A/N: I wasn't going to post today but after the teaser trailer, believe me you have to go see it! I couldn't help myself I wrote a one shot called Always, about it and then I thought I can't leave you guys hanging so here is chapter 25... I hope you enjoy it and as always thanks for all the reviews, favourites etc... I am leaving an authors note at the end because I want to explain stuff that happens but I don't want to ruin it, so here...

Felicity didn't sleep well, and from the restlessness of her partner, neither did he. She turned to look over to find his green eyes staring into her blue. She was feeling guilty for arguing, guilty for Oliver hearing their argument, and felt like a bad girlfriend. She raised her hand up to caress his cheek, running her fingers softly down his jaw line. Just then his phone went off. He closed his eyes frowning turning over. He looked at his phone sighed then answered. Felicity got up making her way to the kitchen to get them coffee.

She was just pouring it out when Daniel came in completely dressed holdall in hand. Felicity looked at him then at the bag, panic set in he was leaving her. She wasn't prepared or ready she guessed this day might happen eventually but not yet. She laid the coffee pot down shaking not looking him in the eyes

"Hey, Fliss..." He said walking to her side, he dropped the bag and took her hands in his "I'm not leaving you... Well I'm going back to Gotham" she looked into his eyes "Mr Fox called something's come up at work, a theft apparently I need to head back" she looked into his eyes, he was pleading her to believe him and she knew he was telling the truth. She gave him a half smile "Fliss, I'm sorry about last night, I don't want to go" She leant forward and kissed him trying to convey her own apologises without words. She squeezed him trying to reassure him all was okay between them

"I understand and we're okay, aren't we?" His eyes sparkled

"After that kiss I'd say so" he grinned and she chuckled "I'll call you when things get sorted, and tell Oliver I am sorry..." She nodded as he walked out her door. That was when she remembered Oliver, and felt guilty again. She got ready slowly, trying to figure out what was best way to say sorry, when her phone rang Diggles name flashed on screen

"Hey Dig. What's up?"

"I think you should come to the Foundry" his tone was calm but she could hear the tension

"Be there as soon as" she hung up and reached the place as quickly as possible.

When she walked in she saw Diggle and Sara hunched round her computers. Then she heard banging, glancing over to see Oliver was in the corner ferociously pounding the dummies. There was equipment all around him and he had his arrow outfit on, she frowned. She walked to the two

"What's happening?"

"We aren't sure" said practically whispered, Felicity frowned

"He's been here all night, he hasn't slept, he hasn't ate..." Diggle added frowning in Olivers direction

"When we try to talk to him, it's like he can't hear us, or he does and just turns his back... We have no idea what happened" Sara said frowning. Felicity felt even guiltier this couldn't be due to her and Daniel, stop being stupid, no he disappeared last night for a reason. She took her coat off

"Can you guys give us a minute?" Both looked uncomfortable "he's not going to hurt me nothing's going to happen..." They looked at each other

"Okay but a minute" Diggle said as he and Sara went to wait upstairs. Felicity took a step closer to him

"Oliver" she said firmly, no response he carried on hitting the dummy hard "Oliver" she said loudly still no response, as he pulled his arm back she grabbed his wrist. He looked at her hand squeezing gently but pulled away. As he did it, something inside Felicity snapped and she stepped directly in front of him between him and the dummy. The only way to avoid hitting her was to allow himself to fall as he did he ended up with his back on a support column. He looked defeated, broken and Felicity saw that look in his eyes. The same one she had seen all those years ago on the bridge. She knelt down in front of him. He put his head in his hands covering his eyes. She gently prised them away, leaving one hand wrapped around his wrist whilst the other pulled his head up to look in her eyes

"Oliver... Come on talk to me... To us" he shook his head and she saw fear flash in front of his eyes "Oliver we can't help if you don't let us in..."

"I... I don't want you to get hurt... I don't want to be the reason you all get hurt" it came out so quietly she was stunned. She had never seen Oliver like this. She inched forward squeezing his wrist lightly

"Oliver please..." Just then Dig and Sara returned. Oliver pulled away standing up and was just about to pound the dummy when Sara stepped in his way catching his fist

"Stop it!" He said

"No Ollie! You stop it we're here to help, so goddamn it talk to us"

"He's going to kill you all!"

"No he won't!" She said louder

"You can't know that he made a promise, a promise to destroy everything and everyone I love!" He shouted at her

"I don't know what to say Oliver..."

"There is nothing that can be said to help this! You know what happened!" He walked away nearing the desks; Felicity and Diggle were frozen in place.

"I do but that isn't your fault..."

"3 years! 3 years where nothing good happened!" He slammed his fists on the table "of course it was my fault. It's my own entire, stupid fault and nothing you say can make it better Sara!" She looked at him not with anger but with sympathy

"Fine then Ollie, I'm not needed here" she said storming off; the atmosphere was tense, awkward. Felicity spoke first sitting down at her desk

"I'll have all searches keeping a track on Isabel and Slades activities..."

"And I'll add extra people on to your family and friends..." Diggle added; Oliver lifted his head from his strained position

"NO!" He shouted

"No Oliver we're already in this..." Diggle said standing straight

"And we have no intention of abandoning you now things are getting more dangerous" Felicity added staring into his eyes

"But this could kill you both" He said fighting back tears

"Well then, we have to make sure it doesn't" Diggle said straightening his back and pulling out his phone walking off to make a call. Oliver dropped in the chair next to Felicity

"I'm sorry..." She raised an eyebrow

"About?"

"Your argument being the cause of it..."

"Stop! What I do here is important and if that means lying to Daniel then I have to" she didn't look at him, just kept staring at her screen

"And dragging you away from him to be here..."

"Oliver he went home, work thing before you start, and there was no dragging involved I happily came here. I've told you I'm here, my life my choices" she smiled at him with the last statement and he smiled back as Diggle came back sitting in another chair

"I think it's time I told you more about what happened in those 3 years I left..." Diggle and Felicity looked at him in surprise. Felicity spoke first

"You don't need to" she said softly, Diggle nodding in agreement

"I do…" he took a deep breath
"Over 3 years ago now, as you both know, I left… I wasn't kidnapped or taken as believed; I left on my own accord because I needed to change. To deal with some terrible things that happened and only I could change that" he looked at Felicity, she knew instantly that he was talking about what she had said on the bridge that night
"so I left with my fathers help. I ended up in a tiny unknown village in China. I was trained to do what I do now by 3 people Yao Fei, his daughter Shado and Slade Wilson" he looked away from them "for 6 months I trained there, learning everything. Then, as you know, I met Anatoli when he was captured, he inadvertently gave away Yao Fei's position to the Chinese triad who were out for revenge" he sighed "they kidnapped myself and Shado. They tortured me" he gestured towards his body and his head. His actions speaking more than words as they realised he meant mentally too
"Slade and Yao Fei saved us. They broke in but Yao Fei was killed in the aftermath and Slade badly injured. He begged me to take Shado out and I did as he wished" he was avoiding their eyes "we went on the run, taking Anatoli back to Russia. We travelled around I was trained harder and faster, easily taking lives of people that attacked us, or threatened us… we did what we could to survive"
He felt like he was swirling, things he could never mention appearing in his mind, faces, pain, torture "nearly a year of running we went back to Shados village. The Triad had destroyed it in the search for her. We stayed, we built and we trained even harder till they came, they ruined the village again and in the end they killed Shado but what I didn't expect was that Slade was alive. His mind twisted and distorted. I stayed with Shados village I carried on building and training, pushing away everyone and everything, until the day Slade attacked. We fought. It was the worst beating I had ever taken. He told me it was my fault Shado was dead for saving Anatoli, if I had let him drown the triad would have never come…" he looked at his hands "he was right, if I wasn't there things would have been different. He loved Shado, I did too but not like him, and when I lay on the floor wearing her hood, this hood he promised he would destroy me as I had destroyed him"
Oliver looked up "that's when I fought back. The will to survive, to fight took over. I barely made it out alive. He got stuck under a boat whilst we fought near the docks and I rammed an arrow in his eye, pushed him into a small wooden boat and let it drift off to his death or so I thought"
Felicity couldn't believe it. This man had changed so much and she was the one who pushed him to change and yet this changed haunted him. She couldn't help feel responsible she couldn't look at him now as she held her tears in "I was in a bad way, the villagers healed me physically and a few months later, once I was at full strength I made a decision. I destroyed the Chinese triad. I walked in and I killed every man in my way till I put an arrow through the heart of the man who took Shado's life" his voice was cold then as he felt the feelings of happiness disappear
"that's when I collapsed exhausted. I woke in a Chinese hospital, by then there was no denying who I was but I remember what Shado had said, home is important to us and my home is Starling. So in her memory I chose to come back and save this city from the corrupt…" he took a breath "so you see this is who I am… what I did to survive" Diggle stood up walked over to his friend clutching his shoulder

"No Oliver that is who you were. We all do things to survive and you got a pretty bad deal but… this time you aren't alone. You have us and we'll all fight, you hear me?" he looked into Diggles eyes and his smiling face and Oliver nodded actually feeling hopeful "right I'm going to get us all food because god knows we need it" he smiled, walking off, as soon as the door closed Oliver looked at Felicity who was staring at her hands.

Oliver felt it tight in his chest. She couldn't look at him. He had disappointed her. He had distorted her view of him. He was no longer her hero. He got up unable to stand the silence and changed out of the hood, into his joggers and a T-shirt. When he span back round he found her staring at him, she must have been staring for sometime

"I..." A tear rolled down her cheek and he was kneeling down in front of her wiping it away with his thumb

"Hey, it's okay... I understand I'm not the man you thought I was" he said letting his chin rest on his chest as he dropped his head. Felicity frowned she pulled his head up to meet her watery gaze leaving her hand resting on his cheek and jaw

"No you are so much more..." He looked confused, he didn't understand "Oliver what you..." She took a breath to stop the tears "endured is unbelievable, it explains so much... You are fighter, a survivor but being here, being the Arrow none of your past changes any of that for me. That was the man you were and this" she put her other hand to his face "this scarred, courageous, guilt-ridden, fighting for his city, family orientated, handsome man you are him now, you are a hero Oliver" she smiled at him silent tears rolling down her face "but I am sorry, I am truly sorry I ever said what I did on that bridge... You wouldn't have gone if it wasn't for me. You wouldn't be scarred, not that you are any less hot for the scars but you wouldn't have had to go through all that you did" by now her hand was off his face. Oliver stood up and reached out for her arm stopping her

"Felicity don't ever and I mean ever! Blame yourself for what happened. I made the choice and stuff happened bad stuff but..." He closed his eyes "I would still be that broken playboy drunk, if you hadn't spoke to me that night, and I wouldn't be this man who wants to be better..."

"You are better Oliver" he opened his eyes and she was now standing in front of him "well not better better, but more so than you were. You aren't the same man I met all those months ago and I know the real you even if this world doesn't and I'm not talking your playboy front or the vigilante I mean Oliver"

"Thank you Felicity" he said smiling, she frowned "for being you, for not judging me"

"I never would! Unless you know, you needed to be called up on it but that… that's the past... But thank you Oliver"

"For what?"

"For being you too..." He stepped forward wrapping her in a hug and she hugged back. She looked up and he automatically kissed her on the forehead. Both parties felt the spark run down their spines, as they stayed hugging but staring into each other's eyes. Blue on blue. Both lost in a vast ocean. It was only when the door opened they pulled away sitting back in there chairs, both suddenly and unexpectedly missing the warm of the embrace.

Oliver found Sara upstairs, practising her bar tending skills

"I'm sorry" he said standing in front of her "I just..."

"I get it Ollie, you don't need to apologise I understand..." She smiled softly at him and he returned the smile. She leant over the counter wrapping an arm around his neck to pull him into a passionate kiss. He returned it but something felt lacking, something felt wrong but he couldn't quite understand why

"Are you working tonight?" He asked already guessing the answer

"Yes but I have time to kill now" she winked and he half heartedly smiled

"Actually I'm going to get some sleep... Diggle said he'd keep an eye out tonight and call if there was any trouble" she nodded

"That's okay then, well Ollie you know where I am if you need me" he nodded. As he stepped outside he saw Felicity stood by her car

"Come on you..." He frowned "I know you don't really want to go home, and I know you want to keep everyone safe too. Well Saras here with Tommy, Diggles got more people on your family and Laurel too, even if she doesn't know..."

"And you?" She grinned

"I have my own security to set up but for today I have you... That's if you want to come to mine, get some sleep, relax you know? I mean Diggle gave me your spare suit for tomorrow morning not that you plan on spending the night, or anything" He smiled at her as he made his way to the car

"Felicity... It would be nice to have a friend..." She smiled back

"Come on then" he got into the car trying not to look as uncomfortable as he really felt but she couldn't help laughing at how ginormous he looked in her tiny car.

When they got to hers she pointed to the bathroom

"Go relax!" He smiled softly then made his way for a nice hot shower.

Felicity instinctively changed her bed sheets, reasoning he wouldn't want to smell Daniel as he slept, not that he'd want to sleep on her bed but just in case. She went into the living room putting the TV on as background noise. Then she sat with her tablet on her knees looking at security features to keep her flat safe. It wasn't until Oliver plopped down beside her with slightly damp hair she realised he was finished in the bathroom. She turned to look at him his eyes looked heavy and sunken in, she tilted her head a sad smile on her face

"Go get some sleep Oliver..." He shook his head "my bed is free for now, and tonight you can sleep on the sofa. I know you don't want to compromise either of our relationships but sleeping in my bed now isn't a big deal when I'm not in it" he looked at her differently and that's when it hit her "I can sit in there with you if you want?" He didn't want to be alone. She stood up and he followed. She pulled her covers back and he crawled in. He pulled them back over himself. She closed the curtains so the room was darker and then she sat on the chair in the corner. She was making the alarms and cameras in her block more up to date and hijacking them to alert her of certain presences but she could feel Oliver watching her making sure she was safe

"Wake me up in a few hours..."

"Oliver sleep" she said softly

"I know I just won't sleep later if I'm gone too long" she nodded at him and then turned back to her tablet.

It was a few hours later when she realised he'd been asleep a very long time. She stood up to go wake him when he turned to face her

"Felicity..." She smirked his eyes were still closed, must be a dream "Sara, Laurel, mum, dad... Thea!" They came out strained faster panic clearly visible. She went to reach out but then remembered what happened last time, so she didn't "nooo Slade nooo" she crawled on the bed resting her back against the headboard right near his head "Nooo" he jumped in his sleep, his head landing on Felicity's lap arms out. That was it. She automatically rested a hand on his face soothingly stroking his hair line

"Shhh shhh, it's okay Oliver, it's okay" his laboured breath started to steady. He turned up eyes now open to look at her confusion on his face. She carried on stroking down his face till she could feel the tension of the dream disappear. He caught her wrist stopping her mid-stroke. He gently kissed the back of her hand, both feeling the electricity again but ignoring its effects "I... I didn't mean to wake you but you were having a nightmare and well... I don't like to see you tense or pained or..."

"Thank you..." He said smiling eyes still sleepy. He let go of her wrist. Then slowly rose up trying to push out the fact he had had his head on her lap and how soft she felt. She too got up leaving the curtains drawn and made her way into the living room getting herself a coffee. She poured one out for Oliver too.

When Oliver stepped out in his shirt and sweats, she thought of the very different scene this morning, wishing her boyfriend had been dressed like that instead of his clothes. Oliver noticed a flick in her eyes, her features softening as she stared at him. He knew she was thinking of something else or someone else

"I'm sorry..."

"Stop saying it Oliver. It isn't needed we're friends" she smiled softly "though I probably shouldn't mention to my boyfriend you slept in my bed"

"Why? Is he the jealous type" Oliver teased not sure where the question came from, knowing full well he was after hearing their argument last night

"Ha! Just as jealous as any other man, I bet you get possessive?" she counteracted knowing full well he heard that conversation

"Well what man doesn't, what is his is his after all" he grinned but his words hit him slightly. Felicity wasn't his. She was part of the team and she had someone special in her life that wasn't broken

"Women are not possessions, Mr Queen!" She said raising an eyebrow

"No but men get jealous at the thought of losing someone that is special to them..." He wanted to say more but he felt this wasn't a subject he could touch. She smiled softly

"That so..." She smiled wider sipping her coffee "anyway how about movie marathons and takeout?" He smiled taking a sip of his own

"Sounds like a plan" he smiled back.

Several hours later various films watched, with Oliver mocking the skills of the archers in the movies they had chosen, and bellies full from takeout Felicity went into her room, pulled her duvet and pillows off her bed and wadded back into the living room

"What are you doing?"

"Well it's not that late, I thought keep us warm and comfy whilst we watch Frozen and yes before you start it is a girly Disney film" he shook his head smiling as she handed him a pillow and had one herself. She sat beside him and pulled the duvet around there legs.

They sat watching and he couldn't help laughing at her singing the songs, which he even had to admit, were quite catchy. Her phone rang and she answered without hesitation, pausing the film and going to her room. Oliver sat there. He knew it would be Daniel and then he looked at the TV screen thinking how it would be more appropriate for him to be here and not himself. After a few more minutes, she returned smiling playing the rest of the film and sitting by his side. She noticed how tense he seemed, how he had consciously edged away. She frowned they were friends watching a film together this was ridiculous the credits started

"What's wrong?" She said it bluntly; he didn't think it just came out

"Does he make you happy?" He wanted to say do you love him but he couldn't bring himself to say it

"Of course he does Oliver, I wouldn't be with him if I wasn't" she said tilting her head frowning "Doesn't Sara make you happy?"

"Of course she does..." she made him happy and what they had was fun but it wasn't serious as he'd learnt the hard way "but you're serious right?" She frowned still, where had this come from this sudden interest in her relationship

"Yes Oliver as serious as we can be, I mean it would be easier if we lived closer but when is anything ever simple... yeh I'm happy and we're serious..." She looked at him "but I'd never tell him your secret unless you wanted me to, that's not my place, and if that means sometimes we argue then we do but I am happy Oliver" she put her hand on top of his "with all choices in my life" she was trying to comfort him now and he could tell that's what it was. But if she was happy that's all he needed to know. He didn't want to lose her as part of the team but if he was going too at least he knew she'd be happy "What film do you want now?" He shrugged "how about we just watch some trashy TV?" He smiled and she turned the TV over flicking through the channels, before turning over to see Oliver head flopped on the sofa asleep. She smiled softly, pulling the duvet up around him and leant her head on the sofa arm watching some random TV show before she too found sleep.

A/N 2: SO now you know what happened to Oliver on his "island", I don't get in to any more detail than this purely because I needed Oliver to tell them and I don't think he'd be able to say all of what happened and it leaves it to your imagination to what he did whilst hiding but yeh that's it (sorry if that disappoints anyone). Second I added Frozen as a thing for myself, I'm obsessed :P so you can ignore that if you wish, as I say this was written for me :P but anyway tell me what you thought, I love to hear from you guys :). I'll try to update again soon but I have work in an hour, and then extra hours tomorrow so i'll try my best...