As always, thank you guys for taking the time to review! Hope you enjoy this next chapter.

Chapter 4: Tell It to My Heart

May 19, 2007

Felicity had never seen anything so over the top in her life—and that was saying something for a girl who'd grown up in Las Vegas. She stood on the large, expansive lawn of the Merlyn manor with the man-made lake and perfectly green and manicured grass. The vastness had been overwhelming in its natural state. It was hard to believe that so much land could be attached to one property. Now the majority of that lawn was occupied by an elaborate setup and a never-ending stream of important yet unknown guests.

A large dance floor was set up in the middle. The pattern of the wood reminded Felicity of a life-size chess board—the pieces dancing on top to the live band also varying in significance and just as calculating. Surrounding the dance floor were three huge, white party tents that were probably also rented by the circus at one point. The left side had an elaborate food station and bar with a ten-foot champagne fountain in the center. A few feet over, not quite as big, was a white and pink multi-tiered wedding cake. Printed on each layer to make up one big picture was a photograph of the happy couple on their wedding day.

The middle tent covered endless rows of tables and chairs. Guests could sit and eat at long tables with bright pink flower and feather centerpieces. A few of the guests had to push them over so that the long feathers wouldn't dip into their plates. The tent on the right was the most rowdy. There were supposedly fun wedding games and party favors, including a table dedicated entirely to sparkly tiaras that were up for grabs. As if all of that wasn't enough, the huge hedges spread throughout the yard were all trimmed to take on the form of the happy couple in various poses. Felicity was half tempted to swipe a glass of champagne from the fountain when she passed by one that had the male bush dipping the female in a grand kiss. Could it be any more ostentatious?

Felicity supposed she shouldn't have been surprised when it came to her mother. Nothing about Donna Smoak was demure. She had been obsessed with princesses since she was a little girl, and this overdue wedding reception reflected just that. Felicity understood why her mother went all out. Donna's life, unfortunately, had been anything but a fairy tale. Her mother's story was a common tragedy. She'd fallen in love, gotten married, and had a baby all before her twenty-first birthday. The guy came in and out of her life, unable to fully commit, until he decided to officially up and leave. The only good-bye had been the divorce papers she'd been served less than a month later.

For years her mother worked at the casinos to put food on the table and provide for a child single-handedly. Times were tough more often than not, and Felicity did her best not to pity the fact that her mother couldn't afford to get her some of the same clothes or toys her classmates had. They had enough to get by, and that was the norm in their lives. So it made sense that after years of struggling and a string of good-for-nothing boyfriends that Donna Smoak would want to celebrate the fact that she'd finally found her "Prince Charming." It didn't make the situation any less awkward or the setup any less embarrassing, but Felicity was trying to be supportive.

It was unreal thinking about how they'd gotten to this point. Felicity had been finishing up her sophomore year at MIT and had casually mentioned to her mother that she was looking for a summer internship with a tech company. Donna had been upset and pleaded with her to come home to Vegas so they could spend some time together. Despite her mother being a bit more insistent than usual, Felicity had dismissed it.

Then she got the call about a summer internship at Merlyn Global in the IT division. It was odd, since she'd originally applied to Queen Consolidated but hadn't heard anything back. Felicity did the interview via Skype and found out that she'd gotten the position. She'd been so excited at first. Spending the summer in a big city like Starling at one of the top companies in the world was an amazing opportunity.

Felicity had been in the library at MIT studying for one of her finals when her mother had dropped the bomb on her. Donna had called and at first Felicity had sent her to voicemail. Donna, like most mothers, had the tendency to call at the most inconvenient times. The following text messages in all caps with the heart-eye emojis were excessive—even for her mother—and so Felicity had snuck into the back of the book stacks to call her.

Her mother had answered in seconds and before Felicity could even get out a "What's up, Mom?" Donna had started gushing about how she'd met the most amazing man, instantly fell in love, and had tied the knot in a whirlwind wedding.

Despite being in the back of the library, Felicity was pretty sure everyone could hear her sharp gasp and shocked, choked response. Felicity found herself even more stunned when her mother said that it was to Malcolm Merlyn. He was the CEO of Merlyn Global and one of the wealthiest men in the world. Felicity had to admit that Malcolm was definitely a step up from her mother's past relationships, but that didn't make the news any easier to swallow. It didn't take long for Felicity to put the pieces together and realize why exactly Merlyn Global had sought her out for an internship. Although she was completely confident in her tech skills, it was nepotism that had gotten her the job. By the time her mother had mentioned that she would also have a new stepbrother, Felicity was a disappointed and confused pile of goo on the floor.

Needing time to process, Felicity had told her mother she had class and would call her later. It was probably an hour that she sat on the floor in the library as she tried to come to grips with a new reality. Her mother had managed to turn her entire world upside down in a matter of minutes, and Felicity wasn't sure whether to be more angry or hurt that her mother didn't think it was necessary to discuss any of this with her beforehand.

The next day, when Queen Consolidated finally did get in touch with her about its internship program, Felicity was even more eager to interview. And when she was offered the position, Felicity immediately accepted. QC had been her first choice, since it was one of the best companies in the world with its cutting-edge research and technology. Her supervisor would be the director of the cyber security division, which was the exact division Felicity had been hoping to work in. Being able to call up Merlyn Global and reject its offer had been an added bonus.

Her mother hadn't been happy about it and tried to use one of her guilt trips. "But Malcolm was so excited to have you at MG! It would give you a chance to get to know each other better." Felicity wouldn't budge and had explained to her mother that while she appreciated the offer, she wanted to earn what she got.

A week later, after finals were over, Felicity found herself in Starling standing outside of her new, ridiculously gigantic home. Her mother had opened the door squealing in excitement and had pulled her into a hug. Malcolm and his son Tommy stood behind her in the foyer to greet Felicity. Her new stepfather had smiled and welcomed her graciously into his home—now her new home. Despite the warm greeting, Felicity couldn't quite shake the feeling that there was something a little off about him. She assumed that underneath that charming smile, he was irritated that she'd rebuffed his offer. Nevertheless, Felicity had faked a smile and thanked him before turning to Tommy.

Felicity didn't know what to expect from Tommy. She'd read all about his transgressions in the tabloids. His reputation as a handsome, spoiled playboy had Felicity bracing herself for the worst. After her terrible break-up with her boyfriend Cooper and that creepy lacrosse player who wouldn't leave her alone, Felicity didn't know if she could handle dealing with another slimy, egotistical male who thought he was God's gift to women. Tommy, much to her surprise and relief, had been polite and genuinely kind during that first meeting. Felicity got the sense that he was just as wary of her as she was of him. When their parents started kissing and the same uneasy look formed on his face, Felicity realized she wasn't alone in her discomfort of the entire situation.

Tommy had then offered to give Felicity a tour of the house. It gave them the chance to break the ice and talk without their parents' watchful gazes on them. Not wanting to beat around the bush, they immediately acknowledged the awkwardness and insanity of their current situation. Eventually, they started chatting about normal things like school and their favorite videogames—something Tommy had not expected her to know much about. Despite their long list of differences, they actually got along pretty well. Tommy also took it upon himself to show Felicity around Starling in the following days, which gave them a chance to get to know each other better. Tommy was definitely charming and a ladies man, but he was kind, funny, and respectful of Felicity. She'd always secretly wanted a sibling and had to admit that Tommy would probably be a cool big brother.

Besides Tommy, the only other silver lining had been her internship. It was the perfect distraction for Felicity as she tried to adjust to the many changes in her life. The Merlyn mansion was beautiful but seemed cold and much too big to feel like an actual home. Felicity relished leaving it every day to work at QC. It kept her sane.

Despite it only being two weeks, her internship was everything she'd hoped it would be. Felicity loved that she got to work on actual projects and sit in on meetings. When her supervisor realized how good she actually was, Felicity got to take on a bit more responsibility. She was starting to get crazy busy but didn't mind. Felicity loved challenging herself. The biggest surprise, however, hadn't been being called into the CFO's office to fix a problem that had stumped even his best technicians. It had been a visit from Oliver Queen.

They were bound to meet at some point, since she knew that he was Tommy's best friend. But Felicity hadn't expected the encounter so soon. Like with Tommy, Felicity was aware of what the media said about him. Oliver was also known for being a spoiled, rich playboy, yet Felicity was willing to give him a chance, too. Even more surprising than their meeting was her initial reaction to him. Felicity knew he was good looking—it was hard to find a bad angle in any of the paparazzi photos—but she hadn't been prepared for the magnetizing presence that went along with that handsome face. It's what prompted one of her epic rambles.

Felicity had watched the surprise and amusement play over Oliver's face as the words tumbled out of her. By the time she'd managed to get a hold of herself, Felicity had wanted to crawl under her desk and hide in embarrassment. She'd become her worst nightmare. She'd become one of those teenage girls that got all flustered and tongue-tied at the sight of a cute boy. No, not cute. Oliver was more than cute. He was downright sexy. At seventeen, no one would fault Felicity for acting like the adolescent that she was.

But Felicity was supposed to be a genius and more mature for her age. She wasn't supposed to stupidly point out to Oliver that he was cute. The guy didn't need to be told he was handsome. The jerk already knew it. His boyish grin when admitting that it was beer he'd spilt on his laptop and not a latte had the desired effect and totally made her weak in the knees. Not that Felicity had shown it. And although she'd searched for a reason not to like him and maintain some dignity, Oliver hadn't been a jerk to her at all that day. In fact, Oliver had been kind and gracious of her help. He'd also been remarkably intense. It had been difficult to concentrate afterward with him sitting right next to her, watching as she worked to retrieve the files.

When their hands accidentally touched, the air had grown thick between them. Felicity found herself getting lost in those sharp, mesmerizing blue eyes of his. They barely knew each other and yet she felt like he could see inside of her. His stare made the butterflies in her stomach flutter to life. She'd almost been looking forward to a quiet lunch in solitude; she needed to get a hold of herself before he came back for the files. Then Oliver had asked Felicity to lunch, and her stupid stomach had betrayed her. There was no backing out and what was daunting was that she didn't want to deny him. She wanted more of that intensity masked behind light banter.

The moment she had taken Oliver's hand, Felicity felt something shift inside her. There was no defining it; it was simply a feeling that her world was once again about to be turned upside down. She'd felt his eyes travel the length of her body, which she couldn't fault him for because she was doing the exact same thing to him. He towered over her, making her feel small and oddly comforted at the same time.

They'd gone to lunch, and Felicity had done her best to ignore the looks they were getting. It made sense that Oliver would attract attention, since his family owned the company. It wasn't long, however, before everyone else seemed to fade away as they became completely wrapped up in their own conversation. It had been fun and casual on the surface, but the intensity had never wavered. A part of Felicity felt guilty for not telling Oliver her connection to Tommy as he talked about him. Although she knew Tommy had told Oliver about his father getting married and mentioned having a new stepsister, he hadn't gone much more into detail. They'd both agreed to keep her identity under wraps until the wedding reception. They already had pressure from their parents to get to know each other, and Felicity wasn't used to so much attention on her. They didn't want everyone questioning them and trying to force something. When they hung out in public, there was no pressure or extra attention and that's how they preferred it.

That finally came to an end today. Heads turned as Felicity made her way through the crowd. She knew exactly what they were thinking. Not only were they questioning why someone as distinguished as Malcolm Merlyn would marry a waitress from Vegas, they were also wondering what was up with his awkward Goth of a stepdaughter.

"Who wears all black clothing and dark lipstick to a wedding reception?" one woman had whispered. Of course, that same woman had pasted a sweet, fake smile on her face when she noticed Felicity nearby. She wasn't the only one, and no amount of polite smiles that Felicity was offered were enough to mask the inherent snobbery.

"I heard they met in a topless lounge..."

"Did you open the invitation? What a mess! I had glitter in my hair for three days..."

"I still can't believe Malcolm married that woman. She's the complete opposite of Rebecca. Totally classless."

"They probably eloped because she's pregnant."

"She doesn't look pregnant in that dress. It can barely fit her..."

While Malcolm's guests gossiped, her mother's guests were busy gushing over the giant diamond wedding ring, the extravagant mansion, and the ridiculous champagne fountain. This was in between asking Donna if she knew of any other handsome billionaires she could set them up with. Feeling a migraine coming on, Felicity wanted nothing more than to sneak off to her room and lock the door. The battle for social hierarchy at this party was making her more irritated by the second.

Despite her efforts, Felicity did feel out of place. She'd never been that close to any of her mother's friends, nor had she grown up with a silver spoon in her mouth like Malcolm's. Her mother seemed oblivious to what was going on and mentioning it would only hurt her feelings. Felicity may not have agreed with her mother's decision to rush into this marriage, but that didn't mean she deserved to be ridiculed by a bunch of haughty snobs either. The only reason Felicity hadn't snuck off yet was because she knew Oliver would be arriving soon. Her eagerness to see him had nothing to do with the fact that she couldn't stop thinking about him since his visit to QC a few days ago. He also wasn't the reason she spent an extra hour in front of the mirror picking out her nicest short, black lace dress—or so she told herself. It was silly but aside from Tommy, Oliver was the only other person she really knew at this party.

Felicity hoped that Oliver wouldn't be mad that she hadn't told him who she really was. Maybe it would be better if she sought out Tommy first and let him do the explaining. He didn't seem to be near the food, so she checked near the dance floor.

"Who's the bride again?" asked a young blonde to her friend.

The brunette beside her pointed over to Felicity's mom, who was by the fountain guzzling down another glass of champagne. "That would be her. Her name is Donna. Not exactly the kind of woman I pictured Tommy's dad marrying."

Felicity should've kept walking instead of darting behind one of the life-sized, sculptured shrubs. She knew where this conversation would probably go, but she couldn't help herself. Most of the comments she'd overheard had been from older guests. These two girls were around her age and apparently friends of Tommy. Felicity had seen them arrive earlier and thought about approaching them but had chickened out at the last second.

The blonde was pretty and had straight hair and bangs that framed her face nicely. She wore a strapless, purple dress and high silver heels. The brunette looked more like a model with her defined cheekbones and long curly hair. Her sleeveless orange dress clung to her skinny frame.

"She's a little rough around the edges compared to this crowd," the blonde acknowledged, "but she seems cool. You never know how opposites can attract. Plus, she's extremely hot. Can you blame the guy?"

"I'm sure those looks come at a price. In fact, I'd be willing to bet her attraction is tied to the other billions of reasons right in the bank."

"Laurel," the girl scolded, laughing.

"Oh, like you weren't thinking it, Sara," Laurel teasingly shot back. "I hope Malcolm had her sign a prenup."

There was a spark of recognition as Felicity remembered all the times Tommy had mentioned someone named Laurel. She was supposedly one of his closest friends and a really fun and genuine person. She'd grown up with him and Oliver. The way Tommy constantly talked about her had Felicity thinking he might have a bit of a crush. She could see why. Laurel was certainly beautiful. And Sara, if she remembered correctly, was Laurel's younger sister by a couple of years.

Sara shook her head. "Spoken like a future lawyer."

"What? I'm just saying," Laurel replied. "It's not that far-fetched. It happens all the time. These gold diggers pick a target and—"

Felicity frowned. She was officially starting to question the "genuine" part of Tommy's description.

"Stop before someone hears you," Sara interjected. "Besides, I think Tommy having a new stepsister is way more interesting. I heard she's, like, seventeen and already going to MIT. She's like this super genius or something. I bet Malcolm loves that."

"Poor Tommy. His father is already so hard on him."

"Maybe it'll be good for him. Then he won't be so reckless."

"Says the girl voted Miss Best Wet T-Shirt at SCU."

Sara shrugged unabashedly. "What? I had to beat out twenty other girls. It was quite an accomplishment. Do you know how cold it was that night? My nipples could've cut glass."

Laurel, looking like she was trying to suppress a smile, rolled her eyes. "Just don't let dad find out. He'll flip."

"The only way he'll find out is if you tell on me. And if you tattle on me, then I might just have to tell dad about your slumber party the other night with—"

"You wouldn't," Laurel gasped.

"Silence for silence," Sara declared and smiled triumphantly when Laurel agreed. "And while we're on the subject, since when are you two hooking up again? I thought you had broken up."

"We're not broken up," the brunette answered, slightly defensive. "We're just taking a break."

"Which still includes hooking up?"

Laurel shrugged nonchalantly. "Occasionally."

"And are you allowed to see other people during this 'break'?" Sara responded, making air quotes.

"No. We both agreed to remain faithful to each other while we figure things out."

The blonde corrected, "You mean while he figures things out."

Laurel sighed loudly. "Jeez, Sara, what's with the third degree?"

"Look, I'm sorry, but this is, like, the third time you guys have broken up. It's hard to keep track. Not to mention, he's the one who initiated it this time."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"All I'm saying is it seems different. Usually you're the one ready to call it quits when he screws up. Not the other way around."

"I didn't screw up, Sara. We both have our reasons for needing space, and it's none of your business anyway."

"Fine. I won't say another word. Have all the 'space' you want," she muttered and held her hands up in surrender.

"Whatever. Can we get back to my original point?" she retorted. "As I was saying, Tommy barely knows his new stepsister. And MIT isn't cheap to attend. She could also need the money—"

"Oh my God, Laurel, will you drop the gold digger theory?" Sara chided, annoyed. "When did you become such a snob? Our parents aren't rich either."

"That's not the point. I just don't want Tommy to get hurt, because his father is having a mid-life crisis. Besides, did you see what she was wearing?"

"Yes. I totally want her dress, but I so don't have the ass for it. I wonder if she can give me some workout tips."

Felicity placed a hand over her mouth to keep herself from laughing out loud. She was really starting to like Sara. Laurel, on the other hand, not so much...

Laurel wasn't amused. "She looks like the missing member of the Addams family with all that black."

The smile slipped from Felicity's face. Okay, she officially didn't like Laurel. While she appreciated that the girl seemed to be looking out for Tommy, it didn't make her words any less cruel. Laurel's comments weren't that much different than the odd looks Felicity had been receiving all day. And yet, the words stung more harshly.

"It's called Goth."

"Whatever. I just have this weird feeling about her."

Sara sighed and shook her head at her sister. "Seriously, Laurel, you really can be such a snob sometimes."

Having heard enough, Felicity disappeared into the crowd. Forget about finding Tommy or waiting for Oliver. Felicity wanted to leave the party and be alone. She didn't fit in here and never would. Felicity almost made it into the house when her mother headed her off.

"Where are you going, sweetie?"

"I think there's a stain on my dress. I was going to the bathroom to check it."

"Let me see. Where?"

Groaning internally, Felicity pointed to a random spot on her dress. "There."

"You're fine. I don't see anything. But you might want to rearrange the hem." She started tugging on the fabric. "I know how fond you are of black, but I really wish you could've worn some color—at least for today."

"Mom, stop," Felicity retorted and pushed her hands away.

"What? Oh, wait, your hair is a little messy." Felicity's embarrassment reached a new level when her mother ran her hands through the strands "There we go. Do you want a tiara? I think it would look so cute—"

"Mom, can you stop?" Felicity snapped. "I'm not five."

"All right. Sorry." She held up her hands. "I was just trying to help. You want to look nice when you meet Tommy's friends."

"Huh?"

Donna looked past her and waved. When Felicity turned around, she spotted Tommy over to the side. The two sisters, Sara and Laurel, were with him. And so was Oliver. He'd finally arrived. Felicity saw the spark of recognition in Oliver's eyes and felt her heart skip a beat.

"Well, don't just stand here. Go say hi," Donna said and gave her an encouraging push in their direction.

"Mom," Felicity hissed but it was useless. She couldn't not walk over there now. Tamping her annoyance at her mother and excitement at seeing Oliver again, Felicity tried to appear casual. "Hey," she greeted Tommy and stood awkwardly beside him.

"Felicity, I'd like you to meet my friends," Tommy stated. "This is my best friend Oliver, Laurel, and her sister Sara. Guys, this is my new stepsister Felicity Smoak."

"Hi, it's nice to meet you." Felicity shook each of their hands and resisted the urge to squeeze Laurel's with a little extra force for her earlier insults.

"It's nice to see you again, Felicity." Oliver's expression was quizzical. He was no doubt trying to figure out why she didn't tell him who she really was.

Tommy grinned. "You've already met?"

"Oliver stopped by QC the other day. He needed some help with his laptop." From the corner of her eye, Felicity noticed Laurel's frown as she looked back and forth between them. It was then that Felicity realized she and Oliver were still shaking hands. The spark was back, causing her skin to heat where he touched her. She was the first to let go.

"Oh, the beer. Right. Sorry again about that, man."

"No worries, Tommy," Oliver replied, still not looking away from her. "Felicity was able to salvage everything I needed. You were right. She's really smart."

"Sorry I didn't mention that I knew Tommy," Felicity apologized. It was probably best to get the truth out now. "We were sort of trying to keep it quiet for as long as possible."

"Keep what quiet?" Laurel inquired.

"It's not every day your parents randomly call you to tell you they've eloped in Vegas. Well, my mom has told me about other crazy couples eloping in Vegas because it's Vegas. She especially knows all of the celebrity dirt. It happens all the time. Not to say that my mom and Malcolm are crazy. Okay, maybe a little crazy since they barely know each other. But there was the wedding news and then the 'you've got a big brother now' bombshell. Plus moving to Starling and starting at QC and—"

"Basically, we both needed time to adjust," Tommy cut in.

"Right. What he said." Felicity had never been more thankful for the interruption. "I think I need some champagne from the fountain."

"Aren't you underage?" he pointed out, though his tone was more teasing than stern.

"Yes, but at least I won't get drunk and destroy a piece of perfectly good technology," Felicity retorted. "Do you know how much that laptop was worth?"

"You're cute," Sara laughed. "So, Felicity, how do you like Starling? It must be the total opposite of Vegas."

"It's definitely not as hot, which is a nice change," Felicity answered. "And I really like the fact that there isn't an Elvis chapel around every corner." They all laughed at that.

"I've been trying to take Felicity around the city and show her the best spots. You like sushi, right?" Tommy asked her.

"Oh, I love it," Felicity enthused.

"Ollie, we should take her to that new place tonight. I hear everyone's been raving about it."

Oliver nodded. "Yeah, we could—"

"Actually, Oliver and I already have plans tonight," Laurel interjected.

He frowned at her. "We do?"

"Yeah, we had that thing we had to do."

"What thing?"

"That thing," Laurel emphasized and gave him a pointed look.

Felicity's brow crinkled in confusion as she watched the exchange. Laurel was being weirdly cryptic while Oliver stared back with a blank look. A moment passed before her words seemed to click. "Oh, right. That thing," he muttered.

"Yeah," she said with an alluring smile.

Felicity's stomach dropped as realization dawned on her. Oliver was the guy Laurel had been talking about earlier. Tommy had never mentioned that the two were involved. He'd only ever referred to them as his friends. Now that Felicity knew to look for it, she could see the unspoken intimacy between them. The pair was standing close together, with Laurel leaning into Oliver ever so slightly. The look in her eyes, which he met, was coy yet smoldering.

Felicity felt like a complete fool. Of course Oliver would have a girlfriend. Well, not technically a girlfriend since they were on a "break." But he was clearly involved and thus unavailable. He was Oliver Queen, after all. So what if he stopped by her cubicle for help the other day and they'd shared a few moments? Looking back on it, he'd never hinted at anything more. Felicity's little infatuation was simply due to her annoying teenage hormones. And to think she'd been so excited to see him today. Had she really expected anything to happen between them if they hung out again?

She wanted to be angry with Tommy for leaving out that very important detail, but it wasn't his fault. If his friends were broken up, she could understand why he wouldn't mention their involvement right off the bat. Although she and Tommy were sort-of siblings now, that didn't automatically mean they were obligated to share everything. It wasn't like she'd been that forthcoming about meeting Oliver—or her initial attraction to him. That kind of closeness and trust would take time to build.

Nevertheless, Felicity's earlier desire to flee the party had become acute. She didn't want to know what "the thing" was, but she had a pretty good idea. Felicity suddenly felt queasy. "We can do sushi another time," she told Tommy. Food was the last thing on her mind at the moment.

"Or you can do the mysterious 'thing' another time," Tommy declared and made quotes in the air. He obviously didn't know what was going on, but Sara's tiny smirk showed that she did.

"Actually, maybe we can reschedule," Oliver said, pulling away from Laurel. He looked to Felicity, but she couldn't meet his eyes.

"Awesome," Tommy enthused just as Laurel scolded, "Oliver."

"Laurel, it's not that big a deal. We can have…" He paused and seemed to be searching for the right words. "Mexican another night."

Laurel narrowed her eyes and placed her hands on her hips. "But you promised me tonight."

"Guys, it doesn't have to be sushi tonight. We can totally do Mexican instead," Tommy piped in, to which Sara snickered.

Well, this took a turn, Felicity thought. She didn't know whether she wanted to laugh or throw up as they argued about their "thing" in code.

As the pair continued to go back and forth, Felicity nervously whispered to Tommy, "Do you think we should leave them alone?"

"They'll be done in a minute. Don't worry. They're always like this," Tommy murmured back.

"Always," added Sara with a big grin. She was clearly amused by the drama.

"It's not about that, Oliver. It's about saying one thing and then doing another."

"Well, maybe I'm just not hungry," Oliver shot back.

"Well, I—"

"Laurel, we're at a party," Oliver interrupted before she could go off again. "Now really isn't the time for this."

"Fine," Laurel huffed. "But for the record, I'm not hungry either anymore."

"So no dinner then," Tommy mumbled under his breath.

Felicity tried not to stare at the opposing couple despite the palpable tension in the air. The urge to babble something to fill the silence hit her, and she bit her lip to keep quiet. When she finally raised her head, she noticed Oliver watching her. Felicity felt her face get unnaturally hot.

"Tommy, I can go with you and Felicity tonight," Sara finally spoke up. "I've been seriously craving some spicy tuna."

"Great," Tommy eagerly replied. "We'll pick you up at seven."

"So, Felicity, you like Sushi and technology and come from Vegas," Laurel said. Her voice, thankfully, sounded calmer than it had moments ago. "Is there anything else we should know about you?"

Felicity was slightly caught off guard by her sudden interest and answered, "Um...I like to read—and build the occasional super computer."

"Cool," Sara commented. "I can't even get my iTunes to sync up correctly. Hey, do you know how to fix that?"

"Building computers," Laurel continued. "Wow, that's different—and pricey."

"What do you mean?" Felicity replied, sensing some kind of setup.

"It just seems like you have expensive taste," Laurel said casually. "You don't have to worry about being new. I'm sure you'll fit right in with Tommy's crowd now that you're a Merlyn."

"My mom may have changed her last name, but I haven't. And what exactly are you implying?" Felicity pressed. "Wait, let me guess. You, like everyone else, think my mom and I are after Malcolm's money."

"I wasn't—"

Felicity didn't give her a chance to continue. She'd been hearing this stupid gossip all day, and she'd had enough. Laurel was the last straw. "For your information, my mom worked sixty-hour weeks in six-inch heels just so that I would have a shot at going to a good school. It's why I was able to eventually earn a full scholarship to MIT. Just because we're not rich doesn't automatically mean we're desperate for money or that you and everyone else I've had to listen to today has the right to judge us."

"Felicity, no one is judging you," Oliver cut in and gave Laurel a look.

"Oliver's right," Tommy agreed. "I know your mom is a good person. Too good for my dad, if I'm being honest. Who cares what these people think? My dad's friends are a bunch of assholes anyway. It's why Oliver and I always used to steal their food and booze before taking off from our parents' parties."

"And Laurel didn't mean to sound so harsh. She's a future lawyer, so she questions everything. Right, sis?" Sara jumped in and nudged her sister.

Laurel at least had the decency to look slightly embarrassed. "Right. I'm sorry, Felicity. Sometimes I get a bit carried away. It's nothing personal."

"Sure." Felicity's tone was dismissive, but Laurel's words from earlier still stung. Despite the remorseful act she was putting on, Felicity knew Laurel had said what she'd truly been thinking. Felicity couldn't help but add, "We're pretty normal. It's not like we're from the Addams family or anything like that."

Both Laurel and Sara's eyes widened as Tommy and Oliver looked on in confusion between them. Laurel was the first to look away, and Felicity felt a surge of satisfaction at having put her to shame.

"Hey, kids, are you having fun?" Donna interrupted. Malcolm was by her side with his arm wrapped around her. Felicity hadn't even noticed them walk up. "I've been dreaming about this day all my life. Well, aside from the my actual wedding day. I just knew the champagne fountain would be a hit!"

Tommy raised his flute. "It was a good call, Donna."

"Are you kids doing anything after the party tonight?" Malcolm questioned.

"We're taking Felicity out to dinner," Tommy answered.

"Oh, that's so nice. Maybe we should all go as a family," Donna suggested.

"I think it's just going to be the kids, sweetie," Malcolm said to her. "Besides, we'll be busy. I booked us the honeymoon suite at the Essex hotel for a few nights."

"Oh my God, really? Aw, honey, that's so romantic!" Donna pulled him in for a passionate kiss.

Felicity and Tommy exchanged nauseated looks. Their parents looked like a couple of horny teenagers. When the newlyweds did finally pull away, Donna turned to Felicity. "Be sure to bring your fake ID, honey, in case you want to go to a few clubs later."

"Mom," Felicity exclaimed.

"What? There's no need to be embarrassed." She said to the others, "It really is so hard for her being in college and being so young. She's so mature, and she shouldn't have to miss out on any fun just because she's a genius. Right?"

"Mom, please stop," Felicity practically begged.

"Oh, there's Gwen," Donna suddenly exclaimed.

"Friend of yours?" Malcolm questioned.

"More like a frenemy. We used to work together until she married some investment banker. The entire week before she left Caesar's Palace she wouldn't stop bragging."

"I can ask her to leave if she's unwelcome."

"Oh, no need. I invited her."

Malcolm smirked. "So the invite was a form of payback?"

"Maybe just a little bit," Donna said with a sheepish shrug.

"Let's go say hi," he declared with a devious grin, which also had Donna beaming.

"See you kids later. And don't be shy to try out the dance floor. You're much too young to just be standing around and talking," the bubbly blonde called over her shoulder.

After they'd left, Felicity placed her head in her hands. "I have to go die now."

"Line forms behind me." Tommy downed the rest of his champagne and patted her back in solidarity. He really did have the big brother part down so far.

"She's right." Laurel leaned into Oliver. "Let's dance."

He shook his head. "Laurel, you know I don't dance."

"Come on, just this once. For me?" Her smile was sweet but her stare told a different story. Felicity assumed that Laurel wanted to get him alone to talk.

That nauseating feeling was forming in the pit of Felicity's stomach all over again. Looking away from the couple, Felicity happened to notice movement near the back doors of the mansion. Her whole body tensed when she saw who was standing there.

Tommy must've noticed her stiffen because he asked, "What's the matter?"

Felicity quickly excused herself, mustering the calmest smile she could, and marched towards the tall, blond figure. She couldn't believe he'd actually come here. As she walked away, Felicity was vaguely aware of Oliver asking if that was her boyfriend.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Felicity demanded before taking him by the arm and leading him into the house.

She glanced one last time over her shoulder and saw that Laurel had finally dragged Oliver onto the dance floor. As if he could sense her eyes on him, Oliver looked in Felicity's direction. Their eyes locked for what must've been a moment but felt like a lifetime. If she didn't know any better, it almost appeared as if he wanted to follow her.

"Who's that?"

The spell was broken, and Felicity finally looked away. She didn't answer. There was no reason to.

Tiny beams of light cut through the darkness of the room. One beam, in particular, was shining directly onto Felicity's face. She squeezed her eyes tighter to block out the light, but it was no use. It was too bright. Shifting positions, she opened her eyes and blinked a few times to get her bearings.

Felicity was tangled in a mass of sheets and shivered as the cold air hit her back. Her very naked back. In fact, she wasn't wearing clothes at all. It took a moment for the early-morning fog in her brain to clear. She was in Russia on a mission that had taken a very unexpected turn. Felicity's mind was a jumble of images—playing cards, Russian mobsters, and Oliver. He was alive and posing as Anatoly's nephew. After vaguely explaining what had happened to him when the Queen's Gambit had gone down, they'd spent the night together. The memory of passionate kisses and intimate touches made goose bumps form on her skin.

Felicity sat up suddenly and looked at the empty spot next to her. Her eyes searched the room; she was alone. Her gown was still in a heap on the floor, but Oliver's clothes and suit jacket were gone. Maybe I imagined it, she thought. There were times she missed Oliver so much that she'd dreamed him next to her, only to wake up alone and disappointed in the dark. The stress of the mission could've exhausted her to the point that her mind was playing tricks on her.

Placing a hand on her head, Felicity sighed. She couldn't have imagined it. Her body was sore in the best way possible, and that was because of him. God, she'd missed him. Disappointment threatened to take hold of her in his absence, but Felicity refused to give in. Oliver was alive, and that's all that mattered. Of course it would've been nice if he'd actually said good-bye to her before leaving. There was still so much that had been left unsaid between them. Staring at his side of the bed a second time, Felicity noticed a small piece of paper on his pillow. She unfolded it and read the written message.

Felicity,

I'm sorry I had to leave without saying goodbye. In truth, I'm not sure I'd have been able to walk away with you watching. And I couldn't take the chance that someone would find us together. There are access codes below. Use them to get into the Bratva's hidden network and complete your mission. You have ten hours before they become invalid.

No matter what happens, you should know that last night was one of the best of my life. All I've wanted these past five years is to see you again and last night was more than I could've dreamed. Please don't try to look for me. It's not safe and I couldn't bear it if anything ever happened to you. Take care of yourself. Maybe we'll meet again one day...

—O

Felicity read the note three more times as she furiously wiped away the tears falling from her eyes. She knew why he had to leave, but that didn't make it hurt any less. Finally, she'd learned the truth only to lose him all over again. There was no promise that Oliver would come back to her. All that he'd given her was a giant dangling maybe.

Getting out of bed, Felicity grabbed her bathrobe and laptop. She sat at the small table by her window and began typing. Just as he'd promised, Oliver had given Felicity the access codes to hack into the Bratva network and get the exact coordinates of the arms deal. She was just about to text Curtis when she noticed a text from Sara. She wanted to know if Felicity had found a cute guy to hook up with last night. Her best friend had obviously meant it as a joke. Unfortunately, it hit too close to home and Felicity felt herself fighting off another wave of tears. She didn't have time to wallow when that arms deal would be going down in a matter of hours.

A knock sounded on her door, making Felicity jump. She clutched her bathrobe and walked to the door, a mixture of excitement and dread forming a knot in her stomach. It wouldn't be Oliver. The reason why he'd left her had been because he didn't want to get caught. He wouldn't risk that by returning now. Regardless, Felicity found herself praying that he'd changed his mind and come back. She checked the peek hole and saw Barry.

Forcing a smile onto her face, she answered the door. "Hey, Barry, what's up?"

"We're meeting in Lyla's room in five minutes."

"Oh, good. I have some—"

"Waller's video conferencing in," Barry interrupted.

Felicity felt her stomach drop. "What? Why?" When he didn't answer right away, she surmised, "Because of me."

"Like Lyla said last night, it wasn't your fault. You did your part. You weren't in control of the tech."

Felicity sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. "This day just keeps getting better."

"Hey, are you okay?" Barry questioned, concerned. "You look like you've been crying."

"Why would you say that?" Felicity replied calmly, trying to keep it together.

"It's just that your eyes look a little red."

"I was up late trying to hack into the Bratva network. I think I've found the information we need."

"Really? You got in?" Barry excitedly replied. "That's awesome. You probably saved the mission. Waller can't stay mad after that."

Felicity was sure Waller would have a look of disdain on her face when she saw them even if the bug had worked. She wasn't big on giving compliments. A job well done was usually rewarded with a dismissal and another assignment.

"Let me get dressed, and I'll join you guys in a few minutes."

"See you in there," Barry said with a nod before leaving.

Felicity quickly got dressed in a pair of black pants, a turtleneck, and boots. After dragging the brush through her unruly hair—while attempting not to think about how it was Oliver's hands running through it all night that got it that way—she put it up in her usual ponytail. Everyone was already in Lyla's room when Felicity arrived. As expected, Waller was on the computer screen and did not look pleased.

"Miss Smoak, thank you for finally joining us," Waller derisively stated. "I thought you'd gone missing again like last night."

"I was gone only for a short time. Eventually I was able to get away from Anatoly's nephew," Felicity answered.

"If only the bug you'd planted had been as successful," she challenged.

"It was in position, Sir," Lyla spoke up. "As I explained last night, the tech itself was faulty. But thanks to Felicity, we were able to get a description of Anatoly's infamous nephew. We'll upload it to the database as soon as we return home."

Felicity's stomach twisted with guilt as she listened to Lyla repeat her lie. But what was done was done. All Felicity could do now was keep a straight face and make sure she didn't let the team down a second time.

Waller eyed Felicity before muttering, "How fortunate. And yet you are no closer to completing the task I had originally sent you there for, which is putting a stop to this arms deal."

"I can try and access the bug remotely once more," Curtis offered. "Maybe I can reboot it and—"

"Actually, I spent the night hacking into the Bratva's network and finally got in this morning," Felicity cut in. "I know exactly when and where the arms deal is going down today. We should have no trouble intercepting it." Everyone but Barry looked at her in shock.

"Agent Michaels, why was I not immediately informed of this change in information?" Waller demanded.

Lyla glanced briefly at Felicity, who was quick to come to her defense, "The information was confirmed mere minutes ago. I was on my way to update Agent Michaels now."

"Well, Miss Smoak, it seems you've managed to prove yet again why you are much more valuable to me in front of a computer screen."

Felicity didn't miss the meaning behind Waller's words. The opportunity to do any more field work had been revoked. If Felicity wasn't already overwhelmed by the whole Oliver situation, then she probably would've felt worse about it.

Waller turned her hard stare to Lyla. "Agent Michaels, prep your team and head out. I want official confirmation as soon as you have those weapons."

"Yes, Sir," Lyla responded. When the video feed was finally cut, Lyla breathed a sigh of relief with the rest of them. "That could've gone much worse. Good work, Felicity."

"How the heck did you manage to get in?" Curtis inquired. "I've been trying all night and gotten nowhere."

"It's complicated, but I have my ways," the blonde said.

"Since when are you such a badass?" he teased.

Felicity managed a grin. "Since always."

"All right, suit up," Lyla said to the team. "Curtis, we need details about the location so we know exactly what we're walking into. Felicity, stay on the comms with us and keep an eye on any additional threats during the exchange."

"On it," Curtis stated and took a seat in front of the work station. He held out the chair next to him for Felicity while the others bustled around the room to prepare. "I guess some things never change," he mumbled.

Felicity sat in front of her computer, feeling the weight of Oliver's absence, and nodded dejectedly in agreement. She was essentially right back where she started. As much as it hurt to go back to the status quo, Felicity would endure it all again. Oliver had been right. No matter what happened, Felicity would always treasure their night together. Not only was she able to spend the night in the arms of the man she loved, but her team would be able to complete their mission because of him. Felicity couldn't ask for anything more.