Chapter 3: Telling Secrets

******The Next Day******

Felicity awoke from a nightmare filled night. It seemed that since Oliver had died all her nights were filled with darkness. There was no more light. How was she supposed to carry on without Oliver? He came into her life and changed it for all time. Then he abandoned her. Things were so screwed up. It really felt like she was standing on the mouth of hell, and it was about to consume her.

Felicity curled up into a ball and sobbed.

She went through her workday robotically. What did it matter? The city was falling apart. It was like they were putting a Band-Aid on a severed limb. Were they wasting their time?

When she went to the club, she found Xander shooting arrows with Roy. There was laughter. It'd been so long since she'd heard laughter.

"How can you hit a target with one eye?" Roy asked incredulously.

Xander shrugged. "Practice. I grew up on a hellmouth. Learning how to defend yourself was a matter of survival," he said.

Willow looked toward Felicity as she approached. "Hey," Willow said. "How was your day?"

Felicity shrugged. "Same old thing. The company is now owned by the she-witch from hell who has changed the applied science's focus to something she refuses to tell me about. I suspect, I'm working for the devil," Felicity said as she sat down in her chair.

"You shouldn't joke about that kind of thing when there's a possible active hellmouth in town," Xander told her with a grin.

Felicity rolled her eyes. "Are you going to go on about that again? Things are bad. The city's turning into a giant crap hole, but a hellmouth? I don't have the energy to argue with you," Felicity said warily. She turned around in her chair and brought up some data on her computer. "I know that you both are from Sunnydale, California. Your hometown is a crater. Do you know how that happened?"

"We shut the hellmouth," Willow said. "For good."

Felicity could tell that the woman was serious. It was just all so insane. How could it be real? "I'm sorry. I'm just having trouble wrapping my mind around all the things you guys are saying," Felicity said.

Willow held out her hand. "Will you let me show you something?" Willow asked her.

"Show me what?" Felicity asked.

"Just give me a chance to show you. Trust me," Willow urged. "I promise, you can trust me."

Felicity looked at this woman. She was beautiful and her eyes were full of intelligence and kindness. Felicity took a deep breath and held out her hand as she stood. Willow beamed at her and took her hand. "Xan, we'll be back in a minute," she said. Then they were gone.

"What the hell?" Roy asked. They had just vanished. He immediately cocked his arrow, aiming it at Xander. His formal friendliness gone as fear for Felicity filled him.

John appeared. "What's going on?" he asked, seeing the arrow pointed at Xander and Roy's noticeable anger.

"The redheaded witch disappeared with Felicity," Roy said. "She was there one minute. Then she wasn't the next."

"She's fine. Willow teleported her someplace to help make her understand what she's dealing with her," Xander said.

"Why don't you just sit down right there where we can keep an eye on you while we wait for them to return," John said, pointing to a chair.

Xander held up his hands. "I promise you, Willow won't hurt her in any way. They'll be back soon," Xander assured them unconcerned. He sat down in the chair. "We're just here to help. We have a team of warriors to help push back the darkness in this city. It's going to be okay."

John and Roy exchanged a glance. Neither needed to say anything. Both were thinking the same thing. Felicity was their heart. Without her, their mission would be over. They sat down and waited for her return.

******Sunnydale, California******

Felicity gasped, her head swimming. "What did you do?" she asked. They were outside. "Where are we?"

Willow took a few steps. Some flower crosses were a few feet away. She walked toward them, expecting Felicity to follow. "I brought you to Sunnydale, my hometown—or rather it was," she said. She stopped at the flowers and peered out at the huge crater that used to be her home.

Curious, Felicity walked toward her. "I read about this. Did your family make it out?" she asked.

"My parents did. We lost some friends. Xander's girlfriend died in the final battle," Willow said, thinking back. "It's been five years, but I will never forget the spell I did. The magics that I tapped into. It changed everything."

"Why did you bring me here?" Felicity asked.

"This is where it all started. I wanted you to see what a hellmouth can do to a town," Willow said. "You think things are bad in Starling City right now, I promise you, if there's a hellmouth there, things will be so much worse. This could be your city."

Felicity looked out at the hole, feeling sick. Was this what would happen to Oliver's home? Starling City was all she had left of him.

"I was a sophomore in high school when I met Buffy. She was new to town. Beautiful and she chose me. I was this total spaz of a nerd, who was picked on. I had three friends. Xander, Jesse, and Amy. The week that I met Buffy, she was befriended by the most popular girl in school right away. However, for reason, Buffy chose me and Xander to hang out with. Then a few days later, I was almost killed by a vampire, and Jesse was turned into one. Xander had to kill his best friend. I'd never kissed a boy or a girl, but I staked vampires in my spare time. Once I learned about Buffy's calling as a vampire slayer and what those monsters did to our friend, I knew that I could never just stand back and let her do it all alone."

Felicity listened in dismay. "You were in high school fighting those things? Really?" Felicity asked.

Willow nodded. "It was hard. We lost so many people we cared about before we graduated high school. Our graduation ceremony literally turned into a fight to the death. We survived," Willow said. "We worked together. We learned to adapt and change. I got more and more into magic, and I became more of a help. I was just a computer hacker who helped with research. Then suddenly, I was this badass Wiccan who channeled enough magic to bring Buffy back from the dead. It was incredible. Buffy showed me that I could change the world."

Felicity thought about her story, and she thought about the past year. Meeting Oliver had changed her life, too. "Oliver did that for me. He took me out of my safe little cubicle and made me a part of helping make our home a safer place. He saw me, and he loved me. Then he died and left me, and it's like a part of me has died," Felicity said, her voice breaking. She kneeled down, crying once again. How did she have any more tears inside her?

Willow's heart ached for her. She kneeled down next to her, putting her arm around her as she cried. "It's going to be okay. I promise," Willow assured her.

"Saving Starling City was Oliver's mission," Felicity sobbed. "If he'd stayed in Starling, he'd probably be alive. But the big dumb hero had to save his sister's life. He's dead, and she's not! It's not right! He should be here with me!"

"Why did he leave?" Willow asked, curious.

Felicity wiped her face on her sleeve and looked up. "Thea's father is Malcolm Merlyn. He faked his death after setting off an earthquake machine and killing hundreds of people over two years ago. He wanted to level the Glades. I disarmed one of the machines, but we didn't imagine he had two. We found at during Moira's trial that she'd had an affair—that was Oliver's mother—with Malcolm, so Thea was Malcolm's daughter. Last spring, she left town with him. He trained her to fight as he learned from the League of Assassins. Then he gave her some drug that made her obedient and had her murder Sara Lance, our friend, who was a member of the League. Oliver wasn't about to tell them Thea did it. Thea doesn't even know she did—the drug didn't leave a memory of what happened. However, Malcom recorded what she did and taunted Oliver with it. He couldn't tell the League that Thea had killed Sara, so he let them think it was him. Since they thought he killed one of their members, he had to fight Ra'as al Ghul to the death, or they were going to destroy the city. Oliver died in her place." Her voice broke again.

"I'm so sorry," Willow said softly. "He sounds like quite a guy. I wish I could've met him."

Felicity stood up, composed again. "Oliver's death was the beginning. We lost Laurel, Ray, and Laurel's dad, Captain Lance. He was our connection to the police department. He lost both his daughters. He was a good man."

Willow reached for hand. "You're not alone anymore. Xander and I will stay in Starling as long as it takes. We have many powerful fighters to bring in to help in the fight. We'll take back the city," Willow promised. She squeezed her hand. "We won't let Starling City become Sunnydale." The she teleported Felicity back to the foundry.

"You're back!" Roy exclaimed in relief. He moved and embraced Felicity.

"Are you okay?" John asked.

"I'm fine. She showed me Sunnydale—the hellmouth they closed. It's where they lived. It's a big crater now," Felicity shared.

"Yep, Sunnyhell was good times!" Xander quipped.

"I think that we can trust them," Felicity told Roy and John.

"We need to coordinate and work together," Xander said.

"What do you have in mind?" John asked, curious. He was not ready to admit how tired he was. Only fear for his family was keeping him going most days. He was wary of the mojo, but power was power. These new people seemed to have it.

Steps entering interrupted. Everyone looked up, tensing to see who else was going to show. Thea appeared with Malcolm Merlyn. Felicity flinched. Roy and John didn't raise weapons, but they eyed Malcolm.

Xander picked up on the tension and gave Willow a questioning look. She spoke into his mind. Don't interfere. Let Felicity handle this.

Thea walked over to the case that held Oliver's suit. "Oliver was the Arrow!" she realized. "That was what he was keeping from me!" She saw Roy, Felicity, and John Diggle. Now it all made sense. Why Roy was so comfortable with Oliver and John. "You knew that Oliver was the Arrow, and you didn't tell me?"

"It wasn't my secret to tell, Thea," Roy said somberly. Oliver was dead now. What did it matter?

"Did he think I'd be angry? He saved lives. He saved mine, and I didn't get to say thank you," Thea said sadly.

Felicity couldn't remain silent anymore. She stepped forward, glaring at Malcolm. "How dare you come in here!" she exclaimed. "You're the reason Oliver is dead, and you dare show your face her to us!"

"Thea deserved to know the truth about her brother," Malcolm said.

Felicity stepped closer. "Careful," John cautioned.

"Truth? You think she should know the truth?" Felicity asked incredulous. "How about the truth that you are the reason her brother is dead!"

"What?" Thea asked, confused. "He was mugged."

"No, that was our cover story," Felicity said, making a decision. "Your father used you to kill Sara. He even videotaped you doing it and played the video to Oliver. The League of Assassins demanded Malcolm be turned over because they figured it was him. Oliver was terrified that you'd be blamed, so he turned himself over to fight Ra's al Ghul, their leader. That's how he died."

Thea looked up at her father in horror. "What did you do?" she demanded.

"I needed to be free from the blood debt I owed them. I knew the League would use a duel to the death to retaliate, and I knew Oliver would never let you face Ra's. I was trying to protect you," Malcolm said beseechingly.

"Get out!" Felicity yelled. "You used her, and you used Oliver. You're a psychopath who cares only for himself. Don't ever come in here like you have the right to!"

"You need me. This city is falling apart. I can help!" Malcolm insisted.

"I'd rather die than accept help from Oliver's murderer!" she said hatefully. She looked at Thea. "You're going to choose. You're either with him or you're with us. Oliver loved you more than his own life, and he never would've asked you to choose. But there should've never been a choice. You should've never let that monster who destroyed half the Glades, killing Tommy, your brother, near you! Oliver is dead while your father goes free, so make your choice!"

Thea was shocked. Felicity's words pierced her hard. Roy stepped forward. "Felicity, back off!" he said, protectively.

"I will not!" Felicity said. "Thea is Oliver's sister. This is her legacy. But that man is not ever going to be allowed here!"

Xander had watched the scene unfold in silence. Felicity's pain and strength lashing through the air moved him. The woman was so loyal, and he admired her boldness. He looked at Willow, who held up a hand. Not yet. He noticed that Willow was watching Felicity with an intensity she didn't usually use, but he said nothing.

Thea looked at her father. She really was a fool. "You should go," she told him.

"Thea. I'm the only family you have left," he told her.

"No, you're not," Felicity said flatly.

"Don't go too far," Willow said.

Felicity glared out her. "He can't go far enough," she said bitterly.

"The Scoobies are a forgiving bunch. I've done some really bad things, and Xander forgave me," Willow said. "This is a war. No weapon should be discarded out of hand."

"I think we should regroup tomorrow," John said, trying to dispel the tension. "This all has been a lot to take in."

"I agree," Felicity said.

Willow nodded. "Our girls are securing a place for us right now. How about we meet back here tomorrow evening?" she suggested.

They all agreed. Malcom left first. Roy escorted Thea out, hoping to gain her forgiveness. Then John turned to Felicity. "Do you want me to wait for you?" John asked.

"We'll walk her to her car," Xander offered.

"Thanks," John said. He hugged Felicity. "Text me when you get home safely."

"I will," she said. She turned to shut down her computers. When she was done, she saw Willow staring hard at her. "What?"

"Did you know you are a witch?" Willow asked her, surprising her and Xander.

"What?" Felicity replied in shock.

******To Be Continued******

Never will get why Malcolm was allowed to come and go in Starling after what he did. It really soured me on the show.