A/N: Okay I admit it was a little bit too long of a wait but before we start this story I'm going to need you to read all of this and not skip over it. For those who read my story when I first posted it go back right now like right and re read it because I got a beta like I was asked to and then we re wrote a big - small chunk of it. For those who have just started reading, Hello welcome to the angst train, CHOO CHOO! Gosh that was lame. . So this chapter is sorry to say but another filler but we are getting there but it's going to go a bit slow for the romantic side for them I want them to be friends first and I want them to you know get divorced before they got at it. So this chapter isn't going to have an OLICTY meeting - yet! the next chapter will. I'm bit evil like that. But be ready for the next chapter because it's going to be hair pulling and you're going to want to yell at Oliver. No more than usual though.

Anyway here's the story, big BIG thanks to RIRI for being my beta I probably would have stopped writing if it weren't for you so, Thanks.

I own nothing but my own character's and idea's all character wright's go to DC Comics and CW Network.

The Queen Condo. After The Counseling Session.

After our driver drove us home we begin getting ready in absolute silence for the charity gala my mother has had planned for the past two months. I don't really remember what it was for and as terrible as it sounds, after spending years attending these things I started to see it was more of a way for rich snobs to gather and compare how deep their wallets are. And to support the cause, of course. In our bedroom in front of the floor length wooden mirror, I fix my grey and blue tie and smooth it down my white shirt. I hear the walk-in closet door shut and turn my head to see Laurel coming out in dressed a Black and White Stella McCartney Floor-Length Crepe Dress and her hair pinned up in a over complicated up-do.

I put on my biggest smile and walk over to her, grabbing her elbow and I lean down and softly peck her lips. "You look beautiful, Laurel." I compliment her, she smiles up at me stiffly, patting my arm awkwardly. "You don't look too bad yourself." She replies, moving past me to the vanity she sits down and slips her white heels on.

I turn back towards the mirror, nervously fixing my tie for the sixth time. I wonder when she's going to bring up what happened in the counselors office. When I decide she's not going to broach any serious topics, I relax my shoulders and stop fiddling with my tie to pull my charcoal black suit jacket over my white shirt.

I shift my eyes to her in the mirror when Laurel clears her throat,"So, do you think Tommy will be there tonight?" She says as non nonchalant as possible while digging for information. I try my best not to roll my eyes at her acting as though were back in elementary, I might as well be passing notes in class at this point. "I think he's supposed to be going with his mom." I reply, "Why?" I question after a beat of silence while buttoning my jacket.

I turn towards Laurel to see her shrug lightly while dabbing perfume on her wrist. "No reason, just curious." Laurel reply's quickly. She hurriedly walks back to the closet, avoiding my gaze. I huff out an annoyed sigh, and walk out the room towards the living room. I walk to the wall where picture's litter the entire wall, my eyes land on a picture with Tommy, myself, and Laurel taken 5 years ago, with Laurel smiling brightly at the camera with her arms wrapped around both of our necks. Me looking sourly in the camera, and Tommy - Tommy's looking at Laurel. 'Gosh, I wish I could blame my being stupid on being young.'

Walking over to the bar I pour myself a scotch and lazily sip from the glass. I quickly chug the drink down once I hear the bedroom door shut. Making my way to the coat closet, I grab her black shawl. Coming back to the living room I see her staring out the floor to ceiling windows, moving towards her quietly I gently slip it on her shoulders, causing her to slightly jump and mumble a quiet,"Thank you". I nod, we walk arm and arm out the door and into our private elevator. We idly begin talking about tonight's event avoiding the blaring topic.

The rest of the ride down is silent when we run out of stuff to talk about. We barely acknowledge each other until we get outside, the paparazzi dutifully waiting for them on the other side of the door. At the single flash of the cameras we easily slip into our public personas, staring lovingly at each other. 'Oh what it's like being young and in love.'

Our bodyguard's flank us appearing out of no where and The Driver opens the limo door, I let Laurel slide in first ignoring the flash of cameras and slide in after her. Once we get in the limo and drive away from the camera's flash our masks' fall off and we go back to ignoring each other. 'I wonder if this is what a loving couple looks like, cause if this is a loving relationship I'd hate to see a terrible one.'

The Palmer's Estate, 45 minutes after The Counseling Appointment.

The car ride back home is filled with Ray trying to start a conversation - and utterly failing. For once in my life I became mute. Ray finally parks the car in the driveway behind the house, before he can say anything I exit the vehicle, slamming it shut.

Once I'm inside the house I leave the doors open and slam my purse down on the entryway table. I wait for him impatiently tapping my foot against the marble floors, hands on my hips. I breathe in and out, trying to calm down until I hear the doors shut and sharply turn towards him, ready to tear him a new one. 'Forget playing fair.'

"How dare you!"

Ray winces at my cold tone, his hand that was reaching for me fell to his side. "Can we not do this right now, Felicity" He sighs out irritably, pinching his nose with his index finger and thumb. He moves past me towards the living room. I follow close behind him my stiletto heels clicking against the floor until I enter the living room the noise becoming muffled by the carpet. I move in front of him, hands on his chest, somewhat blocking his pathway to the bar. "No. We can do this, and we will." Ray's sigh is barely heard over my yelling,"we have been married for almost four years! Four years, Ray." I huff out an annoyed sigh, letting my hand fall from his chest I back away. "The one thing I've always thought you knew is that I hate people making choices for me! Particularly my husband!"

'If this were a cartoon my face would be red and steam would be coming out my ears at this point.' "Please, Felicity can we do this another time." His pleading tone barely phasing me, I point my finger at him, shaking my head venomously. "No we cannot do this another time, otherwise I'll never be able to make another appointment with you"

"What do you mean by appointment?" Ray's confused stare only makes me more angry. "What do I mean!? I have barely seen my own husband for an entire year!" Ray opens his mouth to reply only for me to cut him off, "and don't dare say it's work. I know that's complete bull shit, and so do you!" He tries to step closer to me, only to stop when I move one step backwards, his face showing hurt and frustration.

"Listen, sweetie. ." His tone is basically dripping with a placating tone making me just a little bit more pissed off.

"Don't! listen sweetie me, why don't you listen for once. I am so sick of this, Ray! I want you home for once!"

He opens his mouth again only for me to cut him off - again. "I don't get it! Why do you keep pushing me away!" I sigh massaging my temples, " I love you. . with all my heart" My tone turns softer, and less agitated but the I speak the more my sadness I've been feeling this passed year spills through my voice, but I still continue,"When you asked me to marry you it felt right, I felt ready." My hands begin to shake the more the words spill out. Ray's hand's come up to tentatively touch mine, becoming firmer when I don't pull away. His face softens at my words, his anger all but vanishes out of his eyes.

"But were you sure?" I breathe in and out to calm down my racing heart. "Do you even still love me after all these years. Is that why you're pulling away from me? Am I just not enough anymore?" I drop my head to stare at his feet not wanting to see his face if it's true. I try to stop myself from crying, rapidly blinking as Ray's arms wrap around my waist. I sniffle looking down at his shoes, my tear drops falling down my cheeks onto his shoes.

"Felicity, of course I was ready" He tilts my chin up, I look up at him through teary eye's. He leans down, resting his head down on mine, his palm settling on my cheek, wiping away my tears. My heart beat calms a little bit at his reassurance; But it's still not enough. "But then why aren't you here." I say, "I need you to be here." My voice keeps cracking and I keep telling myself 'Be strong be brave.' It wasn't working.

After a few failed attempts of speaking I finally manage to croak out, "But you're never here anymore." I grab hold of his wrist "This big mansion, does not feel like a home, Ray." I sniffle, looking him in the eye I continue, "Not without someone to share it with." I breathe. "Not without you here." I add silently.

Ray presses his lips down on the top of my head, holding me tighter, "I've just been dealing with some stuff" He continues speaking at my curious look, "that I'm not ready to share, just yet." At the doubt in my face he continues speaking,"but I will tell you. When I'm ready. Because I do love you." I look up at him, slowly pushing him away, his arm's fall back to his side. Ignoring his confused stare at my hot and cold act, I wipe my tears away.

"I'm confused then. You love me - but you can barely look at me without a work emergency popping up" He looks at me like he want's to say something but can't. I chuckle darkly,"I love yous will only get us so far in this relationship Ray." I shake my head stepping away from him. "And now you want to try this crazy counseling technique, that would no doubt separate us even more." I look at him sadly, "did you ever think the problem with us isn't that we need more space but that what I actually need is you here?"

"Felicity. ."

I sigh and shake my head trying to clear dark thoughts away, " I need to go get ready for dinner with your parent's." At his confused look I groan, "you forgot didn't you?" I look up at the ceiling at his guilty look, "tonight. 7pm at the new french restaurant 'La Lumiere Sombre'." at his blank look I continue, "your mom has been raving about it for weeks - or have you forgotten about our monthly family dinners also?" I walk past him towards the archway that leads to the stairwell.

"Felicity, honey." I hear him running out the living room towards the bottom of the stairs, "let's talk!" He yells out, I walk up the stairs. "Just get ready, Ray!" I yell over my shoulder.

"I'm done talking" I mumble to myself. 'Because unless he has something else to say besides I love you and I'm sorry then I don't even know what's the point of talking is anymore. It's like talking to a brick wall.'

I head to our bedroom and straight towards the bathroom, locking the door. Looking in the mirror I cringe. My hair's sticking up in four different places from playing with it in the car. My makeup reminds me of that crazy raccoon who stalks our garbage can throughout the week and overall, I look terrible about as terrible as I feel.

Sighing, I slip out of my clothes, throwing them in the laundry bin next to the door. Grabbing makeup wipes I rub them on my face until my face turns an unattractive red from all the excessive rubbing. I turn on the radio that sits on the marble counter effectively drowning out the sounds from the other side of the door. I run bathwater and pull my hair up in a messy bun. Staring at myself in the mirror while putting a avocado mask on I realize something sad. If this counseling technique doesn't work our whole marriage might be over, all these would be for nothing. The Smoak woman, once again have shit luck with men.

Sinking into the bubble bath, I silently begin crying, already mourning our marriage.

The Charity Gala,

Once we arrive at the gala we immediately greet my mother, idly chatting for a bit until we both decide to begin mingling. We're now talking to one of Laurel's friend's Alice - No Alison. Slowly sipping champagne our public faces perfectly in place, until her perfect pearly white smile falters slightly - not enough for anyone who hasn't known Laurel as long as I have to take notice. But I have known her that long, and I did notice.

Immediately I know what's wrong without asking, from out the corner of my eye I see half of the Merlyn family enter, Rebecca Merlyn holding on to Tommy's arm. Beautiful Family. Of course it's missing two people, one being Malcolm. The second being Thea. What a scandal two of Starling City's perfect families actually aren't that perfect. But none the less, beautiful family. To bad Malcolm can't keep it in his pants, apparently it's a Merlyn men family trait. Or maybe it's just the trait of the idle rich.

Tommy's eyes quickly scan the place, catching Laurel eyes first they enter a heated staring contest, but quickly cooling down his eyes flicker moving to my eyes. Tommy fake smile ever in place, he whispers something to his mother she nods at whatever he's saying. And of course Tommy moves towards us. 'He must have become a masochist.'

I smile and nod along at whatever Alison is saying to us - something about lunch. Laurel says a goodbye to her friend, and we move to meet Tommy halfway.

"Tommy!" Tommy smirks slightly. "Ollie. ." while greeting Laurel his tone turns sad and less jovial,"Laurel" he nods her way and she returns it tersely replying, "Tommy."

After a beat of awkward silence I cough softly, "So what's it like being in charge of hell?"

At a time before I was even considering marrying Laurel, yet alone going to college me and Tommy had come up a nickname for Merlyn Global and it's proud CEO. We named the building Hell and of course that would make Malcolm Merlyn, it's Devil. We were of course stoned out of our fucking minds and Tommy had just came over to the Queen Mansion after one of the many famous Merlyn men fights.

But it was a part of our history that wasn't tainted by the bullshit of our fucked up soap opera drama, and it gets Tommy to smile genuinely for the first time in a while, so it's worth it."I'm not exactly enjoying the power." I hum in agreement.

Even though I finally got used to being the CEO of a large corporation I still don't have an over powering need to spend every waking moment at work. The meetings are never ending and the paper work is endless. But just because I don't completely enjoy it, doesn't mean I'm not good at it. The schmoozing, picking gem projects to invest in. Not to sound like I'm bragging but I'm pretty good at it. It just get's a little tedious, at times. So I fully understand Tommy's reluctance to holding the reins of his father's company, even if it is just for a short time.

We chat for a while joking back and forth, Laurel having long ago disappeared from my side after spending the first 15 minutes of the conversation studiously avoiding Tommy's gaze and only answering in hums. After a while of idle chit - chat with Tommy I go to find Laurel, finding her was easy that wasn't the problem. The problem being she was at the bar, probably on her second - no third glass of wine.

See Laurel used to drink a lot back in high school, but had calmed down after her father - Captain Lance had drank his life away. He had good reason though, with his wife cheating on him with another man and taking his second daughter (Sara) away. Sara and Laurel don't get along very well. Well no, they don't get along at all. Sara's a free spirit like her mother and Laurel takes after her father. They used to get along as kids but after the divorce Laurel blamed her mother and Sara for making Quentin spiral out of control. But even after all of that, since our marriage Laurel had picked up a nasty habit of chugging wine like water, especially when she's stressed. So basically, every time Tommy's around.

Quickly I move over to her side and grab her hand from raising to flag down the bartender for another glass. "Hey, why don't we go get some fresh air?" Laurel snorts, snatching her hand away from mine she turns towards me. "I don't want air, Ollie." She says my nick name loud enough that it draws unwanted attention for a few seconds until everyone goes back to gossiping about each other behind each others backs."What I want is another drink." I sigh at her already slurring voice, ready to argue reason and logic but she cuts me off "And don't think you can pull one over on me. I'm smart, and I know you. You're just trying to get me away from the bar." She points her finger at me, and starts to giggle randomly and then she drinks the rest of the wine in her glass glaring at the glass when it becomes empty. I wrap my arm around her waist when she begins swaying,"Laurel, come on we need to leave. Let's go home." When she doesn't protest, I grab her clutch off the bar and pull her away from the bar effectively.

We make it out the ballroom unnoticed and finally outside the night's cold air biting into my skin, Laurel had became quiet only tripping a couple of times. Walking her to the limo, I wave off the driver silently telling him that I got it. When we're finally in the limo only then does she make eye contact with me, her head leaning on the back of the seat her shoulder's slumped slightly.

She say's something that confirms everything and nothing at all for me.

"I sometimes wish I fell in love with Tommy first."

She's drunk and I shouldn't take anything she says seriously, but I do. Because it's probably true, and sometimes I think about it too, how much better off we all would be if I had stayed away from her and let Tommy finally ask her out. I completely agree with her, she should have fell in love with Tommy first, but I took that away from her and I tell her this.

"Me too, Laurel. Me too." Because she's drunk and won't remember any of this. And because I'm to much of a coward to say it to her face when she's not drunk and half asleep.

La Lumiere Sombre.

Once I got dressed we had left in a rush barely acknowledging our fight on the car ride over. I had dressed in a rush and put on my favorite Oscar de la Renta dress that I had splurged on after my business took off, it's sequined with flower embellishments and a beautiful nude color. I then picked daring red suede Debbie Pumps by Charlotte Olympia matching my fire truck red lipstick. I softly curled my hair and pinned it up in the front. Not wanting to overpower the outfit, I chose to slip on the rose quartz earrings Ray bought me on for my birthday, and of course my obnoxious wedding ring. (To this day I don't have the heart to tell him the 14k diamond is just a little too much for me.)

Normally I would feel nervous wearing so many expensive things at once, but the restaurant may be a little new but it's currently a hot spot for the rich & famous. Meaning paparazzi catnip. So I went all out, in the end it was all worth it when we finally exit the vehicle I like to call Ray's mid life crisis car, and as I clutch onto his arm, him leading me to the door because Ray's feet are basically the only thing I can look at without going temporally blind.

Once we make it inside the smell of food assaults me from all corner's making my stomach grumble, causing a few passerby's to look and Ray to softly chuckle, patting my hand that's crooked into his elbow "Don't worry, we'll eat soon." He whispers softly in my ear, causing me to blush slightly. We quickly found Ray's parent's already seated at the table, Susan immediately spots us and she gets up from her seat and pats David on his arm, causing him to raise from his seat as well and turn around.

Hugs and Greetings are exchanged it feels like its been forever since I've seen them. Ray's parent's love me just like their own having spent many holiday breaks at their home when Vegas - more like my mother became to much, of course Susan was a little hesitant and wary to give her only son away but she soon caved in. Ray says my super power is making people love me. I just think I wore her down after so many years.

"Oh don't you look radiant. Doesn't she look radiant, David?" David nods, "You look beautiful, Felicity." I blush under their compliments while sitting down when Ray pulls my chair out for me sitting across from Susan and next to Ray's chair,"Thank you." I say simply having long learned not to dismiss their praise.

Ray sits down next to me and like a switch is flipped he actually turns sociable chatting away with his parent's, like he used to with me. After orders are made and dinner served, the questioning session every parent apparently does begins.

"So how's work, son?"

"Are you sure you want to eat that, darling?."

" Maybe. Perhaps you're pregnant , Felicity?"

It gets a little awkward when Susan spends 15 whole minute's talking about the probability of pregnancy, and then spends the next 5 talking about my uterus. After all the food is gone and the conversations thankfully steered away from the awkward conversation of our non existent sex life, I decide I need a bathroom break from all the water that I drank to hydrate myself from all the crying I seem to be doing lately, when I excuse myself to the restroom Susan offers to join me. I quickly get up and place my napkin on the table off my lap. Me and Susan walk arm and arm to the restroom, leaving the men to talk business.

Washing my hands after spending 4 minutes in the stall most of which was spent admiring the fancy toilet.'And hey so what if that makes me a little weird, it's not every day your toilet heats up your bottom and has a dryer.' Fixing my makeup in the mirror I look over and smile at Susan. 'Gosh I hate trying to make small talk in public bathrooms. What do I even say? Sorry you heard me pee and maybe you heard a little moan?'

But thankfully Susan saves me from actually saying that out loud by saying the most bizarre thing I ever heard, "So how is it going with the experimental treatment?" I look over at her with a confused stare, capping my lipstick I turn my full attention on her. "What treatment?" I ask as casual as I can ," Ray's, you know honey, the one Ray is testing." I nod pretending I know what she's talking about, " Yeah, Yup that darn thing. Needs to work and.. cure stuff and save lives?" Susan looks at me oddly but doesn't say anything. Thinking it's about Ray's work I'm about to let it go until -"I just hope he's being safe, you know testing it on himself like that." I instantly freeze up at her words but Susan continues speaking, "I suppose I get it, after that horrible Doctor's appointment, anyone would go mad after trying doctor from doctor. Always getting the same results back." Susan sighs,

"My boy, oh I never thought it would happen to him."

The rest of the dinner passed by in a blur, we have desert - I assume. Then we say our goodbye's and make promises of seeing each other soon. Ray and I soon make our way home finally relaxing after a hectic day and make arrangements for the stupid 2 week move I was going to make. All through this all I am thinking of is what Susan said in the bathroom.

And at night when I'm sleeping next to Ray listening to his soft snoring, watching him sleep. I hope with all my heart that Susan was lying or having a mental breakdown. As horrible as that sounds it would be better than the alternative. Because losing another man in my life would probably completely crush me.