Felicity pressed her lips into a thin line. Laurel's rudeness was not surprising. She had always had the feeling since their first meeting that Laurel didn't like her.

Felicity knew it was because of Oliver but she didn't understand it. Laurel had a history with Oliver. Not good history but it was still there. She had years of memories and moments with Oliver that no other woman who had been in his life did.

Though Felicity was glad she didn't share the same history. Oliver and Laurel's relationship was a place where romance, love, and loyalty went to die a slow painful agonizing death.

Still, she knew Laurel held a place in Oliver's heart that no one could touch. Not even her.

Which is why she didn't understand why the other woman was so threatened by her. Oliver loved her and held her on a pedestal above everyone else in life.

She was Gorgeous Laurel for a reason.

"You don't get to come in and demand things." Future Oliver's voice was sharp like a blade. "And you sure as hell don't get to come down here and speak to Felicity in such a way."

"Ollie-"

"Don't, I don't want to hear another word out of your mouth unless it is an apology." his eyes were like burning daggers, his jaw ticking in anger.

"I'm sorry," Laurel said immediately. "I was just surprised is all."

"I don't mean to apologize to me, I mean apologize to Felicity." He steps next to Felicity, his hand coming to wrap around her shoulder.

Laurel looked at them and felt something twist inside her. "You want me to apologize to her?"

"Yes, she deserves your respect. Not for you to treat her like some second or third-class citizen." He ground out, his hand tightening on Felicity's shoulder.

Felicity covered his hand with hers and looked up at him. "It's okay, Oliver."

"No, it's not," he said, his other hand came up to brush a strand of her hair back. "You deserve respect. It does not matter who it is. No one has the right to speak down to you. No one."

Felicity's heart pounded in her chest, she wasn't surprised he spoke up for her not this new Oliver she was getting to know but the intensity in which he spoke had butterflies swirling in her stomach, his arms were practically surrounding her and she liked it. She wanted to stay there in the circle of his arms. If felt right. It felt like she belonged there, the heat coming from his body warming her.

The look in his eyes made her want to surge up and press her lips against his but she held herself back. She couldn't do that.

She took a shaky step back only to feel another presence, her Oliver's hand settled over her other shoulder. "He's right. If you're going to be coming down here I expect you to treat everyone equally," he spoke to Laurel.

Digg came forward. "Why are you here Laurel?"

"I need to speak with Oliver," Laurel looked between the two Oliver's, "but now I just really need to know what is going on. How are there two of you?"

"It's complicated." The future Oliver said. "And it's not something we can get into right now. Tell me what you came for."

"Right," Laurel stepped closer to him. "I know when Sara was here you would partner up with her out there on the streets but she's gone with Nyssa and you're out there alone."

"He's not alone," Felicity interjected.

"Yes but neither Roy nor John are the Canary," Laurel argued.

"Neither are you," Felicity said and went on before Laurel could continue. "And don't diminish John or Roy's place on this team. Every night they go out into the field and have Oliver's back. Each one of them makes sure they make it back home every night. This isn't a one or two-person unit. It's a team."

"And where do you fit in all this?" Laurel didn't like feeling like she was being talked down to but that's what it felt like to her. "Is an IT girl really necessary?"

"Yes, and she is not just an IT girl. She's Felicity" Future Oliver cut in sharply while Digg and Roy bristled at her words. "Before her, John and I were half-assing it at best. We were just two soldiers but with Felicity, we became a team. A family. And that expanded with Roy and Sara. Felicity is the heart of the team. Without her, it doesn't work." His expression darkened. "Trust me, I would know."

"Oliver," Felicity's tone was soft as she looked at him, their gaze saying the words their lips weren't. She slipped her hand in his, squeezing it in comfort.

Oliver automatically lifted her hand to his lips, and then held it to his heart.

Laurel's eyes narrowed. "Am I missing something? Are you two together?"

"A place on this team." Said Roy and John nudged him.

Present Oliver looked at the others, "Can you guys give us a moment with Laurel?"

John and Roy walked back to the back of the lair.

Felicity squeezed future Oliver's hand one more time before joining Roy and John.

Laurel didn't like the way both Oliver's watch her go, one holding his hand out like her putting distance between them was too painful and the other like he wanted to call out to her for her to come back.

What the hell was going on with them and the babble mouth blonde.

"Furthermore, Felicity is more than the heart of the team, she's brilliant and kind and she knows when to call our bullshit and force us to pull our heads out of our asses. Namely me. She is more valuable to the team and me than anyone, especially you could even begin to understand." Future Oliver was vehement in his defense of Felicity.

"Ollie, I-"

"Don't," future Oliver said harshly. "I don't want to hear an apology unless the words mean something to you."

Laurel fell silent for a moment before finally. "I didn't come here to cause problems. I wanted to talk about the Canary."

"Sara is the Canary." Future Oliver's response was abrupt.

"Yes, but she's not here. She left with Nyssa and I know you could use the help."

"I have a team to help me." Future Oliver glared harshly. "A team you are not a part of."

"I can be," Laurel argued.

"Are you out of your damn mind? You are not trained. If you go out there, you will get yourself killed or one of us." Present Oliver said, his tone less harsh than his future self.

"Then train me!" Laurel saw the opening she was looking for.

A growl not unlike the one when he was under the hood, came from low in the back of future Oliver's throat. "I don't want you here in my space."

Laurel flinched back.

"Hey, would you let me talk to her?" Present Oliver said, sending himself a look.

"You are too soft with her." he accused before walking away.

Oliver's eyes narrowed as his future self walked back to Felicity his hand easily finding hers, and hating as they seemed to be sharing food.

Seeing Felicity acting like a couple with him made him envious in a way he has never felt before.

"Laurel it is not that simple," Oliver said gently, forcing himself to focus on her. "This life, being a member of this team-"

"I know that," Laurel interjected. "I know this life is dangerous." she took another step forward. "But saving people, fighting for a cause that is bigger than yourself, working with you," she laid her hand on his arm. "This is what we were meant to do."

Oliver looked at her hand on his arm, watching as it slid down to hold his hand. It felt wrong.

His eyes moved away from Laurel to Felicity, meeting her blues eyes. He flinched at the hurt look in her eyes as she watched him and Laurel.

He jerked his hand back as if he was caught doing something he shouldn't but it was too late. Felicity looked away from him. She turned her whole body away from him.

He watched as his future self, stepped closer to her, tucking her into his side, and glared at him like he wanted to put an arrow through him.

Oliver frowned, wryly. His future self took self-loathing to another level. He was pretty sure his future self hated him to a certain degree.

"Laurel if you're going to get into this it has to be for the right reasons." Oliver turned back to her, forcing himself to look at her and not Felicity.

"What other reasons do I have," Laurel was hurt when he pulled away from her she quickly covered it up, forcing a determined look. "Look, Ollie, I am going to help people just like Sara and you can either help me or I will do it on my own though I would feel better if you were with me."

Oliver breathed out through his nose, fighting annoyance. Laurel never listened until she got her way and at this rate, she was going to get herself killed. "If you're dead set on this regardless of the risk to yourself then you will not go out there until I say you are ready."

"Does that mean you're going to train me?" Laurel smiled cautiously.

"It does," Oliver paused. "On one condition."

"Which is?" Laurel asked, drawing closer to him, biting down on her lip.

"Felicity. I expect you to treat her with the same respect you would me and that goes for the whole team. If you are going to be a part of it you will not insult them and make anyone out to be inferior to you, do you understand?"

Laurel felt her hackles rise at the thought of treating the blonde as if she was on her level. She forced a smile. "Of course, Ollie."

"C'mon," said Oliver. "Felicity brought food. We were going to eat. We'll discuss the new arrangement with the rest of the team."

Laurel fell into step with him, feeling like she won, she flashed everyone a smile. "I look forward to fighting beside you," she said before Oliver could.

"What's happening now?" Roy shot Oliver a glare.

Felicity looked from Oliver and Laurel, brow furrowed.

"You're not serious?" Future Oliver's eyes were hard on his younger self. "She does not belong out there. She doesn't belong down here."

"We are going to work with her. It's better than letting her get herself killed." his younger self argued.

"We don't have time for this!" Future Oliver growled, voice rising. "You know that! We have one goal. One! We don't need distractions if we're going to change my future."

"You're from the future?" Laurel jumped on the information like a dog with a bone.

She however was completely ignored by the two Oliver's as the rest of Team Arrow watch them as if they were watching a ping pong match.

"We will change it but we can't let Laurel get herself killed either." present Oliver argued.

"I will not lose the woman I love because you can't see the bigger picture here and focus on the only goal that matters."

Felicity's eyes widened, not expecting Oliver to proclaim his love in front of everyone.

But of course, Laurel took his words to mean her. Her heart skipped in her chest and a smile pulled at her lips. "You're not going to lose me, Ollie. I am right here. This will-"

"I wasn't talking about you!" Future Oliver growled in annoyance. "You are not the woman I love. Felicity is,"

"What?" Laurel recoiled as if he had hit her.

"I was talking about Felicity." Future Oliver repeated

Laurel's expression twisted. "So you are with Felicity? Really, Ollie? Screwing the EA is beneath you."

"We are not sleeping together," Felicity interjected.

Laurel scoffed, disbelievingly.

"Shut up," future Oliver snapped angrily at the brunette, he stepped closer to Laurel and her eyes flared with desire.

Future Oliver's annoyance flared more, he didn't care for her attraction to him. He needed her to understand, she was not going to have everything go her way.

"Felicity and I have never been together, we have never slept together,"

"Then you can't possibly love her," Laurel said her tone, condescending. "Don't mistake friendship for something more."

"Love isn't just fucking someone," Oliver growled out. "It's connection, it's chemistry, understanding, belief, faith. It's looking into their eyes and knowing that you're safe, it's that feeling of home when you're with them, it's the way your breath catches in your throat, your heart pounding against your ribcage. The way your skin feels heated by a simple touch, it the quiet dreams, it's in the way you look at them. It's all the little things."

Laurel's breath quickened with every word and she felt a pang because he wasn't describing them.

"I am not in love with you, Laurel and the truth is I never was but Felicity," he turned to look at her and found her, smiling at something Digg said. "Felicity is everything." he turned back to Laurel. "I came back to save her life and that is the only thing that I care about. Don't get in my way I can promise you won't like the results."

"Alright," his younger self stepped in front of Laurel. "I think she gets it."

"If she doesn't it's on her." Future Oliver moved, going back to Felicity.

Present Oliver forced himself to turn away. He wasn't sure how much more he could take of seeing the easy way his older self interacted with Felicity.

He wasn't surprised to see Laurel had tears in her eyes, a hurt look on her face. His future self was harsh.

"I don't understand," Laurel shook her head. "He came back here to save Felicity but if that's was possible why didn't he do this for his mom or God, Tommy? How is Felicity's life more important?"

"It's complicated. I can't speak for him, I can only speak for myself and the experience I had and all I can tell you is that I can't imagine getting through the last year without Felicity or the year before." Oliver said. "I can't imagine a future where she is not down here with me."

Laurel shook her head and crossed her arms, her eyes landing on future Oliver and Felicity. The way he couldn't get close enough, the absolute trust in Felicity's eyes, the longing in his.

She couldn't bring herself to understand no matter what Oliver said that out of everyone Oliver had lost Felicity was the one he came back to save. It didn't make sense.

Who the hell was she to him to hold such a place in his life?

Laurel felt her stomach twist with anger and resentment with the realization that Oliver had never once felt about her with such strength and devotion.

What the hell was so special about Felicity?

She was the one who spent years putting up with his acts, the antics he got into with Tommy. The constant cheating, being fodder for the media because he didn't know how to be faithful and now she was just going to be tossed aside for some blonde who came out of nowhere and brainwashed Ollie into thinking friendship was the same as being in love with someone?

No, she would make him see reason.

All she had to do was show him how great they were together and everything would be okay. She just had to suffer through this infatuation he seemed to have for Felicity.

She wouldn't have to wait long. She was certain of it. When it came to women he was quick to grow bored. She was the exception. She has always been the exception. He always came back to her and she had no doubt he would come back to her again.

"Laurel, if you are going to be down here you will need to accept Felicity. Any grudges you might have for her need to be checked at the door." present Oliver stressed.

Laurel dropped her arms and plastered on a fake smile. "I have no grudges. I just didn't realize how important she is to you and u now that I do, I want to get to know her. Any friend of yours Ollie is a friend of mine."

Future Oliver glowered when Laurel joined them with his younger self. He honestly didn't have time for her.

It's the only reason he told her the truth. He didn't have time for games or keeping up with cover stories. He had more important things to deal with. Namely, keeping Felicity alive and ending the life of the bastard to take her from him.

Lunch was finished quietly a tenseness settling around them.

Laurel didn't leave, not even when the boys headed out for patrol as night fell.

Felicity felt uncomfortable in her presence as she ran coms. She didn't like that she was alone with Laurel.

Maybe she shouldn't have convinced Future Oliver to join the rest of the team for patrol.

"How hard is it to do this?" Laurel asked, coming to look over her shoulder, staring at the computer screens.

"It's the hardest thing in the world," Felicity answered.

Laurel snorted. "I doubt sitting behind a computer is very hard."

Felicity couldn't stop her glare if she tried. "I meant the sacrifices Oliver, Roy, and John make going out there every night, living double lives, risking their safety to protect the city."

Laurel couldn't wait to be included in that. She wanted to make that kind of difference.

"And to answer the question. Yes, it's not easy to run coms. it more than watching a computer screen, and it calls for more. It requires knowing your way around computer code and that's something not easily taught to some individuals with less understanding of technology and not as much intellect."

The boys were on the way back from patrol which Felicity couldn't be happier about because she didn't think she was prepared to deal with Laurel. Not tonight.

"It doesn't look that difficult," Laurel insisted. "I think I might want to try my hand at it."

Felicity's soul died on the inside at just the thought of Laurel touching her babies.

Oliver, Roy, and Digg made their way in through the back entrance, neither woman noticing the four men's arrival.

"Oliver might have agreed to train you," Felicity stood from her desk. "But you will not be going anywhere near my computers. I won't have anyone messing with my babies."

"I am good with computers." Laurel insisted.

"Laurel, no one touches Felicity's set up." Future Oliver said drawing their eyes to him and the rest of the team.

"Not even you," Laurel crossed her arms and cocked her head.

"Not even me," present Oliver confirmed. "Can we talk?"

Laurel smiled brilliantly. Felicity tried not to show her hurt as he pulled Laurel to the other side of the room. Like the pair were sharing secret no one else was privileged enough to hear.

Felicity turned back to her computers, setting them to send alerts to her phone. "I am going to call it a night."

She really just needed to get away from the Oliver and Laurel show. It was not good enough for her mental health.

Future Oliver set the bow he wielded down and grabbed Felicity's coat from the back of her chair. "I'll get you home,"

Felicity looked back at future Oliver and her chest warmed. "Do you think you can fit in the passenger seat of my car?"

"I'll manage," he said with a smile that was just for her.

Felicity said goodnight to Roy and John and allowed Oliver to take her by the hand.

Oliver chanced a look back to see his past self in a heated discussion with Laurel and he shook his head. If he had to make himself pull his head out of his ass to protect Felicity's heart he damn well would do it. Facing forward again he laced his fingers with Felicity.

Felicity looked up at him and the smile on her face was enough to tear anyones' walls down. "Let's go home."

His heart skipped in his chest, his stomach flipping.

Home. With Felicity.

Nothing had ever sounded more perfect.