Felicity stretched awake and a smile immediately spread across her face. She could smell coffee in the kitchen and heard Oliver in the shower. How did this happen? In a matter of a week her life had gone from sad and desperate to full of love and joy. She couldn't believe it was real. The water shut off and in a minute Oliver walked out of the bathroom with a towel swung across his hips and a smile etched into his face. He leaned down to kiss Felicity on the forehead, "Good Morning."
Felicity purred, "Hey you." Their eyes locked for just a moment and then Oliver walked over to the floor where his duffle bag was tossed, digging for clothes for the day.
Felicity propped herself up on the bed, "Why don't I clear some drawers out for you? You know, so you have a place to keep your stuff."
Oliver picked up some jeans and a button down shirt and looked suspiciously at her, "Are you asking me to move in with you? Because that seems rather contradictory to what you were saying last night."
Felicity's cheeks flushed, "Yeah, I know. I just like you being here. It makes me feel safe and it has been a really long time since I've had that feeling."
Oliver started walking back to the bathroom, "As much as I love staying here Felicity, I'm not sure 'officially' moving in together is a good idea; at least not now. Let's get my memories sorted out before we start picking out furniture." And with that he disappeared back into the bathroom.
Felicity felt foolish and was scolding herself silently for acting in a way that she felt was emotional, illogical and not at all what she expected from a girl with a degree from MIT. She got out of bed and was pulling clothes together when Oliver reemerged from the bathroom. He stopped before leaving the bedroom and turned to face her, "Listen, I really do like waking up next to you but I also don't want to mess this up and I think you actually made a good point last night. I've only been back from the dead for a week and I don't plan on dying again – at least anytime soon – so lets take our time" Felicity looked into his blue eyes and saw the care and caution within them. She gently kissed Oliver and quietly said, "I agree. Thank you…I don't know for what exactly, but thank you." Oliver smiled and walked back out to the kitchen.
Felicity had barely settled in to her workday when her phone started buzzing with text messages – all from Thea.
"I need to talk to you NOW!"
"Meet me at the Foundry NOW!"
"Bring Diggle NOW!"
"NOW! NOW! NOW!"
"Roy already here. NOW!"
Felicity's heart sank. Something that urgent couldn't possibly be good. She ran out of her office and texted Diggle on the way. What did Thea find out? What had happened?
Her heels tapped loudly as she ran down the stairs of the Foundry and found Diggle, Roy and Thea all standing around the steel evidence table. She approached the table and her heart sunk – sitting on the table was an arrow, a green arrow, and a used arrow. Diggle and Felicity exchanged knowing glances as Felicity asked, "What is this? What is this all about?"
Thea cocked her hips to one side and looked at Felicity with piercing eyes, "I don't know. Is there something you want to tell me? Like why Oliver would kill my father? And where the hell he is?"
Felicity gingerly placed her bag on her seat, collected her thoughts and turned around. "Yes Thea, Oliver is alive. I just found out about six days ago and I didn't tell you because his memory is rather patchy and he doesn't really know what happened to him for the past two months."
Thea slammed her fists on the table and backed away shaking her head. "Who the hell gave you the right to not tell me my brother is alive? And why the hell would he kill Malcolm?" Thea was trembling and her voice was getting louder. Felicity knew she would need to stay in control of her own emotions if this conversation was going to end well.
"I don't know anything about Malcolm being dead or Oliver killing him and frankly Thea it doesn't make sense. He's been protecting Malcolm from the League of Assassins for months now." Felicity swore at herself internally. She didn't mean to let that last part slip.
Thea slammed her fists on the steel table and for a moment she looked just like Oliver. "DOES ANYBODY EVER TELL ME THE TRUTH ABOUT ANYTHING?" and with that she stormed out of the Foundry.
Roy looked at Diggle with tears in his eyes and quietly asked, "Oliver is alive?"
Diggle nodded in affirmation, "Yeah man he is, but he is a little turned upside down at the moment. He doesn't quite know what happened to him for the past two months."
Felicity picked up her phone and texted Oliver, "You better get to the Foundry. There is somebody here who needs to talk to you. And there is something you need to explain. "