A/N We are almost out of the season 1 redux woods folks! This part takes place during episode 22 so spoiler warnings where applicable. Three to four chapters tops and then we are into uncharted waters.

Disclaimer: CW & DC own it all.

" QC Help desk, This is Felicity."

"Felicity, this is Moira Queen." Felicity dropped her pen and snapped to attention. Her boss was off for the day so she knew it was possible she would get calls from the executive floor. However, she had really hoped that wouldn't happen. She had double hoped that she wouldn't get any from the CEO. The CEO who also happened to be her boyfriend's vaguely intimidating mother. Her boyfriend's mother whom she had been cyber stalking for the past four days to check her involvement in a terrorist conspiracy.

"Hel-Hi Mrs Queen," Felicity's voice cracked but she got it under control quickly. "How can I help?"

"Actually, this is more of a social call. I was wondering if you were free tomorrow morning? Walter is scheduled to be released from the hospital and we are going to have a brunch to welcome him home. I thought it might be a good time for us to sit down and get to know each other a little better."

"Um, yes, sure. I'd, that would be great." Felicity banged a notepad against her head in silent admonishment of her inability to string a sentence together.

"Wonderful! I had tried to talk to Oliver to get him to extend the invitation himself but he doesn't seem to want to spend much time with me lately." Moira explained covering the pain by playing it off as a joke.

"Wonder why." Felicity muttered before she could stop herself. She covered her mouth.

'Sorry?"

"I said I wonder why? He always speaks so highly of all of you." If Moira caught the earlier slip she didn't let on. "I'm sure it's just stress."

"You're probably right. I have to go, my next appointment has arrived. But I look forward to seeing you Saturday. Goodbye Felicity."

"Yeah, should be" The line disconnected. "Fun." She sighed and looked at the clock. It was still morning which meant there was a fifty percent chance of Oliver being awake. She shot him a text asking him to call her when he got it. About five minutes later her cell phone rang. "Morning."

"Hey, did you find something?" Oliver sounded a little rough. If he was awake before her text it hadn't been for very long.

"Well, your Mother knows you are avoiding her."

"Oh? Who did she say that to?"

"Me, when she called to invite me to Walter's welcome home brunch tomorrow."

"Oh." He paused "Well at least you get to try Raisa's cooking finally."

"Really? That's all you've got? No words of encouragement like 'I'm sure she'll love you' or 'no honey you won't make a completely fool of yourself because I won't let you say more than two words at a time'?"

"You'll do fine."

"It doesn't work as well when I have to prompt you." Oliver sighed.

"It's true though. Walter already likes you, and I'll tell Thea she has to behave or else I'll tell Mom about Roy. Sound like a plan?"

"And what about your mother?" Felicity persisted.

"If we're right then frightening my new girlfriend is probably the least of her concerns. Which leads me back to my original question: Anything?"

"I haven't had time to be monitoring her phone and computer live because Charlie's out of the office. But, I'll go through it all tonight while you're working. Hopefully I'll come up with something then."

Unfortunately, by the time Oliver walked into the cave the next morning the news wasn't any better. Diggle's in person surveillance and Felicity's hacking had turned up no evidence.

"No mention of Walter's abduction or The Undertaking. Just a few innocuous calls to Malcolm Merlyn." Felicity summarized.

"Why wouldn't she call him? They're old friends!" Oliver's voice dripped with sarcasm and rage. "We're all old friends." Felicity walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Are you ok?"

"My mom and my best friend's dad are involved in a conspiracy that may have dire consequences for the city and I'm pretty sure they murdered my father. I'm not planning on using the word ok again anytime soon." Oliver started to pace. He went on to explain his new plan, a one on one chat with Moira to figure out exactly what she knows.

"Woah! The last time the vigilante paid your mother a visit you got shot and I got to play doctor with you. Gah! my brain comes up with the worst way to say things" Felicity face-palmed herself.

"Hey at least when you say them now you are saying them about the guy you're seeing" Diggle tossed in.

"That wasn't my plan anyways. After brunch, A friendly mother-son chat." He looked at Diggle pointedly and received a nod in return. He turned his attention back to Felicity. "You said so yourself, she thinks I'm avoiding her." Oliver looked at his watch. "Didn't you say you wanted to change before we head to the house? We have just enough time to go to your place and back." The young couple headed upstairs to leave while John stayed behind to prepare the scenario they had planned, but hoped they wouldn't have to use.

"Does your mother hate any colors? Because I don't want to show up and be wearing something that will immediately put me down five points." Oliver pushed the door open and held it letting her go first.

"Not that I know of, or that any store in Starling City knows of either I'm pretty sure." Felicity stopped walking suddenly and he almost crashed into her. Looking up he figured out the cause for her sudden stillness.

"Laurel? What are you doing here? It's not even 7am." He approached her uncertainly. Felicity stayed a couple paces behind him. She was getting a little annoyed at Laurel popping up unannounced all the time, but was trying to keep her word that Oliver could maintain the friendship for as long as he wanted.

"Just after closing time right?" Laurel joked. She looked past him finally noticing the blond in the shadows. "Felicity?" She paused for confirmation "Could you give Oliver and I a minute?" Felicity nodded and went to head back to the lair.

"No, Felicity can stay. Laurel what is it?" Oliver wasn't in the most diplomatic of moods and was saving what little diplomacy he did have for the family breakfast in a couple of hours. The lawyer seems taken aback by his abruptness.

"Well, Last week I told you I wanted to get back with Tommy. That I needed you to go to him and explain that you don't still have feelings for me. But instead you told me that you wouldn't help."

"Not wouldn't, couldn't. There is a difference. I'm one of the last people Tommy wants to see right now and I'm definitely the last person he wants to be discussing your relationship with."

"Are you sure that's why? Because I have another idea." Laurel moved closer to Oliver and spoke lower in an effort to keep Felicity out of the conversation "I think that you still have feelings for me."

"Laurel-"

"Maybe Tommy was right. Maybe He and I weren't meant to be. Maybe I'm finally ready to admit that I still have feelings for you too." She looked up at him with hopeful eyes. Oliver flicked between the past in front of him, and his future standing in the corner. Felicity looked like she was about to be sick. She was so angry at Laurel, yet nervous that she wasn't going to like what Oliver had to say. He flashed her his patented 'trust me' face. Once she nodded he turned his attention back to his ex.

"There's something I should have told you. Something that's changed." Laurel's face started to darken as her victory seemed less and less likely. " Felicity isn't just my computer expert, we're dating. We're in a relationship. In fact, we have to go because Walter is coming home today and Mom wants us to be there." He took Laurel's hands and made her look him in the eye. "But, as your friend, if you really think it will help, I will talk to Tommy if he'll see me. Ok?" Felicity approached the pair as Laurel nodded in understanding. Oliver let go of her hands and took hold of Felicity's as they walked away. They didn't speak again until they were in Oliver's car.

"Thank you." Felicity said breaking the silence.

"I should have told her that last time. Maybe then things between her and Tommy would be back to normal." She put her hand over his on the gear shift.

"Oliver, you can't fix everything."

"I know" He changed gears forcefully. The sudden movement caused her to pull her hand away. "Right now, I would settle for fixing anything."