A/N: I wanted to thank everyone for all the encouragement and excitement you shared with me as we traveled on this journey with Oliver and Felicity. I'm planning on posting the last chapter this Saturday. Lots of love to all of you!

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She had felt him return her hug and for a moment she was just a woman, not his therapist. But as Oliver's words sank in, she awkwardly stepped back from him.

Her unprofessionalism was unforgivable.

She knew she shouldn't have touched him. She had been selfish for once in her life and she felt awful that she may have made him uncomfortable.

Her heart sank and despair, all her own, begun to radiate from the middle of her chest.

"I'm not handling this very well." Oliver said as he nervously ran his fingers through his hair. "I can't see you for..therapy, anymore."

"I understand." Felicity said as she walked away from him to stand behind her desk. She didn't want him to see how much she was hurting. She had come to that exact same conclusion before she hugged him, but to hear him say it out loud, magnified everything.

Concentrate past your pain, Felicity. This is not about you. It has never been about you she reminded herself. This is about Oliver and you need to make sure he's going to be okay.

"Actually, you don't." Oliver said as he followed after her and stood on the opposite side of her desk.

Her desk had become a barrier they were both using to protect their hearts. "It's been a long time for me. I don't quite know how to do this sort of thing anymore."

"What sort of thing?" Felicity asked, thoroughly confused now.

"I can't see you as my therapist anymore, because...I would like to see you in a personal capacity...would you like to go out to dinner..with me?" He asked.

Felicity was caught completely off guard. She thought he was firing her because of the hug and her unprofessionalism.

"Dinner? As in a date, date?"

"Yes, as in a date, date." Oliver said with a huge smile. He was so proud of himself for being able to say those words. He knew he had had feelings for Felicity since the first night they met and he hoped after her hug, that she might feel something for him, too. His near death experience last night had reminded him of so many things that were important in life. One of them being, love.

He woke up that morning actually looking forward to the new day. His acknowledgment of Tiny and with Thea and he nearly dying, he couldn't wait to try to live again.

He was given a second chance at a second chance.

And he was grabbing it by the reins and jumping on for the ride. Felicity was an incredibly special person to him and he wanted to explore those feelings.

"I..." Felicity responded as she tried to gather her wits. She was stunned. Felicity knew she had feelings for him, but she hadn't been sure what he felt. And she still wasn't sure what Oliver was feeling. She could "feel" his interest and desire towards her, but the reasons for them...were never part of her gift. Even with her special insight, why people felt what they felt would always be a mystery, just as it would be to a non-Empath.

"I'm hoping you'll say, yes." He said as he stood in front of her, his reds and greens so vibrant and rich that Felicity felt like crying as she looked at his beautiful, beautiful face. She could feel hope and excitement wash over her. His hope and his excitement. Oh, how she wished she could say yes. She wanted to scream yes, but she...couldn't.

"Oliver, I...can't." Her heart reached out to him hoping he would understand. "I've come to care deeply for you Oliver, but...I fear you may be feeling things for me because I've helped you. Patients tend to have this reaction to their therapists."

"Felicity, believe me this isn't because you're my therapist. I've had feelings for you from the moment I first saw you." Oliver said as he tried to make her understand how important she was too him. She cared for him. His heart filled with joy and fear at the same time. She had also said, no. He could see she was hurting.

"Oliver, I've become this confidant. This person that has helped you find your way towards healing and feeling better. How could you be sure that what you're feeling for me, isn't because of that? How could I be sure?" She said, pleading with him to understand her concerns.

"Felicity.." He whispered as he watched her pain turn into resolution. He wanted to fight for her. This incredible and vibrant woman he didn't want to lose.

"I've seen this happen in therapy. It's not a bad thing or something to be ashamed of. It's part of who we are as human beings. It's only human to feel something towards me."

"I know what.."

"Oliver, please. It's hard enough for me to say no." Felicity whispered, hoping and dreading he would stop. She watched his aura dim and then his emotional touch trailed down the length of her body till it finally withdrew.

"Okay." With her entreaty and plea, Oliver stopped...pushing. His heart was breaking. He could see vulnerability and sadness in her eyes. He would not push what was not welcomed. He didn't want to hurt her anymore.

Was what she spoke of, true? Was his attraction and feelings wrapped up in his appreciation and gratefulness? No, he didn't think so, but she said she had seen this happen. No matter what she thought it was, he knew in his heart, what he felt for her was true. It hurt him to pull back from her. From the one person who made him feel whole again, but he would respect her wishes. He would let her go.

Though the haze of his pain he knew that he wanted and needed to part with her as friends. She was too important to him to do otherwise.

"About what happened yesterday, thank you for everything. Thank you for saving our lives. It must have been just as traumatic for you as it was for us. I'm still stunned." He said as he stepped back from her emotionally and physically, giving her the space he knew she needed. Every inch away from her destroyed him.

"It was. Your auras turned black and a coldness, I had never felt before, swept over me. I've never experienced that before." And it felt like she was feeling it all over again. She fought the fear of losing him. She was cold and bereft of all emotion, except pain, as she forced herself to let him go.

Maybe she was wrong about this, but she could never be sure she wasn't hurting him by getting involved with him. Oliver would always be her priority. She needed to ensure he was emotionally healthy as he begun his next chapter in life. His journey towards self forgiveness.

"How did you know about the truck?"

"I didn't. I just knew I had to stop you from doing whatever you were doing. It was a crazy, lucky guess Oliver." She said with sad smile.

"You're remarkable, Felicity Smoak." He said as they both smiled at each other with shared heartache and gratefulness. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. I'm thankful I could help you. I'm thankful I could help you in everything, Oliver...may I suggest a new therapist for you?" She gently offered as her heart broke into a million pieces.

He looked at her one last time and nodded his acceptance.

"I'll have Emma call you with my referral. Be well, Oliver." Felicity said as she folded her arms across her chest, trying not to stop him from leaving.

"Goodbye, Felicity."

"Goodbye, Oliver."