Thea's hands were shaking so badly she stopped just inside the club door to regain her composure. She couldn't believe she'd done that! Then again, Tommy Merlyn sure knows how to knock a girl's socks off. That kiss had been…incredible. She lifted an unsteady hand to her lips, convinced she could still taste the minty freshness of his breath on them.

Her body still trembling, she moved forward knowing that Tommy would be following her inside shortly. She didn't want him to see her hanging onto the door because her legs refused to cooperate with her brain. That would be revealing too much about how she felt.

Walking past the bar, she was about to head into the back office when she spotted Oliver walking toward her. She saw the look of surprise flash across his face before he gave her a tentative smile.

"Hey."

Thea realised how much she'd missed him. "Hey, big brother."

Oliver cupped her chin in his hand, turning her head toward the light, his eyes filled with concern. "Are you okay?"

Embarrassed, Thea pulled back. "Of course, why?"

He appeared convinced. "You look a little…flushed."

Thea waved a hand in front of her face. "It's so hot outside. And…err…the air-conditioning in my car isn't working." She grabbed an envelope off the bar counter and started fanning herself with it, her hair lifting off her shoulders. "I need to have that checked out."

Oliver's shoulders relaxed. "You should. Let me know if you need some help."

She shook her head. "No, no. That's okay."

A shadow of regret passed over his face. "I hope you're here for me?" he asked hopefully.

"Ollie, could we talk?"

"I'd like nothing better." He grabbed her hand. "Come with me."

Thea allowed him to tug her along as they walked through the back of the club, coming to a halt outside an access controlled door. Punching in a code, the door opened and Oliver pulled her inside. Descending a staircase into a dimly lit room, Thea realised where they were. The Hood's hideout.

Impressed, she looked around. "So this is where all your nefarious strategizing takes place."

"Felicity calls it the Arrow Cave," he said, watching her closely as he unbuttoned his suit jacket.

Thea did a full turn. "Not exactly romantic but I get it - dim lighting, makeshift bed, it could be a love shack." Her eyes widened at the sight of the chains hanging from the ceiling. "Almost. A little kinky, but you know, different strokes and all that."

Oliver laughed. "Seriously? Get out of the gutter."

She gave him a cheeky grin. "Just saying…" her voice trailed off.

"I'm sorry," Oliver said, coming to stand beside her. "I realise that finding out about me and this," he gestured to the corner where Thea could see rows of green arrows lined up, "must have come as a shock. I wished many times that I could've told you, but doing so would have meant putting your life at risk. That was not a chance I was willing to take. Ever."

Thea read the sincerity in his face. "I know. I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have run out on you like that. I just-" She turned and deposited her bag on a table housing a complex network of computer screens. "I felt as though I was seventeen again and everyone was lying to me because they thought they had the right to decide what was best for me. I decide, Ollie. Me. No one else."

He leaned back against the table and crossed his arms over his chest. "I don't think you're a child anymore, Thea. I think I have an amazingly talented sister and I couldn't be prouder of all her accomplishments. However, I did what I thought was best. Chances are I'd do it again."

"Thank you. Hearing you say that means a lot to me." She gave him a playful punch in the shoulder. "But you really are controlling, you know."

He gave her an apologetic smile. "I'm working on it."

Thea leaned against the table beside him. "So, what made you start operation green peace?"

Oliver rolled his eyes and pulled out a chair. "Sit down. This is a long story."

He told her everything.

He told her how their father had killed himself in the hope that Oliver would survive. He told her about his time on the island and how he'd learnt to defend himself with the help of friends. He told her about the list and how he'd been systematically erasing the names of the people who'd contributed to the breakdown of Starling City and the increased crime and destruction in the Glades. He told her about how, over time, he'd realised that cleaning up the city wasn't only about scratching names off that list, it had become something more, something bigger. Lastly, he told her about how much he'd managed to accomplish with the help of Diggle and Felicity.

Fourty minutes later, Thea had a newfound respect and admiration for her brother and the responsibilities he'd chosen to assume. It couldn't be easy for him, risking his life for the greater good of the city when he had a family waiting at home. Thea was humbled by his sacrifice and she felt a fool for ever doubting his motives and intentions. Her brother was the best of men. She'd never doubt him again.

"I guess this makes you a hero."

Oliver looked at her in amusement. "You mean I'm no longer a green pea pod with a hoodie?"

Thea grinned. "Oh no, you still are. Lucky for you though, green is definitely your colour."

Oliver hugged her. "I'm glad you know the truth, Speedy."

"So am I, Ollie. Thank you for keeping me safe," she said emotionally.

"Always."

Tommy was chatting to the barman when Oliver escorted Thea back upstairs. He could tell by their body language that they'd mended fences and he was glad. Thea deserved the truth and it was way past time Oliver treated her like the adult she was.

She glanced at him when they reached the counter, her cheeks flaming. Tommy felt an overwhelming need to grin like a fool and just about managed to stop shy of humiliating himself.

"Tommy!" Oliver said.

"Hey, Ollie," he greeted his friend. "Thea," he said, sending what he hoped was a platonic smile her way.

She gave him a half wave. "Hi."

"You…errr…visiting?" Tommy asked, not quite sure how to behave.

She pointed at Oliver. "Just raising the white flag."

"Ah," Tommy replied. This is awkward. He took a sip of his drink, his throat suddenly parched.

"Is that lipstick on your cheek?" Oliver asked, peering closer to get a better look.

Tommy choked, his beverage burning its way down his throat. "Groupies. You know I'm so ruggedly handsome and all. They can't help themselves." He wiped desperately at his cheek with the back of his hand.

Thea snorted. "They absolutely can help themselves!" she snapped. When Oliver gave her a curious look, she giggled nervously. "Tommy's so funny, isn't he?" she said a touch too brightly.

Oliver was looking from one to the other. "Am I missing something?" he asked suspiciously.

"What do you mean?" Thea asked, alarmed.

Oliver pointed from Tommy to her. "This is weird. Why are you two being weird?"

Thea deflected. "Weird is a word Felicity uses, not you. Clearly she's rubbing off."

Tommy guffawed loudly. "We aren't being weird."

Thea glared at him.

He sobered immediately. "I mean, everything's fine."

"What's going on?" Oliver asked, eyebrow raised.

Thea's mouth moved but nothing came out. She started fidgeting with the strap of her bag instead.

Tommy stared at him, unsure of how exactly he was supposed to tell his best friend that he'd ravished his sister in the parking lot an hour earlier. Or rather, she ravished me.

Tommy breathed a sigh of relief when Oliver's phone rang. Without taking his eyes off either of them, he answered. It must have been Felicity because he gestured for them to stay put before turning his back and taking a few steps away. Tommy could hear the low murmur of his voice as she talked to his wife.

He glanced at Thea. She was staring back at him, the look in her eyes making him want to close the distance between them and resume what they'd started earlier.

"Ever heard of the word discreet, Merlyn?" she whispered, glancing in Oliver's direction.

He leaned across the counter. "Because you've been the soul of discretion, of course." He lowered his voice further. "It would help if you kept your eyes to yourself. They're…saying things."

Thea looked at him drolly. "You're accusing me of eye-humping?"

"What?!" he asked, shocked. "What the hell is that?" I have a pretty good idea. His brain melted.

Thea smirked. "I told you to read more."

He was trying really hard not to laugh but he didn't want to draw Oliver's attention to them. He wasn't quite ready to tell his friend about…he wasn't sure what he wasn't ready to tell him.

"Bottom line. Be normal," he said, watching as Oliver glanced their way.

"I was being normal," she countered. "Then you had to go and choke."

His voice rose slightly. "I'm sorry if my momentary airway obstruction happened at an inconvenient time for you."

"Shhhh!" Thea said as her hand covered his lips. Realising what she was doing, she snatched them away quickly, their eyes locking.

Tommy swallowed, his stomach doing crazy flips. He didn't think it was a good idea for her to touch him in the presence of her brother. Everything had changed between them when she'd kissed him. He had feelings for her that he was having a hard time denying. Every time he was around her, he felt things that he hadn't experienced in a long time. Or perhaps never at all. He couldn't avoid the obvious anymore.

He was hot for Thea Queen and he needed to decide what he was going to do about it because at the rate his heart was pounding, doing nothing was not an option.

"Thea," he started, only to be interrupted by Oliver.

"I have to go, Dig has an emergency."

Thea looked at her brother, concern furrowing her brow. "Is he okay?"

Oliver nodded. "Yeah. Just a favour that I owe him."

He eyed both of them before kissing Thea on the cheek. "This conversation is not over."

Thea watched her brother as he headed in the direction of his lair. She wasn't exactly sure what to tell him. It wasn't like she and Tommy were together. The nature of their relationship was undefined. Also, she wasn't stupid enough to forget about the fact that he'd just gotten out of a long term relationship. Chances were that he wasn't ready for what she wanted from him.

"I should probably go."

"Are we going to talk about what happened earlier?" he asked softly.

"I don't regret kissing you," Thea said honestly, not wanting to lie to him. "But it probably wasn't the best idea I've ever had."

Tommy frowned at her. "Why not?"

She dropped her bag on the counter. "Isn't it obvious? I won't be your rebound, Tommy."

He moved around the bar and offered her a seat. He then sat down beside her. "Is that what you think this is? Me transferring whatever residual feelings I have for Laurel onto you?"

"Aren't you?" she asked bluntly.

"No," he said simply. "Laurel and I were over a long time before I decided to break it off. Which I did for myself. It had nothing to do with anyone else, including you."

Thea was glad to hear it. She didn't like the idea of him having any second thoughts about his break-up. If it had been entirely his decision, chances were it would be a lasting one.

"Then what would you call what's happening between us?" Thea had never been one to skirt around important issues.

Tommy took her hand in his, running his thumb over her palm. Her pulse leapt. "The unexpected? I didn't anticipate any of this happening, Thea. All I know is that I enjoy being near you and spending time with you. You've helped me face a few things that I've been avoiding, and might still have been avoiding had you not shook the very foundations of my comfort zone." He gazed at her tenderly. "I care about you."

Not exactly a declaration of love, but it's a start. "I care about you too."

He gave her an uncertain smile. "I don't know where this is going or what it means, but I'd like to figure it out."

Thea's cocked her head to the side and smiled. "Why Tommy Merlyn, are you asking me out?" she asked in her best Southern accent.

He grinned, tipping an imaginary hat in her direction. "Yes, m'am."

She hopped off the chair and shimmied between his legs. "I thought you'd never ask."

Then, for the second time that day, she followed her instincts and kissed him. Only this time, he met her halfway.