The movement of illegal guns into the Glades turned out to be a relatively minor operation. In less than four hours, Oliver and Diggle were able to locate the ringleaders and confiscate the weapons. They delivered both to the police and then headed back to the foundry. It was rare for Team Arrow to finish business before midnight, and Oliver was pleased.

"So, how'd your talk go?" Digg asked conversationally, as they walked through the alley toward Verdant.

"My talk?"

Digg rolled his eyes. "Don't pretend you don't know what I mean. Your talk with Felicity - the one you had when we got home from New York yesterday? How'd it go? Things seemed pretty friendly between the two of you tonight."

Oliver couldn't help but grin. "It went well."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Did you tell her that you love her?"

"Maybe not in so many words, but...yeah, something like that."

Diggle stopped and tugged on Oliver's arm, forcing him to stop too.

"You didn't use the words, Oliver?" He gave a worried shake of his head. "You've gotta use the words, man. They're important. You already messed up when you said I love you to trap Slade and didn't tell her later that you really meant it."

"I didn't mean it at the time, Digg. I was trying to fool Slade."

"Bullshit. The only person you're fooling is yourself, Oliver. You've gotta tell her."

"She understands."

Digg gripped Oliver's arm even tighter. "You only think she understands. You need to make sure, Oliver. You guys don't exactly have a great track record for communication when it comes to your relationship."

"Diggle-"

"Use the damn words, Oliver."

"Right."

They resumed walking.

"And for God's sake," Diggle continued, after they'd taken a few steps, "ask her out on a date. Just because the two of you spend more time together than most married couples doesn't mean you get to skip the rituals."

A date? Oliver frowned but had to admit that it was a good idea. He wondered why he hadn't thought of it already.

"Right," he said again.

They descended into the foundry and were greeted by a grinning Felicity. She was already shutting her computers down for the evening.

"Nice work," she said. "That's about as smooth as an operation can get."

"You're heading out?" Diggle asked.

"Yup. Bad guys put away, no new alerts. I'm going home to get more than three hours of sleep for once."

"I'll walk you to your car," Oliver offered quickly. Behind her back, he mouthed, I'll ask, to Diggle.

The man nodded.

"Thanks," Felicity said. She grabbed her purse and they headed up the stairs together. Oliver could have sworn he noticed an extra bounce in her step. It was both wonderful and a little frightening, he thought, to be able to make her happy like this.

When they got to the alley, he slowed, suddenly nervous. It was silly, he thought, given the number of times he'd asked women out for dates. Plus, he was pretty sure he knew what her answer was going to be. Still, stranger things had happened...

"Felicity," he began, and something in his voice caused her to stop and turn to face him. "Would you like to go out to dinner with me?"

And that's it, folks - closing the loop to season 3. Thanks again for reading and for anyone who kept this story on their list, despite the amount of time it's taken to write it. A special thank you to bushlaboo for her support and beta reads.