Disclaimer: WB/DC own these characters. I'm only borrowing them for a while. I own the original ideas found in this.

AN: Sorry this took longer than usual. My muse apparently was tired after all that burst of energy before Christmas. Not much happening with new ideas either, sigh, so I had to actually work on this chapter. Ha.

Previously:

Diggle came to his rescue. "He thought I'd do better at teaching her, but it's been tough working it in with everything else going on."

Sara shook her head, looked down at her Chinese container and grabbed a particular piece of shrimp. She popped it into her mouth, looked at Oliver and Diggle, and said, "Yeah, I bet."

Roy had seemingly not caught on to the underlying tension going on, finished his food, and looked around. "Boy, sometimes another bad side of the mirakuru is the appetite. Anyone else still hungry?"

Everyone groaned, but Felicity was happy that once again Roy had provided some comic relief, even if it was unintended.

Everyone else finished their supper while Roy went scavenging for candy bars in Felicity's desk drawer, with her permission of course. Felicity looked up and caught Oliver looking at her with an expression on his face she couldn't read.

"What's wrong, Oliver?"

He shook his head, as if he hadn't realized he had been staring at her. "Um, I was just thinking. I owe you an apology for not following Dig's advice and teaching you self-defense tactics. I…"

"It's okay," Felicity quickly interrupted. "I suppose you thought I wouldn't be able to handle it, or do it, because I'm so clumsy, all the time. Constantly. And with my word babble as well, I suppose why would I be sent out in the field anyway, I suppose…."

She stopped as Oliver placed a hand on each of her upper arms and looked down at her. Feeling drawn into those blue depths again, Felicity stopped talking as she lost her train of thought.

"No, that isn't it. It's…it's because I care for you too much to risk you getting hurt. So, I wanted to keep you as far away from getting hurt as possible. I never thought you couldn't learn fighting techniques."

"Well, even I admit I've never been very athletic, and I…"

"Felicity, that's beside the point. Everyone should learn at least simple self-defense techniques, to keep them safe. We'll talk more about this later. I…I just wanted to let you know I'm sorry and why I hadn't done it before."

Felicity nodded, and gave him a small smile which was interrupted with a yawn. Oliver smiled in return and turned to catch Dig's eye. "It looks like it's getting late. We probably should all head home and get some rest. We'll start fresh tomorrow trying to come up with ways to track Slade down once again."

Dig turned to Felicity. "We all were talking, while you were napping, how we should all stay at Oliver's for the next few days, at least. Since it looks like Slade is going to continue coming after all of us, we should be better protected."

Felicity looked at Oliver, who was shuffling his feet. "Well, normally of course I would argue with you. However, being kidnapped by the dude for the second time in as many weeks has gotten me more than a little spooked. And tired of being afraid. So, yeah, I agree. Let's go now, if you don't mind, for I am so tired. I might just fall asleep on my feet."

Everyone laughed, and they picked up their belongings to leave. Oliver took a look around the lair, and told himself there was always tomorrow to think up a better plan to get Slade.

~~FS~~OQ~~FS~~

Upon arriving at the mansion, the first thing Oliver did was round up Thea to enlist her help. Promising he would explain "everything" later, he asked her to assist in finding rooms for everyone. Oliver knew it took every ounce of will power his sister possessed not to ask more question, but for once she firmly pressed her lips together, nodded, then turned to the group of arrivals.

Oliver, on his part, pulled his mother aside into the small room which had served as her office in the past. Looking down her nose at her son, Moira said, "I assume you have a very good reason for having the size of slumber party you haven't had since you were ten?"

Oliver scratched his left temple, wondering where he was to begin. How much to tell her? Would she believe him if he told her everything? Would she believe him if he didn't?

"Well?" his mother's cultured tones interrupted his thoughts.

"I know you may have questions I can't answer at the moment, but I need you to stay away from Slade Wilson."

"Slade Wilson? All I know was you were very rude to him the night you met him, but…"

"That wasn't the night I met him."

"What?"

"He and I met while I was on the island."

Moira sat back in her chair, bestowing a searching look upon her son. "You said you were alone on the island."

"I lied."

"Why?"

"Because at the time I couldn't bear the multitude of questions it would've brought up. Many of which I couldn't answer, for everyone's safety."

"That is a rather vague answer, Oliver."

"Eventually you will know all, just not right now. Just know that Slade and I started out as friends who ended up as enemies because he believes I caused the death of the woman he loved."

"Woman? Death? Oliver…."

"See, this is why I never brought up anything about my years away. There is a lot I cannot discuss at the moment. Just know, Slade is out for revenge against me and all I love. He already has attacked Felicity, Laurel and Mr. Lance. I don't want anything to happen to you or Thea."

"Oliver! What types of things…."

"I don't know. Return his contribution, cut off all ties with him. Proceed with the mayoral campaign. But be careful. Diggle will help me increase security around you and Thea."

"And your friends are here…."

Oliver cleared his throat and combed his hand through his hair. "He almost killed me and Felicity today. So, I feel more comfortable having my friends here so we can all be safe. At least for tonight. Tomorrow we'll examine other options, but tonight, we're just too tired. I am too tired to think, so…that's why they're here."

Moira stood up, taking up the role as perfect hostess as if it was a coat she slipped on. "I understand, Oliver. Thank you for telling me. I trust you will be able to fill in the rest of the details at a later time?"

"Yes, Mother."

"I'll go check on Thea, then, and make sure the arrangements she made are acceptable. Who all are here, then?"

"Diggle, Sara, Felicity and Roy."

"Roy? Thea's Roy? I don't know…."

"I took care of it, Mom. I warned him to behave while staying here."

Moira nodded, then left the room. Oliver leaned over his knees, resting his elbows on his upper legs and placed his head into his hands. Blowing out a cleansing breath, he told himself the conversation went better than he had thought it would. However, knowing his mother, he knew he could expect a more in-depth grilling from her sometime in the near future. Hopefully, such a conversation would take place after this was all over, but he wouldn't bet on it.

After he verified that everyone was settled into various room, and had checked out the security arrangements with Diggle's help, Oliver sank into his bed. He was so very tired, but he had no doubt the nightmares would visit soon after he fell asleep. Like they did most every night. They hadn't been nearly so bad the first year back from the island, but since he had learned what Slade had done to Felicity, the nightmares had increased.

Knowing he needed rest, Oliver began a meditation he had learned in Hong Kong. Soon he had fallen asleep. Perhaps because of being abnormally tired, he slept most of the night. However, after he had one of the worst nightmares ever, he sat straight up in bed, barely controlling the inner turmoil he was still feeling. Attempting to slow down his erratic breathing, he wiped the sweat from his forehead with his forearm.

Leaning across the bed, he grabbed his wristwatch to see it was 4 am. Knowing he wasn't going to fall back asleep, he got up and did a double round of calisthenics. Even though it was still early, he decided to go for a long jog before he woke up anyone else.

By the time he had returned and showered, everyone else was in the dining room eating breakfast. Since it was Sunday, Oliver told everyone else to stay at the mansion and rest. He, however, was heading to the Lair for some exercise. Diggle objected at first, thinking he needed someone to watch his back. However, Oliver pulled him over and asked him to stay to keep an eye on his family and Felicity. "I'll be all right, but I worry about them. You understand, don't you, Dig?"

Dig nodded. "Just for today."

Traffic was light in the city for the day, and so it was a quiet ride on the bike. Oliver was thankful for the respite, so he could think of something other than revenge, fighting, and hatred.

He had been there an hour, punching the dummy when a familiar voice floated down to him.

"Oliver, Oliver! Are you down there? Can I come down?"

Oliver rushed up the stairs to meet Laurel halfway. "Um, hi Laurel. What are you doing here?" He was surprised she had memorized the code and gotten down here on her own. He was also disappointed in himself for not hearing the keypad going off. Not good, Queen. You need to be always vigilant.

"Well, I haven't heard from you. So…I decided to come see you." She walked down the rest of the stairway, with Oliver following her.

"Um, well, things have been pretty crazy here…."

"I thought we were going to talk over how I could help you out around here."

Oliver pinched the bridge of his nose. He surely didn't need Laurel complicating things right now, not with Slade threatening everyone in his life. Especially Felicity.

Oliver grabbed his towel and wiped the sweat from his face and wiped his hands dry before he threw it on the table. He gently took Laurel's upper arm and guided her to one of the office chairs. After sitting down next to her, he said, "It was kind of an awkward time to discuss such a thing, Laurel. That's why I couldn't be more specific as to when we'd talk about this."

"What? You mean, you really don't want my help?" Looking around, she said, "I can see so much I can help you with, Ollie."

"This isn't a game, Laurel. Especially now, with Slade gunning for everyone I care about. I'd think, with your close call the other night, you'd run in the opposite direction. Away from me and all of this."

Laurel shuffled in her chair, a small pout on her face. "Well, I was scared, but it…it was kind of exciting too. After the fact. And after I dealt with the anger you didn't trust me before this with your secret."

"Trusting you has nothing to do with this whatsoever. It's just…I care about you too much to involve you in this. Carrying the burden of keeping my secret? I didn't want that for you. Especially with your father. I didn't want you to have to hide a secret from him, or to lie for me."

Laurel considered what he said, then nodded. "Yeah, I guess. I did consider all of that, after I cooled down." Tying to implement humor, she added, "And besides, now that my father knows, it's one less thing to worry about, at least, isn't it?"

Oliver prevented doing an eye roll by closing his eyes briefly. Opening them again, he said, "Laurel, I do want to think seriously about your offer to help. I really do. But…not now. Not until we catch Slade."

"I could help you catch him. I want to make him suffer for what he has been doing to all of you." Taking his hand in hers, she said, "I heard about the company. Is that also related to Slade?"

Surprised by her awareness, Oliver nodded. "Yeah, how did you guess?"

"Well, from what you said about Slade, it led me to wonder if he has wider ideas for revenge against you. So…Isabel is in cahoots with him?"

Oliver nodded.

"I guess it explains why you weren't able to charm her into liking you then?" Laurel teased. Oliver rolled his eyes, and she said, "You know, you used to be able to sweep any woman you wanted off her feet."

"Yeah, being stuck on a deserted island kinda put that skill out of practice."

Laurel raised an eyebrow at him. "Somehow I haven't seen it existing any less since you've been back." Oliver wondered what was behind such a statement, but chose not to respond.

Reaching for his hand, Laurel lightly held it in between her own hands. She let out a sigh, and said, "I want to apologize for my behavior over the past year. I…."

"You don't have to, Laurel. It's perfectly understandable, given what I did. I'm simply happy you've forgiven me now."

"Yeah, that's just it, Ollie. I have forgiven you. And…I know we had decided not to be a couple, but I…I've changed my mind. Especially with this new info I know about you. You suddenly make a whole lot more sense now. And I see things much more clearly." Clearing her throat, she added, "I see you much more clearly."

Oliver looked deeply into her eyes. "I don't want to hurt you Laurel. I will always love you. You've always been a large part of my life. But I'm no longer in love with you."

"But when you returned from the island, you said…."

"I know. And…that last night together was magical. But…it isn't us. Not anymore. You deserve so much better than me."

"But Felicity doesn't?" Laurel didn't hide the bitterness she was apparently feeling.

Slightly taken aback by her guess of who now had his heart, Oliver tried to hold onto her hand as Laurel roughly pulled away from him. "I can't explain it, Laurel. Actually, she deserves so much better than me as well. But…you and I, Laurel, both of us have changed too much to be together anymore. Like I say, I'll always love you, and will always need you as a friend, but…you're right. I am in love with Felicity. I have been, for some time now."

Laurel reached out and cupped Oliver's cheek. "Part of me wants to slap you, but part of me understands. I've seen how you act around her. And…as much as I hate to admit it, you never looked at me in quite the same way as you look at her."

"I'm sorry, Laurel."

Laurel stood up and picked up her purse. "I am too." Straightening her shoulders, she said, "Perhaps you're right. Maybe we can work out something for me to help you with…at a later date. I…maybe I do need some time to digest all of this after all."

Oliver looked Laurel in the eye, almost as if asking for permission, and leaned forward to kiss her on the forehead. "I'll call you. I will. And…if there is something you can help us, Arrow-wise, with Slade…I will ask. If that's all right."

Laurel nodded, her eyes suddenly bright. She turned quickly and rushed back up the stairs and out of the door. Oliver combed his fingers through his hair and resumed to beating the dummy a few more rounds.

AN: Even though this was more of a filler chapter than an action one. I hope you enjoyed it anyway, especially Oliver and his mother interacting, and tune it to the next chapter. And we will again return to see how Felicity is dealing with all of this.