Author's Note: A big thank you to all of you who took the time to read this new fic. An even bigger thank you to those who followed, clicked favorite, sent kudos and took the time out to send me a note/review. Those notes really inspired me to get this chapter out the soonest.
In keeping with my latest completed fic, this one will be limited to just 10 chapters. Long enough to fully explore the story and give it the resolution it deserves and short enough so this can be completed before the Arrow hiatus ends.
I do work full-time and I have a life that takes a lot of my time away from what I consider one of my ultimate passions, writing. So keep those comments/reviews coming….i need the fuel to keep me going.
And just to wrap up, this is totally what should have happened in my mind. Because how could Oliver resist his One True Love for all of almost 3 seasons, it's written, it's destined, it's thinkable…..
The usual disclaimers apply.
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Enjoy!
UNDERCOVER
Chapter 2 – Leaving Coast City
Oliver almost ran across the private office hallway heading toward the access door back to the Casino aware that not only was he holding on to Felicity's hand with a bruising grip but, that both the guards trailing them were giving Felicity lascivious looks which annoyed him a lot.
He wasn't delusional to think that it was only because she now carried the Queen name in the eyes of the guards, they being fake married and all, but because in her own right she was drop dead gorgeous when she tried to emphasize her assets. Tonight she was exceptional knowing that she was playing the role of his wife and really took pains in looking the part not that she had to exert a lot of effort in doing so. He personally believed she was one of the most beautiful women in the world. She certainly had captured not only his attention and definitely his heart early on. When exactly, he wasn't about to get into it while they were literally still in the middle of a mission.
Just when he was about to reach the access door it opened with Johns stepping inside along with another face that look familiar given that team arrow had been extensively looking into the prostitution ring operation. Jackson Waters, a heavily built man with an excessive love for thick gold jewelry. He and Johns were blocking the exit.
"Oliver Queen, we meet again and Miss Smoak of course, wouldn't want to leave you out," Johns once again leered at Felicity.
Playing the role of ditsy billionaire again Oliver rubbed the back of his neck with his other hand but made sure his other hand was still firmly attached to Felicity's this time not so much because of the way it made his body react but because he anticipated a confrontation that may not go their way was about to happen.
"I'm just on the other side of the door Oliver waiting on your signal. They flew past me so fast I didn't have time to warn you." John Diggle said through the earpiece to both Oliver and Felicity.
Oliver cleared his throat before he gave his full attention to Johns, "like I said Johns, newlyweds. We were looking for a place that was a little more private 'coz well, we couldn't wait any longer. We didn't know this area was off-limits. You know me well enough to know sometimes I can't help myself. And you have to admit my wife is smoking hot." Oliver was grinning through his teeth and struggling to keep up the pretense when what he really wanted to do was punch the face of Johns for the way he continued to ogle Felicity.
He also took a subtle step in front of Felicity when he noticed the other man, Waters also take a particular interest in her, the mans eyes solidly fixated on Felicity's breast area which in truth had also distracted him earlier when he first saw her attire. The dress she had on accentuated all of her assets, her backside, her legs and her breasts, which he hadn't really noticed before because he was an ass man himself but with what she had on, even a dead man would be turned on.
"While I agree that Miss Smoak's…..assets can really drive any man wild, you cannot just wander around like you own this place. This is a casino, our security is first-rate," Johns continued but paused momentarily when a rather loud snort emitted from Felicity who looked like she wanted the earth to swallow her up as she took a tiny step locking her body, her front to Oliver's back and using him as a shield.
Frowning before he continued more so because his view of Felicity was blocked than anything else, "like I was saying before I was interrupted, security alerted me that we have unauthorized entry in one of our off-limit areas. When I checked the screens at the security room I saw none other than Oliver Queen standing in front of a door? Why is that?" Johns continued frowning as he stepped closer toward Oliver.
Oliver wrapped his arm around Felicity from the back pressing her even closer before he willed his face to a grin and lowered his voice dramatically as if sharing a secret, "it's a thing me and my wife play at frequently, I'd give her a few minutes head start and come in all ready, if you get my drift. Every couple has a thing, this is ours…."
"And your wife," Johns finally acknowledged her as such, "she likes this kind of foreplay?"
Oliver gave Johns a hard laugh. "I am not discussing any more of my private life with you. I've said enough. Again, I apologize for the intrusion, my wife and I best be on our way." He pulled Felicity by the hand bypassing Johns and Waters and made for the exit once again.
They where finally traveling back to Starling City with John Diggle driving and both him and Felicity in the back seat now dressed in casual clothes. Oliver broodily stared out of the window looking at nothing in particular, his thoughts scrambled.
For the last thirty minutes or so Felicity had been looking at him like she wanted to say something but was hesitating.
He himself had tried to keep as much distance as he could, as much space as the confines of a car would allow. He willed himself to be as detached as possible.
Felicity and the encounter they had earlier was still very fresh in his mind. Hell, it was the only thing in his mind. How could his thoughts be of anything else but the feel of her, her lips, her body, that intoxicating smell that was hers alone. Now that he had a taste of Felicity, a slice of life with her, how could he not take what he knew could be his. Because he damn well knew the woman seated beside him could be his, was his for the taking.
But he also justified that it was just the heat of the moment. Whatever had clouded his mind when her lips were upon his, he was past that now. Nothing had changed really. He still wasn't good for her. He still couldn't give her the kind of life she deserved. He had to think about what was good for her first. And he was not.
"So, you and me, we made one hell of a team out there tonight, I mean, we fooled them. For a moment there, even I fooled myself into believing there was an us and it was real. I had that exact dream once and I tell you the real thing was better, much better than…."
Oliver was starting to relive the moment that he knew she was describing and he had to stop her now because any second now, he wouldn't be able to stop himself," . ."
She lifted her finger to stall his answer, "I know, I know. We've been through this several times before and this isn't any different. You and me, it's unthinkable. I know that." She bit her lower lip attracting Oliver's eyes toward it and he had to look away or lose his resolve.
"Felicity." Oliver bit out before once again he was interrupted.
"Oh great we're here!" Felicity said more cheerily than necessary almost manhandling her side of the car door to get out that second and escape back to the safety her apartment.
John eyed Oliver through the rear view mirror and Oliver had to look away guiltily. He pulled his own door open and stepped out but not before telling John to stay in the car.
"I told you, I don't need your help. I can manage my own luggage on my own," Felicity said still not looking at him while trying to take the handle of her luggage from him.
"I got it."
"Sure you do. Like you got everything. Mister I got it, I don't need anybody…." She said under her breath obviously not low enough because he heard every single word she said.
"Felicity."
She proceeded to unlock her main door and push it open before she turned back to him to make a grab for her bags, "I'm home, safe and sound. You can go now."
"Not yet." He then proceeded to enter her apartment and check all the rooms and windows before he turned back to her finding her seated on her couch, her head turned away. He couldn't help himself he made a beeline for her coffee table to sit on top of it facing her.
"I'm sorry."
"What are you apologizing for now?"
Oliver sighed heavily, "I shouldn't have involved you in this mission. At least not having to go through what we did. I know I violated several levels of boundaries we've carefully established in the beginning. I'm sorry for…."
"Don't say it. Don't apologize for the kiss, for kissing me and for everything else. We both know you didn't really want to, kiss me that is, but circumstances called for it." Felicity it so quietly that he knew she meant every word she said by her tone. He knew she was on the verge of loosing it.
Oliver reached out a hand to her arm but still she refused to look at him, preferring to keep her head bent.
"You know that's not true, about the kissing you part." He exhaled again because this so wasn't what he wanted to be talking about, "you know that. You felt it."
Felicity still was looking away.
"I've told you this before. And it still holds true. I can't be with someone that I could care about. That I care about," he corrected making her finally look at him, stare at him.
"Oliver." She whispered.
He held both her hands in his, locking his eyes with her. It had to be said because the status quo of their relationship could not change. He couldn't risk loosing her, that much he admitted to himself. He still needed her near him but she and he could never be. He knew he was selfish this way. He also knew he could never survive not having her in his sphere.
"I care about you, I know you know that. But with the life I chose, you and me can never happen. I should have never let you be part of my mission. Hell, I should never have brought you in as my EA. You were better off at IT and not knowing who I really was. But I'm a selfish man. I can't do this with you. I still need you because you're the best support out there. I also need you as my girl Wednesday."
"It's Friday, as in girl friday" she whispered so quietly this time he failed to hear what she said despite his honed hearing.
"What?"
"It's girl Friday." She repeated louder this time. "And okay," Felicity squeezed his hands before she pulled her hands away, instantaneously he felt a sense of loss without that contact.
"Okay?" He questioned, because it wasn't quite clear to him what she was agreeing to now.
"Okay to me being your girl. Not your girl, girl…obviously. Just your girl." She tilted her head as if confused before she continued, "it sounded different in my head."
Oliver couldn't help the small tilt of the edge of his lips as he captured her hands once again, the contact warming him, "Felicity, you will always be my girl, always."
He was finally inside the lair, the dummy his victim for the night as he worked on his frustration. Frustration about the current mission because Felicity was still running protocols before they could get a window into the bugs she had planted, frustration about his mother because once again she continued to lie to him. Frustration about Tommy because he continued to bother him about his supposed "honeymoon", but most of all he was frustrated because he had a taste of the one thing he had denied himself for so long but he knew he couldn't give in to it ever, she was forbidden fruit. And God, he could never ever forget that. It was forever etched in his mind. No amount of punches, obliterated dummies, holed tennis balls or arrows could get her off his mind.
He needed to see her. Even from afar. He knew he had hurt her, once again. He tried to let her down easy, but he saw through her façade of bravery. The hurt. He hurt her again. The one person he vowed never to hurt.
He didn't know how it happened. A few minutes later her was across her building, on the rooftop. He told himself he would just check on her for a few minutes, just check. A perfect line of vision to her living room couch where she was currently wrapped around a blanket, eating ice cream, mint flavor he was sure and watching TV. He could see all these despite the room being dark. The only shadow of light was coming from the TV.
He knew her well enough to know ice cream was her go to when she was feeling down. He kicked himself for being the reason for her emotional state. Damn it, he did this.
Because he was busy chastising himself, he didn't see that she had turned off the TV. He couldn't spot her form. He needed to see her.
How he made it across the two buildings, he didn't even question. Probably shot an arrow and slid across. His whole being was focused on Felicity and only her.
She wasn't seated on her couch anymore. In fact the whole area was clear of any remnant of her earlier binge. He question how long he had berated himself again, because it had to be a lot of minutes for her to be able to clear out and clean up everything.
He skated the edge of her building so he could reach her bedroom window. And there she was, under the covers. She laid flat on the bed on her back with her head tilted to one side toward the window were he presently was.
She was asleep, he could feel her restlessness because during the five minutes he had just stared at her, she had turned her head from one side to the other about four times already before it was back to her original position with her face toward him.
Again he experienced that pull toward her. He needed to get to her as if his life depended on it and maybe it did.
Her window lock clicked open. In a practiced move he entered her room without a sound, his eyes zeroed on her face.
She shifted again, restless.
He told himself he just wanted to bring her comfort when he reached out a gloved hand or maybe he was the one needing comfort.
"Oliver…." She whispered in her sleep and he stalled because he had thought he had awakened her, but no. She was still asleep.
She leaned into his gloved hand and smiled in her sleep.
With that smile all of Oliver's frustrations just faded away. She had that effect on him. That was her superpower, well aside from her tech abilities that was.
"Oliver….Oliver?"
He didn't notice when she awoke, but she was definitely awake and looking at him wide-eyed now. Even with only the streetlights outside for light, he could see her confusion.
"Hey," and that was all he could come up with.
"Oliver, what are you doing here?" She said while moving to a seated position making him drop his gloved hand from her cheek. He had one knee on the floor leaning in when Felicity was still asleep but with her movement, he pulled back and stood up.
"I…I don't know," finishing his sentence as he turned his back on her and pretended to look out the window his quiver sliding to her floor with a thud. Despite his hurried answer, he knew he was speaking the truth. He truly did not know why he was there. Correct that, he knew why he was there. It was because he couldn't resist the pull toward her.
"You can't just break into my apartment. Come and go as you please."
"I know. I know that."
"Why are you here?" Felicity asked him quietly, staring at his back from her position in the bed.
"I can't seem to stay away!" Oliver answered her almost angrily. "Not after….I just can't…" he said the second part quietly, almost defeated his gloved hands fisted. There, he finally said it. Admitted it to himself.
Oliver could hear Felicity's reaction after his new revelation. He was that much in tune with her. And his revelation came after his earlier speech. He knew how her mind worked enough to tell she was fighting within herself because of the contradicting statements he made. He was again hot and cold.
He knew the moment she had made a decision, felt movement behind him, a rustle of sheets, then the unmistakable scent of her.
In the next moment he felt her arms around his waist as she pressed herself into his arrow suited back. He couldn't help himself, he leaned back so that his back was touching every part of her front before he enveloped her small hands with his large still gloved hands.
And the chapter ends right here. Ended in the right place right? No cliffhanger….
I need me a lot of notes, comments, reviews….keep them coming. Hopefully, I'll get the next chapter out in a week, just going through final edits with that one. For the Tommy and Diggle fans, I promise they are part of the next chapter.
