A/N: FIRSTLY I AM SO SORRY! I truly suck at updates lately! As always thank you for all the support, you are all awesome! And I thought I'd update this before I disappear for the rest of the weekend, so enjoy!... also I really apologise for the shortness but I hopefully will make up for it later...

A week later.

After the deadlines and a hard week at work, Felicity couldn't help but relax with her friends. They had decided on food at Lyla's place as Dig was at work, and she had the nicest. Sara brought Nyssa and Felicity decided a night to unwind was most definitely needed.

"So tell me how did Johnny react when you asked for Oliver's number?"

"Wait you asked for his number?" Sara asked putting down her fork. Felicity took a sip of her wine sighing slightly.
"Not like that Sara! I told you there is nothing between Oliver and I." She placed the glass back on the table as she turned to Lyla. "Oh I got the usual be careful lecture. But what I am more interested in is why Dig would work for him if Oliver was this... monster everyone paints him out to be." Lyla frowned slightly.

"Oliver isn't a monster." Nyssa jumped in and all 3 looked at her. "I know he doesn't have the best reputation in the press but in the last 5 years we've hardly mentioned him."

"But that doesn't mean he hasn't made past mistakes though..." Sara said softly. Nyssa reached her hand out taking hers and lacing their fingers together.

"We all make mistakes; it's what we do to make up for them that counts the most." Sara smiled softly staring into Nyssa's eyes.

"Exactly!" Lyla exclaimed. "He's a sweet kid; he does have a good heart. He just is rubbish with women." Felicity laughed a little.

"I know that much but that still doesn't explain Dig..."

"You'd have to ask him Felicity, some things we don't need to tell each other but when he brought him home, I just knew that Oliver brought something out in Johnny I hadn't see in awhile."

"What?" Felicity asked softly.

"His need to protect, to help... It's another reason we helped you and Roy so much." Felicity's eyes widened a little.

"I had no idea Oliver stayed here..."

"He didn't stay here, me and Johnny weren't back together back then, it was just fun. He just helped him get on his feet after his parents kicked him out."

"His parents kicked him out?" Felicity asked frowning slightly.

"Ah yes, his parents paid for it to all be kept out of the news, they didn't want their reputation tarnished..." Nyssa added.

"What the hell happened?" Felicity asked feeling genuinely curious.

"You're asking a lot of questions Fliss." Sara teased.

"What? So now I can't be interested in someone's history?" Sara rolled her eyes playfully.

"He was a mess back then." Sara responded. "He... We all did stupid stuff, Oliver acted out because... Well to me, his parents were never there, they were too busy working."

"Right..." Felicity replied.

"When Oliver was at Johnny's, he didn't know who he was or what he wanted and he messed up a lot of his life." Lyla said softly.

"See why do I have a feeling that he comes off as the bad guy?" Sara sighed a little before she replied.

"Nothing in this life is as black and white as it seems but if you want to know about Oliver's life I'd ask him yourself." Felicity frowned.

"I feel like there is more to this all than you guys are telling me." Lyla and Sara exchanged a look.

"Girl drink your wine, let's talk about something other than Oliver Queen." Lyla said with a soft smile. The girls started to chit chat but all Felicity could think about was what the hell they were all trying to protect her from.

"You have a date tomorrow Fliss?"

"Yes..." She replied instantly.

"Who's this one?" Lyla asked.

"Oh George in accounting." Sara answered for her.

"Did Sara set you up again?"

"Yes she did." Felicity said with a small teasing grin.

"Hey all I want is you to be as happy as us..."

"I know. Thank you guys."

"For what?"

"For being so awesome to me since I came here 5 years ago, for everything you've done for me." They raised their glasses.

"To being happy." Sara said.

"To being happy." They all repeated their glasses chiming through the flat.

A day later.

Felicity was all dressed up for her date; she had decided to keep it simple, jeans, a sparkly white tank top and jacket. She was grateful for her day off having spent most of the day with a hangover thanks to too much wine with the girls the night before. She smiled to herself loving the family they had created. Then she remembered about Oliver, she was intrigued about his past, about what had happened so she found herself searching through old articles online.

Oliver was the typical bad boy, he had a different woman in every photo, and there were various articles about women having spent the night with him. She shook her head not even surprised but then she found the articles about his arrest for peeing on a cop car. The accusations of drug use, she frowned as it all seemingly stopped 5 years ago. The only other mention was the opening of Verdant just over 3 years ago; there wasn't enough to understand him. She didn't know why she was so interested, actually she did Oliver was a mystery and she hated them, they needed to be solved. The door bell ringing brought her out her little world. She got up rushing to the door pulling it open.

"Hey Laurel." Felicity smiled opening the door wide for her.

"Hey Fliss... Is Roy in?"

"Not yet he had a client."

"Oh okay... I guess he forgot about dinner." She said softly.

"Come in. Relax and enjoy, I'm going out soon so you two will have the place to yourselves." Laurel walked in.

"Thanks."

"Are you okay?" Felicity asked.

"Of course." She smiled but Felicity could tell there was more.

"Laurel you can talk to me you know? I know Roy's my brother but we're friends."

"I..." She stopped herself, as she sat on the sofa.

"Laurel?"

"I love Roy, I do but lately... Things have felt... Different."

"In what way?"

"I mean when we first started dating it was all new and I helped him get his business up and running but I dunno... Lately it feels like we want two different things..."

"Oh." Felicity gently sat beside her. "Clearly you two care about each other but you need to figure out what you both want, and talk to each other. I know it's hard but... talking is the answer." Laurel looked at her with teary eyes.

"Thank you Felicity."

"Hey it's fine. But seriously you just need to talk maybe things aren't as different as you think."

"What if they are?"

"Then you have to figure out if you both still want it." She smiled softly squeezing her hand, just then the front door opened and in walked Roy.

"The client is buying the-" he froze when he saw the two women sat together. "Laurel... Oh god I totally forgot about dinner! Give me 10 minutes and we can go out."

"Roy..."

"Laurel it's no problem." He smiled wide as he stepped forward placing a kiss to her cheek. Laurels smile widened too as she looked at Felicity. She stood up.

"Right I'll leave you two to it. Have fun guys." And with that Felicity grabbed her purse and phone, leaving the pair.

Her date with George went better than she expected, he was kind and funny with dark hair and eyes, and somehow they had ended up in his apartment.

"Well thank you for dinner George." She smiled softly sitting on the sofa sipping coffee. She turned to look at him and suddenly his lips were on hers, she sighed softly because damn he could kiss. He pulled away softly, with an easy smile.

"Someone is certainly thankful." He whispered leaning in and kissing her again. This time she pulled back.

"Well maybe next time I can pay."

"I'm going out of town tomorrow, so I'll be out of touch." His hands slid to her tank top pulling it up slightly. Felicity froze a little pulling away from him.

"Excuse me I have to use the little girl's room." She pulled herself up and headed to the bathroom as soon as the door closed she grabbed her phone calling a number.

Oliver was sat in the bar; completely enjoying his night off, kissing a lovely brunette he had managed to pick up. His phone buzzing on the table caught his attention, he grabbed it answering instantly.

"Hello."

"Hey sorry to keep bugging you but quick question..." Felicity's voice made him smile instantly. He turned to the lovely lady whilst standing.

"Would you excuse me for a second babe?" The girl merely nodded as he made his way to his office. "Go on..."

"I'm making out with this dude..." Her brain catching up with what she had said. "Completely PG not that I don't do X rated, I mean it's a first date so no... Not that I'm a prude I just have my own personal standards-"

"Felicity..."

"Right sorry..." She sighed a little closing her eyes. "Anyway he tells me he's going out of town so he won't be in touch for awhile."

"Run..."

"But what if he is going out of town?"

"Where could he possibly be going where he'll be out of touch? The north pole?" She could hear the humour in his tone and she couldn't help shake her head. She opened the door slightly before shouting across the room.

"Where did you say you were heading again?"

"Errr Coast city." George replied not even glancing her way. She closed the door behind herself.

"Coast City."

"Run..."

"So now I have to run from every guy?" She asked pacing the spacious bathroom.

"No... How about when you go on dates you bring them to Verdant, then I can help you judge..."

"What so you can watch me?"

"No so I can watch them... I just want to help but I completely understand if not." Felicity looked at herself in the mirror.

"Okay."

"Okay?" He asked and she could hear the smile in his voice.

"Yes but I'm in his bathroom right now... So what do I do?"

"Well you have to leave eventually... I'd stay in there for awhile make him sweat."

"Thank you Oliver."

"Hey it's no problem." She hung up the phone staring into the mirror once more. Oliver hung up with a smile, and a little shake of his head at Felicity's ways.