My name is Oliver Queen. For five years, I was stranded on an island with only one goal-survive. Now I will fulfill my father's dying wish to use the list of names he left me and bring down those who are poisoning my city. To do this, I must become someone else. I must become something else.

Diggle is sitting in the lair looking over the two books. He's turning each one page by page and looking for changes or indications of anything. Each name matches. The handwriting matches. They are identical in every way.

"So this book was your father's and you've been using it to hunt criminals," Diggle begins, "And this book is your mother's and contains the same list."

"Yeah."

"So where did her's come from Oliver? For that matter who gave it to you?"

"Felicity. She said Walter gave it to her. He found it in their bedroom."

"And now he's missing."

"She's my mother Diggle. She's not the kind of person who would-"

"Have her husband disappeared? Because that's really the question isn't it Oliver? I understand you believing your mother over your stepfather, but I tend to believe the innocent party is whoever is missing and presumed dead."

Oliver has nothing to say to that statement. There is nothing to say. Instead he takes his mother's book and walks away, determined to get an answer. He hasn't seen Thea since he dropped her off at CNRI two weeks earlier. He knows it is mostly because he spends most of his time at Felicity's or prowling the streets. Either way he misses her.

His mother is tugging on a business jacket when he knocks. She looks happy to see him, waving him into the room. She's distracted and he doesn't really want to do this now but they need to have this conversation.

"Mom I need to talk to you about something."

"Of course. I really do need to meet with the financial planners though. Can it wait?"

"Mom it's about Walter," he says. She freezes and turns to look at him. "Right around Christmas he gave me this."

He hands her the book and watches her flip through it. She's uneasy and he can't help but wonder if maybe Diggle is right. Maybe she is hiding something.

"This is your father's notebook. He kept a list of all the people in Starling City who owed him favors. I had no idea there were so many."

"Mom I've been researching these names and they're not good people. We need to-"

"No! Oliver I have no idea who your father was involved with or what he was doing. If this is the reason Walter disappeared then we all need to stop asking questions. We need to keep our heads down and pray Walter will return to us. Promise me." She throws the book in the fire and he watches it burn.

"You should never play poker Mom." He walks away. He can hear her calling after him but he ignores her, blowing out the door with just his keys and his wallet.

The bike roars to life and as he pulls out of the driveway he sees her running out onto the porch. He doesn't stop, riding past her and trying to forget. She's lying to him. Maybe she doesn't know most of it but she knows something.

He heads to the lair hoping for some peace and quiet. He gets neither. Diggle is training and stops the moment he enters, turning to discuss the book.

"Where is it?"

"She burned it."

"Don't you think that's a little convenient Oliver? She burns the book. She doesn't know you have a copy."

"She's my mother Dig. I'm going to take her word she has no idea what the book means."

"If this was anyone else, you'd be hooded up right now on your way to having a chat with them."

"She's my mother."


Laurel calls the Hood about Cyrus Vanch, asking him to find evidence of wrongdoing. He needs a distraction so he does as she asks. Vanch is looking to take down the biggest bully on the playground and that means the Hood. He's not worried. Vanch is small-time. The Hood has faced bigger foes than one criminal fresh out of prison.

He goes to meet Laurel with the general information. She's waiting on the rooftop for him and doesn't hear his approach. He needs to take the phone from her so this stops happening. It's dangerous for the both of them.

"Hello Laurel."

"Thank you for doing this."

"I couldn't find much. His position is too heavily fortified for me to take right now. I did get this."

She looks at the recorder and back to him, playing the conversation.

"He's planning to make a move by taking over the vacancies left by the Triad and Bertinelli."

"The vacancies you created…what is it?"

"We're not alone." He looks around before grabbing Laurel as a shield. She doesn't flinch at the hold and looks forward as the cops burst onto the scene led by her father. Laurel is surprised but she gets angry quickly.

"Dad!"

"I'm sorry Laurel," Oliver whispers against her ear. He shoves her forward and dives off the roof, escaping before Lance can catch up to him. Instead he heads to the lair and silence, changing into his street clothes. He heads to the only place he wants to be.

He had been naive to think coming home would be easy. He's lying to everyone he knows. He's keeping secrets. They're keeping secrets. His family doesn't like the fact he asks questions. His stepfather is missing. Since he's been home his sister has almost gone to prison, Diggle almost died, his mother lost her husband, and Laurel has gotten wrapped up in something dangerous. How can he keep doing this to the people in his life?


"You know the neighbors told me my puppy got locked out again. I thought they were messing with me," Felicity says as she approaches the door. "Mrs. Callihan told me I should leave out some food and water per the city law."

"Your neighbors are weird."

"They are but if one of them comes near you, beware. You're a fan favorite in the building. All the ladies want to take you home. They said they have treats."

He follows her inside after she unlocks the door. She's slipping her shoes off and putting her jacket on the hook. He's eyeing her thoughtfully.

"There's pizza on the way," she says casually. "I hoped you might come by…"

"How long before the pizza?"

"Not long enough for that," she says. She turns and kisses him, sliding up onto her tiptoes to meet him. She helps him slip his jacket off and unbuttons the first few buttons on his shirt. "You need to get more comfortable."

"Mmm…" he murmurs next to her ear. "Are you sure we don't have enough time?"

The knock interrupts them and he sighs. She slips under his arm and heads for the door, chattering to the delivery boy. He spins to take a glance at the kid who is practically salivating over his Felicity. He wraps an arm around her and gives the kid a 'beat it' look. The kid practically runs away and Felicity laughs.

"You need to stop scaring the delivery guys. The Mexican restaurant doesn't deliver anymore since you scared six of their guys."

"Well they need to stop looking at you like that."

"Like how you look at me?"

"If I look at you like that will you please hit me? I don't want you to ever think I see you like that."

"Oliver, you look at me and I feel amazing. I feel like I'm flying. Trust me you do not look at me like you think those guys are looking at me."

The sit there on the rug in front of her coffee table eating pizza, drinking cheap beer and watching ridiculous reality television. He feels her sigh in contentment when he finally switches the tv over to some science fiction show.

It's only a little while later before she's pushing him down against the rug, straddling his hips. Her skirt pools around him as he runs his hands up her smooth legs. She's not kissing him or doing anything but sitting there perched.

"How do you feel when I look at you?" she asks softly. She tugs her hair out of the ponytail and slides her glasses to the end table. Her hands slide down her body, over her breasts until they slip around to tug the zipper down. "How do I make you feel when I look at you like this? When all I can think about is you touching me?"

"Felicity…" he breathes.

"Do I make you desire?" she asks softly. Her dress slides down her torso and he watches as every inch of skin is revealed.

"Yes."

"Do I make you want?" she asks. Her bra unsnaps and he watches her toss it across the room. Her hands trail down her body, caressing her breasts gently. When he goes to move his hands she reaches down and holds them in place.

"Always."

"Mmm…" She holds his gaze as she touches herself gently. Her fingers tease her breasts and she bites her lip in pleasure. His hands spasm on her hips and finally his slides them back stopping when he encounters nothing.

"I see you Oliver. I see you," she says. "I see how alone you feel and how you try to hide it. I see how you try to shoulder the weight of the world. I see how scared you are to be here with me even though you're happy."

"Felicity…"

"Do I make you happy?" she asks softly, leaning over him. Her lips tease his ear and he can feel the ragged breath leaving him. He doesn't remember ever feeling like this. She's in control of him and he's never ceded that level of control to anyone before. "Do I?"

"You...you know...I am," he stammers. "Happy."

"Good. Now...you are going to lay back and enjoy the ride for now." She places a pillow under his head and leans back against his knees. Her hands are on his belt, tugging the zipper of his pants down. Her warm hands slide under the waistband and he clenches his teeth. He's hot and hard and in her hand and she's so steady, keeping an unbearably slow pace.

"God Felicity," he groans. He doesn't get the chance to say anything more before her warm mouth is replacing her hand. He bucks upward embarrassingly at the feel, reaching down to grasp her hair. She's agonizingly slow, testing him and seeking out every pleasure point. She's relentless as she traces veins he didn't know he had.

He pulls her off of him, his mind lost in a haze. He wants her and he wants her now. He pushes her down onto the floor, pressing her hands over her head. Holding them in one hand, he rubs the other down her body, sweeping her dress lower and lower until she's bare to him. He's still fully clothed but she's naked to him, open and ready.

She sighs when his mouth claims her breast, teasing her until she's writhing against him pleading. In answer, he slips to her other breast delighting in her agonized moans. Finally he tugs back from her and rips his shirt over his head. Before she can move he's tying her hands around the coffee table leg.

"I need both hands for you," he says tugging her up to him. She groans when she is pressed against him tightly and can feel what she wants so close to her. Her eyes shoot open when he tugs her legs up over his shoulders. The pillow she'd given him before gets thrust under her lower back. He looks down her body and smiles. "Just lay back and enjoy the ride."

"Oliver...please…" He doesn't respond. Instead he tugs her up to his mouth, delighting in the way her body jumps. He starts with the English alphabet before switching to tracing in Russian. She's uncontrollable, bucking and pleading, wanting more.

Only when she slumps in completion does he slip away from her. She's like a fantasy. She's limp, her hands tethered to the coffee table, and her legs spread open lazily. He slips between her thighs and reaches over to untie her hands. Her fingers trace up over his hands, his arms, his shoulders, until each hand is touching one of his scars. His fingers trace over her sweat-slicked face.

"Look at me," he commands. Her pleasure-filled eyes meet his as he slips inside her. Her mouth opens in a moan as he completes his first thrust. His hands lift her and they settle back, her knees on the floor as she straddles his lap. They feel so tight, so close. Her arms are holding them together and their lips are touching. "Look at me."

"Yes." He lifts her off of him and lets gravity work for the downstroke. He manipulates her movements-lift and slide, lift and slide, lift and...slide. Their gazes hold through kisses and moans. It's slow and perfect. She slumps against him finally resting her head against his shoulder as he thrusts upwards. His mind hits oblivion and he kisses her.

She's limp in his arms when he carries her to bed. Under the covers he watches her sleep and strokes her arm thoughtfully. He wants to tell her everything. He needs to tell her everything. Before he can worry about any of it she slides against him. Holding her close he drifts off to sleep and doesn't dream.


He wakes up with her on top of him, slipping over him. His hands bracket her hips as she moves slowly and surely enjoying a leisurely pace. Morning sex is the best kind of sex sometimes. She holds his gaze the entire time and doesn't kiss him until they're both limp with pleasure. She is kissing his neck gently as he rubs his hands down her back.

Later she tugs him into the shower after her and they spend long moments washing each other. Her fingers find each scar and she rubs them gently. He watches her as she rediscovers each blemish and each ripple of skin. Her own body is smooth with no marks. She has no scars on her and rubs over each inch of skin until shower sex becomes a foregone conclusion.

It's only later when they are eating eggs and bacon with coffee does she speak. She's telling him about her meetings for the day and asking him if he wants some strawberries. She's chattering on about her boss and about the leftover pizza they can eat later. He just watches her gesturing until it slides into silence again. This is what mornings are really about, he thinks as he picks up the file of papers he left there the night before last.

"Pass the coffee?" He lifts the carafe and hands it to her, barely looking up while she pours. It's domestic and he loves every second of it. He's paging through chef resumes while she reads the morning news online. He can feel her toes against his ankle and he smiles. "What are you smiling about Mr. Queen?"

"This," he replies. He looks up and sees her watching him with her goofy smile. She reaches out and takes his hand in hers before looking away.

"I have something for you," she says quietly. He barely looks up before she slips it into his hand. "You shouldn't have to wait for me every night.

He looks at the key in his hand like it's a foreign concept. This is a key to her apartment, her life, and her home. He flips it around in his hand and looks to her. She looks unsure.

"I've never…"

"Me either," she confesses. "You spend every night here...well most of them and I like it when you're here. I sleep better. I'm about to panic if you don't say anything."

"Felicity," he says her name softly, slowly before standing up. His hands cup her face and he tilts her face up to meet his. The kiss is slow and meaningful. He wants her to understand how much this means to him. She trusts him enough to give him a second home.

The knock is ignored while he kisses her. He doesn't want the interruption right now. He just wants this moment to continue. He pulls back to look at her, eyes closed and cheeks flushed. She's wearing no makeup and her hair is messy. She's beautiful to him and precious. He would do anything for her.

With a crushing blow he realizes he does love her. His heart starts pounding rapidly in his chest and for a moment he panics. She doesn't know. She doesn't know he puts himself in danger every night to right his father's wrongs. She doesn't know about the darkness within him. She only sees Oliver Queen and he wishes that was all she would ever see.

Her eyes are still shut and he's cradling her head so carefully. His hands have killed people, tortured people. His hands have ended love and families. It would take barely a thought to hurt her. Her skin is soft and her neck fragile. For another moment he panics. His enemies would hurt her to get to him. She will always be a target. Can he walk away from her? Protect her?

"Oliver? Stop panicking. Whatever it is we'll figure it out together." She tugs him down for another kiss. And he lets himself fall into it again. Even when the knocking becomes more insistent he's hesitant to let go of her. She makes the decision for him, patting his chair and going to the door himself. He just sits there holding the key and wondering how he'll tell her about himself.

"Mr. Merlyn, what an unexpected surprise. Can I help you?"

"I'm looking for Ollie," Tommy says. "Raisa said he was here."

"Come in. Have some coffee," she says as Tommy slips into the apartment. She walks up to Oliver and kisses his cheek. "You two talk. I'll go get ready for work."

She walks away grabbing her coffee cup while Tommy takes her seat. He looks at Oliver questioningly before getting his own coffee.

"What's wrong with you?"

"She gave me a key to her apartment," Oliver says looking at his hand.

"Is it going to bite you or...are you freaking out right now?"

"She...she gave me a key. I've never been given a key before."

Oliver grabs his keys from the counter and carefully slides the key on there, slipping it next to his own house key. He slips his keys back onto the counter and turns back to Tommy.

"Man you are so gone aren't you?" Tommy asks. "I've never seen you like this before. You really love it here in her tiny apartment, eating breakfast and reading the paper. Don't you?"

"I really do. You have no idea after being gone for 5 years and everything I went through, how amazingly lucky I feel to be here."

"I would have thought you would spend every moment at your house, surrounded by luxury."

"I am surrounded by luxury," he says simply. He sips his coffee and listens to the quiet sounds of the apartment.

"Oliver can I talk to you about something?"

"Tommy every time you want to talk to me about something and that something is Laurel, you look like you're about to tell me you have a terminal disease."

Tommy looks uncomfortable and turns to look around Felicity's apartment. It's a lot smaller than Laurel's and he can see Tommy taking in the way she's made space with shelves. Her coffee table is covered in computer parts. It looks cramped and lived in and perfect.

"You're really happy here...I mean I know you and Felicity have been getting closer but you love it here. Thea says you barely come home anymore and your room looks half-empty. You are moving so much faster than I am with Laurel. She won't even give me a drawer."

"Tommy what is it?"

"Laurel's been working with the Hood." Oliver knows this but he pretends he doesn't know.

"You're letting her?"

"I'm not letting her do anything okay? I only just found out about it because she accidentally slipped up on one of her many lies. She's been lying for weeks! It's like me...in every relationship I've ever been in."

"Me too," Oliver whispers.

"I think she's attracted to him. You know Laurel is attracted to rulebreakers. Show me a more dangerous rulebreaker than the Hood."

"You should talk to her Tommy."

"Not to interrupt this show of masculine, protect the women conversation," Felicity begins, "but I've worked with the Hood too."

"What?!" Tommy asks.

"I've been researching the Hood since he came to town. He found out and came here. He could have hurt me but he didn't. He's asked for my help. I've asked for his."

"Don't you have anything to say Oliver? Aren't you mad at her like I'm mad at Laurel?!"

"No," Oliver says quietly. He wraps his arm around her waist and tugs her close. "Felicity is really, really smart and I trust her judgment. I think you should talk to Laurel and fix this before it becomes unfixable."

Tommy stands up in shock and just leaves the apartment. The door clicks shut behind him and Oliver watches after him. Felicity is right there and she's ready for work. She touches his face gently.

"So you're not mad?"

"We all have secrets. I have secrets."

"I know. You'll tell me soon right?"

"Promise."


"Oliver you need to hear this and I didn't want to come by your house," Diggle says. Oliver turns from the computer program he's been running to look at Diggle's outstretched hand. In it there is a recording device and Oliver knows it was used on his mother.

"You bugged my mother?"

"Just listen." Diggle plays the recording and Oliver freezes. He can't make out the other person's voice. It's distorted. His mother's is as clear as day. She's talking about Carl Ballard and then...the Gambit. It was sabotaged and she knew. She knew!

"Somebody tried to kill my father."

"Your mother was involved Oliver."

"You don't know that!"

"What I do know Oliver and so do you is she kept this a secret. Why would she do that if she didn't have something to hide?"

They are interrupted by the Hood phone. Lance is on the line asking for help. Laurel's been kidnapped. Oliver slips on the suit and races to the meeting. Even though he does not want to work with Lance he will try to rescue Laurel.

"Why come to me?" He asks upon arriving at the meet.

"It's a pretty tight circle that knows about you and my daughter working together. If Vanch knows then either you talked or someone at the precinct talked."

"Vanch is holed up in a mansion and I can't take it alone."

"I'm here," Lance replies simply.

The mansion goes the way he expects. Each man falls before firing a single shot. He's running out of weaponry. His quiver is empty and he has no flechettes. He is armed with his fists and his bow and he knows it won't be enough when gets inside.

Sure enough he is surrounded by Vanch's bodyguards. He could take them but then Laurel might be killed before he can get to her. Instead he plays along, lowering himself to his knees. It's a familiar position for him. The number of times he's kneeled with a gun to his head. It's only Lance's distraction that allows him to move. He dispatches the guards and sees Lance holding Vanch down, a gun to his head.

"I'm the vigilante," he yells. "You're the cop."

He leaves the father and daughter alone and listens as the sirens come closer and closer. Perched on the wall, he watches as Lance leads Laurel out to the ambulance. He watches as Vanch is escorted out of the building. He watches as his arrows are bagged as evidence.

He pauses to talk to Laurel before she leaves, informing her he's done. He won't risk her. Being close to someone is putting them in danger. He knows it's a discussion he needs to have with Felicity. He can't put her in danger. They took Laurel because the Hood talked to her. What if they found out about Felicity?

He's dialing her number before he can think.

"Hey. Are you coming by tonight?"

"I need to talk to you about something," he says softly. "I need to tell you something."

"Oliver are you okay?"

"I don't know. I'll meet you at your place later okay?"

"Oliver? Wait don't hang u-"

He watches as Laurel reunites with Tommy. He's apologetic with her. He doesn't want to see her hurt and was worried. It's how Oliver feels now. What if it had been Felicity in there? What if Vanch had taken her instead? Would he have gotten to her in time? Would he have been able to save her?

He slides down into the chair in the lair. He's going to end it tonight. He's going to tell her and then he's going to end it because he can't risk her. He can't let her be killed for being with him. He needs to keep her safe. He loves her too much.

"You're going to end things with her?"

"I have to Dig. Laurel almost got killed tonight because of the Hood."

"I think maybe you need to let her decide," Diggle says. "She's a smart girl."

"I'm in love with her."

"I know man. You should let her decide before you cut her out of your life. That girl she's tougher than she looks and she wants you. She trusts you. Both halves of you."

"I can't risk her life. I just can't."

"I think she might surprise you."

"I need to deal with my mother first. I need to know what the Undertaking is."

He leaves, suited up and his mind is not on his mother. He's thinking about last night and breakfast. He's thinking about the key on his keyring. He's thinking about the way he feels when he's with her and how soon it will all be gone.

His mother jumps to her feet as the Hood takes down the men she's meeting with. She's terrified when the arrow is pointed at her. For a second Oliver's not sure he can do this but he does. He needs answers.

"Moira Queen, you have failed this city!"


We're here guys. THE BIG ONE. Chapter 14 will be a little different than the previous chapters because Oliver spends the majority of it unconscious. It will also cover what happens after Oliver wakes up since Episode 15 starts a little bit after 14 ends.

Thanks for reading!