Hidden Chapter 28

Felicity had made sure she got out of work on time today. She just had enough time to get home, shower, do her hair and make-up and slip into her new dress. She had fought hard with Thea in the shop to pay for it herself but Thea had forbidden her from paying. She said it was a present to welcome her back. Felicity had been secretly delighted though when she brought the dress home and saw the price tag was a month's wages for her.

Felicity had her tablet propped up in front of her watching a youtube video of how to do an elegant upstyle in her hair. She knew she wouldn't have time to go to a hairdressers this evening. She managed to pull it up with a few curls hanging out and hairsprayed it in place. She heard the doorbell ring and hurriedly tried to find her shoes, nearly tripping over herself as she went.

She answered the door to see a dashing Oliver standing there. He stood in the doorway, his mouth ajar for a minute, admiring Felicity. She cocked her head to the side and smiled at him. "You like?"

Oliver cleared his throat. "Oh boy I like it. Wow." He pulled her towards him, his mouth on hers, his hands on her hips.

Felicity reluctantly pulled away from their kiss. "I just have to put on my shoes and put on lipstick and I'll be done." He could hear her still talking from the bedroom as she scurried around. "You know I'm not the best in public situations like this. I tend to get nervous and you know what happens when I get nervous. And then there was this one time at my junior prom that I tripped over my dress and knocked my poor date to the ground and he hit his head and needed stitches. So as you can see maybe you should just try to get out of this night if you can…" Felicity was still babbling as she returned to this living room where she found a smiling Oliver.

"I wouldn't cancel this night for the world." He held out to her a wrapped box. "I know you've probably already got your jewelry matched to your dress or whatever you girls do so you don't have to wear it tonight. It's just I saw it in a window today and thought you might like it."

"Oliver," Felicity smiled, taking the box. "You didn't need to buy me anything."

"I didn't need to. I wanted to. Open it." Oliver stood expectantly, his hands behind his back.

Felicity opened the fine paper and inside the box there was a stunning bracelet, loaded with stones. "Oliver? These are diamonds. This is too much."

"Nothing is too much for you." Oliver was already opening the clasp on the bracelet to put on her delicate wrists. "And they're conflict free diamonds. I knew you'd want that."

Felicity went to give Oliver a kiss but he faltered for a second. "What's wrong?"

"I don't want to smudge your makeup."

"I can reapply," Felicity grinned while pulling him towards her by the lapel of the jacket.

When they neared the car, Thea's usual driver was holding the door. "So you did send John out on a few visible missions tonight?" Felicity whispered.

"Yeah. I hope you don't mind we're sharing the car with these delinquents," Oliver said good-naturedly as he helped Felicity into the car. There waiting for her were Thea and a very uncomfortable looking Roy.

"Hey. We're not…or wait I suppose both of us do have records. But so do you Ollie." Felicity loved seeing the sibling banter between these two. "What kept you guys like fifteen minutes? We were going to send a search party. You guys weren't… yuck please tell me you guys weren't..." Thea made a horrified face to her brother.

"Well you did help choose the dress. You have to live with those consequences," Oliver teased.

"Roy, cover your ears. Don't listen to this." Thea looked towards an even more uncomfortable looking silent Roy.

When they arrived at the museum where the benefit was being held Oliver moved in closer to Felicity. "So I probably should warn you that there will be alot of press outside this thing looking for pictures. Just smile."

"What if I trip and fall flat on my face?"

"Just hold on to me tight," Oliver whispered in her ear.

"This time I don't have to imagine you saying that under platonic circumstances." They both snickered, remembering their escapades in the elevator shaft of Merlyn Global.

Whenever they stopped at the entrance, Thea dragged a reluctant looking Roy out first. Felicity could see the flashes snapping non-stop. Oliver got out next and offered her his hand. "Ready?" he asked as she exited the door of the limo.

Oliver looped his arm into hers as Felicity was bombarded with camera flashes and reporters shouting questions in her direction. Oliver leant in towards her. "Have I told you tonight you look stunning?" This elicited a beautiful smile from the woman on his arm.

When they entered the building, Felicity realized she had been holding her breath. "I think I'm blind now. Yep definitely seeing stars. I feel like a cartoon character that's been just hit on the head."

"You did great. Relax now," Oliver said, taking champagne from a passing waiter's tray and handing it to her. "We just mill around and politely say hi to a few people. Then we bid in the silent auction. If you see anything you like just tell me and I'll make sure you get it. It's fun. And I promise not to abandon you with anyone but my sister."

"I thought I looked uncomfortable but Roy looks worse." They both looked over and laughed as the young man pulled at his suit jacket while Thea slapped his hands down like a child.

Oliver had been right. It wasn't that bad. Felicity had more champagne, ate a few canapés and was introduced to some rich people whose names she'd never remember. After an hour or so she saw walking towards them a very recognizable brunette. She wore an elegant golden dress. Felicity suddenly lost the ability to speak- a rarity in her case. Oliver obviously spotted her at the same time as she saw him put on his playboy false smile that Felicity didn't like but knew its necessity.

"Laurel. Good to see you," Oliver said placing a chaste kiss on her cheek. "This is obviously a favorite charity of yours."

"Hello Oliver. Yeah this kept CNRI in business when I worked there. Felicity right?" Laurel put her hand out to shake Felicity's. Felicity awkwardly tried to switch her champagne to another hand while not dropping her clutch bag.

"Yes. Felicity. That's me." Felicity couldn't think of anything to say but she managed: "Love the dress. Looks great on you."

"Thank you. And yours too." The three exchanged some empty pleasantries for a few minutes and then Laurel excused herself to talk to the police commissioner.

"That didn't go too badly. I think," Oliver said.

"She looks stunning," Felicity answered, still looking in Laurel's direction. Oliver wasn't quite sure if this was a test.

"She does look stunning Felicity. But you know what?" Oliver took her hand in his. "Since I have been with you, a parade of gorgeous women could walk in front of me and I could objectively tell you they are gorgeous but feel nothing. I have you and I don't ever need to look at anybody else. You make me happier than a stadium full of naked cheerleaders could. I don't need anyone else but you."

Felicity was gob smacked when he finished. "You are so sweet."

"I'm not saying it just to be sweet. It's true." Oliver leant in closer so only she could hear. "It's taking all my resolve not to throw you across that bar and have my way with you right now. Screw everyone else."

"Well hold some of that enthusiasm for later and I'll make it worth your while," Felicity said, pulling Oliver into a gentle kiss. Felicity looked at Oliver and knew she had never felt about another person the way she felt about him. He did look at her too like there was nobody else in the world.

"Come with me. I want to show you something," Oliver said suddenly, taking her hand. She popped her empty glass down on the bar and followed him. They went through half empty galleries to a small empty gallery at the far side of the museum. Felicity didn't see security but figured that the museum obviously trusted all these rich people to not destroy the place.

The room they entered had only a few paintings and the room was poorly lit. In the center was a fountain with a small stream of water from the top and the water illuminated with blue lights from the bottom. The light bathed the whole room in blue. It was quiet except for the small trickle of water from the top. Felicity sat on the marble at the edge of the fountain and looked around at the beauty of the room.

"This is my favorite gallery in the museum. It's so peaceful."

"I didn't really take you as a museum lover Oliver."

Oliver walked towards her, looking around. "Well I'm not. But this room is so peaceful." As he walked towards Felicity he suddenly stopped. He looked at her in the blue glow. This beautiful, smart, sexy woman who is self-effacing and loyal. He couldn't imagine how he could be any luckier. A thought struck him. He walked towards her and took her hands in his. "Felicity. Will you marry me?"

Felicity nearly fell backwards into the fountain she got such a shock but Oliver's hands were keeping her steady. "What? Did you say marry?"

"Yeah marry. Like be my wife."

"Oliver I don't think you've thought this through. You don't have to prove…"

"I've thought it through. I know I want to spend the rest of my life with you until we're old and wrinkly with fifty grandkids running around. I know I don't want anyone else in my life. I know that I want to wake up with you every morning. I'm not trying to just prove something."

"What about your 'night-time activities'?"

"What about them? I'll continue or give it up. I don't know. They're just details. Small details. If you marry me you'll be the most important thing and we can figure the rest out together. We can have a huge wedding or just the two of us. I don't mind. Whatever makes you happy."

Felicity was silent. Quieter than he had seen her in a long time. Finally she said, "I love you Oliver."

"Is there a but?" Oliver waited with baited breath, his palms now feeling sweaty.

"No but. Yes. I'd love to marry you." Felicity stood up and threw her arms around his neck. She pulled back slightly, "No take backsies though?"

"Definitely no take backsies. I promise." Oliver held his new fiancé tightly against him. He felt euphoric. He could feel her heart beating strongly against his chest. He pulled back slightly. "I wish I had a ring now."

"You know I don't worry about those kind of things."

"I know you don't but I'm still getting you the biggest ring that you can carry. Thank you."

Felicity looked confused. "For what?"

"For making me a complete man. For taking me from the broken wreck I was to being whole again. I love you." Oliver held her in his arms for the longest time, neither of them wanting this moment to ever end.

The End?