2 down, one more to go. This storyline WILL continue on to a "season 2" of sorts. Since I can't do series here on like I can on AO3, I will just keep posting them to this story so you all can find them easily. After I post the third and final epilogue, there will be a bit of a break on this story. I want to re-read it all and plan out what happens for the next part. I thank you ALL for your support on this adventure. I never guessed that I would have people that wanted to read this or that it would grow into what it has. Thank you all soooo much! This chapter brings the over all name of the story - Strong Enough - to completion. I hope you like it. =)
Felicity arrived to her apartment around midnight. Oliver and Diggle were finishing up an easy task in the Glades; so, Oliver told her she could head home early. It had been three weeks since being back in her apartment. She had missed falling asleep next to Oliver every night, but they also both wanted to have a normal relationship; which they hadn't really had a chance to have. Felicity went to her bedroom and started to slip out of her pencil skirt and blouse. Her cell phone buzzed on her dresser.
Oliver: Safe Haven.
Felicity smile. She loved her nickname and everything it had come to mean between the two of them. Smiling, she tapped out a reply to him.
Felicity: Always.
Sitting her phone back on her dresser, Felicity slipped a robe over her bra and panties. She walked to her kitchen and opened a bottle of red wine that Oliver had brought over the last time he was there. Felicity sat on the counter, sipping red wine from her glass. The corner where she sat, what seemed like ages ago now, when Oliver kissed her for the first time. A world's worth of pain, love, happiness, frustration, sadness, and every emotion in between had happened since then. More than once they thought they had lost each other, and no matter what the world had thrown at them, they came back stronger. Both of them seemed to be relaxing when it came to the fear, but neither of them ever forgot just how dangerous Oliver's life as the Hood made things.
Felicity smiled to herself when she heard a key in the door to her apartment, which lead to Oliver standing in her kitchen. He had changed back into his normal clothes, a t-shirt and jeans. "I've missed you, Felicity." Oliver said, smiling at her.
"You just saw me a few hours ago, and we talked less than an hour ago." Felicity grinned as he walked towards her. She had an arm out stretched with a glass of wine for him. He took a sip, and then sat it on the counter.
"I've missed you." He repeated, stepping in between her legs. Oliver took her wine glass out of her hand and sat it next to his.
Felicity's heart still raced when Oliver got this close to her. "You see me every day."
"I've missed you." Oliver pulled the tie open on her silken robe, slipping his arms around her bare waist. Felicity's back arched slightly with his movement.
"I've missed you, too." She grinned.
"I grew more used to waking up to you than I had realized," Oliver whispered as he kissed her neck. "I miss that."
"We said we wanted to keep my apartment." Oliver was kissing around her collar bone which made Felicity's voice hitch for a moment. "A place to get away and be alone."
"Yes, we did." Oliver was nearing her breasts with his kisses.
"So what is your plan to fix this, Mr. Queen?" Felicity giggled softly.
"Come home to you every night, whether here, my house, or wherever you are." Oliver was looking at her now, smiling. "I'm done being alone."
"So are you finally ready to admit that you were wrong on shutting everyone out, and that I was right?" Felicity smirked.
Oliver grabbed her and picked her up. She laughed as she wrapped her legs tightly around his waist. "I'm not strong enough to stay away, Felicity." Oliver kissed her neck as he walked them back to Felicity's bedroom.
"Me neither," she whispered.
The two of them had accepted that at any moment they could be ripped from each other again or forever. After Malcolm, they made a vow to each other to enjoy every moment they could. Oliver tried his best to live in the moment, not in the past, at least when it came to his life with Felicity. She was the light in his life still. His demons and nightmares were still there, and her presence helped keep them at bay some. Oliver would later admit to her that is why he had missed her so much the nights they had been apart. His nightmares had returned without her there to keep him grounded. Felicity would also admit the same to Oliver. Together they were stronger than they were apart, and for once in months, neither of them were afraid to live life.
"Not Strong Enough"
(feat. Brent Smith of Shinedown)
I'm not strong enough to stay away.
Can't run from you
I just run back to you.
Like a moth I'm drawn in to your flame,
Say my name, but it's not the same.
You look in my eyes, I'm stripped of my pride.
And my soul surrenders, and you bring my heart to its knees.
[Chorus:]
And it's killin' me when you're away, I wanna leave and I wanna stay.
And I'm so confused, So hard to choose.
Between the pleasure and the pain.
And I know it's wrong, and I know it's right.
Even if I try to win the fight, my heart would overrule my mind.
And I'm not strong enough to stay away
I'm not strong enough to stay away
What can I do
I would die without you
In your presence my heart knows no shame
I'm not to blame
Cause you bring my heart to it's knees
[Chorus]
There's nothing I can do
My heart is chained to you
And I can't get free
Look what this love's done to me
[Chorus]
Not strong enough, strong enough
Not strong enough, strong enough
To stay away
Not strong enough, strong enough
Not strong enough, strong enough
I'm not strong enough to stay away
