When Oliver woke up that morning he felt like the weight of the world was finally off his shoulders. He slept through the night without nightmares, and he owed that all to the blonde walking beside him. He had told Felicity everything, the yacht sinking, the island, his mission; everything. She was attentive, and she didn't judge him. She just listened and that's all he could ever ask of her.

He promised her that he'd find another way to go through with his mission; he promised her he wouldn't spill the blood of another man; unless it was totally necessary. He had also agreed to let her help him, even though part of him still didn't want to let her. He didn't want to purposefully put her in harms way but Felicity was as stubborn as they came.

Although he hated the fact that she could get hurt he knew deep down he needed the help. He'd just have to work extra hard to make sure she was safe at all times.

"What are you thinking about? I can feel your brain stressing all the way over here." Felicity teased breaking his thoughts.

He turned to look at her and gave her a small grin. "You."

Felicity blushed. "Loser." She replied. He chuckled low in his chest, and the action made him feel so light.

They made it downstairs to see both Walter and his mother waiting for them. They stepped down into the floor and his mother walked up to them and gave them both a good morning kiss and hug. "Oliver, Felicity I trust that you both had a good night?"

"Yes thank you Mrs. Queen." Felicity answered easily.

"Now Felicity, you know its Moira to you."

"Of course." Oliver just stared at his girlfriend and mother, they were talking so formally; yet they gave each other easy smiles. Obviously his mom and Felicity had grown close.

"What's up mom? I thought both you and Walter would've been at QC by now?" He asked curiously.

"First we wanted to introduce you to someone!" Moira said leading them outside.

Oliver still held onto Felicity's hand and followed his mom outside. He walked through the threshold and by his black Mercedes he saw a rather large man standing completely still with his hands clasped in front of him wearing a black suit.

Oliver looked down at Felicity for a moment then looked back up to the man. "Oliver, this is John Diggle… your new bodyguard." Moira stated walking to stand next to John placing her hand on his shoulder.

"Bodyguard?" Oliver asked raising his eyebrow, completely surprised.

"Yes bodyguard. After what happened yesterday I won't chance it again. People are after you and you need to be safe. Mr. Diggle here was in the army's special forces. He'll take good care of you."

Oliver gave an un-amused smile to his mom. "I really appreciate it but I really don't need a babysitter mom."

"Oliver, this would give your mother a peace of mind." Walter spoke for the first time, stepping from behind him and Felicity.

Oliver pressed his lips in a hard line and let go of Felicity's hand and walked towards the man in the black suit. "Mr. Queen." the man greeted. Oliver just gave him a curt nod and turned to his mother giving her the closest thing to a smile. It was still hard showing emotion to someone other than Felicity. "Fine ok." He answered.

Moira smiled in return and gave him a kiss to the cheek dismissing herself and Walter.

"Well I have to go to work." He heard Felicity say. He turned looking at her; she had stayed quiet throughout the whole thing. He gave her a small nod.

He once again looked at his new bodyguard and gave him a questioning look, asking for some privacy. The large man only nodded and moved away far enough that he couldn't hear their conversation.

"How are you going to get to your fathers factory now?" Felicity whispered.

"I'll think of something. Don't worry about it, I'll handle it. I'll see you later tonight ok, your place? Just you and me." He whispered.

"Ok sounds good…. please be careful." She whispered adjusting her glasses.

"Always am." He leaned in giving her a kiss goodbye. "And be nice." She said once more looking over to the bodyguard.

He just gave her a cheeky smile and she made her way over to her car. After she left he turned to his new bodyguard. "So uhhh, I'm going upstairs I need to get something I'll be right back."

Without waiting for a reply Oliver headed back upstairs to retrieve the wooden crate that held his new gear. He walked back downstairs and headed for the trunk of his car. His bodyguard tried helping him but he refused.

Once they were in the car Oliver started plotting. They were headed to the Glades he told his new babysitter he wanted to go get something good to eat. He only had a small window to jump out of the car; Oliver needed to distract him. "So what do I call you?" He said almost condescendingly.

"Diggle's good, Digg if you want… and just so we're clear, I don't want there to be any confusion Mr. Queen my ability to keep you from harm will outweigh your comfort….."

This was it, Oliver thought. "Do we have an agreement?" He heard Diggle say as he swiftly opened the car door and bolted before the man saw him. From the distance he could hear Diggle yell for him. He felt terrible, but he had to make sure no one knew where he was headed. He zipped his brown jacket and with his crate in hand ran towards the direction of his father's old factory. He had work to do.

…..

Felicity sat at her desk, completely bored out of her mind. Today was a slow day. She stared at her computer once again like she had for the past hour and a half, chewing on the end of her pen. She kept thinking about the conversation she and Oliver had last night. The moment he woke up screaming and thrashing and basically choking her she knew something was wrong.

Well obviously something was wrong, but she knew what happened to him on that island was something much worse than anyone would have imagined. For starters if he was stuck on an island by himself why would he choke her when she tried waking him up from a nightmare, especially when he kept calling out some other persons' name.

Being the logical person that she was, she came to the hypothesis that he wasn't entirely alone on that island. Even before last night's event she had researched the Island he was on; Lian Yu… Purgatory. She read that it was an island off the coast of China where they imprisoned some of the worst criminals, and Oliver's reactions last night only solidified her reasoning.

Everything he told her, she knew she seemed unaffected by it last night. Truth was she was trying to keep a straight face for him. He needed to let it all out; he needed to trust in her. She had to have her poker face on so he'd feel comfortable enough to let it all out. She's glad he decided to come clean and so soon, but she was hurting for him. Her poor Oliver went through so much and it had her almost in tears, but she kept it together for his sake.

He had watched his own father kill himself, he watched his only allies die in front of him. She knew Oliver was going through survivor's guilt, she knows he's still blaming himself for everything that happened. Hell she knows he's even blaming himself for the suffering she went through while she believed he was dead. Even if he doesn't know the full extent of what she went through.

She meant what she said yesterday, she didn't want to see him suffer she wanted him to be happy again. They had been apart for way too long. As much as it breaks her heart to carry the burden of the knowledge of what happened she'd happily carry it with him, he needed that. She'd help him carry it and she'd help him in his mission he promised on his father's grave. He was the love of her life and she'd be damned if he had to go through all that alone.

She was brought back when she heard the shrill of her phone; she picked it up and saw Oliver's face. She smiled before answering. "Yesssss." She drawled out, dropping her pen back on her desk.

"Hey, just wanted to see how you were." She could hear his heavy breathing through the phone.

"I'm good really bored at work… and what in the world are you doing? You sound like you just ran a marathon?"

She could hear him chuckle. "Just finished with a light workout."

"Wait…." She looked to see if no one was around. "So you made it to your dad's old factory?"

"Yeah, it was surprisingly easier than I thought."

"What about Mr. Diggle?" She asked curiously.

"Probably looking for me throughout the Glades."

"I told you to behave Mr. But anyways there's literally nothing to do at work today…. Wanna come over to QC and pay me a visit?" She flirted. Where did that come from, she thought.

She could hear Oliver groan on the other end. "I thought you wanted to take things slow Ms. Smoak?"

She grinned. He's right she did want to take it slow, but only because it had been so long. She thought he was dead for five years. She thought it'd be easy to take things slow with Oliver but every time he touched her, her skin heated up. Her breathing would grow labored and she'd feel weak at the knees. Maybe taking it slow was completely ridiculous; after all they loved each other….

"Maybe I changed my mind." She whispered, biting her lip. There was a silence and she grew embarrassed.

"Oliver?" She whispered, shyly.

"Yeah I'm here…. Are you sure about this?"

She let out the breath she didn't know she was holding. "Yeah….I was being stupid… before. I just- I just- I was scared. I haven't you know… for five years and I thought you were dead, and I just didn't know if you wanted me that way…. And-"

"Felicity!" Oliver stopped her rambling. "Felicity, you know I will always want you. I understand it's been hard for me too, but I love you ok. You shouldn't feel that way with me."

"Ok. So you coming or what?" She finally asked, breaking her resolve. Boy was she stupid why the hell would she want to take it slow? She mentally slapped herself.

"How about I'll do you one better. I'll go visit you, but we both go out to…" He paused for a second, must be checking his clock. "… Dinner since it's already 6 p.m. then we can go over to your apartment. Sound good?"

Felicity smiled. "So you're asking me out on romantic date Mr. Queen?" She teased.

"Depends will you accept?"

"Will there be wine?" She quickly asked.

"Only the best for my girl."

"Then yes, I humbly accept you request Mr. Queen." She continued to flirt.

"Great I'll see you in about 30 minutes….. I love you."

Felicity felt her heart start to race. "I love you too." She replied earnestly.

They both hung up after that, she sighed. He was so sweet when he wanted to be. After what the doctors told them two days ago, she was nervous she'd never see the old side of Oliver ever again. But she quickly learned that even if he was stiff and cold to others, he was never that way towards her.

She mentally shook herself and started getting ready for her date by pulling her emergency makeup bag from her desk. She already had a cute halter top navy blue lace dress on. Her hair was down in waves and all she needed was to reapply her eyeliner and lipstick. Whenever she got dressed that morning Oliver couldn't keep his hands to himself. He kept running his hands over her waist and hip area, clearly enjoying the dress she had chosen.

She was cleaning up her desk when she heard a soft knock at her office door. She looked up to see none other than Oliver Queen himself. He looked too good, way too good. He was wearing dark blue jeans that showed off just how muscular his thighs were and a dark green sweater with a brown sports jacket.

She swooned. She gave him a soft wave and he gave her his famous 100 watt smile. The one she loved more than anything. She lifted her pointer finger, asking for a minute and she looked around for her purse. She found it and pulled out her contacts container, she reached for her glasses when Oliver was suddenly in front of her stopping her.

"No, leave them on." He whispered.

She felt a sudden wave of emotion fill her entire body. She always used to take her glasses off when they went out to dinner.

"You look beautiful either way. But today I want to see you with them…. Please?" He asked, his hands moving from hers and placing them on her hips.

She nodded and gave him a smile; she didn't trust herself enough to speak. She knew if she did the emotions would swallow her whole and she'd cry. God, I love this man.

Oliver stepped by her side and offered up his arm for her. She took it and they walked down to the lobby in a comforting silence. Once outside she saw that Oliver's new bodyguard was there waiting for them. She leaned closer to him and whispered. "Did he rip you a new one when he found you?"

She felt Oliver laugh. "Yeah, he wasn't too happy to say the least." They walked closer to the car and Mr. Diggle opened up the car for them. Oliver placed a hand at her waist guiding her into the car, but she paused and looked at the tall man holding the door. "Thank you Mr. Diggle." She smiled.

"You can call me Digg." He answered with a soft smile. "Ok Digg, my name is Felicity by the way." She replied, he nodded and she gave him one last smile and went inside the car.

They arrived at their favorite Italian restaurant where they had gone on their first date. He needed this, they both needed this just a day for themselves…. Plus Diggle. After last night, after literally dumping all of his burdens on her he needed to make sure that they had a little alone time.

After she had told him that she had changed her mind on the sex he knew he needed to make it into a date, make her feel comfortable. She literally confessed to him in a phone call that for five years she never slept with anyone else. Truth be told he didn't either, the only woman remotely close to him all those years was Shado and he never felt anything more than friendship towards her.

To say he was frustrated was an understatement, especially after being back seeing and kissing Felicity and touching her didn't make things any easier. He wanted her, he loved her. All he wanted to do for five years was worship her tiny little body, to hear her moan his name, to feel her sweaty body gliding with his. He wanted her all of her, but he had promised to take it slow. If that's what she needed he'd give it to her, he wasn't going to lie though when she told him she changed her mind it made him extremely happy.

So now here they were at their favorite restaurant, and he was determined to make this a special night for her; for them. He opened the door before Diggle could… he felt bad for the guy. Oliver was more than capable of helping himself but, he knew his mother needed the peace of mind.

Oliver held out his hand for Felicity and walked her inside the restaurant with Diggle waiting in the car. They walked in the candle lit restaurant, soft Italian music playing in the back ground. The hostess recognized Oliver and Felicity and she screamed catching the attention of everyone at the restaurant.

The 50 year old lady screamed and clapped her hands leaving her post and the podium and went to hug and kiss both him and Felicity on both sides of their cheeks. "Mr. Oliver! Ms. Felicity!" She yelled in glee in her heavy Italian accent.

She hugged him a little longer squeezing him, and all he could do was hug her back. "Mr. Oliver oh how we missed you!" She said, she pulled away and saw that she had tears in her eyes.

"I missed you too Evalyne."

Evalyne cupped his face. "Oh look at you, still as handsome as ever! Your Senorita here missed you as well. She always came to eat here, every Thursday." She said innocently.

Oliver felt a pang to his chest. Felicity still came here? Every Thursday like they always did? He felt an overwhelming amount of guilt. He glanced at her and she just held a sad smile.

"Oh your dinner is on the house tonight my loves!" Evalyne sang in glee.

"Oh no we couldn't do that!" Felicity said.

"Hush dear! It's all alright now I will go seat you in your usual place! Come!"

Oliver glanced back outside to see Diggle on the phone. "Evalyne, can you fix a to go box of your famous Alfredo and send it over to that guy out there." Oliver pointed at Diggle in the car, he saw Felicity smile at him through the corner of his eye.

"Of course Mr. Oliver! Now come and sit!" She guided them to their usual seats. He sat down in the booth next to Felicity and held onto her hand. He looked around and everything seemed the same, the small vines and light bulbs hanging from the ceiling, plants all over and candles lighting the place truly making this place look romantic; making it look like they were in Italy.

Tommy told him about this place, said it was where his father used to bring his mother to eat before she died. So when Oliver asked Felicity out for the first time this is where they came, and it quickly became a tradition. They ate here every Thursday.

"Alright I will be back with the usual. Ms. Felicity I believe you want your Amarone Wine?"

He saw Felicity brighten up. "Yes please!"

Evalyne left them alone and Oliver just studied Felicity while she picked up her garlic bread and started chewing on it. He'd been back all of two days almost three, and he still couldn't believe it. Just a few days ago he was on Lian Yu fighting for his life, now he was back home.

"Why are you staring?" Felicity asked still focused on her garlic bread.

"Why not?" He answered smirking.

She just gave him a smile in return. He needed to ask her, he wanted to know why she tortured herself every Thursday coming here.

"Felicity… why?"

She stiffened up; she must know what he was asking. She put her garlic bread down on the small plate and turned in the booth to face him. "I had a hard time letting go Oliver." She simply stated her eyes looking down at her lap where there hands were now intertwined.

Oliver sighed, the pang in his chest returning. "I know you did, I did too. But I wish you didn't have to go through that…. Tell me. Tell me what it was like. I told you last night, I need to know what you went through."

He had to know. She sighed once again looking down at their joined hands. "I…um… Well the first two years was the worst. I didn't go out, just work. I was completely and totally heart broken… Tommy, Thea even your mom tried getting me out of the depression. For a while I was angry. Angry at you, at your father for making you go. I was even angry with your family and Tommy because they weren't acting the same way I was."

Oliver stroked his thumb across her hand silently listening to her. "I was angry, because they were trying to make me feel better and it felt like they had just forgotten that you were supposedly dead….. But then I realized that they too were going through a hard time. Then Tommy came to visit me one night, well to be fair he always came over. Every night trying to get me to go out, but that day he said something that made me snap back to reality."

"What did he say?" He asked.

"He reminded me that you'd want me to move on and be happy. That you'd hate to see me the way that I was acting. So that night Thea, Tommy and I went out to watch a movie. Before we headed out I promised myself that I'd try to be happy for you. So I started to go out with Tommy and Thea, I worked my ass off and got the promotion I always wanted. All for you…. And for me of course."

She paused again. "It was hard Oliver, we were about to move in together. I mean in the docks you said you'd be back in a month. I waited for you, but you didn't come. Did you know that I almost wanted to move away from Starling?... I almost did at one point, but I stopped myself. For some reason I always hoped that you'd walk through my door one night surprising me and you yelling that I had been punked or something. So I stayed."

She looked up at him. "I'm not blaming you, I was angry at you for a while, but I don't blame you Oliver you need to know that. While I was angry at the world I was also angry at myself because when you said goodbye that day…. when you hugged Tommy I for some reason felt like you were leaving us forever, and I still let you go…"

"I'm so sorry…" Oliver whispered.

Felicity looked up at him; there were no tears in her eyes. "You shouldn't be. I'm not…. I mean yeah it hurt like hell, but it wasn't your fault. It was no one's fault. I'm not crying because there's no point of it anymore. I cried when I did because I thought you were gone forever, and i cried when I found out you were back. But now...I'm happy." She gently smiled at him on the last part.

Despite what she said still felt guilty. Last thing he ever wanted was for her to feel that way. "Oliver… you're back. I told you last night just like you promised me, that'd I'd make you happy too. We'll both work on it yeah? We'll both try to remind each other that what happened is none of our faults and that as cliché as it sounds we're together again." She reassured him once again.

Oliver couldn't help but smile his girl was something special. He couldn't help but stare at her, she looked gorgeous. Her blue eyes twinkled with the soft glow of the candles and it made her blonde hair look like spun gold. His girl was magnificent and he loved her more than any human being should ever be allowed to love.

She smiled at him her dimples showing up making his stomach tighten with even more emotion. The smile she wore right then, was the same smile she had in the picture that carried him through his toughest times. He leaned in and kissed her slowly… making sure he could drown in the way her lips tasted, in the way her soft lips moved against his own. He kissed her until he couldn't breath anymore.

They separated and she looked completely dazed, it made him chuckle. She started giggling along with him and she went back to eating her garlic bread. He smiled once last time and served himself a bowl of salad. They ate in a comfortable silence, until she spoke up again.

"So how'd it go at your father's old factory?" She asked quietly, they were in a secluded area in the restaurant, but still he was grateful she was mindful of prying ears.

"Good, I just cleaned up a bit and set up my workout area. Still need help with the technical stuff…" Right when he said technical stuff Felicity dropped her garlic bread and looked at him with wide eyes, like a child being told about its new toy.

"Which is why I'm going to need the help of a hot blonde IT girl to help me out. Know anyone?" He winked at her.

Felicity smiled and tapped her finger to her chin. "Hmm I might know someone. In fact she's head of the IT Department at Queen Consolidated, and she just so happens to be dating the co. owner." She teased.

"She sounds perfect!"

There was a pregnant pause. "I'm really glad you told me by the way." She spoke up. "I didn't think- after what the doctors told us. They said you wouldn't be the same. But I'm glad you can be you with me, that you can trust me." She admitted.

Oliver just stared. She was right she was the only person he could trust and confide in. The only person that he was the old Oliver with. "I trust you, Felicity. You're my girl and I love you. Like I said yesterday you kept me strong all those years, there's no way in hell I wouldn't be the same with you. So no thank you…. For being you." He said sincerely. She leaned in giving him a small peck and caressing his face with her tiny hand making his eyes close momentarily in contentment.

They were interrupted when Evalyne personally came back with Felicity's wine and their usual order of Alfredo pasta.

….

After leaving the restaurant, with another bottle of Felicity's favorite wine courtesy of Evalyn; they headed to her Tom House. Once they arrived Felicity got out first and Oliver stayed behind.

"Hey Diggle…. Why don't you go home?" Oliver suggested sincerely.

"Mr. Queen, I was hired to watch out for you." He protested.

"Look I understand that, and I'm really sorry about running off on you like that… but I need this man. I haven't seen her in five years, just this one night. I won't go anywhere you can even pick me up first thing tomorrow morning." Oliver pleaded; it left a sour taste in his mouth. He hated pleading but he needed this night.

Digg sighed. "Tomorrow, 9 sharp be ready." He demanded.

"Thanks man." Oliver thanked him, got out of the car and met up with Felicity at her door.

"How'd you manage to get rid of him?" She asked unlocking the door.

"You'll be surprised what a billionaire pleading with his bodyguard can get."

She laughed out loud and opened the door; walking through the threshold he took a whiff of the familiar vanilla, coconut scent of her house and closed his eyes for moment. He'd never think he'd be back here, one of his favorite places.

He quickly walked in behind her and spun her around earning him a shriek from her. She dropped her purse and he kissed the hell out of her. He pinned her to a nearby wall before shutting the front door with his foot.

*** PLEASE READ*** OH my goodness you guys I am so sorry for making you wait this long! It's been a tough few weeks, but I'm back and with a new chapter and we got to meet DIGG! YAY! Ok guys again sorry for the delay but I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter PLEASE REVIEW! I got less reviews for chapter 7 lets see if we can get at least 15 for chapter 8! Thanks for reading!