This is not a new story from me. It is "Broken Not Destroyed" that I've been posting on the Arrow page. I decided to begin posting it on the crossover site mainly due to the fact that I plan on violating my original pledge to only have Buffy in it. This is a fun story, so if you're new to it, I hope you enjoy it as much as I!

Introduction: Buffy comes to Starling City about a dozen years or so since she left Sunnydale (Buffy season 7), which will put her in her mid or late 30's. She is in search of a new slayer and is investigating whether or not the earthquake in the Glades was the result of a hellmouth. The story will be told from various characters' POV. All the characters from Arrow will feature prominently in this tale except for any characters from the island. If you're familiar with my writing style, this story will be similar to others. I like to get inside the characters' head and emotions. The first chapter focuses exclusively on the aftermath of the Undertaking.

Chapter 1: Walking Away

Oliver waited at the graveside until the funeral was over. He took the condolences of his family and friends. He tried to console Thea while avoiding Laurel's gaze. The guilt was about to bring him to his knees. He failed his best friend, he failed Laurel, and he failed the city. His entire mission had been a dismal failure. Everyone left the graveside. He couldn't bring himself to leave. Frozen at the sight, he watched the coffin containing his oldest and closest friend be lowered in the grave. His fist clenched in helpless rage.

Felicity finally couldn't take it anymore. She and Diggle had stood in the background and watched the funeral. The public roles they were forced into had kept them from being able to lend Oliver their support. Felicity hated knowing so much about Oliver and yet having to be merely his employee on the surface. They had waited while he stood there saying goodbye to his friend. When he showed no sign of leaving, Felicity finally stepped forward. She reached out and took Oliver's hand.

Oliver looked at her, his expression so full of pain that it brought tears to Felicity's eyes.

"I'm so sorry, Oliver," she said, her eyes filled with sorrow and compassion.

"So am I," Oliver said sadly, his own eyes filled with unshed tears. He squeezed her hand and then pulled away. His eyes found Diggle. "I'm ready to leave."

His friends followed him to the waiting car.

Oliver got into the car. "I'd like to go to the foundry," he said automatically.

"Oliver, there's too much damage," Felicity reminded him.

Oliver needed to work out. He needed a way to let out the rage that seemed like it was going to consume him. Frustration gnawed at him.

"I took the liberty of moving some new equipment in your gym at your house," Diggle told him.

Oliver gave him a grateful look.

"I'll take Felicity home first," Diggle said.

Felicity felt helpless. She wanted so badly to be able to help Oliver. He'd stopped Tommy's father. He'd sacrificed so much. She and Detective Lance had stopped one of the bombs. They had made a difference. Surely, Oliver saw that. Somehow, Felicity knew he was focusing on the lives lost, not the ones saved.

An hour later, Oliver was down in the gym he'd almost forgotten his home contained. He was so used to doing his workouts in the basement of the club that he'd forgotten that the mansion had a state of the art gym. He'd been working out alone, punching the bag, jumping rope, and lifting weights, when Diggle joined him. Diggle threw him a staff. Diggle always knew what he needed. Oliver needed a target he could focus on.

Roy had been searching the house at Thea's request, looking for her brother. Oliver's driver had brought him home. The car was still out front, but Oliver wasn't in his room or any of the obvious places. The house was insanely big. Roy didn't understand why people had houses so large they could lose someone in, but he played the dutiful boyfriend and went to looking for her missing brother.

Oliver Queen scared Roy. Not that he'd ever admit that to anyone. Roy had heard about the playboy older brother. The one so bad that he'd been presumed dead after running off with his girlfriend's sister. The sister was dead and Oliver had been punished severely for his transgression. Five years on a deserted island would've been torture. Roy almost felt sorry for the man. Thea didn't talk too much about her brother except to say that he was different since his return. The look in his eyes when he looked at Roy sometimes terrified him. The eyes didn't seem to fit the image he projected to everyone. They only softened when they were looking at Thea. Roy had noticed this right away. Oliver loved his sister, and she adored him. Roy knew this without a doubt. It made him very careful with Thea. There was no way he was ever going to break up with her. If they were going to end, Roy would make damn sure Thea dumped him!

Sounds of fighting drew him down a hall. One that he'd never been down before. He peeked inside, his eyes widening at the sight. Thea's brother was shirtless. His driver was, too. Both men were ripped. The driver was an ex-soldier, so Roy didn't guess that was too surprising. What was surprising was the way the two men were going at it. The skill and fire the two men showed as they attacked one another with large sticks blew Roy's mind. It almost looked like they were trying to kill one another. Finally, Oliver managed to knock his driver down. Roy stood there in open-mouthed shock. He had no idea his girlfriend's brother was capable of such violence or had such skill. The implications frightened him.

Roy felt relieved when Oliver reached down to help Diggle up. He started to push the door all the way open and announce his presence, but the sight of Oliver's scars gave him pause. The man was covered in them. Roy now understood the look in the man's eyes. Oliver Queen had suffered. And he had suffered greatly. Watching him now, it was obvious that he was still suffering. His mother was in jail and his best friend killed in an earthquake that had killed hundreds. An earthquake his mom had something to do with. It was a mess. For the first time, he felt the stirrings of sympathy for Thea's brother.

"Do you feel better?" Diggle asked, handing Oliver a water bottle.

"I'm never going to feel better. I failed. I didn't stop Merlyn. I didn't save Tommy. I accomplished nothing!" Oliver said angrily. Roy swallowed hard as his words began to paint a picture. A picture Roy couldn't believe.

"Felicity and Lance managed to keep one of the devices from going off. Countless lives were saved. We got the Dark Archer. Your mission is complete," Diggle said.

"At what cost, John? I killed my best friend's father and lied to Tommy before he died. He died thinking I kept his murderous, insane father alive," Oliver said in disgust.

"You didn't do anything alone," Diggle said.

Roy took a step back. His mind reeling. "Oh shit!" he exclaimed. His hand went over his mouth. Did he say that out loud?

He turned to flee the scene when a hand grabbed his arm and yanked him hard in the room. Oliver Queen glared down at him. "What are you doing here?" Oliver asked harshly. He had Roy pinned to the wall, his hands around Roy's throat.

"Your—your sister sent me to find you. She's worried," Roy gasped, terrified.

"Oliver," Diggle warned.

Oliver released Roy, his glare still present. "What did you hear?" he demanded.

Roy thought about lying, but the lie died in his throat at the man's piercing look. He'd been searching for the Hood for so long, and now he was looking at him. He never dreamed it'd be his girlfriend's brother. "You're the Hood!" Roy said, his eyes wide with the new knowledge.

For a brief moment, Oliver thought about denying it. The lie came to his lips so easily. However, he was so tired. Tired of the lying, tired of the double life, tired of trying to balance his two worlds. Everything had fallen apart. His dreams have been shattered. There was no more lies left to say. He turned and gave Roy his back.

Roy saw the evidence of more scars on the backside of Oliver. The appearance of the Hood had coincided with the reappearance of Oliver Queen. It should've been obvious now that Roy thought about it. Knowing the Hood had an accomplice explained how Oliver managed to throw the police off his scent. "I've been looking for you. You saved my life. I want to learn from you. I want to help save people!" Roy said eagerly.

Oliver turned and gave him a look that froze his words. "You want to be a killer? Is that it? You want me to teach you how to kill?" Oliver asked angrily. "My sister will not ever be with a man like me. I'll kill you myself before that happens!"

He took a step toward Roy, and Roy gulped. Diggle stepped in front of him. "Oliver," he said in a quiet tone. Somehow, just saying Oliver's name served to calm the man down.

"I don't want to kill anyone!" Roy assured him. "I want to help people. That's what you do. You saved my life!"

"If you tell Thea or anyone what you've discovered, it'll be the last mistake you ever make," Oliver threatened. He held Roy's gaze a moment before walking out of the room.

Roy let out a breath. Diggle stepped up to him. "Oliver didn't mean that. He's upset. Merlyn almost killed him. It took both of us to put him down. We didn't know the man had two devices. We tried to stop him. But Tommy died. So many people died," Diggle said tiredly.

"I won't say a word. I swear!" Roy vowed.

"I hope you can keep that vow. The last thing this family needs is more scandal. The truth will destroy your sister. She's lost enough," Diggle said. He held Roy's gaze before following after Oliver.

Roy had trouble believing what had happened. His mind couldn't seem to process it all. One thing he knew. Oliver Queen really had died on that island. The man Oliver just met was not the brother Thea adored. Roy didn't know what Oliver had gone through but one thing was obvious. There was no way in hell the man had been alone on that island. Roy learned how to fight to survive. He knew how to run and evade most foes in the Glades. The skills that Oliver acquired on the island had obviously been honed for survival. These skills had come out of grim necessity.

Roy cautiously followed behind Oliver until he joined Thea. He watched as Thea wrapped her arms around Oliver, seeking comfort. Unlike Roy, Oliver could share her pain. She had adored Tommy. She had told Roy that he'd been like another brother, her first crush, her confidant. He'd replaced Oliver when Oliver had been presumed dead. Missing Oliver, he had kept coming around. Tommy had never abandoned Thea. His death devastated her. Roy sat down in the corner waiting until he was needed. He wasn't quite sure how he was going to keep a secret like this from Thea.

******A Few Weeks Later******

Oliver couldn't take it anymore. He felt like he was going to explode. He was tired of the calls, tired of the lawyers, and tired of the news. The horrible images from the Glades. He caused that. He figured out too late who Merlyn was. He had failed at such an awful cost. There was no way he could stay another night in Starling City. Not if he wanted to keep his sanity.

Having made the decision, he didn't know who to tell first, Thea or Felicity. Neither would take the news well. Thea was looking to him to save his mom, save the family, and save the company. Felicity had him on a pedestal so high his fall was inevitable. The only way to save them both from further hurt was to get off the pedestal completely. He couldn't fix anything. That he knew now without a doubt. He decided to tell Diggle first.

He was at home. Arrangements were already made. He was leaving that night. Diggle answered his call and came up to his room.

"What's up?" Diggle asked cautiously. He wasn't sure which way to tread with Oliver these days.

"I'm leaving. I've made arrangements for you to continue to guard my family. Keep an eye on Felicity. I put funds in both your accounts. What the two of you've done for me can never be repaid. I will always be grateful," Oliver said, holding out his hand.

Diggle hadn't expected this, so he ignored the offered hand. "What? You're just going to leave? Your family needs you now more than ever. This city is falling apart in case you've not been paying attention!" Diggle said, trying to control his temper.

"Of course, I know! I know that my meddling only made things worse! I didn't save Tommy! I didn't save my mother! I didn't manage to do a damn thing right! I can't stand to look at myself in the mirror. I need to get away," Oliver said bluntly, despair in his eyes.

"How long?" Diggle asked when he realized how serious Oliver was about this.

"I don't know. As long as it takes. Until I can stomach the sight of my own image," Oliver said, his self-loathing obvious.

Diggle stood silent and looked at him a few minutes. He could see the ragged edge Oliver walked on. He'd seen the look before. Too many times. Even on his own face. Finally, he nodded. "Okay," he said. "But you're telling Felicity."

Oliver grimaced but nodded. "Telling Thea will be bad enough."

He finished giving Diggle some instructions, and then he went downstairs to find his sister. She was playing Xbox with Roy. Sometimes he forgot how young she still was. At other times, he looked at her and didn't recognize her, still expecting to see the child he'd said goodbye to six years ago.

"Thea, we need to talk," Oliver said, getting her attention.

Roy recognized his serious tone and paused the game. He got up. "I'll give you guys some privacy," he said.

Oliver held out his hand. "No, stay," he said. He knew his sister would need Roy's support. He looked at Thea. "I'm going to leave town for a bit."

Thea frowned in confusion. "I thought you were going to reopen the club? The renovations will be complete soon. I was hoping I could work with you. Let me help you manage it. I don't want to go to school. How can I think about college when our mother is going to be tried for mass murder?"

"You don't want to go to college? Seriously? I thought you'd love a chance to get out of town," Oliver said in surprise.

"Like I can escape what's happened! What she's done!" Thea said bitterly.

Oliver glanced over at Roy as if seeking help. Roy shrugged. What could he say? Thea had a point. Her mom put the welfare of her two children over hundreds of innocent people.

"I need a break from all this myself. Surely going away to school will be a relief," Oliver suggested.

Thea's eyes flashed fire. "You can run away if you want Ollie, but I will not!" she exclaimed.

"I'm not running away! I just need a break!" Oliver said defensively.

"Well, go! Leave me again! You seem to be so good at it!" Thea said scornfully. She turned her back away from him.

Oliver was taken aback by her anger. Roy finally intervened, getting to his feet and going toward her. He put his arm around her shoulder. "Babe, he spent years away from all the publicity and stuff. He was on that island. You don't want him to, like, have a mental break down or something," he offered lamely. He gave Oliver a guilty glance but shrugged. He didn't have any real words to make Oliver leaving okay. He couldn't very well tell her that Oliver was the Hood and the most dangerous man in the city. Nor could Roy say that if her brother needed a mental health break, it was safer for everyone if he got it.

"Please, don't be mad, Thea," Oliver begged. "I love you more than anything. You have to know that. I wouldn't leave if I didn't have to."

Thea finally looked up at him. She saw something in his eyes that gave her pause. She wasn't completely self-involved. She knew that her brother had come back more than a little bit broken. His body full of scars said more than he ever did. It made her heart hurt to think of what he might've went through. "Okay, Oliver," she said quietly. "Promise me that you'll come back to me this time. Promise me you won't stay gone too long."

Oliver pulled her against him for a tight hug. His eyes connected with Roy. "Take care of her," he ordered. Roy, of course, knew that it wasn't just a brother speaking those words. If anything happened to Thea while Oliver was gone, the Hood would make sure Roy was punished.

Roy nodded. "I will," he vowed. Thea clung to him as Oliver left. "Don't worry. Your brother is a survivor. He'll be back before you know it."

Thea felt bereft. Her father was gone. Her mother was gone. Tommy was gone. Now Oliver was leaving again. She had a feeling things were never going to be the same.

*****Across Town*****

Diggle drove Oliver to Felicity's apartment. He didn't want to have this talk at work.

Felicity was surprised when she looked in her peek hole and saw Oliver standing outside her apartment door. She quickly opened it. "Oliver? Is everything okay?" she asked. She stepped back to let him in.

"Sorry to drop by unannounced, but Diggle's taking me to the airport, and I wanted to say goodbye before I left," Oliver said.

"Goodbye? Where are you going?" Felicity asked in confusion.

"I need to leave, Felicity. I can't stay here anymore. Everything I touch seems to fall apart. Tommy's dead. My family's name has been destroyed. I failed," he said, his eyes full of sorrow.

Felicity looked at him with compassion. She reached out and touch his arm. "You saved a lot of lives, Oliver," she told him.

He shook his head. "No. You and Detective Lance did. All I did was murder my best friend's father," he said bitterly.

"It wasn't murder!" Felicity said hotly. "Don't you ever say that! Diggle was there, too. You would've been dead if that man had his way. We all would've!"

Oliver knew it was pointless to argue with Felicity. She only saw him a certain way. Nothing he said would ever change that. In her eyes, he could do no wrong. He both loved and hated that about her. "Felicity, I appreciate your support, your faith in me. I deposited some money in your account for all the work you did for me," he told her.

"I didn't do it for the money!" she said hotly.

"I know you didn't, but you earned it," he said. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Felicity said softly. He was just going to walk away. She never asked him to come into her life, to change her, to change everything. But he had. Now he was just going to stop being who he was to this city. To her. How could he do that? She wanted to tell him that. She wanted to demand answers, to yell, to beg him to stay. However, his eyes held too much pain. How could she add to it?

He gave her a grateful look as if understanding what she held back. Felicity stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his middle. "I'm going to miss you," she mumbled against his chest.

He squeezed his eyes closed a moment, his arms hugging her back. Her embrace felt both new and familiar at the same time. A pang hit his heart as it occurred to him that he may never have a reason to be in this position again. Without the Hood, he and Felicity had no real ties. The realization made him incredibly sad. He stepped out of her embrace. "Take care," he said. Involuntarily, his hand rose up to cup her cheek. He tried to convey with his eyes what he was unable to voice. Then he turned to leave, unable to actually say goodbye to the only female in his life he never had to lie to.

Felicity watched him walk out her door, unable to process what exactly had occurred. She went through the motions of closing and locking her door. In a fog, she sat down on her couch. She sat there immobile for a while. Then she curled up in a ball, her mind racing. Who would she be now without the Hood? Could she simply pick back up her life as if nothing had changed? Could she only be Felicity Smoak, IT girl extraordinaire? Dissatisfaction filled her at the thought. Sorrow sprung up insider as an overwhelming sense of loss hit her.

"I'm not going to cry!" she said out loud. She kept repeating that mantra as the tears rolled down her cheek.

*****A Month Later*****

Buffy Summers drove into Starling City as the sun was setting. She stopped the bike she was driving and took off her helmet, looking at the city below. According to Giles, this city had major problems. Rising crime, death, an earthquake. The signs suggested there were supernatural elements a foot. Buffy didn't know, but she would find out. One thing she knew, though, was the city held a slayer. Willow had sent her here to bring the girl home to them. Willow was never wrong.

******Chapter End*******

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