The Emerald

Chapter 1 - Family Reunion

It had been four months since they escaped from the clutches of Slade Wilson. The Team had been kept fairly busy with a gang dispute that broke out and things were just now starting to calm down again. Felicity sat at her desk in the lair, supposedly working, instead she was watching Oliver on the Salmon Ladder, again. His body had finally healed from all of the wounds that Malcolm and Slade had given him and in her eyes he had never looked better. He did have new scars mixed in with the old ones. The cuts on his chest had simply been inflicted over previous scars so even though they were fresh scars they simply replaced old ones. The scars that most often drew her attention though were the ones on his back, from where Slade had brutally whipped him. The wounds had healed, leaving in their place a myriad of faded white lines where his back had been laid open with the whip, patches of thick silver wedges in places where the lashes had crossed. He was still a handsome man, nothing could change that, he simply held new marks. Marks that continually reminded her of just how strong he really was and that he would always fight back. 

Felicity watched as Oliver smoothly transitioned from the Salmon Ladder to the beams overhead, moving into inverted crunches. He smiled at her as he caught her watching him and she returned the smile just as genuinely. She truly did love this man! She looked around then to the rest of the Team, all except Roy who had gone home for a shower and some sleep. Sara and Diggle were sparring on the mats not far away. This place would always be home to her now and she couldn't think of a better place to be.

She looked once more to her Archer above her before then looking down to her left hand and she couldn't stop the huge smile that crossed her face as she looked at her emerald. Felicity was indeed a very happy woman!

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Roy walked tiredly up to the front door of his house. It had been a long week of crime fighting. Thankfully Oliver had fully healed from his injuries inflicted by Malcolm Merlyn and Slade Wilson meaning that the Team was once again at full crime fighting capacity. However, that didn't change the fact that they had had several long nights this week breaking up a gang dispute. He was hungry, tired, and in dire need of a nice, long, hot shower. He pulled his key from his pocket and unlocked his front door, flipping on the lights as he walked into his house. Locking his door back behind him he dropped his duffel bag on the floor just inside the door and walked to his kitchen, feet dragging with exhaustion.

"Hello Roy."

Roy stopped dead in his tracks when he heard the voice in his house, his body immediately on high alert. There was only one person in his life that had that voice, and he was supposed to be dead. He turned to face the man sitting on his bed.

"Well, aren't you going to welcome me home...Son?"

"What are you doing here?" Roy growled in what was a pretty good imitation of Oliver's Arrow growl as he clenched his fists at his side. Roy Harper Sr. was the last person he ever expected to see, or wanted to see, in his house. His dad stood and walked slowly towards him.

"Now Son, that's no way to welcome back your long lost Father." Roy Sr. said to his son as he came to stand directly in front of him.

"You're supposed to be dead." Roy spat at his dad. Having this man standing so close to him not only put him on edge, but worried him as well as he still had very clear memories of the man before him.

"Is that what she told you?" Roy Sr. asked, clearly referring to his late wife. "That I was dead."

Roy swallowed nervously as he scowled at his dad. He had yet to figure out why the man was here and found he was starting to worry more and more as the moments dragged on.

"That ungrateful bitch!" Roy Sr. yelled at his son as he took a step closer, spitting in his face. He found he was slightly amused at the fact that Roy was standing tall in front of him with hands clenched into fists at his side, as though ready for a fight, and yet his son backed away from him when he got closer. "Telling my own son, my flesh and blood, that I was dead! Oh well, it doesn't matter now does it. Not since we are finally together again." Roy Sr. said as he placed his hands on Roy's shoulders. He could feel the strength radiating from Roy under his touch. He stepped back and smiled, finally calming himself again.

"What are you doing here?" Roy asked his dad yet again. He was determined to find out why this maniac was in his house.

"I want you to join the family business." Roy Sr. said as he leaned against the kitchen counter and folded his arms in front of him.

"What family business?" Roy asked, curious as to what his dad was involved in that he would need his help.

"I'm a weapons dealer son." Roy Sr. explained, watching his son's face closely for his reaction. "I had a client, my most respected and wealthiest client, here in Starling City who went off the grid about four months ago. I was told that the Vigilante, this Arrow, and his team took him down. I want to find this man, and kill him, and you're going to help me."

"Why would I help you?" Roy asked as chills ran down his spine at his dad's words.

"Because." Roy Sr. stood and again moved to stand in front of his son. He placed his left hand on Roy's shoulder again and leaned in to whisper in his ear. "You're my son." Roy Sr. then delivered a swift, hard punch to Roy's stomach causing his son to double over with a grunt of pain. "And if you don't I'm going to not only hurt you, but everyone you care about as well."

Roy was doubled over in pain, gasping for breath, as his dad released his shoulder and turned to walk out the front door. He paused in the doorway and turned back to Roy. "I'll be back tomorrow. I'll expect your decision then." Roy Sr. then left the house, closing the door behind him.

Roy fell to his knees, unable to stop a tear from escaping. There was no way he could help this man find and hurt his Team, not after everything they had gone through. He knelt on his kitchen floor, for how long he did not know, before he remembered Felicity's words to him four months ago. I hope she meant it. He thought as he pulled out his phone and speed dialed the lair, hoping the Team was still there.

"Hey Roy, what's up?" Felicity answered distractedly on the second ring. Must be staring at either Oliver or her engagement ring again.

"Felicity, we have a problem." Roy told her matter of factly.

"What is it Roy? What's wrong?" Roy could hear the sudden worry in her voice.

"Someone's in town hunting Oliver." Roy explained.

"Who? Whose hunting Oliver?" Roy could hear the Team gathering around Felicity at her desk.

"It's an arms dealer. His biggest client went missing about four months ago." Roy took a moment to take a deep breath as he knew what question they would ask next. Only this time it was Oliver asking the question.

"Who is it Roy?"

"It's my dad." Roy said resignedly.

"Come to the lair and let's talk." Oliver directed, his tone of voice leaving no room for discussion.

"I'll be there in five." Roy told them before hanging up the phone. He dreaded telling the Team about his dad and wondered how long he could keep his deepest, darkest secrets hidden now that his dad was back in town.