Chemistry

A/N: Sorry for the delay in updating this fic, but here is a new chapter. I hope that it is worth the wait. :-)

Summary: Seven months have passed since the cast party when it was announced that Felicity was going to be a series regular. Season 1 of their TV series wrapped a couple of months ago. Oliver and Felicity join the producers and other cast members in a series of public appearances and interviews to promote Season 2.

Chapter Three

"Just one more day of this craziness," Felicity motivated herself internally, "and I promise you're getting an entire day of pampering at the nearest spa." She couldn't really blurt it out loud, not when her fellow cast members were right there with her, and not while they were recording an interview with TV Line.

She had a smile plastered on her face ever since the taping started, but everything was a blur because of how tired and sleep-deprived she already was. Their very early morning flight from Vancouver had landed in L.A. just a couple of hours ago, and they had gone straight from the airport to the studio to make it to the scheduled taping.

For four weeks now, the producers and cast members had been doing public appearances and interviews to promote season two of When Home Calls the Heart. In all honesty, Felicity found that many of the activities that they'd done to promote the show so far were fun, especially since most of the cast members had already developed friendships outside of their working relationships on the show over the past ten months. She had even missed her co-stars – yes, Oliver included – during their two-month break, and she was glad to be reunited with them to do promotions way before filming for the second season began. But really, she was growing weary and stressed because of their hectic schedule. She had merely forced herself to get up and go at three in the morning by psyching herself up that there was but one day of public appearances left today, and then they were free to go until shooting was supposed to start in two weeks.

Nevertheless, no matter how tired and stressed she'd been in the past few weeks, Felicity still wouldn't exchange the awesome experiences she had been through. She particularly enjoyed the photo shoots, including the one for which she and Oliver were featured on the front pages of both TV Guide and Entertainment Weekly. When she was a teenager, she had often wondered how it felt like to do some modeling, but she had been too busy with schoolwork to even try. Yet when she was given the chance to pose in front of the lights and cameras, everyone was surprised (including herself) that she hardly needed to adjust to it all. She was a natural at modeling. It was as if she had been doing photo shoots all her life. The photographers loved how comfortable she was in the limelight, how game she was to try new things – from the funny to the daring – and how appealing her headshots and other photographs turned out afterwards.

The producers and the network big-shots were more than pleased with the initial press releases for the show, especially those with photos of her and Oliver together, because the producers were banking all the more on their pairing to establish a strong, extensive fan base. Entertainment reporters and bloggers were hot on their heels as well. The articles and blogs written about "Olicity," their official off-screen ship name, focused on their on-screen chemistry, oddly so. Not only were those articles well-written, they were intriguing and juicy enough to make Felicity blush when she finally sat down to read them the other day during the flight from New York to Vancouver.

Oliver Queen and Felicity Smoak were quickly becoming Hollywood's hottest OTP, with a growing fandom not only in the US and Canada, but also overseas where season one of When Home Calls the Heart aired weekly on television and where the show was accessible online. People were even beginning to write fanfiction and create fan art, not just for the show, but also for Olicity. Entertainment press considered their show's steady rise to popularity phenomenal. Felicity herself still could not believe it, but she was grateful that she had made her mother happy and proud nonetheless.

Positive public opinion and the growing support of fans were overwhelming, especially for a newcomer like Felicity, so much so that her good friend and manager, John Diggle, had taken it upon himself to see to it that she does not buckle under Hollywood pressure very early on in her career. He checked up on her daily, giving advises and reassuring her that he was just a phone call away in case she needed someone to talk to or to listen to her rant or vent about anything that was stressing her out.

Felicity also found that radio and television guestings were tricky but were also, more often than not, interesting. Oliver and her other veteran co-stars had been coaching her on how to answer questions thrown at her by talk show hosts and even phone-in questions from fans and critics alike. At first, she'd been either too shy or too excited, the latter having led to episodes of her characteristic babbling, in which case Oliver had always been there to intervene and rescue her from complete embarrassment.

The only time when she had really felt a tad bit awkward was when she, Oliver, and Malcolm were guests at Larry King Live. Mr. King had asked Oliver what Olicity was, and Oliver explained to the older man in simple terms what a "ship" was all about. But then, the seasoned and witty Mr. King had asked a follow-up question. Turning to Felicity for an answer, Mr. King had asked frankly, "Okay, but if I understand this concept correctly, shouldn't your ship name be Stemily then, since your character's name on the show is Stephen and Felicity's character's name is Emily? Why Olicity? Are you a couple in real life?"

She had been caught off guard and she panicked, if her widened eyes, quivering lips, and evasive answer were any indication. She had not wanted to disclose the fact that she and Oliver had been a couple in real life some years ago. So, she had replied with a vigorous shaking of her head, "Me and Oliver? A couple? That, we are definitely not."

"Not yet," Oliver had quickly added, immediately picking up from where she had left off, much to Felicity's surprise. She almost got whiplashed when she turned to him with furrowed brows, wondering why her leading man (and ex-boyfriend) had suddenly gotten the nerve to say something like that on live national TV. However, the cute, shy smile on his face as he looked her way had had her heart melting inside her chest.

She didn't have the heart to get angry over such a petty remark. She decided not to make a big deal out of it, rather, to charge it to experience. She would know better how seasoned television personalities and movie actors handled such unexpected situations. She let herself believe that Oliver did not really mean anything personal by it; he was just doing what he had to do to promote their ship, and thus promote their show. The longer it ran, the better her chances were of having work, which would provide for her and her mother's needs.

And she was right. Because after the live interview with Larry King, Malcolm had complimented Oliver. "Nice save there, Queen," Malcolm had said. "We gotta teach Ms. Smoak here some tools and tricks of the trade." Malcolm walked away chuckling, pleased that the interview had gone better than he expected it would.

The executive producer was all the more pleased when his assistant informed him later on how Oliver's candid remark on Larry King Live was going viral on social media. Fans were reacting on Twitter and Instagram. Video clips and GIFs of that portion of the interview were being posted and reposted online. Felicity thought that maybe, what had been an initially awkward situation had turned out for the better, since it was all just for show, obviously, for all intents and purposes of promoting their upcoming season. She had made herself believe that this was the case.

Ten minutes into their TV Line interview taping today, however, the host began to steer the conversation about the show to a much-talked-about, relevant topic – that of Olicity. It was a good thing that this time, she and her co-stars were more prepared for it. Malcolm had suggested that he and Oliver should be the ones to answer all questions pertaining to it; Felicity and Oliver had readily agreed. After what happened with Larry King, she wasn't so difficult to convince. Everything was going smoothly until the host specifically asked Felicity a question about her character on the show.

"So, Felicity, how does it feel like to be a series regular now? I understand you were initially cast to appear as a very minor character in one scene, but then you were suddenly catapulted to stardom by your iconic portrayal of Dr. Emily Thatcher. What has it been like for you?" the host asked her.

"Oh, I can't even begin to describe it," Felicity replied enthusiastically. "Everything happened so fast, it still feels surreal that I am actually one of the main characters now. I never imagined that one scene with Oliver Queen suddenly would turn my life upside-down. Being on the show has been a truly wonderful adventure."

Felicity was proud of herself. She thought that she had given a perfectly good and acceptable answer. But just then, Oliver unexpectedly added his own flattering compliments of her, again much to her surprise. "Well, yeah, she was supposed to be guesting for just one episode," he said, pointing his thumb in her direction, "but then she took that character, and… and we could not make this show without Emily Thatcher. Felicity Smoak is an amazing actress, and an even more amazing woman in person," he told the host confidently. He was practically beaming.

The host and the rest of the cast cheered, clapped, and whistled, affirming the truth of what Oliver had just said. Felicity felt pleasantly embarrassed, if such a feeling indeed existed. She tried to hide the fact that she was instinctively blushing and grinning at the same time by burying her face in her hands.

Then she felt a warm hand patting her shoulder, she looked up and saw Oliver smiling proudly at her. He stretched out his arm over her shoulders and pulled her closer to his side. She didn't flinch; she didn't pull away. She let herself sink into his sideward embrace, laying her head on his shoulder. Sure, on the show she and he had done more than just that simple gesture of endearment. But right at that moment, being wrapped up in Oliver's arm (instead of Stephen Sully's), she felt as if she was coming home. His all too familiar warmth and tenderness washed over her anew. His words just now were sincere. She could feel it in her bones. Could it be that his remark on Larry King Live that had gone viral may not have been said just for show?

The taping was finished. The cast and the producers were going their separate ways, saying goodbyes and hoping to see one another on set in the Paramount studios in two weeks. Felicity was glad that she could finally go home, visit her mom in Vegas, and then live like a hermit for a few days before she headed back to L.A. to begin another ten months of hard but enjoyable work.

"Felicity, wait up!" Oliver called out to her just as she was exiting the building where they recorded the TV Line interview.

She turned back and saw him walking excitedly towards her. "Hey, what's up?" she asked, unsure of what he wanted from her.

"Dig says you're spending a few days in Vegas to visit your mom?" he asked. The way his hands were fidgeting in his pants pockets betrayed the fact that he was nervous and excited about something.

"Yeah. What about it?"

"So… I was wondering if…" Oliver paused, pressing his lips together in apparent trepidation. He took a deep breath and pressed on. "I was wondering if you'd let me come along? Just for a few days. I would very much like to visit your mom and see how she's doing. If… if that's okay with you?"

Felicity did not know that was coming. She wasn't sure how she was supposed to react. Oliver was being thoughtful, and it was polite of him to ask to nicely. On the other hand, Oliver Queen spending a few days in Vegas with her – even if it was a kind gesture for him to visit her mom? It was a risk that she wasn't sure she was ready to take.

Her lack of response made him try again. "You… you don't have to worry about me. I won't be a burden, if that's what you're worried about. I can stay at the Bellagio or at Caesar's for a couple of days, and then I'll fly to Starling to visit my family. But if… if you don't think it's a good idea, I won't take it personally. I can just go straight home, and I'll see you on set in two weeks."

All Felicity saw in his beautiful blue eyes was affection – of the kind he had devoted to her while they were still students in film school. It almost made her tear up; instead, it gave her a surge of courage. For some reason, she decided to trust him like she had trusted him before, but she tested him first. "Oliver, are you sure this is just about wanting to visit my mom?"

She saw him blink and take a deep breath. She also noted his tell – his thumb and forefinger rubbing against each other when he was nervous or tense or uncertain. There was definitely something else he wasn't telling her, and she was happy when he gave her an honest answer after a moment of contemplative silence.

"I do want to see how your mom is doing. I do," Oliver confessed, "but I also want to spend time with you, if you'll let me." He smiled sheepishly at her as he told her the whole truth. "Several months ago you told me that you weren't ready for us to have that talk. But I really think we should, and I really hope we could. Maybe… Maybe you're ready now?"

She sighed, relieved that he chose to come clean about his motives. He passed the test.

"Maybe I am," was her soft reply. "Tell you what. I'm driving to Vegas day after tomorrow, and I'll be there for ten days, give or take. Come over and visit Mom while I'm there. Let's take it from there and see where it goes. Baby steps. Okay?" she offered.

"Sure, okay. I'd like that very much. Anything you say is fine with me, as long as you're comfortable with it. You take the lead. I promise I won't push if you're still not ready."

Nodding, she said to him, "I appreciate that, Oliver. See you then."

"Yeah, I'll see you then. Thanks, Felicity," Oliver said delightfully.

Walking out of the studio, Felicity sensed that she had just made Oliver a very happy guy that day.

A/N: Hi! Thanks for continuing to read this story. I hope you can take the time to share your thoughts in the comments. It would mean a lot. :-)

You might notice that I've taken inspiration from events in real life, for instance, the interview of Stephen Amell in Larry King Live some years ago, as well as his interview together with David Ramsay and Emily Bett Rickards where Stephen compliments Emily and she blushes as the audience cheered. I loved that clip!