#if you can't tell i drew him in like three minutes using ms paint-

[absolutelynothingdragonrelated]

[originalhybridloverfics]

Why Can't We Be Like That - Ch13 - Olicity Fic

Chapter 14: Chapter Thirteen

Summary:

The press paints Felicity in an unflattering light. Felicity recieves a visit from a Queen and Oliver has an unexpected visitor of his own.

Notes:

So here’s the next chapter. It’s pretty Felicity-Centric.

Happy reading!

Chapter Text

Usually on the weekend Felicity tended to get in some extra work but that wasn’t the plan.

She was feeling good and she just wanted to relax and enjoy the rest of her weekend stress free.

She stayed in bed till 10 which was a change since she was usually up at 6 in the morning. She didn’t bother with a shower and getting dress until it was almost noon, catching up on some of her shows but then she was getting hungry and craving Big Belly Burger. Plus she knew Carly was working today and that she would have AJ with her and she wanted to see her favorite little man.

Hence she had to get dressed and leave her house, throwing on a simple pair of black jeans and a dark green t-shirt, her hair in her usual pony tail and glasses perched on the bridge of her nose, she headed out to Big Belly Burger.

Twenty or so minutes later she was walking into Big Belly Burger, there was a bit of a crowd but Felicity ignored that and scanned the dine until she spotted Carly at the register.

She walked over bypassing the line, leaning on the counter. “Hey, pretty busy in here.”

Carly nodded. “It is, especially while trying to keep an eye on AJ.” She glanced over a booth not very far away, where AJ was seated and appeared to be coloring. “What brings you by?”

“Honestly I was hungry for a cheese burger and I wanted to see my favorite Diggle.” Felicity grinned. When Carly only seemed to be watching her, like she was looking for something, she tilted her head at her. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I’m just surprised you’re in such a good mood.”

Felicity’s brow furrowed, okay her good moods were rare but still. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Well considering..” Carly trailed off.

“Considering what?”

“You haven’t see the news or read the Starling Gazette have you?” Felicity shook her head in answer. “Don’t you have an alert on your phone for when you’re mention in the news?”

“Yes but I’ve had my phone turned off since last night. I didn’t even bother grabbing it before leaving the house.” Felicity’s brow furrowed. “Why is it bad?”

“You could say that.” Carly pulled her phone out, swiping her thumb over the screen, opening it to the mobile page of the Starling Gazette and there in bold writing read.

A NEW ICE QUEEN IN STARLING

It was accompany by a picture of her from the gala when she was arguing with Oliver.

Ugh, she already knew this was going to put a damper on her good mood. But still she skimmed through the article.

Felicity Smoak has been a public figure for years now. She first was on the scene when she began dating Oliver Queen in his senior year of high school. The pair continued to date all throughout college and moved in together shortly after graduating. It had only been a few months after that it was revealed the couple would be welcoming the new generation of the Queen family into the world.

All seemed perfect in Felicity Smoak’s life. The nerdy girl from a hard working family getting The Oliver Queen, Ollie, the Billionaire playboy and heir to the multi-billion dollar company. 

But tragedy struck and the fairy tale story that was Oliver and Felicity took a turn for the worst when Ms. Smoak lost the future Queen heir in a tragic accident that also claimed the life of her step-father. 

Shortly after the tragic loss Starling City’s beloved Ollie Queen enlisted in the army and that seemed to be the end of their story. 

Until Oliver had returned not too long ago. Sources tell us that Oliver has been trying to reconnect with his former flame but Felicity has been less receptive of all his attempts to make amends and move past their tragic loss. 

One would think that Miss Smoak would be happy with our very own town hero’s return but no all he has gotten is malice and coldness from his former girlfri-

Felicity clicked the screen off, not wanting to read anymore. It was so typical for the woman to be vilified in the public eye because God forbid a man be held accountable for his poor decisions.

“This is a bunch of BS.” Felicity muttered, only now glancing around to see a lot of the lunch hour patrons staring at her, most with judging eyes. “Why don’t you take a picture it’ll last longer.” She sniped at a woman staring at her with accusing eyes just a few feet away.

“I take it things didn’t go well at the gala last night?” Carly wondered glancing once again to the Booth AJ was seated.

“You can say that. Oliver was being such a fucking ass and I Just, I had it and I went off on him. It might have cause a scene but it felt so damn good not to bottle everything up for once.”

“Good for you.” Carly smiled, looking a bit proud. “I have a break in thirty minutes and I want to hear all about it.”

“From the sounds of it, it’s already in the news, in the paper, on the cover of the gazette.”

“I’m sure, I’ll like your telling of it better. Besides I’d like to know how you caused a scene with the rest of the Queens and caused a fight between Tommy and Laurel. Speculation is your out to steal Tommy away from Laurel like you took Oliver.” Carly made a face at the over the top speculations of the press.

Felicity barely refrained from rolling her eyes. “Okay, first of all I am not out to steal Tommy and secondly, I didn’t steal Oliver either. I have more self respect than to play the other woman to steal someone’s man.”

“I know but the press love their stories.” Carly responded as she glanced toward an impatient customer just behind Felicity. “Look, why don’t you join AJ and I’ll bring you over some food as soon as I can. Cheese burger, right?”

“And a shake. Chocolate.” She threw over a shoulder with a wave to Carly walking over to her nephew. “Is this seat taken?”

AJ looked up with bright innocent eyes. “Aunt Felicity!” He slid further down on the leather seat. “Come color with me.”

Felicity slid into the booth beside him. “Is that what you were doing?” She glanced at his drawing. “I’m not sure if I have your talent for this.” She murmured as he made drawings of stick figures and whatnot.

“Of course, you can. You’re Felicity.” He pushed some paper toward her and a red crayon.

Felicity smiled at the way he said that and the way his eyes had lit up when he saw her or how pleased he seemed just talking with her. “I can give it a shot. How are you? Do anything interesting lately?”

“Arron, he’s my friend, I was at his house yesterday and his dog just had puppies.” The boy said eagerly. “I want one.”

“Really now? What did your parents say.” Felicity asked.

“Dad said he’d think about it.” His eager expression had fallen into a half pout but he quickly lit back up as he continued. “But mom said to ask again for Christmas and I might just get a puppy. You should get one, too!”

“They are super cute.” Felicity admitted but in all honestly, she worked too much to be taking care of a dog, it would be alone more often than not.

“Aren’t you going to color with me?” AJ said, suddenly looking at her blank paper and the crayon she yet to pick up.

“Yes.” She slid the paper closer to her, picking up the red crayon. “Yes, I am.” She idly drew while watching him with a fond smile, occasionally looking up to see people watching her and while she glared back at them in response she mostly ignored them.

Once she glanced out the window when she thought she saw a flash and saw, a few paparazzi lingering on the street and taking photos of her from a few feet back.

“Why are they taking pictures of us, Aunt Felicity?”

Felicity looked at little AJ, his face full of confusion and child innocence.

“Because you’re one cute kid and they want something to remember you by.” She had no idea how to explain why they were taking pictures of her in a way his young mind would understand.

“Would you mind moving to the back booth with me?” Felicity asked him kindly, not wanting to make him move but she rather not have her nephew end up in the media because of her.

AJ nodded quickly and Felicity could see that he was bothered by his picture being taken by people he didn’t know.

Carly came over just as they were settling in a booth in the back away from the windows, she set a tray down that was filled with three plates, three glasses, she placed a plate of chicken fingers in front AJ and a glass of orange juice. “Go easy on the ketchup.” She told him.

“Was something wrong with the other booth?” She asked as she set Felicity, burger in front of her along with her shake.

“There were strangers taking pictures of us.” Said AJ looking to his mother. “I didn’t like it.”

“It was some Paparazzi. I’m sorry.” Felicity apologized.

“It’s not your fault.” Carly said in understanding, taking a seat across from them, setting her own plate of fries and burger down with a glass of water, and setting her serving tray aside. “I don’t blame you.”

“What’s a papara-papazi?” AJ frowned trying to pronounce the word.

“Paparazzi.” Carly said slowly. “They like to take pictures of other people for money.”

“That’s stupid.” He said, reaching for his food and not at all going easy on the ketchup like Carly had told him.

“Yes it is.” Carly smiled at him. “And I think that’s more than enough ketchup.”

“I like ketchup.” He grinned.

“I know.” She turned to Felicity, who popped a fry into her mouth. “So the Gala?”

“It was going fine at first. I talked with Roy for a bit before being waved over by Thea and things just took a bad turn from there. Roy called Oliver out on his behavior and Moira didn’t take lightly to it, Thea didn’t agree with it either and Oliver got defensive and it was just complicated.”

“I knew there was a reason I liked Roy.” Carly said with appreciation but don’t even get her started on what she thought of the Queen’s. Clearly Moira didn’t believe Oliver had anything to be accountable for.

Felicity went onto explain how Walter stepped in and she met with some members of the London branch before going to the bar where she ran into Tommy and Laurel. “Tommy actually apologized for how unsupportive they’ve been before Oliver returned home and more so when he did. He seemed pretty sincere.”

Carly chewed her food slowly and swallowing it down before replying. “You know, I’ve never been able to understand him. I mean, half the time when he’s in front of the camera it’s like he doesn’t have a care in the world but when he’s not putting on a show he seems serious and responsible. Sometimes its hard to tell which act he puts on is the real him.”

“I think Tommy like myself puts up barriers to protect himself.” Felicity commented. “It’s hard being vulnerable and allowing others to see that vulnerability no matter who they are. Whether their family or a complete stranger. Opening up..it’s hard. It’s unbelievably hard.”

“But you’re doing it.” Carly smiled. “And I think it’s a pretty brave thing to do.”

Felicity chewed on her lip debating whether to tell Carly or not but she felt closer to Carly now than she did most people in her life. “I started seeing a therapist.” She confessed.

“Really?” Carly asked with zero judgment. “Has that been helping?”

“It has, I didn’t really think it would. I don’t necessarily enjoy opening up to a complete stranger but I also find it some what easy to talk to someone who doesn’t really know me or the people in my life.”

“Well, you seem to be doing better to me and if that is the reason I’m glad.” Carly smiled. “Oliver should take his butt to therapy maybe he’d realize what a-“she paused glanced to AJ who was trying to multitask, by eating his chicken fingers and drawing at the same time, getting ketchup splatters on the table. “Jerk he has been.” She amended though what she wanted to say was worse than that and not for the young ears of her son.

“I don’t see Oliver going to therapy.” Felicity admitted. Hell she was still a little surprised that she had started therapy.

“So what else happened?” Carly asked before taking a bite of her burger.

“Then Ray Palmer came over and-“

“Wait.” Carly interrupted. “Ray Palmer of Palmer Technologies?”

“Yes, that Ray Palmer. Robert’s had a few business meetings with him recently. Anyway, he came over to ask if I thought about his offer –“

“What offer?” Asked Carly with interest.

“Oh he asked me to a business lunch and offered me a job at Palmer tech.” Felicity paused. “As head of their Applied Science Division.”

“Oh, wow. That’s great.” Carly smiled happy for Felicity. “That’s a huge opportunity for you.”

“I know but I haven’t given him an answer.”

“You have to take it.” Carly said, surprised that Felicity wasn’t jumping at such an opportunity. “You could have a fresh start away from Oliver and opportunities like this don’t come around everyday.”

“I know.” It was just Robert and Walter had always been good to her. “I just..I need to think about it.”

Carly nodded. “So Ray Palmer?”

“Right. So Mr. Palmer wanted to know if I had made a decision yet and Oliver showed up and God, he was being so pig-headed and we argued. He actually tried to tell me I couldn’t accept the offer. Like he had control over what I do.”

“What an ass!” Carly eyes widened, she hadn’t meant to say that in front of AJ but thankfully he wasn’t paying them any attention. “I Hate it when men think they can make decisions for us.”

“Amen to that.” Felicity agreed. “I didn’t take it to well and I finally went off on him and…”

“And what?”

“It felt..it felt really good to finally get some of the stuff that’s been weighing me down off my chest, his leaving and acting like I was the blame. It just it felt really good to not bottle up my anger.”

Carly smiled. “No wonder there’s so much coverage in the news about you and Oliver. I have to admit I would have loved to see you go off on Oliver.”

Felicity gave a small laugh. “You’re probably the only one.” Well besides Roy, she thought absently. “I left the Gala after that.”

“So telling Oliver off is what has you in a good mood.” Carly smiled. “You should yell at him more often. It’s good to see you more light hearted.”

Felicity offered up a smile. “It feels good. Thanks for listening and being so supportive.”

“Of course.” Carly smiled. She didn’t need Felicity to thank her.

“What are you doing next weekend?” Felicity wondered. “I was thinking we could do a spa day or something.”

Carly sighed in longing. “That’s sounds really good. I can’t even remember the last time I’ve been to a spa. I could really use a day to just relax.” She glanced at AJ who was immersed in his food and coloring, not really paying anything they were saying any attention. “He has a mandatory sleepover with a friend of his on Saturdays and Andy’s been working more on the weekends lately. If I can get Amy to cover my hours on Saturday we could definitely make a weekend of it since I’m off on Saturday.”

“Great.” Felicity smiled. “Just let me know and I’ll set it up.”

“Will anyone else be joining us?” Carly wondered. “Thea? Laurel? Sara? Lyla? Your mom?”

“Uh, no, I thought it could just be us.” She hadn’t talk to Lyla or Digg since she started her therapy and after what happened at the gala she just didn’t really want to deal with Thea or Laurel at the moment. And as for Sara, lately she just felt like she couldn’t really talk with her cause it somehow came back to Oliver and how he was feeling and she was just done with people telling her to consider how Oliver was doing. “But that does remind me, I was going to stop in and see my mom. See how she’s doing.”

“What does Donna think of all this?” Carly wondered.

“I have no idea.” Felicity said. “She’s always likes Oliver but I know she wants what’s best for me and I just don’t want to get into an argument with her about any of this.”

“Maybe you should talk to her.” Carly suggested as Felicity took a long draw from her shake. “She might surprise you. Like you said she’ll want what’s best for you and I think she’ll be on your side. Always.”

Felicity nodded slowly, letting Carly words sink in. “Yeah, maybe I should. I’ll think about it anyway.”

Carly glanced at her watching as she finished up her food. “My breaks just about up. I gotta get back to work.”

“I was going to see if I could spend the day with little man here but with the press following me it’s probably better if I just do that another day.”

“You could keep him company if you like.” Carly offered.

“I think I will for a bit.” Felicity smiled, she looked to AJ rubbing his back briefly. “You mind if I hang out here with you for a bit?”

AJ looked up with a smile. “We can play games on my tablet.” He reached into the bag he had with him and produced the tablet Felicity remembered giving him for his birthday four months ago.

Felicity smiled as he shifted closer with his tablet. She glanced up at Carly. “I’ll give you heads up before I leave.”

“Good.” Carly smiled, reaching out and giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

Felicity turned back to AJ. “So what game are we playing?”

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Felicity checked her rearview mirror to see the paparazzi were still behind her.

They’ve been following her from the moment she stepped out of the diner, shouting questions at her about Oliver, their past relationship, the loss of her baby or if she planned on rekindling things with the Queen Heir and now Starling’s very own town hero.

She had clenched her jaw, pursed her lips and kept her mouth shut in response. She didn’t plan on giving them anymore ammunition to use against her or a chance to twist anything she might say around.

Not wanting to deal with this, she was sure to lose them before finally pulling up onto her street, taking note of the familiar town car she could see parked in front of her place.

She steeled herself praying for the patience she was sure she would need.

Moments later she was closing her front door behind her, walking into her living room she was unsurprised to find a Queen waiting for her.

When she saw the Queen family town car she been expecting one of them she just wasn’t sure which Queen it would be.

“You do know it’s a crime to enter a person’s home without the person’s knowledge or consent? I’m sure I don’t need to remind you of that.”

Moira who was seated gracefully on the edge of Felicity’s couch stood in one fluid motion. “I wanted to speak with you in private, I think we gave the media enough ammo to fuel for the public to consume last night.”

“Ever heard of a phone, texting, E-mail, something that doesn’t require you to break into my home and ambush me.”

“Oh, believe me, this is not an ambush.” Moira dismissed. “And I doubt it very much that if I had extended an invitation for you to meet with me at the mansion you would have said yes. Your relationship with my son is quite strain lately.”

Felicity snorted. That was a huge understatement, if it could even be considered that. “Oliver and I don’t have a relationship of any kind.”

Moira stared at her carefully, calculatingly making Felicity feel like she was beneath a microscope. “Is that what you tell yourself? It’s a lie. There will always be something between you and Oliver. This animosity you hold for him is pointless. You both have made mistakes.” Moira cut her with a sharp look. “But it’s time you moved on from them and make amends.”

“You mean I made mistakes?” Felicity shook her head, it was obvious to her that Moira believed her to be the one at fault here. “What mistake did I make? Being in the wrong place, at the wrong time? Not being strong enough to keep my unborn child safe? Grieving my child like any mother would? Holding Oliver accountable for only thinking about himself?” Felicity was getting angrier by the second. “Are those my mistakes?”

“My son has done nothing wrong. He did what he thought was best for him.” Moira defended.

“But it wasn’t what was best for us.” Felicity ground out. “You can dismiss it and make excuses for him all you want but it doesn’t change the fact that Oliver ran because he couldn’t deal. Rather than standing beside me he ran because things got too hard, too difficult for him.”

“Felicity, you know just as much as Oliver does how unbelievably painful it is to lose a child.” Moira cut in sharply, looking at her like she was the one in the wrong.

Felicity felt an ache in her chest from the words alone, cutting the old wound open. “You’re right I do.” Her eyes grew wet but she refused to cry in front of Moira especially when the woman seem to believe that she was the one to blame. “But I didn’t high tail it and run away from the pain like Oliver. I didn’t spend years pretending like it wasn’t the worst moment of my life. I’ve been here trying and trying to put my life back together even though the very thought of moving forward without my son feels like a betrayal, like an insult to his memory, and like its completely impossible! You have no idea how hard it is to move on from that kind of loss. It hurts to fucking breathe just thinking about my baby, remembering him. At least I tried to deal with his loss which is more than I can say for what Oliver did.”

Moira’s gaze turned cold. “You’re entitled to your own opinion, Felicity, but don’t make the mistake of believing I will let you blame Oliver for this. After everything he’s been through he doesn’t deserve this from you. He’s been through enough.”

Felicity could practically hear the threat that went unsaid but she didn’t care. There was nothing Moira could do to her that would be worse than what she already been through. “He’s been through enough?” She laughed bitterly. “I’m sick and tired of hearing about what he’s been through so why don’t you do us both a favor and leave.”

Moira cold gaze if at all possible hardened. “You need to apologize to Oliver.”

Felicity gave a scoff, whirling around and yanking her front door open, throwing a pointed glare back at Moira. “I have absolutely nothing to apologize for.” She squared her shoulders. “I want you to leave.”

Moira walked forward. “Don’t make things worse on yourself, Felicity.” Moira turned on the step to face her. “Apologize to my son so you both can move on.”

Felicity glared, squaring her shoulders. “Don’t come back here, Mrs. Queen.” She didn’t wait for Moira to reply swinging her door shut with a resounding thud.

Felicity ran her hands over her ponytail, a huff of frustration escaping her, her good mood gone completely.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

“Master Oliver, Mrs. Smoak is here to see you.” Raise informed Oliver. “Should I have her wait for you.”

Oliver tried to think why Donna would come to see him. He hadn’t seen her since the Dinner at Digg’s and he couldn’t think of a reason why she would be coming to see him personally. “Yes, I’ll be there in just a moment.”

Raisa nodded and disappeared from the doorway of his room.

As soon as Raisa was gone he checked his phone for missed calls, or texts, something to hint why Donna might be here but he came up with nothing.

After a few moments of basically stalling he went to go meet with Donna, she was waiting in the room his parents usually entertained guest.

“Donna.” He smiled at the older woman. “It’s good to see you.”

Donna didn’t return the smile. “Did you come back here to make my baby girl’s life worse?” She wasn’t gonna to beat around the bush she came here for a reason and she was going to get her point across before leaving.

“What?” Oliver was shocked by her words.

“It’s a straight forward question and one I expect an answer to.” Donna stood from where she had been waiting, leveling him with eyes that reminded him of Felicity when she was frustrated or angry. “Why did you come back here?”

“I..I wanted to come home.” He answered, his brow furrowing.

“Is that the only reason?”

“What more reason do I need?” He asked, he wasn’t sure he liked the way she was looking at him. It wasn’t the usual warm way she would look at him, that fond motherly look he was used to. No, instead it was protective, guarded.

“Oliver just where do you think Felicity got her bullshit radar from?” Donna said sharply. “I don’t believe for a second that’s the reason you came home.”

Oliver looked away from her, avoiding her gaze. “What do you want me to say? That I’m here for Felicity? That I regret leaving? That I wish I could take everything back, make different choices? That I could somehow turn back the clock and fix everything that’s broken between me and Felicity?”

“But you can’t. You have to live with your choices just like my girl has been living with the choices you made.”

There was a tone in Donna’s voice that Oliver didn’t like. Accusation. Oliver snapped his jaw shut, biting his tongue in an attempt to keep himself from lashing out but unable to stay completely silent, he said. “I’m not the only one at fault here.”

Donna’s eyes hardened at the implication that her daughter did anything wrong. There was no wrong way to grieve. “If you need to tell yourself that to make yourself feel better. Fine. I don’t care but it doesn’t change the fact that you’re lying to yourself and anyone who tells you that you weren’t in the wrong are lying to you.”

Oliver shifted on his feet, clenching his jaw. “Why are you here, Donna?”

“If you turned on the news I think you’ll have your answer.” Her eyes hardened just remembering the horrible things the media was saying, the awful light they were painting her daughter in. Her daughter was not cold. She was not heartless. She was a young woman who lost her father. She was a mother who lost her baby before she even got the chance to really know her child. She was not this villain the world suddenly believed her to be.

“What are you talk-“

“My daughter has been through more than any one person should and alone and she is doing her best to continue going on when I can only imagine how painful, how incredibly impossible it must feel.” Donna cut him off passionately. “She doesn’t deserve to be slandered and criticized and made into the villain by the media after everything she’s been through. Everything you’ve made her face alone.”

“Just a minute I-“ Oliver started to protest but was cut off by Donna.

“I wasn’t done.” She said shortly, leveling him with a glare that almost had him flinching back from the harshness of it.

“When you came back I thought there might be a chance for Felicity and you to work things out because I remembered how much you loved one another.” Donna said simply. “I remember how happy she was with you and that’s all I want for her. I want Felicity to be happy again.” She gave her head a shake.

Oliver looked down. He remembered the days Donna spoke of. When everything was good, simple, uncomplicated.

“She was doing better and then you come back and those rare smiles, those rare moments that I’ve seen since everything. Their fading away and I hate it.” Donna stared at him reproachfully. “I hate that she’s unhappy. I hate that you’re only making it worse.” She set her jaw, raising her chin. “It has to stop.”

Oliver met her hard gaze with one of his own. “What exactly are you saying, Donna?”

“If all you’re going to do is cause my baby girl more pain I want you to stay away from her Oliver.” She said firmly, straightening her back and squaring her shoulders. “She deserves more than you coming back and screwing up her life.”

Oliver blew out a frustrated breath. “I didn’t come back here to make her life worse. I came back because I-”

“Honestly, I don’t care why you came back.” Donna cut him off, eyes like steel, her voice full of determination looking like she was ready to challenged the world if she had to. “All I care about is that ever since you did Felicity has been terribly unhappy and that’s the last thing I want for her.” She leveled him with a look and Oliver felt like she was a mama bear protecting her cub and he was the enemy. “If you care about my baby girl at all you’ll stay away from her.” She turned to leave. “I can see myself out.”

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Donna moved toward her front door when there was a knock glancing at the clock in the hallway, seeing it was almost seven in the evening. She wondered who could be dropping by. She was surprised when she pulled the door open to see her daughter on her doorstep with a takeout bag in hand.

“Felicity! It’s so good to see you baby girl!” She threw her arms around her little girl, hugging her tightly, pulling back a moment later but still held onto her arms. “What brings you by?”

“Do I need a reason to come see my mother?” Felicity returned “I just thought it would be nice to have dinner.” She lifted the bag of takeout in her hand. “I brought Chinese.”

Donna ushered her inside, closing the door behind her. “How are you doing?” She questioned, looking at her in concern.

“I take it you saw the news?” Replied Felicity as she set the food on the coffee table before sitting at the end of the couch. “I thought you didn’t watch the news.”

Donna took a seat next to her, angling toward her. “I don’t but Quentin called and told me to turn it on and well I’m sure you know the rest.”

“I’m fine.” Felicity dismissed reaching for the bag of take out.

Donna caught her hand in her own. “Felicity.” She said softly, doing her best not to push too hard not wanting Felicity to pull away.

“Am I happy about it? No but I can’t change it.” Felicity was fighting back the urge to pull her hand away. She didn’t really want to talk about this.

“Shouldn’t QC PR or someone do something about this?” Donna questioned, releasing Felicity’s hand.

“QC PR will put the Queen image first and foremost always.” Felicity opened the takeout bag and started setting the food cartons on the table. “The less of a scandal for the Queen family the better it is for the company.” She set the bag down when she was done and turned her eyes to her mother. ”So you’ve been talking to Detective Lance a lot lately?”

Donna should have figured Felicity would have focused on that detail instead and use it to change the subject. “Not like that. We’re just friends.”

“So there’s nothing there?” Felicity wondered, it was easy to talk to her mother about this if it took the focus off her.

“I didn’t say that.” Donna sighed, and shook her head, looking at the picture on her side table of her late husband. “I just, I don’t think I’m there.” She turned her eyes back to her daughter. “Not yet.”

Felicity had noticed her mother’s gaze. She knew her mother missed her father so did she but she didn’t want her mon sad because she couldn’t move forward. “Dad would want you happy, you know that, don’t you?”

Donna reached out, and pushed strand of Felicity’s hair that fallen from her ponytail behind her ear. “I do and he would want you happy to. And I want you to be happy.”

“I’m fine.” Felicity dismissed. Happy was a foreign concept to her but it was becoming less so. She actually felt like she was making progress even if it was slow going. Like really slow.

Donna shook her head sadly, wanting to reach out but not wanting to push too far. “Felicity, please, just you don’t have to pretend. I know I haven’t really talked to you about this but I was too afraid to push. I didn’t want to push you away or force you to shut down.” She paused, taking Felicity’s hand in hers and holding it. “Just tell me really how you are?”

Felicity first instinct was to dismiss her mother’s concern but her mother had obviously been giving her space because she was afraid that she would shut her out. And she couldn’t to that to her mother when she was looking at her with nothing but genuine concern. “Honestly?”

“Yes.” Donna rubbed her thumb across the top of Felicity’s hand, a gesture of comfort.

“I’m trying to move forward. I am.” Felicity assured her, gripping her mother’s hand back. “I just, I need time and I need people to stop telling me what Oliver needs or how he feels. I need to focus on myself for once.”

“If that’s what you need to do then do it. Don’t concern yourself with anyone else.” Feeling Relief that Felicity was actually talking with her and not pulling away. She just wanted to be there for her without going Donna on her and being too pushy. “Just do what you think will make you happy and I don’t care what it is if it helps you in any way. Your well being, your happiness, that is all that matters to me.”

Felicty felt well up in her chest, appreciation for her mother. “Thank you.” Felicity reached out, pulling her mother into her. She hadn’t realized how much she needed to hear that.

Donna held Felicity tight till she started to pull back.

“We should eat the food before it gets cold.” Said Felicity, reaching for some chopsticks. “So what did you do today? It was your day off, right?”

“I met Quentin for lunch at the new café on Benton and Paseo. But other than that I just been taking the time to myself. Did a little dress shopping. Nothing special.”

Donna didn’t bother mentioning the fact that she had went to see Oliver or what she had said to him. She wasn’t entirely sure how Felicity would take to her involving herself in her personal problems but she felt the need to protect her baby girl.

And if she had to protect her daughter from Oliver than that was exactly what she was going to do.

Notes:

I hope you liked the chapter. Feel free ot leave a comment, I almost always respond back.