A/N: Thank you so incredibly much to all for your reviews, your favs and follows. The response to this story is blowing my mind. Hope everyone enjoys this one. It's a bit shorter but it surely packs a punch.

Takes place after 3x12…My version of the future.


Two hours. That's how long she'd sat in the emergency room before her name was finally called. Two long hours of being sandwiched between Jerry and Oliver in plastic hospital chairs. Two long hours of fighting nausea surrounded by a room full of sick and injured people.

Two long hours of a restless, aggravated Oliver Queen trying to bend the admitting nurse to his will. The only thing he'd managed to get out of Nurse Ratchet (No kidding that really was her name) was a plastic bin in case Felicity felt the need to throw up. Unfortunately she'd had to use it several times during the wait. When the blood came up again Oliver had grabbed the bucket from her and practically shoved it under the nurse's nose.

"In case you don't know what blood looks like, this is it!"

The woman's response was to slam the glass partition wall closed narrowly missing Oliver's fingers.

Jerry suggested he try apologizing and turning on the Oliver Queen charm. "If you've got it, flaunt it."

Oliver resisted the idea until the next time she started heaving into the bucket. She watched him saunter back to the nurse's window, tapping lightly on the glass. The nurse gave in and opened the window. From where she was sitting Felicity could see Oliver's relaxed posture and the angle allowed her to see his patented fake smile. The nurse's expression didn't change, in fact it appeared to get stonier and sterner with every word Oliver was saying.

"I know perfectly well who you are, Mr. Queen. And you will have to wait your turn like every other sick person here."

Oliver's name might not hold the power and prestige it once had but his exploits were well documented so it wasn't surprising when she witnessed several heads turn in their direction.

"Don't look now but people are staring," Jerry whispered.

Instinct took over and Felicity distanced herself from Oliver leaning into Jerry.

"Ignore them," Oliver huffed.

"Easy for you to say," she scoffed. "You're still news in this city and I don't feel like being food for the gossip mongers."

She felt like crap actually. The exhaustion was immense and she would have passed out if it weren't for the nausea keeping her awake. A sad state to be sure.

Jerry for his part recognized her distress and pulled her into his embrace, running a hand over her hair in a soothing motion. "It'll be okay 'Lis. They'll figure out what's wrong. The Doc's here know their stuff."

"Sounds like you have personal experience with this place," Oliver stated.

"My nephew," Jerry answered and Felicity inwardly cringed. She hadn't thought about how difficult it would be for Jerry to be in the emergency room. "He was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia at the age of five. And with my sister a single mom, Uncle Jerry had to step in plenty of times to nurse him through the after effects of Chemo treatments, be there to hold his hand during his third spinal tap in two weeks…" his voice caught and turned thick with emotion. "He's nine now…and he'll never see ten."

Felicity gasped, pulling back from Jerry. His eyes were swimming with unshed tears.

"The cancer came back?"

He nodded fighting to control his emotions. "Back and more aggressive than before. The Doctor's say there's no hope now. It's only a matter of time before he's…" A single tear slipped down his cheek. She reached out to wipe it away wishing she could do more.

"I'm very sorry to hear that, Jerry," Oliver whispered.

"He's been a fighter since the say he was born. But the kid's been through more than most adults in his short life. And you know what? He's never once felt sorry for himself, never complained through four years of every treatment imaginable."

"What's his name?" Oliver's voice was thick.

"Christopher. Christopher Thomas Borden."

"Any relation to Thomas Borden, President of Starling National Bank?"

"The sperm donor," Jerry spat out, his face distorting in anger at the mention of his former brother-in-law. "He left my sister for his mistress when Christopher was only one month old. Oh, he does his part financially, but that's where it ends. He's never once visited, spent time with him…"

"But he's always had cool Uncle Jerry," Felicity assured him. "And from what you've told me, Christopher got the better end of the deal."

Jerry managed a small smile and grasped her hand. "Good 'ole 'Lissy…always seeing the positive and making sure others see it too."

"It's one of her best traits."

Inwardly she beamed and stored that tidbit from Oliver to think about later.

"So now we wait for the inevitable. Marie's taken him home so he can be comfortable and at least he's surrounded by his things and not hospital lights. The Doctors have contacted the Starling City "Be a Child's Star" Organization in hopes of organizing Christopher's last wish," he sighed, a defeated sound. "But the Doc's are not hopeful they'll grant it."

Felicity frowned. "Because time is running out?"

Jerry shook his head. "Because of what Christopher's asked for."

"What charity organization won't grant a dying child's wish?" Oliver fumed. "My Mother started that charity after Thea was born and gave generously to it up until she died. I will call them tomorrow and see what pressure I can apply."

Her hero. Felicity reached behind her and searching for Oliver's hand squeezed hard when she did.

"What has he asked for? A trip to the moon?" Felicity agreed with Oliver. The ridiculousness of the situation was beyond decent.

"He wants to meet his hero." Jerry looked directly in her eyes. "He wants to meet the Arrow."

The hand that was attached to hers squeezed so tight and there was a slight tremor to it.

"I've never told you this 'Lis but Marie was one of the hostages the copycat Archer took years ago when he was trying to draw the Arrow out in the open. Christopher found out what had happened and ever since he's considered the Arrow his personal hero. See, he was diagnosed with the leukemia only months before and to his way of thinking if his Mom hadn't been rescued by the Arrow then he would have had to go through all of this – these last four years – without the one person who's always been there for him. I know what you're thinking, he would have had me. But a mom is a special bond that an Uncle can't quite fill."

"I…I…I never knew…" She stammered. "Why did you never tell me? All this time I thought you were just a nutcase swooning over the Arrow."

Jerry chuckled. "It wasn't my story to tell. And to be honest it was easier to let you think I was some crazed fan. That way I would be less tempted to interrogate you about your own involvement with the Arrow and force you to confirm my suspicions."

Felicity pulled back. "What?"

Jerry regarded her with skepticism. "Give me some credit, 'Lissy. A few months after the Arrow comes to town you go from being busy with work to never available? You dodge my calls and I'm lucky if I see you for coffee once a month? Then the Arrow suddenly seems to have knowledge and insight that only someone with a background in computer science and a hacking hobby could have?"

Felicity was unsure of how to answer Jerry. She didn't want to lie to him and it certainly wasn't an issue of trust. She'd trust him with her life. But something was holding her back from confirming her friend's observations…

Then she sensed a tug on her hand and a gentle squeeze which she interpreted as a go ahead.

"I can't tell you who he is."

Jerry smiled but there was a sadness in his features that broke a small piece of her heart. "And I don't expect you to."

"Oh…okay."

"Not that I don't have my suspicions about that too." Felicity couldn't miss the way Jerry's eyes left hers to stare over her shoulder.

Uh oh…Her brain was processing the possibility that Jerry knew…knew about Oliver…and the Arrow…about Oliver being the Arrow. There was so much noise in her head that she almost didn't hear the nurse calling her name.

"Felicity Smoak?"

"That's me," she called out eager to be doing anything besides sitting in those uncomfortable hospital chairs. Was it a conspiracy by hospitals everywhere to make you so glad to have your name called that you'd say yes to anything the Doctor's asked?

All the vomiting coupled with the exhaustion and lack of sleep (not to mention the emotional roller coaster she'd been on the last half hour) was not conducive to walking, so when she stood up and tried to put one foot in front of the other her legs gave out from under her and she collapsed to the floor.

"Felicity!"

She heard Oliver cry her name and she saw the legs of the nurse rushing towards her immediately calling for a gurney.

"I kept telling Nurse Ratchet over there she needed to be looked at right away," Oliver was growling.

She attempted to reach out and reassure him she was okay but someone was lifting her from the ground onto the gurney and all she could see after that were the ceiling lights of the hospital.

Over the commotion of the emergency exam area she heard snippets of an aggressive Oliver insisting both him and Jerry were not leaving Felicity. And there was something said akin to "Where she goes, we go."

Felicity was wheeled into a private exam area and transferred from the gurney to the exam table by two burly hospital orderlies.

"You two can stay," the nurse was saying to Oliver and Jerry, "but only until the Doctor examines Ms. Smoak. Then you'll have to skedaddle." She left closing the door behind her.

Felicity had gone from a waiting room filled with people to an eight foot by eight foot sterile hospital examination room with Oliver and Jerry hovering over her.

"This had better not take another two hours or…"

"Or what," Jerry quipped. "You'll put an arrow in someone?"

"Jerry that's enough!" Felicity said using her loud voice which apparently had lost most of its effect in her weakened state.

Jerry snorted. "Let's examine the facts shall we. Exhibit A," he pointed to Oliver. "Billionaire playboy returns home after five years stranded on an island and the day after he's back in Starling he's kidnapped and "rescued" by a man in a "hood". Suddenly the one percenters – the bad ones, the corrupt ones – start dropping like flies and/or atoning for their sins. Exhibit B – Mr. Roy Harper, Exhibit A's sister's boyfriend who was saved from certain death by the Arrow. Many months later after The Siege, The Arrow is seen with a sidekick – man on the short side dressed in red and black leather with a chiselled jaw. Sound like anyone we know? Exhibit C – woman in black leather, tall with a willowy build starts kicking ass alongside the Arrow and sidekick. I'm going to take a stab in the dark here and say that would be our friendly neighbourhood Assistant District Attorney and former girlfriend. Exhibit D – a second woman is seen with the Arrow only this one is shorter, slighter, wields a sword and is reported to have brown hair. Can we say Exhibit A's sister? Then there's Mr. Diggle, former bodyguard to Exhibit A and ex-special forces. And finally…you 'Lissy."

"What about me?"

"Why would an IT girl with a genius I.Q. work for Exhibit A as his executive assistant when the job was so clearly beneath her if she didn't need to work "closely" with her boss on matters that didn't involve QC?"

Every one of Jerry's observations was correct. She knew it. Oliver knew it. But the question was, would Oliver confirm or deny. Felicity had watched Oliver carefully while Jerry was making his case and not once did he give anything away. It was his decision to make and she would support whatever one he chose.

"And for the record," Jerry added. "I have not said anything to anyone about any of this."

"You do and I will put an arrow in someone, namely you."

Jerry let out a huge sigh of relief and his normal easy going smile returned. "Oh, thank goodness that's over. I'm still shaking, see?" He held out his hand which indeed had a visible tremor to it.

Felicity shook her head in disbelief. "Why did you force the issue then?"

"Why do you think? I've had my suspicions for three years which both of you have now confirmed."

"Because of Christopher."

Jerry nodded. "Because of Christopher."

A nurse, this one different from the last, entered asking Jerry and Oliver to leave as the Doctor would be coming shortly to examine Felicity. "There are chairs in the hallway where you can wait."

Grudgingly they left and Felicity was alone with the nurse who explained that she was going take her vitals and a blood sample.

"Is that really necessary…the blood I mean?"

The nurse smiled patiently. "Don't worry I'm really good at drawing blood. You won't feel a thing."

She rolled her eyes. "That's what they all say when they're pointing something pointy at you."

The nurse consulted the chart she'd brought in with her. "It says here you're pregnant. How far along?"

"Six weeks."

"And has this been confirmed by your OB/GYN?"

She shook her head. "I did it myself. What I mean is, I took a do it yourself test…not that I got pregnant by myself because that would be impossible, right? I mean unless you were chosen by God…and I'm Jewish. Why would he chose me?"

The nurse chuckled clearly entertained by Felicity's rambling. "The blood test will confirm the pregnancy but we will do a cursory ultrasound here just to make sure everything looks okay."

Nurse Nancy (that's what her nametag said) lived up to her boasting and Felicity barely felt the needle go in her arm for the blood draw. She also took her blood pressure which she indicated was slightly elevated but not enough to be concerned. The nurse had just finished taking her temperature when the Doctor breezed in.

"Hello there, I here you're not feeling too well today Ms…" he searched the chart the nurse had left on the exam table for her name. "Smoak. I'm Dr. Barwin and I will be examining you today." The man was elderly with white wavy hair, a comforting smile and an easy way about him.

At his prodding, Felicity explained about the pregnancy, how bad the nausea and vomiting had been and how suddenly this morning it had gotten much worse when she saw blood. He in turn listened carefully scribbling everything she said on the chart then had her lie down on the table and pull her sweater up. He poked and pushed everywhere on her chest and abdomen asking her tell him if anything hurt.

"No, I just feel incredibly nauseous and weak."

"We're just going to take a quick look to make sure everything look okay while we wait for the results of your blood work, okay?"

Was he asking her permission?

"Ah…sure."

He smiled and the nurse wheeled over what appeared to be a portable ultrasound machine. Nurse Nancy prepped her by placing a paper hospital sheet over her top and tucked another in the waistband of her leggings that had been pushed down below her hips for the exam.

"I apologize for the coldness of the jelly," the Doctor was saying and boy he wasn't kidding. It felt like ice when he spread it over her abdomen.

Felicity tried to look at the ultrasound screen but the Doctor had it turned so it was out of her field of vision. He rolled the wand around her belly, searching and looking when suddenly he stopped.

"There we are." He moved the machine around with his free hand. "See right there, that little bit right here?" He pointed to a gray blob in the center of the screen that was surrounded by a bigger black blob. "That's baby."

"Sweet Pea," she whispered.

The Doctor smiled and assured her everything looked as it should be given how far along she was. "But this doesn't explain why you're feeling the way you are and of course there is the concern over the blood expulsion. I would like to recommend admitting you to OB for some further testing and a specialist's opinion. I have my suspicions as to what might be causing your symptoms but I'm not an expert on the matter."

"Can't you tell me?"

"Well, I don't want to alarm you but I suspect you might be suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Also known as severe morning sickness," he explained.

"Oh…Can it be treated? How long does it last?"

He smiled and patted her hand reassuringly. "All good questions the experts upstairs can answer for you if indeed that's what it is. Now, Nurse Nancy here will help you get cleaned up and I will have arrange to have you admitted and transported upstairs." Dr. Barwin gave her one last soft smile before he left the room, the door swooshing behind him.

"Sweet Pea, huh?" The nurse asked while wiping the jelly off her stomach. "It's definitely more original that Blip. Ever since those Fifty Shades of Grey books half the pregnant women I see come through here call it Blip. As if somehow their husbands or boyfriends will suddenly look like Christian Grey."

Felicity laughed as Nurse Nancy helped her to sit up on the exam table, her sweater and leggings back in place. The exam room door opened suddenly and Oliver reappeared without Jerry.

Nurse Nancy took one look at him, turned to Felicity and whispered, "But honey if that's the father you can call your blip anything you want."


A/N: Too much? :)