Woo hoo! Chapter 2! OK, I probably shouldn't be so excited about this, but I am. Just a short little note today. Enjoy!


He really needed Laurel to think that he was truly pursuing her. He couldn't look her in the eye though without wanting to confess everything. He had known when they were together previously, that he could love her if Oliver wasn't in the picture. But Oliver stood between them whether Laurel wanted to admit it or not. He wasn't as dumb as she thought. She still had feelings for Ollie, but for some reason, she had decided to step back and give him a chance with Oliver without interference.

They had been working on the benefit for a few hours in her office when she yawned. He picked on her about being sleepy and then asked which cake she wanted. He should have known her answer, but she responded as she normally would: carrot. He teased her about Bugs, like he always did. It felt good to just be comfortable with her again. But then she asked the hard question.

"Tommy? Why the full-court press? Asking me to Coast City, the fundraiser…Why now?"

He looked up at her, unable to really meet her eye. She knew how he felt about Oliver, but he had to be convincing…maybe even to himself. He decided to be honest about the "why her, why now" part. The why now part could wait for another time.

"You know," he said on a sigh, "I was in a bar last week and I was talking to this girl…and things were progressing, if you know what I mean…"

She smirked and said, "No! You're too subtle!"

He grinned at her for a second before continuing.

"Anyway, we finally go back to her place, and I realize all of a sudden," he hesitated and cleared his throat, "that I'd been there before…Been with her before. Two years ago…Just…didn't remember…So I left," he took a deep breath, pressing on, "You know, I remember some of the mornings when you and I were together and I made you omelets."

He smiled at that memory and she returned the smile.

"And I'd be in your kitchen and I would think to myself, this isn't just fun…This is more than fun…This is…This is different. I never felt that way with anybody else…And I miss it," he kept his eye on her for moment before he suddenly felt uncomfortable again. He looked down at the list and said, "Not mocha…Carrot."

"Carrot," she confirmed. She answered a few more benefit questions before she finally asked, "Tommy? What about Oliver?"

His tension grew exponentially in that moment. He had hoped to avoid the question, but it wasn't going to happen now.

"It was a fantasy, Laurel. He can't ever be anything more than my friend."

"What happened? I thought you were going to talk to him…tell him how you feel?"

"I tried, Laurel," he said sadly, "But all hell broke loose at his house after I told him I was in love with someone. And now, he's avoiding me. I've tried to catch him to tell him and he always has an excuse to run away. I don't know what to do."

"So, you told him you were in love with him and then he avoided you?" she asked, "Really? That doesn't sound like him…well, the old him."

"No," Tommy said, "I told him I was in love with someone. He automatically assumed it was you."

"Tommy!"

"I was about to try and explain, but then Thea the Thunderstorm came flying in his room screaming about how much of a bitch her mother was and we were suddenly surrounded by the Queen onslaught. I slid out of that and right into my own storm. Dear Old Dad suspects I'm in love with Oliver."

"What?!"

"Yeah," he said, hanging his head, "that's on me. I fucked up. I slipped up trying to explain to him why I really needed to stick around Starling City for Oliver. He automatically assumed it's 'cause I'm in love with him. Of course, he's right, but you know him, I was a dead man in more ways than one if I didn't deny it!"

She nodded. She completely understood Tommy's fear. Mr. Merlyn was not known for his tolerance of those who were different. He was very well known for his vocal disgust and hatred for the LGBT community. Having a son, his only son, in love with another man would have been the worst thing that could to Malcolm Merlyn, especially if the man Tommy was in love with was Oliver Queen, son to the man who had once run the city and now the richest man in Starling City.

"Tommy," she sighed, "I'm so sorry."

"Yeah," he agreed, "you and me both…and I'm sorry, Laurel. I wasn't completely honest earlier…What I said was true. When you and I were together before, I really did like being with you. I still like being with you. But now, I sort of have an ulterior motive to be with you."

"You need a beard," she said quietly.

"Yeah," he said miserably, "I hate to ask you, but-"

"Tommy," she smiled, "I can do that for you. That I can do for you."

"Really?" he asked incredulously.

"Really," she said with a smile, "Now, are we done with this list? Because I'm getting very hungry and after this discussion, I think I could use a drink!"

"I can do that for you!" he said with a grin and began stowing the paperwork in a folder for the next day.


We all know the drill... ;-P