A/N: Okay, getting my butt into gear here and actually posting a chapter. Keep forgetting to, because I'm so busy trying to get chapters written that I forget to post what I've actually done. Also, I kind of figured I'd give you all a moment to stop being mad at me about the last chapter. My advice is to pace yourselves. I'm sure I'm going to do other stuff to make you mad before we're done here. In fact, I'm practically certain of it.

Actually, some folks may have called it quits after that last chapter, and I just want to let you all know, no hard feelings, I understand perfectly. But then again, if you've stopped reading this, you didn't read that, and it gives me pretty much open slather as to what I can say to you. Let's see… hmm… obviously watermelon, chicken, wheelbarrow is the very first thing I want to say to the non-readers right now, because that is pretty much what I want to say to everyone all the time. Sometimes I'll mix it up the chicken with hedgehog, but the watermelon/wheelbarrow pretty much encompasses my understanding of life and the universe, so that's always a given. The animal changes as per my moods. Chicken means happy, hedgehog means ambivalent, squirrel means cerise, obviously. Beyond that, I guess I'd say to the non-readers now that I appreciate the dedication they've shown to get this far, and am I the only one smelling cabbage soup right now?

As for the poor unfortunates who have decided to throw caution to the wind and continue reading… kudos… and commiserations, I guess? I think both are due in equal measures. In a good news/good news/bad news/bad news kinda deal – I'm almost finished writing a big action sequence over a series of chapters, which is awesome, because I hate writing action, as I've complained long and hard about before ad nauseum. And because it's action, I'd like to start posting a bit more frequently for it to have some level of excitement to it. However, my wonderful editor Cookie has her hands full with editing a fantastic fic called 'The Ring' by jbuffyangel. I'm not sure when she'll get to my chapters. Also, I have to go away not this coming week, but the week after, so basically that is going to wipe out any chance of writing for another couple of weeks.

What does that all mean, I hear you ask?

Good question.

Probably that I have good intentions that will result in the same outcome you've all been enduring these last few months.

So… yeah… I guess that was all pretty pointless.

Anyways, I suppose some people might be wanting to make some progress in this fic. I hear you, peeps, I really do. We've got this chapter and the next for Olicity to thrash out where they're at with this Felix thing. Trust me, it's far from over, just because they took out some time for some hanky panky… well, Felicity got the hanky, Oliver is still waiting for the panky. It's his pay back for being such a big old man whore before starting to date Felicity… which has only been two weeks, just by way of a reminder. Even though I've taken 9 months with this fic to play out that two weeks. It's my background in writing FF for soaps kicking in there. So, I'm not being really that unreasonable when it comes to what I'm putting Oliver through. You guys, of course, are a different kettle of fish. I'm definitely torturing you all, but I promise, it's not intentional, just how the story is playing out so I can get through all the beats in my head.

But enough from me. Here's the chapter. Hope to post another one by the end of the week, before I head off on my travels – driving again, ugh, hate driving, but what are you gonna do, right?

Okay, here's the chappy…

CHAPTER FIFTY THREE

Oliver took a deep breath, and then quietly knocked on Thea's bedroom door. "Thea, it's me."

"It's open."

Oliver pushed open the door, and walked into Thea's room. She was hanging some of her freshly laundered clothes away in her walk-in closet.

Thea glanced at him as he came to stand awkwardly in the middle of the room.

Oliver cleared his throat. "Um… sorry about… you know, before. Felicity and I were just… umm… baking cookies." It was a ridiculous and unnecessary lie, and Thea's expression told him as much.

"Oh yeah, you were definitely right up there in her cookies alright," said Thea dryly.

Oliver felt himself give a rare blush. "Sorry."

"For the dumb lie or the sight of your naked ass burned into my brain?"

"Both… but probably the ass thing more."

"We're Queens," said Thea, putting a dress on a hanger. "We're good at repressing things, so let's just repress this, and pretend I didn't see said naked butt of yours bobbing around where I have my breakfast every morning." She wrinkled her nose. "I think I might eat breakfast out on the patio for a while."

Oliver pulled a face. "Again, sorry about that. Felicity and I were fighting and then…" He gave a little shrugged. "And then we weren't."

Thea sent him a curious look as she walked back and forth from her closet, hanging up clothes. "What were you fighting about?"

"So, there's this guy, Felix—"

"Her husband, Felix," said Thea casually.

"Felicity told you," said Oliver in surprise.

"Yes, she told me." Thea stopped in her back-and-forthing and regarded him steadily. "And don't tell me, let me guess, you freaked out about her lunch date with the ex."

"I didn't freak out," protested Oliver.

Thea just stared at him.

"I didn't," said Oliver emphatically.

"So, what did you do then? Go and hide in the corner and spy on Felicity and Felix?" Thea's eyes went wide at Oliver's suddenly guilty expression. "Oliver, seriously?"

"Why is everyone making this into a big deal?" he asked in annoyance. "This Felix guy could have been some kind of lunatic."

"As opposed to the lunatic she's dating," said Thea in exasperation.

"Protecting the people you love isn't the sign of lunacy," said Oliver hotly. "Felicity doesn't need to be this upset about the whole thing." Why could no one see this?

"You know what the last thing Felicity and I were talking about, just before she went to lunch with Felix? She was going on about how great you were, and how it meant so much to her that you trusted her enough to handle this whole thing."

"It's not about trust," said Oliver in frustration. "I trust Felicity implicitly. I don't think she's going to cheat on me with Felix. I just don't think she's taking enough regard for her own safety."

"But isn't that her choice? To choose the dangers she moves toward," threw back Thea. "Isn't it everyone's right to choose their sacrifices, their flames to be drawn to?"

Oliver's face clouded over. "We're not just talking about Felicity now, are we?"

"Oliver—" she said warningly.

"I know about you and Roy," he said quietly. "Why didn't you tell me, Thea?"

"Because it just happened, and there is nothing you can do about it, and I'm pretty sure I don't want to hear anything you've got to say about the whole thing."

Oliver made a wounded face. "What do you think I was going to say to you?"

Thea attempted and offhand shrug. "I don't know, offer me words of sage brotherly advice? Tell me I can do better? Tell me I'm crazy for letting Roy go? Tell me I'm too young to be making these kinds of commitments anyways?"

"I seem to be all over the place there," commented Oliver a little wryly.

"I just know that you're going to tell me something I don't want to hear because there is nothing you can say that is going to make this better for me," said Thea painfully. "I mean, what could you possibly say right now that would do that?"

Oliver wordlessly took a step closer and drew her into a tight hug, like he used to do when they were younger and she'd come crying to him, looking for her big brother to fix everything.

Thea initially stiffened, but then she quickly relaxed into the hug, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Wow, good answer," she said unsteadily.

Oliver gave a sad smile into the top of her head. "I've recently been told is that talking isn't one of my better skills. I'm opting for non-verbal communication this time round."

"You're good at that," said Thea in a tiny voice.

Oliver hugged her tighter to him. "Thea, I'm so sorry you're in pain. That's the last thing I want for you, ever." He drew back and held onto her shoulders, looking down at her intently. "And I want to know that you can tell me anything. I'm here for you, no matter what."

"I know, Ollie," she sighed.

"But you didn't feel like you could talk to me about this Roy situation?" said Oliver unhappily.

Thea's look becomes pointed. "Sucks doesn't it? Having people you love keep secrets from you."

"Thea—"

She waved him off and moved away. "I know, I know, low blow." Thea grimaced. "Couldn't help myself. It's just bottom line, I knew you'd want to fix this in some way, and you can't, so I didn't want to have you get bent out of shape trying to do the impossible… and drive me crazy in the process."

Oliver hated that there was this distance between the two of them, and hated it even more because he knew he was the reason. "You know, I've also recently been told I tend to try and control the women I love… so I'm working on that too." He tilted his head to one side. "But in the meantime, just know I only want the best for you, and I am here for you, even if that turns out to be more of a hardship than a help." Oliver gave a soft smile. "I love you, Speedy."

"I know, but sometimes you need to ease back on the love throttle a bit. You can get a little overwhelming."

"That's what Felicity said," said Oliver morosely. "In the kitchen."

Thea's eyebrows shot up. "I really don't need to know the details of your love throttle, Oliver. I've already got more information on that than I'm sure is entirely appropriate."

"No, I meant before, when we were fighting," said Oliver hastily. "Not after, when we were… not fighting." His brow furrowed. "Felicity's worried I'm going to absorb her completely into me until she's just a pair of testicles attached to my back." Oliver's frown deepened. "That's crazy, right?"

"Well… it's not not crazy," said Thea slowly, looking confused. "Wait? What? Why is Felicity a pair of testicles all of a sudden?"

"It's just an analogy. It has to do with a fish Felicity was telling me about." said Oliver dismissively. "But my problem is, I don't really make the women in my life feel like I'm trying to overwhelm and control them, do I?"

"No… well, not all the time."

"Seriously?" asked Oliver. He looked away. "Damn it."

Thea gave a little shrug. "We know it comes from a place of love." She walked over and put her hands on his waist. "But you can't protect us all the time. That's not your job."

"How is it not my job to protect the people I love?" asked Oliver in distress.

"Because you end up trying to protect us from life altogether. Sure, there are dangers in life, but you'll never change that. All we really need to know is that there is someone we can turn to when we need it." Thea's look became pointed. "When we decide we need it… not when you decide we need it."

"I know what you're saying—"

"But?" said Thea in vague amusement.

"But what if what we're talking about falls within my skill set?"

"Your skill set?" said Thea hesitantly.

"Yes, it's like having a brother who is an accountant and then going and doing your own taxes." Oliver was desperate for someone to understand his point of view.

"You're an accountant now?"

"It's an analogy."

"Another one. At least this one didn't have testicles in it."

"But you get what I'm trying to say, right?"

"I do, but ultimately maybe I want to do my own taxes because I want to stand on my own two feet."

"But I'm an accountant!" exclaimed Oliver in frustration. "Let me at least help you with your taxes!"

"You are in no way an accountant," came Felicity's voice from behind him. She walked into the room and shook her head at Thea. "Never let him near your taxes, seriously. That'd be like the Titanic asking the iceberg to do its taxes."

"That makes no sense," said Oliver in exasperation.

"Exactly," said Felicity in triumph.

Oliver rolled his eyes. "I give up."

"No, you don't," said both women in unison.

He looked between the two people who knew him best in the world. "Okay, fine, you're right, I'm not giving up. I'm going to make at least one of you understand my position about looking out for you."

"We understand, Oliver," said Felicity calmly. "We just don't always agree with your calls on the subject."

"Oh," said Oliver, finding that a somewhat hollow victory. "But we all agree I know what I'm talking about when it comes being good at spotting oncoming danger."

"Weirdly you are pretty good at that," agreed Thea. "At least since you came back from the island."

"Thank you," said Oliver in relief.

"But you've got a proven track record of being horrible at relationships," countered Felicity. "So, I feel like one kind of neutralizes the other."

"Agreed," said Thea without hesitation.

"You two are ganging up on me," said Oliver in distress. "Stop it."

Thea gave a little laugh. "So, what, our big protector can't take down two women half his size now? Is that it?"

Oliver threw his hands up in the air. "I'm not trying to take you down. I'm trying to protect you both."

"We don't need protecting." Again, Felicity and Thea spoke as one.

Oliver grimaced. "Is this going to be a new thing? You two talking in unison, because I'm not loving it."

Felicity shook her head and smiled. "No, that's not the plan. It's just that I think we're both on the same page when it comes to you."

"And what's the title of the book that you're both reading from?" asked Oliver in a little warily.

"You're an overprotective, loveable idiot who goes too far sometimes, but it's only because you love us so much, so we forgive you, even if we reserve the right to be annoyed about you being an idiot from time to time."

Oliver pursed his lips. "They must have that title in a really small font to fit it all. That, or the book is the size of a Buick," he grumbled.

Felicity laughed. "Isn't he adorable when he feels sorry for himself and pouts like that?"

"I'm not pouting," said Oliver moodily. "I've told you, grown men don't pout."

"Then we may have a problem here," said Felicity playfully.

"Really?" sighed Oliver. "You haven't had your fill of torturing me today yet?"

Felicity blushed and glanced at Thea. "Soo sorry about, you know, the thing, in the kitchen."

"Well, fortunately the thing was about the only bit I didn't get to see of my brother in the kitchen," said Thea, tongue in cheek. "So, my psyche is probably going to recover, eventually."

Oliver felt his own cheeks heat yet again. Damn it, these two were going to end him. "You know, I came up here to make you feel better," he said in vague accusation.

"Making you blush like a twelve-year-old girl does make me feel better," said Thea cheekily.

Oliver let out a long-suffering sigh and looked at Felicity. "You could help me out here."

"I would," she said easily, "but I'm still mad at you about the Felix thing, so I'm not going to." Felicity glanced at her watch. "And I only came up here to tell you I really have to go."

Oliver stared at her, desperate to know what was so important that Felicity had to go, but pretty much knowing he'd blown his right to ask.

Thea arched an eyebrow at him. "Wow, look at Mr. Throbby going to town."

Oliver's eyes went wide. "You know about Mr. Throbby?"

"Oliver, everyone knows about Mr. Throbby. He's got his own Twitter account."

Felicity gave a little snort.

"Just ask Felicity what she's doing before that thing explodes and kills us all. We all know you want to."

"Don't make it sound like I have this compulsion to monitor Felicity's every move, because I don't," said Oliver indignantly.

Thea sighed. "Just put him out of his misery and tell him what your plans are for the rest of the day, Felicity."

"I've got some research to do." Felicity flicked a look at Thea and then back at Oliver. "About stuff I'm researching."

Oliver realized that Felicity was talking about looking into Asha's murder. "That's something I want to help you with, that researching of the thing you're researching."

"I know, but you've got that thing for tonight you've got to prep for which really needs your attention."

"Wow, I see you two attend the same night classes for giving out information that has no actual information in it," said Thea mockingly.

Felicity wrinkled her nose. "Sorry, Thea. It's boring stuff, I promise. We just don't want to bore you with it… because, you know, it's boring."

"Right," she sighed. "Well, I've got my own thing to do. I'm going over to Roy's to pick up my stuff. He's normally at the gym at this time. That sounds like me being a coward, I know, but I just think it'll be easier."

"Do you want me to come along?" offered Felicity quickly. "For moral support?"

Thea smiled. "No, it's fine, but thank you. Your thing sounds important. Vague, but important."

"Okay, well, call me if you change your mind."

"I will."

Felicity looked up at Oliver. "I'm going now, but I'll see you later and… umm…" She bit her bottom lip and looked suddenly embarrassed.

"What is it, Felicity?" asked Oliver.

"I-ah… seem to have misplaced something in your kitchen and was wondering if you could keep an eye out for it."

Oliver looked at her blankly. "What is it?"

Felicity gave him a pained look. "Oh, you know, just something."

"There are a lot of somethings in the kitchen, Felicity. I need to know what it is I'm looking for."

Felicity looked at Thea and then gave a pointed look at Oliver. "Something I had when I walked into the kitchen, but don't have now. Remember?"

Oliver squinted down at her, trying to think.

"Oliver," said Felicity in exasperation.

"I'm going to take a wild stab in the dark here," said Thea dryly. "But I'm guessing Felicity's talking about her underwear."

Felicity gave her a sheepish look. "Yes, thank you, and again, just so sorry about all this."

"Oh, right, underwear," said Oliver hastily. "You can't find your—"

"Nope," said Felicity hastily.

"How far could it have gotten?" asked Oliver, mystified.

"I didn't see what you did with them," said Felicity, throwing another uncomfortable look at Thea. "I was a little, umm… distracted."

"Me too." Oliver glanced at Thea as well, not really wanting to elaborate. "Why don't I come and help you look for them?"

"Do you need another pair?" asked Thea helpfully. "I have heaps."

"That would be my second pair from you in as many days," pointed out Felicity unevenly. "You're going to have to start charging me."

"You're practically family. It's no big deal, particularly as my brother was the one who lost them in the first place."

Felicity's blush deepened. "No, but thank you, Thea. I think I'll just have one last look and then head home to get another pair if I can't find them."

"I'll come with you." Oliver took her arm. He looked at Thea. "I'll see Felicity out and we can finish our talk."

"It's okay, Ollie," she said huskily. Thea walked up and kissed him on his cheek. "I know you care and just want to help, but I think I just need to keep myself busy and see this thing through. That's why I want to get my stuff out of Roy's place as soon as I can." She squeezed his arm. "But thank you, you're a good big brother. A little misguided sometimes, but still good."

"I guess I'll take it," said Oliver ruefully.

"You should, because I meant it with a lot of love."

"If you need anything—"

"I'll call you," finished off Thea. "I promise." She smiled. "Now go and look for your girlfriend's panties in our kitchen."

"Wow," sighed Felicity. "There is no way to make that sound classy."

Thea laughed. "Don't be embarrassed. I've seen way worse when it comes to my brother and women."

"In what way is that helpful?" asked Oliver unhappily.

Thea shrugged. "Sorry, but it's the truth."

"With you it's different," Oliver reassured Felicity hastily.

Felicity gave a decidedly inelegant snort. "Obviously."

"Oh, good, glad you know that."

"I wouldn't be dating you if I didn't know that." Felicity smiled at Thea. "Call me if you need to talk about whatever. I'm a great listener."

"I might just do that," said Thea softly.

"Good."

Oliver's heart swelled to see his two best girls bonding like this. It made him ridiculously happy. He followed Felicity out of Thea's room and down the stairs. "Thank you."

"For what?" asked Felicity distractedly as they walked back into the kitchen and she resumed her hunt for the elusive panties.

"For being so amazing with my sister." Oliver joined in the search.

"Thea is the amazing one. She's so great, Oliver." Felicity was looking under the table now.

"I know. I'm really lucky to have such an awesome sister who loves me."

Felicity stalled her search briefly and smiled up at him. "You are a lucky guy, no doubt about it."

Oliver smiled back at her, getting lost in those blue eyes of hers.

Felicity held up a warning finger to him. "We've got stuff to do, remember? We can't get distracted."

"What would I possibly find distracting about the fact we're looking for your underwear?" Oliver sent her a heated look. "I mean, it's not like I'm thinking about the fact that means you're not wearing any panties right now." His gaze drifted down to Felicity's lower body. "The thought hadn't even crossed my mind."

"Oliver," groaned Felicity, "behave yourself."

"Or, looking at this in an entirely different way, we could not behave ourselves, right now, up in my room," said Oliver innocently.

"We could do that." Felicity bit her bottom lip. "We could definitely do that."

Oliver's heart skipped a beat at seeing Felicity contemplate his offer. He took a step closer to her. "Felicity—" Her phone started to buzz, interrupting the suggestion he was about to make that they go and look for her panties up in his room… naked.

Felicity was already checking her phone. Her eyes went wide. "My facial software has finally given us a match on Old Spice." She held up the phone to Oliver to show him the image. "Jimmy Franconelli."

"Never heard of him."

Felicity was back looking at the screen. "I need to go and do some research on him. See if we can track him down. Find Franconelli, then we've got a straight line to Ross and Gutz." Her look was regretful. "Oliver—"

"Go," sighed Oliver. "This is more important." He screwed up his face. "Theoretically. We need to get ahead of Ross as much as we can to keep everyone safe."

"I'll call you as soon as I have any useful intel," said Felicity, abandoning her search for her underwear and starting for the door.

"Great, thanks." Oliver went to follow her. "And I'm glad we've gotten everything sorted out before the mission tonight."

Felicity stopped abruptly and turned around. "We haven't sorted anything out."

Oliver frowned. "Yes, we have." He hesitated. "Haven't we?"

Felicity walked up to him, holding his gaze unflinchingly. "Are you willing to admit you overreacted with Felix and are being too controlling?"

"I would if I was, but I'm not, so I can't."

Felicity rolled her eyes at him. "You're so ridiculously stubborn. Meet me halfway with this thing."

Oliver folded his arms in front of himself and gave a short shake of his head. "This is about your safety, Felicity. I have no halfway in me when it comes to that."

She put her hands on her hips. "So, what, you're not even willing to work out some kind of compromise about this situation?"

"No, because I'm not compromising on your safety."

"I'm not in danger from Felix!"

"He's hinky. Diggle said so!"

"Since when does Diggle use the word hinky? You're just making stuff up now. A compromise is a perfectly acceptable solution to this thing."

"A compromise is coming up with a solution that everyone is unhappy with and I'm not prepared to be unhappy when it comes to your safety, Felicity. That's a deal breaker for me."

"So, what, you're just going to be okay with me being unhappy then, is that it?"

"Of course I don't want you to be unhappy, but I want you to be safe even more. I won't compromise one for the other."

Felicity's eyes narrowed. "Funny how you get to walk away from this feeling good though."

Oliver shrugged, arms still folded in front of himself. "That's just way the safety cookie crumbles in this instance. I can't help that."

Felicity didn't speak for a moment, but then she suddenly smiled. "I guess you can't. Safety cookies are a law unto themselves."

Oliver was deeply suspicious of her abrupt about face on the subject. "So… you agree with me?" he asked warily. "I'm doing the best thing for this Felix situation?"

"I agree that you think you are doing the right thing," said Felicity easily.

"Not exactly the same thing."

Felicity shrugged. "I guess I'm just going to have to live with your judgement on this matter."

"Okay… good," said Oliver hesitantly, still not quite trusting of Felicity's apparent change of heart. "So… we're okay then? We're not fighting?"

"No, we're not fighting," said Felicity sweetly. "We're respecting each other's need to do the right thing by people we care about in our lives." She picked up her handbag. "I'll see you tonight." Felicity walked up and kissed him on the cheek. "For the mission… and then afterwards for… well, the mission," she finished off huskily.

Her close proximity, the light brush of her lips against his cheek had Oliver's blood pumping through his veins again. He wanted more than a little peck on the cheek by way of a goodbye, but Felicity was already halfway out of the kitchen. Oliver was disappointed to see her go, but ultimately relieved that she was willing to give to him on this matter. That was the most important thing.

Just before Felicity walked out the door, she paused, glancing back over her shoulder at him. "Oh, and on that note of doing what we feel right for people we care about, I've asked Felix to move into my place rather than staying at the scariest hotel in town. You're cool with that, right? Me making a judgement call on an unsubstantiated gut feeling?" Felicity didn't let him answer. "Great, that's what I thought." With that, she sashayed out of the room.

"Ha, very funny," called out Oliver after her. "You're quite the comedian." The swinging door flapped back and forth after her departure. Oliver stared at it, suddenly worried. He took off after her, pushing his way through the door. "That was a joke, right?" Felicity was walking to the main entrance door now, doing that damn walk of hers that made him go weak at the knees and shut down any kind of sensible thought process. Damn the woman and her perfect, gorgeous, erection-inducing ass.

Felicity didn't even look back at him as she answered him. "No, Oliver, it's a compromise." She opened the door and walked through. "You know how I can tell… because nobody's happy now." With that little jab delivered, Felicity closed the door behind her and was gone.

Oliver was still reeling from this latest revelation. Felicity had to be kidding. There was no way she'd ask Felix to move in with her without talking to him first. He blinked. Would she? Felicity seemed to be developing a taste for torturing him. This was an unsettling development, thanks to, in no little part, how much a part of him seemed to enjoy being tormented by her. Oliver gritted his teeth as he pulled at the front of his pants, his erection making an unwelcome return at her sassing of him. He glared at the stubbornly perky part of his body. "You don't know what the hell you're talking about," he growled at his crotch. "This is a bad thing. She's just doing this to drive us crazy." His erection twitched in delighted agreement. It was definitely a fan of being tortured by one Felicity Smoak. "You're an idiot!" hissed Oliver angrily. "This is serious!"

"Who are you talking to?"

Oliver's head snapped up at Thea's concerned question. She was standing in the doorway of the sitting room, looking at him oddly.

"Or don't I want to know the answer to that?"

"Felicity's being unreasonable," said Oliver tightly, needing someone to understand his pain.

Thea looked around the empty foyer. "Can you see Felicity now?" she asked with feigned concern.

Oliver glared at her. "Obviously not. She's too busy moving in with her husband and setting up house."

"Have you been drinking today?"

"No, of course not," he said shortly.

"Do you think you should start?" she offered up, tongue in cheek.

He jabbed a finger at her. "It's not my fault all women are crazy and put on this earth to put me in the same condition."

Thea snorted. "Yeah, because everything is about you, obviously."

He grunted at her, frustrated at where things had been left at with Felicity, in more ways than one. "I'm going upstairs." Oliver's entire groin was on fire and demanding attention, but he had no way to resolve any of his frustrations with Felicity right then. Well, maybe one way. "I've got to sign my name… possibly more than once." The image of Felicity's swinging hips came back to him, the feeling of sliding into her hot, accommodating body curled his toes. "Definitely more than once," he ground out.

Thea was still giving him a bewildered look. "Um… okay then, enjoy your paperwork… I guess."

Oliver stomped up the stairs, knowing he was being petulant right then, but unable to help it. "Unlikely with Felicity actively trying to shorten my life expectancy," he grumbled.

#

Ross Ross looked up from where he was cleaning his favorite high-powered rifle. "You look pleased with yourself, my friend. Do you have good news?"

"Yeah, I do," said Gutz as he came to stand in front of the other man. "Just got off the phone with Franco."

"A wise way to communicate with a man who wears a cologne akin to paint stripper," said Ross dryly.

"Yeah, well, one of his guys just came through for us. We've got our ace in the hole."

Ross smiled. "Is that right?"

"Tonight Forbes-Hamilton will be yours to do whatever you want, and everyone who helped him is going to pay." Gutz gave a self-satisfied smile. "It's going to be a bloodbath."

"They're your favorite kind," noted Ross in amusement at Gutz's obvious excitement.

"Yeah, they are." He looked Ross over. "And don't pretend you're not looking forward to skinning your own little rabbit."

"Ohh… skinning, what a lovely thought," said Ross happily. "I will definitely put that on the agenda for tonight. Remind me to pack my boning knives, won't you?"

Gutz smiled. "Gladly. I've got a few ideas for fun tonight as well. If you will indulge me."

"When don't I indulge you, my friend?" said Ross easily. "There will be many lambs to the slaughter. You may have your pick. As long as I have Forbes-Hamilton, I care little about what happens to the others." He paused. "Well… as long as their excruciating agony is guaranteed."

"It will be," said Gutz without hesitation. "And afterwards, I will prepare you that feast I promised. We'll eat like kings."

"I am very much looking forward to that." Ross picked up his newly assembled rifle and looked down the sight. "Tonight is going to be a fitting tribute to my beloved Albert. I know he will be looking down on us and smiling as we make those who took him from me pay." He lowered the gun and sat back in his chair. "I think we should record the festivities. It's important to keep these little events in life for posterity, don't you think?"

"We can add it to the collection," agreed Gutz. "I have always enjoyed our movie nights."

"Excellent. I will leave it in your trusty hands to set up the hunt," said Ross easily. "I'm sure you will think of everything. You always do."

Gutz inclined his head. "Consider it done. I'll arrange the details now and make sure everything is perfect."

"I do hope Bunny Forbes-Hamilton is using his last few hours on this earth wisely," noted Ross. "It'd be a shame if he was wasting them."

#

Bunny spun himself around in ever faster circles, snapping his head around with each rotation so he could catch his reflection in the mirror. The black opera cape with the purple and gold underlay spun out dramatically around his shoulders as he rotated on the spot. In the end he had to stop due to dizziness. "What do you think, darling?" he asked the reflection of Ladybug in the mirror a little breathlessly. "Do you think the cape is a little bit too much for an absconding?"

Ladybug paused briefly in the chewing of his beloved bone and glanced over at Bunny, then resumed his chewing.

"You're right," said Bunny, swaying a little on the spot from all that spinning, "is there really such a thing as 'too much'? One thinks not." He turned around and blew out a determined breath. "Alright, my love. After much careful deliberation, and an appropriate amount of twirling, the travelling outfit is decided upon. We shall pack lightly for our travels. Only three bags apiece." Bunny pursed his lips. "Maybe four. One doesn't want to be underprepared for anything, after all." He walked over to the bed where Ladybug was chomping on his bone and patted the dog's giant head affectionately. "We're doing the right thing. We're protecting those we love. There is no nobler undertaking in this world. I'm sure my darlings will understand eventually that this is the right thing to do." Bunny gave Ladybug's head one final pat, and then he began his packing in earnest, knowing that time really was starting to run short and there was no time left to spare.