Okay everyone, here is the next chapter. Now I know I left you all on edge there with what Donna did, hope this answers any questions or feelings you might have. Please comment so I know if you are still enjoying it, this is all still new to me but I am really having fun with this story. Wedding Planning is just around the coroner. Thank you.

Felicity couldn't even begin to explain what her mother had just done, so she simply pointed to the TV, which had already begun to replay the story. Donna walked over so she could see what her daughter was looking at and saw the shop assistant being interviewed with the words "Oliver Queen and Felicity Smoak are getting married" as the footer.

"Oh if I knew they were going to do interviews I would have stuck around."

Felicity was about to explode with rage due to the self centred nature her mother was displaying right now, but as she stood up to speak, arms ready to thrash about as they do when she has something to say, Oliver decided to step in. Picking up the remote he switched off the television so there were no distractions and stood in front of Felicity who looked like she was ready to pounce on her mother like a lion finding its prey. He placed his hands around her shoulders and gave them a gentle squeeze of reassurance and looked deep into her eyes.

"Just breathe Felicity"

He could feel her slowly relaxing under his touch as she did as he asked. Knowing that Felicity was now calm, he knew this conversation would go smoother.

He turned to face Donna who was still smiling like everything was just peachy.

"Ms Smoak"

"Donna"

Oliver sighed in frustration.

"Donna, what Felicity and I are concerned about is how you automatically walked into a bridal store and whole handily told the all of Starling City, possibly the world that we are engaged."

"I don't understand what the big deal is; they were going to find out sooner or later."

Felicity went to speak, but Oliver gave her a look as if to say he would handle it.

"Yes, but we wanted to tell them on our own terms so that they wouldn't take our story and turn it into something it isn't."

"Oliver, sweetie, I'm from Vegas, I know what a gold digger looks like and Felicity is not it, it doesn't matter if people thing you two are an office romance, all that matter is what it is to the both of you. I mean, you could have started as an office romance, I don't know your story exactly so I'm not sure how this started but either way, I won't judge. "

Feeling proud that she was able to sort out the issue, Donna walked towards the fridge to get herself a drink.

"Ooo Lafite Rothschild, classy, mind if I have a glass?"

"It's not even noon yet mum."

Felicity should have known to hide any and all alcoholic beverages from her mum; she drank them as if it was water and never appreciated the flavour or the price."

"Mum, my relationship with Oliver is complicated to the point of it being kept somewhat private for the last few months and in one day, you have told everyone that I am a money grabbing work fling." Felicity was surprised at how calm she was able to get those words out.

"Who cares what others think."

"I DO!" She yelled back.

Felicity suddenly felt deflated again, as if everything she was saying was to a brick wall. Oliver realised that he may have to take a different approach to this.

"Donna, someone in my position can sometimes be put in danger. There are certain people that would like to have my position or even just get to me for money and using someone I care about to do so would easily cross their mind. Felicity and I wanted to control how our story got out to the public for her safety, more than anything."

Felicity took Oliver's hand and gave it a squeeze, those words were more about the life of The Arrow than they were about Oliver Queen, but it was still connected in a way. Felicity knew that her safety would always be a worry on Oliver's mind and she did whatever she could to help me look past that. Too many times has she seen the fear in his eyes as he has come to her aid or heard the hurt in his voice when he has seen the pain she was put through. But they are now a team and it may have taken Oliver a little longer to understand and accept that, but it has put them both in a better place for it. They now work together instead of trying to control one another.

Donna took another gulp of her wine.

"Well what kind of danger will my daughter be put in Mr Queen?"

"Mum it doesn't matter, the point is you came to our house, unannounced and tried to take control of a situation you know nothing about and then happily tell the world mine and Oliver's personal business."

"I was just trying to-"

"No, with you it's not trying, it's manipulating or controlling or make a situation benefit you somehow while it puts the rest of us in an awkward position. You're doing it all over again…"

Oliver looked to Felicity for an answer, obviously another story about the past that she has kept to herself.

"Oh please, this is totally different."

"Is it really? I was in a good home with people that loved and cared for me. I was living with the Jones family for months because you weren't their to take care of me, you were too busy chasing YOUR dream while your 13 year old daughter was thinking if she would ever see her mother again. They took me under their wing, and didn't ask any questions. But one day you decided to come home and just take me back, you were ready to take care of me and be a mother again and the Jones family told you that they had no issue taking caring for me while you find yourself. I was going to school with Amanda and I had a home and food and people who loved me, but that didn't suit you. No, you wanted the money that was suddenly available to single mothers needing assistance. So you threatened to call the police and the news reporters and tell your sob story of how this family had brainwashed me into believing they were my own family during a difficult time in my life. So they handed me back over to you, because it suit you and everything turned back to what it was before. I should have known that leaving the Jones meant more nights on my own, fending for myself, wondering if you were alive or ever coming back. You did what suited you, what benefited you at the time and I am older and wiser now and I will not let you do this again."

"Felicity, honey that was a long time ago…"

Oliver couldn't believe what he had just heard, he was appalled that this woman still called herself a mother when it was the last thing she was. Oliver realised that Moira had her issues also, but never did she abandon him or Thea and never did she ever make them question if she loved them.

"Donna you need to leave."

Felicity and Donna both looked at Oliver as he spoke.

"Felicity is one of the most kind hearted and caring person I know and the thought of someone ever hurting her angers me because she deserves to be loved and respected. From what I've heard, you have never done any of those things, so you are not welcomed here."

"Well where am I supposed to go? You're just going to throw your own mother, your soon to be mother-in-law on the street?"

"No, because unlike you, I wouldn't treat someone with such cruel behaviour when they have hit rock bottom, instead, I will put you up in a 3 star hotel, nothing special, for two weeks, which, if you are deciding to stay in Starling for a little while longer, will give you enough time to find a job and save to help support yourself. And this is me being generous."

"But…what about…"

"Mum, I believe my fiancé has spoken. He'll have Diggle our driver drop you off at your room which we will organise and the rest will be up to you." The way Oliver stood up for her, for them, realising that it was the first time someone had put Donna in her place, made a weight lift from her shoulders. She stopped trying to please her mum years ago because to do that it meant Felicity had to be someone she wasn't, do something she wasn't keen on. But today, that was going to end. Donna needed to see that this was her life and she was going to live it how she wanted. Hearing herself call Oliver her fiancé sounded so foreran and yet so right at the same time. Although today had been a huge mess, she had never been happier than what she was now with him.

Diggle picked Donna up thirty minutes later. He would have been their sooner but the news reporters that were swarming outside with their vans were blocking traffic, prevented him from moving quicker than he normally would.

But with Donna now a in a hotel, away from all the fuss and under a name that no one could connect to Felicity or Oliver for further questioning, their apartment finally felt peaceful again.

"I'm so sorry about this entire day Oliver, I had no idea she was coming down and then…"

"Hey, it's okay; we all have some crazy family members. Mine tried to demolish the Glades remember."

Felicity could see he was trying to make a light hearted joke about the situation, but bringing up that night, when Tommy died, was still a sore subject.

"So Starling City now knows I'm the office romance and like Roy did, they believe I am pregnant with your bastard child and so we are trying to tie the knot before anyone finds out."

"Wow that sounded so beautiful Felicity."

"Sorry, it's just, you know I hate it when I can't control a situation, especially one that involves either of us and the stories and rumours are already flying out of control."

"You checked your tablet didn't you."

Felicity had set searches long ago with her name and Oliver's name so she could keep an eye on any rumoured story that may hit the internet, allowing her to shut it down before it spread…even if the rumours may have been true, better to be gone than questioned.

"I couldn't help it, I was in the bathroom and I could hear it dinging away like I had just won a million dollars on the slot machines. So yes, I checked it."

Oliver smiled, "I wouldn't have expected anything else."

He pulled her into his arms, wrapping himself around her, using his actions as a way to protect her from what was happening outside, wishing it could be different.

"I know what you are doing Oliver, but my brain is still working 100 miles a minute."

He kissed her on the forehead before he pulled away.

"At least I tried."

She smiled.

"So, which lucky reporter gets to hear our story first?"

"Babe, we don't have to do this just yet. It hasn't even been 24 hours since that bitch of a sales assistance called every news channel in Starling City."

"I know but at least if we set something up, it looks like we are trying to make things right, you know, cover our tracks or something. If we come out this soon people are going to think we have something to hide, I'm sure, but if we wait to long it's as though we are thinking of a cover story, so either way we are screwed."

"Okay, okay, I'll call the family lawyer, Jean and she'll set some things up for us."

"Thank you."

She stood up on her tippy toes and gave him a kiss of thanks before he went into the other room. Felicity sat down, needing to collect her thoughts, she contemplated reaching for the remote and turning the news back on to see what they were now saying. She leaned over to the coffee table, about to reach for it when Oliver suddenly picked it up before her. He was walking back towards the bedroom, phone in one hand and remote control in another.

"Don't torture yourself" he called out behind him as he closed the bedroom door.

"Easy for you to say, you're used to being on every station in Starling City." She mumbled.

"I heard that"

It was Tuesday; only two days after Donna Smoak rolled into town and pulled the plug on everything Oliver and Felicity were planning in terms of their engagement. When Oliver had returned from his phone call with Jean, she had arranged for a private two on one interview with Miss Rosie Vanderwall, the most respectable reporter in the industry that deals with all billionaires and their private affairs. She works for SCU (Starling City Upfront) which provided all the correct gossip on the powerful, rich and famous people of Starling.

Since Oliver and Felicity wanted to keep the media out of their apartment, Miss Vanderwall's assistant suggested one of the penthouse suites in the city to be booked for the day, that way it would feel more relaxed having an interview on a couch or a balcony, rather than a place they are actually connected to. Apparently it is what all the celebrities do, Roy Palmer even Bruce Wayne when he was visiting a few years back. Oliver agreed to the idea and figured it would be a nice night out for him and Felicity afterwards. Since it was SCU magazine paying for the room, why would he say no.

Diggle had picked them both up around 9am, not needing to be in the room for another thirty minutes.

"How are you feeling?"

"Fine, I'm kind of used to these by now." Oliver looked into the rear-view mirror so his eyes met Diggle's.

"That's good man, but, I wasn't talking to you."

As Felicity realised that the question was pointed at her, she looked up and into the mirror also, making sure Diggle could see she was telling the truth.

"It will be okay I'm sure. We know what we are going to say and how bad can one interviewee and one cameraman be?"

Oliver grabbed her hand for reassurance.

"Well just remember, whatever happens, you're Felicity Smoak, and you once took away millions of dollars from a man with the touch of a button and the use of WiFi…I've never seen someone get so scared around a person that wasn't even touching them." Diggle's memory made Felicity smile, remembering how good it felt to help two people that night, Oliver, in finding a way to stop Slade and donating millions of dollars to a well deserved charity.

However as Felicity and Oliver walked through the double doors of the penthouse suite at Hotel Patricia, she underestimated just how low key this was going to be. Not only was Miss Rosie Vanderwall their, but so was her assistant, four cameramen, one for close ups on each of their faces and a wide shot and two men controlling lights that were situated on either side of a couch that looked like it was brought back from the Titanic. It looked so elegant with its high back that slopped down to the left and the one arm that had black lining on the cushion and a gold trim around the edge. It defiantly looked like something that suited the Queen name but it was the last thing Felicity would ever purchase for her house. She preferred comfort rather than style. She is more than happy with her large beige couch that swallows her whole the minute she sits down, perfect for TV show binge nights, or snuggling with your fiancé.

Miss Vanderwall walked over with a grin that Felicity couldn't believe was a genuine smile. Her tall tan legs were on display from the some what short pencil skirt she had decided to wear for the interview. The fashion woman chose to wear around Oliver does not get past Felicity's eyes, she has seen it many times before and with the white low-cut v neck top she decided to match with it, Felicity was pleasured that she had decided to wear her red fashion knot dress and black ankle cut heels. Miss Vanderwall offered her hand to Oliver first and then to Felicity.

"Mr Queen and Miss Smoak, it is a pleasure to be doing this interview with you today."

"Well we heard you were the best in the city." Felicity felt like extra complements might help with the final draft of the interview.

"Why thank you. Okay so everything is set up, I believe my assistant explained that this will be taped and will then be published in print and aired tomorrow night."

"Yes she did mention something along those lines." Oliver placed he arm around Felicity's waist and brought her closer towards his body, noticing the eyes of every man in the room checking her out from head to toe. As much as she would never admit it, Felicity did like a slightly jealous and possessive Oliver, it did wonders for them in the bedroom.

"Okay then, well whenever you are ready, just take a seat here on the couch that we have set up and there is some water on the table for you. We are ready to begin when you are."

She walked away towards her assistant, smile still the size of the moon and made sure everything was in place. Oliver stepped in front of Felicity and took her hands in his.

"Hey, you alright?"

"Yeah there are just a few more extra people than what I expected that's all."

"Doesn't matter how many people are here, we have the control and if at any moment you are uncomfortable or you want to leave, just let me know."

Felicity gave Oliver a nod and as he went to turn around and walk them both over to the couch she stopped him.

"How?"

He looked at her slightly confused.

"How will I tell you if I want to leave, without actually saying it?"

He couldn't help but smile.

"I'll be holding your hand the whole time, give me two short squeezes and I'll make up a reason to go. I promise"

Felicity understood and took in one last breath before letting go of one of his hands so they could walk over together.

Miss Vanderwall noticed them heading towards her and gestured towards the cameras to get ready to film.

"Okay, so just take a seat and get comfortable, I'll count us in and let you know when we are rolling, okay?"

Felicity swore if she said okay one more time she was going to wipe that smile off her face, but that could have just been the nerves talking. Thinking what position they should sit in that would be best for the interview, Oliver took the initiative of taking his position right next to the arm rest and placing Felicity beside him, his left arm placed behind her waist while he draped his right arm across his lap so he could hold her hand. He decided to go semi formal for the interview, wearing his navy blue suit pants and black shoes, with an open white shirt. Felicity took her position next to him and was quick to take his hand in hers. Miss Vanderwall sat down and gave them both a nod which they imitated back before she began her count down from three, two, one.

"Hello, my name is Rosie Vanderwall and today I have the honour of interviewing the most talked about couple in Starling City, Oliver Queen and Felicity Smoak, welcome."

The cameras were now facing them both, Felicity gave Oliver one tight squeeze but that was all. It was enough to show that she was nervous and needed him wherever possible.

"Thank you for having us." Oliver replied with his charming grin.

"So as everyone has already heard, you are both currently engaged which is very exciting news, but before we get to that, I suppose the question that is on everyone's mind is, how did you both meet?"

Oliver looked towards Felicity and could see she was comfortable to continue.

"As you may have heard we did meet at Queen Consolidated, I was not yet working as the CEO as I had just returned to Starling and I needed some IT advice. My step father, Walter, he told me that Miss Smoak was the best in the business. When I saw her, this connection instantly grew, it was just a friendship but being away from people for five years made the job of making friends difficult for me…but not with Felicity." The memory came back to her as she blushed at her embarrassing babble, but she turned to Oliver and looked into his eyes, knowing exactly where he was coming from.

"So you began dating?"

"No!" Felicity cut in. Oliver gave her hand a quick squeeze and could hear her take a small breath beside him, calming her down from her outburst reply.

"Not at first." She corrected herself and took another breath, happy to hear that her voice had lowered and stopped shaking.

"He came to visit with small things he needed my help with and very poor excuses as to why something wasn't working. The whole time I could see past it all, the charm, the smile, all the tricks that would normally make others crumbled at the knees. It um, it wasn't untill Oliver was, um, he was sick one day and I offered to give him a lift home as he was incapable of driving and no one else was at the office. That was when I really got to see the true side to him, the side that the media and the tabloids never saw, the true Oliver Queen."

Oliver chuckled at the way Felicity covered up the real story behind that encounter. He remembered the way Felicity babbled in her car as he was bleeding, only to finally help save his life with the help of Diggle. He realised that since then she had been saving his life ever since, in more ways than she could imagine.

"We never dated while Felicity worked for me at QC. I hired her to be my Personal Assistant because her skills were the best and I found myself needing IT support more than I would like to admit. Being away from technology for five years can do that to you. Plus, it was nice to have a friend close by, someone that wasn't waiting for my next mistake to be exploited on the front page, who was willing to help without giving me the sad puppy eyes that said I'm sorry with what happened to you. I just needed to be treated like nothing a normal person…like the five years away didn't happen…and that's what she did."

"So when did this friendship become something more?"

Oliver took in a breath, giving the cameras a little suspense.

"Shortly after the city was attacked I ran into Felicity at a local coffee shop. We got to talking as we hadn't seen each other for a few months after that horrible experience and the rest they say is history."

He leaned over and gave her a kiss on the right side of her temple.

"So why keep the relationship a secret? If a physical relationship never started while working together, why suddenly come out now with an engagement, when no one was even aware that you were seeing someone?"

They knew they wouldn't be able to escape all of the tricky questions.

"I was still working at Queen Consolidated, actually I still am, under the knew CEO Mr Palmer, so I guess I should say that I'm working at Palmer Technologies. Anyway, at the time however, Oliver was considering taking it back, fulfilling his rightful place as the CEO for his family and for himself. By that point we had been together for a few months." Lie number two Felicity thought, "We decided to keep things quiet until the business side of things were worked out."

"I see, but things were sorted out six months ago now and yet still nothing."

What did this woman want, a sworn in oath and our confession Felicity thought.

"True, but the media was always watching and following me and I knew what I had, what we had was something special, and from the history I have had with the media I didn't want Felicity to be just another woman next to my name. You see Rosie, Starling City has been built from a world of the rich and powerful and from that you get scandals, gossip and rumours. I knew straight away that this was different, Felicity was not just another woman to me, she was the woman and I wasn't going to let anyone question that or tarnish what we have. Our relationship was not kept a secret because it was wrong or unethical; it was kept a secret because it was our relationship. It was personal and private and only a few of our family and friends knew. The name Queen has a few enemies out their still and I did whatever I thought would be best to keep Felicity safe…and I always will."

He rose her hand that he was holding to his lips and kissed it softly. A small tear escaped from the corner of Felicity's eye, she was able to hide it from the camera but not from Oliver. She was glad however that he saw it how his words touched her. What he said needed to be heard by her and by everyone else around them.

There was silence, not even Rosie Vanderwall knew what to ask next because his answer was not something she was expecting to hear. But, she wouldn't be a highly known interviewer if an unexpected answer threw her off her game.

"Mr Queen, Miss Smoak, as a person who works in the media and makes a living off other peoples lives, I apologies on behalf of all of us for what you must be going through at the moment, this sudden invasion and speculation you are going through would be exhausting."

Felicity gave her a nod, thanking her for her support, but deep down she knew it was all for the cameras, considering the large payout she was going to get from this story.

"Felicity, your mother, was she not aware of your agreement with those who knew?"

"No she wasn't." Felicity didn't want to dive to personal into her own life but it was inevitable.

"My mother and I grew apart after I moved to Starling City for work and when she decided to surprise me last week, it was a shock just to learn I was seeing someone let alone engaged. My mother was excited and acted like most mothers would when they hear that their daughter is getting married, we just didn't have much time to explain the situation before she ran off to plan everything herself."

"Yes, the big expensive wedding, since you are marrying a queen."

This time it was Oliver that gave Felicity's hand a squeeze, and it wasn't as gentle as before.

"My mother was merely excited, nothing else. She has only ever heard of the Queen name from Television and Magazines and I don't blame her for assuming that our wedding would be grand and lushes. But I can assure you it will be quite the opposite."

"So have you discussed any plans about the wedding yet?"

"Not yet." They both said at the same time and it was nice to finally be on a happier note in this interview than it had been. They laughed and then Oliver motioned for Felicity to continue.

"With everything that's happened we haven't even had time to sit down and discuss a date yet, but it will be kept small and interment, that's all we know at the moment.

"Well on behalf of myself and Starling City Upfront, I'd like to thank you both for sitting down and telling a story that seems so close to both of your hearts. You have heard it from the beautiful couple themselves Starling, this is a true romance that has not come out of nowhere, it has not arisen from an unexpected pregnancy or formed from an office romance. Oliver and Felicity have found their happily ever after and it was such a delight being able to hear it from you both today.

"Thank you"

"It was our pleasure"

The lights died down and the red light on the cameras turned off. It was over. In 24 hours their story would have been cut, edited and out for all to hear, but it was the truth…at least, the closest it could be without telling the world about The Arrow and his helpful IT girl. All they could do now was wait.