Two story updates in one night, I'm on a roll! Unlike the other, I do plan on adding to this one. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

I own nothing.


Felicity's eyes blinked open slowly. The morning light had filtered into the room through the cracks in the boarded windows. She licked her dry lips and wondered what time it was. Though she supposed it didn't really matter as neither one of them technically had a job anymore.

She doesn't remember falling asleep. She only remembered the feeling of Oliver Queen breaking to pieces in her arms. She only remembered the strangled gasps and agonizing sobs that tore him in half and echoed into eternity.

If she concentrated hard enough she could vaguely remember when her whimpered name on his lips was replaced by even breathing. She could remember when his body relaxed against hers even as his arms pulled her more tightly against him.

Let it be me

They were still in the same position they'd spent so many hours in. She was snuggled between his legs, surrounded by his arms, her head against his chest and his lips against her hair. The skin of her neck was sticky with dried tears but she wouldn't move for all of the showers in the world.

Because she was safe in Oliver's arms. And he was safe in hers. He had yet to wake up and she would not wake him before absolutely necessary, because the world that awaited him was ugly and cruel. His reality had somehow grown worse over the last week and she hoped he would sleep until he couldn't anymore.

She relaxed in his hold and closed her eyes. She had promised last night to carry him. And she would keep that promise.

She would always remember his words to her the night that the Count died. The night that Oliver had killed a man to save her life.

There was no choice to make.

Ditto.

Let it be me

She would always do what it took to bring him back from the brink. Whether it was saving him from the latest Big Bad or more likely, from himself, she'd do it. She'd do it every damn time. Because when it came to Oliver, there really was no other choice.

Somewhere along the way the man within whose arms she currently rested, had become her life. She could count the hours that she spent away from him each day on one hand. She was the guide upon whom he leaned within the halls of QC. She was the voice in his ear, guiding him to the next bad guy and reminding him to make safe choices. Felicity was the voice in his head when he was about to make a morally questionable choice. She was the fight that awaited him whenever he needed a good kick in the ass.

She had heard Sara's words the night of Moira's death. And she had felt the woman's gaze on her as she had said them. Felicity was Oliver's light. Sara knew that and so did Felicity.

Let it be me

And she lived for it. She lived for him. She lived for every facet of Oliver Queen. Oliver Queen, CEO. Oliver Queen, Green Arrow. Oliver Queen, beloved friend, brother and son. Son.

It was so difficult to separate the woman who had coldly threatened Felicity from the woman who bravely died for her children. Moira Queen had willingly given her life just months after threatening to exploit Felicity's feelings for her son.

And Felicity was done denying the fact that there were feelings.

She may be Oliver Queen's light. But somewhere along the way he had become hers.

He was broody and damaged. The physical marks that marred his beautiful skin were only a small fraction of the scars that he carried around with him. His temper was quick and volatile. He was unreasonable and quick to make bad decisions. He rarely apologized and he acted without thinking too often. He pushed away those who loved him the most. He had terrible taste in women.

But he also smiled the very first time they met. It was a real smile, a real one, as she went on and on about his father's death. He laughed the next time they met and the sound seemed as foreign to him as it had to her. He always treated her with respect, like an equal. Sometimes he treated her like she belonged leagues above himself and everyone around them. He was a hero to a city that didn't want him, but desperately needed him. He loved his family and his friends like a lovesick fool. And when he did apologize, he did it better than anyone else Felicity had ever known.

Oliver Queen was a good man. He was a great man.

And she loved him.

If it's a friend you need

So she would do whatever it took to get him through this. She had made a promise and Felicity Smoak keeps her promises.

Let it be me

There was no movement or change in breathing to indicate that he had woken up, but she knew it nonetheless. She knew it the way that she knew everything else about him. At some point she and Oliver had become a part of each other. She knew without asking that he needed time to adjust to this new world, knew that he needed her to remain still, in his arms.

Neither of them moved for what might have been minutes or hours. Finally he sighed heavily.

"Thank God, I really have to pee." She groaned, because of course that's what she would say. She felt rather than heard the chuckle of amusement trapped in his chest. "Sorry."

She felt his lips against her hair before he dropped his arms from where they caged her against his chest. He cleared his throat. "The bathroom's at the end of the hall."

She scrambled clumsily to her feet and turned to see where he was pointing. She hesitated and looked down at him. "Promise you'll be here when I get back?"

His head fell back against the wall with a thud but his grey eyes never left hers. "I need you." He told her quietly. "I can't-" He blew out a long breath as his eyes filled. "I can't do this without you."

Felicity smiled sadly and bent to drop a kiss to his hair. "I promise that you won't have to."

Let it be me


Felicity glanced over at the man beside her. Oliver Queen looked totally ridiculous hunched over in the passenger seat of her Mini Cooper. Granted she was sure that both of them preferred him there over bleeding out in her backseat.

"I'm sorry, I should have borrowed Dig's car. I wasn't thinking about-"

Oliver shook his head. "It's fine. Please don't apologize. Not for something like this."

His tone was weary and Felicity struggled. She had always loved too much, too fiercely. She understood him, she loved him and seeing him like this was comparable to physical torture. She would take 100 bomb collars and another visit with the Count if it meant he didn't have to feel the way that he did.

But this was real life. And there were no magical lamps or T.A.R.D.I.S to help her fix this.

And when all your faith is gone

Feels like you can't go on

Felicity tightened her left hand on the steering wheel and reached for his hand with her right. She almost missed the sigh of relief as Oliver tangled his fingers through hers. Her chest loosened just a fraction as her sigh echoed his.

They drove in comfortable silence back into the city and then out towards Queen Manor. Thea and Walter had moved back into the mansion just the night before as the media had finally found another story to follow. Felicity nodded to the guards at the gate as she pulled up towards the large house. Oliver's grip tightened almost painfully as the Queen home came into view. She stopped the car in front of the door and turned off the engine.

"I-" Oliver shook his head.

There may come a time, you just can't seem to find your place

"Thea's inside." Felicity told him. She knew that he didn't want to be here. The mansion hadn't really been his home since he'd come back from the island. It was his mother's home and she knew that he was worried about the ghosts that would bombard him when he entered.

He nodded stiffly.

"We can sit here for a while, if you'd like." She offered.

He was silent as he stared up at the mansion. Her eyes moved over the hard line of his rigid jaw.

"Why don't we go for a walk instead?" She suggested, withdrawing her hand from his and moving from the car. She closed the door and walked around to his side as he slowly climbed out. His eyes moved to hers and he nodded.

He walked away from the house and down a path that led towards the rolling hills of the estate. She moved to walk alongside him and he immediately wrapped his hand around hers. They didn't speak as they wandered the property but she noticed a smile on his lips more than once as fond memories resurfaced. It was hours later when they found themselves once again in front of the house.

"Thank you." He told her quietly, reaching out to brush a sun kissed curl from her cheek.

"Always." She assured him. His fingers squeezed hers as they turned and slowly walked into the house.

Let it be me


Thoughts? Hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading. And as always I suggest you check out Ray Lamontagne's music...because swoon, seriously. Thanks!