Chapter Text
Felicity could not have been happier. She just married the man she loved in front of their family and friends. If somebody had told her that she would be this happy along with somebody like Oliver Queen she would have called them nuts and called the police on them as well as the hospital to pick them up.
But the truth is she was not that happy a year ago. She was twenty-seven disappointed in love and that the man she thought loved her had knocked up her cousin who was now dancing at the party at her wedding with a millionaire. Felicity smiled as she looked over at the woman who after some more time passes she hopes to call her friend again.
Life is funny that way. A year ago Felicity Smoke had touched rock bottom but not all of it was so dark and gloomy she just could not see that better things were coming her way.
“What are you thinking about?” Oliver asked her as she looked up at her husband's eyes which were shining with joy
“I was thinking about how thankful I am for what happened a year ago.” She told him as his eyebrow went up in surprise “If you think about it… had I not touched rock bottom we would not be here… I would be in a loveless marriage and you… well, I don’t know what you would be doing but it would be the worst scenario of our lives.” Oliver smirked
“I would still be looking for you not knowing what I’m looking for. But I hope that we would have found each other someway.” He told her
“You think we would have met anyway?” Felicity asked her head tilted to the side as Oliver smirked
“I would like to think that we would have… maybe the situation would not be ideal… I’m sure that you would have found out that Cooper was cheating eventually.” He said as Felicity frowned at his words
“Which would have ended in a messy divorce.” She said glancing over at Mary once again
“I am so glad that we met and I am so happy that you finally said yes.” Felicity laughed at his words
“Was I really that hard to convince?” Oliver looked like he was thinking about it for a second
“You were never easy Felicity but if you had said no I would have kept asking. I promise that I will spend the rest of my life making you happy.” As he said that Felicity flashbacked down the memory lane to a year ago
A year ago, Felicity was locked in Ben’s guest room. She had been crying for a month about how hard life had hit her in the face with the fact that her fiance… well, ex-fiance was sleeping with her cousin who was also her best friend oh and let’s not forget that he impregnated her and that was how she found out.
1 year ago
The crying had stopped after some time and she knew Ben appreciated it that. The walls, after all, were thin and she was sure that he could hear all the crying and cursing that went over at night.
She could still remember every detail of that Thursday. And to think that she was going to surprise him with showing up at his office… well, she ended up being the surprised one.
When they tried to explain and started the ‘honey I can explain’ routine, she didn’t really want to hear it besides she had seen all that she needed and didn’t need a further explanation. She was angry and hurt so she just ran off after she threw the wedding bills at him.
She packed in a hurry and to be honest she didn’t really think where she would go but somehow she ended up at Ben’s door. He said nothing taking her in and letting her use his guest bedroom no questions asked. Felicity was sure that he already knew or at least guessed it before it even happened.
Today she was finally having some communication with somebody who was not Ben and that it was not about food. Her friend Sara Lance had decided that she was so done with her pining over a guy who was not even worth it.
“Felicity this is ridiculous.” Sara said looking around the room trying not to breathe through her nose because honestly, the smell was too overpowering as she walked over to the windows pulling the curtains and opening the window to let some air and light in as Felicity hissed as the light poured into the room
“Sara I already told you I’m not going anywhere.” Felicity insisted pulling the blanket over her head as Sara frowned. Felicity was so not ready to face the outside world after what had happened even if it was almost three months ago
“Felicity you are getting in a shower and you are accompanying me to meet with Lyla at the bridal shop.” Sara said in a demanding tone her hand on her hips“You already promised Lyla you would help”
With a sigh, she got up letting go of the blanket, and with a frown headed to the bathroom taking the towel that Sara handed her with a smile
“Just so you know I am doing this but I am so not happy about it.” Sara nodded a smile plasted on her perfect face as she shook her head once Felicity had made it to the bathroom
“I know.” That was all she said
Sara knew exactly how to pull her out of this. A few months before the disastrous news that Felicity’s fiancé had left her cousin pregnant Lyla and Digg had announced they were getting married and Felicity had promised to organize their wedding with Sara’s help that is.
Once the hot water had touched her skin Felicity took in a deep breath. She was such an idiot. How did she not see this coming? Now that she is thinking about it there were signs. She just chose to ignore them. She still couldn’t believe her cousin and best friend Marry had done this to her
Felicity was planning her wedding happy to finally spend the rest of her life with the man she loved… and oh boy was she wrong about that. Cooper didn’t love her if he did she would not feel this way right now.
After the shower and some clean clothes, Sara had dragged her to the bridal shop where an excited Lyla was waiting for them
“What took so long?” she asked looking at Sara who signed looking at Felicity
“You can take a guess.” She said as a matter of factly as Lyla smiled looking at Felicity who had crossed her arms
“How are you doing honey?” Lyla asked giving the blond woman a strong hug and Felicity wanted to cry
“Like a woman who was just cheated on.” She said as Lyla gives her a pity look once she pulled away
“I’m so sorry I know this is hard for you but… hey, the good thing is you found out… and now you can move on.” Felicity just nodded as they took a seat on one of the sofas waiting for their shopping helper.
When she arrived Lyla followed her into the changing room and Felicity sighed. She now detested anything that had to do with the wedding the whole ever after thing was ridiculous to her.
If somebody had told her that she would be here heartbroken a few months ago she would surely have laughed in his face. It was ironic for her to even be in a wedding shop now. She knew what her friends were saying and to tell the truth she knew they were right.
It has been three months since then but she had spent the last five years of her life with that man and it was not going to be easy to let it go.
Looking at all of these women around her she thought if she was this self-involved that she didn’t see it? She sighed looking at all of these, smiling women. Probably half of them were being cheated on right now. The push from Sara was what brought her back to reality.
“You are thinking about it again are you?” she asked as Felicity just sighed “Liss you are smart so stop punishing yourself you are so much better without him.” Sara said as Lyla come dressed in a wedding dress while Felicity wanted to puke. Not that Lyla looked bad in the dress. It was the mere sight of wedding dresses they were filled with lies and disappointments, not hopes and dramas as she once thought.
“Oh come on please don’t tell me that we are mentioning the jackass?” Lyla asked her hands on her hips as Sara sighed
“Girls you know what I think this was a bad idea. I’m clearly in no condition to help.” She said as the girls smiled at her watching as she made her way out of the bridal shop
“You know what she needs right now?” Lyla said as Sara looked at her friend
“A rebound relationship?” Sara said as Lyla shook her head
“No, and yes. But first, she needs her friends and some support.” She said as Sara sighed nodding
“We should do dinner with all of us.” Sara said as Lyla smiled looking at herself in the mirror
“What do you think?”
Felicity sighed as she passed by the excited brides to be dressed in white picking out their white dress in which they were going to say I do. She felt sick. How could they have done this to her? Once out of the bridal shop she shook her head hailing a cab. As she gives the cabby the address tears started going down her cheek.
The wedding was beautiful. The church which she picked out was the one in which her mother had gotten married to her stepfather who had walked her down the aisle.
They were just pronounced man and wife and had just shared a kiss as the whole room cheered for them. Walking into the reception room she could not stop smiling and the faces of all their friends who were there to celebrate with them as they made their way to the table.
Soon it was time for their first dance as man and wife.
The slow waltz started to play and they gladden across the dance floor all of the relatives joining in first her mother and his parents as the rest flowed.
Once it was time to sweep partners Mary was in Cooper's arms and she was dancing with a cousin. Observing them dance together the flame inside her busted and she pulled away from her partner and pushed Mary out of the way as Cooper looked at her confused
"This is my wedding." She told her as she pushed her away and Mary almost fell as Cooper pulled her by the shoulders shaking her
"Wake up Felicity." She heard the voice of Ben as she blinked a few times realizing it was all a dream and she was once again in Ben's guest bedroom it was all just a dream "Pull yourself together!" he yelled as Felicity took in a deep breath and looked at Ben's blue eyes staring at her "Are you ok?" he asked as she nodded her hand running through her hair
"Your phone has been ringing non-stop.” He told her with a sigh “I can’t concentrate and I’ve got to be at court tomorrow early.” She nodded at his words as she looked around the room trying to remember where her phone was and considering she could not live without technology that was a strange thing to say.
“When I got home you weren’t here when did you get back?” Ben asked her as she looked at the little alarm clock on her bedside checking the time
"About two hours ago. Sara dragged me to help Lyla pick out a wedding dress I couldn't take it." Felicity explained as Ben just nodded his head
"How is the job hunt going?" he asked as Felicity smirked "That well huh?" she smiled trying to keep the cool as she took a deep breath “Felicity don’t you think it’s time to stop this.”
"I don’t know what you are talking about ?" she said as Ben looked at her with a straight face and a raised eyebrow
“You know exactly what I mean by this... the breakup… you made it sound like your world just ended. Felicity, I know you and I know that you are not a quitter and I also know that you are this strong and independent woman who is worthy of so much more than a guy like Cooper who by the way I never liked.” She smiled at his words “Stop moping.”
“I just don’t know where to start Ben, I’m the loser in this relationship and I will acknowledge it. I have no job, no boyfriend, and no home.” She put her lips in a tight line “Remind me to start looking for an apartment soon.” She told him with a sigh
“You need a job for that you know.” Ben said as Felicity closed her eyes
“I have some money saved I could find a nice apartment.” She said with a smile, and that was a first real smile not a fake one and Ben considered it a win
“You are welcome to stay here as long as you like but please for the love of God get up and start living again.” She looked straight into his blue eyes
“And do what?” he just shrugged at her words getting up from the bed
“I don’t know party, sleep around I promise I won't judge.” He got up from the bed “Uh and one more thing…” as he said that she looked up “Clean the room and yourself.”
He said as she rolled her eyes while he got up and almost left the room but stopped at the door "By the way… your mother called me. I forgot how that woman can talk for hours." Felicity laughed at his statement
"Well, she is not your mother so consider yourself lucky." She told him and Ben just nodded
"She kept asking if you were ok. I think she is worried about you. When was the last time you spoke?" he asked and Felicity started counting in her head
"I think last week. She freaked out when I first told her about Cooper and Mary." She said with a smile
"You know your mother is the only person who loves me in our family." Felicity smiled her mother was always a good judge of character after her father left she was careful with who she got involved with until a few years ago when she met Captain Lance and was now married to him for three years. She never liked Cooper or Mary for a matter of fact. Now that she thinks about it Felicity should have trusted her mother's instincts a lot more.
"Ben…" she called out before he walked out "Did… did Mary… Cooper wanted to get rid of the baby did she do it?" Felicity asked as Ben sighed
"Felicity, why do you care? You should want them both to go to Hell. And I don't think you should even ask." Felicity knew he was right, cruel but right she smiled knowing that his words were cruel but true
“Is he asking… about me?” She asked as Ben sighed in frustration glancing back at her
“The only reason he’ll do that is so he can get back the sixty grand he already spent on your wedding preparations!” Felicity laughed at Ben's words as he walks back into his office and she looked around her room finding her phone. He was right she needs to go out who knows maybe she will meet a dark tall stranger. She giggles at her own words as she types away on her phone.
Oliver was late and he knew Tommy was going to have his head for this. He was probably already waiting for him at the entrance of the club. Hailing a cab and telling the cabby to step on it. It took the cabby only a few minutes to pull over in front of the club and he paid the driver as he rushed out
"What the hell man?" Tommy asked as Oliver looked at him with a sigh
"I'm sorry it's just that I decided to fly commercial instead of taking the jet. I should have listened to my mom." He said as Tommy nodded
"Mrs. Q is always right." He said with a smile "Now come on we have papers to go over and all of that has to be over before seven I have a date with Laurel." He pointed as they walked inside the club and Oliver frowned at his friend
"You guys live together and you have been together how long again? Why do you need to go on a date?" he asked as Tommy sighed rolling his eyes glancing at his best friend
"Since Laurel started working as the DA we don't have that much time together." Shaking his head Oliver followed him up the stairs into the office
After going over every piece of paper and orders it was almost five PM and Tommy signed as Oliver returned the last folder in its place and look back at the grin on his face
"You know what I wish?" Oliver said as Tommy shrugged "That I have met someone like Laurel." At that, Tommy smiled at his best friend
"I'm sure that that girl is somewhere out there you just haven’t met her yet." Tommy said patting his best friend on the back
"Yeah well if you find her do tell her to call me." Oliver said as Tommy laughed at his best friend who shook his head
"So how long are you staying in Miami?" he asked as Oliver sighed
"I leave tomorrow morning for Starling and then New York the check on the Royal and then I'm going back home to QI." Oliver said running a hand over his face
"Well then let's get a drink before we part." Tommy suggested as Oliver nodded following his friend to the packed club’s bar ordering them two whiskeys on rocks
“So how is Thea doing?” Tommy asked taking a sip of his drink and Oliver smiled
“She will soon have a degree I think I could not be more proud of her.” Oliver said moving the ice in his glass “Dad still thinks he needs to find her a husband mom and I disagree and he is getting married again.” He said as Tommy nodded
“What is this wife number seven?” Tommy asked as Oliver laughed
“Six.” It was strange that he was nothing like his father sure a few years back he was just like him but without marrying every girl he slept with. It was becoming a little embarrassing that his father was marrying girls that were almost the same age as his sister was.
Fidelity was not really in Robert Queen’s dictionary and Oliver knew that better than anyone. Wedding planners had made a fortune on every one of his weddings. He always wondered how his mother did this.
Moira Queen was not a dumb woman. But she did make the mistake of marrying Robert twice. They had stayed partners and are as civil around each other as possible or in Thea’s words, their mother avoids him as much as possible not wanting to see his face.
To Oliver, it looked like after some time she had just started to ignore his father's many mistresses and ‘wife's" as long as Thea’s and his trust fund were not touched in the divorces she was fine with his rendezvous. That thought made him smile every time.