Felicity is awkward when she opens her door to let him in, staring at the floor and mumbling about how no one deserves to look so good with a hangover.

"I think you look pretty," Oliver says shyly. "You always look pretty."

Felicity flushes pink. "You can come in, you know. You don't have to stand out there. Although I have to say, this whole contrite thing with the flowers?" She waves a hand at him. "It's really working for you."

"They're for you." He holds the bouquet out and Felicity smiles graciously when she accepts them.

"Oliver," she says softly, one hand on his arm. "Come in."

Felicity puts the flowers in water while Oliver waits in the living room, on the couch where he kissed her less than twenty-four hours ago.

"Okay," Felicity announces, coming into the living room and standing in front him. "I'm going to talk first."

"Do you want to sit down?" he asks.

"No thank you," Felicity declines nervously. "I was standing up while I practiced, so I think I'm just going to do that."

Oliver suppresses a smile. "You practiced?"

Felicity straightens her shoulders. "I have a speech. That's why I didn't answer the phone."

"You spent all day ignoring my calls because you were trying to figure out what to say to me?"

"This is making me nervous, can I just do my speech and we can talk after?"

He grins. "Yeah. Of course."

"Okay." Felicity paces for a moment, wringing her hands, before turning back to him.

"I'm sorry I kicked you out of my apartment,"' she says.

"You don't have to apologize to me."

Felicity holds out a hand. "I freaked out. I totally freaked out, and that's on me. I know I don't really talk about it, but my dad leaving kind of gave me abandonment issues? I think? So I guess I tried to reject you before you could reject me. You know, again."

When Oliver stands up Felicity looks alarmed and takes a step back.

"You thought I would reject you?" he asks.

"Does that surprise you?" Felicity shoots back.

"Felicity..." He reaches for her but she twists out of his grasp.

"You kissed me, and then you told me we couldn't be together," she says accusingly. "You told me you loved me and then you left me."

"I know," he says softly.

"You hurt me," she says, and her pretty blue eyes fill with tears.

"Felicity, please."

Felicity shakes her head. "I don't know if I can do this, Oliver."

"I love you!" It comes out hot and desperate, no thought, just panic and the willingness to do whatever he has to.

Felicity gasps and backs away from him. "Oliver; please don't say that."

He advances on her, backs them up until she's against the wall. "I love you."

"Oliver," she whispers shakily.

"Tell me how to fix it. Tell me what I can do."

"I can't do this with you again, Oliver. I can't lose you again. It's too hard." Tears stream down her face and she's the most beautiful thing he's ever seen.

Oliver kisses the tears off her cheeks. "You won't. I can promise you that."

Felicity sniffs. "Can you?"

"Yes."

"I'm serious."

"Felicity. I would do anything for you. You have to know that." He nuzzles her cheek. "Tell me what to do and I'll do it."

"Oliver, you are not flirting your way out of this!" she says angrily.

"Felicity. I'm begging you. Tell me what you need to make this okay." He brushes her hair off her face. "Let me fix this for you."

Felicity levels him with a withering stare. "Say you're sorry."

Oliver frames her face in his hands. "I'm so sorry, Felicity."

She bites her lip and he silently curses. Why is she so hot when she's pissed off?

"Say it again," she says.

"I'm sorry," he whispers. Oliver bends down and kisses the side of her neck, feeling her sharp inhale. "I love you. I don't want to hurt you anymore."

Felicity shoves him lightly. "So stop hurting me, dumbass!"

"Okay," Oliver says seriously.

"Okay," she says.

There's a moment where it's just the two of them, staring at each other, like they're each daring the other to make the next move.

Felicity kisses him.

She kisses him, and Oliver instantly responds, putting his hands under her thighs and picking her up. Felicity gasps into his mouth and wraps her legs around his waist.

"I love you," he says again, just because he can.

"You said that already," Felicity sighs, dragging her teeth along his earlobe, making him shiver.

"I like saying it."

"Say other things like that," Felicity demands, kissing the underside of his jaw.

He says, "I'll never leave you again."

He says," "I'm sorry I made you wait so long."

He says," Fuck me, you're beautiful."

"Oliver," Felicity whispers, when she's in his arms and he's carrying her to the bedroom," this is real, right?"

Oliver lays her down carefully on her bed. "Yes, Felicity."

Felicity reaches up and runs her thumb over his lips. "I love you, Oliver."

There's something clawing in his chest, something primal and intense. He fucked this girl last night but he's still nervous as hell.

He's terrified.

He's been searching for redemption in every arrow, every time he zipped up his hood, but he never thought he'd find it here.

Here being between Felicity's legs.

Felicity, who's strong and soft at the same time.

Felicity, who takes no prisoners and doesn't suffer fools.

Felicity, the girl that's crazy enough to love him.

This time he doesn't rush. He doesn't take what he wants without thinking.

Oliver goes slow. He drinks her in, tastes every part of her and when that's not enough, he does it all over again. He goes until Felicity is writhing underneath him and he feels her press a condom into his palm.

This time he remembers everything.

He remembers the way her mouth parts open when he pushes into her.

He remembers stopping and asking if she was okay, and Felicity laughed, and then threw her head back and moaned when he moved inside her.

He remembers the way it felt to fall asleep with her in his arms, like by some magical loophole the universe decided he'd earned this one perfect thing.

He remembers being found worthy of Felicity Smoak.

xxx

In the morning Felicity sighs sleepily and snuggles into his chest.

"Morning," he says lightly. His hands are on her bare back and it feels like a revelation, to touch her like this.

She mumbles something and burrows into his chest.

"You're really not a morning person," Oliver comments, fingers exploring her spine, mapping out the territory between her shoulder blades.

Felicity yawns. "Not before coffee."

Felicity wears his shirt and cooks them scrambled eggs, and Oliver brews coffee.

"Look at you," Felicity smiles broadly. "Making coffee all by yourself."

"Learned from the best," he says, handing her a mug.

"Mm." Felicity takes a sip and smiles happily. "Strong."

It's perfect, sunny domestic bliss and he's falling, falling for her and this and everything they could be.

"I can't believe we waited this long," Oliver says later, when they're back in bed.

"You weren't ready," Felicity murmurs, head on his chest.

Her phone chimes and Oliver pouts when she answers it. Felicity laughs into the phone, hitting the speaker button so he can hear.

"What's up Dig?"

"I think I've given the two of you sufficient time to make up, but you're going to have to suit up. Starling City National Bank was just robbed."

"We're on our way," Felicity tells him, and hang up. "Duty calls," she says, pushing off his chest to get sit up.

"Felicity?"

"Hmm?" She's naked and glowing and for a second he thinks, screw the bad guys, he wants to stay in this room with her forever.

"After we're done do you want to get dinner with me?"

Felicity's face blossoms into a smile. "I'd love that."

It turns out getting drunk and sleeping with Felicity is the best mistake he ever makes.

The end.