Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended. I own nothing in relation to Arrow or it's characters.

I'd seen horrible deeds done...

I'd been the cause of most of them...So why did I follow her home? I'd seen what I needed to see and done what I'd come here to do yet she still stirred something within me. I'd been lost in my own mind when I saw her leave QC...She was still this bright, beautiful beacon of light that'd made my lips softly upturn as she babbled to the empty room.

I'd stayed behind watching from the shadows of the various dark alleys that were situated along the ill lit streets that she used to travel the short distance home. I felt the cold seeping through the cheep jacket that I still wore as she moved quickly down the rain dampened streets of the city that was still my home. I found a small spot located directly across the street as she almost bounded up the stairs her head pointed down as her hands dug furiously through her oversized purse. Even from this far away I could hear her laugh the sweet melody drifted through the cold evening air as she continued to shuffle her feet her keys still lost in the confines of the dark purse.

She swore loudly when her purse fell to the ground; I stifled a smile by covering my upturning lips and retreating further into the shadows. I would have left then but something made me hesitate...

"Frack please don't tell me I left them at work again..."

She was still digging through the bag but now she was hunched over as she surveyed the spilled contents as they lay littering her small cramped walkway. The sound of her raised voice made me turn around and for the first time this evening bringing my face straight into the dim light of the lamp overhead. I was about to move towards her; something in me felt like it was ready to snap when...

"Oh thank God I didn't do that again!"

She'd found them...she was safe...there was no need to show myself...though a part of me now longed to be near her...to be in her presence if only for a few passing moments. I shrugged against the cold not only of the air that surrounded me but against the cold that had slowly begun to settle within my soul. I was half turned when I heard her again but this time the voice wasn't muffled or light as the wind carried the sound towards my very willing ears. No this time it was loud, it was direct, and it was directed towards me.

I moved faster now my legs burned with the ache of wanting to both run and stay each conflicting emotion made my heart begin to ache. As my feet splashed through the various puddles that littered the dark alley I heard her sweet voice as she came closer and closer to my retreating form.

"Hey...Hey! Who are you? Why were you watching me? STOP!"

I did much to my shock as the sounds of her equally rapid movements begun to slow her light pants now reached my ears as I became frozen in place.

"Why were you watching me?"

I didn't turn around I just stood there frozen in place hoping she'd abandon this foolish pursuit and turn around...her hand tugging on my shoulder told me I was wrong.

"Hey...answer me why were you watching me?"

She pulled and tugged against me until I finally gave in turning slightly while keeping my face mostly hidden within the shadows of my narrow hiding space. I was right when I'd thought she was beautiful but I had no idea just how beautiful she really was until her face was mere inches from my own. Her eyes were a deep blue...eyes that at one point in time would have matched my own. She was small but based on the firm grip she still had on my shoulder she was far from weak. I roamed my eyes over her figure she wasn't rail thin like most the women I'd been attracted too...no her calf's were well defined and her body reminded me of an hourglass. However all of that was forgotten when I saw her lips...those perfect lightly colored full lips that she'd been chewing on for the past few moments as we cautiously eyed each other.

"You saw me?"

She huffed at my stupid short reply her fingers drifting towards the bridge of her nose as she pushed her black framed glasses back into place.

"I realize my eyesight sucks but you aren't exactly easy to miss..." Her eyes drifted downwards as she took in my left arm.

"Hey you're bleeding...what...what happened to you?"

I looked down and saw that I was indeed covered in blood but i knew the blood wasn't my own.

"Come on...I live right over there let's at least get you cleaned up ok?"

She didn't wait for a response she just lowered her hand from my shoulder and grabbed my hand pulling me towards her home.

"Sorry about the mess...I've only been here for a few weeks...New job leaves very little time to unpack."

I glanced around the small but still spacious looking living space. She was right her kitchen and family room were filled with various cardboard boxes each one I suspected were half filled with her worldly treasures. Her hand felt warm and sure within my own as she pulled me through the boxed filled floors and down the darkened hallway. Her shoes lightly clicked as she moved quite rapidly down the hardwood covered floors until she stopped her free hand now at the closed door.

"The bathroom...it's well..."

She flushed so rapidly and fully that I could see her skin redden even in the darkness of the ill lit hall.

"It's alright...you don't have to do this I'm fine really..."

She smiled brightly her lips parting to reveal that her smile was even brighter when it was full.

"No I can't leave a bleeding man outside in a dark cold alleyway when I live not more than a few feet away now can I? No the bathroom is connected to my bedroom I just thought I should warn you that's all."

I nodded her hand becoming sweaty in my own as she turned the knob the door now flung wide open. She stepped past more boxes and I couldn't help but smirk. The room was decorated in hues of pink, purple and white but the room I sensed was still far from over. Still her home no matter how disorganized and cluttered made me feel warm, safe, she made me feel at home. That thought had me puzzled and confused I'd seen my family today...Tommy...Laurel but none of them made me feel this...none of them felt like home.

"Alright just sit here and remove that dingy baseball cap while you're at it."

I sat on the edge of the sink removing the blue blood covered garment but paused when I reached up to touch the rim of the cap. She'd see me...she'd see my face...she'd recognize me and that I knew would get her killed. She turned around her small hands filled with bandages and towels her sweet expression now changing as she took in my unmarred forearms.

"The blood's not your's?"

"No it's not..." She looked startled and afraid as she inched backwards until her back was firmly pressed against the door.

"I've made a mistake haven't I? Oh God you're...you're going to kill me aren't you? My mother was right I'm a genius but sometimes I can be a real idiot..."

"You're not an idiot...You're sweet and innocent but far from an idiot." She swallowed hard as she attempted to shrink against the door her hands shaking as the bandages fell quietly to the cold ground.

"This situation would prove otherwise."

I nodded the cap still firmly resting on my head as I leaned forward and stood moving very slowly towards her now completely shaking form. I attempted to ease her fears by holding my hands up to show her I held nothing within them.

"I won't hurt you,,. I could never hurt you..."

I blinked rapidly realizing that I'd still had yet to learn or even hear her name.

"What's your name?"

She blinked in more confusion than fear as she quickly replied the fear still very evident in her tone.

"Meghan...my name is Meghan"

"You're lying to me aren't you?" I smirked once more as she smiled ever so slightly her amusement overpowering her overwhelming sense of fear or even self preservation.

"What if I am? I'd have to be a complete idiot to give you my real name."

I moved closer placing my palms directly against the white painted door effectively pinning her in our gazes now met with equal parts wonder and maybe even attraction.

"You would but I still would like to know what your name is."

She eased away from the door eyeing me carefully as she inched further and further into my rapidly vanishing personal space.

"Felicity...my name is Felicity and your's?"

I should have said nothing...hell I should have done nothing but she was so close and it had been so long since I'd felt safe...since I'd felt happy.

"Oliver..."

"Hi Oliver"

I grinned slightly as I dipped my head down until my lips were pressed lightly against her cheek. Then I broke my promise but it was for her own well being. With my lips still pressed against her skin I whispered the words I hoped she'd recall once I was gone.

"I'm really sorry about this..."

"About what..."

I pressed my fingers to the side of her neck until she slumped forward in my arms her eyes sliding shut as her words died on her tongue. I had to leave and I knew that the longer I stayed with her the more likely it was that I'd never leave. I gathered her into my arms until I had her form cradled tightly against my chest as I opened the door padding carefully through her obstacle filled room. After I placed her on the bed I took a few more moments to gaze down at her sleeping form. Then I made another foolish mistake I leaned over her until my lips were pressed against the shell of her ear. My words were soft and short as they fell on deaf ears.

"I'm sorry about this...you're not an idiot,,,you're perfect...thank you..."

I then moved slightly upwards pressing a light kiss to her soft cool forehead. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear I pressed the same spot I'd used before along her graceful neck moving rapidly towards the window as her eyes slowly blinked open. I waited outside the window until she sat up and glanced quickly around the room. She looked confused and startled but what made my lips upturn once more was when her finger tips lightly traced over her cheek...the same spot that I'd touched with my lips. I left after I saw her lips form one single word...

"Wow..."

I'd never fully forgotten that stolen moment of time in her presence but my life after I left her room became dark and miserable...my soul became even darker than the years before. So when I heard the assistant at the desk in the entry of QC say Felicity part of me woke up. My heart begun to beat rapidly as the elevator neared her numbered floor.

Walking into her office was enough to steal my breath away but then she turned around and my world fell firmly into focus. I should have said numerous things like I'm sorry or I never forgot you but all that came to mind was...

"Felicity Smoak? Hi...I'm Oliver Queen..."

At least this time we started with a proper introduction.