SO thank you to everyone for reviews, follows etc. As always this is written from my pain and it's just a continuation now... So I hope you enjoy.

They were in the aeroplane hanger, all the gang gathered around. Oliver had no idea how they had managed to pull this one off. He opened the back of the van, Felicity's small body was lay out on a stretcher, she still had the drips attached to her, and a small heart monitor. In silence, Dig, Oliver, Ray and Roy, picked the stretcher and everything up carrying her onto the private jet. They gently lay her on the bed making sure she was strapped down and comfortable. She was still unconscious, still unmoving but her chest still rose and fell.

"Take good care of her." Ray said turning to Oliver. "I have no doubt that you will but still."

"Thank you Ray."

"For what? I caused all of this."

"For being there for her when I couldn't, for trying to help the city."

"Your city." He replied. "It will always be your city, I think it's time I moved on, and I left you to it." Oliver froze, but nodded. "You really aren't a criminal, I can see that now, I'm sorry."

"It's okay." Ray turned to Felicity then.

"Tell her I said goodbye." He gently placed a kiss on her cheek then whispered in her ear only for her to hear. "I'll make this right, I'll sort out Palmer Tech and make it back to QC, I'll miss you." Then he turned back to Oliver. "Goodbye Oliver."

"Goodbye Ray." He shook his hand as they all got off the plane congregating at its steps. Ray walked away, leaving the hanger.

"I'll try my best to make the people of the city see you aren't the villain." Quentin said softly.

"It's fine, the city is safe enough with you."

"Take care of her Mr Queen, I might not know what you're doing but if it means I don't have to lose another woman in my life then I'll be grateful." Oliver nodded knowing the sacrifice he was going to make to ensure her safety.

"Then you take care of the city; take care of the people I love." Quentin frowned.

"What do you mean? You'll be here to take care of them." Oliver said nothing as the silence fell around them; he stared into the older man's eyes before recognition finally registered and he stuck out his hand. Oliver took it giving a firm handshake before Quentin walked to his car giving the gang some privacy. He turned towards Diggle, Roy and Laurel then.

"You have all proved how capable you are without me. How strong you are for this city and if you work together you'll still help."

"Oliver what are you saying?" Laurel asked. Diggle stood straighter crossing his arms over his chest before he spoke.

"He's going to sacrifice himself to save Felicity."

"Oliver you can't do that the city needs you!" She replied a tear sliding down her cheek.

"Laurel, I have to do this. I would do anything for her. Anything."

"But your own life?"

"No I'll still be alive; I just won't be in Starling anymore." Laurel frowned slightly as Roy stood taller.

"No, we can't lose you again." He said. Oliver rubbed his thumbs over the tips of his fingers.

"I need you to take care of the city, our city, it still needs help and your father, Lance, still needs support and you can provide that." He looked between Laurel and Roy. "Roy you have proven yourself over and over again, you are ready. I know I told you I wasn't going to abandon you, but… it's Felicity." He pleaded, Roy nodded in understanding. He knew what she meant to him. It was the same he felt for Thea. "Take care of Thea for me, take care of everything."

"You don't ever have to ask. Just make sure Felicity is okay" The two embraced for a second before he turned back to Laurel.

"I know you're getting better, I know you think you can do this alone but believe me you can't. You need the people you love and Nyssa, she's helped to improve your skills. I am pretty sure she'll help protect this city if you ask her."

"Oliver... She could help you-"

"I'm not asking her to go against her father." Laurel stared into his eyes, she knew no matter what she said he wouldn't change his mind.

"I'll keep my phone on, anything and everything to hear from you... If you need us or anything..." He gave her a half smile before he hugged her too.

"Thank you Laurel."

"No, thank you Ollie, for showing me how different you are. How things can change for the better." She let the tears fall down her face taking a step closer to Roy. "Just take care of her." Oliver nodded turning to Dig. His posture was straight, he looked determined and Oliver knew instantly he had a fight on his hands.

"Dig-"

"No Oliver. That might work for them but I am not letting you two go in there alone."

"Dig I can't ask-"

"You aren't asking. I'm telling."

"This might not even work, he might say no..."

"He has been planning this since he asked you to be his successor, all those deaths, all those different Arrows, telling Captain Lance. He's played it so you had no other option than to flee the city."

"That might be, but I'm not doing this because of that."

"I know you're doing it for her, and that's what I'm afraid of." Diggle took a step closer. "You'll be showing your weakness and exposing yourself to Ra's, I won't be letting you do that alone. I told you, you're like a brother to me Oliver. And brothers don't leave each other to face their demons alone."

"Lyla... Sara..."

"They are perfectly safe in this city and they'll be here when I get back, when we get back."

"It isn't that simple-"

"I know and we'll figure that out, but first I think we need to save our girl." Oliver nodded in defeat; he was too tired to keep fighting.

"Okay." Diggle patted him on the back.

"I'll grab the bags out the back; I'm presuming you got Felicity's stuff as well?"

"Yes but what about your-"

"Already taken care of Oliver." He gave him a sad smile before he turned and walked towards the van. Oliver was just about to help when he heard someone running. He span his head around to see Thea sprinting towards him. She practically ran into him.

"Please... don't do... what I think... you're going to do." She stammered out as she caught her breath.

"Thea..."

"You weren't even going to say goodbye were you?" She said straightening up. His head dropped, he was so tired. He didn't have the strength for this anymore.

"I don't want to argue." He closed his eyes briefly. "The thought of losing you it nearly got me killed. And I am certain of one thing Thea, I would do anything for the two women in my life I love the most." Her eyes widened in shock. "Iam getting on that jet, I am flying to Nanda Parbat, and I am saving the life of the woman I am in love with, no matter whatit takes."

He looked her dead in the eyes and she could see all the pain. She had thought she had seen pain in his eyes; when he came home, cold and cut off. When Tommy died, when their mom died, when he had come to fetch her, when he told her the truth about who he was and what she had done. But she had never been so wrong. Here in front of her now was a broken figure of her brother; she could see it, that light she had seen since he told the truth was fading. She realised that, despite their love and devotion, the fact they loved each other and always would, she did not have the same affect on her brother that Felicity did. She finally saw the unbreakable bond between the pair, but now it was starting to fray, and she could literally feel the emotions and suffering radiating from him.

"I'm coming with you." She replied, he let out a shaky breathe.

"No, you'll stay here, where you're safer with Roy and Laurel. You can help them."

"No, I've had to watch you leave so many times; I don't want any more reunion hugs. I am coming with you."

"Thea they could hurt you! I'm already potentially losing one woman I love I... I can't..." His voice broke then as he rubbed the palms of his hands into his eyes, stifling the tears.

"Oliver... Listen to me, I'm stronger than I've ever been, please I need to know your okay, your both going to be okay."

"But no matter what happens you'll come back?" He said staring at her, she frowned slightly.

"I-"

"No that's the only condition, whatever happens, whatever may or may not be decided promise me you'll come back to our city, back to Roy, back to a happy ending..."

"But you'll be coming back too right?"

"Thea promise me..." He held the tops of her arms, crouching slightly so he was about her height. She frowned, of course she wanted to come back but was he seriously suggesting without him. "Please..." She watched as his eyes softened from the pain to pure pleading and protectiveness.

"I promise." She nodded. He let go of her then as he made his way to the van.

"Did I just hear you correctly?" She span around to see Roy stood there with Laurel.

"I..."

"You're going to Nanda Parbat?"

"Roy let me explai-" Before she even finished the sentence his lips were crashing onto hers. His hands slipped to the small of her back pulling her incredibly close and her's wrapped around his neck and pulled on his hair as the kiss deepened. It was all tongues, teeth and lips but completely full of passion, lust, even love.
A cough had the two pulling their lips apart but their bodies remained close. They both span their heads around to find Laurel and Dig stood there eyebrows raised.

"You don't ever have to explain to me." Roy whispered turning back to Thea. "I understand."

"You always have understood me the best Roy." She smiled before giving him a quick peck. "I love you." Roy smiled.

"I love you too." He replied. "You better come back."

"I'll always find my way back to you. Who else is going to help take care of you?" He chuckled then as he pulled her in tightly squeezing her as they embraced. They pulled apart as Oliver watched them, his heart heavy in his chest. "Take care of him for me please." She directed towards Laurel.

"We'll look after each other." She replied.

They quickly said there final goodbyes, before they got in the cars and left. The 3 boarded the plane in silence, the emotions of the night having had been too much for them all to bear. Oliver opened the door to the cockpit.

"We're ready to go." He said to the pilot.

"Sorry sir we can't go anywhere just yet."

"Excuse me? And why not?"

"Because we're missing our final passenger..."

"What?" Oliver replied shaking his head. The closing of the doors had Oliver spinning round.

"We're ready for takeoff." Malcolm said with a easy grin.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" Thea spat out in rage.

"Well as soon as I heard my daughter was going on a suicide mission to Nanda Parbat, to face Ra's al Ghul, there was no way in hell I was letting her do that alone." Diggle scoffed lightly.

"She isn't alone." Oliver replied bluntly.

"Whilst you are busy with your... Friend, Thea will be vulnerable, her training will be no match to that of Ra's. I've always said I love my daughter."

"Yeh well you have a funny way of showing it." Thea mumbled under her breathe. Everyone turned in her direction as she stood up. "I've told you, I'm not your daughter. Not anymore. You don't do what you did to people you love."

"Thea, I do l-"

"Stop," her hand shot up and she turned to Oliver, "I know it's not ideal Ollie, but maybe he should come. Out of all of us he knows that place the best, and if anything happens it wouldn't hurt to have another pair of hands right?" Oliver glanced over at Diggle shaking his head. He turned to Malcolm.

"This might be your private plane, but don't think for a second you have control here." Malcolm smirked. "I can't stop you from coming but don't think this is me being okay with this, I'm doing this for ease. The only thing that matters to me right now is getting Felicity back." Oliver didn't even bother waiting for a reply as he headed towards Diggle. "I'm-"

"Don't you dare say sorry Oliver; just go be with her I'll keep an eye on Merlyn... and Thea."

"Thank you John." He said softly as he made his way into the bedroom in the back.

He knew Thea and Merlyn probably shouldn't be coming with them, probably shouldn't even be sat on this plane together but he knew that he had no more fight left in him. He just needed Felicity to be well, to be alive, and the cost to himself would never compare to the price of her life. He would literally make a deal with the devil if it meant the woman he loved was breathing, living, shining her light into this darkened world. In fact making a deal was his plan and he would have no compunction for choosing her over everything else.

Oliver wasn't sure how long they had been flying, he had been watching Felicity, memorising every part of her body, of her face, the contours of her lips. He spent hours holding her hand, hours whispering softly into her ear of a future they could have had, of the past they shared. He spent hours praying that she would be okay, that this plan would work, and if it didn't he'd still find a way to save her like she always saved him.

Eventually he found himself sat beside the bed, his back leaning against it as he had his knees up to his chest, his elbows digging into them as his head fell in his hands. He had been tortured, suffered at the hands of various men; his body scarred showing everyone his agonising experience. But nothing, not even the blade of Ra's Al Ghul slamming into his chest, not even the fall off the cliff compared, because this felt like nothing he had ever experienced. It felt like his chest bore an immeasurable weight pressing him down, closing his windpipe, seizing up his lungs, it hurt to breathe, it hurt to move, and it hurt to think. That feeling of falling was back, but this time it was worse. It felt like he was falling into oblivion, that this pain, and feeling would never disappear, not whilst Felicity was lay there dying, and he knew deep in his soul if she died, that would be the end of him, more than his own death ever could be.

Oliver froze when he felt something caressing the back of his neck, it felt like fingers. They gently rubbed slow circles onto his skin, sending shivers down his spine. He lifted his head and turned slowly to see Felicity's blue eyes staring at him. He clambered onto his knees, taking her hand in his.

"H..." Her voice sound hoarse.

"Water?" Oliver asked and she gave a short nod. He stood up taking a glass of water then gently helped prop her up as he slowly let her drink. He ever so gently placed her back down, and watched her wince.

"Better, thank you." She said it so quietly and softly, like it hurt her to. Her eyes seemed slightly unfocused, and Oliver placed the water down before gently sitting on the bed beside her taking her hand in his.

"I love you so much Felicity." Her eyes snapped to his face, she smiled softly, her eyes focusing on his face. He couldn't help the tears that fell and she frowned.

"Why so sad?" She asked entwining their fingers.

"You... Might..." He turned his head away trying to stop his emotions from over taking. She pulled slightly on his hand; she gently ran her thumb up and down his index finger, letting him know she was here when he was ready. He finally found the courage to look back at her.

"You're dying."

"I know." She replied instantly, he frowned. "Oliver in the back of the van, I felt it... And even though I can't feel much pain right now, the drips, the heart monitor... Your face... Say it all."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry I ever got you involved-"

"I'm not... Come lie with me... Please."

"I don't want to hurt you."

"Then lie on my good side. Please Oliver..." His heart was breaking and his body made the choice for him as he walked over to the other side of the bed, slowly lying beside her. She ever so slowly rested her head on his shoulder, his hand landed on her hip trying to avoid the bandages. Their hands entwined on his chest. She tilted her head to look at him. "I'm never sorry Oliver, not for meeting you."

"But..."

"No okay? My life was so much better with you, so much better than I ever imagined."

"I can't... I can't lo... Lose you." He couldn't stop the tears then, staring into her eyes, beautifully blue and for the time being full of life.

"You won't, I'll be right here." She placed their joint hands over his heart. "I'll always be right there." He sobbed a little then as his head fell to the crown of hers, burying himself in her hair.

"I'm not strong enough to lose you... I've already lost so much."

"Oliver you're the strongest person I know, your heart, your soul they shine so brightly, you just need to realise that people, love, are the way to access that; not the pain, not the suffering."

"I'm nothing without you Felicity, nothing."

"Hey don't say that." She frowned slightly as she lifted her head again to look at him.

"It's true, you are everything to me and I will do anything for you. Anything." Her eyes shone as she felt the weight of his words. "You once told me I was your closest friend, and that being in your life made you happy." She nodded slightly remembering that day. "You are so much more than that to me Felicity, you're the person I rely on more than any other, the one who always knows exactly what to say when I'm unsure of myself, and you see me for who I really am even when I don't. You are so much more than a friend to me; you are my heart, my lightness in the dark, my guiding light, the person I want to share everything with. You beyond anyone else in this world can make me happy with just a smile, with just a single look. You inspire me, you bring out the best in me and I can say without a doubt you are the love of my life." The tears fell down her cheeks.

"Oh Oliver..."

"I know, I know how many mistakes I made but I thought we wouldn't work... And then finally we get somewhere and this happens, we should have had more time..."

"We have right now." She whispered.

"But I wanted so much more than this..." She gave him a sad smile.

"Sometimes we have to take what we can get." He slowly untwined their fingers and moved from under her. He tenderly pulled down the shoulder to her gown, his hand caressing slightly till he found the irregular mark on her shoulder. The slight bump, he slowly leant over her and placed a soft kiss to it, as his lips connected with the spot Felicity felt a spark in her blood, as a shiver over took her body. He gently sat back in front of her.

"You risked your life to save Sara, it's one of the many reasons I love you, you didn't have to protect her but you did. You might have that scar from saving Sara as a reminder of the impact you've had on others lives but what you don't realise is that you have saved me, over and over again." They stared into each other's teary eyes.

"And you saved me..." She said tenderly.

"I'm sorry I didn't think we could have this."

"Hey... It's okay... Promise me this is one thing you won't feel guilty about. This is all on me." He merely nodded. "I don't want you to remember me in pain... or dying." Her voice broke and he slowly brought a hand up to caress her cheek. She leant into his touch letting his hand warm her skin. She closed her eyes as she took a shaky breathe. She could feel his fingers rubbing the oxygen pipe helping her breath.

"Felicity..." Her eyes opened to stare into his, all the fear and pain evident but mainly love and longing floating around the surface, all for her.

"I want you to remember our date, remember all those small moments, the looks, the touches, the kisses... the happy times. The way I always loved you." His mouth fell open then.

"You... You lo-"

"Oliver Jonas Queen, I have been so in love with you for so long... I should have admitted it a long time ago but never, ever doubt how I feel about you." His lips tugged up into a soft smile then. "I love you Oliver, I always will, I think I always have." He leant forward placing the softest of kisses to her lips. It was so bitter sweet to finally hear her say those 3 words; the pain of their breaking hearts seemed to pull them together even more. He pulled away gently placing his forehead to hers.

"I love you Felicity, you'll always be beautiful to me, and I will never ever forget anything you've ever told me, what we've shared, the looks, this." He gestured between them. "This will be what keeps me going, never forget Felicity you are my happy ending." They both let the tears fall as they lay back onto the bed in the exact same position as earlier.

He held her; let himself feel what it was like to have Felicity Smoak, computer extraordinaire, his partner, his soul mate in his arms. He wouldn't tell her what he was sacrificing to keep her alive, he knew how she'd react if she knew he was going to save her. So instead he selfishly allowed himself this moment of light in the darkness. He would forge this into his memory and on his heart forever, keep it with him as he became something he didn't recognise. Oliver felt his eyes growing heavy wrapped around in everything that he ever wanted, no needed. Felicity looked up at him.

"Go to sleep Oliver."

"No... I want to be here with you..."

"I'm right here; I'm tired too so let's sleep together."

"Just 5 minutes." He said softly his head dropping into her hair. She nodded softly, as Oliver finally started to relax. His breathing becoming more even.

"Oliver, where are we going?" She asked sleepily her eyes feeling heavy.

"Don't worry about it." He said softly as his own eyes fluttered, he never heard a response as the affects of the day finally took its toll on his body. He couldn't fight the darkness anymore as he felt Felicity curled into his side. He didn't know what the future would hold but right now, he needed this.