A/N: Here's another chapter guys :), as always thanks for everything, I'm sorry if there are mistakes I have a headache but I wanted to get this up for you guys... so I hope you enjoy...

A week later

Oliver took a deep breath before pulling the door to the bar open. He was meeting Felicity; well she didn't know that, he'd messed up the day of her date with Ray. Not intentionally, it had just been a crazy week what with his parents and getting back into running the restaurant. He saw her stood by a table, a drink in hand as he walked over to her with a smile.

"Sorry I'm late." He said gesturing to a passing waiter for another round of drinks.

"You late? Isn't he the one that's late? I mean I don't mind it gives me time to prepare you know? And to remind myself not to tell him the story about my molars." He smiled uncontrollably at her babbling.

"He's not coming." Her mouth fell open. "But I can't wait to hear the story about the molars." He grinned.

"How can he not like me... We haven't even met." She whispered.

"Hey, it's not like that. I told him the wrong day." She glanced up at him wide eyed, just as the waitress placed their drinks in front of them. "Not on purpose, I got distracted it was an accident." Felicity sighed, her eyes roaming the bar, she was disappointed but for some reason Oliver being here made her feel better.

"I can't even find a guy and that girl's probably meeting her soul mate as we speak." She tilted her head to a voluptuous red head by the bar, who was talking to a dark haired guy in a grey suit, with a blonde haired guy in a grey henley on her other side.

"Nope." Oliver replied taking a sip of his beer.

"How do you know?" She asked tilting her head, which caused Olivers lips to curve up.

"Guy in the suit... He's not interested."

"You cannot tell from a single glance." She said standing a little straighter.

"Felicity I work in a restaurant and bar, I see this stuff literally every night."

"Except when you're with me." She slipped out, her hand flew to her mouth. "I didn't mean we spend the night together, not that I don't like spending the night with you... Ugh." She rubbed her fingers between her brow. "I didn't mean that-"

"It's okay Felicity, I understand. But watch..." He nodded his head back to the bar. The guy in the suit moved slightly knocking the red heads drink all across the bar and he slowly eased away as the Henley guy helped her clean up. Oliver stood there a smug grin on his face.

"That is some gift."

"Check out Henley guy on the other side." Felicity span back around. "That guy will buy her drinks all night and she'll insist there is no spark."

"Maybe there isn't... You need a spark."

"The spark is just crap." She raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Go on..." She said waiting for more. He took a drink before he looked back at her.

"Guys invented the spark, so they could not call and treat you bad and keep you guessing. Then somehow convince you that the anxiety and fear that is created is a spark. And you all buy it! You love it, because you love the drama..."

"I don't." She replied instantly and he shook his head.

"Really? So you don't wait until the last minute on a deadline or on phone bills because you love the thrill of not knowing whether you'll make it?" She looked away then.

"Maybe." She mumbled taking a sip of her red wine.

"See... You gotta be more like me, if a girl likes me great, if not, there are plenty more out there."

"So you're telling me I should sleep around?"

"No." He replied blinking. "Just don't beat yourself up if a thing with a guy doesn't end well." She nodded as they both drank in silence for awhile.

"Why are you sharing all this information with me anyway?" She asked. Oliver shrugged.

"Errrmmm I dunno. I like you."

"You do?" Felicity asked in surprise.

"Well yes, you know like you like a friend. I just want to make that smile of yours appear on your face." He grinned then and she couldn't help returning it.

"So how's everything, I mean parents wise... I totally understand if you don't wanna talk about it, I mean clearly it isn't any of my business." His soft chuckle stopped her as she looked up.

"If anyone has the right to ask about how it's going it's you."

"Oh..." She blushed a little.

"You were the one who made my parents... Believe in me again."

"It's not hard because I believe in you, look how far you've come Oliver. I don't know your past but I know your present, and this guy," she placed her hand over his heart, "he's pretty awesome." She could feel his heart beating beneath her finger tips, the warmth of his skin seeping through his shirt. She looked into his eyes, he was staring at her and the way he looked sent a shiver down her spine. She swallowed thickly removing her hand to grab her wine glass instead.

"Thank you." He whispered.

"For what?"

"For not judging me. For well, helping my parents decide to give me another chance." He ran a hand at the back of his neck. "I... Thank you for trusting and believing in me." She shrugged lightly then.

"It's nothing." She tried to brush it off and his hand caught her wrist snapping her attention.

"No it's not nothing Felicity, you're the first person... The first person to not run away, to get to know me." She smiled then.

"Oliver, seriously you've been through enough. You deserved a break, so sorting that press thing out, dealing with your parents, it's fine."

"Well, thanks to you my parents are actually well... trying and I... I can never thank you enough." His grip tightened slightly. "Do you understand?" She blinked rapidly, the way he was staring so intently, the way his words had actual meaning and her heart beat a little quicker. She quickly shook it off nodding.

"Yes, I do." His hand slowly released her and their smiles shone brightly.

They'd spent a couple of hours just chatting, both enjoying being in the others company. Oliver walked her back to her apartment.

"You really didn't have to do this." She said softly as she stopped out her door.

"No I wanted to." He smiled softly.

"Do you want to come in?"

"I don't think that's a good idea if your brother's in."

"He won't do anything I promise."

"He shouldn't be made to feel uncomfortable in his own home."

"And you say you aren't a nice guy." She teased and he chuckled. "Well I guess it's goodnight then." He nodded.

"Felicity." She nodded. "It's my house warming party next weekend, I wondered if you wanted to come."

"Won't Tommy be there?"

"Well yes if he can make it, but it wont be awkward I promise... Plus there will be plenty of single guys there."

"Oh so lots of chances to be awkward."

"Don't worry, I'll be there." He smiled softly, his eyes shining in the dull hallway lights.

"Okay, I'll come. But it's nothing fancy-"

"Oh no! It's just a get together, casual thing and no my parents won't be there."

"Well then yes Oliver I will be there." He stared into her eyes, her blue orbs sparkling behind her glasses. He found himself naturally gravitating towards her, his head cheerful and light from the alcohol coursing through his system. He smiled as he stepped closer and even in her heels she had to crane her neck to look up at him. Her tongue darted out licking her lips, his eyes following it. He slowly leant down, not thinking when her apartment door flew open. Both startled taking a step back.

They glanced to see Laurel leaving the apartment, she slammed the door staring at the pair, fresh tears building in her eyes.

"Laurel?" Oliver said so softly.

"Felicity... Ollie?" She glanced between the pair. "I didn't know you two were..."

"Oh we aren't." They replied in unison.

"Just friends." Oliver said not meeting Felicitys gaze and she frowned a little.

"Oh." Laurel replied.

"Are you okay?" Felicity asked tilting her head.

"Fine." She tried to walk passed then but Oliver caught her elbow, she stopped dead glancing up at him.

"Laurel..." He said her name in a way Felicity hadn't heard before, and made her heart ache. She shook her head.

"Roy and I, we broke up." She watched Oliver tense.

"Oh I'm so sorry Laurel." Felicity said walking up to her.

"It's okay, it's been a long time coming I suppose, we just want 2 different things from life." She shrugged as Oliver drew her in for a hug. Felicity stood there mouth agape.

"I'm sorry Laurel, I truly am." He whispered. Felicity took a step back.

"Well I should probably..." Felicity said gesturing to her door. "I'm sorry Laurel, I hope we can still be friends."

"Of course, it isn't your fault." She pulled out of Olivers hold and gave a sad smile.

"Night guys." She said opening her door.

"Night." Laurel replied.

"Good night Felicity." Oliver said as the door clicked shut.

He swallowed thickly staring at the door, would he have kissed Felicity if Laurel hadn't had come out? He shook his head, Felicity was a friend, only a friend he needed to keep things in his pants and not let it ruin the friendship he was building. He blinked to see Laurel walking away.

"Hey!" He shouted after her. "Wait up let me walk you home."

"I'm fine Ollie." Laurel snapped a little.

"I just I wanted to say I'm sorry Laurel."

"You already said that." She said as they walked off the bottom step towards the exit.

"I didn't mean for that... I meant for us." She froze then just outside the door. "I treated you like crap, and I was an idiot back then..."

"Yes you did and you were."

"It was all on me." She shook her head.

"Not all of it." She said flatly. "I wasn't exactly encouraging of your career choice, but that didn't give you the right to cheat on me with my own sister." She crossed her arms over her chest.

"There was no excuse for that, I was a selfish idiot, and you deserved so much better than me, and it seems you got that." She shook her head a sad smile appearing on her face.

"I did, I got to know what it felt like to be really appreciated and even though its ended, at least it ended amicably."

"Good, I just want you to know I am sorry, and there isn't a day I don't regret treating you badly."

"It's okay, I mean it's not but I got over it a long time ago Oliver, so we're good." He smiled then.

"Thank you." She smiled back, returning to walking as they headed to her flat.

"You really don't need to walk me."

"Well my restaurant and bar is in the same direction, well if you live in that direction." He pointed down the street.

"Ah I see, yes it is and I'm glad you're doing good Oliver." He nodded. "I mean it, I really do. After everything you went through, coming out the other side with a thriving business and a lovely lady-" He frowned.

"Huh?"

"Felicity, she's special."

"Oh me and Felicity we're just friends."

"If you say so." She snickered.

"Honestly we're just friends."

"Okay." They walked chatting comfortably, talking about their pasts and their lives now. A calm settling over them as they made their way back to their lives. Her phone rang as they got closer to her apartment. Tommys name flashing on screen.

"I should let you get that."

"It's okay it's just Tommy." She said holding her phone.

"I think you should get that Laurel."

"Well I'm home now anyway." She said stopping outside a block of flats, gesturing to the door. "It was nice seeing you again."

"You too, you're always welcome at Verdant Laurel." He said with a soft smile carrying on, suddenly he span back to face her. "Oh and Laurel, sometimes we don't realise what we really need has always been right there, under our noses." He smiled as she frowned at him.

"Huh?" He pointed to her phone still buzzing in her hand.

"Bye Laurel."

"Bye Oliver." He started heading back to his when he heard Laurels faint voice fading away. "Hey Tommy..."

When she slipped into the apartment she sighed heavily glancing around, Roy nowhere to be seen. She leant her head back against the door. Oliver had leant closer to her watching her lips just before Laurel came out. Was he going to kiss her? She closed her eyes, she was being stupid of course not. The way his voice dropped for Laurel, she opened her eyes wide. Why did it even matter? Olivers love life had nothing to do with her. She dropped her keys and purse on the side, and then slipped her coat off. When she span around Roy was just entering the kitchen, he looked completely normal.

"Hey sis." He said with a smile.

"Is everything okay?" Felicity asked nervously.

"Yep everything's fine, how was the date?" He asked fetching himself a glass of water.

"He was a no show." He stopped then to look her in the eyes.

"Oh Fliss I'm so sorry." She smiled shaking it off. "But how come you're back so late then?"

"I ran into a friend, had a few drinks..."

"Ah I see." He returned to getting his water.

"I saw Laurel." He froze.

"Oh."

"I mean you don't have to tell me anything but are you... Are you okay?" She asked taking a step closer. He sighed then running a hand down his face.

"I'm actually okay."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes... I... I kind of feel like a weight has been lifted." She frowned slightly.

"What do you mean?"

"Me and Laurel we've realised that yes we love each other but we aren't in love with each other. That she wants to get married and have kids now, whereas I want to focus on my career."

"I see..."

"And I think well... I know it was the right thing to do because I can't give her what she needs and I think I like someone else..." Before he even had time to blink Felicity was wrapping her arms around him and engulfing him in a hug. "Wow what's that for?"

"I'm proud of you." She whispered squeezing a little tighter.

"Huh I just broke up with my long term girlfriend and told you I may have feelings for someone else, and you're proud of me?" They pulled apart then as she nodded.

"You could have stayed with Laurel out of some twisted loyalty, had kids before you felt ready, and both just become miserable over time but you... you ended it before anything could happen, you were grown up enough to admit your feelings and I have never been prouder of you for talking to her."

"I... It was a mutual decision. I mean I feel bad but I think there's a guy out there for her who wants the family... In fact I think I know who that guy is." He smiled at his sister as she raised an eyebrow.

"Oh really?" He nodded with a smile.

"Yes but that's between them."

"Rightly said..."

"Well I'm going to go to bed, night Fliss." He said with a wave as he grabbed his water heading for his room.

"Night Roy." She smiled as she walked to her own bedroom. "Oh and Roy?" She span around to face him and he glanced back.

"Yes?"

"Don't think I haven't forgot you said you had feelings for someone else... I still want to know who." She winked and Roy laughed as he stepped into his room.