A/N: The idea just came to me. I don't know how long it's going to be or where the plot will end up going but I wanted to do something with Laurel in it. When the show started, I really did like Laurel. But now I'm full on Felicity so the idea of Laurel incredibly jealous of Olicity makes me really happy. I'm bad. I know. And I'd also like to point out that there will be section here and there from Laurel's POV just so you can get a glimpse into exactly what she's thinking. And there will be Olicity. Don't you worry. Let me know what you think & happy reading! xoxo

The Drift

Chapter 1: Ten Months

It was amazing the progress that could be accomplished in ten months. When a city came together, anything was possible. Oliver sat back in his chair, letting go of a breath he didn't realize he was holding as he stared out over Starling City. He just finished one of the many company meetings he had been attending since the fall of the Glades and even though it was only mid – morning, he was exhausted. He didn't know how Walter had managed to run the company during the five years he was on the island. There were meetings in the morning, meetings in the afternoon, and meetings when the sun was already setting beyond the city's horizon. Not to mention all the paperwork he needed to sign and the endless phone conversations he had with the other branches of QC scattered across the globe. He rubbed in between his eyes, turning slowly in his chair when there was a knock at his door.

"Ollie?"

He smiled widely, her presence incredibly brightening. In the ten months that had passed, she became a small bright light in his tunnel of paper work and board meetings.

"Felicity. Good morning."

She smiled at him, tucking a strand of her straight blonde hair behind her ear.

"I brought you coffee. That last board meeting looked intense. I was afraid those creases above your eyes were going to become permanent."

She set the cup down, steaming floating up. He smiled and grabbed it, savoring the hot liquid as it made its way down his throat.

"You and me both. There was just too much going on. And thank you. I needed this."

Her smile widened as she perched herself on one of the nearby chairs sitting in front of his desk. Oliver had marveled at how much Felicity had changed since the Undertaking. He had gone off the grid for a few weeks, the guilt of everything weighing down on him. But when he returned, the lair wasn't the only thing that had been upgraded. His IT girl had come into her own. Her usual blonde hair was no longer pulled in a ponytail but was straight instead, draped across her shoulders. Her glasses, though the same style, were all black. And gone were the panda flats and cardigans. He only saw her heels and dresses, the fabric clinging to every curve of her body.

She was different.

But you'd never hear Oliver Queen complain.

"So what's up next on your schedule for today?"

He snapped out of his little daydream and met her eyes.

"Probably more paperwork. You?"

She shrugged.

"I've got to make my rounds and see if anyone needs any help with any of the new programs."

He nodded, reaching for his coffee once again.

"Enjoying being head of the IT department?"

She laughed, shooting him a look.

"Do you know how many times you've asked me that since you gave me the job?"

He smiled knowingly, soliciting another look from her.

"Yes. I enjoy it okay? Being department head is pretty awesome."

They both laughed and Felicity reveled in the sound. She had worried about him when he disappeared. Diggle told her not to look for him (and though she tried) in the end, he had come back. He was different, she could tell, but she didn't push. He was home and that's what mattered to her.

"So I'm thinking about lunch before I bother the IT geeks. Care to join me?"

He swallows the last of his coffee and gets up, grabbing his jacket.

"Sure. I haven't eaten yet."

He moves around his desk and when she gets up, he places a hand on the small of her back, guiding her towards the door. But they don't get to go to lunch.

There's a knock at the door.

And a smiling Laurel comes walking through.

Laurel

"And you're sure you don't want to get lunch?"

I smile before grabbing my purse and locking the car door.

"Yes dad. I'm sure. I'm at Queen Consolidated. I'm going to see if Oliver wants to grab lunch. Rain check?"

He agreed, albeit a little disappointed that I said no. He still worried about me, even though he shouldn't have been. I missed Tommy every single day but I was getting through it. What I wanted to focus on was my job at the almost completed CNRI and my boyfriend. Things with Oliver were shaky at first but we worked through it. It wasn't like before he had disappeared but I couldn't dwell on the old Oliver and Laurel. I had to focus on the new one.

I stepped into the shiny lobby of QC, waving at familiar faces, before heading up to the top floor where Oliver's office was. I hoped he wasn't too busy to go to lunch and as my stomach craved for something Italian, I knocked on the door and stepped inside.

I stopped, mid – step, and saw Oliver laughing at something Felicity had said. His smile was wide as he placed his hand on the small of her back. I had never seen him smile that way. It was bright and happy.

And real.

I had always thought he put too much effort into being the Oliver Queen. When he came back from the island, he was different. Changed. And the Oliver I knew was buried deep beneath the surface.

But there he was, completely at ease with his IT girl, an honest to God, true smile plastered on his handsome face. Something bubbled inside me, a warmth that spread through me like wildfire. He was happy. He was laughing.

And it wasn't with me.

"Laurel?"

They stopped when they saw me, Oliver's hand dropping quickly from Felicity's back. I smiled tightly, trying to make it seem like I wasn't jealous.

"Hey. I just…wanted to surprise you. And see if you were hungry. I wanted to go grab lunch."

He smiled slightly.

"Oh well Felicity was…"

She spun quickly, smacking her hand lightly against his chest.

"I was just leaving! The update on your computer can wait for later when you come back from lunch."

I saw him shoot her a funny look but he played along, heading towards me.

"Okay then. Only if you're sure."

She nodded, her hands clasping in front of her navy blue dress, and I suddenly felt fat. She looked stunning. And I knew I was being childish but it wasn't fair. I quickly looked down to my black slacks and white silk blouse, suddenly wishing I could change. Felicity's voice brought me back and I looked up towards her.

"Absolutely. Go. Have lunch. I'll come by your office again later."

We said our goodbyes and Oliver lead me to the elevator, his shoulders slightly tense.

"Are you…okay?"

He nodded, his eyes never leaving the elevator doors.

"Of course. You know, just a little hungry."

The elevator opened and we stepped inside. The ride down was quiet and though I tried to stop, all I could think about on the way to the restaurant was the fact that Oliver and Felicity would've been laughing and talking if it was them heading to lunch.

And all of a sudden I was no longer hungry.

Felicity flittered around her desk, picking up the remnants of her Chinese takeout. Oliver wasn't back yet from his lunch with Laurel so she busied herself with updates and tech support for her fellow co – workers along with much needed beef broccoli and mushu pork. Diggle passed by half an hour ago to check up on her and was now with Carly, munching on burgers and fries at Big Belly. She sat down, satisfied with the clean up, when her phone beeped, a text from Oliver appearing on her screen.

I'm sorry about Laurel.

She shook her head, texting back, her fingers flying over the touch screen.

Don't be. She's your girlfriend. It's natural for her to want to have lunch with you.

It took all of five seconds before another message appeared.

I know. But we're friends Felicity, right? I'm not a bad boyfriend if I go to lunch with you. You asked me first.

She sighed, twirling a strand of her between her fingers, trying to think of what to say.

You are my friend Ollie. But Laurel is more than that. She comes first. And that's fine. There will plenty of late night dinners in the lair to make up for it.

A reply didn't come right away which made her slump back into her seat. She had grown closer to Oliver in the months following the Glades' destruction. And in those months, Felicity's small little crush on the boss blew up into something way more. Love? She didn't know. But what she was certain of was that Oliver Queen was off the market. He had Laurel. Talented, beautiful, gorgeous Laurel. And she had told herself a while ago that having Oliver in her life as a friend was better than not having him at all. She'd pine from afar if that's what it took. When her phone beeped again, she reached for it quickly, almost spilling the rest of her coffee.

That's true. Right as always Ms. Smoak.

She smiled, glad he dropped the subject.

Get back to your lunch slacker. I'll have a new update waiting for you when you get back.

His reply was simple.

:)

She pushed her phone off to the side, focusing her attention back to her computer. She started typing, getting lost in the numbers and letters flittering across her screen, and didn't notice when a pair of hands landed on either side of her from behind.

"Felicity?"

She jumped, smacking into Oliver as he straightened, smiling broadly.

"Jeez Oliver! What's with the vigilante sneak up? I've told you a million times before. Heavy steps. Maybe clear your throat? Or better yet? Knock?"

He moved around her desk and sank down into a chair identical to the one in his office.

"I did. You didn't hear me. Lost again?"

She blushed slightly.

"I – I guess. The update was being a pain in the ass."

He smirked, gesturing to the already setting sun.

"Isn't it time to go home?"

She swung her chair to face the large window, her eyes growing wide.

"It's already five – thirty?!"

Oliver's grin widened.

"Yup. And I still didn't get that new update."

She swung back to face him.

"What time did you get back?"

He thought for a moment.

"Before two. That's when I tried knocking the first time. You were so engrossed that I left you alone. But it's time to go and I'd feel bad if I let the head of my IT department just sit here in a trance while everyone else went home."

She shot him an annoyed look as she started to shut everything down.

"Someone had a side order of funny with their expensive Italian lunch today."

She got up, grabbing her jacket, and moved to face the window again as Oliver slipped the jacket on and over her shoulders. She turned and took her purse from him and grabbed her tablet before moving out the door, Oliver close behind. Once they were in the elevator, she pulled up a file and shoved it towards him.

"This is him?"

She nodded, watching the floor numbers lessen as the elevator descended to the ground floor.

"Yup. Marco DeSilva. He's kinda hot for a guy who's embezzling money and selling drugs to anyone willing to buy. Including minors."

Oliver's gut tightened at the mention of 'he's kinda hot' but he pushed past it, his eyebrow rising at Felicity. She met his gaze and shrugged.

"Just saying. Bad guys can have nice faces. Just bad souls."

The elevator dinged and they stepped out onto the lobby, night already falling through the glass windows. Diggle was waiting up front and Felicity turned to make her way towards her mini in the parking garage. A hand on her arm stopped her.

"Don't bother. Dig took your car back to your apartment this afternoon. You're riding with me."

She nodded and climbed in, Diggle shutting the door, encasing everything in darkness. The tablet lit up again as Felicity moved through Marco's files, trying to establish a play for tonight's Hood activities.

"Anything?"

He turned to her and she smiled.

"I think the Hood will be pleased to know that Mr. DeSilva has decided to stay in tonight. His mansion's on the upper side and has high security but it's nothing you can't handle."

He smirked as Diggle turned towards them both.

"Verdant?"

Oliver nodded, the car moving forward.

"I think Mr. DeSilva needs to learn just how badly he's failed this city."

Sooo, what did you think? Continue? Leave it? Let me know. Your opinion matters. See you soon. xoxo