-Oliver, Felicity and Diggle are in their new hideout after the Foundry was compromised in the events of 2x23-

The foundry was no longer safe. No longer a hideout for Team Arrow, as I liked to call us. Slade and his goons had compromised the foundry meaning we had to find another hideout. It felt like the beginning, before the undertaking, when we had crappy technology and out-of-date fire wares. My eyes burnt just staring at the tech we had to put up with, with Oliver being broke and all. Oliver had being trying to claim back Queen Consolidated with not much luck. But with a certain assistant district attorney on his side, his luck began to change.

It was quiet. There wasn't much to do with Slade being held in purgatory and Starling City in need of readjustment from the wrath of Slade. There was no obvious danger around, but Dig, Oliver, Roy and I still had to have open eyes. If it's something we have learnt during our time being undercover crime stoppers, the enemies are never evident.

"Earth to Felicity?" Oliver said glaring blankly at me.

"Sorry, what?" I replied exiting from my day-dream and inner monologue.

"Dig and I are going to grab a bite; I was asking you if you wanted to tag along."

I was a little famished... and a little stressed. Food seemed like the perfect resolution. "Oh yeah, sure. I'm so hungry."

I stood up from my favourite swivel chair, grabbed my purse and made an exit behind Oliver. I certainly wasn't used to not being right under Verdant, which was quite fitting actually because then we wouldn't have to go far just to get food. Sigh. I am certainly not one to adjust so easily to change. Maybe it's a female thing, because Oliver, Dig and Roy don't seem to have a problem. Or maybe it's just me. I don't know.

We arrived at Big Belly Burger, a team Arrow favourite.

"Guys, do you know where Roy is? He's been missing for three days now." I mentioned.

"He needs space. Thea's gone now. He needs time to heal."

It was silent for a bit. For the first time in forever, we could just relax. Not having to worry about eliminating bad guys, but just bond - like it was in the beginning. It was something I quite enjoyed.

We talked about the events of last week and how quickly Starling City was reclaiming its crowning glory.

"How's Laurel? I mean I haven't seen her in days and I was just wondering considering her father is in hospital and her sister's gone again."

"She's... dealing."

"Dealing? I wouldn't be able to deal. I mean if I was her I would be half way to the loony bin by now. I mean her mom's gone, her sister's gone, her dad's in hospital. It must be stressful for her."

Then remembering that Oliver suffered a worse fate with his mother being murdered, his dad being dead and his sister being gone too, I stopped talking and took a sip from my coke.

"Dig, you haven't said much." I glared at him. "What's on your mind?"

"I have something to tell you guys. About Lyla and I." He said.

"What? Is she okay?"

He had that little smirk on his face, but this time it was more noticeable than ever.

"She... she's pregnant." He said looking at Oliver and then to me.

"Oh my, there's going to be a John Diggle junior? Are you serious? That's great news! I'm so happy for you!" I squealed in excitement.

Oliver and Diggle both laughed softly at me.

"Congratulations man." Oliver said to Dig giving him a manly hug.

"Aunt Felicity." I muttered. "I love the sound of that... oh goodness is it a girl or a boy?"

Dig shrugged. "We don't know yet, and we don't want to know yet. We want it to be a surprise."

Dig got a text and looked down at his phone. "Ah, the wife calls. I got to go. I'll, uh, I'll catch up with you guys later."

He put down his bill onto the table and made a swift exit.

"So... a baby, huh. How exciting! I'm an only child so I've never really gotten to be around kid's a lot."

"You're an only child?" He asked.

"And here I thought you did your homework on me." I replied.

He grabbed a fry, dunked it in some ketchup and threw it in his mouth. He had a scruffier, edgier look now that he had no one to impress. He was no longer the CEO of a corporate company or son of a socialite turned political master. When he finished chewing he looked at me and said, "You are a mystery, Ms. Smoak."

"No I am not! I'm something of an open book. You're the tall, dark, handsome, mysterious hard-to-read, part time vigilante. Oh and by the way, those are the only words I could come up with to describe you!"

"You know everything about me."

"Not everything. What I know, I had to force out of you. You are a very secluded person, Mr. Queen."

"Do you really think that?" he asked.

"I know that." I sipped some of my coke. "But, five years on an island can really change a person. I'm not sure if I can even survive one."

"I'm trying to be more open, you know?" he grabbed some more fries and chewed on them softly.

"I know."

Then his phone rang.

"Laurel?"

I looked down at the mention of her name, feeling kind of embarrassed. The man I was so deeply infatuated with was talking on the phone to the woman he was once so infatuated with. And I was pretty sure he still was. I didn't say anything though.

"Okay, I'll be right there."

He hung up. "We have to go."

We paid for our food and then we left. When we got to the hospital we found that Detective Lance's condition had deteriorated.

"I can't do this by myself Ollie." She said tearfully. "I can't lose him. I can't keep losing people."

"I know. I know." He said as he put both is arms around her and laid her head onto his shoulder. "You're not alone. You have me. You have us."

I took this as the cue to exit. I didn't say goodbye, mainly because I hadn't even said hello and Laurel hadn't even acknowledged I was there. I felt like the third wheel. More precisely, like a ghost.

I took a cab home. As soon as I got home I changed into my pyjamas, even though it was like 5pm.

I took out my tub favourite Ben and Jerry's ice-cream Cookie Dough, put on 10 Things I Hate About You and snuggled into my cosy fleece blanket.

Thousand things were on my mind but I could only focus on one.

Oliver.

Oliver and I have a very complex relationship. He is my best friend, who I'm in love with, which is a massive cliché because I don't even think he loves me back.

The words, "He took the wrong woman" and "I love you, do you understand?" where on an on-going loop in my tiny little brain. I knew it was a fake-out, but I still clung onto the hope that somewhere deep, deep down inside he meant it, even the slightest bit. But I could never be sure. Of course it was necessary to the plan. Of course I'm seriously misreading is intentions. But if somewhere, somehow, Oliver feels the same way, and then he has to know how I really feel. I don't want to ruin our strictly platonic relationship, but I can't help it if I'm in love with him.

There was a sudden knock on my door.

I looked through the peephole and saw Oliver. I quickly let my now curly hair down and let him in. "I wasn't expecting you here."

"Ditto." He replied entering my abode. "Why did you leave the hospital?"

I shut the door behind him and followed him into the main living area. "I had no reason to be there."

"I'm sorry."

I looked at him confused. "What for?"

"That Laurel and I..." He started.

"No it's fine, really. Plus this is the only time they're showing 10 Things I Hate About You again. Clueless is next."

He laughed.

"So how is Det. Lance?"

He grimaced, "His condition is deteriorating so fast. They don't think he'll make it passed next week."

"Oh, my. That's terrible."

"Yeah." He said looking at me. "Do you mind if I crash on your couch for tonight?"

I swallowed. "Make yourself right at home."

I watched him awkwardly sit on my couch.

"May I ask why you need to crash here when you have a whole Palace just downtown?"

He shrugged. "Sold all the furniture, remember?" He told me. "It was either here, Laurel's or Dig's. You seemed like the best option."

*swoon*

"Well, I'm not complaining." I smiled. "Oh the bathroom is just down that corridor, the first door on the right. I left a girly mess in there so please don't judge me. If you want anything to eat, there are some microwaveable beef steaks in the fridge and there's microwaveable popcorn too. I'm pretty sure there's some microwaveable Mac and Cheese somewhere in there too... that's if I haven't ate it... but anyway the point is there's food - in the fridge."

"Got it." He grinned.

"I can't cook." I said awkwardly as I placed my hands on my waist. Then realising I was in my really short pyjama shorts, and placing my hands on my waist was drawing too much attention down there, I crossed my arms again.

"What movie is this again?" He said staring emotionlessly at the TV screen.

I shyly uttered, "10 Things I Hate About You."

He raised his eyebrows. "Hmm."

"Oh come on." I said sitting beside him. "This is one of favourite movies from the late 90's."

"It seems pretty stupid." He laughed.

"Oh shut up!" I nudged him playfully.

We sat there watching the movie in silent for a few seconds.

"Did you hear?"

"Hear what?" He replied.

I turned to face him. "Barry came out of his coma."

"When?" He said looking confused.

"Last night. I got a call from Caitlin and Cisco, but he has Post Traumatic Amnesia which the doctor says might wear off as time progresses. If it doesn't then it'll kind of suck because I really kind of liked him and maybe he really kind of liked me... well I know he did because he asked me to go out some time. I hope he remembers me."

"You are not someone anyone can forget."

"I'm not sure whether that was a compliment or an insult."

"A compliment of course." He replied quickly as our eyes met. He stared at me, smiling.

I imitated his smile and laughed a little, "What?"

"Nothing." He whispered.

We sat there still gazing for at least ten whole seconds.

"Uh..." I shook my head and finally turned away towards the television.

He reached to my face and put his hand my cheek, then he turned my face towards him. As our eyes met once again, he could see the confusion in my facial expression. "Oliver-..."

"I did mean it."

What? What did he mean?"

"What? What are you talking about?" I quizzed nervously. "Oliver. I don't understand."

"I meant what I said; when I said that I loved you."

My heart stopped then turned to stone. I could no longer feel my blood circulating as my veins went cold. There was a sudden feeling in my stomach. Like thousands of tiny punches.

Oliver Queen loves me. Me. Not Laurel. Not Sara. Me.

I didn't know what to think.