Four times


The first time Oliver saw Felicity with a baby in her arms it was so sudden, so unexpected, that he had to backtrack in his quick stride towards his office on the upper floors.

Felicity was cooing at a baby nestled against her chest, happily talking with a co-worker, someone Oliver knew vaguely from the IT- department, from the times he wondered in there, looking for Felicity. The other woman was definitely the baby's mother, sharing the same reddish curly hair and freckles. However, the sight of Felicity with a baby did something to his insides that he couldn't completely understand. It was like they were buzzing with electricity and, at the same time, disappeared suddenly, like when someone was on a rollercoaster.

When his EA noticed his presence, she smiled at him, grabbing the baby's hand and waving it. Those gestures did nothing to calm his ranging heart, which made Oliver confused and mad at himself. He turned around without saying a word and walked away rigidly, leaving behind a very surprised Felicity.


The second time Oliver saw Felicity with a baby was a bit more expected, since QC was having a "Bring the family to work" day. It was the anniversary of the company and his PR thought it would be a good boost of confidence to his workers. Oliver nodded absently, too worried at the time with Felicity's broken arm, to really notice what implications it might bring to him.

"Look, Oliver!" Felicity gushed, noticing a baby with a very distinctive green onesie with a green hood and a smiling arrow in his chest. She ran towards the proud father, laughing at his choice of attire… If only the poor man really knew who was his hero…

Felicity took the baby that the man was giving her and rocked her when she started whimpering. She turned to show the small child to Oliver so suddenly he had no chance to run. Sending him a look, the look, Felicity obliged him to walk forward. He really didn't want to approach a beaming Felicity holding a baby…

"Isn't she gorgeous?" she asked and Oliver sighed.

"Yes, definitely…" he said, without Felicity perceiving that he was looking at her and not the baby.

"Mr. Queen, would you like to hold her?" the father asked and Oliver felt like all the air inside his lungs suddenly disappeared. He was ready to say no, when Felicity subtly stepped on his foot.

"Sure…" he said, bending a little so Felicity could give him the baby. Now, that was really not an image he wanted to have in his mind. Felicity, in all her happiness, reaching for him, giving him a beaming baby and hovering like she was the mother and he was the father. Nonetheless, it was too late, and now, it felt like that frame of Felicity's arms touching his, the two of them holding the baby, was imprinted on his mind.

Later, while perusing the photos taken during the day, he zoomed in one of them, the one with the two of them and the baby, their soft smiles while watching the child.

Oliver saved the picture in his private folder.


When Diggle and Lyla's son was born, Felicity was the first one to reach them, her heels clicking on the hospital floor and her dress flying around her in a cloud of red.

When Oliver reached the room, after walking slower behind the bubbly blonde, Felicity was already with the baby in her arms. Lyla and Diggle started laughing when Oliver appeared at the door and if he wasn't so mesmerized by Felicity he would have asked what was so funny.

"Oh, I want one!" Felicity gushed, her eyes jumping towards Oliver who felt like his tongue just disappeared from his mouth. "I mean, not now… but someday, you know… when I marry someone… or I don't have to marry, it's not really a necessary thing… we could be an unmarried couple… not we as in you and I, you know, just in general… we as an unidentified entity…" Felicity babbled, while the baby gurgled in her arms and Diggle and Lyla kept laughing to each other.

Seriously, what was so funny?


The next time he saw Felicity with a baby in her arms none of the previous thoughts invaded his mind.

His only reaction was a bright smile and a soft kiss on her lips, while the two of them beamed at their sleeping son.

And now, he understood what was so funny all those years ago…