A/N: While I did have something similar in mind before 3x01 aired, I couldn't resist paying a slight homage to one of the aired scenes in this chapter. I also accidentally removed 1/3 of the original version of this chapter (which was leagues better than the final version) - so I might have to rewrite parts of this down the line. Too pissed at myself at the moment to do it straight away, though.

Synopsis: Floyd Lawton returns to Starling City with news that threaten to pull Team Arrow apart. Diggle finally gets information about his brother's death, but the unexpected twist forces the man to take a step back. Thea battles her own demons, and is torn between Roy and Malcolm.

3x20: Thicker Than Blood

Oliver followed his running prey with the arrow. The compound bow was strung tight and the aim never lowered as he followed the fleeing target. In that second, he felt as one with the forest around him. He could feel the rustle of the leaves as the wind blew by, the scent of foreign berries to his left, the sweat against his back as the sun lingered in the sky above.

He exhaled slowly and released the arrow. As it left his bow, Oliver knew it would hit its mark. The notion didn't please him, as he had expected, but he calmly accepted the dark truth. It had to be done, after all. He watched the thin, sharp weapon soar through the air, heading in a straight line towards its target.

But this time everything changed. Unlike the previous times, it wasn't Slade who waited as a lone enemy in the light breeze. Instead, it was Felicity who suddenly stood before Oliver in the middle of the forest green. A soft gasp escaped past her pink lips and everything else died out in that second, the world fell dead silent. Felicity's blue eyes slowly gazed down at the arrow as it protruded from her chest, a drop of haunting red slowly running down the front of her dress.

Oliver's heart stopped as he watched the scene before him. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. The bow fell from his hand and landed with a soft thud among the leaves by his feet. "No! Felicity, no!"

Felicity's gaze flew up to meet his, two clear eyes glistening with disbelief and pain. He had failed her. He had endangered her, and now he had killed her. Oliver watched as Felicity fell to her knees as if in slowmotion and then keeled over. Her body landed roughly on the fall-colored leaves that soon were painted red with the color of her blood. Felicity Smoak was dead.

Oliver woke up with a start. His heart hammered away inside his chest and he tried to calm his breathing back to normal. The images of his dream kept replaying inside his head, though, making it extremely difficult to think about anything else. He shivered and realized his entire body was covered in cold sweat. He once more tried to force his mind to stop reeling. It had only been a dream, after all. Inch by inch, he slowly relaxed.

Oliver's hand distantly trailed across the covers to the other side of the bed, only to find nothing but air. Oliver frowned as he turned to the side and gazed around in his empty bedroom.

He inhaled sharply as he pushed the covers off of him, pulled on a pair of sweatpants and got out of bed. Oliver padded bare-feet across the wooden floor and opened the bedroom door. Though his apartment bathed in darkness, he could still make out all the shapes fairly easy. He'd lived long enough in the shadows for his eyes to adjust to the night. He tried to listen, but his home was silent and peaceful at this late hour.

Oliver frowned as he walked ahead. As he stepped into the living room, he finally caught sight of Felicity. He exhaled in relief. The blonde woman was standing beside the window, gazing out at the cloudless night sky. She wore nothing but one of his checkered shirts and it reached her mid-thigh. Oliver's gaze travelled down the length of her bare, slender legs before his eyes wandered back up to her profile, illuminated by the pale light from the moon above.

There was a wistful expression on her face and she seemed a million miles away. He could tell she hadn't yet noticed him and he took a moment to appreciate her presence in his home and the reasons behind it. At length, he cleared his throat.

Felicity jumped and turned around with wide eyes. "I'm sorry, did I wake you?"

Oliver shook his head as he crossed the distance and came to stand close beside her. His hand rose to touch her elbow on its own accord and he held her gaze, searching for clues to explain the lingering distance in her features. "Are you okay?"

Felicity inhaled sharply and swept a strand of blonde hair behind her ear as a sudden storm passed through her eyes. She shrugged and admitted in a low voice, "Nightmare."

Oliver nodded and held her closer. "You want to talk about it?"

"Do you?" Felicity countered and swallowed thickly. Her eyes flew up to meet his and she saw right through his walls. She knew she wasn't the only one having bad dreams. It didn't surprise Oliver anymore that she could do that, just read him like an open book, and so he didn't even bother denying it.

Oliver released a heavy breath as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. He could be but honest with her. "... It was a dream about Slade. He was running from me on Lian Yu. He did it in real life when we were coming to... when we were coming to rescue you. In my dreams, I kill him. Tonight was different, though."

Felicity frowned curiously. "Different, how?"

"Just... different."

"... I dreamt about Slade, too. I do on occasion ever since..." her voice trailed off and something dark and haunted filled her eyes. This time, worry crept back into Oliver's veins as he impatiently waited for a continuation. She merely inhaled and opened up to him, "I've actually had different nightmares ever since the Count. I didn't before that. Just the odd monster under the bed, but not... I sleep fine most nights. I do. But every now and again the Count's face appears in my dreams... or Slade's. And I just can't shake the feeling..."

"What?"

Felicity shook her head. "It doesn't matter."

"It matters to me," Oliver gently pressed and squeezed her shoulders tenderly.

Felicity held his gaze for a second and whatever she saw made her doubts falter and scrape her soul bare for him to witness. She closed her eyes tight and a wave of pain seemed to shoot through her body before she whispered, "...He got to me."

"Slade?"

"Yes," Felicity nodded and her eyes shot open once more. Her blue eyes danced with unshed tears as the last of her walls came tumbling down. "More than I care to admit even to myself. I pretend as if Lian Yu didn't change anything, but maybe it did... I know it did."

"Felicity..." Oliver exhaled and found himself at a loss for words.

"I just don't know how it changed me, exactly," Felicity added with a frown. "Does that make any sense?"

Oliver's hand came up to caress the exposed skin on her stomach and one of the scars that ran along the side. She shivered beneath his touch and closed her eyes. "He didn't break you," Oliver whispered with such conviction it caught Felicity by surprise. Her eyes shot up to meet his and she was dumbstruck by the love she saw ignite the azure color. "You're so very strong. You survived a crucible..."

"What doesn't kill you make you stronger?" Felicity half-joked and swallowed thickly.

"Not always," Oliver hummed with a soft, reassuring smile. "But that's okay, too. You don't have to be brave and pretend anything. Not to me."

"I know," Felicity grinned and stood on her toes to press a sweet kiss to his lips. She pulled back and shook her head as if to remove all negative thoughts. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be a downer at this hour. I honestly don't have nightmares often, especially not since you and I... But I guess it must be one of those days, you know."

Oliver snorted and inconspicuously rolled his eyes. "Come on. We should try and get some more sleep before morning."

A few hours after sunrise, Lyla walked to and fro in the nursery, gently rocking Maya in her arms. The baby was fast asleep in her mother's gentle grip and Lyla couldn't wipe the smile off of her own face. It was quiet moments like these that made it all come together. That made everything make sense and life take shape, even despite the unusual path their little family had chosen for themselves.

The nursery was filled with different shades of yellow and pink, nothing too bright or demanding, but soft touches to make their presence known. On a shelf above the crib stood a long row of stuffed toy animals, principally provided by their friends and family. Maya's favorite, however, was a green toad that stood at the very end of the shelf, already worn and well-used. It had been a gift from Felicity.

Lyla heard the sound of a camera shutter and spun around to face the intruding noise. John stood leaned against the doorpost with his smartphone raised and ready. He smiled widely as she scrunched up her nose for the camera.

"What are you doing?" Lyla whispered and glanced down to make sure their daughter remained fast asleep.

"I couldn't help myself," John shrugged and put the phone back in his pocket as he stepped inside and patted his daughter's head. "Listen, I'm just heading out to grab us some breakfast. What do you want?"

"Blueberry muffin?" Lyla bit her bottom lip innocently. She shrugged slightly. "Anything that's not an MRE's good, you know."

Diggle chuckled low. "Decaf or regular with that sweet tooth?"

"Hey, it's the benefits of having a baby," Lyla's eyes glistened in jest as she glared up at her boyfriend. "I can eat a blueberry muffin if I want to. You can, too. And decaf will be great."

John snorted and shook his head, as if unwilling to take the verbal fight. He held her gaze another second before he forced himself to pull back. He jerked his head in the direction of the exit. "I'll be right back, honey."

"Okay," Lyla glanced down at their daughter. "I'll prepare Maya's breakfast in the meanwhile. Love you, Johnny."

"Love you, too."

Diggle patiently stood in line at the small, familiar café as he glanced up at the menu. It wasn't often the three of them got to have these family breakfasts, what with their different work hours both with A.R.G.U.S and Team Arrow. Because of this, they were all the more special to Diggle and the highlight of many trying days.

As it came time to order, John smiled at the cashier. "Hi. I'd like one regular coffee and one decaf. And one... Actually, make that two blueberry muffins. To go. Thanks."

He shuffled over to the side to make space for the next person in line as he waited for his order. He leaned against the counter and let his mind drift before he suddenly heard someone clear their throat behind him. John frowned as he glanced back over his shoulder and froze.

"What the hell are you doing here?" He demanded to know as he swirled around to face the man.

Floyd Lawton simply grinned slyly in response. His bad eye was covered behind an eye-patch, but his healthy eye sparkled with familiarity. The next second, a shadow swept cross his angular features. What little amusement had been present, easily faded away and Diggle didn't like the tension that seeped into his bone marrow. Something was evidently out of sorts here, and he had a feeling he'd have to call Lyla and ask for a raincheck on their breakfast.

"Why aren't you on 'vacation'?" John hissed in irritation.

The look in Lawton's eyes made it clear this was all business. The man spoke at length, his hoarse voice lower than normal as he glanced about, "Something's come up. We need to talk."

Half an hour later, Felicity and Oliver hurried down the steps to the foundry, dressed in casual clothes on what was supposed to be a mellow Sunday. Both of them exchanged confused looks as they saw Lawton stand in the heart of the lair, tension lingering in the underground space like a thick blanket.

Further inside, they saw Diggle beside Felicity's workstation. His shoulders were tense and he seemed to be quietly fuming for whatever reason that remained unclear. Floyd flashed the arriving couple a swift grin that soon fell into his usual scowl as he glanced back at the unusually silent John.

"Dig?" Oliver questioned worriedly as he came to a stop a few feet away from the others. "What is it?"

John's face was taut with irritation and he oozed with a darker emotion still as he turned to face his friend. Thunder swept through his eyes as he released a heavy sigh. "It's H.I.V.E," he managed in a low snarl.

"The... same H.I.V.E that had your brother murdered?" Felicity asked cautiously, testing the waters, as she stepped closer. "The Hierarchy of International Vengeance and Extermination?"

John inclined his head sharply. "The one and only."

"Is this about...?" Felicity trailed off as she held her friend's gaze, watching his struggle take almost physical form before her.

Floyd took one stride in the woman's direction and raised his voice, "Actually... It's about you, Blondie."

Oliver turned his surprised gaze at the mercenary in less than a heartbeat. His mouth went dry as he tried to understand what went unsaid and he shook his head, reluctant to believe in anything. He managed to keep his head cool enough to ask, "What is about Felicity?"

Floyd held Felicity's gaze firmly as he grimaced apologetically. The woman could merely scowl back, all the more confused by each passing second. How she was in any way connected to H.I.V.E went beyond her and she couldn't, for the life of her, figure out why everyone was so quiet all the sudden.

"As I was traveling the globe," Floyd began leisurely and his gaze wandered between his company, "H.I.V.E managed to locate me. I announced I was retired, but... they still made an offer."

Felicity shrugged faintly. "Still not making any sense."

"If I'm not, it's because I'm not entirely certain I get it, either," Lawton admitted. He sighed and the breath lingered in the quiet atmosphere that seemed to eat away at all four of them. "To lure out a person, I was asked to perform a simple job. I was asked to kill you,... Ms Smoak."

Felicity's eyes widened like saucers. "... Oh!"

Oliver closed his fists tight as his face transformed into something beastly. "What are you talking about?! Why?" he growled and didn't even attempt to hold back his anger and frustration.

Felicity placed a hand on his elbow, but it seemed to have little effect on Oliver this time as he glared down Lawton. Too much was at stake all the sudden for anyone to step back or calm down. This had to be solved now, and there was no middle ground. Oliver's challenge went unspoken, but heard nonetheless.

Floyd shrugged and his good eye rose to meet Oliver's. Sincerity danced in his orb as he breathed, "Hell if I understand why."

"I am not becoming another tattoo on that chiseled chest of yours," Felicity breathed pointedly.

Lawton tilted his head to the side and his words of reassurance seemed more directed at her tense team members than Felicity herself, "If I had even considered taking the job, I wouldn't be here. But I am. To warn you. You helped me save my daughter. Rest assured, Ms Smoak... I don't intend to kill you."

Felicity sighed in acceptance of his words, feeling a strange connection to the man. He wasn't trying to fool her, she could tell. Instead, she turned to Oliver and breathed in exasperation, "I told you it was one of those days."

Diggle shook his head as he strode forwards, hellbent on reaching the end of the trail, "There must have been more information when H.I.V.E made contact. Who did they want to lure out?"

"A former co-commander of H.I.V.E, someone who turned rogue a few years ago and haven't been seen since," Floyd explained. "And... you're not gonna like this part. The order to kill your brother? Came from this man."

Diggle eyes remained wide and unblinking as he tried to process the information. Not a single word passed his lips as he tried to contain all of his emotions inside. Felicity and Oliver looked up at their tormented friend balancing on the edge of a bottomless abyss.

Floyd pushed on as the silence reigned, "Apparently H.I.V.E recently got information about his whereabouts and decided to lure him out for whatever reason. My guess is that they want payback for old sins. You don't turn your back on H.I.V.E without repercussions."

Felicity exhaled tensely. "Well, what was his name? Maybe that will help shine some light on things."

"Franklin Crandall," Lawton supplied.

Oliver stiffened and his entire demeanor turned hard as wood. He gritted his teeth as he snarled, "We need to see Waller about this."

Amanda blinked as she stood behind her desk. "Franklin Crandall?"

"Mhm," Oliver hummed in anger.

"And you're sure about this?"

"We wouldn't be here if we weren't," Diggle spoke in an unfriendly tone as he leaned back in his chair. He was too emotionally drained to beat around the bush this time. "Have you got answers or not? Why does the same organization that killed my brother suddenly want to take out Felicity?"

Felicity slowly glanced up at Oliver's stiff profile beside her. "...Did you recognize the name?"

Oliver grimaced and stared ahead. Haunted memories flashed through his azure eyes as he explained, "It... It's a long story. I met Crandall in Hong kong during the years I was away from Starling. Amanda introduced us. I don't know much about him. I do know he was one of the best killers I've ever met. I thought he was A.R.G.U.S?"

Amanda remained standing as she glanced between the members of Team Arrow. She seemed to be holding back on something, but ultimately exhaled tersely and said, "So did we believe at the time. It was later proven that he was an undercover agent of H.I.V.E. When his cover was blown, he went into hiding. From everyone."

Amanda wordlessly pressed a few keys on her tablet and turned towards the screen on her wall. A photo of a man appeared on the monitor. The man had a strong, handsome face, that of one who had seen and experienced the good and bad of the world. He was Caucasian, his hair brown but speckled with grey here and there, and his eyes were sharp and green as they gazed into the camera.

Diggle turned to Oliver with something unreadable in his eyes. "You knew the man who ordered the hit on my brother? Did you know about...?"

"No," Oliver contended swiftly and held the other man's gaze as he tried to convey the whole truth. It was a small offer, but at least he hoped it helped remove some of the anguish. "Of course not."

"It was the hit order on your brother's life, Mr Diggle, that tipped us off to Crandall's true allegiances," Waller explained matter of factly. "The death of Agent-"

"Wait, wait. Hold on," Diggle stuttered and inhaled sharply as he swirled around to face the A.R.G.U.S chief. Everything kept turning on its head and this time he needed clarification. "Agent? My brother was an A.R.G.U.S agent?"

Waller's stone face glared back at him. At last, she admitted the truth, "He was."

Stunned into silence, Diggle could but hold Amanda's gaze, hoping against hope to be provided with more information that was sorely missed. After all these years in purgatory, he'd finally been given one answer that only fueled his anger even more. John couldn't believe any of this.

Oliver glanced down at the blonde woman beside him and frowned at the abrupt paleness to her face. "... Felicity? What's wrong?"

In between her team mates, Felicity looked to be in extreme agony. She felt as if someone had suddenly taken a grip around her heart and was slowly squeezing it to the breaking point. She managed to swallow as her low voice filled the office, "That man... I knew him, too."

Oliver, Diggle and Amanda all turned to her with surprise written on their features.

Felicity's gaze was open with despair as she gazed up at the photograph of the familiar man. "But under another alias; David Smoak... My father." A sob escaped her throat as she whirled around in her seat to face John. Her voice trembled, but she still forced the words over her tongue, "My dad... ordered the kill on your brother?"

Diggle's jaw was tense as he slowly shook his head. Whatever remained bottled up seemed to be breaking him in half and he flew up from his seat. Without a single word, he disappeared out the door and the others watched the empty doorway.

Thea knelt on the cold grass beside the gravestone and swept away a thin layer of dust that had gathered there since her last visit. She gazed down at the name 'Walter Steele' for another second before she placed the yellow rose on the dirt and leaned back. It was just about lunch hour and the graveyard was mostly empty, apart from Thea and an elderly couple at the other end of the grassy area.

Thea blinked away tears as she heard someone approach and glanced back over her shoulder. Her breath caught in her throat and she slowly rose. "I didn't think you wanted to see me... How did you find me?"

Roy shoved his hands into his pockets and shrugged bitterly as he came up beside the brunette. "Lucky guess."

"Why are you here?"

"To thank you for making the cops drop those charges," Roy spoke in a low tune that carried through the day. "It must have been you. And maybe... Maybe I came on too strong at the station."

Thea sniffed and held her chin high. "Maybe you did."

"I... am still as lost as ever," Roy admitted then and glanced at the stoic woman by his side. "You're hot, you're cold. You're with us, you're against us. What is it you want? Really?"

Thea's eyes drifted back to the tombstone that stood proud in the sunlight and she exhaled wearily. "I told you once; to be left alone."

"That's a lie, though. We both know that," Roy pointed out none too kindly. "That's about all I know. But I know that."

"I want to reclaim what is mine," Thea's voice was low and heartfelt. "Rightfully mine. My life, for one. I just didn't think it would be this hard coming back. I never thought I'd waiver."

"Thea... Malcolm Merlyn is an evil man, you know that. Somewhere deep inside of you, you still know that," Roy pleaded. "And I think... that's why you're doubting. Because you can still tell right from wrong, and you know it doesn't match with whatever he's teaching you. I don't know what he wants, but if it's even half as twisted as the Undertaking... we're all in danger."

"After these years with nothing, Lyla... and suddenly I get hit with this?" Diggle snorted indignantly as he sank back onto the sofa in his quiet home.

Lyla entered their living room carrying two cups of steaming coffee in her hands. She handed the one to her boyfriend as she sat down beside him. She remained silent as she saw his need to clear the air some more. She patiently sipped from her own cup as her heart quietly broke for the man beside her.

John wearily ran a hand across his face as he sighed, "I feel like someone drove an M1-A1 over my head..."

Lyla squeezed his shoulder and leaned closer. "I'm sorry, Johnny."

"I just can't believe he was A.R.G.U.S," Diggle exhaled. "Did you know?"

Lyla shook her head and made sure she had his undivided attention before she breathed, "I had no idea until now. Waller must have classified his file from anyone but her. Don't know why."

"I guess it kind of helps explaining why H.I.V.E wanted him dead in the first place... Or... I don't know," Diggle rose from the sofa and started to pace the length of the room. He couldn't sit still, he couldn't just sit and wallow in this pit of despair. At the same time, he wasn't sure what he could or ought to do. Nothing would bring back his dead brother, after all.

As if hearing his tormented mind, Maya suddenly awoke from her nap in her nursery and started wailing. Lyla moved as if to rise from her seat, but Diggle raised his hand in her direction. She cautiously sank back onto the pillows as she held his worn gaze.

"I'll go," John breathed and exited the room without missing a beat.

Oliver walked into the darkened lair and stopped by the light switch. He listened to the darkness for a second before he sighed and turned on the lamps. The whole foundry was flooded with a bright light and illuminated the lone figure already present. Felicity sat far into the lair where the lamps could barely reach, her back leaned against one of the cabinets and her legs pulled to her chest.

Oliver took one look at her where she sat and inhaled slowly. He could see her pain written so evidently on every fiber of her being and wished he had some magical way to make it all go away. He stepped over to the wooden chest he'd brought with him from the Island and opened it. He withdrew the bottle of Russian vodka and turned back around.

Felicity eyed the offer slowly. "Yes. Thank you."

Oliver brought the bottle and sank onto the floor beside her, offering her the bottle without a word. She accepted it gratefully and took a deep swig. She coughed violently and Oliver rubbed a circle on her back before she found her breath once more. Felicity leaned into his touch slightly as she swiped at her fallen tears.

"Wrong pipe," she breathed hoarsely.

"It's okay..." Oliver whispered, still caressing her back and holding her close.

Felicity shook her head as her walls continued to crumble. Her breathing was shaky as if it took a toll to keep all of the emotions inside of her chest. "Yesterday I was the daughter of a retired carpenter. Today I'm the daughter of a killer… A former chief in H.I.V.E, at that. The one who ordered the death of my best friend's brother. I mean, I..."

Oliver opened and closed his mouth a couple of times before he managed to find words, "That's not who you are."

"Isn't it?" she asked and turned towards him. Her eyes glistened with pleading anxiousness, as if asking him to provide her with the reprieve she needed, the answers she sought.

Oliver shook his head. "It doesn't define you. It doesn't mean anything."

"It's in my genes. So technically it does define me, Oliver." Felicity ignored the pain in her chest that slowly rose to tighten her throat. She exhaled nervously and took another deep swig from the bottle. It took her another moment to steady herself before she poured her heart out, "Losing my grandfather, losing Walter... Being kidnapped by Slade, losing Dick, nearly losing you. And now this? I don't know how much more I can handle."

"You're not alone in any of this, Felicity."

Felicity's eyes glazed over as she distantly whispered, "...I'm not an island."

Oliver kissed the side of her head and breathed into her hair, "No, you're not."

Lyla pulled the front door open with a kind smile. She didn't beat about the bush as she held the wooden door wide open and breathed, "Come on in, Felicity."

"Thanks," Felicity smiled sheepishly as she took a hesitant step into the familiar hall. "How is...?"

Lyla closed the door and faced her friend once more. "How are you?"

Felicity merely shrugged as she ran a hand over the black fabric of her pants. She awkwardly fiddled with a loose thread and couldn't quite find words appropriate for having just learned her father was a killer. Instead, she let the silence speak loud and clear.

Lyla's hand suddenly landed on Felicity's shoulder, offering a warm, yet solid, comfort in the dark that threatened to engulf all of them. Lyla managed a weak smile, "I know what it's like... coming from a broken home. Having the rug swept from under your feet and feeling like you can't catch yourself from falling... I know it's not what you want to hear right now, Felicity, but things will be brighter. And no matter what, we'll always be here for you."

Felicity's breath trembled as she whispered, "Thank you, Lyla."

"He's in the nursery," Lyla said and tilted her head to the side.

Felicity took the unspoken invitation and stepped further into the flat. She walked the familiar path and stopped a few feet from the open door. She closed her eyes tight and tried to strengthen herself for this moment, but felt as if the pain was about to crack open her chest. Still, she owed this to Diggle, and she inhaled as she crossed the last distance.

She knocked on the doorframe and came to a halt at the sight before her. Diggle stood in the middle of the light and welcoming nursery, gently cradling his daughter in his arms as if she was his last lifeline. In that moment, he looked complete, like the past had not come back to haunt him, like nothing could faze him.

"Mind if I interrupt?" Felicity managed in a broken voice.

Diggle's head flew up in her direction and his eyes held neither anger nor disappointment. "Come on in."

Felicity wrung her hands awkwardly as she took a single step forward. She kept some distance as she worked through her own guilt. Only hours ago, there had been no betrayal between them, but now she was afraid that everything had changed. Her bottom lip trembled as she began, "You once said… that no force on Earth could turn me bad. I think… I don't know. Maybe you were wrong. I'm so sorry, John… I know that doesn't mean anything, but it was my father who… I can't even say the words."

"Felicity…" Diggle's voice was calm and strong as he crossed the divide that separated them. "None of this is your fault. You got that? I still believe those words. You're still good, through and through. I'm sorry if I made you think otherwise when I stormed out… I just needed some time to… deal with this," Diggle put his baby back in her crib and stroked her thick head of hair before he turned back to his friend. "All of it. It's a lot to take in, you know?"

"Oh, I know," Felicity snorted and blinked back her tears. "So… we're good?"

John smiled as he stepped over. "Never won't be."

Felicity exhaled in relief and wrapped her arms around his strong waist. Diggle smiled as he returned the hug without a second's hesitation.

Oliver turned around in his seat as he heard Diggle and Felicity enter the lair. Oliver's eyebrows rose to meet his hairline as he saw they were accompanied by Floyd Lawton. The latter looked quite at ease as he strolled after the other two into the heart of the foundry.

Oliver frowned as he rose. "What are you doing here?"

"Believe it or not, I was invited," Floyd explained and his own voice bordered on surprise, as well.

Oliver turned in John's direction. Diggle merely shook his head. "Not by me."

Felicity rolled her eyes as she stepped up to her boyfriend. "I invited him. We need his help."

John and Oliver exchanged a confused frown. Oliver slowly turned back to the woman. "Help?"

Felicity inhaled slowly and her entire body seemed to tense up as she prepared herself for the onslaught. "We're going to go through with it."

Oliver could smell something fishy about this and tentatively edged around the subject, "... What?"

"Deadshot is going to kill me," Felicity explained and hurriedly explained before the others even had time to process her suggestion, "Well, threaten to kill me. We'll play along with H.I.V.E's plan and lure out... my dad. Let Lawton use me as bait to lure out the man responsible for your brother's death."

Diggle shook his head firmly from side to side as he looked down at the determined, young woman. "No. I can't let you do that."

Felicity shrugged. "My choice."

"No."

"John..." Felicity's voice lowered an octave. Concern and a need to do good flashed through her eyes. "Let me do this. For you. For your brother. You deserve answers... and this might provide some."

Silence fell over the lair as John held Felicity's gaze. He could see she needed this about as much as he did, and though he hated the idea, he knew they had no other option at the time. Reluctantly, he inclined his head.

Oliver harrumphed from the sidelines as he tried to accept the suggestion. His eyes remained above the woman's head as he gruffly asked, "... What's the plan?"

Felicity turned towards him, her long, signature ponytail whipping around her face with the excited motion. She reached out and brushed a hand across his forearm before she stepped over to her monitors. "Lawton's already told H.I.V.E he accepted the job, so we're hoping the word'll spread to... to... You know. Tonight, I'll be waiting outside the movie theater for Oliver... while Lawton sets up his rifle in the building opposite."

Floyd caught onto her trail and continued, "I'll take the shot and we'll see how it plays out. If H.I.V.E seem so certain Crandall will appear, it's highly likely he'll try and stop me."

"That's where the Arrow comes in," Felicity explained as she glanced between her boys. "Whatever happens, you'll make sure to capture my dad and we'll get the chance to question him about... everything."

"What about H.I.V.E?" Diggle questioned. "They wanted to lure him out, too, won't they be having a similar plan?"

"H.I.V.E doesn't know my allegiances are with you now," Floyd sighed tersely. "Just be quicker than them and duck any bullet that comes your way... you'll be fine."

Felicity tugged on her blue coat and grimaced. "This vest is making it difficult to move normally."

Oliver's voice quickly came over the earpiece, "I'd rather you're uncomfortable than get a bullet to the chest. Relax."

Felicity shuffled from one foot to the other as she gazed about at the street. The evening was calm and nothing seemed amiss in her direct vicinity. Behind her, the movie theater was slowly filling with guests that came and went, discussing this or that movie, comparing and scrutinizing like ordinary people. She smiled at an elderly couple that passed her on the sidewalk and turned her gaze ahead.

She knew her heart was beating irregularly inside her chest, as if willing to break out of a cage. She had no idea what to expect from tonight. She could be minutes if not seconds away from seeing her father again after all these years, and the prospect was... daunting. Felicity honestly didn't know how to feel about it, and she kept forcing the thought to the back of her mind. Primarily, this was about giving Diggle some peace of mind. John deserved answers about his brother's death and H.I.V.E. That's what this was all about.

Her eye suddenly drifted to a stoic figure that stood a few feet behind her, leaned casually against the wall. He met her gaze and she stiffly smiled at him. The man tiredly turned his gaze away and proceeded to look up and down the streets.

"I think H.I.V.E is present," Felicity muttered in a low voice as she wrapped her arms around her body to battle the cold.

"I've counted ten possible H.I.V.E agents, already," Diggle confirmed. "Might be more."

Floyd's voice suddenly carried strong in her ear. "I'm in position."

"Me too," Oliver's voice was tense and almost out of breath.

Therefor, Felicity was surprised when she saw the man in question come towards her on the sidewalk. She spun around and shot a frown in his direction. Oliver merely grinned as he closed the last distance and pressed a fervent kiss to her lips.

As he pulled back an inch, he announced in a calm, casual voice, "I'm sorry I'm late."

Felicity smiled vaguely, careful to not break character. "What...?"

"For security reasons I'm staying close to you," Oliver breathed into her ear, leaving no room for questions or debate. "Dig's wearing the green."

Felicity could hear the strain to his voice and knew security wasn't the only reason for this decision. She managed a smile and clutched his hand as his grin widened. He took a step back, deliberately moving out of Lawton's line of sight, and looked up at the cinema. Felicity exhaled, mentally trying to prepare herself for what she knew would follow any second.

But instead of a bullet, an unexpected sound suddenly split the air from a distance. Oliver couldn't help but visibly tense up at the noise, as if being turned into stone in an instant. Felicity frowned as her gaze wandered. "What was that?"

"Rocket launcher," Oliver growled as he threw himself toward the woman.

They fell to the ground in the same second as a rocket passed above their heads. It smashed into the movie theater and the next second everything exploded. The world, seemingly, went up in flames.

There was an odd ringing in his ear when Oliver came to seconds later. Every sound seemed dull and distant as if reaching his ear from beneath the surface of a lake. Sulphur and ash filled his nose as he gazed about at the destruction around him. The movie theater lay in ruins and there were injured people everywhere he looked. His eyes hastily searched for Felicity and he found her in the debris only a few feet away from him.

Oliver inhaled sharply as he pushed off the ground. As he saw her still shape, he couldn't help but be taken back to another moment that felt all too familiar all the sudden. He saw Tommy laying in the middle of the rubble of CNRI, breathing his last words and finally dying in Oliver's arms.

With these moments playing through his memories, Oliver knelt by Felicity and gazed down at her body. She seemed uninjured, but covered in soot and ash from the explosion. He exhaled in relief as he found her pulse to be strong and even. So she was just knocked out then.

"Oliver?" he heard Diggle's voice over the comms. "Are you two alright?"

Oliver grimaced as he lifted the unconscious blonde into his arms. "We're good. I'll see you in the foundry."

"Thea?" Malcolm asked as he arrived at their hotel suite. The evening was still early and, for all intents and purposes, drearily dull as life passed on monotonously.

The young brunette sat in the sofa, her eyes distant and her mind seemingly miles away. Malcolm steeled himself for what he could tell would be an uphill battle, but knew he was too close to the edge to let go now. He couldn't lose her like this, not so soon. Defeat was not an option. So many of his plans had backfired one way or another these past few months, but still his mind remained focused. He needed to keep his eyes on the prize, because in his mind there was no alternative route. Now, he just needed to convince his daughter of the same.

"I went to Walter's grave today," Thea admitted. "I guess it shook me."

Malcolm slowly lowered himself on the cushions next to his daughter and gazed at her stoic profile. "What's wrong, sweetheart?"

"I'm sorry..." her voice was almost detached as she gazed into an abyss he couldn't see, "... for turning on you the way I did with Roy. I honestly thought I didn't care about him anymore. I know he's done me harm, but I don't believe he ever meant to hurt me."

Malcolm grimaced as he tentatively approached the problem, "Are you having second thoughts about our plan, after all?"

"Maybe."

"You know I don't like it, but... if you truly want to stop, I told you; we can. It's your call in the end," Malcolm breathed in a soft tone as he shifted closer to the young woman. "But if we do, I want you to be certain you're making the right choice. You need to know exactly what you're giving up. Your mother, Tommy, Walter... You'll be betraying the memory of everyone you love."

"You've said all that already," Thea mused as she turned her gaze in his direction. "Months ago."

"And you agreed with me the first time," Malcolm pushed. "It's no less true today. The people who deserved to live, are dead. And the people who have destroyed this town, destroyed your life... are all alive and thriving. It's not karma, Thea. You owe it to your loved ones and yourself to not give up because of one hurdle."

"I know, but I-"

"You are giving yourself and this town a chance to start anew," Malcolm breathed in a passionate voice. "To do justice the right way. We can start with your stepdad."

At this, Thea seemed momentarily thrown. It took her a second to find her voice, but it slowly climbed towards the surface, "Walter? How?"

"We know his death wasn't intentional, honey," Malcolm explained. "We know who was supposed to die in his stead, but didn't. Jane Deleon. Her father's shady business implies she means bad news for Starling City, and your brother is too blind to see the dangers. Then again, he's working alongside her. He's just as bad, if not worse, and you know that. Jane's turned everyone you loved against you... and the truth is she's not even supposed to be alive. The reason Walter is dead is because of her... We could give karma a run for its money."

Thea held his gaze as she opened and closed her mouth a few times. "I..."

Malcolm placed a hand on her shoulder and offered a supportive grin. "You need some time to think? Take it."

Oliver grimaced tightly as he carried Felicity's unconscious body down the steps, taking comfort solely in the warmth of her skin against his body and the slow, steady rhythm of her breathing.

Diggle was still clad in the green leather and tensely came to stand beside the table as Oliver approached. From the corner of his eyes, Oliver noticed that Lawton lingered in the background, as well. The man's good eye held caution as he watched Oliver place the blonde woman down on the table.

"Is she okay?" Diggle asked and his eyes lingered on the woman's serene features.

Oliver stepped back from the woman, letting his hand linger on her hair a second before he answered, "She's fine. Just knocked out." Without wasting another breath, he swirled around and stalked over to Lawton. "What the hell happened out there?"

The man seemed to take the verbal assault in stride as he shrugged his lean shoulders. "The rocket was launched from the rooftop behind mine. Diggle and I tried to pursue them, but they got away... Whoever 'they' are."

Oliver opened his mouth to retort when a sudden, terrified shout broke through the piercing silence.

"Oliver!" Felicity yelped as she came to and her shock reverberated between the naked walls.

Oliver was by her side in an instant. He could see her dilated pupils and knew she was swiftly approaching a panicked state of mind. He hovered closer to her face, making certain she held his eyes and found a connection to him, bridging the last gap between them. Oliver's hand cupped her ash-stained cheek as he breathed, "Hey, I'm here. You're safe... I'm here."

Felicity's breathing slowed down after a few long seconds and eventually the mist in her eyes cleared. Oliver helped her sit up and she balanced precariously on the edge of the table as her panic subsided. She gazed up at the three men, one by one, and eventually managed to ask, "What happened?"

"The plan blew up in our faces," Floyd remarked dryly.

Felicity turned in his direction and frowned, "I thought you were using a sniper rifle?"

Lawton inclined his head in agreement as something detached flashed through his pale eyes. "I was. Someone else wasn't."

Felicity shook her head as she slowly hopped off the table and tried to calm her nerves. She drew a shaky breath. "I don't understand."

Oliver raised his voice a notch as he refocused their group, "Whoever did this is still out there. Diggle and I'll go out there and look for them. Maybe we'll find more answers out there."

"I'll stay here. See if I can find anything," Felicity nodded.

"I'll stay with her," Floyd offered.

Neither Diggle nor Oliver uttered even a syllable in protest as they exchanged a glance and headed towards the stairs. The sound of their firm, swift steps soon died out in the distance and silence reigned inside the underground lair for a beat.

Felicity sighed as she turned around to face her lone companion. Lawton shrugged his eyebrows innocently. "Alright, spill. Why did you want to stay behind with me?"

Floyd managed an amused smirk. "You are clever, aren't you?"

"Just talk," Felicity requested and brushed some ash and dust off of her clothes. "Nearly being blown up kind of pushes your limits back a bit, you know."

"I had a moment to look at the security footage before you came back," Floyd explained easily enough. "Now, while it doesn't offer a clear view of the attacker, I did get a quick look at the rocket launcher used. It was an MK153 Mod 2."

"That's Greek to me."

"It's an advanced model that hasn't been released on the market yet," Lawton clarified and his voice danced with severity. "Which narrows the play field considerably. Now, I'd normally say H.I.V.E, but they're not particularly fond of rocket launchers."

"But we both know who is..." Felicity trailed off as her eyes widened. The single word dangled in the air, "A.R.G.U.S?"

Lawton inclined his head sharply, letting the truth go unsaid in the void between them.

"Why would A.R.G.U.S...?" Felicity failed to finish the sentence. Her mind went into overdrive as she tried to make sense of the events tonight. As everything seemed to spiral more and more out of control, she clung to her own sanity. "You think they still wanted to kill my dad if and when he appeared? Maybe that's why they fired... Maybe they saw him arrive and we didn't."

"Maybe," Floyd shrugged, not so easily convinced by her train of thought.

Felicity's mind continued to reel, giving her a headache that she couldn't quite shake off. The implications were endless, providing more questions but no tangible solution. "This could be connected to Diggle's brother, my dad... H.I.V.E. If it's true, that is."

"We need answers," Lawton supplied as he slowly walked towards the woman one step at a time. "And there's only one person who has all of them."

"Amanda Waller," Felicity read between the lines and walked over to her monitors. She hesitated behind her chair as a thought struck her. "... Problem is I can't access her server from a remote location. I should know, I helped her with that security measure. I can't deploy a remote administration tool. It won't do."

Floyd slowly joined her. His voice was confident, as if not seeing the same problem as her, "Then we need to do this from within."

"All personnel abandon the premises. Code Black has been detected. All personnel abandon the premises. Code Black has been detected."

Felicity watched the information on her tablet tensely as she listened to the voice over the speakers above. She'd done it. She'd fooled A.R.G.U.S's mainframe and there was no turning back from this point. She held her breath as she watched the personnel around her start rushing towards the exists.

So consumed by the notion of a Code Black, no one paid any heed to Felicity and the man that accompanied her through the dreary corridors. No one seemed to recognize Deadshot as he kept his head low, hiding his eye-patch beneath a worn baseball cap.

"It'll be two minutes before the internal security takes effect and starts shutting off compartments," Felicity explained as she ducked out of the way for fleeing employees. "Are you ready?"

"It's not as fun," Lawton gazed down at the tranquilizer gun that he hid beneath his leather jacket. In the end, he met her gaze once more and winked. "But it'll do."

Felicity ignored the sudden desire to roll her eyes as the two of them rushed against the flood of people. They met no resistance, only a few people who encouraged them to turn back around and flee instead.

They reached the familiar corridor outside the control room and nearly ran straight into two fleeing guards. One of them recognized Lawton and opened his mouth to shout a warning. Floyd was quicker however and easily shot both of the guards with the gun. The two guards fell into a heep on the floor and Lawton glanced back at Felicity.

"By the way..." his breathed hoarsely. "Still not imagining that delinquency?"

"Shut up," Felicity muttered as she stepped over the sleeping men and into the control room.

Felicity exhaled in relief as she found the room completely empty, already abandoned as a result of her ruse. Felicity felt like pinching herself. She had to be breaking more than a few laws for which she could serve a lot of time in jail. She wasn't sure whether to feel proud or worried, but still kept to her chosen path.

Floyd pushed open the door to Waller's office and waved a hand in its direction. "Milady."

Felicity rushed past her accomplice and into the simple, cold room that reflected its owner to perfection. She ignored the idea of them trespassing as she sat down behind the computers and set to work.

Within minutes she'd worked her way past Waller's firewalls and found herself connected to the mainframe of all the classified information. She pumped her fist in the air, "Yes!"

Floyd eyed her amusedly and Felicity merely shrugged it off. She grimaced and turned back to her task. Hesitation blindsided her momentarily, "Where do I start?"

"Andrew Diggle," Floyd suggested as he remained in the open doorway to stand guard.

"Right." Felicity's fingers flew across the keyboard as she found the file in question and printed it. She listened to the printer start working as she typed in a new search. This time for her father. Her fingers faltered on the keyboard before she pushed herself over the edge.

She couldn't believe she was here, doing this. Not 24 hours earlier, her dad had simply abandoned them when she was still a kid. She'd had barely any memories of him as it was. Today... everything was different. Her father was a killer, a double-agent and someone who lived a life she had never even imagined. Never wanted to imagine.

She swallowed as his file appeared before her on the screen and her eyes briefly scanned over the information. Her gaze was quickly drawn to a single line of letters in the document. "That can't be true..."

Floyd hurriedly turned away from the doorway as he noted the fraction of worry in her voice. "What is it?"

Before Felicity could answer, a shape appeared behind the man. Amanda Waller knocked the blunt end of her weapon into the base of his skull and Lawton fell unconscious to the floor. Waller towered over the man as Felicity shot up from her seat in surprise. The sudden motion had Amanda aim her gun straight at Felicity's chest, and the latter froze.

"Do you know how many laws you are breaking at the moment, Ms Smoak?" Waller questioned in her usual, icy-cold voice. The chief of A.R.G.U.S held herself with poise and determination, as if she hadn't been surprised by this visit at all.

Felicity swallowed. "So it was your call tonight? It was your order to fire that rocket?"

Amanda tensely nodded as she re-shifted her grip on the gun.

"Why...?" Felicity asked in a raw voice. "It's all connected, isn't it...? I don't even know where to start. I just read..." Felicity swallowed past the bile that threatened to quieten her and forced herself to utter the words, "Is my dad deceased? Is it true? Because that's what this file says. In bold, red letters, too."

"It is true," Waller nodded briskly. "David Smoak is dead."

Felicity shook her head in disbelief. "You knew he was dead all along. But if he's dead, what was the mission about tonight? You played us."

"I played H.I.V.E," Waller corrected roughly. "I provided my sources with false intel which they gave to H.I.V.E on my command. H.I.V.E was only too eager to believe your father was alive, and believed you would serve as his weakness and could draw him out. And I knew with your affiliation to the Arrow and Mr Diggle to his brother, that your team would react, too. Your own scheme provided the perfect cover tonight."

"For what?"

"Taking down H.I.V.E," Amanda explained simply enough. "I've worked towards it for half my career. I couldn't let the opportunity slip through my fingers. Thanks to your participation, H.I.V.E took a considerable beating tonight and lost many agents."

Felicity couldn't believe her ears and wondered at what cruel fairy tale she had stepped into. She closed her eyes as she tried to regain focus and bluntly asked, "But what about all the innocent lives lost tonight...? What about Oliver and myself? You were willing to sacrifice us, just like that?"

Waller exhaled tersely and something shifted in her dark eyes. "Necessary costs to stop a greater evil."

Felicity shook her head slowly. "I'm not so sure who's the greater evil here."

"I don't expect you to understand my course of action, Ms Smoak," Waller supplied as she stepped forward. She walked around the desk and Felicity hesitantly backed up a few paces. Amanda grimaced as she made a silent decision and pressed a few keys on the keyboard that Felicity wasn't quick enough to catch. A new, classified file about David Smoak appeared on the screen and caught her attention.

"I won't apologize for my actions," Amanda said as she faced the other woman once more. "This is my mission report from a few years back. It was the mission we learned of David Smoak's true allegiances. As a result, I had to kill him. It is not a relief, I'm sure, but I can offer you this; your father's last words were about you."

Felicity tried to process the news but her mind came up blank. She closed her eyes tight and asked, "Well, what did-"

A shot echoed in the enclosed space and everything changed in the fraction of a second. Felicity gasped as she felt something splatter across her face and clothes. She opened her eyes wide and turned to the side just as Amanda drop to the ground like dead weight. The woman's eyes were open, but lifeless, the light extinguished for good. A small bullet hole in between Amanda's eyes gave away the reason for her demise.

Felicity turned and gazed ahead as she saw Lawton pull himself off from the ground. He held a small gun in his left hand and shrugged as he noticed her evident shock. "I was hired for a job, Ms Smoak. I can't say by whom. And... there were past injuries to mend."

Felicity's mouth opened and closed a couple of times as the world crumbled around her. Lawton held her gaze wearily, but refused to back down even as he lowered the weapon and dropped it to the ground.

In the next second, Lyla, Diggle and Oliver accompanied by more A.R.G.U.S agents came running in through the open doorway. Lyla took one look at the crime scene and snarled as she flew towards Lawton. She pushed him up against the wall, chest first, and he grunted in pain. Oliver, meanwhile, flew forwards as he saw the blood splattered across Felicity's pale skin.

Oliver's hands raked across her face and trepidation madly danced in his orbs. Felicity shook her head once as she found his eyes. "It's not mine... It's all Waller's blood. I'm fine."

Diggle felt the cloak of reality burden his shoulders as he walked down the familiar corridor with a heavy heart. He turned into the corridor filled with secure holding cells and paused a beat. He eyed the familiar door further away and gave himself a moment to think and deliberate with himself. He'd come far these past few days, though he still didn't hold all the answers.

There was only one man to thank for opening his eyes and Diggle couldn't quite blame Lawton for his deeds tonight. It was true, everything at A.R.G.U.S had just been turned on its head, and the vacated seat at the top of the food chain would make the vultures gather. Still, Waller's capable hands had been questioned as often as they had been approved of, and she wasn't necessarily missed. Despite everything happening in the chain of command, the only thing that had been agreed upon this far was to keep Lawton locked up for the time being. It was safest for everyone.

Diggle's steps sounded against the concrete floor as he walked up and peeked in through the bars of the small window to the holding cell. On the bed furthest away from the door sat Lawton, dressed in the torn, yellow outfit befit of the prisoners here.

Lawton's good eye lit up as he saw his company and he managed a sly grin. "My first visitor."

Diggle chuckled. "You didn't have to do what you did tonight."

"I can't explain why I did it," Lawton said evasively. "I don't expect you to understand."

"... I still think you've become quite the honorable man, Lawton. In your own way," John admitted in a softer tone. "Thank you for everything you've done for me and my team."

Lawton shrugged as if he didn't hold too much interest in the matter, yet his words contradicted the intent, "If it helped shine some light on your brother's death, I say I've done my part."

John nodded as he spoke, "It did. It did, but I... I think I have to let go of my anger. Or try to, at least. I have a family now - a life - and it's reminded me why I do all of this. Maybe the past... belongs in the past. I've spent so much time hellbent on finding out the truth about my brother, and I don't think I'll ever stop. But it's not my priority anymore. Lyla and Maya are. Maybe it's time I focused on the the future, for once."

Lawton's eye shone with respect. "I envy you, you know."

"I know," John remarked with an amused smile and finally sighed. "I'll see you around, Lawton."

There mercenary sighed. "I'll be here."

Felicity opened the door with a hesitant smile and let her visitor in without a word. John stepped over the threshold and lingered in the hall as he held his friend's curious gaze. After everything they'd been through lately, John was just grateful he could still stand there as her true friend. It eased his mind to know some things didn't have to change, that the bigger picture remained the same though the details altered.

Felicity didn't beat around the bush as she asked, "...Did you do it? Did you read the file on your brother?"

"I'm saving it for some other time," Diggle admitted in a low hum. "I think I've faced enough demons for now... And besides, I'm not sure I want to find out everything that's in that file. Might change my perception of Andy, you know? And I don't want that. I don't want to see him as something he wasn't to me. The file might show me a version of a broken man I didn't know. So I'm holding onto the version I knew. He was my brother and I loved him dearly... Nothing will ever change that. That's all I need in the end to keep going."

"I think I understand..." Felicity breathed as she crossed her arms over her chest to hold herself intact. "I can't really bring myself to read up on my dad either. Makes it too real, you know? He was a killer, and I..."

"That was one version of him, Felicity," John pointed out. "He was your father, and yes, he was someone else. But not with you. With you, he was a father for awhile. Nothing in that file will change that truth."

"So he's still just the dad who abandoned me?" Felicity muttered. "That's better."

Diggle exhaled in bitter amusement as he saw past her walls and decided to open up in turn. "You know what I need now? My family. I've spent so much time looking on the past, that over the years I forgot about the future at times. And all that kind of changed when Maya was born. Whenever I hold my daughter in my arms, I feel like the world will be okay. She and Lyla give me something to fight for, but more importantly; they give me something to live for. That's what I want to hold on to right now, that's what will make things alright in the end."

Felicity smiled. "And you have a renewal of the vows coming up sometime soon, too."

"Waller's death might have messed with our timeline," John sighed. "We'll see when and how that can happen, but there's a lot to figure out at A.R.G.U.S at the moment. It will happen, though, don't worry."

"I'm really happy for you, John. That you have this life now. You know that, right?"

Diggle smiled down at his friend. He saw her insecurities flash through her eyes like thunder and his heart swelled with pride. Felicity had always been filled with insecurities, but never governed by them. Her actions these past few days had only proved to him how good of a friend she was, and John wanted nothing more than to return all the favors. He could start by helping her look past the one glaring insecurity right now. "Felicity... I think, for a long time, Oliver didn't wear the mask - It wore him. While you hid behind your monitors. But that's changed. It might not always be smooth sailing, but that's just love. You've both got insecurities, but you've also got each other. Someone to live for. And you have a family in our team. I'm just suggesting that maybe that's what you ought to embrace right now to keep going forward."

Felicity sniffled as she glanced up at Diggle over the rim of her glasses. "Thank you, John. Please, never change."

Diggle chuckled low as he inclined his head. "I don't intend to. You'll always have me, Felicity."

The woman grinned and she seemed less troubled all the sudden. Her eyes sparkled as she tilted her head to the side and asked, "I wouldn't mind a drink. I've got wine and beer, if you're interested? And a movie, perhaps?"

"Sure," John chuckled as he followed her into her apartment. He felt a weight ease off of his shoulders as he tried to let go of the past, and leave it where it belonged. He glanced down at his friend and saw her blue eyes twinkle just like normal for a second. They both had hurdles ahead, but they'd be okay. They'd find their way in the darkness and follow the light together. "I'll never say no to a beer."

To be continued!