Hi Arrow Friends and Fans! This is my first attempt at a FanFic story for this fandom. If you've read any of my other stories (Mainly High School Musical) you know that I'm a sucker for romance with just a bit of angst and chaos. I hope you'll indulge me on this one as I attempt to look beyond Season 6 and continue shipping Olicity!

I LOVE your comments and my muse often feeds off readers' responses, so please, please, PLEASE let me know what you think - long responses and PM's are more than welcome. :)

Thanks for reading and giving my ideas a chance!
KTOLF (Keep The Olicity Love Flowing!)
-ADCG

Chapter One - Mom

The buzzing phone wasn't a surprise by any means at 4:30 in the afternoon but Felicity was surprised to see the caller i.d. listing her ob/gyn's number. Her eyebrows crinkled slightly as she grabbed the phone and put her index finger in the air, signaling to her stepson that she would be back with him in just a minute.

William sat at the kitchen counter, looking at a laptop with several tabs open, trying to do research for his latest school paper. Writing was not his subject, math was more his 'thing', just like his stepmother. But, both had come to the realization that other school subjects were also important. So, Felicity was doing her best to help William.

Both knew better than to ask William's father. As much as Oliver wanted to help, he was much better at 'real-life' scenarios and common sense than any book learning. While they wouldn't admit it to his face – actually, yes, they would – the idea of Oliver helping William with a research and writing project had brought smiles and snorts of laughter to the man's wife and son. (To which, he had promptly rolled his eyes, turned his back and walked to his bedroom to sulk.)

William took his hand off the keyboard when Felicity walked away and headed to the refrigerator to get a snack. She had wandered to the living room and was sitting on the couch, certainly not out of earshot of the 12 year old.

"Hello, this is Felicity Queen," Felicity smiled to herself. She still got a few chills hearing that name come from her own mouth.

"Felicity, hi, this is Dr. Barton. I've finally had a chance to really sit down and look at some of your test results and the conversations we've had over the past couple of months. I apologize that it's taken me so long. Do you have a few minutes that we can chat?"

Felicity sat a little farther back on the couch cushions and leaned back, trying to get comfortable as she listened to the older woman.

"Sure, is this something I need to make an appointment to discuss? I'm sure Oliver and I could find a time in the next few days to come in," she sounded hopefully although her gut reaction told her that the doctor wasn't calling with happy news.

"That will probably be a good idea but this isn't an emergency situation. We can certainly chat on the phone if that's ok and then the two of you can talk and get back in touch with me if you want."

"Okaaayyy," Felicity felt butterflies flitting nervously in her abdomen. "So why the phone call, Dr. Barton?"

"When you came in last month you said that you and Oliver were considering having a baby. You wanted to discuss those possibilities with me because of your unique situation – with the bio-stimulator in particular."

"Right," Felicity answered.

"You still have the I.U.D. in place, is that correct?"

"Yes," she answered simply. "I, um, when I was paralyzed I had it removed just to avoid further complications. But when I was able to walk again and … that became part of my life again … I had it … put in place again."

Felicity was aware that William was nearby but felt pretty fixated in her seat. She hoped that his pre-teen mind wouldn't actually pick up on anything from her single side of the conversation.

"Ok," Dr. Barton took a short breath before continuing. "From your bloodwork and charts that you've been sending to us, the good news is that everything appears just fine. Your ovaries are functioning just fine. Your periods are regular and you are producing eggs. Quite often, with paralysis victims who regain some bodily functions, reproduction is one thing that does not return. That isn't your case, Felicity, and it's quite amazing. The bio-stimulator didn't just allow you to walk again, it apparently has helped your reproductive system as well."

Felicity smiled. She let out a somewhat shaky breath that she had been holding. She had done her research soon after Oliver had let her back into his life and William's.

She knew that the birth control device might be unnecessary. If her system had stopped working with her paralysis, the I.U.D. didn't really matter at all. But she didn't want to discuss it with Oliver, not yet at least. She really hadn't even wanted to think about it.

And yet, a joking conversation with William, soon after Oliver's prison release, had forced her to give it serious thought.

"I guess I should come up with another name for Felicity…or start calling her 'mom'…before my little brother or sister gets here," William rolled his eyes and cringed at the thoughts going through his mind. "Otherwise that'll just be confusing for everyone."

Oliver had blushed profusely. Felicity had nearly swallowed her tongue, attempting to babble her way out of the situation. William had also blushed and laughed, calling out his parents for the amount of time they spent invading each other's personal space.

The embarrassment hadn't put a damper on their activities. However, it had put the question into both of their minds and Oliver didn't hesitate to ask it after they made love that night.

"You're thinking about what William said tonight, aren't you?" he placed a kiss in her hair and curled his fingers around her bicep, wanting to hold her body close to him to read her complete reaction to his gentle inquisition.

Felicity placed her own kiss on the scar that sat below Oliver's ribs. She splayed her fingers over his abdomen and caressed it easily. Her eyes watched her fingers, not really knowing how to answer her husband.

"What William should call me? I actually have thought about it," she continued before Oliver could interrupt. "I don't know if I'm really 'mom' material…"

"Hey," Oliver jumped on that comment easily.

"No, I mean, particularly for William. I mean, his mom is Samantha Clayton. He knows her as his mother and I don't want to take that away from him at all. He deserves to remember her completely as his mom," she explained.

Oliver nodded against the top of her head and let out a light breath against her hair. "But you've been his mother, Felicity. When he was scared that he might be an orphan. When I was taken into custody. When the two of you were in protective custody… you were all he had. You were his mother, his father…you were his world for months. And even when you came back home… Samantha's not here. William knows that. He knows she isn't coming back. And he knows that you are doing your absolute best to fill that void for him."

Felicity felt a warmth run through her at Oliver's impromptu speech.

"If he wants to call you 'mom'… I just think… Felicity, I think it's a high compliment from our son and I think you should let him."

She smiled and placed another kiss against his ribs. She nuzzled her nose against the same spot before turning her face upwards to look at her husband.

Felicity smiled wider at the stubborn, squared jaw that Oliver always displayed when he was determined to prove something. She reached up with her fingertips and ran them through his beard, bringing his attention to her face.

"Our son?" she questioned.

"Yes, absolutely yes," Oliver nodded in keeping with the serious look on his face. "William is our son. I won't let you argue against that fact."

Felicity smiled at him and nodded softly in agreement. She laid her head down on Oliver's chest, waiting for the next part of the discussion…the one she had somewhat hoped to deter.

"Which leads me to what I was actually going to ask you about…" Oliver gently linked his fingers with hers on his chest. He looked at the wedding band on her finger and used his thumb to twirl it slowly.

"Arguing facts?" She attempted to joke.

Oliver squeezed her fingers. "A baby..." he licked his lips and let his teeth graze over his bottom lip as he thought. "Felicity, William was a complete surprise to me. You know that. The idea of having a child…a baby…" he puffed air into his cheeks and shook his head ever-so-slightly. "Do you WANT a baby? Do you want us to have…"

Felicity held her breath and swallowed the lump in her throat. She pulled her hand away from Oliver's only to place her fingernails in her mouth. She moved her cheek against his warm skin but couldn't bring herself to say anything.

"If you don't," Oliver whispered, "it's fine, Felicity, really it is. I will tell you that I have thought about it. God, there were some nights in that prison that the only way I got through them was by dreaming about us and our family. Me, you, William, and… and our baby." He looked down at her laying quietly, nibbling on her fingernails, and knew she was nervous.

"But we've never really talked about having a baby. And if you don't want that, I completely understand," he continued quickly. "You're mom to a pre-teen and you were completely thrown into that job. I'm sorry –"

Felicity raised her head up at that thought and propped herself up using her forearm on the mattress. The hand that had been against her lips quickly moved back to his chest, on top of his hand, steadying her body.

"Don't," she shook her head and looked seriously into Oliver's eyes. "Don't apologize for that. I love William. I had months of opportunities to back out on you – both of you. Being with you and with William was my choice. Oliver, being with the two of you is probably the best decision I've ever made in my life. Don't you ever apologize for bringing me into William's life – or bringing him into mine. He is MY son. You're right. He is our son and I want him to know that."

She stopped and let her eyes shift back and forth over Oliver's.

"But?" Oliver wondered.

"No buts," Felicity slowly shook her head. "With the way I grew up, I never thought about my wedding… you know that. And… I never really thought about having kids. I don't know." She took a moment to run the tip of her index finger over Oliver's lips. She watched her finger and then looked back into his eyes.

"I'm not completely sold on the idea…it's kinda scary to imagine myself holding a… a baby. But, with you," she pressed her lips together and shrugged one shoulder, "I'm not completely against it either."

At her nervous positivity, Oliver's lips turned upwards. "So… it's up for further discussions?" He raised his head to steal a kiss.

When she didn't pull away Oliver continued the kiss, slid his tongue along her lips and urged her for more. Felicity found herself on her back, arms wrapped around her husband's neck, fingers running through his hair while he kissed his way around her ear and down her neck.

She laughed breathlessly, causing Oliver to lift his head momentarily to look into her face.

"Is this what you mean by 'further discussions'?" she grinned at him with her top teeth sitting on her bottom lip.

Oliver laughed and cocked his eyebrows up and down. Instead of a verbal answer he dipped his head to that spot where her neck and collarbone met. The sound she always made when his lips found that particular location was all the discussion he needed.

Now here she sat, receiving what sounded to be good news from the woman who could become her obstetrician. But there still seemed to be a cloud hanging over this conversation.

"So if you and Oliver are considering getting pregnant, the first step you'll want to take is having the I.U.D. removed. But Felicity…"

Dr. Barton hesitated and Felicity's momentary high started a slow tumble.

"I have serious concerns about you being pregnant with the bio-stimulator in place. It's unprecedented, as you know. While it probably did help your reproductive system survive your trauma, we don't know how it might affect a baby in utero. And I, honestly, in the later stages, the last trimester of a pregnancy, a growing baby could cause more trauma to your spinal cord. If the baby presses against the stimulator or somehow knocks it out of place… You could end up paralyzed again, before the baby is born."

Felicity stared at the wall across the room. A part of her had fully expected the test results to show that she couldn't get pregnant, period. She had prepared herself for that, at least slightly. But this kind of information wasn't something her brain could accept.

In that moment she pictured herself, in a hospital bed, feeling much like she had after being shot and Oliver hadn't visited her. Only in this current vision her stomach was swollen with an unborn child, fifty bazillion cords and tubes strung from her body and monitors blaring at every decibel.

Her tears and fears immediately went into overdrive. Emotions she hadn't allowed herself to imagine suddenly invaded every part of her.

"Felicity?" The doctor wanted her attention again. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to throw that at you. But I know you've been waiting for answers. And I didn't want you getting over-zealous without getting these concerns on the table. It's a discussion for you and Oliver. There are a lot of 'what-if's' involved here. You could have a completely normal pregnancy and that is what we would aim for you. I just believe you should consider it a high risk pregnancy going in. While we aim for completely normal, we would still want to take additional precautions and monitor you and the baby very closely."

"Okay," was the only word Felicity could get out to let the doctor know that she was still listening.

She glanced toward the kitchen and saw William leaning against the counter, eating an apple. She tried to smile at him but knew William was more perceptive.

"Talk to Oliver," Dr. Barton was finishing. "If pregnancy is in your future, talk to him. You two come in here together and we will talk it out. We can look at your options and loop in some other specialists if you want. I don't want to discourage you at all. I just want you to be aware…both of you."

"Okay," Felicity said again as she tried to wipe away her tears inconspicuously. "Um, thank you, Dr. Barton. I…I do appreciate you calling."

She ended the call but kept her back turned toward William. Ever since the name debate he had gone back and forth between calling her 'Felicity' and 'mom'. Felicity hadn't minded it at all. Often times it depended on the situation and what William had to gain.

"Mom?" This time, his young voice nearly made her crumble.

"Will," she couldn't mask the tears in her voice, "Can you just…can you give me a few minutes, please?"

William stood for a moment, wondering what he could do to help. He didn't say anything more or ask any questions. He just watched her closely.

After a few minutes Felicity stood from the couch and headed toward her bedroom. She was torn between pacing the width of the room and simply curling herself into the fetal position on the bed. Her compromise was pulling a suitcase from the closet and stuffing random clothes into it.

It was one of the very few times in her life when Felicity needed her mother. She had no clue what she would say to Donna Smoak when she arrived in Las Vegas, but she was very sure her mom would wrap her arms around her and simply hold her.

So would Oliver. But she couldn't even look him in the eyes at that moment. Oliver used to say he had 'failed his city'. Felicity turned those words around on herself. She felt she had failed him. And until she could wrap her own head around this situation she would pull something else from the old Oliver Queen files.

She wouldn't face him…she would run.

Chapter One - Mom