A/N: Thanks to everyone that took the trouble to review, follow or favourite this story after chapter one. Much appreciated! Please enjoy this next chapter.
Chapter 2
"Before you ask, yes all these cases are necessary and I am not leaving a single one behind." Felicity says without looking up from her tablet. She's double checking their hotel reservations before they leave for the airport. Working with Oliver in both their day job and their night job has made Felicity super security conscious and she's already scoped out all the possible entries, exits and weak points for the hotel suites they'd booked. A last minute change on the part of the hotel would not be appreciated.
Oliver exchanges glances with Digg, who shrugs. He glances over the three large suitcases that Felicity has propped up next to the front door of her apartment. Knowing him like she does, he's packed the bare minimum for their week long trip.
"Don't even bother, Oliver." She says, looking up at last. "You know the full medical kit is non-negotiable. There is literally nothing in those bags that I don't deem completely necessary for this trip."
Oliver holds up his hands in mock surrender. "Fine! I know better than to argue." He replies and Felicity smirks in response.
"I hope one of these cases has a bikini in it, Smoak, because we're definitely booking in some pool time." A new voice from the hall announces.
"Sara!" Felicity exclaims, putting down her tablet and rushing over to throw her arms around the assassin. "I thought you were meeting us in Vegas."
Sara returns the hug enthusiastically and then takes a step back and shrugs. "Change of plans. I finished up my last job early and came home yesterday to see Dad and Laurel."
"Oh, how are they? I haven't seen Captain Lance for a few weeks and Laurel…well, we're not really coffee buddies." Felicity says, quickly looking over to Oliver.
Laurel Lance had pretty much been unaware of Felicity's existence up until Slade let his Mirakuru army loose in Starling. That had changed to some degree once she finally discovered Oliver's secret, as she became a frequent visitor to the foundry. Although Oliver had been oblivious, it had been fairly obvious to Felicity that discovering Oliver was the Arrow had reignited those on-again, off-again feelings that Laurel harboured for Oliver. And really, Felicity couldn't blame her. Discovering your ex-boyfriend was actually secretly a masked hero saving the city by night who'd also saved your own life several times had to be a massive turn on. She should know; it turned her on constantly.
But while Oliver was seemingly oblivious to Laurel's changing opinion of him, Laurel herself was not oblivious to the way Oliver's eyes always sought out Felicity when he entered a room, or how he always let Felicity be the one to put his mask on him before he left for patrol. When a kiss had been added to that pre-patrol ritual after Hawaii, Laurel's politely pleasant but somewhat condescending attitude towards Felicity had cooled into just plain condescension. Thankfully, that was also accompanied by less frequent visits to the foundry, something both Felicity and Digg approved of. John Diggle was seemingly one of the few men in Starling City to not immediately fall under the thrall of Laurel Lance, something Felicity was grateful for on a daily basis.
"Hmm, I'm sure." Sara smirks, giving Felicity a quick wink. "Now let's get going, we can gossip on the flight."
She quickly hugs Digg and Oliver before snagging her duffle bag off the floor, grabbing one of Felicity's bags and heading out the door. Oliver and Digg follow suit with the remaining luggage, while Felicity stuffs her tablet into her oversized handbag and then follows behind them.
"So where's Lyla off to this time, Digg?" Sara asks as they settle into the Bentley. She's up front with Digg while Felicity tucks into Oliver's side on the backseat.
"Officially, she's part of the security team for a diplomatic trip into Pokolistan." Digg replies as he eases away from the curb outside Felicity's apartment block.
"Unofficially?"
"That is something I'm happy not knowing until she gets home."
"Understandable. Laurel always wants to know about my missions for the League, while Dad just asks me if I saw any sights while I was away." Sara says. "Dad knows enough about what I do to know that he doesn't want the details. As long as I let him know I'm all right, he's happy. Well as happy as he can be given my job description."
"Does he know you're coming to Las Vegas with us?" Felicity asks from the back seat.
"Yeah, it's one of the few times I can actually tell him the truth. Mind you, that vein in his head throbbed a bit when I told him I was going to be playing bodyguard for Ollie for a week while Digg stayed home with Julia." Sara turns around and grins at Oliver. "One of these days he'll be able to say your name without automatically reaching for his sidearm, Ollie."
"I doubt that day will arrive any time soon." Oliver replies dryly.
The flight to Las Vegas on Queen Consolidated's private jet is uneventful, a fact that Felicity is especially pleased by. She suspects at least part of her calmness is due to the benzo she popped before the flight and Sara keeping up a steady stream of chatter to distract her.
A chauffeur and car is waiting for them as they land and in no time at all they're on the Strip heading towards the Bellagio. Along the way, Felicity points out the hotels she's banned from for card counting and the kitschy sites she knows Sara will enjoy.
"It must be strange to be back." Oliver comments, watching the lights from the casinos light up Felicity's face as they drive past.
"Sort of. I didn't really spend that much time on the Strip growing up, apart from when I realised in senior year that hitting the casinos to earn money for college was going to be considerably faster and easier than working at a burger joint." Felicity keeps looking out the window, taking in the crowds of people spilling out onto the street. "This isn't really the Vegas I know. We lived way out in the crummy part of town and my mom worked in a series of smaller casinos and clubs. She would have given her eye teeth to work in one of the big hotels on the strip. The tips can be insane."
"Speaking of your mom…"Oliver trails off expectantly. Felicity turns away from the window and rolls her eyes at him.
"I spoke to her last night. She's going to meet us tomorrow afternoon and we're going to take her out for drinks. So you've got just under twenty four hours to come to your senses."
Sara looks between the two of them, a grin growing on her face. "Oh my God. Ollie, are you voluntarily meeting a girl's parents? I feel like I should be instagramming this moment for posterity or something."
"Shut up, Sara. I met your parents, didn't I?" At that, Sara howls with laughter.
"Only because Dad caught you sneaking out of Laurel's room!" She pauses mid laugh to glance guiltily at Felicity. "Sorry, I shouldn't talk about that, should I? I don't want to make things awkward for you, Felicity."
Felicity reaches over to squeeze Sara's hand. "Don't be ridiculous. You don't have to censor your past or Oliver's to protect me. It's no secret that Oliver dated you. And Laurel. At the same time. Sheesh. I'm probably the one that shouldn't talk."
Oliver just smiles softly at her. She knows every single one of his secrets now and she also knows he isn't the same man that dated sisters at the same time. If he was, his testicles would be swinging from the rearview mirror on her mini.
"That's all behind us now." Sara replies. "You two are happy, I'm happy and Laurel…well, it's hard to tell with her sometimes, but those days are all behind us."
"Yep." Felicity says, popping the p. She forces a small smile for Sara, not wanting to get into the Laurel issue in front of Oliver. Sara gives her a knowing smile and Felicity suspects the issue will be raised once Oliver's out of earshot.
The car pulls into the Bellagio and a swarm of porters descend. Sara gets out first, her hand resting carefully over her weapon as she organises the porters. She gestures for Oliver and Felicity to get out and Oliver leads Felicity into the hotel, his hand hovering at her lower back as they walk.
There's been plenty of speculation in the press about the nature of their relationship over the years, particularly since Felicity started working more closely with Oliver on Applied Science issues. However, Queen Consolidated's public relations department has kept a consistent policy of merely stating her academic qualifications and her value as an employee under Oliver's instructions and they're always careful to maintain some distance in public.
Felicity is torn about the arrangement. On one hand there have been enough women throwing themselves at Oliver at the various galas and benefits they attend, not to mention the whole Laurel issue, that Felicity wants to publicly lay her claim. But she also knows that her position at Queen Consolidated and the respect she's earned from her peers over the past year in particular would immediately be tarnished by the suggestion that it was earned through her performance in the bedroom and not the office. So despite her finding it perversely flattering that the press thinks she's some kinky sex ninja to be able to snare a billionaire playboy as hot as Oliver, she accepts the polite distance between them in public and relishes their private moments that much more.
Felicity hangs back from the reception while Oliver checks them in, Sara hovering between them. She pulls out her tablet and pretends to check her email, in reality remotely checking in to her system back at the foundry. In their absence, Digg and Roy will both suit up and patrol and Felicity hopes for a quiet week for them, knowing that Oliver will insist on heading home if anything more pressing that the daily muggers and petty thieves comes up.
Oliver is heading back towards her with their room security cards – to keep up pretences they've booked adjoining suites and have assigned Felicity and Sara to share one and Oliver to have the other – when Felicity hears a high pitched squeal and her heart sinks. She holds out a hand to let Sara - who's immediately on alert - know there isn't a threat and takes a deep breath before turning around.
"Mom!"
She can practically feel surprise radiating off Oliver and Sara as her mother totters towards her, arms outstretched. Donna Smoak does not look like someone's mother. Despite it being mid afternoon, she's wearing a skin tight cocktail dress that reveals a lot of cleavage and a lot of thigh. Her hair is abundant and a shade or two blonder than Felicity remembers and her shoes are one inch higher than a height most people would find ridiculous.
"Ohhhhh, there's my baby girl!" Donna cries out as she envelops Felicity in an embrace that's two parts arms and one part perfume. "I just couldn't wait until tomorrow to see you and to meet your man. Where is he? Oh, hello."
Her tone turns positively lecherous as she spots a rather shell shocked Oliver over Felicity's shoulder. Felicity loosens her hold on her mother, but not enough that Donna can get loose and launch herself at Oliver.
"Mom, this is Oliver, my boss." She hisses in an undercurrent. She's explained to Donna the day before why they keep things professional in public, but she doesn't expect it to sink in. "Oliver, this is my mom, Donna Smoak."
Oliver smiles, a smile Felicity recognises as a genuine one and not his polite playboy façade. He reaches out and grasps Donna's hand. "It's a pleasure, Ms Smoak."
"Oh honey, the pleasure is mine. Wow, aren't you just the most lickable man that walked the earth. I could just eat you up." Donna keeps hold of Oliver's hand and Felicity wonders whether today will be the day that she needs to tackle her mother in a crowded Las Vegas luxury casino to keep her from sexually assaulting Oliver Queen.
A snicker from her right signals that Sara is finding the whole thing hilarious. Felicity hears the sound of a camera phone go off and whips her head around to see Sara typing and swiping on her phone.
"One for Digg," Sara explains. "He'll kill me if he misses out on this."
Felicity snatches the phone to find a picture of her mother gazing at Oliver in a way that manages to be both adoring and predatory while he looks ever so slightly terrified.
"Okay, that's pretty fantastic and I'm going to want a copy of that for my 'I told you so' dance to Oliver later, but in the meantime, we should try to move this upstairs to a more private location."
"Kinky." Sara says lightly, earning a glare. She laughs in return and goes over to introduce herself to Donna before shepherding her towards the elevators, leaving a dazed Oliver in their wake.
"That's your mom?" he asks after a moment.
"Yes, that is indeed the one and only Donna Smoak."
"Wow." He says, allowing Felicity to shove him in the direction of the elevators. He stands, shellshocked, as Donna keeps up a stream of gossip about people Felicity had grown up with as they ride upstairs.
"So, Mom, how did you know where we were staying?" Felicity asks, interrupting a story about the prom queen from her senior year stacking on sixty pounds after having a baby.
"Oh, that nice boy in your office told me. Gary, is it?" Donna screws up her face as she tries to remember.
"Jerry." Felicity supplies, mentally making a note to meddle with his credit score. "I wasn't expecting to see you until tomorrow." At the look of hurt flashing across her mother's face, Felicity quickly continues. "I didn't want you to see me all gross from the flight. I wanted to wear a nice dress so we could take you out somewhere fancy for drinks. Plus you should see Oliver when he really makes an effort on his appearance. He's not even trying right now."
Donna's expression brightens at this and Felicity smiles in relief. She really does love her mother, but she was counting on a bit more time to prepare herself – and Oliver – for their meeting.
"Well you look lovely to me, baby. No doubt that glow comes from plenty of bedroom attention from that man of yours." Felicity blushes fiercely and out of the corner of her eye she notices Oliver studiously pretending he can't hear every single word Donna is saying. A soft snicker of laughter tells Felicity that Sara is absolutely loving every second of this.
"New skincare regime," she says instead. "Wow, is this the longest elevator ride in the world or what? Which floor are we on?"
"Nearly there." Sara pipes up, a grin splitting her face. She looks like the cat that ate the canary. Or, rather, the canary that saw the cat coming and garrotted it.
"Thank god." Felicity huffs under her breath. She practically lunges for the open door when they finally reach their floor and only Oliver reaching over to snag her hand keeps her from bolting.
Sara strides ahead, carefully taking in her surroundings and noting every single security camera. She opens the suite door she's technically sharing with Felicity and finds the porters neatly stacking their luggage.
"Your luggage is your suite next door, Mr Queen," one of the porter says quietly as Oliver lets go of Felicity's hand and peels off a couple of high denomination notes for each of them. "The suites share a fully equipped conference room. There are full instructions, but please call down to reception if you have any issues."
Their eyes widen ever so slightly as they see the size of their tip and then they disappear.
"Did you want to join us for dinner, Ms Smoak?" Oliver asks politely. "We have reservations at one of the restaurants here. I'm sure they can easily accommodate one more."
"Oh honey, call me Donna, we're practically family now." Donna simpers. "And it's very sweet of you to ask, but my shift starts in an hour and I better hotfoot it. If I'm late that little witch Jessica steals the best tables and the big tippers. No, I'll see you tomorrow as planned."
Felicity lets out a breath she didn't realise she'd been holding. "That's too bad, Mom. But I'm really looking forward to catching up tomorrow."
Donna sweeps her up into another hug. "Oh, me too, baby girl. I want you to catch me up with absolutely everything and I want to hear all about this." She says, stepping back to gesture between Felicity and Oliver. "And I can't wait to get to know you better." She says to Oliver. With that, Donna quicksteps over to Oliver's side and reaches up to press a kiss on his cheek, leaving a perfect bright red lipstick mark behind. Oliver freezes, but smiles warmly.
"We've got a car and driver from the hotel while we're here, I'll have them drop you at work, Donna." He says, taking a step back towards a desk where a phone sits.
"You don't need to do that, a cab's good enough for me." Donna smiles and Felicity suddenly realises that this is her mother on her very best behaviour – Donna Smoak never turns down a free ride, particularly in a plush town car that's sure to have her co-workers talking for days.
"I insist." Oliver replies firmly. "I'll ring down to reception now and the car will be waiting by the time you make it downstairs."
"Go on, Mom, he won't take no for an answer." Felicity says, walking her mother to the door.
"Well okay then. Thank you, Oliver." She gives him a little wave and then leans closer to Felicity as they reach the door. "Is he that authoritative in bed, baby? A commanding man is such a turn on."
Felicity forces a smile as she hugs her mother one more time, ignoring the choked laugh from Sara behind her. "I'll see you tomorrow, Mom. Have a good night at work."
She waits a good minute after she's closed the door to take a few deep breaths and turn around to face Oliver and Sara. Oliver's expression is a weird mixture of shock and embarrassment with a bit of laughter thrown in, while Sara is not even bothering to hide her absolute delight as she bends over clutching her stomach from laughter.
"This is too good! Your mom is an absolute scream, Felicity." Sara chokes out, straightening back up and wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. "I've got to call Digg and fill him in on this, he made me promise."
She easily dodges the swat that Felicity aims at her arm and heads into the master bedroom, her laugh still echoing behind her as the door swings shut.
Felicity looks over to Oliver, who still looks a bit shellshocked as he rubs at the lipstick mark Donna left on his cheek. "I did warn you. Multiple times." She points out.
"Felicity, your mom seems like she cares for you a lot." He says, coming over to her and pulling her in for an embrace. She settles easily against his chest and lets out a little huff of contentment. "Is she ever so slightly terrifying in a 'I literally don't know what she might say next' kind of way? Yes, she is. But I really like her."
"Trust me, she was on her best behaviour today, Oliver." She says, her voice muffled slightly as burrows in against his chest. "That was all very mild on the Donna Smoak scale of verbal gaffes."
"Hmm. She did say something that left me wondering." He says, his hands running up and down her back.
"Oh?"
"Something about women finding a commanding man in bed a turn on, I believe."
Felicity blushes and glances up at Oliver. His eyes are twinkling with amusement but there's a hint of desire there as well.
"Well I wouldn't know." She says, reaching up to flick open the buttons of his shirt, one by one. "My boyfriend is so considerate in bed. He always wants to put me first when sometimes I just want him to tell me to get on my knees, you know?"
She's only on the third button before Oliver lifts her chin up and covers her mouth with his, the kiss hot and demanding. He breaks away, leaving her panting.
"We might just have to do something about that, then." He murmurs, his voice thick with arousal as he bends down slightly and picks Felicity up, easily hoisting her so she's draped over his shoulder. She gives out a little squeak at the sudden move and Oliver's hand tightens on the back of her thighs where he's holding her in place. He strides over to the door that leads to their shared conference room and then through to the suite they'll share during their stay, kicking the last door shut behind them. He lets her slide back down his body until her feet touch the floor.
"Now, Miss Smoak," he says darkly and she shivers slightly at the look in his eyes. "On your knees."
A/N: Yeah, I'm going to be evil and leave that there. Don't worry, this story will earn its rating :)