A/N: Sorry for the delay in this chapter but my muse had deserted me.
3 Years later:
Felicity stepped out of the airport and looked around for a taxi. She was back to where it had all started, Sterling City. Felicity's company had sent her back to Sterling for a year, to help out with the problems the company was facing. She hailed a taxi and gave the address to her new apartment. She was slightly upset that her old town house was no longer available for rent.
The taxi dropped her off and she stepped into her new place. She sunk down onto the couch and let out a deep breath. It was weird being back after so many years. She didn't know how to feel about the old team. She had tried to keep in contact with them, when she first moved to Seattle, but she missed them so much, that she stopped contacting them to make it easier on her. Days turned into weeks, which then turned into months. When she wanted to talk to them, she then felt weird about the amount of time that had passed since their last conversations and it stopped Felicity from contacting them again. She eventually stopped listening or reading about the Arrow and QC. She effectively had cut it all out of her life. But now she was back and she wondered how the team would react to her.
She slipped out of her shoes and turned on her TV and turned it on to a news channel.
"And finally Greg Osborne, a CIA operative, has been unmasked as this City's leading drug trafficker. Mr Osborne has been bought down by Stirling City's masked hero the Arrow. Once again the people of this city have this unknown hero to thank for keeping the streets safe."
Felicity quickly turned off the TV. She had only just come back and the Arrow was already back to the forefront of her mind.
A couple of weeks had passed since Felicity had been back and she had so far managed to keep away from the Arrow team. She was settling into her new job and had made good friend with Martina Jackson, a fellow employee. They were out to lunch one day, at a local salad bar, when Marti (what Martina liked to be called) suddenly looked up wide eyed.
"What is it Marti?" Felicity asked.
"OH MY GOD!"Marti gasped. "Oliver Queen has just walked into here."
Felicity quickly spun around and yep there he was, dressed in a charcoal grey suit and white button shirt, with no tie. Felicity saw him scanning the room, until he saw who he was looking for and walked over to a table on the other side of the restaurant. Felicity looked towards the table and saw Laurel already seated, with what looked like a two year old baby. Felicity felt her heart drop to her stomach.
"Who's t-that?" she managed to stammer out.
"Oh her," Marti replied. "She's Laurel Lance, Oliver Queen's girlfriend and that their daughter."
"They have a daughter! When did that happen?"
"A couple of years ago. They haven't exactly come out and told everyone, but come on they are practically living together and the baby calls him daddy."
Felicity's felt her stomach rolling. "I'm sorry Marti. I don't feel so good. Could you tell the boss that I had to go home."
"Felicity is everything alright?"
"Yes" she said standing up. "It's probably one of those 24 hour things. I'll be back tomorrow."
Felicity practically ran to her car and quickly drove to her apartment. She crashed through her front door and slammed it shut. She could no longer hold the tears back. She slid down onto her couch and let the tears flow freely. Felicity's relationship with Daniel had petered out after only a month in Seattle. She explained to Daniel that whilst she did like him a lot, she still had unresolved feelings about Oliver. Daniel had been frosty with her at first, but soon they became good friends and stayed like that.
Felicity knew deep down she loved Oliver, but also knew he would never feel that same way about her. She always believed that he truly thought that he could not be the Arrow and have a future with any one he cared about. But today was a slap in the face for her. He was still the Arrow, but had managed to carve out a life with Laurel. Seeing him today made her realise how much she actually loved him and it hurt to know that she no longer had any place in his life.
A couple of days later Felicity's boss, Simon Weston, had summoned her to his office.
"Felicity can you give me your word that what I'm going to tell you will not leave this office?"
"Of course Simon. What's going on?"
"I've heard from HQ that they are thinking about shutting this office down."
"What! They can't be serious."
"Well they are. They only thing stopping them is that Queen Consolidation is looking for a company to help develop its new software. We have to get that contract with them or we will be finished."
"OK," said Felicity, not liking where this conversation was going. "What would you like me to do?"
"You used to work for QC and I was hoping that you could talk to some old contacts you have in there."
Felicity was speechless. Here she was trying to avoid anything to do with Oliver Queen and now her boss was expecting her to go and see him.
"Look Felicity," Simon continued, "I'm not comfortable with asking you to do this, but these are desperate times. 153 people will lose their jobs."
As much as Felicity hated it, she would not stand by and allow so many people to be out of work, when she could help them.
"Ok Simon," she replied. "I will contact my old supervisor and see if I can arrange a meeting with him."
"Oh there is no need to do that. Tonight is the annual Queen's charity gala. I've been invited and you're my plus one."
Felicity looked around the ballroom for Oliver. How was she supposed to just go up to him and ask him to help her company out, whilst trying to avoid him? She was so lost in her thoughts that she failed to notice the person coming and standing next to her. She almost dropped her glass of champagne when she heard her name called out.
"Felicity Smoak! It's been a long time."
Felicity looked around and saw Laurel sanding there looking immaculate as ever.
"Laurel it has been a long time. How have you been? Heard that you have a child now."
"Yes she's going to be 2 next week. So how is married life treating you?"
Felicity was shocked at her comment.
"Married? Why do you think that I'm married?"
"Ummm...Ollie told us about seeing Daniel proposing to you..."
"No, no, nope. Never happened. Daniel and I had split up then. He was showing me the ring he had got for his girlfriend...well his girlfriend at the time, now she's his wife. But no not me. Wait this all happened in my apartment, when did Oliver see this?"
"Ollie had gone down to Seattle to see you. He saw, what he thought was Daniel proposing, through you window. Wait did you split up with Daniel, because of your feeling toward Ollie?"
"That obvious is it? Oh my god! Believe me Laurel, I'm not here to get Oliver or anything like that. I know you two are together and I promise I have no intentions to steal him away from you. Not that I ever could! I mean that I'm me and your well you; you know gorgeous Laurel...OK going to stop talking in 3...2...1"
Laurel took in a deep breath. "Felicity, Oliver and I are not together. I know the rumours are that he is the father of my child, but the truth is that the real farther split the minute he found out I was pregnant. Oliver has been a very good friend to me over the last couple of years, but that is all there is. I will never be more than that for him."
"Oh. But..."
"The truth is," Laurel continued, "that no one could replace you in his heart. He has been waiting for you all these years. Felicity you are his happy storey. Go to him now and make him yours."
Felicity pulled Laurel in for a hug.
"Thank you Laurel, thank you so much."
Felicity pulled out of the hug and started scanning the room.
"He's not here," laurel said, with a smirk on her lips. "Oliver no longer attends these sorts of functions."
"Where is he?" Felicity pleaded. "Please tell me Laurel. I have to see him now."
"He's in the lair. Which has moved back to the club."
Felicity didn't even say goodbye. She turned and started walk towards the door. She was almost out of the ballroom, when someone grabbed her arm.
"Felicity, where do you think you're going?"
Felicity looked up and saw it was Simon.
"You can't just leave like this," he continued. "You promised me that you would help save the company."
"Simon I can't talk right now. Just let me go."
A huge hand shot out from nowhere and grabbed Simon by the shoulder. Felicity looked up and saw Digg about to manhandle Simon.
"Digg no," Felicity quickly said. "It's just a simply misunderstanding."
Digg looked over at Felicity. "He was trying to hurt you Felicity. You know how I feel about that!"
"Argghh I don't have time for this. Simon I have to leave no and see someone. John this is my boss. DO NOT harm a head on his hair or I will put you on the no fly list!"
Digg Quickly let go of Simon. "Hey girl you going over to see Oliver?"
"Yes, if people don't keep getting in the way!"
"Wait!" Simon said, with a confused look on his face. "You know Oliver Queen?"
Felicity let out a small growl and huffed away down the corridor. Simon turned to Digg.
"Does she know Oliver Queen?"
"You don't know half of it," chuckled Digg.
"Keep the change" Felicity shouted, as she threw a handful of notes at the cab driver and ran toward the side entrance to Verdant. She quickly entered the combination onto the keypad and walked into the lair.
She was at the top of the stairs when she saw him sitting at the computers. She started to slowly walk down the stairs. She was only half way down, when she saw him freeze.
"Felicity," Oliver said, slowly standing up and turning around.
Felicity only had to look into his eyes, before she found herself running towards him. She quickly wrapped her arms around the back of his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. It took Oliver a few seconds to respond to the kiss, before his hands automatically wrapped around Felicity's waist. They both continued like this until the need for oxygen made them break the kiss.
"Felicity...," Oliver gasped, "what...about...Daniel?"
"We only lasted a month after I moved. He wasn't you," Felicity replied looking into his eyes.
"But..."
"Later. I promise I will explain later," Felicity interrupted, pulling Oliver down for another kiss.