Hello lovelies! This chapter is the angst I've been promising you for so long. And although it's only light angst, I hope it delivers.

The drunk Felicity 2nd chapter will be coming up shortly so don't worry.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed last time and liked the chapter, you guys amaze me with your responses.

I'm tired of listing the characters that aren't mine; so I won't be doing it this time.. You guys know the drill.

Enjoy!

He tilted his head back and took in a long breath. All he had to do was to make an appearance and smile at people. He'd have to say a few hellos and feign interest in conversations, but at least he could make his leave in an hour. The people expected to see collected, responsible Oliver Queen the CEO of Queen's consolidated. Not the sorry excuse of a functional human he actually felt like. So he would do this. He would go inside then smile and talk normally. He had to.

He let out the breath he was holding and hoped that the weight on his chest would evaporate with it. That didn't happen.

With sure steps, and an air of confidence that he wasn't really feeling. Oliver walked into his sister's latest fund-raiser. Their mother has another trial coming up soon and it was Thea's idea to throw this thing. She claimed that it would show their family in a better light. That it would help with their mom's case and maybe, just maybe, the people would start forgiving her. Oliver had nodded along to her words and assured her that she was right. He promised that their mother would be fine and that this event would accomplish whatever his sister wanted it to. Deep down, he recognized his own lies.

Oliver knew even as he walked in and had a swarm of people vying for his attention, that none of this meant anything. He knew that Thea could throw a hundred parties and raise millions of dollars to no avail. But still he showed up and made good on his word because Thea needed a rock and he had to be hers. His sister needed a father, a mother, a brother and a friend, and Oliver felt the obligation to be all of those things.

His eyes wandered around the room as someone talked to him. The words fell flat to his ears the way a distant noise does to a passerby and after a few minutes of nodding along, he made a quick excuse and moved to another part of the room.

As he passed by, people turned to greet him and he smiled at each one in turn. The smiles seemed to chip away at his heart and increase the dull ache he felt. It had been a while since he felt this way and he had all but forgotten what to do with the extra weight drooping his shoulders. The people's voices seemed muffled and the colors looked washed out.

If anyone stopped him to talk again, he'd have no choice but to comply and make small talk. The thought alone made his mind recoil. He needed space and a training mat. He needed a bow and an arrow to shoot at things. He needed a certain bottle-blonde.. but he knew he wouldn't be finding that one here.

She'd probably be on another date with him. He thought solemnly. The spark of anger not surprising him in the least. If he was being honest, he'd even admit that that was another reason for the darkness, that he usually kept locked up, beckoning once again.

Anger, he had decided, was the easiest emotion to acknowledge. He knew very well that if he allowed himself to look for it, despair and hurt won't be too far off, and so he chose anger because it was the easiest to deal with. Anger could be taken out on lifting weights and various weapons. Anger could be dealt with through excessive training and a few nights in a row of being the Vigilante. Because that was Oliver's true identity; a vigilante.

Not a hero, not a CEO, and not a good brother. Hell, he wasn't even a good boss lately. He had been snapping at anyone who would so much as look his way. Felicity included -and he hated himself for that one- so no wonder she didn't answer their invitation for tonight.

Oliver had reached a small balcony by this point. It was in the upper level of the Queen's mansion and out of guests' way. He would have to head back at some point, but for now he allowed himself the breath of fresh air.

His head fell into his hands as his thoughts grew louder. His mother, Thea, the company, the vigilante and Felicity. Her name rang in his mind louder than all others.

What had he done with his chance with her? How had he allowed himself to go on for months hiding his feelings, hiding every smile, every lingering long until she was taken away from him?

He had promised himself that he would talk to her. He had recited the words times and times again until they became a mantra. Until he memorized them and imagined every outcome possible. And yet he had let her slip right out of his hand. Quite literally.

The night Barry Allen had asked Felicity out on a date, she had come to the lair with an air of restlessness. For the first couple of hours both Diggle and Oliver had written off her jittery movements to the task at hand, but when the mission was done and Felicity still looked like a lost child, Oliver had exchanged a silent glance with Diggle then walked up to his former IT girl.

"Felicity?" He had asked, the words escaping him a little more gently than he had planned. Something about seeing her that way softened him. It called for a part of him that he never knew existed. A part that wanted to comfort and soothe. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing? Nothing!" She winced at the false cheeriness of her own tone. Oliver stood silently, allowing her the time to think. "I mean... well, there's something but it's stupid.. like there's nothing really wrong and it's not even important but... well.." She shrugged helplessly then let out a sigh.

Oliver who had been standing threw another glance in Digg's direction then crouched by the girl's side. "Remember what I told you about talking about your day?" He whispered, too low for Diggle to hear. "I think that applies to this. Whatever this is."

"Alright," Felicity took a deep breath and threw Oliver a weird look. She hesitated a moment more before blurting out. "Someone asked me out."

Oliver's muscles froze.

"And he's not just any someone," Felicity's words tumbled out seeking freedom. She didn't stop to notice Oliver's jaw flexing. "He's this really decent guy... like really really good," Oliver didn't want to hear anymore. He regretted asking. "He's funny and really smart and nice and he gets me! I don't have to stop and rewind or try to think of the right thing to say, he's just perfect." Good to know. Oliver's bitterness came as a shock to him. "But.."

But? He perked up at the word. Maybe this wouldn't go the way he thought it would. Maybe that guy wasn't that "perfect" after all.

"But?" He kept the tremor from reaching his voice. Felicity was too far gone in her own head to notice, but Diggle was glancing worriedly at Oliver's clenched fists.

"But.. I don't know.. He asked and I couldn't say yes right away.. I mean I wanted to. I almost did.. but I just couldn't." She threw a nervous look at Diggle as if asking something silently then turned her glance to Oliver and she looked.. Hopeful, in a way. Oliver didn't understand the reason for that look or even the meaningful one Diggle sent him. "And, well, I told him to let me think, and he said yes because he's sweet that way, and now I have to decide if I want to or not?"

The last part sounded like a question to him and the hope in her eyes confused him. What was she waiting for? His blessing, his approval? Maybe she wanted support and a good friend's advice. Maybe she wanted Oliver to assure her that this guy is right for her and to tell her that she should just say yes, the way a good friend would. But Oliver wasn't a good friend. He wanted her to himself and he wanted to shout NO at her.

No don't go for the perfect guy who had the courage to ask you out. He would say. No. Just say no and wait for me a little longer. It's all falling apart and falling into place all at once and I need more time. Just a little more; to sort it all out and tell you what I've wanted all along.

No, he wanted to say.

"You should give it a shot," was what came out of his mouth. The light in Felicity's eyes dimmed. "If he's good and if he makes you happy, then say yes." He was Thea's rock and his mom's last hope, so why should he stop there. He may as well twist the knife a little deeper and be Felicity Smoak's friend.

After all, no one deserved happiness as much as this remarkable girl did and Oliver couldn't give her that. He wasn't whole or good enough to love someone as bright as her, and god knew he was far from perfect.

"Oh," Felicity's smile looked disappointed, as if she was the one whose heart just shattered, not Oliver. Diggle's sharp look, thrown his way, only served to confuse him further. "Alright then, maybe I really should. I thought that... well, yes, I should. Why not." She sent him a little smile that contracted with the hurt in her eyes then got abruptly. "I should go call Barry, and do some.. um, things." She picked up her bag and waved at them both with a hasty "See you tomorrow."

"Damn it, Queen," Started Diggle angrily once she was gone. "I never thought that I'd say this to someone I work for, but you're either too blind or you have taken one hit too many to the head." At Oliver's blank expression, Diggle rubbed a hand down his face in obvious frustration. "I swore that I won't say anything or interfere in this but after this... I can see –" Diggle cut his sentence short and seemed to contemplate his words.

"Just spit it out." Oliver's anger flared. He felt frustration and hatred rising up in him. Frustration at Diggle's vagueness and hatred directed at himself. He should have said the truth instead of the right thing. He should have allowed himself the selfishness.

"You really couldn't see it, could you?" Muttered Digg. "You were too blinded by your own emotions to see hers." What the hell was that supposed to mean.. "You're really thick at times," Diggle noticed Oliver's gritted teeth and finally said it out loud. "She wanted you to say no."

Oliver looked out over the balcony's edge. There were still cars coming in and people in fancy dresses exiting them. The night seemed to stretch out as he thought of going back inside and the memory, although 3 months old, only helped to sink his mood further down.

Half an hour later found Oliver with another forced smile and an unfocused look. Diggle stood somewhere near the hall's entrance talking to someone. Oliver didn't see the person standing with Diggle but he had glimpsed his friend, as Diggle had arrived on guard duty, and planned on making an escape to go and talk to him.

Anything to give him a break from the constant smiling, since it only served to award him a headache.

A few moments later, Oliver made good on his plan and headed towards his friend who played "the bodyguard" for tonight. A few steps later, Oliver wished he had never moved from his previous spot. In fact he was tempted to run back yelling for his previous crowd to reassemble and start back on their mindless chatter. He'd even smile gladly at them.

Oliver debated a second longer then continued walking to the trio standing ahead of him. He didn't know how he had missed it before, but Felicity's blonde curls stood out among the sea of people and by her side, stood Barry Allen. Her boyfriend.

Oliver chocked down a groan. He wanted to hit something or shout at the man to leave his house. He wanted to ask Thea why the hell she had allowed Felicity a plus one, but most of all, he wanted to grab Felicity's hand out of Allen's and never let anyone touch her again. He figured none of those options were particularly appropriate at the moment, so he opted for putting on -what Felicity called- his diplomatic smile.

It said "I will tolerate you but only because I have to." He was happy with the message it sent.

"Mr. Queen," Diggle was the first to see him and, to Oliver's everlasting dismay, send him a warning look. "I was wondering when you would find us."

"Oliver!" Felicity smiled and that alone sent a mixture of emotions racing through him. He wanted to smile back. He wanted to turn around and walk away.

"Mr. Queen," Allen said in a polite tone. There was no love lost between the two of them. Allen seemed to understand what Oliver never said and proceeded to treat him respectfully but with no trace of false friendliness. Oliver almost liked him for that. Almost but not quite. "Thank you for inviting us."

"My pleasure." Oliver said just as politely. His voice sounding cold to his own ears. Felicity threw him a baffled look. She didn't seem to understand what her boyfriend did.

"Sooo.." Felicity started after a moment of uncomfortable silence. "We were just telling Diggle about our plans for the weekend," by some miracle Felicity spared him the details. "And I know this's not the place and all but I was wondering, can I have the weekend off from... um, my assisting duty?"

All he had to do was to nod. Say yes.

"No." He said instead.

Diggle's head whipped to look at him and Felicity looked too shocked for words. To his surprise, Allen's lips twitched as if he had anticipated the response.

"Barry," Started Felicity sweetly but Oliver could hear the undertone of anger. "Would you please give us a minute?"

The guy gave Oliver a measuring look then nodded slowly. Once he was out of hearing range, Felicity whirled to Oliver with anger twisting her face. "Seriously, Oliver? The one time I ask you for something. The one time I want a day off and you just say no. Just like that! You don't even have the decency to look sorry or give an explanation. What was that about?" She demanded.

Diggle shifted uncomfortably then ushered both Oliver and Felicity outside the room and away from the curious onlookers. Oliver stood stoically in the hallways and watched as Diggle turned back and left them alone. Once the door they came through was shut again, the noise disappeared and they were enveloped in thick silence.

"I'm listening." Felicity crossed her arms and jutted her chin out, but Oliver had nothing to say to her. Not unless he wanted to give everything away. She waited for his answer and he had the fleeting thought that she looked beautiful even when angry. "Fine, you don't want to talk, so let me do the talking. You have been acting horrible to my boyfriend since the first time you met him. I didn't want to say it, I assumed you had your reasons or that he offended you without knowing but the thing is that he did not." She exclaimed. "He's been nothing but decent all along but you keep acting like a... like a.."

Felicity's eyes went wide and realization seemed to dawn on her. She bit down on her lip then shook her head as if to physically shake some thought away.

"Carry on," Oliver's voice was slightly above a whisper. "Tell me, Felicity Smoak, what am I acting like?"

"No." She shook her head, some of the anger returning. "You said I should give him a chance. You told me, when I talked to you, that I should say yes. So you have no reason to act this way when you don't even know him that well."

"Don't I?" Oliver moved closer, trapping Felicity between his body and the wall as she moved a step back. He hoped that Diggle had the sense to lock this door and open another one for the guests.

"Y... you don't.." She hesitated then laid out a hand over his chest to stop him from moving any closer. "You said -"

"I know what I said," Oliver replied bitterly. "I shouldn't have. I was trying to do what's best for you."

"What do you mean?" Oliver felt a mixture of hope and frustration. He saw these same feelings reflected back at him in Felicity's eyes.

"I mean that I should have never handed you over to another man," The words felt liberating. The weight he had been feeling for months lifted ever so slightly. "Not when I wanted you for myself." His hand now lay atop of hers, clasping it and keeping it close to his heart. He reckoned she could feel his wild heart beat.

"Why now, Oliver?" She squeezed her eyes shot. Her hand trembled under his. "Why after all this time when I'm finally moving on and trying to do something just for me.. you.. you don't have the right." He saw the tears in her eyes a moment before she pulled her hand away. Felicity hugged her arms to herself like someone trying to keep themselves together. As if she would fall apart otherwise. "You can't say this... I have a boyfriend... I... We can't."

Every word she said stabbed at his heart. The unshed tears made her eyes sparkle. She looked devastatingly beautiful and Oliver knew that he would fight anyone for her. That he would try to fix it all somehow if she would let him. But she won't. He knew her well enough to know that.

Felicity Smoak was too loyal to betray her boyfriend's trust that way. It was what Oliver loved most about her.

Loved.

Oliver took a step back with his face cast down. He swallowed past the lump in his throat and willed his eyes to clear. When he looked back up, his face had gained back its shuttered expression but his eyes held all the hurt he tried to hide. Felicity's hand twitched as if she wanted to comfort him. He took another step back and the distance between them seemed to stretch for miles.

"You can take this weekend off, and from now on, you can ask Diggle whenever you need time off and he'll tell me," He tried to hide how sad the idea made him but one look at Felicity's stricken expression and his facade came crumbling down. "I'll respect your privacy. I'll treat your boyfriend... well. And I still mean what I said about you being able to talk to me.." he tried for a light tone. "Just not about him." despite the serious words, Felicity's lips twitched ever so slightly.

"We'll act as if none of this happened." Oliver decided and Felicity nodded once. She looked as heartbroken as he felt.

"Oliver I -"

"Don't," He shook his head. "Diggle once warned me about this. He said that I'll break your heart one day and that he'll break my neck for it. I believed him on both accounts."

He felt tired to the bone. Confessions and heartache made a brilliant recipe for exhaustion.

"I always thought that I could break your heart... I just never imagined that you will break mine." Felicity's tears finally escaped but Oliver didn't stay to wipe those away. Those tears may be for him but Felicity wasn't. She wasn't his. And he realized with a jolt that she never had been.

With a last glance at Felicity's tear-stained face, Oliver Queen gathered what remained of his heart and walked away.

A/N: Another one of my famous written-too-late-at-night-to-be-edited so pardon any mistakes.

I hope you liked the chapter and this is for all of you who wanted me to bring Barry Allen into my stories. I hope you're satisfied.

Poor Oliver.. tell me what you thought of the story and if you liked it. Do you think Felicity would at some point change her mind?

Thanks for reading and please tell me what you think.

Review!