A/N: Next chapter! As promised. Still angsty, but better, and it's going forward, and that's what matters! I kind of just glossed over the Ra's stuff since the show explained all that, and then I can just skip it and focus on Olicity instead of everything else, so if you aren't caught up on Arrow you may want to wait. Thanks for all the reviews, follows, favorites, and PM's, I really appreciate it! :)

To say Felicity Smoak was angry was an understatement. She was livid. Along with her anger, she was crushed. She and Oliver hadn't discussed what happened in the alleyway (or her bedroom) and kept things on a professional level. The small touches had stopped, they avoided being alone together, and truthfully, she had been avoiding the foundry in general as much as possible, instead filling her time with work and Ray Palmer, the two of which generally coincided.

But then Oliver had left, for the third time, and she wanted to kill him. The problem was, she had no way of knowing if he were alive to even kill. She was pretty positive Nanda Parbat didn't have cell reception. She had asked him not to go. Laurel had asked him not to go. Thea had asked him not to go. What happened with Malcolm Merlyn wasn't his problem to fix. Thea was a big girl, she knew what she was doing when she handed him over to the League. Oliver was walking to his death, yet again.

And this time he had taken John Diggle with him.

When he had returned a week later, she hadn't greeted him warmly. She just walked by with a passive "Good to see you're still alive, but I have to get to work," and instead gave John a warm hug, thankful they were both alive and well, leaving the foundry to quietly breakdown in her car where no one could see her, and where she could pretend she still didn't care about Oliver Queen.

It had been two months since their conversation in the alley behind Verdant. He had new scars to show from his training with Malcolm, and his trip to save him, but they had all healed. In fact, the only scar that wouldn't seem to heal was the unseen one that Felicity had left from her words.

"I don't want to be a woman that you love."

The words haunted him, constantly ripping open the wound. Though they had picked up the pieces of their professional relationship, he and Felicity hadn't really spoken since. She spent as little time in the Foundry as possible, and he avoided situations where they were left alone as much as possible. It was as if his confessions to her and their night together had never happened. Every moment – the unspoken words, pulling away when all he wanted to do was reach out, pretending he didn't know how it felt to love her – killed him. But he pushed on because he couldn't focus on being Oliver Queen. He needed to focus on being the Arrow.

They went on like that for a while, civil at best. He had dismissed the idea of taking over for Ra's al Gul, but now that he was home and everything he wanted was out of his reach, he wondered what the point was. Maybe the offer Ra's gave him wouldn't be the worst thing. In the meantime, he dove into his Arrow work to distract himself.

"Any movement on our guy?" he called out as he placed his bow on the metal table and unzipped his jacket. He had patrolled the city, coming up empty handed. Thomas Sherwood, a man who took Brick's failure as an opportunity to climb the ranks in the criminal world, was their latest target. He was cruel, wanted for murder among other things, and he was smart.

"Not from what I can tell," Felicity stated, eyeing her monitors in front of her. "Though I'm not sure that means much."

"It's been quiet." Diggle stated.

Oliver nodded in agreement.

"Maybe I should postpone…" Diggle started but Felicity and Laurel cut him off.

"No, absolutely not!" the girls said in unison.

Oliver chuckled to himself as the women rounded on his friend. He could defend a city from super soldiers, but this wasn't something he wanted to get in the middle of.

"You don't postpone a wedding," Laurel stated.

"It could be a risk," Diggle replied.

"Digg, I get where you're coming from. But let's be honest, you cancel on Lyla and you're definitely going to be at risk. Besides, we need to keep moving forward and living our lives," Felicity pointed out.

"And it's not like you won't have protection…" Laurel chimed in again.

Felicity nodded. "Seriously, just about all of Lyla's guests are ex military, current military, or ARGUS…then of course there's your guests: Arsenal, Canary…bitch with WIFI," she grinned.

"What am I? Chopped liver?" Oliver finally jumped into the conversation.

"You," Felicity patted his shoulder, an action that did not go unnoticed by the former CEO, "are on best man duty. Not Arrow duty."

He grinned at his girl Wednesday, an interaction that hadn't happened in weeks. His chest swelled with relief, and he felt like maybe there was hope after all. Her hands on him were calming, healing even. When she pulled away and turned her attention back to her computers he felt the loss. He frowned, and tried to shake his thoughts. If he dwelled on every movement, every touch, every word, he'd never get out of this slump he was in. He went over to the salmon ladder, ready to work out his aggression.

"Digg, you need to get home to that baby girl of yours, and more importantly, to get some sleep. You have a big day tomorrow," Laurel pushed on the man's back, shoving him towards the steps.

He laughed as he pretended to protest. "Alright, alright. I'll walk you to your car on the way out," he said as placed his arm around his friend. The two laughed on the way out, leaving Felicity and Oliver alone, the clanging of the salmon ladder filling the space.

Oliver tensed and the air shifted between the two of them. Felicity bit her lip nervously and made for her purse. "Well, I should probably get going too."

"Right," he nodded, jumping the bar up higher on the salmon ladder.

She made her way to the stairs and stopped and turned, her hand on the railing. "Actually, I'm kind of hungry. I was going to grab a burger or something…I can wait if you'll be done soon," she suggested casually.

His grip loosened and he fell from the salmon ladder. Felicity ran towards him. "Oh my god, Oliver, I'm so sorry! Are you okay," she was on the training mats, leaning over him, and her hand went to his chest, making sure he was unharmed. "I didn't mean to distract you!"

He coughed and sat up, pulling away, her touch leaving a burning sensation on his skin. He didn't know what was going on anymore. He craved her touch, and now that she had finally closed the distance that had been growing between them, now that things seemed to be starting to get back to normal he had felt a different kind of pain, one he couldn't yet define.

He nodded and she stood again, hurt in her eyes at his retreat. "Felicity, wait," he called out. She spun around to face him. "Burgers sound perfect." He looked down at the palms of his hands, inspecting the calluses on his hands. "I've missed this," he admitted quietly.

"Oliver…"

"Our friendship, I mean," he clarified quickly, putting his hands up in defense to take any pressure off of her. He swallowed nervously.

She smiled softly. "Burgers then."

"And milkshakes."

"No milkshakes," she shook her head.

He glared at her and mocked offense. "No milkshakes?"

"I have a dress to fit into for tomorrow. I shouldn't even be doing a burger. No shake."

He chuckled and stood up, facing her. "We can share a shake," he suggested.

She laughed. "You just don't take no for an answer, do you? Fine, but we are getting chocolate."

Oliver pulled his shirt over his head and grabbed his jacket off of a nearby chair. "You're killing me."

"Oh come on, who doesn't like chocolate shakes?"

They bantered back and forth as they walked out of the foundry and down the street to Big Belly about shake flavors. For the first time in a long time, Oliver was happy.

They had talked all through dinner, and they shared a chocolate shake even though they had agreed to compromise on strawberry on the way over. It was as if her touching him on the shoulder in passing earlier had opened a floodgate. He couldn't keep his distance anymore, and he knew he'd never be able to pull away from her again and keep his feelings for her in check.

She was telling a story about her mother, and he watched the way she moved her hands, mint green polish on her fingers, recounting her mothers antics in such a way that his heart swelled with admiration for the girl in front of him.

"Do you want to be my date at Digg's wedding tomorrow?" He blurted out in the middle of her story.

Her pink lips rounded in a perfect oh, and she stopped talking immediately. She sat so still with wide eyes that he wondered if she had stopped breathing.

"I mean, just as friends if you want. I just figured neither one of us are going with anyone. I can pick you up on the way, it'll be fun." He was talking fast, his heart hammering in his chest. Oliver Queen had game, but when it came to Felicity he was a bundle of nerves, and it made him unsure of himself.

"I actually have a date already," she said sadly.

He smiled at her dejectedly, "Right, of course." He turned his attention towards the chocolate shake, "Well he's a lucky guy."

"I'll save you a dance though?"

He beamed. "Looking forward to it."

They had lost track of time, sharing stories, and just getting lost in catching up until one of the workers had casually let them know they were closing up shop. Oliver walked her back to her car in silence, and they stood in front of the driver's side door for a moment, unsure of where to go from here. This was new territory for both of them, and though they ignored the things that had developed between them and pretended like they could go back, there was no denying that things had changed forever. They had to redefine their relationship one way or another.

She looked at her feet nervously. "So I guess I'll see you tomorrow?"

"I guess so," he replied.

She opened her door and started the car, putting her purse in the passenger seat. "Thanks for hanging out with me tonight," she said as she stood with the car door in between them. "It's been a while, and I'm glad we can still be friends."

She had a slight emphasis on the word friends and he contemplated whether or not she had put the door between them on purpose and decided not to dwell on it. "I had fun," he grinned. He hesitated for just a moment before leaning forward and kissing her on the cheek tenderly, after all, they were friends. Friends do this, right? he thought to himself. "Thank you."

"Goodnight, Oliver," she blushed. As she sat down in her driver's seat she heard his whispered reply before shutting the car door.

"Goodnight, Felicity."

Oliver took a deep breath and pulled at his bow tie once again, eyeing the doors and pacing back and forth.

"You alright man?" Diggle smirked next to him.

Oliver stopped and turned his attention to the groom. "Huh?"

Digg clapped his hand on Oliver's back. "Man, the way you're pacing you'd think you're the one getting married today."

Oliver faced his formed bodyguard and took a deep breath. "You're right, I'm sorry. How are you?"

Diggle chuckled. "Oliver, I got my shit figured out. I made the mistake of letting her go once before and I learned my lesson. Besides, I've already done this. It'll be a cake walk."

Oliver smiled softly at his friend, "I'm happy for you, Digg." And he was, but he couldn't help the pang of jealousy in his chest.

"You know, it's not impossible."

Oliver's eyebrows raised in confusion. "What's that?"

"To be happy…with what we do," John's face became serious as he took in Oliver's reaction to his words.

Oliver took a steadying breath and focused his gaze on the buttons on his jacket as he pretended to fix them. "It's not that simple."

"From where I'm standing, it is that simple."

He looked up to face Diggle and followed his line of sight, trained on the door where Felicity entered in a short mint green dress with a keyhole cut out, her hair pinned on one side, a cascade of blonde curls hanging over her shoulder. His breath hitched and he wondered if his heart was still beating. She was beautiful.

Laurel walked in behind her, also a vision in a long black and tan flowing dress with a deep plunge neckline, sophisticated as always. She linked her arm in Felicity's and the two chatted casually, Laurel leaning in to whisper something that made the blonde snicker and lightly smack her arm in jest.

He made his way toward them; ignoring the pleasantries that passerby's threw his way. Felicity had turned to face Laurel and he caught the back of her dress (or lack thereof) and his step faltered. It was open, the fabric sitting just below the dimples in her back. She was incredible, and he wanted nothing more than to run his hands down her exposed skin. He shoved his hands in his pocket afraid he'd be unable to keep from touching her.

"Ollie," Laurel grinned at his approach.

Felicity turned around, a soft smile playing on her lips.

"Hey Laurel," he greeted.

"How's John holding up?" She asked.

"Like a champ." Oliver then turned his attention to Felicity, and Laurel looked between the two of them.

She leaned in towards the two and excused herself, "I'm going to go find us seats."

Oliver and Felicity stood facing each other, and he leaned in to greet her with a kiss on the cheek. He wondered if this was going to be a thing now, if this was as close as he would come to kissing her from now on. She inhaled sharply and his kiss lingered just a few seconds too long as he breathed in the scent of her hair – he couldn't quite place it, but it was soft and familiar, like coming home. "You look beautiful," he said as he pulled away from her.

She blushed. "Thank you," she replied.

"I have to say I'm relieved…"

She raised her eyebrows in question. "Relieved that I look beautiful?"

He beamed. "No. I had no doubts about that. Laurel…"

"Laurel always looks beautiful."

He let out an exasperated sigh. "I meant I'm relieved that Laurel is your date…"

Her pink lips formed into an all too familiar oh, and his mind played back to last night. "Oliver, Laurel's not my date…"

Just then Ray Palmer walked in, placing his hand on the small of Felicity's back. "Hey!" He smiled and kissed her on the side of her cheek. "There you are. I was looking all over for you."

Felicity shifted uncomfortably under his touch and Oliver's watch, unable to meet either one's eyes.

"Mr. Queen," Ray extended his free hand to the former owner of Queen Consolidated.

Oliver took the man's hand begrudgingly. "Roy, nice to see you again."

"Ray," he corrected.

Oliver ignored his correction and focused on Felicity. "Well, I should get up there. It's about to start. I'll see you after?"

She nodded awkwardly, wishing this would just end. "Sure, sounds good."

He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek again, exuding confidence that hadn't been there earlier. "Good to see you again, Roy." He slapped the man's shoulder in what came off as a friendly gesture, but was probably too hard, before turning to walk towards the front. He spun around once more to face them. "And I'll be collecting on that dance you promised," he grinned with a wink.

Ray watched his retreating back with distaste and confusion. "What was that?"

Felicity could feel the heat in her cheeks. "Kill me. Kill me now," she muttered under her breath. She crossed her left arm over her chest, pulling her right arm in. "That was Oliver. He's a friend."

"A friend?"

"Yep." She said popping the p. "He's like that with everyone. Laurel grabbed us seats, come on." She tugged his arm and found Laurel in the crowd.

The ceremony was intimate, just a small crowd of Lyla and Diggle's family and friends. Felicity beamed as her friends exchanged their personal vows, her heart filling with joy…something that didn't happen often anymore.

"Lyla," Diggle held his bride's hand, rubbing his thumb over her ring finger, trying to steady his voice. "My heart has been yours since the moment I laid eyes on you. In this crazy world we live in, you manage to bring me joy, and hope – something that does not come easy in our line of work," he grinned.

Oliver glanced at Felicity, whose smile faded slightly. She felt his eyes trained on her and focused on Lyla's dress, forcing herself not to meet his gaze.

"…You're constantly reminding me of what it means to live, to laugh…to love. You are my light. I vow to always be that same light in your life…"

Tears pricked the corner of her eyes and she finally allowed herself to steal a glance at Oliver. His blue eyes pierced right through her and her breath faltered. Where she had hoped to see promise and possibility she only found sadness and regret. She swallowed and focused on the hands in her lap.

"I promise to protect you, to keep you and our beautiful daughter safe. To do everything in my power to make you happy, to grow together, and more importantly to never let you go again."

A tear rolled down her cheek and Ray leaned in and whispered softly "Who would have thought? Felicity Smoak is a sucker for weddings…"

She tried to chuckle, but it came out as more of a sigh. Ray watched the couple exchange rings, and Felicity pretended to adjust in her seat, suddenly feeling crowded. She needed to get out of there. The heat on her cheeks intensified and she was afraid that even though she had been so strong the past few weeks, no months, she was finally about to break. She inhaled sharply trying to calm her nerves; worried she'd suffocate under Oliver's gaze.

Laurel reached for her hand and squeezed, letting her know she was there. The blonde looked at the stunning brunette, thankful to have a friend with such strength. If only Felicity could channel it.

"Ladies and gentleman," the officiate spoke. "It is my pleasure to introduce to you, for the second time," the crowd shared a laugh, "Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Diggle!"

The small crowd stood clapping and cheers filled the room as John and Lyla walked up the aisle, hand in hand, the happiest that they had seemed in a long time. Oliver made his way back up the aisle, his arm hooked in Lyla's Maid of Honor's arm – Roy and another bridesmaid directly behind them. As Oliver walked, his eyes never left Felicity's face, searching for something – anything that indicated she was thinking of him the way he couldn't stop thinking of her – but she never lifted her eyes to him.

Ray clapped with the rest of the crowd, and he smiled as he looked to Felicity. "I secretly love weddings."

Felicity didn't respond so Laurel picked up the conversation. "I'm not so sure it's a secret when you hoot and holler like that," she teased.

"Excuse me," Felicity said, pushing past Laurel, exiting toward the side aisle. She needed to get out of there. She ignored Ray's concern and walked briskly to the bathroom. She quickly locked herself in the closest stall, pushing her back against the door and taking deep breaths.

Laurel's heels clacked on the tiles and Felicity recognized her hurried step before she spoke. "I'm fine," she called out.

"Obviously you aren't," Laurel responded.

"Well it doesn't matter, because I spent way too much time on nailing my eye makeup today to break down in the bathroom before the reception even started. God, you'd think it was prom all over again."

Laurel laughed. "Good. Then get your butt out here."

Felicity stepped out throwing her head back dramatically. "Ugh, I don't even know what my problem is."

"Oliver."

"I'm sorry, Laurel…I don't mean to make things awkward."

Laurel shrugged. "It's not awkward. Oliver being with my sister is awkward," she laughed sadly before her eyes showed grief over the mention of Sara before shaking it off. "But that's all in the past. And so is Oliver for me…don't get me wrong; I love Ollie. I think a part of me always will. But I was in love with the boy who got on the Gambit, not the man who came back from the island."

Felicity nodded. She understood, first love never really dies. But it also isn't always built to last, something she had learned herself.

"We're both very different people now," Laurel clarified. "And you reach something in Oliver that us Lance girls could never get to. You're his light."

"I just wish things weren't so hard. I just want to move on, I want to be happy and normal and…uncomplicated."

Laurel rubbed Felicity's arm soothingly. "So that's what we'll do. We'll be happy and normal and uncomplicated tonight. So freshen up, and let's go dancing," she teased.

"That sounds perfect." And with that the two ladies left the bathroom, chattering and laughing on their way out.

A/N: Thanks for reading. Don't forget to review :) This was angsty, but you were warned :P I promise, good things are coming if you stick with me! I'm guessing I'll have the next chapter done pretty soon because we have a TON of snow here and I need to do something with me time! :P