I Will Always Come For You, I Promise:

"Oliver, are you okay? Oliver, hey snap out of it."

Oliver finally let go of the breath he had been holding. Slade's words cut through him like a dagger and he knew it his gut that the next casualty in this war against Slade was going to be his partner. But seeing her in front of him became his anchor that's why without even thinking clearly he brought Felicity closer and embraced her breathing all of her in. Felicity stilled beneath him and when he made no effort to let her go, she slowly brought her hands around his neck and started running her fingers in his hair making soothing circles. The act was intimate and Oliver never wanted to let her go. He could feel Felicity's heart rate increase and brought her even more closer to him till she was flush against him. They stayed like that, holding each other, for minutes or hours Oliver did not know. He could feel Laurel's questioning glace on him but he did not care. Right then and there, Felicity was the only one who existed for him. She was his anchor and his saviour so if Slade was going to come for her, Oliver will stand in the way and protect her and end this once and for all. And with that fire burning in him, Oliver let her out of his embrace.

"Oliver, will you tell me what all this is about? What was this for?"

"Felicity, I need you to promise me something. Can you do that?"

And on cue Laurel walked up to Oliver.

"Ollie, what's going on?"

"Laurel, I need you to stay there. I have something important to tell my partner."

Oliver looked into Laurel's eyes with conviction when he said the word partner and he knew that a part of her was hurt by his words but this was a Oliver who wanted to fight and one who wanted to believe in hope. He was broken but someone whom he never expected had creeped into his walls and picked up his broken pieces and joined them. She brought him back from damnation and from his burned ashes a new Oliver Queen was rising, one who would not make the same mistakes and have the same blind spots. Oliver will always care for Laurel but the fire in his heart burned for only one woman and he will not let it be extinguished. He will take his time and light the same fire in her heart too slowly and steadily.

And with that Oliver brought his full attention to Felicity noticing that her mouth was slightly ajar at the dismissal Oliver just gave Laurel. Oliver brought his hands to her face and he could not help but notice that she turned slightly into his touch.

"Felicity, promise me."

"I promise, Oliver."

"Good. Do you have the blueprints of the underground tunnels?"

"Yes. The blueprints are a bit older than I thought but we can still work with it. The access points and the weak points of the structures will remain the same. As long as we blow out the base, the rest will cave in."

"Felicity, I need you to listen to me carefully. As soon as you tell Digg where to place the charges you need to take the van, get Thea and get to ARGUS, okay?"

"What, Oliver! No I am not leaving Digg and you. You guys might need me. I can't just leave. I don't know what you are thinking Queen but I am in this fight, from start to finish. And that's the end of this conversation."

And with that Felicity started to leave but was stopped by Oliver who took her hand in his. She whirled around and was taken aback by the emotions playing in his eyes. Concern was plaguing his face and all Felicity wanted to do was embrace him again and ease his pain.

"Felicity, I did not go to the harbor to surrender. I went there to tell Slade that I would stop playing defense and I will fight till he was the one lying on the ground covered in his blood. I did that because a blonde that I know showed me that people whom I care about might be hurt and might be in pain but they would always love me. I might loose some of them, I might think that their deaths is on me but I should never stop protecting the ones who still love me. I should never stop hoping for a better tomorrow. I got that conviction from the lengths you were ready to go to protect my sister. So let me protect you, Felicity. If it was up to me, I would have stopped you from getting involved in the this fight but I won't because this war included all three of us and it's time we got back to that. But you, of all people, can't be a casualty in this because you promised to protect my sister. Keep that promise. So we will stop Slade while keeping your promise, okay?"

Felicity was shedding tears, this she hadn't realized until Oliver gently wiped them away from her cheek. That's why she found herself whispering an okay.

"Oliver, you will come back to me, right? And to Thea?"

"Where else would I go? There is no place like home."

Home. That word still rang in Felicity's ears as she took her tablet, the communication devices and got ready for the bloodshed which was about to come. Oliver had just called her home, granted that a major part of it meant Thea, but some part of it also meant her. She could see it in his eyes. Home, a place where Oliver could be just Oliver. No masks, no lies and no deceit. When did she become that important in his life? Yup, she definitely needed a brain filter too. Come on, Felicity. Snap out of this and concentrate on saving lives first, okay?

"Ollie, I am coming too. Felicity can give me a comm. I won't get in your way, I promise."

Laurel. Felicity totally forgot about her. Perfect Laurel, always the one to be in Oliver's heart. And now in the cave trying to be a part of Team Arrow. Wait, when did she start remembering my name?

"You are not coming, Laurel. I need you to be safe."

"But not them?"

"Laurel, they are my partners and if this is the last fight that I will ever be in, I would fight with them. This is what I am, what Arrow is and what Arrow will be. All of this started with the three of us and it's time we got back to that."

Felicity knew the meaning of the word 'pride' but to experience it so vividly was different all together. She guessed it was the same for Digg because she could not control her chuckle over what he whispered next.

"I guess Oliver Queen just earned himself a big fat raise in the 'People-whom-I-respect-list'."

"Digg, you keep a list? Who is number one; by the way?"

"I think so you already know the answer to that, kiddo."

And with that the members of Team Arrow; yes, she was still calling them that; walked up the steps of the lair entrusting their hopes and their lives with each other.

To say that heroes caught a break was an understatement. In the world of heroes, catching breaks is usually not possible and things going right and according to plan were never possible. As soon as Digg put up the charges on the weak pillars, Mirakuru induced Isabel bitch Rochev showed up and currently Felicity was stuck in a van listening to grunts as punches landed on Digg and arrows landed in Slade's super soldiers courtesy of our friendly neighborhood Arrow. Felicity could hear Oliver trying his hardest to protect Laurel; did she mention that Laurel showed up to help Oliver?;a great decision on her part and Digg keeping Isabel at bay. That's why she did what she did next. She really was coming up with lame ass plans.

"Oliver, get Laurel out of there. I am reprogramming the charges and timing them. You have 15 to drag yourself out of there before it caves in. Digg, you can't take any more hits. Get Isabel to the ground next to pillar 12, it's the weakest. And when I say go, you run."

"On it; kiddo. I am approaching pillar 12. I am ready when you are!"

"Run Digg; now."

And with that Digg ran and was thrown a few feet away because of the explosion. When he turned back, Isabel was falling in to her death with concrete and earth smothering her.

"Digg, are you okay?"

"Yes, Felicity, I am fine; just a few cuts but I am pretty sure that I heard Isabel call you a bitch before she, you know, got herself killed, again!"

"Bitch with Wi-fi."

Digg was proud; he always had been of his partner. But today was something else.

"How is Oliver? Oliver, are you okay?"

"I am fine, Digg. Laurel is with me. Felicity, how long do I have until the charges blow?"

"Around 10 minutes. You have to hurry Oliver!"

"Felicity, we will get ourselves out. Get out of here. Remember what you promised me!"

"Oliver, I will. Let me just see you all get out. I will go."

"Felicity, go now." And with that all Felicity heard was arrows being dislodged from the bow. She will go but after she knows Oliver is safe. She just had to make sure he was safe. Felicity's phone buzzed. It was Thea.

"Thea, this is a really bad time! I will get home and talk."

"Felicity…"

"Thea, what's wrong? Why does your voice sound like that?"

"Felicity, I am at the station with Sin and this man with a mask walks in. He is so strong."

And Felicity was sure she did not let out the breath she had been holding in. Come on, Felicity, snap out of it! Make a plan, you can't panic.

"Thea, honey, are you okay?"

"Yeah; I am fine so is Sin but I am scared."

"Okay, I am coming to get you, you hear that? I need you to stay calm."

And with that Felicity slammed on the gas and started speeding through the roads. She could not believe her eyes. People were running scared and there were men in masks on the street. So it begins but she had bigger problems. One problem at a time, Smoak. She needed a plan.

"Thea, are you with me? Talk to me."

"Ya I am here. Felicity, it's too dangerous. Don't think about coming here. These men are too strong and they gunned down the policemen."

"I know; Thea. Just hang in there. I need you to concentrate now and listen to me. Where are you hiding?

"It's behind a pillar. I can see the ticket booths from here."

"Okay, is it a good hiding place? Can anyone see you from there?"

"No, I don't think so. This seems like a good place to hide."

"Okay, that's great. Now, can you tell me how many of the masked men are there?"

"I can see 2. There are more walking in. It must be around 6 now."

"Thea, I need you to stay where you are. I will get help. I am going to cut the call now but I will be there soon. Just stay there. Keep Sin safe. It's your responsibility. You will be my little hero, won't you?"

"I will."

"I will be there no matter what, I promise."

"Felicity, I love you. Just know that, okay?"

"I love you too, my hero."

Felicity put on the communication links again and heard Oliver's voice. He was safe, that's all she needed to know. She told Oliver that she was on route to get Thea minus the whole hostage situation and filled in Oliver on the soldiers ravaging the streets. She just hoped that they will figure something out and that a miracle will happen. Come on, Cisco, a cure to this madness would be really appreciated right now. But the call did not make itself known so Felicity made another call. She needed him right now, no matter the consequences.

"Hello, Miss Smoak. This is a surprise. I didn't think I will be hearing from you so soon."

"Where are you?"

"In Starling City of course; enjoying the view. The city is on fire. There is no saving this City and I think even your Hero can't save it now."

"Cut the crap. I need your help. Meet me at Starling Central Station, come prepared."

"And why is that you think I am obliged to help you, Fe-li-ci-ty?"

"I saved you. I helped you disappear, don't forget that. Your daughter needs you so let her be the one person in your life you don't disappoint, Merlyn."

"I will be there."

And with that she cut the call. Yup, day of making bad decisions but she promised Thea that she will come for her and if there is one thing Smoak knew how to do, it was to keep her promises!

Okay, so I know some of you are worried about Felicity and I think that things are not looking so good for her. And let me talk about the biggest cat in the bag, Merlyn. How did Felicity know he was alive? I have only one answer for this. Felicity is one of the strongest character on television not just because of her bold color choices but also because she is smart and not just the book smart, so you really think that she won't know Merlyn is alive? And as for the debt Merlyn ows her, we will come to that later. Secondly, why did she lie to Oliver about Merlyn? That's very interesting because Felicity is the sort of person who can never hide anything. But can you think from her perspective that if Felicity came to know Merlyn is alive after revealing that Thea is her daughter to Oliver and feeling insecure about him, could she have immediately told Oliver that Merlyn is alive? No matter, I am sure she has a good reason. One more thing, I know some of you might be wondering that why does Thea say I love you to Felicity so soon. I think that Thea has been through so much that she never thought that she could find someone to love her again especially after Moira and Roy. So if she knows she is in danger and might not make it, she wants Felicity to know that she did look up to her and loved her. Just in case, things go bad.

Thanks for the wonderful reviews and the reads! One more thing, I won't update another chapter for at least two more days so please bear with me! But I promise, I will come back with a bang.