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Felicity Smoak is the most idiotic person on the face of the planet.
Okay, well that’s a lie. She actually has an IQ of 170, setting her way above the majority of her peers, but she makes some terrible decisions.
The most relevant one right now being telling her mother she has a plus one to bring to her step-sister’s engagement party.
Honestly, Felicity has no idea how she finds herself in these situations. She’s already wound up when she calls her mother, the elegant white card covered in her mother’s trademark glitter sprinkles is the first insistence of her even hearing about an engagement party, and so, her mind isn’t exactly concentrated on making excellent decisions as she speaks to her mother.
“Mom, you can’t just spring these things on me. It’s on the last day before we shut down for Labour Day weekend, there’s so much to do, I don’t know if I’ll be able to get the time off,” She tries to explain as she paces around her small apartment, staring down at the card in her hand in slight disgust.
“Baby, it’s fine, you told me just the other week that you choose when you’re off, that you don’t have a boss,” Donna replies enthusiastically, and Felicity groans, entirely tired of having this conversation with her mother over and over again.
“Yes, Mom, because for the millionth time, it’s my company. But I can’t just decide to take off for the day, I have to be logical and consider all the options,” She states slowly, praying that this is the time her mother may actually comprehend what she’s saying. Donna seems to flip between thinking Felicity runs the most successful tech company in Starling and complaining that her startup isn’t stable enough and oh why did she quit her job with that nice Palmer man who clearly wanted to marry her.
“Felicity, it’s your sister’s engagement party. Don’t be ridiculous, you have to be here,” Her mother impresses and Felicity sighs, rolling her eyes.
“Laurel is my step-sister and I still can’t believe she actually agreed to marry that…”
“Felicity, drop it. He’s a nice man who will give Laurel a wonderful step up in her workplace.”
That makes Felicity scoff. She’s felt something odd about Sebastian Blood since she met him two years ago at one of Laurel’s work functions she was coerced into attending, much in the same manner as she’s being coerced into this engagement party. The man is self-centered, egotistic, and is clearly only interested in Laurel as a pretty accessory for his arm.
“Because that’s what everyone wants from a marriage… nepotism,” She scoffs and rolls her eyes again when she hears her mother sigh.
“Felicity… you will be here,” Donna states, and Felicity groans, knowing what that declarative tone in her mother’s voice means.
“Mom, you have to give me more notice about these things,” She whines, already mentally trying to figure out what she can buy the couple with the littlest chemistry on the planet because there’s no way she can get out of this one.
“I sent an invitation! What more notice do you want?”
“Oh, I don’t know, any indication that you were planning a party in the first place?”
“Please, baby, you’re your own boss and it’s not like you have any kind of boyfriend to talk about. I knew you’d be free,” Her mother tells her dismissively and Felicity chokes on the air she’s breathing.
“Mom!”
“I’ll put you down for no plus one and please bring some of that wine from the city shop that your step-father loves so much. There’s just so much to plan and goodness knows, I’ll probably only get to do this once,” Donna continues as if she didn’t hear Felicity but her words have Felicity balking. She’s 25, not exactly on her deathbed, she’s got plenty of time to find a partner, thank you very much. You know, when she’s not building a company from the ground up.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Oh you know, with Sara off living freely with Nyssa. I don’t judge but my goodness, I could do wonderful things with a sapphic engagement party and wedding is all I’m saying. And well, you’re always so focused on your career, baby, I just don’t think I’ll get to…”
Felicity can’t help it. The aggravation grows in her with every word her mother says and it just grates at her. All of her life, she’s been exceptional. Graduated early, top of her class at MIT, had two master's degrees by the time she was nineteen, is building her own company expanding tech she truly believes in, but to her mother, the only thing that matters is her bare ring finger. It’s years of frustration and anger and disappointment bubbling up all over again and she just comes out and says it.
“Mom! I have a boyfriend actually!”
She regrets it the instant the words leave her mouth. Hears the way her mother stops, hears her drop whatever she was holding in her other hand, hears the loud gasp.
“What?! Oh my goodness! Baby, are you serious?”
“Yes, you don’t know everything about my life,” Felicity finds herself saying even as she curses herself, shaking her head with clenched teeth. She has to hold the phone away from her ear to protect her hearing from the sheer volume of her mother’s ensuing squeal.
“Oh well, this is fantastic news! You’ll have to bring him to the party!”
“Pardon?” Felicity chokes, blanching at the mere thought.
“The party, oh but of course! It’s the perfect place for him to meet everyone!” Donna squeals and Felicity resists the urge to groan as she can practically hear her mother planning her own engagement party.
“Mom, I…”
“It’s perfect! I’ll put you down for a plus one and the wine. Oh, my baby has a boyfriend! I have to go tell Quentin. Love you, sweetheart, catch you later!”
The line goes dead and Felicity freezes for a moment before she drops both the invitation and the phone to the floor, groaning as she flops forward to bash her head against the kitchen counter.
“You told her what ?”
“Thea, don’t, I feel terrible about it already,” Felicity sighs as she sits at her best friend’s island later that day, lamenting her terrible judgment. Thea’s island stools are a pretty typical place for Felicity to spend an evening. The two women are unlikely friends, but Felicity adores the slightly quirky fashionista she first met when she managed to spill coffee down her shirt right before a big meeting. That was two years ago and the women are practically inseparable now.
“I just… let me wrap my head around this. You called your mom to tell her that you couldn’t go to your sister’s engagement party and now, not only are you going, but you’ve got to find yourself a boyfriend to go with you too?” Thea questions and Felicity rolls her eyes as she spots the laugh Thea’s trying to stop bursting out.
“Ugh,” She groans, flopping her head down on the counter.
“You have the worst filter in the world, Smoak, it’s official,” Thea laughs, shaking her head as she reaches for the salad dressing.
“What’s going on?”
Felicity groans again as another voice joins the conversation.
Even more unlikely than her friendship with Thea is the circumstantial friendship she’s struck up with Thea’s brother, Oliver. The siblings have lived together since Felicity’s known them and it’s meant getting to know Oliver alongside Thea. He’s the sort of guy Felicity never would have thought she’d enjoy hanging out with, especially considering the stories Thea’s told about his younger days, but Felicity finds herself looking to see him almost as much as Thea. He’s sweet and kind underneath the bravado that he puts out to the world and she genuinely looks forward to spending time with him.
“Oh Ollie, you have to get a load of this,” Thea grins at her brother, gesturing him over from where he’s stood by the door, clearly having just got back from work.
“No, no, Thea, we don’t have to share Felicity’s terribly embarrassing story, it’s really okay,” Felicity waves her off, shooting Oliver a look of panic.
“Well, now I have to know,” Oliver grins, dumping his bag on the edge of the couch before making his way across the open-plan space towards them.
“No, no, no, I’ll just be over here, cementing my position as president of the terrible decision club,” Felicity laments, waving him off as she slips back down to her safe haven of her arm den.
“Oh that’s funny, Ollie’s actually the founder of that club,” Thea laughs, gesturing towards her brother who rolls his eyes with a scoff.
“Shut it Speedy, who’s living in whose apartment?” He grins, dropping a kiss to the top of her head as he steals a cherry tomato from the bowl in front of her.
“I am a floater, I don’t live anywhere,” Thea corrects and even Felicity laughs at that.
“Your dirty laundry everywhere says otherwise and stop talking like an eighteen-year-old just back from building libraries in an unidentified country in Africa that actually only add to gentrification,” The older brother grins, flicking Thea on the arm gently as he shakes his head at her affectionately.
“As sweet as your sibling bantering is, can I drink some of your alcohol please?” Felicity asks, peeking up from her sanctuary with a pout on her face. She watches Oliver’s face soften and a small smile spreads across her face as he reaches for the good whiskey he keeps on top of the fridge.
“If you tell me your story, Smoak,” He facets as he pours two glasses out.
“What story would that be?” Felicity acts innocent, fluttering her eyelashes at him dramatically but Oliver just laughs, shaking his head as he holds the glass just out of her reach.
“The one leading you to drink.”
“Ugh fine, but only because you have the nicest whiskey around,” Felicity huffs, it turning into a smile as he finally releases the glass. “Thank you.”
“My privilege.”
“So I called my mother,” Felicity starts after the burning sensation in her throat calms a little.
“Always a fast route to alcohol,” Oliver nods as he slips into the island stool next to her, nodding his head understandingly as he sips his own drink.
“And my step-sister is having an engagement party next weekend that I only found out about when my mom sent me the invitation yesterday.”
“The audacity,” Oliver gasps and Felicity rolls her eyes, raising a singular eyebrow at him over her glass.
“I’m sorry, do you want to hear this story, Mr. Sarcastic Interrupter?” She questions, gently nudging his leg with the toe of her shoe and he coughs for a moment before he grins, holding up his hands in surrender.
“Go ahead.”
“So I called her to tell her that I can’t really take the time off work and she goes off on this whole spiel about how I have to be there and she may only get to do this once because my other step-sister is, very happily, I may add, off traveling the world with her girlfriend and I’m apparently perpetually single in her eyes and so I maybe told her that I have a boyfriend and that we will both be attending the party next weekend.”
Felicity takes a deep breath as she reels the story off once more, wincing as she finishes. She peaks out at Oliver’s expression through a singular eye and promptly shuts it again when she spots the totally flabbergasted expression on his face.
“You did what?” He questions, his mouth dropping open like something out of a cartoon.
“Told ya it was a good one,” Thea comments from across the island, her elbows propping up her hand-framed grin.
“But you’re single,” Oliver comments bluntly, and Felicity whips back round to him, her brows furrowing.
“You’re an observant one, Queen. Glad all that money spent on your private education was worth it,” She snorts with a roll of her eyes, reaching out to pat him on the chest and he chuckles, grabbing her hand flicking it gently with his free one before he lets it go.
“So what are you going to do?”
“Well, dying seems like a pretty good option not going to lie,” Felicity groans as she takes another long swig of her drink, wincing as the alcohol burns once more.
“Oh please, we’ll just have to find someone to be your wedding date!” Thea exclaims enthusiastically, bouncing a little where she’s stood.
“Thea, it’s an engagement party, weren’t you listening?” Oliver asks with a frown, looking over at his baby sister with a confused expression. Felicity grins at the sight of it, she’s always found his total lack of pop culture knowledge endearing.
“God, how are we related? The movie, dummy. Debra Messing? Dermot Mulroney? Seriously, nothing?” Thea explains, rolling her eyes as her brother’s expression remains a blank canvas of nothingness.
“Okay, first of all, I’m not taking an escort home to meet my mother. Second of all, I’m not taking an escort home to meet my mother!” Felicity inputs, having followed Thea’s train of thoughts to the endless slew of rom coms she and her mom used to watch together on Thursday nights.
Thea steps back, clearly startled at her tone as she raises her own arms in surrender, “Alright, alright, ixnay on the wedding date plan. Is there anyone at work you can ask?”
“Oh yes, because that’s a totally appropriate thing for a CEO to ask of her employees,” Felicity scoffs, turning back to her drink.
“Any of your college friends?”
“Mom’s met them all.”
“I’m free next weekend,” Oliver suddenly states, looking at Felicity with an unreadable expression on his face. Felicity freezes, a frown loosening to shock as what he’s suggesting permeates through to her brain.
“That’s great, Ollie, but we’re talking about Felicity’s problem here,” Thea waves him off, clearly not catching on even as Oliver and Felicity stare at each other, a palpable tension building between them.
“No, Thea. I mean, I’ll go with her and pretend to be her mystery man. I’ll go with you,” Oliver explains, his eyes glancing over to his sister without moving his head. There’s something so intense about the blazing look in his eyes as they flick back to Felicity that it takes her aback for a long moment.
“Seriously, you would do that for me?” Felicity asks, completely overwhelmed. She and Oliver get along, and they’ve hung out alone a few times, but the basis of their relationship is through Thea. She would consider him a friend in his own right, but not I’ll pretend to be your boyfriend to trick your entire family sort of friends.
“Well yeah, it’s not exactly a hardship. Get out of the city for a weekend, eat at a catered party,” Oliver shrugs, playing it off nonchalantly whilst Felicity thinks her heart has actually migrated to her head what with how loudly she can hear it beating.
“Pretend to be in love with Felicity…” Thea trails off with a raised eyebrow and Felicity almost chokes, trying not to let her total astonishment show too badly on her face.
“Oh yes, fake feelings for a beautiful woman, the most enduring of my hardships.”
Felicity does choke at that, drawing the siblings’ attention back to her. Oliver sends her a concerned look but she just waves his comforting hand to her shoulder off as she balks at him, “You think I’m beautiful?”
“Do you own a mirror?” He counters with a frown and Felicity freezes for a moment before she shakes her head, trying to wrap her head around the absurdity of what he’s suggesting.
“You do realize that you’re signing up to a weekend of my family, right?”
“Right. Your mom’s crazily obsessed with marrying you all off, your stepdad’s kind but also kind of a pushover, Laurel’s determined and sometimes a little mean, and Sara’s cool and your favorite,” Oliver reels off with a sincere smile and Felicity swallows thickly, blinking a few times as she absorbs what he’s just said.
“I… how do you know all that?” She asks, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she looks at him gently.
“I have these funny things called ears that allow me to listen when you speak,” He chuckles a little, gesturing to his head and Felicity sighs, the tension in her shoulders melting a little.
“You seriously want to do this?” She asks him, reaching out to grab his head.
She feels her heart skip a beat when he turns her hand over in his to entwine their fingers and squeezes it gently as he looks at her with honesty and trust in his eyes, “For you? Anything.”
“Well, then I guess it’s settled. Oh, you guys kind of do make a handsome couple!” Thea grins and Felicity chuckles, even though she cannot help but wonder what on earth she’s just got herself in for.
“This is a terrible idea. This is a terrible idea. They’re gonna know, they’re gonna know.”
A few of the other passengers on the train give them strange looks but Felicity cannot focus on anything other than her own impending doom as they hurtle towards her parents’ house. Oliver offered to drive but Felicity insisted that this is the way she always goes home and she doesn’t want to break tradition now.
“Whoa, Felicity, take a breath, it’s gonna be okay,” Oliver reassures her from his place in the next seat over. He reaches out to grab her hand, gently unfolding her tight grip on the tote that holds the requested wine for her mother.
“How do you know that?” Felicity asks, looking over at him with wide eyes and a scared expression. She’s terrified that her entire family is going to see through this entire facade and then her mom’s going to know she lied.
...Google, she does not want to deal with the fallout from that.
“Because I believe in us,” Oliver tells her sweetly, placing the wine by his side before he gently takes her hand in both of his.
“We don’t even have a story!” Felicity balks, snapping her hand back to rub at her forehead.
“We’ll just tell the truth. You became friends with my sister, you met me because I live with her, one thing led to another, and here we are,” He tries calmly and Felicity frowns, finally stilling as she turns to look at him properly.
“Here we are? Just like that?” She asks softly, her brain whirring as she tries to think about how this might work. She’s been trying to come up with a fantastical story that will blow them all away but the truth…
That might just do the trick.
“Well, we couldn’t deny the palpable tension,” Oliver grins, leaning in towards her with what she knows to be his trademark smirk and Felicity rolls her eyes, pushing gently on his shoulder.
“And there’s playboy Queen.”
She regrets it the instant she says it as she watches Oliver’s face fall. Her heart sinks and she winces, knowing that it was a low blow. Oliver’s partying days are a shadowy part of his past but they’re not who he is anymore and it’s cruel of her to use that against him.
“Watch it, you know I haven’t been that guy for years,” He tries to shrug it off but Felicity swallows thickly, reaching for his hand to clasp in both of hers.
“I know, I’m sorry, that was a low blow. I’m just nervous is all,” She tells him nervously, releasing a small sigh of relief when he squeezes her hand and sends her a small smile.
“It’s going to be fine, you’ve got me the entire time, okay?”
“Thank you,” She nods with a small smile of her own. She really is grateful that he’s the one she’s with in this insane situation. He’s always had a way of calming her down, she can think of many nights when she’s been lamenting something crazy to Thea and he’s the one who talks her down.
“Right come on, we have to get off,” He nods towards the window, and Felicity groans as she notices that the train is slowing down to pull into the station.
“Do we have to?”
“Yes.”
“What if we just stayed here?” She asks, making her eyes as big as she can and pouting her lips ever so slightly. She’s proud to note the small falter in Oliver’s face as he takes her in but he shakes his head, standing up but keeping her hand in his so that her arms straighten in front of her.
“You want to deal with the fallout from your mother if we don’t show?” He questions with a raised eyebrow and Felicity huffs, her pout only growing as she considers his words.
“Ugh, you know all the weak spots, Queen,” She groans, standing up and using her free hand to loop her small bag over her shoulder as Oliver grasps both of their overnight bags in his free hand.
“I know you, sugar blossom,” He grins at her, and Felicity freezes, leveling him with a death glare.
“Never call me that ever again if you want your bank account to stay fully intact,” She warns him with a raised eyebrow, and Oliver chuckles, shaking his head.
“You don’t have the nerve.”
Felicity laughs, smiling at him as she brushes past him to head to the exit as the train slows to the stop, “What do you think happened to Thea’s ex? You really think he just mysteriously decided to donate half of his wealth to programs helping to combat toxic masculinity?”
“You scare me, Smoak,” Oliver blinks back at her and Felicity grins.
“Good.”
...and if they don’t drop each other’s hands until they climb into the cab, that’s neither here nor there.
The house is a bustle of activity when they pull up, balloons decorating the front yard with a large sign that reads ‘Congratulations Laurel & Sebastian!’. The front door is wide open and Felicity is grateful to see that there are already plenty of people milling around in the house, which she hopes means the spotlight will be off of her and Oliver and their facade.
“You ready for this?” Oliver asks after he hands the driver the fare and a tip and Felicity takes a deep breath, nodding her head.
“Let’s do this.”
They gather their bags and Felicity is grateful when Oliver holds out his hand for her to take as he rounds the cab to meet her. She knows that it’s most likely him keeping up with the facade but she’s grateful for the comfort it brings her nonetheless. To know that she has someone she trusts implicitly by her side when she’s placed herself in this situation is more comforting than she ever thought it could be.
“Felicity!”
Felicity heaves a sigh of relief that the first voice she hears as they step through the threshold is not in fact her mother, but her younger step-sister, Sara. The two blondes have been thick as thieves since their parents met almost ten years ago now, despite their somewhat conflicting personalities. Felicity doesn’t get to see Sara a lot considering the twenty-seven-year-old has pretty much dedicated her life to traveling the world with her girlfriend, Nyssa, but she always looks forward to the opportunity.
“Sara!” She grins, dropping Oliver’s hand to lean into the huge hug her stepsister offers, the two of them swaying a little with the intensity of the embrace. “You made it!”
“Are you kidding me? Donna called me relentlessly for three weeks after I said we might not be able to get a flight back, I dread to think what her phone bill amounted to considering we were in Nanda Parbat,” Sara laughs, shaking her head as she pulls back from the hug with a huge grin on her face.
“Mom is nothing if not relentless,” Felicity laughs, shaking her head.
“Tell me about it! Speaking of, I have heard nothing but talk of your mystery man from her since we arrived yesterday. A pleasure to meet you, I’m Felicity’s stepsister, Sara Lance,” Sara turns her attention to Oliver, holding her hand out in greeting and Oliver smiles, shaking it with a nod.
“Oliver Queen, Felicity’s not so mystery man,” He quips and Sara chuckles, looking between them with a smile.
“She treating you right?” The older sister questions, shooting Felicity a look which causes her to roll her eyes amusedly.
“Never been better,” Oliver assures her, wrapping an arm around Felicity’s waist with a soft, sappy smile down in her direction.
“Good, this one can be a workaholic when she wants to be,” Sara jokes, poking Felicity who rolls her eyes again.
“Oh I know, but we’ve found a good balance, haven’t we, babe?” Oliver smiles and Felicity is taken aback by how well he plays this roll. She could almost get swept away in the affectionate look in his eyes, the gentle squeeze of her waist, and the soft way he handles her and the situation.
“Hmm, Oliver runs his parents’ company as well, so he’s pretty aware of the pressures,” Felicity manages to muster when she realizes it’s been far too long since he asked the question.
“Cute and a businessman, be careful, Donna will be all over him,” Sara winks, nodding towards Oliver and Felicity snorts, shaking her head.
“I can handle Mom.”
“Oh I know you can, it’s him I’m worried about.”
“Who are we worried about, beloved?” Another voice questions and Felicity smiles as Sara’s girlfriend, Nyssa, appears next to her, wrapping her arm around Sara’s waist with a smile. She was a bit taken aback when she first met Nyssa, describing the woman as intense is an understatement, but she clearly adores Sara with all her heart and she makes her so incredibly happy that she quickly wormed her way into all of their hearts.
“Felicity’s new beau who is yet to meet Donna. Oliver, this is my girlfriend, Nyssa. Nyssa, this is Oliver Queen,” Sara introduces and Nyssa smiles, extending her head towards Oliver.
“A pleasure to meet you. It’s rare for someone to penetrate Felicity’s heart in such a way she feels inclined to introduce us all, you must be very special to her indeed.”
“I like to think so,” Oliver answers somewhat dubiously and Felicity holds back a laugh as he does his best to stay polite despite clearly being taken aback.
“We should go find Laurel,” Felicity smiles at her sister and her girlfriend, slipping her hand into Oliver’s as she tugs his arm back from around her waist.
“She was in the kitchen last I saw her,” Sara supplies helpfully and Felicity grins.
“Thanks, catch up later?”
“Definitely, I want to know everything!”
Felicity chuckles as she tugs Oliver away and into the throng of people, “You okay?”
“Your sister’s girlfriend is a bit intense,” He chuckles but he’s still smiling so she knows he’s only teasing.
“I did warn you, you’ll get used to her though. She’s actually really nice.”
“You made it!”
Felicity smiles at the sound of her other step-sister’s voice, spinning to see Laurel stood by the sink, a wide smile on her face as she takes the pair of them in.
“Laurel! Of course, I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” She assures her, allowing herself to be pulled into a light hug. She and Laurel have never been close the way Sara and Felicity are but Felicity still cares about her eldest step-sister and she’s glad she’s happy, even if she really doesn’t understand her attraction to Sebastian Blood.
“Laurel!” Another voice calls, deeper and more demanding, and Felicity frowns as she spins to see Blood stood in the doorway to the kitchen. “Some of my investors are here.”
“Oh, of course, I’ll catch you later, okay?” Laurel smiles, cupping Felicity’s cheek for a moment before she rushes to her fiance’s side and heads back into the party.
“So that’s Laurel?” Oliver asks with a small smirk and Felicity sighs with a smile of her own.
“That’s Laurel, I’ll make sure you get introduced later,” She rolls her eyes. It’s funny, Laurel was the only one of the three of them who really resisted their parents getting together but she’s also the most like Donna out of the three girls. In her own way of course, but Felicity cannot help but note the similarities in situations such as this.
“Is there somewhere we can put our bags?” Oliver asks and Felicity winces as she realizes that he’s still carrying all of them for the both of them.
“Of course, I’m sorry. Let’s take them upstairs, we should probably change as well,” Felicity notes, looking down at her jeans and noting that they don’t really fit in with the array of cocktail dresses and dress shirts.
“Probably a good idea,” Oliver smiles and Felicity does too, grateful for his calmness as she leads him up the back stairs in the kitchen and down the hall to her childhood room.
She pushes the door open without really thinking and winces as she takes in the decor. She’s never really thought twice about sleeping in this room again when it’s just her visiting, it’s where she grew up and it’s a slice of who she was when she moved to college at sixteen, but now as she leads Oliver inside, she feels a blush sweep over her cheeks as he takes in the numerous desks scattered in tech equipment and the hand-painted periodic table mural on the back wall.
“Wow Smoak, I knew you were a nerd, but this is a whole other level,” Oliver grins as he looks around the room, taking everything in. She watches as his eyes widen looking over the trophy shelf that contains all her mathletic and science fair trophies.
“Oh shut up, what did your teenage bedroom have in it? Playboy centerfolds?” Felicity jumps defensively, crossing her arms over her chest with a small glare. Oliver’s eyes land back on her and it takes everything in her to stop herself from smiling at the cheeky grin on his face.
“Lots of sports posters actually. It was Tommy’s room that was covered in centerfolds but that was really only because it pissed off his dad,” Oliver explains and Felicity nods, thinking of what she knows of Oliver’s childhood best friend. She’s met him a few times and everything new she learns about him only adds to the general picture of his personality. He’s a sweet guy but he’s much more like Oliver used to be before Felicity knew him than the man he is now.
“Sounds about right for Merlyn. Stop it!” Felicity exclaims as she spots Oliver lifting up a plush microscope with a big grin.
“I’m only teasing, this is actually really cute,” He chuckles, throwing it up in the air before he places it back carefully where he found it.
“Please, it’s embarrassing,” Felicity shakes her head, knowing that the blush is burning like a furnace across her cheeks.
“It’s not at all, it totally tracks for you as well, you’ve been ambitious since you were tiny and it’s taken you so far,” Oliver tells her softly, walking back over towards her, and that only makes her blush deepen, as she looks up at him. She feels so much smaller than him stood before him, her sneakers not adding the height of her usual work heels.
“Please, it’s not like you’re completely unsuccessful,” She shakes her head, trying to wave him off but Oliver shakes his head, scoffing himself.
“Yeah, but off of my parents’ legacy, I’ve barely done anything,” Oliver rolls his eyes, sinking down to sit on the edge of Felicity’s bed. Felicity frowns, not hesitating to follow him. His legs are slightly parted and she steps between them, her hands landing gently on his shoulders before she softly lifts his chin to direct his eyes back to hers.
“Oliver, you saved that company from going under. You don’t give yourself enough credit,” Felicity shakes her head with a frown. Oliver’s inability to see how strong and incredible he is has always baffled her, the way he’s bounced back from losing his parents and dragging their company out of the gutter to rebuild their legacy is nothing short of incredible.
“It was the right thing to do. QC was their legacy, I could hardly let it die,” He shrugs and Felicity scoffs, knowing that he’s really as wonderful as she sees him.
“They’d be so proud of you,” She assures him and he freezes for a moment, taking a deep breath as he looks back up at her. Felicity notes the tears swimming in his eyes but she doesn’t comment, rubbing a thumb gently over his jawline in what she hopes is a soothing mood.
“I thought we were talking about your success?” He smirks after a moment and Felicity chuckles, shaking her head.
“We’re layered people, Queen,” She notes with a wink and their eyes meet, both of their expressions softening.
“Right,” Oliver counters in a very soft tone and Felicity suddenly notes how close they are. The swooshing feeling in her stomach that comes with being close to Oliver is genuinely nothing new but Felicity’s suddenly aware that they’re alone in her childhood room and she’s pretty sure Oliver has none of the same feelings she does. Letting herself get carried away is most likely just a road to self-torture.
“I’ll jump into the bathroom to change?” She suggests with a small cough, stepping away from him.
“Yeah, okay,” Oliver tells her in a curt tone, blinking a few times himself. Felicity frowns, confused by his sudden change of demeanor.
“You okay?”
“Hmm, yeah, I’m great. Let’s do this,” He smiles at her and Felicity can tell that it doesn’t quite reach his eyes but she nods anyway, collecting her dress from her bag and slipping into the Jack and Jill bathroom she shared with Sara.
Oliver seems to have shaken whatever happened by the time she’s changed into the pink cocktail dress and touched up her makeup. Felicity would be lying if the sight of him in slacks and a dress shirt rolled up to his elbows doesn’t make her heart stutter for a second.
“You alright?” He asks as he makes his way over to her, a smile on his face. He looks her up and down with a smile and Felicity blushes again, taking his arm when he offers it.
“Y-yeah, I’m great,” She nods, swallowing thickly as she rights herself. She really needs to get a hold of herself if she wants to make it through tonight. She sends him what she hopes is a reassuring smile before they head out the door and back down to join the party.
“You look incredible by the way,” He whispers to her just before they step off the last stair and it takes everything in Felicity not to scream. What on earth is going on with her? It’s just Oliver, she’s been around him almost every day for the past two years. There’s just something about tonight and having him so close, the feelings that Felicity’s managed to push down for so long are not staying in their box tonight.
“There’s my baby! Your sisters said you were here!”
Felicity winces as she hears the voice she’s been dreading since they stepped on the train. She’s ripped from Oliver’s side and into her mother’s arms, the embrace both comforting and a little suffocating.
“Hi Mom,” She smiles as she’s finally released, her mom holding her at arm’s length. She’s looked up and down by the woman before her, a proud smile crossing her mother’s face.
“Oh my goodness and you must be the man Felicity’s told her mother nothing about!” Donna squeals and Felicity winces as she tugs Oliver into a similarly smothering hug.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Smoak-Lance. Felicity’s told me a lot about all of you,” Oliver greets politely when he’s finally released and Felicity smiles at him, resisting the urge to roll her eyes as her mother practically swoons.
“Well that’s lovely for you, Felicity hasn’t even told me your name!”
“Mom, this is Oliver Queen, my boyfriend,” Felicity introduces, taking the hint from her mother that comes accompanied with a stern look.
“It’s a delight to meet you, Oliver. I can call you Oliver, right?”
“Of course, ma’am,” Oliver nods with an amused smile, glancing at Felicity who glares right back.
“Oh, you must call me Donna, or Mom if you’d like!”
“Mom,” Felicity groans, looking up towards the sky as if there’s someone who could help her in this situation.
“Donna, honey, give the poor man some space,” A new voice chuckles and Felicity breathes a sigh of relief as her step-father appears. He tugs Felicity into a loose hug, “Good to see you, honey.”
“You too, Quentin,” She smiles up at him. Her bond with her step-father is unique but she wouldn’t have it any other way. He came into her life a little too late to truly become a father figure to her but he’s an incredible mentor and he’s never treated her any differently to Laurel and Sara. They care a lot for each other and it’s something Felicity holds very dear.
“I am just excited. It’s so rare we meet someone Felicity’s dating,” Donna defends herself and Felicity stops herself from snorting at the small squeal she lets out as Oliver slips an arm around Felicity again.
“Well, Oliver’s special,” Felicity finds herself stating, glancing up at him with a small smile. That affectionate look is back on his face and it makes her stomach swoop again.
“Good to meet you, son. You can call me Quentin,” Her stepfather greets, shaking Oliver’s free hand and Oliver nods politely.
“Oliver Queen. A pleasure to meet you too, Quentin. Felicity tells me you’ve just been promoted to Captain of your precinct, that’s quite an honor,” Oliver charms and Felicity smiles as she watches her stepfather puff out his chest a little.
“Thank you, it’s an honor.”
“So tell us everything, how did the two of you meet?” Donna squeals and Felicity and Oliver look at each other, their conversation from earlier flooding back into her mind.
“Oh well, you remember my friend Thea I was telling you about? The girl I met when she saved me with her Tide pen after I had a coffee disaster before an important meeting?” Felicity asks, knowing that her parents are more than aware of Thea. They’ve spoken to her numerous times over FaceTime seeing as they’re at each other’s places constantly.
“Oh, such a sweet girl. Felicity’s always been a bit of a clutz,” Donna grins, talking to Oliver as if they’re old friends already.
“Yes, well, Thea is Oliver’s little sister,” She hastens to explain, watching as understanding crosses her parents’ faces.
“Oh, well isn’t that convenient. Two such charming children, your parents must be so proud!”
“I like to think they would be if they were still with us, ma’am,” Oliver nods a little solemnly and Felicity watches the panic cross her mother’s face.
“Oh honey, I am so sorry!”
“You weren’t to know,” Oliver waves her off politely, leaning into Felicity when she gently squeezes his hand.
“Oliver’s actually taken over their company, he’s doing an incredible job,” She boasts, smiling up at him and he shoots her a slightly reprimanding look but there’s affection behind it.
“My goodness, you’ll have to tell us all about it! Come on, Quentin, let’s get these youngsters a drink,” Donna smiles, moving into hostess mode and Felicity smiles up at Oliver, mouthing ‘thank you’.
Her heart skips a beat when he mouths back, ‘anything for you’.
Felicity is blown away by the rest of the evening.
She’s always known Oliver is charming, he’s captivated her from the moment they met, the banter between them has always been easy, but it’s something else to watch the way he can work a room. He’s funny and sweet and so attentive to Felicity by his side. Her drink is never empty, his arm is always around her or his hand is clasped in hers, and every so often a kiss dropped to the top of her head or her cheek has her heart hammering in her chest.
She’s not entirely aware of the evening’s proceedings through it all. She knows that Blood makes a speech, something to do with partnership and symbiotic relationships that Felicity’s honestly glad she’s not really listening to else she knows she’d be enraged. There’s cake and music and by the time the guests have left and Donna’s ushered them all up into their childhood rooms, Felicity’s floating on a high.
“You were amazing! Thank you so much!” She grins as she throws herself into Oliver’s arms the second the door clicks shut behind them.
“It’s nothing, Felicity. Like I said, anything for you,” Oliver chuckles, his lips moving gently against her hair as he speaks and Felicity sighs, leaning into him.
“I don’t deserve you,” She whispers gently, frowning when she feels Oliver freeze.
“Please, you’re far better than me. I’m just glad I could help,” He waves her off, pulling back from the hug to step just out of her reach. Felicity frowns, her arms falling back to her side and she scoffs, shaking her head.
“You really don’t see it, do you?”
“What?” Oliver frowns, looking at her with such a puppy dog expression that it makes Felicity want to wrap him up and protect him from any harm. She walks back towards him, gripping both his hands in hers as she looks at him with as much honesty and transparency as she can muster.
“Oliver, you’re a wonderful man. You’re sweet and kind and so so giving, I… I know you have a past but you’ve clearly done so much work to move past that and you’re not that guy anymore. Any woman would be lucky to have you.”
He stares at her for a moment after she finishes, blinking a few times before asking in an uncharacteristically timid voice, “Any woman?”
“Well, yeah, so long as she deserved you,” Felicity quips, scrunching her nose at him but his serious expression doesn’t change.
“I think you do.”
That wipes the smirk right off of Felicity’s face and she freezes, staring into Oliver’s eyes as her heart starts to hammer in her chest once more. “Pardon?”
Oliver takes a deep breath and Felicity frowns, she’s never seen him this nervous. She knows him to be calm and collected and always together. It’s throwing her off a little to see how this is getting to him.
“Felicity… I may have had slightly alternative motives in agreeing to help you out with this. The truth is, I’ve been crushing on you since Thea first introduced us. I think you’re kind and funny and smart and the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known, inside and out. I might be going completely out on a limb here but… I’d really like to take you out on a proper date sometime.”
She finds herself blinking at him for a few moments. She never considered that he could possibly be attracted to her in the same way she is to him. It’s why she’s always pushed those feelings down, considered him a friend and Thea’s brother, nothing more. But here, with him standing before her so vulnerably, she knows that they could really be something special.
“I… I think I’d really like that,” She nods, her own voice shaking as she looks at him, her own heart swelling as hope grows in his eyes.
“You would?”
“So long as you kiss me properly right now,” She grins and that confident smirk returns to his face. He drops one of her hands, it moving to grip her jaw and Felicity has to resist the urge to squeal as he tugs her close.
“It would be my pleasure,” He whispers to her as their lips are inches apart before he closes the gap and Felicity sighs into what is probably the best kiss she has ever had.
And okay, maybe she’s a little smarter than she gives herself credit for.