A/N: Wow, had to let this story take a back seat first since I wanted that Ra's al Ghul choosing Oliver Queen as his successor to play out. Well, there were some parallels. Now that's out of the way, I can update this story which I warn you will be all of two to maybe three chapters just left.

You see, there's a pattern, during the last month I ended two fiction stories: 'Spotlight' and 'Shades of Green'. This will be the one that will end next followed by 'My Secret Admirer'. That would leave me with just 'The New Bratva Captain' in the works. I'm making my writing life easier by never falling into the trap again of starting several fics at the same time. Each one deserves to be well thought out rather than quickly written.

To this end, this story is climaxing and I need all of you to hang on for the ride.

As usual, I do not own anything…again if I did then Moira and Tommy would still be alive and Olicity would probably be sprouting little Olicitylets as early as Season 2. Oh, and all the mistakes are mine because sometimes my mind runs faster than my fingers resulting in a puddle of writing errors.

Would love interactions a lot, so please drop me a line by reviewing of leaving comments or better yet:

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EXPOSED

CHAPTER 26

Four Months later…..

"Follow my lead!" Malcolm shouted to his teammates.

"We've been following you for hours now, when will we get there?" Thea all but whined.

Malcolm abruptly stopped as he reached a small snow covered hill making Roy bump him in the process almost toppling Malcolm before he regained his footing and gave Roy a stare down.

"We are here, Nanda Parbat," Malcolm shared with the group.

The group was composed of John Diggle who had taken up the rear, Tommy Merlyn and Thea Queen his children and Roy Harper. Malcolm had been true to his promise to Moira Queen that it would take three to four months to at least give each member in his team a chance at survival. Malcolm had remained at the fence, logic had escaped him. Sacrifice his two children to save another one, one that wasn't even his.

True Thea was half-sister to Oliver Queen and his son Tommy Merlyn was best friend to the same man but still, as a father it was hard to look past sacrificing your own flesh and blood for someone who was not a blood relative to him.

That was where his children had come in, insisting that they would go on this suicide mission with or without him.

"Listen to me very carefully everyone, John and I will go first. Hopefully, none of you will need to follow. I know you," looking at both Tommy and Thea, "you are my flesh and blood after all. Under no circumstances will you follow us until the time is right just as we agreed, Roy," turning to Roy, "I am counting on you to keep my children from disobeying me."

With that, Malcolm nodded to John that they should proceed as planned.

Thirty minutes later both of them where inside the dungeon like prison of Nanda Parbat hands and feet in chains and shackles but both relatively unharmed.

Ra's and Oliver were in the middle of another routine sword fight, one of what now was over a hundred since Oliver had gotten there. Felicity was seated in a corner of the room, safe from flying swords and other weapons but within seeing distance of Oliver which made him relatively calm despite the circumstances.

She was now nearing her third trimester, ready to give birth in a couple of months. Ra's had finally agreed to stop Felicity's daily sparring routine because despite her being more coordinated than ever, Felicity had quickly picked up the skill of precision which even surprised her. Ra's had been relatively gentle with Felicity, almost father-like at times during the last three months.

Ra's, Oliver and Felicity, sometimes with Nyssa when she was around but often times just the three of them had meals together which was when Ra's al Ghul had shared his wisdom and his way of thinking with them both.

To this day, both Oliver and Felicity has disagreed with the means Ra's has always chosen to take. They had several healthy discussions, sometimes the three of them, sometimes just Ra's and Oliver or Ra's and Felicity, discussions about Ra's ideals. After almost seven months, Ra's al Ghul had continued to stick to his beliefs and Oliver and Felicity to theirs. They had remained on a stalemate. Surprisingly, despite his earlier threats when Felicity and Oliver had first arrived, he had been tolerant and patient with both of them.

Tonight they were having dinner together again, the three of them.

"In two months time a child's cry will echo the walls of these hallow place," Ra's stated to both Oliver and Felicity. "It will be the first time in over a hundred years that will happen."

"I'm not having my child born here. This place has no medical equipment, much less a real doctor. Sure you have doulas, and I'm thankful for them, they are like our modern day midwife but I insist on having my child born in a hospital. I don't even know if my child is healthy, he never had the opportunity to be monitored by a proper doctor," Felicity said. She had been more comfortable talking to Ra's in the last few months as she would any other person due in large part to Ra's allowing her the privilege of speaking out.

"Our doula is as capable as any doctor of modern medicine. But if you insist I can always fly in a doctor for you," Ra's answered her back.

"You mean kidnap one for me?" Felicity looked Ra's in the eye.

"If you will not bite your tongue then, at least mind your tone child. I am still Ra's al Ghul, I command respect. Believe it or not we have perfectly agreeable doctors of modern medicine who need not be threatened to serve the League of Assassins. And regarding your insistence for modern equipment for childbirth, I have planned a surprise but then you my dear Felicity had always been an impatient one. A room has been set-up with complete medical equipment awaiting the time for the birth of your child."

Oliver and Felicity locked eyes before Oliver took over the conversation, "Ra's we appreciate the lengths you have gone through to make both Felicity and our child comfortable but this has gone on long enough. It's time to let us go back to our lives."

Ra's stood up abruptly, "in case it has escaped you. This," gesturing around them, "is your life now, your lives now. You," looking at Oliver, "your woman and your child, all of you will be the image of the future for the League. I wondered why I have been so attracted to both of you, why I had insisted on you woman," facing Felicity, "being here all those months ago. Your intellectual superiority and emotional maturity in relating to broken warriors, understanding them and nurturing them, they are a very rare to find combination. The League is in need of a nurturer, protector, a mother. You would fit the bill 100%."

Ra's walked a few steps before he spoke again, "my time is coming to an end. Even the healing powers of the pits have slowed down for me. I have lived several lifetimes but have only encountered one or two men who have had a degree of parallel with the life I have led before I became Ra's al Ghul. I am standing before one right now," facing Oliver once again, "that is the kind of man who is rightfully the true heir to the demon."

Oliver stood up, a troubled look on his face, "is this what this really has been all about. The personal dedication you have had in teaching and training me. So that I may one day become your…."

"The next Ra's al Ghul Oliver, the next demon's head." Ra's simply stated.

Felicity's shocked gasp coupled with Oliver harsh breath intake had Ra's looking at both of them, "this shouldn't really be a surprise to both of you. History will tell you I have never taken strangers, outsiders so deep into our world."

"You really are delusional to think that I, that we," gesturing to include Felicity, "would even consider what you have said for even a second."

"I don't think you fully understand that it is not a request at this point," Ra's told Oliver.

"You've run around your city thinking you have made a difference, believing that what you do has made the lives of the citizens in your city better. But has it really changed much. Crime is still prevalent. The city is still in disorder. If you really wanted to effect change you can have a greater chance doing that from where I stand. Surrounded by not only all the resources of the League who would be answerable to you and only to you, but enveloped with the love of a woman of substance beside you," referencing Felicity, "and the safest environment for your child and future children."

"You see, Ra's al Ghul is bigger than any ordinary man. He is larger than life. But he cannot live forever, alas. There is only one reason for why our paths have crossed. It is fate that has brought us together. Just as it is your destiny to be the next Ra's al Ghul. You will carry the name Al Sah-him, the Arrow. I know you will appreciate the irony. "

Ra's looked from Oliver to Felicity who was holding her round belly then back to Oliver, "I see that you need some alone time together with your family and you will have the time." Ra's made to leave the room but before he did he turned back to Felicity, "the sooner you stop resisting the better it will be for the child."

Just before he stepped out of the room he turned back to Oliver, "a guard will escort you back to your room. From this day on until you accept your destiny, you will not be allowed to freely wander around the compound without me or a few guards with you."

Moments after Ra's al Ghul left Oliver and Felicity he met a few men in another room, "where are they?"

"They are secured downstairs. We await your orders. There are others that we spotted outside."

After a few minutes and a long walk across several corridors, Ra's stood in front of both Malcolm Merlyn and John Diggle.

"Al Sa-Her, I heard you have made your way back here for what….I assume to lead this foolhardy mission to rescue Mr. Queen and Ms. Smoak? I have been lenient with you more than the others who have betrayed the league before and after you Al Sa-Her, but even my benevolence has its limits," Ra's paused as he looked at Malcolm then finally looked at John Diggle.

"And you Mr. Diggle, are you so desperate for death that you would deliberately seek it out?"

Diggle was about to respond but Ra's raised his hand up, "Al Sa-Her, you have accomplished nothing today but ensured the lives of your children have been forfeited. This is the penance you will have for what you have attempted to do today."

From a distance, both Malcolm and Diggle heard the voices of Tommy, Thea and Roy before they saw them being pushed toward the cage in front of their own. All three were in chains with just minor scratches but each carried the look of defeated.

Malcolm made a sudden movement that brought him about two feet from Ra's, as on his knees he begged, "take my life. Kill me. But spare them. Spare my children. Their only wrong doing is in loving Oliver Queen too much. Thea is Oliver's sister and my son Tommy is Oliver's best and oldest friend. That's the only thing they did wrong."

Ra's turned back to Malcolm, "make no mistake about it, the time for your death will not be far Al Sa-Her, but it's not going to be before your children's demise. This mission you had, this was doomed from the start, suicide. Your deaths will achieve nothing but allow the man I have chosen as my heir to have lesser ties to his old life."

Ra's turned away from everyone before he answered, "Oliver Queen and his young family are the future of the League. I suggest you enjoy the rest of the night, it will be your last on this earth."

"Oliver, what are we going to do? You have a plan right?" Felicity asked him as they entered their room.

Oliver took of his jacket and hung in on the back of a chair before he stepped in front of Felicity, taking off her glasses carefully then placed both of his hands on her cheeks.

"Felicity, I'm so sorry it has all come to this. Every promise I have made you, I had broken. I couldn't even keep you safe, you and our unborn son," transferring his hands to her swollen stomach.

"This is the last thing I would want or wish for to happen. For the first time in my life, I honestly don't know what to do next. I don't even have a framework of a plan. On one hand, I could just accept the inevitable and be the next Ra's al Ghul maybe if I just say yes he would allow you and our son to leave, let you go. I've been thinking about it. Maybe, it is our best option."

Felicity pushed away from Oliver, "no, no Oliver. Don't even think that. Don't ever think those thoughts again. Our son will get to know his father. The three of us, we will always be together. Promise me, promise me Oliver that."

Oliver fell down on his knees still clutching her swollen stomach but his eyes were starting to water before he said brokenly, "I can't promise you that. I won't promise you that. I'm out of promises. What I will promise you is that if needed, I will give my life to protect you, both of you! Keep both of you safe!"

"No, no, no Oliver. I don't want to be safe. I've said this before and I will say it again, I want, no I need to be with you always even if it is unsafe. Oliver, you should know by now that we are stronger together, as a team. Than apart," Felicity said pulling Oliver up.

"Yes, yes Felicity. I know. But everything is different now, we have the baby to think about. I would do it now if Ra's will swear he will leave both you and our baby untouched and free to live the rest of your life somewhere safe. I will accept his offer to be the next Ra's al Ghul. I will Felicity. I love you. I love you so much," Oliver grabbed her cheeks once again and inserted his tongue inside her mouth. With everything in him, he poured into the kiss every emotion he was feeling.

The kiss turned into two, three until they had both lost control. Oliver's hands were everywhere all at once. Removing her jacket, then her shirt before finding the strength to lift her unmindful of the added weight of her pregnancy to transfer them to the bed.

He only took a few seconds to rid himself of his shirt. Or was that Felicity's doing? He wasn't sure anymore. All he knew was that he wanted this more than anything else. He wanted to show his woman how much she meant to him. How much he loved her.

Oliver was drifting in and out of a state of euphoria while making love to Felicity. At one point he was sure Felicity was straddling him, unhooking her bra then his mouth and hand were on her succulent breasts.

The moans and grunts escalated as Felicity continued to rock Oliver's world. Since she was on her last trimester, the only comfortable position for sex was with her on top and Oliver's hands on her ass guiding her as she humped again and again.

What little Oliver could recall of this love making because he was sure he had blackout several times from the state of ecstasy he was ensconced in, he was sure it was the best night of his life.

He was determined to give the people he loved most a fighting chance at a life, his life for theirs. He would make a deal with Ra's tomorrow, this nightmare will be over for Felicity and his unborn son before the day ends tomorrow.

He had tightened his arms around Felicity, spooning her. One of his arms was under her neck folded to envelope her and Oliver couldn't help himself the hand attached to that arm cupped her breast. His other arm was circling her waist the hand attached to it over her swollen belly as if to protect his child.

He couldn't say yes to Felicity, not this time. No, this time he would make the decision to both of them. He would be selfish but he hoped one day Felicity could forgive him and realize this was all for the best. That it was only because he loved them above himself. It was the ultimate sacrifice of a man.

"Malcolm," Thea shouted although she knew their cages where facing one another and had steel bars instead of walls in between, the fact that it was completely dark, Ra's was determined to be dramatic and had ordered all the fire torches put out plunging the cavern in darkness.

"I've told you repeatedly to call me Dad," Malcolm answered her irritated.

"Do you have a plan to get us out of here?" Thea continued not acknowledging the requested correction.

"I had a plan and part of my plan was to get John and I here captured. But truthfully, I didn't count and all three of you being down here too. That changes everything. I cannot allow both of you, my children to be sacrificed for Oliver. It was his choice to be here then it is his fate to die here," Malcolm said.

"Well in case you failed to get the memo Dad," Tommy emphasized, "Thea and I made the choice to come here. Oliver didn't force us. He probably doesn't even expect us to be here with a plan to rescue him. Well not so much rescue because at this point we need rescue ourselves especially considering that Ra's blatantly said Thea and I were to be sacrificed tomorrow. Sacrifice does mean death right, like by this time tomorrow I will be dead?"

"Children, there will be no more talk of death and sacrifice. Let me think, be quiet and let me think," Malcolm told his children.

The whole time the conversation was going with the Merlyn family John had just sat back and listened. There wasn't really much to do since he was all chained up anyway. Although I truth, he was waiting for the chance for Malcolm to open up to him. He knew Malcolm had caught Ra's slip too.

After almost a full hour of quiet except for maybe a few grumbles from the cell across of them, Malcolm spoke softly so that only John could hear him.

"I know you caught what Ra's said too," Malcolm said.

"I was wondering when this conversation would come up. Yes, I did. Although it didn't make sense, still doesn't."

Malcolm smiled in the dark, "now that I've had time to think about it. It should make sense. Oliver is the epitome of the kind of man ideal to be in the shoes of the next demon's head. Felicity and the baby may complicate things but I also caught what Ra's said about them. I think Queen and his little family has been anointed by the League as the heir."

"Is that possible? I mean there's Nyssa and I think another daughter, I can't quite recall her name though," John said.

"Talia al Ghul, the older daughter of Ra's. Yes, traditionally it should be either of his daughters. But the way the League works is unexpected just like to mind of Ra's. It's been rumored that Ra's has long been in search of a male heir. Maybe he found it in Oliver Queen."

"So what does that mean for us?"

"It depends on where Oliver's mind and heart is in accepting the honor of being the demon's heir. On one hand, we could be used as further leverage to pressure Oliver. On the other, Ra's may push thru with his threat to rid Oliver of all his ties, Thea, Tommy and even you John, you are all links to the life Oliver tried to build when he got back from that Island. Removing all of you from the picture and convincing Oliver that this is the safest environment for his woman and child may be the tipping point."

"You're familiar with how Ra's mind works and the way the League functions. I'm sure you have some kind of plan up your sleeve by now?" John asked Malcolm.

"Yes. But it may go either way. My priority now is the children. I think knowing what plan Ra's has for Oliver and Felicity, it's safe to say that they are safe for now, more than safe actually. We are the ones in danger."

"So what's this diabolical plan?" John asked again.

"I'd like to keep it to myself at the moment. You know, for the element of surprise."

I incorporated that Olicity moment we all literally fainted over for in this chapter. I hope I gave it some justice.

This story will end soon, just two chapters. Right now I can tell you chapter 27 focuses on the rescue (here is where Malcolm's diabolical plan unfolds) and chapter 28 will be the concluding one where pieces of the puzzle will all fall into place.

Oh, someone is going to die in the next chapter...just wanted to share that sad spoiler. And no, it's not who you think it will be...