a/n: I humbly present the final chapter. The music near the end is Van Morrison's "I'll be your lover too,").

He drew the bow taut and let the arrow fly. A wet mist fell around them. Pushing back his hood, the vigilante crouched next to the woman. Her blonde hair, damp and matted, clung to her face. He could see a faint pulse on her delicate neck. Oliver clasped her limp body in his arms. "Felicity, I thought I'd lost you. Please stay with me." The mist and his tears melted the green makeup off his face. "You are my better half. You make me whole again," her hero whispered.

Her eyelids fluttered. "Oliver, it burns…" she moaned.

"Felicity, it's going to hurt but I need to get the arrow out." She closed her eyes remembering when he'd first told her about being shot when he landed on the island.

"I trust you Oliver. I always have." she murmured. The last thing she remembered were his eyes, beseeching her to survive.

"Where am I?" Felicity asked when she awoke. She vaguely remembered being given something bitter to drink. She thought she'd be in the foundry but she wasn't. It was too bright and too sterile to be the basement of Verdant. Memories came flashing back. His eyes haunted her. Oliver's low voice saying, "You make me whole." She wasn't sure if she'd dreamed it or if it was reality.

"Ms. Smoak, you're at Starling General. Mr. Diggle brought you here when he found you with an arrow sticking through your chest at the old Enterprises building in the Glades." Felicity's hand moved to her right upper chest. "That's right miss; you may have a nasty scar from it." Felicity closed her eyes. Her scar would match Oliver's. How many more would she get following in his footsteps? As long as it wasn't her heart she could handle it, she thought.

Diggle entered the room. "Morning, Ms. Smoak. How are you feeling today?"

"Mr. Diggle, I'm feeling much better thank you. I'm told you were the one to find me?"

"That's correct. Mr. Queen should be here shortly." Her friend replied.

"Why isn't he here now?" she asked, wondering what was keeping Oliver from being with her.

"Mr. Steele has been found, Ms. Smoak. And you were shot. Detective Lance has Mr. Queen at the station for questioning." Diggle tried to smooth things over. Oliver still had a secret to maintain.

Felicity frowned. The door opened, revealing her hero. "Oliver!" she tried to sit up but winced with the pain.

"Sit back Felicity," he countered. "Let me come to you." He leaned in, his lips brushing hers softly, begging forgiveness. Their eyes met as he pulled back. An understanding dawned. Wow, he really does feel that way, she thought. "It's okay Oliver. I understand your step-father has been returned to you?" She politely asked, keeping the secret.

"Yes, he has. We're holding a celebratory dinner at the mansion next weekend. Would you be my date for the evening?"

"I would be honoured to celebrate Mr. Steele's return with you." The door closed softly behind the nurse. Felicity quickly switched gears. "Now fill me in, did we get the Dark Archer? Did we stop the Undertaking?" she needed to know.

"We were so focused on you that we didn't notice him slip away. However, with an arrow wound he should be easier to find. Once you're out you can work that magic of yours," Diggle debriefed her.

"I remember drinking something bitter. Did you bring me straight to the hospital?" She needed to work out the puzzle in her mind.

"We gave you Oliver's herbs, while we waited for the paramedics," Diggle continued to tell the story.

Oliver's gaze was distant. He'd hated leaving her that night. Diggle had said he needed to go. The vigilante needed to go, and Oliver needed an alibi. It would be best if he was at home or at the club when he got the news that Felicity was shot. He'd wanted to stay with her. "Felicity, I didn't want to leave you that night. I needed to know that you made it." he confessed. Diggle slowly walked to the corner by the door, trying to remain unobtrusive.

"I know you, Oliver" Felicity replied. "You did what you had to do." She smiled up at him, "It's not your fault. I chose to get caught and I chose to stop that arrow. You're too important to this city and to me." Theirs eyes locked. Time ticked by as they continued to silently argue with one another.

"And the red shadow, Speedy, I believe you said. Who was that?" she asked, breaking the tension.

Oliver laughed, "We were wondering if you'd notice that one, especially without your glasses. I must be rubbing off on you. More vigilant than ever," he goaded.

"Seriously guys, who helped you? I owe them a thank you," she insisted, glaring at both of them, arms crossed in front of her.

"Nope! You don't like mysteries. Walter mentioned that they bother you so much that you feel the need to solve them. So this one should keep you out of trouble for awhile!" Oliver maintained. From the doorway, Diggle chuckled as Felicity scowled at them both.

Even though Felicity had been to the Queen mansion frequently in the last two weeks she still felt out of place. She'd stayed in the mansion after her concussion and it still didn't feel comfortable. She preferred her small cozy apartment. Being in this glorious home made her feel like a geeky girl at a debutante ball. Thea, however, was overjoyed when Oliver started bringing her over more frequently. "You make my brother smile," the brunette had told her one day. Oliver had started taking her on dates after the incident. His family could tell that this IT girl of his was really important to him.

Felicity stood in Thea's room, lost in the choices of dresses in front of her. "You're a shopaholic, you know that right Thea?" Thea grinned at her, "You've given me a reason to shop, so that makes me happy. But beyond that, you make my brother happy, which means I'll do anything for you. He's slowly becoming the big brother I missed."

The blonde still stood there, staring at the multitude of dresses. "Wear the long blue one," Thea prompted her. "It will bring out your eyes, like your blue sweater set does. And the style will hide the scar." The blonde slid the blue silk one-shouldered dress over her body. She then walked over to the full length mirror. Her hands reached up to fix her hair. Thea came up behind her and smoothed it out. "You are leaving it down tonight. No updo's for you. It's always up!" Thea complained. "Let loose a little," Thea chided.

Oliver watched her descend the staircase, an angel in a blue dress. Her blonde hair cascaded around her face. She paused, catching his eyes. She smiled her radiant smile at him and he openly smiled back. Holding his hand out to her, he led her into ballroom. He introduced her to everyone there as they walked around the room. Finally they stopped in the corner by the doors to the balcony, after picking up some champagne from a passing waiter.

Thea and Roy came over to chat, drinks in hand. While they were chatting, Oliver slipped away for a few minutes, taking the champagne glasses with him. When he returned he complained, "It's getting too crowded in here."

"Too many people Ollie," Thea teased, "You'd rather be on a deserted island?" He frowned down at his sister.

"Felicity, would you join me out on the balcony?" the debonair man asked, offering her his arm. She placed her hand on it, and he covered hers with his own strong hand. He led her out to the balcony, savoring the peace and tranquility. "I love how peaceful the night is."

She looked at him oddly. "Peace at night? For the Hood? What island are you living on Mr. Queen?" He smiled at her joke.

"Okay, I love the nights I get to spend with you, whether as the vigilante or Oliver Queen." She smiled back at him. "You really do bring out the best in the Hood and Oliver Queen," he pointed out. His hand rested on the silk of her dress, over her recent scar. "I'm sorry you got hurt that night. I didn't want you to go at all." Oliver confessed. "I was afraid of losing you."

She placed her own hand over his scar, "Now we match," she lightly replied. "I know a little of what you went through, but I didn't have to do it alone. I always trusted you, even with the ridiculous lies you told me. I'm sorry I did that without telling you." Felicity paused, "I didn't want to lose you either." Her soft voice quieted.

In the stillness of the night, the moonlight danced off the water from the pool, illuminating the moonflowers twined around the railings. The smell of roses filled the air. The music from the ballroom drifted out to their secluded spot.

"Dance with me," the handsome man insisted. His strong arms wrapped around her waist pulling her close. Her hands rest on his shoulders, feeling the silken wool of his dinner jacket. She rests her head against his chest, feeling his heartbeat. He feels her silken locks against his coarse stubble. He begins to murmur the lyrics of the song in her ear, "I'll be your man, I'll understand, do my best to take good care of you, Yes I will. You'll be my queen, I'll be your king, and I'll be your lover, too." He continued to softly sing as they swayed.

When the music stopped, he stepped back a step and tipped her chin up so her blue eyes were looking at him. "Felicity, will you be my Mrs. Queen?" he huskily asked. Her eyes misted. "Yes," she whispered. His lips met hers, brushing gently before deepening. His hands tangled into her golden tresses. Hers skimmed his broad shoulders. A fire burned through them, consuming them. His tongue teased her luscious lips until they parted, allowing entrance. Breathless, Felicity pulled back, looked up at him and smiled. "I love you, Oliver Queen." A soft breeze passed them. There between them was one red arrow, with a diamond ring tied to its fletching. Oliver untied the ring. Taking Felicity's hand in his, he slid the ring onto her trembling finger. "Carpe diem," he quoted, squeezing her hand tenderly. "After everything we've been through, it's time to seize the day."

Entering the house, Felicity remembered the party for Walter. "Now doesn't seem to be the best time to share the news. When are we going to tell the others?" she asked.

"We'll tell them in the morning," Oliver replied as he led her up the stairs.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed the ending. (I know it goes against canon, but in reality it could happen and then something tragic happens to them or her or whatever before Laurel becomes end game! Wishful thinking I'm sure.)