Disclaimer: I own nothing in relation to Arrow or it's characters

Chapter 14: Best Laid Plans

22 hours before the confrontation with Rose…

"So what are you expecting to find exactly?" I was going through file after file attempting to find anything helpful to use against ARGUS. Oliver's fingers kept a slow rhythmic pattern against my shoulders as he continued to lightly rub and knead my tired aching muscles. Other than the feeling of his fingers Oliver remained still as he stood directly behind me reading as various files flashed across the screen.

"Stop that one, that's the file I was looking for." I stopped and went back to see what after two hours had finally grabbed his attention. Bringing the file back-up I glanced over the headings and noticed that this file was Rose's file. This file would answer all the questions I had about the mysterious woman who had spent months making my life a living hell. Oliver leaning down so that his lips came achingly close to my ear made a statement that I had not known him better would have made my blood run cold. "Rose has a family which means she too has something very precious to lose." None the less his cold almost detached voice caused small shivers to course through my spine. I let my fingers run across the computer as more and more of Rose's file came to light. Shocked and beyond empathic are two emotions that I normally don't use at the same time; however this time with Rose's history laid before me those two emotions are exactly what happened.

She was innocent or at least she had been. Rose had been drafted by ARGUS in a very similar fashion to my own abduction story. She'd been 22 years old when magically Amelia Rosalind Tate was hit and killed by a drunk driver on the San Francisco turn pike. Her funeral was attended only by her fiancé Robert Thorn along with her mother and father the Dr's Carl and Martha Tate. I almost fell out of my chair she'd had a family, she was going to be married, she'd had an actual life before ARGUS recruited her for… my blood really did freeze this time. Rose was recruited for the same reasons that I was… Rose was for her time a rather gifted computer science major who was maybe two or three weeks away from a major breakthrough in a brand new computer firewall technology that would have for then been life altering. Rose was like me once upon a time and now she going to the be the one to destroy me. Yeah this day just got worse much to my overwhelming shock.

"God Oliver she's like me, they destroyed her life like they're attempting to do to mine." I suddenly felt a cold burst of air going through my entire body freezing me from the inside out. Moving my arms to cross over my chest attempting to warm my now chilled skin I lifted my head slightly upwards to glance upon his stoic unreadable face. "Oliver what if we can reach her, she's like me maybe she'll help us instead of trying to destroy us." My voice was weak and pleading but given the shock I'd just received I was still fairly confident in my words. He glanced down and seeing my body slightly trembling his hands moved from my shoulders down my interlocked arms gently brushing the skin as his fingertips drifted up and down slowly until his entire hand locked at my elbows. Using his new position he turned us both so that he was now in front of the computer screen and I was now facing him. My eyes quickly glanced up seeing that the formally stoic expression had been replaced by one of tender caring and utter concern. "Come here baby" With that he released my arms allowing me to stand moving straight into his now open embrace. I leaned forward resting my face against his chest as my arms banded tightly around his waist savoring the warmth that began to spread throughout my chilled core.

His voice was soft and gentle against my hair as he spoke soft gentle soothing words attempting to ease my confused and bewildered mind. All I could feel was his heartbeat against my check, how his arms felt as he trailed his warm calloused hands up and down my back taking time to create patterns against my spine as he went. "Felicity shhh it's alright, we're going to figure this out… I'm not going to let them take you away from me…they've already taken enough." I nodded against his chest finally feeling his warmth beginning to heat my once chilled blood. "Oliver we have to help her" His hands stilled at that so I knew I might have lost him so before he could overthink the situation I quickly continued once again finding the strength in my own voice. "Baby she's like me; they took her family, her life, her love away from her." I glanced up towards his face seeing nothing but concern and still to my utter shock love written across his beautiful face. "They'll try to take you away from me…" I knew that was the real problem with whatever plan we came up with at the end of the day they'd take him away from me after I just got him back. I swallowed hard feeling a lump form in my throat from trying to stop my tears from falling. "I can't lose you… Oliver I won't. I'll do whatever I have to do to keep us together. I've lost enough in my life and frankly so have you. I won't let this…us… what we have be another ARGUS causality."

As the words kept flooding out so did the tears that before had only threatened to fall; so I let them. I buried my face further into his chest and cried for all the lies and the stories I had to tell over these last 6 months. I grieved for the life that I had, the one that I hadn't even known I'd wanted until I was at risk of losing it. Oliver's embrace just tightened around me as he guided me away from the desk towards the bed. He bent down slightly as he slid an arm underneath my knees pulling my legs and thus me upwards cradling me closely to his chest. Before I could settle and adjust to this new position he had me laid down on the bed before lying down to join me. I curled against his chest as our legs and arms entwined creating a warm bubble of just his body and mine. Our noses kept nuzzling and rubbing against the other as he finally spoke perhaps deciding that my emotions might be stable enough for what he needed to say. "Do you remember when you fell in love with me?" I stilled against him opening my closed eyes and staring at the face that had become my favorite part of everyday over the last 6 months. I leaned closer resting my forehead against his as I exhaled thinking about the moment when I knew I was his.

I thought about it realizing that I did in fact remember the moment that I'd fallen for him and to my great shock it wasn't the moment I thought it would be. "Yes I do actually… it could have been a million different moments ranging from our day to day coffee dates, or the long torturous nights spent together in the lair but it wasn't." He leaned in even closer as if that were possible so our lips were practically touching "Go on… what moment was it?" I felt every word as his lips hit against my own creating an all familiar pull throughout my lower body. I shivered but this time not from the cold but from the sensations that his body was causing in mine. With a slightly unsteady voice I continued hoping he wouldn't laugh at my rather ridiculous answer. "You said you missed me…" I smiled slightly remembering that perfect moment before all hell broke loose. "You sent me that little text message because I hadn't answered the phone, and you ended it with you missed me. I fell in love with you then in that moment." I smiled wider against his mouth as he closed the millimeters separating us gently slanting his lips over my own. The kiss was simple and soft it wasn't meant to lead anywhere it was just two people sharing a moment that both never thought they'd have. He pulled back slightly effectively ending the kiss but still keeping our bodies unspeakably close. "Why?"

I knew that answer would puzzle him after he got over the sweetness of the moment. I just smiled still mostly against his lips and replied my voice no longer meek or afraid of the emotions that continued to build with each passing day. "Oliver do you remember the night of our first date?" He nodded and his response was filled with a sadness that I'd remember to take away at a later date and time. "Yes, that was the moment where I told you that I loved you but that I couldn't be with you and risk you getting hurt…" He now was swallowing hard remembering that night with as much pain as I'm sure I did. "You yelled at me… you told me to break your heart… baby I've done nothing but remember that night for the past two months that we spent apart so yes I remember that night with horrible clarity." Nuzzling his face once again with my own I gave him an answer that I hoped with ease whatever remaining doubts lingered in his troubled mind. "Well that night I told Rose I was done, I told her that I wouldn't hurt someone that I loved even if they didn't love me enough to stay." I could feel his mouth against my own as I uttered stay. He was attempting to kiss the pain away he was attempting to interject. So before he could intercede and make this confession even harder I once again pressed my lips fully against his. My kiss was hard and sure as I used my tongue to deepen and prolong this small moment for as long as possible.

I pulled apart when I felt my chest beginning to burn from the actions of our tongues each twisting and turning against the others as if memorizing the other's mouth with feel alone. Gasping and panting pulling in as much oxygen as my starved lungs would allow I prepared to finish my statement before I completely lost myself in everything Oliver Queen. "My father left us when I was young… any relationship I've ever had has been ended before they could cause me that same type of pain. Cooper well I thought I loved him and at the time I did but our story… it wasn't… it wasn't the one meant for me." I inhaled deeply once again attempting to keep my racing heart at bay. "I had never had anyone stick around long enough to miss me… but you did" I could hear the wonderment in my own voice as I brought the conversation home. "You stuck around even when you knew you shouldn't… you missed me because…" and then lightening finally stuck home as I finally connected the damn dots. "You missed me because you were falling in love with me…"

I pulled back wanting to see his face but most importantly his eyes in that moment. There he was bared to me, his emotions on full heart stopping display. "I'm right aren't I? You were falling in love with me even then weren't you?" I'd never stopped to think that while I was falling for him that he was indeed falling for me. His nod was slow but steady as was his face when he confirmed my rather late revelation. "I didn't know it yet but then you were gone and it hit me like a thousand bricks all at once… I thought I was confused over what I felt for you... I wasn't… I was scared that I'd screw I up again like all the previous times. I…" My lips were once again against his no longer needing his verbal answer I had the one I wanted. We remained like that kissing and embracing for long languid minutes each reaffirming that each of us wanted this… that each of us was invested enough to stick around.

It was late maybe around 2 or 3 in the morning when I felt his body move against mine. It was slow and careful but I had grown so attached to the warmth that his body provided that it's sudden loss was disconcerting. "Oliver…mmm… baby come back to bed… I'm cold" His chuckle warmed my heart but still left my body cold. He leaned forward and kissed my forehead lightly before leaving the room once again for what seemed like 5 or 10 minutes before coming back with various files and most importantly coffee. I sprung forward bypassing the files as I grabbed for the warm mug in his opposite hand. "Mmm you're forgiven… so why am I awake at…" I shifted an eye towards the digital clock seeing the bright red numbers were blurry I attempted to find my glasses which had been on my face when I'd fallen asleep. "Here I took them off after you drifted off to sleep" He handed me my glasses as he snatched the mug out of my hands taking a sip before returning the mug to my waiting hands. I snickered at the almost domestic actions and once again looked at the clock clearly seeing it was 3:35 in the morning causing me to emit a loud groan. "Ok baby really what's up I was sleeping wrapped around this really warm, well defined body when he suddenly moved disrupting my rather blissful sleep." I attempted to furrow my brow but all that happened was a slight almost furrow before I started laughing at my own statement as I saw his own grinning expression.

"I'm sorry baby but you're confrontation with Rose is tonight thus we might want to have a plan in place so we can take down ARGUS without hurting Rose in the process." I nodded seeing the logic but still slightly scowling at the time. Fully sitting up and folding my legs together while holding the steaming coffee cup between my very grateful fingers. "Alright love out with it what's the grand plan." His eyebrow rose slightly at my last statement causing me to raise mine as well. "What's that expression for? What do have something unattractive on my face?" I was attempting to move in search of a mirrored surface when he laughed halting my actions as I remained frozen still enjoying the melody of his laugh which he so rarely did. Still laughing his face broken into a large contented grin he responded easing my concerns. "You called me love… I like it." I just smiled while returning to my former position. "Oh well then love what's on your mind." His smile still etched across his all to perfect face continued with his tone taking on a less blissful sound as he shifted into vigilante mode. "I have a plan but I'll need Rose's help which means I'll need yours as well." I nodded as I sipped at my coffee before standing up as I crossed the room handing him the half filled cup before coming to sit upon his lap. His posture changed allowing for my body to rest against his; once I was settled with my one arm wrapped around his back his arms came to rest at my waist creating a very warm and comfortable resting place.

Going through the various files as he watched me resting his head against my shoulder I came upon the file that I was sure gave him his plan. "Oliver you can't be serious… babe I'm not good at this whole other life thing which I think you and I have proven." He just grinned into my neck before pressing a quick kiss to the same spot and moving away so we could have an actual conversation without our physical relationship getting in the way. "Yes you can… Felicity the only reason you didn't succeed is because you fell in love to my great shock with me." That comment received him a smack to the chest and an eye roll as I snuggled slightly closer to his form. "You're quite easy to love just for your information so continue how is this going to work exactly? And yes I want details not some I'll tell a portion but not everything… I let that fly with your missing 5 years but that won't fly in this case… got it?" He nodded and brought his attention back to the file in my hand. The name on the top was Amanda Waller and within it contained details of her rise and overall career with ARGUS. The file which I had decrypted this earlier in the evening also contained a bit of insight that we both had previously been without. Amanda Waller had an enemy in one Damian Darkh the leader of HIVE. "Based on this file they've been locked in this battle for years with neither one really gaining any real footlhold against the other. I want to join ARGUS to take down Darkh and avenge Diggle's brother Andy."

I shot out of his arms and was now pacing the floor of my room as he remained seated and calm at my desk. "Oliver you can't join ARGUS I just went through all of this crap so that you wouldn't have to." I was fuming and he was insane. "Oliver what do you think they're going to do let join up for two minutes and then what waltz out the front door once you're done with the relationship?" I was perplexed and about two seconds from using my angry voice to make that fact known. "Look vigilante boy I love you and I'd do just about anything for you… however if you honestly think that I'm just going to let my boyfriend waltz into ARGUS headquarters and say hi take me I'm yours you've lost your goddamn mind." As soon as the words left my mouth I wished I could take them back. I hadn't meant to say it hell I hadn't even been thinking it but apparently my subconscious decided that I hadn't suffered enough humiliation in the last 24 hours. I had stopped pacing in order to crumble onto the floor in embarrassment much to Oliver's very obvious delight. " I can't believe I said that… god why me… I'm smart, hell I'm brilliant but I just can't seem to keep my mouth shut." I had my face buried in my hands effectively shielding my face from his so much so in fact that I hadn't seen or heard him stand and come to sit in front of me. His hands reached forward pulling my hands away from my red face and down interlocking them with his. I slowly looked up to see his smiling face beaming down at me with no trace of apprehension at all. "Felicity I love you I think the term boyfriend would apply." He just snickered as I slightly smiled still feeling like I shoved my whole foot inside my mouth.

He chose to ignore that fact and moved on further explaining his line of thinking. "I intend to have Rose state you've succeed in your mission. I'll have her bring me in I'll be apprehensive and brooding afterall its what she'll expect." I snickered at the comment as his hand squeezed mine warning me not to start. "After that I'll impose my own conditions one being I chose the place and time for my confrontation against HIVE and I want the man who killed Digg's brother." I nodded with grim understanding Oliver wanted to avenge his friend and partner. "Once the terms have been agreed to then I'll make my second move the one that involves you." I so badly wanted to interrupt but I kept quiet for the first time I suspect in my life and let him continue hoping that soon all would become clear. "I'll state that in our time together we've formed a working relationship that I trust more so than I ever thought I would. I want you to be on my team when I'm taking down HIVE so that while I'm out on the missions you'll have full access to the ARGUS computer systems." I understood before the final words left his mouth. "You want me to take down ARGUS while you take down HIVE. You'll be the physical aspect while I'm on the inside tearing down their systems with each strike of the keyboard." He nodded thankful that I understood what his ultimate goal would be. "I want you to tear them down while also making sure that you have enough evidence to make sure they never come after us again." His tone was clear and final leaving no room for disagreement.

"Alright so if I can get Rose to agree then what?" He just smiled and gestured so that I moved closer to him as he did me. Once I was situated in his lab with my legs placed alongside his waist, arms around his neck with his around my waist he finished. "She'll agree because she cares about what happens to you… she wants you to be safe… but she also wants you to be happy." I tilted my head much like I did the first day we met as my voice radiated utter and complete confusion. "Baby I think you've hit your head one too many times… Rose… she's well hard to read on a good day but caring not something she does in reference to me." He just smiled and chuckled once again slowly kneading the slightly exposed skin at my waist causing me to lose my focus. "Baby she cares you I saw it when she caught us together." I blushed bright red remembering what we were about to do and how badly my body still yearned for that final connection to be made. "Yup…" popping the p as my voice took on a whole new emotion that bordered on unrestricted lust as he continued his relentless stoking against my flushed skin. "I think I recall that particular mom…ahh…ent" His hands had moved further down kneading as he traveled to rest against my ass still kneading slowly against the taught muscles. "Oliver… ohhh… yeah…right there….ahhhh…baby….ohhh… you've… got… to … stop…that…oh fuck it" His mouth had latched onto my neck while his hands continued their own tortuous motions against my flesh. I was so lost in the sensations that I finally threw caution to the wind and let myself be carried away by his tongue as he sucked and nipped until the skin underneath was raw and tender to the touch.

I rolled my head back giving him even further access to my neck as my hips began to once again find their natural rhythm against his groin. Moving in time against his hands as he pushed against each grinding thrust that I delivered causing my nails to bite down into his skin causing Oliver to finally emit his own blissful groan. "Felicity….baby show me… tell me… how I make you feel… come on baby tell me." I responded instantly digging my nails deeper in his shoulders as my hands began to roam down his back griping each time I felt his teeth nip against my soft delicate skin. "Oliver…ahhh baby….I want you…"

He took that moment to unseal his mouth from my neck to bring his lips to my own teasing me with his tongue as he kept nipping at my lips never fully sealing them to my own. "You want me what…. Tell me Felicity…how much do want me… where do you want me…" His voice was rough and ragged his groans and pants matching my own as our heart rates kept rising each one starting to match the others as our bodies started moving faster and rougher against the other. "Oliver… ahhh… fuck… I want you…" Before I could finish my thought he lifted his pelvis slightly forward matching me thrust for thrust sparking against my clit with surprising accuracy. "Ahhh… Oliver…" His need for me growing with each movement we made against the other my screams rising from deep within my chest. "Felicity… baby… say the words…. Baby….please… I want you… tell me." His own words were coming out in rough pants as I sped up moving my still clothed body roughly against his own. Finally not able to resist any longer I gave him what he wanted I gave him the permission he so clearly craved. With my heart racing and my voice no longer sounding like my own I caved waiting for him to bury himself within my wet desire filled core. "Inside me… I want you…inside me…now…" The last part was barely above a whisper as he his body came down upon my own.