Dear Readers,

Sorry for the long wait! :)

Thanks very much to NocturnalRites - you are amazing!

LadyG

Felicity clutched Adam's hand snugly as he walked her to her apartment door. The night had started off wonderfully, then turned slightly bizarre, but was thankfully back on track. The whole incident with Oliver had already been banished to the back of her mind, where it belonged. She'd assured Adam that there was nothing going on between them, that there'd never been, and she hadn't lied.

Whatever Oliver seemed to be going through, she wasn't naïve enough to believe that it had anything to do with her. This was the usual pattern of his behavior and she hated that it was so predictable. Perhaps he was over the whole Sara thing or maybe he was just running scared. After all, it wouldn't be the first time. Regardless of his motives, she was tired of caring. If tonight had reaffirmed anything, it was that Oliver Queen could be the height of charm and attentiveness when it suited him but that didn't mean that his emotions were involved. She wasn't going to fall victim to his magnetism again only to have her heart broken down the line. She'd learnt her lesson.

As they reached her door Felicity dug into her purse and extracted her keys. She felt oddly nervous, which was ridiculous. She'd been out with Adam before, but this was the first time he'd been on the threshold of her home. Her heart sped up slightly at the thought.

"I-I had a wonderful time," she said, turning to face him, her keys dangling between her fingers.

The intense look in his eyes scorched her all the way down to her toes. "Trust me, the pleasure was all mine."

Blushing, she fumbled for something to say, her mind hitting a complete blank when Adam took a step closer. His movement was slow and deliberate, allowing her to decide whether she was comfortable with the obvious overture or not. Felicity liked that about him. He never took her acquiescence for granted. He always let her choose.

She swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. "Thank you for inviting me," she expressed softly. "I don't usually attend such fancy dos because I have no reason to. I-I mean, I'm not rich and famous or anything like…" her voice trailed away as Adam's snow white shirt bushed against her midriff. He was that close.

His low chuckle, mingled with his hand at her waist, drawing her against him, caused a riot of butterflies to take flight within her stomach. The fingers of his free hand trailed down the side of her cheek slowly, coming to rest at her chin. His eyes locked with hers, his mouth lowering by torturous degrees, stopping mere inches away. Felicity could feel the warmth of his breath as it fanned across her lips, her entire body taunt with anticipation.

"You outshone every woman there. Rich or not," he declared huskily.

She melted inside, unable to think. "Please," she whispered, uttering the one word she knew he'd understand.

Their lips met and she sighed with pleasure. His were as she remembered; firm, yet gentle as he pulled her even closer, their bodies straining against each other. His mouth was hot and coaxing, urging her to open up and allow him access. Granting his wish, Felicity's eyes fluttered closed as she was swept away on a tide of delicious sensation as his tongue explored the moist cavern of her mouth. Unconsciously, her keys slipped from her fingers, falling noiselessly onto the carpeted floor, while her purse, long forgotten, fell to join them. As though they had a will of their own, her hands moved to tangle into the back of his hair, the stands so soft and silky smooth.

Up on her toes, she cradled his head in her palms, delighted when she heard his low moan of desire. Slanting his mouth across hers, he plunged forth, his kiss growing more ardent, more demanding. She was doing that to him. Felicity Smoak was making Adam Donner lose control. The very idea thrilled her to the depths of her soul.

Flushed and filled with wanting, she shivered delightfully as she felt his hands move restlessly over her back. Wrapping her arms around his neck to keep him close, his hands moved upward to cup her cheeks. Slowly, (and clearly reluctantly judging by his groan of frustration) he lifted his lips from hers. Her eyes popped open to meet his penetrating gaze, their breathing ragged.

His forehead resting against hers, he smiled wistfully. "You have no idea how much I want to carry you inside and have my wicked way with you, but it's not the right time yet."

Felicity trembled, blushing profusely as she remembered where they were. She wanted to say something, but her mind was in a whirl, no words coming to her aid.

Adam's voice was soft and tender as he continued, "When we decide to take that step, I want to know that we're both doing it for the right reasons and that there are no demons hovering in the shadows."

Holding onto his forearms, she whispered, "I explained about Oliver…"

He shook his head. "I know you did. But I won't take advantage of you, Felicity. You have nothing to prove to me and I'm happy to wait until you're one hundred percent ready because I don't doubt that you're one hundred percent worth it."

Her heart swelling inside her chest, she reached up and kissed him gently on his lips. "You're an incredible man, Adam Donner."

He grinned. "Believe me, when I'm lying alone in my bed tonight, those words will be cold comfort."

Felicity laughed, taking a step backward. She understood what he had implied when he'd said they should wait. It wasn't that she'd been planning to invite him in, it was too soon, but it pleased her to know that he wanted to take things slowly. It made her feel like he valued her more.

Bending down, he retrieved her purse and keys, using the latter to open her apartment door before handing both back to her. With a gentle nudge, he directed her through the entrance.

Smiling impishly, his hair adorably tousled, he pushed away from the wall. "Sweet dreams," he murmured, making sure she was standing on the opposite side of the threshold before he turned and walked away.

Sinking against the back of her closed door, Felicity placed a hand over her lips and smiled.

Oliver walked into Verdant filled with restless energy. The previous night had been a bit of a disaster and he wasn't quite sure what to do or how he was supposed to feel. He'd tried talking to Sara again once he'd gotten home, but she'd been adamant that they needed to give one another some space. Of course that didn't mean that he wouldn't see her, they still had work to do as a unit, but it meant that they'd keep things strictly professional for a while – or at least until they knew exactly where they stood with one another.

"Ollie? Is that you?" As he rounded the corner into the club's bar area, he saw Thea sitting on a high stool craning her neck in his direction.

"Hey," he replied, kissing her cheek fondly.

She sat back. "You seem…different," she commented, tilting her head slightly while she observed him, a faint smile hovering over her lips.

Oliver deflected, turning his back to her while he pretended to look over a stock sheet. "You and that over-active imagination of yours."

"That is not a denial," Thea remarked astutely. "Does it have anything to do with Felicity?"

He turned back, his eyes shuttered. "Why would you say that?"

Thea raised an eyebrow, folding her arms across the chest of her pale mint shift dress. "Maybe because Sara left with her Dad last night?" She swiveled her chair around until she sat facing him. "Or maybe because there was some definite eye-humping happening on the dance floor – with someone other than your girlfriend?"

Oliver choked slightly, uncomfortable with her line of questioning. "I don't know what that means," he stated, lifting his hand to stop Thea from speaking again, "and I don't want to know."

Undeterred, she forged ahead. "Are you denying that something happ-" Thea's mobile rang. Annoyed she peered at the screen. "I have to take this call but don't you dare move!" she ordered, walking into the next room.

Relieved that she'd been distracted, Oliver made his escape and headed down to the foundry. His mind was a jumbled mess of thoughts that he wasn't sure he could handle. He didn't have time to wallow around or dissect feelings that had crept up on him so unexpectedly. Yet despite knowing that, it was all he thought about; Sara and Felicity…

The latter was the hardest part. Lately he'd been experiencing emotions that she'd never roused in him before – jealously, impulsiveness, irrationality, want – some of which he'd never felt for anyone. He didn't know what had brought it on or for how long it was supposed to last, but he knew he couldn't ignore it anymore in the hopes that it would simply go away.

Descending the steps two at a time, he found Diggle sitting alone in front of the computer terminals.

"Where's everyone?"

"Out," Diggle said, pushing his chair back so he could get a better look at Oliver. "Sara and Roy where practicing hand-to-hand combat earlier. You've just missed them in fact."

"How's he doing?" Oliver asked, leaning back against the desk, his ankles crossed over each other.

"I'm impressed. Sara's really patient with him and he's catching on a lot faster than I thought he would."

Oliver looked around the room, trying to appear nonchalant. "And Felicity?"

"Breakfast with the DA." Diggle raised an eyebrow but didn't say what he was thinking.

Jaw clenching reflexively at the response, he folded his arms across his chest. "Good."

"Good," Diggle echoed, a look of disbelief marring his dark features.

Feeling on edge, Oliver pushed away from the desk and walked over to inspect his arrow case. "Dig?" he asked, hesitatingly.

"Yeah?"

This was harder than he thought. While he could talk to Diggle about work situations easily, he found it difficult to open up to anyone about his personal thoughts. Despite that, he knew he'd try because if he didn't speak to someone he was likely to lose his mind. He trusted the other man more than anyone else, with the exception of Felicity, who he clearly couldn't discuss his current dilemma with since she was at the very heart of it.

"Sara and I had an argument last night," he started.

He heard Diggle move to sit up straighter. "I kinda figured something happened since you went home alone. Thea-" Diggle sounded a tad sheepish, "might have mentioned what it was all about."

Oliver picked up an arrow, gripping it tightly in his hand but didn't turn around. "What did she say?"

"That you danced with Felicity and seemed to get a little carried away." The disapproval was unmistakable.

He closed his eyes, silent for a moment, not exactly sure how to proceed.

"Oliver?" Diggle asked, his voice hard, despite the hint of sympathy Oliver thought he detected. "What are you doing, man? And listen, I'm only asking because you seem to want to talk. But if I'm wrong, then now would be a good time to tell me."

He had an out, but he didn't take it. Oliver turned, frustration evident in very line of his body. "Lately things have been a little confusing. I'm with Sara, but I'm thinking about Felicity. It's making me do things..."

Diggle sat back and watched him. "Felicity has been with us for a long time. She's the one that keeps us going, that greases the engine of this well oiled machine." He let that sink in. "I've watched you two together a thousand times and I've never seen you behaving toward her the way you have lately."

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Oliver shook his head, attempting to clear it. "I wish I had answers, Dig. One day she was just Felicity and the next…it was like my eyes truly opened for the first time."

Despite visibly bristling, Diggle managed to keep his tone neutral. "Don't make this about Donner because he's the only thing that's changed in her life. The second she became less available, was the same second you started having all these feelings."

He knew that Diggle meant well, but the implication still stung. "I'm not being selfish, at least not deliberately. I'm not trying to keep her all to myself."

His friend stood up and walked over to him. "Aren't you? Because from where I'm standing, you're doing a great job of being selfish, impulsive and irrational all rolled into one not-so-great package. And do you know who's on the losing end of your ego? Felicity."

Oliver glared, hating the ring of truth to Diggle's words. "This is not about my ego, it's about-" He stopped, not sure what to say.

"You don't even know, do you?" Diggle asked in disbelief. "You have no clue what's going on here."

Unable to refute the claim, Oliver threw the arrow he'd been holding in a death grip onto the opposite table in irritation. "I'm trying to be honest here, Dig."

"Then tell me this: What about Sara?"

He looked the other man in the eye. "What about her?"

Diggle snorted. "You don't get it. This is as much about Sara as it is about you. Are you even thinking about anyone but yourself? You do realize that practically every relationship you've ever had started because another one ended just moments before?"

"You're exaggerating," Oliver argued, offended.

"You know I'm right. But this situation is not the same as all the others. I won't let it be. I know these women, Oliver. I know them personally and I happen to like and respect them. I won't stand by and watch you throw the one over so that you can hastily hook up with the other, only to repent at leisure later on." Diggle was standing directly in front of him, clearly up for a confrontation.

Incensed, Oliver ran a hand over his face. "I wouldn't do that."

"No? Then I suggest you do the right thing and sort out your relationship with Sara before you attempt to explore your attack of feelings for Felicity."

Despite the harsh delivery, Oliver knew that Diggle was right. Sara deserved better than waiting for him to decide what it was that he wanted. "I'll talk to her. I just need some time to work through this before I make any decisions."

"I'm down with whichever way you want to handle this, but I want you to remember that you can't suddenly want Felicity purely because she's no longer available. She's not one of your conquests that you throw by the wayside when it's over. She's not like that. She deserves better."

"You think I don't know that?!" Oliver exploded, anger rushing to the fore. "You think I don't know that she's different to every other woman I've ever met? That she deserves better than a broken man who can't offer her any of the things that she values? Intellectually, I know that Donner is better for her, but I can't…I can't stop thinking about her, Dig." As suddenly as his anger appeared, it vanished. Walking over to the chair Diggle had vacated earlier, he sank into it, head in hands. "I'm not trying to hurt her. I would never deliberately hurt Felicity."

Pulling up a chair next to him, Diggle sat down and placed a comforting hand on Oliver's shoulder. "Look, all I'm trying to make you realize is that your thoughtless and reckless behavior around her is not going to score you any points. If anything, it's going to make her more resolved. She knows you; she's seen you in action. She knows how you operate and she knows that she's worth more than that – which is why your current Neanderthal approach will never work with her. If you care about her at all, you'll put her needs before your own. You'll do what's best for her, regardless of what you want – because that's what love is, Oliver - it's sacrifice."

Mildly comforted by the heavy hand on his shoulder, Oliver lifted his head. "I didn't say anything about love."

Diggle acknowledged his words. "Right now, I don't think you truly understand what love is, man."

He was right. Oliver didn't know anything about love. He'd seen what love had done to his parent's marriage. He'd seen how love had broken Laurel when he'd betrayed her and again when Tommy had died. He'd seen how love had turned other people – Helena and Slade – into a shadow of their former selves. He didn't understand how something so sacred had managed to hurt those closest to him over and over and over.

"My advice to you is to figure that out before you do something that could have far-reaching repercussions. You're a good man, Oliver and I know you'll do the right thing."

The right thing? He wished he knew what that was.