The tabloids had caught up to them. After all that had happen with the wedding scandal they were all over Oliver and consequently Felicity. They had found out they were together and now reporters follow them everywhere. Oliver knew all about their tricks and how they put pressure over their target's, Felicity however, did not.

It pained him seeing her coarse and persecuted like that. And not even at home they were safe.

They were still at her apartment. After the days and nights he spent in it raveling on her, making love to her, being loved by her the pinch of the painful memories he felt when he got inside the apartment was soothed and now it was but a faint memory locked up way back in is brain. For Oliver this was now a house where he felt happy, comfortable, unfortunately it wasn't secluded enough.

At work they were okay. Walter was glad to get Felicity back to her old position and for having Oliver back by his side with his "head on straight". Oliver was just happy that Felicity was close to him and safe. The time they spent at Queen Consolidated was the only time they weren't together, the only time he couldn't protect her himself personally.

That day, however, she got to go home earlier then Oliver. He had a late meeting with Walter.

Turns out things between Walter and Moira weren't going as well as Oliver thought.

"Oliver, I'm leaving you mother."

"What? But… you always looked so… attune to each other."

"You are like a son to me so I think you won't mind if I gave you some advice. Never let yourself be fooled by what you see. With time all people learn the best way to survive is to don't make fusses and keep their heads low. That entails pretending. In my marriage your mother pulls all the strings, I just keep my head low and let her do as she pleases. I loved her and so I sacrificed myself to keep her happy and our marriage stable but, it's tiring, I don't think anyone can live like that for long, I have lived like this long enough and since sometime ago I've been wishing for something more out of my life, it's time I go."

Oliver was sad to see Walter go but he understood. Moira was used to control things. Before, with his father, he controlled the company, it was his world and Moira hardly knew what was happening there, and she controlled the house, the family. His parents had found balance. From what Walter was saying he and his mother didn't achieved that same balance.

"And so I'm also leaving the company, Oliver. You are capable and I'm sure you will do a great job as CEO."

He knew this was going to happen eventually but... now? This soon?

"Walter, I..."

"Don't worry. I won't be gone right this minute but I will be gone very soon. So, starting tomorrow, I want you to accompany me to all my meetings and take part in every decision."

Oliver really didn't have a choice.

Stepping in to their home he immediately knew something was wrong.

"Felicity"

He didn't saw her.

"Felicity, I'm home. I brought dinner."

Oliver saw a pool of blond hair on her pillow, she dyed it back blond, and her form over their bed. A wave of panic wash over him.

"Felicity, baby, what's wrong?"

Tears were pouring slowly from her puffy red eyes.

He laid down and pull her to his chest embracing her.

"How can they be so horrible, Oliver. I just want to mind my own business. I am happy. Why do they keep hunting me. Why do they have this desire of destroying."

"Shh, I'm here. Forget them. They just like mud, Felicity. Focus in what you want and pay no attention to them. And as I recall I'm the only one allowed to hunt you, Felicity, not them, I thought we had a deal on that." He was trying to make her feel better and she needed that so Felicity went with it

"You do have a deal. So... will you help me kill them."

"Gladly. I do think we would be cherished like heroes."

A faint smile crossed her lips.

"Now, can you tell me what happen and who it was?" Oliver would get the Queen's family lawyers on it right away.

"They were just mean, telling dreadful things about you."

"Maybe not all lies. That won't help the lawyers much."

"Stop it Oliver. What if it's true? It's ancient history I couldn't care less. What shocked and hurt me was the way they asked, the tone they used."

Felicity was amazing, Oliver felt lucky, so very lucky, she loved him.

"I love you, Felicity Smoak. You are an amazing and surprising woman."

He kissed her lingering over her lips just enough to fell her smile.

"Now can we go have dinner? I have a planned desert I'm aching to get." his hand running up and down her spine causing her to shiver ever so slightly.

"Do you really? Would you need any help from little me?"

"Oh Ms. Smoak I couldn't have it without you, your a key component."

Has she went to the bathroom and he got into more comfortable clothes he thought of the damn tabloid reports harassing Felicity and it made his blood boil.

Now that he was stepping up to CEO, things with the tabloids would only get worse. She already had a bodyguard, the best man Diggle couldn't find, so there was only one way to increase the distance between her and the harassers, he had to talk to her about moving.

He was finished setting up the table when she got into the kitchen. He immediately knew he was going to have an interesting night when she walk in wearing the silk robe he gifted her. With every movement he could watch her breast's trough the moving cleavage, teasing him.

She smiled wickedly at him. She knew exactly what she was doing, he could swear he could see little green devils dancing in her eyes.

Felicity sat at the table knowing fully well the storm she was causing inside him. Purposely however she decided to make the conversation as serious as she could.

"So, what did Walter wanted to talk to you?"

"Humm?"

His brain was having trouble processing her question, it was other wise engaged on more agreeable and rather sexual train of thoughts. Ones he would be sure to follow trough that same evening. Felicity had no idea what she had conjured, but she would found out, very soon, he would make sure of that and enjoy it immensely.

She tipped her head to side.

"Walter... any thing interesting?"

He could only see that spot on her neck were he sucked hard that very morning and left a mark.

He forced himself to respond to her question. Two could play that game.

"Oh. He wanted to tell me he's leaving my mother and the company."

"Wait. Walter is leaving?" all the flirting ceased for a moment. These were shocking news.

"Yes. It's not all that surprising, knowing my mother like I do."

"Did you talked her, Oliver?"

"No, not yet."

"I think you should."

She was right and he had to talk to Moira.

"I wanted to talk to you first."

"Oh."

For him she would always be first. The simplicity of the way he just put her in first place made her emotional. She had to kiss him and she got up and did just that.

A soft sweet kiss that lingered in his soul more time then he ever expected.

"There is another thing, Felicity. He's going to bring me up to CEO of Queen Consolidated in his place."

She looked into his eyes

"How do you fell about it, Oliver?"

"I didn't expect it to happen this soon. What if I'm not ready?"

She could have said Walter would teach him, she could have said he worked at Queen Consolidated for years and he knew it by heart, she could have said he was surrounded by a wonderful team, but that wasn't what she was really thinking and what she was really felling.

"Oliver, I believe in you. I believe you can do anything you set your mind to do."

He couldn't stop being amazed with the woman that was in front of him. Amazed she was real. Amazed she was his.