Hi there. I haven't written an Arrow story in a while, but this just popped into my head and wouldn't go away until I'd written it. This story is based on the recent spoilers that Felicity will make a deal for Oliver. Since he's in prison, he obviously he can't do anything. I think this would be a really interesting dynamic. Other than the slight spoiler, it is all based on my own ideas and theories. I am also planning a follow up chapter with their reunion, so please leave a review if you enjoy this. I hope you like it.
/
"4587. You have a visitor."
Oliver carefully schools his features into a neutral expression to hide the shock that instantly hits him. He certainly isn't expecting anyone.
"Let's move it, before I tell them you're not allowed." The guard barks.
Oliver stands obediently but not eagerly, relying on his carefully constructed rule to not show emotion. His number one rule in this place is to not let on how he's feeling at any time. Unless someone comes for him. Then he fights back.
He's an idiot for ending up in this situation, but he's not stupid enough to let others get the jump on him.
Oliver follows the guard down the corridor towards the visiting room. He doesn't know who he'll be seeing, but he knows it isn't the two people he wants to see the most.
John visits every couple of weeks and gives him updates. He's far too busy to visit more frequently, but that suits Oliver fine. Too many visits aren't a good thing. He loves his brother for doing it, but it also makes his chest hurt more than he wishes it did. He's not sure what's worse, not hearing about his wife and son, or hearing about him and experiencing all the regret he still feels all over again.
Felicity and William are safe in ARGUS custody. Not knowing where they are is the hardest thing he's ever dealt with, and Oliver Queen has dealt with more than his fair share of pain in his life. John gives him vague details, but it's enough.
The guard opens the door, breaking into Oliver's thoughts on who may be there to see him.
When he first lays eyes on her, he's sure he is hallucinating.
He sees her every night in his dreams, but his dreams definitely don't involve him still being in prison.
Even being this far away he can see her gasp at the sight of him, her hand coming up to cover her mouth.
Holy shit. She's here.
"Felicity?" The word that falls from his lips is a mix of a gasp and croak but nothing matters. Only her.
He moves towards her like a dying man finding water in the desert. He's forgotten about his rule of no emotion, not caring who may see him. Fortunately no one else is visiting with their loved ones, so the only one who sees him is the guard.
Felicity's hand still covers her mouth as he staggers towards her. Her husband is thin and pale in a way she has never seen before, even in all the years she's known him. Seeing him after so long breaks her heart more than she ever thought it would. He is the last thing she thinks of each night and the first person that comes to memory every morning. It's been five months and she still reaches across to his side of the bed before she fully wakes up. The heartbreak hits her as she realises he isn't there, every morning without fail.
He sinks into the seat on the opposite side of the glass, simply staring at her for a moment. His glossy eyes surely reflect her own and she gives him a sad smile before picking up the phone.
"Oliver." She whispers.
"Felicity." He answers softly.
The way he says her name, all drawn out and soft in a way she would only expect from him makes her chest clench. The way he's always said her name. The way she hasn't heard it said in five months. Tears break free from her eyes as she revels in the sound of that word on his lips.
Her ragged breathing hits his ears through the phone but the sight of her crumpling over at the sound of his voice is what feels like a knife to the chest.
"I'm sorry, baby, I'm so sorry." He pleads with her over and over again. He has no idea how long he says it before she finally raises her head. His heart drops at the sight of her tear stained cheeks. She gives him another sad smile that tells him she's trying to be brave and raises her hand to press it against the glass.
That's it. His heart shatters.
"I miss you so much, Oliver." Her soft voice shakes, so unlike the way she normally speaks to him.
"I miss you too, Felicity. I'm sorry." His words leave him in a rush.
She bobs her head. "I know."
They sit in awkward silence for a moment before he dares to speak again.
"I don't know what to say to you." He admits. "I want to apologise until I run out of breath, but I don't want to bore you."
She snorts derisively, her eyes dropping for a brief moment. "Trust me, there will be time for that later. I want to kiss you and slap you all at once. But I don't particularly feel like having a screaming match in the middle of a prison. I will make sure there's time for it later."
Oliver winces for effect, but is secretly pleased she's sounding more like herself.
"Understood. I can't blame you for that."
She fixes her eyes back on him. "You definitely can't. This has been the hardest five months of my life Oliver, but I don't want to get into that now. Trust me, you will be hearing about everything, when it is a more appropriate time to be angry."
He nods silently.
She takes in a deep breath and blows it out harshly.
"How's William?" He asks carefully.
"He's okay." She says. "I'm having to home school him at the moment, but we're doing okay. He's been a big support, even though I should be supporting him."
"Hey," Oliver says seriously. "I know you're doing a great job, Felicity. Don't sell yourself short. And I told William to look after you too, so he's doing the right thing."
She stares back at him. "Still. I can't say I ever thought I'd be a single mother."
He winces again, dropping his eyes from hers briefly.
"Sorry." She says, her tone flat.
He shakes his head. "No. Don't be sorry. I deserve it."
She sighs again. "I can't have this conversation now. I actually came here to talk to you about something."
"Yeah, I'm happy to see you but I certainly didn't expect to." He admits. He suddenly startles. "Hang on, why are you here? Why aren't you in ARGUS custody? Where's William?"
The confused look on his face would actually be quite amusing, if they weren't in such a serious situation. Especially since she knows he's not going to like what she's here to tell him.
"William's fine." Felicity assures him. "He's with John right now. Lyla drove me here."
"But why aren't you in protective custody?" He asks desperately, suddenly realising all the danger she's putting herself in just by being here right now.
She takes another deep breath. "That's what I came to tell you."
She can see the fear in his eyes and she knows she needs to tell him before he thinks of something ridiculous, like she's about to divorce him.
"I made a deal with Watson."
Oliver feels like the world around him stops.
"What?"
Felicity straightens in her seat, unconsciously trying to look more confident. "I made a deal. I'm going after Diaz, and if I get him, you'll be free."
"Felicity ..." He gapes at her, unsure of what to say. "You can't ..."
"You watch what you say before you begin to tell me what I can and can't do, Oliver Queen." She says seriously.
Oliver sighs and scrubs his free hand over his face. "Felicity, this is reckless and dangerous."
"Maybe it is. But I don't care. I am willing to do whatever it takes to make sure my husband doesn't rot in this hellhole." She says fiercely.
"What about William? I told you he needs at least one parent."
"Yes, you did. You told me that, just like you made every decision without consulting me." She tells him, her eyes flashing dangerously. "I love that boy as if he were my own son, Oliver, but he deserves a stepmother who isn't grieving her husband who's left. He deserves his father. He deserves a normal life, or as close as we ever came to normal. I am doing this for him just as much as I am doing it for me."
"But what about him while you're looking for Diaz?" He throws back at her.
"Thea's come back to look after him. She will stay at ARGUS with him to make sure he's safe."
"And what about you?" He says.
She fixes him with the most serious look he's ever seen from her. "I think six years of working with vigilantes has given me more than enough experience. I am doing this, and there's nothing you can do to stop me."
"No! Felicity, this is too dangerous!" He argues. "You can't do this."
"This isn't your decision!" She yells back.
So much for not screaming at each other in the middle of a prison.
She watches as his anger escapes him, leaving only a man who is scared and concerned for his wife. She loves how protective he is, most of the time. But she can't do what he asks of her this time. It's not up to him.
"Please, Felicity, please don't do this. I can't lose you." His soft voice chokes out.
Her eyes slip shut for a moment, steeling herself against his pleading. She'd considered this before going to Watson. She knew he wouldn't approve. She knew she would do it anyway. She's sick and tired of being told what to do, and of others thinking they know what's best for her and her family.
She focuses back on her husband, his distraught clear as day.
"Last time I wanted to do something like this and you didn't like it, I told you you'd have to stop me. The same thing applies here Oliver, except you have no way of stopping me now." She tells him, her eyes sad yet determined at the same time.
He gapes at her, knowing she's right. This time, he truly cannot stop her.
This time it's he who presses his forehead against the glass as he begs her not to go through with this.
She leans her own forehead against the glass, right in line with his. She wishes she could feel it, feel his soft caress on her face and his heartbeat against her palm. As always, life is too cruel to them.
"I love you so much, Oliver." She whispers. "You did what you did because you love me, because you wanted to protect me. That's why I'm doing this now. At least I'm giving you the courtesy of telling you, which is something you didn't give me."
He grimaces, knowing how right she is. His wife can certainly put him in his place, even after not seeing him for five months.
"I can't lose you, baby." He whispers back.
"I know. But I've already lost you, and this is what I have to do to get you back."
He drops his head to his free hand, rubbing furiously at his forehead. Her logic is too good to argue with. Why did he have to marry a genius?
He raises his head and fixes his gaze back on her. "I love you, Felicity Smoak."
She smiles softly, sadly. "I love you Oliver Queen."
"Come back to me." He says seriously, and she breathes out a soft sigh because she knows that it's the closest she'll get to his approval. She may not need it, but her husband's support has always meant the world to her.
"I will." She promises, hoping it's not a promise that she'll break.
"Do what no one else could do. That's something you've always been good at." He smiles, letting her know that it's ok. After all, he married a woman far smarter than him. He just hopes she stays as safe as she can. Otherwise it'll be the thing that kills him. He's always been fine with the thought of his own death, but anything to do with her safety is what gets to him. It's why he's sitting in this prison, after all.
"Tell William I love him." He adds.
"I will. He said to tell you the same." She says softly.
He nods, forcing a smile to his face. He knows they're running out of time.
"I have to go." She says regretfully.
"Okay." He whispers. "I love you, Felicity."
Tears spring to her eyes, just like the last time they sat like this, before they took him away.
"I love you too." She gasps, failing to keep her emotions in check.
"You go first." He says softly. He needs to use up every second he has of looking at her.
She nods and presses a kiss to her fingertips before holding them against the glass one last time.
His heart stops at her actions, and he copies them, wishing he was pressing the kisses into her skin instead.
"Bye, Oliver." She whispers.
"Bye." He whispers back.
He can see her struggle internally as she carefully places the phone back on the hook before slowly standing from her chair.
I love you she mouths at him one last time, before she turns around and walks away from him.
Oliver shudders but keeps his eyes glued to her form, following her until she disappears from view.
He keeps staring after her; even once she's gone. He stares until the guard comes back into the room to take him away. Once he returns to his cell, he picks up the photo he keeps of her and William.
Keep her safe, he begs to whatever higher being there is. Please.
Oliver is used to being the self sacrificer, the hero. It's one of his best and worst qualities, as he's sure his wife would say. He's never done well with people putting themselves in danger for him, particularly considering all the people who have died because of him. But right now, he has no choice. All he can do is trust in the brilliance of his wife and the strength of his friends. He has to believe she'll come back for him, that she'll come back to him. She has to.