I call this THE HAPPY CHAPTER and I love it. I enjoyed writing this so much.
As usual, no beta (but if anybody wants that "job" just let me know ;o) ).
It took Felicity four days before she was ready to give Oliver the answer he wanted. But first she had some questions and demands.
She turned her back to the computer and looked his way. This was it. She stood up and walked to his workplace where he was making arrows. "When are you going to introduce William to Liv?" she asked, loud enough for him to hear. She knew for a fact that William has been staying with Oliver every other weekend but never when he was supposed to have Liv.
Oliver stopped in what he was doing and looked up at her. "I don't know," he admitted. "Why do you ask?"
Felicity shrugged. "I think they deserve to know each other."
He looked surprised. "I didn't think you would want them to meet."
"Why?"
"Because he's the reason why you left and never told me about Liv."
She shook her head. "No, Oliver, you are the reason why I left." She waved her hand in the air in dismissive gesture. "But that's not the point. What I was trying to say with my question is that I would love to go to dinner with you but first I would love to spend the day with you, William and Liv." She paused. "And once the kids are in bed we could make a dinner and maybe watch a movie after that?"
He stared at her as if he didn't hear a word she said.
"Oliver?" she tried after a few moments.
He blinked and quickly answered: "Yes! Anything you want. I will call Samantha in the morning and arrange for William to come for the weekend."
Felicity smiled at him. "Thank you." She realized that if they were supposed to work she – and Liv - would have to meet and get on well with William. Felicity didn't have a problem with it even though people might think something else. This was really about her daughter because she still didn't know she had older half brother and it bothered Felicity, a lot. She hoped that Oliver would introduce them but it didn't seem like he wanted to do that so she had to force him to it. And although it didn't feel right it was necessary.
Oliver stayed true to his word and called Samantha which meant that Felicity and Liv would be spending the following Saturday with them. Oliver and Felicity even agreed on a sleepover to make things easier for Felicity and Liv. Oliver persuaded her by saying that Liv didn't need to be dragged through half of the City to get into a bed and Felicity just gave up. She didn't let him know that she liked his plan; he didn't need to know everything.
Felicity and Liv arrived to Oliver's place at nine and they didn't get a chance to even get out of the car before being greeted by grinning Oliver and shyly smiling William.
Once she locked the car Felicity knelt down in front of her daughter. "We would like you to meet someone, pumpkin," she said with a smile
Liv looked at her with huge expecting blue eyes.
"This," she motioned to the boy next to Oliver, "is your big brother William."
Liv's eyes moved between her and William and blinked couple of times. "Brother?" she repeated.
Felicity nodded. "Yes, daddy's son."
"Daddy's?"
"Yes, William was born long before daddy met mummy and William lives with his mum in Central City."
Liv frowned. "We lived in Central City," she reminded, confused.
"That's true," confirmed Felicity and turned her head to Oliver, pleading look in her eyes.
Oliver took a step in their direction; William right next to him. "Do you want to say hello to your little sister, Will?"
"Sure," he muttered and walked right to her. "Hi Liv, I'm William but you can call me Will." He flashed her charming smile, same smile his father had.
Liv tilted her head and narrowed her eyes before smiling up at him. "Hi, my name is Liv." She reached for his hand and pulled him by the door of their father's place.
"Olivia actually," mumbled Felicity but Oliver was the only one who could hear her.
Oliver grabbed their bags and for once Felicity didn't try to fight him. "After you," he said as he held the door open for her.
"Thank you."
"Did you have breakfast?" he asked when he put the bags on the side.
"Yeah."
Oliver's eyebrows shot up. "Really?"
She shrugged. "Liv had cereals and I had my coffee, that's really the only thing I need to get me going."
"You should eat something."
She chuckled. "Come on, Oliver, you know me. I don't eat breakfast before ten." She glanced at the clock on the wall. "So I still have an hour."
He frowned and that frown reminded her so much of Liv. "Did you eat like this when you were pregnant?"
Felicity sighed. "No. I ate all the time when I was pregnant. You wouldn't believe what an appetite Liv had." She paused for a moment. "Still has. Sometimes I wonder how she can be so skinny when she eats so much."
Oliver smiled. "Good genes I guess."
"Probably. Maybe I should thank my lucky stars that you're her father."
He made a face. "It's not much of a win."
Felicity gently touched his arm. "It is a win. She couldn't have wished for a better father," she assured him and she meant it. She might not agree with everything Oliver did but he was an amazing father; that much she knew. "What time we need to leave?" she changed the subject.
"Half past ten so you will have time to have breakfast." He winked and she knew why. It was clear to him that she would go without breakfast if he didn't make sure she ate.
Felicity just rolled her eyes but admitted to herself that she was looking forward having a breakfast Oliver prepared. She missed his cooking.
"Daddy?" asked Liv once Oliver finished reading her a story and tucked her in bed.
"Yes, pumpkin?"
"What fairytale is most about you and mummy?"
Felicity stood in the doorframe and stilled. She was curious what Oliver's answer would be.
He looked at Felicity over his shoulder and then back to Liv. "Probably Cinderella."
"Seriously?" she whispered, surprised. Cinderella? She wasn't some poor girl who needed saving. No, she was an independent woman who didn't need a man to live her life fully.
"Oh, that's my favourite fairytale!" exclaimed Liv, not paying attention to her mother.
Oliver glanced Felicity's way and winked.
She rolled her eyes, she should have known.
"Is it?" he faked a surprise for Liv's sake. "I didn't know." He leaned closer to their daughter. "Do you want to know a secret?
Liv nodded enthusiastically.
"Cinderella's my favourite too," he assured her, whispering.
Liv giggled. "I love you, daddy."
"I love you too, pumpkin."
"Mummy?" called Liv and looked at Felicity with a smile.
"Hm?"
"I want to give you a goodnight kiss." She pursed her lips.
Felicity chuckled and made her way to Liv's bed. "Did you enjoy today?" she asked before leaning down and giving her a kiss. They took the kids for a movie and swimming. It was nice and relaxing day and both of the kids seemed to enjoy it.
"Yes! William's my best friend," the little girl announced proudly.
"I thought Sara was your best friend."
Liv frowned. "Well, Sara is my girl best friend and William is my boy best friend." She looked really proud with herself for coming up with a solution. "Is that allowed?" she was wondering quietly.
"Of course, it is, sweetie. You can have as many best friends as you like," assured her Felicity because it was what she believed in. Why should anybody have only one best friend? Sure, some friends were better than others but it didn't mean that she couldn't have two or more best friends.
The little girl put her arms around Felicity's neck. "I love you, mummy."
"I love you too," whispered Felicity and kissed her again. "Good night. Sweet dreams."
"I feel bad for banishing William from the living room," confessed Felicity over their candlelit dinner she prepared – helped to prepare – with Oliver.
He smiled at her over the brim of his wineglass. "Why? He's got everything he could possibly need there; TV, Playstation, tablet, even laptop." He shrugged after taking a sip of the wine.
"He's got all that in his bedroom?" she asked incredulously.
Oliver's eyebrows shot up. "Is that judgement I hear?"
"Yes! Oliver, he's twelve, he doesn't need all that stuff." She narrowed her eyes. "If you ever try to get all of that for Liv then we will have a problem."
"As if you don't let her play with your tablet or your phone."
"I'm not denying that but she doesn't have her own tablet or TV or whatever and she's not getting any of it anytime soon," assured him Felicity with a glare.
Oliver put his hands in front of him as if to protect himself. "Okay, I promise I won't buy her anything without consulting you."
She smiled, satisfied. "Thank you."
"Well, you are her mother and I need to respect your wishes."
"Is it hard for you?" she asked even though she knew the answer to her question.
Oliver smiled a sad smile and nodded.
Felicity sighed. "Look, I'm not saying you can't buy her presents. I just don't want you to buy her electronics. I don't want Liv to spend her childhood in front of the screen. I want her to go to the playground and make friends and just enjoy these years."
He nodded. "I get that, Felicity and I meant what I said. I won't get her anything like that until you tell me I can."
She smiled. "Thanks."
They enjoyed the rest of their dinner in silence but neither of them minded. Felicity knew that silence is better than meaningless conversation. Besides there would be plenty of time to talk after dinner – or not, it all depended.
After dinner when all the dishes were put into the dishwasher, they took their wineglasses to the living room. Oliver started the fire because it was January and although his apartment had just the right temperature it gave the romantic atmosphere a nice touch. They chose a movie to watch. Oliver suggested a romantic comedy and Felicity didn't complain.
"Don't you think that's just too much?" asked Oliver towards the end of the movie when the main character purchased a plane ticket - she was clearly not going to use - just to get to the guy she liked.
Felicity didn't think about the answer twice; she didn't need to. "No."
Oliver's brows shot up. "Really?"
She nodded. "Yeah. I would spend any amount of money just to get to the love of my life," she assured him.
"Seriously?" Oliver sounded as if he couldn't wrap his head around it. "They know each other only for a week."
Felicity shrugged and smiled. "Yeah. If it was you in his place I wouldn't mind paying all my savings for a ticket." Another shrug. "Besides you know when you meet the love of your life." She touched his hand gently. "Like I did with you. You are my soul mate." She knew it sounded like a cliché but she didn't care because it was how she felt.
His eyes widened for a moment and a grin formed on his lips. Before she realized what he was doing he leaned over and kissed her hungrily. She didn't fight him; in fact she returned it with a hungry kiss of her own. She couldn't – or wanted to – stop herself; she's been craving his kisses for far too long.
Felicity tilted her head as Oliver's lips found his way to the nape of her neck and collarbone. She let out a moan.
"Shall we take it to the bedroom?" he asked in whisper, stopping for a moment.
Felicity moaned again. "Mmm, yes. Please!"
Felicity woke up at the morning with a start, Oliver's arm protectively around her waist. She frowned, she was sure that something – or someone – woke her up. She turned her head to look at Oliver but he was fast asleep. Frowning deeper she closed her eyes.
"Mummy?" came a voice from her other side.
Felicity quickly opened her eyes again and looked on the opposite side of the bed. Her eyes widened with a horror as she saw her daughter watching her with her blonde head tipped to the side, clutching the plush tiger from Oliver in her little arms. "What is it, sweetie?" she whispered, pulling the duvet higher. She didn't need Liv to see her naked in Oliver's bed and scarring her for life.
Liv sniffed. "I couldn't find you. I went to your room but you weren't there." Her chin quivered.
It was then when Felicity realized her daughter's cheeks were stained with tears. She pried herself out of Oliver's arms and sat up on the edge of the bed. Holding the duvet tightly with one hand she gently pulled Liv closer and hugged her. "Oh, sweetie, I'm so sorry!" She kissed the top of her head.
Oliver stirred and sat up too. "Well, hello there. Are you ok, pumpkin?"
Liv just nodded and Felicity looked at him over her shoulder, giving him a meaningful look.
"Sorry," he mouthed.
"Why are you sleeping in daddy's bed? Did he have a nightmare?" asked Liv.
Felicity's eyes widened once again and she swallowed. She should have expected it because whenever – which wasn't often, thank God – Liv had a nightmare Felicity would allow her to sleep in mummy's bed. So really, her assumption was Felicity's fault.
Oliver smiled and looked at his daughter. "Yeah, you could say that. But mummy made it all better," he assured her with a wink.
Felicity pressed her lips together. She knew that this was better than the truth but wasn't really happy about it. She didn't want Liv to find her in his bed and she made it clear after they made love the first time of the night – not the last; definitely not the last – but she fell asleep and trust Oliver to wake her up when he could hold her in his arms.
So...I call this "that one happy chapter" before I ruin everything and then make it right again (maybe...probably O=o) ).
And although I enjoyed writing it it was equally hard because I have the beginning of the next chapter already written. Well, it's been written before I started to write this one to be fair.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it and PLEASE bear with me.
