This one was surprisingly easy to write, even with the extra "unseen" stuff I wrote in the beginning.

Here's 2x7, "There was no choice to make."

Let me know if you're liking it (I know I've posted three times in one night, but these stories are literally just sitting here. I just can't wait!)

I own nothing.

Chapter 3-Resolute

The foundry lights were bright on the monitor displaying the news as it aired live. Diggle and Oliver sat at the computers, just watching. Oliver had a blanket around his shoulders, his arms folded around himself.

"You sure you're ok?" Diggle had already asked twice.

Oliver chuckled, smiling brightly. "I'm right here Digg, don't worry. I don't think I'll have a mental break just yet."

Diggle smiled at that. "Just wait until you have to fix the computers at SCPD."

Oliver shuddered at the thought, knowing full well that the police were not exactly keen on updating their computers. Not just the parts, but the software. Then again, they were in the Glades and they willingly brought thieves into the building-handcuffs or no.

Footsteps sounded, heels clicking their way into the foundry. Felicity was wearing a gray dress skirt. Her white blouse was open, and the tank top underneath was untucked. She held her jacket in her hand.

Oliver and Diggle turned to her expectantly, both with a soft smile. Felicity laid her jacket down as Oliver said, "Congratulations."

She began to take her button down off when he followed it up with a small, "Is that appropriate?"

Felicity's voice came out slightly harsh. "She should have lost." She began pulling her arms out of the shirt. "Should have been convicted."

Diggle and Oliver both took a minute before simultaneously stepping toward Felicity.

Diggle pulled his jacket tighter around his middle. "Did you want her to be?" His eyes searched Felicity's as she inched herself onto the table.

"I expected her to be." Her face was confused, but had the telltale sign of thoughts forming, cogs working away. "The verdict doesn't make sense." She flipped her hair over her shoulder, still thinking.

Oliver jumped right in. "Still, your mom must be thrilled. Beyond." His glasses glinted in the fluorescence.

"More like shock…I think. They're processing her now, I just wanted to check on you." He looked straight at Diggle, who nodded in a silent thank you.

Felicity's gaze turned to Oliver. "And you." Her voice took on a more caring tone, as though his safety was more important, more vital. Oliver wished he hadn't been the cause of Felicity's having to kill again. What if she hated him? What if now she could never love him? His smile was small, but there.

"I'm feeling better." Diggle interrupted his thoughts. He cleared his mind and went back into IT expert mode. "And, with the Vertigo-tainted vaccine, Smoak Industries' applied sciences division was able to formulate a non-addictive treatment." They truly had won today.

Felicity nodded her head and took in the good news. She simply stated, "Good." Her right arm shot up so she could check her watch. "I need to meet my family at home, so you guys…go home, get some rest."

Felicity and Diggle shook hands, before Digg clapped her shoulder and strode out. Felicity stood there for a moment before turning to Oliver. She gave him a warm smile. "Good night."

Oliver returned it. "Good night."

Then Oliver realized this was his chance, to see where they stood. But mostly, he had to apologize for doing this to her. In the end, that's all he cared about-her well-being.

"Felicity?"

She turned around, lips scrunched together. He stepped forward, almost shyly. "I, uh, I just wanted to say thank you."

"Yeah." Felicity was trying to get out, but he had to say this. "And…I'm sorry."

Felicity's face immediately changed. Her brows furrowed and she seemed a bit off-put. "For what?" She stepped forward, genuinely concerned.

Oliver sighed. "I got myself into trouble again." He hated being so helpless, and then having to admit it. "And you killed him." Felicity's face grew pained.

"You killed again, and I'm sorry that I was the one who put you in a position where you had to make that kind of choice."

Almost immediately Felicity said his name. To get his attention, maybe, or to let him know it wasn't his fault.

Her hand grabbed his right one, still clutched around himself. And then, with no remorse whatsoever, she said, "He had you and he was gonna hurt you." Then her face became even more resolute. "There was no choice to make."

Oliver's heart jumped at the words. Even if there were no romantic prospects there, Oliver was happy that Felicity cared enough about him to feel that way. It was a major thing, for their friendship and their work.

They both offered small smiles to each other, before Felicity walked away, white tank top scrunching up at the back of her skirt.

Oliver sighed contentedly before heading over to his babies. He wasn't going to watch the Count's whole autopsy, but he was going to watch the security footage enough to know that he was really dead.