A/N: I'm back! I have been in a horrible funk lately when it comes to my writing. I haven't written a thing in weeks. Possibly months. Honestly, I can't remember the last time I wrote anything significant. So I decided to jump back into the fic a thon to get the creative juices flowing. I'm going to try very hard to post at least one of these a day until I'm all caught up... No promises but I'll give it my all!

At Odds

"They do know that this is our wedding right? You and me? Yours and mine?" she grumbles, leaning heavily into him where he sits beside her.

Across the table, her soon to be sister-in-law and her mother continue their heated argument. Neither of them acknowledge her.

Oliver's arm around her pulls her tighter to his side.

"We could always elope."

She snorts loudly, the sound finally drawing the attention of the two women opposite them. Thea frowns at her.

"What?"

Felicity fiddles with the stem of her wine glass and sighs.

"Don't you think that you're taking this a little too far?" she questions, steeling herself for the battle she knows she's walking into, "Oliver and I just want something small. Family and friends, that's it. Nothing extravagant. This is getting out of hand. You're talking about doves and desert tables. Photo booths and a live band and … and it's just too much. We don't need any of that."

They've been at odds with Thea and her mother since the moment they'd announced their (second) engagement. The two most important women in their lives had taken it upon themselves to plan a lavish wedding. A large, opulent, over-the-top celebration that neither of them are interested in. And while Felicity had expected her mother to push for an extravagant party to celebrate their marriage, she'd been surprised that Thea had jumped on that particular train with her. She had been sure that Oliver's sister would be on her side, that she'd recognize Felicity's desire for something much more intimate, more romantic.

"Felicity, Oliver is the mayor of Star City. People are going to expect something grand. The constituency has been following your relationship since the first engagement. They're going to want to feel like they're involved."

"And that means inviting every single person who's shaken hands with the mayor? This is our wedding, Thea, not some charity gala. This is personal. I'm telling you right now, the guest list that Oliver and I gave you is the list you'd better stick to if you expect there to be a wedding."

Oliver's fingers dig carefully into her hip and she takes a slow breath, forcing herself to keep her voice down. There have been more than one pair of wandering eyes on them since they'd been led to their booth at the back of the restaurant.

"Felicity, hon, Thea and I –"

She shakes her head, cutting off whatever it is her mother was going to say.

"No, mom. I'm serious. I know that we've given the two of you a lot of slack when it comes to planning the wedding. And I'm very grateful for your help. I am. I've been so busy working on the start-up with Curtis and Oliver's been crazy busy, you know, being the mayor. But this is where I put my foot down. Neither of us want two hundred people showing up at our wedding. Only our closest friends and family are invited. Thirty people. That's it. That's our cap. All of our friends, the two of you, and a couple of plus ones. John is the best man, William is a groomsmen, Thea is my maid of honor and Lyla will be a bridesmaid. The end."

"But –"

"No, no buts," Oliver says sternly, casting a heavy glare in his sister's direction, "This is what we want, Speedy. Felicity's right. This is our wedding, not a circus. And while we really appreciate everything that you're doing for us, please don't think for a second that we won't jet off to Bali and get married on the beach if we feel like what you're planning is too much. I've been trying to convince her to elope since the moment she said yes. The second time. We're ready to be married. We've been ready. The only reason we're even planning a wedding is because of all of you. Because we want you to be there with us. But we'd like you to respect our wishes and keep it small. Please."

Silence falls over their table. Donna and Thea exchange a look before they both deflate. Thea reaches for her wine, taking a long sip.

"You'd really elope?" she asks.

Oliver nods, "If we were doing this my way, Felicity and I would've been married the day after we got engaged. I let her convince me that having all of your with us was too important. That the two of you, specifically, wouldn't forgive us if we got married without you."

Another look is exchanged before both woman smile, Donna reaching a hand across the table to grasp Felicity's.

"I'm sorry, baby, you're right. It's your wedding. So if you want something small and beautiful and intimate, that's what you'll have. Okay?"

"Thank you, Mom."

When they marry two months later in the city's lush botanical gardens, it is with an audience of only their closest friends and family. The private, secluded setting makes it all the more special when they announce over dinner that - in just six short months - William will be a big brother.