THANKS so much for all your nice reviews and for follow the story.
Nigaraweasel thanks again for translate, I would be totally lost without you ;)
Oliver and Felicity arrived on the parking level where her Mini Cooper stood. Oliver's hand rested protectively on her back; he was too worried that after everything she had jus revealed about herself, she might still collapse right before his eyes. When they reached the car, Felicity rummaged around in her handbag. "I can't find my keys, I must have left them on my desk."
Oliver held out his hand and the blonde IT-girl saw that he held something gleaming silver. "You left them in my office and I think it's better if I drive." Felicity wanted to protest but she was too exhausted.
Oliver started the car. "Well, then let's see if this would make a good second car for the CEO."
Felicity threw him a sideways glance; a Mini Cooper was definitely not a car he would put in his garage. Oliver loved speed and the adrenaline kick that came with it. Sometimes she had the impression that he needed that to know that he was still alive. Her thoughts started to drift until she didn't see the buildings and passing cars any longer.
A hand caressed her cheek and a softly spoken "hey" seeped into her consciousness. Felicity opened her eyes and saw Oliver smiling gently at her. It had made his heart ache to wake her, she had looked so peaceful and he knew that she needed the rest. "Felicity, wake up."
"Mhmmmm…" Felicity mumbled, still a little dazed. She stretched and got out of the car. Oliver was at her side immediately and wrapped an arm around her waist. " I would have let you sleep, you looked so peaceful, but it's getting cold in the car and I think a real bed will be much more comfortable." Felicity looked confused. "How long have we been parked here?" she asked.
Oliver glanced at his watch. "An hour." For one hour he had sat beside her in the car, watching over her. She loved this man with all of her heart, even though he always thought of himself as a bad person. She knew there was no-one more sensitive and noble than Oliver Queen. He would give his life for the people he loved.
Felicity stopped moving for a moment and immediately Oliver's hold on her tightened. She looked at him with wide open eyes and gently touched his cheek with her hand. He closed his eyes and only opened them again when he could no longer feel her touch.
In the basement of Verdant they packed up Felicity's things and stowed them in the car. Oliver looked at her. "So, Big Belly Burger?" Felicity looked out of the window. "Oliver… could we go to the mansion first? I…I would like to change and take a shower."
Oliver understood, she wanted to wash away her stepfather's touch. "No problem, if you want, I can ask Raisa to cook something for us and we can make ourselves comfortable in the living room in front of the fireplace."
She gave him a small smile and nodded.
Felicity stood gaping at the entrance hall of the Queen mansion; the house was gigantic. She felt like a princess in a Disney movie.
Right now Oliver was living here alone with the staff. Moira Queen had taken some time out after her prison stay and gone to Europe, and Thea was on cloud 9 with Roy and rarely came home again. Felicity was grateful for that, she was simply not strong enough right now to tell even more people about her past.
Oliver showed her around the house. There was a pool in the basement, a fitness room, enormous bathrooms, a beautiful living room with an open fireplace and an ultra-modern kitchen, where they met a small, middle-aged woman who had to be Raisa. When she saw Oliver she immediately came up to him, gave him a hug and ruffled his hair. It was nice to see him like that. Oliver introduced Felicity and Raisa immediately hugged her as well. Felicity felt a stab of pain in her heart. Raisa reminded her of her own mother, God how much she missed her.
"Oliver", she said silently. He interrupted his conversation with Raisa and looked at her. "Could you show me my room? I'd like to…"
She didn't have to finish, he understood what she meant. "Of course." He took her hand and led her back to the entrance hall and upstairs, stopping at the third door. "This here is my room. The guest rooms are actually on the other side, but", he pointed to the next door," I'd rather have you close to me. There's a connecting door and you have your own bathroom."
He opened the door and Felicity stepped into the bright, friendly room. The first thing she noticed was the enormous bed and the large windows. "It's a little smaller than the guest rooms, but I hope it's okay."
"Oliver, it's perfect, it's almost the size of my whole apartment."
"Good", he gently touched her arm. "Then I'll leave you alone now and go help Raisa with dinner."
She nodded and let the door fall shut behind him. Taking a deep breath, she felt panic creep up inside her again. She could still small her stepfather's perfume on her clothes and in her hair. Practically tearing her clothes off, she hurried into the bathroom.
The hot water ran down her body and she felt the tension turn into emotions with every drop – emotions she had managed to control for years, but not anymore. She collapsed, huddling on the floor of the shower stall, pressing her knees against her chest. Something flashed before her eyes and suddenly she wasn't in Starling City any longer, but back in their old house, and there he was, the man who had stolen her soul.
Oliver looked at his watch. It had been an hour… could she really have taken a shower for that long? Nervously he listened at her door, but heard nothing.
He knocked… no reaction.
"Felicity? Everything okay with you?"
Still nothing…
"Felicity, if you don't answer me, I'm coming in."
When he still got no answer, he cautiously opened the door, but Felicity wasn't there. The bathroom door was closed, but he could hear the water running.
"Felicity, you have been in that shower for an hour now, is everything alright?"
Still no answer.
"This isn't a joke! I'm worried about you, I'm coming in now."
He grabbed the door knob, hesitating for another moment, before he opened the door and was shocked. "Oh my God, Felicity!" For a moment, his heart seemed to stop. Felicity was huddled shivering in the shower stall, legs drawn tightly against her body, her skin red from the hot water that was still pounding down on her, her eyes were wide open but unseeing. Oliver turned off the water and grabbed a bathrobe from the shelf to wrap it protectively around her.
He knelt beside her. "Felicity, look at me, you're safe here, no one can hurt you."
Felicity was far away in her own little shattered world. From far away she heard the soft, gentle voice that gave her comfort and security. Briefly she closed her eyes and when she opened them again she saw Oliver crouched in front of her.
"Felicity," Oliver sighed, relieved that she was reacting to him; his pulse rate slowed down again.
She looked at him with wide eyes. "What are you doing here… what happened?"
"First put on the bathrobe, then I'll explain everything." Like a gentleman, he turned his back while Felicity slipped into the bathrobe. "I'm done", she said and he turned back to her again. "Can you get up?" Wordlessly the blonde IT-girl tried to get up, but her legs immediately gave out. Oliver caught her and carried her into the bedroom, turning back the blanket and tucking her in.