Location/Situation: Under the bed
Felicity was in the kitchen, washing the dishes and running comms for Oliver. She would much rather be in front of her computers, but that wasn't an option right now; she had two kids to take care of. She just had to remind herself that Oliver was just running a quick patrol and would be home soon.
The clock in the hall went off, signaling the fact that it was already 9:30. She set the dishes aside and headed to the living room, where her four year old twins were playing.
"Tommy, Sara." She called into the room. "It's bedtime." Two dirty blond heads appeared from behind the couch. They came to her quickly; something she was deeply appreciative of. Already she was feeling exhausted, but she wouldn't go to bed until Oliver was safe and sound in bed next to her- and that could take hours.
Both kids were already prepared for bed, so all that was left was a story. They were easy to please; Tommy liked stories about animals, or people, really just about anything. Sara on the other hand certainly lived up to her namesake, always wanting stories about people who stood out from the others, especially superheroes. It made stories really easy; sometimes Felicity would make them up or read them actual books, but often she would tell them edited versions of the adventures of The Arrow and his Girl Wednesday; she certainly had enough material, she'd been working with Oliver for nearly 17 years now.
"Mommy." Tommy pulled her from her thoughts. "Will you tell us a real story tonight?" Felicity blinked.
"What do you mean?" Sara didn't give Tommy a chance to answer.
"He wants to know how you met Daddy." Felicity wasn't sure what to say. They were only four, and here they were asking her about how she met Oliver. She couldn't see a reason not to tell them a version of the truth.
"Well… your dad came in to my office and asked for help with a computer problem, so I helped…"
She told the story, removing the bullet holes from the story, instead pretending he had dropped it, but keeping the part where he told her he "spilt a latte" on it.
Everything was going smoothly, both in the comm and in the room; she should have known better. She was getting ready to leave when Sara spoke up.
"Mommy. Tommy says that Daddy needs to come and look for monsters under the bed." Felicity froze.
"Daddy isn't home now. Can I check for you?"
"NO." Tommy practically yelled at her. In her ear she could hear Oliver speak to her.
"What's wrong? I heard Tommy yelling." Felicity sighed.
"He says you need to come check for monsters under their beds. I'm not qualified apparently."
"I'll be there in ten minutes."
"Okay. See you soon." The comm link went quiet again, besides the dull roar of his Ducati starting. She turned back to Tommy. "Daddy said he will be home in ten minutes. Can you wait that long?" Tommy nodded.
It was exactly ten minutes later when she heard the front door open and close, and then Oliver's footsteps on the stairs. He popped his head around the corner.
"So I hear someone needs a little help checking under the bed."
"Daddy!" Both yelled in unison. He came around the corner of the way, and headed towards Sara's bed.
"Do I need to check your bed?" Sara nodded, trying to keep it as subtle as possible. He laid down on the floor and was looking under the bed when he called Felicity over. "Mommy- I think we need a second opinion here." Felicity couldn't contain the smile; he was being a goofball. She went and joined him on the floor, and looked under Sara's bed.
"Well I don't see anything. Do you daddy?"
"Nope! I think we're good here." They moved to Tommy's bed. Oliver didn't spend as long here as he had with Sara's. Before Felicity knew it, he had popped his head up. "Well there are definitely no monsters under there." Felicity could practically see Tommy relax. Retreating, she saw Oliver say goodnight to both of them, so she headed back to the kitchen to finish the dishes.
She was joined a few minutes later by her husband. She heard him approach, but didn't stop what she was doing, instead letting him wrap his arms around her.
"Hi." He said softly, nuzzling her neck.
"Thank you for coming home so quick. I wasn't sure what I was going to end up doing."
"Always." He paused. "I heard the story you told them. Well every story you've told them actually. The Arrow and his Girl Wednesday?" He gave her a pointed look. "What are you doing to do when they figure that one out?" She smiled.
"I'll just tell them that their dad LOVED to pretend to be a superhero." She finally turned and kissed him. "Let's go to bed."
"Am I going to have to check under your bed too?" She gently smacked his arm.
"Just come on. I want to sleep, and I need my personal space heater for that." Oliver smiled; that one particular smile that was only hers. He grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the stairs.
"Let's go then."
