Oliver felt as if an earthquake just shattered the ground he was standing on. Standing in front of him was the woman he was engaged to last week and the woman Felicity was pretending to be. The woman who broke his heart and came back right as he felt hope that it wasn't the worst thing that could happen to him.
"What are you doing here, Laurel?"
"Can I come in?" she asked.
"Not until you tell me what you are doing here," he replied stepping out of the door so his family wouldn't hear, "You broke up with me and handed me the ring because I didn't immediately want to follow you to Gotham. For a promotion you didn't even have yet, so what are you doing here, Laurel?" his voice much angrier than expected.
"Ollie…I don't expect you to understand. I felt confused and worried about work and when you responded the way you did, I figured I might as well lose you now instead of later."
Oliver rolled his eyes, "That is ridiculous."
"I know, I know, I know. I spent a few days and all I could think about was how big of a fool I was and I couldn't spend another day without seeing you. Please, Ollie, give me another chance. I want to marry you and live with you no matter where it is," she pleaded.
Oliver didn't know how to react. Part of him, a large part, wanted to go back into the house and slam the door in her face and let everyone know that who they thought was Laurel was actually Felicity, a woman he couldn't deny had gotten under his skin. But another part wanted to take her back regardless of what she did.
"Please, Ollie, I love you so much," Laurel sniffled as she spoke, "I want to meet your family. I want to make a family."
He opened the door and let her in, not knowing how anyone would react.
"Oliver, who was it?" his mother shouted from the living room.
He walked into the space, followed by a tall, beautiful brunette with highlights that made her perfect hair seem blond. Felicity had a feeling that she was that was Laurel and she felt inadequate looking at the gorgeous person in front of her. She adjusted her clothes nervously, not knowing what was going to happen in a few minutes.
Oliver's eyes met Felicity's. Both eyes displayed emotions that they didn't want to name and they spoke to the other without words. Oliver's told her he was sorry and Felicity's replied that she knew.
"Mom, I haven't been exactly honest with you."
"What are you talking about, Oliver? Who is this?" his mother pointed.
"I'm Laurel."
"No, this is Laurel," she responded while looking at Felicity.
"My name is Felicity."
"I asked Felicity to pretend to be Laurel," Oliver added.
Thea sunk into the couch, waiting for the explosion she knew was about to occur.
"And why would you do that?" Moira's voice rose.
He bowed his head, "It's a long story."
Felicity interrupted him, "Mrs. Queen, it really isn't his fault."
Moira held up her hand, "Excuse me, Felicity or whoever you are, I am talking to my son and now that we know you are not his fiancée, you can leave."
"Mom!" "Mom!" Thea and Oliver said to their mother.
"I just want all of you to know that you are family and you shouldn't let this come between you," Felicity replied to Moira's harsh tone and she walked away, touching Oliver's shoulder on her way upstairs to get her things.
"Well, now that is settled can someone explain what happened?"
"Mrs. Queen, if I may explain?" Laurel asked politely and continued when Moira nodded, "Last week, I foolishly ended things with your son and I immediately regretted it. When I was able to leave the city, I rushed over here in hopes that he would take me back."
"Oh. And Oliver, why was that other woman here?"
"Felicity and I met when I was working on an article before the paper shut down. She owns a tech store and that was why she was able to fix that card scanner at the restaurant."
"How did she know so much about you and the rest of us?"
"She is a literal genius," he replied.
Laurel scoffed, "Obviously not, Ollie."
"Her being a genius means nothing. Regardless, I need to know one thing: are you going to get married?"
Oliver answered, "I don't know," while Laurel immediately supplied, "Yes."
He tried to communicate silently with Laurel that they needed to talk but if she realized that or not, she walked into the living room to speak to everyone. To try to cut the tension that was thick as potato chowder, Thea decided to tell them all something.
"I am not in love with Adrian."
The reaction of both Laurel and Moira was complete silence as Oliver looked on with a smile.
"Excuse me?"
Thea rose from her seat and looked at her mother, "I don't love Adrian. He is boring and arrogant and never around even if I did love him. I am in love with someone else and you will just have to deal with that."
"And may I ask who you are in love with? Not that server?"
"Yes, that server and bartender at the club who works his butt off helping his family while taking online classes to get his degree."
Moira decided she couldn't handle anymore frustration and stormed out of the room.
Later that night, he sat next to Laurel as she stared at her phone the entire time in bed. They spent most of the afternoon in awkward conversation. Oliver found out that Laurel didn't receive the promotion because it was given to a nephew of a founding partner. He questioned her if her decision to come back to him was because she found out she wouldn't be moving.
"Oliver, of course not," she replied and kissed him on the lips quickly, "Now I have to respond to these emails before next week."
He found himself thinking that this was a mistake.
"What is a mistake?" Laurel asked and Oliver realized that like Felicity he said that out loud.
"Um…Laurel, I have to go talk to mom."
"Okay," and she continued to tap at her phone.
Oliver found his mother in the living room, looking at the different ornaments her children had made over the years. While his family was one of the richest and most successful on this side of the country, Moira loved the handmade gifts from Thea and Oliver more than any of the expensive ornaments she could find in a store. She turned when she heard footsteps.
"Oliver?"
"Mom, can we talk?"
"Of course, dear. Would you like a hot chocolate?"
He shook his head.
"You know, I watched you and Laurel all afternoon after your sister left to see Ross or Randy whatever his name is."
"It's Roy, mom. You might have to accept that."
"I suppose I just want what's best for my children. But after watching all of you with the people that are what I thought were best, you both seemed miserable. You and Laurel barely spoke and Adrian was never around and when he was, well, your sister wasn't exactly wrong about him being arrogant."
Oliver let out a soft laugh and nodded in agreement.
"You weren't like that with Felicity. You seemed happy and you looked at her as if she was the sun."
"Is it weird that I think I fell in love with someone I barely know after my fiancée dumped me?"
"No stranger than your father, a brilliant businessman, being caught up in some Ponzi scheme."
"Wait, what?"
"Don't worry. I've already spoke to people and we have it figured out. But it is why he retired early."
"Oh," Oliver replied, realizing his family was full of surprises.
"What does your heart tell you, Oliver?"
"It tells me that I was a fool to let her leave," he responded.
"Then, go tell her that."
