Flawed Design

Chapter 1

. . .

Summary: Life is moving forward in the Queen household. After an accident, they are in for the change of a lifetime. Oliver/Felicity, Roy/Thea, a touch of Quentin/Donna.

Note: Diving back into the game. Thanks for all the love in the past.

. . .

Felicity was nursing a cup of coffee over her computer, making mental notes of the changes she needed to make to the network at the Arrow Cave. They were way over due for an update, and for the first time in ages she had the time to do it.

"Raisa won't be here today." Oliver told Felicity, handing her over a cup of coffee. "Her daughter is having her baby."

"That's fine. We'll figure it out." Felicity told him, looking away from her computer. "What do you have on the menu for today?"

"I'm in meetings all day." Oliver told her, "I can cancel my morning with the police chief….but the rest of the afternoon I'm not sure."

Or maybe not, she realized. It could wait. Work was going to have to take a backseat to parenting today. It was ridiculous for Oliver to cancel meetings for this. She could get a head start early tomorrow. Besides, this would give them some time to bond over something over than homework, and she enjoyed watching him do his sports.

"To take William to softball practice?" Felicity took a sip and shook her head, "No, I can take him."

"Are you sure? I thought you were busy."

Busy was relative, she thought. Oliver had a busy work schedule, she on the other hand had a bit more flexibility in their day to day life.

Oliver was dishing up the frittata he had made them for breakfast. Her mouth was already watering. His cooking had only improved since Ivy Town, and as much as she hated him for his easy prowess in the kitchen, she certainly loved the results.

"Besides, I wanted to see what the deal is with this baseball thing. Maybe I'll see William score a touchdown."

Oliver cringed, and at the same time William walked into the kitchen with a groan.

"Felicity, are you trying to talk sports again?" William laughed.

She frowned at the judgmental pair of men in her life. Really? She was doing her best. That was not her element. Felicity made a mental note to do some research into baseball.

"Felicity is taking you to softball practice." Oliver said, handing his son a plate. "You may want to give her a quick review."

"Well, there are no touchdowns in baseball." William told her, "That's a start."

Felicity rolled her eyes.

"Don't blame me because they all have their own lingo."

"Where's Raisa?" William asked, "Not that I'm not happy to teach Felicity something new."

"Her daughter had her baby today." Oliver said, taking a seat at the table with them. "We'll have to send a gift over to them."

Felicity contemplated that. She supposed Oliver was right, and she had seen some awfully cute clothes the last time she had gone shopping with Lyla. All things considered, she was kind of excited to join William at his softball practice. She really enjoyed the time that they spent together, and days like this, mornings like this they just seemed like such a normal family.

. . .

Felicity swore under her breath as they left the field. A tv news crew had arrived at the park at the end of practice to do an interview with the coach about their winning streak. When they caught sight of her and William they crowded them and began shouting questions, asking about Oliver, about his policies and she realized she had been crazy to think they would cut them any kind of break because he had William with her. If anything, they wouldn't leave him alone.

He was quickly becoming overwhelmed when Felicity snapped.

"Get the camera out of my son's face." Felicity shoved the camera away, and grabbed William's arm.

The slip of tongue entered her mind in passing, but she just tried to pretend it hadn't happened. She knew in her mind, in reality that he was not her son, he had a mother that loved him that he lost, but it didn't change how much she loved him. She was sick and tired of the media trying to target him though.

They pushed their way through the small group, and as she got William into the car she realized that this was probably going to backfire on her. She still could not believe that they could get away with harassing a kid like that. She was sure there would be something unpleasant about her on the news tonight.

As she got into the car, she still heard voices shouting after her but she slammed the door shut and turned the key in the ignition.

"Felicity, what was that about?" William asked her.

"Harassment." She said shortly, before taking a breath and sighing as they pulled out of the lot.

"I don't know. Probably a slow news day. Your dad is a popular target just because he's mayor. As a matter of fact, it's probably for the best we don't tell him about this."

Oliver would be irate that the media had rushed at them again, and he had enough on his plate to deal with right now.

As they reached a red light, Felicity turned to look at him. "Are you okay?"

"Fine." William didn't mention the slip of tongue she'd had, so Felicity decided not to address it either.

At least not now.

She was eager to get back home with him as quickly as possible. It wasn't a secret to him that the news hadn't had much that was good to say about Oliver, but lately it had gotten worse. They had begun to dig into his past and his personal life and she didn't want William to be a victim of that.

Less than a mile from home, William glanced at her.

"Felicity, there's a news truck following us."

She bit down on the retort that was on her tongue.

"It's fine." Felicity told him, "Nothing to worry about. How about some takeout when we get home?"

"Big Belly Burger?" William suggested.

That suggestion, and the passing thought of having to add some more cardio to her workout routine was the last thing she remembered before seeing a truck sailing through the intersection on her right hand side. In that short moment, she could only think of one alternative, and jerked the wheel so that it wouldn't impact on the passenger side where William was sitting. The blinding white lights and the crunch of the impact on her side was the last thing she registered. Then everything went black.

. . .

His ears were ringing, and the impact had jarred him sharply.

William was jerked back against the seat by his seatbelt and felt dazed for a minute before he realized fully what had happened.

Quickly, he realized that Felicity wasn't saying anything. His stepmother was slumped over the wheel. He shook her shoulder in a panic. For a moment, the only thing he could think of was that she was dead. That he'd lost someone he loved again

"Felicity!" William shook her harder, "Felicity, wake up!"

When his senses came back to him, he reached into her bag and punched the numbers for 911 into the phone.

"We need an ambulance, please." William begged into the phone. "I'm in an accident with my step-mom. She isn't conscious. I don't know if she's breathing."

"Where are you?" the voice asked.

"In the intersection at Posner and Main, right next to the pet store." William reported, trying to stay calm.

He saw so much blood. She looked lifeless.

Everything was going to be okay. It had to be okay. It all had to be okay.

The woman offered to stay on the line with him while they waited for an ambulance. He told her no and disconnected the call.

"Felicity?" William shook her again, and bent in close to her. "Please wake up."

He thought she was breathing, it felt like she was breathing, but when he pulled his hand away from her head it was covered in blood.

William took her limp hand in his and waited. He already lost one mom, he didn't think he could lose another.

"You're going to be okay Felicity. You're going to be okay."

The next few minutes felt like a whirlwind of action. He couldn't follow what the paramedics were doing, all he could answer was yes and no. He remembered standing with one of the women who placed a bandage on his cheek. Apparently he had cut himself in the crash.

In the ambulance, he had to sit up front. He didn't want to leave her but they told him they couldn't help her. It was there that it occurred to him. He needed to call his dad.

He should have called him already.

The paramedic tried to tell him that he didn't need to. That there would people at the hospital who would do it, but they didn't understand. They wouldn't listen to him, they wouldn't let him stay with her, but they would listen to his dad.

William found his phone in the pocket of his pants and punched in his dad's number. The first time it didn't pick up. He did what his dad told him to do in an emergency and called Mr. Lance.

. . .
Quentin Lance answered on the first ring to his relief. When he saw the number he had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. William Queen would only call for an emergency.

"Mr. Lance," William's voice shook, "I need to speak to my dad. It's William, it's an emergency."

He knew it. Quentin said a small prayer that the kid and Felicity were okay. Oliver could take a lot, but he couldn't ever handle losing his son or wife.

"I'll get him right away." Lance assured him, "Are you okay?"

He'd had a call like this once before, and as a father and a husband there was not anything worse.

"We're in an ambulance. There was an accident."

Quentin pushed open the doors to Oliver's office, and interrupted the meeting quickly.

"Oliver, I need to talk to you. Right now." Quentin gave a firm look. "Out here."

Oliver quickly excused himself, apologizing for the inconvenience.

Quentin pulled Oliver into his office. "There was an accident. William is on the phone, he seems okay."

"William, are you okay?"

"Dad, Felicity was hurt. We're in an ambulance. I don't…"

As soon as Quentin saw the pained look cross his face he knew that something terrible had happened.

"I'm on my way. William, just stay calm, I will be right there."

Oliver tossed the phone at him.

"There was a car accident. They are on the way to the hospital. It's Felicity...she's hurt."

Quentin stood there, holding the phone in his hands and watched as Oliver bolted down the hallway. He hoped and prayed to God, that once, just once he would be on their side.

Oliver raced into the hospital, feeling an overwhelmingly painful sense of familiarity. He hadn't been this scared since he had been here after Felicity had been shot. He glanced around the emergency room trying to find his son, but William found him first and ran over to him.

"Dad!" William cried.

Oliver pulled him in close after looking him over. "Are you okay?"

"They just took her away. They didn't say anything; they won't tell me where she is." William said in a thick voice.

Oliver kissed the top of his son's head.

He was scared. He didn't have any details. He'd almost lost Felicity once, and he could not bear for it to happen again.

"Everything is going to be okay." He squeezed his shoulder, "Give me a minute."

William sat back down in the cold, hard chair and Oliver turned to the counter, addressing the nurse behind it.

"My wife was brought in after a car accident. Felicity Queen, where is she?"

"If you wait a moment…" The nurse looked up from her computer, recognition crossing her face. "Mr. Queen, I'm sorry but you'll have to wait on her doctor. Your wife had to be given CPR at the scene and they are currently stabilizing her…she wasn't wearing a seatbelt."

He was stunned. That wasn't...that wasn't like her at all. This was the same girl that would not get on her motorcycle because there wasn't a restraint.

"That's impossible." Oliver was stunned and angry that no one would let him see her. "My wife…"

He scrubbed his hand through his hair with frustration. He needed to see her, he needed to be with her right now.

"Sir, I'll let the doctor know you're here."

Oliver tried to steady himself before returning to William. None of this seemed like it could possibly be real.

"She forgot. We were in such a rush." William had clearly overheard the conversation he'd had with the nurse. "Dad, she forgot."

"William, what happened?"

"There were reporters, and she got mad at them. She pushed a camera in someone's face and we rushed over to the car." William's eyes were screwed up tight like he was trying to remember something difficult. "They raced over to the car and she left as soon as she turned the key. Dad, they followed us when we left."

Oliver was irate, and was struggling to keep his temper in check. All he could do was wait, and stew in his anger. The media had made a commitment, they had sworn that his family would be off limits. And now this.

William wouldn't leave, and Oliver wouldn't argue, he was focusing all of his efforts on Felicity and trying to hold it together. Once he'd finally spoken to her doctor, he had been informed that she had suffered a pneumothorax. Her left lung had collapsed and they had to put in a tube to re-inflate it. They told him that it would be a waiting game, and they would need to see if that was sufficient, or if surgery would be needed. She'd also suffered a concussion and a broken arm. All of the possibilities, all of the danger that she was currently in circled through his mind like a broken record.

If she hadn't jerked the wheel, that young man would be in a hospital bed instead of her.

Those were the words that would haunt him forever if she wasn't okay. Felicity had put herself in danger to protect his son, and they wouldn't even let him see her. He was irate, he knew he needed to be with her. She was in pain, and she was going to wake up scared and he needed to be with her.

Oliver was pacing around the waiting room, never imagining that they would be here in this place again. She was never supposed to be in danger. She was never supposed to be hunted down by the news, certainly not with his son in the car. He didn't understand how any of this happened.

He was snapped out of his reverie when Quentin arrived.

"What's happening?" Quentin asked directly. "Is there any news?"

Oliver shook his head. "They're putting a tube into her lungs. They collapsed in the accident. They won't let me see her."

Quentin took this in for a moment, and placed his hand on Oliver's shoulder.

"She's strong, she's going to be okay." Quentin cleared his throat, "This isn't important right now, but the police department is on top of this. Nothing is going to slide this time, there are some men I trust our there."

"Thank you." Oliver managed in a terse voice.

Quentin glanced in the direction of William. "How is he holding up?"

"Felicity…" Oliver sighed, and turned away from William. "She saved his life. The police told me that she jerked the wheel. The impact was all on her side."

"I'll take him to get some food, get out of the hospital for a bit. You need some food too."

"I'm not hungry." Oliver said, "William refuses to go home."

"Okay." Quentin sighed and clapped him on the shoulder. "I spoke to Donna a while ago. Her plane lands in a couple hours. William and I will go and get some food and we'll be back with her."

Oliver didn't bother to ask how his mother-in-law was doing. He didn't have to imagine because he had broken the news to her over the phone and she had been hysterical. They got her on the first plane possible, and nothing he said could make it better. He had made a vow that he would always keep her safe, and he had failed.

"Thank you." He said simply.

. . .

Quentin directed his attention to William, unable to imagine what he was feeling. As much pain as he felt losing his daughters more times than felt possible, he couldn't imagine the pain and uncertainty he felt. He'd lost his mother, suffered a traumatic experience, and now this.

"I'm not going home." William told him flatly.

"I didn't say anything." Quentin said, settling into the chair next to him. "You're being really strong for your dad right now, he's going to need that. It's brave."

William didn't respond to that for a long moment. "I should have told her that I love her."

Quentin felt those words like a stab through his heart. He thought the same thing when Laurel died, he felt like he'd never said those words to her enough.

He wrapped his arm around the kid's shoulders and gave him a gruff hug.

"She'll like to hear that when she's up and moving around." Quentin said, "While you're being so tough, I need you to do something for me."

William gave him a skeptical look.

"I'm pretty worried about your dad right now." Quentin felt like it came easily, because it wasn't a lie. "Can you come with me to get some food, make sure he eats something?"

William nodded his head. "He hasn't eaten anything all night."

"And then I need a second favor." Quentin told him. "Donna is going to be at the airport soon. It'll mean a lot to her to see a familiar face."

"I heard her crying...on the phone with my dad." William nodded his head, "But I'm not going home, I want to be here when she wakes up."

"And I promise you will be." Quentin told him. "Go tell your dad we'll be back in awhile."

When William got back, Quentin settled back for a moment. Nothing went right in this city. Oliver seemed to try again and again to make things right again, make this a city you could raise your children in, but he didn't know how much more tragedy any of them could overcome. For now, he was going to hold back on the rest of the details. He wasn't going to tell Oliver that the driver of the truck was drunk and he wasn't going to tell him that the driver had currently escaped the police. It would only make it worse.

. . .

He sat silently next to the bed, and held her hand. Felicity had a long cut along her cheekbone and forehead. He could still see where blood had dried into her hairline. Her clothes had been cut away when they treated her and she'd been dressed in a hospital gown. Her arm was in a cast, and when he'd browsed her chart he saw that she had extreme bruising, and that it could be so much worse.

He'd been told that as long as she did not need surgery to repair the tear in her lungs, she was looking at a direct recovery. It didn't make him feel much better. It looked like she was in pain and the thought of that broke him.

Supposedly she would wake up soon. Donna and William would be back soon, everything seemed to hinge on soon.

He wasn't sure how much time passed, sitting in the room and clinging to her hand when she awoke from her drug induced sleep slowly, and then all at once.

"Where is William?" She demanded.

The words stuck in her throat, and she cringed as the small movement caused her pain.

"Do not move." Oliver told her. "William is fine...thanks to you."

He didn't specify further, didn't get into the actions that lead to her being in the hospital bed. He didn't know if he would ever feel this relieved again. He would never be as relieved as he was in this moment to see her wake up and speak

"He's with Quentin. They've gone to get your mother." Oliver hovered over her, making sure she didn't move.

He saw her cringe again.

"What hurts? I'll get a doctor." He jumped to call for help.

"Everything. I don't want a doctor." Felicity laid back against her pillow. "He's okay though?"

"William is fine. He has a small cut on his cheek, but he was wearing his seatbelt."

As he said those words, he could see the change in her face as she recalled. He realized it was the truth, she had forgotten.

"I forgot."

"William told me why, what happened." Oliver explained, "Don't worry about it now. Everything is going to be okay."

"Are you sure he's okay?" Felicity asked. "It happened so fast. I hardly saw it coming."

"Felicity," Oliver brushed his lips over her forehead. "You probably saved his life."

"I'm okay." She said quietly. "Don't look at me like that."

"Felicity, I love you." Oliver pressed his lips to his forehead. "Don't do this to me. Ever again."

For a moment, they just sat there in grateful silence. He was relieved that she was okay, and she was that William had been fine.

The moment of silence was broken shortly after at the door.

"Felicity!" William exclaimed, rushing over to the bed. "You're okay. You're awake! "

He threw himself toward the bed to give her a hug and Oliver could see the cringe of pain in her eyes and pulled him away.

"Not right now." Oliver cautioned him, "you can hug later."

"It's okay." Felicity reached as best she could to take his hand. "How are you feeling?"

Oliver stepped slightly back, giving her and William the moment that they both needed. He was reminded again by what an incredible mother that she had been to William. He didn't-couldn't imagine how he ever could have done all of this without her.

"I'm fine." William clung to her hand. "Donna and Mr. Lance are right behind me."

Felicity sighed, settling her head back into her pillow.

"I'm really glad you're okay William. I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" William was surprised, "Felicity, you saved me and you got hurt. I'm sorry."

Felicity pulled him closer and Oliver couldn't hear what was being said, but gingerly William placed his arms around her neck and hugged her.

"I love you too." William said softly.

Before Oliver could suggest that he give Felicity some space Donna rushed into the room, looking nothing at all like Oliver had ever seen her before. Her hair was tied into a ponytail, and she was dressed in flip flops, sweat pants, and a T-shirt.

"My poor baby.". Donna practically started crying again, her eyes red with tears. "I got here as fast as I could."

"I can tell." Felicity smiled. "I'm glad you're here mom."

Donna rushed over, but unlike William, she refrained from a hug and kissed the top of her daughter's head.

"How are you feeling?"

"Well in the grand scheme it's not as bad as being shot and they've given me like, all of the painkillers, so I am pretty okay."

"Well." Donna stepped back and tried to straighten out her T-shirt.

She looked to Oliver.

"Quentin and William tell me you haven't eaten since you got here. There are sandwiches in the waiting room with Quentin and you can come back after you've eaten."

Oliver brushed her off. He wasn't leaving his wife.

"I'm not hungry, Donna. Thank you, but I'm fine."

"Oliver." Donna said his name with a no nonsense tone. "You are going to go and take ten minutes to eat something."

"I'll be fine." Felicity instructed Oliver. "Eat something."

Resigned to not win this battle he turned away.

"William, have you eaten?"

"Mr. Lance and I had burgers." William said. "I want to stay."

"Let him stay with us." Felicity said, glancing at the now spare chair in the room

Oliver went with it. Before leaving the room he gave her a kiss.

"I'll be right back." Oliver said quietly, "I'll be just outside."

. . .

Donna was chattering away anxiously, and Felicity allowed it. All of the pain medication that they had given her left her passing in and out of the conversation in a slight daze, and she picked it up in snippets.

She had a faint feeling of guilt that was nibbling at the edges of her consciousness. She'd forgotten her seatbelt, she hadn't seen the truck until it was too late. She felt terrible seeing the cut and bruises on William's face and realizing that she hadn't been able to protect him.

It could have been worse, she reminded herself. At least he was okay.

She felt guilt seeing the pained look on Oliver's face. More than anything though she was angry that they'd had another setback when things were going so well. She couldn't wait to be out of this bed and back home. She hated hospitals before, and now it was so much worse.

"Mr. Lance is still single."

Felicity rejoined the conversation when she heard William's interjection and saw her mom's face become flushed with embarrassment.

"William, what does that have to do with anything?" Donna asked, feigning ignorance.

She didn't do it as well as she thought she did, Felicity thought.

"Maybe you would like to get dinner with him." William said in a considerate, thoughtful tone. "I think he's lonely."

Donna changed the subject.

"Felicity, sweetie, how bad is it? Do you need to get some sleep?"

"I'd rather be at home. That's how I feel."

She felt especially irritable, and foggy. A part of her realized that at some point the pain was going to kick in. She'd never asked Oliver what they had done, but she could feel the lingering soreness in her chest and head.

"Well, I don't imagine that will be happening anytime soon." Donna said in a matter of fact tone. "But you have all of us here with you."

"Oh!" William exclaimed, "Felicity, we brought you something."

William reached for a bag on the floor and pulled out a fern.

Felicity recalled the first fern she'd ever bought for Oliver after he'd began living in the bunker.

"Oh…" She smiled. "Thank you William."

"Dad told me that is one of the first gifts you ever gave him. I thought it looked nice."

For a moment, they all sat quietly, and her mind wandered until Donna excused herself.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Donna asked the question for the fifth time after deciding she needed to use the restroom. "I can go get Oliver first."

Felicity rolled her eyes.

"Mom...I'm fine. Besides," She glanced over at William. "I've got this guy."

"Okay." Donna sighed, "I'll be right back. Two minutes."

Donna rushed out of the room, and Felicity settled back.

"I got you something else." William said in a conspiratorial tone once Donna was gone.

He carefully snuck a chocolate bar out of his chocolate and slid it into the drawer next to her.

"Mr. Lance said you couldn't have outside food, that it's contraband."

Felicity laughed for the first time and felt a slight sting in her chest.

"What's a couple broken rules among family?" Felicity smiled at him, "I hate hospital food."

"We should sneak in some big belly burger." William said, "Mr. Lance is a killjoy."

She fought the urge to laugh again.

"Well you can take the cop out of the precinct, but you can't take the cop out of the man."

William was laughing, but stopped abruptly when a very serious looking doctor walked into the room.

"Mrs. Queen," The doctor gave her a deferential nod.

Usually, she would get a slight shiver of glee being referred to as Mrs. Queen, but this time it felt less pleasant. This didn't look like the face of a man with bad news.

"We have some test results I'd like to talk to you about. Perhaps your son would like to wait outside."

Before Felicity could suggest to him that he go and get Oliver, William jumped up.

"I'm going to get dad."

"If you don't mind," Felicity said, "I'd really like to wait for my husband."

"That is completely up to you." The doctor said with a nod of his head. "We can wait."

They'd barely waited a minute. Oliver rushed into the room, and though she could see that he tried to keep his face even-no she could see through it, he was scared. She knew that look all too well.

"Mr. Queen," The doctor shook his hand and gestured for him to sit down.

In a typical Oliver move, he stood by his side. She couldn't help but to feel a little better with him at her side.

"My name is Dr. Irglova and I work as a specialist in the hospital. Your tests were passed over to me, but before I continue…." The doctor glanced over to them, and Felicity found herself grabbing Oliver's hand and squeezing.

It couldn't be any worse, she told herself. She'd already faced the worst, she'd been paralyzed. She reminded herself it could not get worse. At least this time, she could feel her legs.

"Mrs. Queen, were you aware before the accident that you are pregnant?"

Felicity felt like all of the oxygen had been sucked out of the room. When she was finally able to breathe again, she looked at Oliver and saw that he had paled considerably.

"What do you mean?" Felicity found the words first. "I'm...I use birth control."

It didn't seem possible. She was so careful.

"Which is not one hundred percent effective." The doctor reminded her. "The preliminary tests show us that there don't currently seem to be any ill effects as a result of the accident. But your case has been passed over to me, as I deal with complicated and high risk pregnancies."

"Can you…" Oliver's question was stunted, he'd seemed to lose track of what he was trying to ask. "Are you certain there hasn't been any harm done?"

She could see the guilt on his face, and she wanted to yell at him for it. It was not his fault. Even knowing what she knew now, she would have done it again.

"Right now, everything about the pregnancy seems completely normal. Should you decide that you plan on carrying through with the pregnancy, we will continue to monitor the baby. Of course, you're welcome to get a second opinion."

She was sure that there were questions that she should be asking, but she couldn't seem to find her way toward asking them. Right now the only thing she could try and do was reconcile the idea that she was pregnant. She and Oliver were going to have a baby, their baby.

It had never seemed completely out of the question, but it was also something that she just hadn't considered. Not with their lives, not now. How were they going to do it? Thank God they had Raisa. Oliver had felt guilt enough returning to his mantle as the Green Arrow before, what about now? What was he thinking? She couldn't, not even in this moment consider the alternative.

She'd always said she'd never have a child before she was ready. But was she? Were they? What was he thinking? How would William handle this?

"Felicity?" Oliver turned to look at her, "Felicity?"

She could tell by the look in his eyes that he had attempted to get her attention a few times.

"Hm?" It was hard to process this in her dazed state.

"Are you okay?"

"We're having a baby." She felt a chill run through her body as she said the words. "Oliver, what are you thinking?"

"I love you." Oliver said, leaning in carefully to give her a kiss. "I know we didn't plan for this. What are you thinking?"

"When have we ever planned for anything that happened in our lives?" Felicity almost giggled, it was sort of par for the course for them. "We are going to have to give Raisa a raise."

"Felicity, I-"

Whatever Oliver was about to say was cut off as William walked back and knocked on the door.

"Can I come in?"

"Of course." Felicity said softly, her mind still wandering as she thought of everything they had just taken in.

"Mr. Lance convinced your mom to go home and get some sleep. "William said, "She's coming back to say goodbye. They said I should go to."

"You should go home with your dad and get some sleep." Felicity told him, "Give me a hug kiddo."

William complied with the hug, but argued with the request. "I want to stay."

"I'm not going." Oliver said with a terse shake of his head, he smiled down at her. "Nice try though."

"Besides, you can't stay alone." William said reasonably. "I want to come back tomorrow."

Oliver seemed to consider this.

"I'll call your school." Oliver agreed, "You can come back with Donna tomorrow. If you go home and sleep for at least 8 hours and eat breakfast."

"Donna says she'll make us breakfast." William said, frowning.

"Oh god." Felicity seemed horrified, "No. You do not eat anything she cooks, do you hear me?"

William laughed, and Oliver rolled his eyes. Felicity grabbed his hand and looked him square in the eye.

"Do not let her use the oven."

"Be good." Oliver gave his son a hug. "You've been a superstar today William, I am so proud of you."

William looked embarrassed, "Okay."

He gave Felicity one last hug. "I'll see you in the morning."

After he left, it occurred to her. She looked at Oliver.

"We should have told him. We should tell him first."

"We will." Oliver assured her. "You've had a long day, I think we can just take a moment together."

After a quick goodbye from her mother, she started to drift off. The last thing she remembered was Oliver telling her to relax and get some sleep and that was it.