A/N: As always thank you for your continued support. This is sort of a filler but it's needed to just show contrast to things later, also this might not be what people expect but next week I promise...

Felicity sat staring out the window of her office; she'd really been trying to keep herself busy in the past week with planning Oliver's bachelor party. But ever so often she felt her chest tightening as her mind wandered to the past, to the thought of Cooper and what he planned to do to her, she shuddered taking a deep breath. She'd pretty much isolated herself since her mugging; she never went anywhere apart from work and her apartment. She knew it shouldn't get to her but it did, and as she glanced around to the city below she started to feel nauseous. A knock on her door caused her to jump; she span around to see Captain Lance stood there waiting.

"Felicity."

"Captain." She gestured to the spare seat as he walked in closing the door behind himself. She moved to her own chair both sitting. "What can I do for you?" She asked softly.

"We may have had a potential sighting." She nervously tapped her fingers on the desk, trying to hide the rising panic.

"Where?" She said barely whispering it out.

"Coast City, possibly trying to get on a ship out of the country." She nodded unable to find the words. "The officers there are looking out for him, making their enquiries. I just thought I should let you know."

"That's fine." She nodded, her door flew open and Oliver stood in the door way.

"Mr Queen?" Quentin asked with a frown.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to... Just you... is everything okay?"

"Fine." Felicity said a little too quickly and he frowned.

"I was just letting Miss Smoak know about our progress on her case."

"Oh." Oliver stepped in closing the door.

"He's been spotted in Coast City." She answered.

"A potential sighting." Quentin added. Oliver nodded walking towards Felicity. "The guy from the car accident has been recommitted, the mugger well he's been released with a caution." Felicity merely nodded. "We finally got your files..." Quentin said as he slowly pulled out a file from his jacket.

"What do you need those for?"

"We wanted to make sure we had everything." His eyes looked sad and she knew he'd seen those photos.

"You wanted to know how dangerous he was." She said and he just nodded. Oliver grabbed her shoulder squeezing lightly; she could see his thumb running over his fingers, his nervous twitch. She put her hand out to take the files.

"Felicity you don't have to look." Quentin said slowly.

"Everything in that file, I lived through; I don't need to read it."

"Then why do you want to see it."

"Because Oliver and Diggle may find it useful, I presume these are copies and all the secure police stuff removed?"

"Of course." He nodded, slowly she handed the files to Oliver. He released her shoulder, but he didn't open them merely held it.

"Well then Captain, thank you for coming to see me." She stuck her hand out and he shook it as he rose to his feet.

"No problem, I'll keep you informed Miss Smoak and I really do hope we catch him soon. Goodbye" Quentin looked over at Oliver giving him a nod which he reciprocated, before he slowly made his way to the exit. Once the door closed again Oliver was sitting in the seat Quentin had been in.

"You don't have to look not if you don't want to, just hand it to Dig." Oliver looked up at her.

"Do you want me to?" She shrugged lightly, she didn't want him to look at her with those pitiful eyes but then at least he would understand.

"If it will help you to understand… yes." She said it softly, and then turned back to her computer. She busied herself as he slowly opened the file.

She wasn't really paying attention to her work, as she watched him sliding through the images. The ones with her split lip, the black eye and cut on her cheek; the ones of her bruised ribs, mottled blacks, purples and yellow against her cream skin and the burns on her wrists and ankles from the binds. She stopped typing when she saw that hardened look in his eyes, when she saw him rubbing his thumb over his fingers more frantically. He turned the images over, no longer able to look at them and then he skimmed the file before he gently closed it. His finger and thumb still rubbing together as he took a shaky breath and Felicity leant forward covering his hand with hers stopping his movement.

"I'm sorry." He said it so quietly, and then their eyes met and she saw the pain and anguish swirling round them. The guilt radiating from him and she squeezed his hand.

"It wasn't your fault, I just... It's easier than me explaining every detail." He planted his other hand on top of hers squeezing it lightly.

"I promise we'll catch him, he won't ever do this again. No one will." She swallowed thickly nodding.

"Thank you." She smiled tenderly. Just then her door opened and Tommy came rambling in.

"I am here to-" He stopped instantly noting their joined hands. "I'm sorry, I should have knocked." Oliver slowly pulled his hands away grabbing the file and standing.

"It makes a change for me to not be the one interrupting." Oliver joked slightly and Tommy smiled, chucking a little.

"I just came to see if I could give you a lift home Felicity, maybe talk this big guys bachelor party through?" He teased.

"I mean, yes sure if that's okay with Oliver?" She turned to speak to him. "Then you don't have to give me a lift back."

"That's fine." Oliver said with a smile. "I'll leave you guys to it; I'll give this to Diggle." He held up the file and she nodded. "Night guys."

"Night." The pair replied as he stepped out the room.

"So you ready to leave?" Tommy asked.

"Yep let me just finish this and then we can head out." Tommy nodded with a smile, taking a seat opposite her.

"So the guests are invited?" Felicity asked him as she threw her coat over the sofa.

"Yep and you have the food sorted?"

"Yes of course, it's all ordered."

"And you have your outfit sorted?" He teased.

"Bikini top and hula skirt... it wasn't hard." She remarked getting a glass of water. "Do you have your shorts sorted?"

"Damn right I do." He winked and she rolled her eyes playfully. "So seeing as we have established we have Ollie's bachelor party pretty much sorted, how about we go out and get some food?" Felicity froze.

"I..."

"We can go to that new restaurant." She didn't reply as she felt all her muscles tightening, as her heart beat a little quicker. "Are you okay?" He asked coming to stand beside her in the kitchen.

"I... I haven't been out much." She whispered not looking, instead forcing herself to breath.

"Hey you have me; I can call Diggle and ask him to send a guy there to meet us..." She nodded, still feeling unnerved. "And it's just food Felicity… with me." He smiled softly not touching her.

"I just haven't... I've..."

"I know and it's okay, well seeing as I'm in a suit I think I'm sorted but maybe you want to dress up? Help you relax a little." She nodded heading straight for her bedroom, she could do this. She could go out with Tommy and eat. She could enjoy herself, Cooper wouldn't ruin her life.

Felicity was wearing a pink floor length gown, her hair down, her glasses off. She had just stepped out of Tommy's car, as he came around to meet her. The press as usual were out for Starlings rich and famous. She had been a part of this world for years now, known as the billionaire's poor friend but she wasn't expecting the number of press snapping photos. Their flashes so bright and a constant stream, she felt her chest tightening as they seemed to get closer and Tommys grip on her waist slipped. She was swarmed instantly, and her heart raced, she could make out the odd sound but all she felt was blinding panic.

She gasped unable to move, the flashes never stopping as she felt herself drop to the floor her head spinning and heart beating so fast she thought it might it jump out of her chest. She felt hands grabbing her, various ones all cold and horrible. She pulled away from them all, her vision blacking out completely unable to focus. She slammed her eyes closed, and she suddenly felt a pair of hands on her skin, rough and warm and familiar. She was scooped into their arms, pulled against a warm broad chest. She automatically clutched to his shirt, her head lolling to the side and she felt like she was floating as he moved. The noise of the crowd disappeared as she focused on the breathing of the man holding her. She used the rise and fall of his chest to even out her breathing, her eyes never opening, her grip getting tighter.

"Felicity." He spoke so softly. "Felicity please open your eyes." His grip tightened on her and she slowly opened her eyes. They were inside the restaurant, in what appear to be an office. He ever so gently walked them to the sofa, he tried to ease her down but she clutched at his shirt her heart beating dangerously quick again. His hands came to cover hers, removing them from his shirt holding them as he sat beside her. "Are you okay?" He asked moving his thumbs gently rubbing her hands.

"Oliver..." It came out faintly. "Thank you." He smiled a little. "I..."

"It's the first time you've been out properly." She nodded.

"Where's Tommy?" She asked looking around. "Where are we?"

"We're inside the restaurant, this is the manager's office. Tommy is downstairs with Laurel; they're getting us a booth in the back away from prying eyes."

"Oh." She finally took in his appearance; he was wearing a black suit and white dress shirt, the top buttons open. "I ruined your evening with Laurel." She said looking down and removing her hands from his. She saw the way his hands stayed in that position before he slowly pulled them back.

"You didn't ruin anything; we're all going to have dinner together." Felicity fidgeted, not liking the sounds of that. "Prove to yourself you can stay out, that he doesn't have control over what you do Felicity." She heard the venom in his words then, and she looked up. "I know you're a lot stronger than you think and if tonight proved anything, I've always got your back." She nodded.

"The press, I wasn't expecting it."

"As soon as Laurel and I are around things get a little... wild, plus the rumours." Felicity shook her head; the press had the same rumours of them having an affair, being lovers, since she was teenager.

"I see... And I guess they know about Cooper too." He shrugged.

"It doesn't matter, none of it. All that matters is we go back out, your head held high and you have a lovely meal." She nodded again standing up, her legs shaking, feeling a little cold and then suddenly his suit jacket was placed over her shoulders.

"Oliver no..." She tried to shrug it off and his hands landed on her shoulders.

"No your system just went through a lot, you'll warm up quicker." He directed her to the door before he let go and stepped in front of her. "Ready?"

"Yes." She whispered. He opened the door and they both stepped out, no one even looked in their direction all carrying on as normal. A passing waiter led them to a private booth where Laurel and Tommy were sat opposite each other having a hushed conversation.

Tommy stopped as soon as he saw her, rising to his feet to engulf her in a hug. She squeezed back as he whispered to her.

"I'm so sorry; I should have got the press to back off. I should have known what to do rather than-" She pulled back looking him in the eyes.

"It's okay, I'm okay." She saw the slight apprehension in his face and she tried her best to give him a reassuring smile. "I promise." He let her slide into the booth first sitting beside Laurel as Oliver slide next to her and Tommy beside Felicity.

"Are you cold?" Laurel asked with a frown. Felicity looked down forgetting about Oliver's jacket.

"Oh yes sorry, I was... Here." She slipped it off her shoulders handing it back to Oliver. He gave her a look and Laurel stared at him, before he took it and pulled it on.

"I bet you're dying of embarrassment right now Felicity?"

"Laurel." Oliver said.

"What? She has a right to know she's all over the gossip magazines." Felicity sighed pulling out her phone; there were various photos of her on the floor, claiming she was drunk, in Oliver's arms. She sighed rubbing her temple.

"Are you okay?" Oliver asked.

"Fine." Felicity mumbled as she tampered with her phone, hacking all the sites and crashing them till she could completely remove them. Laurel stared at her like she was completely impolite at doing that, but she managed to converse with the two guys. Felicity however sat there silently, feeling completely and utterly embarrassed.

It was a couple of hours later; they were perusing the dessert menu. Felicity had been unusually quiet even she knew that, but she had joined in on the talk of The Glades Transformation project, even Laurel seeming completely enthusiastic about it sliding closer to Oliver. Tommy took Felicity's hand in his as it rested under the table, stopping her from jabbing her nails into her palm. Laurel noticed and immediately she moved further into Olivers side.

"You smell like vanilla, sweetie, I love vanilla." She leant up whispering into his ear not so subtly.

"That would be Felicity." He said sitting a little straighter, effectively moving away from Laurel, her hand landed on his thigh and she squeezed. "Laurel we're in company." He tried to say it hushed but it didn't work. He pushed her hand gently further down his thigh to his knee and they watched as Laurel pulled away from him, her eyes landing on Tommy, then to Felicity. She shuffled uncomfortably under her gaze.

"I think I'm going to call it a night." Felicity said instantly getting to her feet.

"You haven't even had dessert yet." Laurel said staring at Tommy who was up on his feet too.

"You can stay, I'll just catch a cab."

"No." Oliver replied a little too sharply and all 3 looked at him. "Digs got the car outside he can take you home, then he can come back for us."

"No I'll take her man." Tommy insisted.

"No okay." Felicity stepped passed them both. "I'm not some toy; I'll make my own way. Thank you for the lovely meal Tommy, and the company Laurel and Oliver." She turned around walking off without another word. She stopped short of the doors, seeing the press waiting outside.

"Can I help you Felicity?" She jumped a little not noticing Diggle stood there.

"I... I want to go home."

"Want me to take you?"

"No I'll get a cab, well then I insist I shall call one for you and when it arrives I'll escort you out." She nodded.

"Thank you Dig." She said softly and he smiled at her before pulling his phone out.

When Felicity finally for home, she pulled the dress off herself, kicked her heels off and dropped into bed with a grunt. Tonight had been terrible, she grabbed her tablet from the bedside cabinet keeping her mind busy once more as she searched and destroyed all photos of her, praying that Oliver bachelor party was better.