Not How The Story Ends

[Felicity Smoak]

His expression over the bow made everything she had done to get it off the boat worth it. "It was just laying there under a table." She explained while reaching for the water he offered, "I tried but could not find any arrow either." After drinking some she put the now lighter bag on her back, and kept the canteen in her hands. Her turn to carry it, and it was light without the bow and extra water.

She stared at him for a moment, just taking in the sight of him. "I missed you." Never before had she been so glad to see him in her life. Even when the count had her, and she had been glad he came but afraid for him. Oliver was alive! "I'm ready. I think it might storm soon." She looked up at the sky, then crossed to Oliver, so they could go together. "How bad to storms get here?" And more importantly, would they find shelter first.

[Oliver Queen]

Just laying there. As if waiting for her to find it and give it to him. For once, fate was kind. "That's alright," he told her. The bow was the difficult part to create. "We can just sharpen a few sticks for the arrows." As long as it had a pointed tip and was the proper weight, they could carve it. He did not have to have sophisticated arrows. Just something sharp to shoot. He watched her take hold of the bag. "Let me carry it." This time it was a request, rather than a presumed statement. They were working together, and he needed to accept that. Hence the reason he was starting to speak collectively, even by sayingn that 'we' can sharpen a few sticks, rather than just him. She was a strength on his island and he had failed to recognize that. Which was ultimately what led to their capture. He would not endanger her, but he would not longer dismiss her offers. Besides, he wanted to teach her basic survival tactics so should they get separated for whatever reason . . . she would be able to survive and defend herself.

He gave another slight smile when she said that she had missed him. "I missed you too." Whether she was a friend or something more, he stood by the words. He had missed her. Even though he still wished she wasn't here on the island; if she had to be here on Lian Yu, at least she was here with him, rather than off on her own trying to hide from the men chasing her. "There's a cave not too far from here." Another one. Since this island was full of them. "It'll give us the shelter we need for the night, and we'll wait for the storm to pass." The storms here could indeed get bad. But if they had concealment, then they would be fine. "We should collect as many sticks as we can carry on the way, before it starts raining." Damp sticks were more difficult to start a fire with. That, and he would need some to make arrows. Suddenly, everything felt easier. Hunting. Defending themselves. And most importantly, protecting her. "Alright, let's go," he said, taking her hand again, as they began to move.

[Felicity Smoak]

He missed her two! She missed a few of the other things he said as she smiled over that for a moment. "I can carry the pack, it's light. Besides . . . . planning to get you away from men with guns was easy . . . hunting not so much." Meaning other then some fruits she had not eaten since he last fed her. She could carry the pack in case he found anything to tied them over tonight.

They began the trip to the cave he knew of, with him leading and her following close. Felicity picked up sticks and carried them int he cradle of her arms. "Did they do anything else to you?" She asked quietly, knowing it was possible they beat him some, thought she hoped not.

[Oliver Queen]

Oliver didn't argue with her. If she was carrying the pack, then he would hunt along the way and start collecting food since it would be difficult to get out at night. Her words made him realize that she had not in fact hunted and therefore . . . had she eaten anything at all these past few days? He knew he didn't. But it wasn't from lack of food; it was from lack of will and desire. She asked if they had done anything else to him, and even if they had, he would not have told her. "No," he answered simply. Unlike the last time he was here . . . but as he had already acknowledged, the psychological and emotional torture had been far worse than the physical ones he'd experienced last he was here. He paused for a moment, realizing that he had not asked her. He knew she escaped but, she had still been held captive.

Their time apart -- right up until he thought she was dead -- had been maddening. He feared what they were doing to her. He stopped what he was doing, instead walking up to her and making direct eye contact with her so that he would know the truth in case she tried to spare him any details. "Did they hurt you?" He asked quietly, needing to know. While it was not something he could do anything about right now, it was something he would handle when the time came. Though, it was also important to know in case she was injured somewhere and he had been oblivious to it. He had been so concerned with getting them far away from the men, that he had not taken the time to question if she was alright physically.

[Felicity Smoak]

Good! They'd not hurt him! She had worried about what they would do to him if they could no longer hurt him with her. He in turned seemed to need to know the answer to the same question. Only when he asked, he stopped and turned to look at her in the eyes and was very intent on knowing the truth. "Only when they told me you were dead." She admitted. "They couldn't hurt me after that." Because she had nothing left to lose.

She had her arms full of sticks or she would reach out to touch his arm, so instead she didn't look away from his face so he'd know they'd not done anything else to her. "I think they were waiting for Slade for join them, so everything could begin." Which said a lot of about what would happen in two days when he arrived. "Two days. On the radio they said he would arrive on the island in two days." They everything would be more dangerous.

[Oliver Queen]

He felt relieved that they had not physically harmed her, though he knew full well that telling him she was dead was no better. Especially, knowing how she felt about him. Something he still had not told her she said while drifting to sleep. It made sense that they were waiting for Slade. He had wanted to witness it, to initiate whatever ploy he was going to carry out to maximize Oliver's pain. Though if Slade was coming here, then that might be a way they could get off . . . if he was in fact still coming since Felicity had successfully foiled the men's plans in keeping Oliver -- and her -- captive. "He will be disappointed," Oliver stated, since they would not be there for him to do what he wanted to them.

"Whether its with Diggle's help, or using Slade's plane, we will get off this island," he assured her. He was not going to stop until he found a way for them to get off, because spending five years here, or even a month, was not an option. He was not going to rob her of that amount of time of her life. "You can put the sticks in the bag, I can carry if for a little while." Because he was also going to get one of the blades from it to make his first arrow, and use it for to catch dinner.

[Felicity Smoak]

He would be disappointed, because she had stolen their prisoner! She felt empowered by that, and a bit kick ass even though she'd kicked no ass. Oliver spoke of getting off the island on Slade's plane and she wasn't sure that was a good idea, but she would hold that off until later. "Diggle will find us soon. I have faith in him."

He offered to take the bag, and she tilted her head to the side while watching him, "I can carry it. You need your hands free." She wasn't going to give up the bag until they were at the cave. "I can do this. I want to do this." To be his equal in some ways, and a partner in this. When they got back, she wanted to say we kept each other live, not Oliver saved me.

[Oliver Queen]

Oliver didn't lack faith in Diggle, he just didn't want to underestimate Slade's men. He knew better than to do that. She then protested letting him carry the bag, saying she wanted to do this, that she could. He didn't doubt she could he just . . . perhaps he should let her carry it then. He didn't want her to think he believed her incapable. "Alright," he agreed. "Let me just get something from it." Since she had told him that there were blades in there. He puled one out, inspecting the edges. It was just sharp enough to carve what he needed to.

He searched the ground for a good sized stick. Just to add a bit more sharpness to the blade he quickly sharpened it against a stone before scraping the end of the stick. He was creating a point, and while it was far from perfect, it was sharp enough to hit the intended prey, especially if he was far enough which would add more power to the impact. He tucked the blade away, carrying it on him just in case he needed more than one weapon.

He would let her carry the bag then. Though every so often, he would glance at her to make sure it wasn't too heavy for her, or that she was finding the extra weight a burden. "Just wait one second," he said stopping. When it started raining, all the animals would also seek shelter, so now was the time to catch what he could. He took a few steps off to the side, his eyes narrowing in the distance as he armed the arrow. He waited a few more moments, and a few more . . . and just a couple more . . . before he released the arrow.

It struck both targets, killing the two pheasants instantly. He hurried toward them before another animal decided to steal their meal. Pulling out the arrow, and picking up both birds by the feet, his mind once again flashed back to how this particular animal had been his first kill, and how he had felt so guilty for it. He no longer felt that remorse, because he knew that it was all about survival. And not just his. He walked back to where Felicity stood. He knew he would not need to explain why he had killed them: it was their dinner. "Its not too much further. This way," he instructed, as he headed over to the direction of the intended cave.

[Felicity Smoak]

Felicity let him remove what he needed from the bag and then continued to follow him toward the cave. Along the way Oliver managed to not only make and arrow, but hunt some food for them--and as their reward, the skies opened up into a downpour seconds later. They walked an hour in the rain before arriving at the cave. Oliver had even helped her get the sticks into the bag so they were mostly dry. Dry enough to make a fire.

Not ten minutes later the rain was coming down so far you could not completely see out of the cave. Felicity stood by the entrance, holding the empty canteens under the spray while Oliver cooked the food. She had taken down her hair so it would better dry, but the cold rain made her miss the fire. As soon as she could she turned and hurried back to it.

"Drink up, and I can refill them after we eat." Might as well drink what they could now. Wrapping her arms around her she stood a little over the fire to get the warmth to soak into her clothing, before moving back to site beside him.

[Oliver Queen]

As soon as they had got to the cave, Oliver had started the fire and as it was growing, he began to cut the pheasant, plucking it and cutting the meat into small cubes so that he could skewer them and thus, allow them to cook faster. He wasn't sure when the last time she had actually eaten, was so wanted to make sure the food was made quickly. They had managed to gather quite a few supplies on their way here: stones, sticks, fruit, and a few other things that would allow them to do well for the night. He took the berries out, placing them on a large plant leaf. He then proceeded to crush them with a stone. It would create a sort of sauce to make the bird less dry. Fanning the flames a bit, the meat was quick to cook. So by the time she joined him, sitting by the fire, it was ready to be eaten.

He took one of the skewers off the fire and passed it to her, handing her the leaf with the crushed berries on it as well. While the other skewer cooked, he picked up another stone and the dull blade, and began to sharpen it. This way, he could carve the sticks into better arrows. "They won't be searching for us tonight," Oliver told her, knowing that tonight they could take it easier than they had in the past in terms of keeping watch. "The storm will prevent them from doing so." Mudslides, flooding in some parts, the fact that it was impossible to see . . . it was too dangerous and this time would give them a huge advantage.

[Felicity Smoak]

Felicity took the stick he offered and smiled at the berries that he'd made into a jam like dip. "This looks good. Thank you." She moved closer to his side for warmth while they ate. She found herself being very unladylike in how she ate but after days of no meat she was so hungry. At first she didn't even taste it but then she slowed down enough to be surprised by the taste. Had a definitive firey taste but was still good with the sauce.

Clearly he'd done this before. While was a sobering thought. She should have spent another hour at the sub and tried to get a message out. If only she had tried then help could be on the way. Instead she'd heard him alive and only thought about getting to him.

"Good. Maybe it will wash away all the signs of which way we went. They can track that, right? Or is that a TV thing?" She didn't know tv vs real much, but she was learning really fast.

[Oliver Queen]

If she thought this looked good, then she really hadn't eaten much at all the past several days. He offered her the second skewer as he set a third onto the fire. This was the reason that he had killed two pheasants rather than just one. Besides, the meat may not taste as good in the morning and he could always go hunting for something else. They had enough to carry as it was. He took a few pieces off the third skewer and began to eat it as she spoke of how the water would wash away their tracks. He gave a small smile, mostly at her questioning whether it was only a TV thing.

"They can," he confirmed. "But we have a lot of distance on them. Even if they could follow the tracks, they won't be able to catch up to us that quickly." So far. If they kept up this place, and if -- they -- formulated some sort of plan. "We'll go back to the submarine you found. See if we can't get the radios working." If nothing else, they could keep track of their enemies progress. If that was how she found out he was alive, then it meant she could hear them. That would give them some sort of idea as to what they were up to . . . unless they had it destroyed, knowing they would find a way to hear them. Surely there was more in the submarine anyway.

[Felicity Smoak]

He spoke of the sub, and she knew she had to make sure he knew the risk. "The bag from the sub that I took was really heavy. I had to drag it to the cliff. If they can track our steps, wouldn't they track that?" As for the radio, she knew she could make it work but everything was so old, that even getting it to work would limit their ability to use it. The power would not last long. Still, she would risk it if he thought it would help.

Once she was finished eating--wanting to leave him some of the extra--she curled up into his side, and drank her water, while trying to think about the radio system there. While thinking though, she could only remember the feeling of him being alive.

Turning so her back was closer tot he fire, but she could face him, she felt a bit better at seeing him. "Slade's plan was to break you. . . . is. That is what he wants. I'm surprised that he didn't try to take Thea or Laurel instead." Women he loved, rather then her. She know Oliver felt strongly for her, but she also knew it was friendship and bonding. With others he was closer to them in a different way. "Don't get me wrong, I'm really grateful he didn't--especially Thea, but seems like he picked me. Which as me thinking."

"At work, everyone thinks I got my job by sleeping with you." Which she HATED! "What if he thinks that too? That could be why he picked me--he couldn't know I am helping you at night." Could he?! "So that means someone there at work, could be keeping tabs on you for him." Why else pick her? It had to be more then convenience. "When we get back, I should look into that. See who has things to hide."

[Oliver Queen]

Oliver would find a way to make sure that their tracks wouldn't be followed. They would worry about that tomorrow. Right now, he didn't want her to worry about anything else . . . but that was when she brought up Slade. And questioning why he didn't take Thea or Laurel. He knew exactly why. Slade knew him well, which Oliver hated to admit. And after Shado . . . well, Oliver knew full well that Slade's taking of Felicity to join him on this island was not pure coincidence. That it was strategic. That he could have taken Thea or Laurel, but he wanted Oliver to lose someone that he loved . . . the way that Slade had lost Shado. Even though the situation was very different. "I'm not sure if he knows everything," Oliver admitted. Slade knew that Oliver was The Hood/The Arrow, and he knew that he cared for Felicity . . . but Oliver knew he would have to find out more if he was going to continue to protect Felicity. Even if it was from a distance. Because he no longer wanted her to be involved with him, and his enemies. This was the last straw. So when she said she would look into that when they returned, he paused, tried to think the best way to phrase it without upsetting her. Or maybe it would be best to wait until they got back.

"But he knows that its more than that between us," Oliver concluded. Meaning, her suggestion over him knowing that she was working with him as The Arrow but . . . also the deeper feelings they had for one another. Slade would not take Felicity if he believed that her and Oliver were just sleeping together. If that were the case, Slade would have to kidnap half the women in Starling City. "Otherwise, he would not have taken you." And how Oliver hated that he had. Hated that he had put Felicity in this position. "He had his reasons for taking you Felicity, and it would be best not to immediately investigate those reasons when we return to Starling." Because he wanted her to distance herself from this, not become more involved in it. "What we need to focus on is the present. And work on getting off this island." He set down the stone and picked up one of the sticks, beginning to sharpen it. He was purposely avoiding her gaze, afraid that he would say something that he shouldn't. That he would admit his feelings when he shouldn't. So he needed to distract himself . . . though it was getting increasingly difficult. Especially after he had believed that she was dead.

[Felicity Smoak]

Oliver said they needed to think about getting off the island, and she agreed, but they could not do that tonight or without information that they didn't have on the people hunting them. "No, I think it's something we should work on right away, or we could only find ourselves in another place like this, or dealing with a new plan of this Slade guy. He gets his information somewhere, and it has to be someone close to you in the company."

"I mean he knew we were going to met up that day. How?" Who ever knew, went on the list of getting checked first. "Then comes back to why me." Felicity talked a lot with her hands on most days, but when she spoke as she thought her hands moved more. She kept making gestures, and as she was facing him, would rest her hand over the place where their legs rested together.

"You said that he knows there is more, so clearly he knows we're friends. People have been thinking that I'm sleeping with you--which I really hate that rumor by the way, and that was one reason I tried to quit--" She waved her hands as if to make her get back on track. "So for like six months now, so maybe he thinks that you favor me because of that."

"OR someone at the club? I spend all my nights there! It could be someone from there. I will add the employees to that list too."

[Oliver Queen]

She was going on about trying to find out how the information got leaked to Slade. It wouldn't matter because when they got back, he was going to make sure that things were different. That she was no longer going to be a target. That they wouldn't use her to get to him. All the times she was in danger, that was what it was about. She was trying to determine why Slade chose her, and he knew he couldn't give her the answer without revealing his own feelings as well as hers -- the ones she had said while in a drifting state. OR, he could tell her not to worry about any of this because she was fired. Because she could no longer help him due to the risk it was putting her in. Diggle had warned him of this when he had woken from his coma. Oliver had assured him that they could protect her but he had been massively wrong. And because of how naive he'd been, Felicity was paying the price.

He remained silent. Anything he wanted to say relevant to the conversation would just end poorly. So he decided to . . . not exactly ignore it -- because he had obviously heard every word -- but not acknowledge it. Instead, he just picked up a stick and the blade he had been sharpening. "Want to learn how to make an arrow?" He asked. He was well aware that his question as so far off topic from what she had been talking about, but he hoped she took the hint. And would put it to rest. And, focus on something else . . . like making arrows for his bow.

[Felicity Smoak]

Did she want to make an arrow? Really? She tilted her head to the side and gave him that look she did at time when she could not believe he said what he did--though she had not given him this look since he'd told her who he was and not given her a BS story. Felicity moved forward and took the stick from his hand and sat it beside him.

"No, I don't want to make an arrow. I want to figure this out, and you should too Oliver!" Why was he not helping? He just was ignoring everything she said! "Next time it could be Thea or someone else that he goes after. We need to know who it telling him things so we know what information is getting out. Next time he could pick someone else to try to break you with, someone closer to you then me." His sister for starters, then there was his non-related-to women in his life. His mother. Laurel.

"When Diggle finds us, or you get us out of here we need to be ready to take this on, before he has time to regroup and plan. Travel time alone will give him an heads up. Why are you avoiding this? Do you know something?" Oliver kept things close to him and she let him knowing he would tell them what they needed to know in time, though sometimes you had to pull information out of him.

[Oliver Queen]

The thought of Slade taking Thea, or someone else he cared about was agonizing. She wasn't letting it go, and Oliver knew he could only avoid the subject for so long. She was determined, and rightfully so, but so was he. "How and who he is targeting is no longer any of your concern!" He wasn't yelling, but he also did not have control over his words, so they were spoken with an ever so slightly raised volume and . . . clear signs that it had come out in a spurt of annoyance. Not at her, but rather the entire situation. He paused, closing his eyes for a moment and taking a deep breath. He hadn't wanted to talk about this now. He had wanted to wait until they were in a more stable environment, meaning back in Starling City. But she had pushed him and he had reacted. Opening his eyes again, he regained his composure so that he wouldn't snap at her again.

"I can't choose my family." And how he hated himself for putting them in danger for reasons they weren't even aware of. But there was nothing he could do to distance himself from them, because if his enemies knew his true identity, then they would know exactly which other Queens existed. And they would go after them anyway, whether he was near them or not, they knew it would draw him out. "But I can choose who I spend my time with otherwise." And the people he cared about. "When we go back to Starling, this . . . us, is over." The words may hurt to hear, but not nearly as much as they hurt to say. Because, he felt so much for her. And he knew that was exactly why he had to separate himself from her. He wasn't going to watch her die. He refused. The list of those people was too long, and his heart wouldn't be able to bare adding her to it.

[Felicity Smoak]

"How and who he is targeting is no longer any of your concern!" That made her sit up straighter, and she looked at him a little surprised while he tried to deal with whatever was happening in his head. It was the surprise that made her grow quite, rather then any things she was feeling because mostly she felt confused. Until he spoke again, that is.


"I can't choose my family." She knew where this was going, with those words and she began shaking her head no. "But I can choose who I spend my time with otherwise." How could he do this? No! She was apart of this now! It wasn't like everything could just stop for her! It couldn't! "When we go back to Starling, this . . . us, is over." Her eyes didn't leave his face, as she blinked and felt tears pool in her eyes.

"You can't just come to me and make me apart of your team and your life and then expect me to just walk away. I wont. You can't ask this of me." She needed to be apart of this, she wanted to help him and be near him. "I have done everything you have ever asked of me, and volunteered to do more. I have put so much into this fight that you have no right to ask me to stop! You think just because you are the one who goes out there at night that it's your fight?"

"That I don't put just as much of myself into this that you do?" Reaching up she wiped her cheeks as the first tears fell. "That I don't watch you walk out there every night and know that if I fail to watch your back you could not walk back in? Oliver you my friend and I . . . and I can't not be there." She had almost told him she loved him, but knew that would only make this worse.

"You can ask me to leave, but you can't make me go."

[Oliver Queen]

He hated seeing her cry, knowing that he was the one who had caused the tears to be there. But, it had to be said and done. He had to let her go, because he loved her. Wasn't that what they said, that the hardest part of love was letting go? Only this time, it was for entirely different reasons. She fought him on it, which he knew she would. She was devoted to the cause, loyal to him and . . . it was all part of what made her who she was. And why he felt the way he did about her. "I shouldn't have," he said in a hushed voice, though loud enough to be heard by her. He was referring to having gone to her in the first place. He could never regret the time they spent together. She had done more than he could ever thank her for. She had put herself at risk for him, repeatedly. She had fought for him. And she had given him something that seldom few could: emotional support. And that in itself, entailed so much. "Because I never knew how severe the repercussions would be." As he had previously recalled, he had told Diggle with confidence that they could protect her.

But he hadn't done so when the Dollmaker had gotten a grip on her, he hadn't done so when Helena had gotten to her, he hadn't done so when the Count has his hands on her . . . and this . . . this was the ultimate one. The final one. She didn't have to tell him how she felt about him. He already knew. And he couldn't tell her. He was trying to distance himself from her, not give her more of a reason to challenge his decision. He knew the second he let it known that he knew she loved him, he would admit he loved her and . . . that was the most dangerous thing he could do right now. "You can ask me to leave, but you can't make me go." Again, he had expected as much. And he knew what needed to be said. "Felicity," he began to say, looking at her, forcing himself to look at her because he truly hated himself for putting her through all of this. "I'm not asking you." He was telling her. If it was a matter of asking her, there would be room for doubt and negotiation. But he was telling her. Making it known that his decision was final.

[Felicity Smoak]

He wasn't asking her, but she wasn't going to blindly obey him. That had never been who she was, even when she was starry eyed and following him everywhere. She wiped her face a bit more then moved up to her knees because she felt stronger when she was even with his face, rather then looking up at him.

"No, Oliver. You're afraid, which I completely get. You think I might get hurt, and you don't want me to. I thank you for that, and knowing you are my friend and feel that way actually feels good but I am not going to just walk away from this!"

"This is my life, and I want to spend it doing what I believe in." She was apart of it. She'd given her life to this cause in the last few months. "I have proven that I can help you--I just pulled you out of a camp of armed men with nothing but my brain!" How much more proof did the man need?!

"You didn't react this way when I had a bomb around my neck, or when I was in the glades and they fell, or any of the other too many times that I could have died. So whatever has changed for you . . . . stop. Because this is my fight too."

"I'm not leaving you. I'm staying. Your my friend and you need me, just as I need you."

[Oliver Queen]

It wasn't just about him thinking she would get hurt . . . she did get hurt. So many times. He feared that worse things would happen to her . . . because he was not naive enough to believe that this was the absolute worst thing she could suffer. "I never said you couldn't help me, or that you haven't." He would be the first to admit how much she had done for him. "The point is that, you shouldn't have had to." Here at least. She should never have been put in that position where she had to put her life at risk -- and did she ever -- so that she could save him. She spoke of how this was her fight too, and he didn't want it to be anymore. He had formed this team because he knew he would be stronger with them. What he hadn't quite anticipated was how much more targeted it made them. She had said that after she helped with Dead Shot, she wanted to return to her life of being a 'boring IT girl' and he had never given her that option. He had just kept asking for her help, ignoring the risks she was taking. And he knew that unless he did something, he would continue to do that . . . until it was too late.

She knew something had changed for him, and it had. A lot. She had told him she loved him, and her assumed death had made him admit how he felt about her. He felt as if things could never go back to the way they were, even if the words were never said. Even if she was forever unaware of them. It was her use of the word 'friend' . . . which was what he was going to focus on. He slightly leaned forward, toward her, not drawing too close but no longer leaning his back against the cave wall. "Felicity, look me in the eyes and tell me that's all I am to you." He knew this wasn't fair, to use words she unknowingly said to him, against her. "If you can swear to me that I'm only your friend, that you don't feel anything more for me, then I'll take back my decision." He knew she did. Because even if she was drifting off to sleep, her admittance of her feeling were not fake. And he was using that against her in this moment. If he assumed before that things would never be the same, then this certainly solidified that.

[Felicity Smoak]

"Felicity, look me in the eyes and tell me that's all I am to you." She rocked back slightly at his words, and could only stare at him for a moment, while trying to think of the best lie she could. "If you can swear to me that I'm only your friend, that you don't feel anything more for me, then I'll take back my decision." So if she didn't love him, she could stay? How was that helpful? "That is the worse reason to make a decision that I have ever heard." She began, "Your not worried I'm going to get hurt your worried that I see you as more then a friend?" Which also hurt, so in a way either way she got hurt.

Reaching up she ran her hand through her hair and looked away from him, fighting the tears that were falling. Lie to him. Tell him that he is just a very good friend. "Oliver my life before you, was good. I had friends, and liked my job but I have really awkward social skills sometimes. But you were nice to me, and you made me feel like an import part of your group. Valued."

"So yes. You are more then a friend to me. Your probably my best friend." And she loved him. "And I know that I'm not yours, and that you feel differently toward me then I do you, but making me leave because you think I care too much is just . . . silly." Silly being the lightest word she could use at the moment.

[Oliver Queen]

She had completely evaded the question. He knew it was not an easy thing to admit, considering she had not done so willingly. And chances were, she wouldn't have told him any time soon. Instead, she brushed it off, trying to down play it, claiming otherwise. Finding a loophole by saying that he wasn't more than a friend, he was her best friend. He knew what she was trying to do, and just like her, he was not so willing to let it go. She had turned her gaze from him, and he raised his hand to her cheek, turning her face so that she was looking at him once more. Or at least facing him. He couldn't force her eyes to rest on him. "Felicity," he began to say, his voice a soft whisper as he looked at her, more emotion on his face, though still slightly guarded. He had almost, a sad expression . . . knowing this was hard for her. Because it was hard for him too. Following his words, he lightly shook his head, dismissing her former words. And she knew why.

"You know that's not what I meant," he added in the same soft whisper. His tone was gentle, ackowledging that this was difficult fro her because he was putting her on the spot in the worst way possible. He was using something he had unexpectedly learned about her . . . and forcing her to admit to something she was no where near ready to admit to. But he wasn't doing this intentionally to hurt her. He was doing this to prove something. To explain that this was why Slade took her. He knew there was a risk he would return the words, so had to fight from saying them. Instead, he just looked at her, expectantly, his hand still gently on her cheek, unsure as to whether she would actually say the words, further evade the subject, or just stare at him silently. He readied himself for either reaction.

[Felicity Smoak]

"Felicity," She knew she'd failed in trying to lie to him, and her face crumpled, as he touched her cheek and made her look at him. It took her a few tired to lift her eyes and make them rest on his face. "You know that's not what I meant," She knew, it was why she had told him it was silly and a bad decision. He knew it too.

Reaching up to her cheek, she pulled his hand from her, and squeezed it in between her two hands while resting them on her lap.She looked down at their hands before looking up and letting him go. "I'm not very good at hiding my emotions." She admitted. "If your asking this it's because you already know the answer." She loved him.

"It's not fair. I've never let my emotions get in the way of you doing this. Never once!" Why push her away for it? "I know you only see me as a friend, and I'm ok with that. I have felt this year for over a year, why should it suddenly matter now?" Finally she looked back up at him, and into his face. "Is it because of Slade? Because he thinks there is something between us? That is why he need to but an end to it, not push me away. I want to help. I want to help people and stop the bad men. Because it feels good to so something good, and to be apart of a team, and be important for once not . . . not just because I love you."