That Ship Has Sailed

Oliver & Felicity

Co-written with: owlover18

"Have I shown you the one on my knee?" Felicity asked. She was seated, cross-legged on her couch, with her back against the armrest, so she was facing Oliver.

"You did," he answered, "Fourth grade biking accident," he recalled.

Felicity nodded distractedly, looking at the empty wine glass in her hand, "I think I need more of this," she said quietly, still staring at the bit of red wine that was pooled in the very bottom of the glass. She turned to set it back on the coffee table to re-fill it, but winced in pain.

Oliver stopped her and took over, "I got it," he said gently, filling it slightly and handing it back to her.

"Thanks," she replied, placing her free hand on the side of her neck while taking the glass with her other. Her eyes closed and she held her neck for a few moments.

"Felicity," Oliver spoke quietly.

"Hmm?" she asked.

He took her glass again and scooted closer to her, lifting her legs over his lap. He gently took her hand off her neck and looked. The skin was still red and slightly raw, though healing. Felicity looked down and a small laugh escaped her lips, "First bullet wound."

"First and last," Oliver said, his fingertips tracing the marred skin on an otherwise blemish-less palette. "Still, you always said you wanted one so you fit in. How do you feel now that you have one?"

"Initiated," Felicity said quietly, her eyes closing again and her hand resting against her neck, covering the throbbing wound. Silence lingered until she whispered, "I don't want it anymore."

"I know," Oliver said quickly, "It will heal. I swear to you, I'll never let it happen again."

Felicity opened her eyes and looked at the man sitting so close to her. A small smile graced her lips and she just looked at him. Oliver smiled back, but after a minute, he asked what she was thinking about.

She shook her head gently, "Nothing."

"Felicity, I know you well enough to know that's a lie. Is it the mission, Barry, something with your mom?"

She shook her head again, "No. It's nothing like that."

"What is it, then?"

Felicity reached out her free hand, reaching for Oliver's that was resting on her knee. He let her take it. She moved her body so she was closer to him, looking sideways at his face. She watched his eyes trail down to her scar, which was uncovered again. She turned her head so he could get a better look.

"You know," she said, "In a way, I feel better off for having it."

"Don't say that," Oliver said, bringing his face closer to hers until his lips lingered just above the healing skin. He felt the reverberating of her voice through his lips as she continued.

"Each scar is a memory," she said, "A reminder that something awful happened to you, but you're still here. That you're still alive. That you still feel."

Oliver now puckered his lips until they kissed just beside the scar, then he pulled his head away to whisper in her ear, "You getting hurt has made me realize something."

Felicity's eyes closed, "Oh? What is that?" she asked.

"I can't waste another minute of time. You could have died. I could die, every time I go out there. I don't want to live my life regretting not saying something or not doing something because one day, the injury might be fatal, and there's no coming back from that."

Felicity nodded slightly. Oliver moved his hand to wrap around her shoulders, holding her close to him. He kissed her jaw gently and then whispered something in her ear that she'd been wanting to hear for a very, very long time.

She smiled, turning to look at him, "I love you, too," she whispered back.

Oliver kissed her forehead, then trailed kisses down her face to her cheeks before his lips found their home against hers. Then, he kissed her until her words made sense. Until he felt he was still there, still alive, and still able to feel, even after all he'd been through. Then, he kissed her some more.