Sharper Points

By Michael Weyer

Had hoped to get this out a lot earlier, delayed in various issues but hopefully worth it. All reviews welcome.

New Orleans, one month ago

One of the best benefits of being a vampire was that temperatures didn't affect one as much as regular humans. As such, the humidity of New Orleans was far more bearable for the inhabitants of the large compound off the French Quarter. Even so, Klaus was shirtless as he stood before an easel in his bedroom, carefully working a paintbrush over the image before him. He tapped the brush to his chin for a moment before dipping it into yellow paint, wanting to get just the right shade for the locks he had drawn.

"A most excellent likeness." Klaus turned to see Elijah standing in the doorway. Despite the early hour, his brother was in one of his usual impeccable suits, hair combed back, the picture of dignity to contrast with Klaus' more impulsive moods. He stepped forward to admire the painting more. "I'm sure Miss Forbes would agree."

Klaus was silent as he kept painting, Elijah studying him carefully. "I would have imagined Genevieve to be the one on your mind, given your…activities together. And yet, here you are, creating a portrait of a woman you claim means little to you."

"I never claimed such a thing," Klaus snapped. "As you well know. And feel free to tell Genevieve of this if you wish to be so petty. She understands what we have is…an arrangement, nothing more."

"An arrangement I assume Caroline knows nothing of?"

Klaus glared at him. "Tread carefully, brother." He placed the easel down to slide on a dark shirt. "Is there a particular reason you come interrupting me? I treasure my quiet time more given my new responsibilities for our city."

"A situation was brought to my attention an hour ago," Elijah explained. "Five vampires killed in a bar just outside the city limits."

Klaus frowned. "A hunter?"

"Apparently, witness accounts say there were two. One reported what sounded like magic being used."

Klaus rubbed his chin. "Hmmmm…I had thought the witches were being brought under heel. Evidentially, I was mistaken." He glanced back to Elijah. "Marcel?"

"I doubt it. He is so far keeping to our demands to stay on his side of the city."

"He was never one to accept defeat. In that, we are much alike." Klaus paced the room. "I have more on my plate but I do agree that a new intrusion on our territory is not something we wish. Perhaps-"

He was cut off by the sounds of yells from the square of the compound, followed by a crashing sound. The two Originals were quick to race to the balcony, looking down in time to see a vampire thrown across the square by a man in dark pants and matching coat. He whirled to punch another attacker down, then grabbed the man's head to twist it, snapping his neck. The figure turned to look up at the men on the balcony, his face breaking out into a wide smile as he spread out his arms. "Klaus! Elijah! Is this any way to welcome family?"

It took a lot to render a Mikaelson speechless. Doing it for two required something even greater. The sight of the man below them was doing the job effectively as both Elijah and Klaus stared in open-jawed shock. "My God," Elijah gasped out. "Kol?"

"In the flesh. Which feels so very, very good again." Kol smiled as he paced to a nearby bar to grab a bottle. "Ah, still keeping the place well stocked." He poured a drink. "I stopped by the mansion first. I thought it might be nice to enjoy the old homestead. But apparently, it seems to have suffered a slight case of halfway burned to the ground." He downed his drink. "Which means Klaus is no doubt remaining the popular sort."

Elijah and Klaus were slowly coming down the stairs, still staring in wonder at their formerly dead brother. "How?" Klaus rasped.

"Remember Crowley?" Kol answered. "Crossroads demon? Dark sort, a bit too much wit and arrogance to him but still keeps to a bargain. Took a while but he managed to finally get me returned to life." He sat back into a chair, placing his feet on a table. "So, I naturally thought that coming home was exactly what I needed in my first step in my new life."

Klaus was narrowing his eyes. "Did this homecoming involve a certain altercation at a bar?"

"Ah, that." Kol shrugged. "Sorry but they insulted me and my lady, had to make an example."

"Your lady?"

"Yo, Kol!" A voice cut over the courtyard. "Tell these goons to let me in!" Pushing her way past a pair of vampires was a quite attractive woman dressed in jeans and a leather jacket. Her long black hair framed her attractive face which contained a light smirk as she sauntered into the courtyard. "So this is vampire central? Not exactly what I pictured."

"Manors are a bit passé now." Kol motioned to the two men who were staring dumfounded at the newcomer. "These are my infamous brothers, Klaus and Elijah. Boys, meet Faye Chamberlain, a witch I ran into right after my resurrection and we hit it off nicely."

It took a moment for them to register the stunned looks on the faces of the other Originals. Faye leaned in toward Kol. "I like to think I make an impression but this is a bit much."

"Something wrong?" Kol asked.

In a blur, Klaus had grabbed Faye by the throat and rammed her against a wall. Kol moved to stop him only to have Elijah toss him into a chair. Klaus' face was intense as he glared at Faye. "I do not appreciate such trickery," he hissed.

"What…are you…" she gasped, trying to concentrate to form a spell. Klaus smacked her against the wall as his eyes locked on hers. "Tell me who you are."

Faye managed a smirk. "Sorry, pal. You think I hang with your bother and not load up on vervain? First night I woke up naked in bed was a tip-off."

"Oh, please," Kol sniffed. "Like I needed compulsion for that."

"Handcuffs, Kol?"

"I'm newly alive, allow me indulgences."

Klaus pushed her against the wall again. "Tell me. Now."

"Geez, what is your damage, pal? I'm just a witch who got pulled into a crazy job, met your brother, hit it off, what's the problem-"

"Elijah?" A voice echoed through the courtyard as a new figure entered. "Sorry but had to see you." Into the courtyard padded Hayley, her light dress showing a bit of strain due to her growing belly, her black hair brushed back. "I know you said to stay away but…" She stopped in place, staring in wonder at the woman Klaus was holding. "Wha…."

"Holy…" Faye choked out as she stared at the exact double of herself. The two women both slowly walked forward, staring at each other in mirroring disbelief. The vampires exchanged looks that showed each was as baffled as the other at this. Faye looked Hayley over before reaching to poke her in the chest. "Hey," Hayley snapped, knocking the hand away.

"Sorry," Faye said. "But…wow. I mean…Felicity told me that she met you but…"

"Felicity? You know her?'

"Ran into her on a job." She looked Hayley over. "Witch?"

"Werewolf."

"Birthday?"

July 12th, 1989."

"Same."

"Okay, my mom has got a lot to talk to me about."

"We're not sisters," Hayley insisted. "I know about my family, here in New Orleans."

"I don't know," Faye muttered. "I've seen plenty of strange shit already."

"Doppelgangers and twins are different things," Elijah stated as he stepped forward. "It is possible for you to be born on the same day in different parts of the country but retain the same features."

Hayley rubbed her belly. "I've learned the hard way 'possible' is a different term with you people."

Faye looked over to Kol. "Okay, I'm staying. I need to know more about this."

Kol looked to his brothers. "This is going to be quite the dinner conversation. I'm up for a blonde."

Klaus just closed his eyes and reminded himself why being an only sibling was so attractive many days.

Starling City, Today

Felicity was beginning to understand and appreciate the benefits of vampirism.

The upside of not needing as much sleep was great and she was learning that fast healing was quite the benefit when it came to crime-fighting. Sara had expressed jealously over how Felicity bore none of the usual scars or tear of their activities. She had shifted her outfit a bit, working better in the field and was getting used to the mask. The training was still tricky; for all her strength and speed, she still needed to work fighting skills as Sara could still get the better of her most of the time. But she was doing better and it felt good being out there helping the team out.

She was also continuing her private investigation into Blood. She'd realized Constantine was right, she didn't really need to sleep as much and that gave her far more time to dig into things. There were a lot of firewalls to cut through but she sensed something was up with these accounts. She just needed to figure out what.

Felicity let out a sigh. Time was something she had a lot more of lately. She was kicking herself for not thinking of finding a way to get vervain to the Queen Consolidated board. They were such an obvious target but she'd been distracted by so much that it wasn't until they'd removed Oliver and installed Isabel as the new CEO. Thankfully, Moria and Oliver had been smart about keeping their own assets out of things so the Queens weren't bankrupt. Oliver had also kept some secret stashes of cash in case of just an emergency so they had resources. However, Oliver was banned from the company which left Felicity technically out of work.

Still, she was doing her best to handle things, checking her e-mail just as a knock on her door sounded. Rising, Felicity looked through the peephole before opening it. "Hey," she said to Laurel. "What do you have?"

Laurel looked much better as she entered, in a professional suit once more. She had been getting back into work at the D.A.'s office and doing better with it. She nodded to Felicity as she set down a briefcase and opened it. "I can't do a full investigation of Blood yet," she began. "Not just because I'm still fixing things with my standing but don't want to tip our hand so soon."

Felicity took the folder Laurel handed and paged through it. "Huh…Still some movement on the accounts but not as busy as it once was."

"You're a quick reader."

"It's a talent," Felicity brushed aside. "I've been noticing the same thing in the records and accounts. He is cutting down on these secret deposits."

"Maybe he thinks someone is onto him," Laurel suggested. "Which is true."

"Maybe." Felicity bit her lip. "Maybe he's getting smart and moving money another way we don't notice."

"It still leaves the question of what it's all for. If not the election, then what?"

"We're going to need more before we can go to your dad. Or Oliver." Felicity sipped her mug of coffee. "Speaking of…."

"Look, I'm okay with Sara. Not close but…I'm handling it."

"Fine, fine, just saying, family is important." Felicity was about to say more when the door knocked again. "Huh. This is the most visitors I've had…ever."

Opening the door, Felicity stared at the woman on the other side. She was in her 40's but wearing a tight dress clearly meant for someone younger. Her blonde hair flowed around her face which boasted a bit too much makeup. She let out a loud cry as she raced over the doorway to envelop a stunned Felicity into a huge hug. "Baby girl!"

"Mom?!" No. God. Not happening.

The woman broke the hug but the huge grin remained. "Surprise!" She saw Laurel and moved to her. "Hi there, Donna Smoak."

"Oh, um, Laurel Lance." She shook hands. "I didn't expect you here."

"Neither did my daughter," Donna said with a giggle. Felicity was frozen in place, her mug still held out, staring in disbelief at the suitcase sitting in the hallway. "So, wow, this is a nice place! I mean, I thought you'd be a little more comfortable with your big job but still…"

Felicity swallowed as she turned to face her. "Mom," she said, forcing a cheerful tone in her voice. "What, um, are you doing here?"

"Like I said, had to see my baby girl, been too long!" Donna grinned as she grabbed her suitcase. "Listen, I'll just set myself up in the next room, no problem!"

"You're…staying here?!" Felicity's eyes widened so much, Laurel was seriously worrying they'd pop out of their sockets.

Donna let out that laugh again. "What, stay at a hotel instead of with you? Perish the thought!" She gave Felicity a hug before moving toward the other room. "So, I'll set up quick before we can talk and you can show me around!"

Laurel watched her go, then turned to the still dumbstruck Felicity. "Soooo….should I go?"

"Do me a favor before you do? Hit me very hard on the head. Please."

"This is nice!" Donna said as they entered Verdant. "But I thought your boss was rich."

"He was. Is. It's complicated." It was all Felicity could do not to just run off at high speed right now. She saw Oliver nearby, talking with Diggle and Roy and put on a brave smile. "Oliver, hi."

"Felicity," He said, moving from the bar. "And who's your friend?"

"Hi," Donna said, brushing past her daughter. "Donna Smoak."

"Felicity's…older sister?" Oliver smiled.

She let out a bright laugh. "Oh, your reputation does precede you! No, I'm Felicity's mother. I'm sure she's mentioned me."

"Not really," Diggle automatically said. He saw the glare Felicity gave him and with a swallow quickly amended. "I mean, she likes to be private but she's really proud of you."

"I'm sure," Donna smiled. "It's so nice to meet you both, I was really sorry to hear about some of your personal problems, Mr. Queen but nice to see you bouncing back!"

"I have experience there," Oliver told her. "So what brings you to town?"

"Oh, just been too long, paying my favorite girl a visit!" Donna smiled at Oliver. "She's not giving you any trouble, is she? I know, she can be that way. Seriously that whole goth phase of hers…"

"Mom…" Felicity hissed.

"Goth phase?" Diggle asked with raised eyebrows.

"Oh, yeah!" Donna moved a hand to her purse. "Here, I kept a picture!" She fumbled through her wallet before unveiling a set of photos of Felicity, one with her in black clothing, a pierced nose and a long mane of dyed black and purple hair.

"Wow," Roy said, eyes wide. "That's…a different look for her."

"Yes, she did clean up afterward. But really, dressing down is so bad, she had an amazing figure, doesn't she?" She shook her head. "I keep telling her, show some cleavage, hon, you can do it, a great way to win a man over!"

Felicity was about to try and snap her own neck when Oliver saw her face. "Listen, Ms. Smoak…"

"Please. Call me Donna."

"Donna. No offense but I do have some work for Felicity. It might take a while so maybe you can check out Starling while you wait?

"Oh, sure!" Donna replied. "I wouldn't mind seeing the sights a bit. I got a little cash on me to handle things." She turned to give Felicity a quick hug. "I'll see you later tonight, ok?" She sauntered out in a way to make sure the men were watching despite themselves.

Oliver looked to Felicity. "You ok?"

Without a word, she brushed past him, heading to the Arrow Lair as soon as she could. Oliver and Diggle quickly exchanged glances before following her. As they entered, Felicity was already using a pair of escrim fighting sticks to viciously attack a sparring dummy, smashing it hard. Sara was to the side, just watching with interest.

"Felicity," Oliver spoke up. "How are you?"

She ignored him, the strikes becoming harder, her hands soon a blur as they smacked more and more into the dummy. With a loud cry, she hauled back and let a stick sweep out, smacking the head off of the dummy. It tumbled about before hitting the wall and slid to the floor.

Felicity took a few breaths to steady herself as everyone watched her. "I'm guessing it's a…tense relationship," Oliver began.

"Who?" Sara asked.

"Felicity and her mother."

"Oh, your mom's in town?"

Felicity whirled on her, a stick raised. "Don't." She sighed. "Sorry." Lowering the stick, she moved to grab a towel and wipe her forehead. "It just…She doesn't talk to me for years then just pops in out of the blue, nothing happened at all!"

"What did happen?" Oliver asked.

Felicity was hesitant before letting out a sigh and sitting in a chair. "Senior year, MIT. I was…you know, you saw the photo. I was running with a rough crowd, a boyfriend named Cooper. We were…well, hacktivists they'd call us now. Me, it was just the fun, cracking into servers just to show I could. Cooper…" She sighed. "We cracked into the college database and he decided to cancel all student loans. We figured it was just a joke and then the FBI came to arrest us both."

"Damn," Sara muttered.

Felicity brushed her hair back. "Conner took the fall, he got sent to jail and…killed himself later on. Me, I realized this was a major life-changer for me and I should take it. So ditched the black leather, washed the dye out of my hair and dedicated myself to studies, did some work to pay off the debts."

"Your mom not take it well?" Oliver asked.

"In case you haven't noticed, my mom isn't exactly the type to embrace her real age." Felicity rolled her eyes. "I have no idea who my dad is and probably for the best. She was like that when I was a kid and just worse as things went on. After all that happened, she was basically smothering me so had to get away which is what brought me to Starling."

"She seems to want to reconnect."

Felicity snorted. "Trust me, as soon as she has her fill of the town, she's back on the road." She rose up, moving to the nearby closet area. "I need to go out. Tonight. I need to hit something. Or someone. Or both."

"Are you…"

"Oliver," Sara interrupted. "Trust me. When a woman is in a mood like this, we need to blow off major steam."

Oliver and Roy exchanged shrugs before following.

Being out in the field was still a unique experience for Felicity. She was so used to being in the Lair, working on computers, that being out in a costume on the streets was jarring. But she was getting used to it, slowing herself down enough to follow Oliver and Sara as they moved along rooftops toward the warehouse district. "Sure you got the system right?" she asked into the comlink set in her mask.

"I'm not you but I can handle it," Roy's voice came over the line. "Looks like little security around the place, only about four guys patrolling the outside."

"We'll take them out first," Oliver intoned. "Sara, take north side, Felicity the south."

"Gotcha." Felicity paused. "You know, might be easier with four of us…"

"He's not ready," Oliver told her.

"I know you're worried about the maruka but don't be. I gave him a little blood, remember? That should drive it out of his own system."

"That is handy," Sara stated. "Maybe we can have some more."

"With our lives, we'll die before it's out of our system," Oliver noted. "And, no offense, not looking to add vampire to my already complicated life."

"I get it," Felicity accepted. She narrowed her eyes as she took in the building. "So, we should be able to get around to the back. You want me on the roof?"

"You've got the added agility."

"I can't fly, you know."

"Still heal faster."

"Yeah but…"

Felicity was cut off by a loud growling sound from a side of the warehouse. The three whipped their heads around to see one the guards suddenly yanked back into the shadows. There was a brief burst of gunfire before a loud scream could be heard. Felicity was moving fast, leaping onto a fire escape to help her jump down to the ground and blurring toward the warehouse. She hissed as the scent of fresh blood hit her nostrils, her vampire nature nearly coming out with it. She managed to control it as she moved around the corner, stopping to stare at the form of a hulking creature on all fours, tearing at the throat of one of the guards.

"Oh mother humper crapper."

Felicity leapt back as the creature, which resembled a massive wolf on steroids, leapt at her. She barely dodged it, rolling about and reaching to her back to remove the pair of escrim sticks she had been training with. She used one to block the lunging jaws and smack the other into the wolf's head. It snarled before leaping forward, Felicity trying to dodge it.

She heard the whisk of air before the arrow buried itself into the wolf's neck. Oliver was there, drawing another arrow as the creature snarled at him. It lunged at high speed, Oliver firing his arrow off even as he was moving. He dodged it around as Felicity heard another growl behind her and turned to see a second wolf creature moving forward.

Before she could move, a loud blast ripped through the air and the creature arched up, howling. A second blast echoed as its head exploded in a spray of red. A figure in a dark coat and jeans stood behind the slumping body, smoke whishing out of the barrels of the shotgun in his hands. "Behind you!" he yelled out and Felicity spun to see the wolf moving again.

Oliver fired another arrow, the shot burying itself into its upper neck but it continued to come over. "You need silver!" the man yelled out as he reloaded his weapon. Felicity started as she recognized him as Sam Winchester. She was brushing it aside as she rose up, moving to slam one of her sticks on the wolf's head, then against its jaw, seeing a tooth fly out under the impact. Oliver was moving as well, tearing the head off one of his arrows and burying it into the wolf's neck. It howled, shaking hard as Oliver twisted the arrow inside the wound. "Back up!" Sam yelled, cocking his shotgun. Oliver and Felicity both leapt back as Sam unloaded a round that blasted the creature's head apart.

Felicity wiped her face as she looked to Oliver. "Silver arrows?"

He shrugged. "Never know." He looked over to see Sam still holding his gun and glared. "You better put that down."

"How's about you do it, Robin Hood?" came a sardonic voice. Dean stepped out of the light, aiming a pistol at Oliver. He looked over at Felicity and frowned. "Wait…Smoak?"

"Um…no?"

Dean sniffed. "Please. I saw the outfit before." His eyes ran over her and he smiled. "Sides…I never forget a nice ass."

"Um…Thanks. And also, hey!"

"Why are you here?" Oliver demanded.

"Easy, pal," Dean snapped. "We just put down a couple of werewolves that were causing some trouble. Although they usually don't get so big and nasty."

"Not to mention the changes," Sam added. "They don't usually transform so fast."

"Magic boost?"

"Maybe."

"Hey!" The brothers looked to a glaring Oliver. "I don't care what these are or why, I want to know if they're taken care of."

"We got a nest earlier," Dean explained. "Just had to finish some stragglers."

"Not before they got a meal," Sara explained as he came forward. "Took a look inside and trust me, those dealers aren't going anywhere."

"Yuck," Felicity remarked with a wrinkled nose.

Oliver kept his gaze on Dean and Sam. "Fine, you did your job. Now get out of here."

"Hey," Dean snapped. "We just stopped you and your gal pals from getting eaten up by these things. Don't expect a thank-you but at least tone down the douche-knob!"

Oliver raised his bow. "Get out of my city."

"Hey, hey, take it easy," Sam said, holding up his hands. "Were just here to take care of these things, we can get going."

"Still have to find the source," Dean told him. "Someone's been doping these guys and I don't want to imagine how bad it can get."

"We'll look into it," Oliver growled.

"Listen, Dean," Felicity quickly inserted herself, sensing things were going bad. "Thanks for the help and all but we do have things covered. Trust me, Starling isn't immune to the supernatural stuff."

Dean seemed unsure but Sam put a hand on his shoulder. "Dean…come on. Last thing we need now is to get into a fight with the local hero, ok?"

"The card Waller gave us gets us out of anything."

"Something tells me he's not into legalities."

Sara leaned to Felicity. "Okay, is it possible two guys can meet and not start measuring each other?"

"Not in my experience."

"And he wonders why Nyssa and I connected…"

Dean was still clutching his gun but a squeeze on the shoulder from Sam made him back up a bit. "Fine. We'll go. Next time, let yourself get eaten." He and Sam turned to walk off, Dean muttering under his breath. "Green-wearing asshat…"

Sara looked to Felicity. "You meet the most interesting people here.."

"They grow on you," Felicity insisted. "Sort of."

"That was new," Roy had to say as the trio returned to the Lair. "Werewolves now?"

"Enhanced werewolves," Felicity pointed out. "From what Caroline was telling me, they can't really control it during a full moon although the older you get, the more powerful you are."

"How does she know?'

"Her ex-boyfriend is one."

"You never expect stuff on this job."

Felicity watched Oliver carefully replace his weapons. "You ok?'

He was quiet before speaking." I spent five years out there training, getting ready and all of it. I thought I was prepared for anything." He sighed. "But this…Vampires, werewolves, magic. That's not to mention the reports we've been hearing of stuff in Central City with people with weird powers." He shook his head. "The world's getting a lot more dangerous."

"As someone who is actually a said vampire, I have to agree," Felicity said. She sighed as she undid her mask. "I guess it just shows how complicated life can be. It doesn't make sense a lot of the time but…hey, we need to adapt in order to keep up. Hell, look at me. I was the geek girl, now I'm a costumed avenger. Who doesn't actually have anything to avenge…So it's sorta not the right title…"

Oliver smiled back. "I get it. We just need to up the game."

"Right now, just need to get home, get a shower and hopefully my mom won't be too much in the mood to talk."

"I…don't think she is." As they all turned at him, Roy nodded to a monitor showing a camera feed from the club upstairs. Felicity stared at it, her eyes wide as she saw Donna sitting at the bar, chatting a visibly nervous Thea up. "Oh, God." She raced to a nearby screened off area as the rest looked at the screen. "She doesn't appear drunk," Oliver offered.

Felicity stepped back from the screen, already stripped of her uniform and now clad in a skirt and blouse with glasses. "Damn, that's cool," Roy had to note.

"Sara, with me!" Felicity said. "We need to get up there and get her out of here before she causes trouble."

"Is this going to be some wild variation of Sex and the City? In which, incidentally, you are most definitely the Charlotte."

Felicity kept her face calm as she pushed her way through the crowds before finally coming up the bar. Thea couldn't hide her look of relief seeing her as Donna turned out. "Hey!" she called out to give a hug to Felicity. "I was just talking to your friend here!"

"Mom," Felicity said, forcing a smile. "Why are you here?"

"Well, got bored just being around the apartment, wanted to enjoy the night life a bit and decided to check this place out." Donna gave a wave to some men at the other end of the bar. "I've been getting some free drinks!"

"Watered down," Thea mouthed as Felicity gave a grateful nod. She focused on Donna, trying to keep calm. "Mom…can we just go, this is…mortifying. Only half as bad as parent's week in freshman year…"

Donna blinked before her smile faded. "Oh. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I've been reduced to stalking my own daughter."

"Because you can't seem to comprehend that I can't make the whole world stop because you decided to show up on my doorstep!" Felicity snapped, her calm gone. "I have responsibilities!"

"Yes, I know, Felicity. You have work. You have work, work, work, work..."

"No, no, no, you don't understand. It is so much more than work! But all you care about it my love life or how much cleavage I don't show."

"That is not true!"

"That is completely true! And I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I'm terminally single, I'm sorry I have an actual job, I'm sorry that I don't dress like a porn star! Which I realize is a compliment to you."

Donna gaped while Sara and Thea, who had been glancing back and forth as if following tennis match, shared a look at last.

"So I'm so sorry that I am such a disappointment to you!" Felicity didn't even realize she'd been ranting until she was aware of the stares of people around her. She quieted down as Donna stared, her mother's fun demeanor faded into a somber tone.

"I'm not as smart as you, Felicity, or your father," she began in a flat voice. "I know that. Even when you were only six years old, I could barely keep up with you two. And...Maybe I wasn't always the mother you wanted, but I was always there. I stayed and I tried. He...He left me. He left us." She wiped at her face. "But when I look at you, all I see is what he gave you. There is nothing of me...In you." She chuckled. "You know, it's so funny. I was…I was always so afraid that one day, you were going to leave me, too." She shook her head. "Now I finally realize...You already did."

Donna grabbed her purse and walked out. "Mom…" Felicity began but her mother just waved a hand before leaving. Felicity sighed as she sat back at the bar and saw a drink waiting for her. "Thanks," she said to Thea before downing it. The girl nodded before heading off as Sara sat next to Felicity.

"I don't want to pry," the other blonde began. "But I have to say…I spent years away from my mother. She thought I was dead and coming back…It made me realize how much we'd lost out on." She looked to Felicity. "Maybe you could consider giving her another chance."

Felicity was quiet before rising to head out of the club. She moved to an alley, then bounded to grab the fire escape ladder above her. She climbed up to the roof before removing her cell phone and dialing a number. "Hey," she said. "You told me if I ever needed to talk…" She paused before launching into the events of the last hour. "So…what do you think?"

There was a pause before Caroline Forbes' voice came through. "My mom and I…well, it took her a while to get over the whole vampire thing. She spent years protecting the town from them, finding out I was one…I compelled her to forget the first time but she found out again and…Well, it's hard but we're close because of it."

"God, I don't want to tell my mom that. I can barely handle being single, now a blood-sucker?"

Caroline sighed. "Elena and Bonnie both lost their moms. They don't quite get why I still have to be close with mine. I know…" She took a breath. "I know that eventually she's going to die. She'll die and I'll still be exactly the same. I know that but…I don't want to know it, you know? It's just…we never know how much time we're going to have with the ones we love. Maybe use what you have before you spend who knows how long regretting it."

"I guess so," Felicity replied as she looked out at the Starling City landscape. Without warning, the lights of the buildings started to flash, then winking out. Blinking, Felicity spoke flatly. "Um, I'm gonna call you back." She raced down to the Lair, the rest of the team already there. The lights were dimmed even with its backup generators. "The club's power is going out and on," Oliver informed her.

"On it." Sitting before her computer, Felicity started typing, connecting to main news sites. Each was showing a shimmering red pattern across the screens. "Looks like it's going all over. TV's, monitors, it's all over the city!"

"What is it?" Oliver pressed, looking over her shoulder. Normally, Felicity would take a moment to admire that unique musk but right now, her attention was drawn to the screen. The red pattern was forming into a dark eye that seemed to drip at the edges with blood. "Starling City," a distorted voice echoed through the image. "You think yourselves safe. You think yourselves above the pain and agony the elite perpetrate upon this world. You think wrong. I am Brother Blood and this city is to be mine. I'll return your power to you but know that it is always in my hands. I can take it away any time I wish. No hero or Queen can stop it. You have been warned."

The image faded as the computer returned to normal, the lights coming back on full. "Damn," Oliver muttered. "I thought Blood was taken care of."

"It could be someone else using the mask," Diggle stated. "Maybe you can track it, Felicity?" He paused, looking at her. "Felicity?"

She was staring at the computer, her face in shock. "It…can't be…"

"What?" Oliver asked.

Felicity licked her lips. "The code…I recognize it."

"How?"

She looked up at him with wide eyes. "I wrote it." She swallowed at their stunned expressions. "Five years ago, in college, I made it up with Connor. He was going to use it for a big prank during a football game but we were busted first." She shook her head. "It's…I don't know how it could be used now."

"What does it do?" Oliver pressed.

"It connects any computer, allows takeovers of systems like power grids, watches over like major spyware…Basically, Blood can do it, take over Starling if he wanted."

Oliver's eyes narrowed. "And you never shared you had this with anyone?"

"No!"

"And didn't tell us?"

Felicity gaped at him. "Please tell me you're not going to lecture me on secrets. Seriously." She rubbed at her face. "I just don't know how this could have happened."

"Well, find out," Oliver said. "We need to track Blood down, stop this before it gets out of hand."

"It can't be track. I designed it that way. It replicates and…" Felicity waved a hand. "Okay, never mind the details, the point is, I just can't log on and track this thing!"

"Well, do something!" Oliver yelled.

"I am!" Felicity got to her feet. "I'm going home, taking a shower and giving us all a chance to cool off because if I snap, it's going to be ugly." She headed off. "I'll work on it when I get a fresh perspective."

"We can't just…"

She whirled on him, eyes glaring with just the tiniest bit of black at the edges of her orbs and Oliver knew backing off was the smart move here. Felicity turned back to go, slamming the door behind her.

Diggle looked sourly to Oliver. "Pushing her isn't going to help us out."

"I know," Oliver sighed. "But we have to get on this fast before it gets worse."

Sara snorted. "In this town, you know that's a faint hope, Oliver. It always gets worse."

Felicity entered her apartment, still feeling steamed. She knew Oliver was upset about this. Well, hell, so was she. But it was harder for her. Seeing that code, that virus…it reminded her of that time of her life she wanted to put behind her. That period she'd been so convinced she knew the score of the world and how to "fix" it and that ended in nothing but pain. Of course, one could argue that she was still holding to that mentality today with Team Arrow but still, it hurt to remember her then.

She paused as she saw Donna standing by the made-up couch, carefully folding clothes into her suitcase. "Mom? What are you doing?"

"What you want," Donna calmly said. "I'm going home. This…was a bad idea from the start."

Felicity sighed. "Mom…"

Donna held up a hand. "No. Look…I know I came off…needy. I'm sorry for that. It's just…I always wanted the best for you, Felicity. That's all I've ever wanted." She looked at her daughter with a shimmer in her eyes. "You are everything I'm not. You are smart as hell, sharp with business, winning with people. You can do so much baby. You can own this town if you wanted to. You can make it after all."

Felicity raised an eyebrow. "Are you quoting the Mary Tyler Moore Show theme?"

Donna smiled softly. "I just…Wished we could get over this gulf between us. It's why I came here." She sighed as she turned back to put a shirt into the suitcase. "This was a mistake. Just, when I got the free ticket, this was the first place that came to mind and…"

"Wait…Free ticket?" Felicity frowned.

"Yeah, it was an e-mail," Donna said off-handedly. "Said I won a free ticket, anywhere I wanted. You know me, I'm always entering sweepstakes stuff, didn't even remember which one this was for…"

She looked up to see Felicity's face filled with alarm. "Mom," she carefully began. "You didn't win anything. Someone wanted you here. Now." Understanding washed over as she moved to grab Donna's arm. "Come on, we have to get out of here before-"

The door broke open on its hinges, the chain flying off. Donna shrieked as a trio of men in black outfits entered. Felicity was whirling around when two of them raised their guns and pulled the triggers. Felicity felt a sharp biting on her shirt and another at her neck. She was taking a step when it suddenly felt like her veins were erupting with fire. She cried out in pain as she fell forward, realizing the darts were loaded with vervain washing through her system. She could hear her mother's cries, looking up to see a man grab her as another put a black bag over her head. Felicity tried to rise up but a sharp kick to her jaw knocked her onto her back as she welcomed the darkness washing over her.

Reflexively, Felicity pressed against the bonds around her as she awoke. She was answered by a sharp pain at her wrists and a dull one around her waist. Whatever was holding her, it was designed to keep her in pain and weak. The darkness was lifted from her as the bag was yanked off her head and she blinked hard as the sudden light. She was bound to a chair, seated in a large room, mostly bare with lighting above. Before her was a large computer console and a slew of monitors that showed several streets of Starling with others containing codes of familiar-looking data.

"Hon?" Felicity looked to the side to see Donna seated next to her, handcuffed to her own chair. Felicity forced a smile. "Hey, Mom. It's gonna be okay."

"Really? Because it doesn't look it."

"I've been in this situation before, panicking does not help."

"You've been kidnapped before? Just what the hell job does he make you do?"

"Mom…"

"Ah, mothers," a familiar voice came behind them. "I more than understand the problems they can cause."

Felicity's eyes widened as she saw the blonde in the designer suit stepping before her. "Rebekah? What the hell is this?"

"Oh, just had to drop by," the Original said with that annoying smirk of hers. "I so enjoy reunions. Especially one that's a double."

"Huh?" Felicity blinked. "What are you…" She stopped as the figure sitting at the console turned around. He leaned back on it, a smirk on his own face with light brown hair. "Oh my God…" Felicity whispered. "Conner? But…But you're…"

"Dead?" Conner answered. "That was faked by the government as they needed someone with great hacking skills. Conner suited them well and so they gave him a job."

"The government? Wait, what are you doing here then? And with her?" Felicity jerked her head toward Rebekah.

"Oh, Conner was selected for two reasons," Rebekah stated. "The first is that the amazing code he created was quite the benefit for a…colleague of mine."

"Blood," Felicity whispered. "You're working with him?"

"More that our interests align," Rebekah corrected. "But, as fate would have it, Conner also supplied another use, one that I personally had been looking to utilize for quite some time."

Conner smiled at her. "And quite grateful I am at that, dear Rebekah."

Felicity wrinkled her face. "Oh, God, seriously? You two together? I mean, I know you were in jail and all, Conner but come on, standards…"

The two laughed loudly at that. "Please, darling," Rebekah said. "My vices are many but even I draw the line at incest."

"Too bad," Conner said. "I dare say Conner might have enjoyed it."

Felicity cocked her head. "Wait a minute…since when do you refer to yourself in the third person? Because I know you had ego but even so, that's going way too far."

Conner chuckled as he leaned toward her. "I suppose introductions are in order." He extended a hand as his smile widened. "Finn Mikaelson. I believe you know my brothers?"

Staring into the eyes of what she now knew was a strange vampire in her ex-boyfriend's body, Felicity once more wondered how the hell her life had gone so off the sanity rails.

Again, comments welcomed and explanations to come next chapter.