Author's note: this is a short companion piece set between my two Olicity stories... highly recommend reading Escape to a Lighter Life before reading this piece.

Please enjoy and review. Also check the next piece in the light series, "The Light Always Shines Brightest"... link in bio

Disclosure: I own nothing of Arrow

"So big man, you ready to be a big brother?" Diggle asked Conner as they sat around the fire pit. They had finished dinner and dessert, s'mores being a whole lot of mess and fun and starting a marshmallow fight had been unexpected but fun as well. No they were waiting for the night to become a bit darker before setting off the fireworks.

"Yeah my dad has been telling what it means to be a big brother and telling me stories about when him and Thea were younger. I think a little brother would be cool but a little sister would be really cool too. That way I could be like my dad."

"Well little brothers are cool too. I had one."

"You did?"

"Yeah. Andy. He was like my best friend growing up."

"Did you lose him too?"

"Yeah big man. I lost him a few years ago. But I still love him."

"Just like I still love my mommy and dad and Aunt Thea loves their mom and dad."

"Exactly. Just because we lose people doesn't mean we forget the. They are always with us buddy." Oliver stated, smiled with a fatherly pride no one had ever seen on him before. This was a whole new Oliver and he seemed to be here to stay.

"I guess a girl or a boy would be okay. As long as I get to play with them and be their big brother."

"That will definitely happen pal." Roy smiled across the fire. "If you're anything like your dad, nothing will stop that from happening if you really want it to happen. You will find a way to make it happen."

"So explain why we are sleeping out here in these tents when you have a huge house right there?" Cisco asked.

"Connor wanted to camp out and we figured you guys would like to as well."

Connor grinned proudly of his idea. "If you don't want to, you can go stay inside with the girls and old guys."

"Connor! Don't be mean."

"But Joe and Walter are old." Barry, Cisco, Roy and Diggle laughed. Even Oliver had to fight back his own laughter.

"They may be older than us but they aren't old. That is rude to say."

"Okay dad. Then Cisco can go stay inside with the girls and the older guys." This brought a new round of laughter to the group.

Felicity walked up just as they had started laughing again. "What's so funny out here?"

"Nothing. Just how Connor refers to Walter and Joe's ages."

"All I said was that they are old. Which they are." Connor shrugged and Felicity laughed as well.

"I know sweetie. But it is rude to call them old."

"That's why I said older the second time but they just laughed again."

"He was telling Cisco that if he didn't want to camp out, he could go stay in the house with you ladies and the older men." Diggle explained.

"Oh! I see."

"So what was funny?"

"Well you sort of made it sound like Cisco was not cool like the rest of you if he did stay inside with us girls and the older men."

"But I didn't mean it like that. You know you and Aunt Thea are cool. I mean you both can shoot an arrow so that definitely makes you cool. And Lyla was a spy so she is really cool. And Nyssa is a ninja. And Laurel knows the Arrow and Iris knows the Flash so they are both cool too."

"I know sweetie. It's ok. Cisco knew what you meant, right Cisco?"

"Yeah no prob, big man."

"Did you need something sweetheart?"

"Just wondering when the fireworks would start. I am getting a bit sleepy and I wanted to see them before I called it a night."

Oliver looked at the night sky and decided it was dark enough to start setting them off. "We can start now. Barry wanna help me set everything up?"

"Sure."

"Okay I'll go tell the others."

"I can do that Lis. You sit. You're tired and you need rest."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Growing a baby is hard work." Connor smiled. He had heard her say that once and now he said it to her all the time as a way to convince her to do as he said.

She laughed, "Okay sweetie."

"Here. You can sit in my seat for now. When we move around for the fireworks, I will set your chair up."

"Sounds good to me."

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"Okay Connor, I want you to stay close to Felicity when we start shooting these off."

"Deal dad. I'll make sure the baby and Sara are okay." Oliver smiled at him because he was already acting like a big brother. Oliver knew it would be a long wait for the next 32 weeks to go by before they would meet his son or daughter but watching Felicity and Connor grow closer and setting up a life and a home for the baby would keep him busy.

"He really is a good kid." Barry stated as they watched Connor run off to Felicity. She offered to pull him into her lap and he declined, wanting to stand up between her and Lyla so he could keep an eye on the youngest addition to the team and the one on its way.

"He really is. Thankfully that all came from his mom."

"Don't sell yourself short. Watching you with him, both today and the day of the funeral, I can see where his need to protect those he loves came from. That is all you."

Oliver looked over as he saw Felicity smile at him and he knew Barry was right. He just shrugged and sighed contently. Once they were finished setting up all the fireworks, Oliver looked over at Barry. "You're sure it is all set up right and safe."

"Yeah. Caitlin had Ronnie double check everything before they left. She said to sit back and enjoy the show."

"Okay." He walked up to the group, kneeling behind Connor and placing his hand on Felicity's shoulder, and said, "Here we go." Before he knew it Barry had lit the fuse and ran up to the group as well. A few seconds later the sky lit up as pop after pop went off and each firework exploded, filling the sky with beautiful bursts of color. He could hear the appreciation the group had for the show by the gasps and awes he heard. Connor bounced in front of him when ever a new firework exploded, pointing at the colors. The wonder and magic Oliver saw in his son's eyes was worth all the planning and preparation for today. This was how he would spend every holiday from now on, surrounded by friends and loved ones. His family.

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"Hey dad are you asleep?"

"What's up son?" Oliver answered groggily as he had just started to fall asleep when his son woke him.

"Do you think Lis and the baby are okay in the house alone?"

"They're not alone. All the other girls plus Walter and Joe are inside with them." Oliver was surprised that Connor was awake. After the fireworks show, the men all sat around the fire pit, joking and laughing and sharing stories, while the girls heading in the house to start discussing wedding plans and baby stuff. He felt sorry for Felicity but she told him it would be fine and assured him that she would be heading to bed soon. Connor had only lasted until about 9 pm and then he fell asleep in the chair. Oliver had covered him with a small blanket until they were all ready to head to bed. Then he carried his son into the tent and tucked him in. "What are you doing up again?"

"Had a bad dream."

"Come here." Oliver rolled over and pulled his son into his chest. "Felicity always says it is best to talk about them. Tell what is scary about them. Then figure out a way to not make them so scary and that way if you have it again, they aren't so scary. Wanna try that?"

"Does it work? It sounds silly."

"That's what I thought but worked for me."

"You have bad dreams?"

"Yeah. Everyone does."

"Even the Arrow and the Flash?"

"Yeah definitely them. They deal with so much scary stuff on real life that they sometimes go into their dreams."

"Okay let's try it. I saw us losing the baby like I lost my mommy. Not in a car but by a bad guy. Then he took her and then you because you tried to fight him. Then he took Aunt Thea and he left me all alone and I had no one to take care of me." Oliver heard the soft sob as Connor sniffled back his tears.

"Oh buddy. That will never happen."

"How do you know?"

"Well because I won't let it. I am going to always make sure you and Felicity and the baby and Thea are safe. And I have plenty of people who will help me do that."

"Like Diggle?"

"Yeah. Him and Barry and Cisco and Joe and Lance. Even Lyla and Laurel and Nyssa will protect all of you. Same with Roy. So you never have to worry about losing any of us. And you will always have someone who will want you. Everyone here today plus Caitlin and Ronnie are all our family and they will always want you here and will take care of you. Okay buddy so when the dream happens again I want you to picture all of us standing between you, the baby and Felicity and the boogieman. We will always love and protect you." Oliver whispered into the young boy's hair as he gently kissed him.

"Okay dad. Thank you."

"No prob, buddy. How about we get some sleep. We have a busy day tomorrow."

"One last thing."

"What's that?" Oliver gazed down at his son.

"Do you think mommy saw the fireworks?"

"Yeah I think so buddy."

"Good. I wanted her to see them. She always like them and loved seeing me smile so she saw all that tonight."

"Time to go to sleep buddy."

"Thank you dad."

"For what?"

"For today. For the camping. For everything. I had the best mommy ever and now I have the best dad ever." Connor hugged Oliver, who was fighting back tears. He was glad that his son was so happy and knew he was finally building the life he had always wanted. And it all started that fateful day he walked into Felicity's office and saw what real light and love looked like.

The end.