She had been watching him for a while from the store. He was sitting on a park bench paying attention to nothing, deep in his own world.

It was already getting dark and Felicity looked at her watch. She was actually surprised that the day had gone pretty fast; she had thought it would be worse.

God…she had a unique ability to complicate her life… How could she have thought it would be a good idea to become the shadow of that asshole? She had been so happy without him all those years… Felicity knew that she and Oliver were never going to get along. There was something that made them collide. She had never understood why, but they never had liked each other.

She paid for her sunflower seeds and returned to him.

"You want one?" Oliver shook his head. "More for me... Did you know that these are very good for memory? And also to prevent cardiovascular disease, plus they are delicious. I love them, especially this type." She showed him the package. "I don't like the salty ones at all... for me these are sunflower seeds. When I was little my grandfather had a sunflower in the garden and I used to spend the day looking for any seeds. Maybe I should plant a couple of them... with all the seeds I eat a week, it would be profitable. Have you tried the plain seeds? No comparison..."

Oliver listened to her talk without paying much attention. Couldn't that girl shut her mouth for five minutes? They had spent the whole day together and he was starting to feel dizzy because of all the chat. The Felicity he remembered was quieter and unfriendly. This one seemed to make it her purpose to say a thousand words together in a shorter time than he could. It was messing with his nerves.

"Do you think I care about anything you're telling me?" He moved a hand to his forehead. "You're giving me a headache." His voice was sharp.

"You should interact more with people... so many years alone has only made you become unsociable."

"Excuse me?! Are you telling me how should I be? If I remember correctly, when I left you were the rudest and most unfriendly person in this town. Don't come moralizing to me."

Felicity pursed her lips. "Yeah… I used to be kind of… rude… back then, but people change."

Oliver stood from the park bench. "I care very little if you've changed or not." He zipped his jacket. "I'm going home, it's starting to get cold."

He had only taken a couple of steps when he realized that she was next to him again. He glared at her with fury. Was she ever going to leave him alone? All that he wanted was get rid of her and go home, crawl into bed and forget about the wedding, Laurel, Felicity and everything else.

"I just said I'm going home. What part don't you understand?"

"I happen to have a genius-level intelligence, and I understand everything perfectly. But I'm sure your mother will be very happy if I go to dinner, so I'll go with you."

"Oh no! I won't let you into my house too. You just can't invite yourself to dinner!"

"Who says that?" she said with a half smile.

"A little thing called manners? You can't go into a house if you haven't been invited before, you know?

Felicity rolled her eyes. "Oh, Oliver," she said mockingly, "it's so obvious that you haven't been around lately. I don't need anyone's permission to go to your house. Your mom loves me."

She walked down the street, leaving him standing there like a fool. He couldn't believe how crazy that girl was. Letting her into his home! What was his mother thinking?

They remained silent the rest of the way. Occasionally he looked askance at her. She had changed a lot, both physically and personally. For example, as much as it cost him to admit it, she was much prettier without all that black and little was left of that young rebel who did things on her own, not thinking about anyone else. Oliver didn't know which one of the two Felicitys pushed him more over the edge; the old one at least ignored him. This one was bugging him the whole time.

He opened the garden gate and went in front of her, without even bothering to let her pass. As soon as Felicity passed through the gate, Honey, the Labrador retriever he had had since he was 17 years old, came running through the garden.

Felicity bent down to hug and cuddle the dog. "Honey! How's my boy?"

Oliver looked shocked as the dog licked her face and did all sorts of nonsense for her. That traitor hadn't even shown the slightest attention to him since he had returned! This was crazy! Felicity not only got along with his mother, now she had stolen his dog's love. It was his dog! He should welcome him like that, not her.

Annoyed, he grabbed the dog by the collar and pulled him away from Felicity. "He's my dog, not yours. Don't hoard him."

Felicity laughed. "Are you getting jealous because your dog prefers me?"

"He doesn't prefer you… he just... I've been away from him for a long time and it's hard for him to trust me now."

Felicity laughed harder. "That's stupid."

"It's not! He just needs to get used to seeing me again, that's all."

"What he has to do is learn to love you again... He has forgotten you."

Oliver was increasingly mad. "That's not true! Honey still loves me!"

Felicity shrugged and walked past him. "If you say so..."

When she had her back to him, he waved his hands as if he was strangling her neck. That was all what he wanted to do at that moment. She exasperated him, drove him to despair. If he really had to spend five days with her, he was gonna end up going crazy. He grabbed the dog by the collar again and took him to his kennel while Felicity entered his home. He needed to get away from her even if was only to take Honey to his place... Oliver was starting to feel very overwhelmed.

Too much.

He crouched next to the dog. "You remember me, right champ?" The dog gave a little yelp and lay down next to the door of his house. "Whom you should forget is Felicity, she's not good, mate." He took an old gnawed ball and ruffled the dog's head. "Want to play?"

Oliver threw the ball through the garden and waited... but the dog ignored him. He simply followed the trajectory of the ball with his eyes, and immediately closed his eyes ready to sleep. Oliver sighed and rose, resigned. In the end, he would have to admit that Felicity was right and the dog didn't remember him.

Felicity was chatting animatedly with Moira as she helped her set the table and prepare dinner. That woman had something special and Felicity loved to hang out with her. During the last couple years there hadn't been a week without her visiting that house, even if it was only for a quick coffee before going to work. If she'd been asked about how those little meetings with Moira had begun, she couldn't give an answer… it happened almost without her noticing.

When Oliver left town, Laurel went through a very bad patch and didn't want to hear anything about him, and that also included cutting any ties with his family. One morning Felicity realized that some of Oliver's things were at home and decided to take them to his mother, to spare her sister that chore. Moira had invited her to eat and both had spent a very pleasant time together. Since then, Felicity took every errand in order to approach the house, until the day she had no more excuses to visit her and those little moments became part of her routine.

Moira passed her a tablecloth. "You left me very abandoned Felicity. I haven't seen you for at least two weeks."

Felicity snorted. "I barely have time for anything. The whole wedding stuff is driving me crazy."

"You're taking care of everything by yourself?"

Felicity nodded. "Sara doesn't arrive until the night before the wedding, so yes, practically everything: the church, restaurant, music, photographer...and everything else."

"It's your sister who should be taking care of all that."

Felicity shrugged "I don't mind...and well, you know how she is."

Oliver walked into the kitchen and sat down without a word. He was watching and listening to the two women and couldn't understand. How had his mother and Felicity become so friendly with each other? The world had gone crazy in those seven years... Starting with Laurel, going through his dog and ending with his mother.

Moira finished serving dinner and sat at the table. "Yeah, but she is the one who's getting married. I don't understand that you load yourself with all the work."

Felicity sat beside her and began to eat. "Moira, seriously, I want to do it. I'd rather take care of everything and know it's all in order, than leave it to her and know half of the things would stay unfinished."

Moira nodded. "Yeah well…maybe you're right. Knowing her... You're much more responsible for those things. "

Oliver looked at his mother, stunned. Either he had misunderstood or many, many, things had changed in his absence. Felicity was anything but orderly and responsible.

"Her, more responsible than Laurel? Since when?"

Felicity looked at him, mad. "Since always, idiot."

"That's a good joke! You, responsible and orderly? Come on…"

"The fact that you still have the same personality as when you were a teenager doesn't mean that we all do."

Oliver smiled. "What do you mean? All these years have turned you into a normal person?"

"You think you're so funny... Jerk," she muttered.

"Kids! Do not fight!" Seeing that everyone was concentrating on their plates, Moira kept talking. "What I meant is that Felicity is far more organized in these things, while Laurel... it's... I do not know how to say it... she's a bit clueless."

Felicity rolled her eyes. "Yeah, that's a polite way to say it... And if you add to that the wedding nerves... I assure you that half the things would remain unorganized."

"I still think she should have more responsibility in all this. Not only because it is her wedding, but because you have to work."

Felicity hit her forehead. "I had forgotten! Yesterday the shots arrived, so you can bring me Honey anytime."

Oliver was playing with the fork on the plate when he heard "shots" and "Honey" in the same sentence, and said by Felicity. He looked up quickly and looked at her mother and Felicity alternatively, not understanding what they meant but fearing that crazy girl was going to inject something to his dog.

"What's that about some injections and Honey?"

"The antiparasitic vaccine. I don't want the dog to fill my house with fleas."

Oliver opened his eyes, incredulous. "And Felicity's going to shoot him?!"

Felicity spoke to him as if he were a child. "It's what vets do... vaccines, deworming, animals' surgery..."

"You're the vet?" He looked worried at his mother. "What about Mr. Parker?"

Moira laughed. "Oliver, dear, Mr. Parker retired over two years ago. Felicity has been in charge of the clinic since then."

"But how?"

Felicity was starting to get bored of his nonsense. "Do we have to explain everything to you or what? Let's see: first, I went to college and studied veterinary science, then..."

Oliver shut her up. "I already guessed that." He looked at his mother. "How are you bringing Honey to her?"

Moira laughed at the ridiculousness of her son. "And where would I take him? To the hospital?"

"Well... another vet! Not to this...deranged…"

Felicity hit him on the arm. "Hey! Don't insult me! And let me make it very clear that I am very good at my job. You just have to see how your dog loves me."

Oliver ignored her. "Mom! I'll find another vet if it is necessary... But don't trust her!"

Moira was tired and swatted at the table. "Oliver, please! Do you want to stop acting as if you were 7 years old instead of 27?"

Oliver crossed his arms and frowned. Okay, maybe he was exaggerating and might even seem ridiculous. He knew that, probably, Felicity was a good vet and he shouldn't have reacted like that, but too many things had changed. He shouldn't have left...or maybe shouldn't have ever returned. He was so happy and calm living in his apartment in the centre... Now his life could not be more complicated. He was trying to recover an ex-girlfriend about to say "I do" and had to spend all day beside the one person who got him to lose his temper the most.

She fumbled for her keys in the small backpack that she used to carry her things. She hated purses for they seemed uncomfortable and useless, only using them when the situation required. She found the keys and opened the door. Once inside the house, she went into the living room and dropped on one of the couches. She was exhausted. She had not even bothered to look at the time, but it was very late. After they finished dinner she'd stayed for a long time talking to Moira and the time had flown. She was about to fall asleep right there when her sister's voice startled her.

"Have you been with him till now?"

"Laurel... You scared me." She sat upright, watching her sister. "What are you doing up? It's late."

Laurel sat next to her. "I was waiting. I wanted to know..."

"What?"

"Everything... I do not know. It's been many hours since you left with Ollie ... "

Felicity looked at her seriously. "That shouldn't matter to you."

Laurel scrunched up her nose "I'm curious..."

Felicity didn't believe her. "Yeah, sure." She looked severely at her. "You should worry about your future husband and your wedding and forget all this charade."

"I worry about that too..."

"When is Tommy coming back?"

"Tomorrow or the day after. He had to finish some work in the city." After a moment of silence and seeing that Felicity wouldn't say anything, she asked, "Aren't you going to tell me?"

Felicity rolled her eyes. "Laurel, seriously, I swear I do not understand how you still hold onto him."

Laurel ran her hands over her face. "I know! I know... but I cannot help it... It's Ollie!"

"I don't care if it's the Pope!" She got up and walked around the room. "You're getting married, Laurel! This is not a two-week boyfriend that we are talking about. He's going to be your husband! "

Laurel ducked her head and chose to ignore her sister's comment. She knew she should not think that way, but it was impossible. There'd been a time when Ollie had been everything to her, and now that he was back she couldn't act as if it had never happened.

After a few minutes in silence Laurel spoke again. "Have you seen how handsome he is?" Felicity threw a reproachful look her way. "Don't look at me like that! It's obvious! It doesn't matter if you are engaged or if you hate him... If he is handsome, he's handsome."

"You're overreacting."

"And that beard? It makes him so much sexier!"

Felicity opened her eyes. "Laurel! Have you been spying on him through the window or what?!"

"No! Well... a little..." She looked back at Felicity. "And how is he now? Has anything changed?"

Felicity sighed in resignation. Her sister was stubborn and wouldn't stop until she told her everything. "Unfortunately, he's still just as much of a jerk as ever, maybe more." She went to the door. "I'm going to sleep, it is very late and I have things to do early tomorrow." Before leaving she looked back at Laurel. "I recommend you think about all that's happening to you before it's too late... If you're not sure of your feelings you should not marry Tommy."

"I'm sure of what I feel for Tommy... I love him."

"Well, then you should talk to Oliver and get things clear. I think you owe yourself that conversation... Even if it is to settle things for once."

She left room and went upstairs wondering how her sister could be so calm when she didn't know what she really wanted. Felicity didn't understand, she always needed to know what to do, keep things clear... and all of this, the idea of marrying in just one week without being one hundred percent sure, was incomprehensible for her.

Oliver had been in bed for a while, half awake. His mother had woke him before she went to work, but he hadn't any intention of getting up until at least a couple of hours' time. He had nothing else to do that morning and his bed was very comfortable and warm.

He was about to fall asleep again when someone entered the room, making the daylight flood into the space and blind him.

He covered his head with the sheet and growled. So much light hurt his eyes.

The person who had opened the window approached him and began shaking him roughly.

"Do not be lazy and wake up, Oliver!"

Oliver remove the sheet off his head and looked at her. Then he pressed his fists to his eyes tightly, half convinced that, when he looked again, she would not be there. It had to be an hallucination or something... He was half asleep, sure it was a dream... Well, more like a nightmare, to be more specific. He removed his hands from his eyes. She was still there.

What the hell was Felicity doing in his room?

Felicity crossed her arms. "My plans don't include staying here all morning to look at how you sleep, Queenie."

"Well, then you should go, because that's all I mean to do. Sleep until noon."

He turned over and closed his eyes. He was completely serious, he had no thought to get out of bed… She would have to sit and wait.

After a few minutes showing her his back, he began to get nervous. Oliver could feel her eyes fixed on his neck... it was a really uncomfortable feeling.

He turned to look at her. "I told you to go!"

"Not without you."

Oliver frowned, it was impossible to argue with her. Felicity always had the last word.

"How did you get in? My mother is not here."

Felicity waved a set of keys in face face. "With the key."

"What?! Do you have keys to my house?" Felicity nodded. "This is the last straw…"

He stuck his head under the pillow and pretended to sob. It was clear that he wasn't gonna have a minute of peace while he stayed in town.

Felicity pulled the pillow off his head. "Don't be a whiner and get up. We don't have all day."

"For what?"

"We have to go to town... I have several errands to do and many things to pick up."

Oliver covered his head again. "I'm not going."

Felicity took the sheet off his head. "Don't be lazy... Come on Oliver! Get up... I warn you, I will take the sheets with me!" She pulled them a little lower as she spoke. "And you know what? That's something I don't want to do... I'm scared in case you sleep naked. It's an image that I'd prefer to spare myself." She made an over dramatic gesture.

"You wish... God knows what kind of guys you've been..."

"With a lot better than you, I assure you."

Oliver decided it was best to go with her. The sooner he got up, the sooner they'll end with her errands and he could get rid of her. He rose from the bed and stretched. He looked at Felicity and saw how she looked at him and began to blush. Oliver could not help but smile. That girl always found a way to surprise him. Was she blushing because he was in his underwear? Felicity was the last person he would have imagined being embarrassed by such a thing.

"What's wrong Felicity? Haven't you ever seen a man in his underwear?"

Felicity opened her mouth offended. "You're a jerk, Oliver!"

"For sleeping like this?"

"For getting up half naked while I was here."

"I didn't take you for a nun... Did you really get nervous just to see me like this? Hahaha. If you are going to feel more comfortable you can remove your clothes too, just so we're even. "

Felicity noticed her cheeks were burning. This kind of situation always embarrassed her, she didn't know why, but she wasn't even comfortable seeing her sister in underwear... How would she feel comfortable seeing Oliver? She felt that the intimacies were better kept to yourself... except in situations where the occasion deserved.

Felicity was increasingly embarrassed. "You're a...! A…! A douchebag!"

Oliver showed an average smile. "...but you can't stop looking at me."

Felicity's eyes widened. If it wasn't for the lack of Oliver's clothing, she would have jumped to beat him at that moment. Embarrassed, she turned around. "Moron!"

She left the room, slamming the door behind her.

Once alone, he fell into the bed, laughing.

Okay, that girl riled up, but this time she had made him laugh as he hadn't in a long time.