A/N: Hey all! So this AU has been lurking in the back of my mind for a while now… I have read lots of Tommy!Lives AUs and enjoy them so I have wanted to write my own. I also enjoy Tommy/Felicity pairing. So this plot bunny came up in my head… What if Felicity worked at Merlyn Global instead of Queens Consolidated? And what if she became friends with Laurel and Tommy before Oliver come back from the island?

Fast Friends

2 years after the Queens Gambit sunk

Laurel Lance could not believe her luck. After the media hell she had went through when her boyfriend and sister died on a shipwreck while sleeping together. After struggling throughout law school. She just thought that after she graduated and got her first job things would just look up. No such luck. She was supposed to be starting her first job tomorrow and her computer wasn't working. How could she be a lawyer without her computer?

That is how she found herself in front of the Merlyn Global building, impatiently waiting for her friend to arrive. Tommy walked up to her an exasperated look on his face.

"Laurel, what do you need? And why did we have to meet here?"

"I need someone to look at my computer. Geek squad said it would take a few days. I start my job tomorrow." Laurel explained "Do you think someone in Merlyn Global's IT department could help? You are the CEOs son."

Tommy ran a hand through his hair and said "Yea, I guess. Come on."

"You are a life saver, Tommy." Laurel said leaning up and kissing his cheek.

Tommy flushed. He and Laurel and grown closer after the death of Oliver. Laurel was a fill in for his best friend and Tommy helped her sort her emotions. She had a lot of anger and didn't really get to the mourning part properly. Tommy doesn't think it has even fully hit her yet that Ollie was dead.

They road up to the IT floor in silence.

"Mr. Merlyn! What a pleasure to see you!" A pleasant looking woman who must have been in her forties came up to him.

"Hello, Trudy. Nice to see you as well."

"What can I do for you?"

"Well, my friend here is having some computer troubles and I was wondering if you had anyone who could help?" Tommy asked

"Of course! We have a new hire and she is chomping at the bit for something important. Felicity Smoak. Her cubicle is the last one on the left."

Tommy nodded his thanks and grabbed onto Laurels arm and began leading her in the direction they were told to go. When they reached the specified cubicle Tommy knocked lightly on the wall to grab the attention of the blonde who was sitting at the desk.

The woman jumped and turned to stare at them. She had a look of recognition immediately "Mr. Merlyn! What can I do for you!"

"Hello Miss Smoak. This is my friend Laurel. Her computer stopped working and she needs it for her new job at CNRI that starts tomorrow. Do you think you could take a look at it and see if you could fix it?" Tommy said with a slightly flirtatious smirk on his face as he gestured towards Laurel.

"Sure I can take a look" The blonde rolled forward in her chair reaching out for the laptop that Laurel was still clutching.

Laurel reluctantly handed it over. Felicity opened it and began looking it over. "Hmm seems like you have one heck of a virus. I should be able to get it dis-installed by tomorrow morning."

"That's amazing! Geek squad said it would take a few days at least! Maybe a week!" Laurel blurted

"Well geek squad isn't really at my level of expertise when it comes to computers. I have always been really good with tech. It's kinda my thing" Felicity grinned but remained transfixed by the computer.

"How do you think I can pick up my computer? Should I come here tomorrow morning? And what can I do for you in exchange for you fixing my computer?" Laurel asked

"How about we meet up at Starling Jitters? I always get coffee there before I head to work and if you really feel like you want to do something for me in exchange for me removing the virus I wouldn't say no to my caffeine fix. Not that you need to do anything for me in return. Taking a virus off a computer is actually kind of relaxing to me so this should be fun and isn't actually work to me and I really appreciate being given something to do tonight because I was honestly planning on spending the night watching Netflix and eating mint chip ice cream… and I am babbling and I will stop talking in three, two, one." Felicity stopped talking abruptly and looked up embarrassed.

Laurel laughed. Tommy looked at her surprised. He hasn't heard Laurel truly laugh since before the Queens Gambit went down. "I think that sounds perfect. And I will gladly get you your morning caffeine. You are getting a virus off my computer way faster than anyone else could. It is the least I could do."

"Ok so Starling Jitters tomorrow morning at six?" Felicity asked

"Sounds perfect. Thank you so much" Laurel responded

"Yes, thank you Miss Smoak. Now we will get out of your hair." Tommy spoke up.

"No problem, and please, call me Felicity." The girl grinned as she adjusted her glasses

"Ok, Felicity, I will see you in the morning." Laurel smiled genuinely.

Next Morning at Starling Jitters

Today was a seriously huge day for Laurel. Today was her first day working at CNRI as full-fledged lawyer. She had worked there as an intern and loved the work and took the offer for a permanent job immediately when she passed the Bar.

She was currently waiting for the IT girl from Merlyn Global to walk in. Being nervous she had shown nearly half an hour early. She had bought herself a muffin to eat to pass the time in the nearly empty coffee shop,

Five minutes till six Felicity walked in looking rather cheerful. She had a laptop bag slung around her shoulder and was carrying Laurel's laptop in her arms. Her ponytail was swinging back and forth as she approached Laurel's table.

"Good morning, Laurel! I was able to lift the virus off your computer. I also installed my anti-virus and anti-theft firewall. I designed it so I know it's good." Felicity grinned at her as they walked to order their coffees.

Once they had their coffees, the two women sat down to enjoy a quiet moment before going off to work.

"So, you said that you designed these firewalls you installed on my computer?" Laurel asked the younger girl curiously as she sipped on her coffee.

"Yea, I took a specialized computer design class for fun at MIT my senior year. The final project was to create a firewall. I just know that it is really good because I also took classes in decrypting." Felicity said nonchalantly.

"When did you graduate from MIT?" Laurel asked. She was curious. The girl looked younger than Sara did when she died.

"This past May. Merlyn Global is my first job. The IT department is just a stepping stone though I want to get into applied science." Felicity happily sipped on her latte

"If you don't mind me asking… How old are you? You look to be a few years younger than my sister and she was supposed to graduate this year." Laurel questioned.

"I am 19. And before you ask how I have already graduated from college… I am kinda a certifiable genius… I graduated from high school at 15 and I took a year off from school to help my mom out before going to MIT. I would have graduated last year but I had decided when I was 17 to take on another major." Felicity explained flushing in embarrassment as Laurel gawked at her "But please, enough about me. You have a sister? Tell me about her! I always wanted siblings!"

Laurel looked down and bit her lip before speaking "Do you know who I am, Felicity? Outside of your bosses kids friend who you did a favor for I mean."

Felicity looked at her thoughtfully "No. Come to think of it, I don't even think I know your last name."

Laurel took a deep breath. Felicity was sure to look at her differently when she knew who she was.

"My last name is Lance." Laurel braced herself for any type of reaction. She had honestly gotten them all.

"I am sorry but I am still not making a connection? And what does this have to do about your sister?" Felicity looked lost.

"Have you heard about the Queens Gambit?" Laurel tested.

"Isn't that the boat that sunk a few years ago? With Queen Consolidateds CEO and his son on board? Sorry I moved to Starling after graduation because of job opportunities. I used to live in Vegas." Felicity explained.

"Yea… Well I was dating Oliver Queen. The son, before the Gambit sunk. But the real drama factor of this entire thing was Oliver was cheating on me on the boat. With my sister. It's kind of public knowledge around here… "Laurel looked down at her hands.

"That… That's awful! Laurel! I cannot even imagine. I bet you haven't even gotten to grieve properly. I know I wouldn't be able to. I would be too angry." Felicity placed a comforting hand on Laurels arm. Laurel looked at her gratefully.

"No… Not really. Honestly I have been too busy taking care of everyone else. Making sure Tommy doesn't party too much. Dragging my dad home from bars every other night. I sort of cut the Queens out of my life but I regret it. I should really be there for Oliver's sister. She is like a sister to me and I shouldn't punish her for something Oliver did…"

"Well what about you? He may have been cheating on you but he was your boyfriend, you must have had feelings for him. And Sara was your sister even if she did sleep with your boyfriend. They both died. You need to feel that pain for yourself and let yourself mourn and be comforted. And if you need a friend to talk to or a shoulder to cry on or anything… I know we just met but I can totally be there for you." Felicity look Laurel straight in the eye.

Tears started to form in her eyes and she whispered "Thank you."

"No problem. Anyways I really wish we could continue our conversation but we both have got to get to work. Here is my number. Please call me. Maybe we can meet up this weekend. Even if it's just to eat some ice cream in my apartment."

Laurel gave a watery laugh as she accepted the napkin that Felicity had written her number on. "I will. I think we will be fast friends if it can be rock road."

Felicity hesitated before giving the older woman a hug "Sure. And mint chip. Good luck today Laurel"

Laurel smiled as she watched her new found friend walk out of the coffee shop.

A/N: WHEW! That took longer to write than I thought it would! Anyways I just wanted to make a few things clear:

This is NOT an Arrow rewrite although I will be taking inspiration from some episodes.

This is the only chapter that is in the 5 years Oliver was gone. Although flashbacks are bound to happen.

This story is going to be in Laurels POV exclusively and I personally am a HUGE fan of Laurel so NO NEGATIVE COMMENTS ABOUT LAUREL

I know that Laurel and Felicity got deep for just meeting but it was necessary so do not mind the slight OOC of that happening

Laurel and Felicity being friends is going to help Laurel not be as angry when Oliver returns (helping Lauriver)

The Tommy and Felicity aspect of this story will come soon I promise. It is going to be more of a slow burn…