A/N: Here is the second half of My Episode 21 redux. so consider this your SPOILER ALERT. Enjoy and thanks for all the love and reviews :)

Disclaimer: I do this for love only, not money. The CW and DC get all the money.

Oliver hadn't felt helpless in a very long time. But sitting on the fire escape, listening to the woman he cared about risk her life because he was too famous to get the job done, that was exactly how he felt. Every gasp, every glass clink, every time someone approached her, his heart stopped. This was karma teaching him a lesson. It wasn't the first time Felicity had been put in danger on his watch, but it was the first time that danger was a guarantee. She had demanded to do this, for Walter.

When the earpiece squealed and crunched under the bodyguard's foot he didn't think, he reacted. He was in his gear and throwing anyone in his way out of his way in less than three minutes. His brain didn't kick out of survival mode until Felicity was safely behind him and he had Alonzo up against the wall willing to talk. He came back to reality just in time to hear the words they had been fearing the most.

"I delivered him and they killed him. I heard the gunshot, he's dead." Alonzo stated the fact in a manner that was annoyed and uncaring. The anger and frustration came out of Oliver in a blow that sent the casino owner to the floor unconscious. He took a moment to press down as many emotions as he could before turning to face her.

Felicity was shaking. She was flushed yet the news that she had figured out the puzzle too late to save him made her cold. The sobs started deep in her body and threatened to escape with every breath. Finally, when Oliver turned around his eyes glistening with tears he was trying to hold back, her strength gave out. He stepped towards her and let her collapse into his arms. She sobbed, apologizing to Oliver, Walter, to the family. Oliver let a few silent tears fall into her hair. Walter had been a good man, he didn't deserve this. When the sobs calmed into sniffles he finally spoke.

"I should take you home. I need to go tell my mother and Thea." His voice cracked as the realization that they were about to grieve all over again. Felicity nodded and they made their way out of the Casino.

Felicity let herself in to the apartment but stayed close to the door. Oliver had walked her up but understandably tonight there were no kisses or hugs and just a brief look to say goodnight. They hadn't spoken since they left the casino. She listened for the sound of the door at the bottom of the stairs opening and closing. Once she knew he was gone the tears started again. She cried as she took off the borrowed gown. She cried as she undid her hair and stepped into the shower. There she stayed until the tears stopped. Once she was finished she changed into her softest, ugliest pyjamas and tried to pick a DVD. This was how she coped most of the time, escapism. Tonight it just wasn't cutting it. She grabbed her phone and dialed a familiar number. A groggy mail voice answered.

"Hello?" the tears began to well up in her eyes again as she heard Diggle's deep tones.

"It's Felicity."

"Felicity? What time is it? What's wrong? Is it Oliver?" she couldn't even process the small victory that he was concerned. It hurt too much.

"We're fine. We found who took Walter. But" She started crying again and John knew what that meant.

"I am so sorry. Really I am." Even though he mainly reported to Mrs Queen during cover work, the interactions Diggle had with Walter had always been pleasant. "It wasn't your fault."

"I should have figured it out sooner, I could have- I don't know." She was spiralling and sniffled trying to get back under control.

"Where's Oliver now?" He was concerned about the idea of an even more emotionally disturbed than normal vigilante on the street.

"Home. He's gone to tell his Mom and Thea."

"You should try to sleep."

"I can't." She wasn't trying to be difficult, she honestly wasn't sure if she would ever sleep again.

"Try. If you need to talk you know where to find me." She murmured a promise to try and a goodbye before hanging up. Diggle may have been mad at Oliver but his heart broke for Felicity. This was the type of trouble they had tried to keep her away from.

Felicity did try, she really did. She sat in the dark for awhile, staring at the street lamps dancing across her ceiling. What had she missed? If Alonzo was right Walter was dead the instant his captors had him. If she had worked faster would they have even kidnapped him to begin with? Then her thoughts drifted to the Queens. Oliver had to have told them by now. She wanted to text or call him, but if he was asleep or with his family she didn't want to disturb him. However, she knew if he was having the same issues she was, there was one place he would go.

Now they were back in their usual positions. Oliver was out doing the legwork, Felicity sitting at her computer waiting to intercept silent alarms and anything else that might put him and Walter in harms way. She would stay this way until she got word that all had gone to plan. Finally her cell rang. She didn't even check the caller ID. "Oliver?"

"We got him."

"Thank God!" Felicity sighed relieved. She leaned back in her chair. " Is he alright?"

"No visible injuries. But the police are taking him to the hospital I'm sure. As soon as I was sure the building was clear I called them to pick him up."

"So how are you getting here?" she asked. "I'm pretty sure you aren't signalling the plane for a ride back."

"I stole a car."

"What!" Felicity's head started to run through how many databases she would have to hack to make this disappear.

"The guards had three unmarked vehicles out front. I took one."

"Ok Robin Hood, as long as we're only stealing from the rich to help- well in this case the fellow rich."

"Never, ever, call me Robin Hood again." Oliver paused. "My call waiting is going off, It's Thea."

"Time to reunite the family. I'll see you later." She started shutting down her computer. Now with the stress of the day behind them, her body was starting to remember it was tired. Her text tone sounded and she looked down to see a message from Oliver.

We still need to have that talk.

She thought about it. In her mind they were already a couple. She was pretty sure he felt the same way but didn't want to push. That was the secret to knowing Oliver, the real Oliver. She texted him back.

I'm pretty sure you know how I feel, but time and place... it's your call.

The next day Felicity stopped by her favorite florist and made her way to Starling Hospital. She was surprised there wasn't more security surrounding the recently rescued CEO. The hallways were filled with staff who were more than happy to tell her where to find Walter's room. She rounded the corner to see Moira and Thea hugging Walter, Oliver standing aside smiling.

"This is totally a family thing isn't it." She stood in the doorway scared to enter farther until invited. Walter looked happy to see her. Thea was smirking at her brother. Moira had a confused look on her face not unlike the one Laurel had given her the day before.

"I'm sorry, Who are you?" The matriarch asked. Oliver stepped towards Felicity and took her hand guiding her into the room.

"This is Felicity. She's my girlfriend." He looked back at her with warm, kind eyes. She smiled shyly.

"You're a lucky man." Walter said filling the gap while his wife processed the obviously new information. He looked to Felicity. "It's good to see you."

"You too." Felicity nodded. "Um, I'll let you guys get back to your hugging." Thea and Moira laughed and took the suggestion embracing him again. She took the momentary distraction to give Oliver a quick kiss before turning to leave.

"I'll just see her out." Oliver excused himself. He caught up with her quickly. " I hope that was ok."

"Yeah, great, fine. Minus the part where now I have to worry about whether or not your mom likes me. But that had to happen eventually." When they got to the elevator she hugged him again as he pressed a kiss into her temple. "Now that you're my boyfriend I'm allowed to ask you to do things for me right?"

"That depends what you're asking." He smirked.

"You're not getting that list just yet. Not that there's a list but, yeah." She blushed. He leaned back slightly to look her in the face.

"What is it?"

"Call Diggle? You know he'll be worried about you, and want to know about Walter." Oliver sighed softly but nodded. She smiled and headed towards the elevator. Once inside she gave him a small wave goodbye as the doors closed. There , all alone, it finally hit her.

She was Oliver Queen's girlfriend.