heyyyy. Super sorry for the late update. After the long weekend camping trip school started and I'm pretty sure everyone knows how that is lol. Im in a pretty demanding program so it might be difficult for me to update as often as I would like. I hope u guys understand. And I'm soo sorry. Thank u so much for all the love u guys are amazing. Hope u enjoy and let me know what u think.

Felicity had awoken the next morning in pure bliss. Things were going really well and she was especially pleased that Oliver had not freaked about her seeing his scars for the first time. It showed that their relationship wasn't going to take another step backwards and that he was really starting to trust her.

What she didn't expect was to find Oliver walking around the room shirtless, shorts hung low showing off his amazing V line and morning scruff that looked far too good. He could literally be on the cover of a magazine, it really wasn't fair. His body was way too sexy and the scars just added to the appeal.

She was openly gawking at him just hoping that he wouldn't realize her staring. She didn't know if it was a good or bad thing that he was now going to openly walk around shirtless in front of her.

Probably bad, because she was most definitely going to make a fool out of herself.

"You like what you see?" he turned around winking at her.

Oh shit. He knew that she was practically drooling over him. Someone kill her.

She glared at him blushing.

"I've seen more toned and better." She said casually before sticking her tongue out at him. Yeah right. He was like a Greek God.

He looked taken back and basically shocked.

She bursted into laughter at his reaction. She doubt that anyone had ever said that to him. If only he really knew that there probably wasn't a moment when she saw him that some part of her didn't want to jump him.

"Well Mrs. Queen it's a pity that you're stuck with me for the rest of your life." He teased while looking awfully possessive when he called her Mrs. Queen.

Oh she had a serious love for whenever he associated her as Mrs. Queen.

She stepped out of their bed getting ready to go to the bathroom. "Oh it's a real shame, especially when there is so much more potential out there." She giggled at his half amused, half annoyed reaction as she went into the bathroom.

She quickly washed up, showered and put on a pair of new clothes that she had left for herself in the bathroom the night before. She was not going to risk Oliver seeing her in a towel.

She dressed herself in a black and white floral skirt that went above the knees, and a white spaghetti strapped shirt. She tied her hair in her usual ponytail and put on her glasses before walking out.

She was surprised to still see Oliver in the room sitting on their bed in a pair of dark jeans and a white shirt, checking his phone. "Oliver. What are you still doing here?" She asked curiously. He was normally gone by now.

"Ummm," he scratched the back of his neck nervously. "I just wanted to know how everything went yesterday... Did everything work alright?"

Oh my goodness he was adorable; and that definitely was not a word that many would describe Oliver Queen as. He was too cute, and he was nervous. God he was so mushy and she loved it.

She smiled brightly at him, "yeah everything was great. I'm transferring some new parts into some of the computers to make it even better right now. I really love it Oliver."

His face literally brightened up and she had to giggle at his reaction.

"Good. That's great. Just let me know if you want to order anything else." He got up from the bed walking towards her.

Felicity poked him in the chest playfully when he reached her. "You will regret offering that Mr. Queen,"

His eyes darkened at her words. As his eyes focused in on her mouth. A small smirk was forming on his lips and just as he was about to speak the ringing of a phone pulled them apart.

"Sorry, let me just get this," she hurried towards her bedside table.

Her face brightened as she saw who was calling. "Barry! Hey!."

"Yeah today is perfect...No. it's no problem at all...okay see ya." She hung up.

"Yayyy. Barry's coming today for lunch," she jumped up and down.

He couldn't help but feel her joy. The light that she had just casted itself on everything around her.

"Are you going to join us?" She asked eyes hopeful.

"I can't. I have a meeting with a Bratva member downtown." He wished he could. He found himself yearning to spend time with her. "But do you want to grab breakfast with me before?"

She nodded happily. The days were getting harder and harder for him to keep any sort of distance away from her and that was going to prove to be a problem.

They walked down to breakfast together, her talking about the tech upstairs and what exactly her updates would do. He barely understood, but it really didn't matter. Hearing her voice was like music to his ears.

"So ummm...how do you know Barry?" He asked in what he thought was a subtle voice as they were eating their breakfast on the kitchen island. He barely knew anything about her personal life before this and he wanted that to change. He also couldn't help but feel extra curious about Barry.

Felicity poured herself some coffee and smiled up at Oliver. "I've known Barry ever since I was around 15. My mom and I moved to Central City because of...concerns about my father."

She always felt uneasy whenever she mentioned him. She hated it because it always felt like he still had a hold on her.

Oliver grabbed her hand and squeezed it in comfort and support. He hated her father so much his blood boiled whenever she would mention him in fear. How could anyone hurt her? That sick bastard was going to pay.

"I met Barry first at a park with my mom. Me and him were both super awkward and we would both ramble; and we just ended up clicking after bumping into each other." She grinned at the memory and Oliver couldn't help but feel somewhat jealous at the close friendship that the two shared.

"Barry then introduced me to Iris and Caitlin; who are my two other most closest friends. Us four made it through most of high school and college together. We would always be experimenting and doing crazy things. Everything was perfect." She looked at Oliver and he could see a sad look enter her eyes. His heart crumbled at that look.

"I'm happy that you had them," he squeezed her hand again, watching her every reaction.

She turned towards him after taking another sip of her coffee. "I missed them so much...My mom just hopped us on a plane to Russia and said to not contact them, just in case of my dad. And then everything with the marriage happened and...I couldn't."

"You couldn't what?" He replied looking her in the eyes.

"I couldn't have them around because I was worried that they were in danger here. I was worried about what I would say to them about all.." she waved her hands around the room, "..of this."

"How do I explain this to them?...I don't know what to say to Barry." She said in panic. "I've never told them about him. I've never told anyone about him."

He pulled her towards him, his hands on her arms rubbing up and down trying to erase the worry and fear.

"Felicity, you can tell them. You can tell them a version of the truth. They can't know about the Bratva, but they can know that your father is after you and that you married me for protection. That is believable and it is the truth." He continued to rub her arms, her face crinkled in worry.

"You don't have to worry. It'll be fine." He said soothingly.

"Thank you," she said. "I'm just so worried because I know that they're hurt about me losing touch and about not telling them that I was marrying a freaking hot billionaire slash Bratva captain.

He chuckled, "well this hot billionaire slash Bratva captain thinks that everything will be fine."

She groaned loudly. "Oh my God, my brain doesn't work," she blushed while hiding her face in her hands.

"Hey big bro, Felicity." Thea walked in looking way too happy.

"You." She pointed at Oliver, "are wanted by Digg and Uncle. They said that they are both furious with your lack of timing and incompetence."

Felicity laughed as Oliver glared at Thea.

He looked down at his watch. "Fuck, I'm late." He said while getting up.

"Well if the rumors are true that is not irregular Oliver Queen behavior." Thea teased as she sat down beside Felicity.

Felicity giggled.

"Bye speedy," he said as he was walking out of the kitchen ignoring her. But before he went he turned and looked at Felicity giving her a reassuring smile. "Bye Felicity. And good luck."

She beamed back at him and suddenly it seemed as though that was all he needed to be put in a good mood.

It was already approaching lunch time and Felicity was patiently waiting for Barry's arrival. Oliver had arranged for a meal to be prepared by the cook and brought to them in the gardens as a surprise; and she had only found out about it through a quick text from him. He was so sweet, she almost swooned after reading his text. Her feelings for him were growing hard and fast and it was like nothing she'd ever experienced before.

She was beginning to learn that Oliver, deep down, was a sap. She smiled to herself as she waited by the door for Barry.

Her thoughts were soon interrupted by the ringing of a doorbell, and before a bodyguard could answer it, she jumped to the door and opened it.

"Hey Barry!" She said beaming as she pulled him in for a hug.

"Hey Felicity," he responded while laughing.

The moment they released each other from the hug, she saw him turning around taking in the mansion. "Oh wowww. It's like a castle. How big is this place?! Is it like X-men where there's like a private jet that comes out of a courtyard? Oh my God that would be so cool."

She laughed at his excitement. And she honestly couldn't answer the X-men question because she was pretty sure it was a possibility.

"You're ridiculous Barry." She giggled pulling him through the corridors of the mansion. "You hungry? How about lunch first and tour later? She asked raising one of her brows in question.

"Sure. Yeah, definitely." He responded while admiring everything.

"Are you aware of the amount of security there is around here. It's like a private army. I'm pretty sure that this is the safest house in Starling." He said giddily while admiring the amount of body guards around.

She couldn't help but laugh at how perky he was. He was like a kid in a candy store.

"Yeah, Oliver takes the safety of his family really serious." She replied.

"Oh yeah, I remember hearing about his story in the papers... It must have been terrible." He said sadly.

"Yeah. It is." She replied knowing just how far that tragedy had affected Oliver.

"Sooo Oliver arranged for an outdoor lunch for us, in the gardens." She changed the subject while taking Barry outside.

"Woahh...it's beautiful and really? Oliver arranged this."

"Yupp."

"Wahh. He's really cool but like really intimidating." Barry said seriously.

Felicity snorted.

"Heyyy, I'm being serious," he bumped shoulders with Felicity. "And he's like huge."

"You are something else Barry," Felicity said as they reached the table in the garden that was already set with the most delicious looking food.

"Oh my God. That looks amazing." He said as he sat down.

"Mhmmmm it does."

They both had started to pour food into their plates as they started talking about Barry's ongoing investigation; and Iris and Caitlin.

It was only during the middle of the meal when Barry started to ask Felicity questions about what had happened with her.

"So, what were you going to tell me that night that we were at Verdant?" He questioned looking concerned.

"...ummm that night at Verdant I wanted to tell you why I didn't tell you guys about the wedding a-"

"Felicity it's alright."

"No it's not Barry. And don't you dare lie and tell me that you guys weren't hurt...we've been friends for so long and for me to just disappear and then get married. Well I think that deserves a proper explanation."

He nodded. "I guess you're right...sooo what did happen?"

"You know me Barry. You've known me for a while but I've never ever told you, Iris, or Caitlin about what happened before my Mom and I moved to Central City."

"Well I just assumed that you didn't want to talk about it. I don't want to push you to explain a part of your life that you don't want to share." He replied, fully knowing that something had happened to her and her mom.

"I don't think I'm ready to fully share it yet but I need to tell you parts of it in order to explain myself." She swallowed.

He nodded encouragingly at her.

"...My dad...my dad used to abuse my mom and me," she heard Barry's fork drop as he gasped.

"...I'm. ... I'm so sorry Felicity." He looked at her with sorrow in his eyes.

She gave him a watery smile and continued. "We're okay Barry...My mom. Well my mom found a way to get away from him and we thought we had for good.." She gulped in fear thinking about him. "...that was until he sent us a letter, threatening us, telling us he was going to get us back."

"Oh my God, Felicity," Barry got up from his chair to go to her as he knelt beside her holding her hands. Her eyes were teary.

"That's why I married Oliver so quickly. We struck a deal and mom and I were to receive protection; and Oliver needed to be married. That's why everything happened the way it did. It all happened so soon and I was afraid of you guys being angry."

"No Felicity. I mean we were hurt but we were never angry. We knew you probably had a good reason...I'm so sorry Felicity."

"Don't be," she smiled while cupping his face.

"So why did Oliver need to be married?" He asked curiously.

"...I can't tell you..I'm sorry...but it's for a good reason." She looked at him worriedly afraid he wasn't going to accept her answer.

"It's okay, Felicity. I understand. And Iris and Caitlin will too...but I'm sorry that you couldn't fall in love like you've always wanted too."

Felicity suddenly paused and gave Barry a nervous smile,"...I don't know Barry...but I think I'm falling in love with Oliver...I mean I know it sounds crazy after only knowing him for a short while but it's something unreal. I've never felt this way before and I don't know if its a good thing or a bad thing at how fast my feelings have grown." That was the first time she was admitting it and God it felt good.

Barry bursted out laughing. "Well that's awfully fortunate." He laughed again.

"Heyyyy," she said with a pout in her face.

"Hey," he looked at her nudging her shoulder smiling. "I'm happy for you. You deserve all the happiness in the world and if he makes you happy. I'm happy."

"Aww thank you Barry. I love you," she said as she pulled him in for a tight hug.

"Save it for Oliver, Felicity." He laughed as she swatted at his arm.

"Barry Allen!"

After lunch, Felicity had given Barry a grand tour of the house as they talked about anything and everything. She introduced Barry to Thea and Raisa, who absolutely adored the little dork. Her mom had gushed over Barry when she saw him and made him promise to never come back to Starling without Iris or Caitlin.

Before she even knew it, it was time for Barry to leave to go back to Central City. The goodbye had been much harder than she thought. It's not like she was never going to see him again; it was just that she missed seeing him everyday.

After Barry had left, Felicity busied herself with her computers trying not to think about her friends in Central City. She felt at peace knowing that they knew a bit of the truth and that they would hopefully all move past this.

She sighed after taking a part another computer. She couldn't work feeling like this. It was like that empty feeling you get after you've come home from a great trip. The unset feeling was in her stomach and she was already missing Barry. She wanted her comfort food; and for reasons she probably could explain, she found herself wanting Oliver.

"Ughhh, stop Felicity. Get a hold of yourself." She murmured. Maybe she should just go to bed. Thea was most likely busy and she didn't want to put a downer on her Mom and Raisa. Yup. She was just going to go to bed and sleep that feeling away.

She got up, put her tools away and turned off the light making her way to their room.

She found herself hoping that Oliver would happened to have come home early that night. But that hope was crushed quickly when she opened the door to their room and found it untouched.

"Come on Felicity, it wasn't like he was going to here anyway." She told herself. She hurried and washed up in the bathroom changing into her silk pajama shorts and tank; but before she made her way out, she saw Oliver's shirt hanging on a rack.

Should she? To have the comfort of Oliver's woodsy masculine scent was too good to pass up on; so she took her tank off and pulled his shirt on without giving it another thought.

The shirt was practically a dress and she found herself inhaling his scent; and as creepy as it sounded, it made her feel much better.

Felicity made her way to their bed and turned off the lights having no trouble falling asleep; engulfed and feeling safe by the scent of Oliver.

Felicity was awoken by a loud groaning and moaning of words. What was going on?

"No! No!...Mom...Dad...it's going to be okay...I'll save you...,"

Whatever sleepiness she was feeling as she got up quickly went away as she realized that it was Oliver.

She quickly shot up and saw him writhing on his side of the bed. His face was scrunched up in pain; his brows furrowed in worry, and sweat was pooling around his skin. Her heart clenched tightly at the sight before her. She had to help him.

He suddenly started to whisper harshly in Russian as she broke her pillow barrier in attempt to reach out to him and calm him down; but then he started again.

He was moving in panic on the bed, his body acting as if it was set on fire. He groaned and whimpered panting miserably. "...no...no...Thea...No!...Raisa...I'm coming...I'm coming...Felicity!...no...no...please don't. Please...don't leave me.."

"Oliver!" She called out to him needing to help him.

She moved closer to him her body hovering over his as she cupped the side of his head, hugging him. Her fingers ran through his hair soothingly as she tried to ease his pain. "Oliver. Sweetie I'm here and I need you to come back to me." She told him.

His body continued to move whimpering in pain. Tears had started to form in her blue eyes as she thought about the images that he was envisioning right now.

Her soul wept for him. She thought about the boy who had lost his parents. The boy who constantly feared that he would lose others as well. The boy who turned into a man who had gone through physical torture and had seen too much suffering.

She knew she had to be strong for him.

"Oliver," she continued to whisper in his ear, kissing his temple. "You're safe. We're all safe. Nothing is going to happen to us." She repeated it as a mantra. His body slowly started to calm down, his breathing slowing down.

Suddenly Oliver's eyes flew open and he looked around in pure terror and panic. She had never seen anyone look so wild and unsettled.

He finally looked at her as she continued to repeat that they were all safe. "Felicity" he sounded so scared and vulnerable, his eyes searching hers.

"Shhhhh Oliver," she looked at him as she wrapped around him tighter, holding him. "It's okay, it was just a dream." She reassured him. She needed him to be okay.

For a moment he just looked at her as he tried to control his breathing. "Do you want to talk about it?" she asked comfortingly, rubbing her fingers in a soothing motion on his chest.

He shook his head furiously as he clenched his eyes tight, burying his head in her chest, wrapping his arm around her to hold her in place; afraid that she would disappear.

That action made her feel sick as she clung onto him tighter. How many times did he go to sleep afraid? How many times did demons attack him in his dreams? How many times did he wake up alone in a state of fright? Did he receive comfort from anyone?

"Shhhhhhh Oliver. It's okay. Go back to sleep." She cooed at him, kissing the top of his head where it lay on her chest. "You're not alone anymore. I'll protect you." She whispered, her heart breaking. He always worried about the protection of others but who was there to protect him?

He let her lull him back to sleep as she kept her arms as a shield around him. One of her hands continued to tease through his hair as the other rubbed soothing circles on his back.

He curled himself around her like a child did when they were afraid and were seeking any sort of comfort.

She waited until she knew he was in a deep sleep before she let the tears pour down her face.

Her heart physically hurt at seeing him like this. He had gone through too much. Too much. She had known about him seeing the death of his parents but to see the effects of it; to see how much it plagued his mind and soul; it made her want to take away all the weight and the pain that he held on his shoulders.

He had done everything in his power to protect her and make her safe. But now. Now it was her turn. He was hers to protect and she would do whatever it took to keep him safe.