Chapter Text
Full Circle
3 years ago…
"You know you've become Noah from "The Notebook" right?"
Oliver looked over his broad shoulder and down until his best friend Tommy's face was coming into view. He put aside the roofing shingles, removed his gloves and gestured with his chin towards the ladder. Tommy began climbing up while Oliver carefully eased himself into a seated position on the slope of the roof. Oliver gazed out at the endless mountain landscape while Tommy carefully walked over to where he sat. Once his best friend was seated beside him he rested his elbows along his bent knees. His jeans were covered in dust, so was his brown jacket he noted when he asked, "So Laurel made you watch that movie too?"
Tommy chuckled easily with his careful attitude. "Yeah but the end result wasn't so bad…"
Oliver glanced over at his dark haired, chisel chined friend. His brown eyes twinkled with unspoken meaning that Oliver sadly understood. "Yeah after they did it, Felicity was so turned on that so did we…" Oliver told him sheepishly.
Tommy could barely contain his laughter when he said, "Are you serious? I mean that thing came out in what 04?"
Oliver's head fell a bit as he let out a small laugh. "Yeah well we were eleven when it first came out so she wasn't allowed to see it until she was thirteen and then she spent four years trying to get me to watch it."
Tommy shook his head in amusement. "Damn that girl really did own you once you two had sex didn't she?"
Oliver mumbled in sad admission, "she owned me well before that trust me…" he took a breath then exhaled, "Once we had sex," Oliver gulped doen his pride and admitted, "let's just say her power over me was greatly amplified."
"So re-building the house and living out in that abandoned cabin by Blodgett Overlook is what? Penance for a drunken mistake that everyone including Sara has already forgotten?" Tommy asked with genuine empathy for his best friend's broken heart.
Oliver sighed as he lifted his head up to set his eyes back along the horizon. "No this is how I prove that I love her," he breathed gently. "'I'm completely devoted to her and this is how I'm gonna prove it," he explained without really explaining.
Tommy patted him on the back as he began to understand why Oliver had suddenly become Noah. "I think I recall you two always dreamed of fixing up this old house," Tommy mused aloud without really needing an answer.
Oliver gave him an almost tight, "Yes, we did…"
Tommy also realized almost by accident why his best friend might be living in an abandoned cabin."And you're living in the old cabin because you two used to use that old shack as a…"
"Yes we used to meet there to have sex," Oliver mumbled with vague irritation. "And yes I know all of this makes me seem insane but I honestly don't care."
Tommy sighed as his head dropped, "Oliver, I get the house. I really do but why that old cabin? I mean seriously if you wanted to be some place memorable why not live in your truck?"
Oliver laughed despite himself. Tommy had a point. They had sex there too. "It's not about the sex," Oliver explained with sadness in his tone. "It's where we made all of our plans. We used to run off to that cabin when we were kids." Oliver felt the air around him shift. "We used to imagine what it would be like to live in the valley, just the two of us. Hiking and playing tag and swimming until the sun set." Oliver glanced over at his friend and saw empathy. "It was where I told her that I loved her. It's where I planned to propose to her and it was where I planned to spend our wedding night," he finished with a growing knot in his stomach. "I live there because that place holds her memory and right now I just need her okay?"
Tommy exhaled sadly, "Yeah I can understand what it feels like when the person you need doesn't seem to need you back…"
Oliver gave him a slight head nod. They weren't usually this emotionally vulnerable but that didn't stop him from saying, "I want her back Tommy and I won't be able to get her back until I have something more than my love to offer her."
Tommy sighed, "Then do what I told you to do after you broke up with McKenna. Go to New York! Tell her all the shit you just told me! Tell her that you want her, that you need her…" he stopped like he was afraid of going too far but after a few seconds he finished by saying, "Tell her the truth Oliver. Tell her you've been in love with her since before you could walk and that you'd give up everything to be with her…"
Oliver laughed sarcastically. "She probably wouldn't let me in the front door…"
Tommy smacked his shoulder with enough force to cause Oliver's solid form to budge. "You know that's bullshit. She loves you Oliver. No matter what happened or didn't happen Felicity didn't leave because she didn't love you man! She left because she loved you far more than thought she should at the age of eighteen!" He shouted almost to the heavens.
Oliver rubbed his shoulder gingerly. "I regret showing you that letter," he grumbled before he gave him a friendly shove.
"Well you did and now you need to stop being a dumbass and go get your damn girl!" Tommy reiterated with quite a bit of volume.
"Felicity won't leave New York to live in an abandoned shack while I fix up this house. Nor will she give up her hard earned career to take a backseat to mine!" Oliver laughed almost sadly before he soberly added, "And frankly nor should she…"
Tommy's head fell in understanding. "So what? You're gonna wait until this place is perfect?"
Oliver gulped audibly then uttered, "No. I'm gonna fix this house and get my shit together."
"And then what?"
"And then I'm gonna get my girl back," Oliver told him before they both fell silent.
1 Year Ago…
"The house is perfect! You even turned that cabin into a livable domicile! You have an amazing job that pays you ridiculously well! What more could you possibly need to do?" Tommy asked from outside an abandoned building in DC.
Oliver glared at his phone and rolled his eyes. "No the house still needs a ton of work. Yes I live in the cabin, and yes it is somewhat livable…" Oliver glanced at the leaking ceiling as his mind shifted back towards his job. The amazing job that made it so he actually had to live in the valley to do continuous reports on the air and water quality for the EPA and the conservation grants. He shifted back to his conversation when he swore he heard a loud thump landing on his kitchen table. "And to keep the amazing job I have to make sure I get the conservation grants. Then I have to keep doing tests that require me to live in the valley for weeks at a time. All so I can get the funding to keep Bitterroot Valley from being overrun by the hotel industry," he explained in annoyance.
Oliver heard Tommy whisper something unrelated beneath his breath before he snapped back with a whity, "Oh that's right you're trying to be more than just a farmer, I forgot that you're under some continuous illusion that you're not good enough for her."
Oliver scowled but not at his friend's words. The cabin he stayed in when he was working in the valley had another hole in the roof. The water from the building storm was now destroying the pen on the pending grant papers. He quickly grabbed a towel from the makeshift kitchen and moved the papers towards the dry end of the table. As he mopped up the water he heard Tommy whispering something that sounded like an order. Forgetting his previous comment for a moment he asked,"Are you on a stakeout?"
The phone on Oliver's end crackled. The storm was getting closer. Oliver looked out the only window at the back of the structure. The cloud bank at the horizon line between the mountains was black. Knowing he wouldn't be able to patch up the roof he grabbed the papers, his computer, mobile wifi, phone and keys. His phone crackled again when Tommy replied, "Yeah… it's for the case that Laurel has been talking about and you didn't comment on my previous response. Why do you still think you're not good enough?
Oliver held the phone to his ear with his shoulder as he quickly got himself and his stuff into the truck. "I don't think that I'm not good enough, I just don't think who I currently am is enough…" he admitted hurriedly.
Tommy huffed in annoyance. "You know that's a bunch of crap and secondly if you get the job they keep talking about you would have to be in New York for a week every month. So once again why aren't you together?"
Oliver smiled all be it sadly. "First thank you,"
"Anytime bro," he immediately responded.
Oliver smiled. "Secondly I would give up everything I have if it meant I was with her but…"
"But she would never forgive you." Tommy concluded softly.
Oliver maneuvered the car down the muddy path as the storm began to build behind him and within him. "Exactly, my point," Oliver sighed. "I need to fulfill my own dreams and to create my own path. I can't be just the guy that follows the girl. Felicity would never accept me if I were half of who I used to be."
"Well then maybe she should give something up for you?" Tommy offered easily.
"No…" Oliver replied quickly. "No I would do anything to be with her but I won't let her give up her career to be with me," he stated with purpose. "I have to make sure that we both can have what we want…" he concluded before each man once again fell silent.
2 week ago…
Oliver was getting out of his truck only to wish he could get right back in it. There sitting on his front porch in a white linen suit was his mother Moira Queen. Her shoulder length blonde hair was pinned at the sides with her antique hair combs. She stood up as he approached. Her fingers were wrapped around an open letter and her often expressive eyes were hidden behind a pair of sunglasses.
"Before you say anything please just read this letter," she implored him gently.
Oliver nodded in silent agreement. She took a few steps forward carefully. Oliver noted that her shoes were white with a dangerously high heel. "You should've worn boots if you knew you'd be coming out here mom."
Moira agreed with his suggestion with a light, "Well maybe the next time I stop by I'll remember that."
"I'd like that," Oliver remarked just as lightly.
Moira gave him a tight smile. She was nearly eye level with him. Oliver could tell she wanted to say something more but she hesitated each time she tried. They stood there for a few more awkward moments. The winds blew around then making it seem cooler than it was. The tree branches swayed out an all familiar melody as Moira finally managed to speak.
"I love you, and I just want you to be happy," was all she finally said when she reached for his hand and placed the letter against his palm. "Don't think that you were ever not good enough for her…" was all she had left to say before she moved past him and headed back to her silver SUV.
Oliver waited until she was in her car. She waved goodbye and he returned the favor. Once he could no longer hear the ties on the gravel he glanced down at the paper in his hand. All he had to see was Felicity's name and the word yes. After that he ran back to his car. He started the engine and dialed a rather familiar number…
"Western Renovations, Dale here, how may I help you?"
Oliver's entire face was glowing when he said, "Dale it's Oliver. You know that renovation I've been thinking about?
Dale replied, "Yeah why?"
"Well it's a go…" he told him with a hearty laugh.
All Dale could say back was, "Well it's about damn time!"
Present Day...
While Oliver had been talking he'd taken them to the cabin by the overlook. The small barely 900 sq ft structure now looked cute and cozy instead of abandoned and possibly condemned. The building was truly four walls with a newly installed tin roof. The logs were repaired, re-stained and insulted against the elements. The two front windows had green shutters and planter boxes with tulips beneath the ledges. The front door was at one point just a piece of heavy wood. Now it was an actual door that was painted red.
Felicity wasn't stunned by any of it. No she wasn't shocked or even taken aback. No she was once again amazed if not slightly overwhelmed by the depth of his feelings for her. Oliver had told her everything. He'd explained what happened after he woke up after the wedding. He told her how he became slightly if not completely obsessed with remodeling the home that was meant to be theirs. He also laid out his plan for how to get her back.
She had to admit he once again missed nothing. She knew for him there was no future if she had to give up her life in New York. That just wasn't an option in his mind. First he started working on remodeling the farm house. Then when he was working he decided to live in the old cabin by the Overlook. That way he would be surrounded by the Valley they both loved and isolated from his worried friends and family. While out doing a routine water/air quality test he noticed a group of men in high profile suits following Edgar, a local guide for all of Bitterroot Valley.
The suits were taking pictures of Blodgett Overlook. Oliver decided to keep an eye on them over the next few days. When they left he found Edgar at Tabby's. They began talking and eventually Edgar revealed that they were a group of investors looking to make Hamilton the next destination for every hotel chain imaginable.
Oliver of course couldn't let that happen so he started applying for conservation grants. He wrote reports, made phone calls and even traveled to Chicago and then New York to meet with his own investors. In the end he managed to become as he told her head conservationist. What he left out was that they offered him a job that was still based in Montana but had frequent visits to New York. Oliver had managed to create a job that would let him be in both worlds. Felicity however had decided three years ago she just wanted to be in one…
The world that she wanted to be in was the one that was with him.
She knew she needed to speak or react but all that she managed to do was reach over and smack his arm.
Oliver, reacted with an amused if not confused, "Ummm ouch?"
Felicity smacked him again. "How could you come to New York! I mean how often were you there? How long?" She smacked him again then yelled, "Did it ever occur to you to come see me?"
Oliver should've looked ashamed or anything other than calm. The bastard was cool as a damn cucumber while she sounded like a raving lunatic. He smiled softly with that dreamy eyed look that turned her insides into jelly. "Relax, it was only once for I think maybe six hours," he said with humor in his voice.
"Don't care," she snapped. "You could've found a way…" she began to rant until she realized she could've come home for Laurel's wedding...or anytime in the past ten years. Her words died in throat. He didn't seek her out for the same reasons that she hadn't come home. They both wanted to prove themselves worthy of the other. It finally hit her squarely in the chest. They both didn't feel worthy and that idea made something within her begin to ache. Suddenly feeling overwhelmed she opened the door, got out of the car and slammed the door behind her. She marched along the newly created gravel path until she had her hand on the doorknob. She heard Oliver walking up behind her slowly. Instead of waiting she turned the knob and of course it opened because who would need to lock the door...she thought irritably…
She then walked past the threshold and stopped. Once again Oliver had left her speechless. The cabin had always been a rundown shack. When they were children it was their private fort. The roof leaked, it smelled of mildew and pine with moss growing along the outer walls. When they found it they'd been about five or maybe six. Robert brought them to the overlook for a camping trip. It was Robert who brought them to his "retreat". He was going to have the building torn down but both Oliver and Felicity begged him to give it to them. Robert agreed and "sold" it to them for a dollar. Felicity still laughed at the memory because after they became homeowners they spent hours trying to fix it up.
Robert helped them clean off the mold and mildew. He even spent the money to replace the rotted floorboards and to replace the cracked window glass. The walls back then were still stable so once they were cleaned and re-stained they looked great. Felicity bought some drapes for the front windows and Oliver had his father help him build a table. Robert always called the cabin their first home and Oliver apparently took that to heart.
Felicity slowly glanced around the small one room structure. The floors were brand new...as in Oliver had replaced all the hardwood with brand new hardwood that almost resembled an old oak tree. He had a welcome mat at the door. To her left was a line of hooks for coats and hats. On the right wall was another row of hooks for keys. As her eyes moved into the main area she realized her body was slowly beginning to move. The heels of her boots softly clicked as she stepped off the welcome mat and towards the center of the room where the table that Robert and Oliver built still remained. Four chairs were placed around the table that sat on a red circular rug. The table itself was empty except for a small bowl of apples. Felicity picked up a red one and rolled it between her palms. To her left was the living space with a red love seat pushed up against the wall. As children that wall didn't have a window. Now it did. The window was covered by a closed blind. He had a small coffee table in front of the loveseat with a modest sized flat screen Tv mounted to the right outer wall. Her eyes moved along the back wall. The black fridge was definitely new. In fact the entire kitchen was new since they often packed a cooler when they would come up here as teenagers to be alone. There was a row of five cabinets with glass doors that were above a built in gray and black marbled granite countertop. She noticed that the cabinets below were painted white with black handles. That led to an updated stove and another marbled countertop where he had a toaster, coffee pot and even a microwave. Oliver even put up a red tiled backsplash. He'd also created an island with the same granite counters that held a large sink. She assumed the dishwasher was in the island along with more storage. To the right was the bedroom. She put the apple back in the bowl and slowly left the table before venturing towards the bed. She passed the renovated bathroom that now had an actual door and a decent size shower.
The bedroom was just on the other side of the house. It had two bedside tables that looked handcrafted. Each one had a lamp but his side had a book. The dresser was next to another new addition. Oliver had built a small sitting area with a small black table and two matching chairs on an outside deck. The sliding glass door led out to the quaint new addition. The bed, like everything else, was handcrafted. The headboard had a picture of their horses carved into the wood.
She was to the foot of the bed before she finally turned around. The backs of her knees hit the soft red duvet. While she'd been talking her little walk Oliver had silently followed her into the house. The door was shut and he was leaning against the round kitchen table with his hands in his pockets and his ankles crossed. "I'm sorry I hit you," she sighed with shame.
Oliver smiled slightly but his warm eyes told her she was forgiven. "It's not like it's a new thing," he teased her softly.
You made the headboard I assume?" she asked as she gestured with her index finger for him to come closer.
Oliver smiled at the shyness of her tone. "You always liked horses…" he replied matter of factly. He dropped his head slightly before he leaned forward towards her.
Felicity let her body sink downward until she was seated on the bed with her hands in her lap. "You just can't do anything halfway can you?" she asked openly without a hint or irony.
Oliver sat down beside them so their shoulders touched. He reached for her left hand. She twined their fingers together then placed her other hand over their joined ones. She then placed her temple against his shoulder. Oliver let his cheek fall along the crown of her head. Felicity held their joined hands in her lap. "I was on a mission to prove that I deserved you," he breathed in response to her question. "I mean I knew deep down that I did but…"
"But then why didn't I ever visit and vice versa," Felicity added on without any thought.
Oliver nodded against her head. "If we loved each other so much then why did it take us ten years to get to this point?"
Felicity nuzzled into Oliver's shoulder while she contemplated his question. Oliver placed his free hand over their joined hands then rubbed the pad of his thumb over her knuckles. She felt the ache from before growing. It was a dull, constant ache that was close to strangling her heart. Facing her fears was never one of her strong points but she trusted Oliver. She trusted him to protect her heart. "When I left I thought I was saving us from becoming a cautionary tale," she finally admitted with a shaky voice. "Everyone always has their first love," she mused like she was talking to a long lost friend. "That's the person who teaches you how to love and how to be in a relationship. They're meant to prepare you for the person who is supposed to be your one," she added with a stronger tone. Oliver rubbed his cheek along her hair. The small flowers she had in hair began to come out of the braid. Felicity felt her lips forming into a slight smile as she said, "I just couldn't fathom that my first love became my only love…"
"So you left because?"
Felicity sighed into his shoulder. "I left because I was stupid?"
"Felicity…" Oliver warned her sternly.
She sighed but this time she actually told the truth. "I left because I wanted to be anybody other than who I was and, I wanted to see if I belonged with someone else even though I believed that I belonged with you..."
Oliver sighed. Felicity knew that sigh and she wasn't thrilled by what usually followed. "But I was sure!" he nearly shouted. "I told you that you were it for me Felicity! I told you that I wanted you!" he started with veiled anger.
"Yes you did but be honest Oliver,"she gently implored him. "Are you really telling me that you were ready to be 18, married, with a child on the way?" Oliver tried to interject but Felicity squeezed at their joined hands. "No, be honest," she urged. "Are you honestly telling me that you aren't happy with who you've become?"
Oliver's anger faded into a reluctant, "No I like who I became."
Felicity nodded along his shoulder. "Yeah and that's why it took us so long," she explained. "We both were afraid. You of being rejected and I was afraid of a love that seemed to consume me…" her voice trailed off when she realized she didn't know what to say.
Oliver however did. "Then we were afraid that we couldn't become who we wanted to be if we didn't stay apart."
"See you do understand me," she mumbled into his shoulder.
Oliver huffed in humor. "No, I just know that I belong with you."
"I belong with you too," Felicity whispered into his shoulder.
"True but…"
Felicity couldn't help but laugh at the tone used. He was about to comment on how much he'd done to prove he loved her. Felicity simply chose to beat him to the punch. "Yeah I know and mark my words oh husband of mine I will do something that puts everything you've done to shame…"
Oliver chuckled lightly then placed a kiss to the top of her head. "Well I suspect that you and I could both stand to eat so let's see what I have shall we?" he asked as he released her hands and began to stand.
Felicity feeling slightly bold tugged him back towards the bed. Oliver fell onto his back once Felicity moved to straddle his lap. Felicity then pushed his arms up above his head. She then leaned forward until she could feel his chest brushing against her aroused breasts. Their noses touched as Oliver whispered, "Not hungry?"
Felicity whispered, "Not exactly…" against his mouth before she laced her fingers through his.
"But we have a lot more to talk about," he whispered with lips almost against her mouth.
"Yeah I think I could use a break," she whispered back before she fully kissed his mouth.
Oliver's fingers fell over her knuckles. He broke the kiss then leaned forward just so he gently suck at the underside of her left jaw. He then used his strength to pull himself upward causing her to slip down from his waist to his lap. He brought his chest up to hers. Felicity felt her pulse quicken as he very slowly pushed their joined hands behind her back. Her knees were anchored to his hips. He then drew a line down the column of her throat with the tip of his nose until her head fell back and she lightly moaned. Once he had better access he began kissing her neck. Felicity felt her hips jerking along his lap. He met her movements as his tongue swirled over the pulse point of her neck. Her head inched forward slightly when she felt him pushing her parted thighs up and down along his lap. She cried, "Oh Oliver, yes, oh god baby yes…" once she felt his teeth against her sensitive skin.
Taking that as a hint Oliver then went back down to the bed. He quickly released her hands once his back hit the mattress. Felicity quickly removed her jacket then reached behind to her back to undo her dress. Oliver let her get the zipper down before he flipped them over so now she was on her back and he was straddling her waist. Oliver quickly pulled her dress down past her ribs and then past her waist. Then he helped get her boots off her feet. After that he discarded his jacket and tore his shirt apart before he flung it to the floor. Felicity undid his jeans and began pulling off his waist. Oliver kicked off his own boots then he finished kicking his jeans off before leaning forward. His mouth crashed against hers in a frenzied fury as Felicity brought her knees up to his waist. Oliver flipped them once more. Now she was on top and he was finally completely at her mercy.
Felicity broke the kiss then leaned back. Oliver kept his eyes locked with hers. Her dress had a bra built in and Oliver, as she'd learned the night before, was very good when it came to removing her clothes. She was straddling his waist. He was hardening against her nether lips. She felt herself expanding as his tip slowly began to push into her core. She felt herself tremble and then fall forward once he was fully sheathed within her. Oliver leaned forward to meet her. Their chests collided seconds before their lips met. Oliver wrapped his arms around her hips as she placed her palms against his face. He thrust up into her slowly. She moaned against his mouth as he pulled out. He thrust upward again but he used his hold on her hips to guide her slowly up and down along his shaft.
Oliver slipped his tongue along her bottom lip before he pulled his lips away from her swollen mouth. Felicity brushed the pads of her thumbs along his cheekbones. She cocked her head slightly but felt her body beginning to shake as he kept pushing her up and down. Spikes of pleasure rushed through her core and out to her legs. He thrust upward roughly just as he pulled her hips down. Her head fell back and her hands slipped down to his shoulders. She cried out his name when he did it again and again and again. Her knees began to buckle against his hips. Her nails dug into his skin as he brought her down. This time she cried, "Oliver, oh god Oliver…" until her words stopped making sense. He grew harder along her walls. He pumped in and out of her over and over again. Her body felt exhausted and alive all at the same time. He elicited scream after pleasure inducing scream until Felicity swore she would lose her voice. He also began to moan out his own little chant that went, "Felicity...come on baby, come on…"
She panted back, "I'm so close baby, so close," against his lips once she'd managed to bring his lips back to her mouth. She kissed him roughly as he panted, "I'm so in love with you..."
She whimpered, "God I love you…" into another languid kiss when she felt her core beginning to ignite. She was so close to falling off the cliff and yet she knew it wouldn't be a one way trip.
Oliver thrust upward roughly once more. Felicity felt him everywhere. She felt his lips against her mouth, his tongue was dancing against hers, her entire body was singing for more until her orgasm finally claimed every ounce of her being.
He pushed into her over and over again after he felt that she'd found her release. She met him with enthusiasm because hey who doesn't enjoy more than one mind blowing orgasm. His hands thankfully were still moving her hips back and forth so she could come over and over again for several more minutes. The last pulse of pleasure rocketed straight to her soul. That's when she knew he'd finally reached his own cliff.
Felicity panted once she was able to take a breath, "I've never made love to anyone but you…" while Oliver's body grew still. That earned her a peck to the lips.
Oliver then leaned into her chest with his forehead pressed to hers. Their chests brushed with each breath they took. She felt the sweat of his brow mixing with her own. She savored how he felt as she ran her palms freely along the many muscular panes of his back. Oliver eventually shifted them slightly forward before he once again flipped her onto her back. He was still semi-hard within her. She felt her body responding to the shift. She wanted him again and based on what she felt he had the same idea. She was about to pull him down for another kiss when he whispered, "I've never made love to anyone other than you too…"
After that she grabbed his face and kissed him slowly until she felt him deepen the kiss with his tongue. Moments later their bodies began to move rapidly. Within a few minutes her hips were rocking back and forth with a nearly perfected rhythm. Her knees were anchored to his waist. Her fingers were clawing at the headboard behind her head. His kisses, like her own, were becoming longer, deeper and more passionate each time he filled her wanton core. She ripped her lips away from his when her lungs began to burn. She screamed, "OLIVER!!!!!!!" just before another orgasm swept through her like an erupting volcano. Seconds later she was hit with another wave of unbridled pleasure as Oliver shook her to her very core...