Author's note: When I looked at the date of when I last posted, I had no idea it was last February. Wow! Thank you all for hanging in there and continuing to leave comments urging me to finish. I have no intention of abandoning this story. I just had a lot of life changes in the last year; most of them good, thankfully. Nevertheless, finding the time and energy to write has been a challenge but I'm so thrilled to have finally finished this chapter! There are only a few left, and I'm determined to finish this fic sooner rather than later for you all.

So, without further ado, here is the next chapter. I hope it was worth the wait. Let me know what you all think!

With her husband by her side, Felicity trudged back to the safe house. The wind and snow were thick, and though she wanted Oliver out of the frozen tundra, his shaking body could only move so fast. Dig did what he could to support the rest of Oliver's weight.

Tommy and Sara were already waiting for them at the front door.

"Looking a little like Frosty the Snowman, buddy, but we're glad to have you back," Tommy quipped.

The corner of Oliver's mouth twitched before another shudder wracked his body.

"God, you're soaked," Felicity murmured. "We need to get you out of these clothes and by the fire."

Tommy's eyes widened. "We?" he repeated.

The fire was already roaring in the living room, but it wouldn't do Oliver much good until he was dry. Her decision made, Felicity said, "Help me take him upstairs." At least in the privacy of their bedroom he could undress, and she could tend to him properly.

"I'll make some hot tea and bring it up," Sara offered.

"Thank you."

Felicity led the way as Dig and Tommy helped Oliver up the stairs behind her. It took a few minutes to get to their bedroom, and already Felicity yearned to touch him again. A similar longing, though not her own, pulsed within her. She caught and held her husband's gaze as Dig and Tommy sat him down on a chair by the fireplace. Like a moth to the flame, Felicity closed the distance between her and Oliver.

Without thinking, she undid the fastenings of his coat and League gear. Layer by layer, Felicity peeled off his uniform—all the while aware of her husband's eyes tracking her every move. She lifted his shirt over his head and gasped. Felicity had imagined so many scenarios of what Oliver might've endured in Nanda Parbat, trapped at the mercy of Ra's. The shocking sight before her gave her pause. Seeking reassurance she wasn't imagining it, Felicity sought Dig and Tommy. She blinked in surprise upon realizing they'd slipped out without her notice. Considering the intense staring contest between her and Oliver, it was probably good they'd gave them some privacy. Also, Felicity didn't think neither Dig nor Tommy was too keen on seeing Oliver in his underwear.

Oliver's tremor snapped Felicity out of her shock, and she quickly reached for the wool blanket to cover him. There would be plenty of time to ask questions later. The fire that Dig and Tommy had set was blazing. Felicity encouraged Oliver to pull his chair up closer. But when she moved to give him more access to the heat, he halted her. Oliver swallowed and reached out for her, the yearning sensation heightening.

On instinct, she cupped his face in her hands and caressed his scruffy cheeks with her thumbs. Wonder and relief flowed between them, along with an undertone of fear.

"You're safe," Felicity assured him.

His blue eyes widened slightly. "Shamsi," he whispered, almost like a question.

"Oliver, how did—"

A knock sounded on the door. Tamping down her annoyance, Felicity went to answer it. She immediately felt guilty for her reaction upon seeing Sara standing on the other side with a tray of tea, small sandwich bites, and cookies.

"Thought a little snack might help."

"Thank you."

"Dig and Lyla want to talk to him. They're worried he might've been followed."

"I wasn't," came Oliver's coarse voice.

"That's what I told them. Said you're an expert at covering your tracks."

"We can save the twenty questions until tomorrow. Oliver needs rest and warmth more than anything else," Felicity stated firmly, leaving no room for argument.

"Agree. I'll pass the message on."

Felicity placed the tray on the bedside table and poured Oliver a hot cup of tea. She helped him grip his hands around it, doing what she could to cover his large hands with her own smaller ones. When she was sure that he had a solid hold of it, Felicity walked over to the bed. She stripped it of blankets and pillows.

"What are you doing?" Oliver asked, the tremor in his voice a little less severe.

"You need warmth. We'll sleep by the fire tonight." Felicity spread them out and layered them. The end result looked like a giant sleeping bag.

When she was certain their makeshift bed was as good as it would get, Felicity reached for the hem of her shirt. She heard a low gasp from her husband behind her as she pulled the strip of clothing over her head. The surge of desire hit her so swiftly she nearly tripped trying to strip off her bottoms. But she left her underwear on; her lack of clothing wasn't a ploy to seduce her husband into bed.

Felicity turned to face Oliver. Goose bumps broke out on her skin at the way his eyes devoured her. "Body heat is the best source of warmth," she explained, clearing the hitch in her throat. Her nipples stood erect, the stimulation a combination of the chilly night air and her husband's wanton gaze. Lest she give in to her own desires, Felicity reminded herself of her purpose: her husband needed warmth and rest—nothing more.

She knelt down on the pile of blankets and beckoned him to her. Oliver cast aside his tea and blanket and knelt before her. Felicity's skin prickled from his closeness. Even at his weakest, his strong presence had a way of enveloping her.

"Lie down." Felicity's words were as soft as her touch. She eased her husband down onto the blankets. He followed without complaint, except for when she pulled the covers over him. He wanted—no, needed to touch her. Or was that her desire?

Once Oliver was bundled up, Felicity slipped under the covers and lay her body atop his. She made sure every naked inch of her petite form covered his own—or as much as it could, anyway. The skin-on-skin contact sent a shudder through them both. Oliver's arms came up to wrap around her. Instinctively, Felicity tucked her head under his chin and ran her hands along his shoulders and biceps. The logical part of her brain said it was to generate friction to warm Oliver up faster. But her heart thumped with the need for reassurance that he was really there. That this wasn't just some crazy dream she'd conjured up on yet another cold and lonely night.

She let out a soft sigh. Their bodies fit together like two puzzle pieces finally united.

Oliver's hands roamed too. They were cold and coarse, but Felicity drank in his affection all the same. His fingertips lingered on her shoulder blade. "Your brand is gone," he murmured, so low she almost didn't hear. Was that relief in his voice?

Felicity ran a hand down his taut, yet smooth torso. His muscles twitched from her touch. "So are your scars." It'd been a shock to see his once battle-worn body completely unmarred. It was as if the League was only a fleeting nightmare.

Needing to know what he was thinking, Felicity lifted her head and stared down at him. Her long locks formed a curtain around their faces. They breathed each other in, and Felicity felt another tremor go through him. Oliver raised his hand and cupped her cheek. He let his thumb graze her parted lips before trailing down her neck, halting at her pulse point.

"Shamsi—" That was all he could get out before his voice faltered. His pain was so palpable it stole her breath.

"I'm here. I'm safe. You're safe," she whispered, letting her own hand stroke his jaw. Felicity leaned down to kiss his forehead. Then his nose. His cheeks. And finally his lips.

Oliver's hand ventured lower. For a second, she thought he'd meant to take hold of her breast; but he'd stopped at her heart. Sensing his need for reassurance, Felicity placed her hand over his as he felt her heartbeat. The love and relief she felt from him made her heart thump wildly in her chest.

"I'm here. I'm not going anywhere." The dark circles under his eyes and chill of his touch reminded her he needed rest. "Sleep," she whispered while tenderly running her fingers through his hair. "Just sleep, baby."

Oliver drew her in for another kiss. It was slow but deep. Felicity was so caught up in her emotions she almost didn't notice Oliver turning them onto their sides. Her back was to the fire, which normally wouldn't be an issue if her husband did not need the blazing heat.

Felicity broke the kiss, about to protest, when Oliver pressed a finger to her lips. "I'm warm enough," he said. "I want to hold you. Will you let me do that?"

Her husband wasn't just holding her. The way he shifted caused the blankets and his body to wrap around her like a cocoon. Sensing a fierce protectiveness burning inside of him, Felicity quieted and burrowed into his solid form. Their bodies were pressed so tightly together, she couldn't tell where she ended and he began.

Felicity was falling. Down, down, down into the darkness she went. She screamed and screamed for help, but none came. The nothingness around her was contrasted by the searing pain in her gut from the dagger lodged inside.

Just before she reached the bottom, Felicity's eyes snapped open. She bolted upright, breathing hard and covered in a thin layer of sweat. Tears formed in her eyes and spilled over before she could realize that it was just another one of her nightmares. Unlike the other nights she'd awoken in a panic, Felicity knew she wasn't alone. Oliver sat up next to her, his deep, soothing voice trying to reach her. Felicity clutched him, sobbing into his neck.

"It was just a dream. You're safe," he comforted her. "I've got you, shamsi." His large, calloused hands rubbed her back.

Felicity was now the one with the chill in her bones, while her husband felt strong, solid, and warm. As the seconds ticked by, Felicity's panic subsided. A sense of calmness and reassurance rushed to fill its absence. It wasn't ease of her own making, though. Felicity felt the connection with Oliver pulse as her emotions shifted. The feelings came from Oliver and softened her own. That is until guilt expanded beneath the surface.

"It wasn't your fault," she whispered to him.

Oliver's beautiful yet tortured blue eyes glistened with moisture. "Yes, it was. I promised you I'd always protect you, and I didn't."

"You brought me to the Pit. You sacrificed everything as Al Sah-him to save me," she reminded him; her voice was tender but her words were firm.

"When I found you—" His voice cracked.

Felicity pressed her finger to his lips. "I know. I can feel it." The sorrow, regret, and fury threatened to bubble over.

Oliver stared at her, long and hard. Finally, he said, "You feel it, too, don't you? The connection."

Nodding, she answered, "Yes. I've felt everything in your absence—though it's gotten stronger in your presence."

"Mine as well."

"Did the Pit do this?" He bobbed his head. "Have you ever heard of this happening before?"

"No. But I know the cause. I was so worried about you I could barely think. I jumped into the Pit with you in my arms," he explained. "As you were healed, it felt like something inside of me transferred to you, and vise versa."

Felicity remained quiet for a minute, taking it all in. Then she slipped her hand from his face to his chest. "It bonded us."

"Does it bother you?" His fingers glided over the curves of her back.

"No," she replied, meaning it. Although the connection felt different, it also felt right. "Our connection is the only thing that kept me sane until you returned. Feeling you out there gave me hope."

"Me too," he murmured, his voice husky and deep. Their noses brushed together; the air was charged between them. "I'll always come for you. No matter what," Oliver whispered against her lips. "Even if you never remembered me, I'd never stop fighting for you."

Felicity cupped her husband's face between her two hands. "You're a part of me. There's no forgetting that." She opened her mouth and tilted her head to deepen the kiss.

Oliver groaned against her mouth as Felicity gently pushed him back against the blankets. She straddled him and let out a moan of her own upon feeling how much he wanted her. She rubbed herself against him, and a surge of white hot pleasure shot through them both.

Her husband's large, calloused hands slid along the curves of her back. He gripped her bottom and pushed her hips more firmly atop his. Her fingers dug into his biceps at the sensation of their lower bodies grinding. Only the thin material of their undergarments separated them, and Felicity knew hers was already soaked through.

His hand paused at the waistband of her panties. The other cupped her cheek as he broke the kiss. Felicity quietly mewled at the loss. Oliver looked deep into her eyes. Although they'd darkened with desire, they were entreating too. As much as he wanted her, she sensed his hesitance and concern for her.

Felicity met his gaze and offered a small smile, willing him to feel how much she loved and truly needed him—needed this. It had been too long since they'd made love. And if her near death proved anything, it was that any time they had together was precious and shouldn't be wasted.

It was all the assurance Oliver needed. He made fast work of removing her underwear, and his own. Felicity positioned herself above him. He reached out for her hands and interlaced their fingers. Their grip tightened as Felicity slowly sunk down on top of him. Her body screamed for more, yet she took her time to savor the feeling of being so intimately connected with her husband. He pulsed inside of her, and her muscles naturally contracted around him.

"Shamsi," Oliver whispered, his voice raw with need. He lifted his hips, easing himself deeper into her.

Felicity met his thrusts, and she bit her lip to keep from crying out—sure she'd wake up the entire house. She moved atop her husband, their eyes locked on each other as they settled into a pleasurable rhythm. She let her hands roam his body, still shocked by his taut and now smooth skin.

Oliver's own hands explored every inch of her. He cupped her breasts and rubbed his fingers against her pert nubs. His mouth absorbed her moans as his tongue mimicked the movement of his hips. Felicity felt him everywhere, and it wasn't just physical. It was like the connection between them had burst open. Everything inside of her poured into him, and vise versa—love, passion, loyalty, protection, and even fear. Fear of losing the other and desperation to prove they were really back in each other's arms.

Gripping her hips, Oliver held Felicity steady as he lifted his pelvis. The sheer power and strength of his body never ceased to amaze her, and the move nearly made her eyes roll back into her head. Felicity felt him everywhere, and yet somehow it still wasn't enough. Their deep, guttural moans and the slap of their bodies coming together echoed in the room.

Felicity squeaked in surprise when Oliver suddenly flipped them over, securing her beneath him. His weight pressed on top of her, and the sensation of their hot, slick bodies had her digging her fingernails into his back. Oliver wasted no time picking up the pace, and Felicity spread her thighs wider to accommodate his size. She wrapped her legs around him and dug her heels into is backside, urging him on. He clutched her thigh and his thrusts became deep and forceful, as if claiming her. She raised her hips to take him in further, staking her own claim. Waves of pleasure radiated throughout Felicity's body, making her toes curl.

Oliver kissed her neck, working his way down to her chest. His tongue flicked out against her nipple before he took it fully into his mouth. Felicity arched her back, offering more of herself to him. When her fingers roamed through his hair, she smiled to herself. Finally, she had something to hold onto. She pulled at his hair as he lavished attention on her other breast, though it wasn't long before she was tugging him back up for a kiss.

"I love you," she murmured, holding him tight. "I never want to be separated from you again. Where you go, I go."

There was a slight pause in his movements. If Felicity wasn't so attuned to him, she might not have noticed it in her haze of ecstasy. Fear and guilt rose up in him again. Not enough to overpower the sensation of their lovemaking, but they were inside him.

Felicity planted kisses along his face and jaw. She buried her face in his neck and continued to whisper how much she loved him.

She nipped his earlobe before murmuring into his ear, "Oliver, I'm so close."

"Me too."

The pleasure was so intense her body trembled; it felt like a live current under her skin. She arched her body against his as Oliver drove her to the brink. Her mouth opened in a silent scream as she gave herself over to him completely. This falling was the complete opposite of what she'd suffered in Nanda Parbat. This time she had her husband as her lifeline. She felt loved, protected, and full of life.

"Uhebuki, shamsi," Oliver groaned, kissing her breathless.

A few more deep thrusts finally had her letting go, and Felicity happily succumbed to the pleasurable oblivion. Her husband followed, not stopping until his essence filled her completely. They rode the waves of their climax together, eventually easing into blissful satiation.

Neither moved for a long time, content to just lay quietly in each other's arms.

Then: "I can't stay."

Felicity's eyes popped open, the contentedness she felt moments ago fading. "What?

"I have to face Ra's."

"Trial by combat," she murmured, earning a curious look from her husband. "Nyssa told me. She said you had forty-eight hours after you issued the challenge. When you were gone for days, I feared the worst."

Oliver gave her a squeeze and lifted her hand. He brought it to his lips. "I had to see you first."

"So you were still in Nanda Parbat all that time?"

"Yes."

"What happened after we left?"

"Leave us," Ra's commanded, not once taking his eyes off of Al Sah-him or the arrow pointed at his heart.

"But, Sidi—" one of his advisors protested.

"I said leave us," he shouted.

The room fanned out, leaving behind only the two glaring men.

"Tread carefully, boy. My patience is wearing thin."

"The only thing that's worn is your mask as Ra's. You're more concerned with your own bloodline than the good of the League. I see that now."

"If that were true, I wouldn't be the only culprit. You disobeyed centuries of League law by using the Pit on Abad-eshams. Its healing powers were not meant for her. You betrayed your duty and your oath as Warith al Ghul with such blasphemy."

"I wouldn't have had to use it if you hadn't conspired with Malcolm and Talia to murder my wife," Al Sah-him retorted, his voice as hard as nails.

"You have no proof—"

"Malcolm told me all about your plan to have him blow up QC, fake capture him, and then poison Felicity. All for some elaborate, bullshit test."

"He is not known for his honesty."

"Neither are you."

A charged silence passed between them. Then: "Abad-eshams was meant to be nothing more than a bargaining chip against Darhk. You promised me you could handle her. That you would remain steadfast in your devotion to the League. You failed."

"You lied," Al Sah-him countered. "You made me believe Felicity had agreed to the arranged marriage of her own free will. Instead, she was kidnapped and sold to us."

"That was her father's decision. Not mine." He sneered. "But that didn't stop you from taking your pleasure in … Felicity."

T he fingers holding the arrow in place twitched as his fury mounted. But Al Sah-him kept it in check and replied evenly, "I didn't take anything that wasn't freely given to me. I earned her love and trust, and she mine."

"I, too, once had a great love."

"Your idea of love seems to only end in death. We all know the tragedy that befell Nyssa's mother."

"Not her. There was another. Long ago I had a beautiful wife and two children, whom I would've given my life for—and I did. When the League took me, their lives depended on my loyalty. I did my duty. When I finally became Heir to the Demon, I considered calling upon my wife and children to join me. I traveled in secret, hoping to observe them beforehand. Do you know what I found?" His features hardened. "My wife had taken another husband. I watched in the shadows as he kissed her. As he doted on my much older children and another child, younger, that surely bore his name. As he made repairs to the home I'd built. He was simple in every sense of the word, and it dawned on me then that some men are not meant for a small, inconsequential life. The envy I'd felt faded as I realized that no one would remember this man, whereas I had a loyal legion and the world at my fingertips. I vowed to myself that my rule as the Demon's Head would never be so easily forgotten."

Al Sah-him paused, taking in all that Ra's had revealed. Despite the sternness of his tone, Ra's could not fully hide his pain or resentment. The man that stood before him was even more broken than he'd thought. Al Sah-him replied, "Still I wonder, would you have come to the same realization if your family hadn't moved on?"

"The Pit can erase one's age, but not one's memories. Love is weakness. I would've thought you'd learned that lesson a long time ago."

"With Shado, you mean." He scrutinized Ra's, but the man gave nothing away. "Did you know Talia murdered her as well?"

"Don't try to change history, Al Sah-him. Shado was killed in battle."

"No, she wasn't. Talia admitted the crime to Felicity before she stabbed her." Al Sah-him stared him down. "If I ever meant anything to you, look me in the eye and tell me the truth this time."

Despite the daggers Ra's eyes were shooting him, the older man did not refute his claim. "You were the son I always wanted. Marrying Talia would've made it official."

Al Sah-him's fury mounted. Even though he'd already known the answer, having it confirmed made it all the more tragic."There is much you have kept from me over the years." Al Sah-him took another breath, preparing himself. "What really happened the day my parents' yacht sank?" It was a question always in the back of Al Sah-him's mind. But he didn't dare pursue it after Ra's had taken an interest in him. He'd thrown himself into the League and nothing would make him doubt that decision. But knowing the length of Ra's deception now, he could no longer silence the young Oliver Queen within who yearned to know what happened. The hour of truth was upon him.

"Did you sink it to retaliate against Malcolm?"

Ra's, despite the anger seething through him, looked to be unraveling. His dark, ferocious spirit hadn't dimmed, but his physical appearance revealed his ancientness. His skin looked pale and paper thin. He had shadows under his eyes and smatterings of gray hair on his scalp. The Demon's Head's mortality was catching up to him—along with his sins.

"No," Ra's finally answered. "We did not sink the ship."

The tension in Al Sah-him's shoulders eased. But not for long.

R a's continued, "We were trying to locate Al Sa-her, thinking he was aboard. Then the storm came, and we found you."

" Did you even try to save the others?" Al Sah-him demanded.

"Only you were worth anything to the League."

Bile rose in Al Sah-him's throat at the revelation. Ra's had always made it seem like Oliver was lucky to be found and saved from the watery grave that took his parents. But the truth was Ra's left them to their doom.

"I once thought of you as a second father. What a fool I'd been." He shook his head.

"You are not the only fool. I offer you an eternal life of power and glory, and yet you refuse. You'd rather love and die," he said, the latter sounding like a curse.

"What you offer me is not living."

"You would throw all of this away for that woman?"

"I'm making the choice that was denied to me years ago and choosing my real family."

"There is only one way to leave the League," Ra's threatened. He eyed the arrow still pointing at him and stepped forward. The tip rested directly on his chest. "If you strike me down here and now, you won't be my heir. You'll be a traitor. No matter how far you and your moumesah run, the League will hunt you down." His smile was patronizing. "You really think you have it in you, boy? Ask yourself how much more you're willing to lose."

"I don't plan on losing or running." He held Ra's challenging stare. "There is another way to earn my freedom."

Ra's eyes widened. Before he could respond, the doors burst open and Sarab rushed in. "Abad-eshams, Al Tareq, Ta-er al-Asfe, and your daughter are gone, Sidi." He drew his sword upon seeing Al Sah-him's loaded bow. "What is going on in here? Al Sah-him, drop your weapon."

"You have your shot. Are you man enough to take it?" Ra's goaded Al Sah-him.

As badly as Al Sah-him wanted to release the arrow and remove this monster from the world, it was not yet time. He lowered his bow and stepped back.

The Demon's Head smirked in triumph. "Send every available soldier to find them. They can't have gone far. And take Al Sah-him down to the dungeon. Place him in a cell. He'll want to be there to greet his friends."

"I stayed in the dungeon," Oliver continued, "and counted the days to my escape—despite Ra's best efforts to weaken and disorient me."

"I feared he might've tortured you, but there are no new marks on your body."

"There are other ways to break someone."

Felicity ran her hand through his hair and moved down to stroke his jaw. "Tell me," she urged, fearing he might close himself off to spare her any more pain.

"Sensory deprivation is a huge part of it. I spent most of my days with a cloth over my head to block out the light. I could smell food, but not eat it. My hands and legs were bound. At odd hours they'd take it off, only to douse me with cold water. Then ask me my name."

"Oliver," she whispered with teary eyes.

"That's what I told him. Every time. Then it would start all over again."

"You didn't have to wait so long."

"He wasn't going to break me. I'd already suffered through hell thinking I'd lost you. That was nothing." He wiped away the tear running down her cheek. "Besides, I had you." He rested his hand over his heart. "Right here."

"The connection," she murmured.

Oliver nodded. "I held onto that. You were my light in the darkness."

Felicity leaned down to kiss his lips. "I love you."

"I love you too." Their noses brushed, and he claimed her lips in another kiss.

Felicity moaned. This was her heaven, lying in bed wrapped around her husband—safe, warm, and together. Unlike heaven, unfortunately, they did not have eternity to revel in their reunion. Their time together now was limited. In the blink of an eye, her husband would be gone again.

"You don't have to face Ra's. We could leave. We could disappear to a place no one would think to find us." She already knew what her husband would say, but she still felt the urge to give voice to her plea.

Oliver smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. It was patient and resigned. "Ra's was right about one thing. He has spies in all corners of the world. Eventually he would find us. Besides, would you really want to live a life on the run? To never be able to see our friends again for fear they'd be used against us?"

Felicity sighed. "No."

"I couldn't do that to you. You deserve freedom. We both do," he amended. "The trial by combat is the only way." He watched her for a quiet moment before lifting her chin. "You're frightened."

She would have to learn if there was a way to mask her emotions from her husband, so he wouldn't have to pick up on every flux of her feelings. But it was true. She was scared.

"You don't think I can beat him?"

"I have no doubt that you can beat him, but I'm terrified that he'll use your humanity against you … which is why I want to be there."

"No," Oliver immediately objected.

"Yes," Felicity insisted. "There is no way I am going to stay here while you're out there fighting for your life. What if he tries to hurt me again while you're gone, or make you think I'm in danger while you're trying to fight? I can feel everything you're feeling, and you me. We're strongest and safest when we're together."

This time she felt his fear, along with … shame?

"There's no shame in fighting for your life."

Oliver sat up and scrubbed his face with his hands. Felicity followed and placed a hand on his shoulder, urging him to look at her. "Talk to me, baby."

Another quiet moment followed. "I don't want you to see it."

"The fight? I've seen you fight before."

She sensed the tumult within him. Then: "Me killing Ra's."

"I killed Al Torr."

"In self-defense."

"So is this," she insisted, holding his worrisome gaze with a fierce one of her own.

"I won't show him any mercy."

"Good," she replied, meaning it.

That earned her a small smile. "Fierce and beautiful ... you truly are Aroos El Ghoul." He rested his forehead against hers. "How did I get so lucky?"

"You and me both." She kissed him. It started off tender but soon became heated and frantic.

Oliver lowered her into the blankets, and her body eagerly welcomed him again. Eventually, they dozed off in each other's arms. Felicity awoke sometime later, groggy yet content. Until she realized her husband's warmth was missing.

Felicity's eyes sprang open, and she sat up. She found him by the door, putting on the remainder of his League gear. It was still dark outside from what she could tell. Their eyes caught, and her heart skipped a beat.

Wrapping a blanket around her to stave off a chill, she stood up and walked over to him. He towered over her, which made her want to throw herself into his arms all the more. But Felicity stayed where she was, her fingers instinctively reaching for the sunflower necklace that should've been around her neck. Her husband's eyes followed the movement, and he reached into his pocket.

Felicity's eyes widened when she saw the beautiful golden sunflower charm hanging from an elegant chain. "My necklace ..."

"It came undone when you ... fell. I held onto it for safekeeping."

Felicity turned her back to him. Her eyes closed when his fingers brushed her hair aside and lingered on her neck after fastening the clasp. The familiar weight of it on her chest gave her some comfort.

"You'll tell the others?" he murmured.

Felicity nodded, fearing her voice would break. This moment was hard enough for Oliver, and she didn't want him worrying about her when he should be focusing on the challenge ahead with Ra's. Though he could probably feel the tumult of emotions whirling within her anyway.

With a calming breath, Felicity cast aside the crippling fear. Hope and faith in her husband's abilities was her new focus. And above all else, love.

They said nothing else. They didn't have to. Everything they felt was already passing between them. Her husband's swell of love was just as intense, and he leaned down to press a tender kiss to her forehead. He stayed there a few extra seconds before quickly opening the door and leaving.

Only then did Felicity allow a tear to fall. She let herself have just one. One because she didn't have time to cry and lament about their situation. There'd already been enough of that. She would get ready for the journey ahead and then wake the others and fill them in.

Her husband would fight for his life, and nothing in this world would stop her from being by his side while he did.

Translations:

Moumesah = whore

Uhebuki = I love you (male to female)

Aroos El Ghoul = Bride of the Demon