Felicity called Oliver's phone, her spirits flagging when it went to voicemail. Again. It had been like this for the past two days. Every time she called, it went straight to voicemail. That usually wouldn't have bothered her. She understood he had a life and all, but instead of calling her back like a normal person, all she got from Oliver was a quick text sent in the middle of the night that he couldn't talk but would call her soon. What did that even mean? He would call her soon. Was it going to be five minutes before their court appearance?

Speaking of their court appearance, it was only days away and while they didn't exactly need to be a united front, she did think they should at least speak before showing up at the courthouse on Tuesday. She explained all of this to Lydia, who told her, "What is there to discuss? You're getting your marriage annulled. That's what you want, right?"

Felicity swallowed her indecision with a gulp of wine, and Lydia said, "Wait, is that not what you want?"

"I don't know," Felicity said. "I guess, I do. But does that mean we'll just go back to not knowing each other? Because, I can't not know him. After everything that happened, we can't just go back to being strangers."

"I don't think that's what would happen," Lydia said.

"Really? Because that's what it feels like. He doesn't want to be my friend, but I don't know if we can be more, so we're left with this weird in-between. Which maybewe could fix if he would just freaking talk to me. But, he won't. All he does is send me a stilted text at 2 in the morning. What is he even doing up at two in the morning?"

"Jealous?" Lydia asked leadingly.

"No," Felicity said shortly, although the thought that he was with someone had crossed her mind.

"He owns a club," Lydia said, putting a placating hand on Felicity's shoulder. "So, it's totally possible that he was up at 2 in the morning for innocent reasons."

"I just want to talk to him. Is that too much to ask for?"

"It's not," Lydia said. "But, I think you need to realize that when your marriage gets annulled, things are going to change." Felicity went to refute this, but Lydia said, "No, listen to me. I know you don't want to hear this, but you guys did not have a regular friendship. Even putting aside how it started, you guys were literally pretending to be in love. And when you take away that part of it, it's not going to be the same. It can't."

Felicity slumped in her chair. "How did my fake marriage somehow become even more complicated?"

"I'm sure he'll call you before Tuesday," Lydia said. "And maybe by then, you'll have your head out of your ass and tell him how you feel."

"Very funny," Felicity said drily.

"I'm just saying, your reaction right now – not helping your case."

Felicity's phone began to ring, and she perked up until she saw that it was only her mother. Lydia smirked and said, "Donna Smoak would be scandalized to know the face you just made at her name on your phone."

Felicity swiped into the call and said, "Hi Mom. Is everything okay?"

"Yes, I have a surprise for you. I'm home early!"

Felicity blanched. "You-you are."

Just after the drunken-wedding, Donna found out that her mother had fallen and broken her hip out in Idaho, where Donna grew up. She flew out there to help her mother out at home. It was only supposed to be a few weeks, but when it became clear her mother needed more help, Donna stayed longer. Felicity initially hadn't told her mother about Oliver, not wanting to add another thing to her plate and figuring it would be old history soon enough. But then, she accidentally mentioned him in a story, and in a moment of panic, she told Donna that Oliver was her boyfriend.

"Yes, and I thought that I'd come over and meet this boy of yours. Are you and Oliver free for dinner?"

Felicity looked over at Lydia, who was watching with interest, and said, "I'd love to see you tonight, but Oliver actually is out of town on business."

Lydia's eyes widened, and she mouth, "OH MY GOD."

"Bummer," Donna said. "Well, that just means I have more time with my girl! How about I come over around seven?"

"Seven sounds good. See you then, Mom."

"Bye sweetie. I can't wait to see you!"

Felicity hung up and took a deep breath before she said, "Frack."

Felicity had a few hours between her brunch with Lydia and dinner, and she thought about how she would not only have to spin a tall tale to her mother that night about her and Oliver, but she also would have to do it having no idea what was actually happening. She was desperate for some sort of clarity, and so she went to the only place she could think of.

"Isn't this a surprise," Tommy said, greeting her when she walked into this room. "I always like surprise visits from blondes. Spread that around, please."

Felicity smirked. "Hello Tommy."

"To what do I owe this pleasure?"

"I was sort of hoping I could talk to you about Oliver?"

Tommy sighed, having an idea of where she was going, and he said, "Look, I know the London stuff is sort of crazy, but I don't think he'll actually do it. He's too American."

Felicity stared at him. "What are you talking about?"

"Wait, what are youtalking about?" Tommy said, a note of panic creeping into his voice.

"I'm talking about how Oliver won't return any of my calls. Well, technically he responded by text, but it was a dumb text in the middle of the night. What about London?"

"He didn't tell you," Tommy said.

"Tell me what?"

Tommy grimaced, and then said, "I really shouldn't be the person telling you this, but the Cromwell people want him to open up clubs in Europe. He'd be stationed out of London and he's there right now."

"He's there right now?" Felicity repeated. Suddenly the 2 a.m. text made more sense. "But, he can't take a job in London. That would mean he wouldn't be here."

"Yeah, that's generally how it works."

Felicity was stunned beyond words, and Tommy asked, "Do you need to sit down? It looks like you need to sit down."

She sat heavily on the edge of Tommy's bed, feeling completely drained of energy. How could all of this have happened and Oliver didn't tell her? Sure, they had gone through a bit of a rough patch, but she was still somebody in his life, and as a somebody, she felt like she had the right to know.

"It's a lot to process," Tommy said slowly. "But, like I said, I doubt he'll take it. He likes it here."

"But what if he likes it there more?" she asked. "I can't believe he didn't tell me."

"For the record, I told him he should. But, I think it was easier for him this way." He paused, studying Felicity, and then added, "I'm assuming you know why."

She looked up and nodded. "Yeah, I do."

"I know this really isn't my place to say anything, but you could do a lot worse."

"Excuse me?" she said sharply.

"I didn't mean it like that," Tommy said quickly. "I just meant, he really cares about you. I can tell you care about him. Isn't that sort of the point of all this?"

"Of what?"

"Life," he returned simply.

Felicity considered that for a moment and then stood, wiping her hands on her skirt. "I should get going. Thanks for telling me about London."

"Don't be mad at him," Tommy said. "He thought it would be easier this way. Right or wrong."

Felicity nodded. "I'm not mad at him."

And she wasn't. She was hurt. Confused. But not mad, because when she really thought about it, she couldn't blame him. If she were in his position, she'd run at the first chance. Felicity thought about this when she went home and as she straightened up her apartment, making sure to put out some of the various knick knacks Donna had sent her from Idaho. It was very much on her mind when Donna arrived, and moved to the forefront after two glasses of wine.

"So, tell me about this Oliver," Donna said. "I feel like I barely know anything about him."

Without warning, Felicity started crying. It was the sort of gasping, ugly cry that was just as unpleasant to witness as it was to experience, but the more Felicity tried to calm down – and Donna tried to calm her – the worse it got. When she finally settled enough to speak, she said, "Oliver isn't my boyfriend. He's my husband and I've ruined everything."

She told Donna everything. How they met. Brian and Penny's wedding. She told her about Oliver telling her that he was in love with her, and how she didn't know what to do with the admission.

"He's one of the best people I've ever known and now he's going to move to London and I'll never see him again."

"Oh sweetheart, that's not true," Donna said, holding onto her daughter tightly and rubbing circles on her back.

"But, it is true. He's going to move to London. I can feel it. He's going to leave me and then what?"

"You're strong, baby. You'll get through it. But, I also think you're missing something here. Something he doesn't know yet."

Felicity pulled away, looking at Donna through bleary eyes. "What doesn't he know yet?"

"That you love him, silly."

Felicity sniffed, wiping at her eyes. "But, I don't…"

"No," Donna said quickly, wiping smudged eyeliner from below her daughter's eyes. "You may be able to lie to your friends, and even yourself, but you can't lie to your mother. You are in love with this boy."

And in that moment, Felicity finally realized that she was. She was in love with him. Stupidly. Fervently. Irrevocably in love with him. She grabbed her phone immediately to call him, but then she remembered the time difference. And the wine.

Donna tapped on the screen of Felicity's phone and said, "Do you have any pictures of him in there?"

"Yeah, I actually do."

Felicity scrolled through her photos, finding a favorite from the wedding. Lydia had stolen her phone and taken a photo of them while they were dancing. She has her chin tucked into his chest, a soft smile playing on Oliver's mouth.

"Oh, well done, sweetheart," Donna said, examining the photo closer. "I am going to have very attractive grandchildren."

After Donna's visit, Felicity decided not to call Oliver anymore before the court hearing. It was only a few days, and she didn't think she could take the nerves of him not returning her calls. Instead, she would pull him to the side before the hearing. It should be an easy enough conversation. Hey, remember when you said you were in love with me? Well, hey, I'm in love with you, too. What could possibly go wrong?

Felicity saw the error of her reasoning when she was stuck in bumper to bumper traffic on the freeway. There apparently was an accident a mile or so down the road, her phone telling her in no uncertain terms that she would not get to the courthouse on time. She pulled up Oliver's number on her phone, figuring that this was as good a reason as any to break her rule and call him. Except, she had no service.

"You have got to be kidding me," she said.

"Don't worry, I see this all the time," her Uber driver said, gesturing toward the traffic. "It'll clear up."

At that moment, a dark plume of black smoke streamed into the sky ahead of them. The Uber driver didn't offer any positivity after that.

Judge Macon expected many things in his court. Propriety. Respect for the bench. Absolutely no cell phone use. And, most important of all, timeliness. Oliver and his attorney, Jack, stood in front of the bench, Jack nervously checking his watch as he said, "Your Honor, I'm sure Mrs. Queen will be here any minute. There was that accident on the freeway."

"We have waited nearly twenty minutes," Judge Macon said, already shuffling his papers to the next call. "And while I appreciate your faith in your client, I unfortunately do not share it. As I am sure you know, I cannot grant an annulment with only one party present. So, I will see you back here in one week. And, Jack, please tell Mrs. Queen that her presence is not optional."

Judge Macon was about to call the next case when Felicity ran into the courtroom, breathing heavily as she rushed up to the bench, where Jack and Oliver stared at her with surprise, and she told them between large gulping breaths, "I'm sorry. There was…an accident…on the freeway." She smoothed her hair away from her face. "But I'm here now. Hi."

She stole a glance over at Oliver, noticing that he was pointedly not looking at her.

"Alright, let's get on with it then," Judge Macon said. "It is my understanding that you are both here for an annulment."

Oliver nodded tightly, gaze down on the podium in front of him, but he looked up in surprise when Felicity said, "Actually, I was hoping we could do something slightly different."

"Something different?" Judge Macon repeated, surprised, and frankly, amused, by this turn of events. "And what do you propose, Mrs. Queen?"

Felicity kept her gaze directly on the judge as she said, "I was hoping you could renew our vows."

At that, Felicity felt Oliver finally look at her, and despite the fear that lit in her belly - she had pretty much admitted her love for the first time in front of a packed courtroom – she forced herself to look at him. If she hadn't already fallen in love with him, the look on his face then would have done it.

"You would like to renew your vows?"

"Uh huh," Felicity said, unable to look away from Oliver. But then Jack cleared his throat and she turned her attention back to the judge. "Yes, your Honor."

Judge Macon looked to Oliver. "What about you, Mr. Queen? Would you also like to renew your vows?"

Felicity held her breath until he said, "Yes."

"Well, I have to say, this job is never boring," Judge Macon said, leaning forward. "Usually, I wouldn't renew vows during a court call like this, but why not? Jack, should I assume that you will serve as their witness?"

"You assumed correctly, Judge," Jack said with a wide grin.

"Okay. Well, then, I welcome you all here today for the vow renewal of Oliver and Felicity Queen. Who wants to start?"

"I will," Felicity said quickly. She glanced over at Oliver, feeling her heart begin to beat faster. Nerves in high gear, all she found herself able to murmur was a simple, "Hi."

He smiled slightly, eyes bright, and mouthed, "Hi."

She paused again and Judge Macon asked, "Is that all?"

"No, that's not all," she said quickly. "Oliver, when all this started, I never would have thought we would be here. Well, I mean, technically I knew we would end up here." She looked up at Judge Macon. "You ordered it. Literally." She swallowed hard. "What I mean is, I never could have known how much you would mean to me. You are one of the best people I have ever met. And when I'm with you, I'm the best version of myself. I love you. More than I can even really put into words. Which, is probably surprising considering the amount of rambling happening right now – " Oliver grinned " – but just know that I am insanelyin love with you. And, I promise to spend the rest of my life showing you that love."

Judge Macon waited to see if she was finished, and when she nodded, he said, "This is generally when the ring exchange happens. Do we have a ring?"

Felicity's eyes widened. She hadn't thought about that part. Oliver didn't wear a ring when they were pretending to be married, and she left hers on her nightstand. Judge Macon sensed her panic, and said, "We can use a stand-in." He looked around his desk. "Anyone opposed to a rubber-band?"

"That will work," Felicity said quickly.

Felicity took the rubber band from Judge Macon and looped it around Oliver's ring finger. She went to pull her hand away when Oliver took a hold of her hand, his fingers threading with hers as an indication that he had no intention of letting go anytime soon.

"Mr. Queen, you're up," Mr. Macon said.

Oliver squeezed her hand and said, "A few weeks ago, you told me I got more than I bargained for with you. Do you remember that?" Felicity nodded. "You were right. I didn't just get a wife. You are so much more than that, Felicity. You are my best friend. My soulmate. You are everything I could have hoped for in a partner, and more, because even my highest hopes couldn't have dreamed up someone as perfect as you. I love you."

Oliver held her gaze for a moment before taking the rubber band from Judge Macon and looping it around her finger. Felicity looked down at her hand, thinking that it was the most beautiful rubber band ring she had ever seen in her life.

Before them, Judge Macon said, "With the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife…again. Mr. Queen, you may kiss your bride."

Jack stepped out of the way and in one step the pair met, Oliver sliding a hand behind her head and bringing her mouth to his. Considering they were in public, it was a short kiss, but both delighted in the knowledge that there would be many more to come. When Felicity pulled away, she murmured, "I love you so much. And I'm sorry it took me so long to realize that."

"What are you talking about?" he murmured, fingers running along her spine. "You were right on time."

Felicity suddenly remembered that he could be traveling to another continent soon, and said, "Your job. Tommy told me-"

"I turned it down," Oliver said, reaching up and touching her face. "Something told me I had more important things to do here."

She grinned and kissed him once more before pulling away, suddenly acutely aware of Judge Macon and the entire courtroom watching them.

"Congratulations, you two," Judge Macon said. "But now, let's try to stay out of my courtroom?"