Disclaimer: I own this show not, or anything related to Arrow. Unfortunately. Because how AMAZING would my life be if I somehow owned Stephen Amell? Not in a weird way Okay I'm Felicity now. 3, 2, 1…

A/N: OKAY. Written approximately five minutes after the premiere of Arrow, s3ep7- Draw Back Your Bow. Because I can't explain to you how messed up I am about this episode. Honestly. Imagine Ray HADN'T been there, and Oliver had spoken with Felicity. Love all around, kids, wouldn't you agree?

While We're Alive

He could do this. He had to. If he waited any longer he thought he might explode. She wanted him like he wanted her and it was enough. Dig was right. She wouldn't wait around forever; she was too good for that. He had to tell her. If he didn't, he didn't think he would be able to live with the weight of his regret.

The elevator doors of his former company–it still felt like a dagger in his chest to think it – slid open at a painfully slow pace, and yet his heart seemed ready to implode upon itself at the rate it was beating. But the physical and mental pain of not being with her topped the anxiety coming from finally–blissfully, mercifully–telling her. Telling her that he needed her. That he loved her and more than half the time couldn't force his mind onto any other matter at hand. Admitting that before he went to sleep each night it was her face that slipped into his mind, into his dreams, despite all his failed attempts to let it go. To let her go.

It killed him to be away from her. Kissing her had felt more real than anything he had felt in such a long time… He'd been dying waiting to feel that again. And now he had his chance. If she would take him, that is.

He wanted to pause, to take a breath, but his legs kept on propelling him towards the glass doors, towards her. Would she still be dressed up from her da–dinner? God; she must've looked beautiful. He approached the office and rested his hand on her door handle. This was it. Was he actually letting himself do this?

"Oliver?" her voice spoke out. She was seated at her desk–his former desk... –and appearing bewildered. Slowly, she was rising to her feet, her eyes wide behind her glasses. Had she worn those for dinner? he wondered. Probably not. For special occasions she wears her contacts… "Oliver," she repeated. He should probably go in now. He opened the door and tried to smile calmly, though he thought it might have come forth as more of a tight-lipped grimace.

"Hi," he greeted her, albeit stiffly. Felicity blinked once. "Hi." It came out as more of a question, and he stepped forward, by some miracle. "How was dinner?" he inquired. "It… it was nice. Really nice. I think I really helped out," she told him. "Good." She nodded, her painted lips pressed together. "Yeah." There was another moment of silence before he took another step and they simultaneously spoke. She asked him, "What're you doing here?" while he said her name. She smiled awkwardly, he as well. Get a damn grip. But she was wearing a stunning blue dress that accentuated everything and a diamond necklace, and her hair was tied up just so– "I–I wanted to talk. To you. Do you have a second?" She nodded. "'Course. Is… something wrong?"

Oh, nothing, not at all. But you heard what I said to stupid Cupid and think I can never be with you. Because I've said so more than once, in more than one way. And I was wrong. So, so, so stupidly wrong. "No, no. Just… I made a mistake," he said. Her eyebrows lifted. "Is that so?"

"Yes. One I've regretted for days now. Felicity..." He breathed out, his eyes dropping to stare at the paneling of the desk. "I don't like getting close to people. I think it's better and safer for them to stay away. For their sakes, and my own. But I've realized that…" He looked to her. "I've realized that pushing people away is useless. Because if they really want to get in, they will. No matter what I do. Like you have."

She stood straighter, glancing briefly from the floor to him. "Oliver–" He held up a hand. "Please. Please let me finish." She nodded. "The way I feel about you, Felicity… It's not like anything I've ever felt before. Not being with you makes me so angry I… I almost scare myself. And being with you scares me so much too that I've tried to keep my distance but I know now, thanks to both you and John and… and everyone I've lost…" The images of Shado, and Sara, and Slade flickered through his mind and Oliver had to glance at the floor and breathe. "I know now that life is short. I've had so many lucky breaks. I should be dead." Once more, she opened her mouth to speak. He shook his head. "It's true. And being alone or not…" He lifted his hands and dropped them back to his sides. "It doesn't mean anything. It hasn't made me less careful any time I've been with anyone. It's the opposite. It gives me something to live for. And you… you are it for me, Felicity."

She toyed with her hands, not wanting to look away but unable to keep her gaze steady on him as he approached her, cautiously. "I know I've made mistakes. I know you're probably scared I'll leave you when things get hard or dangerous. But I promise you, Felicity..." He stopped in front of her, his eyes focused only on her own. "I could never do that. Not again. Because living without you has made me realize how much I need you, how much you mean to me." He searched her eyes, willing them to see he meant every word he was saying, with all he was. "I love you." She closed her eyes, unable to believe her ears. Maybe she was asleep, back at her apartment, and this was a twisted dream set up by the cruel, cruel universe…

"Please say something," he said. What was that look on her face? Disgust? Shock? Love? He felt sick. She tried to breathe normally. "Never in a million years would I ever have thought–believed–that Oliver Queen would walk into a ginormous office– belonging to me–to proclaim his undying love for me," she managed. "But now that he has… You're sure?" He tilted his head. "Sure?"

"About me. You said you were but… I know you, Oliver. You're true and honest but… you're always cautious and run from commitments like this 'because of the life you lead'," she quoted him. He looked away, licking his lips briefly. Having said that would be the bane of his existence wouldn't it? "I don't want to fall in head first only to have you realize that this was a stupid idea because you get scared–"

He kissed her. She had just kept talking and it was killing him to wait another second. Much like the first time, he held her face in his hands, the hands of the killer she had made into a hero. And this time, he hoped she wouldn't walk away from him. Because he sure as hell wasn't walking away from her. "The only thing I'm scared about losing," he murmured, pressing his forehead to hers and looking into her eyes, "is you. I can't do it again. I know that our lives our complicated. I know that everyone dies eventually and I can accept it. But we might as well be together while we're alive."

Fin.

A/N: I hope y'all enjoyed this fic cuz my heart was beatin' so fast last night I nearly flipped a table. Like I thought Oliver was going to. Again, such a Felicity. Please review, because as you know they are equivalent to love. *smiley face