Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter. I'm finally done with my homework for the semester, so I figured I had enough time to start writing again.
This chapter is gonna be rather short, and is really just gonna be Oliver's funeral.
Chapter 5- Saying Goodbye
Barry scowls a bit as he fumbles again while trying to fold his tie. Losing his patience, he switches over to tying his tie at super speed. Within a second, and after 5 more tries at super speed, his tie is perfectly tied.
Barry smiles a bit as he examines his reflection the mirror. Then he turns over to where Patty is trying to zip up the back of her black maternity dress. Barry smiles as he walks over to her. He gently gets her to let go of the zipper, and then carefully zips her up.
"Thank you, babe. It's harder to zip myself up these days," she says with a smile. She then turns around and gives him a kiss.
Barry smiles against her lips as he kisses her back, then pulls back after a moment. "We'd better get going," he says. Patty just nods in response.
Barry walks over to their bedside table, where an extrapolator is resting. He picks it up and walks back over to Patty, taking her hand as he presses the button on the extrapolator, opening a breach to their destination. They pause only for a moment before walking through the breach, emerging on the other side on the property of Queen Mansion.
"Shall we?" Barry asks. Patty smiles softly as she loops her arm through his, and they start walking across the massive lawn in the direction of the spot where the informal memorial is being held. Barry watches Patty carefully, making sure she doesn't stumble over the slightly moist ground, but she's wearing flats instead of heels, so she's having no problem.
After a few minutes, they come through several trees, and they see everyone who has gathered for the memorial. After a moment, Barry remembers a question he hasn't even asked Patty yet, and turns to her. "You're going to have to tell me since I don't remember: How many of these people have you met?"
Patty smiles a bit, but keeps herself from giggling out of respect for the scene. "I've met Felicity, John, and Thea. I know who some of the others are because you've told me about them, but I've only met those three," Patty responds.
Barry smiles slightly before he says, "Well, I guess it's time for you to meet the rest." He then starts leading her over to the group.
As they approach, they run right into Oliver's mother and Thea. Barry temporarily lets go of Patty's hand as he steps forward and says, "Hey, Thea."
"Barry. Glad you're here," she says, and they exchange a hug.
Barry then turns to Moira, extending his hand. "I don't know if we've met in this timeline, but I'm Barry," he says.
"I know. Oliver told me so much about you," Moira says.
Barry just nods. He then steps back beside Patty and says, "This is my wife, Patty."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Moira says. Patty nods, then accepts a hug from Thea.
"Hey, Barry." Barry and Patty turn to the sound of the voice, and see Tommy, as well as Earth-2 Laurel, standing a few feet away.
"We've met before?" Barry asks.
"Many times, though I know you wouldn't remember. In this case, it's nice to meet you, Barry," Tommy says, holding out his hand. Barry takes it, but it turns into a hug a moment later.
"I want you both to meet my wife, Patty," Barry says, stepping back besides Patty.
"Nice to meet you. Oliver spoke about you a few times," Tommy says.
"Nice to meet you," Laurel says quietly.
"Nice to meet you both," Patty says politely.
The four exchange a few more words before Barry leads Patty over to the one they really need to see.
"Hey, Felicity," Barry says as he approaches her. Felicity smiles and pulls him in for a hug, hugging him tightly.
"I'm so glad you could be here," she says.
"I wouldn't be anywhere else," Barry says before pulling back a bit. He looks Felicity in the eyes as he says, "You know, I was with Oliver…at the end. And…I just feel like I could've done more."
"No, Barry. You did everything you could have done. He would've done it a thousand times over even if it was just to save you," Felicity says, hugging Barry again.
As they separate a second time, Felicity turns to Patty. "Patty. It's so good to see you again," Felicity says as she steps forward and hugs Patty tightly, who hugs her back.
"I'm so sorry, Felicity," she says. As they pull back, Patty says, "I'm sorry about Oliver. But I'm glad we could come today."
"I'm so happy you're here," Felicity says. She then looks down at Patty's bump and smiles a genuine smile, touching Patty's stomach slightly and says, "How are these two? Did you find out the genders yet?"
"They're both very healthy. And we're having one of each," Patty says with a big smile.
"That's amazing. I'm so happy for you. I can't wait to meet them," Felicity says, giving Patty another hug.
Barry and Patty go around, meeting some of the others. Then, everyone gathers around the grave.
Everyone stands there for a few moments before Tommy says, "I think Oliver would be afraid I'd say something tactless."
"I'm barely holding it together as it is," Felicity says, clearly trying to contain tears.
After a few moments, Barry takes a few steps forward. "I first met Oliver Queen almost 7 years ago. When I first met him…I never realized who he would become in my life. It took us a long time to get past our first impressions, but he became so much more than I ever thought he would. Oliver was my best friend. He was my mentor. He was the person I could turn to for advice."
"For the years I knew him, I did everything I could to honor our friendship and the trust that Oliver had in me. When I failed, he never held it against me, but told me to use it as a learning experience. I probably would not be alive today if it were not for Oliver. And if it weren't for Oliver, we would all be dead."
Barry pauses for a few moments before he says, "The world is a much darker place without Oliver in it. But he gave us a second chance. A chance to live again. He gave us a new world. We must honor him by living our lives by any means necessary, and live our lives to the fullest. We must protect this new world that Oliver has given us, and forever honor his legacy by fighting preserve what he gave us. Oliver was the first of our heroes, and he will always be remembered as the greatest." He pauses, then says, "Oliver, whatever may await us in the next life…I hope you've finally found peace."
Barry steps back beside Patty. She gives him a kiss on the cheek as everyone stands there for several minutes before the assembly begins to break up.
As Barry glances around, he suddenly sees something. A figure in the treeline. After a second, he says, "Patty, I'll be back in a second." He then speeds in the direction of the figure as it disappears into the trees.
As Barry comes to a stop, the figure turns around, revealing it to be Slade Wilson.
"Wilson," Barry says neutrally.
"Those were good words, Allen," Slade responds.
"Why are you here?" Barry asks, both with suspicion and curiosity.
"I know I did so many terrible things to Oliver…but after I recovered from the Mirakuru, I tried to do what I could to repent for those sins. I know I wouldn't have been welcome down there…but I had to come and pay my respects to Oliver," Slade says.
Barry just nods, his suspicion fleeing away. After a few moments, Slade extends his hand, and Barry takes it. "You're a good man, Allen. I can see why Oliver trusted you so much. If you need my help…give me a call," Slade says.
"Thanks, Wilson. Take care of yourself," Barry says. Slade nods, then turns and walks away.
Barry speeds back to Patty. She looks at him and asks, "What was that?"
"Just someone who needed closure," he says.
"And what about you?" Patty asks.
"Huh?" Barry asks.
"Have you gotten closure?" she asks.
Barry looks over at Oliver's grave, his mind flooding with memories of what happened at the Dawn of Time. Then, he remembers Felicity's words, and he sighs a bit. "Yeah. I did," he says. He then puts his arm around Patty, and she does the same, taking a moment to just be together.
And, I'll end there. Hope you liked this chapter.
I decided to go ahead and make Barry give the eulogy since I really think he was the best choice. I also hope you like that I included Slade.
Next chapter should be up soon. Until then, please review, and stay tuned.