That Ship Has Sailed

Oliver & Felicity

The scene was a blur. Felicity sat in front of a vanity, not hearing the incessant sounds of her mother babbling on in between sobs and nose-blows. She adjusted her veil, a smile finding it's way to her face before she stood, "Mother," she said quickly. Her mother stopped talking and stared. Felicity smiled wider, "I'm ready."

More tears flowed and Felicity rolled her eyes as her mother blew her nose three times on the way to the door of the chapel.

"Shouldn't I be the one crying? I mean, it is my wedding day, after all."

"Oh, I'm sorry," the woman sniffed, "You're right. Oh, but you've always been stronger than me. You've weathered so much these past years and still made it out strong. I'm so proud of you."

"Thanks, mom," Felicity said with a smile.

Just then, the music started playing. Diggle stepped forward and held out his arm, smiling at the bride, "You look beautiful, Felicity."

"Thank you, John," Felicity blushed, taking his arm, "Is it bad that I'm so nervous?"

Diggle smiled again, facing the door, "No. Everyone gets nervous until they see the other at the altar. After that, it's indescribable."

"Oh, John," Felicity said quickly, "Don't make me cry because if you make me cry, my mother will start again and then everything will go down hill--"

"Felicity," Diggle interrupted.

"What?"

"The music started. Are you ready?"

"Yes. Of course I am. Why would you ask if I am? Should I be second guessing myself?"

"Felicity, relax," Diggle chuckled, nodding at the usher to open the door. Felicity stared at Diggle a moment longer, butterflies in her stomach doing flips and twirls. Diggle looked down at her, smiled, then looked straight ahead. Felicity's gaze followed his and as she took her first few steps, her gaze linked with Oliver's.

Oliver was in a suit, but not the one Felicity was used to seeing him in. There was no green, no grease on his face and no bow or arrows. It was just Oliver, his buzzed, blonde hair sticking up and his smile shining brightly. Felicity smiled and walked slowly with Diggle down the isle. Finally, they stopped and Diggle joined the hands of Oliver and Felicity.

"Thanks, Dig," Oliver whispered. Diggle nodded and took his place beside Oliver as his best man. Oliver then looked back at Felicity and smiled, "You look more star struck than the day I met you."

Felicity blushed, but, for once, had nothing to say in return.

"We are gathered here today, to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony," the priest began.

"Felicity," someone whispered. She ignored it and simply looked into Oliver's loving eyes.

"I believe you each wrote your own vows," he continued.

Oliver took over now, smiling down at Felicity, "Felicity Megan Smoak," he began, "We met because I needed help with a simple task at work. After that, I asked you for help with every task, not because I liked you, but because you were there. That changed after I scared you in your car. You were so frantic and it was the cutest thing I'd ever seen."

Felicity blushed, but smiled.

"I asked you on a date and you said yes. That was the beginning of the best years of my life. We've been through hard times, but we've come out stronger than ever. We've beaten all odds and that's how I know we'll be together forever."

The priest waited a moment, then instructed Felicity that it was her turn.

"Oliver Jonas Queen," Felicity began.

"Felicity," another whisper came.

She paused, trying to ignore it as she continued, "You've always been crazy. Yet, from scaring me in my car to asking me to hack things I probably shouldn't have, I was always there. I chose to be. I didn't always like you, in fact, at several points, I even hated you because you never listened to your loved ones and you kept putting yourself in harm's way--"

"Felicity," Oliver whispered, "You're rambling."

"Right, sorry," Felicity continued, "Anyway, I didn't always like you, but I was always there for you and I promise to always be there for you, forever. I will always protect you in every way I know how and I may not like you forever, but I will always love you forever. And ever. And ever."

Oliver grinned and his mouth opened as he said something, but Felicity didn't hear it. Instead, she heard another whisper of her name, this time louder. She turned to look, but only saw smiling faces and teary eyes looking back at her. Confused, she returned her attention to Oliver.

"I love you," she heard him say it this time.

She smiled, "I love you too, Oliver."

The priest began talking again, but Felicity didn't hear it. Instead, she heard Diggle say, "Felicity," in a loud voice.

She looked over at him, "Why do you keep calling my name?" she asked him.

"Felicity," she heard it again, but this time, her mother said it.

"I now pronounce you--"

"Felicity!"

With a jolt, Felicity sat up, panting. Her head pounded with pain and she rubbed her eyes. She then gasped and looked up, looking all around her. After seeing empty bottles on the floor and a small blanket by her side, however, she realized the truth.

"Hey," a gentle voice said, "Felicity."

She looked up, squinting at the sudden bright light coming in from the window Diggle had just opened, "It's time to get up," he continued, "You can't keep living like this."

"Why not?" Felicity tested, pushing her legs off the couch and rubbing her eyes again before reaching for a bottle.

Diggle snatched it away, "It isn't what he would have wanted."

"How do you know what he would have wanted? How can anyone know what he would have wanted? He's dead, John, and we all know why. I can't ever take it back--"

"You had the dream again, didn't you?"

"Yes," Felicity said sharply, "So?"

Diggle nodded and sat beside her, "Felicity," he said gently, "I know you feel responsible, but no one could have predicted the power of that explosion. He chose to go in and that isn't your fault."

"I could have stopped it if my hands didn't cramp from typing," Felicity said, tears forming in her eyes. She sniffed and wiped her nose on her sleeve.

"It's not your fault," Diggle said, taking her hands in his. He rubbed her surgery scars gently, "You know, you really shouldn't drink while you're on your medication unless you have a death wish."

Felicity looked away and pulled her hands away, resting her elbows on her knees so she could look at them. The scars were white and healed, but still there. So much typing had given her serious carpal tunnel, which required surgery to fix. If only she had gotten it before the explosion, her hands wouldn't have cramped and she could have finished hacking, thus saving Oliver's life.

"In my dream," she whispered hoarsely, "I promise to love him forever. And ever. And ever.  I promise to always be there for him. But I wasn't there for him when he most needed me," tears in her eyes, she looked back at Diggle, "How can I forgive myself? I didn't--" she paused, taking a few deep breaths, "I didn't even get to say goodbye," she whispered, "The last thing I said to him was, 'if you go in there, I'll never forgive you.'"

"Felicity," Diggle said, pulling her close to him. He didn't know what else to say, but when she relaxed into his arms, he knew he didn't need to say anything else. As she cried against him, he rubbed her back and looked around, searching for the right words to say to her. He knew, however, that he could never find those words. The only person who could console her at this point was Oliver himself.

"I just miss him so much," Felicity sobbed.

"I know," Diggle said, "I miss him too."