I think this is got to be one of my top favourite fanfics I've written so far, so I sinceriously hope you lot enjoy it as much as I have during writing it. Always remember prompts are always welcome though!

As always, please leave a review and tell me your thoughts!

Thanks and enjoy x

Striding through the entrance of the hospital, the first sight he was met by was a guilt-stricken Palmer clutching a, most likely, broken arm to his chest as his face bore dirty splotches, making his fury grow with every breath he took.

He didn't even have to ask to know what had happened, the silence told him.

Not altering his pace, Oliver crossed the floor to the man in question and sent him crashing into the wall behind where he stood, Oliver's hand around his throat before he could even process what had happened, the rest of the team behind his position watching on with curiosity and concern but none of which for the man currently in the death grip of a livid Queen.

"What the hell happened?" right then Oliver didn't give a care in the world for how dark his voice sounded, the only thought in his mind was that of Felicity and why she wasn't currently standing in the waiting room.

If anyone asked him if seeing Palmer squirming against his hold, fighting to gasp down much needed oxygen, made a strange fluttering feeling erupt within him as snippets of his inner beast were unleashed, he never said a word.

Releasing his grip on the man's throat minutely, he waited for the man to speak, his patience wearing thin.

"…there was an explosion at S.T.A.R labs…something went wrong, I couldn't save her…I couldn't get to her in time…she-"

Roaring in frustration, Oliver brought Palmer towards him before smashing him back into the plaster again, his rage radiating off of him in waves.

Nurses and patients in the room watched them both in both fear for the man up against the wall and understanding, you're never really in control when somebody you care about is threatened or placed in a position that could mean their life.

"YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT HER! YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO KEEP HER SAFE! SHE TRUSTED YOU!" not being able to hold himself back, Diggle and Roy were both forced to intervene but not before Oliver's fist collided with Palmer's jaw, pushing his body right up against the barrier of Diggle and Roy. "I swear Palmer…if anything happens to her…it's on you" pointing threateningly his way, nobody second guessed the anger directed at the man as the crowd around the scene all held their breath.

"It wasn't my choice, she had a mind of her own and you think anyone can convince her otherwise once she's got it set on something!"

"YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE PUT HER IN THAT POSITION IN THE FIRST PLACE!"

"…what, you think you could've saved her…that she wouldn't be in here now? You weren't there, you didn't see what happened!"

Releasing the deep snarl that had been building in his throat, Oliver sent his fist flying into the plaster beside Palmer's head, making the man in question shake violently and visibly letting go to his fear of the man stood in front of him.

"I'd watch your tongue if I were you, you're on too thin ice as it is…wouldn't want to make it worse for yourself" whispering threateningly into his face, Oliver made no attempt at hiding the current of fury flowing through his veins. Forcing himself away from Palmer with the little control that remained, he clenched his hands into tight fists, digging his fingernails into his palm in some attempt at controlling himself, controlling the beast inside of him screaming at him to end the man's miserable life there and then.

"…none of this was supposed to happen" Ray muttered to himself, head hung in defeat, his voice not small enough to go unnoticed by Queen as the man in question froze before gradually turning to face the man that had stolen away and hidden his light, the only sole reason left for him to continue living.

"Wasn't supposed to happen? Wasn't….if I were you, I'd get out of my sight right now before I do something I most certainly will not be regretting" snarling menacingly at the man, Oliver allowed himself to be tugged away by Digg, towards where Captain Lance sat stoic in one of the plastic chairs, his knee bouncing continuously.

As soon as Barry had called him, Oliver had subconsciously dialled Lance and relayed on the news of what had happened as he and Felicity had become quite close to one another, dare he say it, almost like father and daughter but in no way replacing the bond Lance had with Sara. Laurel had been more than happy with the new almost-sister, welcoming her with open arms, even though they weren't true sisters or step-sisters, they were sisters in bond, the part she loved most of all was that Felicity had taken his mind off of losing his youngest once more to the horrors hidden in the darkness of the world.

When he had told Lance, he had said with no pause between his words that he'd meet him at the train station; his voice giving him away to the fear of losing another one he cared for….a feeling Oliver knew more than all too well.

Barry came waltzing out of the bathroom with Cisco and Caitlin at his heels, the two latter taking a seat while Barry couldn't find it in him to stop pacing. Oliver knew he blamed himself but couldn't for the life of him find the words currently to provide any comfort to the young vigilante, knowing that he had been washing Felicity's blood off of his hands since he had personally rushed her to the hospital…as the Flash, changing in the alleyway to his normal clothes.

Burying his face in his shaking hands, Oliver bypassed all the concerned glances guided his way as everyone there knew just how strong their connection stood.


Time seemed at standstill for him as he paced continuously through the waiting room of the hospital.

Barry had told him to the depth of her injuries, and they were bad, making both Oliver and Lance drop to the chairs as their legs threatened to give way from beneath them.

This wasn't supposed to be happening to him, to her, she was supposed to be awake and living her life as it came but no instead, she was in that operation room fighting for her life, a battle she probably wasn't even aware was happening.

When more nurses went rushing towards the room in question, Oliver felt his heart drop.

Without a second thought, his feet were moving him towards the room in tow, stopping when he reached the window, the nurse trying to convince him to return to the waiting room but she sounded as if she were speaking to him from above water as he slowly drowned.

Chaos erupted within the room as doctors and nurses tried to save what he refused to believe was lost to them.

How could he just sit in the waiting room and do nothing when every fibre of his being was screeching at him to get up, do something, anything.

He couldn't lose her, he couldn't lose his guiding light otherwise his life was sure to crash and burn without her, he would become so lost with no more sense of direction, no more sense of the need to be…just nothing.

"We're losing her! Get the defibrillators now!"

"…no…no, god, please no…" Oliver muttered as he watched the heart line on the monitor spike before crashing. "NO!"

Breaking down to his knees, Oliver welcomed the feeling of the ice cold floor as his body collapsed to the ground, no longer able to fuel himself with the typical strength when his prime source was flickering, barely hanging by a thread onto the life he didn't know if he could ever come back from potentially losing.

"…no…no….no….please don't….please don't, you can't….please, I'm begging you…don't go…please…" Oliver whispered into to the abyss, tears falling unnoticed into a small puddle on the floor displaying a reflection of himself that looked so empty without her, praying to anyone who was listening right then to not take her from them…from him.

Watching her brother as vulnerable as he was then was like a knife to Thea's chest, never in her life had she ever seen him like that, not even after witnessing their mother's murder by his old best friend.

The nurses dashed around the space, prepping this and that, anything to keep her with them.

"Come on sweetheart, don't you dare give up on us now, there are too many routing for you for you to submit" one of the brown-haired nurses whispered into her ear as she clutched her upper arm.


Whistling echoed round her head, causing her to shift before unfastening her eyes.

Reaching up to cover her forehead with the palm of her hand, memories bombarded her senses, reminding her of what had happened.

Glancing up at her surroundings, something that Diggle and Sara had knocked into her head after multiple survival training sessions in the foundry, Felicity found herself looking up at trees overhanging her current position on what seemed to be a gravel road with wide oak trunks standing guard on either side of the road, tree branches creating an archway overhead.

"…whoa…"

Upon hearing a faraway sound of a young girl giggling, she couldn't help herself but move to follow the sound.

There was something about that voice that seemed to call to her.


Following the path, Felicity's gaze fell upon a figure of a young girl standing in the middle of the path, as though she were waiting for something, or someone.

Her features were soft and delicate, deep blue eyes staring back at her, light brown hair cascading down past her shoulders. Draped over her small body bore a white dress with a red belt that ended just past her knees a beautiful red floral design decorating along the hem.

"Hello" introducing herself, she was met by the giggle that lit up the young girl's features brilliantly.

"It took you long enough" the young girl replied, skipping towards Felicity to lace her fingers with her own and begin to tug her towards the sight of the towering hills before them.

Not making a sole move to stop the girl, Felicity gladly allowed her to guide her to wherever in the world she wished.

Not being able to help herself from laughing along with the young unknown girl, Felicity soon found herself skipp through the tall grass beside the girl looking up at her with bright eyes full of so much cheer and happiness it took her breath away.

Rolling down the remainder of the big hill, Felicity rose to her feet to gaze upon the sight set before her.

"Felicity!" a male voice called over the sound of insistent giggling, a voice that was too familiar. Peering through her fallen locks that now hung out in front of her face, there in front of her set a picturesque image that she never thought she'd ever see in her life again.

Past a hidden cave lay a secluded beach with golden sand running along the edge of the small island, clear seawater lapping at its beaches as a forest stood tall on the other side of the shoreline, curving round the edge of the island but it wasn't the beach itself that took her breath away, it was the sight of what was on it.

There dancing about in the sand was her parents, young and in their prime as their love for the other shone brighter than any star in the night sky.

Not bothering to wipe away her tears, Felicity just simply smiled at the memory she thought she'd never see for the life of her again in all its beauty.


"…Felicity, Felicity please I am begging you, please wake up…please…I-I-I need you, and I don't need people Felicity, it's a luxury I haven't allowed myself to have since I returned home…but I need you, I don't know where to go without you. I'm lost without you by my side where you've always been. So I'm here on my knees before you, please don't leave me now" caressing her cheek with his hand, Oliver couldn't help the shaking wracking him form as the warmth still radiated from her skin and heated his own, a feeling he never wanted to forget or lose.

Watching Felicity's features, his breath caught in his throat as they softened, relaxing as a lone tear trailed down her face.

"Felicity…" the heart monitor caught his ears, turning his head towards the machine beside the bed hooked up to his girl. Her heart line was picking up.

"She's dreaming" turning to the door Oliver gazed at the figures of Lance and Digg, neither man's eyes straying from their girl on the bed. "…that happened once when Lyla was under, her heart line did exactly that, it's a good thing, it means…no matter what happens-" choking on the words, Diggle pushed through "-she's at peace, wherever she is…she's where she wants to be"

"Well I need her to be here, please Felicity…wake up"


"You need to wake up" the voice from beside her spoke, catching her attention and drawing it to the small girl she'd just spent god-knows-how-long with. Turning her gaze to the young girl stood next to her, Felicity's gaze darted between the girl and her parents dancing in the sand, glancing over at the two of them…almost in expectation.

Now it all made sense, that was her but as a version of her younger self.

Shaking her head out of her sudden thoughts, Felicity focused on the words of her younger self.

"Why? Why can't I just stay here with you three" smiling sadly at her own cherished memory, she took in as much of the scene as she possibly could in the potential little time she still had.

"Because it's not your time yet and they need you back home" now that got her attention.

Shaking her head, Felicity looked back over to her parents before seating herself in the grass, creating a cushion beneath her arse, resting her forearms on her knees.

"What's the point? None of them actually needs me. You know when I first started, my job was solely tech support but now with everyone coming in and joining the 'secret' of that life, what's the point, what use am I anymore?" speaking aloud the thought that had been haunting her thoughts for a long time, Felicity breathed in a shaky breath.

She'd spent so long avoiding the inevitable, avoiding answering the question because the truth was there in black and white.

"…do you really think they need you for tech support?" taking residence in the seat beside her, the younger version of herself sat facing her, shining blue eyes looking on at her.

Mindfully calling the smaller…her…Lissy in her mind, Felicity offered the girl a small sad smile.

"What else am I?"

"A hero" snapping her eyes back to the younger ones, the incredulous thought she was presenting her with was…well incredulous.

"…I hate to break it to you, but I'm not a hero"

"That's not true" shaking her head, Lissy crossed her legs and placed one hand comfortingly on her thigh. "You are a hero all on your own, just remember all the times you did the impossible or what they thought to be the impossible. You always found another way, never backing down"

Laughing at the young girl, Felicity couldn't help the memory.

"You watched Camp Rock 2 didn't you?"

"…maybe, you can't prove anything"

"Remembering you're me and I'm you, yeah I can prove that" smiling while giving Lissy a pointed look, they both broke out into laughter, both knowing the truth. "…you know, maybe you are right"

"Maybe" the question in her smug tone put another smile on her face knowingly.

"Don't get cocky with me….me, wow that's weird"

"You know Digg's right"

"Which part?"

"About you being the team's guiding light…and since I know what you've been through, I can say this…you can't give up because I won't let you"

"Want a piece of advice?" asking Lissy, Felicity glanced over at her still dancing parents before her face, in which nodded in response. "This here…make as much of it as you possibly can, time seems like it passes in the blink of an eye. Watch out as well, your heart is a vulnerable thing so protect it well and I don't just mean physically…promise me?"

"I promise as long as you promise me one thing"

"…course"

"Always be happy, or at least try, keep a smile on your face whenever you're feeling down"

Throwing her head back in laughter, Felicity chuckled at the young girl.

"You really do need to stop watching all those TV programmes"

"Come on, you're supposed to know me better than anyone, you should know that's never gonna happen"

"Go on, go enjoy your time with your family" gesturing to the couple with her head, Felicity pushed the girl to her feet.

"Our family, they're our family remember, not just mine"

"Quite right, now go on, get"

Breathing deeply through a smile, Felicity watched as Lissy ran straight into the arms of her father who crouched down to accommodate his daughter. Not bothering to wipe away the tears tracking down her face, Felicity secured the moment to memory, wrapping her arms around herself before closing her eyes.

The smile never left her face.


Eyes fluttering open, silence met her except the sound of light intakes of breath from her side.

Giggling echoed in her mind as she remembered how her father picked her up and began spinning her around, chuckling deeply as the two lived in their own moment, her mother spinning herself round in circles attempting to make herself dizzy, landing them all in a giant heap on the sand, laughing away.

Chocking back a gentle sob, Felicity's eyes stung from the tears at the thought of how that memory could never be alive again, in mere seconds it was all over, brimming behind her eyelids.

Movement from her side caught her attention, glancing down at a sleeping Oliver Queen, his hand encasing one of her own- that she only just began feeling.

Smiling down at the man, Felicity carefully moved her right hand out from beneath his grasp- which is bloody harder than it looks -and lifted it to trail through his hair, scratching her nails lightly through his short tufts of hair and thus receiving a purring sound out of the Arrow (that thought in itself made her laugh) as he chased her hand in his subconscious, his eyes opening to catch her own.

"…Felicity…" moving quickly but gently, being wary to avoid her injuries, Oliver slipped one hand beneath her back to support her as he moved them both so he could wrap both his arms around her, holding her closely to his own body in an attempt to provide himself with the necessary means of comfort that Felicity was alive, awake and in his arms.

Allowing Oliver to take whatever he needed from her, her gaze travelled over his shoulder to the young girl stood in the corner of the room beside the door as others came rushing in, sounds distorted as she solely focused on the girl.

The sound of her laugh caused a smile to erupt across Felicity's face, her not bothering to stop or remove it, as the girl began waving wildly to her before turning and skipping down the corridors of the hospital, her light and musical laugh echoing behind her.

Exhaling the deep breath, Felicity relaxed more into Oliver's embrace, him tightening it slightly in response, her promise she made to the young girl still clear and present in her mind, ready to be made the truth.


Laying in the same bed as she had all those years ago, Felicity closed her eyes as she took her last breath, an everlasting smile present on her face as she prepared herself for the meeting she'd been waiting for, those she loved and cared for most around her.

At her sides sat her children and grandchildren, evidence of a long and more than happy life she had lived with the one she cared for the most but now was her time to go and join those whom had already passed on.

"…I love you mum, I love you so much, it's okay, we forgive you…go, be with dad…" was all she heard, crying becoming increasingly distorted in the background.


"Lissy, it took you long enough!" the voice she was met by made her laugh, her eyes solely on the figure stood beside her as she once remembered him to be, back when she had first met him but this time he face was free of all darkness of his past.

Reaching out towards her, she took his hand as a gigantic smile split across her face, knowing how long she had been waiting to be reunited with him once again.

"…Oliver…you waited"

"I'll always wait for you Felicity"

Glancing down at the young girl, they joined hands before the three of them took off down the path towards the memory that no matter how much timed had passed had never left her, the rest of their team joining them on the way.

Laughing as they all danced on the beach, Felicity couldn't have wished for a more fulfilling life.