Hello my lovelies...
Here come's the new chapter...

Unfortunately I barely got Reviews on the last two chapters... Don't you guys like my writing anymore? I'm really not fishing for compliments here,! I just want to know if I suck so I can try and make it better... So - if you don't like what I'm doing here please tell me so I can improve.

And if you like it - please let me also know! ;-)

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"What?"

"The master code has already been typed in… I only need to unlock the door with the security code. The only other person who knows the master code is…" Felicity told Diggle while hammering the security code into the touchpad.

Diggle wanted to go in first to check if everything was clear, but Felicity punched the numbers with such speed he wasn't sure she wasn't related to Barry Allen somehow… She rushed down the stairs and if Diggle wouldn't have been worried about who could be waiting for them downstairs he would have been impressed by how she managed to run down without tripping in those heels.

"OLIVER?!" Felicity yelled while flying down the steps. "Oliver, is this you? Are you there?"

When she reached the bottom of the stairs she looked around and there he was… leaning against her desk, arms crossed over his chest, smirking.

She threw her purse and her coat, which were draped over her forearm, away and couldn't care less where they landed. Everything that mattered was him and that he was finally back in Starling City. When she was running towards him, he unfolded his arms and pushed himself up from her desk to take a step in her direction.

"Oliver…" she yelled one last time before she threw herself at him. She wrapped her arms so tightly around his neck that she was sure he would have trouble breathing in about 30 seconds. "Oh my god, you're back! I'm so happy you are back!" Oliver caught her in his arms and didn't mind her tight embrace at all. He buried his face in her neck, inhaled her sweet scent and wrapped his arms around her waist.

After a few seconds Felicity loosened her chokehold and cupped his face with her hands. "Are you alright?" She asked while searching his face for new scars or any sign of what had been done to him. "My god, you are finally back!" She whispered and had to fight back the tears.

Oliver smiled at her obvious relief. "Yes Felicity, I am fine." He put a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Now I am fine…"

"I hate to interrupt you guys…" Diggle said from somewhere near them… "but I'm guessing now is as good as ever so… I am also glad you're back Oliver!"

Oliver looked at Diggle, still smiling. "Thanks John…" He said and hugged his friend. "But next time - would you mind going down here first so she doesn't get killed?" He added with a smile.

Diggle just smiled in return. "Sorry man... Usaine Bolt would have looked like someone with a wooden leg against her up there. I really had no chance!"

Felicity slapped John's arm playfully before she turned her attention back to Oliver. She was sad they had to let go of each other, but John was right. If he hadn't interrupted now, their embrace would have lasted for the next few hours. If she had any say in it.

"What did they want from you?" Felicity asked and Oliver's expression became serious again.

He cleared his throat and sat down on Felicity's chair. "Apparently faking my death to escape the league wasn't exactly the best idea I ever had…"

"What do you mean?" Diggle asked.

"Ra's offered me to join the league…"

"What?" Felicity asked in shock.

"No way in hell…! Oliver, please tell me you didn't agree to this!" Diggle added.

"They threatened to kill me and everyone close to me." Oliver explained. "I don't see how I can decline that 'offer'…"

Felicity sat down on Oliver's lap and pressed her hands on his chest. "We'll find another way. Together." She looked him deep into his eyes. Whether she was trying to convince him or herself – she wasn't sure. Probably both.

Oliver smiled. "I really don't know how… The league… their eyes and ears are everywhere. They'll find me one way or another."

"Then we'll have to think of something to kill Ra's. Without him, there's no league."

"Felicity… how am I supposed to kill a man who survived every attack for the last 1000 years?"

"I will work it out. We'll find his Achilles' heel. Well, not the actual one of course, everyone knows where to find that…!" When Oliver chuckled underneath her she realized he was smiling… no, he was laughing… what on earth could be funny in this scenario?! "Why are you laughing?"

"Only you can manage to turn a deadly serious matter into something funny with one of your trademark ramblings…" He smirked.

Only then she realized he was right. She didn't even notice she had been rambling about the damn Achilles' heel. "Sorry…" She smiled lightly.

"Don't apologize… Moments like this keep me from losing myself in the darkness."

Whoa… that was a change of topic… Felicity didn't know how to react to this and she was glad Laurel and Roy chose this exact moment to return from their patrol.

*****

A few days later, a very excited Felicity was knocking at the door to Oliver's and Thea's apartment. "Come on Oliver, open the damn door already…" she cursed under her breath.

Finally she heard someone unlock it. She pushed herself through when the door was merely halfway open. "Gee Felicity, what is going on with you… it is 7:40 a. m. for God's sake! Who visits people before 8 o'clock in the morning?!"

"Okay… you are not a morning person… not surprising at all… But you have to focus now! I have very important news. Do you think you can do that?" Felicity asked and could barely contain her excitement! Oliver just waved around with his hand as a sign for her to go on.

"I'll take that as a 'yes'… So, ready? I talked to Caitlyn about this whole League-thing… you know, Caitlyn Snow… Barry's friend who works at Star Labs…"

She only got a disapproving stare from Oliver, combined with a 'WTF' clearly written on his forehead.

"Relax… you know we can trust them… Anyways… I told her about Ra's and that he's like a million years old and that he has this Lazarus pit thingy which allows him to heal and get like VERY old… And guess what!? She thinks she can come up with a tincture or something that can reverse the healing effect of these waters!"

"Wh… How?!"

"Oliver… I am the tech geek of the team, remember… I have zero knowledge of anything biological. Well… that's not completely… um… yeah, I don't know how!" Felicity blushed. Only know she realized Oliver didn't wear a shirt. His pajama pants were hanging low on his hips and he had a tad more of a stubble than usual. Talking to a shirtless Oliver was definitely not working well with her brain-to-mouth filter.

Oliver smiled. He loved it when her mouth worked faster than her brain – which was a miracle to him because her brain worked at the speed of light – or when she blushed as soon as she realized what she had just said.

He wanted to tell her that he had a change of heart… that he wanted to be with her. But now was not the time. If they failed – if they couldn't come up with a plan or if their plan didn't work out – he would have to join the League. His friends, his family… they wouldn't want him to do it, but that's just who he was. He would do anything to protect them. And if that meant he had to feel miserable for the rest of his life because he couldn't be with Felicity Smoak, if it meant there'd be a huge whole in his heart, where she belonged, then so be it. At least John, Roy, Laurel, Thea and of course Felicity could live a happy life. Without any danger, without constant threats.

"The two of you should really, REALLY make out already! All this built up sexual tension is starting to annoy the hell out of me!" A really grumpy looking Thea announced while descending the stairs.

Felicity cleared her throat and pushed her glasses back up and Oliver took a deep breath and went to the fridge.

"Not being morning persons runs in the family I guess…" Felicity mumbled under her breath but Oliver heard it and smiled at her comment.

"Felicity, can I get you something?" he asked when he opened the fridge.

"No thanks… I'm on my way to work, I just wanted to stop by and tell you the news!"

"What news?" Thea asked and took the water bottle Oliver had just opened out of his hand.

"Felicity came up with a plan how to defeat Ra's…" Oliver told her.

"What? How?"

"Well, technically it was Caitlyn's idea but… She developed a serum which can reverse the healing powers of the Lazarus waters." Felicity explained.

"Wh… That's great!" Thea called enthusiastically. When neither of them joined her happy outburst she asked "Why aren't you guys happy about this? This IS great, right?! If we put this into the Lazarus pit and Ra's goes in there, he won't heal and then he'll die… No Ra's, no League of Assassins, no revenge, no danger for any of us…"

"And how are we supposed to put it in the pit without getting caught?" Oliver asked annoyed. He wanted to get rid of Ra's and the league too but he just didn't see how that was possible.

"I know you aren't going to like this, but maybe Malcolm could…"

"NO!" Oliver and Felicity said in unison.

Thea looked back and forth between them. After they had been staring at each other for a few seconds, they smiled hidden smiles – which weren't really hidden at all – and Felicity looked down at her hands. They were such idiots… They were both head over heels in love with each other. Why they hadn't already been dating for months remained a mystery to her.

"In case I haven't made myself clear about this – you two should get a room!"

Oliver was unnerved. He turned around and threw his arms in the air before he ran his hands across his head. Having his sister constantly remind him of his feelings for Felicity didn't exactly help right now. He couldn't let himself act on those feelings. Not now. Plus – this whole joining the league thing affected him more than he let on.

"What if Merlyn betrays us, huh? What if he gets caught and gives us away to safe his own skin?" Oliver asked.

"I know there are risks, Ollie. Maybe I can talk to him. He may be a sick, backstabbing bastard, but I'm still his daughter and he loves me. He doesn't want me to get hurt."

"Oliver, I don't like this either…" Felicity cut in and Oliver gave her an understanding look. "BUT…" she added to Oliver's surprise… "I think this could be our best shot."

"Excuse me if I'm a little confused right now Felicity…" Oliver started to walk up to her again. "A few weeks ago you yelled at me because I asked Merlyn to help me and now YOU want to ask him to take the serum to Nanda Parbat?"

"I think Thea is right. Believe me – I despise Merlyn with all my heart – but he would die for Thea. He wouldn't betray his own daughter."

"He killed his own son!" Oliver yelled and looked Felicity right into her soul. His stare was so intense, she had to break eye contact after a few seconds.

"I'll leave you to discuss this…" Thea said and headed towards the stairs again. "I have to take a shower anyways."

Felicity braced herself for one hell of an argument. She knew there would be yelling and maybe she would have to fight back tears… tears of sadness or tears of anger. Or maybe both. She had to be at work by now, but there were more pressing matters right now. Ray would understand.

Oliver was exasperated… furious even. A team-up with Malcolm Merlyn was the reason they had been fighting in the first place. And now SHE suggested asking him for help? This woman would be the death of him… one way or another!

"Oliver…" Felicity was standing right behind him and placed her right hand on his left shoulder blade. He didn't even notice her approach. "I understand you don't understand this – is this even a correct sentence? I'm sorry…" she shook her head. "I'm focused, no ramblings… I really understand that you are confused about why I think Thea is right…"

"No, Felicity…" Oliver snapped at her when he turned to face her. "You don't understand! This is not about Merlyn, this is about me. It's about us. It's about how I have the worst timing in the entire world!"

"You're right, I don't understand… timing for what?" Felicity asked, not sure she could follow him.

"Every time I decide to give this – us – a chance, something really bad happens. Like a restaurant blowing up. Or walking in on you and Palmer kissing…" both of them cringed at the thought.

"You saw us?"

"Yes, but that's not the point. When I came back to Starling City after being almost killed, I wanted to do things differently. I wanted to try and give us a shot. I told you I loved you before I left and telling you again – showing you… it was the only thing that helped me get through everything."

They were standing so close now that Felicity could feel his breath on her face.

"But when I told you that I wanted to work with Merlyn and you freaked out – I backpedaled. I was scared you wouldn't want to be with me anymore. And after you told me you didn't want to be a woman that I loved, I was certain about it." His voice became lower and lower. At the end of his speech it was barely a whisper. "It wasn't the right time…"

Felicity had to swallow. She always wished for Oliver to finally come forward. To open himself up to having a relationship with her. She never thought he wanted to do it multiple times. But there was no such thing as a "right timing". There was always something going on in either one of their lives but should that keep them from being happy?

She looked up at him through her lashes. His scent encompassed her. His still bare chest was only inches away from her face. She had to remind herself to keep breathing. Reaching out, she took his hands in her own and licked her lips once before asking with a hoarse voice "And what about now? Is now the right time?"

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This was it for now my friends... :-)
I hope the next chapter will be ready during the Weekend...

Now - all of you have fun watching the season finale...! I'm sure it will be 99 kinds of crazy and awesome!

Love, Nina