A/N: Sorry again for the delay in posting, had a little writer's block over vacation. But I really hope this chapter makes up for it and I have a definite idea of where everything is going for the next little while. I got a couple ideas from the Comic-con sizzle reel ;)
Disclaimer: None of it is mine, I'm just playing in the DC/CW's sandbox.
Felicity parked her car and got into the elevator. Queen Consolidated was open for business and she was glad. It was a sign that the world was slowly starting to get back to normal. She was looking forward to getting back into lost passwords, computer viruses and network changes instead of court dates, paparazzi and conspiracies.
But there was something different. She noticed it when she got her coffee, the extra politeness. She saw it again when the security guard, who never so much as looked at her when she passed him every day for the past 5 years, greeted her with a "Good Morning Ms Smoak"
They all knew. They saw the article and the update that evening that confirmed her identity from 'sources'. The never a secret but never public knowledge fact of Felicity and Oliver's relationship had hit the water cooler circuit. She got into a crowded elevator, felt a few extra eyes settle on her and tried to ignore it. When she finally got to the supposed solitude of her office, she was greeted by a bevy of acquaintances. She refused to call them friends because they only seemed to turn up when they wanted to skip the line and get their problems solved faster or when they needed a sympathetic ear for their problems. As she booted up her systems they bombarded her with concerns and questions.
Why didn't she tell them she was dating Oliver?
What's Mrs Queen like?
How's the family doing?
Was she going to keep working at QC?
After answering all those questions several times over she was finally rescued by her manager. He came in with a work question and sent the masses scurrying back to their cubicles. After Charles left she realised one of the connections under her desk was loose. She crawled under to make the necessary adjustments when she heard a knock on the door. She was so annoyed she didn't bother stopping what she was doing.
"I didn't tell anyone because no one asked, his mother is nice enough minus the terrorism under duress thing, the family is holding up fine, no I'm not quitting. Now how can I help you?"
"Maybe explain what brought that on?" Oliver's voice made her so relieved she forgot she was under a desk and banged her head trying to look up. He hurried over and helped her into her chair gently checking the spot just above her ponytail "You ok?"
"Oh trust me, so not the first time I've done that."
"You were ok before I showed up?" He fished.
"Yes, well no, but nothing to do with you. Well it does have to do with you because it's about us but it's not anything you did or need to undo or defend my honor or whatever boyfriends are supposed to do when you are getting sick of answering questions about your relationship it hadn't even occurred of you to ask yet." Oliver's face was stuck between confused, amused and concerned.
"So if I have my ramble translator working properly you got into work and people immediately started asking you about us?" Felicity nodded while sipping her now lukewarm latte. "Is that bad?"
"Not the topic, just how many people. I mean before Charlie came to give me my work for the day there were like 15 people in here. I was getting claustrophobic."
"Why don't you take the afternoon off? I've got a couple of meetings with Walter this morning but after that I'm free." She arched an eyebrow.
"Are you kidding? Oliver, I can't take off the very first day without it looking like a blatant abuse of 'boss's girlfriend' privilege. And I intend on only abusing that for the good desserts in the cafeteria." He smiled.
"You're right, my mistake." He thought for a second. " Plan B: give me your apartment key and I'll have dinner ready when you get home."
"Since when do you cook?"
"Felicity I lived alone for five years, it's not like the island had take out."
"Yeah but I'm not in the mood for lizard and pineapple sauté."
"For your information, there were chickens and fish too." She looked at him suspiciously. "I promise I'll call Raisa if necessary." She reached into her purse and pulled out her keys separating the apartment ones from the car keys.
"Just don't put the stove on high, the pans don't like it." Oliver grinned and leaned forward to kiss her. He dropped the keys in his jacket pocket before picking up his briefcase as Felicity's phone rang
"See you at home." She nodded in reply. Neither one of them said so, but they both like the way that sounded.
Felicity felt a little weird buzzing into her own building, but got over it the minute she opened the apartment door. She was greeted by the smell of garlic and tomato sauce, and the sight of Oliver in a black t-shirt and jeans doing dishes in her kitchen.
"You got changed." She stated obviously.
"Diggle and I tried out a new gym this afternoon. Not perfect but it did the job." Verdant had to be evaluated by structural engineers as part of the insurance claim so it and the lair were currently off limits. Oliver was still paying all the staff their wages in the meantime. Felicity took off her heels and walked over to peek at dinner.
" Ravioli?" She lifted the lid off the one pot.
"That's spinach ravioli, grilled chicken and garlic bread." She glanced over at him impressed. " I told you I'm not helpless."
"I had never even seen you pour your own coffee before today ok? Cut me a break." She walked over and got up on her tip toes to give him a kiss. "I'm going to change into something I don't have to get drycleaned if I drop sauce on it." He held her not letting her get away that easily.
"Do I get a vote?" he murmured kissing her again.
"Nope" She replied popping the p. She kissed him one more time. "But maybe later when I don't have to worry about you burning the place down." Felicity slid out of his arms, walked around the corner to her bedroom and closed the door. She returned a few minutes later in a pair of denim capris and a brown t-shirt that read future time traveler. Oliver directed her to the small dining table, which was used more for a desk than actual dinners, and poured her a glass of wine. He disappeared into the kitchen again and emerged with two full plates of food. He set one down in front of Felicity before sitting down across from her with his.
They jokingly argued after dinner about who was cleaning up. Oliver wanted to do it all himself, Felicity felt he had done enough that day and deserved a break. They settled on working together to get it done quickly.
"As soon as we're done, there may or may not be a couple of mocha drizzle brownies to go with the rest of that wine." Oliver teased. Felicity took the leftovers she was packing over to the fridge and gave a small squeal of delight when she saw the bakery box on the top shelf.
"You even got it from the nut free bakery? See this is why I love you." As usual it took a second for what she said to register in her brain. When it did she looked at Oliver as if she was a deer and he was a 18-wheeler with the high beams on. "I didn't mean- well I did. But not about the brownies, though they are awesome. That wasn't how I expected, and you don't have to say anything back, that's totally ok, I get you have your issues and stuff so you may not want to say anything, but I guess there is no un-saying it so." She tried to bring her facial expression back to something less terrified and more natural. "I love you, Oliver Queen." She analyzed the face looking back at her. Oliver's features warmed and softened. He stepped in front of her and looked down into very nervous blue eyes. He put his hands on her upper arms caressing her shoulders with his thumbs.
"Felicity Smoak, I love you too" He slid his arms around her waist and pulled her against him. Their lips met softly at first, the intensity building until Oliver broke contact just long enough to lift her up. With her legs firmly around his waist they continued as he carried her into the bedroom.
The brownies could wait.