A Warning would have Nice.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of this.

Flying was always more fun when you knew a family with a private plane. Felicity was used to cramped coach where one fat guy would fall asleep beside her while a kid would kick her seat; the plush couches and mini bar of the Queen's private jet was a world away from her usual way of travel.

Of course, she didn't really notice the comfort of the cream seats when she collapsed on them early on a Russian morning. She was too tired and all she wanted to do was sleep. Felicity didn't even know where Oliver, Roy and Diggle had sat down before she closed her eyes and drifted away.

After three years, they had finally found Deadshot hiding out in a remote part of Russia and one look between Oliver and Diggle had sent them all on the plane and across the ocean. Oliver had suited up and Diggle had repeatedly cleaned his guns; Roy had been putting on the black gear that he always wore when it happened.

Oliver had handed him a bag just as Roy zipped up his black jacket and when the teenager had opened it, his face went slack. Inside the bag, Oliver had placed a nearly identical uniform to his own; except this one was in a dark red.

Roy had looked at him with hopeful yet guarded eyes but Oliver had just picked up his bow and said, "Since those two won't let me get rid of the stray puppy, I must at least equip him with the proper things."

With that he had just walked off to put on the eye makeup, leaving Roy looking like a kid on Christmas whose dad had just given him his first bike. When Felicity saw them all suited up, she refrained from wanting to take pictures of her boys, instead she just tested the communicators and sat at her laptop.

She stayed on the plane, monitoring the security cameras from Deadshot's apartment building. It was a cramped place, as dirty as it was populated but the trio got to the right room. Felicity watched and shouted out instructions and warnings as the door was picked and chaos reigned. There was the sound of bullets and arrows flying through the air, as well as grunts and shouts.

Suddenly, the bang of a gun went off far too loudly in Felicity's ear and then everything went quiet. She was shaking until she heard Oliver's voice over the com, saying not to worry because they were all fine. Diggle and Deadshot had gotten into a hand to hand struggle and the gun between them had ripped a hole through Deadshot's stomach.

It wasn't until all three of them were back on the plane and Felicity had packed away her computers, did the adrenaline leave her body and she realised how exhausted she was.

It was a couple of hours later, when they were still in the air that Oliver woke up. He, Roy and Diggle had changed out of their gear before just before the pilot had seen them and when the billionaire looked down, he saw Felicity asleep on his soft grey t-shirt. He smiled down at her, even though he was hurting from the fight with Deadshot and her sleeping on his left arm only made it worse.

Across from him, he saw that Diggle was still awake and staring out of the airplane window. Oliver did not want to bother him; tonight all of his friend's misery and anger had come to an end. He knew what it was like to want revenge so he also knew the wave of emotions that followed when that revenge came to pass. So Oliver hadn't moved from his place beside Felicity on the couch.

Diggle, however, did turn his head and see his friend now wide awake. He sent Oliver a small grin and said, "We better wake those two up; Starling City is only about an hour away now and we need to get all the gear packed away properly."

Oliver just gave him a tight nod and turned to Felicity to wake her up. It was then that he saw the red lump that was on her other side. Peeking over her blonde head, Oliver saw that Roy had fallen asleep on Felicity's left shoulder, his red hoodie wrapped around him.

Frowning, Oliver reached around Felicity and flicked Roy on the nose. The boy simply kept his eyes closed and smacked Oliver's hand away. Oliver followed this up with a few more flicks which Roy continued to bat away.

That was, until Felicity muttered as a warning, "Boys."

Oliver then stopped, only to see Roy stick his tongue out at him and continue to sleep on Felicity's shoulder. It was she who moved first out of all four of them, sitting up straight and stretching out the muscles in her back.

"Where are we now?" she asked, taking off her glasses to clean them on her sweater.

Diggle poked one her own tablets that had the flight plan on it and after giving it a glance he replied, "I know we're about an hour away from Starling City; this map also says that we're about to pass over your home town."

Oliver raised his eyebrows and he said, "Oh, do you want to land somewhere and say hi to your parents?"

Felicity put her glasses back on, pushing them up her nose before she turned to look at him with a quizzical face. "Land somewhere? My town doesn't have an airport."

Oliver shrugged and replied, "This plane can land on any flat surface; I'm sure the pilot can find a spot."

Felicity laughed and leaned back against the couch beside him. "Oh yes, we'll just land a private jet in the middle of a field just so I can say hi to my parents! That doesn't sound arrogantly rich at all."

Roy, who had simply leaned against the arm rest instead of Felcity, quipped, "Did you forget that Oliver pukes money and sneezes gold bars?"

Oliver sent a glare in the teenager's direction but then turned back to his girlfriend. "It may sound crazy but I know that you've been wanting to go and see them; plus, I'd like to meet them officially. I don't think hiding out in your bedroom when your mother suddenly appears really counts."

Felicity blinked at him, looking at how that now familiar half smile appeared. "Really?" she asked, "You really want to meet my parents?"

Oliver nodded straight away and a warm feeling settled in Felicity's chest. So, Oliver got up and, after placing a kiss to her head, walked to the front of the plane to tell the pilot to land somewhere.

Felicity watched him go before turning to Diggle. "I'm really glad you're here; you can protect him instead so he doesn't have to revel his fighting skills under pressure."

Diggle laughed but it fell away when he saw Felicity's tight smile. She sighed and leaned her hands against her cheek as she looked at her boyfriend.

"My mom's going to tear him apart."

Smoak's Hardware and Sporting Goods was a large and well lit building that sat in the middle of Main Street. Its goods were seemingly split down the middle; sports on the left and hardware on the right. The long checkout desk, which was in a beautiful dark wood, sat in the middle of it all. Matching wooden beams were on the ceiling; the signs for each aisle hanging from them.

Felicity decided to head straight for the desk, knowing that her parents would either be there or in their office at the back. Roy, however, said that he wanted to check out the bows and arrows.

"Doesn't your dad get the really strong ones?" he asked Felicity who nodded.

"Yup and Oliver modifies them in the lair." She had whispered all of this so no one could over hear; and because Oliver hated the word lair.

Roy looked around at the people who were shopping in the aisles and he muttered, "These people are probably weary of strangers; especially young ones right?"

Felicity laughed and replied, "Oh, some of them think any teenager is a delinquent escaped from a mental hospital."

Roy nodded once again, before flipping his hood over his head. "Awesome; I'm going to go look broody by the sport equipment."

Felicity, finally catching on, rolled her eyes and just hoped he didn't start a fight with her Dad's things. Last thing she needed was to see hockey sticks and hammers flying through the air. Thankfully, Diggle agreed to trail after him and make sure the teenager behaved.

That left Oliver and Felicity walking hand in hand to the desk. Felicity became well aware of the stares that she was now getting from the customers, many of whom she had grown up with. Oliver, catching on quickly, squeezed her hand just as she caught sight of a friendly face behind the counter.

Felicity smiled widely and called out, "Dad!" causing David Smoak to look up from his books and meet his daughter's gaze.

"Licity! What are you doing here?" he asked, hurrying out from behind the counter to sweep his daughter up into his arms. Oliver smiled at their exchange but he quickly stiffened when David turned his gaze on him. The older man had a kind face, worn from years of working outside and smiling often, and his faded brown hair sat on top of his head. He was broad shouldered and in good health as far as Oliver could see. His eyes were soft but a guarded look came upon them when he looked at his daughter's boyfriend.

Oliver had never really been good at meeting his ex-girlfriend's parents but this was Felicity; therefore, moving the continents themselves would be an option if it put him in good favour. So he held out his hand and said, "Mr. Smoak; I'm Oliver Queen. It's great to finally meet you."

David then smiled widely and shook his hand. "Please, call me David. It's wonderful to be introduced to the man that is making my little girl so happy."

Felicity blushed and the two men dropped their hands. David nodded towards the sports area that Roy and Diggle had wandered off to and asked, "I hope you've been liking those new arrows Felicity ordered for you; that Hood guy is doing wonders for archery business."

Oliver grinned, glancing at Felicity's perfect poker face before replying. "Yes...I guess I just have a love for it."

Felicity coughed away her laugh and patted her father's arm as she asked, "Where's Mom? I don't hear anyone yelling."

David opened his mouth but instead the shrill voice of Loraine Smoak echoed through the building like a fire alarm. "Where is that girl?! I know she is here because Annabell James and Penelope Carter are smirking like cats with cream and gossiping like there is no tomorrow."

David slowly closed his mouth and made a popping noise with his lips before saying, "Well, your mother has always had the most incredible timing."

All three of them turned to see Loraine-perfectly turned out in summer clothes- hurrying down the aisle, nearly knocking down a toddler and three teenage girls as she went.

Felicity took a deep breath and held out her arms as she said, "Hi Mom!" Anything to distract her mother.

Instead Loraine breezed past her with a, "Not yet dear; I have to see him first."

Felicity turned around to see Loraine standing in front of a smiling Oliver, even though the woman was scanning him up and down with laser beam eyes.

Finally, Loraine met his gaze and exclaimed, "You're shorter in person."

Felicity just put her face in her hand while Oliver kept the smile on his face. "Mrs Smoak! It's wonderful to finally be introduced to you!" he said.

Loraine however, just flipped some hair out of her face and replied, "We'll see dear, we'll see." As Loraine turned to her husband, Oliver sent Felicity a panicked look-something she usually only saw when he was facing down criminals of the most dangerous degree.

Felicity could only shrug as Loraine and David talked. "I have got some boxes in the office that need moving. A big, strong man like Oliver is perfect for doing the job. Since he's dating our Licity-even though I have to find out about it through the internet- then he might as well help around here."

David blinked at his wife's suggestion, saying, "Good idea; but those boxes have been in there since 1996. Do they really need to be moved now?"

Loraine just waved a hand and started off towards the back of the building where the office was located. Oliver looked between Felicity and her Dad before taking the hint and jogging after Loraine.

Felicity sighed and leaned against her dad's shoulder. "He'll be fine right?" she asked but David frowned.

"I don't know Licity, you know what your mother is like with you and boyfriends. Do you remember Timmy Jackson from down the street? He asked you out in senior year; your mother asked him about his intensions and no one ever saw him again after that."

"Didn't his family move to Atlanta?"

"I think your mother made him move to Atlanta."

Loraine led Oliver to office, a surprisingly bright room with two desks at either end of it. One was clearly David's because it was a little cluttered with flyers for new equipment and employee records while Loraine sat down at an ordered desk with a laptop and piles of neatly stacked papers. Placed against the wall between the desks were boxes of all different sizes and colours; obviously they were from the mail over the years and had been dropped in the pile without a thought to where exactly they would go. Some were empty but some looked half filled.

And clearly Loraine wanted him to move them around or at least that was just her excuse.

"Now, Oliver dear, if you could just separate the filled boxes from the empty ones and then I'll decide what do with them."

She gave him a grin as he nodded and started to work on the boxes. Loraine busied herself with some figures and a calculator at her desk as she spoke. "Of course, I just wanted a moment to speak to you alone. Not that my husband and daughter have ever trusted me with her boyfriend. I swear one little assault charge and you're on the watch list for life."

Oliver paused at this, a box in his hands and he gave the back of Loraine's head a frown. "I mean, he played football so you think he would have been able to handle a right hook but I digress. The point is, I want to know exactly what your game is."

Oliver placed a full box in one pile and had folded down at least three empty ones in another. As he headed back to the main pile, he replied, "Well, it's pretty nice that you are being so honest. But I don't have any game Mrs Smoak-."

"Call me Loraine dear."

"Loraine. I care for Felicity very much; there is no game."

Now this was a conversation Oliver was used to having. Back before the island, nearly every parent of any girl he dated had these words with him. Yet, these were Felicity's parents and that itself meant something different. Old Oliver would have smiled charmingly and spouted some rubbish about true feelings and honest intentions until he got bored of the girl. Now, Oliver meant every word. Plus, unlike the other parents, Loraine seemed like the kind of person who could kill him and get rid of his body without breaking a nail.

"Yes, dear I do hope there isn't any game. My Licity deserves the best; and I'm not saying that with bias. Well...I am actually but that doesn't take away the fact that Felicity deserves good things. I don't suppose that she has told you anything about her high school experience."

Oliver decided to keep moving boxes; to not do as Loraine said seemed like a really bad idea. "She didn't tell me much; just said that a trip to Starling City in her junior year was a life-changer."

Loraine continued to work on the figures in front of her. "Yes, they went to a museum but what gathered Felicity's attention was the new Queen Consolidate building. Apparently the class had lunch near it at a cafe that many of the employees went to on their breaks. Felicity overheard many of them talking about the new computers that they got in and she realised that the problems they were having were completely solvable-by her."

Loraine put a page down and spun around in her seat to look at Oliver, who was still working on the boxes. He sent her a smile, showing that he was still listening. "That was the moment that she decided to move to Starling City when she was older. She was always so clever with computers so school was never an obstacle for her. The people in the school however, that is something different."

Oliver paused and Loraine held her head a little higher. "Those...youths considered her talents to be useless since they couldn't get them beer or whatever else they wanted. Licity kept to herself a lot because of that. And since I know that you have lived in a city all your life, you may not know what it is like in a small town. Felicity has always been "little Licity' to the people here; including the boys. When they asked her out, it was always for some other reason than just liking her for herself."

Oliver suddenly saw red but he breathed gently through his nose. A moment later, he replied, "If I was you, I would have slung a few right hooks too."

Loraine smiled softly for a moment and then stood up. "The men she has met in Starling City have been much better of course, but that doesn't change the fact that my Licity deserves everything that is priceless in this world. And I'm not talking about private jets and diamonds."

Oliver gave Loraine a narrowed look, trying to see the usual look of distain or mistrust. Instead, he saw her sharp gaze and inquisitive face, waiting to hear his answer. It wasn't that she didn't trust him; she was looking for the man her Felicity saw.

Oliver cleared his throat and said, "I may not have lived in a small town but I do know what it is like to be thought of as one thing and treated the same way because of it. The island changed many parts of my personality, my priorities and my outlook on life yet people saw the same kid who partied too much. Felicity saw through all the media and the stories; actually trying to fool Felicity in any way is a terrible idea, I have learned."

Loraine seemed to agree but Oliver added, "She is very important to me Loraine; as my girlfriend and my best friend."

Loraine frowned at him again, her gaze going straight through him. For a moment he thought he had said something wrong but then Loraine smiled widely. "Yes; yes you will do nicely. Come on then, let's go and join the others."

She marched towards the door with Oliver glancing back towards the pile behind him. "But what about the boxes?"

"Oh sweetheart, nobody cares."

Meanwhile, Felicity had been drumming her fingers on the counter top, listening to her father as she kept one eye on the office door. "Licity...why does your nice friend Diggle look like he's having a heart attack?"

Felicity snapped her head around to see Diggle pacing the aisle like a mad man, his gaze dancing to the left and right before he nearly ran down another aisle.

"Oh, he's probably lost Roy; it's ok, he won't do anything too bad."

David nodded, looking over Felicity's shoulder for a moment before saying, "Hey, do you remember Casey Thompson?"

Felicity frowned before replying, "Casey Thompson as in captain of the football team and my number one hater Casey Thompson? Yes, why?"

"Oh, well, he's coming this way."

Felicity turned around again but this time she saw a guy her age with a short black hairstyle and a loose suit on. He smiled widely at her and when he reached her, he exclaimed, "Little Licity Smoak! How long has it been?"

Felicity forced herself to smile and replied, "Oh, since the end of senior year and you put shaving cream in my graduation hat."

Casey didn't even flinch; he just let out a slight laugh and shrugged. "Hey, I was a bit of an ass in high school what can you do?"

"Apologise and hope I don't hack you with my phone," Felicity thought but she just laughed too.

Suddenly a flash of red appeared beside her and she turned to see Roy standing there. "Who's this?" he asked casually but Felicity was alarmed to see the bow in his hands.

Roy followed her gaze and he sent a grin back to David. "These new bows are really cool Mr Smoak."

Then he turned his slightly more unfriendly gaze back to Casey. Felicity locked her arm through his loose one as if to stop him from pouncing. "This is Casey Thompson. We went to school together."

Casey gave Roy a once over before smiling and asking, "Who is this guy? He can't be the boyfriend I've heard so much about?"

Roy shook his head, replying before Felicity could. "Oh no, he's back in the office being interrogated by Felicity's scary mom. I'm just the friend who has really good aim."

As if to demonstrate, he held the bow up, pulling the string back as if to point it at Casey. "I'm getting really good at this stuff," he said, "I can hit pretty much anything, like, say, someone's back."

Felicity grabbed the bow off him, barely giving him to time to let the string retract slowly. "Ignore him," she said, sending Roy a warning look that he clearly paid no attention to.

Diggle appeared on Felicity's other side, glancing between Roy and the bow with an exasperated sigh.

Casey just kept smiling at Felicity-even if he was now weary of Roy- and said, "This guy's a little protective huh?"

"You're a little slimy."

"Roy!" Felicity hissed but Casey scowled at the teenager.

Roy, however, just grinned and replied, "Relax, you're only getting offended because I'm better looking than you."

Diggle was glaring daggers at Roy's head and he gave a pointed cough.

Roy did a double take at Diggle before adding, "Oh sorry...Diggle is also better looking than you."

Diggle practically threw his hand up in frustration and went to stand by the sanest man he knew, David. Casey regained his composer and smiled at Felicity again. "Anyway, are you planning on stay in town for a while or-."

"You! I know that I barred you from this store."

Nearly every customer in the building turned their heads to watch as Loraine stormed out of the office with Oliver hurrying behind her. Loraine was glaring at a backtracking Casey. "Mrs Smoak, that was nearly ten years ago-."

"You say that like I'm supposed to care! Get out before you set off another fire alarm."

Casey quickly scampered out the door and Oliver went to stand by Felicity. She smiled at him but he stared at her with wide eyes.

"Never leave me alone with your mother again," he whispered and Felicity was shocked to see a track of fear in his eyes.

She stepped closer, using her non bow holding hand to touch his arm. "Oliver, you've faced five years on an island, countless trained guards and the worst that Starling City has to offer. Please don't tell me that you are afraid of my mom."

Oliver just replied, "That's why she scares me!"

They didn't stay too long after that, even if David and Loraine were offering dinner. Oliver said that Thea was expecting them, which only caused Loraine to demand to meet the other Queen some day. This nearly caused Oliver to have a panic attack at the thought of Loraine and Thea being anywhere near each other.

The taxi was waiting outside the store, on the other side of the street, to drive them back to the plane. Felicity had already said goodbye to her dad and Roy and Diggle were waiting in the taxi as Loraine hugged her daughter goodbye. Oliver and David stood at the entrance to the store, shaking hands.

"It was great to meet you David," Oliver said, "How about you and Loraine drive into Starling City for a weekend with us?"

David dropped his hand, smiling. "We'd love that. Myabe we might even see that famous hero I've heard so much about?"

Oliver just continued to grin and was about to turn away when David gently grabbed his elbow. David paused for just a moment as he watched Oliver, but then said, "I love my daughter dearly, Oliver, but that doesn't mean that I have ever tried to tell her what to do. Felicity does what she thinks is best and good luck to the person who foolishly tries to change her mind. One of the other great things about her is that she sees the best in people. I guess I can credit her with helping the vigilante turn into a hero."

Oliver froze; David's knowing gaze meeting his eyes. Oliver glanced at Felicity and Loraine but then David let go of his elbow, causing him to turn back. David didn't seem upset or angry; he actually seemed understanding.

"I don't-."

"Just make sure that Felicity is as safe as you can," David said in a low voice, "I know that's all I can ask for."

He took a step back and Oliver continued to stare at him. He had been so worried about Loraine that he had overlooked the man who had been married to her for over twenty years. David waved to Felicity across the street before turning back to Oliver.

"Have a good flight. And tell that hero fellow that I'm getting in some new arrows; the latest ones out. You know, if you can somehow get that message to him."

Oliver finally matched David's smile and he hurried across the street, passing a nearly crying Loraine as he went. He and Felicity got into the taxi and Loraine joined her husband in front of the store.

David wrapped an arm around her shoulders as they waved goodbye. Loraine was sniffing and David looked at her with soft eyes. "It's alright dear; we'll go into the city and see Felicity soon enough."

Loraine shook her head.

It's not that. It's just seeing Oliver and Felicity standing there, side by side made me realise...my grandchildren are going to be so good-looking. I have to go subtly brag to the neighbours."