If Things Were Different

Please Don't Say You Love Me

After the most extraordinary experience they've both ever had, Oliver rolled down from Barry so they were lying next to each other in the huge bed, both still breathing heavily.
"Barry, I didn't want to ruin the moment but..." Oliver said and leaned on his arm to get a better view of Barry. He turned towards Oliver. "But how did you get this?" Oliver slipped his fingers over a sensitive mark on Barry's back. Barry vibrated slightly.
"That's actually thanks to you. Your arrows I mean." Barry said. "Why did I shoot you?" Oliver asked. Barry scoffed. "Rough training." Oliver continued to slip his fingers down Barry's back while they were talking.
"So even though I shot you, you still got feelings for me?" Oliver wondered. Barry caressed Oliver's scruffy cheek and chin and stole another kiss from him. "Yeah, maybe I like to live dangerously." Barry said with a smile. After the chat, they cuddled up into each other's arms and fell asleep completely satisfied. Barry didn't really care at this moment that it would have to end, he could've died right there in Oliver's arms and it would've been okay because he was that happy.

***

The next morning Barry woke up by the sun that slipped in through the curtains and he glanced at the half naked Oliver in the bed next to him. I slept with Oliver Queen he thought to himself and smiled. Oliver looked so peaceful in his sleep.
"Were you watching me sleep?" Oliver asked when he opened his eyes. Barry's face flushed red. "Yeah, you got me."
Oliver leaned forward and kissed Barry softly on the lips. "Good morning." Oliver said and smiled. "I can't recall I've ever had a better morning." Barry said, and then he remembered that this wasn't real. That he had to change things back to how they were. As the realization hit him he rolled away from Oliver. "This was an amazing, yet a horrible mistake." Barry said and was just about to crawl out of the bed, when Oliver pulled him down next to him again. He turned Barry's face towards him and looked him deep into his green blue eyes.
"I don't know the alternate world you're from, but I know you Barry. In this life, I've loved you since you first showed up in my life. You were soaking wet from the rain and you were rambling all adoreble like you often do. You were the smartest person that I've ever come across and I know that you're always doing what you think is right. That's what I admire the most about you. So maybe creating this new timeline where we are married was your subconscious trying to tell you something." Oliver said while intertwining his fingers with Barry's.
"Like what, Ollie? That I should ask you to marry me in the real timeline?" Barry joked and Oliver cracked a nervous laughter. "No." Barry met his gaze. "Then what?"
"That this is meant to be. So stay here." Oliver said and Barry didn't know what to say.
"Oliver, you know I can't. I would like nothing more than to stay here...with you...like this..." Barry said and cuddled up in Oliver's strong arms and placed his head on Oliver's chest.
"Barry, I-." But Barry interrupted Oliver before he could say anything that'd make the situation worse by pressing a soft kiss against his lips.
"Don't. I know what you were going to say, but please don't say you love me, because I can't say it back." Barry sighed and rolled off Oliver's arm and pulled on his pants again.
Oliver was soon out of bed too. Naked aside from his boxers. Barry felt his throat go dry.
"Barry, I'm not letting you leave." Oliver said and walked over to Barry's side of the bed.
"You have too. This is already hard enough for me as it is." Barry said and tried to keep his tears inside. He didn't want to act like a girl in front of Oliver Queen.
"Goodbye, Oliver, goodbye my husband." Barry said and placed his wedding ring into Oliver's hand before he leaned in and kissed him, as if to memorize and save the taste and the feeling of his lips, thinking it was their last kiss.