Oliver can't sleep. He just settles on his side and watches Felicity. Throughout his time back in Starling City he has systematically lost everything he cares about. Tommy barely speaks to him. Laurel is...well Laurel. Thea is busy with her own life and now John. He doesn't know how to fix it. He doesn't know how to keep his life together anymore and looking at Felicity, he can't help but wonder if it is possible at all.
He has so little left to lose and she's pretty much it at this point. His hand ghosts over her hip softly and he watches the gentle rise and fall of her breathing. He knows she's hurting over the team break-up. He knows she's upset with him. He knows he will probably push her too far one day and then he'll really be alone.
"Get up," she groans. "Get up and put some pants on."
"What?" he asks as he scrambles up, grabbing his discarded sweats.
He watches her get up and tug a pair of yoga pants over her hips. She leaves his t-shirt on and grabs a pair of flats. She shoves him towards the door and grabs her keys absent-mindedly. One glance and he closes his mouth. She is in no mood.
Folding himself into her tiny car is not his favorite thing to do but clearly she will have no patience for complaints. He watches as the buildings pass them by as they drive out of the city, winding through fields until they are at the beginnings of the nature preserve.
"Go swing from some trees or punch a rock or something," she grumbles.
"Felicity?"
"I'm mad and frustrated and tired," she starts. "You need to tire yourself out or something before I kick you out of bed. Then I'll feel guilty and won't sleep. So, work off your frustrations and then we can get some sleep."
"I don't punch rocks," he finally says.
She rolls her eyes at him and then hits the lever to lay back on the seat. With one finger she points outside the car closes her eyes. Her message is clear. So he follows her directions. He stretches and warms up before climbing one of the trees and taking off. It's quiet and calm in the woods tonight. He can hear an owl in the distance but he ignores those sounds.
Nature calms him now in a way it never had before the island. He often feels more at peace when he's in trees and touching dirt than in a boardroom. He doesn't know if he has that in him any more. Right now he can coast on his money but what kind of career can he offer? What can he see himself doing for years when his crusade is over? How will he make his children proud of him if he can't bring himself to work a normal job?
His life is nothing like he imagined it would be all that time on the island. None of it followed the plan he saw for himself. Instead he's found things he never expected and lost things he forgot he could lose.
Felicity comes awake to the smell of breakfast cooking and she bolts upright in bed. Her mind races back to the car in the woods but after that it's a blank. The chair near the bed has her robe on it and she grabs it, tying it loosely in case there are unexpected guests in the living room.
There are not. There is just Oliver in boxers, cooking breakfast. It's a sight that still gets her every time she encounters it. This man...he has survived so much and he's the complete package. She still cannot believe he wants to be with her. It's not so much a personal self-esteem issue but more of a, they are from two different worlds issue. She knows her worth. She knows she's an amazing woman, attractive and smart. She knows she's a catch even when she acts like she doesn't. She knows she's worth it. Sometimes when Oliver looks at her she feels unsure. How can a man who has lived through all he has look at her that way?
"Morning," she says quietly. He spins and looks at her unsure but drops a kiss on her mouth like he does everyday. He pulls away but she stops him, dragging him back to her. He smells like dirt and trees and it's weirdly erotic. His lips are smooth and he tastes like coffee, black and bitter, and she can feel the pulse of his blood under her hand.
She glances at the stove and notices the food is done. She reaches out and switches off the eggs and meets his heated gaze. She watches him for a second as he slips the spatula onto the counter before turning back to face her, his body brushing against hers. He's warm against her and she can feel his reaction to her morning kiss.
Sliding her hands down his neck, his chest, his sides, she shoves his boxers to the floor. The pool on the floor and for a second she remembers her mother telling her how sexy it is to have a man look like that. She almost shakes her head to get her mother out of there but she's too distracted.
"Felicity?"
She doesn't answer him. She just steps back and unties her robe, letting it drop to the kitchen floor. His eyes stay with hers, not dipping lower or straying to her body. He's focused on her face and she nearly moans out loud. Sexy. He's just so sexy. She keeps that eye contact and walks backwards. Motioning with one finger she watches him step out of his boxers and over her robe to follow her down the hall.
She points to the bed and he moves past her. He sits on the bed and sighs when she points further up the bed, gesturing for him to sit against the headboard. He waits for her, watching her face as she comes to stand beside the bed and reaches out to touch him where he's hard and throbbing. He hisses at the contact but she ignores it.
She slips over him in a move that is way more graceful than she ever expected. She always feels full of him when they make love. She always feels like this is the type of thing people wish for all their lives and never get. It's magic and right and perfect.
Skin to skin. This is the easy part. The rest is so hard sometimes but this? This moment of complete connection? This is easy. Effortless. His breath against her cheek? Her name against her ear? His heartbeat under her breast? Undeniable.
His hands slip over her hips and hold her still for a second as he kisses her. Her hands are braced over his head against the wall but she brings them down to wrap her arms around his neck. He groans against her as he moves her hips faster than the pace she had set. Her head falls back and his lips slip over her neck as they move faster and faster and fast-
"That was...wow," she manages after a while. Oliver chuckles against her breast, pressing a kiss there before kissing her fully. She stretches slowly as he slides to the bed next to her and throws his arm over his eyes.
"The eggs are ruined," he sighs. "Do you want to grab something at the diner down the street?"
"I'm already late," she replies. She leans off the bed for a second and tugs her phone to the bed next to her.
"What are you doing?"
"Calling out…"
"You are playing hooky? You?!" he asks slipping his hand over her stomach and slipping against the side of her body. "And what do you have planned for the rest of the day."
"First breakfast. I'm feeling pancakes and maybe a mimosa because I deserve a mimosa and also I need a mimosa. Are you sensing a theme?"
"Clearly you need a round two if you can ramble this much…"
"Right so round two in the foundry. You worked up a sweat the other night down there but...interrupted. Am I being too clinical?"
"No," he laughs. "So third?"
"Walter's disappearance. We need to work on it."
"So I'm guessing some rich guy is missing his fancy laptop?" she asks him as he prowls around the space. She sighs at his silence and opens the computer nudging the power key. When it doesn't power on she sighs again and heads for her overflow chargers, digging in the box for the correct one.
"Harold Backman. He's who Starling City's worst call when they want to launder money in the Caymans."
"So...shouldn't we just give this to, the IRS?"
"Once you return the money to the rightful owners Felicity,"
"Ah...I see how it is. You only want me here for my brain."
"I think your brain is sexy," he says, stepping behind her. "How long is it going to take to break in?"
"Days...probably. He's got an asymmetric encryption algorithm. Not my favorite…"
"Better get started then," he replies moodily.
"At the risk of ending up with an angry Oliver, when are you planning to make peace with Dig?"
"He left Felicity. I did everything I could to stop him."
"Except apologize," she says standing. She touches his cheek gently. "You promised you'd help him with Lawton and then you…"
"Made a choice I can live with. If he can't get over it then I don't need him. I need to go," he breaks away. "Let me know when you break in."
"Sure thing Captain," she mutters as the door slams shut. "No one seems to care what I need right now…"
Oliver sits upstairs in the bar and broods. He was short with her, angry and he really should apologize. It's not her fault John has left and he knows she's hurting too. She's always pushing him and he loves her for it. At the same time sometimes he wishes she wouldn't because then he has to shoulder all the blame again. It's a tiring job.
"Hey Ollie," Laurel says as she approaches the bar. "Can I...maybe get a cup of coffee."
"Sure Laurel," he says heading for the small coffee maker. It's not usually on this time of day. Well not since Tommy quit. So he fires it up and brews a small pot knowing Felicity will want some later. Maybe. If she's not too mad at him.
"This coffee is terrible," she says grimacing.
"That's what you get for ordering coffee in a bar," he answers. He does flip open the ledger and then closes it again. He doesn't have the patience for numbers this morning. He doesn't have the patience for anything. The morning had started great and then...darkness. It always comes back to darkness.
"Tommy broke up with me," Laurel says quietly. "I don't know what happened. We were good. Great actually and then suddenly he's packing up his things and telling me it's over."
Oliver doesn't ask her what he packed up since as far as he knows Tommy never got a drawer or half a closet. It's probably best to ignore it. Instead he thinks about the townhomes he saw being built on the edge of the city. Him and Felicity might compromise out there. Somewhat affordable and close enough to Queen Consolidated…
"Did he say anything to you Ollie?"
"No," Oliver responds focusing on the conversation. "Tommy and I haven't spoken much since he quit. Did you ask him?"
"No. Everything keeps ending. Like with you," she says meeting his eyes. "You slept with my sister Ollie. Clearly there was something wrong with me."
"There was something wrong with me Laurel," he says sighing. "I wasn't ready for the future yet and you wanted it all. You wanted to move in together and I was barely able to decide what I was going to do the next day. You were expecting a proposal and marriage and kids and I...you wouldn't listen Laurel. I told you I wasn't ready."
"You're ready now," she says hopefully.
"Yeah," he says gently. "I am ready now."
"So..we…" Laurel begins slipping around the bar. "We…"
"There is no we Laurel," Oliver says again putting some distance between them. "You should talk to Tommy and find out what happened."
"I know what happened Oliver," she says. "I'm in love with you."
"You can't be in love with me Laurel. You don't even know me anymore," Oliver says glancing wearily towards the door to the Foundry. Felicity could come up at any second and he really doesn't want to have this conversation in front of her.
"It's always been Laurel and Oliver, forever and always," she says. "You know that."
"Maybe it was Laurel but it's not now. I'm in love with Felicity. How many times do I have to say that?" he says letting his patience go. "What do you want me to say Laurel? Do you think I haven't noticed how you treat her? How you spill things on her and make snide comments? How you delight in my mother not liking her until recently? Do you think I don't notice any of it?"
"Oliver come on," she says. "I was waiting for you to be better again! I thought you needed time and I was still angry. I didn't expect you to be with the first woman who looked at you!"
"Wow you really have no respect for me or for Felicity do you? DO YOU?!" he yells. "I didn't fall into bed with the first person to look at me Laurel. I feel in love with the first person who made me feel human again. The person who helped me find solace and clarity. The person who understands me and doesn't expect me to live up to old, ridiculous expectations. I'm never going to be that guy you thought I would be. Never, Laurel."
She doesn't say anything. Instead she launches herself at him, kissing him suddenly and for a second Oliver is stunned. His mind clicks on and he pushes her away, hard enough she bumps against the bar but not so hard she's hurt.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" he practically roars. He wipes the back of his hand against his mouth and notices Laurel's slight flinch at the insult. "I'm done Laurel. Done. Get out and don't come back. You are no longer welcome here or my home. Just...just go."
"Ollie…"
"Oh I totally just walked into a thing didn't I?" Felicity asks sheepishly barely noticing the tension.
"Not now Felicity," Laurel says absently. "Oliver and I are talking."
"We're done," Oliver says moving out from behind the bar. "Let's get some burgers."
"I...I thought we were…" Felicity says confused by his mood. "I got something for you and I thought…"
"Later," he says. "I want to apologize for earlier and I thought it might be better with burgers."
"For the record, I'm just that good with computers. I got you an answer."
"We can talk about it at lunch," he says gently. "Laurel why are you still here?"
"I...I don't…" Laurel turns to go and Oliver barely glances her way. Instead his eyes are on Felicity and Felicity looks to him for clarification.
"It's nothing," he says. "I just dealt with a irritating problem."
It's only later when Felicity tells him what she has discovered. She's munching on fries when she reveals a concrete indicator of Walter's disappearance. Backman has a record of a payoff on the same date Walter went missing. It's all there. Someone paid to disappear Walter and now the two of them will need to follow the trail.
"Did you get a name?" he asks.
"Have you met me?" she replies. "Dominic Alonzo. Ring a bell?"
"He runs the biggest underground casino in Starling City when he's not busy kidnapping and trafficking."
"Sounds like a real prince," she replies. "Is he on your father's list?"
"He's not. He's a newer bit of scum in this city."
"How many arrows do you think you'll have to put in him before he gives up Walter's location? A lot?"
"It's not that simple," he says taking her hand. "His casino has it's own private army. We need to get access to his computer and that means getting into the casino."
"Too bad we don't have anyone else to call…"
"We'll do this on our own," he says ignoring the comment about Diggle.
"So...gambling tonight?"
"It's not that easy. The guys would make me the minute that I walked in there. Oliver Queen would never play there."
"I meant me," she says grabbing her soda and tugging him after her. He throws the money on the table and waves to Carly before walking side-by-side with her towards the club. "You know me. I count cards. It's all just probability and math anyway. Plus Vegas? I'm at home in a casino."
"I'm not letting you walk into an underground casino, surrounded by mercenaries, and run by a guy who kidnaps and trafficks beautiful women."
"The reason I joined you in the first place was to help find Walter and we have an actual chance Oliver. You have to let me do this."
She gives him that look that means he's lost the argument. He can't get in there on his own. He would be made the second he entered. Plus the Hood is good for this but he risks damaging the computer or losing Alonzo in the process.
"Fine but we're doing it my way," he says. Triumphantly she nods and he knows nothing is going to go well.
"Hi," Felicity says when John opens the door.
"What do you want?" John asks.
"Is that any way to treat a girl who just walked up 6 flights of stairs in these shoes?" she asks. John opens the door and gestures her inside.
"You know, Felicity, Oliver and I don't need a relationship counselor."
"That hasn't been my experience," she jokes. "We have a lead on Walter. I need you to come back and help us find him. Please."
"Oliver put you up to this?"
"No. He doesn't even know I'm here," she says. "I know Oliver didn't help you find your brother's killer and that hurts."
"You're right it hurts. He knows how much this means to me. It's the only thing I've ever really asked of him," John says.
"You gotta know if it was your life on the line on not just your...very understandable vendetta, he would be there for you. No hesitation," she says.
"I don't want a partnership with those kind of qualifications, Felicity."
"I know Oliver's religiously against admitting he's wrong but we need you," she says.
"Well when Oliver is ready to say that, he knows where I live."
"I thought maybe me asking would be enough," Felicity says.
"My problem isn't with you," Dig admits.
"Maybe my problem is with you," Felicity says surprising Diggle. "You're my only friend Dig and you just...cut me out. You didn't even think about it. You didn't even come to talk to me. You just left. It's nice to know where I stand."
"Felicity," Dig says reaching out. She shrugs him off.
"I thought if I came here and asked you would help. If I did, you would put aside your issues and come back because I need you. I guess it doesn't matter."
"Felicity, it's not like that…"
"It's fine. I'm used to...being left out," she says. "I hope you and Oliver work it out. I really do. I have to go. Bye John."
The door click echoes in the apartment and Dig stares after her. He didn't consider...of course he didn't consider. Felicity makes it so easy to be friends. She never asks for anything other than the occasional food run and even then she usually goes. He hasn't considered the fact Felicity doesn't have friends. She's always at work or with the two of them. He's really hurt her and for a second he's afraid. What if he does lose her?
He sits down in his empty apartment and sighs. It wasn't supposed to be like this. If only Oliver had just...it doesn't matter. It's not the point.
Oliver can sense the fragility surrounding Felicity the second she steps into their apartment. She looks tired and stressed and for a second he doesn't recognize the third emotion. Sadness. That's what it is. She's upset and she brushes past him, heading for her closet and the dress buried in the back.
Her fingers fumble with the zipper and he reaches out to take the dress from her. She looks up at him blankly and he tugs her into his arms. She wraps her arms around him and just sighs. He knows where she was. She went to see John. Of course she did. She would want that extra level of protection and clearly he turned her down.
"I'm sorry," Oliver says. "It's my fault."
"No," she says. "John's at fault too. We'll figure it out."
"Yeah," he says softly. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
"For Walter," she replies.
Oliver doesn't like it. He can hear her winning her games and having fun but he feels the tension in him. He doesn't like he can't see her. He knows better than anyone how quick and easy killing an inquisitive person can be. A neck snap. A bullet. There would be nothing he can do. She would be dead before he could get to her.
It's only when she gets taken from the card table that he feels the first moment of relief. Everything is working out. He listens carefully, touching his bow tightly as he waits for any indication she is in danger. It is only when the comm is crushed does he react.
His mind is in a haze as he takes down gunman after gunman. Most people escape with no injuries and he is thankful. Felicity would not appreciate innocents being hurt because of her plan. Alonzo has his hands on her and Oliver has to breathe slowly to stop himself from putting an arrow through Alonzo's chest. Instead the mini-explosion does the trick and Felicity is able to get to his side.
The words, 'he's dead', echoes in Oliver's mind as he him and Felicity head for the Foundry. Felicity has said nothing and he's thankful for it. As he changes he can hear her crying at her computer. Both of them have hoped Walter would be found alive. Both have been so sure it was just a matter of finding him.
The take a moment together to just hold each other in silence. Both of their thoughts are on Walter. There are no words to describe their devastation and Oliver knows he must now tell his mother and sister the news. Felicity is adamant. She will be by his side when he tells them.
In the car Oliver takes her hand and rubs his thumb over the skin there. She links her fingers with his and looks out the window lost in her own thoughts.
The news is hard to deliver and he can see the devastation on his family's faces. His mother is shocked but she stands and looks for her purse. No pleading can stop her. He leaves Felicity comforting his sister as he rushes to follow his mother.
When he hears his mother and Malcolm there is a moment of rage followed by massive devastation. His mother has been in on this from the beginning. They are working together and have something horrible planned for the city. She's complicit and her name should be in his father's book.
"Walter's alive," Oliver admits when Felicity finds him at the Foundry. She pauses by the light switch and then moves to stand in front of him.
"What? But Alonzo?"
"I need you to pull up Malcolm Merlyn's phone records. He made a call from his office to wherever Walter is being kept at 10:30pm."
"Malcolm Merlyn. Tommy's father? Why would he kidnap Walter?"
"Felicity. He's involved. The Undertaking. All of it. My mother went to see him and I...overheard."
"Oh Oliver," Felicity sighs. "Okay. Okay."
She sits down at the computer and within seconds he has his answer. The tenement complex is surrounded by guards which still seems overdone. Walter is one man. How many guards do they need to imprison one man?
Regardless Oliver rushes off, securing a plane and landing on the roof. Felicity is in his ear, monitoring surveillance cameras and leading him straight to Walter. Malcolm's small army is decimated under Oliver's unrelenting rage.
The paramedics arrive just as Oliver helps Walter out onto the street. He leaves Walter on the steps of the tenement building and hides in the shadows watching as the responding officer is none other than Detective Lance. There is some questioning before the paramedics practically shove Lance away from the patient, concerned more about physical injuries than catching a kidnapper.
Walter is embraced by his wife and stepdaughter while Oliver hovers at the foot of the bed. His eyes are on his mother, watching her reaction. She seems genuinely happy to see Walter and Oliver cannot help but wonder if Walter was the incentive to keep his mother in line. At the same time all of this has given him a new view towards his mother.
"This is totally a family thing, isn't it?"
Oliver turns to see Felicity holding a plant and looking towards Walter. Walter smiles at her and she sits the plant on the dresser.
"Oh Felicity," Moira says wiping tears. "You should stay."
"Yes, you should," Oliver says tugging her next to him. Walter looks shocked for a second when Oliver straightens from kissing her.
"I see a lot has changed since I...went away," Walter says watching Felicity.
"Oh yes Darling. Felicity is practically one of the family now. Oliver tells me she's been helping in any way possible to locate you," Moira says hugging Walter again.
"We'll let you two guys get back to your hugging," Oliver says. "We'll go find coffee."
Both him and Felicity are ignored as soon as they leave the room and Oliver smiles when Felicity hugs him tightly.
"He's home," she says. "You found him."
"We found him," Oliver replies.
"Oh Oliver!" a voice calls and Oliver and Felicity turn. Felicity almost flinches when Oliver's hand tightens over hers. Malcolm Merlyn is before them and for a second Felicity can appreciate how Malcolm has avoided notice. He blends so well. His face is schooled in absolute concern for Walter.
"Malcolm," Oliver says, slipping his own mask on. He will play the upset stepson, the man worried for his family and relieved at this turn of events. Felicity is the one lagging.
"Is Walter ok? I saw it on the news."
"Walter is fine," Oliver says. "The police will want to talk to him but Walter does not remember his attackers. He is more concerned with getting his strength up."
"Good, good. I guess I'll stay and talk to your mother. Congratulate her on her miracle."
"Yes. Do that."
Felicity catches a glimpse of Laurel at the end of the hallway but Laurel ducks away before Felicity can draw Oliver's attention to her. Felicity overheard much more than she let Oliver know. Maybe with this blow-up Laurel can finally let go of Oliver and move on. Who knows. All she knows is it will be some time before Oliver is ready to forgive.
"I guess you do know where I live," John says when Oliver shows up at his door.
"I've always known where you live," Oliver admits. "I was wrong and I'm sorry."
"About?"
"Everything. Deadshot. My mother. The undertaking," Oliver says heavily. "She lied to me. She lied to Thea. She's been working with Malcolm Merlyn. Something terrible is going to happen and I don't know if I'm enough to stop it. Will you help me?"
"Yeah," John says, "Yeah I'll help."
Oliver smiles at him and the two sit there in silence for a moment. John feels like the weight that has been sitting on him has been lightened and for a second he feels normal again. Things are okay.
"About Felicity," Oliver says causing that weight on John to come back. "We both screwed up there. She's hiding it mostly. She buries her feelings in her concern for others so it's hard to spot. I think we're okay, me and her. It's...she needs you John."
"She came to see me," John admits. "She looked like I punched her when I told her I wouldn't come back. How do I fix it?"
"I really, really don't know," Oliver says. "It was easier for me because I'm her...boyfriend so it's different for us but you two...you're her first real friend here John. I think in some ways your relationship with her has been more important because Felicity was depressed when she admitted she really has never had friends. I told her she had you and I think that made her feel better."
"I just...I don't know how to fix it."
"Well I would start with maybe her favorite Chinese food and going to grovel...I can be indisposed for a few hours," Oliver offers. "Maybe go out on the streets to stop a few muggings…"
So John does just that. He carries the bags up to Felicity and clutches the red wine Oliver says she'll love. He doesn't know the reception he'll get but he can only hope he can fix it. His knock almost goes unanswered but he finally hears someone shuffling to the door.
"Oliver did you lock yourself-oh! John," she says. She looks to the ground and then finally steels herself and looks up. "Oliver's not here."
"I came to see you," John says. "Can I come in?"
"Sure, yeah," Felicity says opening the door and gesturing him inside. John hasn't been here in awhile. Typically he meets them downstairs, at QC, or at Verdant. He hasn't really been inside their home since Helena attacked Felicity and at that time it was an absolute mess. It's homey and that sounds weird but it looks happy. If rooms could talk he knows this one would tell a happy story. His apartment isn't like that. It's empty.
"I brought you dumplings and red wine…" John says awkwardly.
"Thanks but I'm not really hungry," she says. "I was going to go to bed."
"It's 7:30," John replies.
"I'm kind of tired," she says. "Oliver...I don't know where he is."
"He's busy. I mean...he's out for now."
"You two made up?" Felicity asks. "Good. Good for you."
"You're my best friend Felicity," John says suddenly moving to stand in front of her. He sits the bag and the wine on the counter and waits for her to look at him. When she does he continues. "I didn't think about how my not working with Oliver would affect you. We started this together and I'm not used to all aspects of my life being tied up together."
"It's fine John," she says sighing.
"It's not. I hurt your feelings and I didn't mean to do that. You're really important to me and I don't want to lose you because I was stupid. Please tell me I can make this right," he begs.
"You and Oliver are so much alike..."
"Will you forgive us both then?" John asks.
"Where did you get the dumplings from?" she asks randomly.
"That place in the Glades you really like," he answers.
"Well I guess I could forgive you...but only because I want the dumplings," she says. He hugs her to him and sighs. She is his best friend and he doesn't want to lose her. He won't do this again. He won't leave her out of the discussion.
When Felicity goes to get plates, he tugs his phone out and replies to Oliver's text. Everything is fine for now. Hours pass before Oliver finally comes home and smiles at Felicity and Diggle sitting on the floor watching a show featuring athletic challenges. Both are taking drunken bets on people passing the challenges.
"My Oliver could do that," Felicity says smiling up at him dopily. "Come here."
He slips down beside her and watches amused as she snuggles up against him and closes her eyes. The show goes to commercials and John leans back resting his head on the couch while Oliver stares blankly ahead. Right now everything is okay but tomorrow they need to deal with his mother, Malcolm Merlyn, and the Undertaking.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Surprise! I have been working so hard on this. I had 3500 words that I trashed because they weren't working. Here's the fix. Minor changes from the original? 1. The opening scene was from Felicity's perspective not Oliver's. 2. No sex. 3. The Laurel/Oliver argument was not working at all. I debated the 'forced kiss' heavily but opted for it. This is the point where the relationships start to shift in preparation for season two.
In my version of the story there is no hope for Laurel/Oliver so Laurel has to realize that. It seems harsh but the door needs to be firmly closed. I know she's a little OOC but Laurel has been (in the show and not) a great character for over-the-top, unbelievable reactions.
Next chapter (hopefully either next weekend or early the following one-cries 6 day work week!) will cover all that fun stuff like elevator shaft scenes, redirecting the Laurel/Oliver love scene, etc.
Fun times ahead!
