Alright so I started a new job on Monday 8-5 hence my extreme delay. Good news the story shall soon be complete so read and enjoy. Thanks for sticking around you beautiful and wonderful souls.

Disclaimer: I own nothing in relation to Arrow or it's characters

Chapter 26:

You're never alone

Felicity passed back and forth across the wide expanse of our conjoined offices waiting for Sara to arrive. Her face was composed her defenses up as Lance eyed us both from the other side of the room; his once fiery gaze growing colder as if ice itself had begun to spread throughout his veins. Moving from behind my desk I approached my wife's still pacing form hoping to ease the tension that had steadily been building since her phone call with Sara had ended.

"Baby please stop pacing you're going wear a hole in the very expense floor that you yourself just replaced not even a year ago." I'd stood directly in her path and whispered my comment into her ear to give her the intimacy we both craved but; also because I looked for any reason to touch my wife. She pulled back her eyes glinting in amusement her walls beginning to crack as a small but still perfect smile began to form her lips upturning slightly at my attempt towards humor.

"You were just looking for any reason to touch your lips to the shell of my ear and you know it." Her voice was low but I sensed not low enough for Lance to miss the small moment that had started to form between us. I shifted my gaze from hers as our hands came together almost on instinct as I began searching his face looking for any signs of discomfort or maybe even appreciation as our fingers twined together. His eyes once deeply cold softened, warmth attempting to break through the cold barriers. "I know you love her Oliver hell I've known that since before I suspect you did." He'd caught my slight stare answering my unspoken thoughts attempting to show that even in his anger and rage he knew that my reasons were sound.

"When did you suspect? That I loved Felicity that is." Lance had offered an opening and with Felicity's hand slightly squeezing mine I took it knowing that Sara would once again blow our tenuous bond apart. His smile was now fully formed his once cold eyes now completely warmed his affection for Felicity bursting forth like lava from a volcano. "I'm sure you remember when your office was attacked and I of course showed up in my demoted form to survey the scene." As I nodded Felicity came closer removing her hands from mine only to place her arms around my waist pulling herself closer into my now open embrace as she rested her head beneath my chin sighing contently. Lance once again chuckled as Felicity smirked my face now awash in confusion. "You remembering that conversation are you sweetheart?" I felt her head nod against my chest as her fingers latched together her arms firmly bracketing my waist our bodies sealed together making us stand as one. I just continued to hold her my hands rubbing her back up and down soothing us both with each gentle pass.

"Yes I do and I remember how dumb and foolish I felt many weeks later for thinking that your thoughts were accurate. Clearly we both were wrong and you dad were right." Now I was completely lost so I kept my gaze locked on Lance as I rested my check against her head our heart rates beginning to slow and match each of us comforted by the other. "Would one of you like to fill me in?"

"I told her a few days later to be careful around you. She just laughed but I was serious I saw how you looked at her Oliver I saw how your eyes followed her as she moved through the office. Your eyes gave you away you lit up whenever she drifted into the room and then slightly dimmed once she was out of site. I told her that you had feelings for her but she just shrugged it off acting like I was crazy." He paused remembering the moments attempting to convey them as they occurred my curiosity growing with each silent moment that passed. "When you and Sara started up again I thought I'd been wrong that what I saw between the two of you wasn't there. You remember our disaster of a family dinner I assume?"

"Of course I do sadly every mortifying second why?" My once moving hands had paused the moment Lance mentioned my relationship with Sara; in that moment I held Felicity even closer still feeling guilt for ever making her doubt my love for her even when I wasn't aware of it myself. Taking us in he sighed continuing to speak with his hands clasped together as he leaned forwards his arms against his knees.

"Your eyes were different, I realized in that moment you'd never looked at either of my daughters the way that you looked at Felicity. Your gaze with Laurel at that point held pity and shame but not love or even devotion just empathy for someone that you used to care quite deeply for."

"I still do care for Laurel…" I spoke before he was finished needing him to understand that I would always love Laurel she was my first love, and the person who kept me sane during my five years in hell. But while I loved her I was never in love with her that I hadn't felt until Felicity I'd only ever been in love with Felicity. His gaze now completely warmed told me more than his words ever could convey. "I know you did but son you weren't in love with her or Sara because I watched you with her as well. Again empathy, a deep connection was clearly there but not love; Felicity was the one even then no matter who you were with she held your heart and trust me you were fooling no one." Smiling against Felicity's hair I understood that Lance had seen what Digg had been telling me for quite some time I'd fallen for my girl long before I'd actually uttered the now infamous words.

"Thank you but why are you telling me this now?" His mouth had parted as his voice began to sound but he was interrupted by another voice a much softer and feminine voice. "Because he understands why you agreed to let me do this; he remembers what he saw back then, what I saw as well. When it comes to Felicity there's nothing you won't do to protect her, he saw that even though you were with me you already belonged to her." Sara moved forward coming to crouch before Lance sensing his anger building once again.

"He loves her dad, he needs her she made him who he is today without her there would be no Arrow, without her he'd never become the Green Arrow. You didn't see him on that island but I did, you didn't see how he would change the moment she walked in the room, she saved him without him even knowing it. Dad I'll do anything to protect my family but; I'll willing die to protect her. Without her Oliver and I would both be lost we both need her and neither one of us is willing to lose her no matter what. Can you understand that?" I waited my breath caught in my chest watching as both father and daughter's hands came together their foreheads touching as his tears silently fell.

"You're a mother Sara, Ray and Ben they need you…sweetie there has to be another way that doesn't involve using you for leverage." My heart now raced beneath my skin; Felicity's own breathing rising both our anxious energies converging in on us the air growing heavy as the moments passed; my thoughts racing as they spoke neither one backing down from their positions.

"Dad I can fight, I have the nanotech and Felicity can do something I can't." They both had risen each one standing before the other shoulders back and voices raised; remaining silent I watched knowing what Sara's next volley would be.

"What? What can she do that you can't? What is it that she can provide that would be worth risking your life?" Gone was the warmth in his gaze, that fleeting moment had passed as the ice struggled forth decimating the fire that had once burned within.

"She can save Oliver, she can save her children, and she can save me all from this damn room. You see this place…." Her arms raised as she twirled them around the open expanse silence filling the room each of us waited with bated breath for her statement to come to its end. "You know how they met right? Oliver needed help with a bullet ridden laptop so he brought it to her. He continued to bring her questions and vials of Vertigo…" I smiled that moment still being a favorite amongst the many we'd shared. "He trusted her when Moira shot him as he hid in the backseat of her car, she upgraded his computer systems and instead of trying to distance her from this mad crazy world he asked if she was in and thus began the rise of your daughter the hero otherwise known as Oliver's wife. She's been with him since almost the very beginning, she told him that he could be more and he said the same for her. No one could reach him when Slade attacked the city but she could. She told him that he wasn't alone and that she believed in him, she gave him the idea that ended up beating Slade. Dad everything Oliver's accomplished has been done because she was by his side and trust me this time will be no different. She'll protect us better than anyone else; she'll make sure that we all come home."

Sara turned facing us both our forms still clinging to the other each of us smiling towards her; her own face smiling back as she walked towards us stopping once her arms were around us both. "No matter what our plan will work Felicity doesn't need his permission to gain access you know." Her voice laced with humor as she pulled back keeping her right hand on Felicity's shoulder rubbing her thumb gently back and forth.

"I would still prefer that Lance be on board his access would still prove helpful if something were to go wrong." I felt Felicity attempt to move so I just held her tighter burying my face in her air as I breathed in deeply her scent calming my already frayed nerves. "I love you…." I whispered as I closed my eyes stealing the moment before Lance finally spoke.

"If I grant the access this goes smoother than if I don't I presume?" Sara turned around shielding us both with her small form deciding that this fight was still between her and Lance. "Yes it does so please just trust us your children to once again save the city."

He huffed his emotions still raw as he nodded and walked away leaving the three of us alone the once tense space now felt lighter as if the weight of the moment has finally passed. "Well that could have gone worse so I assume my miscarriage came up?" I nodded as I released my hold Felicity's arms coming to wrap around Sara bringing her into a bone crushing embrace. "He only did it when he sensed dad was coming unglued. I'm sorry Sara but he had no other cards left to play." She nodded against Felicity's shoulder both women knowing the whole story and neither of them willing to tell the sad tale. I was about to leave the room when Sara's voice stopped me; her body pulling away from Felicity as she strode with a determined pace towards me. "Can we talk for a minute? Felicity can stay since she knows the whole story but I feel that now might be the right time to fill you in on the details, it might make his reaction seem understated given the present circumstances." I nodded motioning towards the small seating area; Sara took the lead as I held my hand out to Felicity who hesitated not sure if she should follow.

"Felicity give me your hand remember nothing between us is a secret I want you next to me when you both decide to tell me why Laurel wasn't even a considered option." Her hand was in mine seconds after that as we moved in perfect sync towards Sara's waiting form. Sara took the small chair closest to the window as I settled into the love seat bringing Felicity down beside me never once releasing her hand. Once everyone was seated the conversation started Sara's composure fading with each word spoken.

Five months ago….

"Sara just tell me what's wrong I can't make this better if you don't talk to me." I glanced up seeing Felicity's eyes, those kind, warm, and bright blue eyes that I'd instantly felt a connection with looked down upon me with nothing but love and concern as my entire body shuddered. I tried to tell Laurel, hell Laurel and I hadn't spoken much more than five words to eachother since I' become pregnant with Ben. She of course had chosen Nyssa's side and I sadly couldn't disagree but that wasn't why we weren't speaking that reason had everything to do with Felicity. "Sara would you just tell me already it's been months of no I can't or there's no need to be concerned so out with it already what's bothering you?" I sighed lifting the cup of tea to my lips sipping the hot liquid savoring the taste and the warmth that it provided throughout my numb body. She remained seated across from me her arms crossed her own steaming tea remaining untouched before her.

"I have two things to tell you and neither is easy. First off Laurel and I aren't speaking and I can't imagine that is going to change anytime soon. Second I…" My entire body began to shudder and shake the small cup rattling about in my now infirm grasp. "Sara…hey Sara it's alright…" I felt her arms around me in seconds as she pulled me closer until my face was pressed against her throat my tears soaking her skin. I cried for long moments as she whispered hushed words into my hair her hands running up and down my back waiting patiently for me to regain enough composure to speak. "I was pregnant but…I lost her, I lost my baby girl because of the life that I myself chose to lead." The tears came harder now as my cries became sobs my body racked with more guilt and sorrow than one should ever have to feel in ten lifetimes much less one. "Just cry…let it all out until there's nothing left in your heart and mind…I'll be right here…I won't let go…I promise Sara you're not alone."

An hour had passed in silence I had shifted downward from her throat so that my head was placed in her lap as her fingers stroked through my hair slowly just waiting for me to decide that I was once again ready to speak. "Ben was a miracle I was old then but when I found out that I was pregnant again…Oh Fe I couldn't wait to tell Ray. He was so happy I mean he just lit up as he twirled me around the room laughing and crying with utter joy. I was going to do it right this time, I was going to be better this time around for Ray and for this new little miracle." My body once again shuddered but this time not from grief or pain but from the memories that I was forcing myself to once again re-live. "Sara did the nanotech cause you to miscarry?" I nodded against her as I exhaled thanking her for understanding that the very thing that I had granted me Ben had also taken away his sister. "Ray said that the tech viewed the baby as a threat to my system again I'm naturally older than one normally is when they have children and the tech sensed that the pregnancy could be a threat to my health." I didn't need to say anything further her mind much like Rays worked rather quickly her grasp on the situation came with no more words needed.

"What about Laurel why aren't you two speaking and before you can say nothing I know it has something to do with me." I sighed heavily once again knowing that I'd rather poke out my own eyes then tell her any of this. "Fe why can't you just let that go it's going to cause more harm than good believe me you won't forgive her for this one." Her fingers went cold as if ice had crept through her skin freezing her blood upon contact which in turn caused me to sit up my face in direct alignment with her own shellshocked expression. "Fe…Hey Felicity talk to me what's with the face?" Now it was her turn to sigh her eyes slammed shut as her face fell into her outstretched hands. "How did you find out?" Now I was shocked she knew how could she know? I only knew because I'd walked in on them and the moment that caused my very stomach to turn. "I saw them, I saw the moment and needless to say I wasn't kind with my words." She nodded as she leaned back sinking further into the couch her body going slack against the soft and welcome cushions that conformed against her. "He told me the night it happened of course Oliver would never keep something like that from me, he'd never want me thinking what you undoubtedly thought. I just hoped that no one else would be affected by her rather poor judgment."

"Fe she kissed him after she told him he'd made a mistake by being with for all these years…Fe I know I'm not the morality police but when I slept with Oliver he wasn't married to Laurel. Also I destroyed my relationship with Nyssa but I also owned up to that fact I didn't blame anyone for my mistakes I took the full brunt of my actions consequences included. She however did not she waited until he was alone in his office and then shoved her tongue down his throat claiming that she was the one that he was meant to be with that she was his soulmate and not you. Fe I swear I wanted to rip out her throat but that man is completely devoted to you." She smiled her eyes still sealed shut her voice coming out softly which was a stark contrast when compared to my own higher and far more hostile tone. "I know I too saw the retched exchange what Laurel didn't know was I had come back Oliver and I had argued that day about what I frankly can't remember but I felt sick over the whole mess so after dinner I'd come back to the office knowing he would still be there to apologize. I was standing in the lab's inner doorway watching as she kissed him and then welling with pride when he pushed her away."

"I'm sorry Fe I just I was so angry that she'd attempted to wreck your marriage because her own was falling apart. We argued, had words and, exchanged a few parting blows. We haven't spoken since her divorce from Ted went through. I just can't get over the fact that she did it again…" Felicity once again knew more about the situation because she smiled in sadness recalling I assumed another story told to her by Oliver. "Tommy when things got complicated and Oliver showed up they slept together because that's what they did. I know Oliver told me a few months after we'd gotten together he never wanted me to fear him going back to his old habits so he told me all about them including the times with Laurel and you." Now I blushed Oliver really did like to throw logs on a fire didn't he. "Fe how can you even look at me knowing what you know?" Again she smiled her form still slumped against the couch eyes content to remain closed. "I love Oliver don't I? Well I love you too, that means I love all of you not just the parts that are good but the bad ones' as well." Now I smiled as I relaxed beside her taking her hand in my own as I too shut my eyes letting the world once again go still; her steady grip on my hand reminding me that I was never alone not anymore.

I gulped I remembered that horrid encounter and I recalled how Felicity had staked her claim once in our office and then many more times once locked in our bedroom. I winced as my coloring shifted my once slightly tanned skin turning red remembering every erotic moment shared between myself and Felicity as she claimed me heart, body, and soul. "God no wonder Laurel won't come near well anyone; does everyone know about her lapse in judgment which she apologized for by the way." Felicity snickered bringing our clasped hands to her mouth kissing my hand softly in response. Sara just glared indicating she knew but still didn't quite care. "Oh I know but Fe's our sister and frankly dating is one thing but you two are married with four children and she by the way has never done anything but love and adore Laurel. She hasn't run off with you and she didn't ruin the bond of sisterhood no she fell in love with you while you acted like an ass sleeping with multiple women before waking up to the woman who was right in front of you. So needless to say our chat was a rather heated one that still remains unresolved."

I just sighed as I leaned back my thumb grazing back and forth across Felicity's knuckles as she smiled in Sara's direction the two of them completely at ease with the situation before them. "Well since that's settled we have to plan for tomorrow night. Bruce is ready to go and aware of the plan so we just have to pick the time and place for our little set up." I nodded as did Sara all three of us leaning forward to discuss how best to take down Jacob Mitchell this time for good.

"Do you still harbor any resentment over the whole ordeal with Slade?" I knew my question was out of left field but listening to Sara's speech earlier had left me wondering if she really understood why I was so against her taking such a huge risk now. "Go to sleep Oliver since tomorrow night your chest and my back won't be in any type of direct physical contact." Not willing to let this go I nudged her shoulder with my nose while tightening my arms against her waist the smooth fabric of her nightgown lightly moving upwards against my skin. "Answer me do you still feel any anger regarding how I handled Slade?" She huffed as her lungs expanded against her chest moving my arms slightly in the process her voice filled with exhaustion but oddly no annoyance as she spoke. "The only resentment I harbor is you not telling me that you meant what you said, that you let me think it was all a lie to trick Slade. I felt used and betrayed until the beach on Lian Yu" Now I huffed but in curiosity wanting her to continue her revelation. "Expand upon that please." I still couldn't see her face but I could feel the rise and fall of her even breaths against my chest as her back snuggled further in my face hidden between her neck and shoulder once again breathing in her intoxicating scent.

"Like my dad said your eyes love are your tell. After the beach you started touching me more often and let your hands linger against my body for more than a few stolen moments. You actually came to my apartment before Slade you never did; also let's not forget the long lingering stares and smiles as we flirted back and forth for almost 6 months needless to say I knew you felt something for me." Her voice began to drift but I still wanted more so I pressed my lips against her neck stoking along the column of her throat with my tongue until I felt her back arch as she moaned. "Baby not fair…not even close…what more do you want…Oliver don't start something you have no intention of finishing." I kept up the slow and tortuous pace against her neck my hands skimming up and down her body gently lifting the nightgown higher and higher up her smooth skin. "Tell me when you knew I wasn't lying…tell me why you told me to say that I never loved you like you already knew that I did…tell me the truth please." I felt her toes skimming up and down my lower calf as her hands came to rest upon my own traveling up and down her body the nightgown synched up to her waist. "Fine but first I'm turning around so kindly remove your lips and tongue from my neck." Doing as requested I removed my now grinning mouth from her skin as her body rolled her face coming dangerously close to my own. Her next move made me forget the previous questions all together.

With a glint in her eyes she reached down pulling up the rest of her nightgown revealing her glowing naked form her breasts heaving with every breath she took. She moved in closer wrapping her legs around my hips her core against my now hardening shaft as her fingers slid beneath the waistband of my boxers sliding them down using her feet to push them past my buttock and down around my ankles. Keeping her hands against the firm skin of my bottom half she pressed her naked chest against mine rubbing up and down until the friction became unbearable. Her hips began to grind against mine her opening just an inch away from being claimed as she spoke using my aroused attention to get the point across. "I knew you loved me each time you touched me and lingered against the skin your thumb passing back and forth slowly each pass sending heat through my core." Her lips touched against the corner of my mouth her tongue lightly tracing the supple corner. "I knew you loved me when you rescued me with Helena as your back up." Again she kissed the other corner just as soft and gently as before. "I told you to say you never loved me because I thought it would be easier to move on if I knew you were never an option to begin with." With that she slammed her lips against mine as she moved her hips allowing her go glide over my hardened body as I entered her with great force.

"I know why you won't risk me now…with Slade it was different by the time you figured it out it was too late to stop it. You had to no choice but to trust that I had faith enough for us both; you have never once risked me in that way since that moment…"

"The moment I truly realized that I had been in love with you for months." I finished her statement as our eyes became glued our heavy breaths mixing with the other as our bodies moved in perfect harmony. "I love you baby…I've never been in love with anyone but you." I kissed her hard our bodies moved in a hurried and rapid frenzy each us nearing our climax each of us yearning for the release. "I love you Oliver I've always been in love with you from the moment you laid bleeding in the back of damn car." We kissed again tongues mashing against the other in a well known and well practiced dance as her nails dug into my skin and our lips broke apart each of our screams shattering the still night. Each time we made love was different because each time it was for a different reason this time was no different as her face winced the moment I pulled out leaving us both slightly empty our connection somewhat broken. This time was to reassure me as she did so many months ago that she knew my heart was hers but that her heart had always been and would always be mine. I settled off to sleep my mind drifted images of our encounters filling my head each wonderful moment echoing against my sleep addled mind letting my heart finally rest.