The first time Felicity calls Oliver 'babe' they've been official for all of two weeks and he's halfway out the arrow cave on his way to chase down Starling's latest baddie. Not exactly ideal timing. Still, it slips out before she can stop it: "Be careful, babe."
She regrets the words as soon as they're out of her mouth. Oliver freezes and looks back at her, eyebrows raised in surprise. After a second he nods slowly then disappears up the stairs. As soon as he's gone Felicity drops her face into her hands and groans. Oliver is not a lovey-dovey endearment kind of guy. Plus they haven't been dating that long. It totally freaked him out, she's sure. She wishes Dig were there to distract her from her own stupid thoughts but he's on baby duty tonight so Felicity is left alone with her overactive brain. By the time Oliver comes back several hours later, a small cut across the bridge of his nose but otherwise victorious, Felicity has worried the bright purple nail polish off every single one of her nails.
Oliver doesn't look at her as he comes down the stairs, resets his arrows, and places the quiver back in its holder. She's going to have to be the one to break the ice. She sidles up to him as he sits down to untie his boots.
"Sooo," she says. Fabulous. Real intelligent comment, Felicity, way to go. She reaches for something to occupy her hands and lands on one of Oliver's arrows.
"Be careful with that," Oliver warns, just as she taps the sharp point against the pad of her index finger. A stab of pain shoots down her hand as a tiny crimson dot sprouts from her skin.
"Oops."
"I told you to be careful," Oliver says, but he's smiling.
"Right." Felicity sucks on the injured finger. "I probably should have seen that coming."
Oliver straightens up and crosses his arms. "Probably."
Just get it over with, she thinks. "Oliver, about before when I, um, called you babe. Did that weird you out?" She looks up at him. "Cause I kind of got the vibe that it weirded you out."
"Felicity," Oliver begins, but that's as far as he gets because suddenly Felicity's verbal dam breaks and the words start pouring out in an uncontrollable stream.
"I just wanted to say—I don't up have to call you that. I don't have to call you anything. I mean, other than your name. Oliver. Your name's Oliver. I mean you know that, obviously—"
Oliver's chest shakes with silent laughter. "Felicity—"
She knows she's being ridiculous but her mouth doesn't seem to have a pause or stop button. Her forehead wrinkles as she tries to think of alternative endearments. "I could try 'sweetheart' or 'honey', although I have a feeling both of those would be even weirder—"
Oliver bends down and presses his lips to hers. She immediately forgets whatever nonsense she was about to say and leans into the kiss. Her hand rises to tug at the shoulder of his jacket because she just needs him closer, as close as possible, always. When they finally break apart, Oliver tips her chin up so that their eyes are locked together.
"Felicity, I would answer to 'you pile of horseshit' if it was you calling me that."
She reaches up to wipe a smear of hot pink lipstick from his mouth."Well, darling, I think we have a winner then," she says, giving him her sweetest smile.