Hey guys so I know it's been a while, and I apologize for that. School has kicked my butt and writers block hit hard. BUT after all that time I think that I have produced one of the chapters I have ever written, I will warn you it is long, but I believe it's worth it. ANYWAYS Enjoy and let me know what you think!
Breathing in, Oliver's eyes open to a soft glow in the room. Something had woken him up, but nothing had raised any red flags around him. Felicity was softly snoring beside him, while hugging her pregnancy pillow close to her chest. The room was still in the early stages of Sunday morning, with the sunlight barely peeking through the sheer curtains, covering their French doors.
Still not understanding what stirred him from his sleep, he sits up knowing slumber wouldn't find him. The conversation from the night before rushes back, and the guilt immediately overwhelms him from the question Felicity had told him his son had asked her. If he still loved him. It wasn't like he was avoiding his son, because that was never his intention. But if his son ever had to question his love for him, then he hasn't done his job as a father.
Not letting himself dive into a pity party, he stands up determined and heads to Tommy's room.
Stopping in front of the sleeping tot, he slowly sits down on the toddler sized bed. Despite the careful movements, there's still ripples that shake the little boy slightly.
"Daddy?"
"Hey Buddy, I didn't mean to wake you" he says laying his hand instantly on the boy's chest.
Tommy rubs his eyes, shaking the sleep out of them.
"You came home."
"Yeah, I did. Look Tommy, I know that I've been really busy lately and I am so sorry for that. I love you so much, I need you to know that."
"I know that daddy" he says sitting up and throwing his arms around his neck and hugging him. "I love you daddy" he whispers.
"I love you too" Oliver says laying a kiss on the boy's head. "Hey do you wanna help daddy make breakfast?'
Pulling back, Tommy's arms still wrapped around his father's neck.
"Yeah!"
"Ok let's go" he says picking Tommy up and heads downstairs.
The smell of bacon, eggs, and pancakes fill the large home half an hour later, causing his guests to emerge from their rooms.
When they walk through the archway, Oliver is cutting pancakes in small pieces for his son, who is squirming in excitement in his high chair.
"Alright little guy, there you go."
Turning around, he is faced with the four people who haven't talked to him much after he told them of their deaths.
Robert is the first to step forward and says, "Hi."
"Oliver, we need to talk" Tommy says stepping beside Robert. "Look man, I hate being mad at you and not being able to talk to you."
"You have every right to be mad at me, I shouldn't have said what I did."
"Yeah, but it wasn't like you killed us… you didn't kill us, did you?"
"No! No, God no."
"Ok then. Then while I'm here, I would rather be on good terms with you."
"I agree son, no matter how long we're here, I would really like to get to see the man you have become. Right Moira?"
Up until that moment, he hadn't paid attention to the two women in the background.
A tinge of irritation and conflict paint his mother's features, but she immediately goes soft at the sight of her grandson. Taking a deep breath, she meets her son's eyes.
"Yes."
For the first time since they arrived all those days ago, a burden lifts off of Oliver's chest, that he didn't realize was there.
"Laurel" Tommy whispers, "we talked about this."
With pursed lips, her eyes meet her ex's.
"No. Everyone else here has a purpose to forgive you, but I don't. To me all of this was supposed to be mine."
Tommy sighs with his eyes closed.
"Oh, Laurel."
"No, I'm not going to just stand here and pretend everything is ok."
"Laurel, its ok. I understand, it's not fair to you to not see the life you had hoped for. I do hope you forgive me one day, but I do understand."
And with that confession, he leaves his ex, wide eyed and jaw slacked.
"Who are you" she mutters under her breath, but he still catches it.
With a small smile he turns back to his son and simply says, "There's breakfast hot and ready over there."
Later that day, Tommy walks through the long hallway, and there's a knock on the door. Stopping in his path, he looks around to find nobody anywhere to be found. Thinking that it's one of those Jahovaswitniss, he shakes his head and continues to make his way to the kitchen.
The doorbell goes off this time. Looking from left to right, he still finds the halls empty as the desert. Deciding to see who it is, he walks up to the grand chestnut door and turns the brass knob. The door flies open and he is met with a teenage boy with a bag littered with lightning bolts.
A crease occupies his forehead as he looks around the porch for another person.
"Can I help you?"
The boy looks nervous as he avoids eye contact.
"You lost kid? Where's your mom?"
Before the boy can answer the question, a loud cheerful voice yells, "William!".
The footsteps get closer and closer until Tommy is pushed to the side by the three-year-old.
The little boy wraps his arms around the teens legs, who immediately puts his hands on the young boys back.
"Hi Tommy."
"Oh Will, I missed you."
"I missed you too."
"William" Felicity says waddling down the hall as Tommy turns around from the scene before him.
"Mommy, Will's here" her son says while pulling him inside.
"I see that, you're early" she says ushering him in.
"Yeah, there was an earlier flight and mom said I could go" he says hugging her.
"Well I'm glad she did."
"Where's dad?"
"Oh, he's in the back. Here I'll take your bag."
"Oh, no it's ok I got it."
"Will come on, Uncle Barry and Uncle Digg are here" the excited little boy tells his brother as he pulls him towards the back of the house.
Felicity turns her attention back to the shocked man standing by the open door.
"What just happened?"
"It's a long story, come on" Felicity says grabbing his arm and follows her boys to the backyard.
When the two adults finally make it to the large backyard, Oliver is already embracing William, and Barry and John share bright smiles as they also greet the teenager.
"What are you doing here Uncle Barry?" William asks excitedly.
Ever since he had found out that one of his dad's best friends was his childhood hero, they hit it off immediately.
"Oh, you know trying to keep your dad out of trouble."
"I thought that was Digg's job."
"Oh, did you not get the memo, it's a two-man job, and since Felicity is a little out of it these days, I am here to step in."
"I heard that" Felicity says continuing to walk towards them.
And Oliver only gives his friend, a hard glare, as William and John laugh whole-heartedly.
Taking in his surroundings for the first time since he arrived, William sees unfamiliar faces in the garden.
"Dad I didn't know you had company, I would've come another week."
"No! No, if fine, they kind of showed up… unexpectedly."
"Who are they?" he whispers.
Exchanging glances between his two friends, he gets a head nod from Digg, and a shoulder shrug from Barry. Deciding not to lie to his son, he wraps his arm around the teens shoulders and gets closer to him. Whispering, he starts explaining what's going on.
"Those people are my parents, and two really good friends of mine."
Confusion paints William's face.
"Wait I thought you said your parents were de…" he drops the last word, when he notices his brother watching both of them. "Not alive."
Taking a deep breath, Oliver tries to think of a way to explain this without sounding crazy but came up blank.
"They are."
Seeing his friend struggle, Barry steps in.
"That's sort of why I'm here, to help solve this little problem."
Pursing his lips, William stays quite for a moment and tries to process everything that was just said.
"So, they're what, from the…past" he asks whispering the last word.
"Yeah."
"Ok" he says slowly nodding his head. "Cool."
Before he can say anything more, Tommy and Felicity finally make it over to them, with Felicity heavily leaning on him.
"So, Ollie, is there any other surprises you would like to spring on me today? I think I am somewhat recovered from the biggest bomb that will be landed on my poor beautiful head."
Rolling his eyes, Oliver smirks at his friend, because despite everything, Tommy can still find humor in a bad situation.
"I don't think we've met." Tommy says directing his attention to the two men behind Oliver, while still balancing Felicity.
"Barry Allen" Barry says shaking his hand.
"John Diggle."
Squinting his eyes, Tommy says, "You look familiar, have we met before?"
"I don't think so." Digg said.
"Hmmm, I could have sworn I've seen you somewhere." Shaking his head, he lets it go. "It must be all those alcoholic drinks I've consumed over the years, it can really mess with you. And that is why drinking is bad, unless you're trying to have a good time, then it's fine." He says directing his comment to William.
"Or don't drink at all, that's a better idea" Felicity quickly pitches in.
"Yeah you're not drinking for years."
"I know dad."
"Dad?" Tommy's blue eyes meet Oliver's.
At this point, He notices he has collected a crowed, with his parents and Laurel, no longer looking at the pink roses Felicity is quite proud of.
With the silence covering the group, his eyes meet Felicity's and with a small smile she encourages him to introduce one of his proudest parts of his life.
"Everyone this is William… my son."
"Son?" Moira asks
"And you know what, I think that is my que to leave" Barry says already making small steps out of the circle that has been formed.
"Yeah, I'm right behind you." Digg says casually.
Before going through the door, Barry turns around and says, "Oh and I'll let you know if there's anything new."
And with that, they were gone.
"We have a lot of catching up to do." Felicity says trying to lighten the mood, but only succeeding in being glared out.
"And to think I was going to get a break" she mutters and sighs.
Later that night everyone is enjoying their meals. No one had broached the subject of William since they were outside earlier in the day, but Moira decided to start it again.
Wiping her mouth, she puts her napkin back in her lap. "So, William, how old are you?"
"I'm 14."
That stops her, "14?"
"Yes."
Oliver sees her do the math in her head and intently think.
"2021… that would mean that you were born in 2007."
That year peeks Laurel's interest. "2007? That's where we're from." And everything starts to dawn on her. "That's when we're together. Are you saying that you cheated on me with this bitch, 14 years ago?" She asks angrily.
"LAUREL" Oliver and Tommy all but shout. Oliver looks over to see his youngest son watching him from his best friend's lap, with a tinge of fear and curiosity.
"Don't you dare speak to my wife like that."
"You didn't answer the question. Did you or Did you not?"
"No."
"Oh, you're saying that he's mine, because that seems unlikely, unless…"
"He's not yours either." He lets his sentence fade. Catching a glimpse at his mother, he sees her eyes bore into him; she knows and she's not too happy about it.
"Maybe we should talk about this another time" Felicity starts only to be cut off by Laurel.
"No, I want to hear it right now."
Pursing her lips and glaring at her husband's ex-girlfriend, Felicity decides to take the high road, and not make a scene in front of her sons. Taking a deep breath, she gets up and walks over to Tommy.
"Ok, bath time" she says in a half cheery voice.
"But mama" her little boy whined.
"If your good, you can ask Will to play Legos with you."
That statement wins him over in a heartbeat and hops off of Oliver's best friends' lap.
Taking his mother's hand, they walk over to William next.
She lays a hand on his shoulder, "and what about you? Shower?"
"Yeah" he says nodding his head slightly and standing up from his chair. "Thanks dad, dinner was awesome as usual."
"You're welcome."
As they walk out of the room, Tommy says, "Bye Uncle Tommy!"
"Bye little man."
And with that, there were five.
When Oliver knew his family was upstairs, he meets Laurel's eyes.
"That was not necessary."
"Oh, I beg to differ, now answer the question."
"Look Laurel, William is not yours or Felicity's. His mother's name is Samantha, and she was a drunken one-night stand that was a mistake, end of story."
"You are unbelievable."
"Why, because I was unfaithful to you and my mistakes finally caught up to me? Oh, come on Laurel, you knew who I was back then, and yet you still took me back no matter how many times I was unfaithful to you."
"And yet you walk around with a ring on your finger pretending that none of that happened."
Slamming his hands on the table, Oliver stands up. "I don't pretend that my past never existed, Felicity knows who I was and who I am, and yet she still loves me."
"Oh, and when I try to do it, it's wrong, but when she does it, it's ok."
"Because at least she gets the hint."
"Ok, ok. Let's take a few steps back." Tommy says trying to get Oliver to sit back down. "I think this has been a fabulous session of couple's therapy, or in your case, ex-couple." The statement earns him a glare from both parties. "Sorry not helping."
"Oliver sit down" Moira says for the first time since she brought up the subject.
When he is seated, and still fuming, she starts talking again.
"How?"
"I didn't know about him at first, if that's what your asking. In fact, I didn't find out about him until nine years later. And the only reason I found out in the first place was because I was visiting Barry in Central City and I just so happened to run into Samantha. Apparently, she had never told him I was his father."
"Wait, Moira you knew?" Robert asks looking at his wife in confusion.
"Yeah mom, tell dad what you did. How you got rid of the problem."
She keeps a straight face and doesn't say a word.
"No? Ok I will. When I told her that Samantha was pregnant, she gave her a one-million-dollar check to lie and tell me she lost the baby."
"Moira."
Standing up, Oliver has had enough. "I hope your happy mom, because I missed out on the first 10 years of my kid's life."
"Oliver you were not ready to take on that responsibility, you were not ready to be a father."
"And who's decision was that to make? It sure as hell wasn't yours."
"Oliver…"
"No mom, I have held resentment towards you for a lot of things over the years, but this one takes the cake. I'm just glad I found him when I did, and he knows that I didn't just abandon him like some dead-beat father. I love both of my sons with all of my heart and no amount of space or money can take me away from them."
And with that he left the room with Laurel boiling, Robert stunned, Moira irritated, and Tommy confused.
Later that night, Oliver knocks on William's door lightly, only to be met with a scene that warms his heart. Tommy was laying on the floor with his brother building a tower out of Legos.
On the other side of the hall, Felicity walks out of the bathroom, and heads towards him.
"Hey, are you ok?"
Putting his hands in his pocket, he meets her eyes.
"Yeah, are you?"
"Oh yeah, you forget this isn't the first time I've had to endure the wrath of Angry Laurel Lance. It's such a shame, because I know how nice she can be, but I know for a fact I won't be seeing that version of her anytime soon."
"Yeah, that probably won't happen" he says bringing her into a hug.
"I was just gonna put Tommy to bed."
"Ok" he says as they peek back into the room.
When they walk in, both boys look up.
"Mama, daddy look what we made."
"That is so cool!" Oliver says watching his son so excited.
"Alright little man, it's bed time." Felicity says holding her hands out.
"But mama, I want to stay up with Will" he whines.
"William will be here when you wake up, I promise."
Tommy looks at his brother for confirmation and gets a smile and nod.
"Goodnight Tommy."
"Goodnight Will" he says giving his older brother a hug.
Running over to his mother, he looks back, "Daddy?"
"I'll be right there to tuck you in."
"Ok, but hurry."
Hearing the tiny footsteps disappearing, Oliver turns to his oldest, who has put the Legos away and is now sitting on the bed.
"William, I wanted to apologize for dinner."
"It's ok dad."
"No, it's not" he says taking a seat beside him. "No one gets to talk about you disrespectfully and get away with it."
"That lady wasn't very happy with me."
"That's because before you were born I dated her."
"Wait, you weren't always with Felicity?"
"Oh no, no I didn't meet Felicity until about 9 years ago."
"Really?"
"Really"
"Wow, because you guys act like you've known each other for a long time."
"It feels like it. Look William I need you to know that I love you no matter what."
"I know dad, I love you too."
"Goodnight William."
The rest of the weekend, Oliver spends as much time with William as possible, taking him to a baseball game. He also took Felicity and Tommy along for a movie with William.
Sunday night came way too soon, and Oliver was dropping William back off at the airport.
"Well I guess I'll see you in a couple weeks?"
"I wouldn't have it any other way. Good luck on your your math test, and your science project, I want to hear everything about it." He says embracing his son in a hug, which he gladly accepts.
"I promise." Releasing the hug, William meets his father's eyes. "And dad it was nice to meet your family, even if they weren't as thrilled to meet me."
"Hey they were happy, they just have a different way of showing it."
"I did like your friend Tommy, now I understand why you named Tommy after him, he's pretty cool."
"Yeah he is."
"And dad one last thing."
"Yeah?"
"I'm really proud to be apart of this family, and I can't wait to meet my baby sister."
"William that means the world to me to hear you say that, and the minute she arrives I promise you will be the first person to know."
Giving his father a final hug, with one last 'I love you', he's gone to board the plane.
When Oliver arrives back home, he is greeted to his best friend and father sitting on the back porch with a beer in their hands watching Tommy and Felicity sitting on a blanket playing with his Flash and Green Arrow action figures.
"Hey."
"Hey, the kid gone?"
"Yeah, back to Central City."
"When do you get to see him again?" His father asks.
"A couple weeks. Samantha and I have an agreement that every other weekend Will comes up."
"That must be exhausting." Tommy pitches in.
"Yeah, well it's better than not seeing him until the summer."
"Have you asked her to move here, make it more convenient for you?"
"The idea has come up, but she has a life there and so does William, just the fact that I get to see him is more than enough for me."
"I am proud of you son. He is a very smart and amazing young man."
"Thanks dad."
"Yeah Ollie, you really have grown up. That makes me wonder, do I have an unknown kid out there, I mean you have two going on three."
"God, I hope not, I don't think the world could handle another Merlyn."
"First of all, rude."
"And the second thing?"
"Oh, there was just one."
"Oh Merlyn, how I've missed you" he says chuckling.
After putting Tommy to bed that night, his phone rings.
"Hello?"
"Hey man, we found Slade."
"We're on our way."
Once Oliver and Felicity make it to the bunker, they are greeted to Team Flash, John, and Roy."
"Where is he?"
"We located him at a warehouse on Peele and Wake." Cisco answers.
"And to have thought they just up and left" Felicity murmured.
"That's on the outskirts of the Glades."
"Yep."
"Alright, let's suit up."
15 minutes later Green Arrow, Spartan, Arsenal, and Flash all scope out the warehouse from the van.
"What do you have Overwatch?"
"There seems to be 20 heat signatures in the building."
"How much do you want to bet all those bodies aren't Slade's?" Roy mutters.
"Where are they?"
"Most of them are in the North East Corner. And then there are a few stragglers in the West and South wings."
"Alright we'll split up. Spartan, Arsenal you take the North, Barry take the South and I'll take the West."
And with a sign of understanding, they all part ways.
Barry is the first one to arrive at his post, finding one guard, who he quickly disarms and knocks out.
A blue blinking light catches his eye on the other side of the room. "What's that?"
Opening the box, the light came from, he finds a bomb counting down. "Oh no."
"What is it Flash?"
"There's a bomb, and it's been activated."
"When you say activated, what do you mean?" Cisco asks frightened to know the answer.
"Meaning that if we don't disarm it, it'll go off in 15 minutes."
"Ok Barry just cut the yellow wire."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm pretty sure" Felicity says, with her voice faltering.
"Ok, here goes nothing."
Cutting the yellow wire does the opposite of what Felicity had hoped it would do.
"Umm Felicity it only made it worse, now it's down to five minutes."
"Crap. Ok, just give me a minute."
On the North side of the building John and Roy make it to the back room. Kicking down the door, they are met to 18 hostages tied up and gagged.
"We found the hostages, we're going to get them out of here." Digg says.
"Well you better hurry, Barry found a bomb, and Felicity's trying to disarm it." Cisco says.
"How long do we have?"
"Five minutes" Caitlyn says for the first time.
"Digg we can't get all these people out in 5 minutes." Roy says looking around.
"We've got to try" John says making his way to the first hostage and unbinding him.
When the first ones are free, John tells them to help free the others, which they do.
On the other side of the building, Oliver finally arrives to a vacated hallway with one light shining at the end. Kicking down the door he is met to a pitch-black room. Suddenly a single light shines down on a case beside him and more follow in front of him, all landing on different cases.
Looking at the cases for the first time he notices each hold a memento. The first box incases the white mask of the man who first tortured him, Billy Wintergreen. The one across from that one has Shado's old hood with a gun lying beside it. The next one has a piece of Sara's original mask as the Black Canary slashed into shreds.
And across from that, a case that holds Slade's eye, and the arrow Oliver used to stop him before he left Lian Yu, embedded in it.
The mementos strike memories for him causing him a massive headache as the memories come back full force. The pain associated with the moments hit him as if he were reliving them, then and there. The pain of him being tortured and reliving Shado and Sara's deaths.
When he reaches the last one, Slade's voice comes from different directions, causing Oliver to look around as he continues to hold his aching head.
"What do you think kid? Bring back any memories?"
At this point his eyes are closed tightly together trying to block out the pain.
"Every ounce of pain that litters these shelves were caused by you. Your sins will never be forgiven, they will follow you to the grave and beyond. And when you're rotting in hell, just remember who you dragged with it."
He didn't understand what that last sentence meant.
Slade's voice continues to come from all different directions, and the room is spinning at this point until he stops in front of what looks like Slade's suit, at the front of the circle.
After nothing works, Cisco goes and tries something else.
"Ok new plan, can you move it?"
"No, it's too big."
"Yeah and even if he did it would only advance the process." Felicity says irritated. As she continues to work trying to figure out how to disarm it, she keeps coming up short. "ARGGH, this cannot be happening."
"Guys a plan would be great because we're down to a minute and a half."
"How are you doing Spartan?" Cisco asks
"Almost have everybody freed."
The clock was down to 30 seconds and hope was being lost.
"I can't just stand here and do nothing" Barry says. Without another thought he runs to the hostages and one by one, gets them out.
By the time everyone is out, including John and Roy, Barry goes back to the bomb that now reads 5 seconds.
"Felicity!"
"I got it!"
And with one final press of a button, the bomb is deactivated at one second. Letting out a sigh of relief, Barry says, "It's off, it's disarmed."
Leading to more sighs of relief.
"Where's Oliver?" John asks over the comms.
"You're not going to win" the bow is drawn, his finger waiting for the trigger.
"But I already have."
And without a second thought, he lets go and nothing but the swoosh of the arrow could be heard through his ear drums. The moment the arrow pierces its target, he lets out a breath. Moments of silence hold the seconds in slow motion.
He had done it, he killed the man who had caused so much pain to his life. His once friend turned enemy was no longer a threat to his family, and after more than a decade he can finally breathe.
All those thoughts come crashing down on him, when a deep cynical laugh is heard from every corner of the room.
"Oh, kid you make me laugh, if you honestly thought it would be that easy to kill me, you truly are naïve. Have fun telling her husband and three children that their mother will never come home."
Letting his bow drop to his side, he recovers from his shock and rushes over to the Death Stroke suit. Kneeling down, he removes the mask and finds a woman with her eyes closed, and glasses hanging off her nose, and blonde hair splayed out on the ground. A gasp takes over him and he can't say anything. He is absolutely stunned.
Barry arrives a little while later, and the first thing he sees is Oliver crouched over.
"Oliver what…?"
When he sees the dead woman, he stops in his tracks.
"Oliver?"
"I'm going to kill him."
Felicity knocks lightly, then enters with a coffee in her hand. Oliver doesn't notice she's entered, so she tries to make her presence known by sliding the coffee in front of him.
When he still doesn't move, she tries to break the tension with a joke.
"Such a shame you get to have a luxury I would kill for right about now."
When his eye doesn't even flinch, she looks down and decides to try another tactic to get through to him. Using the one thing that get through to both of them, the simple act of touch. Slowly, she brings her hand to his shoulder, careful not to spook him, and gently touches his him. That tiny touch alone, brings him back to Earth, and he blinks for the first time since she's entered.
"Hey, what happened tonight? You haven't said a word since you came back. What's going on?"
For the first time that night he makes eye contact, but quickly looks down in shame. Immediately noticing his closed off behavior, she takes a seat, as best as she can on the corner of his desk.
"I haven't seen you this broken up since Chase…" she looks down. "Well you know."
He locks his jaw at the mention of Chase and her prying.
Knowing that he's not going to say anything without force, she grabs the Scotch out of his hand and surprisingly he gives it up without resistance. Setting the glass down soundlessly on the desk, she grabs his face in her hands and makes him look her in the eye.
"Talk to me. Please."
Meeting her eyes, he has this look of pure devastation, and tears shining in his eyes. He whispers the simple words, "I killed her."
Squinting her eyes in confusion, Felicity says, "What?"
"I killed her."
"Oliver, sweetheart, you're not making sense."
Looking back down, avoiding her searching eyes, he continues.
"When I got there, there were boxes of everything that held memories on the island. They were surrounding me, suffocating me. Flashes of the darkest moments of my life came back to me. I was confused, I-I didn't know what was going on. And then his voice encircled me. It was everywhere. And then I saw him, and I didn't think twice, I let the arrow go."
At this point Felicity is hanging onto every single word. She doesn't know what's going on, but she's trying to.
"And it pierced him. That was it, that was the end of his reign. But I was wrong. He laughed, he taunted me, and now I…I killed a woman. I did it all over again. I killed an innocent person."
Tears are streaming down his cheeks freely with no end in sight.
Finally understanding what has haunted the man before her, she immediately feels his pain penetrating her soul, trying to make him not take the whole burden upon his shoulders.
"Oliver" she whispers while mindlessly rubbing comforting circles along his back.
Oliver doesn't register her touch, he's lost in his mind replaying the horror show, over and over again. Standing up, he paces in front of her.
"I killed a mother who will NEVER get the opportunity to watch her children grow up. I have to tell her husband and her three children that their mother will never come home. That he will never see his wife again."
"Oliver"
"No, I did. I didn't just break my promise to never kill again, but I killed an innocent, AGAIN. I ended someone who had so much hope and promise for this world, and I took her from it."
Reaching for his hand, she slightly grasps it, only for him to yank it away quickly, knowing he doesn't deserve her touch.
"Oliver, this isn't your fault. This is on Slade."
At the statement, Oliver quickly turns on his heel towards her.
"Slade didn't let go of the arrow that pierced her heart. I DID!"
Hysterical doesn't begin to describe his state at this point. His hands are trembling, body's shaking from the adrenaline coursing through his veins, and anger overflows his body.
Grabbing the glass of Scotch, he long discarded, he throws it into the flames, taunting him with sparks spitting out with fury. At the sound of glass shattering, Felicity stands up and tries to calm him down.
Deciding that's not enough, his desk is next to take his rage. Sliding his hands with precision, all the contents meet the wall with loud thuds. The sound makes Felicity flinch with her eyes closed.
Feeling the anger fading away, only to be replaced with despair, and he just stops.
Opening her eyes, when she doesn't hear anything, Felicity sees him standing there and looking at nothing.
"What if it was you?"
"That's impossible, I was safely secured in the bunker."
"But I didn't know that, she looked just like you. The blonde hair and glasses. I wouldn't be surprised if she had blue eyes just like yours. Felicity she was…"
Realization finally hits her, a part of him thought that in that moment that he killed her.
Pushing it down to comfort him, because she can't deal with that right now.
Before she can say anything, Oliver's balance is lost and he stumbles, only to hit the wall. Sliding down, a sob escapes his throat and wracks his body violently.
Quickly getting to the floor, Felicity slides beside him, and brings his head to her chest in comfort. The moment his ears reach the steady beat of her heart, he wraps his arms around her, and feels her safety and cries. She rocks him as she would her son and soothes him. He holds on as if she were the last thing tethering him to this world.
So, I know I lied about William not being in the story, but I had the scene with Tommy opening the door and finding this kid with a Flash backpack standing outside by himself, come to me, and I just figured why not add William to the mix. On top that, I really needed something light and happy for the group before everything turned to hell for them. I also thought it would make good conversation for Moira to find out that the baby that she told Samantha to get rid of was at the same dinner table. Anyway, I hoped you enjoyed this chapter, and I would love to hear what you thought.
