Chemistry

A/N: Yes, here's an update! I'm very sorry it has taken me this long, and I hope you're still following. There are other WIPs to wrap up, and I started a couple of other new fics that also need to get done by the end of January when Arrow ends. I hope you enjoy this one. :-)

Summary: Oliver and Felicity are separated not just by distance and circumstance, but by her choice. Aside from her mother's emergency, she doesn't really know how to deal with all the bad press surrounding her still undefined relationship with Oliver. They need some pep talk to put things into perspective.

Chapter Five

"It's Donna," John Diggle began to explain to Oliver. "Her next-door neighbor found her unconscious in her apartment and called 911. The hospital called Felicity."

Oliver heaved a sigh.

John went on to say, "Apparently, Donna has been in pain for days but didn't want Felicity to worry, so… Her vitals are stable for now, but preliminary tests show that the cancer has metastasized, and there's probably nothing more they can do except keep her comfortable." John paused, swallowing hard. Sympathy and concern for their friend was evident in his eyes. "I don't know, man. Felicity sounded pretty anxious and upset when we spoke on the phone."

"Where is she?" Oliver asked. He was definitely worried, not just for Donna Smoak, but also for Felicity. She shouldn't be traveling by herself in that frame of mind. He should be with her at this time. He wanted to be with her.

"The airport," John replied. "She called ten minutes ago, just before her plane took off."

"Did she say anything else?" Oliver asked again, a bit disappointed that he won't get the chance to catch up with Felicity.

He, too, was anxious. He had wanted for them to talk about what was happening with the media and how they ought to handle the situation, about the on-screen kiss they shared that the paparazzi had exploited, and about the developments in their relationship since the trip to Vegas. It didn't help that she had to leave so suddenly. He knew that Donna's current serious condition, combined with the controversial media frenzy that put Felicity in a compromising position, was going to weigh heavily on the woman he loved.

"You mean, if she mentioned you? Of course, she did. But only to say that I should tell you not to come after her, and that she isn't ready to see you or talk."

"But she needs someone now, John. She can't deal with all these alone," Oliver reasoned.

"She's a big girl, Oliver. I think it's best if you give her the space she needs to sort out her feelings. She's obviously upset about the publicity caused by the photos the paps took of you two. It was, after all, an intrusion of her privacy. And she's afraid for her mom too. She under a lot of stress, and you'll only add to it if you insist on going after her when she already said she can't handle being with you right now. Maybe time and distance will do you both some good."

Oliver was quiet as he took in his friend's words. He couldn't deny that there was wisdom in John's advice. It was just that he really wanted to be there for Felicity. He wanted to tell her exactly how he felt about her, to assure her that he wasn't going to let other people with selfish intentions hurt her – even if those people included his own mother. He wanted to hold her close to his heart so that she could feel how much he cared about her. It saddened him that Felicity did not seem to want him around at her time of desperate need, and that hurt. He felt helpless. It was as if she was pushing him away the second time around.

The first time Donna got sick, Felicity had broken up with him for reasons that felt superficial at the time and that had left him wondering what on earth had been wrong with their relationship that she would just up and leave when trouble came instead of letting him help. Sure, her mother needed her now more than ever, but why couldn't she let him show her that he cared and that he wanted to be there for her? Why wouldn't she?

He thought that they'd been making progress since their paths crossed again a year ago, and especially in the last few weeks of rediscovering and reaffirming what they meant to each other. Perhaps he'd read everything wrong. With Felicity putting up a new wall between them, he thought he might have been a tad bit presumptuous. Maybe she had only wanted to be friends. If so, he couldn't blame her for setting boundaries in light of everything that was happening now. Nevertheless, Oliver felt like she shouldn't blame him too for feeling frustrated, because he wanted for them to be so much more than friends. Truth be told, Felicity was it for him. He'd known it all along. He'd known it the first time he told her that he loved her and wanted to be with her.

He would never forget that day.

It was the morning after the premiere of the short film that they'd both worked on as a culminating project for a basic course in cinematography during their sophomore year in Vancouver Film School. Felicity had written the screenplay for the story set in the 1970s, which they had both created, about an aspiring songwriter and a talented artist, who both had autism and who eventually fell in love despite the odds. Oliver had directed the movie, which they both produced with the help of family, friends, and local sponsors. They could have gotten friends as actors at a reasonable cost, but they had decided to put their own acting skills to good use and had taken on the lead roles so that they could ensure that everything would be executed the way they envisioned the movie to be. Partners. That was what they had promised they would be to each other. In every sense of the word, they had become partners in the months that they had worked on the film together and started dating. The day after their movie was applauded and hailed as the best short film of the year by the faculty and students of VFS, Oliver had waited for Felicity on the front steps of the school, boldly declared his love for her without caring what onlookers thought or said, and kissed her after she'd said yes to being his girlfriend.

"I love you, Felicity. You are my always, and I just want the chance to be yours," he'd said to her affectionately, taking both her hands in his as he leaned towards her.

Pulling him in towards her and guiding his arms to wrap around her waist, she had replied, "Well, it's good to know. Because I feel the same way. I mean, I love you too. And I do. Want to be with you, that is." She had chuckled. "Sorry, I'm not too good with expressing my feelings because of abandonment issues. I hope you-"

He had cut off her adorable babble by kissing her senseless.

In the past months, Oliver had been delighted that he and Felicity had been rediscovering that very partnership on-screen and off-screen. He'd been hopeful that she'd be willing to give them a second chance at a romantic relationship, because for him, Felicity was end-game. It was the reason why he hadn't really been interested in dating other women since they broke up. He was a Hollywood hunk, for heaven's sake! Attractive leggy models, famous and beautiful actresses and co-stars, as well as thousands of fans who would literally do anything just to go on a date with the Oliver Queen – he was surrounded by these kinds of women for years. Nonetheless, none had captured his heart as Felicity Smoak had. His heart always belonged to her. He wished she would give him the chance to prove it one more time.

"You didn't have to leave work and come home, baby girl. The doctors and nurses here are taking such good care of me," said Donna. The woman was obviously trying to alleviate her daughter's worries by making light of the situation, but Felicity wouldn't have it.

"Mom, please stop being so stubborn, and let me take care of you," Felicity pleaded with her mother. "You are more important to me than anything. You're all I've got."

Felicity was clearly upset, and she knew that her mother sensed it no matter how hard she tried to hide it from her. She had just spoken with Donna's attending physician, whose prognosis of her mom's condition wasn't very encouraging. To be told that your mom wasn't expected to live longer than a couple of months? It was heart-breaking. Donna had been sick for some years now, yet still, nothing could have prepared Felicity for this. Her tears were threatening to fall, but she kept up a confident front before her mom. She was failing miserably.

"Oh, honey, don't cry," Donna comforted her daughter. "I'm gonna be just fine. Well, not fine, fine. But fine."

"Mom…"

"Felicity, sweetheart…" Donna said, cupping her daughter's cheek with her hand and wiping away the tear with her thumb.

"I wish there was something more that I could do."

"Honey, it's okay. What's bound to happen is going to happen. And if this is how it's gonna end for me, then I'll just have to be ready for it. We will both have to be ready for it. Okay?"

Felicity nodded.

"Promise me," Donna resolutely ordered, "that when I'm gone, you're going to live your life to the fullest. You're going to pursue your dreams and be the best version of yourself. All I've ever wanted is for you to be happy." She paused and looked straight into Felicity's eyes. "And if that means giving a certain someone another shot at making you happy, then you better not mess it up by running away, or I'm gonna haunt you for the rest of your life." She chuckled at the thought, making her daughter chuckle as well.

"Seriously, you'd be blind not to see how much Oliver cares about you. I saw the way he looks at you. After all these years, he still loves you. He wants you back. And I know that all he wants is to make you happy. A man like that is hard to find these days."

Felicity sighed as she wiped away some of the tears that were left on her cheek. "Mom, I'm not sure I'm ready to-"

"Felicity, I am your mother, and I know you very well. You still love him, too, don't you? You wouldn't be struggling this much if you didn't."

"Mom, I honestly don't think things will work out between us. I don't know if I can deal with bad press intruding into my life. How much more when they intrude into our relationship, if at all there's a relationship to speak of."

"Oh, honey… The gossip magazines and showbiz tabloids… and that… that no good she-devil pretending to be a reporter? They can't hurt you if you won't let them. If you truly love each other, nothing people say or do can change that. You and Oliver will be just fine."

"How can you be so sure?" Felicity asked.

"Because you found yourselves in each other," Donna answered. "That's how I know that the two of you will make it despite the challenges of being celebrities. That's how I know that you, my darling daughter, will make it even when I'm gone. With Oliver, you'll be in good hands."

At last, Felicity smiled. Comforted by her mother's encouraging and reassuring words, she stands from her chair and bends over to kiss Donna's forehead. "Thanks, Mom. I should be the one giving you the pep talk, seeing that you're in pain and you're the one who's…"

She couldn't say it. Saying it felt like her mother was going to disappear right in front of her. She wasn't ready. Not yet.

"Instead I'm the one comforting you, I know," Donna interjected. "It's okay, baby girl. Everything's going to be just fine."

"Okay," Felicity said, nodding.

She knew it was going to take more time for her to come to terms with the fact that her mother wasn't expected to make it past her fiftieth birthday. It was going to take a longer time for her to grieve and move on without Donna as the rock of strength in her life. But she realized right then and there that her mother was actually preparing her for the inevitable by pointing her in the direction of another rock from which she could draw strength and inspiration from – someone who palpably meant business when it came to pursuing her. How could she not give him another chance?

"Listen, Mom, I have to step outside for a while," said Felicity. "I just need to call my manager, okay? The studio deserves to know why I suddenly disappeared from set. I've got to find out how much time off I can take."

"Oh, I'm sure they can think of a way to make it work. But if not, then it's okay. You gotta go if you gotta go. I told you, I'll be okay right here."

Felicity gave her mom a small smile. "I'm sure you will be, Mom. Thanks for everything."

She knew they'd be facing tough times ahead, but she also realized that it was so much better for her to face them head on with someone who loves her by her side.

John's phone buzzed in his pocket. Seeing it was Felicity's number on the screen, he answered the call immediately. "Felicity, hi! How'd everything?"

"Well, despite everything, Mom is in good spirits," she replied. "She's actually in better shape than I am."

"Knowing Donna, I'm not surprised," John remarked. "I know you're in a tight spot, Felicity, but I'm afraid I still have to ask. How long will you be gone? I can talk to Malcolm, but I can't stall for too long. The network already knows you left, and they're already asking. They're doing everything they can to adjust the schedules of shoots, but there's only so much they can do. We do have a contract that we can't breach."

"I know, John, believe me. I do." Felicity sighed, and then she asked, "Do you think they can give me the rest of the week? I just have to make sure my mom settles well in the hospice I'm checking her into. She'll probably be discharged day after tomorrow, and I'm planning on checking her into the facility straight from here."

"I'll do my best. Give my regards to Donna, will you?"

"Of course. Thanks, John. I owe you one."

"You don't owe me a thing, Felicity. I understand. Go be with your mom, and make every second count."

"I will."

Silence passed between them. It seemed they both sensed that their conversation wasn't through. Neither of them wanted to hang up just yet.

"John?"

"Still here."

"How is… How is Oliver?"

"Why don't you ask him yourself?" John replied, trying his best to conceal his sudden amusement. He knew it wasn't the best time for him to start teasing her, but he did want to help bridge the gap between his two lovesick friends. "Last time I checked, you have his number as well."

Felicity didn't answer at first. She was busy thinking and rethinking about her options. When she finally spoke, she said, "You're right. Maybe I'll give him a call."

"Maybe you should. He cares about you, Felicity, and he's been worried sick about you and your mom."

"Oh…"

"I'll talk to you later, Felicity. Bye." John ended the conversation with hope in his heart. He hoped that his friends would finally get their act together.

A/N: Your thoughts?

Thank you for reading! Not just this fic, but any of my stories since 2016. I will still be wrapping up my WIPs. There are still 3 of them published here that are unfinished. And then I'm done. Just as ARROW is done. It's been bittersweet letting my favorite show go. I will be taking down the fics and deleting my account here in two weeks' time. So, if you loved any of the stories, now is your chance to read them again before they're gone. Thank you so much! It has been a wonderful experience sharing my Arrow and Olicity fanfiction with you all. :-)