Hello Readers,

A few things worth mentioning:

1) Oliver: Desperation is not an emotion I plan to explore with him. The point here is that he learns to accept Felicity's choices and as such, he comes to terms with his own. She's not blind either - she will come to realise that he's changing and it's those subtle differences in him that makes her take a second look. There is history between them; feelings that she's suppressing. That doesn't just disappear because you want it to.

2) Felicity: I struggle to understand why some people seem to think that Team Arrow is and should remain the be all and end all of Felicity's existence. Is she not allowed to ever care for someone outside of that circle? Does she sacrifice her entire life to "the cause" in the hopes that her loyalty will drive Oliver to realise (eventually) how madly in love with her he is? And if he never does? What then? She get's a pat on the shoulder for her years of loyalty and missed opportunities? Why can't she take control of her own destiny? Why does meeting someone else have to mean abandoning current friendships? Why can't she meet someone who shows her that there's more to life, that there are other things that are also important? Like romantic love that's healthy and mutually benefiting - the idea that Felicity is this appendage waiting for Oliver to "see" her drives me crazy. There is nothing wrong with having choices in life - Felicity has the right to have some too. Would she ever betray Team Arrow? Absolutely not. Does she have a right to want a different kind of life for herself if she were to meet someone else? Absolutely.

3) Adam: It's interesting because Adam and Oliver are contrasts. One treats Felicity like any good man should and the other has generally taken her for granted and tried to dictate the terms of her life. The evolution here lies in Oliver and how he grows to become a man that Felicity can not only love, but respect (those two things are not mutually exclusive). The important thing is just because Adam might be the BETTER man for her, doesn't mean he's the RIGHT man for her. Again, the two concepts are not the same. The heart wants what the heart wants and this sometimes defies logic.

To FANNY: Sorry, I can't PM you because you're not registered. Thanks for the comment, it truly made me smile. I have an idea that I know you're going to love so hang in there. :)

Thanks for all the feedback; I do enjoy knowing what you all think. :)

LadyG

"Remember the conference I need to attend in Chicago?" Adam asked Felicity over lunch a few days later. They were at Big Belly Burger grabbing something to eat before he had to run back to court.

Nibbling on a fry, she replied, "Yeah. You're leaving in three days?"

Sighing, he wiped the corners of his mouth with a napkin. "Tonight. I'm on the last flight out."

Felicity frowned. "How come?"

"One of the key speakers wants to meet with me ahead of time to discuss the paper he's presenting."

Shaking her head she wrapped her hands around her tea cup. "I can't believe they only told you this now."

"Government departments aren't always known for their forward thinking," he replied, amused.

She grinned. "Have you ever considered working in the private sector?"

Taking a sip of coffee as he contemplated her question. "I did, actually. I received several offers after I graduated and even accepted one. After a year I decided it wasn't for me. As much as I wish we had better resources and more money at our disposal in public services, I feel it's the place I can do the most good."

She respected him for his choice. Many men and women chased money, fame and glory but Adam wasn't one of them. "So, for how long will you be gone?"

Looking at her apologetically, he replied, "A week. It'll be all work and no fun so at least you know I won't be having a raucous time without you."

She narrowed her eyes and stared at him with false suspicion. "Perhaps I should plant some spyware on you just to make sure."

He laughed. "Feel free. Although I warn you, you'll die of boredom."

"I'll miss you." She reached for his hand and linked their fingers together.

Dropping a kiss on the back of her wrist he smiled, his blue eyes alight with mischief. "If you want to, you could come with me?" he cajoled.

She wished she could, but it wouldn't be possible. There was too much work to be done for her to skip out of town for a few days. Disappointed, she shook her head. "Tempting, it really is, but I can't. My workload at the moment wouldn't allow it."

"You can't blame a guy for trying," he said with a wink. Catching the waitress's eye he requested the bill.

"I'm flattered that you did."

Standing, he grabbed the jacket of his tan suit and shoved his arms into the sleeves. Felicity moved forward and straightened his striped tie. "I probably won't see you again before you leave."

Reluctantly he agreed. "There won't be time, I'm afraid. Not if I hope to finish the mountain of work waiting for me once I get back from court."

Hand in hand they stepped out into the gloomy weather. "Darn! I left my umbrella at the office. Looks like rain," she remarked as she watched the storm clouds gathering. Unconcerned, she smiled. "But no matter. Lucky for me, I have a boyfriend who can drop me off at the office."

With a chuckle he hugged her to his side as they walked to his car parked at the curb. "Now I know why you keep me around. You're actually just looking for a chauffeur."

"You only discovered this now?" she teased. "What kind of an attorney are you?"

Stopping in front of the passenger door he kissed her firmly on the lips. "The kind who knows a good deal when he sees one."

Back at Queen Consolidated, Oliver stared at his computer screen in frustration. For the last hour he'd been trying to finalise his presentation to the board. A lot rode on how smoothly it went and how well it was received. He'd planned on having it ready the day before, but with his Arrow duties taking temporary priority, he hadn't managed to make the deadline. Glancing at the clock for the umpteenth time, he cursed.

"I hope that's not directed at me," Diggle commented as he strode in.

Without removing his eyes from the screen, he replied, "Definitely not. But if I don't get this sorted out in the next thirty minutes, I'll be handing this company over to Isobel on a gold platter."

Diggle let out a low whistle. "What's the problem?"

Irate, he shoved his mouse aside. "I have most of the content down. The formatting though is driving me crazy. It keeps shifting all over the place."

"Well, you need to hurry up. I need to get you to the airport."

He gave his friend a quelling look. "You think I don't know that?"

Diggle's lips twitched. "Why don't you ask Felicity to help?"

"Help with what?" On cue she marched into his office while still unbuttoning her navy blue coat.

Oliver glanced up and saw her walking toward him, her cheeks rosy from the cold. She's lovely. Annoyed at himself he pointed at his machine. "This frikken presentation!" Clenching his jaw as his cursor hopped around the screen, he cursed again.

"Whoa," she replied. "Who knew we had a sailor among us?"

The glare he sent her way did nothing to dampen her amusement. "Move. I'll fix it."

"There's no time," Diggle said. "We have to go. The jet is fueled and ready to depart."

Oliver stood, ignoring the enticing scent of her perfume as she squeezed past him and sat in his place. "What on earth is this mess?" she asked, more to herself than to them. Realising that she'd spoken out loud she flashed him a rueful smile. "The formatting. Not the content."

"You haven't even read the content," he pointed out.

"Err…right." He watched as she smothered another grin, moved the mouse aside and used her hands to activate the keyboard shortcuts. Catching his hopeful expression and Diggle's eye on the clock, she looked down at the screen again. "This is going to take a while."

Oliver's shoulders slumped. "I'll have to wing it." Dammit.

"Man, I'm sorry to say it, but you're screwed."

"Not helping here, Dig," he warned, walking back toward his desk and shoving papers and folders into a small, portable suitcase.

"This is an important presentation, Oliver," Felicity reminded him as she followed him around the table, observing his haphazard packing. "You can't wing it!"

Appearing outwardly calm while panicking inside, he pushed the laptop closed. "I'll try to figure it out once I get to the hotel." He wasn't feeling overly optimistic, but he'd make a plan. Picking up his mobile phone he slid it into the inner pocket of his jacket and marched to the door. "Dig, let's go. Felicity, let me know if anything important crops up, okay? Sara and Roy are aware that I'll be gone for the next two days. Don't call if you don't have to. I'll be in meetings most of the time so texts would work better." He rambled off some more instructions as he heard her running after him into the lift lobby, her heels frantically clicking against the tiled floor as she struggled to keep up.

"Oliver! Wait!"

Half turned toward her he called the lift. "Yeah?"

Something flashed across her face but disappeared so quickly he couldn't make out what it was. "Let me go with you."

His heart stopped. Surely he'd heard wrong. "What?" he asked softly.

She bit the inside of her lip. "I can help you with your presentation. This is way too important for you to mess up."

"Hey, that's not a bad idea," Diggle agreed.

Ignoring the other man he blinked at her, still not sure he'd heard right. "Felicity, I'll be fine. Besides, it would mean being away from Starling for two days and nights. I'm sure you have better things to do."

She frowned at him. "If I didn't know better I'd think you were trying to tell me that you don't need my help."

More like I don't think it's a good idea for me to be alone with you. "Nonsense," he replied instead, "I just don't want to interfere with any plans you may have already made."

The lift pinged and opened. A few people stepped out while they continued to look at one another. "Let me come with you. I have no other plans and let's face it, you need me," she reasoned.

He tried to swallow but his throat had gone dry at her words. You need me. This was a mistake. It was one thing being around Felicity when there were other's to act as a buffer. But being completely alone with her wasn't something he knew how to handle. What if he did something stupid? How was he supposed to behave normally when she'd be right there. Close enough to touch. No way. He couldn't allow it.

"Alright," he heard himself say as he stepped toward the lift. "I hope you can pack fast." This is a mistake.

This is a mistake.

Felicity walked out of the bathroom stall at the Four Seasons Hotel and moved to the basin to wash her hands. Squeezing some of the luxurious soap into her palm, she lathered, looking into the mirror as she did so. Her hair could have done with a brush, but quite frankly, after a six hour plus flight, she was exhausted. Her lipstick had long since rubbed off and her eyes were red-rimmed from weariness. Despite the Queen jet being incredibly comfortable, trying to concentrate on work while sitting for hours on end beside one of the most attractive men she knew had taken its toll on her self-control.

Of course that's what she chose to blame her recent aberrations on. Fatigue. How else would she explain how her pulse had skidded to a halt every time his thigh had accidentally brushed against hers and then thundered back to life when he peered over her shoulder as she worked on fixing his presentation? His nearness, combined with the masculine smell of his aftershave and the soft blow of his breath against her neck when he spoke had wound her tighter than a two dollar watch. By the time they landed in New York she was almost ready to jump out of her skin.

To be fair, she knew he wasn't being deliberate. Obviously. It wasn't like Oliver suddenly found her irresistible. Not that she wanted him to either. She felt guilty enough as it was, sucked back into that space she'd thought she'd abandoned a long time ago. In truth, she couldn't deny that she clearly still found him attractive. After all, he wasn't bad on the eyes. But there was more to it than just his good looks. She'd always been able to ignore his external appeal when he tried to use it to his advantage. He'd never been able to charm her the way he did other women purely because she could see right through the act and didn't find it all that appealing.

But this wasn't the same Oliver. He was different; changing. He was less rash and hot-headed for starters, often asking for their collective input instead of merely dishing out orders and expecting everyone to follow blindly. He seemed more patient with Roy, taking the time to guide him and giving advice without sounding like a dictator. As a result, Roy was less confrontational and more open to listening before acting. Then there was his relationship with Sara. When they'd broken up, she'd expected open hostility followed by icy civility. To her surprise, there'd been none of that. In fact, they got along better than ever. Oliver treated Sara with deference and kindness and in turn, she continued to be his loyal partner and friend. That was so unlike his previous break-ups. Most, if not all of them, had ended really badly. Then, much to her surprise and obvious approval, he'd finally stepped up and accepted his role at, and responsibility toward, Queen Consolidated. Despite the Arrow keeping his nights occupied, he performed his duty to his family legacy with the dedication and importance it deserved.

Lastly, his behaviour toward her had also changed. Gone were the edicts of where she should go and what she should do. In its place were courteous consultations and a marked respect for her time, her skills and her personal life. She no longer felt like she was a chess piece that he moved around at will, ignoring her autonomy and occasionally taking her for granted. He stayed out of her relationship with Adam, and while he never pointedly asked her about it, he didn't hamper its progress in any way. In fact, she'd even go as far as calling him supportive.

And that was the exact problem. All the things about him that had always kept her attraction at bay were slowly fading away and as such, she couldn't help being fascinated and intrigued by his shifting priorities and altered outlook. The man who she'd always believed could be so much more than he chose to be, seemed to finally be growing up.

Startled from her thoughts when the bathroom door opened, she quickly rinsed and dried her hands before hurrying back into the foyer. She found Oliver at the reception counter.

"That's completely unacceptable," she heard him say.

Reaching his side, she addressed him while looking at the flustered woman desperately scanning the computer screen in front of her. "What's going on?"

The woman spoke again. "I'm sorry, Mr. Queen, I've checked and re-checked. Because of the multiple conventions this coming weekend, we're fully booked."

She watched as he took a calming breath before asking with a feeling akin to dread, "Oliver, what's the problem?"

He turned to look at her, his face a mixture of irritation and frustration. "They never received the amended reservation we made before boarding. The last room was taken just before we arrived."

She tried not to show her panic. This isn't happening. Knowing what he was going to say, but needing to be sure, she probed, "So what does this mean?"

Meeting her gaze, he replied, "We have to share a room."