A/N: Hello everyone! I have been receiving wonderful support for my Olicity drabble series (Shot Through the Heart), so I decided that I would write an actual story around the pairing.

The idea for the story came mostly from Maverick41 - thanks for all your help and hard work with this story =).

One note - the beginning of the story will mirror the scenes from "City of Heroes," but it won't be exactly the same, especially with the dialogue. I tried to keep it similar, but this fic will be AU with Oliver staying on the island much longer than in the actual show.

Also, I own nothing.

Please review and enjoy!


The wind pulled at his body and rustled in the trees, creating a low whistling at the edge of his consciousness. The sound was familiar to him; comforting, even. As was the solitude.

Oliver knew that he was running from his guilt and his pain, but he didn't really know what else to do. Staying in Starling City wasn't an option - he had failed, and the city had paid the price in blood and destruction.

Memories flooded into his mind like a torrent of water from a broken dam, breaking through his mental defenses.

...

The ground had trembled.

Buildings had fallen to the ground.

Screams had echoed through the streets of the Glades as frantic people had run, trying to escape the inevitable.

And he hadn't been able to stop it.

...

Shaking his head, Oliver scowled. He hated remembering the destruction of his beloved city, especially since all of it was his fault.

Grinding his teeth, he turned and took off through the forest, the leafy branches brushing against his bare chest and leaving a brief stinging sensation.

Running felt good - he could leave his thoughts and his problems behind him and become one with the forest. He kept his breathing steady and even, each inhale and exhale matching one of his strides.

His worries faded in his exertion, leaving him more at peace, at least for the moment.

Then an unexpected, yet familiar sound shattered his world.

Slowly his headlong run, Oliver looked up into the clear blue sky and saw what he both dreaded and hoped - an airplane heading right towards the island.

"Oh, Felicity," he muttered under his breath, unable to keep a slight smile from his lips - the first smile he remembered since he had exiled himself to the island. He had always known that she and Diggle would come find him eventually - it had only been a matter of time.

Then, his smile faded. I can't let her stay, he thought, pushing a branch out of his way with much more force than was needed. He heard it snap, but didn't care. And I can't go back. Suddenly, he was irrationally angry. Angry at his past, angry at everything that had happened that had led him here, to an emotional place where he couldn't be good enough for Felicity.

Memories of her appeared in his mind, thoughts of the times she had been there when he had needed her.

The times she had looked into various cases for him, such as the bullet-ridden laptop and the syringe filled with Vertigo without complaints.

The time when she had saved his life.

The times when she had stopped him from descending completely into his rage.

Storming through the forest towards the beach, Oliver shook off the memories and prepared himself for what lay ahead. He had to be strong, be tough enough to protect her.

Setting his shoulders determinedly, Oliver vowed to keep her from getting any closer to him - that was the only way to keep her safe.


Please review! Reviews inspire me to update!