A/N: Here it is! I've finally started! This is a prologue, so starting from chapter 2, it'll all take place during season 1. I don't really have any concrete plans for this story, so I'm basically making this up as I go, so bear with me.

If you haven't read A Sunless Garden, don't read this, it won't make any sense. If you have read it, welcome back, and enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 1: Prologue

Oliver POV

Oliver Queen was the guy every girl wanted to be with and every guy wanted to be. He was ridiculously rich, led a carefree life, and had a pretty nice girlfriend. But that wasn't how he saw himself.

For a moment, he let himself enjoy the sea breeze that drifted over from the ocean, before looking down at the picture in his hands. A smile tugged at his lips. The people in the picture were little more than children, and in some ways, they still were. Or at least he was. Felicity had dyed her hair blonde that day, for the Halloween fair. It suited her sunny personality, even though he knew she hated to resemble her mother in any way. And being blonde was something her mother did, not her. But Oliver had been different then, too, and in more ways than just his haircut. Felicity had changed him, made him into a better person. A person Oliver had later forgotten how to be after he'd pushed her away.

He sighed as he thought about that. It was the thing he regretted most in his life, and he'd wanted to reach out to her so many times. He knew she was at MIT, and he'd seen a picture of her, sporting black hair with purple highlights and heavy make-up. She looked even less like herself than back at FCA. She was dating, too, though Oliver had heard the guy had been arrested for cyberterrorism. Tommy kept him up to date, and though he should, Oliver couldn't ask him to stop. Call him a creep, but he still loved her. She deserved better, and looking back on the last couple of years, he was glad she hadn't had to see the mess he'd made of himself over the years.

He'd found the picture in an old wallet, and he hadn't been able to stop looking at it since.

"Ollie, are you coming?" A voice behind him broke through his reverie.

Oliver turned around and smiled at Sara. "I'm coming," he called back. He'd tried to get back with Laurel after graduating, but they just didn't work, and in the end, they'd agreed to just be friends. That didn't mean that the brunette had been thrilled when he'd started dating her younger sister, though.

Sara and him were… complicated didn't really cover it. They weren't really serious, and it was more having fun than anything else. She knew about the picture, and was smart enough to know that the girl on it was important to him, even if she didn't know who it was.

Oliver took one last look at the picture, before putting it safely back into his wallet. He'd talk to her when he got back from this trip. Who knew, maybe there were still miracles in this world, and she'd actually want to talk to him?

"Ollie!" Sarah yelled from behind him. She'd just said goodbye to Laurel, and was waiting impatiently on deck for him.

He grinned and jogged over. For now, he'd just have fun. He'd sort out everything else later.

/*/

Felicity POV

It was warm outside. Coming from Nevada, Felicity was used to it, but it somehow seemed wrong now. It should be pouring down, black skies and lightning, as if the very world was fighting against what had now become her truth. But it wasn't. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day. At least it was quiet, Felicity couldn't even hear any birds. But then, the Queens were probably rich enough that they had people who kept those pesky birds away from their mansion.

Yes, Felicity Smoak was on Queen land. Tommy had gotten her inside, and then left her to work through this alone. She hadn't even really wanted to come, but for some reason, Moira Queen had decided to bury her son and husband near her house, instead of at a cemetery.

So now here she was. Felicity shifted uncomfortably. She didn't know what to do. She didn't cry, though she felt like that was the more appropriate option, and she didn't say anything. She just stared. It wasn't even like he was actually buried there, since his… since he was never found.

Felicity took a deep breath and stepped forward, putting a few pebbles onto the slate grey headstone. It was somber, and majestic. It was everything Oliver had never been.

She glanced to the other headstone. She'd only met Robert Queen very briefly, and hadn't known the man at all, but his headstone fit him perfectly.

God, there was so much she wished she could have told Oliver, and even more she wished he had told her. But in the end… they had been themselves. Sometimes she was convinced that they would have grown apart over time, even if they hadn't had that big fight 4 years ago. Everything with Oliver was… intense, hard. He was one of those people who felt incredibly deep, whether that was love or hate.

Felicity pressed her hand against the headstone one more time before walking back over the sunny lawn. She didn't go inside, she doubted she'd see anyone anyway, instead walking around the house back to the driveway. Tommy was leaning against his car, apparently done talking to whoever he'd managed to get a hold of. He looked pretty bad, but then, Felicity doubted she looked any better. Perhaps a little more composed.

"Ready to go?" he asked once she was close enough.

Felicity shot one more look over her shoulder to that huge, empty mansion. She thought she saw Thea peek out from behind a curtain, but she couldn't be certain. "Yeah. I'm ready."

She got in the car, and they drove away. Felicity was finally ready to put Oliver Queen behind her.

A/N: So, what did you guys think? I know it's a little more introspective than my usual work, but I promise there will be more action in the next chapter. Oliver will be back from the island!

Before anyone asks, no, I won't be working with flashbacks. Everything that happened on the island and in Hong Kong remains pretty much the same, so it would be a bit pointless.

Anyway, leave me a review!