A/N: Hi folks! I hope you enjoy this one!

Chapter Three

Felicity stood in front of the bathroom mirror, leaning forward slightly as she tried to get a straight line of liquid eyeliner at the base of her lashes. She pulled the lid to the side with one hand, while she slowly dragged the tiny brush across the lid. It was almost done when there was a knock on the door and her hand jerked, leaving a jagged line of eyeliner just to the right of her eye. She frowned, sighing as she turned and glanced at the closed door.

"Yeah?" she said.

"Are you dressed?"

"Yeah, I am."

He opened the door and stepped in, wincing when he saw the smudge black line drawn from her eyelid.

"Did I do that?" he asked, gesturing toward her face.

"No," she said, turning her attention back to the mirror and wiping at the line with her fingers. "I mean, yes, technically your knocking caused it, but I suck at liquid eyeliner anyway." She continued to wipe at it, frowning when the small smudge seemed to grow of its own accord. "Be happy you're not a girl and you don't have to wear makeup."

"I thank my extra y chromosome every day."

She snorted, shaking her head. She turned on the faucet and wet her finger before getting off the last bit of the eyeliner smudge. Oliver was watching her reflection, tie hanging undone around his neck.

"Are you in here for me to do you?" she asked. Realizing that perhaps she had not chosen the best words, she quickly added, "And by you, I mean your tie. Because it's undone."

He laughed. "No, I've got it. I just wanted to bring you your phone. It's been buzzing like crazy."

She noticed her cell phone in his hand then and she took it from him, glancing down at the screen. There were a number of texts from her MIT friends, and she didn't have to open them to know what they said.

"Thanks," she said.

"Are you almost ready to go?" he asked, facing the mirror as he began to fasten his tie. His fingers worked deftly, looping and tucking the tie.

"Yeah, I just have to fix this," she said, pointing at her smudged eyeliner. "And with no sudden movement, it should be done in a jif."

He smirked. "Is that a subtle way of telling me not to mess up your eye makeup again?"

"Yes, it was."

She screwed the cap off the liquid eyeliner and leaned forward, biting her bottom lip absentmindedly as she drew a straight line. Oliver watched her casually, eyes travelling down from her face to things below her neck. Her position gave him a straight view down the front of her dress in the mirror and he averted his eyes, clearing his throat.

"Hm?" she said, straightening and glancing over at him.

"Nothing," he said quickly. "I'll wait for you outside."

Felicity nodded, returning her attention to the mirror. He walked out into the bedroom and strode over to the small table and chairs where his suit jacket was draped over one of the chairs. He picked it up and slipped it on, moving his arms in front of him to loosen it a bit. He heard her leave the bathroom and he turned, blinking rapidly as he took in the full sight of her. Sure, he'd seen her in the bathroom but she had been curled up against the bathroom counter and he didn't get a good look at the dress. He did now, and it was stunning. It was dark blue silk and it hugged her curves. She'd added a jeweled clip to the base of her high bun, and it glowed beneath the hotel room's fluorescent light.

"You look beautiful," he murmured, grinning softly as he watched her cheeks redden. He didn't think he'd ever met someone who blushed more easily than her.

"We should go," she returned. "If we're late and Taylor finds out she will skin us alive."

He raised an eyebrow and she said, "Well, not literally. Don't get your arrows in a quiver. But, she will be very, very mad."

"That sounds terrifying," he teased. "We should leave immediately."

She walked past him and picked up her silver beaded purse from the table. She hit him lightly on the arm.

"Are you going to mock me all night?"

"I thought that could be one of the defining characteristics of our relationship," he explained with a grin as they walked out of the room.

Felicity's nerves kicked in the moment she spotted the church across the street. She realized that it was entirely her fault that this was happening, and Oliver was being more than a good sport being there, but all she wanted to do was turn around and run. Why did she ever think she could pull this off? Oliver and her had to look like a couple – really look like a couple – and she was pretty sure that involved more than just cheeky banter.

Oliver sensed her anxiety and glanced down at her. "Are you okay?"

"Oh yeah," he said, nodding quickly. "I'm fine. I'm just…" she trailed off as a pressure descended on her chest. She stopped walking, breathing becoming erratic as she stammered, "I…I feel like there's an elephant on my chest. Oliver…"

"Hey, it's okay," he said. He took a hold of her arm and gently tugged her over to the side of a building. People passed, a few giving them curious glances, but the majority ignored them.

"Tell me what you're thinking," he said, hands sliding up and down her arms in what she assumed was a comforting manner, but the contact only made her chest tighten further.

"I'm thinking that this is ridiculous," she said. "I mean, lying to them by myself was one thing. It was just telling stories. But this?" She gestured between them, laughing bitterly at the absurdity of it all. "This is crazy. This is certifiably insane."

"Felicity-"

"You know what, you should just go back to the hotel," she said. "I bet the room has a pretty nice cable package. It looked like it would. Go back and watch some cable. Hit up the minibar. I'll just tell go tell them that I was pathetic and made up a boyfriend."

"Okay, listen to me," Oliver said slowly, hands sliding up to rest on her shoulders. "I came here to go to a wedding and help someone that I care a great deal about. And I fully intend on doing both of those things."

"So, you don't think it's insane?" she asked quietly.

He laughed. "No, it's still pretty crazy. But, you were right before. You don't ask me for a lot. I can do this for you."

"I hope you know you're getting a whole lot of friends points for this. Like, an astronomic amount."

He grinned softly. "Now, let's put our best fake boyfriend and girlfriend foot forward and get to the church. I'm fairly sure they frown upon being late to this sort of thing."

Felicity breathed in deeply, the fresh air filling her lungs.

"Alright. Let's go."

They crossed the street, Felicity plastering on a grin when they almost immediately met one of her college friends at the base of the church's steps. Lydia was one of the first people who had befriended Felicity back at MIT. Bonding over their coffee addiction and absentee fathers, it was a fast friendship.

Lydia had her bright red hair in loose curls cascading down her back, and she wore a purple dress that was maybe a bit too short for an afternoon wedding, but she wore it well. With Lydia's long limbs, she wore just about anything well.

"Felicity!" Lydia said with a wide grin, pulling Felicity into a tight hug. "I feel like I haven't seen you in forever."

"It has been a while," Felicity acknowledged. "I think the last time was – what – October?"

"Well shit, you're right," Lydia said, nodding slowly. "It was October."

Lydia glanced at Oliver and asked, "So, is this that infamous boyfriend of yours?'

"Oh, yes," Felicity said, glancing over at Oliver. It occurred to her this was only the first of many introductions she'd go through that day. She felt exhausted just at the thought. "Lydia, this is Oliver Queen. Oliver, this is Lydia. We're friends from college."

"It's great to finally meet you," Lydia said, beginning to walk up the steps. Felicity and Oliver followed, and she glanced over at Oliver as she added, "We all were half-convinced she made you up."

"You guys what?" Felicity stammered.

"You just made him sound so perfect," Lydia said. "It's like he was fucking Prince Charming or something."

"Well, I can assure you I'm not perfect," Oliver interjected smoothly, noting the deep flush on Felicity's cheeks. "But, I am, in fact, real."

"I can see that," Lydia returned, grinning slightly. She turned her attention to Felicity. "Anyway, Sadie texted me that she was saving us seats inside. Do you-"

"Found her," Felicity said, pointing at a diminutive brunette near the front of the church.

"She got the good seats," Lydia said happily.

"Are there really bad seats in a church?" Felicity mused. "I mean, in theory, God should be everywhere. If you believe in that sort of thing."

Oliver smirked.

They walked over to the pew and the small woman grinned up at them, a baby bouncing on her knee. The baby gurgled happily when she saw Felicity and reached out toward her.

"Your favorite aunt is here, huh?" Sadie murmured to the baby, kissing her cheek. "Do you see Aunt Felicity?"

Lydia snorted, stepping around Sadie to get to their seats and said, "Um, what about Aunt fucking Lydia?"

"Lyd!" Sadie hissed.

"Oh please, like she can understand me. She's nine months old."

Sadie shook her head, turning her attention back to Oliver and Felicity. She turned out toward the aisle for them to get past her more easily.

"Oliver, it's great to finally meet you," she said. "Although, Felicity's told us so much about you, I feel like I already know you."

"It's wonderful to meet you, Sadie, right?"

"Yep, that's me," she said with a soft grin. "And this is my daughter Skye."

"She's cute," Oliver said in a stilted voice. Felicity smirked at his word choice.

"So, where's Eric?" Lydia asked, leaning forward to see Sadie.

"Oh, he's with David. The groom requested his presence."

"You know, I feel a little slighted that Taylor hasn't asked for us," Lydia said. "I mean, it's bad enough we aren't bridesmaids. The least she could do is give us a pity viewing before the ceremony.

Felicity snorted, shaking her head. Taylor had regretfully told them all that they wouldn't be in her bridal party right when she'd gotten engaged. Taylor came from a large family with four other sisters. With David's two sisters, there were already six bridesmaids. Not wanting to cherry pick an extra bridesmaid from their friend group, she'd told them all that she thought the best thing was to have none of them. Felicity and Sadie hadn't cared, but Lydia had been less forgiving.

"You know, you're going to have to get over this eventually," Felicity told her with a small grin.

"There's still a good week or two left in this grudge," Lydia returned stubbornly.

The group chatted for a while, the church filling up around them. It was almost time for the wedding to start, and Sadie's husband was still missing in action.

"I think I'm going to go see if I can find him," Sadie said. She turned toward Oliver and asked, "Can you hold her for a little? I'll be right back."

Oliver went to object, but then Sadie was holding the baby out toward him, and all he could do was take the squirming infant and pray he didn't drop her. He cradled her carefully in his arms, body tense and shoulders squared.

Felicity watched him and smirked when it dawned on her that Oliver, someone who had taken down countless criminals and assailants, was afraid of babies.

"You okay over there?" she asked, knocking her shoulder against him.

"Ah, don't do that," he said in a panicked voice.

He looked supremely uncomfortable sitting there with Skye in his arms, and she pressed her lips together, trying to hold back her laughter, before she said, "I can't believe you're afraid of babies."

"What? I'm not-"

"You know she can't hurt you. She doesn't even have full motor skills yet."

He gave her a look. "I'm not afraid of her. I'm more afraid of what I'll do to her. Babies are fragile. I'm not good with fragile things."

She laid a hand gently on his arm. "You're doing just fine."

"They're unwieldy," he continued. "And they have that soft spot."

"I'm pretty sure she's outgrown the soft spot."

He didn't answer, attention on Skye as she squirmed in his arms. She was reaching out toward Felicity, making little mewling noises.

"Okay, hand her over," Felicity said, scooping Skye out of Oliver's arms. Oliver happily obliged and he visibly relaxed when he became sans baby. Skye was pleased with the new arrangement, as well, gurgling happily as she reached forward and grabbed Felicity's nose. Felicity laughed, twisting her head out of the little one's grasp.

"Are you trying to get my nose?" she said. "You trying to get my nose, Skye?"

Skye giggled, reaching forward again, but this time she went for one of Felicity's dangling earrings. She got a hold of one and tugged.

"Ow," Felicity breathed out, hand flying up to the earring. She gently pried it out of Skye's hand and turned her around so she was facing forward, earrings out of reach.

"You're good with her," Oliver noted.

"I like babies," Felicity said with a shrug. "They're so easy to please. You just rock them on your knee and make some funny faces, and you're they're favorite person."

Skye twisted in Felicity's arm and looked up at Oliver with wide eyes. Felicity grinned, hugging her close, and said, "That's Oliver, Skye. Do you want to wave hi to Oliver?"

Felicity waved for show, grinning down at Skye as she murmured, "Wave hi to Oliver!"

Skye didn't exactly master a wave but she did reach out toward him, pressing her tiny fingers against the buttons of his suit jacket. He laughed, watching her begin to grab at the buttons. She had trouble grasping them, her fingers sliding around the round shape clumsily. He glanced up at Felicity and was struck by the beautiful serenity of her face. She was watching Skye play with his suit jacket button, soft smile pulling at her lips. She felt his gaze and looked up, smile faltering as she felt an increasingly familiar pull at the base of her stomach.

"You are never going to believe what was happening back there," Sadie said, slipping into the pew next to Oliver. Felicity broke her gaze away from Oliver's, clearing her throat as she said, "What's going on?"

"The boys were having a celebratory drink in the back, and David spilled scotch down the front of his shirt."

"Oh no," Felicity gasped. "Did he have an extra?"

"Nope, so after some panicking Eric swapped shirts with him."

Eric gave her a small wave from beside Sadie and said, "I will forever and always be an integral part of this wedding now."

Felicity grinned. "That you will."

Sadie reached over Oliver to take Skye back from Felicity. As she lifted her back to her lap, Sadie said, "She wasn't any trouble, was she?"

"She was an angel," Felicity cooed. "Like she always is."

Sadie glanced at Oliver. "Is she telling the truth?"

He nodded. "She was the best behaved kid I've ever seen."

"Well, I'll take credit for that," Sadie said with a grin. "It'll be a nice memory when she becomes a toddler and everyone blames me for her bad behavior."

The music started up and Felicity felt a thrill run through her. She always liked weddings. The ceremony was her favorite part. The reception was all about speeches and drinking, but the ceremony was about love. It was about a man and a woman pledging their lives to each other, and it made her cry every time.

The wedding party made their way down the aisle. Lydia leaned in as a particularly rotund bridesmaid passed and whispered, "I so would have worn that dress better."

Felicity snorted, patting her hand. "I'm sure you would have, Lyd."

The bridal party took its place around the altar, the groom standing in front of the altar with the priest, anxiously awaiting his bride. The wedding march began and the entire congregation stood, glancing back at the entrance to watch the bride make her way down the aisle. The doors opened and Taylor stepped forward with her father, smiling face just visible behind her veil. Taylor took the aisle slowly, her steps measured and careful. When she passed Felicity and them she glanced over, smile widening in acknowledgement. Felicity could see the tear tracks on her cheeks.

The bridal couple met at the alter and the congregation sat down, watching the pair exchange their vows and promise to love each other from death till they part. The vows always hit Felicity the hardest and she sniffed, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. Oliver glanced over at her and gently squeezed her knee. They were sitting close, shoulder to shoulder, and she thought to herself that if he really was her boyfriend, this was the type of situation she'd reach over and take his hand. She glanced over at Sadie and Eric and how he had his arm tucked around her shoulders, fingers drawing lazy circles on her arm. That was what a couple should look like.

Felicity looked at Oliver, and then down at his hand resting on his leg. She took his hand impulsively, holding her breath as she waited for him to respond. Watching him out of the corner of her eye, she saw him smile slightly and then he squeezed her hand gently. She relaxed and spent the duration of the ceremony trying to stave off the gigantic smile that threatened to spread on her face.

Taylor and David were pronounced man and wife, and they kissed, the entire church erupting in loud applause and a few well-timed catcalls. The newly married couple made their way out of the church and the congregation slowly shuffled out, sending them off to their limousine.

"Are you guys heading straight to the reception?" Lydia asked.

"When is it again?" Oliver asked.

"An hour from now," Sadie said.

"You know, there is this bar across from the hotel," Lydia said leadingly. "And, I did see some good drink deals in the window."

Felicity glanced up at Oliver. "What do you say?"

"Sounds good to me," he said with a shrug.

"What about you, Mom and Dad?" Lydia asked sarcastically.

"I can't drink because I'm still nursing," Sadie said with clear disappointment. "But, I'm sure Eric would be happy to drink for both of us."

"That is accurate," he piped in.

"Alright, let's get going then, people," Lydia said heartily. "Drinks await us!"

They headed down the street toward the hotel, and it was then, in the middle of a crosswalk, that Felicity realized Oliver was still holding her hand.

A/N: This was a big ol' fluffball. Hope you enjoyed! I was going to have next chapter be the reception, but then I decided to have them pregame the reception. So, next chapter will be filled with bar shenanigans! In formal wear! And with a baby! It'll be so fun you won't know what to do with yourselves!

In the meantime, PLEASE LEAVE FEEDBACK.