A/N: Finally an end to this thing, thanks for your patience. And congrats to the fandom and the Arrow cast for 'Ship of the Year and all of the other glorious SDCC fun!

Chapter Six

When Oliver, Sara, and Connor arrived back at the building that was currently "home," Oliver found Felicity with an old fashioned tablet in her hand giving orders to Ray, who was messing with what looked like a generator. She was standing, but he noticed her wheelchair was nearby.

When she looked up she smiled easily. "We're going to be back to full power now, which means we need to get downstairs and clean up the old system. If I can…"

Oliver held his hand up to stop her, feeling an almost choking wave of concern. It was one thing for him to be back in action, it was another thing for her to be in the line of fire. "Take it easy," he said, trying to make the words sound like a suggestion instead of a command. "I know you're feeling better but I don't want you to push too hard."

He saw understanding cross her features and she gave him a slightly sad smile. "Just the tech, Oliver, I promise."

"That's all it was ever supposed to be," he reminded her, growling slightly.

She stuck out her lip in a resemblance of her old pout. It wasn't just the scars, whatever magic that ship's med bay had worked, she looked at least a decade younger. "Does that mean you won't clear off my computers?"

He tried to fight a smile and failed. "No," he said with a heavy sigh. "I like being happily married."

"Smart man," Ray said climbing to his feet. He hit a button on the generator and the lights in the building flickered on. "You should be set." Giving them a smile that didn't reach his eyes he said, "I guess that means Sara and I better get going."

Oliver stepped forward and extended his good arm to Ray. He had to clear his throat as his old friend shook his hand. "Never gonna be able to thank you enough."

Ray's smile was brighter, as he shook Oliver's hand with enthusiasm. "No need," he pinned Oliver with a look and smirked a little. "It's what friends are for, right?"

Oliver let out an annoyed huff, but couldn't help but return the grin. "Have a good trip, Ray."

Oliver turned to say goodbye to Sara, but she shook her head. "I'll walk you down."

Connor, who had remained silent through the whole exchange, said, "I don't suppose we could change your mind, could we? You all seem to know what to do in a fight."

Sara just laughed and headed toward the elevator. When they got inside though, her face was serious. "Ollie? About my dad and Laurel…" she paused.

This was one thing he knew they shouldn't talk about. "Huh-uh," he said firmly. He chose his next words and his verb tenses very carefully. "You're a family Sara, you'll always be a family. Nothing in the past or the future changes that."

For a moment he expected her to fight, but then she shrugged and gave a flippant smile that didn't reach her eyes. "True, and if our little mission succeeds, this," she gestured around them, "is all going to disappear anyway."

Connor looked between Oliver and Sara his eyebrows drawing together. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" he asked.

"Better not to think about it," Oliver grumbled as the elevator doors opened.

The lights came on automatically as they entered the room, and just for a moment there was a part of him that expected to see Diggle, and Speedy, and Laurel come out from the shadows and stand by his side.

Oliver closed his eyes to chase away the ghosts and walked forward into the wreck of the room. "We have a lot of work to do. Grant Wilson did a good job of keeping the criminal element of the city together. Now there will plenty of people to fill the vacuum." He turned to face Sara

"I feel like I should stay," Sara said, her voice truly regretful as she looked around at the remains of had once been a solid base of operations.

"Before Ray left he told me why Rip brought all of you together." Oliver said, taking a step toward his old friend. "It's important, Sara." And maybe if they were all lucky the future Ray and Sara and Rip carved would make their future a better place. A place where he got to grow old surrounded by his friends and his family.

"I just hate the idea of leaving you here to fix it alone," Sara protested.

"I'm not alone," Oliver said, looking at Connor - at John Diggle's son - who nodded his agreement at Oliver's words. And though Oliver had said it largely to assuage Sara's concern, he felt a surge of hope at the idea of working with Connor… and, heaven save them, Felicity again, to save the city.

"Just be careful alright," Sara said earnestly.

That almost made him laugh, especially coming from her. "Well, you should know better than most. I rarely ever am."

Smiling, Sara reached up to wrap her arms around him. It was one of the those moments when he felt his age acutely. Especially as she reached up to touch his wrinkled cheek – her face and skin still perfect and unlined.

Sara turned to Connor, pointing a finger at the young man's chest. "You watch his back."

"Copy that," Connor said, a huge grin on his face, as Sara walked away from them.

He didn't want to watch her go – didn't want to wonder if this was yet another final farewell, "Let's get to work," he said to Connor.

They went directly to the one bank of computers that was still relatively intact and pulled the plastic off of them. Oliver couldn't help but be aware of the sound of Sara walking away, of the elevator taking her back up into the world – and into time and space.

In only minutes he heard the elevator start again, and old habits made him step away from their efforts to clean and move down toward the shotgun that was still within reach.

Connor shot him an alarmed look, "Do I need…"

"Probably just Felicity," Oliver said, praying that he was right. "But old habits die hard."

Connor held up his hands. "They kept you alive, man. That's what's important."

He sounded so much like his father in that moment that Oliver couldn't help but smile. The elevator doors came open to the welcome sight of Felicity, now back in her wheelchair. The tablet was tucked into her lap, and he again marveled at how easily she pushed the chair forward.

She saw that the computers were uncovered. Oliver had also dared to try turning them on. "Two monitors!' she said sounding delighted. "That's better than I thought after a decade of disuse. One of the first things we need to do is make a run to the warehouse. There are so many things there that might be able to help us get the city back under some sort of control. I suggest we start with…"

"Some rest," Oliver said firmly, holding up his hands.

Felicity shook her head, her grey-brown hair swishing around her shoulders. "I don't need to rest. I just had a magical de-aging makeover."

It didn't matter. Oliver wanted her to slow down, to have a minute to breathe and think before charging into hero girl mode. Yes, he intended to help the city. If for no other reason than to spend more time with Connor. But there were also other considerations – tracking down their family, staying under Vandal Savage's radar…

Actually, he needed to slow down. "Yeah," he growled pinning his wife with a look. "But I didn't."

She let out a impatient huff, and looked over at Connor. "Hey, um Green Arrow….can you give Oliver and I a couple of hours? Apparently us old people need a nap."

Connor grinned wide, "Yes ma'am."

Without another word he disappeared into the shadows of the lair. The fact that he didn't need to take the elevator said a lot about the kid's skill.

Oliver watched as Felicity wheeled over and set her tablet on the edge of the raised platform. Then she lifted up her arms. "Help me walk to bed, Mr. Queen?"

The sight filled him with more hope than anything else that had happened that day. "With pleasure, Mrs. Queen."

She was leaning heavily on him by the time they reached the tucked away corner that had served as their room over the past few months. Oliver set her down on the bed, and then pulled a stool over so he could sit facing her.

"Quite the day we've had," he said, putting his elbows on his knees and leaning toward her.

She let out a little laugh. "Quite a life we've had," she said, moving so that their faces were only inches apart.

He nodded tiredly, "You know I never…"

Her fingers came up and covered his lips, stopping the apology he'd been about to give. "I'm glad I've spent it with you."

Closing his eyes, he tilted his head, and her hand shifted to cradle the side of his face, her fingers sliding into his beard. Swallowing hard, he felt the conflict that had haunted him from almost the moment they'd met all those years ago. If he hadn't gone to her office, she might be… He stopped himself; he was too selfish to wish they'd never known each other. More than that, he knew Felicity had made her own choices. If she could live with them, he had to do the same.

Opening his eyes, he looked at her. "Thank you."

Her expression was confused. "For what?"

"For giving me something to live for during the past fifteen years," he said.

She smiled – it was wide and bright and unmarred by scars. Then she kissed him, and Oliver hoped that however Sara's team changed the past, his future would include Felicity.