The story's title is from the song "Light Outside" by Wakey!Wakey!. All of the chapter titles come from various songs by the same band.

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Disclaimer: I own nothing except for the plot and any original characters that may be added in later. All rights over characters of the TV show Arrow belong to CW Television and DC Comics.

I Hope You Know This is a Miracle Life (So You Should Take It Like a Man)

August 2004

Felicity's life hadn't been easy. Having grown up in Las Vegas with a mother that worked in a casino, she had seen a lot of things that a five-year-old should never have to see. And she'd been through more pain than a child should have to go through. One morning she had woken up early, just as the sun was rising and to this day, she couldn't tell you why she had woken up; she just had this feeling, like something horrible was happening. And sure enough, when Felicity drifted down the stairs from her bedroom, she found her father by the front door, bags in hand. When he saw her, he told her he was going on a business trip; that he would be back; that he loved her. All those things had been a lie. Devastated, her mother, Donna Smoak, hadn't known how to handle things. So, she packed up everything and took her daughter away from Vegas and to Starling City to start a new life. Felicity hated her father for what he did, for the pain he caused her and her mother. Now though, she couldn't help herself but to feel grateful to him because had he never left, she never would've moved to Starling. And she never would've met Oliver.

They were playing tag when Oliver realized something was wrong with Felicity; he didn't know what but she just seemed, not herself. He stopped running and turned to the little girl, "Come on, let's go on the swings."

Felicity nodded and followed him to the swing set, sitting on the red swing next to his blue one. She silently avoided his gaze, her hands fidgeting in her lap.

Oliver tilted his head, eying her quizzically. "What's wrong? You're not smiling. I like when you smile." She shrugged a shoulder, still looking down. "Felicity, you know that you can tell me anything."

"I know. I'm just scared."

"Scared of what?"

"School is starting next week. And you and Tommy are gonna be gone, because you're going to middle school and then I'll be all alone."

Realization hit Oliver and he stared at her, contemplating what to do next. Struck with an idea, he glanced down at the brown and black woven bracelet, a gift from his mother, that was wrapped around his wrist. Lifting his head, he stared at the profile of the brown-haired girl next to him before he made a decision. He took off the bracelet and grabbed Felicity's right hand, pulling it towards his lap.

Her brows furrowed in confusion. "What are you doing?" she asked as he tightened the leather around her tiny wrist before entwining their fingers.

He looked at her, eyes shining with something unexplainable. "There. Now a part of me will always be there to protect you. No matter what."

Felicity gazed into his eyes with a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. "No matter what."

September 2009

It's been about a week since the Labor Day Gala; a week since Oliver hooked up with Sara, a week since he last talked to both Laurel and his dad, and a week since he realized that he has feelings for Felicity. Again. He thought he had put those feelings behind him years ago. Guess not.

School has started and Oliver can't stand it, even though it has offered him an excuse to avoid his friends, claiming he is busy. It's not that he doesn't like learning new things - he does; what he doesn't like is the pressure that school puts on him. He already gets enough of that because of his last name. Everyone expects him to be like his father: smart, driven, a business tycoon. But he isn't, not when it comes to things that don't matter to him. Like school. He doesn't care about angles of shapes or how the atom was discovered; the only good thing that has come out of school is soccer. Oliver is the captain of the varsity team and when he gets out on that field, everyone in the stands cheering him on, he feels worthy. And that's not a feeling that comes often.

The starting game of his last season in high school is tonight and there is nothing that Oliver wants more than for his father to be there. Which is why he finds himself standing in a large elevator on his way up to his father's office on the executive level of QC. The elevator dings and he steps out, thumb and forefinger lightly rubbing together as he walks towards his father's secretary, Ellie.

"Mr. Queen, your father didn't tell me you were stopping by," Ellie states with a fake smile.

He resists the urge to roll his eyes at the blonde bombshell that is no doubt his father's mistress. "That's because he didn't know. Is he here? I need to speak with him."

"He's in his office, go right ahead."

Oliver nods in thanks before approaching the glass doors of his dad's office, eyes landing on Robert sitting at his large desk going over a stack of papers. Finally gathering enough courage, he opens the door and steps inside.

Robert looks up at the sound of footsteps, surprised to see his eldest child. "Oliver, I have a meeting in twenty minutes. How much money do you need?"

"Dad, I'm not here for money. My uh, my first soccer game is tonight, and I was kinda hoping you would be there. I know we haven't really talked in a while, but it would mean a lot to me because it's my last season and I'm starting," Oliver explains, a hopeful twinge to his voice.

The older man sighs before going back to signing his papers. "Son, I don't have time for this conversation, let alone to come and see some silly high school soccer game."

Oliver stares at him with a blank expression as a sad realization hits him. "You're never going to be proud of me, are you? No matter what I say, what I do... It'll never be enough," he says, a bit breathlessly.

The older man looks up at that response, shocked by his son's words. "Oliver, this isn't the time to discuss this."

"Then when is? Last week, you told me I was a disgrace to this family and haven't spoken to me since, so tell me, when is the right time? You're never home, always working or with your assistant that you think I don't know you're screwing. You've never been to a single one of my soccer games, ever. And you rarely ever go to Thea's violin concerts but hey, at least you care about her. So, I'm sorry that now isn't a good time for you to have a conversation with your child."

He opens his mouth to respond, but Oliver cuts him off and continues, undeterred.

"You told me that I'm a disappointment to you as a son, but you're the one who is a disappointment. I'm done trying to be something you can be proud of. I'm done trying to be you, because I'm not. And thank god for that." Oliver turns and walks out of the office, leaving a stunned Robert in his wake. It isn't until the elevator doors close that he allows a single tear to fall down his cheek.

Felicity stands in her kitchen, lost in thought as she stares at the popcorn spinning in the microwave. Things with Oliver lately have been weird, to say the least; he isn't actively avoiding her anymore, but he hasn't been acting like himself. He always looks at her strangely for long periods of time and clams up whenever she mentions Tommy, which is beyond bizarre. Lately she feels that something has changed between them, shifted within their relationship. And the worst part is, she kind of likes it. Once upon a time, she had dreamed of a world where Oliver had reciprocated her feelings, but she had accepted that that would never happen. He's Oliver fricking Queen. And there's no way that he has feelings for her now. That's ridiculous, Felicity. Snap out of it! And even if he did have feelings for her, which he doesn't, it wouldn't matter. She's with Tommy; she loves Tommy. And she is over Oliver.

The microwave dings, snapping her back to reality.

"Lis, hurry up!" Tommy calls from his seat on the couch in her living room.

"Coming!" she yells back, emptying the popcorn into a large glass bowl. She saunters into the room, bowl in hand, and plops down next to Tommy on the soft, blue couch. "Want some popcorn?"

"No thanks, I don't want to eat that before the game tonight. You're coming, right?"

"Yeah, of course. You and Oliver are both starting. I wouldn't miss it."

Putting his arm around her shoulder and pulling her close, Tommy eyes her questioningly, "Speaking of Ollie, do you know what's been going on with him lately?"

Felicity shakes her head, trying to appear nonchalant and hopefully not failing miserably at it. "Uh, no. He seems fine to me." Lie.

"You sure? He hasn't been acting strange around you?"

"Nope. Oliver seems completely normal." Another lie. "Why do you ask?"

"No reason, he just seems off ever since everything that went down with Laurel. And he won't talk to me about it, so I guess I'm just worried about him."

She puts the bowl on the table and shifts so to fully face Tommy, placing her hand in his. "Hey, everything is fine. You're his best friend, he'll talk to you when he's ready, okay?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I guess," Tommy sighs before smiling, "Wanna start the movie?"

"Oh, yes! Can we watch Lord of the Rings?"

Tommy laughs before shaking his head, "You're such a nerd."

"Yeah, but you love me anyway."

"Yes, I do." He pecks her on the lips before standing up and walking towards the dvd player.

Felicity's smile falters a bit as she watches his retreating form. She likes days like this, where they can just... be. She's happy; content. She just doesn't know if that's enough.

After his disastrous conversation with his father, Oliver went for a long drive on his motorcycle to clear his head. It didn't work. That's why he is sitting on the bench with his headphones in, trying to get his head out of his ass and into this game. Halftime just started and so far, he has been playing like shit. They are losing 5-2 to a team they should be destroying right now. He can't let his team down just because his dad is an asshole, but he needs to get his shit together and he just can't.

He's staring at a patch of grass near his feet when he feels a light tap on his shoulder, and he turns around to find Felicity clad in a simple pink top and jeans combination. Only she could wear something so simple and look so beautiful.

Standing, he pulls his headphones from his ears, "Hey, what's up?"

"I should be asking you that. You do know that you're playing like crap, right?"

Oliver huffs a laugh, "Yeah, I know."

"So, you wanna tell me what that's about?"

"I asked my dad to come tonight and he blew me off, like always. We had a huge fight and I… said some things."

"Oh, Oliver. I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I don't know why I was expecting a different reaction from him than what I got."

Felicity puts a hand on his forearm, inhaling sharply and forcing herself to ignore the unexpected shock she feels at the contact. "Hey, I know that you have a rough relationship with him, but he's still your father. It must really hurt, and you're justified in whatever feelings you have towards him. But this is important to you and if he's not here, then he doesn't deserve to be a part of your life. So, don't play for him. Play for you. And for me, because I didn't come to this game just for our team to lose," she finishes with a joking smile.

Oliver laughs, already feeling better, "Thanks Felicity. You always know exactly what to say."

She smiles and sighs, "I try." The referee blows his whistle, signifying the start of the game's second half. "Hey, you got this. Give 'em hell," Felicity winks playfully at him before retreating to the bleachers.

Oliver watches her, laughing and shaking his head as he heads back onto the field, finally feeling like he can win.

The second half of the game is like watching a phoenix rise from the ashes. Somehow, Oliver comes back playing better than ever, leading the Starling City Prep Archers to their first win of the season and hopefully not their last. What everyone doesn't know is that they have a certain blonde to thank.

After the game, Felicity walks behind the bleachers to get to her car in the parking lot. She sees something in the corner of her eye and turns to see a girl sitting on one of the benches, and she appears to be crying. Felicity moves closer to the girl, immediately realizing who it is. "Sara? Are you okay?"

Sara and Felicity have never really talked to each other, but when they did, they'd always been civil. The other blonde looks up, quickly wiping her cheeks with the backs of her hands. "Felicity, hey. Uh, yeah. I'm fine, just allergies or something."

Felicity nods her head softly and moves to sit next to Sara on the bench, "Do you want to talk about it?"

She huffs, "I'm so stupid. Laurel still hasn't spoken to me. She hates me and I don't know what to do."

"Obviously, you made a mistake, but you're not the only one, Sara. No matter how mad she may be now, Laurel's your sister and she loves you. No guy, not even Oliver Queen, can come between family. Just give it some time. Everything with work itself out eventually."

Sara smiles softly. "Thanks, Felicity. You're a really nice person, nicer than I deserve right now."

Laughing, Felicity stands and looks down at Sara. "Sometimes good people do bad things; that doesn't make them any less good. If you ever need someone to talk to, you have my number. I'm always here to listen." Felicity continues to her car after Sara offers her thanks, feeling glad that she may have just made a new friend.

It's around 3:00 am when Oliver finally gets home, stumbling through the front door feeling a bit tipsy. After they won the game, one of the defenders, Carter Bowen, threw a victory party where he and Tommy had a little too much to drink. One of Tommy's drivers just dropped him off because he couldn't drive.

He starts to ascend the stairs to get some much-needed sleep when his mother calls his name from behind, hurrying into the foyer.

"Oliver! Where have you been?! I have been calling you for hours!" Moira asks frantically, tear tracks visible on her face.

He retreats back down the stairs, reaching out to place his hands on Moira's shoulders. "I turned off my phone. Mom, what's going on?"

Taking a deep breath, Moira answers, "Honey, it's your father. There's been an accident."