A/N: Sorry for the wait. I apologize for any mistakes. Thank you to everyone who has subscribed, bookmarked, commented and left kudos. It means a lot.
Thank you to everyone who has followed, favorited and reviewed!
I hope you like this chapter :)
P.S. I Know nothing about traveling by airplane so there may be some inconsistencies. I apologize in advance for that.
"When is Oliver meeting us?" Sara sat atop Felicity's dresser, watching as Felicity packed. Her own bag sat waiting beside Felicity's front door.
"He said he would meet us at the airport." Felicity folded up her clothes and placed them neatly in her suitcase. "Did you tell your family you were leaving town for a few days?"
"I told my dad I was visiting a friend." Sara gave a shrug of her shoulder, grabbing up a comb on Felicity's dresser and twirling it in her hands. "Laurel thinks I'm off to be irresponsible where she won't be there to judge me." Sara rolled her eyes, it was tiring how little her own sister thought of her.
Felicity thought it would've been easier on Sara if she was honest with Laurel about where she was going but she also didn't think Laurel would have handled it as well as Sara had. Quite frankly, Sara handled it better than she did but maybe that was because it wasn't happening to Sara directly.
"You know, you don't have to go, right?" Felicity asked, not wanting Sara to think that she had to come with her.
"I course, I don't have to," Sara responded strongly, jumping down from the dresser and started helping Felicity pack. "But I want to. I'm not letting you face this alone."
"Oliver's going, I won't be alone." Felicity reminded, folding an article of clothing and placing it in with her clothes in the suitcase.
Sara waved her hand dismissively. "He doesn't count."
Felicity snorted. "Other than being cursed like me, you mean."
Sara nodded, conceding that Felicity had a point there. "Well, there is that." Sara paused, thoughtfully as she grabbed a little black dress from Felicity's closet and held it up to her.
Felicity shook her head no, Sara frowned, glancing at the dress and ignored Felicity and put the dress in her suitcase anyway. "How many days did you take off work?"
"A week." Felicity thought about taking the dress back out but decided not to. "It's a good thing I'm so good at my job or else I doubt they give me three days let alone a week. How many were you able to take off?"
"I got Lisa covering for my shifts. When I get back I return the favor." Sara replied, sifting through Felicity's clothes, she grabbed up a pair red laced panties. "You should pack these just in case."
Felicity frowned. "In case what?"
"In case the pull between you and Oliver becomes too much and you end up jumping each other's bones."
Felicity glared. "I'm not going to jump his bones." she snatched the red laced panties from Sara's hands and put them back in her dresser before walking to her bathroom to grab her toiletries bag.
Sara waited till she was gone and then grabbed the red lace from her dresser and quickly slipped it into Felicity's suitcase, placing it at the very bottom and quickly placed a top over it to cover it up, she stepped back just as Felicity returned.
"Okay, I think that's everything," Felicity said when she finished packing her bags.
"Good." said Sara, "I still think you should have packed the red lace." she couldn't suppress her grin.
Felicity rolled her eyes as they headed out the door with their bags. Felicity was locking up her front door when her phone sounded in her pocket, she fished it out and saw Oliver's name flashing across her screen. "Hello?" she answered, putting the phone to her ear.
"So what is your take on taking my family jet to Vegas?"
"Like it's not going to happen," Felicity said firmly. There was no way she was taking his family jet anywhere. "I rather not draw attention to us. So that's a no."
"Oh, C'mon, Felicity. Live a little." Felicity could hear the charming grin in his voice.
"Oliver this trip needs to be discreet as possible. I rather not be plaster all over the gossip headlines as your next flavor of the week." She was not going to end up on the cover of a trashy gossip rag.
"How the hell am I supposed to be discreet? Everyone knows who I am."
"Blend in. Go incognito. Try not to be so obvious." Felicity didn't care how he managed as long as he did.
"Great, I'll get right on that." Oliver's voice dripped with sarcasm.
"I'm serious, Oliver." Felicity wished he was in front of her so she could glare at him to get her point across. "I can't have my face plastered all over the papers." She also couldn't have this affecting her job at QC.
"Okay, I'll try not to get noticed," Oliver responded, and she could swear she heard him rolling his eyes.
"Thank you. Sara and I will meet you at the airport." She quickly hung up before he could respond.
"You know if you and Oliver end up together you're going to end up in the papers together anyway," Sara commented.
"We are not going to end up together," Felicity replied as they reached the cab waiting outside. They tossed the bags into the back seat and got in.
"Soul mates are destined to be together," Sara said, taking amusement in the way Felicity's eyes twitched in annoyance, ignoring how the cab driver was sending them odd works for their current topic of conversation.
"One, soul mates doesn't automatically mean you live out a happy life, growing old together. Secondly, I see what you're doing. You're purposely messing with me for your own amusement."
"A bit." Sara grinned. "It's fun besides like you said I'm just messing with you."
Felicity clicked her tongue. "You suck."
"No. I'm awesome," she tossed Felicity a smirk. "And you know it."
"Yeah, you kind of are," Felicity admitted pulling out onto the road. She didn't know many people who would just take off with their friend to help out with a problem when they didn't have to. Sara was just being a good friend and Felicity was grateful for it.
Oliver was leaning against his town car when the cab pulled up to the airport. He was dressed in jeans and a gray hoodie, he wore a pair of sunglasses and a baseball cap. Beside him was a man who cut an intimidating with his height and physical build. The sheer size of him had Felicity doing a double take, his arms were the size of tree trunks.
"Who the frack is that with Oliver?" She asked, unclipping her seat belt.
"Oh, that's his bodyguard. His whole family has bodyguards." Sara climbed out of the back seat and Felicity followed.
"Digg! You tagging along on this trip?" Sara greeted as they retrieved their bags.
"It was that or my mother would send an entire team of security guards after me." Said Oliver, pushing off the town car.
Felicity froze, her eyes widening. "You told your mother we were going to Vegas?"
Oliver took advantage of her distraction and took her bags. "I told her I was leaving town for a few days to blow off steam."
Felicity nodded, relieved. Then frowned, reaching for her bag.
"I got it," Oliver told her with one of his charming grins.
Felicity sighed, deciding to let it go. Instead, she turned to Oliver's large, no non-sense looking bodyguard.
"Hi, I'm Felicity Smoak." Felicity extended her hand.
"John Diggle," he replied shaking her hand firmly.
"Well, it's nice to meet you, Mr. Diggle." Felicity let her hand drop back to her side.
"Just Digg will do, Ms. Smoak," Digg said, fighting back a smile. He cast a look at Oliver, raising his brow.
Oliver only shrugged in response. He knew Felicity wasn't like his usual girls. She wasn't brunette, she wasn't leggy, she wasn't throwing herself at him. And she had this way about her that drew you in and made you like her instantly.
"Then just call me Felicity." Felicity offered him a friendly smile.
Diggle nodded, returning her smile with a faint one of his own
"So how much has Oliver told you exactly about this trip?" Felicity wondered, watching him curiously.
"Nothing. He said he was going to Vegas with two friends," he responded, side-eyeing Oliver. "I thought he might be talking about Tommy and one of his other friends."
Oliver rolled his eyes at both Diggle side eyeing him and his assumption that he was going to Vegas for a weekend of debauchery. Admittedly it wasn't a far-off assumption but still, that wasn't the case this time around.
"So you didn't know he would be heading to Vegas with two female friends," Felicity concluded with a shake of her head. "But I promise nothing is going to happen that will end up in the papers."
Digg gave her a challenging look. "He's going to Vegas with two beautiful blonde women. I don't like to know the details of my clients 'love' life and I'd like to keep it that way." he cast a quick look at Oliver one that said he hoped he knew what he was doing. "I only need to know what is necessary for me to do my job."
Felicity coughed, air getting stuck in her throat, Sara reached out patting her on the back with a laugh at her reaction.
Felicity quickly recovered. "Wait, you think, the three of us-" she waved a hand, between herself, Sara and Oliver. "are together, together?"
John expression was stoic, not denying it or confirming it.
Felicity's face flushed her cheeks heating. "That is so not happening, I mean, I know Sara's bi but from what I know of Oliver and her they are not like that." She was sure Sara would have said something if they were. "And Oliver and I are definitely not together."
Oliver stepped closer to Felicity with a charming grin firmly in place, his eyes sliding over her slowly. "We can change that."
Felicity gaze snapped to him. "Shut up," she told him in vague annoyance. She turned her attention back to Digg. "This is a platonic trip. I swear." her eyes were serious, her chin raised. "No one is going to Vegas for a wild night or getting hitch."
"Well, I wouldn't say no to a wild night as long as it's with you." Oliver flashed her another one of his flirty smiles and Sara snorted.
Felicity turned her body toward him, glaring. "Seriously, Oliver, do I need to cut out your tongue to keep you from making suggestive comments?"
Oliver's eyes sparkled in amusement. "If you ripped out my tongue, how am I supposed to show you just how good I am with it," he replied cheekily and Sara laughed.
"I will kill you." Felicity threatened, her eyes flashing with annoyance.
Diggle expression had changed from stoic to one full of amusement. "I think you and I are going to get along just fine, Felicity. I've been waiting for a girl to knock him down a peg or two."
"Hmm." Felicity hummed, looking like she was considering her words carefully, then her lips turned up into a bright smile. "I think we're going to get along just fine, Digg."
Oliver leaned half toward Sara, whispering. "Should I be worried?" He watched John and Felicity and half thought they were planning to conspire against him.
"Hmm." Sara pretended to think about it before smirking mischievously. "Possibly."
Oliver frowned. He wasn't sure he like that idea. But when Felicity laughed at something Diggle said her face lighting up, he quickly decided he didn't care if they plotted against him, not when Felicity's beautiful laughed sounded, entrancing him with how carefree she sounded and looked right then.
The four booked their tickets for Vegas catching the next flight out which was in just an hour, Oliver kept his head down and did his best to go unnoticed.
When they boarded the plane Felicity claimed the seat by the window, Sara quickly taking the aisle seat next to her.
Oliver glared at Sara before taking the seat just behind them, Diggle having already taken the seat by the window.
"When are we visiting your mom?" Felicity looked up from the book she was reading at Sara's question. They were only twenty minutes into the flight.
Felicity frowned, turning her body toward Sara in her seat. "We aren't."
Oliver leaned forward in his seat at the mention of Felicity's mother. Hoping to learn more about Felicity.
Sara's lips pulled down into a disappointed frown. "What do you mean we aren't? You can't not visit your mother."
"I didn't say I wasn't. I said we weren't." Felicity clarified. She was going to visit her mother but she rather no one else was there with her when she did. She didn't need her two worlds colliding. Her mother was a whirlwind all on her own.
"But I want to meet Donna," Sara protested. "C'mon, Felicity."
"Absolutely not," Felicity said firmly. There was no way Sara was meeting her mother. It wasn't that she was embarrassed. It was more she didn't want the two of them meeting and bonding and ganging up on her about her lack of social life beyond the nights she would meet up with Sara and Laurel.
Oliver stretched until he was leaning over the back of the seat, looking at Felicity. "Your mom's name is Donna?" he asked, not bothering to hide the fact that he had been listening.
Felicity leaned to the side, not surprised that he was listening but surprised that he sounded even the little bit interested in knowing more about her mother. "Yes," she answered, finally.
"Ugh, I need to go to the bathroom," Sara said, quickly excusing herself. "I'll be right back." She got up from her seat, disappearing down the aisle.
Oliver wasted zero time in claiming Sara's seat the second she was gone, wanting to get closer to Felicity. This wouldn't be a problem if they would have just taken his family jet
Felicity's eyes narrowed on him as he settled in the seat next to her. "What are you doing?"
"I think that's obvious," he said, turning his body toward her. "What's your mother like?"
"She's my mother," Felicity said after a moment. She didn't know why he was so curious about her mother. It's not like they ever talked about her family before.
"Felicity." Oliver was expecting a little more. Was there something wrong with him taking more of an interest in the woman who raised her.
"We don't have a lot in common but she's a great mom." Felicity cursed his blue eyes that were pleading with her to give him something. Why did they have to be so damn blue? "She always worked hard to make sure I had all the best opportunities she could give me."
"She sounds like a great mom. Are you close?" He wondered. He was close with his mother when he was younger but as he grew up, he spent less and less time with her. The pressures and expectations to live up to the Queen legacy didn't help to bridge the gap that had grown between them.
Felicity pursed her lips, thinking of the relationship she shared with her mother. They were close in a way but then they weren't. "That's a complicated question."
"Not really." Oliver shook his head. "It's a yes or no question."
Felicity sighed. There were times where she and her mother had clashed over their differences but at the end of the day, she knew her mother would do anything for her. "We have our moments where we're not but for the most part yes."
Oliver nodded. "Do you have any siblings?" Oliver wondered tilting his head at her.
"Only child," Felicity answered. She had wanted a little sister when she was younger but as she got older she realized it wasn't in the cards for her and let it go.
Oliver nodded. "What about your dad? Are you close to him?"
Felicity jaw tightened at the thought of her father. "He's not in the picture," she answered shortly.
"I'm sorry. That must suck." Oliver said sincerely, he couldn't imagine what that was like. He had always had his dad. Sure he had been busy with work more often than not when he was younger and even now but at least he was a part of his life.
Felicity nodded but said nothing. She appreciated his sincerity but she didn't want to talk about her dad. She pursed her lips, looking away from him and out the window.
"Any cousins, aunts or uncles?" asked Oliver wondering if she had family outside of her mother.
Felicity turned her gaze back to him with a look of suspicion. "Is there a reason you're asking me so many questions?"
Oliver saw the tense set of her shoulders, he wanted to reach out, rub the tension out for her but doubted it would be well received. "I'm just trying to get to know you better."
Felicity felt the tension ease out of her at his words, her suspicious look smoothing out to one of surprise. He sounded so genuine but more than that she could feel his want to get to know her. He meant what he was saying.
Oliver watched the emotion flicker across her face but even if he hadn't seen it, he felt it.
"I have one cousin by marriage. From my mom's side." Felicity said after a moment. "He's a few years younger than me. He's 14, his name's Roy. He's more like a little brother than a cousin though. I call him Scarecrow sometimes."
"Speedy, 13," Oliver said and Felicity's brow furrowed. "That's my sister, Thea." he elaborated. "Do you see your cousin often?"
"Sometimes more so since I moved to Starling." He came to stay with her whenever his mother was in one of her drug hazes. It helped that they lived in Starling. Roy's father much like her own was not in the picture. However, her aunt was an addict that sometimes forgot she had a son whenever she was in one of her drug hazes. Her aunt was the complete opposite of her mother in all the worst ways.
Oliver thought it sounded like there was more to the story when it came to her cousin, he was about to ask but couldn't get a word out before he was interrupted.
"Ollie, you're in my seat." Sara hovered next to him, shooting him a look of annoyance. "Up."
"You can have my seat," Oliver told her not wanting to give up the spot next to Felicity. He felt like he was starting to really learn new things about her like he was starting to get to know her a little bit better like he wanted.
"Yeah, no, you're not hogging Felicity for yourself." Sara shook her head and motioned with her hand impatiently for him to get moving. "Move it, Queen."
Oliver reluctantly got up, grumbling. "If anyone hogs her it's you, Lance."
Sara's response was to simply stick her tongue out at him and reclaim her seat.
Felicity stifled a laugh, pressing the back of her hand to her mouth.
Oliver returned to his seat with a frown which only deepened when he caught sight of Diggle's look of amusement. "You find this funny?"
"Completely." Diggle grinned. "Two small blondes, Oliver's Queen's undoing."
"You're not funny," Oliver told him flatly. Admitting to himself that Diggle may not be wrong in regards to at least one of the blondes. He had a feeling Felicity really would be his undoing but he couldn't bring himself to care. It would be worth it.
"I think I'm funny," said Diggle unbothered by the annoyed glare Oliver was sending his way.
"Well, your not," Oliver grumbled. Damn, he hoped Diggle and Sara weren't making it their mission to see who could annoy him the most during this trip.
Diggle was unperturbed in his amusement, chuckling to himself.
The group rented out a town car and Diggle drove them to a five-star hotel, Felicity immediately rejected the idea but Sara had given her the blue eyes puppy dog look, convincing her to go along with it, much to Oliver's joy. He already hated that they didn't take his family's jet.
Felicity didn't have to guess why Detective Lance always let Sara off the hook, especially if she was pulling out her sad blue eyes and pouting. Felicity had caved faster than she was proud to admit.
Oliver was more than happy to set them up in a five-star hotel penthouse suite. Diggle and Oliver had their own rooms however Sara and Felicity had claimed the master suite for themselves with the ensuite bathroom, willing to share.
Felicity admittedly had been overwhelmed by all the extravagance before she shook it off. She just wasn't used to places like this. She was used to her less than stellar lifestyle in comparison to 5-star hotels.
Oliver looked at Felicity, his eyes suggestive. "You know if you don't want to share with Sara, you could always sleep in my bed?"
Sara snorted in a very unladylike manner. "I thought you were smoother than that, Ollie?"
"It's not like it's the first time Sara and I've slept together." Felicity shrugged, her face flushing when she realized how that sounded.
Oliver's eyes widened, his mouth opening and closing in surprise. And honest to God, he couldn't help but picture it. Felicity and Sara in bed together and he was not ashamed to admit that when he did his thoughts were of the mature variety.
Sara laughed knowingly as Oliver stared off at nothing. "You broke his brain." She told Felicity before turning to Oliver. "Mind out of the gutter, Ollie. I sleep over at Felicity's place a lot."
Oliver turned his gaze slowly to her, his eyes glazed over. "In Felicity's bed?"
Felicity blushed her cheeks heating. "Can we move on past the sleeping arrangements? We have more important matters to consider."
"Okay, so our next step is going to see that gypsy woman, right?" Sara asked looking at Felicity.
"How sure are you that she knows what she's talking about?" Oliver questioned, turning expectant eyes to Felicity.
"Everything Talina said would happen has and she predicted this when I was seventeen." Felicity thought that was kind of hard to argue with. Her predictions were coming true that at least earned her some credit.
"Okay," Oliver nodded. "you have a point." Still, all this was weird. Really weird and let's not forget crazy.
"What the hell are you three talking about?" Diggle asked baffled staring at each of them like they were on something.
Felicity turned to Oliver, frowning. "You haven't told him anything?"
"I haven't told anyone about what's going on," Oliver admitted. "The only person I talk to about it was Sara since she already knew what was going on. Hell, she knew before I did." Which okay was helpful since Sara got him to go see that Felicity wasn't just messing with him. But this wasn't something he would go around telling anyone. Mainly because they would probably want to check him in a psych ward and evaluate him for being crazy.
"Well, when your friend has words carved into her skin, you tend to demand answers," Sara responded defensively. How could she not want answers when she saw Felicity's brand.
"Felicity has what now?" Diggle frowned, becoming even more confused.
"Oliver has them too," Felicity said defensively,
"Really?" Diggle's sharp eyes turned to his friend.
"Okay, Oliver, why don't you fill Digg in on what's going on. And I'll order us some food?" Felicity suggested, though her tone basically implied he had no choice in the matter. "I'm starving and feeling a bit jet-lagged."
"When are we going to see Talina?" Sara wondered.
"Tomorrow afternoon is the safest best. It's getting late, her shop will be close about now. I figure we can get settled in for the night." Felicity answered, plus it gave her one more night to be in denial about how weird her life has become since she met Oliver and the mark appeared.
"Is she discreet?" Oliver wondered, walking around the suite before settling onto the couch.
Sara frowned, her eyes narrowing. "You think she'll reveal what's going on to the press because you're you."
"Well, the thought has crossed my mind," Oliver admitted.
"That's something we should all consider. If something like this got out the press would have a field day." Diggle looked at Oliver. "And what exactly is this?"
"So apparently Felicity met this gypsy when she was 17 who told her she and her soulmate were cursed. Turns out I'm her soulmate and get this we share the same soul. We can feel what the other is feeling."
Diggle frown deepened. "What the hell have all you been taking? You should stop whatever it is before you get yourself committed for some kind of mental break."
"We're not on drugs and we're not crazy." Oliver pulled up his shirt bearing his mark. "This appeared the same night I met Felicity."
Diggle's eyes widened as he took in the mark, the words creepy and possessive to him, his eyes snapped to Felicity. "You have one too?"
Felicity nodded and lifted her shirt just enough for Diggle to see her mark. "Not the same words but basically, yeah."
He shook his head at the sight. "Man, this is crazy." Digg sunk into a chair across from Oliver. "So you came to Vegas to get help from this gypsy woman, Talina?"
"She knows more about this than we do." Felicity nodded. "She's our best shot at figuring this out and putting an end to it."
"Well, let's hope she doesn't leak this to the papers cause I have no idea how your PR team would cover this up," Digg said, his eyes on Oliver.
"No, I don't think Talina is like that." Felicity shook her head, moving to sit on the other end of the couch. "She's a little weird, okay, a lot weird but I think she's a good person. I truly believe she just wants to help." From the day Felicity met her she hadn't asked a single thing from her. Never wanted anything in exchange for her help. She just seemed like she genuinely wanted to help.
Sara sat on the arm of the couch next to Felicity. "In any case, she's the only who might have an idea to help you."
Felicity understood their doubts. Hell before she met Talina she thought gypsies were basically quacks but then she met Talina and the woman had been so sure. It was hard not to take her seriously. It became impossible when the mark appeared. "Once you meet her, I think your concerns will be gone. Talina, she's not a fraud and she's not out to scam people."
Felicity truly believed that all Talina wanted to do was help them.
The next morning, the four got breakfast before heading out to meet Talina. They were having breakfast at one of Felicity's favorite cafe's with wraparound booths, the service was always friendly and great, at night they always had a local performer playing the piano.
"Do you remember where her shop is?" Sara asked, digging into her breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes.
Felicity nodded. "Yeah, her shop is just down the street from the Casino my mother works at." She cut off a bite of her blueberry waffle covered in just the right amount of butter and syrup.
"Your mother works at a casino?" Oliver asked curiously looking up from his plate of sausage, eggs, and bacon. "What does she do?"
"She's a cocktail waitress," Felicity answered, not the least bit ashamed of her mother's job. She worked long hours to provide for her and she was grateful to her mother for everything.
Sara looked at Felicity with a hopeful smile. "Is there any chance you'll let us meet her today?"
Felicity considered it for a moment, knowing how much Sara wanting to meet her mother, she sighed more to herself than anything. " I planned on seeing her later. You can meet her then."
Oliver grinned at the possibility of meeting Felicity's mother and he wasn't even sure why the idea of meeting her mother pleased him so much. Just that he wanted to know the woman who he had to thank for bringing Felicity into the world.
Sara grinned, pleased. "Good." she was looking forward to meeting the woman she heard so much about.
"Fair warning, we are nothing alike," Felicity warned with a wave of her fork.
Diggle looked at her in amusement, eating his own breakfast that was the same as Oliver's.
"I'm serious." Felicity insisted. "Most people assume I'm adopted because we're nothing alike."
And they really weren't, they were so different at times it made their personality clash but it didn't mean they loved each other any less. It just meant that they didn't always see eye to eye. Still, she knew her mother would do anything for her and she would do the same for her.
Felicity found her way to the shop easily, remembering exactly where it was. She entered the shop with Oliver and Sara trailing in behind. The bell jingling above the door as it opened and closed behind them.
Digg had opted to stay in the car. All this talk of curses and marks was a little too out there for him. He wanted to be on a need to know bases as far as he was concerned in all this soulmate, curse, mojo.
Felicity could sympathize that had been her reaction at first, too until she was forced to faced there was some amount of truth to it all.
There was a young girl with Coppertone skin, green eyes, working behind the counter. She looked to be around 19.
Felicity approached her. "Hi, I'm Felicity Smoak and I was hoping to speak with Talina."
The girl's eyes widened. "I know who you are. Aunt Talina told me about you." Felicity brow raised in surprise that Talina had spoken of her to someone else. "Just wait one second, I'll go and get her."
But before the young girl could step away from the counter, there was the sound of rattling beads and an older woman was emerging from a back room. Felicity recognized Talina almost immediately. The woman and her ominous warnings were hard to forget no matter how much time had past.
She looked almost the same as when Felicity saw her when she was seventeen, except she had a few more age lines and a few gray hair streaks in her dark hair that contrasted with her Coppertone skin. The resemblance between her and the young girl was obvious.
Talina looked directly at Felicity when she emerged from the back room her eyes intently on her. "I've been expecting you." Talina moved around the counter toward Felicity.
"Felicity Smoak." Talina reached out, taking Felicity's hand in her own however when she did she frowned. She looked at Sara and Oliver momentarily.
She paused but then her eyes zeroed in on Oliver, staring through him like she could see into his soul. Knowing her Felicity thought maybe she could. Talina's free hand snapped out and took Oliver's hand in her own, her eyes narrowing.
"Hey, hey, what are you doing?" Oliver asked startled, he pulled on his hand but the old woman's nails dug into his skin, keeping his hand in her grasp. "Ow!"
Talina ignored him as she turned his hand over, with a huff of disapproval she dropped both their hands abruptly, shooting her eyes back to Felicity with a look full of accusation. "You've formed a bond."
"What?" Felicity's eyes widened and she shook her head in denial. "No, we haven't."
"I'm the expert here," Talina retorted sharply, her eyes flaring with annoyance. "Felicity, your energies have merged. You have formed a bond."
"But how?" Her brow scrunched up, looking completely confounded. "I mainly kept my distance from him."
Sara looked to felicity a grin tugging at her lips. "Did you sleep with him?"
"No!" Felicity protested, her voice rising in volume, cheeks heating at the implication.
"I would definitely remember that happening," Oliver commented, I mean, how could he not, he'd been longing after her since the night he first laid eyes on her.
"Have you had any physical contact?" Talina looked between them both. Scrutinizing them with her gaze as if simply looking at them would give her the answer she wanted.
Felicity face flushed, feeling completely flustered as she recalled practically making out with Oliver. "Well, I, I mean, we um, we-"
"We made out," Oliver stated bluntly, his lips pulling into a smirk as he remembered the feel of his mouth moving against hers.
Talina face pinched and she clicked her tongue in clear annoyance. "Did you touch each other's marks?"
Felicity winced, she really hoped that wasn't going to come back and bite her in the ass. It was just a touch. "Um, I did."
"But I didn't touch her mark." Oliver felt the need to say.
Talina made another sound of annoyance, huffing in exasperation.
"Are you saying they can form a bond simply by touching each other's mark?" Sara asked, stepping forward. "I thought they would have to have sex or something for that to happen."
"Real soul connections are through the simplest of touches." Talina voice held a weight to them that captured their sole focus. "Not everything is through sex. Young people these days." she shook her head as if she couldn't possibly understand the younger generation.
Talina turned her focus back on Felicity. "The bond isn't completely formed. Let's keep it that way."
Felicity nodded, if forming the bond was such a bad thing then she would do everything she could to keep that from happening.
Oliver frowned. "What's so bad about us forming a bond?"
"It can affect our chances of breaking your curse," Talina answered gravely.
"I'm sorry, what?" Felicity asked, eyes wide with surprise and worry.
Talina looked at her with a look that was half exasperated, half sympathetic. "I told you not to form a bond. I told you it wouldn't be good."
"Then how do we un-form the bond?" Felicity asked quickly, wringing her hands together.
"You don't." Talina shook her head, her eyes unsettled. "Once a bond is formed that's it. It cannot be undone. Soulmates that are bonded are not trivial. It's not like when a marriage run its course and you get a divorce. A soul mate bond is for the rest of your life. Literally. It cannot be broken."
"Then how are they supposed to break the curse?" asked Sara hoping she was following along correctly. "If the bond makes things worse for them what are they supposed to do? They cannot stay cursed."
Felicity raised her chin, stubbornly. "No, there has to be a way to break it."
Talina looked at her appraisingly before finally, she said. "There is one way."
Oliver could feel Felicity's desire to break the curse, to be free of it, he wanted the curse broken but he could feel Felicity's need for it stronger than his own. "What is it?"
Talina looked between them with a grim expression. The next word to leave her lips shocked them all into a stun silence.
"You have to die."
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