Sorry for the wait, but I have tried to write this for the past week, but something always comes up, and prevents me from writing.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT! IT MEANS SO MUCH! :)

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Her hand held his in a semi-tight grip as they rode in the small plane back to the states. Her mind was filled with worry and determination, something she knew only came from one source: saving her father and returning him back to his family.

"You alright?"

Felicity jerked her head to look at him, and smiled, but it faded when she gazed into his blue eyes. "No, but I will be." She answered, watching him smile in understanding.

"We'll get him back, Felicity." Oliver remarked, softly.

She nodded, and placed her head on his shoulder. "I know." She whispered, knowing that with Oliver by her side, nothing seemed too impossible.

Oliver rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand, and kissed the top of her head, trying to ease the tension he knew she was feeling. He remembered the look on her face when she remembered her true past, and when her mother told her what truly had happened. It had killed him to no end to see the look of pain on her face, worse than when he told her that they couldn't be together. Oh, how wrong he was.

He hated that he pushed her away. He hated that he didn't remember the times when she had helped him make it through the tortures of the island. Or the time he fell in love with her.

Memories flooded his mind, as he remembered the first time they had made love. It was on the day he was going to leave the island, the first time, and Felicity knew it was going to be the last time they saw each other until he returned home, so they had made the best of the last night they had.

He remembered loving her until the sun came up, and how beautiful she looked underneath him with her hair like a golden halo around her head. The goodbye kiss that almost sparked into something more until her mother appeared with the potion.

"I hated and loved that day." Felicity whispered, in the silence of the cabin.

Oliver lowered his head, and she sat up just a fraction to look into his eyes. "The last day we were together," She answered his silent question.

He smiled, faintly, and realized his body language was giving off the memories. "I hated that day too." He whispered, lifting his free hand to caress her face, before lowering his head and gently kissed her lips.

She smiled against his lips, and sighed when he pulled back. "Imagine John's face when we get back, and tell him the whole truth." She remarked after a moment with her eyes sparkling with humor.

He chuckled, and shook his head. "Imagine all of their faces." He returned, as she giggled.

She shook her head, and placed her forehead on his shoulder. "I never thought I would be this happy and content when I left to come be with you." She began, pulling back to look into his eyes. "I mean, I wanted nothing more than to force you to accept that I wasn't going to leave, and nothing was going to happen, but I couldn't." She continued, searching his eyes. "You hurt me, Oliver." She added, lowly.

Oliver let out a long sigh, and bowed his head before lifting it to look over her head for a moment. "I hurt myself." He returned, looking into her blue eyes.

She sighed, and saw the yearning for an understanding and an apology in his blue orbs. She smiled, and shook her head. "I forgave you the moment you told me you loved me." She whispered, watching his face lighten a fraction just from her words. "I didn't think I could, but I was wrong." She continued, after a moment. "I loved you too much not to." She added, smiling.

He smiled with a breath of laughter, and bent his head to kiss her, gently. "I do love you, Felicity." He whispered, against her lips.

She smiled, and leaned forward, further into his embrace. "I love you, Oliver." She whispered, taking his mouth completely with hers.

"Not to be a nudge or whatever you call someone who interrupts, but we're close to the landing sight." Diana remarked from the cockpit.

Felicity groaned as Oliver laughed lowly. "I hate flying." She muttered, feeling Oliver wrap his arms around her, and held her close.

"Don't worry, Goddess, I've got you." He whispered, earning a small, playful glare from the woman in his arms. He chuckled, and bent his head down to whisper the words he longed to tell her, and she longed to hear. "And I'm never letting go."

With that she forgot about the landing.

~XXX~

Tears hit her eyes as she turned to say goodbye to the woman who, she remembered, was her cousin and, now, friend.

Diana shook her head as she grasped Felicity's hands with hers. "This is not goodbye, dear Goddess." She whispered, tears springing to her eyes. "We'll see each other again. Of that I have no doubt." She remarked, bowing her head.

Felicity smiled through her tears, and tugged her friend into her arms. "I hope so." She whispered in the Amazon's ear. "I'll miss you." She added, softly.

Diana nodded, and pulled back to touch Felicity's face affectionately. "Remember, Amazons are bonded forever, and when one of our sister's is in trouble, we shall rally and come to her aide." She stated, firmly. "Remember that, Felicity." She added, kissing Felicity's forehead with honor and affection as she stepped back, and clasped Oliver's hand, firmly.

"Watch over her, Oliver, and never forget, two lives are hard to live, but when you have support and love, then those two lives will never be hard." She added, firmly with wisdom lining her words.

He nodded, and smiled, faintly at her words. "I'll try." He responded, much to Diana's pleasure.

Diana stepped back, and nodded towards them. "Mother wanted me to give you both something before you left, but she found she couldn't, so she asked me to give it to you." She remarked, holding out a small package, she had taken from the plane a moment before.

"It's actually from both of our mothers." She whispered, handing it to Felicity, who tilted her head to the side. "She said you would know what to do with it when the time came." She added, stepping back with a smile.

Felicity lowered her eyes to the package in her hands, not sure what it meant, but nodded. "Thanks." She remarked, as Diana smiled.

"You'll understand after you open it." Diana stated, stepping back towards her plane. "I would stay and chat, but I have fiancée to see, and a city to protect, as do both of you." She remarked, with a smile, before climbing on board.

Felicity lowered her eyes to the package, and slowly lifted her eyes to Oliver, who was looking at her carefully. "Should I?" She asked, watching him shrug, and smile.

"If you want, but I would wait until we are somewhere safe." He answered, earning a nod from her.

"Let's go home." She replied, leaning into his side as they walked away from the airstrip, towards the city.

Diana watched from the cockpit of her plane, and smiled as they walked as one off into the unknown. "They are going to make it." She whispered, just before taking off. "They're going to make it."

~XXX~

To say the others were stunned to see Oliver alive and walking was an understatement. Diggle hugged him like a brother who just returned from the dead, before hugging Felicity in turn. Laurel hugged him with emotion, before allowing Ray and the rest of the team hug him.

As he stepped back, he held out his arm, and Felicity stepped inside it with ease that seemed to shock the others, before he told them they he had something to tell them, or yet, he and Felicity had something to tell them.

"Felicity's father is being held by Ra's al Ghul." Oliver stated, firmly.

Diggle looked over to Felicity, and tilted his head. "I'm sorry, Felicity." He whispered, just as Felicity nodded her head.

"It's okay, because we are going to get him back." She stated, leaning into Oliver's side.

Diggle shook his head. "Felicity, I know that's your father, but you're also talking about Ra's al Ghul here." He stated, firmly.

Felicity nodded, and sighed. "I'm not asking for your help, John." She remarked, lifting her head to look at Oliver. "But Oliver and I have to do this." She stated, firmly.

"Why do you and Oliver have to?" Laurel asked, shaking her head as she stepped up.

Felicity sighed, and shook her head. "It's hard to explain, but all I can say is that Oliver and I are the only ones who have to do this, but if you want to help, then I won't stop you." She answered, tears touching her eyes for a brief moment.

Oliver nodded, and sighed. "Like Felicity said, we would appreciate your help, but if you don't want to, we won't force you." He added, holding Felicity close to his side. "It's great to see you all, but it's been a long flight, and Felicity and I need some rest." He replied, holding her close.

Diggle nodded in understanding, and clasped Oliver's shoulder with his hand. "Okay, but it's great to see you, man." He remarked, as Oliver smiled at his friend.

"It's great to see you too, John." He returned, hugging Diggle once more before he and Felicity left the basement, and headed towards her home.

"You think they'll help?" She asked, after a moment.

Oliver sighed, and reached beside her to hold her hand, gently. "I think they will." He answered, as she nodded, and leaned her head back against the seat.

She sighed, as she fingered the package in her hands. Her mind became muddled from the delayed jet lag, and slowly her eyes began to drift close.

She awoke a few moments later when she felt arms surround her body, and lift her from the car they were in. She hummed, and nuzzled her face into his shoulder. She felt lips touch the top of her head, and she smiled.

"Keys?"

She motioned to the pot on the porch. He chuckled, and in one swift movement, he opened the door, and carried her into her home. She wasn't sure how he knew where her bedroom was, nor did she care, when he laid her down on the bed, and climbed in with her.

She sighed, and snuggled close to his body. As they drifted to sleep, they both seemed to understand that though they were home, and were welcomed by their friends, the danger was just beginning.

~XXX~

Hephaestus wiped the sweat from his brow as he pounded the metal hard on the anvil. He lifted his blue eyes up to find a tall woman standing a few feet from him. "What do you want?" He asked, placing the metal into the cold water.

Nyssa sighed, and stepped forward. "Father wanted to know when the new weapons will be ready." She asked with mild tolerance.

He shook his head, and stepped back from the anvil. "Tomorrow," He answered, firmly with disdain.

Her eyes studied his face, and she saw the sorrow in his features as she stepped closer. "You have a daughter, don't you?" She asked, after a moment.

He lifted his head, and glared at her. "If you think I'm going to let you harm her," He began, but she shook her head.

"On the contrary," She began, shaking her head once again. "I was hoping you could tell me about her." She added, gently.

He studied her for a moment, as if looking deep into her soul, as gods could do, and sighed. "She is the second bright light in my life. The soul reason I live." He answered after a moment had gone by.

"Who is the first?" She asked, honestly.

He smiled, and fingered the ring on his hand. "My wife," He answered, picking up the metal sword, and placed it on the anvil.

She smiled, and nodded her head. "Father never told me how you came here." She remarked, watching him stiffen as he raised the hammer high. "He took you away from your family, didn't he?" She asked, with small emotion.

He glared at her before bringing the hammer down onto the metal, with a loud crash. "Why should I tell you? You are the daughter of the man who took me away from my family." He stated, roughly.

She stepped towards him, and looked into his eyes. "Because I don't agree with what my father has done, and I'm leaving." She returned in a low tone. "He has mentioned that he is going after someone you care about." She added, watching the fire around him flare in his anger. "I want to protect her, Hephaestus." She stated, holding her hands up. "I don't want an innocent person die because my father wants leverage against you." She added, firmly.

He sighed, and bowed his head, knowing she was telling the truth. "Her name is Felicity." He replied, after a few moments. "You will find her with her protector." He added, moving around the anvil.

"If you do mean what you say, then thank you, but if you go against her, I warn you, no matter what you may think, I still have the power to reach into the outer world, and I will burn you and those with you with a single thought." He stated, with a low tone that was dangerous and full of promise.

She nodded, and stepped back. "You have my word." She remarked, in a firm tone. "She will be protected." She added, disappearing from the room.

He bowed his head, and placed his good hand around his neck to the necklace handing against his chest. "I hope so." He whispered, closing his eyes in pain. "I certainly hope so."

Please be kind!

I may have gotten away from what was intended for this chapter, but I hope you enjoyed it anyway!

Next Chapter: The contents of the package is revealed; Nyssa meets Hephaestus' daughter

Until Next Time...