A/N: Thank you to all who were so sweet about my tiredness… and the interest in my penis. If you didn't catch my little penis gag in the last installment, well, you're going to find that a pretty confusing statement. But then, if you've read any of my A/N's to date, I feel like you're in familiar territory. I'm still tired, but pushing on. Stiff upper lip and all. I'm only working half of Easter, so that's something.

A Hank and Fernando Del Vecchio update. They have returned from their holiday in the South of Frank. Fernando Del Vecchio has a nice tan, which on a llama, is kind of weird. However, he is out weirded by Hank, because, you know, it's Hank. As it turns out, my brain monkey has been doing a little manscaping on his holidays. Personally, I'm not a fan of the Brazilian on people… turns out it's even more unsettling on a monkey. It keeps drawing the eye, and trust me, Hank's genitals are not something you want to have your eye drawn to. At least not while he still has that rash… and all that oozing. In my personal opinion (which is worth exactly nothing), I think pubic topiary should be done with a certain amount of prudence, rather than an 'Agent Orange, level the forest to the ground' kinda mindset.

You probably didn't need to know my feelings on the above, but now you do, and you're stuck with it in your head. Sorry about that.

So, the story. Seems everyone was a big fan of flirty Olicity in the executive bathroom. I swear, I can see why the show is holding off on that particular pay off, because writing that stuff is just downright addictive! Sexy Olicity fluff is just so dang easy to write. What a shame that… but wait, I've almost said too much. I shall stop talking now, and just let you read and find out the horrors waiting for you on your own. In the meantime, here is this chapter… thanks for reading as always, see you at the end for a quick debrief… and maybe we'll talk about the chapter after that. ;)

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

Oliver glanced at his watch, wondering where Felicity was. She was normally there before them.

"The bio-suit is getting its first try out in the field tonight, isn't it?" asked Bunny.

Oliver pulled his attention from Felicity's absenteeism and addressed the older man. "That's the plan." He glanced at his watch again. "Once Felicity gets here."

"I really want to have a close look at that thing," said Bunny absently. "Why don't you go and put it on now, monkey?"

"Can't you look at it without me being in it?" asked Oliver as he exchanged a mildly exasperated look at the newly arrived Diggle.

Bunny rolled his eyes. "And where is the fun in that, darling? Of course you have to be in it."

Oliver shook his head at Bunny's relentless pursuit of well, all of them really.

Diggle shrugged out of his coat. "Who won the big mini-golf rematch last night?"

Oliver grinned. "I did."

"Really?" asked Diggle in surprise. "I would have put my money on Felicity."

Oliver shrugged. "I guess I just wanted it more." He couldn't help the please smile on his face. "And you know what else happened last night… or rather, didn't happen?"

"That smirk is making me afraid to guess," said Diggle.

"Felicity invited me to stay the night, but I didn't," said Oliver proudly. It had a taken a Herculean level of restraint to do such a thing, but Oliver had managed it, just.

Bunny looked at Diggle in concern. "My monkey seems pleased with himself about that fact. Why is that?"

"Because it proves that I don't always have to rely on sex to woo a woman," said Oliver triumphantly. "I have more in my go to repertoire than that."

Bunny and Diggle exchanged looks again.

"Shall I take this one or you?" asked Bunny unevenly.

"I got this," said Diggle. He crossed his arms and widened his stance. "So, to make sure I've got this clear in my head, the woman you're madly in love with and who is madly in love with you, finally asks you to stay the night… and you walk away. Have I got that right?"

Oliver frowned, not appreciating how Diggle made that sound. "Yes, because we're taking things slowly… and sex isn't my go to move."

Diggle shook his head at him. "Don't take this the wrong way, Oliver, but you seemed a lot smarter when we first met."

"Really, there is a right way to take that?" snapped Oliver in annoyance. He didn't understand why the two men were reacting the way they were about this. "And you're the one who's been going on and on about taking things slowly with Felicity. I did exactly what you keep telling me to do, I went slowly."

"That was while Felicity was finding her feet in this relationship," said Diggle in exasperation. "If she invited you to stay the night, clearly she feels comfortable taking things to the next level."

Oliver scowled. "That isn't how it was."

"Why not?"

"Because if it was, that means I've damn near killed myself for no good reason," said Oliver hotly. "There are parts of me that might never recover and it's not going to be for nothing." Particularly after the post-lunch tease he'd been caught up in with Felicity. He really hadn't meant to kiss her, but then she'd walked that walk and Oliver hadn't been able to control himself. That speech about wanting their first time to be special had been just as much for him as for Felicity. Oliver had to remind himself in that moment that the last thing he wanted was for the memory of their first time to be in his executive bathroom. Felicity deserved better than that, even if things did start to drop off his body… things he was probably going to need later.

"Well, I think it's romantic," piped up Bunny. "Good for you, honey, keeping romance alive."

"Making love to the woman you're in love with is arguably a romantic thing," observed Diggle wryly.

"Are you being serious with this?" asked Oliver in frustration. "All I've gotten from you is go slow, your version of slow isn't everyone else's version of slow, don't overwhelm Felicity. And I've done that all that."

Diggle arched an eyebrow.

"Mostly," backtracked Oliver. "I've done my version of it."

"Engagement ring notwithstanding," noted Bunny idly.

Oliver looked at him and then sent an accusatory look towards Diggle. "You told him! How could you tell someone about my private business?"

"I didn't tell anyone," said Diggle calmly.

Oliver looked back at Bunny.

Bunny clutched his chest dramatically. "How dare you accuse me of going through the pockets of your coat when you were in the other room. I'm deeply offended by even the notion that I'd be capable of such an invasion of your privacy!" He paused. "Oh wait, I'm meant to wait until you accuse me of that before denying it, aren't I?" Bunny patted Oliver's arm. "Go for it, honey."

Oliver glared at him. "Bunny, don't go through my stuff," he bit out in irritation.

Bunny gave an identical outraged gasp. "I'm deeply offended by even the notion—"

Diggle shook his head. "Give it up, Bunny, the horse has bolted."

Bunny pouted. "Fine, I went through your jacket." He gave a broad smile. "And can I say, darling, you have exquisite taste in jewelry. I love that in a man. My poppet will be overcome when she sees that rock, you know, once she regains her vision from being dazzled by all those carats. What is the main stone – one carat?"

"Yes."

"Very nice," said Bunny approvingly. "Any bigger, and it'd swamp poppet's delicate hand, any smaller and it's not really worth it."

"Felicity isn't about money and prestige," said Oliver quickly.

"Of course not, darling, but it is rather nice to be able to offer her those things by way of formalizing your affection for her."

Oliver wasn't so much worried about that. "Do… ah… do you think she'll like it?"

"Darling, I'd marry you if you flashed this ring in front of me." Bunny looked at him expectantly.

Oliver gave a small frown. "I'm not going to ask you to marry me, Bunny," he said hesitantly. "That is something that is never going to happen."

Bunny shrugged. "Stranger things have happened. Never say never, that's my motto."

Oliver rolled his eyes. "You're insane."

Diggle gave a little snort. "Says the guy who turned down taking his relationship with the woman he's been obsessing over relentlessly for months to the next level."

"We agreed it was romantic," snapped Oliver. "Besides, it's only two more dates until we reach our twenty quota."

"So, this whole thing is more or less a token act on your behalf," said Diggle wryly.

"No," said Oliver defensively, "it's symbolic."

"It feels like to me you didn't read the situation properly."

"Bunny thinks it was romantic," said Oliver sharply.

"You mean the guy you just called insane?" deadpanned Diggle.

"I meant that affectionately," said Oliver unevenly. He really hadn't been expecting to defend what happened last night as he'd felt like he'd done the right thing, but now Diggle was making him second guess that decision. Did he really walk away from a Felicity who was finally ready to consummate their relationship? Could he have been that obtuse? Oliver really didn't want to think so, but the reality was that around Felicity, a great deal of his higher functions seemed to shut down.

Bunny patted his arm. "And that's how I took it, darling."

Oliver suddenly couldn't stop thinking about last night, replaying everything in his head. He thought he'd been noble leaving last night, but had he just been an idiot? Could he have woken up in Felicity's bed this morning, her warm, naked body wrapped around his, the intoxicating smell of her in his nostrils, making him grow drunker on her with every breath? Oliver felt like screaming out his frustration at the top of his lungs at even the thought of missing such an opportunity.

"Monkey, sweetie, you're getting all puffy again," said Bunny, looking him over in concern. "I don't often say this to gorgeous men, but you should definitely unclench something on your body. I don't want you to explode."

"You know, I was feeling good tonight," said Oliver, sending an accusatory look at Diggle. "Thanks for ruining that, Digg."

Diggle arched an eyebrow. "In what way am I accountable for you being an idiot when it comes to Felicity?"

"I'm not an idiot when it comes to Felicity," said Oliver hotly.

Diggle just stood there, impassively returning his heated look.

Oliver grimaced. "Okay, fine, I'm an idiot when it comes to Felicity. Happy now?"

"Why would you being an idiot make me happy?" asked Diggle calmly.

Oliver pressed his lips together into a tight line. "I didn't misread last night's situation." He had to believe that, because if he didn't… Oliver couldn't actually complete that thought without losing his mind.

"Okay."

"Don't humor me," said Oliver sharply.

"Okay."

"You're still doing it," he ground out.

"You're being overly sensitive."

"That's because you keep saying I'm doing everything wrong with Felicity, no matter what I do or don't do," said Oliver in frustration.

"First of all, that's not what I'm doing, and second of all, does it really matter what I think?"

Oliver wanted to say no to that question but it wouldn't have been the truth. "Yes, it matters," he said tightly.

Diggle half-frowned. "Why?"

"Because you're like a brother to me and it'd be nice to know you don't think I'm a complete idiot," said Oliver in frustration.

Diggle smiled. "I don't think you're a complete idiot, Oliver," he said affectionately.

"So, what, just a partial one then?" asked Oliver moodily.

"We're all idiots sometimes, but what's important is what we choose to be idiotic over," said Diggle quietly. "And if you'd like my opinion as your honorary big brother, it's that I can't help but be completely impressed that you've chosen to be a moron over Felicity." His smile widened. "That was absolutely the right choice and I'm very glad you've finally gotten your head out of your ass long enough to make it."

Oliver smiled at both Diggle's sentiment and his gentle dig at him. It was exactly what a big brother would say and Oliver immediately felt some of the tension leave his body as the two of them shared a warm moment.

"All I want is for you and Felicity to be happy, as individuals and as a couple," said Diggle simply. "And you are, aren't you?"

"Yes," said Oliver huskily. Just thinking about Felicity brought a huge smile to his face.

"Then be happy," said Diggle easily. "It doesn't really matter what you are doing or not doing, as long as you're making each other happy. That's all the people who care about you both want."

Bunny put his hands to his chest. "Oh, the two of you are having a moment." He bit his bottom lip and looked suddenly emotional. "Bromances are such a beautiful thing."

Oliver and Diggle both turned to look at him, exasperated looks on their faces.

"Well, they are," protested Bunny. "This feels like a moment for a group hug." He didn't give either of them a chance to disagree, simply throwing his arms around both of them at the same time and drawing them into a big hug.

Oliver rolled his eyes at Diggle as the other man just shook his head at Bunny's enthusiastic embrace.

"How long are these things meant to last?" asked Oliver in exasperation as Bunny continued to cling to them both.

"Until it feels like the right time to step away," said Bunny happily, head on Oliver's shoulder.

"I think that was a couple of minutes ago for me," said Diggle dryly.

"Hush, brown bear," Bunny instructed him, eyes closed and a dreamy expression on his face. "Give yourself over to the man love."

"Bunny—" said Oliver.

"Not now, monkey," said Bunny firmly. "We're all bonding. It's a beautiful moment."

"Could this beautiful moment involve less of you touching my ass?" requested Oliver.

"No," sighed Bunny happily.

Oliver stood there, engulfed in a Bunny hug and tried to pinpoint when exactly his life had taken this particular turn. Seeing as the older man wasn't going to be letting either of them go anytime soon, Oliver could only hope Felicity wasn't far away so she could save them both from a loved up Bunny. Sometimes even heroes needed rescuing.

#

Felicity gnawed on her thumb nail, her expression screwed up into one of intense contrition. "Again, I'm just so sorry about this," she said unevenly.

Quentin Lance gave a bit of a grunt as he squirted more water from her water bottle into his red and puffy eyes. "It's fine," he muttered, blinking out water and fresh tears.

"It's just that you have a very scary silhouette," said Felicity unhappily. "I may have overreacted."

Quentin blinked rapidly and squinted over at her. "You think? You maced me in the face."

"It wasn't mace," said Felicity quickly. "It was Shalimar." She continued on hastily when Quentin continued to look at her blankly. "By Guerlain – it's a perfume."

"In the wrong hands it's a deadly weapon," corrected Quentin a little grumpily. "Are you sure that stuff isn't mace? It stings like a bitch."

"At nearly sixty dollars a bottle, it had better not be." Felicity rifled through her bag and drew out a wad of tissues. "Here."

Quentin took the tissues and wiped away the perfumed flavored tears from his face. "Thanks."

"Again, just so incredibly sorry." Felicity wrinkled her nose. "I was just on edge because this isn't a great place to breakdown."

"None of this part of town is." Quentin looked at her, eyes still bleary. "What are you doing here, anyways?"

Felicity hesitated.

"Never mind, our mutual friend, right?"

"In a roundabout way."

Quentin shook his head at her. "You have not chosen a safe lifestyle, Ms. Smoak."

"I know, but it's one I believe in," she said simply. "We're helping a lot of people, people who don't have anyone else."

Quentin gave her a look of resigned admiration. "In that case I guess you're due a little good karma. How about I help you out, seeing as no one else is around?"

Felicity's lips turned up into a grateful smile. "That would be wonderful, if you don't mind."

"I've already lost my ability to see the color red, may as well make it worth the sacrifice," said Quentin laconically. "What's the problem?"

"My car… it doesn't go."

He arched an eyebrow. "You know, I kind of expected more from a woman who I know from personal experience can bring this whole city to its knees with a few taps of a computer keyboard."

Felicity gave a little pout. "Cars aren't in my wheelhouse. I can drive them and I know how to steal one…"

"Probably not information you should volunteer to an active member of the police force," said Quentin dryly.

"I've only done that in the pursuit of a greater good."

"Yeah, open with that if you ever get caught. I'm sure that'll go down a treat."

"The plan is never to get caught."

"It always is." Quentin inclined his head. "Try and turn over the engine. Let me see what we're dealing with here."

Felicity quickly climbed back into her car and tried the ignition. "I had it serviced a couple of weeks ago, so I don't know what could be wrong with it." There was the whirr of the battery trying to start the car, but nothing else.

Quentin frowned a little. "Not your battery then." He sent her a vaguely warning look. "I'm coming over to look at your dash. Don't Shalimar me in the face."

Felicity rolled her eyes at him. "Okay, I did it once. Don't act like every time you see me, I leap out and assault you with expensive perfume."

"Once is more than enough." Quentin walked over and then leaned through her window. He took one look at her dash and then back at Felicity. "You're out of gas."

"No, no I'm not," said Felicity in horror and then followed Quentin's pointed gaze to her dash where the fuel gauge arrow was sitting very firmly on 'E'. She blushed furiously. "Okay, so that's really embarrassing." Felicity looked back at the older man in distress. "You must think I'm an idiot."

"The last thing in the world I know you to be is an idiot, Felicity. I'd pretty much put you in the genius spectrum if I was asked my opinion on the subject." His look became curious. "Possibly a distracted genius at the moment, though."

Felicity fidgeted a little in her seat. "Well, I do have a bit going on in my life right now."

"Let me take a guess and say for once, it's in your personal life."

Felicity felt her cheeks heat even more. He'd seen the photo. Of course he had, the whole world had seen that photo of her and her damn nipples. Why had she wasted all that time on making Oliver a protective bio-suit when she really should have been working on how to create some kind of on demand black hole to disappear into when she made a fool of herself? Clearly her need was greater.

"I'm just basing that supposition on my many years of police work and being able to read people pretty well," deadpanned Quentin. "Not on anything else I definitely wouldn't have seen."

Felicity laid a hand on his arm as he leant against her open window. "Thank you for your lies, they're very sweet."

"I just know the effect dating Oliver Queen has on women," said Quentin knowingly. "Particularly the smart ones."

"Oliver isn't the reason I ran out of gas." Felicity hesitated. That probably wasn't true. She was just so consumed with thoughts of him lately that she'd been beyond distracted.

Quentin didn't look that convinced. "You do seem to have a penchant for choosing dangerous men to align yourself with. Between Oliver Queen and the Arrow, you're not doing yourself many favors."

"Oliver is a good man," protested Felicity swiftly. She made a small face. "I know that you probably aren't the one to sing his praises to…"

"I can see Oliver has changed," said Quentin quietly. "He's not that irresponsible kid who broke both my daughter's hearts and got one damn near killed." His lips pressed into a tight line. "But no matter how much he might change, the reality is, being in his world, he brings a whole lot of baggage with him, and that's no small thing for anyone to have to deal with."

"If it was easy, it wouldn't be worthwhile," said Felicity softly. "Oliver is worth carrying a few bags for."

Quentin searched her face. "I don't know how the guy does it. You, Laurel, Sara, you're all so loyal to him, even if he hasn't always been the same to you."

"It's because we've seen the man Oliver is destined to be," said Felicity without hesitation. "And I think you see it too, otherwise you wouldn't have any time for him at all."

Quentin half scowled. "See, too smart," he grumbled. He straightened up. "I've got some gas in my car. I'll just be a minute."

Felicity pressed the button to open her fuel panel on the side of the car and climbed out, following after Quentin as he walked around to the trunk of his car and retrieved a gas can. "I guess it's a cop thing, always being prepared for anything," offered up Felicity.

"It's a dad thing," Lance corrected her as he undid the petrol cap on her car. "When Sara first started driving, she ran out of gas all the time. Too excited at being allowed to drive to focus on the little details – like putting gas in a car to make it go." He started to empty the contents of his petrol can into Felicity's car. "I just got into the habit of carrying some spare gas around and never got out of it, I guess."

Felicity thought of the incredibly smart and independent woman she knew as Sara today and smiled. "That's hard to image her ever being like that."

"She was the baby of the family, and we all treated her as one," said Quentin quietly. "Family's get used to roles they play in each other's lives. It's why it's not always easy for me to adjust to either of my girls as grown up, independent women."

"Even grown up, independent women still need their dad's sometimes," said Felicity a little wistfully.

Quentin shot her a quick look, but didn't comment. He replaced the fuel cap and tightened it back up. "There, you're good to go."

"Thank you," said Felicity gratefully. "I really appreciate this. If you ever need me to return the favor—"

"I think I'm safe on the running out of gas front." Quentin paused. "Although there is something else you might be able to help me out with."

"Sure, name it."

Quentin hesitated briefly. "In your work with the Arrow, you get to see a lot of the underbelly of this city."

"And then some."

"Well, I'm looking for some information off the street, whispers, that kind of thing."

"About what?"

Quentin's jaw hardened. "You've heard of the Optometrist?"

"Please don't tell me he's come to Starling?" asked Felicity in distress. Quentin just looked back at her steadily. Her shoulders sagged. "Oh great, another homicidal maniac to add to the mix."

"It's either him or a very good copycat."

Felicity pulled a face. "It's hard to know which one of those scenarios to root for."

"Yeah, well, neither are making my life any easier," said Quentin flatly. "We found a body last night, a young guy, he had all the hallmarks of being an Optometrist kill. I knew his father, used to be a bus driver before he retired. His kid took it up on his college breaks, to make some extra money to pay for tuition." He shook his head. "The mother had died last year from leukemia. Taylor was all Brian had left."

Felicity bit her bottom lip. "That's so sad."

"Yeah, well, it wasn't the greatest day on the job for me today when I had to go and ask Brian to come and identify the body." Quentin looked away briefly. "A parent should never have to bury their kid," he muttered. "It ain't right. It's not the natural order of things."

Felicity laid a hand on his arm. "I know," she said softly, "but Sara came home to you in the end." She stopped short of using the word 'safe' in regards to Sara. Her lifestyle would never be that.

Quentin looked back at her. "That won't happen for Brian. This guy butchered Taylor. He's dead and Brian has to find a way to live with that… if he can." He shook his head. "God knows I never did."

Felicity could still see the pain of the loss of Sara in Quentin's face, despite knowing she was still alive now. Grief left its mark, one way or the other. "You want us to help you find this Optometrist, or his copycat?"

Quentin gave a short nod of his head. "Anything you might hear, ask those bad guys the Arrow regularly bags. He doesn't have the limitations we have imposed on us as cops. He might get some answers. This guy isn't going to stop, not until someone stops him, and that's exactly what I plan to do."

"Of course we'll help," said Felicity readily. "Whatever we can do. You know that."

"I appreciate that," said Quentin tightly. It was obvious asking for help wasn't something he was entirely comfortable with.

"I'll let the team know and we'll take it from there. We'll be in contact." Felicity glanced at her watch.

"Somewhere you gotta be?"

"A little bit, yeah."

"Does Oliver know about your nighttime activities?" asked Quentin curiously. "How do you blend your private and personal life? It mustn't be easy."

"It should be easier than it is," mumbled Felicity under her breath, but she knew she only had herself to blame for that.

"Yeah, why's that?"

"Oh, ah, you know, Oliver's not the possessive type. He's happy for me to have my own life." Felicity hastily backtracked, not wanting to give the older man any more food for thought regarding Oliver and the Arrow.

"Funny, he seemed more than a little possessive last time we met," noted Quentin dryly. "He practically attacked me for making direct eye contact with you."

"Oliver wasn't having a great night." Her look became pointed. "And you weren't exactly being friendly at the time."

Quentin had the grace to look a little chagrined. "It wasn't a great night for me either. It just seems like no matter where I turn, the Queen name seems to be linked to everything that is going wrong with this town."

"Okay, I feel like you're overstating that somewhat."

Quentin inclined his head. "Yeah, okay, maybe a bit. But you've got to admit, that family, they get around."

"It's called being a prominent family."

"It's called being a gigantic pain in my ass."

"Oliver is trying to turn things around. He wants the Queen name to mean something more than being synonymous with scandal."

"He's got a long way to go with that."

"Oliver isn't afraid of hard work… or the long game."

Quentin half-smiled. "I guess he isn't." He shook his head at her. "You know he doesn't deserve you, right?"

"I think we'll have to agree to disagree on that one, Detective," said Felicity huskily.

He shook his head at her. "You just be careful tonight, whatever you're doing."

"That's the plan."

"Now if life would only run to plan, everything would be set," said Quentin wryly.

"Sometimes it's good that it doesn't." A small smile touched Felicity's lips. "We get nice surprises."

"And sometimes the complete opposite."

"Not tonight," said Felicity confidently.

"You broke down in a bad neighborhood."

"And you were right there to help me out."

"You maced me in the face."

"I Shalimared you in the face and we ended up having a nice talk because of it," insisted Felicity stubbornly.

Quentin gave an exasperated grunt. "You're determined to make your glass half full tonight, aren't you?"

"Just as long as you're determined to make it half empty, yes," said Felicity roundly. "I've recently been trying out being negative about things… and turns out, I'm not a fan. I'm going back to looking at things in a positive light and having faith everything is going to work out in the end."

Quentin's smile was one of genuine amusement. "You, you were being negative?"

"Overly cautious about a certain aspect of my life," agreed Felicity.

"But not anymore?"

"Nope," said Felicity happily, thinking of Oliver and what the night might have in store for them. "I'm waiting for a good wind so I can throw caution into it."

"The enthusiasm of youth," said Quentin dryly.

Felicity shrugged. "You only live once, you've got to make it count. There are no do overs." She pursed her lips. "Unless you believe in reincarnation, of course. Then there are plenty of do overs… possibly as a camel spider." Felicity gave a little shudder. "Gross… skittering things."

"If you were to come back, I don't see you as a spider," said Quentin.

"Good, it's unnatural to have more than four legs," she said emphatically. "Four is definitely my limit when it comes to legs." Felicity looked at her watch again and gave a little groan. "I'm so late. I really do have to go now."

"Go," said Quentin easily as Felicity hurried around to the driver's side of her car. "And don't do anything I wouldn't do tonight."

Felicity made a face at him. "You may need to set me more realistic goals."

"Be safe."

She grinned. "That one I can do. Thanks again for your help… and sorry, one last time about the…" Felicity mimicked her spraying perfume in his face, "you know."

"You're welcome, and no problem."

Felicity hastily climbed into the car and turned the ignition, the engine turning over first go this time. Okay, she was back on track. She'd had her hiccup, the rest of the evening was going to be smooth sailing. Felicity gave a little nod of her head, reassuring herself of that fact as she pulled away from the curb.

Smooth sailing from here on out… no doubt about it.

A/N: So, my one regret in starting writing Arrow fics before actually watching the show was how I had Lance and Oliver interacting in Love Potion #9. I mean, it fit with S1 Lance/Oliver/Hood, but of course their relationship changed over time. Because these stories are taking so dang long to write, the show keeps changing where they're at. When I wrote this, as an attempt to do a correction to get things more in line with the S2 relationship (because it's convenient for my story), Lance was working with Team Arrow. So, I tried to correct to that, with him still being a little tense about Oliver. Now, of course, Lance is back on hating on the Arrow in S3 – argghh – it's like a lag phase thing keeps happening! Lol Anyways, because my story is just kind of suspended in the ethers where Thea doesn't know about Malcolm, Sarah is still alive and a few other minor details, I'm just going to run with what I've set up here. Because, as it turns out, I really rather enjoy writing for Detective Lance. He's got an awesome voice in my head, particularly as we go along, I'm having fun writing him.

Okay, gotta go and get ready for this latest mission… if Bunny ever lets Digg and Oliver go, of course, which may or may not happen. ;)