6 years ago, Oliver Queen and Felicity Smoak struck up an unlikely friendship. This friendship has only strengthen with time, through good and bad moments, such as Oliver losing his mother and Felicity facing an unexpected pregnancy. Now that Oliver's antics has gotten him cut off and thrown out by his father, he seeks refuge with Felicity and her daughter, and realizes it is time for him to re-evaluate his life, find a job he loves and discover happiness was right in front of him this whole time.
The vibration of her phone against her thigh startled her awake and Felicity realized she had fallen asleep with the lights on and her tablet in her lap.
Again. Good thing she was at least already in her bed.
A brief look at the clock on her phone told her it was 1 am and any phone call at this hour couldn't be good, especially once she saw the caller's ID.
"Oliver?"
"Hey. I'm sorry to call you so late, I probably woke you up, but...I'm at the precinct."
She sat up, not really surprised."What happened?"
"Tommy and I got involved in some scuffle and it didn't end well. The thing is, I don't really want to go home right now. Can I crash at your place?" He sounded weary.
"Yes, of course. How…?"
"Captain Lance will drop me. Wait, he wants to talk to you."
A second later Quentin Lance's voice resonated in her ear.
"Is that ok with you, sweetheart?" Felicity smile at his protectiveness. Lance's daughters were both living out of Star City (and one of them abroad) and ever since Felicity had started to work at the police station almost two years ago he kept a watchful eye on her.
Needless to say he was silently frowning upon her friendship with one of the biggest partying boy in the city.
"Sure. My guest room is practically his room anyway."
"Fine. We'll be there in 15."
She got up and went to the bathroom to splash water on her face a bit before checking on her 14-month-old daughter who was sleeping soundly in her crib. She went downstairs, turning on the lamp beside the couch, bathing the living room in a soft golden glow.
A few minutes later she heard the Captain's car stopping in front of her townhouse. She opened the door, and waited for the two men on the threshold. Oliver was the first to climb the small flight of stairs, leaning in to give her a kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you," he whispered, before turning to Captain Lance. "Thank you for bringing me here."
"Think we can go a whole week without you ending in my precinct, Queen?" Lance grumbled and Oliver smiled.
"We can certainly try," Oliver assured Lance as he walked into the house.
Once he was out of earshot Felicity turned to the captain. "How bad?"
Quentin shrugged. "Nothing serious, for once I believe he and Merlyn aren't to blame. These kids provoked them and they walked right into it. The bar manager wanted to press charges for the damages, but Tommy's father worked out an arrangement."
She nodded, relieved. "Ok. Thank you Captain, I'll see you on Monday."
"Good night, Felicity."
She waved one last time as he pulled away with his car before she closed the front door and joined Oliver in the living room.
He was sitting on the couch, holding his head in his hands.
"Emilia's sleeping?" he asked and she smiled as she sat next to him on the armrest.
"It's 1:30 in the morning Oliver. So yes, she's sleeping. Thank God. She'll wake up soon enough."
He turned to her. "We weren't even drunk, Felicity."
"I can see that. What happened? Captain Lance was rather vague about the whole thing."
"Tommy and I were at this bar, minding our own business when this group of guys came in, started to provoke us. We should have walked away, but we didn't. Nobody got seriously hurt, but there was some property damage in the bar. The owner wanted to press charges, but apparently Mr Merlyn came to some sort of arrangement when he came to bail Tommy out."
She got up from from the couch and went to the kitchen, bringing him back a bottle of water.
"Here."
He gave her a grateful look as he uncorked it and chugged it. She observed him with a half-exasperated, half-affectionate look on her face.
Since they had become friends 6 years ago she'd had a front row seat to the various antics of Oliver Queen and Tommy Merlyn.
Before Emilia was born Felicity had been the one to come and get him from the police station in the middle of the night, or from various bars and nightclubs where Tommy and Oliver had gotten in trouble. They were young, having fun and spending their parents' money with the certainty of someone who knew the well would never dry.
Felicity was always amazed when Oliver told her about the things he and Tommy had done, what their parents had allowed them to get away with. Her and Oliver's lives were so different, yet he was her best friend and she was there for him, the same way he had been there for her countless times.
Because of that particular friendship, Felicity knew a side of Oliver practically no one else did.
"You should get some rest," she told him, running her hand through his hair. Tomorrow she would remind him he needed a good haircut, but not tonight.
He put the empty water bottle on the coffee table and stood up before he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulled her against him and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
"Thank you."
"Anytime, Oliver. You know that."
When she woke up the next morning all on her own, Felicity realized it was abnormally quiet, and Millie should have woken her up by now. Then she remembered Oliver had stayed last night and was most likely taking care of the baby and her heart rate slowed down. She even took an extra 10 minutes lounging in bed before getting up.
She sauntered into the kitchen, finding Oliver at the kitchen table and Millie next to him in her highchair. He was mimicking animal noises and she repeated them gleefully.
"Good morning, light of my life," she told Emilia while peppering the toddler's face with kisses, making her giggle.
"There's chocolate chip pancakes for you on the counter," Oliver informed her and she pressed a kiss on his cheek, both as a good morning and a thank you.
As she poured herself a cup of coffee, she was aware of Oliver's gaze lingering on her ass and legs. The fact that they were best friends didn't mean they were blind to each other's attributes. She was definitely aware of how attractive he was.
She took a bite of her pancake and moaned. "Oh God. So good. Please marry me?"
He grinned. "I don't think my cooking skills are a solid enough foundation for a marriage."
She shrugged. "It's a start." She washed down the pancake with coffee, starting to feel more awake and alert.
"You were up early," she commented as she settled in at the table.
"I got up when I heard her starting to fuss," he checked the clock on the wall, "about 2 hours ago." He put a caressing hand on Millie's soft blonde curls and she gave him a toothless smile.
He was always so incredibly patient and loving with her, ever since she had been born. Even when the paparazzi had started to follow him, implying he was the father and berating him for keeping the child 'illegitimate,' and 'not doing the right thing' by marrying the mother but he had graciously ignored it.
Felicity had told him that she could handle the situation on her own if it caused him any problems but he had flat out refused, saying if he was going to be more discreet it would be for her and Millie's sake but certainly not for his.
So the adoration she saw in her daughter's eyes was earned and justified.
She put the dirty plates in the sink and sat back at the table, nursing a second cup of coffee.
"So, what are your plans for today?"
He sighed, crossing his arms on his chest. "Go home. Have another nice confrontation with my dad, I guess."
"You think he already knows?"
"Oh, I'm sure Mr. Merlyn called him first thing this morning. I'm actually surprised he hasn't called me yet."
She put a comforting hand on his forearm. "Just tell him what happened, explain it wasn't entirely your fault this time."
"Compared to all the other times where it was? It won't matter. I can't blame him though. And he's still majorly pissed that I gave up the internship at QC, but Felicity, I was so miserable there."
"I know you were."
That was the crux of the problem between Oliver and his father. The latter could not understand that, at 23 years old, Oliver still hadn't figured out what to do with his life, but mostly Oliver's father couldn't understand why his son wouldn't want to join him in the family business. Especially since Oliver's best friend was embracing the corporate world, a fact Malcolm Merlyn never missed an opportunity to remind Robert Queen about. But where Tommy thrived in the corporate world, Oliver just felt oppressed.
Needless to say, the drinking and partying didn't help much either.
He pressed his palms against his eyes. "I miss my mom," he muttered, and Felicity didn't say anything, just squeezed his hand in silent support.
Emilia's voice brought them back to the moment, "Mama, down."
Smiling at the demand, Felicity took off Millie's bib before pulling her out of her chair and putting her in her playpen.
"I'd better go," Oliver announced. "No need to delay this any longer than necessary."
She nodded. "Well, if you need me, you know where I am."
Even though he dreaded the upcoming confrontation with his father, Oliver still felt a bit reinvigorated when he parked in front of the Queen mansion. Spending time with Felicity and her daughter always did that to him – a moment of brightness in the constant failure and general disillusion that his life currently was. She never judged him, just offered him advice when he needed it. Nobody knew this, except for Tommy, but the presence of Felicity and Emilia had been the only thing preventing him from spiraling even more out of control after his mom had died.
Between the grief and the pressure from his father to get his act together, his girls had been the only thing anchoring him to a semblance of sanity.
He walked into the house, finding their housekeeper, Raisa, waiting for him. He kissed her cheek.
"Good morning Oliver. Your father wanted to see you as soon as you arrived."
"Yeah, I figured. Thank you, Raisa."
His father was sitting behind his desk, signing a few documents. Always working, Oliver thought grimly, even on a Saturday. He used to spend his weekends with his wife and son, but since Moira's death he had buried himself in work, coping with his grief the only way he knew how. His attitude and Oliver's had created a rift between the two men neither of them currently knew how to fill.
"Dad."
Robert looked up from his desk, his voice stiff when he waved his son into the room. "Oliver. Sit down."
The young man felt his stomach churn. His father's tone didn't bode well but he remembered what Felicity told him.
"Dad, what happened...it wasn't really..."
"I don't want to hear it Oliver."
He winced. Ok then.
Robert finally put down his pen, and focused his sharp gaze on his son. "I suppose you already know Malcolm Merlyn convinced the bar owner to drop the charges by means of a substantial amount of money. Which means now I'm indebted to him and you can imagine how thrilled that makes me."
"Dad, I'm sorry. We tried to walk away, but..."
"Yes, that's the problem, Oliver. You tried. But you never try really hard, do you?"
Oliver flinched, partly because of the words, but also because his father wasn't exactly wrong.
"I'm sorry," he repeated, having no idea what else to say.
"It's time to take some responsibility, Oliver. If you won't work for me at QC, fine, I won't force you but you're going to have to find a job, because I'm cutting you off."
Oliver let out an incredulous laugh, certain he had misunderstood.
"What?"
"You heard me. And I suggest you find a place to live, because as long as you keep behaving like this I don't want you under my roof."
"But...where am I supposed to go?"
His father simply raised an eyebrow. "Where did you stay last night?"
"Felicity's place."
Robert leaned back in his chair as if it was the answer he'd been expecting.
"She's a sensible young woman. I suggest you go back there."
"But I can't...I just...Dad, please."
Of all the reactions he expected, Oliver hadn't seen that one coming.
Robert's face softened. "Son, I don't like doing this. And I'm aware that since your mother died, things have been difficult, and I have some responsibility in that. But the way you're behaving is not the solution."
"But kicking me out is?" Oliver asked sarcastically.
"If this is what it takes to knock some sense into you...Oliver, this is not an irrevocable situation. The door will always be open. But you can't go on like this."
Oliver didn't exactly understand how being suddenly homeless and penniless would accomplish any good, but his dad had clearly made his mind.
He was going to have to find another way.
When Felicity opened her front door an hour later, she was talking animatedly on the phone while carrying a whimpering Millie. She left the door wide open, signaling to Oliver he was welcome to come inside. He dropped his bag in the entrance hall and followed her into the living room.
She sounded frustrated so he took the toddler from her arms and Felicity sent him a grateful look.
Emilia snuggled against his chest and he noticed the tear stains on her cheek and the teething ring she was chewing on.
"Hey baby girl," he whispered while pressing a kiss to her blonde curls. "You're having a bad day? Because I can relate."
She handed him the teething ring and he took it, mindless of the saliva covering it. He knew Felicity kept a spare one in the fridge, so he put the used one in the sink before giving Emilia the cold one. He also took a small tube, getting Felicity's attention he silently asked if he should use it and the young woman nodded.
Oliver quickly washed his hands before sitting at the kitchen table and putting some of the product on his pinky before gently applying it on the little girl's painful gums.
"Don't eat my finger," he told her playfully. He put the remaining product on the ring. As Millie settled back against him, he distractedly listened to Felicity's conversation.
"No, of course I understand what budgetary restriction means...I just, I wish I could have been warned a bit more beforehand. I can't be the only parent telling you that, right? Right...yes, goodbye."
She hung up with a frustrated huff and a muttered 'frak'."
"What's going on?" Oliver asked.
She joined him in the kitchen and sat next to him with a defeated sigh.
"It was Emilia's daycare. For some very obscure financial reason I don't quite understand - but that obviously screams poor management to me - they are closing business. Starting Monday."
She put her hand on Millie's neck and scratched gently, eliciting a giggle. The ring, the medication and Oliver's strong arms were obviously a good combination to appease teeth ache.
"And isn't there another one where she can go?"
"Not on such short notice. I will have to look for one, which means taking a few days off to take care of her. We just started with a new software at the precinct so me not being there isn't exactly ideal. Urgh!"
"You can always ask your neighbour," Oliver suggested.
"I can for a few hours, but not a whole day, let alone several. She's too old for that. Which she told me herself," she correctly quickly. "I'm not being disrespectful or anything."
Oliver smiled and was about to say something when she noticed the duffle bag in the entrance.
"You're going somewhere?"
He gave her a sheepish look. "I was hoping to crash in your guest room for another night. My father kicked me out."
Her eyes grew wide. "Get out."
Oliver snickered. "That's pretty much what he told me, yes."
She slapped his thigh. "Not what I meant. But that's just...wow, I didn't expect him to throw you out. I guess as far as crappy days go, you win."
He gently stroked Millie's neck, whose eyelids were drooping.
"I had some time to think on the way here, and...I can't really be mad at him. I guess completely cutting me off is a little, uh...abrupt, but even I can admit it might be time I get a good kick in the …" he looked down at Millie, "...behind."
Felicity smiled softly. "Not going to argue with you. Why don't you put your bag in your room while I put this little one for her nap?"
In the afternoon Felicity called a few colleagues with children Millie's age to inquire about possible day care. She got two numbers she would call first thing Monday morning.
Then they started to discuss options for Oliver's living arrangements.
"What about Helena?" Felicity asked, referring to Oliver's on and off girlfriend.
"We broke up two weeks ago."
"I know. But I thought maybe you were back together. It's what you guys do."
"I would have told you. And no, not this time. This relationship we have...it's not healthy, for either of us."
Felicity nodded. "And Tommy?"
"That would mean trading a gloomy mansion and a strict father for another gloomy mansion and strict father, so no. I know I can't afford to get picky, but…"
"You know you can stay here until you find something."
He raised from the couch where they sat, went to the kitchen and took two beers out of the fridge and offered her one.
"Remember when you told me to open an account in my name a few years ago and make some deposits from time to time? Well it does have a pretty extensive sum now, and my dad does not have access to it. So I might have enough to find a small apartment. Assuming I get a job so I can keep said apartment."
She squeezed his shoulder affectionately before grabbing the phone. "I'm going to call Captain Lance, tell him I won't be there on Monday."
"You don't have to take the day off, I can stay with Millie," he offered, then saw Felicity's look and added quickly, "Which is a stupid idea, I'm not exactly qualified to look after a baby."
"No, it's actually a great idea!" Felicity exclaimed and he shot her a surprised glance. She was smiling, and she had the look on her face which meant the wheels in her brain were turning quickly.
"Think about it. I don't need to find a daycare immediately, you don't need to find a job, at least not right this minute, and you have a place to stay. I leave Emilia with someone I trust. It's a win-win situation."
That left him speechless for a minute. "You would really trust me with her?"
She frowned, as if he had uttered some nonsense. "Of course I do. You practically helped me raise her, and you're the only constant male figure in her life. Apart from my mom, there's no one I would trust more, Oliver."
This should have scared the partying bachelor in him, only it didn't. There was actually a warm feeling spreading in his heart at the confidence Felicity seemed to have in him regarding her daughter.
"Thank you," he whispered, emotion clogging his throat.
She clinked her bottle with his. "Are you ready to do this? Spending your day with a 14 month old? She doesn't have a lot of conversation to offer."
He smiled, addressing a fond look at the little girl playing quietly in her playpen.
"It's ok. Millie and I have our own way of communicating. Right baby girl?"
There was an enthusiastic shout coming from the playpen, making them both laugh.
TBC...
