Let me introduce you all to ACT II. Heheh Now the fun starts This is where the second half of this story begins. I hope you are all still interest in what i have to write

Thank you for all the love I got from the last chapter, I really makes me excited when I get emails about reviews being left. This was a monster of a chapter, 6500 words, so please let me know what you all think.

Chapter 18 – Welcome to A New Day

Oliver moved slowly into the bedroom, watching his mother move around the room silently. There was one thing that was between Oliver and his mother and that was that they never lied to each other. Before he went on the Gambit, he and his mother knew everything that was happening in the others life, sometimes even more than he would have liked but clearly that had changed. "We need to talk." Was all he said.

Moira jumped from her spot on the bed, where she had sat down to brush her hair out. "Oh Oliver! I didn't hear you come in. I'm tired, it's been a long night so I would like to go to bed." She was deflecting, not wanting to talk to him at all. But Oliver knew better, he knew when his mother was hiding something.

Taking a step further into the bedroom, Oliver placed his hands by his side, trying to control his anger at what had happened. "I know." It was all he said for a moment, watching as she stiffened a little but didn't give anything more away. "About Felicity mum. I know what happened with Thea..." He waited to see her reaction, waited to see what she would give him.

But Moira was good, there was a slight pause in her movements, a pause that most people would not have noticed but Oliver knew better, he saw the twitch of her jaw, the freeze in her hand. "I don't know what you are talking about Oliver." She sighed, looking away from him, not wanting to give him anything more.

"There was a time when there were no secrets between us mum. So, I'm going to say this again, I know what happened with Felicity and I know what happened with Thea. Felicity told me everything."

This seemed to upset Moira, she stood instantly, looking over at him sharply, "You believe her over your own mother?" She scoffed, not believing that Oliver would even come to her with this. "Please Oliver, you can't believe that girl."

Anger flared behind Oliver's eyes at his mother dismissiveness, "I do believe her mother. Felicity gains nothing by lying to me. Felicity has never lied to me and I know she wouldn't start now." He was closer now, his voice lower, deeper, he wanted to hide his anger but his mother but she was testing him more than anyone had tested him in recent years.

"She told me everything, that she took Thea to a bar for her birthday, let her have a drink, she told me that Thea came back high after going to the bathroom and how she passed out. How she called the ambulance and then called you from the hospital. How you kicked her out, told Thea that Felicity had left her on her own." His voice was hard, level, his fingers twitching, thumb and forefinger rubbing against each other.

"She almost got your sister killed!" Moira turned on her heels and stared back at Oliver, her own face hard, eyes emotionless. "She took your 16-year-old sister to a bar, I almost lost you sister, after losing you and your father. I couldn't handle that Oliver. I told Thea what I needed to. Felicity needed to stay away from her and this family."

They faced off with each other, Oliver felt his stomach drop at his mother's confession. He no doubt believed Felicity but hearing his mother actually say what she said was painful. "You abandoned Felicity. After everything she has been through – you know her father left her, her mother died, then me – you and Thea were the only family had left. And you abandoned her." He couldn't understand why she would do something like that. I made him feel physically sick to think of the look on Felicity's face when Moira was telling her to leave.

"Felicity did everything she was supposed to, she called the ambulance, waited at the hospital by Thea's side. Even now she wants Thea to hate her because it means that Thea never finds out you lied to her. Felicity didn't do this, Thea did this to herself and she is living with the consequences. But Felicity - Felicity doesn't deserve to live with this." He had to take a step back from his mother, his anger growing.

Moira stayed silent, watching her son. "Oliver please…" She stepped closer to him, her hand reaching out for his but he raised his hands instantly, telling her to stay away. "Thea needed to be kept safe."

Oliver's jaw locked, "Felicity was one of her closest friend and you took that away from her, after everything Thea had been through. I'm not saying that you can't be angry but you've taken something from them both. Thea deserves better and so does Felicity." Oliver shook his head, turning on his heels before he headed back out the bedroom door, he needed to do something, something that would settle the anger inside of him.

As he went, he missed the pair of eyes watching him closely, anger and sadness reflecting in them as they watched him leave.


Tonight's dinner had been an interesting event, Thea had enjoyed having family friends over, it had been a while since they had come over, people she hadn't seen in a while. She also enjoyed seeing her brother smile, it had been so long since she had seen that, that she realised that she would give anything to see it again.

But then there was Felicity. Blonde Felicity. That was something she hadn't expected when she was getting ready. She almost wanted to be happy when she saw Felicity standing by the front door, she had missed Felicity but then Thea had remembered what had happened and the anger just settled into her gut.

Now she wanted to slap that smile off Felicity's face.

Stepping further down the hallway, Thea was heading to say goodnight to her mother, something she had started doing more and more recently. As she stepped closer to the open bedroom door, Thea heard her brother's voice and so waited, thinking that she would just walk straight in but something caught her attention, the conversation between mother and son was something she wanted to hear.

"She told me everything, that she took Thea to a bar for her birthday, let her have a drink, she told me that Thea came back to her high and how she passed out. How she called the ambulance and then called you from the hospital. How you kicked her out, told Thea that Felicity had left her on her own."

Oliver sounded angry to Thea, something that she would never associate with her brother. Not much made him angry before the accident, short tempered yes, many fights were the cause of his inability to just handle the situation but this was anger. Leaning against the wall, Thea listened a little more closely.

"She almost got your sister killed!"

Thea gasped silently; her mother couldn't be serious about this. Oliver couldn't have been right, could he?

"She took your 16-year-old sister to a bar, I almost lost you sister, after losing you and your father. I couldn't handle that Oliver. I told Thea what I needed to, Felicity needed to stay away from her and this family."

Oliver was right, Felicity had been there for her, she had called the ambulance, been by her side at the hospital. She hadn't just left her there. And Thea had believed her mother, after everything that Felicity had done for her over the last 4 years, how could she have believed her mother when she said that Felicity had abandoned her?

Thea felt sick, tears forming in her eyes, losing Felicity, after losing Oliver and her father was almost like the straw that broke the camel's back, but she had her mother and that's what she needed. But this information gave her a realisation, if Thea had been heartbroken at the thought that Felicity had left her, how did Felicity feel knowing that Thea never reached out to her.

Thea wanted to run, run back to her room and lock herself away, cry and scream at the thought that she had hurt one of her closest friends, that her own mother had hurt Felicity the way she had. Oliver's voice caught her attention once more, she leaned closer.

"Even now she wants Thea to hate her because it means that Thea never finds out you lied to her."

This was enough for the tears to fall silently down her cheeks, Oliver rushing from the bedroom moments later, his head down, hands shaking. He never saw her standing there, something that she was thankful for though, she really didn't want to talk to him at the moment, she wouldn't know what to say.

Turning around, Thea rushed back to her own room, slamming the door instantly, leaning her back against it as she let the new information wash over her. She honestly didn't know what to think now, she did know that she had to talk to Felicity, she needed to know if there was still a friendship there.


Oliver paced his room, his conversation with his mother had upset him more than he had thought it would, getting under his skin, he needed to do something, needed to work off his anger.

Taking a seat at his desk, Oliver looked over the web searches that he had been doing before dinner, pages and pages of information about the Starling City Elite, those in charge of the docks, in charge of the ports and in charge of the air strips. Each name he found, he scribbled down in the small diary, names he wanted to do more research into.

"You are different. Not like you to read a book."

Oliver's head shot up at the sound of the voice, that voice he remembered so fondly, Raisa. He smiled, closing the book slowly so she would not get suspicious. "Raisa…" He smiled at her; she would always hold a place in his heart. "I've missed you Raisa." She nodded at him, coming to stand by his side as he stood, blacking out his computer screen as he did.

Oliver had missed her; Raisa had raised him and Thea since he could remember so he made a point of showing her his appreciation when he could now that he was home. Bringing her into a tight hug, he sighed against her, "I'm happy to be home Raisa."

They just stood with each other, Raisa remembering the small boy she had raised, the small boy who would run to her when he was hurt or scared. The small boy who had grown into am amazing man. "You are still a good boy Oliver," she spoke against him, pulling away to look up into her eyes.

But Oliver laughed, a self-deprecating laugh, "Oh we both know I wasn't." But Raisa just raised her hand to his cheek, rubbing it gently, "I wasn't a good boy at all Raisa."

"We now bring you breaking news. The Starling City Police Department has confirmed that there have been three more deaths linked to the drug known as Vertigo."

Oliver pulled away from Raisa, his eyes landing on the TV in the corner of his room, something that he had even forgotten was on while he was on the computer. He and Raisa turned towards it; their attention now focused solely on the new report.

"The deaths of the three young people came as emergency services were called to the night club Club Sanity, owned by Starling City business mogul Adam Hunt, to reports of multiple sick. When paramedics arrived, they found the three unconscious on the footpath outside the club. All three were unable to be revived. This is 18th death that has been linked to the drug that has been terrorising the streets of Starling City in the last 3 months and the 8th death linked the night club. Adam Hunt has declined to comment."

"Police have yet to find the source of the drug and are concerned at the rate that it is being flooded onto the streets, it has been confirmed that this variation of Vertigo is more potent and more dangerous than that of what was on the streets almost 2 years ago. It is now not a question of if it will kill again but when."

Oliver's jaw locked as he listened to the new report, his whole body vibrating with fury. This drug was in his home town, killing people, almost killing Thea. He had worked so hard to stop the growth while on the island but it was even worse than before. He had planned to settle himself into his home again before heading out onto the streets but the death rate was increasing and it was clear that his plans had to be moved up.

"Oh, this terrible drug. So many dead, so much damage." Raisa just shook her head, a sad look on her face as she did, "I pray for those who get caught up in it."

Oliver watched Raisa walk away, leaving him in his room on his own, the night leading on. He had been researching where to start now that he was home, what angle to take first. And now it seemed as though he had found it.

Adam Hunt.

It had been a name that had come up more than once in his searches and now it seemed that he was more involved than he thought. Adam Hunt may have declined to comment to the media but he sure as hell would have a comment for Oliver.


Oliver stood in the shadows, watching and waiting, he would always wait. He knew what he needed, who he needed but it seemed that Adam Hunt had gone so far underground that even Oliver couldn't find him. And so instead he was going to start lower down the food chain, hit the dealers and take them out one by one.

He had been at it for the last four nights, each time he would hunt down a number of dealers, put the fear of God into them until they talked and then he would knock them out and call the police or when they really put up a fight, which there had always been at least one of them each night, he would pull back on the bow, sending an arrow flying into their chests before the police could even get there.

He'd killed while back in Starling City, something he never thought he would do, it was his home but once he had spent time driving around, seeing how far the city had fallen, how far the elite had let the Glades fall, he knew he had to do everything he could to save those people. The people that had been abandoned by the rest of the city, by those who worked and lived in buildings that overlooked the damage around them.

The lack of street lights helped conceal himself from the view of those who might be around that late at night. He'd been able to hide in the darkness, his dark green clothing, face covered by the hood that Yao Fe's had given him, the same hood he had taken up while working with the Bratva. It had become part of him, a way to separate the monster from the man, a way to separate the two parts of himself.

By his side was the weapon that had become another part of himself, the extra limb that brought out the hardest parts of himself. His bow, fitting easily to his hand, after years of using it, years of feeling the weight in his hand and the strength behind it. It flexed against him when he needed it to, stayed strong when it was being used in ways it wasn't meant to. Anatoli had called him Kapusian, Hood.

Over the years since he had learned how to hit a target on the run and in the worst conditions, Oliver had become an expert marksman, able to take out any target that he needed to, something the Amanda Waller and Anatoli had put to good use but now he was home, using his darkest self to track down the man who was killing people in his town. This hood, his hood, was going to be the nightmare that followed this drug all the way back down the rabbit whole to the person who was at the centre of this whole operation.

Oliver was on his third dealer for night, they were easy to find, the same tweaked out look in their eyes was easy to follow. And so, he waited, eyes trained on the corner, the other hooded figure waiting in the rain, waiting for his next client. And it didn't take long, only moments for the young couple to approach him, a short discussion and handshake before the two moved away, leaving the dealer to make his own way back towards Oliver.

He ducked down the alley way, the darkness encasing them both as Oliver tracked after him, nocking an arrow and firing it towards the dealer. In an instant the dealer was wrapped up around the ankles, the other end of the rope wrapping around an overhead pipeline, flipping the dealer upside down.

His cries echoed through alleyway, his body swinging against the movement of the rope. Oliver was in front of him instantly, his hand on his chest to hold him steady. "Where are you getting the Vertigo!?" Oliver's voice was deep, growling and rough, there was no chance he was leaving his alley without information, the last two dealers didn't have any information for him and he'd had no choice but to put them down, permanently. The first in a long list of people who he would be putting down to make sure Vertigo was taken off the board forever.

"Who is supplying it!?" Oliver landed a punch, sending him swinging once more. "WHO!"

But the dealer just laughed through the pain, "You can't beat him. You are going to lose…The Count always wins…" With another spluttering laugh the dealer passed out, his whole body slackening against the rope holding him upside down, his whole body relaxing. Oliver groaned, there wasn't much more he was going to get from the night now, it was late and the rain had really set in, soaking through to the bone. Oliver let go of the rope, the dealer's body plummeting to the ground with a thud.

It didn't take long for Oliver to get back to the estate, his bike revving against the cold. He was able to sneak back into the house, scaling the side of the building before slipping into the hallway leading to his bedroom. Thankfully it was well after 2am and the rest of the house was asleep. Having spent so many years running around the ground of the house, Oliver was lucky that he knew where the best hiding places were, he'd been able to hide his bike and his backpack with his hood, bow and quiver at the far end of the lands.

It didn't take long before Oliver was back in his room, having changed from his hood already to his normal clothes before changing out and into just his boxers, he hoped that his late night hours of fighting and running was enough to tire him out. Thunder echoed around him, the lightning lighting up his bedroom, causing him to halt for a moment, a sudden flash of dear consuming him.

Since the first nights over the first months on the island, Oliver had always struggled with the storms, each storm brought more noise and a thumping heart as he had always tried to settle himself but the memories of the Gambit going down during a massive storm had settled into the back of his mind, ever present and hounding.

Oliver had somehow found himself lay in front of the open doors to his balcony, a part of him had found a small amount of comfort and familiarity to the past 3 years as he did, the hard floor below him, the feeling of the rain and wind on his face settled him in a way he never thought possible but it did not stop the nightmares that came.

Flashes of the Gambit going under, the feeling over the water pulling him under, his body tiring at the fight to keep his head above water. It was the first storm he had endured during his time away and it was the worst, the deepest fear having run through him, a fear he never seemed to be able to shake.

But shake he did, Oliver's whole body shook at the nightmare, fists clenching tightly as if he was still trying to reach the surface of the water, sweet mixing with the rain that pelted through the open balcony door. He could feel pressure on his shoulder, his nightmare dissolving to a memory of being strapped up to a ceiling, arms above his head, a knife plunging deep into his chest.

Instinctively, Oliver's body reached out in his nightmare finding that there was actual movement, his hands wrapping around the neck of the attacker in front of him.

"Ollie!"

Oliver growled at the attacker, his nightmare was exactly like he remembered except that he'd never had his hands free, but now that he did and he was going to use all his strength to make his attacker pay for his torture. He tightened his hands around the neck of the person in front of him, feeling their hands come up to his wrists, nails biting deep to try and push him away.

"Ollie!"

That voice again, echoing in the back of his mind, he knew that voice, he recognised that voice.

"Oliver, its me…It's Tommy…"

Tommy?

Oliver blinked, the world around him coming to, his bedroom, the sound of the window, the light of day. He wasn't on the island, he was back home, with his family. He was safe. But there was that voice still "Ollie".

He blinked again, Tommy coming into focus for him, the fear in his eyes, the feel of his hands wrapped around Oliver's wrists. It was then that Oliver realised that his own hands were wrapped around Tommy's throat, holding him tightly, squeezing.

Propelling backwards the moment that Oliver realised what was happening, he pushed himself as far backwards into the bedroom as possible, crouching away from the sounds of his worried family, Tommy coughing. "I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…" Oliver dropped his head to his knees, keeping them close to his chest as he tried to make himself as small as he could. He tried to put himself as far into the corner as he possible could have.

"Ollie, it's alright…" Tommy's voice was closer this time, trying to sooth Oliver down, "Hey, Oliver, I'm ok man. Really, hey look at me…" Slowly Oliver felt the slight pressure of Tommy's hand on his arm, it was soft and gently, trying not to scare him again. Oliver flinched under Tommy's touch but he didn't let Oliver pull away. His hand tightened around his forearm, pulling Oliver's eye up from his knees to Tommy's.

"I'm ok Oliver. Look, I'm fine." Oliver blinked as he looked over Tommy, he already had bruising forming around his neck but he wasn't coughing anymore. "I promise, I am ok." Tommy really needed Oliver to understand that he was ok. That it was just bruising and nothing permanent. His whole body shook still, the nightmare and the realisation of the pain he had caused his best friend.

Slowly Oliver looked over Tommy's face, noticing the small smile that was on his face, it was small but it was there. "Tommy, I'm so sorry…" But Tommy shook his head, his smile widening a little.

"No man, it's all good. I mean wouldn't be the first time we got into a fight with each other." Oliver laughed a little, relaxing ever so slightly. He was still scared and angry but Tommy's smile lessened that a little. Nodding, Tommy stepped back and gave his hand out to Oliver to help him back to his feet. As he rose, it was then he realised that he was soaked through, memories of the last few hours coming back to him.

The dealers giving him no information – except a name, The Count - the storm, then nightmare. His heartrate began to settle, the shiver taking over once his body realised he was cold from the rain. "Come on man. Its morning. We have a big day planning your welcome home party!"

Oliver stood slowly, realising he was standing in his boxers with Tommy staring at him. Granted it was not the first time that Tommy had seen him half naked or naked but it was the first time that Tommy – or anyone – had seen his chest and back and the scars.

As he stood, Oliver didn't miss how Tommy's eyes dropped to his chest, his eyes widening at the sight. After a moment, Tommy shook his head, clearing any thoughts that he had about Oliver's scars. "Come on man, I'm ok but I am hungry…" He clapped Oliver on the back, settling down some of the anxiety that Oliver was feeling.

"Breakfast before we go bar shopping?" Oliver had reached for the tshirt that was on the bed. Moving towards the bathroom to get ready for the day.


"Tommy…you need to talk to Oliver. You have to tell him…" Felicity stood in front of the desk in Verdant's upstairs off. Now that Oliver was back, he was going to start seeing more of Tommy, which meant that he would find out about Laurel sooner or later and Felicity felt like it needed to be sooner and from Tommy himself.

Tommy sighed, rubbing his face, "I know Felicity. Alright I know I have to tell him; I just don't know how. I mean, I have no idea how he will react." He stood quickly, looking over at her. "He'll kill me."

Felicity huffed, Oliver would understand, he was gone…he was dead for 3 years. He would never be upset with Tommy. "Do you want to talk to Oliver…maybe it'll be easier coming from me."

But Tommy shook his head, "No it's fine. I have to do it. It has to come from me." He nodded again to Felicity but it more of an encouraging nod to him.

At the sound of creaking floors, Tommy and Felicity looked up to find Oliver standing in the doorway, watching them both closely.

Oliver had been making his way up the stairs when he heard the conversation between Felicity and Tommy, he didn't have much of an idea as to what they were talking about but he could guess. Oliver had asked Tommy what was new in his life and he had mentioned dating someone new. And he was happy for Tommy and what was obvious his girlfriend Felicity.

Oliver felt his stomach drop a little at the thought of Felicity and Tommy being together but he would never fault them as long as they were happy. Taking a deep breath, settling down his heart rate as much as he could at the thoughts running through his head of Felicity and Tommy being together. His hand settled on his pant pocket, a habbit the had gotten into since that was where he had kept the photo of himself, Felicity and Tommy for all those years. Knowing he had it on him, knowing he could look at her face when he needed to settled him when he needed it.

"Hey man! I was just heading off; Felicity is going to run you through the bar!" Tommy rushed past Oliver, granted he did actually have to leave, it was clear that Tommy was trying to get out of there. As Tommy did, he placed his hand on Felicity's briefly before rushing down the stairs and out of the bar.

Felicity smiled up at Oliver as he watched Tommy go, "Come on…I'll show you around." She took a hold of Oliver's arm, the warmth he felt there was enough to spread through his whole body. Oh how he wished he could feel her hands over the rest of him. Shaking his head, Oliver found himself already down the stairs and onto the dance floor.

"So…what do you think?" Felicity turned to face Oliver, she looked worried, unsure of what he actually thought about them making his dream a reality. He watched as she rung her hands together.

Oliver turned and looked around, taking in the dance floor, the DJ booth, and the bar. It was everything he had imagined and more. "Felicity…this place is amazing. Honestly you guys have done an amazing job." He couldn't have been prouder of her and Tommy for their efforts with the bar.

This caused a bright smile to form on her face, her eyes shining. "Oh Oliver, I am so happy to hear that. Oh wait…one more thing…" She grabbed a hold of his hand and led him over to the wall near the bar, she all but shoved him to a panel on the wall. "Late Ada Jonas 11900." Oliver looked down at her a little shocked at hearing his middle name but her smile spurred him on.

Keying in the code, the lights to the bar instantly lit up, the green enveloping the area. Oliver was shocked, the bar got better and better each time she showed him something, but what Felicity wanted him to see was behind the bar on the wall.

With a nod towards the bar counter, Oliver turned and found, in the middle of the wall, the lit-up letter of 'OJQ'. "We wanted to make sure there was always something about you here. Like you were looking down on everyone here…" It was only an instant between the words falling from her lips to Oliver turning around and pulling towards him tightly.

He could not believe how much it meant to him that they had done all of this, that Felicity had thought so much of him to want to have that reminder. "Thank you, Felicity. This means to world to me."

Felicity just hugged him back tightly, "We missed you so much Oliver…I missed you.." They pulled away from each other, smiling and happy. After a moment, Oliver leaned against the bar near him, Felicity switching off then lights and taking the up the same stance by his side. They fell into an easy conversation instantly until the sound of the entrance doors caught her attention.

"We're closed!" Felicity called out with her back turned entrance doors, her eyes still trained on Oliver who was smiling down at Felicity. He'd forgotten how small she was without her heels on. Felicity felt safe enough not to bother look up with Oliver there, anyone would have to be stupid to try something if she wasn't alone.

The sound of heels clicking on the concrete floors pulled Oliver and Felicity from each other, turning they found someone they didn't expect to see. "I was hoping maybe we could talk?" Thea looked a little unsure of herself, her school uniform making her seem younger than she was. Felicity blinked and glanced over at Oliver before smiling.

"Ah yeah sure, I've gotta head out the back anyway…"

But Thea stopped her, "No, I actually meant, can I talk to you Felicity…" Now Thea really looked unsure of herself, almost she was expecting Felicity to tell her she didn't want anything to do with her. She looked between Felicity and Oliver, waiting to see a reaction. Thankfully she received smiled in return.

Oliver nodded, turning to Felicity, his hand reaching for her shoulder gently, "I will leave you to it then. I'm gonna go and see what around…" With a quick squeeze of her shoulder, he moved from behind the bar, passed Thea where he leaned in a placed a kiss on her cheek, before heading out the entrance doors.

Silence filled the space for a few minutes, Felicity not wanting to push Thea, considering she came to see her and Thea not really sure how to broach the subject. After a moment, Thea signed and moved to stand by the bar, hopping up on to the bar stool. "So…I never told you that I like your hair blonde…"

Felicity laughed, running her hands through her pony tail before making her way to Thea's side, sitting on the stool next to her. "Thanks, I ah…I needed the change about 6 months ago…"

Thea nodded, unsure of what to say next. "I ah…Look, I need to apologise to you Felicity. I overheard Oliver and mum talking on Monday night after you left dinner and I-"

"He what?" Felicity blinked; Oliver had promised her that he would not mention what happened to Moira at all. He was not supposed to even bring it up ever again.

"Yeah, look don't be upset with him ok. He was pretty angry with her and since he has been back, he has struggled to keep his anger down. I mean really, it's like he struggled with all his emotions really." Thea shrugged, thinking of that morning with Tommy and how scared he was after hurting him. "But I need you to know that I am sorry, I shouldn't have cut you out, I should have come to see you. I mean I know how much you were hurting too with Ollie and well I guess I got so caught up in myself that I didn't stop to think about anyone else."

Felicity watched Thea, shocked at how far she had come since that night, true she still had bad days, understandable when the media decided it was a good idea to run a previous story about Oliver or his disappearance. Sighing, Felicity looked down, "To be honest with you Thea, I think I still would have made the same decision as I originally did. You needed you mum, she was the only family you had left and I didn't want you to lose her too over what happened."

Thea reached out suddenly, grasping onto Felicity's hand tightly, "You are my family Felicity, you were always my family. You know me better than most, you still do. I needed you in my life as well as my mum." Felicity held Thea's hand just as tight as Thea held hers.

"Thea, you were always my family. That's why I did what I felt was right by not coming to you after you got out of the hospital. I still blame myself; you weren't old enough to even be in a bar and I still took you there. I have to shoulder the blame for you even being there. Plus, you were grounded-"

But Thea shook her head, "Felicity…why do you think I was grounded in the first place? I'd snuck out during the week and got caught by the cops, drunk and high. You taking me to the bar didn't suddenly make me a drug addict." Felicity gave Thea a watery smile, her own tears forming, sad at actually hearing Thea call herself an addict but also happy to speaking to her again.

"How about we put this all behind us. Ollie is back and now we can move forward together as well…" Felicity liked the sound of that. Felicity leaned forward, bringing her arms around Thea in a tight hug, something she realised she had been missing for the last 18 months.


Oliver tracked around the outside of the old steel factory, smiling to himself a little at the thought that Thea was there to see Felicity. Seeing her come into the club made him realise that she must have heard his conversation with their mother. Did he actually expect her turn up and talk to Felicity? No. But she was not the 14-year-old he remembered, who was the most stubborn child he had ever met.

Skimming around the outside of the old building, Oliver stopped, a small set of stairs in the far corner of the building. They led down to an old door, one that looked like it hadn't been opened in years but it was also surrounded by piles of old metals and scraps. It took only a moment for Oliver to be by the door, looking over it, he decided to give it a good shove, hoping the old hinges would just give – and thankfully it did.

Hearing the old metal scraping along the concrete floors, Oliver pushed further into the room, finding that it was quite large and continued on for a good stretch of the building. If Oliver didn't know any better, the room spanned the whole length of the building, sitting directly underneath the club. It seemed as though neither Felicity or Tommy knew it was there.

Standing in the middle of the floor, he looked around and there was light coming in from the small windows but it was out of the way, no way of finding it if you weren't looking for it. This could work in his favour. Over the last few days, Oliver had been thinking about how he could keep his lives separate and he now realised that where else would everyone expect him to spend almost all his nights?

A nightclub.

This was the perfect cover for him, he could set himself up right underneath the club, secure side entrance that it was clear that no one else knew about. This was exactly what he needed, plus there were already a few tables sets up, perfect for his computer and some equipment as well as left over steel.

Oliver smirked when he looked at what was left in the room, he already had a use for most of it, he would use the left over pieces to set up work out equipment, he had been missing his salmon ladder over the last week.

Realising he had been gone for about half an hour, Oliver headed back the way he came, pulling the door closed behind him, Oliver rushed towards the front entrance of Verdant. As he pushed open the door, Oliver stopped and smiled, Thea and Felicity was sitting next to each other, "Well this look promising…" He was hoping that Thea and Felicity would settle what was happening between them.

Thea laughed as something Felicity had said before turning to Oliver, "Oh don't worry big brother, we are now back to being friends…you better watch out…" Oliver just shook his head, stepping up to Felicity's side. Silence stretched between them all, Thea watching as Oliver and Felicity just smiled at each other, seeming as though Thea wasn't even there. Her mind was running a mile a minute as to what she could do that piece of information she had gathered about her brother and his best friend.

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