"So how was the party? Dig asked, as they were standing on the sidelines of the practice field. The California heat blaring down on them.

Oliver cleaned the sweat off his hands with the towel he kept strapped to his practice shorts. "It was fine, but then shit hit the fan, and I ended up leaving early with Felicity."

Dig stopped drinking his Gatorade, giving Oliver a questioning glance. "What happened?"

"Some douche bag was harassing her, so I taught him a lesson. Then Laurel was there... seriously it was like an episode of the Hills man. So I took Felicity home."

"You and Felicity together... in a car. After you saved her?"

Oliver rolled his eyes and smiled. "I might have defended her, but you should've seen her when she got in Laurel's face. It was so hot man, she even threatened to sue her for Slander."

Dig laughed. "I can imagine, so you save your girl and your girl saves you. Seems like a perfect match."

Oliver could only nod and look down, thinking about his favorite blonde.

"So?"

Oliver looked up at his friend, a playful glint in his eyes. "So what?"

Dig gave him the side-eye.

Oliver laughed. "I'm gonna ask her out, hopefully this Friday."

"Finally! The man has seen the light!" Dig yells out, and all the players and coaches turn to look at them in confusion.

Oliver laughs again even louder, he can't exactly deny the fact that he's finally chosen to get his head out of his ass and ask her out.

"Yeah, last night, when that loser put his hands on her... I couldn't handle it. You and Tommy have been riding my ass and I just- I think it's time."

Dig clapped him on the back. "I'm glad man, you deserve this. You both do. Just don't mess it up, that girl is special, to be able to deal with all your shit." He laughed.

Oliver smiled. "Yeah she is."

"ALRIGHT LET'S GO! TIMEOUT'S OVER! BALL AT THE 40!" The coach yelled, pulling them out of their conversation.

Oliver grabbed his helmet behind him and ran onto the field. A stupid grin on his face.

Oliver was driving through downtown Star City, headed to Merlyn Global lost in thought. The week had gone by fast, and the next thing he knew Friday had come around. The day when he'd finally ask Felicity out.

He looked at the passenger seat to look at the flowers sitting there. They were Felicity's favorite combo. Peonies and Hydrangeas.

He was nervous to say the least. He'd gone home after practice and phoned Thea, asking her what to do. Usually he knew exactly what to do, but this was Felicity, and asking his little sister for advice wasn't lost on him. He was desperate though, he wanted everything to be perfect.

She deserved special treatment, and after years of denying himself from being with her, it was time he do things right. He'd even called Tommy making sure if asking his twin sister out was ok with him.

He remembered laughing when he heard Tommy yell out an exasperated "YES" into the phone. After he'd gone to a flower shop and picked out her favorites, he'd dressed in a black Henley with his favorite leather jacket. The one he knew Felicity loved, especially because she'd always steal it from him and wear it whenever she got chilly.

Walking into Merlyn Global he was met with Malcolm and Donna coming out of the elevator. He had completely forgotten about Felicity's parents. He bit his lip, he so didn't need this. He wanted to go upstairs and see Felicity as soon as possible.

He felt his heart start to race and he looked down to the bouquet of flowers in his hands. He looked back up and saw the smiling face of Donna Smoak-Merlyn basically running towards him; Malcolm not far behind.

"Oliver sweetie! How are you?" Donna hugged him, squeezing the life out of him. He hugged her back with one arm the other holding the flowers away, so she wouldn't crush them. She was always a hugger, but he really didn't mind. She was the sweetest person. Always so happy and up-beat, much like Felicity.

"I'm doing great, just busy with football and stuff." He answered sincerely.

"I heard the good news, so proud of you!"

Oliver grinned. "Thank you."

"Yes Oliver, very happy for you." Malcolm said standing next to Donna, his voice less chirpy but civilized.

"So what brings you here?" He asked, his dark eyebrow raised, glancing at the flowers in Oliver's hands.

Oliver felt his heart leap. Crap.

He cleared his throat, trying to push down his nerves. "I, I -um came to see Felicity." Damn. His voice cracked.

"Uh huh. So I'm guessing the flowers are for her?"

Donna slapped Malcolm on the chest. "Stop patronizing him!"

"Uh yeah they're for her." Oliver said.

"Well we'll let you go up and see her, she'll be happy that you came to visit!" Donna smiled.

Oliver smiled, and looked up at Malcolm, he just nodded.

"Ok, well it was nice to see you Mr. and Mrs. Merlyn. If you'll excuse me I'll be on my way." He said politely ready to get away from them.

"Of course! Oh and say hi to your mom and dad for us the next time you see them!" Donna said, giving him one last hug.

He nodded, (even though he knew he probably wouldn't see his parents anytime soon), and stepped away from them and went into the elevator and headed to the 18th floor.

Oliver walked along the halls of the IT department, his nerves starting to grow. He'd been here before multiple times, and the hum of technology was something he could never get used to.

This was it, he thought. There was no going back after this, and he wouldn't want to.

He was doing this because this was his best friend. He loved her, and he wanted to be happy. Football made him happy yes, it was his passion, but he was sure the moment he took that last step with Felicity... she'd become his whole life and football would become his second biggest passion.

He just hoped he wasn't too late.

Stopping in front of her office door, he smoothed out his Henley and made sure the flowers were still nicely arranged in the vase.

He knocked on the door and then heard a soft "come in", he took one last deep breath and opened the door, the smell of cherry blossoms wafted his senses, making him smirk.

The sight that greeted him sent a swell of calm through his body. All his nerves gone. She was a sight for sore eyes. She was hard at work, her fingers dancing across the keyboard. She wore her glasses, the ones she always wore while using her computer or tablet. Her hair was loose framing her beautiful face. She wore a pink button up and he couldn't help but smile.

She looked up to see him, and the moment she did she gave him a toothy grin getting up from her chair and walking around her desk to greet him.

"Hey! What a nice surprise!" She gleamed standing in front of him.

He chuckled and handed her the flowers. "These... are for you."

She gasped, looking down at the arrangement of pink and pearly white flowers, taking them from him and sniffing them.

She looked up, her eyes full of happiness, it made his heart jump.

"Oliver, my favorites! Thank you so much, I love them!" She thanked him bending her head down to sniff the flowers.

"You're welcome." He smiled brighter, at her reaction.

She turned to put the bouquet on her desk and turned back to give him a hug. It took him a second but he hugged her back tightly, his arms around her waist.

Then she stepped back, her warmth missed. "So what's the special occasion? I- uh a mean, unless there's no special occasion, and you were just being really sweet... and I'm going to shut up." She pressed her lips together her cheeks turning red.

He laughed, he adored her random babbles.

"Actually there is a special occasion." Here goes. "I was wondering if maybe you'd like to go out on a date tonight?"

He saw her blue eyes grow wide, and her lips part. She was staring with a blank face and he couldn't read what she was thinking. It made him nervous all over again.

He cleared his throat. "Felicity? You ok there?" He waved a hand in front of her face.

She shook her head. "Yeah sorry, I um... you're not kidding right? Like a real date?"

He let out a chuckle. "Yeah like a date. Date."

"YES!" She yelled. "I mean, yes I'd love to!"

"Great well, I'll pick you up tonight at 7? Is that ok?" He asked timidly. His heart beating furiously.

"That's totally, completely ok!" She nodded a goofy smile plastered on her face, and a slight blush on her cheeks.

"Ok, well I'll let you get back to work." He gestured towards her computer.

He saw her bite her lip containing a smile, like she wanted to say something, but she only nodded.

He was about to walk out her door when he heard her call out for him. "Wait!" He turned to look at her, waiting for her to continue.

"Would you be opposed to maybe going on a pre-date? I mean if you're not busy. Cause I'm actually done for the day and I'm dying for some coffee... even though it's like 3 p.m. but you know me I love my coffee..."

"I'd love to." He cut her off. She let out a breath.

"Ok let me just get my coat." She moved away fromhim and went back to her desk. He watched her carefully and he couldn't help but grin. His face was already starting to hurt with all the smiling he'd done since he walked into her office.

She took off her glasses leaving them on her desk and grabbed her coat.

He opened the door for her, as she walked out. They walked to the elevator quietly. The silence not at all awkward. It was more charged than anything.

Why would it be awkward? He's known her all his life. He knew everything about her and vice versa. This was what he wanted, and as he looked down at her from beside him he knew it was the right thing to do.

"Ewww Oliver, I still can't get over the fact that you like your coffee black." Felicity admonished as they sat side-by-side in a secluded booth at Starling's finest coffee shop.

"Oh whatever, at least mine is actual coffee. Yours is nothing but sugar." He teased.

She gave him a playful glare. "Excuse you Queen, mine is a white-chocolate mocha not just sugar as you put it!"

"It's exactly what I said Merlyn!" He debated, and she just rolled her eyes.

They'd been sitting there for about an hour, just talking and laughing. If he was being honest this pre-date felt like any other time they'd hung out.

He was literally afraid for nothing. He should have known that being with her was as natural as breathing.

"So are you ready for your first playoff game this Sunday?" She asked scooting closer to him, her left foot that was crossed over her right lightly brushing his jean clad shin. Like every time before, his body responded.

He smiled for the hundredth time that day. She was always asking him about Football, always made sure to let him know that she was supportive of him, and she always listened.

He put an arm on the seat behind her... and now their bodies were facing each others, the outside world forgotten.

"Yeah, I mean I'm a bit nervous but this is what I've worked for. We have a real chance at making a run to the Super Bowl!" He beamed.

Felicity put her coffee on the table and placed her hand on his chest. He was pretty sure she could feel how his body and his heart responded. Her palm was light and warm and it almost made him moan in pleasure. Just the little things could set him off. Why had he taken so long to ask her out? He didn't know now, his previous reasons seemed like petty excuses. He guessed they always were petty excuses.

"You know that I'm really proud of you right? And that I'll be at every single one of your next games cheering you on."

His breath hitched, and he looked deep into her gorgeous blue eyes. Their faces were so close, their breaths mingling. The arm around her back now playing with a soft golden strand of her hair.

He could feel his heart in his throat. The emotions of this moment too much for him.

"I'm sorry." He whispered suddenly, trying not to break the spell they were in. He needed her to know, that he was sorry he had her waiting this long. The space between them was charged and tense but of the best kind.

Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. The hand at his chest still there but now she squeezed a bit. Reassuring him.

"Sorry for what?" She asked.

He closed his eyes for a second. He moved his hand away from her back, and moved it to cup her face. His hand was so large that his fingers got lost into her hair at the nape of her neck. His thumb caressed her smooth face lovingly.

She closed her eyes for a second, a small sound of contentment escaping her lips. Her eyes opened up once again, waiting for him to continue.

"I'm sorry that it took me so long to ask you out. That it took me this long to be able to touch you like this." He admitted, laying his heart out for her.

He saw her eyes slightly start to glisten, but she smiled softly letting him know that she wasn't upset.

"It's ok Oliver." She said earnestly, no anger or resentment in her tone.

He scooted closer, their noses now lightly brushing against each other's. "No, no it's not ok. Because for so long I've been wanting to do this. To be close to you in a way that wasn't just us two being friends. You deserve the world Felicity and I was scared of giving it to you because I felt I wasn't good enough... but I'd like to ask if you'd let me try and be good enough for you?"

She pulled her hand away from his chest and placed both her hands on his neck. His arm back behind her. She looked straight into his eyes, and he saw nothing but determination.

"Oliver you already are good enough. We're best friends, you know me to my core, and I know you. To be honest I should be sorry too, because I could've asked you out as well, but I didn't. I made excuses just the same."

He let out a laugh. "I guess we're both too stubborn for our own good huh?"

She released his face putting her hand on his knee. "Yeah I guess we are, but the important thing is, that we're here now."

"You're remarkable." He said truthfully.

"Thank you for remarking on it." She winked.

Oliver stared at her for a while longer, than checked his watch. "Well it's 4 p.m. would you like me to take you home? So you can get ready for our date?" Wow, it was so weird saying that, but he liked it.

"Yeah, I'd like that. Speaking of, where are you taking me? What should I wear?"

"Just wear something... light, oh and bring a sweater, just in case."

She gave him a questioning look.

"It's a surprise! You'll love it! He grinned, confidently.

She threw her hands in mock surrender. "Alright! Alright fair enough!"

As he looked at her he realized for the hundredth time, he was glad he'd mustered the courage to do this. He was glad he took that next step because now he was happier than he'd been in a long time.

Okie dokie that's chapter 3! Next chapter we'll see them on their "REAL" date! I hope yall liked this! And we got to meat momma smoak aka momma merlyn in this fic! I also want to say a quick thank you for all the lovely reviews they really made me super happy yall have no idea and they gave me a boost of confidence and inspiration for this story! Again thanks guys! But yeah leave a review and let me know what yall thought! Much love! :)