Author's Note: So this is my first FanFic, so please don't abandon me now. This is an updated version thanks to my Beta for editing it. Please welcome Dannylionthe1st ! :D
Oliver walked down the stairs into the foundry. Everything that made the Arrow was now done. Slade's attack on the city left only rubble in its wake, and he knew that a new start had to be made.
"You know, I'm going to have to get you a new salmon ladder for our next Arrow cave," Felicity commented, making her way down the stairs after him. She could see that what she said put a slight smile on his face.
"That would be nice, Felicity," he replied, continuing into the dark room that used to be his lair. He moved over to the middle of the room and brushed away the glass and dust that now settled on top of the medical table. "I believe that we retrieved anything that's useful. If you just grab what you can use, and then we can leave."
He bent over and picked up an arrow that was broken in the middle of the shaft. He couldn't help but see that everything that he ever had was broken, just like this arrow. He no longer had his family's company, his money, and he even lost his family. The only thing that had persisted through this war were the people that worked with him to keep Starling City safe.
"Oliver," she came over and placed a hand on his shoulder, "I believe that we will be able to fix this city."
He slid his hand over hers and whispered, "I hope you're right."
The two of them didn't spend much time in the foundry. Instead they headed to where their new base was to be set up. Since he already had his second hideout, Oliver decided that it was the best place to start again.
When they arrived, Diggle was there setting up the new equipment that Oliver had purchased. Felicity had already made her position on placing the training equipment in front of her computers. She babbled about how she liked when their shirts were off and they were all sweaty and hitting each other.
Diggle looked up as they walked in and questioned them, "Did you guys find anything useful this time?"
"Not really, I tried to get as much hardware from my computers, but there wasn't anything that will help us here," Felicity answered, placing a small bag of computer part on her desk. She began separating the pieces in different piles, but neither Diggle nor Oliver dared to ask her what she was doing.
"So Digg, has there been anything on the news that will get the Arrow back out on the streets?" Oliver asked, moving over to the muted television that was tuned into the Channel 52 News. Bethany Snow was going through the nightly headlines, but as far as Oliver could see, there wasn't anything that could use the Arrow's help.
"Nah man, they just keep going through the riot footage and talking about the candidates to take over Blood's position as Mayor."
"What about you, Felicity, is there anything coming across the police wire?"
"There've really only been petty crimes since the riot. It looks like even the hardened criminals are too scared to leave their homes," she claimed. She looked over her shoulder to see Oliver's chest bounce in a silent laugh.
He walked over to her and placed his hand at her shoulders and stated, "Well I guess we'll turn in early, would you like me to take you home, Felicity?"
"Please, I would love for you to come to my apartment. Ah! I mean for you to take me home to my apartment. Not that I would care if you wanted to stay…at my apartment. I always enjoy your company. And now I need to stop talking," she babbled on with a blush making its way to her cheeks.
He gave her the grin that always managed to find its way to his face when she went on a ramble. He then turned to the other man and asked, "Digg, do you need any help before I take her home?"
"No sir, I'm just finishing up with these and then I plan on seeing Lyla. She has an ultrasound first thing in the morning."
Oliver and Felicity could see the glow of happiness that Diggle now had after hearing about his unborn child. In their opinion, it was the best thing that could happen in their group since Oliver had come back from the dead.
"Alright Digg, I'll see you tomorrow," Oliver shouted as he made his way to the exit. Felicity followed after him once she said goodbye. They got into his Mercedes, the only vehicle Oliver had after most of his other belongings were sold my Isobel.
They drove to Felicity's apartment in silence. Ever since their moment at the Queen mansion there was always a silence that hung over them. Their talk on Lian Yu hadn't settled the matter and they both knew it, but neither one of them offered to start conversation about it again. When they arrived Oliver parked a block away and insisted that he walk her up to her apartment, Felicity knew that this was the moment to bring it up. She needed to know the truth of his feelings.
At her door Felicity turned to Oliver and said, "Oliver, I think we need to talk about what happened back at the mansion. Would you like to come in?
He nodded and acceptance, then entered the small, one bedroom apartment.
"You can take a seat if you want, and would you like anything to drink? I have a decent bottle of red wine that I've been wanting to open."
"Sure Felicity," he replied before taking a seat on her light blue sofa. She returned quickly with two glasses and an unopened bottle of 2008 Mazzei Badiola. She poured them both a moderate amount and then sat back, just a foot away from him.
"Oliver, I've been thinking about that night. You know, at the mansion," she took a sip of her wine, "Anyways, it has been running through my mind since we got back from the island. Since I was little I could read computer codes, and they're difficult to understand, Oliver, but I've never had more trouble comprehending something than that moment when you told me you loved me." She took another drink of her wine, looking at Oliver in his silence as he placed his glass on the table. "I can't—I just can't tell if what you said to me was real. I made it fairly clear to you in the past how I feel, and I can't grasp what you said. If it was just a ruse to get to Slade then I believe that I have a right to know."
"You do have every right to know, Felicity," he noted, keeping eye contact with her.
She put her glass on the table next to his before standing up furiously and shouting, "You're not answering me! It's something as simple as a 'yes, Felicity I do love you' or—"
Oliver jumped up, bringing her face to his in a long awaited kiss. He could taste the raspberry of the wine on her lips, he thought was intoxicating. He could smell the lavender of her hair product, which made his stomach flutter. Her jaw was cupped in one hand, and the other at small of her back drawing her closer to him. It was the touch that they had both wanted for a long time.
When he pulled his lips away from hers he whispered, "Yes Felicity I do love you."