I'm afraid that this hasn't been edited as thoroughly as I would like, but it's after 3 am and I wanted to post this tonight. I have exams and other unpleasantries this week and if I don't do it now, then it won't happen until the weekend. This contains major spoilers for tonight's episode, so if you haven't seen it yet, read this after you have.

I had this idea during the end scene and I know it won't happen like this (the promo has assured us of that) but I wish that it would. Enjoy! (I'll check back when I can and tidy up any errors.)

I own nothing. (And I really need some sleep)

Felicity Smoak had just settled onto her couch to enjoy her Dim Sum for one. It had been a stressful day to top off the month from hell and she needed this. She was two mouthfuls in when her phone and tablet started beeping furiously.

She took the tiniest of moments to mentally prepare herself for whatever horrible news was waiting for her.

She had coded her programs with different notifications for the varying levels of emergency. Her electronics were alternately notifying her of 'unusual activity' and 'Queen family danger'.

She took a deep breath and lunged towards the tablet on the coffee table. Her eyes scanned over the information three times before she was on her feet and running towards the door, her Mushu Pork forgotten.

She shoved her Bluetooth into her ear as she locked the door behind her and bolted towards the stairwell. The ringing in her ear was incessant as she ran down the stairs.

"Felicity?"

"Dig, you need to get in your car. Right now. Something's wrong. I'll text you the coordinates." She bit her lip, clearing the second floor. "Bring a gun."

She heard his sharp intake of breath before the call was disconnected. She tapped another contact on her tablet as she broke free of the building and raced towards her car.

"Detective Lance!" She exclaimed the moment he picked up, impatient to wait for his greeting.

"Miss Smoak." She could hear the amusement in his voice as she yanked her car door open and threw herself inside. "I've told you before that I'm no longer a detective and I'm just barely a cop aga-"

"I'm sorry to be rude, Detective. But I don't have time for this." She snapped as she started the car and plugged in the GPS data for herself and Dig. "It's an emergency."

She could hear shuffling and knew that she had his full attention. She pulled her car away from the curb and popped a U-turn.

"I took the liberty of placing tracking devices on each of the Queens after Slade Wilson kidnapped Thea. My systems are set to alert me to any irregularities. The Queens were headed back to the mansion after the rally tonight. They never got there. The three of them are seven miles out of the city, in the wrong direction. In the middle of nowhere. Their limo is sitting in the Glades." She took a deep breath as she felt panic begin to rise in her chest. "I need you to meet me there. And I know that I'm asking a lot after you already went to jail for the Arrow. But I need you to come alone. At least for now. We both know that there are dirty cops within the department and-" She choked back a sob.

She could hear Lance rushing around. "And?"

She blew out a breath. "And I'm afraid of what we're going to find, Detective. If this is what I think it is-" She wiped furiously at her cheeks as traitorous tears fell. "Then there will be a body."

Lance swore and she heard the engine of his car. "Miss Smoak, are you sure you should be there? If it's as dangerous as you think then-"

"I have to go. It's Oliver." She retorted.

She heard him sigh. "Text me the coordinates."

She hung up and tapped her tablet's screen twice. She pressed her foot down on the accelerator and prayed that she wasn't too late.

It took her twelve minutes to get there. Her car skidded to a stop as her headlights lit upon three figures in the distance. A cry tore itself from her chest and then she was throwing herself out of the car. She was thankful for the flats she'd worn as she ran through the trees. Thea's wailing reached her ears before she made it into the clearing. She skidded to a stop a foot from the body of Moira Queen. Thea had thrown herself across her mother's body as she sobbed into the dead woman's neck.

Felicity forced her eyes away from the two of them and her gaze landed on Oliver. He was lying on his side by his mother and for one horrible moment she thought he was dead. She swallowed the scream on her lips and watched a tear fall from Oliver's face as he stared unseeingly at his family.

For the first time in a long time she didn't know what to do. There was nothing she could do to save Moira. And she was faced with two very broken people. Her instinct was to go to Oliver, to pull him into her arms and hold the pieces together as he fell apart. But as her eyes landed on Thea once more she knew that the girl was feeling completely alone in the world now. She knew that Thea would be Oliver's priority.

She stepped forwards and placed a hand on Thea Queen's back. The younger Queen flinched at the contact and stared up at her with scared, haunted eyes.

"Felicity?" Thea questioned blankly.

"I'm here." Felicity wrapped a hand around Thea's wrist and pulled. The girl fought to stay with her mother but Felicity pulled her up and into her arms. Thea fought against her but Felicity held on tightly.

"No! Let me go!" Thea whimpered against her shoulder. "I need to help her. My mom. I need to-"

Felicity tightened her hold on Thea. There were no words. She couldn't tell her that everything was going to be okay. Felicity knew a thing or two about losing loved ones.

It was never going to be okay.

Felicity heard a door slam in the distance and she jerked her head towards the sound. She had been careless. Slade might still be out here. She pulled Thea behind her as she heard someone running towards them. She looked around for anything to protect them but all she saw were leaves. Thea whimpered against her back, preparing for another disaster.

Dig ran into the clearing and Felicity almost collapsed in relief. She watched as his eyes moved over the scene in front of him before settling on herself in front of Thea.

"John!" Thea cried before pushing past Felicity and throwing herself into his arms.

Felicity watched as her friend pulled her tightly against his chest. She could hear him mumbling words into Thea's ear as he pulled her further from the destruction that was laid bare at their feet.

Her breath caught as she turned towards Oliver and realised that he hadn't moved since she'd gotten there. She clenched her jaw to fight the tears that threatened to fall as she moved towards him and dropped to her knees.

"Oliver?" She whispered thickly.

He made no sign of hearing her. She reached forwards cautiously and brushed a hand along his cheek, catching stray tears. She rubbed her thumb against his cheek.

"Oh, Oliver." She shuffled forwards on her knees.

She reached for his hand as she traced his jawline. "Oliver?"

He blinked but made no response. The tears escaped as she followed his sightline to his mother. There was no mistaking the sword wound in her chest. Felicity hoped that it had been quick.

She dropped to sit on the ground and placed his head in her lap. She heard the sounds of John comforting Thea and the arrival of Detective Lance as she stared down at Oliver.

Felicity ran her fingers through his short hair as she whispered his name repeatedly. Detective Lance was barking orders into his radio and she knew that they wouldn't be alone for much longer. She heard sirens in the distance and sighed.

"Oliver, I need you to come back." She told him firmly. "I wish you had more time. I know you need more time. But Thea needs you." Her tears fell quickly and he blinked as they hit his cheek. "Thea needs you, Oliver. I'm so sorry. Please, Oliver." She bit her lip to prevent a sob as he turned his face in her lap.

His gaze was clear for the tiniest of moments before his grey eyes were full of agony. He jerked into a sitting position as his face twisted in misery. She moved to her knees and placed her hands on both sides of his face. He reached out and pulled her towards him as a jagged sob ripped into the night. His tears flowed against her neck. His muffled sobs shattered her heart and in that moment she would give anything to take away his pain.

She held on for dear life as Oliver Queen, wearer of many masks, broke freely in her arms. She pressed her lips against every inch of his head as he gripped her tightly. Her hands ran over his arms and his back and she whispered how sorry she was until her voice was hoarse.

It wasn't her fault. But you say sorry when something bad happens. She couldn't have done anything to prevent this. Her computer programs can't predict the future. She got here as quickly as she could.

She wasn't sorry because she was in any way at fault. She was sorry because Oliver Queen had known too much pain in his young life already. He'd known torture and heartbreak and death. He'd faced pure evil on more than one occasion. He had lost friends and family.

And now his mother was dead. His mother would was capable of such evil and such love that she was a paradigm in and of herself. But she had loved him fiercely. She had loved her children fiercely. There had been no love lost between herself and Moira Queen. But Felicity would bet that her final act had been for her children.

And how that would weigh on the man in Felicity's arms.

The shaking of Oliver's shoulders had ceased and his cries had lost their volume. Felicity looked away from him and saw that paramedics and police officers were making their way through the trees towards them. She closed her eyes and tightened her hold against Oliver, for herself, and for him.

"Oliver?" She breathed out against his temple as she opened her eyes. "We need to move." He shook his head against her neck and she almost smiled despite the way it broke her heart. "John is with Thea. But Lance has called in, well, everyone." She ran a hand over his head as she felt him release short puffs of air against her skin. "It's too much to ask. And if I could manage it, I'd let you stay here, like this forever. For as long as you needed to." She kissed the crown of his head. "But I need you to stand up and walk over to Thea. Because she needs her big brother and she's not going to be able to do this without you."

His arms tightened around her back as he fought for control. She moved her hand to his cheek and pulled until his face moved from the crook of her neck. He raised bloodshot heartbroken eyes slowly. Her thumb brushed against his skin as he finally met her gaze. "I will be there every step of the way. I promise. You don't have to be Oliver Queen, CEO or the Arrow tonight, Oliver. Tonight, you're a brother and a friend and a-" She clenched her teeth. "And a son. Tonight you grieve. And no one can ask you for more than that."

His eyes snapped closed and he rested his forehead against hers. They breathed in sync for several moments before his arms loosened their hold and dropped back to his side. The tears continued to fall as he sat there.

"Okay." He croaked. He opened his eyes and stared into her eyes with resolve. His raised his hands to rest against her cheeks and leaned closer to place his lips against her forehead. "Thank you." He breathed against her skin.

He pulled back and they moved slowly to their feet. He reached for her hand and they tangled their fingers together. He paused for only a moment before they moved towards Thea and John. Felicity's eyes wandered over the crime scene and noted that several police were on site. Paramedics were waiting nearby as Detective Lance watched Oliver and Thea.

"Thea." Oliver called.

Thea turned in John's arms and rushed towards them. Felicity pulled her hand from Oliver's as he embraced his sister and placed it on his arm instead. She knew without asking that he needed her and she had every intention of being there.

Dig nodded towards her before he stepped past them and walked over to Detective Lance.

"Ollie, I don't, I just-" Thea mumbled tearfully against her brother's chest.

Oliver ran his fingers through his sister's hair and shushed her quietly. His gaze met Felicity's and held as she watched him shoulder yet another burden.

John returned with a paramedic and Oliver and Thea separated. Felicity placed her hand back in Oliver's and she watched the two of them zone out as the medics checked them over. The word concussion was thrown around as their head wounds were patched up.

Detective Lance moved towards them and Felicity fought the urge to hug the man. She smiled when she saw the look of tender compassion on his face. He was a good man.

He cleared his throat and placed a hand on Oliver's shoulder. "I'm sorry."

Oliver nodded numbly. Felicity reached out and squeezed Lance's arm. "Thank you, Detective."

"Protocol dictates I have to get your statements." He told them and Oliver flinched. "But protocol can kiss my ass."

Felicity surprised them both by throwing herself into his arms. "Thank you." She mumbled against his neck. "Thank you for coming and thank you for breaking rules to help me. And thank you for being a good man. I know you two don't always see eye to eye but thank you for being kind and thank you. Thank you." She pulled back and wiped her eyes.

He smiled at her as she stepped back to Oliver's side and tangled their fingers once more. "No problem, Kiddo. Just give me a name. Slade Wilson?" Felicity nodded. "I'll need statements tomorrow. But for now, I'll take care of it."

"Thank you, Detective Lance." Oliver replied with feeling.

Lance gave them a sad half-smile before turning away and heading back to speak to his superiors. Oliver and Thea were staring at their mother's body as the techs moved around her and took evidence. She wanted to leave, to take them as far away from here as possible. But they needed to be here. She understood that.

So she settled against Oliver's side as blankets were wrapped around their shoulders and they watched. Photos were taken and samples found. No one approached them. Their small group was silent.

Hours later a black bag was produced from the back of an ambulance. Felicity squeezed Oliver's hand and she watched as his jaw clenched.

Thea's eyes narrowed as the men approached her mother and she jumped to her feet. Oliver moved to his own and Felicity scrambled to place herself between Thea and her mother's body. Felicity could hear the zipper being opened behind her and then Thea was screaming.

"No! No! You can't take her! No!" Thea screamed and launched herself forwards.

Felicity caught her and flinched as Thea's nails bit into her arms. Oliver stared past the two of them at the body bag and his mother's body.

"No! Don't take her! Please! That's my mom! Please!" She wailed.

"I'm so sorry, Thea." Felicity told the girl. "It's too late. I'm so sorry."

Thea whimpered as she looked into Felicity's eyes.

"I'm so sorry, Thea." She said again.

Thea stopped fighting and fell against her.

"Oliver!" Felicity called. His eyes snapped to hers and then he was wrapping his arms around both of them. He turned his body so that he was shielding them both from the sight of Moira Queen being placed into a body bag and then carried out of sight. Their tears fell and mingled and she couldn't tell which tears belonged to whom.

She only knew that nothing would ever be the same.

Felicity dropped her keys into the bowl by her front door and kicked off her shoes. She turned and watched as her guests trudged through the door behind her. Thea stared down at her strappy heels like she couldn't quite figure them out. Felicity moved forwards quickly and bent down to help her out of them.

Thea mumbled a thank you before walking further into Felicity's home. Felicity's eyes moved over Oliver who was staring down at her like he needed direction. She reached behind him and locked the door. Her hand dropped to wrap around his and she pulled him further into the apartment.

"Thea, I have a guest bedroom that you can sleep in. It's right down the hall from mine if you need anything." She reached out and grabbed the younger Queen's hand as well. "I'll show you." She pulled them both down the hall, knowing that Oliver needed to know where his sister would be.

Thea reached out and opened the door and they stepped into the small room. "It's not much but the bed is comfortable. It also has an en-suite bathroom." She pulled away from the two of them. "I'll get you fresh towels. And something to sleep in."

She left them in the other room and made her way through her home. There hadn't been a discussion about where they would be staying but she knew that neither of them would want to go to the mansion and Oliver wasn't ready to show Thea the lair. So she'd asked Dig to drop them off here. She knew that he would be on damage control for the next several hours.

She was happy that she'd managed to get some cleaning done over the weekend. Unemployment sucked but she had been so busy for the last few months that her home hadn't been fit for company.

Felicity grabbed her comfiest pajamas and some fluffy towels and hurried back to the guest room. Oliver and Thea were sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at the door. She placed the items on the bed and stepped back.

"Thank you." Thea mumbled once more.

Oliver stood and pulled his sister to her feet. He pressed his lips against her forehead. "I'll be here if you need anything, Speedy."

Thea's breath caught but she simply nodded and pulled away. Felicity followed Oliver to the door.

"Felicity?"

Both Oliver and Felicity paused and turned back to face Thea.

"Can you stay? For a minute?" She mumbled, looking at her feet.

"Of course!" Felicity assured her. She squeezed Oliver's arm and he nodded. She watched as he walked away from them and into her bedroom. She heard the shower start up in her bathroom and turned to face Thea.

Oliver's sister was watching her carefully as she stripped out of her ruined clothes and tossed them in the garbage can by the door. She quickly pulled on the pjs and sat on the bed. Felicity stepped closer before sitting across from her.

The two of them sat in silence for a few moments as Thea picked at the blanket. "I don't understand why this happened." The girl said finally.

Felicity sighed. "Slade Wilson is twisted and evil. He wanted to punish Oliver for something that was never his fault."

Thea gripped the blanket tightly. "He said that Oliver killed someone named Shado."

"Oliver was faced with an impossible choice when he was on the island. He was told to choose between two women. One would be safe and the other would die. The man counted down and he pointed the gun at one woman as he reached the end of the countdown. And Oliver jumped in front of the gun. Oliver tried to sacrifice himself. The man killed the other woman instead. Slade loved Shado and he blames your brother." Felicity told her carefully. She knew that Slade must have told some of the story and she knew it was important for Thea to understand the truth.

"He tried to sacrifice himself again." Thea sniffled.

Felicity blew out a breath. "He does that."

"Thank you for telling me." Thea paused. "And for finding us. I don't know how, and I don't really care right now."

Felicity smiled and moved from the bed. Thea followed after her and hesitantly wrapped her arms around her. Felicity hugged her back tightly.

"Felicity?" Thea mumbled against her neck. "Take care of him tonight?"

Felicity blinked and stepped back. She met Thea's eye and nodded. "Always."

She sat on her bed and chewed on her thumbnail. He had been in the shower for a long time. She thought back on her promise to his sister and moved from the bed towards the bathroom door. She debated with herself for another moment before she twisted the doorknob and pushed the door open.

Her knees shook as she took in the sight before her. He was kneeling fully clothed under the hot spray with his head in his hands. His shoulders shook fiercely as he fought to keep his sobs muffled.

"Oh, Oliver!" She gasped, rushing forwards and stepping into the shower.

She dropped to her knees in front of him and the spray soaked her instantly. She wiped her blond hair off of her face and placed a hand on his cheek.

"I'm so sorry, Oliver."

He sat heavily in front of her and pulled her into his lap. His face found the crook of her neck and he wrapped himself around her. Hot tears dripped from her cheeks and she cradled his head against her chest. His body shook with silent sobs and she wondered if he'd ever be able to stop.

He'd held everything in for so many years that she wondered if he was only crying for his mother at this point. Or was he crying for his father, for Yao Fei, for Shado, for Tommy? She wondered if he was suddenly barraged with every heartbreak that he hadn't allowed himself to feel.

For the first time in her life, words completely failed her. She didn't know what to say to him. She couldn't lie or fill the space with hollow platitudes. She couldn't promise that Slade would pay, because she wasn't sure that he would. She hoped he would. She'd do everything in her power to take him down, but there were no guarantees.

She hummed against his temple as she fought to find something, anything to say.

"The first day I met you I knew you were special. I knew that there was more to you and I was desperate to figure it out. You smiled even as I ingested my foot. I looked forwards to our meetings, not just because you're hot, but because you were interesting and kind. You were a billionaire and you didn't need to be kind. You could have walked in and demanded that I help you. But you always asked for my help. You always treated me like I was special." She ran her fingers over his shoulders. "I knew even then that you were a good man. I knew that you mattered. Even if I had no idea how much you would mean to me."

His body relaxed as she spoke to him even as his arms held her more tightly.

"I liked that you told the very worst lies about what you needed help with. But I never felt like you were lying to me. I knew you were lying, and you knew you were lying. But I never felt like you really wanted to be lying to me. I trusted that you had a good reason for not telling me the truth. I trusted you despite bullet-ridden laptops and syringes of unknown substances and really bad excuses." His thumb moved slowly, unconsciously, over the patch of skin between her top and her shorts. "I liked that sometimes I managed to elicit a real laugh or a real smile from you. I liked that even before I really knew you I could tell when you were wearing a mask and when you were being real. And I loved that you were almost always real with me.

"You scared the hell out of me when you were bleeding out in the back of my car. Not because the car was new or because the Vigilante was supposedly a criminal, but because I was scared for you. Because even then, even way back then I cared about you. I didn't want you to die. So I trusted you when you asked me to take you to the lair instead of a hospital. I watched you flatline, you know. And I prayed to any God that would listen that you'd survive. I've never been much for prayer but you bring it out of me, you know? I pray whenever you leave the lair and I'm not sure you'll come back." She bit her lip. "Where was I? Oh yes, you brought me into the fold. You were dying and you decided to trust me. I can't express how much that meant to me, Oliver. Even then I realised how huge that was."

The water's temperature began to drop and Felicity fought a shiver. She pulled back and turned off the water. She kissed Oliver's forehead before moving out of his arms and standing up. She reached down and helped him to his feet. They stood there in the shower for a few moments as their clothes dripped steadily.

"I love that you say my name differently than anyone else. You can express a whole conversation just by saying my name a certain way. And I like that. I love that." She shivered. "Hold on a sec." She stepped out of the shower and grabbed two large towels from under the sink. She stepped back into the shower and handed him one. She hung hers on the shower rod and pulled at the t-shirt that was stuck to her skin. He watched as she yanked the garment over her head and dropped it to her feet. She wrapped the towel around her body and then dropped her shorts.

"I have your emergency bag in my room. I grabbed it from the car." She told him when he continued to stare at her. You have a change of clothes in there."

He clutched the towel in his hands but made no move. She stepped closer to him and took the towel from him. She hung it on the rail beside the shower. She grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled it upwards. The material was plastered against his skin and she yanked until it gave way.

This certainly was not the way she'd imagined taking Oliver Queen's clothes off. And she'd imagined it, in great detail.

A surprised bark of laughter escaped his lips and Felicity's eyes darted up to meet his.

"Apparently my brain to mouth filter is as faulty as ever." She mumbled as he helped her pull his shirt over his head.

"Good to know something's don't change." He muttered as the amusement left his eyes.

Felicity moved closer to him and placed her hands on his bare chest. "I'm not going anywhere, Oliver."

He leaned his forehead against hers. "Promise me."

They both knew she couldn't do that. But Sara had just left for God knows where and his mother had been murdered in front of him.

"I promise." She breathed out and his hands landed on her hips.

She shivered as the air in the bathroom began to cool and he moved back a step. "Now drop your pants." She rolled her eyes, because of course she had said that like that.

His lips twitched as he stepped back and did as he was told. She held the towel out to him and blatantly looked in the opposite direction. His hand wrapped itself around hers after a moment and they stepped out of the tub and left the bathroom.

"I'm going to check on Thea." He said after a few moments of silence.

She nodded and watched as he left the room.

He was going to be okay. So would Thea. She would do everything in her power to make sure that both of them made it through this.

She had changed into a tank top and shorts, and was towel-drying her hair when he walked back into the room.

"She's asleep." He answered her unspoken question.

"Good."

He grabbed his bag and began digging through it as she moved into the bathroom to brush her teeth and hang up the towel. She ignored the part of her brain that was shouting about how domestic this felt. Now was so not the time. Felicity stepped back into her room and he was sitting on the edge of her bed in just a pair of boxer briefs.

She allowed herself a moment to take in the beauty of the man before her. Her eyes moved over every inch of smooth and scarred skin before she settled on his face. He was staring up at her and his eyes were so tired. Her feet carried her forwards and she cupped his cheek.

"I love the way you love people. I may not always agree with your choices or your methods but I've never doubted your loyalty to those around you. You drive me crazy sometimes but you care, Oliver. You have the biggest heart of anyone I know and it has survived so much." She pulled him to his feet. "You will survive this. I can't promise it won't hurt. I can't promise you much of anything, because we don't lie to each other." She pulled back the bed covers and pushed him towards the bed. He obeyed and laid down without a fight. "But you're going to survive and so is Thea. You might not believe that, but I'll believe it for the both of us right now."

She pulled the blanket up to cover his waist and stepped back. She walked around the bed and flicked off the lamp on her side table. She climbed under the covers beside him and he immediately pulled her towards him. She laid her head on his chest as his arms circled around her.

"You're a good man and you have people who love you. Roy is going to be alright. He's not himself right now, but he's still in there. He didn't hurt me earlier. He gripped the edge of a table to keep from hurting me. He'll be okay. Thea is alive and she's going to continue to be alive. We're going to protect her and we're going to get her through this. Dig and Lyla can watch each other's backs when he's not with us. I'll call Detective Lance in the morning and tell him he needs to stay with Laurel. We're going to beat Slade. We'll get a cure and then we'll beat him." She assured him in the darkness.

"He won't stop." Oliver replied finally. "He'll hurt you. He said one more person would die and he didn't have to say it but we both knew he meant you."

Felicity didn't question why it would be her instead of Laurel or Sara. It didn't really matter.

"Then I'll be careful. We will all be careful. I'm not going anywhere, Oliver." She promised vehemently.

"How can you be so sure?" He asked quietly.

Felicity turned and placed a kiss above his heart. "Because I have something, someone to believe in. I have someone to live for, Oliver."

She expected things to feel different with those words out there. She may not have used the L-word but it was more than implied. But as the implications settled upon them, she breathed easily. And so did he.

His arms tightened around her and his lips pressed against her hair.

He drifted off to sleep before she did. She prayed that he and Thea would sleep well. Sleep wouldn't change the fact that their mother was dead or that they were being targeted by a madman hell-bent on revenge. But it wouldn't hurt either.

"Felicity." Oliver sighed in his sleep.

A smile crossed her lips and her eyes drifted shut.

Let me know what you thought? Thanks for reading. Goodnight all!