Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Arrow

XxX

"Son of a bitch."

Oliver came to with a groan reaching a hand up to his throbbing head. Blinking his eyes open he stared up at the ceiling above him a frown creasing his face at how familiar it looked.

After a second for the post unconsiousness mess in his head to clear he recognized why it looked so familiar. It was his old room in the Queen Mansion. Or at least it looked like his old room because he couldn't actually be there. It wasn't possible. He didn't even own the mansion anymore.

Freezing when his hand hit his head he curled his fingers grasping the long strands of hair where short cut hair should have been.

"No."

Rolling off the bed he was in he walked across the room that he now knew was definitely his room in the mansion. Or more likely a room built to like an exact replica of his old room. There were still his nautical themed antiques and even the blankets were the same.

Moving to the full-length mirror in the corner he stared at the reflection looking back at him and felt his blood run cold. In the mirror, he didn't see the haunted shadow of a man broken and rebuilt by life over and over.

No, he was staring at the youthful face of a young rich playboy that didn't have a care in the world. His hair was long and shiny, his skin smooth from years of expensive soaps. But the biggest change was his body.

Instead of the hardened and scarred body, he had been used to seeing he stared at the unmarked canvas of tan skin. Not a single scar.

Everything from the past decade had been wiped away leaving him in a strangers body.

"Oliver!"

Pounding at the door snapped him out of his thoughts and he reacted reaching for the bottle opener on his dresser, brandishing the makeshift weapon as the door swung open.

"Oliver?" Moria asked her eyes immediately flicking down to the bottle opener in her son's hand. "Isn't it a little early to be drinking?"

His heart stopped at the familiar voice and face in front of him.

"Mom?" It was barely a whisper but she heard it and Moria frowned worriedly taking a step further into the room.

"Oliver, sweetie, are you alright?"

Squashing down every feeling inside of him, the guilt of being responsible for her death, the sadness at seeing her again knowing she was dead and the happiness at being able to see her again. He pushed it all down deep into the dark recess of his soul and curled his lips up in the trademark 'Oliver Queen' smirk.

"It's five o'clock somewhere mom."

Moria concerned look faded into one disapproval and she shook her head at her son's foolishness. "Oliver, your father is leaving on the Gambit in two hours. Please do not be drunk when we see him off. For me."

Deliberately moving in slow motion Oliver set the opener back down on his dresser and raised his hands in mock surrender.

"Cute," Moria said rolling her eyes as she backed out of the room shutting the door.

As soon as the door lock clicked into place Oliver's smirk fell and his entire body seemed to deflate with a breath as it hit him.

He was back.

He wasn't sure how or why but he was back the day he set sail on the Gambit and somehow reliving his life. Trying to think back to where he was last he could only vaguely recall a message from Barry asking for his help dealing with a new meta in Central city.

"The meta must have had powers that sent me back." It was the only thing he could think of as to why he was back and in his old body.

If Barry had taken him back somehow he would be physically in the past not just mentally being in his old body.

"None of that matters now though." He thought walking around his room grabbing articles of clothing as he went. He had a second chance to right the wrongs he had made so many years ago. Save his father. Save Shado and Slade, his mother.

Throwing on a black long sleeve shirt and matching pants he slid on a pair of expensive loafers before picking up his wallet and phone as he left the room.

He had two hours according to his mother to purchase what he needed before heading to the dock to board the Gambit.

Jogging down the steps he snatched the keys to the town car in the driveway and bolted out the front door before anyone could see him. There was no time to waste making idle talk, two hours to get everything and make it to the docks was already cutting it short.

...

It was a strange feeling driving through the city as he ran his errands. The damages done by the Undertaking, Slade's army and Damien Darhks attacks were gone and that was jarring, to say the least. He had grown used to the rubble that made up half the glades and to drive through the same streets that he had watched collapse only gave him more incentive to stop what Malcolm was planning along with everything that came after.

He had been tempted more than once as he walked around the Star Mall purchasing everything he could get away with explaining if asked, to forget about the Gambit and stay in Starling but he crushed those thoughts ruthlessly. His father, Yao Fei, Shado, so many people he had met during those five years in hell needed him.

How could he live knowing he let so many people down, left them to die just so he could spare himself pain?

The answer was he couldn't and he knew it. That's why he was driving to the ferry that would take him back to Purgatory with a car full of supplies and the beginnings of a plan. He had time to plan before the Gambit sank but that still wouldn't be enough to memorize the past decade and everything that happened. And he couldn't write it down because what if someone found his notes? It was too risky, the knowledge he had of the future could never be told or documented. He would use a notebook while he was on the Gambit to help memorize his plan but before the boat went down he would make sure to burn all the evidence.

And step one of that plan was to save Sara.

She didn't deserve what was coming so he pulled out his phone texting her a quick message saying there was a change of plans and she couldn't come with him on the Gambit.

A few minutes later his phone dinged with a quick OK and he smiled sadly knowing he had saved his friend a lot of pain but also knowing he had taken Nyssa from her. It wasn't fair to her but keeping her out of the League of Assassins would keep Ra's from trying to recruit him. Malcolm would never be able to use Thea to kill her and he would never go to war with the League.

He wished Sara nothing but happiness, after everything he had put her through he owed her that but bringing her along knowing what was coming just wasn't an option.

And so later at the docks, he stood alone watching his mother say goodbye to his father and keeping a lookout for Sara in case she tried to sneak on board because she thought he was just getting cold feet. He knew her well enough to know it was a possibility.

XxX

"Oliver?"

He knew it was coming and he had prepared for it but seeing her again walking down the ramp to the docks he sucked in a startled breath at how...young she looked. Happy and carefree, without the worry of protecting a city weighing her down Laurel Lance was as beautiful as ever. And that was how he was going to keep her. Even if it hurt him.

"You bastard!" The slap came quick and hard snapping his head to the side.

Setting his jaw he turned his eyes back to Laurel and was met with another slap leaving his right cheek red and stinging.

"We are done, Oliver. Done!" With tears she didn't want him to see pooling in her eyes Laurel turned on heel and stormed back up the ramp to the parking lot leaving Oliver to watch her go. She hoped he was feeling as horrible as she was as their relationship broke apart.

But he wasn't. Oliver didn't even watch her leave already guessing that either she saw the text he sent Sara or found out about Stephanie or another one of the girls he cheated on her with. But he was pretty sure it was Sara because that was what he had changed. Bening down he picked up the picture that must have fallen out of her pocket during the small scuffle. Tucking it into the pocket of his pants he turned around and started walking towards the Gambit a blank look on his face as he passed his mother and father. He could see the worry in their eyes and unlike last time his mother hadn't tried to stop him from leaving.

They thought that he was hiding his emotions about the breakup with Laurel. They were only half right. He was holding everything down because seeing his father standing just yards away saying goodbye to his mother for what might be the last time he couldn't afford to show them how broken he actually was. Knowing he was letting his father walk to his possible death was tearing him apart inside but it had to be done.

If father and son, Robert & Oliver Queen didn't die on the Gambit Malcolm would come after his father another time and Oliver couldn't let his mother or Thea be caught in the crossfire. He'd rather it be him.

XxX

He was acting strangely. He knew it and his father knew it but there was nothing he could do about it. Spending time with his father wasn't possible because every time he saw the man he watched him shoot himself in the head over and over. So he stayed boarded up in his room going over everything that he was going to change or stop from happening.

"Oliver! You okay in there, son?"

"Survive." Closing his eyes Oliver took a breath before calling back. "Yeah, dad. I'm good."

It was silent for a minute before his dad spoke again. "Alright, well the captain says the storms getting too rough. We're going to have to turn around."

"Ok, dad!" Oliver shouted back and listened as his father's footsteps walked away from the door. Standing up from his bed he grabbed the notebook laying next to him and tossed it in the wastebasket in the corner. Using the bottle of liquor he had taken from his dads stash the day after they had set sail he poured it onto the notebook before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a pack of matches.

Ripping one off he swiped it across the pack lighting a small flame and dropped it into the basket watching stonily as his own list burned.

Turning away from the growing flame he walked to the other side of his room where the of cases of supplies he bought were stacked against the wall tied to together with wire. At the front was a box with an image of an inflatable raft on the front and Oliver grabbed the red cord hanging off the front ready to pull when the boat started to flip.

Last time he was caught unaware, too drunk and having fun with Sara to do anything. This time though he was ready. With the Satellite GPS phone bought he would be able to make his way to the island where his father's raft would float too if he couldn't find him during the storm. He was risking the captain's life but one against all the lives that would be lost if he failed, there wasn't a choice to make.

Gripping the cord tight as thunder boomed and lightning flashed outside he felt the ship break beneath his feet and flew backward as the bomb on the Gambit went off. Still holding the cord in hand he pulled the box with him as he flew across the room just like the first time.

Landing hard on his back he sucked in a deep breath as water came rushing into the room dragging him and his equipment out into the choppy sea.

Coughing as he was swept into the ocean, waves crashed into him salt water stinging at his eyes and throat.

Spitting out a mouthful of the disgusting water he treads the water his legs kicking strongly beneath him. He wasn't the panicked playboy who had flailed wildly trying to keep his head above water anymore. This time he knew what he was doing.

Using the cord still held tight in his hand he pulled the inflated black and orange raft bobbing in the waves towards him. When it was close enough he dragged himself into the raft taking cover underneath the plastic canopy that would shield him from the rain.

Sitting up in the safety of the raft he untied the cord attached to his belt and tied it to the side of the raft before beginning to reel in the cases floating somewhere out there in the dark. He couldn't see them but given how heavy the line was he knew they were still attached together. His old body was as weak as he remembered being before the island so it took longer than he had planned to drag his supplies across the water but he got it done and started loading everything into his raft.

"Oliver!"

Quickly pushing the cases into the back of his raft Oliver called back to his dad yelling in the direction where he could see the red light of his fathers flare.

"Dad!"

As the light grew closer Oliver waved wildly playing the part of a scared young man who had just had a near-death experience.

"Dad!"

"Throw him the line!" He heard his father order the captain before he was forced to duck out of the way as the captain did as he was told and threw him a line that nearly smacked him in the face.

Grabbing the rope he fed it through the rubber loops on his raft and tied it off in a tight knot before calling back to his dad careful to put as much fear in his voice as possible. "I...I tied our rafts together!"

"Good, son! Good! Just stay inside the raft!"

"Okay!" He yelled back only for the sake of keeping his appearance of a terrified boy. Zipping the opening in the canopy of the raft closed he settled against the side of his raft ready to wait out the days of aimless drifting until they reached Lian Yu.

Closing his eyes he for a second they shot open just as fast as a loud bang broke through the thundering of the storm. After so many years of fighting, he recognized the sound of gunfire easily.

"Dad?" He called with actual hesitation in his voice. He was afraid of the answer he was going to get. Maybe something had changed and the captain had the gun this time. The butterfly effect or whatever it was called from him already changing things. Had his father been shot because of him or...

"It's ok, Oliver! Just stay in your raft."

Dammit. He closed his eyes again as the crushing weight of guilt started pressing down on his chest. The captain was dead. Again. And it was his fault.

XxX

"Oliver, wake up, son."

Swinging wildly as he was shaken awake Oliver felt his hand connect with something and the shaking stopped. Blinking furiously his mind raced with possibilities of what was happening before everything came rushing back in a wave of clarity as the drowsiness from floating aimlessly at sea left his system.

"Dad!"

Robert held up a hand holding his other to his jaw. "It's okay, Oliver. It's alright. I didn't mean to startle you."

"No, dad I..." Oliver dropped his head into his hands. He was trying to save his father's life and instead he punches him in the face. How was he supposed to keep his dad alive when he was the one who was hurting him?

"Oliver," A two firm hands wrapped around his shoulders and his father pulled him into a tight hug. "I'm sorry, Oliver. For everything. I'm not the man you think I am."

Oliver's breath caught in his throat at the familiar words. No, it couldn't be happening, not again. He wouldn't let it.

"I didn't save our city, I failed. And I'm not the only one. But you can save it. Right my wrongs."

"Dad," Oliver pulled back from the hug. His father had shot himself and the Captain the day after the Gambit had gone down last time. This time the Captain had...died the night of the wreck but his father had lived.

His dad had outlived his past self by days. Why was he doing this now? He knew they were close to Lian Yu and if his dad saw the island he wouldn't try to sacrifice himself.

He tensed as his father reached into his life jacket and pulled out the same gun he had last time.

"What are you doing, dad?"

"There's not enough for both of us, Oliver," Robert said smiling sadly bringing the gun up to his head.

"NO!" Lunging Oliver knocked the gun away before his father could pull the trigger. He wasn't going to let his father die this time. They would both survive and stop the undertaking together. Both of them were going home.

Robert didn't move as Oliver dove across the raft and grabbed the gun holding it behind his back.

"Survive, Oliver."

Oliver watched in horror as his dad pulled out the knife the captain had been holding the first time and before his weak body could react jammed it into his chest.

"Survive." His dad whispered blood dripping from his mouth.

Watching his father choke on his on blood Oliver wished he had let him use the gun.

"This is my fault."

He had decided to let his father board the Gambit knowing what was going to happen. He had thought he would be able to protect him and keep him alive.

And he was wrong. Robert Queen had died once more, and it was his fault. He had killed his father.

Tears started to gather in his eyes as he crawled to his father's body, cradling the still warm corpse against his chest.

"I'm sorry, dad. I'm so sorry. It's all my fault."

Caught up in his grief he hadn't noticed that the raft had stopped moving until his tears had begun to fall soaking the orange life vest around his father's chest.

Cheeks wet and eyes red he laid his father's body down gently.

Clutching the gun he had stolen in his hands he pushed open the flap of the canopy and nearly dropped his weapon as he saw what was outside the raft.

When he had fallen asleep the night before there had been nothing but ocean for a far as he could see.

"We made it."

Now there was a rocky beach stopping the life raft from moving forward and beyond that was another sea, one that was green and brown instead of blue. A sea of trees. They had made it to Lian Yu and...and his father had known.

"He wanted to die." Oliver thought looking back at his dad. He knew they had made it to the island, to safety but had killed himself anyway. "It wasn't just about me surviving, it was about atonement for what he had done."

Years ago when he had first recruited Diggle he had told his friend that he believed his father had killed himself not only to give him a chance to survive but to also atone for his sins. For killing the councilman, for his part in the Undertaking. And now he knew it was the truth.

His father didn't want to live.

And he also knew that he didn't have time to grieve. Even with his knowledge of what was coming the island was still dangerous.

Stepping out of his raft he stood on the rocky beach gazing around at what would become his home for the next two years. He was back where it all began and where it had ended for others.

First things first he needed to find Yao-Fei. He didn't want to be shot again but knowing his first mentor he wasn't going to be able to stop that from happening. His pre-island body would not be able to catch or dodge an arrow. And that was if Yao-Fei even revealed himself before shooting.

But before he went hunting for the first man under the hood he needed to bury his father. Again.

Swallowing the pain he felt for even thinking that, he tucked his gun into the waistband of his shorts before grabbing the life raft and pulling it farther onto shore using the waves to his advantage as his playboy body struggled with the weight.

Once he was sure he had it far enough away from the water so his supplies would not drift back out to sea he grit his teeth and reached inside dragging his father's body out into the open only stopping to remove the list and toss it back into the raft before kneeling down on the rocks. He ignored the sharp pieces of stone digging into his skin and picked his dad up in a fireman carry.

In the trees above the beach, dark eyes watched from underneath a green hood as he worked carrying his father up the beach. They watched as he moved rocks and boulders creating the best makeshift grave he could that would keep away the animals.

And when the grave was complete the eyes watching him narrowed as he went back to his raft.

Removing his ripped shorts that were pretty much rags he pulled a pair of dark green cargo pants from the luggage he had bought just before he boarded the gambit as well as a black long-sleeve shirt and tan surplus military boots. He wasn't wearing rags until he could accidentally kill another of Fyers men.

Shirtless he kneeled down to tie his boots when the telltale whooshing of an arrow traveling through the air caught his attention before a searing pain originating from his shoulder sent him to the ground crying out in pain.

Looking over his shoulder he saw the man he was looking for looking back at him and notching another arrow. Diving into his raft to escape another shot he popped open the second case he had brought with him digging through the ropes and metal until he found what he was looking for.

A Beretta 92FS he had purchased in the glades.

Chambering a round he closed the case and crawled behind it to gain a little cover ignoring the pain in his shoulder. He wasn't planning on shooting Yao-Fei but if he wanted to change things "learning" more from Yao-Fei than last time was a good place to start.

Purposely shaking the gun as Yao-Fei pulled the flap to the raft aside he started yelling. "Hey, stay back! I'll shoot."

Yao-Fei shook his head but set his bow down. "You hurt."

Inside Oliver smiled at the broken English. People say the first thing you forget about a person was their voice but even nearly a decade after Yao-Fei had died he still remembered. He owed him too much to ever forget.

"You hurt," Yao-Fei repeated and moved further into the raft looking around at what was inside.

"Yes, because you shot me, you maniac!" Oliver hissed through the pain.

Yao-Fei ignored his words. "You want to heal, you come with me."

"I'm not going-" Oliver started to talk but he had miscalculated how badly he was injured and the world began growing dark.

Time Travel Arrow Fanfic!

Read a few where Oliver goes back in time but only to when he gets back from the island. Haven't found one where he goes this far back so decided to write my own. Hope you guys like it:)

Leave a review with what you think!