and precise. His hold goes slack and she swears she sees his eyes roll to the back of his head.

Knowing she has seconds, she gets to her feet with a knife in her hand ready to straddle him and place the knife to his carotid. She is standing over him when she hears the clear sound of a bullet exiting a chamber. She manages to dodge it and then registers the clear sign of a police car followed by the voice of Batman calling for his friend to stop "Gordon" he shouts as the man stops in his tracks and she realizes just then, the Bat wasn't as unconscious as she thought but she can clearly see he is injured and hurting and so is she. Just then she hears Cass call her name from a near roof while in her peripherals she sees Batman reaching for his batarang. She takes a running start and leaps to the nearby fire escape grabbing on and barely lifting herself with one arm. She lets out an agonizing moan as she makes it to top of the roof. She falls into Cass' arms and they flee.

"You know I had him right" she grunts as they make their way to the next roof.

"That's not the story he will tell"

"Regardless, a girl half his size kicked his ass and that is undeniable. Bruce Wayne won't be showing his pretty, all bruised up, face anywhere, any time soon." they both laugh as they make their way back.

"So was that a girl that just kicked your ass?" asked Gordon. Batman simply glared at him as he struggled to make his way out of the alley.

"Better hurry. Back up is on its way and don't go down Jackson St, you might run into a gang of girl scouts." he chuckled. All he got in response was a low irritated growl. The minute he arrives at Wayne Manor he makes his way into his room walking past Alfred and stops before entering his bathroom.

"Alfred, please cancel my meeting with the board tomorrow"

"Sir?" ask a confused Alfred, Bruce had been adamant about this meeting for days. Bruce simply turned to look at him. Alfred immediately saw his face and understood.

"Will do sir?" he hesitated a beat before continuing "Bruce, I told you not to underestimate that young lady" Bruce glared at him before walking into the bathroom muttering under his breath,

"It won't ever happen again" he knew you only turn your back once on a worthy opponent.

END OF FLASHBACK

Oliver, Digg and Nia finish prepping their plan as they stand on a rooftop across the way. Oliver reminds them that he must go in alone because if the archer detects that he did not come alone it might cause him to actually start killing the hostages. Nia is about to begin to argue and then remembers that she needs to trust him, so she simply nods her approval even though she doesn't think it is smart or safe and neither does Diggle. Yet, they both understand that sometimes, especially when you are being called out, you need to face certain battles alone.

Lance arrives at almost the one hour mark immediately falling into an argument with the commissioner about how they should handle the situation. Oliver and Nia are waiting for Diggle's cue as he goes around the set up the police has outside the building. Giving them the thumbs up but warning them that the commissioner is out for blood and he doesn't care which archer it comes from.

Oliver zip lines in crashing through the window. While Nia climbs to the roof to wait for the hostages. Oliver makes his way quickly finding the hostages and freeing them. He gathers them all and tells them that everything will be okay to stick close to him and stay quite. He guides them to a staircase and tells them to make their way to the roof that a woman will be there waiting for them and she will help them. Just before he turns to leave one of the hostages stops him with a hand on his arm.

"Thank you, whoever you are thank you, for everything" he doesn't say anything simply nods for her to follow the others and continues on his way. Meanwhile, Nia is trying to stay out of sight while keeping an eye out in case Oliver might need back up. While also communicating with Diggle as he tells her about the best escape route which he has made sure is clear.

Oliver turns down the corridor carefully looking for the archer when he suddenly appears behind him at the opposite end of the corridor.

"Thank you for coming. After the warehouse, I knew I'd have to do something dramatic to get your attention." his words tinged with humor.

"What do you want with me?"

"What any archer wants. To see who's better." and just like that the fight begins. They shot at each other both missing and diving straight into combat. Oliver leaps around a corner and manages to get up in the rafters. With calculated steps he tries to sneak up and get a better vantage point on the other archer. He doesn't move quickly enough and the archer spots his reflection in some broken glass. As he turns to face him he is already releasing an arrow. It hits its target, Oliver's bow, which tumbles out of his hand. Oliver leaps using the light fixtures propelling from one to another to get across the room. The archer follows his movements and releases an arrow straight into his leg, the pain causes him to release his grip on the fixture and he falls landing hard but not before he releases two arrows.

Nia is on the rooftop having already secured the hostages and helped those that needed it. Just then her phone vibrates and she knows only four people have this number so it must be important, she pulls it out to see a text from Cass all she gives her is a name and that is enough Arthur King, she knows the name well, a little too well. During their time together Cass had told her the stories of her training with her father in the league. Her stories were especially cruel when she spoke of her father's friend Arthur King whose method of training was far more ruthless than the rest. He was also the first enemy she helped Cass fight and the first time she almost died. The memories send a shiver up her spine as she whispers "The Dark Archer" and she knows Oliver is terribly out skilled.

She ties a note to a dagger and sends it flying across the commotion on the street landing with force onto the wooden table in front of Detective Lance. He looks around surprised and immediately takes the note.

The hostages are safe and making their way down the east fire escape she makes sure to underline it with an arrow.

She calls for Dig tells him to prep their escape route. Warns him that there will be radio silence until she and Oliver are out, at which point he is to go ahead of them and get the foundry ready because they will need it, Oliver will need it. He doesn't question her simply tells her to be safe. She makes her way down the stairs practically flying down, her feet hardly making any impact with the ground. She wants to call out to him but knows her only advantage at this point is the element of surprise. Gun in hand she makes her way room by room as quickly as she can.

The Dark Archer revels in what he assumes is already his victory. He watches Oliver struggle to get to his feet never letting his guard down. He appears behind him and without hesitation he shots 3 arrows into his back in a tight cluster and then kicks him so he drops flat on the ground. Making sure to kick him hard and mercilessly every time, Oliver's attempts to get up are futile. As he moves closer, Oliver is struggling to find any form of purchase. Just as he is about to reach for his comm to turn it on the Dark Archer grabs his wrist and twist it behind his back before punching him and then repeatedly kicking him in the pleasure in the unnatural cracking sound they make.

With pure unadulterated hatred he tells him that he is going to kill him. The instant he speaks Nia hears him and pinpoints exactly where they are, she makes her way to the other side of the warehouse hoping she gets there in time.

The Dark Archer stomps on Oliver's right hand and tells him. "I know about the list..." The surprise in Oliver's face lets him know he has gotten the desired effect. Oliver knows he has made a grave mistake as the Archer continues to reveal and poison Oliver's mind with questions he never thought to ask himself, "and the man who authored it wants you dead. They call you the hood, let's see what you look like without it."

Just as the archer is reaching down for the hood Oliver uses one of his small throwing arrows and punctures it through his leg and punches him hard, sending him to the ground unconscious. Oliver stumbles up to get out of the warehouse. He knows he has a limited amount of time before the archer reacts and finishes the job.

Just as Nia turns to the corridor that leads to the room they are in, she sees the Dark Archer getting up as Oliver attempts to retreat to what she assumes is a back exit, his movements are slow and measured and it doesn't look like he is going to make it. She doesn't hesitate as she fires three shots straight for the Archer. The first one hitting her target the last two he manages to avoid by diving back into the room behind some bins. Oliver hears the shots and turns just in time to see Nia run into the room sword extended tackling the archer down but not before slicing a bit of his arm open. Immediately, they both get to their feet and begin to circle each other.

"Well, well seems like you went and found yourself a little friend." he says side eyeing Oliver who is standing still and carefully watching their movements. "You might want to leave this to the experts and go home little girl" Nia simply smirks, she loves it when people underestimate her. She hears Oliver even though she still can't see him.

"Get out. RUN!"

"I would listen to him if I was you"

"The bullet and cut in your arm say otherwise"

He throws a crate at her as she dodges it he nocks and arrow and releases it, she catches it right before it hits her and instantly releases three knives embedding one into the front of his shoulder. She leaps forward landing a high kick right on the knife and embedding it deeper with little concern. Just then she hears Oliver's groan of pain and fights the urge to turn towards him. As the Dark Archer stumbles she takes advantage to back away and look to Oliver, her breath catches at the sight of him, he looks about ready to pass out and she knows she needs to get him out of there immediately.

As she backs away she kicks his fallen bow and picks it up along with the arrow she had caught earlier. She sees the Archer's eyes slide towards Oliver and he nocks another arrow and points it towards Oliver. She dives to stop the arrow cutting her hand on it as she only manages to grasp it from the head. She turns and releases the black arrow from Oliver's bow at the retreating form of the Dark Archer landing it dead center on his back. He turns the corner and is gone in an instant. Everything tells her to follow him but she knows Oliver is staying conscious with the last bit of his will power.

As she makes her way to Oliver's slumped over form she knows he is in dire need of help and she can already hear the swat team infiltrating the building. She kneels down, stains one of her knives with the blood on the floor left behind by the Archer and then goes to get Oliver who is already leaning up against a wall and about to break the arrows on his back along the edge. She stops him and removes the arrows herself. She holds him around his waist as she pulls his arm over her shoulders. She turns on her comm and tells Dig to bring the car closer because Oliver is not going to make it, just as she says that she feels his entire weight slump against her and she knows he is out.

She painstakingly makes it outside into the alley, mustering every last bit of her strength to carry him into the area Diggle had cleared earlier. Just then his voice comes over the comms.

"There is no way I can get the car in. The swat team has moved in and there is too much commotion outside for me to sneak the car in."

"Damn it. Okay Dig stand by I am going to try and get to you. Keep a look out for anything."

She leans against a building further down the alley to help slide Oliver to the ground, then she unwinds her climbing rope bracelet and ties it to Oliver under his arms and around his torso. She begins to drag him deeper into the alley where they won't be spotted. As she drags him trying to be careful of his injuries Dig calls her name.

"Nia, Nia, we have trouble. The commissioner has ordered a full blown search for the hood. They are surrounding a two mile radius. There is no way I can get to you now. How is Oliver?"

"Unconscious" she says with a grunt and that is all he needs to hear to know that they are in serious trouble. She reaches the building where she stashed her bike and immediately rushes to get some supplies to stop some of the bleeding on Oliver's back and her hand. She takes out a sweater and then removes his hood and puts the sweater on him. She can hear the SCPD getting closer and she knows that without Dig they are done for unless she comes up with something quick.

She moves the bike behind a dumpster and then breaks open a gate on the side and drags Oliver further into an abandon property. She hears the thundering of footsteps and knows she has very little time. She manages to slump him over a corner and gather some cardboard and paper and an old dirty tarp. She cleans his face and removes all the green paint and makes sure the bleeding is controlled, at least for now, then she hides him as best she can. If anybody found him it would just look like Oliver Queen was assaulted and left for dead, something she was already praying wouldn't come true.

She knows it is time for a hail mary. She puts on his hood and quiver and grabs his bow. She tells Dig exactly where she left him and leaves her cell phone hidden near him so that Diggle can track him with the GPS locator she sent him. Then, she sneaks back outside hood up jacket ridiculously big on her body and mounts the bike, taking off like a bat out of hell through the alley and right by a whole squadron of Police, saluting them as she drives by them. Within seconds they are chasing her down the Glades. Diggle hears the commotion and takes advantage of all the confusion and makes his way towards the alley, by the time he arrives the alley is clear and Oliver is just where she left him.

The SCPD is going crazy chasing after her, the commissioner has called in all cars, the helicopter's spotlight is right on her tail and traffic as always is congested. As she weaves in and out she hears Dig tell her that he has Oliver and is on his way to the hospital. She breathes a sigh of relief and knows it is time to end this chase.

Leading the few cars that still remain towards the docks she kicks the bike into full speed and flies it off the docks into the water. They both hit the water hard causing a huge splash. The instant she hits the icy cold winter water her body wants to go into shock. She doesn't fight the water, instead she lets herself sink for a bit avoiding the helicopter's light before she swims under the docks. She pushes off one of the beams propelling her further down about 20 feet where she has scuba gear stored. She puts it on, sheds all her layers and is about to let the hood sink too but decides to take it with her. She rolls it up tight and puts it in her pack as she straps the bow over her torso. It isn't convenient but, she suspects these items are important to Oliver. The least she could do is return them. She swims out about two miles to a buoy and then three more miles to her safe house which is conveniently near the lighthouse, whose attendant is a friend. Making her way into the shed she gets rid of the gear, strips and changes into dry clothes. it takes a couple of minutes before her body stops shaking. Making sure to cover all her tracks she makes her way to the bike she has parked out back and heads towards Starling.


More than six hours have passed and Diggle hasn't heard anything from Nia. The reports are all over the news about the hood driving off into the bay, how they have recovered the motorcycle but nothing else, how they have the coast guard searching high and low. He is definitely worried yet, at the same time thankful because she just gave Oliver another instance to prove he is not the hood and another day to live.

Two hours later Oliver wakes startled and with a loud groan as he jolts or at least tries to jolt out of the bed. Immediately finding Dig at his side with a somber face that tells him something went wrong. Dig quickly reads the conclusion in his eyes and goes to reassure him

"Relax you are safe, she managed to save you."

"Where is she? What happened?"

"Nia managed to stop the bleeding and clean you up as well, before she took off and led the entirety of the SCPD on a high speed pursuit through the outskirts of the city and then dove into the bay, wearing your hood and bow." at Oliver's panicked look he continued. "I haven't heard anything from her because she left her cell phone with you so I could find you."

"Why aren't I at the foundry and why aren't you out looking for her?"

"You have a pneumothorax, three broken ribs and a concussion. You needed a hospital. She made me promise I would bring you to the hospital. I took care of the doctor he wrote in your file that it was a motorcycle accident and he says you will be fine. Now, some people are here to see you."

Even though he tells him it is fine for his family to come in, he knows that much like Dig his thoughts are only in one place right now, Nia.

Moira, Thea and Walter come into the room worried sick. Dig informs them that he was in a motorcycle accident but everything will be fine.

"You bailed on your party" accuses Thea

"Seemed like the right move. I mean like you said it wasn't the best timing."

"Okay, but when I was saying that, that was me being a bitch."

"Oh, truth is none of us were at our best." interrupts Moira. They all apologize and Walter points out that if anything at least now they are all together as a family. As everyone makes their exit except Thea she pulls out two candy canes and challenges him to a candy cane eating race race, no biting. Oliver can't help but smile and think maybe something good did come from this party. His father would approve.


Felicity manages to make it back into Starling completely unnoticed. She doesn't want to call Oliver because she no longer has the phone she uses to contact him and now is not the time to let her security protocols down. She opts for calling Walter.

"Thank you Felicity, it was good of you to call but Oliver is going to be fine. He's already on the mend"

"Good. I am glad to hear it, sir"

"I'm stepping into an elevator so I'll probably lose you. I'll call you straight back."

He hangs up and enters the elevator smiling at the man who was already in the back of the elevator. As soon as he stands in front of him the man takes out a syringe injects it into his neck and he loses consciousness almost instantly. He lets Walter lay on the floor as he guides the elevator all the way to the base floor. He then makes a call to Malcolm Merlyn informing him that the job is done.

Merlyn hangs up and turns to Moira and simply nods. At her gasp he goes to reassure her, a sentiment that is lost in the grand scheme, seeing as he is the one that just kidnapped him.

"Walter will never know that we planned his kidnapping and he will be safe, I promise. He was asking too many questions, Moira and you know it. Didn't you do the same to your son when he first arrived, have him kidnapped and tortured?"

"Only to prove to you that he knew nothing"

"Well, now this is to keep Walter safe. It is almost over and your family will be just fine. Just six more months."

"And you won't feel a thing by killing thousands of innocents, will you?"

"I will feel a sense of accomplishment." She looks at him in disgust as she gets back in her car and leaves. The minute she drives away Merlyn limps back to his car and heads home as well, feeling triumphant.


Felicity knows that she needs to let Oliver and Dig know that she is okay. She preps everything she needs and heads out to the hospital.

Diggle is standing by the doorway shaking his head at Oliver as he is walking with a cane, after insisting and almost threatening the doctor when he refused to let him get out of bed.

"You know Dig, when I confront somebody on the list I tell them that they have failed the city, but tonight it was me who failed."

"Oliver, five hostages are home with their families enjoying the holidays because of you. This guy the other archer he'll get his and you'll give it to him."

"We might have a bigger problem. The other archer told me that somebody compiled the list. I always assumed it was my father. But what if it wasn't?"

"What do you mean?"

"I think there is someone else out there someone who's more of a danger than the archer and I am going to take him down."

"We will take him down" at that Oliver nods.

"Nia might have the answers we seek and she might know more about this, maybe it is time we start a full disclosure policy when it comes to Robert Queen."

"But first we have to find her and make sure that she is okay." Oliver turns from the window to face Dig, the concern evident in both men's eyes.

"We have no way of contacting her and there is no trace of her in the river. She saved me Dig and she might have the answers I seek and might be the only one willing to share."

"I don't think we need to worry. She is quite resilient and I have a growing suspicion she is not that easy to kill."

"How can you be so sure?" A smile spreads over Dig's face as he nods towards the window. Oliver narrows his eyes at Diggle's insistence that he turn to look out the window, eventually he does. Especially once he notices the clear change in Diggle's demeanor and mood. He tries to find what it is he wants him to focus on when he spots it on the building across the way. He sees her standing there all in black as the full moon allows him to see the wisps of red hair as they flap freely. He can't help it as a slight smile spreads across his face and he nods acknowledging her and saying so much in a simple gesture- thank you for saving my life, thank you for being there, thank you, simply thank you.

She sees them both turn quickly towards the door and with what she can imagine are confused faces they asses the young man standing at the door holding an oversized package. Diggle takes it and tips the boy as he takes the package and turns to Oliver. They both stand there for a beat before Oliver reaches for it and opens it only to find his hood and bow inside. He looks up at Diggle who peeks inside and grins wide as he shakes his head. She smiles and with one last glance she makes her way home. As Oliver turns all he manages to see is a dark shadow as it disappears into the night, he runs his hand along the bow and feels a little of the tension begin to ebb away.


As Felicity stands in front of her mirror removing all her layers, beyond exhausted, in pain and anxious she can't help but dwell on how close of a call today had been. She knew being alone for so many years had been hard but now she was realizing that having partners was far more dangerous and would require sacrifices she never had to make. Allies she had, partners never. Cass at some point but she was so highly trained that they knew better than to sacrifice a mission for each other. Now, she had two partners and damn her if she didn't already care deeply for them, well above her own well-being. She knows letting Arthur King go would come back to bite her in the ass along with Cass who was probably already making her way to Starling hoping Felicity had captured him, knowing she was fully capable, and would be willing to hand him over to her. Worst of all was that if he recognized her he made no show of it but she knew that was nothing to rely on.

FLASHBACK

"Move, move" shouted Cass as they ran down one flight after another of stairs.

Felicity was trying as hard as she could to keep up and ignore the flares of pain coming from her thigh. They had already descended ten flights and had seven more to go before they could make a clean break.

"Cassy you can run but you can't hide. Not from your father's shame or your mother's disappointment and the same will be for my arrows" King shouted from behind her as he gained ground. When they went to attack him, after a month of tracking him and intel came in telling them he was in Chicago, they thought they had the upper hand. Almost immediately they knew they had made a grave mistake and he was more than ready for them then they had ever prepared for him. Their only option was to retreat, Felicity was still not skilled enough to face off against Arthur King and Cass had let her emotions get the best of her. They were both young and foolish and they were paying for it now.

Cass noticed that Felicity was slowing down as she turned to look at her she could see that she was losing blood fast.

"Stay with me, you hear. We are almost out of here just a few more steps"

"Go ahead I am right behind you" they kept running making it to the emergency exit flying right out as two arrows pierced the door. The cold Chicago air seemed to give Felicity new energy as she picked up her pace. Yet, she was still not keeping up. Just as Cass turned the corner she heard Felicity's piercing scream the sight that greeted her drained all the color out of her face an arrow had pierced straight through her back and out her chest right by her heart. The loud crack of her knees hitting the concrete was a sound they would never forget.

Felicity tried to get up only managing to fall back on her knees

"Run Cass, just run" she called back to her already coughing blood. Cass was torn, she knew that carrying Felicity and managing to get away was inconceivable but, she couldn't bring herself to leave her. She could see King standing on the other end of the alley bow ready and aimed at her. She knows he is about to release and she is ready and then he lowers his bow.

"I promised your father that I wouldn't kill you" he said as he turned around then he looked over his shoulder "That is a pleasure he'd like to have for himself and I won't take it from him." He starts to walk away and laughs as he adds "good luck saving your little friend" and just like that he was gone. By the time Cass got Felicity to the hospital she was soaked in blood and she was sure she was no longer breathing. She coded twice before they managed to stabilize her. Recovery had been a bitch, explaining her injury had been hilarious.

END OF FLASHBACK

Felicity couldn't help but rub at her scar right over her heart. The arrow had missed by mere centimeters and she always wondered if King had done it to spare her or to make her death as painful as possible. She could still feel the ache as if the arrow was still there. She shivered as she dispelled anymore memories of that night. She might not be looking forward to explaining to Cass just how he got away but at least she knew that with Cass in Starling they would be sure to find him and stop him.


As The Dark Archer stands above the Merlyn building looking out into the city he can't help but reminisce. He has been many men in his life, but as all he has come out on top and he doesn't have any plans of changing that anytime soon. His only immediate plans were concerning a certain little girl.

"She might be older and far more skilled but I recognize that fighting style anywhere. If Cassy's little protégé wants to play in the big leagues she is in for a rude awakening." He knew this complicated his plans especially because he was certain Cassy would be making an appearance very soon. That only meant he had to take her out, take them all out and speed up his timeline. They might know the archer and the assassin Arthur King, but none of them knew Malcolm Merlyn CEO and philanthropist and that was what he was counting on.


EN: So there it is let me know what you think about the new connections and Cass coming to Starling City to play! I personally love the relationship between them. Leave me some love in reviews and all that JAZZ! Thanks for all the support the love comments questions and the awesome conversations through PM!