Chapter 2: Waking up Alone

Felicity made it out to her car and slowly pulled away from Verdant. She smiled to herself as she turned up the radio. She didn't really care what was playing. It had a beat and she was feeling good – great actually. It had been a busy week but it had its high points. Ray was as attentive and happy as ever. He was so focused on tweaking the A.T.O.M. suit all week they had been working long hours at Palmer Tech and he was all smiles. She was on her way to meet him now. It was late and it occurred to her to wonder if the definition of booty call was showing up after 10pm? It might be, she thought.

Oliver and John were back and she had been worried. They were the most important people in her life and she already knew what it felt like to lose Oliver once and she didn't want to feel that way again. Felicity shook her head, trying to clear that thought. They were back. That's what matters. She forced the image of Merlin from her mind. He was back too and she didn't know what to make of that. She didn't understand Oliver's determination to save Merlin but she knew it must be complicated. She didn't want complicated. She wanted Merlin to pay. Realistically, she still didn't know what that meant but she knew that she wasn't sure she would have worked so hard to get him back. She shook her head again. She was almost to Ray's place.

Focus on the positive, she thought. They had saved lives tonight. They had worked as a team. For the first time in a long time Oliver had listened to her and appreciated her thoughts. She had missed their conversation. She had missed her friend. Maybe this meant they were turning a new page, maybe they could find some new common ground to work from.

She was still thinking about the implications of Oliver's decision to stay in Starling City when the elevator opened and she stumbled out into Ray's living room.

"Hey! You made it", Ray said looking up and smiling. "Are you hungry?"

"Starved, what are you making?"
"Ummm, not really making, reheating. I do a lot of things Miss Smoak but I am not a great cook."
"Works for me". Felicity watched as Ray dished up and then opened a bottle of wine. He was rather great to look at she mused and she was never going to complain about seeing him the kitchen when she was tired and hungry.

"Ready?"

"Of course", she said, pulling herself back to reality.

"How was your night?" he asked.

"Great … better than I expected." She replied as she started to eat.

"What did you do?"

Felicity looked up and blinked. It had been an unspoken rule. Ray and her both had things they did when they weren't together. Of course they did. Would it be too strong a word to describe them as secrets? Probably not, she thought. She liked their don't ask don't tell policy.

"Worked. What did you do?" she asked.

"Worked. I am still working on some of the joints on the suit. They aren't moving the way I'd like."
"We'll get it there", she said. "It's really amazing how far you've managed to move the suit along in such a short time. I mean, you've been quite committed."

"It's what I do", he said, looking up and smiling. She looked at him and realized that this might be the happiest he had ever seen him. You could tell the progress on the suit, and possible on their relationship had been good for him.

"Ray, when the suit has all the capacity it needs and all the tech you want on it, what do you want to do with it? I know you want to help people and help protect people but…"

"I always imagined I would work to help with crime as it was happening", he interrupts. "Someone needs to watch over people in this city. The suit is fast, very fast. I could be there quickly, maybe prevent something from happening."

"What about the Arrow?" she asked softly. "He helps people."

"He didn't help me, he didn't help Anna and he seems to be more of a vigilante than hero. I don't trust him and …", he trailed off.

"I think it might be harder than it looks", she said, realizing she was defending Oliver and Dig – her team.

"So, we have been talking about this project all week and now, here you are and we are still talking about it." He took their glasses of wine and led he to the couch. "What about you? Tell me about your night."

"Not much to tell really", she said. "Besides, I was thinking we were here and …". She stopped talking and leaned in kissing Ray gently. Then, she took their glasses of wine and placed them on the table. "You're right, we have been working – a lot – and now, I was thinking …". She kissed him again, more passionately this time and she felt him relax and move towards her pulling her closer and leaning back on the couch.

"No more working – I get it", he says as she trailed kisses down his neck. "You have my attention Miss Smoak, all of it".

She stopped and looked up at him. "Good", she said. Don't ask, don't tell, she thought.

Oliver walked over and leaned on Felicity's workstation. He didn't know why but he missed her and it was confusing him. He had been so clear on what he wanted, what he was offering so, why was she on his mind more than ever? Had things changed that much? It didn't help that her influence was everywhere. The computers were entirely her doing and she had a hand in almost everything else in their set up. He scanned the cot he had been sleeping on and then sat down in her chair.

It was all a lot to think about. He had built this too. He had asked Dig to join him, to join his crusade and to work with him when he first started. Felicity had been a happy accident. She had skills he needed and then, she grown into a partner, someone she relied on. The three of them had something very few people ever experienced, he thought. They were loyal. They had each other's back and they knew each other well. As hard as he pushed them away, Dig was always standing there asking him what he was doing, seeing right through him and Felicity was like a compass. She was always pointing them in the direction they knew they should go but didn't always believe they could.

He had pushed her away. You had to, he reminded himself and she is still here. Here, and with Palmer, he thought. Her always being willing to be here, to help them didn't lessen the sting of seeing her with Palmer. He was okay putting their relationship on hold, not knowing what part of himself he could offer her hadn't made him feel any less and it hadn't made it easier to watch them grow closer, to watch Ray start to rely on her and make her part of his team.

Oliver leaned forward and put his head in his hands. Go home, he thought. He took a deep breath, home to Merlin. At least it was a home and it was great to live with Thea. He turned out the lights and headed out.

Felicity smiled and rolled over. A gentle morning light came through the windows. She ran her hand out across the bed and was met with… nothing, just soft gray sheets. She slowly blinked and opened her eyes to an empty bed. Well, that's disappointing, she thought.

"Ray?" she said. Seconds later, Ray appears in the door way.

"Up already? I'm going to start having a complex if I keep waking up alone" she said, winking at him. Ray smiles, leans over the bed and kisses her.

"You were tired and I thought you might want to sleep a bit longer than well, six a.m. – which is when I got up."

"Well, I was tired, you were right. What time is it now?"

"Nine-ish"

"No wonder I'm hungry", she smiles. "Want to go out for breakfast? I would love a waffle. I'll buy?"
"I'm in and, I'll buy".

An hour later they were sitting in a very cute little farm to table restaurant down the street from Ray's very fancy building drinking coffee and finishing up breakfast.

"Well, this weekend is starting out quite well" Felicity said. She started to ask how they might spend the rest of the morning when her phone started ringing. She pulled it out of her pocket, looking up at Ray apologetically. It was Oliver.

"Go ahead", Ray said.

"Hi, Oliver … okay, I'll be there."

"So?"
"Ray, I'm sorry but I have to go. Let me get the bill and…"

"Don't worry about it, just go. I think I can afford some waffles" he says with a wink.

"Thank you", she says as she walks over and gives him a quick kiss. "Talk to you later". Her car was parked out front only about a block away so she was on her way in no time. She didn't know what was up but she knew Oliver asked her to come and he sounded concerned. Saturday was about to change pace, she thought.

Ray waved over the waitress and asks for the bill.

"All on your own? Where did your friend go?" Ray just looked at her and smiled.

"Thanks for everything" he said as he paid the bill and headed out. He was wearing a hoodie and jeans instead of his normal suit and it was nice to be out and about, comfortable and casual. But, he was distracted. Oliver Queen, he thought. He knew they were friends. Felicity had told him as much at the hospital when he was trying to convince her to help him. Ray wasn't the jealous type. It just wasn't him. He didn't think it was useful. Yet, at that moment, all he could think about was heading home, pinging Felicity's phone and seeing where she had to go in such a hurry. Ray shook his head; don't be crazy he thought to himself. He strolled home trying to push down the feeling that there was something he was missing.