Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! One thing I'm grateful for this year is all of your comments and support for this story. So thank you! Hope you're all having a wonderful holiday and will enjoy this next chapter.

Chapter 11

"Why are we doing this again?"

"Because we were invited."

"And we can't say no because..."

"If we say no to another Bratva leader, it's considered an insult. And if Petrov thinks we're insulting him, then we can probably kiss our chances of leaving this country alive good-bye."

"Oh, that's comforting," Felicity said as she fidgeted with her dress once more. They were on their way down to the hotel casino. Petrov had sent them an invitation that morning to be his special guests tonight. Felicity really didn't want to go, but Oliver insisted that it was necessary. "And here I thought you could take him."

"Well, I can," Oliver amended. "But Petrov would still be insulted and the last thing we need is him poking further into our business to get even."

Diggle, adjusting his tie, added, "Most likely he wants to seal the deal on his drugs."

Felicity glanced between the two of them and shook her head. "Wow, that makes me feel so much better. You guys really need to work on your pep talks."

"My connection with the Bratva is valuable. It wouldn't be smart to cut ties." Oliver placed a hand on her arm to still her movements. "Besides, we'll be fine."

The surety in his stare calmed her slightly. Felicity let her hands fall down by her sides and took a deep breath. "If you say so." She really didn't like Petrov, and the idea of spending the night with him and his cronies gave her the creeps.

"Hey," Oliver said, recapturing her attention. "Trust me."

She offered him a small smile in return. "I do." Of that much she was sure. Felicity held his gaze for a moment longer before staring at her reflection in the elevator doors. She'd decided on a short, sleeveless black dress. A see-through, beaded lace trim went along the hem and across the chest to create another set of straps that fell below her shoulders. Her hair was completely up in an intricate bun with a side braid. Several small, jeweled pins glittered among the strands. To complete the look, she wore silver heels and long, sparkly earrings.

They were almost to the ground floor when Diggle cleared his throat. It sounded natural, but Oliver knew exactly what he was trying to hint at. Oliver had been avoiding it all day, because they'd spent most of their time in the suite monitoring Merlyn's compound and solidifying their plan. Now that they would be among people again, Oliver couldn't put it off any longer.

"Felicity," Oliver said casually.

"Yes?" Her attention was on her phone, so she didn't look up.

Feeling Diggle nudge him when he hesitated, Oliver reached into his pocket and finally pulled out the small velvet box. This was starting to become a habit. He'd done this more in one month than in his entire life.

"You should put this on before the doors open," he rushed out and practically shoved the box at her.

Felicity shifted back, startled by the swiftness of the gesture. She opened the box, and her eyes widened. It was a large, princess-cut diamond ring surrounded by smaller diamonds along the sides and band. It was beautiful. "Um..." For once, Felicity was speechless.

"You might've been right about the whole ring thing," Oliver gruffly replied, continuing to stare ahead.

Felicity shot a questioning look to Diggle. "It'll help with the cover story," he agreed and pointed to the screen showing the quickly descending floors.

Carefully taking it out of the box, Felicity slid it onto her left ring finger. Oliver must've made the right guess about the size, because it was a perfect fit. "Whoa," she whispered as the diamond facets shined in the light. "We are going to be best friends."

"It's just for tonight," Oliver reminded her.

"Of course," she casually scoffed. "I knew that." This was all for show. Oliver's sudden and uncharacteristic awkwardness was proof enough. It was so much more than attending a charity event and pretending to be friends. Tonight, they actually had to carry out the illusion of being a married couple. The ring was nothing more than a prop to serve that purpose. And yet, the weight of it on her finger made Felicity's stomach feel like it was doing somersaults.

The elevator dinged when they reached the ground floor, and the doors opened. Diggle, in bodyguard mode, took the lead and went out first. Briefly, Oliver met Felicity's eye before offering her his arm. She took it as they walked out into the main lobby together. The casino portion of the hotel was right around the corner. The sound of boisterous patrons and slot machines grew louder as they got closer.

"So, are we getting in a few games of Lucky 7's first or going straight for Petrov?" Felicity inquired once they entered the large, open area.

"We'll do a sweep of the room. He may have invited us, but we don't have to look so eager to be in his company."

"Fine by me."

"Lots of security," Diggle noted.

"It is a casino," Felicity pointed out.

"True but they're not with the hotel. This is personal security."

"Makes sense. There are lots of high-ranking Bratva officials here," Oliver explained. "With the rebels and instability of the region, they can't be too careful."

"God, I miss Starling. Not something I actually thought I'd ever say," Felicity mumbled, mostly to herself. The constant sunshine and heat their first day in Corto Maltese had been great. The longer they stayed in the country, however, the more Felicity sensed the growing danger around them. She was glad that they only had one more day before Oliver went after Merlyn. The sooner they left this corrupt island the better.

"How are you at Black Jack?" Oliver questioned her as they approached one of the card tables.

"I'd say I'm pretty good. I can totally count cards."

Oliver bit back a grin. "You might not want to say that too loud."

"Good to know," Diggle interjected. "I should invite you to my next poker night with some of my army buddies. My friend Bill wins so often, I swear he's marking the cards."

Felicity laughed. "There is actually a really cool trick to figure out the probability-"

"Guys," Oliver cut in to keep their focus.

"Sorry," Felicity apologized and tried to get her game face back on. Several sets of eyes followed their movements, no doubt curious about the rich couple currently inhabiting the presidential suite. The most notable stares came from women eyeing Oliver. Felicity couldn't really blame them. Despite the fact that the guy was an expert at looking good in a tux, he had a very commanding presence.

After doing a sweep of the room, Oliver took a seat at the Black Jack table in an effort to blend in. Diggle continued to scan the room while Felicity stood behind Oliver, portraying the "supportive wife." After watching Oliver play a few hands and lose, Felicity decided to step in. She didn't really consider counting cards cheating, since the casinos did everything they could to ensure that people lost anyway. If she had the talent, why not use it? Sticking it to Petrov was a mere bonus.

Felicity's hand rested on his shoulder as she leaned in to whisper in Oliver's ear, "If I rub your back, it means take the hit. If I tap it, it means hold. I'll do it on and off, so it's not so obvious." Her smile as she pulled away was flirty and affectionate. Oliver placed his hand over hers on his shoulder and gave it a squeeze in confirmation. Any bystanders would get the impression that it was nothing more than an intimate moment between the couple.

Once he let go, she moved closer to Oliver and slid her hand down his back. It took a concentrated effort to ignore the hard muscle under her fingertips and pay attention to the shuffling cards. Felicity let him play a couple more hands before she rubbed his back. Sure enough, it was the first game he won. For the next half hour, Felicity alternated giving him signals. He lost a couple of games to not ruse suspicion, but Felicity made sure that he won back an equal or greater amount.

"Mr. and Mrs. King," came a booming voice behind them. They turned to find Petrov and a young woman, along with his usual security goons, standing a few feet away. "So glad you could make it."

"Thank you for inviting us," Oliver smoothly replied. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Diggle move closer to Felicity. Oliver stood to flank her other side.

Petrov eyed Oliver's pile of chips. "You've done well tonight."

Oliver shrugged as if it was no big deal. "You caught me during a winning streak. I wasn't so lucky earlier this evening."

"Luck is in the eye of the beholder. You can't really be losing if you've got such a beautiful woman beside you."

Suppressing the urge to cringe, Felicity smiled politely at the compliment. She would play her part and get through the night. They were a team, and Oliver and Diggle were depending on her.

Oliver responded by winding an arm around Felicity's waist and pulling her into his side. Her body was tense, but she managed to relax against him. "That's very true." Her left hand landed on his chest, and he saw Petrov scrutinizing the ring there.

The woman next to Petrov nudged him. "Forgive me," Petrov said. "I am being rude. This is my daughter, Malia. Malia, meet Jonas and Megan King."

Malia was tall with long, straight black hair. Felicity thought she looked like a softer version of her father-much prettier, too. She could easily be a model with the pronounced angles of her face and thin, wispy figure. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. King," she said with the same thick accent. Coming from her with that husky voice, it sounded seductive. "My father has told me all about you."

Oliver returned the sentiment as Felicity waited for Malia to acknowledge her presence. Within seconds it became apparent that Felicity was of no concern to her, as the young woman barely spared her a glance. Felicity strained to keep a smile on her face despite the slight. She got the feeling Petrov knew that they weren't an actual married couple and must've told his daughter. On the other hand, the way Malia was looking at Oliver, Felicity got the distinct impression that the woman couldn't give a damn either way.

"Come. We can sit and chat in my private seating area." Petrov pointed to a roped-off, round booth in the corner. It would seem obscure to passersby but gave the sitting party a plain view of the entire room.

When Oliver offered to let Felicity slide in first, she discreetly shook her head. She preferred to be on the end, as far away from Petrov and Malia as possible. Like Petrov's security, Diggle continued to stand. He picked a spot only a couple of feet away from Felicity that allowed him to watch the room while listening in on the conversation.

Felicity didn't say much as Oliver and Petrov made small talk. A couple of other men, who only seemed to speak Russian, joined them. From that moment on, Felicity didn't understand a word anyone was saying. That didn't stop Petrov, though, from looking at her like he could see right through her dress. Even more annoying was the way Malia kept laughing and leaning in to speak to Oliver. Somehow she'd managed to be seated right next to him.

The annoyance turned up a notch when Oliver, and everyone else at the table, laughed at something Malia had said in return. It was a good thing they were only pretending to be a couple or else Felicity would've been really put out that Oliver didn't even try to include her in the conversation. Only once did she think she heard her name come up, to which Oliver placed his hand on her knee and kept talking.

A couple of minutes later, she felt his fingers gently brushing against her skin. The light caress radiated up her body, sending a tingly heat through her veins. Felicity was having a hard time focusing on anything but his touch-not that she could understand a damn word they were saying anyway. The euphoria, however, didn't last long. When Malia shifted from leaning in to Oliver to landing a few light touches, Felicity felt a completely different kind of heat spread through her. Did the woman not see his wife-albeit fake but at least show a little propriety-sitting right next to him? And what the heck was Oliver doing encouraging it? Why give Felicity a stupid ring for this ruse if he wasn't going to play the part himself?

Felicity snuck a peek at Diggle. He must've detected her discomfort, because he discreetly tilted his head toward the exit. He would take her back to the suite if she wanted. Watching Malia flip her hair and lean forward-giving both her and Oliver the perfect view of her exposed cleavage-Felicity decided she'd had enough. She'd just grabbed her purse and started to slide away when she felt Oliver's grip on her knee tighten.

"Where are you going?" It was the first time he'd spoken in English in what felt like forever. The jerk.

"Back to the room."

Oliver's confusion appeared genuine. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she sweetly replied, forcing a carefree smile. "It's been a long day, and I'm tired."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"No." It came out with a little more force than she'd intended. Regaining her composure, Felicity assured him, "I'll be fine. J.D. can take me. You stay." Felicity made sure to thank Petrov for the lovely evening. She then leaned over to press a quick kiss to Oliver's cheek-it seemed like something a wife would do-and stood up before she could register his reaction.

Felicity let Diggle escort her out of the casino, feeling a little bit lighter with each step. When they got back to the suite, Diggle also asked if she was okay. Felicity was much kinder in her response to him and said she'd be all right. It was just a headache from staring at a screen all day. Diggle knew it was a total lie but was nice enough not to call her on it.

After he left, Felicity let out the frustrated groan she'd been holding in. She kicked off her heels and pulled the pins out of her hair. Placing her hands on her hips, she began to pace. Felicity didn't quite know what the heck was wrong with her. Oliver didn't belong to her. They weren't dating and certainly weren't married. They were partners and sort-of friends, plain and simple. There was no reason for her to be so jeal-exasperated. Yes, that was it. She was exasperated. Although, it was his stupid idea to pretend to be a married couple. As his fake wife, and on behalf of women everywhere, shouldn't Felicity be bothered by his thoughtless behavior? Did he really think that a simple caress would be enough to placate her while another woman was shamelessly throwing herself at him?

Maybe what really bothered her was that it didn't seem like him. At least not the man she'd come to know. Oliver had stood up for Felicity against Laurel, who he actually cared about. He'd practically chased off Ray when he'd asked her to dance. He'd called her father and Cooper fools for hurting her. Felicity just assumed that when it came to a perfect stranger, Oliver would have her back. Unless that was the reason right there. Oliver didn't have a past with Malia, and the woman definitely wasn't shy about expressing her attraction to him. They could have a quick tryst without any attachments, since they'd probably never see each other again. Oliver had no one to answer to but himself.

"What happens in Corto Maltese stays in Corto Maltese," Felicity huffed in disgust. She took the diamond ring off her finger and placed it on the coffee table. She needed to clear her head and regroup, which obviously wasn't happening being trapped in the suite. Hearing the soft call of the ocean from the balcony, Felicity had her answer. A nice, long walk on the beach with some fresh air would do her some good. Even better, Felicity sure as hell wouldn't be waiting there for Oliver when he got back.

"You have to visit the caves while you're here. They are truly a sight to behold," Malia said in her native tongue. "The hot springs inside are to die for."

"Sounds nice," Oliver replied as he took a sip of his drink.

"The best part is that not many tourists know about them." Malia looked to her father, who was talking with one of his comrades, and lowered her voice, "There is very little chance of interruption-especially at night." If he happened to miss the innuendo in her words, the seductive smile she sent him made up for it.

It wasn't the first pass Malia had made at Oliver tonight. He'd tried to take it in stride so as not to rock the boat with Petrov, but she was grating on him. Oliver knew exactly what was going on. The reason why Petrov had introduced his daughter at all was to dangle her in front of Oliver and see if he'd take the bait. He either really wanted to close this deal or stir up trouble for him and Felicity. The first option was a bust, but the latter had probably worked.

Oliver could tell that something was off with Felicity when she'd made up that excuse about being tired and abruptly left. He wanted nothing more than to join her, but she'd insisted that he stay. Oliver couldn't argue without it looking odd. When Diggle returned, Oliver sent him a questioning glance. The grim expression he shot back put Oliver more on edge. It was difficult to pay attention to the conversation afterward, with his thoughts being consumed by the petite blonde. Oliver would indulge Petrov and Malia for ten more minutes before he excused himself. Glancing at his watch, he was finally nearing the mark.

"It's not far from here," Malia practically purred. "I could give you a tour."

"Thank you for the offer," Oliver replied, switching to English so Diggle could understand, "but I need to head back to the room."

"You're leaving? So soon?" Petrov inquired, tuning back in to their conversation.

"I need to check on Megan."

"She said she was tired. She's probably already asleep." Malia touched his arm. "Doesn't mean you have to cut your night short."

Petrov gestured to Oliver's half-empty glass. "You haven't even finished your drink."

"Thank you for tonight, but I really must go." Oliver slid out of the booth before Petrov could protest and Malia could latch on to him again. "I'll be in touch."

"Well, that was fun," Diggle commented once they were in the elevator.

"I'd rather be in a board meeting."

Diggle smirked. "Now that's saying something."

"Did Felicity say anything to you when you brought her back?" Oliver wanted to get a feel for her mood before he spoke to her.

"She said she had a headache."

"She's probably asleep then." They'd all been working hard to put the finishing touches on the plan, but it was Felicity who was constantly researching and sorting through information for them. Oliver knew firsthand how draining it could be, and he didn't even have half the technical skills that Felicity did. He could wait to check on her in the morning. She needed her rest.

"Possibly. But she was also lying," Diggle revealed.

Oliver frowned. "Why would she lie?"

His partner raised his broad shoulders in a shrug. "I'll let her be the one to answer that." Despite Diggle knowing more than he was letting on, Oliver knew why he wasn't getting involved. It was better to go to the source.

As soon as they entered the suite, Oliver took his tuxedo jacket off and threw it over the couch. "Felicity," he called out. There was no response. He called her name once more while walking to her room. The door was wide open and the bed was still made. He checked the balcony next, but it was empty. "Diggle, she's not here," Oliver said as the worry took hold of him. He dialed her phone, but it went straight to voicemail.

Numerous scenarios began to play out in Oliver's mind. The most obvious one involved Petrov and Malia distracting him downstairs while one of his "associates" targeted Felicity. Oliver was about to go back down to the casino to demand what the hell was going on when Diggle pointed to the coffee table. The ring Oliver had given her earlier was left there.

"I don't think she was taken," Diggle surmised.

Oliver ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "Why would she leave? I specifically told her not to go anywhere alone," he ground out.

"Her phone may be off, but she always has it with her." Diggle grabbed one of the laptops and turned it on.

Oliver caught on to his train of thought. "We can trace it." It took a couple of minutes for Diggle to log in to Felicity's tracking program. "Diggle," Oliver pressed.

"Hey, man, this is not my thing...aha!" he finally exclaimed. "I got her. It looks like she's on the beach on the other side of the hotel."

"I'll go and get her. If her location changes, let me know." Oliver was out the door in seconds and didn't give a damn about the looks he was getting as he charged through the hotel. He scanned the beach, but it was difficult to make out anything in the dark. He walked in the direction he'd last seen her signal and breathed a sigh of relief when he eventually spotted her small form near an empty lounge area. Felicity hadn't changed out of her dress, but her hair was down and blowing in the breeze. She sat with her arms resting on her extended legs and her feet buried in the sand.

"You shouldn't be out here by yourself," Oliver admonished while approaching her. "This area is dangerous."

She looked over at him, startled. "How'd you find me?"

"You're not the only one who knows how to use mobile GPS."

"Right. Well, congratulations. You've tracked me down," she sarcastically declared. "Now leave me alone."

"I'm taking you back to the room."

Felicity countered, "I'm not ready to go back."

"Then I'm not leaving," Oliver stubbornly retorted. He folded his arms and planted his feet in the sand. If she thought he would budge, she had another thing coming.

"Shouldn't you be back inside chatting it up with Malia? I thought you'd be gone for at least a couple of hours."

"No. Why would I be?"

"Oh, I don't know." Felicity stood up to face him and pretended to think about it. "Probably because you were having so much fun muttering sweet Russian nothings into each other's ears all night."

"What?" Oliver exclaimed, taken aback.

"I might not have understood a word any of you were saying-thanks for not translating for me, by the way-but it was totally obvious that she was into you. Don't deny it."

"I'm not denying it, but that doesn't mean I was into it."

Felicity scoffed. "Could've fooled me."

"What does this have to do with anything?" Oliver demanded, not getting where she was going with this "It was clearly a setup by Petrov, Felicity. There's no need to be jealous."

Her eyes narrowed at the accusation. "I am not jealous," she denied.

"Really? Because you sure sound like it. It's not like we're actually married."

"Oh my God, I know!" Felicity exclaimed in exasperation. "This has nothing to do with jealousy, Oliver. You can flirt with whoever you damn well please. This is all about you concocting a whole marriage ruse, making me play the part and then making me feel like a completely useless idiot!" She poked at his chest. "Petrov already gives me the creeps, and I really did not want to meet up with him tonight. But because you said we had to, I sucked it up-assuming you would have my back.

"So what happens? The guy makes eyes at me, introduces his horrible snob of a daughter and the next thing I know, I'm sitting at a table with a bunch of Russian criminals not knowing what the hell is going on. And since you couldn't be bothered to include me in the conversation, I had to sit there-with Petrov still making moon eyes at me and his daughter treating me like dirt-being completely clueless like some ditsy trophy wife.

"Except I'm sure a ditsy trophy wife's 'husband' would at least do her the courtesy of not flirting with some vixen right in front of her. Because that would totally come off disrespectful. Add the fact that I've been working my butt off all day to make sure you don't get killed tomorrow when you enter a fortified compound to face off with an evil mass murderer, and maybe you can see why I'd be annoyed. But obviously I must have my priorities screwed up, because the real danger is me walking alone on a beach. So fine, you've saved me. Please, lead the way, Oliver!" Felicity proclaimed, throwing her hands up and trying to catch her breath after her rant. She hadn't actually planned on saying all of that. Moments prior Felicity had decided to let it all go and focus on completing their mission to get Merlyn. But when Oliver had charged at her in that stubborn, condescending way of his, her calm went right out the window. The man truly had a gift in getting under her skin.

"You're right," Oliver said after a beat of silence. "I'm sorry." Apologizing wasn't something he did often, but he was two for two in the last three days. Just like he hadn't been totally upfront about his plans with Merlyn, he also hadn't completely filled Felicity in on the Petrov situation. He hadn't realized how much his actions had upset her earlier and for that he was contrite.

Oliver met her fierce, crystal gaze and carried on, "I didn't mean to make you feel out of place. The truth is I warned Petrov off you a couple of days ago, and he really didn't like it. I suspect tonight he was simply trying to make things as uncomfortable as possible between us, which is why he brought Malia along. I only went along with it to keep things civil. As for the language barrier, I didn't translate on purpose because we were discussing Bratva dealings. I made it very clear to Petrov that you also were not to be involved in that. It may have seemed thoughtless, but it was for your safety. Knowing the details would make you a liability and a target. When you weren't in the suite, I was worried that maybe Petrov had tried something with you."

Felicity bit her lip and looked down at the sand, feeling a little sheepish about going off on Oliver like she did. He was ultimately trying to keep her safe. Her key point, nevertheless, remained the same. "A heads-up next time would be nice, Oliver. How are we supposed to be a team if you don't tell me all of the details?"

"I realize that, and I'm working on it," he admitted, giving her a hopeful look. "So...are we okay?"

Felicity pushed a strand of hair behind her ear and nodded. "Yes. I'm sorry that I took off and made you worry. I just needed to clear my head."

"Even if you don't want to talk to me, at least take Diggle," he urged.

"I will. Although I'm hoping I won't be needing to avoid you in the near future," she teased.

Oliver grinned. "That makes two of us."

"Do you mind if we stay here another minute?" Felicity was glad that they'd worked things out, but she wasn't ready to go back to the hotel just yet. It was so quiet and peaceful on the beach. She craved the reprieve a little longer.

"We can stay as long as you like."

Felicity gave him a small, grateful smile and sat once more in the sand. Oliver followed suit, leaving a few inches of space between them. Looking out at the vast ocean and how it rolled back in to break against the sand, Felicity commented, "Aside from the mafia, fugitives and civil unrest, it really is kind of beautiful here."

Oliver couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, it is."

"Does it bother you?" At his questioning glance, she elaborated, "Being on an island or beach again?"

"Not really. In a way it sort of feels like home. Good or bad, Lian Yu was my home for the longest time."

Felicity watched Oliver stare off into the horizon, lost in the memory of the island. What she wouldn't give to know what he was thinking. He was always such a mystery and if there was one thing Felicity loved to do, it was solve them. "I have another question."

"You wouldn't be you if you didn't."

She playfully nudged him at his teasing. Thinking about her question, she became serious. "Why did you decide to become The Arrow? I get that you want to protect your city and all, but something had to inspire you."

Oliver swallowed the lump in his throat. It was never easy talking about his past, but he'd managed to open up to Felicity the other day. It was a solid first step. One that, coupled with Felicity's sincerity, allowed him to build off of it now. "I told you about my father," he began. "Before he died, he tried to tell me that he wasn't the man I thought he was. That he didn't build our city but had failed it. He wanted me to survive so that I could right his wrongs. Just before I buried him on the island, I found a small book in his pocket. It had a list of names in it. Some of them I recognized as family friends or business associates of my father. Others were rich, prominent figures in Starling but corrupt. My father he...he left me a message that explained that everyone on the list, in some way, was responsible for failing the city."

"A message how?" Felicity interjected, confused. "Was it in the book, too?

"Not exactly." He pressed on, "What's important is that he opened my eyes to what was really going on. It's how I chose my targets last year-by the list. Unfortunately, I didn't know that it all led up to the Undertaking until it was too late."

Felicity thought she understood. "So you became The Arrow to honor your father."

"There are many reasons, Felicity, but you asked what initially inspired me. That was it. My time on the island didn't necessarily make me what I am so much as it scraped away what I wasn't," Oliver explained. "When I decided to come home, I had no intention of letting my father's death be in vain."

"Well, I for one am grateful for The Arrow." She smiled and looked up at the night sky. The stars shone so much brighter when they weren't near a city. "Did you know there's a constellation called the Archer? Well, technically, it's Sagittarius-that's Latin for the Archer." Her eyes searched the stars until she found it. "Right there."

Oliver followed her finger but was having trouble making it out. "Where?"

"It's the group of stars that look like a teapot."

Oliver frowned. "Why would an archer look like a teapot?"

Felicity laughed and grabbed his hand, pointing it at the constellation. "I think it's really supposed to represent a centaur. That's what Sagittarius was in Greek mythology. The brighter stars actually make up the bow and arrow."

"Ah, I see it."

"It's actually most visible where we are now." Felicity pointed out a couple more nearby constellations while she and Oliver jokingly argued about what they really looked like.

"How do you know so much about this stuff?" he asked her.

"Aside from building computers as a child, I liked to stargaze." At Oliver's raised brow, she admitted, "Yes, I was a total nerd. Moving on...I used to get a sleeping bag and just plop down in the backyard and stare up at the sky. I found it fascinating that the universe was so huge and would dream about undiscovered planets and cool creatures I'd only seen in Sci-Fi movies. Basically, I wished I could be anywhere but where I was."

"Did you and your mom get along?"

"Yes and no. She loved me, but we were very different. We still are. It was hard to relate to her or even any of the other kids my age. Sometimes being 'gifted' sucks. I didn't really embrace it until I got the chance to go to MIT," she recounted. "Suddenly I was around others who were like me-though some were much more awkward-and I could just be myself. It was the first place I felt like I truly fit in." Her expression became somber. "They were the best years of my life until I created that virus."

"Felicity," Oliver said, "whatever experiences you had to go through, I'm glad that you did. They made you the person you are today. I wouldn't have been able to pull any of this off without you."

"That's what worries me," Felicity confessed. "I couldn't stop Cooper before it was too late." She kept going before Oliver could object. "I'm not saying you're him, Oliver. Because you're not. But I do recognize that blind determination pushing you forward. Brother Eye was Cooper's crusade the way that Malcolm Merlyn is yours."

"I'm not doing this out of greed, Felicity."

"No, but it is revenge-despite your noble intentions," Felicity challenged. "Oliver, you told me that taking a life means sacrificing a piece of your own soul. While I don't doubt the toll it takes, I refuse to believe that this is your only choice."

"Felicity," Oliver thoughtfully began, "to do what I do takes conviction. But more often than not, it's the will to do what is ugly. Every time I do that, yes, I'm trading away little pieces of myself. The part that I'm trading away is Oliver Queen but if that's what I need to do to be The Arrow, then so be it."

"No offense, Oliver, but I think you're full of crap." Felicity didn't realize how close they'd gotten while talking, and she didn't pull back. Their eyes met and held. "You've convinced yourself that everything you've been through took away your humanity. But I think that it's because of your humanity that you made it through. You wouldn't have survived, much less come out the other end a hero-somebody who wants to do good-if you didn't have a light inside of you."

"Is that really what you see?" His voice was quiet and unusually tentative.

"Yes," she replied with conviction.

The majority of his life Oliver spent defying everyone's expectations until they learned not to expect anything at all. Sometimes he still had to do that to guard his dual identity, and that was okay. The Arrow didn't care. It was Oliver Queen that took the hit and sometimes, unfortunately, it left him feeling empty. Felicity, in this instance, wasn't talking about The Arrow. She was more concerned with Oliver Queen, and he couldn't remember a time, if ever, someone had fought so fiercely to protect him.

A cool breeze swept past them and ruffled Felicity's hair. Absently, Oliver's hand reached up to push it back behind her ear. It then slid down to cup her face. Felicity's eyes closed for a moment as she leaned into his touch. They were so close that Oliver could feel her soft breath on his lips. Her nose lightly brushed his, and he felt the pull between them intensify. It was like an invisible tether existed between them, drawing them in.

Oliver eliminated the space between them, stopping just shy of her lips. He would only take what she was willing to give. It was everything, because Felicity closed the rest of the distance and pressed her lips to his. They paused for a moment, shocked and awed by the new connection and sensation of emotions. Then his mouth moved gently against hers, and Felicity responded in kind.

Warmth radiated from the kiss and where his hand cradled her face. Felicity felt it all the way down to her toes. One of her hands trailed up Oliver's arm and fisted his shirt. It was an effort to both steady herself and bring him closer. She'd experienced a few good first kisses, but nothing like this. Nothing that managed to strip her bare and build her up at the same time.

Oliver felt the same way. Kissing Felicity was like seeing the sun for the first time. He'd grown so used to the darkness that the possibility of such light startled him, excited him. Made something he'd long thought he'd lost burn brightly back to life. It also scared the living hell out of him. The light wouldn't last. No one could stare at the sun for so long without losing their sight. When it did finally burn out, would the darkness be that much greater? Oliver felt like he was at the edge of a cliff, dangerously close to falling and not caring if he did.

Oliver abruptly pulled away, severing the connection while he still had some control. Felicity met his strained expression with a quizzical one of her own. "I'm sorry," he said gruffly. "I can't."

Felicity looked away and swallowed back a wave of tears. She didn't know if the hurt and confusion stemmed more from his actions or her own. Grabbing her shoes and standing up, Felicity headed back for the hotel. Oliver watched her and closed his eyes in regret. He'd been right about one thing. He couldn't reach for the light without being burned.