My name is Oliver Queen. For 5 years I was stranded on an island with only one goal-to survive. Now I will fulfill my father's dying wish to use the list of names he left me and bring down those who are poisoning my city. To do this, I must become someone else. I must become something else.

"Mmm…"

"God!"

"Yes...a little harder. Come on. Come on!"

"NO!"

"Yes! Suck it Queen!" Felicity smiles over him. "Do not try to out arcade me!"

"I've learned my lesson." She's all smiles when he helps her out of the racing game chair. It's just a normal date night and for once he's just thrilled Diggle hasn't called him about somebody doing something that requires the Hood.

"I held the high score on every game at the one arcade in Vegas. I think the owners thought I was a glitch in the system since my scores were so good. I created this device that made all my games free that summer."

"So I'm dating a criminal?"

"Yes! World domination through arcade games. First this pier and then the city. Mwahaha!"

They're still laughing when they go up to trade in their tickets. Her stack is definitely bigger. She gives him a deck of cards, a race car eraser, and a slinky watching as he tucks each prize in his pocket. His answer is a glitter spinning top and a plastic bracelet. He slips it on her wrist and she acts like it's made of diamonds before grabbing his hand to tug him down the pier.

He purposely misses on the dart game before managing an incredibly lucky balloon burst. Lucky to her at least. He hands her the teddy bear and she hugs it tight. Her other hand is linked with his as they wander down the pier. It's been years, even before the island, since he's been here. He has vague memories of Thea running ahead of him and Laurel and Tommy but they're fuzzy at best.

He can't remember the last time he had funnel cake but when she tugs him over to the cart, he can't say no. Plus he takes great pleasure in helping to remove all the powdered sugar from her lips. He feels like a teenager again. They have been taking things slow, enjoying their time together and getting to know each other. It has been torture and he has been through torture. Somehow by waiting, they've put it on hold indefinitely and neither seems willing to mess with the status quo.

"Oliver?"

"Mmm…"

"These last few weeks have been amazing."

"But?"

"No buts. I just wanted you to know."

Later, she's still clutching the bear when he's kissing her goodnight. It's only Diggle's call that stops him from going inside. Someone's on the move and tonight they do not want to mess with the Hood. He's frustrated and by the look in her eyes when he says goodnight, he's not the only one.


"Nice!" Diggle and Oliver are sparring and Oliver can't stop smiling. Diggle reacts in kind and soon the two are just laughing about nothing, enjoying the quiet day in the dark, gloomy lair.

"You crossed 3 names off your father's list this week alone."

"Yeah well some of these guys are just giving it up now. All I gotta do is pay 'em a visit."

"It seems the vigilante's reputation is beginning to precede him." After Oliver bests him, the two work their way back towards the computers. Oliver is sitting there, smiling at the slinky on his desk. "I thought after Helena you might be doing all this to escape your weird sense of failure. You're smiling though. Felicity?"

"Yeah. I'm seeing her this weekend. Another round?"

"Nah. I gotta take my nephew over to the mall so he can let Santa know what he wants for Christmas."

"Christmas," Oliver sighs. "I didn't even realize."

"Between being the Hood and spending time with Felicity, I'm not surprised. You barely see your family."

"They're busy. I...There were no holidays on the island. Every day was about survival so I had to forget things like Christmas or birthdays. My dad threw this party every year with a tree in each room. It was...the whole house smelled like Christmas."

"So take a break from the Hood and spend time with your girl and your family. Let St. Nick reward you for being nice this year."

Oliver sits there smiling and plays with his slinky, rolling it from hand to hand as he leans back in his chair. All he's thinking about is spending some time with Felicity under the mistletoe and maybe, just maybe unwrapping a present.


"You look pretty," Oliver offers when Thea walks towards him. She does look pretty and she's smiling. It's so rare to see the Queens smiling he can't help but wonder if it has to do with Christmas.

"Mom and Walter are having a dinner party. I've put in my two hours, your turn brother."

"Thea why are there no decorations around the house? No trees or wreaths. There's no evidence it's even Christmas."

"I'm sure everyone has just been busy," Thea looks uncomfortable. "I'm sure they'll get to it soon."

"Does Mom at least have some of those boxes of candy canes? Remember we used to race?"

"I always won."

"Cheater."

"Mom went sugar free last year so...I doubt it."

She walks away before Oliver can come up with a response. He misses Christmas. More than he realized before now. He can barely remember his last Christmas before the island. He remembers Laurel and him spending time in front of the fire place and later Sara. He can remember Thea wanting a laptop that year but he can't...he can't remember any of his presents. He can't remember dinner or the tree. It's all a blank.

He shakes his head and heads into the dinner party, slipping into Thea's vacated seat. He's thinking about Christmas when he hears the discussion turn to the vigilante.

"What are your thoughts Oliver?" He looks around before glancing back to Tommy's father. He looks expectant.

"I think he needs a better code name than 'The Hood'. Something catchier."

"What about the Green Arrow?"

"Lame."

Walter excuses himself and Oliver watches as the police commissioner tries to take credit for the lower crime rate. Oliver's not really listening. There are no poinsettias in the room either. His mother used to put them everywhere. There's no indication it is even December other than the fire roaring in the fireplace.

When the police commissioner reveals the vigilante has struck again, murdering Adam Hunt, Oliver almost doesn't react. It's only Diggle's call that gets him moving. Standing outside Hunt's murder scene, he hears Detective Lance admit he thinks it's a copycat. Another archer is in town.

He discusses it with Dig, revealing the archer is legitimate. Only a legitimate archer would use the tools required to get those results. The list will have to wait. Right now he needs to deal with the copycat and for that he needs an arrow from evidence.


"I didn't kill Adam Hunt." Oliver is not sure how Detective Lance will react to the phone call. He listens to the angry breathing, pleased when he doesn't hang up. "You call me the Hood. It's not a great nickname. You told the Commissioner this is a copycat. He's an archer which makes me your best bet."

"We'll get him." Lance practically snarls.

"You're not as good as me. I can do things you can't. Go places you won't go. I need an arrow from evidence."

"I don't know who you are. I don't trust you."

"The archer might not stop with Adam Hunt. If he doesn't then we have a problem. Think about it. Call me."

He doesn't wait for a response. He's having lunch with Thea and he has another issue to deal with.

"Thea you can slow down."

"There should be a national holiday for the guy who invented French fries. These are so good."

"Thea...there's no Christmas party is there? Do people just think I wouldn't notice."

"It's not like you're around much anyway."

They're interrupted by a guy who eyes Thea like she's half-naked. Oliver knows that look. He remembers that look on his own face when he was a teenager. Thea shoots the guy down but has no interest in talking about it with Oliver. He's just her annoying, overprotective boys are not on their approved topics.

"So the Christmas party?"

"When you and dad disappeared, by the time Christmas rolled around we just didn't celebrate. We've skipped it since. It's fine."

"It's really not."

Oliver watches Thea go into the living room once they're home. He has plans to make but first he needs a little courage. He's sitting on his bed, thumbing through his contacts until hitting the one he wants.

"I'm elbow-deep in computer parts so this will have to be quick," she says. "Somebody thought it would be a good idea to try and fix the 19th floor computers themselves. If I find them…"

"Should I call you back?" he murmurs. She sighs and he hears the clatter of something hitting metal.

"No. No. I can take a break. Serves them right for messing with my computers."

"Your computers? Don't they belong to QC?"

"Next time they can call you then."

"You're funny when you're angry."

"This close to hanging up Queen."

"I just wanted to hear your voice. I found out something about my family today that's my fault."

"Mmm...Oliver Queen blaming himself again. Is it a day that ends in y? It is."

He laughs. He feels like he's always laughing with her. Even when they are bickering he's smiling. It's so unexpected after so long. They talk a little bit about the movie she wants to see and their plans for their next date before they hang up. He feels better now and knows how to handle the problem of Christmas.

He manages to gather his family in the living room. All three of them are watching him wearily and he knows it's time to get things straight.

"We're celebrating Christmas. I spent five years on an island with no holidays and now Thea tells me you guys didn't have it either. I was the reason you didn't celebrate and now I can be the reason we do."

"Oliver it's not necessary," his mother looks to Walter but he's glancing at his phone.

"No. I know I haven't been the son or stepson or brother all of you deserve. I want to throw the Queen Christmas Party. All of you just need to show up ready to celebrate and I'll take care of everything else."

They all agree even Thea, the holdout. He wants this. He's on the phone with decorators moments later, caterers a little later. He's going to deck the house with so much Christmas cheer his family will never want to skip Christmas again. The archer can wait a little longer.


He retrieves the arrow from the vent, left by Detective Lance. Like his own arrows, these are custom-made. They're not unexpected. This archer is an artist in his craft and any archer would want the best quality equipment. The arrows might be able to be traced. Unfortunately that level of computer knowledge is beyond him. It's not beyond his girl through.

"Hey."

"Don't you knock?!" She practically falls out of her chair at the interruption. She locks her computer and turns to greet him, kissing him.

"I didn't realize I needed to knock to see you in an open-door office."

"Well next time assume I'm distracted and knock." She slips back into her chair and looks at him expectantly. "You called me earlier and didn't mention stopping by. What do I owe the pleasure. Visit the coffee shop again?"

"No. My friend Steve is really into archery and he buys these custom arrows. I'd really like to know where he gets them."

"This matches an arrow from the Adam Hunt murder," she says when she looks at them. "Your friend Steve doesn't happen to run around in a hood and shoot people does he?"

"I got this one from his house so...how do you know what the weapon was in the Hunt murder?"

"Late night hobby. These are remarkably similar."

"Could you find out where and when this was purchased?"

"Oliver...why would you need to know when these were purchased?"

"If he just ordered a whole bunch of them, the gift is kind of silly." She gives him that look, the one that says she doesn't quite believe him. She doesn't call him on it but it's just another thing she's noting about him and the Hood. He's going to have to tell her soon and then it will probably be over.

"This arrow was part of a bundle shipment, sent to this address."

"Felicity you are simply remarkable."

"Thank you for remarking on it." He leans down over the computer and kisses her, cupping her head with one hand. She clutches his shirt and sighs contentedly. He steps back when he hears the thrum of office voices. They can't do this here.

"I'm throwing the Queen Christmas party this year...Saturday. You should come. I'd like to introduce you to my family."

"We've only been seeing each other for a few weeks."

"Six weeks but we've been seeing each other since I got back. We just hadn't defined it."

"Okay. I have to work but I'll come by."

"Merry Christmas Felicity."

"I'm Jewish."

"Happy Hanukkah Felicity."


The warehouse is empty or at least devoid of an archer or any evidence to help find him. Instead he deals with the bomb before heading to his party. It's tense. He doesn't know why. Everyone is acting strangely. Walter and his mother seem to be fighting and Thea is more interested in the teenage douchebag to even bother with the party.

He manages to get one family photo but it's not the same. None of it is the same. He's looking for Felicity but he knows it's too early. She's probably still at work and if he calls her then she'll be even later. It's only Tommy and Laurel coming in that distracts him.

They exchange Merry Christmases, hugs, and other greetings. Oliver smiles at their closeness. It's good they worked out whatever was going on between them the last time he saw them together.

"So how long do you guys think it'll be until this isn't so weird?" Tommy asks. Laurel and Oliver chuckle. It is still weird. "How's Felicity?"

Laurel stops chuckling and looks away. Oliver glances around and turns back to Tommy.

"She had to work. She's coming later."

"You look happy man. Things getting serious?"

"Maybe. I don't know. I'd like them to. She's meeting my family tonight."

"Big step Ollie."

"Yeah." It is. He knows it is but he's okay with it. He wants to share this with her. He wants her with him during dinner and during the obligatory speech he'll need to make. Laurel and Tommy head off to get drinks and some food and Oliver is left standing there thinking. It's too soon to be in love, right?

Laurel's back before he can begin to unpack his feelings. She wants to talk.

"I know it's probably not easy for you to see Tommy and me together." It's an odd statement and he doesn't have time to figure out what she's saying.

"The invite was plus one Laurel."

"I've been wanting to move forward with Tommy but something's holding me back. I keep making excuses but it's been you Ollie. I've…"

"Laurel I'm happy for you both. We're all moving on. It's time." He kisses her cheek and pulls back. "I'm happy."

"Right...right." Tommy's back before Laurel can say anything else and Oliver sets off to find Thea. He finds her exactly where he doesn't want to find her, the douchebag date pawing her like he paid for her. It's sickening.

"Hit the road." The guy runs out of there at Oliver's look. It's Thea that makes him pause. "What are you doing? There's a party downstairs that I threw for you."

"Well I didn't want the party Ollie but you didn't care. You have the holiday blues and you wanted to feel better. We're never going to be normal again and you just keep trying to make us normal."

"I didn't realize you regretted me coming home. I...I just wanted to remember what it was like before all of this."

"Ollie…"

"Sorry I ruined your night Thea."

He doesn't wait around for her to try and apologize or to get angrier. He just wants to go downstairs and try to get through the rest of the party.

"Oliver. It's the archer." Diggle catches him in the hall. "He took hostages and is demanding the Hood's head."

"Then I'll go."

"Oliver this guy is dangerous. You should let the police handle this."

"I'm used to danger Diggle. I'm not going to let anyone die because of me."


He feels the arrows puncture his body. The pain is excruciating and he knows one of the arrows broke a rib. His breathing is labored but he needs to get out of the warehouse. He breaks the arrows on a door frame hoping his small explosion took down the other archer. He can't be sure. He just climbs through the window and collapses in the alley.

He comes to quickly, reaching for a bow that is not nearby. Diggle's over him.

"Relax. You're fine. You're in the hospital. I back-traced the signal and found you. I cleaned you up as best I could. You have a pneumothorax, three broken ribs, and a concussion but you'll be fine. Someone's here to see you."

"Hi." She's dressed up and has no party to go to, not anymore. He tries to sit up but she holds up a hand. "Don't move."

"Hey," he rasps. "You look amazing."

"I was on my way to your party when Dig called me. Thank you by the way."

"He looked like he could use some cheering up." Diggle steps out of the room, calling back. "I'll head off your family so you can have a moment alone."

"I'll be gone before they get here," she replies. She sits on the side of his bed and takes his hand in his. "Are you going to be okay?"

"I'm better already. You should stay."

"I'm not meeting your family while you're lying in a hospital bed. Now do you want your Christmas present?"

"I thought you were Jewish."

"Really not the point," she sits the box on the bed between them before standing. "I'll see you when you're feeling better. Try to sleep tonight."

She kisses him and he can't even reach up to touch her. His ribs are throbbing and he can only watch her slip an envelope in Dig's pocket before slipping out of the room.

"What did you get?" he rasps. Diggle laughs.

"A one-night off from guarding Oliver Queen coupon. She says she'll guard your body. I do not want to know man...about any of it."

"Hah. Ow."

"How about you? Here." Diggle opens the box for him and tugs out two things wrapped in tissue paper. "This is a dreamcatcher...and a compass?"

"What?"

"Do you want me to read the note or is it private?"

"No go ahead. I...ah...can't do it right now."

"It says 'to keep the bad dreams away and to help you find your way home when you feel lost'. That's cute. I think you might have found a keeper."

"Oliver!" He doesn't have time to respond before he's surrounded by Walter, his mom and his sister. Diggle slips the gifts back in the box, moving them to the bedside table.

"You left your own party," his mother accuses softly.

"I brought up painful memories so I...it wasn't the best time."

"Ollie I don't regret that you came home. I'm sorry I made you think that."

"It's okay Speedy."

"It's not. I don't want you to think I don't want you here. I always want you here."

"Okay...I probably pushed too hard."

"No Oliver," Walter begins. "You wanted us to be closer and we are. Sadly you had to get hurt for that to happen."

"Well you rest Oliver," his mother kisses his brow. "Well come and get you in the morning."

Walter and his mother leave the room but Thea stays. She tugs two candy canes out of her pocket and smiles.

"I know I'm hard on you Ollie. It's been five years and we're both different people. Sometimes I forget you weren't just gone. You were...it's easier to forget."

"Maybe we can just accept each other now?"

"Yeah...so I'm going to kick your butt." The unwrapped candy cane is placed in his mouth and he smiles. She's already twirling hers, sitting on the side of his bed.


Hours later Oliver struggles to his feet, using a cane to get around. Diggle is sitting in the armchair, paging through the list. Thea has been gone for awhile now and he can still taste the peppermint. She won again, cheated too, but he's okay with that.

"We might have a bigger problem than the archer."

"What?"

"The archer told me someone compiled the list. I thought it was my father. If it wasn't…"

"What do you mean?"

"I think there might be someone else out there. I'm going to stop him."


So this is a bit of a short chapter...sorry. I've been looking over the outline for awhile and honestly half the episode is taken up by flashbacks (Moira/Malcolm, Laurel/Quentin/Tommy, the Commissioner, Applied Sciences guy, etc.). I'm working on chapter 10 which has no Felicity scenes (in the show). I've fixed it. She's definitely in there now.

Thanks for reading!