Author's Note: This is a long chapter because I really didn't know where to cut it and I wanted to get a lot tackled in this chapter. I know I said that this story will end with the 10th chapter, but it looks like their is so much more story to tell, so maybe 3 more chapters? lucky 13?

All the fluff in the previous chapters have led to some drama and angsty moments in this one. Remember that line in the DCC (Dallas Comic Con) that Stephen Amell uttered: "It get's darker before the we reach the dawn" or something like that because I feel I am badly paraphrasing it. Well, that's what happens here. But because this is light and fluffy even the whoops moments are lighter.

This chapter is especially dedicated to my fellow Pinoy's out there. Thank you much for the support.

Once again, I do not own anything related to the Arrow or the characters, but a girl can dream….fluffy dreams.

A big THANK YOU to those following this and all my other stories.

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SECRET ADMIRER

Chapter 10

Felicity woke up confused. There was something heavy on her chest preventing her from moving. There was also the unexplained warmth on her thigh.

Finally deciding to sneak an itsy bitsy peek first not wanting to completely loose the haze of sleep, Felicity spotted a mop of blond hair, male blond hair on her chest that suspiciously looked like the top of the head of Oliver Queen.

Now fully awake but refusing to move at her discovery, Felicity recalled the events last night that had led to her and Oliver sharing a bed, fully clothed she noted, she in her pajama bottoms and tank top and he in his sleep shorts once again and a t-shirt.

After dinner they had carried on with reading the documents Moore had provided them for the Applied Science detailed tour today. Oliver had convinced her that the best place to review the documents was right where he was earlier, the bed. He justified that it was not unusual because it allowed him to absorb information more in a relax environment like on the bed, in the bedroom. That was Oliver's reasoning. But somehow she had agreed. And they ended up changing to 'more comfortable clothes' before they 'worked'.

Felicity remembered that she was still reading until the wee hours of the morning, now looking for the glasses she should still be wearing if she had fallen asleep. She looked to her right, apparently her side of the bed where the bedside table was and saw that not only her glasses but her phone was also resting comfortably there.

She tilted her head to the left, apparently Oliver's side of the bed now and saw the documents they were reviewing last night neatly piled.

She reached out to grab her phone to check the time, 7 in the morning. That means she had something like 4 to 5 hours sleep.

She tried to angle her body so she could get out from underneath Oliver to no avail. If anything, the warmth that was pressing on her thigh pressed into her more, Oliver's hand.

How had Oliver ended up on top of her, innocently of course, she had no idea. But Oliver was still very much asleep.

If Felicity wanted to avoid embarrassing them both, she needed to get up from under Oliver before he awakened. That was however easier said than done.

She tried to move again and this time Oliver lifted his head, finally awake.

Blue eyes locked on to blue eyes, both of them not daring to move or even breath.

Finally Oliver rolled to his side, anchored on his elbow, "Good Morning Felicity," still a little groggy.

"Morning Oliver," Felicity said moving to get out of bed before Oliver's arm shot out to stop her.

"I'm sorry for falling asleep on top of you. Although it really wasn't an unpleasant experience if I was being completely honest."

Felicity looked at Oliver for a second then looked away blushing, "we have to get ready for the day. Just, don't make a habit of it, the sleeping with me, not sleep sleep, but sleep, platonic sleeping together. You have to go back to your couch tomorrow night. Let's not make this more awkward than it already is."

Oliver lifted his upper body from the bed using his elbows. "On the contrary Felicity, there was nothing awkward about us sleeping on the same bed. We can go as slow as you want. As strong as my desire is for you, I would never force myself on you. Not until you make the first move. I've stated my position so many occasions already. The ball is now going to be on your court. However, seeing how last night went. You should know that you can trust me not to take advantage of the situation. I think this is where I will sleep every night."

Felicity huffed to protest but didn't want to start her day arguing with Oliver choosing to just give him a "I dare you to follow through with that' look before she stomped away to the en suite to get ready.

Truth be told, Felicity did not immediately panic when she first realized Oliver and she were sleeping on the same bed and that Oliver was practically on top of her because it really wasn't an unpleasant experience. In fact, it was rather nice. It had been a long time she did sleepovers. She wasn't that type of girl after all.

But still, she had to stand by her resolve. No man, however charming he was, was going to make her cave that easily. She may not have had that much experience with the opposite sex but she after what Oliver had said this morning about the ball being on her court, she knew he had given her the power to determine how their relationship was going to go. One thing she was sure of, she wouldn't make it easy for Oliver Queen. Nope. He was used to girls falling all over themselves for him. She was determined to show Oliver that she was someone he had to work for. If in the end, he'd realize she wasn't worth all the trouble then it would be his loss. Not hers.

But Felicity had more pressing matters, like getting ready for her day at Moore's. She was definitely excited. Finally, this was what she wanted. What she craved for, where she wanted to be exactly when she chose QC over its other competitors.

Of course, she never thought it would come so early in her career, in her tenure within QC. But, she had proven to everyone who mattered in QC that she was more than capable, that she was a prized employee of QC. So she didn't dwell so much on raised eyebrows of other QC employees, if she were to encounter any of them that is.

Today, she wanted to look her smartest, not that she didn't look smart. She just wanted to look her very best. She was at least ten years younger than the other members of the Team QC had assembled, except for Oliver of course who was about maybe four years older than her.

Felicity, Oliver's team, Walter Steele and Robert Queen had spent close to four hours inside a special test R&D room with David Moore. Just like the rest of the team, Felicity had been excited with what they had been shown, who wouldn't be, being treated to a first-hand look of all pending R&D projects of Moore.

If the buy-out was to conclude in favor of QC, QC would stand to benefit in the billions in the next thirty to forty years by consequence, every single employee of QC in her age bracket would be assured that the company would outlive their tenure at QC. Moore's projects, coupled with QC's own applied sciences projects where just the best in their field. And Felicity was excited with the prospect that because of her age and skills, she would get a very hands on part in all these projects. She decided that nothing could tempt her away from QC after seeing the future of QC right before her eyes. She was giddy with excitement at the prospect.

By a little past one, David had called a halt for lunch to be served. Robert, Walter and Oliver took the break to answer emails and calls that they chose not to take while inside the R&D room in order not to miss anything.

Oliver took the longest to get back. After he was done with all his official calls, he decided to call Tommy to update him. Oliver had the most number of missed calls and texts on his phone from Tommy. Never patient, Tommy had been asking about the progress Oliver had made with Felicity.

On his way back, Oliver passed by one of the servers, he noticed that one of the dishes was a Salmon crusted dish. Nuts, Macadamia nuts to be exact. But this version served had the nuts blended in so well you wouldn't be able to see them.

Oliver stopped the server. He just couldn't not know if the dish included nuts as one of the ingredients or if any of the other dishes contained nuts. Felicity was allergic to nuts. Oliver knew that.

The server confirmed that the salmon did have miniscule amounts of macadamia nuts. Because this was not common knowledge…yet, no one from QC had bothered to tell the Moore's or anyone in their staff that Felicity was allergic to nuts.

Oliver suddenly felt the need to rush forward, almost running to the room where lunch was being served.

The scene that was unfolding in front of Oliver was one of his worst nightmares.

Felicity was choking half lying on the ground and all the men were surrounding her but none of them knew what to do. David Moore was shouting instructions to someone to call the medics who apparently were part of Moore's operation.

Oliver had pushed the men aside, one of them his father to get to Felicity grabbing her face as she continued to choke and turn blue.

"Give me her bag," Oliver shouted to no one in particular. All he knew was that if Felicity knew she was allergic, she would have an EpiPen with her at all times. She was smart like that.

Someone threw Felicity's bag to him and he immediately rummaged inside searching for….yes, she has one. He grabbed the pen and plunged it into Felicity without preamble eliciting a collective gasp from everyone else in the room.

"She's allergic to nuts. She just experienced anaphylaxis shock, thank god she had the pen with her," Oliver was still breathing hard the adrenalin of the few seconds was still to wear off.

"Thank God she told you then. We didn't know what was happening," Robert Queen said what everyone was thinking at that moment.

Oliver looked down at Felicity who was still out but seemed to be breathing normal before looking up at his father with a nod. He didn't correct his father's impression that Felicity had shared that fact with him.

In fact, he dreaded to think what would have happened had he not diligently and meticulously gobbled up any and all information he could get about Felicity including requesting a copy of Felicity's whole file from human resources under the guise of course of just making sure they did diligent research on each employee before they are trusted with QC secrets. HR had readily provided the file since everyone knew Felicity had been already sitting in some special projects of QC even before she had been selected to be part of this team.

So among other things he had found out about Felicity, like her preference for red wine, chocolates and sweets was her allergic reaction to nuts, all types of nuts. He had made sure all the 'gifts' her had sent her whether as Oliver Queen or as her 'Secret Admirer' were food and things she really loved. Research. He was thankful that he had done the research. It has saved Felicity's life.

Although with relief came trepidation. The medics of Moore where now working on Felicity. They had transferred her to a moving gurney and were getting ready to bring her to either their medical facility or a hospital in the area. Oliver's attention was back now on the medics, determined not to be excluded. Willing to remain on Felicity's side wherever the medics thought it would be more appropriate.

The medics where now briefing David Moore, of course, their boss was the first to know what the diagnose was.

Noticing Oliver's restlessness, David beckoned him to join them. Telling him that the medics recommended an overnight stay in the hospital, just as a precaution, assuring Oliver that the emergency had already pass. This was purely precautionary bordering on over kill.

Grabbing Felicity's bag and nodding to his father, Oliver determinedly followed the medics out.

Felicity blinked awake confused at first as to why she was lying down in what looked like a hospital bed. Slowly, she remembered what had happened. Moore's, they took a break for lunch and they were in the middle of what was an enjoyable lunch when she started to choke. She was eating fish, Salmon to be exact. There were nuts in the salmon, that was the only explanation for her ordeal. But how had she gone from there to here. It was all hazy.

She seemed to recall Oliver looming over her. But all the men seemed to be looming over her too. No, it was Oliver who had the presence of mind to search for her…EpiPen, wait, why would he know that.

No one knew she was allergic to nuts. She hadn't been in QC long enough for anyone to know that. She definitely never told anyone, let along Oliver, they definitely where not at that level yet for her to tell him everything.

But somehow he had known.

Why was that?

And why did this seem like déjà vu. Looking down, she saw the same blond head resting, not quite over her chest this time but on the side of the hospital bed, just beside her waist. Her hand was twined with his. That was the reason why she couldn't move her hand.

"Oliver." She called out, frowning how light and breathy her voice sounded.

Oliver did not wake, did not even move.

She tried again, this time she called out his name at the same time she used her waist to give his face a little shove.

This time Oliver stirred, a little confused for a few seconds before he was suddenly on alert, eyes flying to hers.

"Felicity, are you…,do you need anything. Should I call the doctor?" Oliver's words flew out if his mouth.

All Felicity could do was shake her head slightly.

Oliver stood up to sit down on the side of the bed to get a better view of her face.

"What do you need?"

Felicity shook her head again, "nothing. I'm just, I was just confused for a moment. I had an allergic attack didn't I?" She asked Oliver frowning.

Oliver pressed his lips together in remembrance, "yes. I went out to return some calls, when I came back you...they were already surrounding you. You already were…..thank god you had an EpiPen with you."

Felicity nodded then frowned again. Oliver wasn't supposed to know that.

Felicity looked up at Oliver, a question in her eyes. Oliver looked away as if guilty of something.

He knew I was allergic to nuts, somehow. Felicity correctly interpreted the look on Oliver's face.

"How," that was the only thing she asked him.

Oliver stood up from his perch at the side of her bed to look outside the window. His back to Felicity before he answered or more like evaded the question.

"You need as much rest as you can get after what happened."

"Answer the question Oliver," Felicity told him.

Oliver finally turned around to face her, rubbing his face before answering her, "I asked human resources for a copy of your file, you wrote down that you were allergic to nuts, so that's where I read it."

Felicity's face started to contort at Oliver's admitting he had a copy of her file. She didn't know if it was standard procedure for top executives or owners of the company to be given access to employee files, maybe it was. But somehow, judging Oliver's guilty expression, she felt it was more than just that. He was hiding something.

"So I should be thankful that you diligently read through my whole bio. That in the process you saved my life."

Oliver was struggling, on one hand he could just take the out and just leave it there. But, he knew if he would leave it there it would somehow blow up on his face later causing even bigger problems for him and his pursuit of Felicity. So Oliver decided to come clean at that moment. Maybe Felicity in bed still a little weak, still recovering from her ordeal was to his advantage.

Oliver pushed forward retaking the seat he had vacated earlier gently taking hold of one of her hands before starting his confession.

"I had other reasons for securing a copy of your papers from human resources." He felt himself heat up a little under the collar knowing that meant he had a very faint blush from his neck to the side of his face. He got that way when he was overwhelmed with emotions.

Felicity noticed Oliver's hesitation then a second later a pinkish blush appear on the lower side of his cheek. What was Oliver going to say next to illicit such a reaction from him Felicity thought.

"I, I wanted to get to know more about you. About the woman who had me so intrigued the first time I met her. I didn't know how you would react to me as Oliver Queen because as it was, you were building all this walls around us, it was almost impossible for me to show you that my intentions were honorable. I mean I know I had a reputation, but half of that if played up by the media. But with you, it was challenging, it still is."

Oliver squeezed her hand before he continued, "I sent you gifts. Gifts that I hoped you would appreciate more based on references I got from your file."

Felicity nodded, "the flowers, they were nice."

"Not just the flowers Felicity. I sent you chocolates, nut free of course. That bottle of red wine, among other things."

Felicity frowned recalling the other 'gifts' she received. "No they were sent by someone else, by…wait, you're my secret admirer?"

Oliver shrugged, the pinkish blush spreading all throughout his face, "I guess it's an apt term, admirer," trying to smile, inhaling nervously before he looked into her eyes, "are you mad?"

"I should be." A half second later she continued, "I am. I thought we we're past all this lying and deceit Oliver," Felicity tried to sit up but failed plopping back awkwardly on the bed with Oliver immediately by her side, concern in his eyes.

Felicity looked at Oliver, really looked at Oliver the first time. Even after he had come clean with the 'Jonas' chapter, she hadn't really thought Oliver was as sincere as he wanted her to believe he was. She had been determined to be that one girl Oliver Queen wouldn't, couldn't get with just an easy smile, a wink or a line, she was Felicity Smoak after all. Maybe they weren't in the same circles but she'll be damned if she didn't believe she was worthy, worth being pursued, deserving of someone who would walk over fire for her. She said it before. She made something of herself on her own. And if she were to give her heart to anyone, it wasn't going to be to someone who wasn't in it to win her. And maybe, just maybe, Oliver Queen really was serious.

Oliver kept giving her those glances, his eyes shifting from her eyes to her face as if he could get the answers he was seeking. But of course Felicity was known for her poker face, at least in College she was. And she was putting that in good use right now.

She had planned what would happen next without giving Oliver a clue in her head. She would be discharged. They would go back to the Moore house where undoubtedly everyone was worried about her. And she would make Oliver work for it harder than ever. Yes, she even gave a grin which she let Oliver see, his eyes narrowing, then let the grin disappear completely.

Oliver wasn't as dumb as he looked. He wasn't at the league of Felicity's brain, but he was above average. So he noticed the shift almost immediately.

This version Felicity was scary. This Felicity had come out to play. Call him out on all his bullshit and one up him. He noticed a subtle flirtation but always under the guise of her assessing how he would react, what he would do next.

No. He definitely was following her lead and her ground rules to the letter. He had been banished back to the outer room where he had slept for the last five nights.

His family had gone back to Starling City after being assured that Felicity was fine and that Oliver would take care of her. It was now only the two of them in the master suite. And for the first time, Oliver felt a little over his head.

Felicity of course was in her element. Proving not only to be the bright shining young star of QC, she had everyone she encountered at Moore's mesmerized not only by her brain but her uniquely quirky personality. But more than that, the Moore's really took to her as if she was a long lost daughter, more so after her near fatal accident.

At this point, Oliver had no more skeletons in the closet to haunt him when it came to Felicity. It was just him now, stripped down, with just his sincerity has his ally.

On that sixth night, Oliver fell asleep on the couch with a smile on his face. He wasn't going to give up. He knew he was breaking down those barriers. He was getting though her defenses.

Unknown to him, he didn't know just how effectively he was getting under her skin and it all culminated that sixth night. Felicity peeked outside the bedroom to check if all of the lights in the outer room where off.

Sure that they were, she tiptoed until she was right in front of Oliver Queen who was in very deep slumber. She folded her knees and sat down on the carpet in front of Oliver. She reached out a hand to stroke his hair which earned her a small unconscious sigh from Oliver making Felicity smile.

Oliver's sigh gave a confidence to do what she did next. She leaned in and pressed her lips to his for a few second before leaning back out. Their very first kiss, she was sure he and she would have imagined this moment differently. Her hand flew up to her lips as if to quell the tingling of her lips. Well, she would have never thought she would have made this first move and on an unconscious Oliver Queen too.

All those weeks and especially these last few days, she finally admitted it to herself. Oliver Queen was getting to her. She pressed her fingers to her lips one last time and pressed the same fingers to Oliver's lips before she stood up from the floor wishing Oliver sweet dreams.

And Oliver was really having the sweetest dream, although it really wasn't a dream. It really was Felicity in the flesh who leaned in to give him a kiss. He had struggled not to move and breathe as normally as a sleeping person would.

As she stood up to move away, he finally opened his eyes and track her progress until he couldn't see her anymore.

sigh...

who wouldn't want to be woken up with a kiss. A real one is coming the next chapter with both of them wide awake. Am just imagining the perfect set-up for it. Any suggestions?