"I think...you deserve better."

He couldn't stop thinking of those words…she said it a while, but it was still stuck in his mind. He told her, with his vigilante life, he was not able to have a real relationship, and still she believes that he should have one, that he is worthy.

At first, when he showed his true identity to Felicity, she was not pleased…she did not agree with his methods, but even after they found Walter she stayed, continued to help him every day. She was impressive, really. Oliver could think of many adjectives to describe her: beautiful, intelligent, awkward in an adorable way, trustworthy, but most of all, she was a believer. She believed in him, even after he killed people, after he cheated his girlfriend with her sister, after he slept with Isabel Rochev…amazing did not describe what he thought she were, not really. She was more than that, and she also deserved more.

If he stayed with her, his feelings for her would reach a new level. He still remembers how he felt when he found her tied up in that chair, very frightened because of the Count. It has been hard to contain his anger at that moment, to not stay with her after that night, even if his mother had just been released. All he wanted was to stay with her, make sure she was all right and safe, but he had restrained himself. He could not go through that path, not now anyway.

He had a mission, he was going to help the city in Tommy's memory, and he could not let anything or anyone get in his way, even if it meant ignoring his own feelings. Besides, his own feelings did not matter as long as Felicity was safe…that is why she deserved someone better than him. He put her in danger and although it was her choice, he did not like it, but at the same time he could not let her leave, she meant too much for the team and for him. He liked when she watched him workout, or the way she always touched him with those soft hands. He needed her by his side, but he could not have her completely.

That is why, two weeks after they got back from Russia, and after her words marked him, Oliver decided it was time to tell her. Felicity was working on her computer, as always, and Digg was somewhere upstairs in the club. He was thinking exactly what he was going to say to her, and he had many things to tell her, when she turned around and faced him.

"Everything ok, Oliver?"

"Hm?"

"You are kind of staring, so…."

Felicity bit her lower lip and turned her head to the side. How could she be so adorable?

"I was just thinking…about what you said to me when we got back from Russia…"

Her eyes widened a little.

"Oh…I-"

"I just wanted to say that I also think that you deserve better."

He saw the shock in her face. They stared at each other for a while, and Oliver was the one to break the silence.

"I have to go. I promised I would have dinner with my mother. Goodnight Felicity."

He got up and walked to the stairs when he heard her answer, almost like a whisper.

"Bye Oliver"

He knew he was hurting her and that he was hurting himself, but there was nothing he could do. He could not make it more difficult, for both of them. Felicity would not leave, and he was glad, but they could not be in a relationship, at least not now. Maybe in the future, if he was able to complete his mission, but now, he could not let himself love her the way she deserves.