Authors Note: Again thank you for your support, and I apologise for those I offended/upset. As always the warning of pain/angst remains, even if it's got some happy moments too. Buckle in people this whole story is a crazy roller coaster ride. Now enjoy yourselves, and hopefully I'll be back to post something next week!


Felicity couldn't help the smile on her face as she stood looking at herself in the mirror. After that day when Oliver apologised, when he let himself be vulnerable with her, things had started to change. For the last 2 weeks, he had let her in. He spoke to her about work, and asked about hers. He hadn't touched a drink as he started to trust her again, started to be more open. They had both gone to see Thea, explaining everything earning her forgiveness after much bribery from Oliver. But today was the day of their first date, a day of reconnecting with the past whilst making new memories.

"Felicity are you ready?" Thea shouted.

"Kind of," Felicity mumbled from behind the curtains.

"What do you mean kind of?" she asked.

Felicity didn't even hesitate in pulling the curtain back and stepping out. Thea was stood there staring as the lady altering the dresses gasped. She glanced down at the zipper that was only partly done and would move no further. "It won't zip up," she answered with a shrug.

"Well I did all the measurements correctly," the lady said stepping up with a frown.

"I mean, it could be all the ice cream I've been eating lately." The woman frowned at her. "What? I eat when I'm stressed," she mumbled.

"The weddings in less than 2 weeks, and I'm not sure I can alter this in time," she answered with a shake of her head. "It needs a lot of work, the bust isn't right, the zipper won't close so it needs releasing."

"Thea, I don't think this is going to work," Felicity said with a sad sigh. "I'm sorry," she added looking down with guilt.

"Hey, it's fine," she replied stepping closer. "I think you've had enough on you mind."

"I don't want to let you down, but I think it better I not be a bridesmaid."

"Felicity, you can wear another dress-"

"This is your day Thea, and I don't want me or Oliver to distract people from that."

"Okay," she agreed sadly. "I understand."

"You still have Sin, and your other friends."

"But you'll still be there right?"

"Of course," Felicity smiled brightly. "I can't miss my sisters wedding."

"Good, because I don't think I could do this without you."

"Oh I'm more than sure you could handle all this. You've done a marvellous job."

"Well I might plan functions but it's different when it's your own wedding."

"Hey, I've been here the majority of the time, and I think it's wonderful. A small ceremony and then a party, it sums the two of you up perfectly."

"Thea?" Olivers voice caused them both to turn in his direction. He was in a gorgeous black tuxedo, and bowtie. It was perfectly fitted, reminding Felicity very much of how he looked on their wedding day. She blinked several times as Oliver stared at Thea, and she was kind of glad he wasn't looking her way because she wasn't 100% sure if she was drooling or not.

"Yes big brother," Thea answered with a quick smirk at Felicity.

"I've been thinking."

"Oh have you now?"

"Yes, and I know that there is clearly something going on with you and our parents." Instantly Thea tensed and Felicity couldn't help but grimace. "But you're their little girl, and don't you think they deserve to be there?"

"No," she answered plainly.

"They raised you."

"And?" she countered crossing her arms over her chest.

"They're still our mom and dad, and you can't tell me otherwise that mom wouldn't have loved doing all this with you, that you wouldn't have gotten married at Queen Manor." Felicity looked at Thea whose eyes were starting to tear up as she struggled with her emotions. "I just think you should at least invite them."

"Oliver," Felicity interrupted knowing she needed to step in. "Why don't you go get changed and I'll speak to Thea?" She walked up to him and placed her hand on his arm.

"But..."

She leant up and whispered into his ear. "Trust me." He glanced into her eyes as she pulled back, she smiled at him and he gave a nod in acceptance before walking away.

"God how do you do that?" Thea asked with a sigh. "I mean the whole not spilling the entire truth."

"It isn't my truth to tell," Felicity answered. "If you want to tell him Thea, I won't stop you. I was just giving Moira and Robert the opportunity to."

"Well look how quickly he's gotten mixed up in it all again," Thea commented waving her arm around.

"I know, but he doesn't remember what we do, and if I force his hand, well it could end even more badly."

"I know," she replied in a whisper.

"I'm... I don't want to tell you what to do, but if there is one piece of advice I could give, it is that I wish I had gotten more time with my parents." Thea's eyes shot up to hers. "My dad left when I was young and as you know my mother died."

"But that's different," Thea countered.

"Probably, but at least they're still here, and still around. I am not saying you need to forgive them, or even trust them ever again, but offering an olive branch is surely not a bad thing?" Thea raised an eyebrow skeptically. "I mean someone has to be the bigger person so why not be it? I know it's all a mess, and everything with Oliver isn't helping but... surely inviting them is enough."

"Weddings are meant to be happy," she whispered.

"Yes they are."

"And my parents weren't at your wedding."

Felicity couldn't help but look at her feet before taking a deep breath. "That was always Oliver's choice."

"He always seemed angrier than me, he seemed like something bigger-"

"You both went through different things," she interrupted. "He just doesn't speak much of his, and he felt the pain for you too."

"He never was one for sharing."

"He still isn't," Felicity mumbled with a sad sigh. She felt Thea's hand on a her arm as she gave her a sympathetic smile.

"I'll do it," she whispered in response.

"What?"

"I'll invite my parents."

"Thea don't do for me, and definitely not for Oliver-"

"No, you were right, I have to be the better person."

"Be the better person?" Oliver asked as he appeared back in his casual clothes.

"Yes, I'll invite mom and dad but they are not playing a massive role and you are still giving me away."

"But you're dads little-"

"I'd quit whilst you're ahead," Felicity butted in, causing both to turn in her direction. She could feel her cheeks flush at his gaze as she stood there swaying slightly.

"I want you to give me away Ollie," Thea added. "No one else. You don't remember it but you've been amazing these last few years, you're the reason I found Roy."

"But he's your dad, I don't understand why you wouldn't want him to." Felicity frowned as she felt a strange sensation come over her.

"I want you to," she snapped in anger.

"Guys..." Felicity whispered starting to feel dizzy.

"What if I don't want to? What will you do then?" he huffed out.

"Then I'll walk down the aisle on my own," she shouted and just at that moment Felicity felt light headed, and like she was falling.

"Felicity!" Thea shrieked and suddenly she felt a pair of strong arms grasping her, holding her up. She looked up to see Oliver's concerned face staring down at her. She couldn't keep her eyes off him as he swooped her up and carried her to the nearby sofa. Felicity paid no attention to the nearby commotion but instead focused solely on him.

"Are you okay?" he asked cupping her cheeks.

She smiled at him taking a deep breath. "I'm okay," she whispered.

"Are you sure?" Thea asked stepping closer. "The manager got you come water." She handed the glass over to her and she took a sip.

"Yes, I guess I shouldn't have skipped coffee and breakfast this morning," she answered as Oliver moved his hands from her face to her arms as he sat beside her.

"You just nearly collapsed," he whispered.

"I'm fine honestly," she replied continuing to sip her water.

"Maybe we should take you to a doctor?" Thea mused out loud.

"No," Felicity answered standing up. Oliver instantly stood beside her. She could feel his touch on the small of her back even through the fabric of the dress.

"Felicity," he whispered and she glanced up at him.

"I'll get out of this dress, then we can go get something to eat and I'm sure I'll be fine." He stared down at her and she couldn't help but shake her head. She reached up placing her had on his cheek. "Trust me," she added and for a brief second his eyes closed before he nodded.

"Well I still have Becca, and Sin to deal with when they get here, so enjoy your day," Thea said with a tender smile on her face as she glanced between the pair.

Felicity smiled as she pulled away heading towards the changing room. "I'll buy a new dress before the wedding," she commented before pulling the curtain shut.


Oliver couldn't help but stare at her as she finished the last bite of her monster of a Big Belly Burger. "You have quite the appetite."

"Well I did skip breakfast," she commented instantly and he couldn't help but smile.

"You feeling better?" he had to ask because a part of him genuinely was afraid with how she basically would have fallen to the floor if he hadn't caught her inches before.

She smiled at him, tilting her head in the adorable way when she was surprised by him. "Yes, I told you. I just needed some food," she answered pushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

"And of course you chose Big Belly," he added.

"Well this restaurant used to be our go to place when we were at QC, well I was at QC, no... when we lived in the city." She cringed at herself as the words came tumbling out. "Because we used to live here, in the city."

"I know that."

"You do?" she asked in clear awe.

"Tommy and Thea told me."

And for a brief second he saw her face fall at the fact he couldn't remember, but quickly she smiled at him. "Oh they did."

"Yep. I guess that's how we started?"

"We started at QC," Felicity whispered looking down at her plate. Her demeanour changed in an instant.

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yep," she answered. "You were very insistent, you didn't take no for an answer, but then I guess somewhere in those early days it turned into friendship."

"So I was basically after more?" he asked.

"In the very early days, yes. But then it turned to more than that, we were friends and I honestly don't know if you even ever had a female friend without sleeping with them until then."

"Probably not," he mused thinking hard. "But we lived in the city?"

"Yeh," she answered with a smile. "I can even show you if you want?"

"Show me? How can you show me?" he asked with a confused frown.

"We own it," she answered. "We decided to rent it out, to get some more money and planned on selling it when the market got better."

"Oh, but aren't there tenants?"

"No, they left a few months ago, and I've just been busy," she replied. "But we can go see it if you want? No pressure."

"Sure, why not." He shrugged.

Oliver followed Felicity up the stairs, he watched as she hummed with a nervous energy, constantly glancing at him. "We're here," she said as she moved towards a door. He placed his hand on the banister, and instantly his brain clicked to a woman dressed nearly in black, she was sat on a stool in some place he didn't recognise. "So this is where we used to live." Her voice brought him back, as he stared at her and the dark haired woman eluded him once more.

"Okay."

She pushed the door open and stepped inside. He followed close behind shaking his head to rid himself of the daydreams. "It pretty much used to look like this," she said softly as his eyes glanced around the place. The kitchen, diner and living room were all in one with large windows letting in the light. The furniture was mismatched but the whole place seemed bright.

"This is tiny," he whispered still glancing around.

"Compared to your mansion, yes," she answered with a shrug shutting the door behind them. "But you had nothing, and I was the only one with the space."

"So we practically lived on each other?" he asked.

She laughed and he looked at her puzzled. "Sorry that was one of the first things you said when you moved in. But no, we both had our own space too." She gestured towards a small corridor off the space. He glanced down it, a single window at the bottom illuminating 3 doors. "First room was yours, second was mine and we shared the bathroom."

"Seriously? This is so small." He didn't wait for her lead this time as he opened the door to what was apparently his room. He was stunned to find a queen bed rammed in there basically from wall to wall, with a small bedside table, and a wardrobe.

"You made do with what we had," she admitted glancing down.

"So I'm guessing you didn't have much money."

"No," she answered straight away. "No, I didn't. My life wasn't easy, I got into MIT on a scholarship, and got this place with some money my mom left me," she mumbled leaning against the door.

"Your mom died?" he asked unable to help himself and she nodded. "I'm sorry. I'm supposed to remember that aren't I?" He grimaced feeling a little guilty.

"No," she replied shaking her head. "You don't remember any of this," she gestured, "so I don't expect you to."

"What... what happened?"

"What with?" she asked with a small frown.

"Us? Your parents? Did I ever meet them? How'd we go from being friends here, to married and in our home?" He couldn't help as the words rushed out and she merely nodded.

"Can we go into the living room?" she asked in response. "It's just more open and we can sit."

"Of course," he replied following her. He went straight for the sofa sitting down on one end expecting her to sit with him but she didn't. She instead sat on the other sofa, as if avoiding him.

"I guess I should start at the beginning," she said softly once more playing with her wedding band. "My father walked out when I was young. He just disappeared without a trace and so my mom raised me." Oliver just nodded as she continued. "My mom died in an accident at work when I first started college. So you've never met either of them," she said it so robotically as if trying to hide her emotions.

"I'm sorry," he muttered. "More for making you relive it all."

Her eyes turned to him and he saw that flicker of pain she tried so desperately to hide. "It's okay," she whispered. "It was that pain, that lead me to my abusive ex boyfriend."

"Why?"

"When..." She took a deep breath struggling to find the words and Oliver wanted to move closer to touch her, and he found himself shuffling along the sofa without thought. "When my dad left, I thought something was wrong with me, that I was unlovable, that I was the problem, and my mom's death pushed me into another spiral. I lost the only person that loved me." And that was when his heart shattered because he realised then the depth of her anguish at him not remembering, at him being unable to love her yet. He instantly rose to his feet and sat beside her.

She looked completely shocked by his actions as he pulled her hands into his own. "You aren't alone now," he said with such determination that she looked at him in awe.

"I know that, but at that time I thought Cooper loved me, that he was good. He made me feel like only he loved me, that no one else ever would, so when he hit me it felt like it was my fault, and... I didn't want to be alone."

"No," he answered. "No, it was never your fault. No one should raise a hand to someone, it doesn't solve the problem," he whispered staring at her as she avoided his gaze. "I am so sorry I marked you Felicity."

"I told you, that wasn't abuse Oliver." He merely nodded because as much as her words were meant to reassure him, they didn't.

"It took a lot for me to gain the confidence to leave him, to gain confidence in myself, to graduate top of my class and to get offered a job at QC, and move in here. I am not the person I was, and a lot of friends, and people helped along the way." He nodded at her.

"I'm so glad you saw that, that you see how strong you are."

"You helped me too. You helped me to become the better person I am today, more than you ever realise."

He felt a lump in his throat because he knew he hadn't helped, his other self, the person he couldn't remember, had. "Felicity," he whispered her name running his fingers over her knuckles. "How?"

"You were there, you helped me fit in at QC, you believed in me and supported me through more than I can ever tell you." She smiled up at him as her eyes brimmed with tears. "Some bad things happened, things I don't want to talk about, things I... I just can't share with you right now."

"That's fine," he found himself saying as he heard the crack in her voice. "I don't need to know everything right now."

"You deserve to be so happy," she murmured. "And I can't... I don't want to destroy the new life you're building."

He frowned not really understanding. "I don't think that's possible."

Instantly she grimaced, her eyes fluttering closed as she tensed under his touch. "We, we became more after something happened and you were devastated and I was there as comfort, which lead to more."

"We slept together?" he asked and she nodded in confirmation.

She opened her eyes staring down at their joined hands and not at him. "But then, things changed, we... we wanted more and I was so scared," she barely whispered as she continued. "But you proved yourself over and over, and your love for me. That's why we moved into the house, we decided we wanted to start a fresh."

"That makes sense, but this is where it all started," he answered looking around.

"Yeh but we were planning for the future." And now it was his turn to tense up. The clear implication of the fact they needed a bigger home for children, to grow as a family made his heart pound and fear trickle down his spine.

"I see."

"But we're not thinking about that now," she rushed out, clearly he hadn't done a good job of hiding his fear. "We're just concentrating on you, and your health."

"Okay." He nodded trying to relax.

A silence fell on them as he glanced around the small space he had no memory of, trying to picture living there with Felicity. "We can leave you know," she whispered finally meeting his eyes fully.

"Sorry, I was just trying to picture living here."

"And?"

"It's... so small, I don't know how I ever adjusted from the mansion."

"You were probably too drunk to care," she answered with a sad smile.

"Was I really that bad?"

"We don't say it to hurt you, but yes you were." He nodded before she continued quickly. "I think it was the drugs more than anything. It scared people, and the rehabs never worked, with your parents money you had access which was cut when they cut you off."

"I guess it was a blessing in disguise then," he joked and he noticed the small wince she made. "Are you okay?"

"Yeh," she replied a little too quickly.

"Are you sure?" he asked squeezing her hand slightly.

"It's nothing," she answered and he stared at her intently for awhile trying to figure her out. "We can head home now, have a rest before tonight." She pulled her hands from his and stood up.

"Our date?" he asked as he stood up beside her,

"Yep, I have it all planned out."

"What's the plan then?"

"That's for me to know and you to find out." She winked at him and he couldn't help but grin with a shake of his head.

"But how will I know how to dress?" he asked as they headed to the door.

"Just wear a nice suit, but make sure you're comfortable," she replied with a shrug.

"Okay." He nodded as they stepped out of the flat.


Oliver couldn't keep his eyes off her. She had gotten ready in secret, away from his prying eyes and he knew why. She was wearing a beautiful blue dress that hugged her figure, and he had to refrain from touching her as the car took them to wherever she had planned.

"You look amazing," he uttered, his hands lay in his lap as he tried to not touch her.

"You already said," she relied with a kind smile. Slowly she lifted her hand and placed it over his. "Are you nervous?" she asked.

"Maybe," he answered as she gently linked their fingers together on his thigh.

"It's just me, there's nothing to be nervous about."

"But I haven't… I don't date. I mean clearly I have dated but not that I remember, clearly not us, and I didn't usually date people, but rather slept with them-"

A small giggled escaped her as she shook her head. "Usually I'm the one talking in sentence fragments." He could feel his cheeks blushing as he rubbed his free hand at the back of his neck. "But it's just you and me, talking and getting some food."

"Oh, so we're eating out?"

"Yes, I thought it would make a change from take out," she said with another laugh and Oliver couldn't help but smile at her.

"So where exactly are we eating?" he asked squeezing her hand.

"Well, we'll be there soon," she replied with a brilliant smile. He nodded along but couldn't pull his eyes from her face. He had no clue how long they had been that way, how long he'd been staring at her as he gently squeezed her hand, but all he knew is that the car had stopped. "We're here," she told him pointing her head towards the window.

He merely nodded as she opened the car door and slipped out; not letting go of his hand as he followed close behind her. "Where exactly are we?" He asked looking around at the clear central Star City location.

"Your restaurant," she answered nodding towards the relatively large space in front of them.

"Overwatch Bar and Grill," he read aloud. "Where's the name from?"

"A nickname, you gave me long ago," she replied. "One that always seemed to stick, and in fact you thought was quite fitting of me."

"So I named it after you?"

"Yes," she whispered with a sad glint in her eyes.

He squeezed her hand and stepped forward. "Well then we better get inside." He tried to offer her a reassuring smile, and finally the sadness lifted. He said nothing as he stepped up to the doors in utter confusion, the closed sign was hanging there with barely any lights on. He glanced at Felicity who giggled a little.

"It's for us, they closed it for us."

"So there's no one else around?"

"No, just a few staff to serve us and lock up, but no one else. I told you, just me and you."

"Then let's get started." He pushed against the doors stepping inside.


Oliver sat there stunned by the place that he and Felicity had apparently created. It was so spaced out, yet retained the privacy in certain portions with the large bar in the middle, and the kitchen off in the back. He had enjoyed the food immensely, and the company even more so. He had laughed and listened to Felicity speak of the restaurant, of all the funny stories they had shared, all the happiness and joy she could think of, and he couldn't help but smile at her as she spoke so quickly.

"We have a lot of memories here?" he asked.

"Yep, we got engaged here, and had our wedding reception here too."

"I proposed here?" he asked a little stunned.

"Yeh, I managed to get this place pretty cheap, much like our own home and we did it up," she answered. "You did it one day, when we'd been working really hard, just before opening day." She looked wistful as if the memory was written all over her face and Oliver couldn't help but stare.

"How long ago was that?"

"About 2 years ago," she replied. "Though the first proposal was nearer 3."

"Wait? I proposed to you before and you said no?"

She nibbled her bottom lip looking uncertain. "Yes, but it wasn't like what you think."

"I don't think anything," he answered with a shrug. "But why did you turn me down the first time?"

"We hadn't been together very long, and we had an argument." She glanced down messing with their shared dessert. "And for some reason you thought you'd propose, apparently you didn't want to lose me but I wasn't ready then."

"But you were a few months later?"

"A lot of things happened, we got a home, we built a life together. It changed." She shrugged.

"So we got engaged here, and then when did we get married?"

"Just over a year ago, actually a year ago as of your accident," she practically whispered using her fork to move the remnants of their dessert around the plate.

"Our anniversary was the day I had my accident?" he asked a little shocked.

She nodded. "Yes," she whispered looking slightly pained.

"Tell me about that day, please," he asked reaching across the table. He stopped the fork moving, taking it from her and instead linking their fingers.

"Are you sure?"

"Well if it was our year anniversary I presume we had plans?" he questioned trying to get her to open up. He watched the frown on her face appeared. "What's wrong?" he asked rubbing his thumb over up her finger.

"Just of all the days you want to know about the last one?" she replied.

"I'm certain that if I really tried there are photos, videos, other people's memories of those days too. But that was… I presume that was just for us, so how'd our day start?"

"In bed," she blurted out and instantly he could see the blush on her cheeks.

He continued to stroke her finger waiting for more. "And?" he urged when she hadn't looked up in awhile.

"We… you…" he couldn't help but smile at her nervousness at talking to him.

"You know, I might not remember the fact that we are, but we are married, you don't need to be nervous when talking about sex."

"Making love," she corrected. "It was always more than just sex for us."

He couldn't help but swallow as his heart beat a little quicker and he didn't know why. "Why?"

"It felt like home," she answered meeting his eyes. "It was a connection, one that only we shared, one that felt like nothing either of us had felt before because it was love, and safety-"

"And home," he repeated her words and she nodded with a broad smile.

"Yeh, I've just always felt myself around you Oliver, no having to hide or pretend-"

"You still don't. I want to get to know everything about you," he replied instantly and meaning it.

He saw her breath catch in her throat as she tried to find the words. "We spent the whole morning in bed, and only dragged ourselves out for food." He laughed before she carried on. "You cooked, and we had breakfast in bed but by the afternoon they needed you here for some sort of check." She squeezed his hand a little.

"So I left you?" he asked staring around the space, thinking about his father with QC, how he always chose work over everything.

"No not like that," she answered staring at him. "I understood, plus you told me to pack for a weekend away." She smiled sadly.

"And we never got that."

"No, we didn't but that's okay, because you're okay."

"I'll have to make it up to you one day," he responded with a smile.

She looked completely taken aback. "No, you didn't do anything wrong. You don't need to make it right."

"No, but… maybe… one day." He shrugged squeezing her hand, and genuinely wondering what a future with Felicity would look like.

"Okay," she whispered clearly not wanting to argue. They sat for a little while, the waiter taking away their shared dessert as they just sat in a comfortable silence. "We can go look in your kitchen, see how it's all holding up," she suggested.

"Sure," he replied with a shrug, not really that interested.

"Come on." She smiled pulling at his hand. He easily allowed her to lead him as she maneuvered around the the restaurant with ease.

She pushed through the double doors stepping into a bigger kitchen than he expected. "This is where the magic happens," she said letting go of his hand. "Where you, and I spent a lot of time creating wonderful recipes." She twirled on the spot throwing her arms out with a giant grin. Oliver just stared at her as the joy just radiated from her. She wobbled slightly as she came to a stop before him.

"I would ask if you've been drinking but I know you haven't," he stated with a laugh.

"Well I only felt it fair that you weren't so I didn't," she answered with a shrug.

"You don't have to."

"You're making the effort to get help, and I want to support you."

He stared at his feet as she spoke feeling the shame and guilt gnawing at him. "Yeh," he mumbled and instantly he felt a hand slip into his.

"It's nothing to be ashamed about," she said pulling his hand for him to go further into the kitchen. He followed her wanting this conversation to end. "But you don't need to talk about that," she whispered as the staff that had been cleaning left the room. He didn't want to respond as he felt her hand squeezing his. "Well how about we try something?" she asked with a wink.

"Like what?" he asked, just happy to change the topic.

She let go of his hand and then turned to the counters in front of them. "I thought we could cook. Or rather you could," she answered with a twinkle in her eye.

"Right," he replied skeptically.

"I mean all you have to do is try."

"But I don't even know where everything is, or how to really cook."

"Well that's where I come in," she said jumping up and sitting on the counter top. He blinked as she pulled a draw open beside her to show an array of chef knives.

"These are your specific knives."

"But… I…" He couldn't find the words as he frowned. She pulled out a knife handing it to him; the weight felt strange in his palm.

"How about we keep it simple, make a stew, or something," she mumbled to herself as she jumped back down and walked around the space plucking random ingredients from various shelves, compartments and fridges. "So we'll cut all this up, and I'll get the pots and pans." She placed them all down in front of him before grabbing a chopping board. "You go ahead and start," she encouraged.

Oliver just stood there completely flummoxed, he looked at the vegetables in front of him, some he recognised and some he didn't. He was stood stock still, the knife in hand. "Felicity…" he uttered but she carried on with her task completely oblivious.

"I know what we need, some music!" she declared happily walking away to another station. Oliver glanced between the knife and the vegetables; his hand shook violently as his mind raced. The instant the loud music played through the kitchen speakers his head began to pound and his ears rang. "Turn it off," he shouted as Felicity came to stand beside him.

"Oliver?" she asked placing a hand on his arm.

He pulled away abruptly, throwing the knife down onto the counter. "TURN IT OFF!" he screeched, covering his ears as his brain felt like it was about to leap out of his skull.

Felicity quickly rushed to turn the music off before returning to his side. "I'm sorry," she said softly approaching him slowly.

"No," he snapped unable to control the anger and adrenaline coursing through his veins. "I didn't ask to be here, I didn't ask for any of this! I don't want to cook, I don't want to cut or chop, I don't want anything to do with this!"

"But…"

"But what?" he shouted. "You didn't ask me to do this, you wanted me to! Like you brought me here because it holds memories for you!"

"NO!" Felicity finally snapped back, the anger written all over her face. "No it holds memories for US! And I am trying to save our marriage!" Her voice rose with every word before she spun on her heels. He watched her shoulders rise and fall as she clearly tried to control her rising anger. Oliver tried to do the same with his own breathing, trying to match hers.

"I'm sorry I can't remember," he finally spoke. She didn't turn back. "And that I snapped, it all just felt overwhelming."

"I'm sorry too," she responded. "I didn't mean to push you," she added turning to face him. "I just wanted this place to be special again."

"I wish it could," he answered.

"But I want it to be special for not just us, but you too."

"I know."

"And you aren't ready yet," she answered with a sad smile, her fingers reaching up to rub along the chain around her neck. "I think we should go home, before I ruin this night further."

She didn't go to touch him again as she walked passed him, so he reached out for her hand instead and she froze instantly. Her eyes fluttered closed as he squeezed her fingers gently. "It isn't ruined," he said softly, reassuring himself that neither was still angry. "Let's go home." She nodded slowly, not pulling out of his touch as they walked towards the doors hand in hand.