First multi-chapter fic! Been working on this instead of studying for finals. Whoo! Anyways, thanks for reading!(:

Home (is wherever I'm with you)

Chapter One

"What am I going to do if I don't get in?"

He couldn't hide his grin when he looked up at the adorable pouting brunette, sitting high on one of the massive oak tree branches. She was absentmindedly swinging her legs, her brow furrowed in concentration as she looked on in the distance.

"I mean, I know I'm a genius and all, but what if they're looking for more? What else do I have to offer? For all we know, there are tons of geniuses out there! All more interesting than little old me!" She threw up her hands in frustration, and then glanced down at him, leaning against the trunk of their favorite tree.

Rolling his eyes, he crossed his arms against his chest.

"Get your butt down here Felicity," He let out a chuckle as she huffed but listened, slowly making her way back down the tree. Once she was finally standing in front of him, he took a moment to admire her flushed face, askew glasses, and wild hair, reaching out to tuck a strand behind her ear. He tried to ignore the flash of desire he saw in her eyes at the intimate gesture, reminding himself that it was Felicity, resident town genius and one of his closest friends. He quickly withdrew his hand, trying to get his mind back on track.

"MIT would to be delusional if they thought there was anyone like you, or god forbid, anyone better." He reassuringly squeezed her shoulder, trying to supply comfort. "What else do you have to offer? You kidding? How many kids do you think started building computers at seven while also making sure to speak out about all the injustice they saw in a school playground?"

He grinned, remembering the feisty little girl that had chewed him out after witnessing him bully a kid. It didn't matter that he was nearly three years older, or twice her size, she still managed to get him to apologize, and ever since that day that had been practically joined at the hip, him in awe of her passionate and exuberant energy, and her in the security and comfort he offered.

"So you have an abnormally high IQ. Whoopty Doo," he continued on, dramatically bowing down to her and earning an amused giggle. "But you're also the brightest person I know. And I mean that literally. Anytime you walk in to a room, it brightens up, either from you colorful wardrobe, " He gestured towards her bright pink cut-off overalls, "or your annoyingly optimistic attitude." He sent her a wink to assure her he was kidding.

"Everyone loves you 'Licity, because you love with all your heart and you care about making a difference, be it large or small. And if MIT doesn't see that, well then you're better off without them." He finally finished his speech, taking in a deep breath of fresh air. Her silence had him rubbing his neck in embarrassment.

"Wow. Felicity Smoak speechless? I think that entitles me to some kind of award…"

She blinked twice, her eyes big behind her usual glasses.

"I've just never heard you talk so much," she muttered before catapulting herself into his arms. "Thanks Oliver," she mumbled against his chest. "When you give pep talks like that, you make it hard not to love you," They both tensed, as they realized her words. She quickly stepped back from the embrace, her face heated in embarrassment.

"And by love, I mean platonically, of course. You're my best friend, and I'm yours, besides Tommy of course, and we've known each other since forever and you probably still remember me in my braces stages, and ugh who could ever get over that? And is Tommy getting here soon? Because I'm going to need his help to bury me in a hole." She avoided making eye contact, choosing instead to look down at the grass while she kicked the ground. She didn't notice as he dropped to sit against the tree, and was taken by surprise when she felt his firm grasp on her hand, pulling her down with him.

"Ahh, there's the rambling girl I was looking for" he said as he patted her knee. She sighed as she dropped her head onto his shoulder, the pair of them falling into old routine. They sat in silence for a few minutes, enjoying each other's company.

"Oliver?" She asked softly as she picked at the grass they sat on. "Are you happy here?"

He let out a sigh, knowing that there was no way he could lie to her.

"I'm jealous of you. All I wanted growing up, was to move to the city and make it big." He leaned his head back, letting it rest against the tree trunk.

"You know you still can, Oliver. You're hard working and beyond capable.." Her small hand reached over to grab his, giving it a light squeeze. She nearly cringed when he responded with a cynical laugh.

"Right. Make it big with what college degree?" He angrily stood up and started to pace. "I didn't even get a choice! Right after graduation I had to 'follow in my father's footsteps'. I never ever dreamed of being a carpenter. And look where I am. Working with the pops, everyday. I hate it here!"

Glancing down at Felicity, he immediately regretted his words. She looked hurt, refusing to meet his eyes.

"Hey," He said softly, slowly sitting back down next to her. "It's you, Tommy, and even Thea that makes being here bearable."

"Just don't leave me behind, okay Oliver?" She sounded sad, though she offered a small smile.

"What? You're the one going off to MIT, missy." He nudged her shoulder.

"You know that's not what I meant. Promise me," The seriousness in her tone surprised him.

"Look at me. I will never you leave you. Never." He was glad to finally see her brilliant smile again, and he knew everything would be okay.

Looking down at his watch, he let out groan.

"Tommy needs to get here soon before I die of starvation." She couldn't hold back a snort.

"How are both of my best friends such drama queens?"

Right on cue, they both saw Tommy lightly jogging towards them, his face solemn, a strange thing to see since he was usually so jovial. Before either Felicity or Oliver could comment on his tardiness, Tommy brokenly called out to Oliver.

"Something's happened. Your dad – Oliver."

Oliver felt like he had been doused with ice water. Before he could react, he felt his phone buzzing in his pocket. His mother was calling.

"Mom?" He was afraid to hear her response.

"You need to get to the hospital."

He couldn't even remember the ride over, all he knew was numbness. Tommy's words just kept replaying in his head. Heart attack. Critical condition. Hospital. He wasn't exactly close to his parents, as he partly blamed them for shackling him down to their god-forsaken town, but still. It was his father, his mentor, hanging on by a thread.

He flew out of the car, leaving behind a worried Felicity and Tommy, and stormed into the building. He was quickly led to a waiting room where his mother and little Thea already sat. The moment they sensed his presence, they threw themselves at him, their bodies wracking with sobs. He strained his ears to make out what his mother was saying; and he quickly felt the shock take over.

"They couldn't – He didn't-"

The rest of the night was a blur, as his family tried to hold themselves together. They had returned to their home and cuddled on the couch, trying to come to terms with the events that had transpired that night. They tried to comprehend that Robert Queen wouldn't be coming back home.

The rest of the week progressed in the same manner. The whole town seemed to stop by to offer their condolences as Oliver tried to balance the family business, comforting his mother and sister, making the funeral arrangements, and grieving. He was wearing thin, even with the additional support of Felicity and Tommy.

So when another weight was added to his shoulders, he snapped.

He had just finished tucking Thea into bed after their return from his father's service when he made his way downstairs to grab some water. That's when he heard his mother's furious tone at the door.

"You need to leave!" She spit out in a hushed voice.

"Moira, listen. We can all be a family now, it's our cha-"

She took a threatening step forward, silencing the unknown man.

"Don't you dare finish that sentence. We just buried him, and you will never replace him as my husband, or as a father. I loved Robert, and I don't want to see your face ever again."

"She deserves to kno-"

She cut him off again, slamming the door. Oliver rounded the corner in time to see his mother resting her head against the door, clearly distraught. But the stranger's words cut into him, making his blood run cold.

"Mom," Her head snapped towards him, fear overtaking her face.

"Oliver.. you –"

"Who deserves to know what, mom?" His voice grew louder, afraid to hear what he already suspected.

She must have seen it in his face- his determination to find the truth. She let out a resigned sigh, taking a small step forward.

"Please try to understand. Years ago, your father and I were in a bad place. We were both so unhappy! Yes, we loved each other and we loved you, but we just felt so trapped here.. as if from the moment we were born in this town the rest of our lives had been written out for us! We were both having our mid-life crisis, and –"

She let out a shuttering sob, but Oliver felt no pity of compassion. All he could feel was anger- all he could see, was red.

"And we were unfaithful to each other. But we worked it out! We went through counseling and your father loved Thea just like his own –"

He couldn't stand to hear another word, furious at his parents' betrayal and lies, as he stomped to his room. Slamming his door shut, he grabbed his bag and began packing.

When the sun rose, he shook Thea out of her slumber, kissing her forehead and saying goodbye, promising to call soon. His mother begged, pleaded with him to forgive her, to stay, but he continued to make his way out of the house, refusing to even glance her way.

As he drove past the sign, reading "Thanks for visiting Sherwood!", he floored the gas. As much as he loved Thea and his friends, he couldn't stay in his little sleepy town any longer. He vowed to himself as he made it past the outskirts, he would never end up like his parents, trapped and unhappy, going nowhere. He had some money saved up, and he had the ambition to succeed. He could make it. So he never looked backed as he made his way to the shining city lights of Central City.