Hey everyone - For anyone who's ever asked me for an Arrow crossover here it is. Anyway, this is an early Christmas present and I hope you guys like it as much as I have liked writing it. Let me know what you think pretty please xx
Disclaimer: I do not own Arrow or Buffy no matter how much I wish I did.

5 years ago – Sunnydale, California

"I want you...to get out of my face." Buffy hisses as she stares up at The First from her place on the ground, she inhales a sharp breath ignoring the pain from her stab wound and forces herself to stand, The First watches horrified as she rises, a look of fear evident in it's face.
Buffy reaches out her hand and catches the scythe in her grasp as Rona tosses it to her, the blonde then swings the scythe with all her strength knocking down three uber-vamps easily.
All the slayers in the room rise, taking down the vampires one after the other.
As they do Buffy begins to think that they may actually be able to do the impossible, they could actually win.

"Buffy!" Spike calls, as he grunts in pain, her head immediately spins around to focus on him.
"Spike!" she exclaims as she spots him standing in a glowing light, she flinches slightly as light is released from the amulet he was wearing, disintegrating hundreds of the vampires instantly.

Suddenly the cave they were in begins to rumble violently, as the slayers led by Faith begin to make their way to the exit Buffy runs to Spike.
"I can feel it, Buffy." He tells her as she approaches.
Buffy just stares confused and exhausted "What?"
Finally, he looks at her, a look of pure astonishment on his face "My soul. It's really there. Kind of stings."

Buffy watches as the destruction continues around them, once all the other slayers were out Spike turns to her "Go on then."
Buffy's eyes widen, she shakes her head in a panic, refusing to let him stay here and sacrifice himself "No, you've done enough, you can still-"
"No." Spike says seriously, cutting her off "You've beat them back, it's for me to do the clean up."
Buffy turns and watches as the walls around them begin to cave in.
"Buffy come on!" Faith screams from her place on the stairs, Buffy turns to her but after a moment Faith begins to run up the stairs.

"Got to move lamb, it's fair to say school's out for bloody summer." Spike says with a sweet smirk on his face.
Buffy shakes her head "Spike!"
"I mean it." He says as he raises his hands "I got to do this."
Buffy stares at him for a long moment before placing her hand in his. As their fingers intertwine a strong flame covers their hands, making Buffy wince slightly.
She ignores the pain and smiles at Spike, after a long pause she finally speaks "I love you."
Spike smiles for a moment "No you don't. But thanks for saying it."
Buffy smiles at him once more tears filling her eyes, however, suddenly the cave shakes again causing her to release him.
"Now go!" He yells.
After a brief pause, Buffy spares him one last glance before running through the exit.

She runs through Sunnydale High, panicking as she tries to find a way to escape, she quickly runs up the stairs to the roof and begins to jump along the roofs while the building around her begin to fall. She pauses on one roof and watches as the building she was just on begins to crumble, she continues her path and then spots the bright yellow school bus currently speeding away from the destruction.

As she gets closer to the bus she leaps off a nearby roof landing not so gracefully on the hood of the bus.
From her position on the bus, she watches as the town of Sunnydale collapses in on itself becoming nothing more than a crater.
Finally, as they pass the town line the bus stops, leaping off it Buffy hugs her sister before stepping towards the crater.

As her friends speak Buffy stands there silently listening to them.
"Yeah Buffy, what are we gonna do now?" Her sister asks.
Buffy doesn't respond she merely smiles.

Present Day – Lian Yu off the North China Sea

Oliver sits on the fishing boat silently as he clutches the blanket around him. When the fisherman hands him some water, he takes it before he looks back at the Island that had been his hell for five years. That part of his journey was over now. It was now time to begin his mission the mission he had been preparing for, for so long.

East Hampshire, England

'Oliver Queen is alive.'

Giles' head shoots up from his dusty old book at the phrase, he turns his head towards the TV in the corner where his assistant was currently on her lunch break watching the news. It seemed as though every channel on the planet was reporting the same thing.

Giles stands his interest peaked slightly, he remembered the day Oliver Queen had gone missing, it was the same day Sunnydale was destroyed, so many lives had been changed that day. Making his way over to the television he stands and listens.

'The Starling City resident was found by fishermen in the North China Sea five days ago, five years after he was missing and presumed dead following the accident at sea, which claimed the Queen's Gambit. Queen was a regular tabloid presence and a fixture of the Starling City club scene. Shortly before his disappearance, he was acquitted of assault charges stemming from a highly-publicized drunken altercation with paparazzi.'

Giles continues to watch for another moment before a photo of Robert Queen was brought onto the screen. A sadness fills the Watcher, Robert had been his first ally in the States, a trusted friend of his before he had gained his wealth.

A knock on the door draws his attention away from the TV, removing his glasses he cleans them with the corner of his sweater before heading towards the door.
As he opens the door there stands Andrew, Giles sighs "Yes, Andrew?"
"Sorry to disturb you old maestro of knowledge but I thought you'd like to hear some news I just got."
Giles frowns, but allows Andrew inside his office "What is it?"
"It has something to do with Starling City."
Giles's eyes widen, they hadn't had an incident in the States since the wipe out of all vampires three years ago. Giles turns to his assistant "Get Buffy on the phone, Charlotte. Now."

Chicago, United States

"He's gonna bleed out." Buffy tells her partner as he drives the ambulance as fast as he can through the busy streets towards the hospital.
"I'm going as fast as I can Summers."
Buffy sighs and continues to help the 8-year-old boy "He doesn't have time. We've got no airway, I can't crike, he's got SUB-Q, if you don't move it along, he will die in route."
Peter, Buffy's partner glances back at her from the driver's seat before looking at the young boy in her arms, he then puts his foot on the speed pedal as hard as he can "Hold on."

"Let's go." Peter says as he stops the ambulance.
Buffy quickly leaps out, opening the doors she grabs onto the gurney and pulls it out the back, while John holds the bag helping pump oxygen into the young boy's body.
The two quickly wheel the boy in Mercy Hospital emergency room.

As the doctor approaches them Buffy glances at him "8-year-old boy, hit by a car 23 minutes ago. His left lung is collapsed, multiple contusions and fractures on the left side of his body."
The doctor nods and calls over several other surgeons, they take control over the gurney and wheel the boy into surgery leaving Buffy and Peter in the ER.
Buffy sighs worried for the small child, sensing her worry, Peter places a hand on her shoulder "You did good, Summers. You probably saved his life."
"I hope so."

Starling City, United States

Oliver stares out the window in his hospital room, looking at the city he had once called home, before everything. Before the boat accident, before the Island. He stands perfectly still, like a statue as he stares at Starling.
"Oliver?" A hesitant voice asks.
Oliver recognises the voice immediately, his mother. Moira Queen.
He hears her step further into the room but he stays silent. When she says his name again he slowly turns to face her "Mom."
He slowly moves towards her, watching as her face fills with emotion "Oh." She gasps "My beautiful boy." She cries before hugging him tightly.

"Your room is exactly as you left it." Moira tells Oliver as she leads him into the mansion.
Oliver stares at the place he had grown up in, it was exactly the same, but so different at the same time. After years of not having a home, it was odd to be back in the one he had called home for so long.
"Oliver." A voice says drawing his attention "It's damn good to see you." The man pauses worried that Oliver didn't remember him "It's Walter. Walter Steele."
Oliver turns to his mother, confused as to why this man was in his house "You remember Walter, your father's friend from the company."

Oliver doesn't say anything as he spots the maid, he moves towards her and offers her a small smile "It's good to see you, Raisa."
Raisa smiles "Welcome home, Mr Oliver." She says before glancing over at Moira "My Merlyn called. He wants to join you for dinner."
Moira grins "Wonderful."
Oliver's attention is immediately drawn to the teenage girl coming down the stairs, it was his little sister.

As Oliver embraces his sister Raisa turns to Moira "Mrs Queen. A Mr Giles called for you. He asked that you call him in the next few days."
Moira's eyes widen "Rupert?" It had been so long since she had heard that name.
"Who?" Oliver asks as he turns to her, still holding Thea.
"Just an old friend of your father's."

Chicago

Buffy slips the vest over her head and stares at the blood currently covering it. A young boy's blood. She hated it when it was the young ones. It broke her heart every time seeing a young child bleeding and unable to move.
She sighs and looks at herself in the mirror, she had scars covering different parts of her body. From bullet wounds to stab wounds, to burn marks on her sides. Even though there were so many she still remembered how she got every single one. She remembered the pain and the blood.

Stretching her arms she looks at the tattoo on her left arm, it was hidden on the inside of her arm so many people didn't know she had it but that tattoo was so important to her. She traces her fingers over the letters for a moment before lowering her arm.
Stepping out of the rest of her clothes she steps into the shower and watches as the blood is washed away from her and goes down the drain.

After about an hour Buffy climbs out of the shower, she pulls on her dressing gown as she heads into the living room.
"Geez, you use all the hot water again?" Xander asks from his place on the couch, he pauses the movie he was watching and turns to his best friend, "How was work?"
Buffy shrugs before flopping on the couch.
Xander sighs "Another kid huh? How old?"

After a brief pause, Buffy turns to him "8. Just 8 years old and he was hit by a car. He almost died on the way to the hospital. Don't get me wrong I love my job, I worked hard to get where I am but it just sucks when we get those calls."
Xander wraps an arm around his best friend's shoulder before handing her a beer "Let me ask you something, Buf. If he alive?"
"Yes."
Xander smiles "Then you're a hero to that kid, and his parents."
Buffy smiles slightly "Yeah, I guess."

The two sit in a comfortable silence watching the rest of Die Hard and drinking beer when around 8'oclock Willow walks in through the front door.
She drops her bag on the ground before flopping down on the couch next to Buffy "I hate my job."
"No, you don't." Buffy and Xander say in unison, it was the same thing Willow said every night when she came home.
"Yes, I do." She argues.
Buffy chuckles as does Xander, but the two stay silent waiting for Willow to go through her normal post-work stages of grief.
Finally the red head shrugs "Fine, I love it. It feels great to work in the IT department. My boss is just a big dodo head."

Starling City

"What did I tell ya?" A voice says from behind Oliver. A grin covers his face as he hears his best friend "Yachts suck."
Oliver turns to face his best friend "Tommy Merlyn." He says as he gives his friend a hug.
Tommy taps his friend on the back "I've missed you, buddy."

Chicago

"You're a paramedic, not a nun!" Willow exclaims as she tries to force Buffy to hold still while she did her makeup.
Buffy rolls her eyes and glances at Xander for help, who merely continues to laugh in amusement, she glares at him "Traitor."
Buffy turns back to Willow, looking for one last chance out of this "Please, come on. I hate blind dates."
Willow rolls her eyes "Tough. Buffy, you haven't dated properly since—" Willow cuts herself off not daring to say his name.
Buffy sighs, "I have, I just I have too much to worry about. From work to night work, not really a whole lot of time for dating."

At that moment Xander's phone begins ringing, assuming it would be the office he answers "Harris."
Buffy chuckles "So professional."
Xander glares at her before grabbing a nearby pillow and chucking it at her head, both Willow and Buffy burst out in laughter only for Xander to groan in annoyance "Hey Emily...Yes. Hold on one second." He stands "You two need to grow up." He says before walking out of the room leaving his two roommates giggling.

Starling City

Oliver tosses and turns on the floor by the window, not noticing the rain streaming onto his face.
"Sara!" His mind screams as he relives that horrible moment all over again.
Suddenly he feels a hand on his shoulder "Oliver. Wake up."
In his state he doesn't recognise the voice, he only senses danger, grabbing the hand of the person he flips them onto their back and places a hand against their throat ready to strike.
"Oliver!" Another voice screams, shaking Oliver from his shocked state, his eyes quickly widen as he realises that the threat he had attached was actually his mother. He backs away in horror releasing her "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He says as he crouches away from her and Walter.
His mother looks at him with such worried eyes "No, no, it's okay Oliver. It's alright sweetheart. You're home. You're home."

Chicago

After a dreadful date Buffy was heading home, she turns down the next alleyway, going down her normal shortcut, however suddenly someone shoves her up against a metal gate.
Buffy's head bashes painfully against the metal, "Hey sweetheart, what are you doing out all alone?" A creep in a mask asks her as he holds a blade to her throat.
Buffy's eyes go dark, any smart person would have run at the look in her eyes, but this man was obviously not too smart.

She headbutts the man in the face, before grabbing the knife off him; she grabs his arm twisting it behind his back, then grabbing the back of his head lifts him off the ground before tossing him into a nearby brick wall.
"Crazy, bitch." The man mumbles as he groans in agony.
Buffy just stares at him a pissed off look on her face, she approaches him slowly and places the heel of her shoe on his ankle, after a moment she forces her heel down, the heel goes through his foot and then there is a loud snapping noise.

With a grin, she releases him. As he screams she crouches down in front of him "Crazy yes. Bitch no." She offers him a sweet smile before standing "I find out you went after anyone else, any innocent girl, I will find you, trust me on that. Do you understand?"
The man just stares at her, Buffy rolls her eyes and yanks the mask from his face before lifting him off the ground with her right hand.
The man watches horrified as the five foot 3 blonde easily lifts him off the ground, she grabs his knife and drives it through his left hand, pinning it to the wall. "Do you understand!?"
He gasps in pain breathing frantically as he is overpowered by fear "I understand! I understand!"
"Good." She says before pushing his head against the wall knocking him unconscious.

Five Years Ago - Sunnydale

"What do we do now, Buffy?" Dawn asks as they stand on the outskirts of the town that had once been Sunnydale.
Buffy smiles slightly staying silent as she soaks in their new situation, their home was gone but the world was safe. "I'm kind of up for the whole sleep for a week plan."
Faith grins "Thank you." She says before glaring at Giles "Don't you make me shove you in there man."
Giles sighs before turning to Buffy "We cannot stay here."

Buffy nods, it would only be a matter of hours before the authorities got here. A whole town disappearing off the face of the planet, that was sure to be the biggest news of the day.
"Chicago." Giles tells them "I have a friend there. He can help us."

Buffy nods still staying relatively quiet before she remembers her injury instantly the pain finally hits her.
She wobbles slightly and Dawn helps her balance "Come on." She says as she drags her elder sister to the school bus.

Once everyone was loaded back in the bus, Giles glances over at Buffy "How are you feeling?"
Buffy smiles slightly ignoring the searing pain as Xander poured vodka over her sword wound "I feel good. I feel free."
Giles smiles and places a comforting hand on her shoulder for a moment "Just relax we will be in Chicago soon."
Buffy smiles and watches as Giles climbs back into the driver's seat, she then looks around at her friends, things were going to be great. She knew it. They had won the battle of a lifetime, and now it was their time.

Starling City – Present Day

"This city's gone to crap." Tommy says as he stops the car at a red light.
Oliver glances around the Glades, his eyes taking in the terrible living conditions people were in.
"You know, your dad sold his factory just in time." Tommy tells him. "Why'd you wanna drive through this neighbourhood anyway?" He asks as Oliver looks out of the window at the old Queen Consolidated factory, which was now abandoned.
"No reason."
Tommy nods not noticing Oliver's odd behaviour "So what'd you miss the most? Steaks at The Palm? Drinks at The Station? Meaningless sex?"
Oliver looks down and says one simple word "Laurel."
Tommy sighs, this wasn't going to go down well "Everyone is happy you're alive. You want to see the one person who isn't?"
Oliver shrugs.

East Hampshire, England

"Buffy not answering?" Andrew asks as he spots Giles cleaning his glasses for the sixth time that day.
Giles sighs, placing his glasses back on he takes a sip of his tea "No. Apparently, she's been working double shifts at the hospital."

Giles sighs again as he leans further into his chair, he was proud of Buffy after all she had been through in the past five years, she had worked so hard to become a paramedic so that she could help people in more ways than just killing demons. However, no matter how proud he was her busy schedule was frustrating when he was trying to get a hold of her.
"No luck with Willow or the Xand-man?" Andrew asks as he attempts to smoke a pipe, only to begin coughing violently.

Giles shakes his head, like Buffy, Willow and Xander were always very busy with their careers. Willow was the head of the I.T department at Argonne National Laboratory, and Xander had started his own construction company while still working part time with the American Watcher's association keeping an eye on some of the girls.
Giles moves to look at the articles Andrew had brought to him "I just wished they were not so busy. This issue in Starling is only going to get worse, the longer it takes for us to send Buffy in."
Andrew sighs "Things would be so much easier if—"
"I know." Giles says cutting him off "But unfortunately Buffy is the only Slayer now. With the others no longer having their powers, she is the only one that can take care of this."

Starling City

"You went to law school." Oliver says as he walks beside his ex-Laurel Lance. After an awkward pause where she refuses to say anything he continues, "You said you would."
Laurel who didn't particularly want to be there right now with him nods "Yeah. Everyone's proud."
When she goes silent again Oliver continues to try and get something out of her "Adam Hunt's a heavy hitter. You sure you want to get in the ring with him."
Laurel scoffs, he was unbelievable "Five years and you want to talk about Adam Hunt?"
Oliver looks away from her "No. Not really."
Laurel, who had yet to look at him stops walking and turns to him "Why are you here, Ollie?"
Oliver stops in his tracks and turns to face her "To apologise. It was my fault. I wanted to ask you not to blame her."
Laurel watches him carefully, looking for traces of the boy he had been "For what? Falling under your spell? How could I possibly blame her for doing the same things that I did?"

Oliver freezes momentarily as he watches the emotions flood Laurel's face, he shakes his head "I never—"
"She was my sister." She says cutting him off "I couldn't be angry because she was dead. I couldn't grieve because I was so angry. That's what happens when your sister dies while screwing your boyfriend. We buried an empty coffin because her body was at the bottom of the ocean where you left her. It should have been you."
Oliver stays quiet as she speaks, his jaw clenched, once she was finished he nods, agreeing with her slightly, it should have been him but it wasn't "I know that it's too late to say this, but I'm sorry."
"Yeah, I'm sorry too." She says with a glare "I thought you'd rot in a hell a lot longer than five years." She says before walking off.

Chicago

After another 12 hour shift, Buffy was in the staff changing room with Peter, who was watching her astonished. As Buffy pulls off her jacket she glances at him an amused look on her face "Okay what? Peter, you've been staring at me for half an hour? You're reaching creep level here."
Peter shrugs still shocked by the events that occurred earlier "You single-handedly saved three to lives today. If I were you I'd be on cloud 9 right now."
Buffy sighs before grabbing her spare shirt from her locker "I am."
"You could have fooled me." Peter watches her carefully "What's going on with you? Come on Buff?"
Buffy hesitates slightly before slipping off her sweaty shirt and putting on her clean one "I just-it's just...I've watched a lot of people die...and it just gets me thinking...like today if I had been thirty seconds later, those babies they'd be dead. It's just too close."

Peter stands and approaches her placing two hands on her shoulders, forcing her to look at him "Buffy, you got their faster than anyone, faster than humanly possible. If I was a religious person, I would say you are a miracle worker Miss Summers."
Buffy shakes her head slightly and backs out of his arms, closing her locker "Yeah, sure a real miracle." She mumbles as she grabs her work gear and heads for the door "I'll catch you later."
Peter's eyes widen "Wait where are you going?"
Buffy pauses by the door and shrugs "I got a shift."
"You just did a double."
Buffy shrugs, she didn't get the issue, "Jamie's sick. Figured I'd cover for him."
Peter frowns, she was going to work herself to death "Too late John's already covering." He steps closer to her again taking the bag from her hands and placing it on the couch "Buff, there's a life outside this place. You barely every go home. Come on, me and some of the guys are going out, come with us. We need a pretty girl in the group to keep us sane."

Buffy shakes her head slightly amused, she pulls her hair out of the ponytail and lets her long hair fall down her back, slowly she looks back at Peter "No, I'm just gonna head home. I'll see you tomorrow."
Peter sighs as he watches Buffy grab her bag before making her way out the door, that girl really needed to get a life.

Five Years Ago - Chicago

"Hold still, Buffy." Xander orders once they had placed her down on the couch at Giles' friend's home.
"I'm fine." Buffy tries to assure him, with very little success "Go help the others." She tells him only to wince when she tries to sit up.
Xander rolls his eyes at his best friend "None of the others have major stab wounds."
Buffy frowns he had told her on the bus that it wasn't that bad "You said it wasn't that bad."
"I lied."

Buffy rolls her eyes but listens to him and leans back on the couch, as he sews up her wound she looks at him carefully "How are you doing?" She asks hesitantly.
"I'm fine."
She sighs pushing him away from her slightly so she could sit up and look him in the eye "Xander. Anya—"
"Buffy, don't—"
"I'm sorry." She says simply knowing that he wasn't ready to talk yet, she merely places a hand on his cheek before pulling him to her in a tight embrace.

Starling City - Present Day

Oliver opens his eyes only to see darkness; it's then that he remembers what happened. Him and Tommy had been attacked. Oliver could feel the light material currently covering his face, blocking out his vision, he could feel the zip cuff restraining his wrists to this weak wooden chair.
Suddenly the bag is yanked off his face and light fills his vision "Mr Queen!" A man in a red mask holding a taser says as he stands in front of him "Did your father survive that accident?"
Oliver doesn't answer he merely looks at the man in the mask, before looking around the room, he instantly spots Tommy still unconscious on the floor, next to another masked man.
"I ask the questions." The man in the mask says drawing back Oliver's attention "You give me the answers."
Oliver still stays silent his fists clenching just as he is hit with the taser.

Oliver screams in agony before glaring at the man.
"Did he make it to the Island?" The man asks "Did he tell you anything?"
Oliver is once again hit with the taser as he refuses to answer, grunting angrily, he pants "Yes—yes he did."
"What did he tell you, Mr Queen."
Oliver stays silent for a moment making sure Tommy was out cold before finally looking the man in the mask in the eye "He told me I'm going to kill you."
The masked men all laugh "You're delusional, you're zip-cuffed to that chair."
Oliver merely raises his now free hands "Not anymore." He says before grabbing the bottom of the chair and spinning it upwards hitting the man in the face, he then yanks off one of the legs and stabs the other masked man in the chest.

Chicago

Buffy grabs onto the metal pole to her left and uses it to swing her body around before kicking the blue horned demon in the face.
As the demon stumbles, Buffy rips the pole from the ground and swings it upwards hitting him harshly in the jaw before hitting him in the gut.
Throwing the pole to the side Buffy flips over the demon's head landing gracefully behind him, she grabs the back of his head and punches him in the spine, as she watches his legs go limp she grasps his head in her hands and shoves it through the metal pike on the nearby fence.
As his body goes limp, it slowly dissolves into a dark green liquid.
"I hate my night job." Buffy mumbles as she heads out of the sewer and back into the busy city before heading towards her apartment.

Starling City

"So that's your story?" Detective Quentin Lance asks Oliver sceptically as he looks at the sketch the sketch artist had done. "A guy in a green hood flew in and single-handedly took out three armed kidnappers."
Oliver nods and looks around his living room before turning his attention back to Quentin "I mean who is he? Wh—why—why would he do that?" The detective asks still confused.
Oliver merely offers him a small smile "I don't know. Find him and you can ask."
Quinton nods, trying to stay professional even though it was very evident that he hated Oliver's guts. He turns his attention to Tommy "Now, what about you?" He asks as he raises the sketch "You see the hood guy?"
Tommy thinks for a moment trying to remember "I saw just movement, everything blurry. I was kind of out of it."
Quinton nods before turning back to Oliver "Funny isn't it. One day back, and already somebody's gunning for you. Aren't you popular."

Chicago

Buffy was throwing punch after punch at her punching bag when her cell phone begins buzzing, she does a spinning kicks sending the bag flying across the room almost hitting Xander who was sat in the corner playing on his DS "Hey!" He exclaims.
Buffy's eyes widen in panic and she pulls a face "Sorry!"
Xander glares at her "You are so lucky I did not fail this level otherwise there would be hell to pay missy." He warns.
Buffy chuckles in amusement as she moves towards her phone "Oh I'm sure."
As she picks up her phone she spots the familiar name on the screen, one she hadn't talk to in a while.

"John Diggle, as I live and breathe, and here I thought you forgot about little old me." She says with a true smile on her face.
John Chuckles "It's good to hear from you too Summers."
Buffy smiles before moving to sit down on the couch in the corner of the gym "So what can I do for you, my old friend?"
"What makes you think I want something?"
Buffy chuckles, every time he called her he either wanted something or he needed to complain about something "Dig."
She hears him sigh, making her grin, she was right and from the sound of it, he was calling to complain "I took another job as a damn bodyguard."
Buffy's eyes widen so much she thought that they might actually pop out of her face, after a brief moment she bursts out laughing "Seriously? What? When? How? For who?"
"I took the job today. And shut it Summers it pays well. It's for some spoiled brat rich kid, that's all I know. Come on laugh it up"
Buffy manages to contain her laughter for a brief moment to speak "I'm sorry. It's just you said after the last time you would never take another bodyguard position. Plus anyway that was normally my job."
"You were not my bodyguard." He insists "Please back in Afghanistan I was the one saving your ass."
"Yeah keep telling yourself that, John."

After a moment Diggle attempts to check in on her like he always did on their calls, he was always protective of her, and he knew she was one to sacrifice her personal life more than she should.
"So how you doing Buffy?"
Buffy sighs 'Here comes the talk' she thinks to herself "I'm fine John." When she realises that that was not going to work with him she leans back into the couch "I'm working, a lot. But I still spend a responsible amount time at home, I even went on a date the other night. Happy?"
"For now." He says with a chuckle, she could be very evasive when she wanted "So tell me you're going to at least come visit me in Starling soon. You've been promising for a year Buff."

Buffy sighs she had been wanting to see him for a while now, he was the closest thing she had to a brother other than Xander and she knew it was the same for him but she just didn't have the time right now "I'll see what I can do." She tells him, not making any promises.
"I'll hold you to that. Gotta go Buff."
"Bye, John." She says before hanging up.

"Who was that?" Xander asks as he makes his way over to Buffy.
"Dig." She says simply as she stands from her seat, Xander pouts much like a 6-year-old "John Diggle."
Buffy arches a brow "Xander, why did you say Dig's name like that?"
"Like what?" He mutters, sounding very much like a five-year-old.
"Like a spoiled five-year-old whose jealous that the new baby is getting all the attention."
Xander rolls his eyes "Am not. It's just when you and John speak, it all John this, John that."
Buffy chuckles in amusement "Xander, I love you all equally."
Xander glares at her when she says it patronizingly "I get you're war buddies but we are too."
Buffy merely chuckles "Jealous." She sings, enjoying every moment of this.

Starling City

After hanging up the phone with Buffy, John pulls his car over in front of the address he had been given. He stares in awe for a second at the mansion before him before climbing out of the car.
Standing by the entrance with Moira Queen and Walter Steele waiting to greet him "Mr Diggle?" Walter asks as he approaches.
John nods and shakes the man's hand "Yes, Sir."
Moira grins "Lovely." She pauses as she spots Oliver exiting the mansion "Oh here he is now." She turns and heads over to her son "Oliver. I want to introduce you to someone—John Diggle." Oliver looks behind her at John "He'll be accompanying you from now on."
Oliver smiles politely at his mother and Walter "I don't need a babysitter."

Walter nods in slight agreement with Oliver "Darling, Oliver's a grown man, and if he doesn't feel he needs our protection we should try-"
"No, I understand." Moira says cutting him off before turning back to Oliver, a begging look on her face "But this is something I need."

After spending days managing to avoid Diggle, Oliver's lair was finally finished, once he had finished making the new arrows he pulls out a large metal box and dumps it on the table. As he opens it he pulls out his old bow. Looking at it for a moment, he then stands, placing the arrows on his back he grabs a few tennis balls and moves towards another portion of the lair.
Throwing the balls in the air, he hits each and every ball with an arrow, pinning all the balls to the wall.

Chicago

"Mr Harris." Emily calls as she enters Xander's office.
Xander, who was currently balancing a tennis ball on his forehead doesn't move, "Emily, I am one minute away from beat my record, come back later."
Emily sighs, she had an urgent caller on the other line and here her boss was balancing a toy on his forehead "Sir. A Mr Giles has called the office over 45 times in the past few days."
"What!" Xander exclaims as he sits up, shocked, he then pouts slightly as the ball drops to the ground "Damn it. So close."
When Emily stares at him unimpressed he lowers his feet from his desk, and clears his throat trying to act serious, 27 and still acting like he was 15 probably not the best idea when you are running a business, he thought.
"Would you like me to forward the call to you, sir?" She asks.
"Yes, yes. I mean sure. Absolutely." Xander stutters.
Emily shakes her head before exiting his office. Xander sighs before picking up his phone "Giles, hey."
"It's about bloody time!" Giles exclaims "I've trying to get a hold of all three of you for days. But nothing. I thought the point of these ridiculous telephones was to make contact easier."
Xander's eyes widen at Giles' tone "Whoa Giles. Look I'm sorry things have been a bit hectic later. What's up?"

Starling City

Oliver now clad in his green suit and hood grabs Adam Hunt by the collar of his shirt "You're going to transfer $40 million into Starling City Bank account 1141 by 10pm tomorrow night."
Hunt glares at the man in the hood "Or what?" He challenges, with a slight hint of fear in his voice.
Oliver glares down at him "Or I'm going to take it. And you won't like how."
Oliver pushes him away before moving to make his exit however Hunt makes him pause "If I see you again, you're dead." He exclaims.
Oliver turns to face him and raises his bow and fires an arrow right into the car window by Hunt before disappearing into the darkness.

Chicago

"Come on Buffy." Peter begs as they clock out after another long day.
Buffy shakes her head in amusement, he never gave up "No."
Peter sighs "You know I bet you don't even know how to have fun."
Buffy's eyes widen and she turns to him, an insulted look on her face "I do too know how to have fun."
When Peter just stares at her unconvinced she tosses a sock at him "It's just my idea of fun does not involve crashing some rich guys party in another city."
Peter just stares at her, for such a gorgeous woman she could be so clueless sometimes, especially when it came to things like the media "This is Oliver Queen, Buffy. Those parties are never just any party. They are legendary."

Buffy frowns in confusion, she didn't recognise the name, maybe she had been out of the loop for a while, after a brief pause she shakes her head "Look, Barney Stinson whoever this Queen guy is I'm sure his parties are just fine but I have other things to do."
Buffy sighs as she spots a text from Xander telling her they had an emergency, with a groan she grabs her bag and gives Peter a kiss on the cheek before heading for the door "Gotta go. Have fun at this Quick guy's party."
"It's Queen." He says, only to realise that she was already out of the door.

Starling City

Diggle waits in the back stairway for Oliver, as the billionaire passes him Diggle smirks "Something I can help you with sir."
Oliver pauses surprised that he had found him that quickly, he turns and smiles "I just wanted a second to myself."
Diggle smiles as he approaches the young man "I would believe you, Mr Queen if you weren't so full of crap. Party's this way."
Oliver hesitates before heading towards the stairway, however when he grabs the door handle he pushes it down and the door doesn't open.
He turns to Diggle with a shrug "Door's locked."
Dig looks at him unconvinced, he goes to try the handle himself only to have Oliver grab him and pin his arms behind his back before putting him to sleep.

5 Years Ago - Chicago

Buffy blinks slightly as she wakes, her neck ached from sleeping on the lumpy couch, she winces slightly as she sits up. Slowly she raises her vest and stares at the wrapped wound. She lifts herself off of the couch and using the wall for support makes her towards where she guessed the kitchen was.
"What are you doing out of bed?" Dawn asks as she looks up from her cereal, a worried look on her face.
Buffy glances at her sister then at the clock, it was three in the morning. "I could say the same to you."
"Couldn't sleep." Dawn says with a shrug before grabbing a doughnut off the counter and sliding it over to Buffy.
Buffy smiles and carefully sits down opposite her sister, taking the doughnut gratefully "Thanks."

The two stay in a comfortable silence for a moment before Dawn finally gets the courage to ask a question she had been avoiding.
"What happened down there, Buffy?"
Buffy swallows the doughnut which now seemed less sweet, it felt lodged in her throat.

After a moment she sighs "I'm not completely sure but that amulet from Angel, turns out it came with a lot of mojo." Dawn nods as she listens intently, hanging onto Buffy's every word "Anyway, while we were fighting something went through Spike and then there was this light. He killed hundreds of them in seconds and before we knew what was happening the cave was collapsing on itself." Buffy pauses trying to bury the emotions inside "Umm...the necklace, the power it had was killing him. But he wouldn't go. He said he wanted to see how it ended."
Dawn nods saddened by the death of their old friend "He died a hero."
Buffy chuckles at the irony of it "Who would've thought."
Dawn smiles at her sister for a second before asking her final question "So what do you want to do next, Buffy?"
Buffy thinks for a long moment, she had honestly never thought about it, at least not recently, she just hadn't been able to imagine a life outside of being the Slayer and Sunnydale "I guess I've got to have a talk with Giles. Cause I think you and me need a vacation."

Chicago - Present Day

"Okay, you text me saying 911, what's up?" Buffy asks as she rushes into the apartment, she freezes however as she spots most of their things in boxes.
Willow and Xander both freeze and stop packing to turn to Buffy.
Buffy frowns in confusion, what was happening "Guys, what's going on?"
Xander places down the book in his hand and turns to Buffy looking at her seriously "Giles called me today."
Buffy's eyes widen they hadn't heard from her old watcher in months, other than short emails and catch up calls, but from the look on Xander's face, it was clear that it was neither of those things.
"Buffy, a group of demons has been masquerading as humans in Starling City, they've killed hundreds of people in the Glades and..."
Buffy swallows the lump in her throat "They need me to go."
Xander nods hesitatingly.

Willow looks at her friend sadly, Buffy had actually been happy being back in Chicago after all the loss and pain of the past five years, Chicago had been good for her. Now she had to give it all up.
"It's not too bad, Buff." Willow tries "The council's paying for some swifty new apartment plus you can transfer the Starling City Hospital, and I got a job at Queen Consolidated after we've dealt with the demons we can always come back."
Buffy hesitates, she takes a deep breath and forces a smile on her face "Looks like I better give Dig a call."

Starling City

"The police failed to identify the man I hired to kidnap Oliver." A man in a black leather jacket says as he steps down the stairs towards his boss "And they never will. Should we arrange another abduction?"
"No." Moira says as she turns away from him "There are other ways of finding out what my son knows."
At that moment Moira's phone rings "Hello?"
"Moira? It's Rupert."
Moira looks at her contact and waves him off before turning her attention back to the phone "Rupert it's been a while."
"Years. Indeed. I just wanted to say I'm happy that you have your son back."
Moira sighs "Yes, it's wonderful. Thank you. But I know you Rupert what else are calling about?"
Giles sighs, "I have an associate coming to Starling City, I'd appreciate it if he could be the liaison between our companies."
Moira thinks for a moment The Council of Watcher's whatever they did had money more than the Queens, it was a good relationship to keep "Of course. Who is this associate?"
"His name is Alexander Harris."