"Oliver, I don't think you have a choice, man."

"No Diggle. I don't want Felicity to go out in the field. I need her to be safe."

Diggle knew when it was time to stop pressing and this was one of the occasions. He understood Oliver's need to keep Felicity away from every risk but they need her to open the damn door. He watch Oliver get into his office and got back into the elevator.

Oliver would be busy all morning so Diggle had some free time on his hands.

She was rapidly tipping when he got in. He stood by the door for a few then cough slightly. A bewildered Felicity looked up. At first she could only see haze in front of her, she was still focusing on the code she was writing.

"Mr. Diggle. Please come in. Sit down."

He did has she offer.

"I won't take long. And please call me Diggle or Dig."

"Oh. Okay if you call me Felicity. I never had the chance to thank you for all you have done for me and for Oliver."

"It's my job."

No it wasn't. He had gone beyond his job he was Oliver's friend she could see that clearer now, after last night.

"It's a manner of opinion allow me to stick with mine- Thank you Diggle for everything."

This woman was definitely precious. Oliver was right she was too good for the world they knew was out there.

"How may I help you?"

"It's a hard subject. I know you have talk about it with Oliver but I want to talk to you myself."

She saw it now. He was being Oliver's friend yet again.

"Me going out to the warehouse..."

"Exactly. I was talking to Oliver about this and I will tell you straight as I always do Oliver, I don't like it but I don't see anyway around it."

Felicity smile

"That's a perfect sum up of the situation."

"So, I'm a body guard. I make my living on protecting my employer's and their families. Oliver his my employer you, Felicity, are his family. I have an obligation to protect you and Oliver."

"Then you do have a problem, a serious one. To protect me and Oliver, according to the information we gather, you need to find out what's inside that warehouse. In order to get inside the warehouse I have to go and crack the pad lock with you both protecting me."

He could had said she too had made a perfect sum up.

"Felicity I would much rather you could instruct us from afar."

She could, she could set everything up and talk them trough but, for one, that would take much more time, secondly ,this was a line she was drawing as a limit for Oliver in their relationship she had to stick to it, she was no damsel in distress that her knight in shinning armor had to keep locked in a beautiful ivory tower.

"Diggle what scares you about me going?"

"Your fierce Felicity. I recognize that, even if Oliver doesn't. What worries me is Oliver."

"Oliver?"

"If you are in any danger, Felicity, he won't think straight he may not be able to make the necessary decisions. That increases the risk for all three of us."

He was right. Felicity had to consider his words.

"I will talk to Oliver."

Diggle could only hope.

"Ready for lunch?"

Oliver was up to his neck in paperwork, seeing her walking slowly in his direction was like a vision. He met her half way pecking her lips and taking her hands.

"Do we have a lunch date?"

"We don't. That's why it's fun, it's a surprise."

He consider the desk full of paperwork behind him and her beloved faced in front of him. It wasn't hard to chose.

"Let's go."

They were sitting at the restaurant table, Felicity requested an isolated one Oliver didn't complain.

Oliver fondle her hand while they where waiting for the food.

"Oliver, we need to talk about tonight."

He was expecting it. It was right on queue.

"You know what I think."

"Yes I do. I also know we need to get inside that warehouse. My safety and yours depend on it."

"We don't need to go inside. I need to go inside."

"Fair enough. I need to crack the lock, you need to go inside. So I have a proposal for you to consider. I will crack the lock and that's it."

He consider her proposal for a minute, the lock was really the issue and provided she got back in the car she could drive off if anything happens.

"You will get directly to the car, lock yourself in and drive away as soon as you hear any sound's of fight or battle inside or around the warehouse."

"No, I can't leave you behind."

"You will. I need to know you are safe, Felicity. That is the only way I'm going to allow this to happen."

She could fight over the use of the word "allow" but food arrived actively interrupting their talk and Felicity consider this was going to be the best win she will get for now.

That night she was at the pad lock working on it with both Oliver and Diggle hovering over her.

"Got it."

"Car, now. Felicity, please." his voice, riddle with concern, resonate deep in her. Her safety came first for Oliver and he would sacrifice his own safety for it, Diggle was right.

She left and started to walk to the car.

Both men got in, no sound was heard anywhere.

The silence last for what seem to be hours. And that gave Felicity time to think. This mess was her mess she had to know what was going on. What was happening in there? As the first few minutes came and went she started to worry. Did something happen to them? To Oliver?

She had to go in. She needed to know.

The warehouse was an open space, the only door set on the first floor. Oliver was just there, quiet, near the entrance, looking down. Felicity also look down to spot Diggle. What she saw froze her to the core. It was the Queen's Gambit wreckage Diggle was checking.

The Queen's Gambit had sunk five years ago killing all the crew and Oliver's father, Robert Queen.

Oliver felt her arms surrounding his waist, her head resting between his shoulder blades. She wasn't in the car she was here and he, in spite of all he said before, was glad she was. He pulled her into his embrace seeking the comfort he desperately needed.

The Queen's Gambit was here. Where was his father? What happen? Later he would search for clues that would give him much needed answers, for now he just needed to feel her warmth, feel her heart and settle himself.

"Oliver, let's go home."

Felicity's voice seem to travel trough a great distance.

Diggle had finish his sweep and first check on the wreck and had join them.

"Yes, Oliver. Let's go. There's nothing more we can do here tonight."

"Felicity can you change the code on the pad lock?"

"Of course."

"Do it."

He left certain nobody would get in. Felicity knew it wasn't so but Oliver was so beat she spare him the knowledge of that possibility.

Cuddled back in bed with Felicity he had trouble going to sleep. HIs mind had travel in time back to when his father died. He woke up several times during the night, sweating.

He thought he hadn't disturb Felicity but she woke every time he did and give him the only thing he needed right now, her soothing warmth, the rhythm of her breathing and heart beat. And those were his lullabies.