The last couple days had been quiet with no mention of mobsters or long-lost fathers, no attempts on her life, and everything had mostly returned to normal. With the glaring exception of her thoughts, of course. She was still floored by the conversation she'd shared with Oliver after he'd returned from Central City.
He loved her and she loved him. There was nothing more that she wanted than to give this a try but a large part of her was hesitant. In the three years since Oliver had returned from the island, he'd been with Helena, McKenna, Laurel, Sara, and Laurel again. She didn't want to even consider everyone he'd been with before he was shipwrecked. She knew he wasn't the same man who had gotten marooned on the island. He wasn't even the same man that she had met but that didn't do much to calm her doubts. His past relationships weren't the main thing that was holding her back, at the end of the day, it didn't matter who he'd been or who she'd been with. What mattered was the two of them. The thing was, she didn't know if he was ready for a serious relationship. Hell, she didn't even know if she was ready for one herself.
She needed to talk this out with someone, get an outside opinion. That was why she was standing outside of Dig's place. She wanted to know what both him and Lyla thought about all of this but she couldn't bring herself to knock. She'd been standing outside for a little over five minutes and she'd raised her fist to knock more than a few times, each time she'd lowered her hand before she could go through with it.
Suddenly, the door opened and she yelped. A very pregnant Lyla was watching her with an amused expression. "John told me to wait until you knocked but I figured by the time you did, we'd have to leave for the fundraiser," she teased.
Felicity flushed. "I'm sorry."
Lyla shushed her. "Don't apologize. Come in and make yourself comfortable. Would you like some coffee?"
"That would be great, thanks," she said as she followed Lyla into the house. Dig was leaning against the wall, arms crossed across his broad chest and a knowing smile on his face. "I wanted to get your opinion on something." Her nerve faltered and she shuffled her feet, uncomfortably. "You know, actually, it's stupid. Never mind, I'm just going —"
"Felicity. Sit down." Dig cut her off, pointing towards the couch. She sighed and obliged while Dig took a seat on the love seat across from her. Lyla brought her a cup of coffee, which she took gratefully. She wrapped her fingers around the cup, taking a drink and savoring the warm liquid. "I take it you want to talk about Oliver."
Dig's question startled her and she came very close to nearly spilling her coffee down the front of her shirt. She carefully set the cup down. "How did you know?"
Lyla tried to cover a smile with her hand while Dig gave her a look that clearly said of course he knew. Felicity sighed. "I didn't know who else I could talk to about this."
Dig leaned forward, giving her his full attention. "We're always here if you need to talk, Felicity."
The side of her mouth quirked up in a half-smile. "Well, the thing is—some stuff has happened. And I don't know what to do." She fell quiet for a second. Lyla and Dig stayed quiet, too, waiting for her to speak again. She took a deep breath before she told them everything that had happened the past few days. From Oliver telling her his confession in the mansion was real, to when he first kissed her, and finally the conversation they'd had when Oliver had come back from Central City.
No one spoke for a second after she finished her story. Lyla cleared her throat and slowly got to her feet. "I'm going to make some more coffee. Do either of you need any?" They both shook their heads, knowing it was just an excuse to leave her and Dig alone to talk.
"So what are you going to do?" He asked.
She sighed and leaned back. "I don't know, to be honest," she admitted. "I mean, come on, me dating Oliver Queen? That sounds like a recipe for disaster."
"It sounds like you're not convinced that he really loves you."
"I'm not doubting that he loves me but I don't know if he's in love with me. What if he just wants what he can't have and then once he gets it, he realizes it's not what he really wants after all." Maybe that was what she was really scared of, that this would turn out to be the equivalent of a dream and it would be over before it really started.
"Oliver wouldn't do that to you."
"I know he wouldn't, at least not on purpose, but you can't deny that there's a good chance this could blow up in our faces."
"There's always a chance that could happen. You have to decide if it's worth it."
She nodded, knowing that in the end this was her decision to make, no one was going to make it for her.
"Do you want my honest opinion on all of this?" Dig asked. She nodded and he continued. "I know Oliver is in love with you. He's never directly told me in those words but I know he does. The two of you have been doing this careful dance for a long time. I see you both watching the other when you think no one is looking, how you both are careful to not take anything too far, and I've been waiting for the day you both realize how you feel. You guys have loved each other for a lot longer than either of you will admit. Everyone saw it but the two of you." He smiled slightly. "It's about damn time you two came around. I think the problem is that he thinks he doesn't deserve you and you think you don't deserve him. Which is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard. You keep him on the right track, you push him to be better, and he does the same for you but in different ways. He gave you a way to help the greater good and he does his best to keep you safe when you get too curious for your own good You two are equals, partners. We're a family and I want the best for both of you. If anyone deserves to be happy, it's the two of you."
She smiled briefly before staring down at her hands. "I'm scared," she admitted.
"I get that. Relationships are scary and taking that next step is terrifying. But could you live with yourself if you don't take this chance? Could you handle seeing Oliver with someone else, knowing it could be you?"
She already hated the hypothetical girl Oliver might end up with and she knew Dig had a point.
"I know his previous relationships worry you but that isn't the same Oliver Queen we know. The fact that he opened up and told you how he felt, that he took the chance, tells me that he's ready for this. Now you just have to decide if you're ready for this."
Her head already felt clearer. She wasn't 100% sure what she was going to do yet but she felt one step closer to making a decision. "Thank you, Dig. I really needed to hear that."
"I'm always here for you, Felicity. Besides, I've already told Oliver that if he hurts you, I'm gone."
Felicity chuckled. "Way to take the pressure off."
"I'm your surrogate big brother, it's my job to give the speech to any potential boyfriends."
She laughed, loudly this time. "Thanks, Dig. It's good to know someone's looking out for me."
Lyla chose that moment to come back to the living room and the three of them made idle small talk for a few minutes. "Not that I want to be the one to bring this up but I've got to ask, do you really think the Cassavettes are going to back off now?" Lyla asked.
Felicity shook her head. "I don't think so. Oliver says it's over but I don't know if he really believes it or if it's just wishful thinking. Not that I'm not going to argue because I don't want to go back to being on lockdown but I'm not going anywhere without the taser, that's for sure."
"Good," Dig said. "Better to be safe than sorry."
"Enough shop talk. The fundraiser starts in a couple of hours, I say we get you all dolled up and ready to go," Lyla said.
Felicity happily agreed.
Oliver was impatiently waiting for Dig and Felicity to arrive. He'd been here for fifteen minutes already and every minute that ticked past made him nervous. Between his security and Lance's men scattered throughout the ballroom and outside, he was pretty confident that tonight was going to go smoothly but that was something that was never guaranteed. He checked his watch for the millionth time, smiling and greeting people as they came through the door.
He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket, his impatience finally getting the best of him. The phone rang once before he saw Dig come through the doors. He hung up, shoving the phone back into his pocket. He took two steps towards Dig before he froze in place. Felicity had finally come into sight and his heart had stopped. She was wearing a cobalt blue dress, with a dangerously deep v that stopped just below her breasts. The material clung to her hips and thighs, accentuating his favorite curves, before it flared out at her knees, pooling at her feet. Her hair was pulled to the side, cascading over her right shoulder in soft waves. Simple diamond stud earrings and a diamond necklace with a matching blue stone that nestled between her breasts were all the accessories that she needed. She smiled and started walking over to him and he picked his jaw up off the floor, beaming at her.
He kissed her left cheek, leaning forward slightly to whisper in her ear. "You look stunning."
She flushed, smiling shyly. "Thank you," she whispered. She spotted someone across the room and groaned. "I better go talk to the party planner. Shelley's been blowing my phone up for the last hour with ridiculous emergencies." She smiled at him once more before walking away.
Dig walked up to him, Lyla on his arm. "She cleans up nice, doesn't she?" Lyla said, smiling as she watched Felicity talking with the party planner.
Oliver smiled and kissed her cheek. "She isn't the only one. You look gorgeous."
Lyla rolled her eyes. "You're too sweet. I feel like a beached whale."
"You know that's not true. Besides, it won't be too much longer. That baby will be here before you know it."
Lyla and Dig shared a loving look while Lyla rubbed her belly. "We're going to find a seat. Find us later after you're done with the meet and greets."
Oliver nodded and watched them walk away, a small pang of jealously ringing through him. He was happy for them, happy that in the midst of the craziness, they'd managed to start a family. They'd retained a bit of normalcy through everything and he hoped he could do the same one day. His eyes swept the room, searching for Felicity. He found her talking with the party planner and a waiter, and he grinned watching her talk with animated hand gestures. Her eyes met his and she smiled at him before resuming her conversation.
He turned back around to greet the next guest that approached him, surprised to find Laurel standing there. "Hey," he greeted softly. "I wasn't expecting to see you here."
She smiled. "It was kind of a last minute thing. I'm on a date, actually," she added, sheepishly.
He returned her smile. "I'm glad, I hope it goes well."
"Me too." She waved at someone over his shoulder and when he looked, he found Felicity waving back, a curious expression on her face. "So," Laurel started. "Have you given anymore thought as to what you are going to do with that girl you are so smitten with."
"I have. Actually, I'm glad I ran into you. I really wanted to thank you again. If it wasn't for you, I don't know how long it would have taken for me to acknowledge these feelings."
Laurel laughed softly. "Oh, I'm sure it would have happened much sooner than you expected, even if we hadn't talked. I just want you to be happy and it's obvious that she makes you happy." She gestured for someone to wait a second. "I better get back to my date. It was good to see you, Ollie."
"You, too, Laurel."
"Treat that girl right. Girls like that don't come around very often," she said as walked away from him.
"No, they don't," he said to himself as he stole another look at Felicity.
He made it through another twenty minutes of small talk and catching up with investors before he finally excused himself, making a beeline straight for Felicity, who'd managed to slip away from Shelley. She was talking and laughing with Dig and Lyla, and he could tell she was having a good time, happiness radiating off of her.
He walked up behind her, placing a hand on her bare shoulder. "Could I steal you away for a dance?" He asked. She smiled and nodded, taking his hand.
They took the floor as a slow song started and he pulled her close to him, swaying with the music. "Are you enjoying yourself?"
She nodded. "I am, actually. I only wanted to come because everyone was telling me what I could and couldn't do," she gave him a pointed look. "But I'm happy I came, I'm having a good time, even with Shelley having panic attacks every five minutes."
"Good," he told her.
Felicity bit her lip and he could tell she was debating something in her head. "So what were you and Laurel talking about?" She tried, and failed, to seem uninterested.
He smirked. "She's here on a date and she wanted to check-in, make sure I wasn't screwing this up."
Felicity's eyes widened a little, caught off guard, before she smiled. "Well, you can tell her that you're doing pretty damn good so far."
He pulled her a little closer, losing himself in her eyes for a moment as they danced. She was absolutely radiant tonight and he wished he never had to leave her side, knowing this song was going to end and they were going to have to go back to their respective party responsibilities. God, he loved this woman with every fiber of his being.
"What are you thinking about?" She asked.
He smiled and kissed her forehead. "You."
She flushed, smiling, and looked around, presumably to see if anyone was watching them. He followed her eyes and saw that people were indeed watching them. Some people trying not to stare and others not even bothering to hide it. His arms tightened around her slightly, drawing her eyes back to his. "People seem very interested in us," she said uneasily.
"You'll get used to it."
Her eyebrow arched up. "You plan on dancing with me often?"
He smiled and shoved down the urge to kiss her. "As often as I can. If you'll let me."
She smiled, shaking her head. "I don't know about the stares but I could get used to this."
They fell quiet again, enjoying the moment, and forgetting about the world around them. The song ended and Oliver was reluctant to let her go but he knew he didn't have much of a choice as he noticed Shelley approaching them. "I think you're about to be dragged back to work."
Felicity groaned and rolled her eyes. "What's the point of a party planner if she can't do anything by herself?"
He chuckled. "You hired her."
"Thanks for reminding me." She stepped out of his arms and they both frowned reflexively, wanting to stay that way all night. She looked at Shelley and held a finger up, telling her to wait. She turned back to Oliver. "After the fundraiser, do you want to come to my place and talk? I know we said we'd talk tomorrow but I don't want to wait that long."
"I don't want to wait either. I say we bail out in an hour."
She smirked. "I think Shelley would have a heart attack if I left before it was over."
"It's what she's being paid for. Come on, you know you want to."
She smiled. "Fine. One hour." She shook her head. "You are a bad influence, Oliver Queen."
He mocked being offended. "I am no such thing."
She laughed, a big, joyous laugh. He wanted to make her laugh like that again and again, he would never get sick of hearing it. He watched her walk back over to Shelley and through a set of doors that led back to the kitchen and a couple of conference rooms. He rocked on his heels, beyond pleased with how the night was going.
"Mr. Queen. I don't think we've had the pleasure of meeting yet." A familiar voice came from behind him and he cursed his thoughts for jinxing him. He plastered a smile on his face and turned around.
"I don't think we have. You are?" He knew already but this man had only met him as the Arrow and he wasn't about to give himself away.
"I'm James Manning. I believe that's my daughter you were just dancing with."
Oliver shook the hand James had extended toward him. "Funny. I thought Felicity told me her father's name was Isaac Smoak."
James didn't rise to the bait. "May I have a word with you in private, Mr. Queen?"
Oliver agreed, mostly to get him out of sight before Felicity came back and saw him. He caught Dig's attention, jerking his head toward the doors that Felicity had gone through, letting him know to keep an eye on her. Oliver followed James through a side door leading into an empty hallway. The second the door closed, James looked around to see if anyone was nearby. "I'm going to cut right to the chase, if you don't mind, Mr. Queen."
"I prefer it that way."
"I know you're the Arrow."
Oliver wasn't surprised and didn't ask how he knew, having been aware that it was a good possibility. Obviously, he'd discovered it when he'd been having Felicity watched, he was just surprised it had taken this long for him to come out and say it. "So why aren't you shouting it from the rooftops?"
"My daughter already hates me, I'm not looking to make things worse. If I was going to tell someone, I already would have, which I can assure you I have not."
Oliver snorted. "And I'm supposed to trust that?"
"Trust me or don't. I'm not that concerned but I will tell you that if anything happens to her because of you and I'll change my tune."
"Maybe you should be more concerned about what you're doing to her. If anything happens to her, I will come for you."
"I'd expect nothing else. I'm not the Arrow's biggest fan and I don't like the danger you bring into her life but I know that what you guys do is important to her. It's the only explanation I have for why my MIT educated daughter has changed her career course out of the blue and is now your secretary."
"Executive assistant."
James waved him off. "I'm not here to bicker about Felicity's job title, though, I am not happy about it." He narrowed his eyes. "She deserves better."
Oliver knew he wasn't talking about her day job but he wasn't going to let this man get to him. "Then why are you here?"
"Because things have changed. After your little visit to Martin the other night, Sophia's been in an uproar. Martin put her under twenty-four/seven guard, knowing she wouldn't listen to him voluntarily. And now she's gone off the deep end."
"And how's that my problem?" He asked, even though dread was filling him.
"Martin Cassavette is dead. They found his body this morning."
Oliver swore. "Sophia."
"Essentially. The security footage shows Frank Shepard taking out his personal security and then Martin."
"So where's Sophia?"
James shrugged. "She was long gone by the time we found the body."
He had to get to Felicity. "Jesus, you couldn't have called right after you found out she was gone?" Oliver didn't wait for a response, storming back into the ballroom. He did his best to bring himself under control, not wanting to bring attention to himself but he was panicking. He went straight to Dig and Lyla, both knowing right away something was happening.
"Where's Felicity?"
Dig shrugged. "I don't know. I haven't seen her or the party planner since they went back there."
"Martin Cassavette is dead and Sophia is missing. We have to find Felicity and get her out of here." The words rushed out of his mouth and he jogged over to the door he'd seen them go through. It was another hallway, the door on the right, open leading to the kitchen. "Check in there. I'll go this way," he called to Dig, who was close behind. "Felicity!" He called, his voice echoing through the hall. He yanked doors open, dismayed every time he found it empty. He heard rustling through a door as he jogged past. He stopped and flung the door open. It was a storage closet and someone was lying on the floor. "Felicity?"
His stomach dropped as he realized it was Shelley. He helped her to her feet, noticing a gash on her forehead. "Where's Felicity?" When she didn't answer, he snapped his fingers in her face. "Where is she?"
"I don't know!" Shelley was shaking like a leaf. "Someone hit me over the head. I didn't see what happened to Felicity."
Oliver pulled his phone out, hitting the speed dial for Felicity, his blood chilling when he heard a phone chime, echoing in the hallway. Keeping the phone to his ear, he rounded a corner and found her cell on the floor. He hung up and swore loudly. He jogged down the hall, flinging open the only door in this section of the hallway, finding it empty, like all the others.
He spun around and almost slammed into Dig, who had come in from the direction Oliver had been heading. "She wasn't in the kitchen?"
"She's gone, her phone's here, and someone knocked out Shelley and shoved her in a closet. Go talk to her, find out what happened, I'm calling Lance."
Dig nodded and left. Oliver dialed Lance and was grateful when he picked up after it had rung a single time. "Felicity's gone, I think Sophia has her."
"Are you sure?"
"She took her!" He snapped. He tried to calm himself with a deep breath but it didn't work. "They could still be here, we need to find her before they make it out of here."
Lieutenant Lance said something but Oliver wasn't sure what it was. "Please just find her, Lieutenant," he pleaded.
"We'll get her back, Oliver," he told him before he hung up.
Oliver held both phones in his hands and he leaned back against the door, staring at them, dismayed.
Dig rounded the corner. "Shelley says there's was a woman back here that said she wanted to talk to Felicity. When they got back here, the woman knocked her out and she woke up in a closet."
Oliver didn't say anything, staring at the phones.
"Oliver." Dig said his name forcefully, trying to snap him out of it.
"This is my fault," he whispered. "I was stupid, I shouldn't have left her alone."
"You can't watch her every second of every day. She can't live like that."
Oliver shook his head, shoving both phones in his pocket. "No. I should have known better. I should have known it wasn't going to be that easy. I wanted it to be over even when I knew it wasn't, even when I knew it was too good to be true. This is my fault."
"I agree." James had joined them now, Owen watching his back.
Oliver stalked over to him, grabbing the collar of his shirt and slamming him into the wall. "This wouldn't have happened if you would have just stayed gone. If you hadn't followed her, Sophia never would have known she existed. Or maybe if you hadn't been such a weak-willed coward, you would have stayed with her in the first place. Maybe if you'd been a man, you never would have gone back to Central City in the first place." He slammed him into the wall one more time before letting him go. James fixed his shirt and sneered at him. He gestured for Owen to put down the gun that was pointed at Oliver's head. He lowered it and Dig did the same with the gun he'd leveled at Owen's head.
"I think everyone needs to take a step back and calm down. We're not going to find her if we're too busy fighting with each other," Dig said, trying to be the voice of reason.
"He's right," Owen agreed, earning a dirty look from James.
"Where would your wife take her?" Oliver asked.
James shook his head. "I have no idea." He looked genuinely worried for the first time.
Oliver's phone rang and he scrambled to get it out of his pocket. "Lieutenant, did you find her?"
Lance sighed over the phone and Oliver's stomach dropped. "Nothing yet. My guys are still looking but I don't think they're here. I'm just the security footage."
"Was it Sophia?"
"Her and Shepard. She knocked out the party planner and Shepard grabbed Felicity. I lose them after they use a back door past the kitchen. They're gone, Oliver."
His worst fear was confirmed. She was gone, in the hands of someone who wanted to hurt her, and he had no clue where to find her. He had to get her back, he couldn't lose her. He wouldn't let that happen.