Disclaimer: Try part one.

A/N: Since prismdreams pointed out how Oliver is reacting less devastated than others, I felt I should warn you all before this chapter begins. He is devastated by Felicity's loss, though they were exes he hasn't had enough time to get over her and now has lost her. The interpretation I'm going with for his character in this AU is that he's feeling too much between Laurel's confessions, her death/resurrection, and Felicity's murder. He's gone numb and is emotionally pulling away from everyone, a fact I'll explore more in the sequel, the rest of S4, and which I'll compound further in the S5 rewrite (whenever I get around to them).

A big thanks to all who've read and review, favorited and followed this story!

Part Nine

Three days ago, she'd been stabbed and lay in a hospital, near death. She'd died. Been brought back to life. Lost a good friend. And none of it felt real anymore.

The rational part of Laurel knew it was the shock catching up to her. So much had changed in such a short span, she needed time to process. Yet processing wouldn't make the truth any easier. She wasn't the same person she'd been before. She didn't know what that meant for her, but she was going to have to find out. Three days ago, Laurel had thought she knew what she wanted in life.

Now, Laurel stood next to Thea at Felicity Smoak's funeral. Donna sobbed in front of them. Diggle shook as he and Lyla stood on Quentin's other side. Briefly, Laurel remembered Tommy's funeral and the first one they'd held for Sara – the pain she'd felt at those memorials was too much like the sorrow she currently knew. Too many, they'd lost too many good people in this fight.

Oliver walked to the front of the crowd. His eyes were bloodshot. His pain clear as day on his face. Yet his voice was strong as he gave Felicity's eulogy.

"I only knew Felicity a few short years, but my life will forever be changed because of her. I loved her, will always love her. Felicity, she made all the lives around her, brighter. She made me a better man. She was brave and kind. Brilliant with a computer. She wanted to make the world a better place, and she did with her presence. It's a cruelty, to have lost her so soon . . .

Oliver placed a hand on her casket. "Goodbye, Felicity," he half-sobbed. He stood there, staring at the coffin for so long, the other mourners began to move, believing he was done. Then he spoke again, his eyes still on the casket, and his next words shocked everyone present.

"Before her death, Felicity revealed to me she was Overwatch, a vigilante. She was a less known member of the Green Arrow's team. His eyes and ears. She guided him behind the scenes. She watched over the team, and wherever she is now, she will continue to do so, over all of us."

Oliver looked up and beyond the other mourners he found a vision dressed in black. Blonde hair in that ponytail she loved, glasses a touch askew, and a mischievous grin just for him. Felicity. She was still with him. Good. He didn't ever want to let her go.

Later, after he finished his phone call with Barry, he opened the door to his limo and found her waiting. His Felicity. Oliver slipped into his seat and promised her that Darhk would die. She was glad, supportive even. Then his vision vanished when the other door opened. Laurel slid into the seat next to him.

"Were you talking to someone?" she asked him.

"Barry," he lied easily. Laurel nodded and faced forward.

"How long do you think, before the bloodlust sets in?" she asked quietly.

"Not long."

"I'm not sure I have it in me."

"I'll help you, but first, we need to find out how we kill him."

Laurel could think of one way, the scream she'd used which had sent Damien flying. That kind of power had to be capable of so much more. Yet Laurel didn't mention her thoughts to Oliver. She hadn't told anyone what she'd done in that hallway. And as she contemplated using that scream to make Darhk pay, to ensure he could never hurt another living person again, she found the thought didn't disturb her as much as it once had. If he had to die, so that others would live, Laurel could live with that.

Oliver glanced at Laurel without her noticing. He hadn't forgotten her confession, but he had more important matters on his mind. He had his mirage of Felicity to maintain, for one. He was also plotting how to make Darhk suffer for what he'd done. Oliver accepted that he couldn't be the one to end Damien's life, but he would make him pay for what he'd done to Felicity, no matter what anyone else thought. This Oliver promised himself.

The limo rolled forward with Oliver and Laurel inside. Silence stretched between them alongside their secrets and the darkness of their thoughts.

A/N2: Remember the hallucinations Oliver had way back in S2, yeah, I'm building off that. First, to explain away the flashforward that showed Felicity "alive" and second, because I have a very complicated head-canon that I crafted for this AU, which I'll delve into slowly. I did tweak Oliver's conversation with Barry since technically Barry doesn't have his superspeed at this time. Anyway, let me know what you think!