I DO NOT own the Thunderbirds or Arrow but at least here I can have some creative adventures with them :)

AN – I am SOOO SORRY! That this update has taken so long, it has been rewritten so many times and altered and read and re-read. In all honesty I am not sure it is still right but I can't seem to get it where I feel it should be and I want to keep it moving and stop you guys waiting around. Thank you for the reviews and the patience you have shown. I hope I have done it justice ENJOY.

CHAPTER 37

John walked into the lounge, he had a small camera looking device in his hands. All eyes turned to watch him as he moved about the room to a wall socket and plugged in his item. Once it was connected he rested it on a small table near the socket and left it there.

"Are you finally going to tell us exactly what's happened?" Oliver demanded, he was sulking by the patio window glowering at John. On another table John noticed a laptop with Diggle and Roy on the screen they had been video called to join in. "Where is Felicity?"

"I'm here Oliver." Felicity answered. "It's only my version your waiting for so don't take your temper out on John." Felicity had appeared in the area in front of the little table, she had a blue hue to her colouring and she was translucent, aside from that she looked exactly as she should. When Oliver adverted his eyes from hers at the scolding she surveyed the room. Everyone was there except Sara.

"Where's Sara?" She asked looking towards Laurel.

"She went back to the league. Don't worry I've told her your okay." Laurel answered, she looked sad as she talked about Sara, and Felicity saw Scott take her hand in his. John hadn't mentioned that earlier.

"Thanks Laurel." Felicity left it at that she didn't want to upset her anymore.

"I guess I should just get straight in. Oliver, Diggle, Roy and Laurel, I have kept a secret from you all about me. Before you jump to assuming I couldn't trust you that is not the reason I kept it, I hid it out of fear I was scared you wouldn't see me as me anymore. Its what happened with my parents when they found out what I could do. This is not a live recording of me I am actually here right now, I am able to transfer my conscious mind into technology and operate it, up until recently I had to touch an article of tech to enter it." She hadn't gone into much detail but she had given the basics.

"Blondie got super powers that's cool." Roy was the first to respond.

"Nothing has changed in my eyes. Wish you had felt you could have confided sooner." Diggle commented next me gave one of his warm smiles and it made Felicity smile back.

"Thanks you guys."

"It explains some of John's crazy ideas earlier. I am fine with it." Laurel added.

"Thank you." Felicity felt better but as she looked towards Oliver the feelings that she had when her parents turned on her rushed in and it took all of her strength to not visibly show how she felt. He looked betrayed for a second until he closed of his features as he typically did. That reaction did not help her feelings but knowing the Tracy's were there and knowing they were not going anywhere helped stop the feelings taking complete control.

She glanced around the room again and all attention was still on her. She decided to sit down next to John it helped take away the feeling of being on display for all too see.

"Now that everyone is up to speed on me I guess I will start on my side of events. Slade and the Hood were working together, when Slade had me and called Oliver he told me about a deal he made to capture me and turn me over but he never said to who. When Slade knew John's name and that you were a Thunderbird I should have guessed who it was but being held at knife point clouds your mind a little." Felicity started her retelling. At the shocked looks about the detail of being in such a situation she quickly continued

"In answer to your question John I put myself in danger because it was the only logical way to beat Slade. Oliver came to get me and while he distracted Slade I injected him with the serum and started to leave with Sara and Laurel that's when the Hood appeared. I remembered what you told me about his eyes but Sara and Laurel were caught before I could warn them. Thanks by the way for trying to protect me." Felicity looked to Laurel for a moment.

"Sorry we couldn't stop him." Laurel added. Felicity gestured the apology away it was difficult to go against the Hood she knew first hand now.

"He caught my eyes and I was caught under his hypnosis, he ordered me to remove my phone and anything else I tried to fight but I couldn't. As we left the refinery he flew us out into the middle of know where to a barn, I tried to escape even through merging but I couldn't move to touch the helicopter. Before I knew it we were inside the barn and I was made to go into the cell inside and then he started threatening me to talk but I refused. That's when he made a call out to you." Felicity paused there she felt the emotions resurfacing, the panic and fear.

Something grabbed her hand and she looked down to see John's hands wrapping hers, it was totally surreal to be corporeal when merged. She could feel John but it was not the same, there was no heat or softness just a solid surface against her projection. The hard light technology they had used for Scott's remote controller and were incorporating on the new Thunderbird 5 was truly genius.

"You were very brave to have defied him as you did Felicity and I know I speak for all of us." Jeff motioned for the members of International Rescue sat around. "When I say we are very proud and grateful for the loyalty you bestowed to us."

"I'm just glad you didn't give in to his demands." She suddenly felt embarrassed imagining what they must have seen. "I'm sorry you had to see…" She started to apologise.

"You have no apology to make and I think the less said about that the better. What happened between that call and today?" Jeff interrupted he saw the distress and stepped in he made a mental note to broach the topic at a quieter less public time.

"I came to and the Hood tried to get me to make eye contact again but I refused, he tried to force me stepping on the bullet wound. The pain took me by surprise when my eyes opened he was waiting. It felt like he was climbing into my mind and he was after information, I don't remember when it happened but I felt a pull something trying to pull me away and I let it when the Hood kept pushing. It felt like I cyber merged and the Hood still tried to follow so I closed myself off and that was it until today everything was black, after a while I figured out I was trapped what ever I had done seemed to be permanent. Now though I've realized the place I was trapped was the tracker and me shutting out the Hood had cut my connection to my body so I couldn't get back until John reactivated the tracker. I had no idea it had been so long I'm sorry for putting you through all that." Felicity apologised.

"Now there is no need to apologise anyone willing to put themselves on the line for us as you have deserves the world there is nothing I can do to thank you enough." Jeff said.

"I will just take being a part of the family business as thanks enough." Felicity quickly changed the subject feeling awkward. "Anyone want to explain how I had a tracker on me without knowing?" Felicity asked changing the topic.

All eyes moved to look at Oliver and for a second he seemed to appear embarrassed before the neutral look descended again. "Insurance just in case the unthinkable happened which it did." He replied sharply.

"Like you did to Sara bugging her without permission. Oliver I am so grateful you didn't tell me but I am pissed that you went behind me."

"You're one to talk." Oliver scoffed back.

"Excuse me?!" Felicity screeched.

"Leave it." Oliver replied, he didn't want to get into a fight with Felicity especially in front of strangers, they may have been nothing but helpful but he wasn't going to air their laundry to them. He should have kept his mouth shut but it was pissing him off the way Felicity didn't seem to blame them when it was their enemy that caused her pain and hurt.

He had been selfless keeping her at arms length so that his enemies would not come after her and it angered him that John and his family seemed to find it acceptable to allow her to be in danger just because John claimed to love her.

"Are we done I need some air?" Oliver stated he wasn't actually asking and before an answer came his way he had opened the patio door and stormed away from the Villa.

Felicity growled in frustration. She needed to confront him but being immobile and restricted would not allow that to happen easily. "I have one last question that needs answering. What happened to the Hood?"

"Oliver shot him. The Hood had hypnotized Virgil, John and Gordon. He got me too and made me shoot at him, Oliver's had training so it didn't affect him and he took him down to stop him. I got a lot of shots on him before he stopped the Hood, he tried reasoning with him." Dig answered.

Felicity felt a lot of the frustration towards Oliver and his behaviour but it went on the back burner as Dig revealed what Oliver had once again done for her, he had killed the Hood to save her. If it hadn't been for his hidden tracker she would probably be dead now. But he was still behaving like a jerk as always.

"I think that covers everything now. Tomorrow's launch is scheduled for eleven hundred hours." Jeff announced.

"FAB." Alan, Fermat and John all chorused.

"Before everyone disappears." John started confidently glancing quickly at Felicity. "I, uh we have some other news to announce." As one they both stood and nervous now John guided Felicity's left hand forward and Felicity twisted her fingers a little to show off the ring or at least the digital version of it.

Jeff's booming laugh erupted into the room. "Congratulations both of you."

There were cheers, more cries of congratulations, and well done applauses from around the room as the occupants that were sitting stood and everyone moved towards the engaged couple.

Brothers exchanged hugs and back slaps. Felicity received hugs that felt extra tight from the family with whispered glad to have you home. Alan brought a tear to her eye when he hugged her. "It's so good to have you back Sis."

It was declared that a party and celebration would be held that night. There were a few things that would have made this perfect one being in her body and two Oliver not sulking.

As the room continued to buzz Felicity pulled John aside. "I need to talk to Oliver." She whispered.

"Alright." John agreed.

"Would you set the projector up somewhere quiet in case I can get him back inside." She asked.

"Yes I'll put it with you for the time being." He replied.

"Thanks." Felicity leant forward and pecked John on the cheek, it didn't feel the same kissing him not as a holographic projection.

In the blink of an eye she found herself on Oliver's phone, which was in the dark. "Hey!" she cried out. She copied what she did with John earlier and activated the vibrator. "Oliver pick up the phone and answer me I won't shut up until you do." She bellowed.

A long while passed before the dark transformed to swooshing colours and then Oliver appeared. "At leas now you're easier to catch up to." Felicity started to talk Oliver remained silent and her nervous babbling started to take over. "It's not like you can escape an island without being noticed at least not this one, and I may not be able to run after you yet but I can chase you anywhere. That sounded a lot better inside my own head. Can we talk properly meaning both of us take an active part?"

"What do you want me to say Felicity?" Oliver finally spoke.

"What ever has put that stick up your ass? Maybe explain your comment from earlier?" Felicity pushed.

"This is mad I am arguing with a phone." Oliver tried to deflect.

"Then come and see me, John won't be around it'll just be me and you like old times." Felicity tried the softly-softly approach. She saw a flicker on his face.

"Fine." He grumbled.

"I will see you in a few minutes." And before he could argue she had gone.

It made him feel uneasy at what she could do. Oliver looked out to the ocean as he slipped his phone back into his pocket. For the first time ever he actually didn't want to see Felicity, he didn't know what to say to her or how he felt about all that had now happened between them.

PAUSE

Oliver opened the door to the medical room. The usual sight greeted him, Felicity lying unmoving in the bed, as he had grown used to. Some movement caught his eye and he moved inside the room to see clearly. The blue hue of Felicity was hunched over the counter fiddling with something that Oliver could not see.

Oliver hesitated watching her, her but not her it was a projection she was in reality lying in the bed. "Felicity." He said announcing his presence and he let the door shut.

He watched as she jumped in fright but it threw Oliver completely when rather than a small rise in height Felicity went high into the air and seemed to remain there. Her upper body and face turned to glare in his direction. "NINJA SKILLS! What have I said about sneaking ninja style around me?" She yelled.

It was so Felicity inside he felt a little calm at the typical reaction whenever he made her jump unaware of his presence, but the fact she was floating up in the air stole away that familiarity and made the uneasy feelings at her ability intensify. "I didn't sneak. I think you should be more concerned about your current situation." Oliver stated in a cold tone.

Felicity's face went blank for a second as she seemed to take in his words before she glanced about and realized she was in the air. In a split second that her eyes looked down and met the floor her body started to drop, Oliver noticed how uncontrolled her body appeared and he acted on instinct. He sprinted forward and threw himself under the falling form preventing her from hitting the ground.

As he lay on his back taking stock of any injuries he realized that Felicity didn't weigh anything, it felt as though nothing was sprawled over him when in fact the blue disheveled hue of Felicity was.

"This is going to take some getting used to." Felicity grumbled as she straightened herself out.

"No kidding." Oliver commented as he watched her. She startled and tumbled of him to the ground next to him.

"What are you doing under me?" Felicity blurted.

"I saw you fall didn't want you getting hurt." Oliver answered straightening himself into a sitting position. "Are you okay?" He asked concerned, she looked as freaked out as he felt.

"Yeah fine thanks. I didn't feel anything well no that's not true it just doesn't feel as I expected it to, not that I had any expectations I've never done this before. Its completely weird." She babbled.

"I think weird is an understatement." Oliver stated.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you." She apologized.

"I've always stood by you why did you think this would be different?" Oliver asked.

"The look you had when I told you earlier. My parents couldn't look at me the same again when they found out, my dad left because of it. I didn't want to lose you the same way. I can see it in your eyes your weary of me, you couldn't even admit you were talking to me earlier on the phone. I am still me, babbly, clumsy and your IT expert you just know the truth behind my uncanny skill with computers." Felicity answered.

Oliver felt guilty she had seen past his walls as always and he could hear the hurt in her voice, the raw vulnerability. All he wanted to do was protect her but he was the one causing her pain now. "It scares me, I don't understand exactly what you can do but from what I do know you have uncontrolled access to any technology and that could be dangerous if you go rogue." Oliver voiced his concern his eyes dropping to the floor now faced fully with Felicity's scrutiny and alone it started to seem silly. Felicity was good she kept him on the path of 'rightness' stopping him from over stepping the boundary of being a killer.

Something rested firmly on his cheeks and he felt his head being manipulated until he was looking up into the face of Felicity. The touch was gentle but there was no feeling as such, no warmth or connection it reminded him that she was a projection. "I can show you, tell you what I know I can do but I don't know exactly what my limits are no one had explained this to me, it scares me too. I haven't changed my morals just because I can do this, I only use it to help, without it I would have been buried alive in the foundry I couldn't have found International Rescue any other way. I saved John when he was in trouble and it kept me alive and away from the Hood." Felicity tried to lessen Oliver's worries and it did help.

"How much more have you been lying about?" Oliver asked dreading the answer.

Felicity sighed before an answering, she dropped her hands back to herself. "Don't be mad you keep your own secrets." And she started at the beginning retelling everything that had happened from when she found Thunderbird 5 while trapped under Verdant.

Oliver listened uncharacteristically not once did he interrupt although he opened his mouth several times and quickly changed his mind when Felicity gave him a look of warning.

So much had gone on that he had no idea about, Felicity was always such a terrible liar when it came to making up excuses about their night work that he couldn't understand how she had kept it all from him. He felt guilty that she had gone through so much and he also hadn't been there for her, maybe for the first time in his life he needed to get his head out of his ass and admit that he had been just as selfish as his playboy self he thought he had left behind on the island.

"I'm sorry." Erupted out of his mouth before his mind had actually made the decision to apologise and the look of complete surprise on Felicity's face made him kick himself for his behaviour.

"Your really not mad?" She timidly asked. She had been expecting anger, full blown Arrow growling and temper, what Oliver was showing confused her.

"I am, I can't believe you kept all of that from me. I feel that I shouldn't trust you but at the same time your show of loyalty means I trust you even more. Even with everything going on you still put the team first, you didn't leave when I was being a…" Oliver hesitated.

Felicity filled in the gap for him. "Jerk?"

"Yeah." He agreed.

"You are a good guy, a hero, just like they are you just have a different personality and way of dealing with everything. I still want to help the team but it's going to be difficult for a while." Felicity interrupted him.

"Hmm. Don't worry about either of your jobs we are surviving without you, you need to get back on to your feet. That is all that matters now I guess and moving forward." Oliver's biggest fear suddenly took a hold as the conversation turned towards future plans.

"I will be back before you know it. On that topic," Felicity now hesitating, "John and I are engaged." Felicity needed to make sure she told Oliver and that he didn't hear it from anyone else she knew it was going to be a low blow.

Oliver's heart stopped dead in its tracks, that fear now had a foundation to be a reality, he was going to lose Felicity and his only chance to keep her hadn't worked. He made sure to keep his face impassive and not reveal the hurt that he felt inside. "Congratulations." He said and cringed at the lack of enthusiasm in his voice.

"Oliver if you have something to say you need to say it now, I don't want there to be any more awkwardness between you and me or you and John. BOTH of you are important to me and I don't want my engagement coming between us."

"Nothing I am happy for you both." Oliver lied.

"Want to try saying that and hiding under your hood it might be more convincing. I've given you the complete truth now you need to give me the same. Why did you kiss me at the mansion? We both know that didn't need to happy Slade would have already been after me when you left me there." Felicity needed to know before she told John.

"I needed to make absolutely sure he took the bate." Oliver dropped his eyes away from Felicity's he couldn't tell her how he felt she was happy now he had to leave it at that.

"Don't lie, no more lies." She said exasperated.

"I love you Felicity." Oliver blurted, it seems that he had caught Felicity's mouth to brain malfunction. He cursed himself when he saw the hurt look on Felicity's face.

"Oh Oliver, I wish you had told me." Felicity felt her heartbreak finally the word she had dreamed about hearing had reached her but so much had changed. Her heart belonged to John and she had no doubt about that now. "I'm sorry Oliver I love you but as family now, you mean the world to me but after you ran away back to Lian Yu it broke my heart. I couldn't keep waiting for you. I love John now and forever but I will always care about you." Felicity really wished she had never asked but at least they can both close this chapter now and hopefully move forward together.

"I couldn't put you in danger but you still found yourself there. I realize that I missed my chance but…" Oliver sighed. "I wish you and John all the best."

"You make it sound like I'll be leaving and never seeing you again."

"Well I guess you'll be staying here from now on with John. We can manage without you, we will miss you but you deserve happiness." Oliver answered.

"I don't know exactly how it's all going to work but Oliver I'm not leaving the team." Felicity yawned. That felt weird, suddenly she felt completely drained. "You and the team need me and I will be there for you all." She yawned again and the pull she had felt before started again and she felt her body calling her.

"Are you okay?" Oliver asked Felicity looked confused and suddenly tired.

"Yeah just suddenly tired." She mumbled struggling to stay where she way.

"Get some sleep we can talk more later I'm here for the week." Oliver suggested.

"Yeah." Felicity succumbed to the pull. Back inside her body she exhaustion felt worse, it reminded her of when she had interacted with Thunderbird 5 to power the lock.

"John." She mumbled, unable to open her eyes if felt like years since she had slept and the drifting sensation felt so welcoming.

"I'll send him down." She heard Oliver's voice before she handed herself over to the exhaustion.

AN – PLEASE let me know what you think it would mean more to me now than ever before as I am totally unsure that I have got this chapter right. There will be some big time jumps coming up and then hopefully some new introductions for those of you who have made suggestions previously they maybe coming to fruition