Arrow: Crucible

December 2018

Christmastime in Star City was an time of giving and family celebrating the spirit of the holidays. around Star City lights were hung people were decorating and coming together.

But for William Clayton as well as Diggle it was an somber time for them since Oliver and Felicity were dead from the pod crash in the mountains. Lyla had felt for William as well as her husband quitting her role with A.R.G.U.S to spend more time with her family and taking in William Clayton.

It had been Diggle's idea to take in William since Oliver didn't have an will following his and Felicity's demise, John Diggle wanted to keep an piece of Oliver's legacy with him so he talked it over with Lyla and she agreed to take in William that was seven months ago.

In the seven months that passed William was coping with the losses very terribly. shortly after being taken in by Diggle he would stay in his room only coming out for school and burying himself in schoolwork and not speaking to anyone. after coming home from school he would stay in his room only coming out to use the bathroom and for food.  

Diggle and Lyla understood William's pain of his father and stepmother gone let alone Diggle of his friends gone and what had happened four months ago with NTA and Siren along with Diaz. Lyla had known what had happened but didn't blame Diggle as he had blamed himself and William did to himself as well.

William was let out of school for Christmas break having started high school that September. William had wished his father and Felicity had been there to see him enter high school but fate intervened in an cruel way.

DIGGLE HOUSE

At the Diggle house John Diggle Jr. was sitting on the couch reading an Christmas book while Lyla was putting up Christmas decorations as Diggle entered the house greeting them. "Hi guys". Diggle said kissing Lyla seeing his son on the couch. "How's William". Diggle asked his wife. "Well he came home for Christmas break and went straight to his room". Lyla said to him which Diggle sighed heavily putting down christmas decorations he bought earlier that day.

"Is William upset about what happened to Oliver daddy?". JJ asked his father about William to which Diggle replied "Yeah". he softly replied to his son walking into William's room.

William lied on his bed hearing the sound of rain outside as Diggle entered. "Hey William...". Diggle said to him "We got some dinner". He said to William "Not hungry". William whispered to Diggle under the covers.

"How's school?". Diggle said to William to which he didn't reply upsetting Diggle an bit. "William let's go downtown and see the christmas displays". Diggle offered but William replied "I'm really tired I wanna go to bed". William's voice cracked an bit on the verge of tears. Diggle sighed "Ok". turning around to leave his room.

"Goodnight William". Diggle quietly said to him but William didn't reply back to him.

LATER

After being in his room for several hours William's stomach began to growl so he decided to go into the kitchen to get an midnight snack and an drink of soda.

Quietly exiting his room he saw the christmas decorations Diggle and his family set up earlier that night he wanted to go back to bed but he was hungry and didn't go back to his room.

Entering the kitchen he saw Diggle eating alone near the table. "Diggle?". William said to him quietly "Hey William so I guess your hungry now?". Diggle joked to William. "I mean you've been in your room for several hours your stomach must be empty". Diggle said to William as the latter was taking out an Big Belly Burger bag from the fridge joining Diggle.

"Look William... I.. Is there anything you feel like asking me?". Diggle said to William eating an burger shaking his head. "William I know how you feel about Oliver and Felicity but I want to let you know that if you have anything or problems you can come to me or Layla". Diggle said to him.

William put down his burger getting up from the table to the kitchen counter as Diggle walked up to him to comfort him as tears rolled down his eyes. "William... it's ok...". Diggle said softly to him "Why did this happen it's not fair". William sobbed "First I lose my mom then my dad and Felicity!". he said to Diggle about what had happened releasing his emotions of the entire incident.

Diggle carried William to the couch and sat next to him for an while handing him an box of tissues they sat there for what seemed like hours. William then calmed down hours later. "It's just that... I don't understand why these things happen.. I hate that I feel like this but I can't help it". William said to Diggle calming down sniffing.

"William sometimes things like these there's just no answer to them it's all an part of life" Diggle saying words to William.

"But you know Oliver stopped being the Green Arrow for you" Diggle confessed to William about the Green Arrow. "What?". William replied back.

"After what happened on Lian Yu... your dad was doing three things at once. saving Star City, being mayor and being an father to you". Diggle told him.

"Then one day you know he asked me to become the Green Arrow and I did". Diggle said "And then after your father and Felicity died as an honor to him I resumed being the Green Arrow then I stopped". Diggle told William as he got up from the couch looking at the window.

"Why did you stop being the Green Arrow?'. William asked Diggle he took an deep breath for an moment then replied "Three of his team members were killed one of them betrayed your father".    

"You could blame it all on bad luck but in the end there's nothing you do except cry for an while  accept it and move on and embrace the future". Diggle said to William. "William we have to move on with our lives and not live in the past". Diggle comfortingly said to Oliver's son.

"But no matter what happens William... your father and Felicity will always be with you in your heart and mine as well". Diggle said sniffing.

William was starting to feel better and handed tissues to Diggle "Diggle.. thank you for taking me in and welcoming me". William thanked him for bringing him to the Diggle house.

"No problem William" Diggle said hugging William "By the way in an few years there's something I want to give you". Diggle said to him "But until then me, Layla and JJ will be there for you if there's anything and Thea too". Diggle replied to William.

William got up from the couch and looked at the glowing christmas tree the Diggle's put in. "It's an lovely tree Diggle". William said.

"It sure is William". Diggle said.

"It sure is".