I truly do have a horrible habit of writing Arrow stories instead of studying for final exams. Well this was originally going to be the next piece in the 'Stay the night' series but I decided I'd like to play with this one a little bit more. I have no idea how long it will be, and I haven't written anymore yet, but it will be more than a one-shot. This is inspired by the ever-brilliant Ray Lamontagne and his song "Let it be me". I've been playing with the idea of using this song for an Olicity story (I've already used it for Puckleberry) for awhile and now I have a legitimate reason to. I hope you enjoy it! Let me know if you're interested in reading more.

I own nothing.

There comes a time, a time in everyones life

She couldn't tell you how they got here, to this juncture. It had been a normal day, or at least normal by their standards.

And now everything was broken. Everyone was broken.

Where nothing seems to go your way

Being orphaned at 19 and 27 was no easier than being orphaned at 8 or 12. At the end of the day, all family drama aside, both Thea's and Oliver's father and mother were dead. Now all they had was each other. Which would work a little better if Oliver hadn't disappeared the morning after his mother's murder.

Felicity wasn't stupid, nor was she naïve. She had known he would run. He had done so when the Glades fell and he felt the weight of those 503 deaths crushing him.

She would bet her non-existent salary that the death of his mother weighed even more heavily on him.

Where nothing seems to turn out right

And so he had run. He had left Thea in the care of Walter and had disappeared into the darkness that surrounded him.

It was the darkness inside of him that really worried her though. She wasn't nosey by nature, but it had been impossible to miss Sara's words before she'd walked out of their lives. And in many ways she had been right. It wasn't Felicity's place to judge whether or not Sara was good for Oliver. But she did agree that Oliver had found hope, that he still had light within him. The lighthearted boychild who'd sailed away on the Gambit had never returned and he never would. Oliver had seen great evil and been through too much to ever be that person again. But there was light in him. His ability to love the people around him so fiercely only proved that.

But then Slade Wilson had murdered his mother in front of Thea and Oliver.

There may come a time, you just can't seem to find your place

The man she had pulled away from Moira Queen's body had been devoid of all light. He had been hollow, empty, a shell of the man Felicity believed in.

And now he was gone.

He was gone and they didn't have the luxury of allowing him to hide away for five months this time. Slade was still alive and evil and he would strike against Oliver's loved ones. It didn't matter if Oliver was in Aruba or on Lian Yu or hiding away in Central City. Slade would pick off Team Arrow and Walter and Laurel and Quentin one by one to draw him back and destroy him.

For every door you open, seems like you get two slammed in your face

Except that Felicity didn't really believe Oliver was hiding away from his pain. Oliver was heartbroken and absolutely destroyed. But he wouldn't leave Thea behind just to find solace against the pain.

No, Felicity believed wholeheartedly that Oliver was preparing to hand himself over to Slade. To draw him away and to admit defeat.

Why he believed Slade would allow that was beyond Felicity. Oliver had offered himself up in his mother's place and Slade had refused then. And besides a few physical bruises and the theft of QC, Slade had barely begun.

But that didn't mean that a devastated Oliver might not get himself killed anyways. He was reckless and impulsive when he was hurt and hurt couldn't even begin to describe the way he was feeling.

That's when you need someone, someone that you can call.

It took Amanda Waller three days and seventeen hours to find Oliver. He was in an abandoned military bunker just outside of Starling City.

Team Arrow was in shambles. Sara was in the wind and all signs pointed to her not returning anytime soon. Moira's death had been blasted over every news station around the world, so there was no way that she was unaware. She just didn't care enough to come home. Although, Felicity wondered if Starling had ever really felt like home to the blond assassin.

Roy was still unconscious and despite her misgivings, she knew that he would remain that way for now.

After a particularly horrible argument with Dig, Felicity found herself driving towards Oliver's location. Dig was incredibly displeased but Thea needed protecting more than she did. And Oliver needed her.

And when all your faith is gone

She pulled up to the creepy building and bit her lip. The site was gloomy and looked like the setting of a really awful horror movie. She took a deep breath, pulled back her shoulders and got out of the car. Her flats clacked loudly against the pavement but stealth had never really been her thing.

And Oliver had to have known she'd find him.

She pulled on a large door and it slowly slid away from the entrance. The front room was dark and she took a moment to allow her eyes to acclimate. She blinked a few times and moved into the abandoned building. The clicking of her shoes against the concrete echoed throughout the building and set her teeth on edge. She moved from one room to another and then another after that. The building was cold. She shoved her hands inside her jacket pocket as she turned one last corner.

Feels like you can't go on

He sat in the darkness against the far wall. His legs were pulled up in front of him and his arms rested against his knees. She could feel his eyes on her as she moved slowly towards him. Neither of them said a word as she leaned against the wall and slid to sit down beside him. She dropped the duffel bag onto the ground beside her and tilted her chin so that she could really look at him. His face was still turned towards the door she'd come through. The cut on his forehead had gone untreated and looked infected. He was wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt and she felt a flare of annoyance. She turned away from him and reached into the bag beside her. She pulled out a warm jacket and draped it over his arms.

Let it be me

He didn't respond for several moments. She let her head fall back against the wall with a dull thunk as she waited him out. A long sigh escaped his lips before he slowly pulled the jacket on, his eyes never leaving the doorway.

Tension was corded through his body and Felicity shuffled closer to him. She reached out and tangled her fingers with his. After another moment she rested her head against his arm. The tension slowly ebbed from his body as they sat there in comforting silence.

Let it be me

"How's Thea?" His hoarse voice startled her and she realised that they'd been silent for a very long time.

Felicity squeezed his hand. "She's staying with Walter. John is with them both right now." She wiggled her toes to stave off pins and needles. "Detective Lance is staying with Laurel and I've set Roy's IV on a timer. His bag only needs replacing every other day."

He opened his mouth but nothing came out. She tilted her head against his arm and watched as he struggled to speak. He cleared his throat twice and she ran her thumb over his hand. "And the funeral?"

Felicity's gaze dropped as she felt tears gathering at the corners of her eyes. "It was lovely. Big turnout. I," she cleared her throat. "I sat with Thea and Walter. She, um, she asked me to find you. She wasn't angry with you for not being there. She understood."

Let it be me

She felt rather than saw Oliver nod stiffly.

"I told her I'd bring you home, Oliver." His whole body tensed and she gripped his hand more tightly. "And I intend on keeping that promise."

Let it be me

She chanced a peek up at him and almost wished that she hadn't. His jaw was tight and tears were trickling slowly down his cheeks and catching in his stubble. She wasn't sure that she'd ever really seen him cry before. She would do just about anything to stop him from ever needing to cry ever again.

"I know you probably have some grand sacrifice planned, but it won't work." She whispered as her eyes followed the tears that dripped from his quivering chin. "He won't make it that easy on you. We both know that. I know you want this to be over and I know you wish that your death would be enough. But it won't be."

You reach out for something and they slap your hand

"It's not fair!" He bit out quietly. Felicity twisted her body and watched as her free hand reached out and wiped at the tears on his cheek. She rose to her knees and cupped his cheek until he looked at her. She held back a gasp as his burning grey eyes met hers.

"I know it isn't, Oliver. I wish I could make this better, I wish I could take all of your pain away. But I can't." She paused as tears clogged her throat. "Slade won't stop. We need to fight. You need to fight. Your mother died for you, Oliver. And I need you to see that sacrifice for what it was. Not another death on your conscience, or another reason to hate yourself. But as the truly beautiful act of a mother. I need you to harness that and fight. I need you to beat Slade and make her death mean something even greater."

Oliver closed his eyes. "I don't want to."

And when all your faith is gone

And then he wept.

Felicity moved to kneel between his legs and his face molded into the crook of her neck. His hands clutched blindly for purchase against her back. The horrible arpeggio of his heartache filled the building and echoed back to them. Felicity wrapped herself around his shaking body and prayed that she could hold him together. The pieces of his heart were splintering within him, leaving only a dark, oozing abyss. Felicity dragged a hand from his head over his shoulder and pressed it against his chest. Her touch was a promise, an oath, a covenant that he would find the light again. Until that moment her light, her hope, would guide them. She would carry him through the darkness until he found his feet again.

It feels like you can't go on

Let it be me

His hand curled around her own and pressed it more firmly against the place where his heart had once laid. His touch was a promise, an oath, a covenant that he would trust her to save him, to be his hero.

She pressed her lips against his temple. She raised her chin and straightened her shoulders, allowing his burdens to rest upon them.

Let it be me

Thanks for reading. Let me know what you thought? Seriously though, those icky Sara/Oliver bed scenes aside, how great was last night's episode?