AN: I honestly couldn't seem to figure out how to play this part after the 'Laurel' one, then I thought I might as well introduce Thea in early, because I do love her. I wish she had gotten more screen time during Season 1. There's no Olicity in this; I apologize a million and one times, but I hope you do like this, because there's Thea/Oliver interactions and Thea/Felicity ones. Also, it's fun. No angst. :D I'm working on the next part, and it's all purely Olicity. Everyone who has reviewed, favourited and followed - I love you all dearly. xo

A girl was allowed to wallow and eat infinite amount of Ben and Jerry's when she was recovering from a semi break-up.

At least, Felicity told herself that as she went back to the kitchen for the 6th tub in the last four days.

She hadn't left her house in those days either. She didn't face the work waiting for her, instead taking a couple days sick leave. She ignored all the calls and text from Oliver, had spoken to Diggle twice and the only person she allowed access was her best friend.

She viciously hoped that Oliver wasn't in a better state than she was.

Grabbing the spoon off the coffee table, she settled back into her couch, trying hard to will the tears away that were welling up in her eyes again. She was done crying and feeling pathetic – you'd think a girl could catch a break from the tears when her eyes were already looking like Pigmy Puffs.

So she delved herself back into her ice cream and re-runs of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Oliver was at breaking point.

He had been very close to it many times – in fact, he had crossed the line on the island multiple times. The insanity had been welcomed then, had pushed him to brinks and edges that had made him the person he was.

But this time round, the slippery control wasn't welcomed.

He was alone again, all alone, facing the demons of the past, present and future by himself. How had he missed the moment when he had become dependent on his team members?

He hadn't had a family in so long that he hadn't realized he had unconsciously made one.

Four days. It had been four days since the two of them had walked out. A dangerous amount of time for a man to be left alone with his guilt-ridden thoughts.

Guilt had never been involved when on the island. Every action, followed by every consequence, was to survive. To get out and get back to do what he was supposed to.

He hadn't just failed Diggle and Felicity – he had failed his mission too.

Putting Laurel ahead of his promises hadn't only been a stupid move; it had been a dangerous one.

Rubbing a hand over his face, he stared blankly at the ceiling, still not quite used to the familiarity of his room. Since his return, he had hardly stayed there anyway; many nights were spent at the Foundry, on the sofa.

Oddly enough, the hide out had also become a home.

"Hey Ollie, do you want to come – are you seriously still in bed?!" Thea asked, astonished. Oliver sighed, knowing that he was in for a lecture.

"Yes. Is there a problem?" he retorted back, slowly sitting up to see her standing by the door frame, arms crossed with a stern look on her face.

"Yes, there is. This is clearly post-break up wallowing. It's obvious – you haven't even shaved."

"I thought stubble suited me better?"

"Oliver."

"It's nothing to do with a break-up, Thea," he sobered up, rolling his eyes. Patting the bed, he motioned for her to come over, "I'm not in or out of a relationship, despite what you think. I'm just resting from all my night-time duties."

Thea tilted her head, taking a good, measured look at her brother. It could be a valid excuse, if she hadn't already noticed the subtle differences in him.

"That's not the only reason. I know these things, Ollie," she insisted as he tried to interrupt her again, "And while you may not be noticing the differences, I have. Whoever she is, she was bringing you back. Do you know how hard it is to have you here, physically, but realize that my Ollie is not in there? That had been changing – and I know for a fact it isn't because you and Diggle are in a bromance or Laurel. I know the signs or Laurel, and this definitely isn't her work."

The surprise was evident on his face, and Thea knew she had it spot on.

"I'm not exactly stupid, Ollie. I get this kinda stuff," she mocked him, and he scoffed, gently pulling on her messy locks. There were many things he wasn't looking at while adamant on his mission.

So he decided to be as honest as he could. Because other than Felicity, who else could he talk to?

"You've become very wise, haven't you? I'm not and I wasn't in a relationship. But you are right – there is someone. Gonna give you another 'spot-on' and tell you that I was the one who messed it all up."

"Men," she grumbled.

"We're not getting into that one. All in all, she's right about everything she said. She walked out the door," he explained, the irony of the statement not lost on him. But the heavy weight that had settled on his chest eased slightly, grateful that he wasn't carrying the burden all by himself. He had forgotten what it was like to share his thoughts, problems, issues with someone. And in that moment, he felt a little more human. Little bit more like the Oliver he was when with Felicity.

"Didn't it occur to you that maybe she wants you to go after her? Or are you still indecisive about how you feel for Laurel?"

Another spot-on for Thea, he thought.

"You've really been practicing this, haven't you?" he smiled sadly, looking away, "Laurel, as much as you and mom, was the reason I wanted to come back home. I love her, in my own foolish, selfish way. I can't seem to let go of her."

"Or maybe it's her memory, her illusion you're in love with?"

She let it linger between them, as he seemed to be far, far away.

"I don't know anymore. That's why I have to figure this out."

"I'm rooting for her, Ollie," she said finally, kissing his cheek as she slipped off the bed, heading for the door again.

"Wait – who exactly are you rooting for?"

Felicity yelped as she snapped out of her nap, dazed and confused. Shaking her head, she tried to focus, realizing that she must of fell asleep during her failed marathon.

The ice cream was half melted in the carton in her lap, her stomach pretty much frozen, and her glasses askew on her face.

She groaned, more than upset about the ice cream she had let go to waste.

"Is anyone planning to answer this door or am I going to have to try breaking it in?"

Scrambling up, Felicity frowned as she tried to gather her bearings.

"I don't know that voice – definitely don't know that voice."

Putting the ice cream down, she pushed her hair back and pinned it into a bun with a clip as she moved over to the door.

She hissed when she tripped over her forgotten heels that were still on the floor.

"I did say I will break it -"

Felicity yanked the door open to come face to face with no other than Thea Queen.

"And I thought Oliver looked a state. You look like you went five rounds straight during Black Friday."

"I – Miss. Queen, what – I'm sorry, but you must be at the wrong place," Felicity stammered, pretty sure she must be having a horrible nightmare.

"Jesus, I am definitely not Miss Queen. Just Thea. You are Felicity Smoak, right? Queens Consolidate, IT Department? Oliver's secret friend?"

At a loss, Felicity just nodded while she gaped. The younger girl beamed, walking right past the blonde and into the apartment.

Just keep calm, Felicity screamed at herself internally, she's probably here for a favour.

Thea turned around, examining her surroundings. The living room was tidy, with the exception of the couch being turned into a bed – and probably the core of her wallowing. Nice, warm colours – lots of DVD's, books and from what she could see, lots of tech equipment.

The woman in question was beautiful – definitely not the kind of beautiful Oliver normally went for, because hello, Laurel – even with slightly puffy eyes and no make-up. Not to mention the Captain America top and worn out leggings made her look very much like every nerd's wet dream.

"Can I get you anything? A drink?" Felicity asked, remembering her manners.

"Actually, I wouldn't mind some soda. By the way – got anymore ice cream? Cause I seriously need some now," Thea asked, smiling sheepishly. Felicity cracked a smile, nodding as she rushed over to the kitchen.

Once she was in the privacy of her kitchen, she leaned against the sink, trying to gather her thoughts together. Thea Queen was in her living room, and she seemed very aware of her supposed friendship with Oliver. Thea Queen was probably looking around her little living room, turning her nose up at the mess that she had been living in for the last four days.

"You can handle this, Felicity. She's just a teenager. She asked for ice cream. She's not going to murder you or get you fired," she muttered to herself, breathing in deeply. Moving over to her freezer, she took out the cookie dough Ben and Jerry's and two spoons.

She was pretty sure she would need some ice cream too.

Grabbing two cans of soda, she headed back, smiling nervously as she looked at the brunette seated on her couch, looking through one of her discarded books.

"Are you a fan of Game of Thrones? I absolutely love the series, but I haven't read the books – way too many pages for my mind to even think about."

Setting down the giant tub of ice cream and the sodas, Felicity was immediately drawn into her element.

"Yeah – I am a complete dork and love reading. I've read those far too many times – though the show is my obsession. I have marathons of the series every other week," she laughed, handing Thea a spoon too.

"I do better with movies. It's the same with every single Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and Marvel movies. I don't have the capability to actually sit down and read. Are you wallowing too because of this thing going on with Ollie?"

"I – excuse me?" Felicity squeaked out, eyes growing wide.

"He's been in his room, for the last four days, staring at the ceiling with the most horrible expression on his face. I'm assuming you're the woman who has been preoccupying his mind."

All sorts of questions were running through Felicity's mind – and it seemed that Thea guessed as much.

"I lectured him, before doing some digging. Us Queen's are very stubborn when we want to be."

"Yeah, tell me about it."

Thea laughed heartily, scooping ice cream into her spoon before plopping it into her mouth.

"He's hurting, pretty bad. I haven't seen him in such a state since he came back. When he first came home… he was distant, different, closed in. This is not the same though; it's nowhere near that Oliver. You've been the reason why he's changed, Felicity – you don't mind if I call you Felicity, right? I'm not like overstepping any invisible line?" Thea asked, and Felicity shook her head.

"Felicity is fine. It's perfect. No one calls me Ms. Smoak. That's weird."

"I know right? Exactly how I feel about being called Miss. Queen. Yuck – anyway, off topic. Oliver needs you. He needs you more than he thinks he needs the memory of Laurel he's trying hard to keep hold of."

In the back of her mind, Felicity absently acknowledged the fact that the Queens had a way of rendering her speechless at times. Not knowing how to reply to the girl in front of her, she shook her head gently, leaning forward to dig into the ice cream herself.

"It's probably something you don't need to hear right now. But it's true – he loved her a lot at one point, though he managed to screw that up perfectly. He's holding onto the Laurel he knew near six years ago, because he thinks that she still anchors him to home."

"Miss. Queen -"

"Thea."

"Thea, I – I can't pursue a relationship with your brother for many reasons. Technically, he is my boss, and above that, he's a complex person. Not that I'm not smart enough to figure it all out. But… he still belongs to the woman he is in love with," Felicity explained, her voice tired all over again. It was like a constant, vicious circle of second guessing herself, her decisions; her feelings. She wanted nothing more than to punch Oliver in his handsome, sinful face and then kiss it better.

"It's harder for you than it is for him. But you're the woman who has changed him now. The Ollie that loved Laurel is not the Oliver he has become now. As his sister, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate you right now. But above that, as a woman – girl, whatever you want to label me – I know that he deserves happiness. He can find that happiness with you. That's all I really wanted to say. You're his way to the emotions that he's closed off, and I don't want him to lose you. He's my brother; he means the absolute world to me. If he was to come over, wouldn't you listen to him?"

"Please don't tell me he's outside right now," Felicity exclaimed, horrified. Thea couldn't help but laugh as she tried to backtrack.

"No! No, he isn't. He's at home, thinking himself into grey hairs most likely. I do like you, Felicity Smoak. You're definitely a girl to cry over," the young girl laughed, drinking deeply from her soda.

"I never knew such a thing could be a compliment. Not that I'm not grateful – thank you. This is us taking the time we need to figure out everything that's going on. And if he was to turn up outside my door, I doubt I could keep him out – he has this annoyingly sneaky way of getting inside. At least you just barged straight in. Sorry. I am a complete blabbermouth," Felicity decided to just forget using her limited filter, "Would you like to stay and watch Buffy? I have more ice cream too."

"Count me in. Trying to find out your identity certainly entitles me to good food and TV. Also – if Ollie doesn't find his way to you, could you at least promise me that you'll try finding a way through to him?"

Felicity swallowed as she looked Thea straight in the eye.

"I'll try. I'm hoping he finds his way though, because crawling back after I walked out isn't really going to do much for my reputation."

Thea snorted as she shook her head, settling back on the couch.

It turned out that Felicity was able to relax around one of the Queens after all.