Hey guys, so this is my first Arrow story, but I have written many for Castle and one for PitchPerfect. I love Felicity Smoak. Like, she is now who I aspire to be. So, I decided that I wanted this story to focus on Felicity a lot. I ship both Lauliver and Olicity, which will come across in this story, I think. So, hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer:I don't own Arrow or any characters affiliated with it.

Prologue: Aftershock

She walks slowly through the Glades, taking in the mass destruction around her. Everywhere she turns there are crumbled buildings, broken glass, over-turned cars, half-buried people. It is, in one word, a horrific sight. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined she would be a firsthand witness of anything like this. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagines she would be blaming herself for anything like this.

But she is seeing it, and she is blaming herself for it. She should have known that Malcolm would have more than one device. I mean, he wasn't a stupid man. She should have realised he would have had a backup plan. But she didn't, and now part of the city that she so dearly loves has been destroyed.

She blindly walks through the chaos until she reaches the edge of the Glades and leaves that destruction behind her. For the rest of tonight, anyway. Odds are she'll be back there tomorrow, checking on her 'boss' and friend. But, for now, she is going to try to push it all to the back of her mind.

Felicity slowly trudges down the corridor to her apartment. Still shaking from the evening's events, she fumbles with her key in the lock.

She was sitting in Verdant's basement when that earthquake happened. She could have died. Tommy, Oliver's best friend, did die. She couldn't even begin to imagine what Oliver and Laurel were going through right now. Oliver had been sitting against the wall of their 'headquarters' when she had left, after asking him if he was ok at least fifty times. If she had been in his position, he would have shot her with an arrow out of pure annoyance and frustration. But, Oliver had completely shut down and didn't acknowledge her in any way. She had only left after Diggle had said he'd watch Oliver for the night.

"Shit!" She grumbles as she drops the key and it clatters to the ground, still no closer to actually getting into her apartment, having a glass or two of wine and then crawling into bed to sleep for quite possibly the next seven days.

She finally gets the door unlocked and swings it open. She isn't even inside the room when she sees a flurry of long blonde curls charge at her and arms wrap tightly around her neck as the young woman hugs her tightly.

"Oh my god Liss! I was so scared!" The woman says, hugging Felicity even tighter. "You have no idea! I was actually about to come looking for you." She points over her shoulder at the backpack sitting on the coffee table in the living room.

"I'm fine, I'm fine." Felicity attempts to comfort the younger woman.

"How can you say that?! You were in the Glades! Half of the Glades isn't even standing anymore!" She shrieks.

"I know, I know. But I was in the half that is still standing. "Nora, I'm fine. Look at me." Felicity forces the woman to look up at her. "I am absolutely fine."

"You're lying." Eleanor states. "You aren't fine. You were shit-scared too. You still are."

Felicity sighs and nods her head in agreement. Nora is the one person who she can never lie to, and if she does lie to her, she ends up getting caught out anyway. "I just need a glass of wine."

Nora nods her head and rushes into the kitchen, pouring two glasses of red wine. Felicity quirks an eyebrow when she sees the second glass make its way to Nora's lips but says nothing. They both need the alcohol after the stress and terror of the night.

They drink their glasses without saying anything to one another, and pour themselves another glass. Within the hour, they've finished the bottle.

Felicity stands silently and heads into her bedroom, leaving her – now empty – wine glass sitting on the coffee table. As she gets changed into her pyjamas, she hears Nora washing their wine glasses. Felicity is just drifting off to sleep when the bedroom door opens slightly and Nora slips in. Quietly, she slips into the bed beside Felicity and wraps her arms tightly around her waist.

That small touch is all Felicity needs – even in her sleepy haze – to know just how scared shitless Eleanor had been, worrying about Felicity's safety all night.

She silently promises herself that she will never scare her baby sister like that ever again.

There you go! Review and let me know what you think!