AN- Here's the last chapter, Enjoy!
Chapter Ten
He couldn't believe he was doing this. This was insane. But something had shifted inside of him after talking to Thea, lighting a fire in him, and he'd had to leave immediately. He needed to do something, anything, to get her back. Not that he really had her in the first place but he was determined to change that, starting today.
"Sir, you can't go in there," the secretary exclaimed as he breezed past.
He ignored her and pushed the door open that led to Bruce Wayne's office. He'd met Bruce once before and they hadn't left the best impression on each other, mostly because Oliver had made the mistake of flirting with a woman Bruce did not appreciate him flirting with. His surprise appearance in his office might not go well but he was left with little other choice. He didn't know where Felicity lived and when he'd shown up at Wayne Enterprises after his long flight, they'd told him she was in a meeting with Mr. Wayne and Mr. Fox and couldn't be disturbed. Snow eaking his way up here made him want to re-evaluate Queen Consolidated's security when he got home because Wayne Enterprises was surprisingly lacking in that area.
"Oliver?" Felicity's shocked voice rang out through the room and the papers she was holding in her hands slipped out of her grip, fluttering to the floor. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Wayne, security's on it's way," his secretary huffed, looking at Oliver like she wanted to drag him out herself, but Oliver didn't care. All he could see was Felicity.
Bruce hesitated, looking between Oliver and Felicity, examining their facial expressions and body language. "Tell them it's fine, Theresa. I don't think Mr. Queen is here to harm anyone. Right, Mr. Queen?"
Oliver didn't bother dignifying that question with a response. "I don't think I made myself clear enough the last time," he told Felicity, holding himself back from invading her personal space. In the back of his head, he knew this was inappropriate, showing up at her work and confessing personal things in front of her bosses and he knew he would only make it worse if he was in touching distance of her.
"Make what clear enough?" She whispered.
"That I love you." He raised his hands and dropped them to his sides. It continued to amaze him how easy it was for him to admit that now. Before he'd told her the night of the wedding, he thought it would be one of the hardest things he'd say but once the words came out, he realized it was harder to stop himself from shouting it from the roof. "Before that night, I'd never told a woman I loved her because I'd never felt it but this," he gestured between them. "This is unlike anything I've ever felt. I realized it the night at the aquarium when you were so incredibly happy and I knew that I wanted to spend every minute I could making you that happy. And I made the mistake of letting you walk away from me. I let my emotions get the best of me at Verdant and it was because I couldn't picture a life without you, I don't want to live a life without you. You're the best thing to ever happen to me and I've never been as sure about something as I am about loving you. Come back to Starling City and be with me."
"Oliver, I made a decision," she murmured. "I can't go back, I want this job."
"I know that Walter offered to make you co-director of Applied Sciences. You have career opportunities back in Starling. This job has always been an excuse to run away and hide from your feelings. I know that you're scared but I'm scared too, Felicity. I'm scared that I'm going to spend the rest of my life loving a woman who doesn't love me back. I'm scared that you don't see how perfect we are for each other, I'm scared that we don't have a future, and most of all, I'm scared that I'm going to walk out of this room and get on a plane by myself. But no matter how scared I am, I know this is worth it, this is a chance I have to take."
She was silent for an achingly long time and for the first time since he got off the plane, he started to believe that she wasn't going to say yes. "Felicity, I know that if I really love you, I'll support you in anything. And I will. I'll move to Gotham or I'll step down as CEO so you can work there and we can still have a relationship or I'll stay in Starling and you stay in Gotham and we'll do the long-distance thing. Whatever you want to do to make this work, I'll do it. I'll do anything, Felicity, just be with me."
"I can't, Oliver."
Those words were like a knife to the gut but he wasn't leaving yet. "Just admit that you didn't come here for a job, admit that you ran away from your feelings for me, admit that you're not willing to take the risk, admit that's the real reason you came here."
Her face was blank of emotion. "I came here for the job, Oliver, that's it."
"Then admit that you don't have any feelings for me! Do me that favor!" She bit her lip and looked away from him, a tear slipping down her face as she didn't say anything.
"I can't," she said, her voice breaking. "I can't say that."
He blew out a breath of frustration and ran a hand through his short hair. "This is it, Felicity. This is my last shot. If you say no now, that's it. Do you understand that?"
She nodded and it broke his heart more than anything had. Why did she have to make this so hard? She couldn't say that she didn't have any feelings for him but she couldn't, wouldn't give them a chance. Maybe her feelings weren't enough. Maybe her's weren't the same life-changing ones that he felt and maybe it really was time to let her go. "Then tell me that this is what you want. Tell me that Gotham and this job and a life without me is what you want and I'll leave. If you can tell me that this makes you happy, then I'll walk out that door and I'll be done."
"It's what I want, Oliver." Her voice was level and she held his eyes as she said, his heart sinking as he realized that it was really over.
He rubbed his jaw while nodding his head as he took a step back. "I had to know," he said softly. He couldn't do it and he couldn't be here. He needed to get out of this office, this building, this city. He needed to go home and lick his wounds. He needed to go home and accept a life without Felicity. "I'm sorry for the intrusion, Mr. Wayne, Mr. Fox. Please don't hold this against Felicity, she had no part of it. I'm going to go, I'm sorry." He turned his back to Felicity, taking the couple steps to the door as he let the devastation show on his face.
"Oliver," she called out as his hand touched the doorknob. He wiped his face and turned back to look at her, almost wishing he hadn't. Her face was etched with guilt and her knuckles were white from the force she was exerting to wring them together. He could tell she didn't know what to say and he wished he could offer her comfort or clarity but it was her life, her feelings, she needed to do what was right and if that's what this was, he could accept it. Maybe.
"It's okay, Felicity. I told you I'd give you anything you want and if this is what you want I'll give it to you. It doesn't change how I feel because nothing will. I'm going to love you no matter what but I'm done trying to convince you to feel the same." And with that, he walked out of the office and out of her life.
It was the longest plane ride of his life and when they finally touched down on the Tarmac in Starling City, Oliver dragged himself off of the plane, a dark cloud hanging over him. He couldn't believe it was over. It was really over. He wanted to crawl into his bed and not leave for a week.
Tommy was waiting outside for him, leaning against his car. "You look like a man that could use a drink."
"Not tonight, Tommy, I just want to go home," he said wearily, slinging his duffel bag over his shoulder.
"All the more reason to join your best friend for some drinks."
Oliver started to protest again when Tommy held his hand up, effectively silencing him. "Look, I know what happened. Felicity called Sara who called Laurel who wanted me to come make sure you were okay. So either you get in this damn car and come to Verdant with me or I'm going to knock you out and drag you there."
"Fine." He was too tired to argue and maybe if they had one drink, he'd let him go home.
"That's the spirit!" Tommy cheered as he slapped Oliver on the back.
They dodged the elephant in the room for a while, avoiding the topic completely on the ride over, and Tommy ensuring Oliver had at least one full drink before broaching the topic at Verdant. Oliver had to admit it was easier to relay the story to him with a little bit of alcohol. The whole thing felt like some weird dream and he was going to wake up never having left the mansion after talking to Thea and his mom. He'd been so convinced that would work. The entire plane ride over he kept imagining her finally saying yes and coming back to Starling with him. To be here without her was a stark dose of reality and he wasn't exactly coping well.
"What are you going to do now?" Tommy asked.
He sighed wearily, tilting his glass and making the amber liquid slosh around the bottom. "I'm going to move on with my life." The words rang hollow and he knew it wasn't true. Felicity wasn't the kind of girl you moved on from, at least not in a reasonable amount of time.
Tommy nodded sympathetically. "I'm sorry that things didn't work out, Oliver."
"Well, nobody can say I didn't try." He set his glass down and rested his elbows on the bar, using the palms of his hands to rub his tired eyes. "A part of me wishes I would have backed off right after our date because then maybe she would have stayed. Maybe she would have stayed and we could have been friends and she would still be in my life and not in Gotham with Bruce Wayne. I just don't know what I'm going to do without her."
"I think things will work out in the end, Oliver. I know that it doesn't feel like that now but life has a funny way of working out. Trust me on this one."
Oliver snorted and tossed his head back, swallowing the rest of his drink. "I think marriage is bringing out the optimist in you."
"Maybe you could use a little optimism," Tommy said as he signaled for two more drinks.
"No, man, I got to go. I have to work in the morning and I didn't sleep on the plane at all."
"One more drink and I'll let you go home. I didn't just bring you here to fail at cheering you up. I brought you here because I have some news and I wanted to tell my best friend before anybody else." Tommy paused, his face breaking out in a giant grin. "Laurel's pregnant."
Regardless of how he was feeling right now, this was incredible news. Oliver jumped out of his chair and pulled Tommy into a hug, slapping him on the back. "Congrats, that's great news!"
"Thanks, man, but you're going to have keep this is yourself for a bit. She's only five weeks along but I couldn't keep this to myself any longer."
Oliver picked his drink up off the bar and held it up. "A toast. Here's to hoping it's a girl."
Tommy laughed as they clinked glasses. "Cheers," he said before frowning. "What do you mean by that?"
"The world does not need another Tommy Merlyn running around," Oliver teased.
"Well you better get used to the idea because we're going to have a baseball team full of boys. This is just the beginning, my friend."
Oliver nodded in agreement. Tommy was right, this was just the beginning of him and Laurel but Oliver was having a hard time looking past the end of him and Felicity.
He knew he'd move on eventually, he just didn't want to.
It was an hour later when Oliver finally made it back to the mansion. Tommy had talked him into one more drink and Oliver ended up taking a cab home where he found the mansion empty. He made his way up the stairs at a snail's pace, his bad mood weighing his feet down. He was hoping that maybe a good night's sleep would dim the pain but deep down, he knew it wouldn't. Hell, he'd be lucky if he could get a good night's sleep. He knew once he laid down, he would be haunted by images of Felicity in that office. He finally reached the landing but paused at the beginning of the hallway. His bedroom light was on and the door was cracked open and he knew that he didn't leave it that way. Was somebody here?
After Oliver had left Bruce's office, Felicity excused herself to the bathroom, needing a minute to collect herself. She leaned against the counter as she tried to catch her breath, having been unable to take a deep breath since Oliver had strode into Bruce's office. What the hell had happened? Had Oliver really just flown all the way here to confess his love to her?
Sure, he'd said it before the night of the wedding but that was different. She could admit that she'd thought he'd only said it because they were caught up in the moment but now she knew he meant it. Oliver Queen loved her. He really loved her and she was too scared to admit that she loved him. He'd laid everything on the table, giving her one last chance to do the same, and she hadn't been able to do it. She kept denying and denying, pretending that she wasn't miserable, pretending that she didn't want Oliver when he was the only thing in this entire world that she did want.
She pushed these thoughts to the back of her mind, checking the mirror to make sure she didn't look like she was as distraught as she felt before she exited the bathroom and went back to the real world. She couldn't think about this, she had to go back out there and stay professional. She couldn't think about Oliver.
This is the right decision. This is the right decision. This is the right decision. She kept repeating this to herself like a mantra as she made her way back to Bruce's office.
"Everything okay, Miss Smoak?" Bruce asked when she rejoined them.
"Yes," she replied as she picked up her scattered papers. "No," she said abruptly as she stood up straight. "Yes?" She continued, less convinced this time. She looked down at the papers in her hands and around the office. She was working with one of the most successful business men out there and with the smartest man she'd ever met but it wasn't right. It was time to admit that to herself. "Oh my god, I'm an idiot. I'm such an idiot!"
Bruce was trying to cover a smile as she set her papers down on his desk. "I can't do this. I'm sorry, I know that it's a sucky thing to do but I have to go."
Lucius Fox got to his feet. "Miss Smoak—"
"I'm really sorry, Mr. Fox, I really wanted this job but Gotham isn't my home. Starling City is and it's time for me to stop running away from it. I have to go."
"You can find another genius, Lucius. There are plenty of them out there that would kill a person to work with you," Bruce said.
"Not any of Miss Smoak's caliber, Mr. Wayne. She's one of a kind and if I'm ever going to retire, we need someone like here."
"I guess you'll just have to put off your retirement." Bruce sounded happy about this and Felicity didn't blame him. She wouldn't want to lose a man like Lucius Fox if she ran a billion dollar company.
"I don't think you realize what you're giving up, Bruce," Lucius chastised.
"And I don't think you realize what she would be giving up if she stayed," he replied knowingly.
"This isn't about you and Rachel. You aren't the same people."
"But don't you see that it is?" Bruce replied softly. "The situation isn't that different. It kills me to admit this but Oliver Queen might have bigger balls than me. He fought for what he wanted, maybe it's time I do the same."
Felicity wasn't sure what was going but she wasn't going to complain since it seemed like Bruce was on her side.
Lucius sighed and rubbed his forehead. "If this is what you really need to do, Miss Smoak, then you have my support. It'll be a shame to lose you and if you ever change your mind, I want to be the first person you call."
"You will be, I promise," she told him emphatically. She understood why Thea was a hugger because right now she really wanted to hug the both of them but she restrained herself. "Thank you both for everything."
"Get out of here, Felicity, and go home," Bruce said with a grin. "And I'll let you take the Wayne jet if you do me a favor."
"Anything," she answered without hesitation.
"Tell Queen that I hit on you. A lot."
She frowned at him in confusion. "But you didn't."
"No, I didn't but I owe him one. Now get out of here, I'll call and set up your flight."
She didn't wait to be told twice, booking it out of the office, hearing Lucius tell Bruce, "I'll leave you alone to call Rachel. I hate to see Miss Smoak go but at least she made you see reason."
Things were looking up for everybody.
"Sara! I'm so glad you picked up. I need your help with something. I'm freaking out. I'm boarding a plane in the next ten minutes that's taking me back to Starling City," Felicity said as she impatiently waited at the small airstrip that housed the Wayne Enterprises jet.
Sara's shrill shriek cut her off. "You're coming back?"
"Yes but that's not the important part right now."
"I think it sounds pretty damn important. Felicity, this is great. We'll have to throw a welcome home party and-"
"Sara! Oliver flew to Gotham and told me that he loved me in front of Bruce Wayne and Lucius Fox."
That effectively silenced Sara, though not for long. "Oliver did what?"
"He told me he loved me and I freaked. I told him we couldn't be anything and I let him walk away from me." For the last damn time if she had anything to do with it. "My plan so far is to take a plane back to Starling but I'm at a loss after that. Do I repay the favor and confront him at QC? Or do I go to the Queen mansion? Or do I call him and set up a meet? Do I surprise him? Do I warn him? What do I do, Sara? I have to do something, I can't lose him."
"Okay, I have an idea, just get yourself to Starling City and to the Queen mansion. I'll take care of getting Oliver there."
"That doesn't really sound like a plan."
"Because you don't need a plan, Felicity, you just need to be honest and tell him how you feel. Can you do that?"
Felicity thought about it. She'd never really been able to tell Oliver how she felt, trying not to get in too deep, but it was too late for that. She was in over her head and she didn't care. All she cared about was getting Oliver back and it was long past time she was honest with him and herself. "I can do that."
"Alright, then get your ass on a damn plane and come home."
Felicity paced the room, wringing her hands nervously. When she'd shown up at the Queen mansion, Moira had been the one to let her in and she'd done it excitedly, making Felicity think that Sara had placed more than a few phone calls during Felicity's ride over. She'd shown Felicity to Oliver's room and left her alone, making herself scarce. She'd only been here for about twenty minutes when she heard footsteps coming up the stairs. She froze in place, her nervousness skyrocketing as the steps approached the door. The door creaked open and Felicity came face-to-face with Oliver, who looked thoroughly shocked by finding her standing in his bedroom. "Felicity? What are—"
"Stop," she said, holding her hands up. "Don't talk. There's some stuff I have to say and I have to say it now so I need you to stand there and listen, okay?" She waited until Oliver gave her a tight nod, his hand still on the doorknob. "You were right in Gotham or you've been right this whole time, however you want to look at it, you were right that I was scared. I've been scared my whole life but never as scared as I've been since I met you. I knew the night that I met you that I needed to stay away from you because I could feel how dangerous this could be. How easy it would be to let myself get swept up in these feelings and I couldn't let that happen. I watched my mom fall apart after my dad left us and then I watched it happen over and over again with every new guy she declared the one and I promised myself I would never be like her. So I spent my life following my head and not my heart because I didn't think anything good could come of following my heart."
She paused and smiled softly at Oliver. "What I didn't know was that nothing good could come from ignoring my heart. There I was in Gotham, working with a man I completely idolized, living the life I thought I wanted and the whole time I was miserable because you weren't there. Ever since I met you, I've been trying not to fall for you but love doesn't listen to your head. It listens to your heart and all my heart wants is you. There was no stopping myself from falling in love with you because it was an inevitability, not a maybe. While I was standing there telling myself we could never be, my heart was already yours, I just couldn't see it."
She took a deep breath, trying to quell the emotion rising up in her. "Today when we were standing in Bruce's office, you said that you'd give up anything to be with me, including being CEO, and it hit me that you really did love me because I remember how much your face lit up when you were talking about the company. I knew that if you could give up something that was that important to you, I could too. Because I love you. I've known since that day in Bora Bora, I knew when we were standing up there with Laurel and Tommy, I knew that what I felt for you was love. And it scared me, so I ran away. But no more running." She took a step towards him, trying to gauge what he was feeling through his close guarded face. "No more hiding." Another step. "I'm still scared but I'm not scared about being with you. I'm scared I'm going to lose you because I was an idiot. Because I've let you walk away. Life is full of maybes but I'm certain about one thing. I love you, Oliver Queen. I love you so much my soul aches for you and I don't want to go another minute without you in my life." She stood close enough to touch him but she didn't reach out, waiting for him to say something, anything.
He bowed his head, giving it a little shake, and she thought this was it. This was the moment he told her it was too late. Tears welled up in her eyes but she stayed quiet. "Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting for you to say that?" He murmured. He lifted his head and locked eyes with her as she struggled to comprehend his words.
"Does that mean—" She started to ask before Oliver's arms shot out and pulled her close to him as his lips smashed into hers. She gasped before losing herself in him, their lips moving desperately against each other.
He broke the kiss, resting his forehead against hers, softly caressing her cheek. "I love you, Felicity. I want to be with you more than I've wanted anything in my life." He wiped away the tears that stained her face and looked down at her, the love in his eyes slamming into her.
"Good because it looks like you might be stuck with me for awhile. I mean I have no job and no apartment so..." She trailed off jokingly.
Oliver grinned. "The job won't be a problem and I have a giant bed that I would love to share."
"Are you sure? Because I will warn you that I'm a blanket hog so—"
He cut her off again with a steamy kiss. She wouldn't mind be interrupted constantly if it was like that. "You can have anything you want, Felicity. Including the blankets."
"I just want you," she said softly.
He placed a light kiss on the tip of her nose. "So no more maybes?"
She wrapped her arms around his neck and grinned up at him, happy that this man was hers, no matter what. "No more maybes," she agreed as she stood up on her tiptoes to kiss him.
All that was left between them was certainty, no doubt that they loved each other with everything they had.
No more maybes.
AN- Alright guys, there it is. Thank you for reading, reviewing, favoriting, and following, you're seriously the best. Please let me know what you thought, favorite scenes, and scenes you didn't like. I love hearing all of it.