I thought it would be interesting to level the playing field. What if Felicity potentially met someone? How would Oliver react? How would that change the dynamic of their relationship?

I'd appreciate your thoughts. :)

LadyG

Oliver had spent most of the evening trying to figure out what could have happened to alter Felicity's mood so drastically. She was generally pleasant and accommodating, her peculiar quirkiness one of her most endearing qualities.

Having managed to salvage most of his equipment, he was in the process of stowing them away while he pondered his IT genius's frame of mind. He knew Felicity was sensitive and that she took pride in her work and her role in his team. Granted, he hadn't really checked in with her since Sara's permanent arrival back in Starling City, but he'd been really wrapped up in other things – his discovery of Thea's true father, Laurel's alcohol abuse and integrating Sara back into her family to name just a few. That was apart from his commitment to help Roy learn to control his new strength and all the demands of being CEO. Besides, he didn't think his lack of attention would be what had set Felicity on edge.

It was probably the explosion and the massive amount of work that lay ahead of them in order to get all the equipment back in running order. He'd tried telling her that Sara would gladly help her, that she wouldn't need to do everything alone, but she hadn't even let him finish.

Shaking his head, he resolved to talk to her when he saw her the next day. Finishing up, he closed the crate he was temporarily stowing his bow in just as he felt a pair of hands slide around his waist to embrace him from behind.

Smiling, he turned to face Sara. Her blond hair was parted down the middle and fell in soft waves around her face.

"Why so pensive? You've been sporting a frown for the last half an hour," she said, reaching up to give him a brief kiss on the lips.

Oliver wrapped his arms around her. "Just thinking about Felicity. She seemed a little upset when she left earlier."

Sara shrugged. "I'm sure she's just sifting through everything that happened last night. She's cutesy and sweet, but she doesn't strike me as a shrinking violet. She'll be fine."

Frowning, he noted her flippant tone. For some reason it grated on his nerves. "Felicity isn't prone to mood swings. Something must be bothering her."

She must have picked up on his annoyance. "Hey, I wasn't being condescending. If it bothers you, then you should talk to her about it."

Relaxing slightly, Oliver changed the subject. "You working tonight?" Thea had recently hired Sara as Verdant's bartender.

Seemingly relieved at the shift in topic, she smiled, "Yes. Which reminds me, I'd better get upstairs before your sister fires me. It would make a really bad impression if I arrived late on my first day." She hesitated slightly. "See you later?"

Oliver smiled reassuringly. "Yeah."

With a nod, Sara kissed his cheek and headed upstairs, but not without noticing that he seemed a million miles away.

The following morning Felicity popped into Big Belly Burger to grab a coffee before heading to work. It would be a long day. She had loads of work to do at Queen Consolidated before heading over to the foundry to get started on the computer repairs.

After a good bout of crying the night before, she felt better, more in control. Who Oliver chose to date was none of her concern. She had a job to do and from now on, it was best that she focussed on that and nothing else. She wasn't his type anyway. In the long run, pegging her hopes and dreams on him would only result in more hurt feelings. Resolved, she placed her order and shrugged out of her coat, taking a seat at the counter while she waited.

"…is not going to work! I need that server back up within the hour!" Felicity glanced around to see where the frustrated words were coming from.

A tall guy in an immaculate navy suit took a seat beside her as he caught a waitress's attention. Ordering his beverage of choice, he slammed his mobile onto the vinyl surface in front of him.

"Dammit!"

Felicity winced. "You probably shouldn't throw your phone onto the counter face down. That particular model has a pretty trashy screen. I wouldn't be surprised if you've just cracked it."

A pair of clear blue eyes turned to look at her. Felicity swallowed and as usual, said the first thing that came to mind. "Wow, you're attractive." Blushing, she froze. Thick brows rose in amusement. "I-I mean not like attractive attractive." Realising the insult, she back-tracked. "You are attractive; I'm just not saying that I find you attractive." She closed her eyes and mentally berated herself. "What I mean is…oh nevermind." Lowering her voice and hunching forward in an attempt to make herself as small as possible, she whispered, "I'm just going to shut up now."

The man beside her smiled and shifted his eyes to his phone. Lifting it from the table he turned it over and noted the cracked screen. "You were right." He showed her.

Immensely relieved that he chose not to comment on her verbal diarrhoea, she stared at it. "Like I said, not the best model."

Shaking his head, he sighed. "Government issue. Bound to be crap."

Felicity relaxed. "You're the District Attorney."At his questioning glance, she explained. "You worked the Moira Queen case. I remember you from the TV." Actually, she remembered a lot more about him considering that Oliver had wanted to deck the guy a few times for merely doing his job. She extended her hand to him. "Felicity Smoak. I work for Queen Consolidated."

He nodded and shook her hand. Felicity noted his firm grip. He really was quite good looking. Chiselled jaw, straight nose, wide mouth with perfectly straight teeth and a well groomed head of thick brown hair. He was different to Oliver. He was more- No! She would not sit there comparing another woman's boyfriend to every man she met.

"Adam Donner."

Her coffee arrived so she took the opportunity to do something with her hands by adding some sugar. "So, your server is down?"

He grimaced. "For the last 24 hours. There's some virus that IT can't seem to kill. What the hell do we pay these people for?" The last bit he seemed to ask himself.

Genuinely smiling for the first time in days, Felicity offered, "Maybe I can help?"

He looked at her doubtfully. "Unless you've got some hidden talents, I think we'll need more than a pretty face."

Felicity knew that she should have felt insulted, but she rather liked the idea that he found her attractive. At least someone does. Her ego enjoyed the boost even if she wasn't sure if he really meant it. "You're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, Mr Attorney." She wiggled her purple tipped fingers at him. "These babies can work miracles."

He chuckled and she found that she liked the sound. It felt nice to talk to a man other than Diggle and Oliver.

"Alright, I'll bite. Care to explain?" He took a sip of his black coffee.

"I'm QC's top IT asset. Of course, you don't have to take my word for it. You're welcome to contact my superior." She flashed him a cheeky smile.

Amused, Adam asked indulgently, "And this person would be…?"

"Oliver Queen," came a familiar voice from behind her. Felicity whipped around. Oliver was standing there, dressed impeccably in a grey business suit wearing the most ferocious scowl she'd ever seen.