A/N Okay just wanted to let you guys know that I have decided to wrap this story up after Chapter 11. This is how I saw the story going and I cannot wait to meet the stunning conclusion...dun-dun-dun NEXT WEEK!

CHAPTER 10

Oliver thought to himself that he had reached a new low but then again he felt a duty to protect the citizens of Starling City. Even if that meant spying on Felicity and the guy she was having dinner with. He was supposed to be out on patrol but he somehow found himself watching Felicity. When he thought how crazy it was or what it meant he immediately again tried to brush it away with just wanting to protect everyone.

Oliver kept watch and he wished he had planted that mic on Felicity before she left the foundry so he could hear what was going on. Although, he really didn't need much help in that department. Because since the date started Felicity had only smiled a couple of times and from the lack of movement in her lips she had said very little. Oliver's guess was the guy was a talker.

"Oliver what's going on", came Diggle's voice through Oliver's ear piece.

Oliver jumped like a kid who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He relaxed and relayed back to Digg "just doing some surveillance".

Digg scoffed before saying "I don't think spying on Felicity and her date is considered surveillance".

Oliver had no idea how Digg knew what he was up to but it was best not to try to lie his way out of it.

"Yes it is Digg. Who is this guy? What's he about? But from the looks of things he is as boring as a stump."

"Well you know maybe if Felicity would have met him before you she wouldn't be bored".

Oliver let that sink in. Had he ruined Felicity for the kind of guy she deserved? Someone who would not put her in harms way on a nightly basis. But then the thought of never having met Felicity and never having known her made Oliver feel like the world was on an axis and he was about to tip over. Oliver didn't realize he had let out a very audible sigh.

"You okay?"

"Yeah Digg. I'm fine. You know even if what you say is true she can still find someone who is at least more interesting than watching paint dry."

"If you say so. Well since you aren't really on surveillance I'm gonna go ahead and call it a night. Layla really wants me to bring her a Big Belly Burger."

"See ya tomorrow Digg".

"Oh and Oliver just remember you can't expect Felicity to wait forever", and with that Diggle was gone.

Oliver continued to watch as Felicity and her date ate their meals and then even after they ordered dessert and coffee. Oliver was beginning to wonder if maybe he was reading Felicity all wrong. Maybe she was having a great time and he had made it up all in his head that she was miserable. Buy why? Because it gave him a shot? HELL YES! Who was he kidding. He wanted her to be miserable because it meant he still had a shot. That moment in the foundry replayed back in his mind where she had told him she disagreed with his reasoning as to why he couldn't be with her.

Really what was stopping him? Was he really willing to risk losing the one woman...no the one person in his life who knew him better than any other? Felicity accepted every part of him and that was what drew him in further. He felt like a moth to her flame. She made him remember his humanity and that he could do good. She was the only one who believed enough in him that he could stop Slade without killing him. She was it. She was the one and he was going to let her go to some wimp in a suit who couldn't keep his trap closed for more than a minute.

Oliver decided in that moment that he had spent enough time on this Earth being tortured and there was no reason to continue that on himself.

Oliver watched as Felicity and Mr. Talker walked outside of the restaurant. The moment Felicity got into her car by herself and drove away felt like the greatest triumph in his life. He decided that all those times he spent watching her walk away was enough. He jumped down the stairwell and started running in the direction of Felicity's house.

He had a million reasons why this decision was a bad idea. But he had even more as to why it was the best decision of his life.