AN: Firstly I want to thank everyone who's been reading and leaving comments. It makes me so happy. I'm really terrible at replying to them and I will try, I barely have time to write sometimes let alone reply and that is really awful. I love you all and thank you so much for giveing my story a place in your busy day.

Hugs,

Sara

P.S. Visit me on Tumblr: Olicity-Beautiful-Dreamer

Four weeks passed. Oliver had been interrogating small time crooks trying to find out the identity of the man in the skull mask but had had no success. She told Oliver she needed some time off, he let her go and she had visited Barry in Central City sporadically for a few weeks. She spent most of her time there talking to Barry's unconscious body. He and Digg were the only ones who knew her true feelings for Oliver so she had barred her soul. Her mind went back to the conversation they had had over a month ago.

"You're really worried about him aren't you?"

"He takes crazy chances. Even when he's not hallucinating about beautiful island girls." Barry chuckled then turned sober.

"I have some experience in that department..." She raised her brow. "Loving someone who doesn't see you the same way." She smiled at him sadly. "You love him."

She didn't answer for a moment. "I don't know if he could ever feel the same about me. I'm afraid... if he knew it would change everything."

"Maybe that's not such a bad thing."

"It's more complicated than it seems."

"Life is complicated Felicity, it's also too short."

"You're one to talk..." She said while looking at him."What's her name?" She asked.

"Iris," he answered.

"Wow, what a pair we make. Pining after people we can't have."

"Yeah. You know what's strange? You and I? We're completely perfect for each other but..."

"I'm not her," Felicity stated simply.

"And I'm not him."

They both nodded in understanding.

This particular time in Central had given her a clear mind to think. She had decided to tell Oliver when she got back and just let the chips fall where they may. She had to trust that he cared about her enough that he'd do what was best for her and their child. She couldn't keep it from him anymore, the longer she did the worse it would be when he found out. She had popped while she was gone and if she continued wearing the same clothes then people would definitely know she was pregnant. She had decided to take advantage of her time off and stay one more day, do some shopping, find some looser dresses when she got a newsletter about the bombing. So she packed her bags, threw on a coat and one of the dresses that still fit her and hopped a train back to Starling. When she arrived she took a cab to QC. Oliver and Diggle were talking and looking at a tablet when she entered. Oliver looked up.

"You're back," he said, relief crossing his features.

"I got a newsletter about the bombing, caught the first train out this morning."

"Good...we need you here." She smiled at him and he stared back, a small tick in his lips. They were caught in the moment when Digg interrupted their starring session.

"How are you?"

"I'm okay, I need to do some shopping but other than that.."

"Shopping?" Oliver questioned as if wondering how that was important in this situation. She looked at the outer room and conference room and when she was satisfied that they were clear she unbuttoned her coat and showed them her now prominent baby bump. Oliver's eyebrows rose to his hairline and Diggle just mouthed 'wow.'

"Yep," she said as she closed her jacket and re-buttoned it. "I'm going to pop out of my dresses soon. A lot of them I had just bought," she said sadly as she looked up at them. Oliver's mouth was hanging slightly open and his eyes were still trained on her now covered abdomen.

"Eyes up here Oliver." He snapped his mouth shut and looked away from her.

"I'll reach out to Detective Lance," she announced and he just nodded as he walked to the window.

She glanced at Diggle on her way out and he sent her a shrug.

It had all felt like a bizarre dream when Felicity had told him she was pregnant but seeing her extended abdomen on her small frame made it all real. He couldn't tear his eyes away from it, not even when she re-covered it with her coat. How was she even calm right now? Because he was freaking out. Not externally of course. Who was the father? She had said it was a one night thing but he just couldn't picture Felicity doing that. Unless... Had he missed something? Lost in his thoughts he walked into his room in the mansion intending on grabbing another suit. He had been staying in the foundry mostly and didn't have room for all his clothes. He had a meeting tomorrow and Isabel had practically beat it into him that it was "extremely important." He guessed that required not wearing a wrinkled suit.

He was walking to the dresser when something caught his eye. The sun shining through the window was glinting off an object on the floor under his nightstand. He strode over and leaned down to pick it up. It was a earring, a long dangly silver one. It looked like something Felicity would wear.

He shook his head. No, he wasn't aloud to think those things.

He put the earrings in his pocket and walked to his closet to grab his change of clothes, mind running all the while. There was probably a million other pairs of earrings just like that in the city. It could be anyone's. He put it at the back of his mind and strode out of the mansion.

The first thing she noticed when she came into the office were the stares, then as she moved along the whispers between co-workers and the conversations that were taking place that would come to a halt as she approached. She pressed her jacket closer to her abdomen. The rumor mill had apparently been working overtime. By the end of the day the haughty stares and pointing fingers had finally got to her. It hurt her, that people seriously believed she had gotten where she was for sleeping with her boss. Well...technically she had but she had already been promoted before it happened. She went to MIT for crying out loud! It's not like she hadn't earned her place in the company. She knew it was only going to get worse. Worse for her...worse for Oliver. He was just starting to get a foothold in the company. And Isabel...Oh she would be horrid. Not to mention if the press got a hold of the story. Oh she needed to get away from him... and fast.

Later in the day she and Digg had decided to go to lunch at Dim Sum, she had a huge craving for dumplings and theirs were her favorite. She ordered two plates and when Digg looked at her and laughed she had just looked back and shrugged.

"I'm eating for two." He chuckled harder. "I am!"

He opened his mouth probably to say something smart but she pointed a mint painted nail at him. "Not. A. Word." Then she dug in.

She had started to feel better after being out of the office for awhile. When she got back Oliver was still in his meeting so she had put a stack of folders on his desk for him to go through. As she walked past the conference room she had glanced at him through the glass. He looked lost in thought, but not in a bad way. Just distracted. A smile ticked his lips and she wondered what he was thinking about that had made that happen.

The day had grew better but she found out later it was just because she hadn't left her desk for a few hours. The last straw came when she delivered a file to the head of IT's office and was walking down a hall when she heard her name. Employee's were talking about her in the break room and she knew they weren't talking about someone else. She was the only 'Felicity' in the company. It was true eve-dropper's never heard anything good about themselves. The place she had spent so much of her time years ago had always been a hot spot for gossip but she had never joined in. She had never realized how much gossip truly hurt people until she was the subject of said gossip. Someone laughed as a snide remark was made. A male voice chimed in with something vulgar that made her ears go red with embarrassment and anger.

Tears threatened as she moved back to the elevator. It was time. She had been thinking about it but she thought she'd have longer.

With her decision made she moved towards his office hoping he'd see reason. She doubted it.

The day had been long and arduous. The business meeting had been absolutely awful and there were a few time's he actually considered jumping from the window, which would have been a mistake considering he didn't have his bow...and it would've made a scene. Isabel sent him a look across the table and he did his best to pay attention but the more one of the board members droned on his mind drifted. His eyes moved to the office window where over two months ago he had crashed Felicity and himself through. His fist tightened. Anything could have happened.

What if he had lost his grip on her and she had fell?

What if he hadn't have enough force and the thing that had happened it Hong Kong all those years ago had left them hanging on the side of the building?

What if Felicity had hit her head when then flew in?

What if some glass had impaled her?

What if she had lost her grip on him?

What if she had hesitated in trusting him and had been shot on their way out?

He knew those were all extreme unlikely situations but he had learned to deal in extremes, to expect the unexpected. He told himself that there had been no other way. Felicity had almost been shot as it were and if he hadn't gotten them out who knew what they would've done to her. He shuttered at the thought.

Then his mind moved to the way they had been pressed together. Her arm around him, her warm body close to his, not a inch separating them. His whole body heated at the thought. He remembered pushing the hair out of her face and being relieved when he saw no sign of blood or pain on her features. One day he wanted to run his hands through her hair without there being danger involved.

He froze. Where had that came from?

Great...now he was fantasizing about Felicity. Wasn't it enough he had been thinking about the woman who had left him? The one that made him feel warm, light and happy?

But somehow he couldn't separate those feelings from the ones that Felicity gave him that were identical. Man did he have problems...but that didn't stop him from remembering the dream...rather hallucination he had had. Felicity's lips pressed against his, the feeling of her spine against his palm her skin soft, smooth and warm, her hands running through his hair.

"Don't you think so Mr. Queen?" He was vaguely aware of someone directing a question at him but couldn't shake the images flashing behind his eyes. "Mr. Queen? Mr. Queen-"

He jerked to attention to find every member of the board including Isabel staring at him.

"Did you hear what I said?"

"No," he thought.

"Of course..."

"So you agree?"

"Whole-heartily," he replied.

Felicity was going to kill him. This meeting had been important and he'd blown it by letting his thoughts get away from him. He was supposed to take notes about the things he didn't understand and bring them to her so she could explain.

"Great, so we'll move forward with the merger. I think it'll be a great addition to the company. Palmer Tech has the power to help boost this company to where it needs to be. They have a great reputation and we desperately need that at the moment."

That caught his attention.

"Excuse me?" He said as he sat forward in his chair.

Ned Foster turned to him with a grimace on his face. "I take it you haven't heard the rumors?"

"What rumors?"

"Well...it's a very sensitive subject. I think you should discuss it with Ms. Smoak."

"Ms. Smoak?" He asked incredulously.

Isabel sent him an angry glare. Ned's neck had turned a ugly shade of red.

"I'm not aware of whatever rumors are going around...but whatever happens in my private life is my business. I won't tolerate any mistreatment of Felicity, if I see any or heard of any..." He sent a glare meant as a threat around the table. "Is that understood?"

They all nodded and mumbled that they would pass it around to the department heads. He stood from his chair and re-buttoned his suit coat. "If you'll excuse me."

He strode from the conference room intent on speaking to Felicity but she wasn't there. He looked at his desk where there were a stack of papers to read through and sigh. He was hoping Felicity would come back soon. He scrubbed a hand over his face as he finished the last file. He looked at his watch. She still wasn't back yet. He looked at the yellow sticky note on his computer. He had put it there earlier to remind him he was having dinner with Laurel. She had been going through a tough time and had asked him if they could have dinner and 'talk.' He internally groaned. He had already spent the patience he had today on the board meeting. Hopefully Laurel didn't want to get into anything. He had told her they would be be friends and he needed to follow through. Friends were there when other friends were going through something and lately he'd been as Felicity would say, pretty sucky on that front. More than sucky actually. He hadn't even know Felicity was pregnant. Her words from one of their conversations still haunted him.

"Diggle is my friend."

"So am I!" He'd yelled.

"You and I both know that's not true!... We don't exactly make sense."

What kind of friend was he?

Heel's clicked against the floor and as Felicity rounded the corner he sighed in relief. She walked fast, a look of determination on her face. Oh this wasn't good.

"Do you have a minute?" She asked as she came to a stop in front of his desk.

"Yeah, he said as he gestured to the chair. She shook her head and started to pace.

No this wasn't good at all.

"What's wrong?" he asked. She stopped pacing for a moment.

"How do you know something's wrong?"

"You have that look on your face...The one you get when you don't want to tell me something but you know you have too..." He trailed off.

She hesitated but then caved. "I'm sure you're unaware of the rumors."

"Actually no. Ned Foster filled me in."

"Ned Foster?" She screeched. "When?"

He didn't say anything for a few moments.

"Spit it out Oliver. When?"

"Today in the board meeting," he said reluctantly.

Her face drained completely of color. "In the...the board meeting?" She stuttered. He nodded. "In front of everyone?" His lips pressed together. "In front of the whole board!" She yelled the last words.

She started to pace angrily again.

"He did it very tastefully Felicity."

"Huh," she scoffed. "Obviously you wouldn't know what tastefully was if it hit you in the face. Tastefully is pulling you off the a private room and telling you there's something you need to know. Not informing you in front of the whole freaking board!" She ran her hands through her hair. "I thought I had more time before I had to do this," she mumbled.

He tensed. "Do what?"

She looked up at him. "Quit," she continued on before he could form a reply. "Oliver we spend every night together. We spend all day together. The only time we're not together or at least talking to each other is when I'm sleeping or bathing and even then I usually have the phone on the corner of the tub just waiting for it to ring and ruin my peaceful moment…..eventually you're going to have to end your public relationship with me. It's not good for the company. Especially with me fixing to blow up like a balloon."

"I'm not doing that. Ever."

"You will, you know why? Because you promoted me to be you're EA and in a few weeks my peplum skirts will get traded for those horrid maternity stretchy waist-ed dresses and people will talk. They're already talking."

He sighed deeply. "I really don't care what people are saying. It's a good cover Felicity."

"But at what cost? My reputation is blown. I can see logic Oliver. I get the whole if we're doing something "at night together" then we're not doing something else at night together thing."

Guilt crossed his face and she hated seeing it.

"Please for the love big belly burger don't say this is your fault. Because it's not. I chose this life and I would choose it again. I'm doing something with my life that really means something I help save lives everyday…" She placed her hand on her still slightly swollen abdomen, "and now I'm making a life. I have a job to do. So that my baby can grow up in a safe city. I will do anything and everything possible to help make that happen but I can't do that if I'm getting strung across the papers and gossip rags. What if something happens and one day I'm connected to you?"

"I wouldn't let that happen."

"You have no control over that and you know it."

"I will do every-" He started but she cut him off.

"I'm smart Oliver. I see everything logically. And that's why I'm quitting. It wont stop me from doing our work. I just wont be with you during the day."

"No."

"Yes."

"No,"

"It's the best thing for both of us."

"NO! Absolutely not."

"I hear KORD is hiring."

He slams his hand against his desk stopping any further babble. "I said no," he roared.

"Is everything okay in here?" asked Laurel who had stuck her head in the door. She must have came in sometime during the argument.

"Can you give us a minute," Oliver asked her, while trying to school his features. Laurel nodded and took and seat in a chair near Felicity's desk where she could see both of them talking.

Oliver turned back to Felicity. "You are not leaving."

"I can do whatever I want. I'm an adult! I can take care of myself."

"Clearly not since you're pregnant Felicity!" He yelled back then winced. Had he really said that?

Her eyes lit with fire. "That's rich coming from you!"

Laurel shifted in her chair outside the office, clearly uncomfortable with their shouting match.

"I'm sorry that was a low blow. I know you're more than capable Felicity but if I can't appeal to you emotionally listen to logic. Please," he begged.

She nodded reluctantly.

"The best thing for both of us...and the baby is for you to stay here." She opened her mouth but he put his finger up. "I will stop the rumors in their tracks. You'll be safe here, meaning I can spend less time worrying about you half way across town."

He didn't mean that to come out but he pushed forward.

"Not to mention we already have crazy hours and if you need off or we have something come up then we'll have to worry about you getting time off and you can only take so much time off before you get fired. If you stay here you'll be able to take off for appointments and if you need to work from home you can. I doubt KORD would let you do that."

"Keep talking."

"You can wear whatever you want," he offered.

He would do anything to get her to stay even if it meant she wore sweatpants to work everyday. He could see she was starting to soften on the subject and a thought popped into his head that he knew would seal the deal.

"Digg or I will get you whatever and I mean whatever food you want. Every day. Delivered to your desk." He saw the words sink in and almost smirked in victory.

"Will I be paying for said food?" She asked hesitantly.

"No, it's on me," he replied not stopping the hopeful smile from stretching on his face.

She tapped her foot, he already knew she would stay but clearly she wanted to make him sweat a little longer. It was his fault that she was in this mess so he let her drag it out.

She let out a breath. "Okay."

"You'll stay?" He hated that his voice came out all high and hopeful. Felicity did that to him. Every single wall he had put up she crashed through. Lately when he was with her he found it hard to reign in his emotions and hide what he was really thinking. He had even begun to wonder if he wanted too.

"Yes, free food is too good to pass up," he smiled. "Especially since I've been eating like a 14 year old boy who's going through puberty."

The smile dropped from his face. It all hit him again then. Felicity was really pregnant. "Felicity what about the father?"

"I told you he wasn't in the picture."

"But shouldn't he know?" A look crossed over her face he couldn't decipher."It's hard to even imagine... but I would want to know. I wouldn't want any child to have me as a father but if I had a kid out there? I at least would deserve to know about it." He told her honestly.

"So you don't want to be a father?"She questioned.

He thought for a moment. He hadn't anticipated this conversation going so deep but from the look on her face he knew he couldn't stop now.

"Before the island..." he moved closer to her, making sure Laurel couldn't hear him. "I had a scare. She uh..she lost the baby. I knew I wasn't ready to be a father then but...I felt miserable about it. It hurt, knowing I had helped make something and for it just to disappear taking a whole story with it."

She looked into his eyes, hanging onto his every word.

"I realized then I wanted to be a dad someday...but then the island happened taking with it every normal dream I had for a normal life. I don't know if that kind of dream is even a possibility for me anymore...not with the life I live. But if I can still feel that loss for something I never had... Felicity he deserves to know. Promise me you'll at least think about it."

Tears were streaming down her face and he wished Laurel wasn't waiting on him or he'd pull her into his arms.

"Yeah..." She nodded as she turned away from him but he caught a tortured expression cross her features before she did.

He told himself the twist in his gut was anger that someone would treat her like a one night stand. She deserved so much better. No that feeling wasn't jealousy, their relationship was purely platonic, she was his partner. He just wanted to protect her, he just never realized until now that there were more than just criminals to protect her from. There were people, and paparazzi who wouldn't hesitate to drag her name in the mud. He decided right then that she wasn't going to go through this alone. She gave up her life to help him. It was the least he could do for her.

Felicity turned and looked at Laurel.

"You better go. She looks like she getting anxious," she reported as she turned to the door. When her hand was on the handle his voice stopped her.

"Felicity," she stopped her back still facing him.

"You're not alone in this."

"I know," she choked out as she rushed out the door and past Laurel without a word.

Oliver bent over and put both hands on the desk and hung his head.

"What was all that about?" He looked up at Laurel who was eying him, a worried expression on her face.

"She wanted to quit."

"I don't see the big deal. You can find a another secretary."

"No, I really can't."

"It's not that hard."

"You don't understand."

"Then help me. Why is that girl so important. Isn't she just that it girl who was helping you last year?"

"Felicity."

"What?"

"Her name. Her name is Felicity."

"Is there something going on between…"

"No, she's my..." He looked at her. Was there really a way to define their relationship. "She's my….best friend," he finally settled on.

"You're not really known for having friends that are girls Ollie."

"I know but I've changed, and shes different. I trust her. She's always been there for me and now that's she's going through something I just can't abandon her."

"Oliver, don't you see it?"

He glanced at her. "What?"

"If you don't see it then you must be truly blind."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"I've known you for years Ollie. We were together for a long time but we were never like that."

"Like what?"

"You two are like a married couple, you go from fighting one minute to smiling like a idiot the next. She left here crying, I can see that she's having a hard time and the look on your face when she left...Ollie...Do I really have to tell you what that was?"

"We're friends. I care about her."

"It's more than that Ollie and you know it. How long are you going to deny that you're in love with her?"

"I'm not-" He started to deny, but it was half-hearted. He wasn't in love with her. He couldn't afford to be.

"How long?" Laurel asked, crossing her arms.

"What?" He asked faking misunderstanding even though he knew what she was saying.

"How long have you been in love with her? When you were with McKenna? With me?"

Why wouldn't she just drop it?

"No I..."

"Ollie just answer the da-"

"Alright!" He yelled, then turned to look out the window. At the city he swore he would protect. The city he had failed. He never kept his promises. Why should he love someone that he was only going to destroy? Felicity was too good. He could not let himself love her. He was darkness and she was light. He would not be a bushel over her.

"I think it was from the first moment I saw her," he finally murmured after long seconds of silence.

That day was burned into his mind forever. But if he were honest... he fell in love with her when he heard her talking to a picture on a desk. Not even Felicity knew about that night. He had looked at every blonde when he'd visited the company for the first time since he'd come back. He hadn't seen her face clearly that night but he had looked none of the less. Not one he had looked at had been her, he didn't know how but he just knew. He had almost given up hope until a recommendation had brought him to her office. When she'd turned around with that red pen in her mouth it hit him. He just knew. This was her. He'd fell in love right then but he'd never admit it even if he'd had a gun to his head. He had tried getting her out of his head but it hadn't worked.

"Ollie. Don't you see what you're doing to yourself?"

"I don't deserve her." Laurel scoffed.

"Never in a million years did I think I'd be trying to get my ex-boyfriend into admitting he loves someone else. I know you Oliver. Maybe not as good as I knew you years ago but if you had been with me anywhere near like you are when you're with her then we would've worked out and you never would have gotten on that boat. But you did...you've changed and maybe all that searching you did led to this moment right now...maybe it all led to finding yourself, finding her." She walked toward the door. "I can see you have a lot to think about. Rain check on dinner." She opened the glass door but before she slipped out she turned back to him and spoke to his back.

"Everything happens for a reason Oliver. There are no accidents, there are no mistakes."

Her voice rang in his ears long after she'd left.

Everything happens for a reason.