EPILOGUE (aka Ice Cream Therapy)

AN – Thank you to everyone who stayed with me for this little story! New episodes are back in the US tonight and I can't wait to see just what happens though with Sara still around I'll probably still need some Olicity therapy (but at least I know I'm not alone in that)! :) As always, thanks for your help Mic!

AN2 – Special thanks to the guest reviewers who I can't PM back! I got some really lovely reviews for Winner Takes All but as that story is complete I couldn't include a note to say thanks! I just hope you guys are also reading this story and get this message! THANK YOU!

DISCLAIMER – Same as the first chapter, not mine but I love playing anyway!

The lair remained off limits until the carbon monoxide could be removed so the Team went their own ways to get cleaned up before they regrouped. Diggle had driven Barry and Felicity to her apartment before heading to his own. Sara and Oliver returned to the Queen Mansion together, while Roy headed to his own place as he knew Thea was there with Sin.

After taking a quick shower Felicity waited until Barry joined her in the living room. She hadn't had time to process what his superpowers would mean to any future they could have but she was worrying about that now.

"Hey, Felicity. You okay?" Barry had just entered the room and saw the young woman pacing nervously.

"What? Oh yeah, just thinking." Felicity smiled but didn't move closer to him. "Thank you for saving me tonight. Thank you for helping the Team too. We couldn't have done this without you."

"It was kinda cool to work with Mr. Queen, Mr. Diggle, the whole Team really – I never thought that I would work with superheroes, real superheroes …" Barry smiled and spoke lightly but then paused and spoke more seriously and slowly. "I think I'll take samples of the shipment back and work on it in my own lab." Barry watched as Felicity's brow furrowed and she tried to read between the lines.

"I thought you might stay here with me, I mean, with us. Join the Team – go Team Arrow. Woo hoo!" Felicity tried for a light tone but she was a little hurt and disappointed that Barry wasn't going to stay. It looked like Oliver was wrong when he said that Barry had been dreaming of her while he was asleep.

"Felicity, I wish … I mean, I think it's best if I go back and work on some things of my own and your place is here, with Oliver. I can be back here in a flash if you need my help though." Barry smiled as he made the offer.

"I appreciate that but I thought you'd want … why don't you want to stay here? We have a lab and Oliver can train you to control your powers. He's really done a lot for Roy, well, they all have but Oliver was the one that brought him onboard and was determined to help …" Felicity trailed off as she saw Barry's smile as he nodded.

"Still Oliver or should I say always Oliver, huh?" Barry didn't ask outright but Felicity understood he was referencing their past conversations about what was going on between her and Oliver. However, Felicity didn't understand that Barry had reached his own conclusions when he saw the pair together and the question was rhetorical.

"Really Barry, there's nothing between us, well, we are friends, partners really, but that's all. Actually he's dating Sara … you met Sara, the gorgeous blond assassin who was on the Island with him and can do anything – that Sara! I know that sounds bitter but I actually like Sara and Oliver loves her which is the important thing. Oliver and I are just friends, really." Felicity spoke softly but passionately.

Barry couldn't believe Oliver and Felicity still hadn't worked out their feelings yet but he wasn't going to get between them even if Sara wanted to try. Instead he just moved forward and held his arms out to hug Felicity. She quickly moved to him and as he held her as he couldn't stop himself from wondering what might have been if she wasn't in love with Oliver Queen.

Barry left quickly after that and Felicity made a single stop before returning to the lair to wait for the rest of the Team.

Meanwhile Sara and Oliver had gotten cleaned up and left to meet her dad. As Oliver was in street clothes he had to stay back as Sara quickly updated and reassured her dad that all was well but still far from over.

"So you'll stay here and keep fighting this Slade guy?" Lance asked. He was still afraid his daughter would disappear again, and while he feared for her safety continuously now at least he saw her often since she had come home for good.

"I'll be … around." Sara paused before she gave that assurance, but before Lance could question her further she moved in to hug him. "You aren't losing me, Dad, but I have some things to do." Sara whispered softly into his ear to ensure that even Ollie couldn't overhear her. She pulled away to kiss his cheek before she turned to leave.

"Sara!" Lance's voice was urgent and Sara turned back to face him. "Just be careful, okay, sweetheart?"

"Always." Sara smiled as she responded but that smile faded as Oliver reappeared as soon as she turned the corner.

"What do you mean? You'll be 'around' Sara?" Oliver's voice was harsh but Sara had made her decision and was going to stand by it.

"I will help you fight Slade but I won't be on your Team Ollie. I need to find my own space so I can let go of the past and move on." Sara spoke sternly even as she pushed her emotions down. She had always loved Oliver and always would but they simply weren't right or good for each other. Sara also realized she still loved Nyssa and missed what that love had brought into her life.

"Sara! You said you were home and you made a place here. You are already on the Team." Oliver argued in an aggrieved tone.

"It is home and I'll always come back but this isn't where I belong now. You can always reach out to me Ollie but I need, I need to get away. I need more … maybe I'll even create my own team." Sara tried to lighten the mood but Oliver continued to glare at her.

"This doesn't make sense. We have a Team here – you don't need to go out on your own and fight by yourself." Oliver's tone was both annoyed and somewhat desperate.

Sara smiled sadly as she realized they were both afraid to let go of the past completely. Ollie had changed a lot since the Island but he was still afraid to make that final break. Sara knew they had clung together because of that fear and not because of love. Neither believed they would have or deserved a future, at least not a good one, which made them perfectly happy to be together in the present. However, Sara was tired of living in the past and had just realized she wanted a future.

She was ready to move forward but she knew her future couldn't include Ollie any more than his future included her. Sara couldn't help but smile sadly when she thought of the other blond woman Ollie loved – she held no animosity toward Felicity and could even admit that a small part of her was in love with her too. At the least, Sara knew she loved what Felicity represented and knew she wanted someone like that in her life, someone who loved her and saw her as better than she was, someone who was willing to fight with her and for her…someone to have a future with and a good future at that.

"Sara." Oliver growled her name when she didn't speak but Sara remained silent and just stepped forward to caress his face as she placed a soft kiss on his lips.

"The past is in the past Ollie – we both need to move on, move forward—" Sara began but Oliver interrupted her.

"Then you and I can—" Oliver had barely started when Sara spoke again.

"No, Ollie, we can't do anything. You belong with your Team, with Felicity—" Despite wishing them well Sara still stumbled when she said her name and Oliver jumped on that.

"Is this about Felicity then? Are you still mad that I called her instead of you? Sara, that's—" Oliver's tone was sharp in his anger but Sara felt that same emotion heat her blood and she interrupted him as well.

"No, it's not about Felicity … it's about you, Ollie, but you should give some thought to Felicity and what she means to you before it's too late and Barry steals her away." Angry that she had lashed out without thought, Sara snapped her mouth shut. She then took a quick breath and spoke more cautiously. "Look, I love you Ollie but we don't have a future together so I'm getting out now. I'll always answer your call but I need to find my own life, my own future." Sara paused but this time Oliver didn't interrupt or argue.

"I'm going to take the day for myself. You update your Team and call when you are ready to go after Slade or need my help." Sara again gently caressed his face as she smiled. "Take care of yourself, Ollie, and take care of your Team."

Oliver didn't speak but he did pull her in for a tight hug. Sara felt the tension in his body and couldn't stop herself from wondering what might have been if he wasn't in love with Felicity Smoak. Sara pulled back but Oliver kept her close as he pressed a kiss to her forehead. She met his eyes and smiled sadly before she turned and walked away without a backward glance. Oliver watched her until she was out of sight and then headed toward the lair.

The first thing Oliver saw in the lair was Felicity at her computer table eating ice cream. It looked like she had been crying and Oliver knew she used ice cream to process so he quickly knelt in front of her and spoke her name softly in question.

"Felicity?"

"Apparently I'm not his dream girl." Felicity grumbled as she remained focused on her mint chocolate chip and not the man in front of her. "Barry headed back home but don't worry, he'll be back in a flash if we need his help again." She managed to sound sarcastic and disappointed at the same time as she spoke.

Realizing the problem now, Oliver squeezed her knee before he stood up and pulled a chair up next to her. As he still hadn't spoken Felicity was surprised enough to allow him to steal her spoon and just watched as he then stole a bite of ice cream.

"Sara left too." Oliver met Felicity's eyes as he spoke and he saw the compassion and sorrow reflected in her expression. He had to chuckle though when she even tilted the ice cream carton toward him so he could steal another bite. The couple just sat quietly for several minutes sharing the ice cream.

Oliver could admit to himself that he was glad Barry was gone as Sara's words about Felicity still replayed in his head. He couldn't bring himself to wonder why those words remained on his mind though when he should have been worried about Sara.

Felicity always struggled to ignore her less than platonic feelings for Oliver but Barry bringing it up again made it even harder as the man in question sat right beside of her sharing her ice cream. She knew she should still be mourning the loss of Barry but now she found herself distracted by why Sara (or any woman) would dump Oliver.

When Diggle entered the lair it was to the sight of the silent couple sitting close together and sharing both a spoon and ice cream carton. He quirked a brow in inquiry and then watched as Oliver and Felicity exchanged a look before Felicity spoke in a surprisingly cheerful voice.

"We both got dumped and are processing with ice cream. Wanna join us John?" Felicity motioned toward a cabinet as she then advised. "There's silverware and bowls in there."

Diggle shook his head as he realized neither Felicity nor Oliver thought about getting separate utensils of their own but instead just continued to share the spoon and carton. He did grab a spoon and fill a bowl from their carton as he took his own seat without a word. He had a feeling he knew why both had been dumped, but didn't think now was the time to bring the subject up as neither one was ready to face the facts of their shared feelings. For now, they stayed together though so the Team was still strong. They needed to be strong and focused on defeating Slade so Diggle kept his mouth shut except to spoon in ice cream.

The three original Team Arrow members continued to sit in silence, not even realizing they weren't upset enough to need ice cream since they were actually happy to be together and simply enjoyed the company of the others. Eventually they did start talking but not about Barry or Sara – their discussion focused on Slade Wilson, what his endgame was and how they were going to win and eliminate the threat once and for all.

AN2 – Hope you enjoyed this little distraction while waiting for new episodes! I just had to end with our original Team Arrow as they are my fave part and I hope the show returns to more of that (although I do enjoy Roy as well)! ;)