6 months after Jay's deployment

Chapter 23:

Jay sighed as he licked the envelope. He had no idea why he was still writing to Katya clearly she had meant what she said, but he couldn't help it. He loved her and he was going to hold out hope till the bitter end that Katya loved him enough to wait for him.

"Another letter?" Carter asked as he dropped himself into the chair opposite Jay.

On his first day six months ago his TO give him two pieces of advice; never get cocky and don't get attached. The missions they went on were dangerous and in the last 6 months Jay had witnessed more death then he had done in his whole career as a solider. So he understood the don't get attached rule but there was something about Carter King you couldn't help but like and get attached too. Carter was two months younger than Jay with a wicked sense of humour and a supportive nature. Jay had gotten on with Carter from the very beginning, so when Carter one day asked about the picture he had of him and Katya from the day before his first ever tour Jay found himself telling his new friend everything. At the time Jay thought it was a good idea now however as Carter's smirk grew wider he was doubting his decision.

"Just don't." Jay ordered.

Carter held up his hands in mock surrender.

"I'm just saying if the girl hasn't replied to the first twenty letters what makes you think she is going to reply to this one." Carter pointed out.

Jay sighed, Carter was right. Katya was just as likely ignore this one like she had done the rest, after all he knew how stubborn she could be more than anyone.

"I have to try." Jay replied as he stood up.

If he wanted to get this letter sent by the end of the day he needed to get it to the post as soon as.

Carter followed him.

"Why?" Carter asked.

Jay glared at him.

Carter shook his head.

"I mean I no she is your childhood friend and I know you love her but what is about this girl you can't leave without?" Carter asked.

Jay froze.

"I mean you have wrote a letter to her almost every day so what is it about her?" Carter continued.

He thought about it and there was one simple answer.

"When my mum was sick, I was a little bit of a dick." Jay started, remembering the day like it was yesterday.

FLASHBACK

Jay flew out of the door leaving the hospital behind as fast as he could. He was mad first his dad left and now he mum dying. He wasn't stupid he knew what inoperable meant. Inoperable meant chemo and the chance of that working was slim.

"Jay stop." Katya yelled.

Jay continued walking. He didn't want another one of her it will be ok speeches because they were crap and a lies.

"Jay." Katya yelled again.

He could hear her footsteps pounding after his. Sure she was chasing him now but eventually she would leave just like everyone else in his life did. He might as well might well get that over with now.

Jay stopped and turned to face Katya his expression cold.

Katya stopped just in front of him and she made a grab for his hand but Jay pulled back.

He heard her sigh but she never said anything.

"What?" He demanded, his tone harsh.

He knew the quicker he made her hate him the quicker she would leave him.

"It's ok to be scared you no." Katya told him softly.

"Well I'm not scared everyone dies." Jay spat.

Katya frowned at him.

"Don't say that." she ordered.

"Don't tell me what to do." Jay yelled.

"Jay your mum she could be fine." Katya told him, ignoring his tone.

Jay laughed without humour.

"Oh please you saw that doctor's face, you know as well as I do she is going to die." Jay spat.

Katya punched him then. Her little fist coming into contact with his noise quicker then he expects. It doesn't hurt that much but it was the last thing he was expecting and it stuns him.

"I don't know what the hell is going on with you but when you're ready to the Jay I know, the one his mum needs right now then you know where to find me." Katya told him and before he could reply she turned on her heel and walked back the hospital.

END OF FLASHBACK

It took him two hours before he was back by his mum's side.

"So let me get this straight, she punched you when you were 13 and now you can't live without her?" Carter asked a smile on his face.

Jay laughed.

"I guess so." He mumbled to himself.

"All I know is that since then she had been my compass, when I'm unsure she is always there telling me which way to go." Jay adds.

Carter nodded. He took the letter for Jay's hand and dropped it into the postal bag.

"I can't wait to meet your compass." Carter smirked.

Jay nodded.

"I just have to get her to forgive me first." Jay muttered to himself.

Felicity froze as she reached the bottom step in the foundry. Candles scattered every surface in the place.

She frowned. What the hell was going on?

Oliver text about half an hour ago asking her to come to the foundry. Fearing the worst Felicity threw on some clothes and rushed to the foundry.

"Oliver?" Felicity called as she walked further into the lair.

She stopped once again when she noticed a picnic blanket on the floor. Felicity couldn't help but smile. There was a blue and white stripped blanket on the floor with throw pillows scattered around the blanket with a basket in the middle.

"You once told me you had never felt more at home then you do here." Oliver's deep voice called from behind her.

Felicity turned slowly, to find Oliver standing behind her with the soft genuine smile she loved so much on his face.

"That was because it's the only place that ever felt like a home." Felicity replied.

Oliver took a step towards her.

"I love this place too but not because it felt like home but simply because the foundry meant you." Oliver told her softly.

Felicity smiled as she placed her arms around his neck bringing him closer.

Oliver's arms went round her waist bringing her closer still.

Felicity tilted her head to the side as she looked at him.

"What's going on?" She asked softly.

Oliver gave her a peck on the lips before gently taking her hand over and walking her over to the picnic blanket.

"Can't I just take my beautiful girlfriend on a picnic?" Oliver asked.

Felicity nodded and took a seat on blanket. Oliver sat behind her and wrapped his arms round her waist. Felicity lent back onto his chest.

"So what's in the basket?" Felicity asked.

Oliver pressed a kissed to the back of her neck, Felicity felt a shiver run through her.

"Take a look." Oliver suggested.

Felicity opened the basket to find the only thing inside was a small velvet blue box.

Felicity gasped.

"Oliver?" Felicity whispered.

Oliver stood up behind her and Felicity turned to look at him. Oliver held out his hand for her to take and with a shaking hand she took his.

Oliver pulled her to her feet.

"From the moment I met you, I knew you were different and the more time we spent together confirmed that." Oliver told her.

"You are my light and even years of separation haven't changed that, in fact if anything they have made that bond between us stronger." Oliver continued.

Tears of happiness rolled down her cheeks.

"You are the love of my life, you are the women who gave me a beautiful daughter, and you are the one person in this life I cannot live without." Oliver told her as his thumb gently whipped away her tears.

"So Felicity Meghan Smoak," Oliver started slowly bending down until he was resting on one knee.

Felicity gasped again as Oliver took the velvet box from the picnic basket and opened it. The ring was a simple sliver band with an emerald stone, shaped like the head of an arrow.

"Will you do the honour of being my wife?" he asked.

Felicity jumped into his arms and smashed her lips to his. Even though he was surprised Oliver caught her easily and kissed her back.

After a while Oliver slowly pulled away, gently resting his forehead on hers.

"I take that as a yes?" Oliver asked slowly a beautiful blinding smile on his face.

Felicity nodded.

"Yes." She said kissing his cheek.

"Yes, yes. A thousand times yes." Felicity added as she kissed all around his face.

Oliver laughed happily as he kissed her back.

Katya pulled faces at Tommy as her parents made out yet again. It had been a week since her dad asked her mum to marry him and they couldn't seem to get enough of each other. Don't get her wrong she was glad they were happy but did they have to be so happy in front of everyone.

Tommy laughed, grabbing his mum's attention. Thea smiled gently at her parents before clearing her throat loudly, finally bringing her parents apart.

"Sorry." Her mum said flushing bright red and burying her face in Oliver's chest.

Katya shook her head as he dad laughed. The man really didn't have any shame.

"So have you guys set a date?" Thea asked pointing to her mum's finger.

When her dad had come to her about choosing a ring she had been as at loss as he was, but when he told her what he envisioned Katya had done some research before finding the best hand jeweller in the country. After an hour meeting with the man they had been happy with the jewellers design. Katya had to admit it was beautiful.

"No not yet. We haven't really thought about it yet." Her mum confessed.

"Well I think you guys should start thinking about it." Thea replied.

Her dad opened his mouth to reply when Roy came into the kitchen with a bunch of letters in his hand.

"I picked these up from the hall way." Roy said as he handed the letters to her mum.

His mum flicked through the letters before freezing at one and Katya new immediately who it was from.

Jay had been writing to her from the very first day he left sending her letters almost every week. Yet see couldn't bring herself to open them. She told him she wasn't going to wait for him and she meant it. It hurt too much to be stuck behind waiting for news that he had been hurt or maybe even dead. So no matter how worried she was about him she wouldn't open those letters.

Her mum turned to face her.

"Why didn't you say Jay has been writing to you?" Her mum asked.

Katya shrugged and moved to leave the room but her mum gently grabbed her wrist.

She hated talking about Jay, because talking about Jay meant thinking about Jay and thinking about Jay meant worrying and worrying about him meant she would never be able to let him go.

"How is he doing?" Her mum asked causally.

Again Katya shrugged, she did not want to do this.

"Come on Kat you must know I mean you read them didn't you?" Her mum asked in a tone that told Katya she already knew the answer.

Katya pulled her arm from her mum's hand and walked towards the door.

"I have a paper to finish." she lied and before anyone could stop her or question her on it she left.

It was two days later when Felicity finally got the chance to question Katya about Jay's letters and she was fuming. After a day of searching she found exactly twenty one letters none of which Katya had opened.

Yes Katya may be mad at Jay for leaving but they were all the family he had left in this world that Katya seemed to be ignoring and that was not how she raised her daughter. So Felicity drove to Katya's dorm room letters in hand and waited for her daughter to return from class.

When Katya saw Felicity sitting on her bed she sighed, probably already knowing that she wanted to talk about.

"Mum, I don't have time for this." Katya stated.

Felicity stood up and glared at her daughter.

"Well make time." she ordered.

Katya rolled her eyes and sat down.

"What?" she asked.

"We are the only family Jay has left, how could you be so cold, so selfish to ignore him like that?" Felicity demanded.

Katya scoffed.

"Me selfish, I'm not the one who broke a promise to his so called family so I could go play hero." Katya spat.

"He did it for you." Felicity yelled.

Katya froze.

"What?" she asked, her voice shaky and confused.

Felicity closed her eyes. She had promised Jay that she wouldn't say anything but Felicity wasn't sure she could keep that promise any more.

"We were getting nowhere with Joe, so Jay went to his old training officer for help." Felicity explained.

Katya frowned.

"What would Jackson Kent know about Joe Wilson?" Katya asked.

Felicity sighed.

"Think about it Kat." Felicity ordered.

Katya closed her eyes.

"Joe was in the military, Jackson probably used his connection to find out everything about Joe's service record." Katya guessed opening her eyes.

Felicity nodded.

"But nothing comes for free Katya." Felicity reminded her.

Felicity watched as realisation went through Katya faces.

"He broke his promise to help save my life." Katya summarised and Felicity nodded.

"Why would he do that?" Katya demanded, shock entering her.

Felicity smiled sadly at her.

"Because Jay loves you Katya and there is nothing he wouldn't do for you." Felicity reminded.

A sob escaped Katya mouth and Felicity gathered her daughter into her arms.

Felicity held her while she cried.