A/N: Here it is. The final 'real' chapter. There will be an epilogue to follow up.
Enjoy, and let me know what you think!
Previously in 'Once and Future Queen'...
Felicity pushed into the reception area of the daycare, smiling at the young woman behind the desk.
"Hi, Mrs. Qu...sorry...Ms. Smoak." the girl said, shaking her head at her gaffe. Felicity barely blinked, she'd heard it so many times by now it didn't phase her any more.
"Did Alice leave something here?" the girl asked quizzically, and Felicity gave her a confused look.
"Um, I don't think so. I'm just here to pick her up."
"Oh, your new nanny came and got her about an hour ago. Nice lady, it's so hard to find good help you can trust. Is Alice going to be coming back everyday or just occasionally? We'd hate to lose her." she was busying herself with paperwork while she spoke and didn't seem to notice when Felicity paled and went still.
"What nanny?" she asked, a whine of panic building within her that she was trying desperately to keep control of.
There must have been something in her voice because the girl stopped and looked at her. "Your new nanny." she said slowly, "She showed me a paper signed by Mr. Queen. She said you two would be working late tonight and he'd asked her to come by and pick Alice up."
Felicity felt like the world had dropped out from underneath her feet. "Oh god!" she gasped, hand covering her mouth as she clutched the counter for support.
"Ms. Smoak, what's wrong?" the girl asked worriedly
"There is no nanny!" Felicity cried, "There is no new nanny! She's been taken. Oh my god, she's been taken." her sight blurred and she felt like she couldn't breathe.
She could hear the girl calling for her supervisor and someone trying to speak to her but she couldn't hear them. She had to find Alice. She had to get her back. That thought was the only thing that brought her back from the edge.
With a great exhale she shoved herself away from the desk and began pounding on the locked door. "Let me in! Let me see the security footage, now!" she demanded
The door handle turned and she pushed through, making her way to the office while a host of employees trailed after her.
Felicity ignored them all as she scanned the set up, finding what she needed immediately. She didn't even bother to sit down as she ran the footage back, an icy fist around her stomach told her she already knew who had taken Alice.
When she saw the main door open and Helena Bertinelli walk in she knew she'd been right. "No...no no no no no!" The world grew fuzzy and she felt hands catch her as she began to tip over.
The director of the daycare was at her side, "Ms. Smoak we've called the police, they'll be here soon."
Felicity nodded blindly and began fumbling in her bag for her phone. She needed Oliver. He needed to find Helena and get Alice back. He was the only one she trusted.
"I need Oliver." she repeated over and over again as she searched her bag.
"We can call Mr. Queen for you." the supervisor said desperately but Felicity ignored her.
She could feel eyes on her as she left the room, not stopping until she was outside in the bright sun with pedestrians passing her by not noticing how she was about to break.
Her fingers shook as she called Oliver, willing him to answer with every ring she heard. When it went to voicemail she almost threw the phone. He was in a board meeting until late, that's why she was supposed to pick up Alice.
Without thought she entered the main doors of Queen Consolidated and headed straight for the executive elevator, just managing to dig out her swipe card in time.
As she rode to the top floor she continually wiped hot tears off her cheeks, not knowing how she was supposed to tell him what had happened.
The first person she saw was Digg, who took one look at her and cut across the hallway in three long strides.
"What is it?" he asked immediately
She just shook her head and laid a hand on his chest as she passed, "Go, get the car, get his gear. Helena's taken Alice." She had no idea how she'd been able to say the words without falling apart.
Digg blanched, staring at her slack jawed for a long moment before he nodded once and took off.
The board room was full, but she wasted no time in going straight in. A voice to her right tried to stop her, not realizing at first who she was but she just kept walking. Oliver spotted her and was on his feet making his way to her.
He didn't say a word, just clasped her arm above her elbow and led her into his office.
"What's wrong?" he demanded as soon as the door was shut.
She took a shuddering breath and grasped the lapels of his suit jacket. "I went to pick Alice up at day care. But they...oh god...they told me she'd already been picked up by our new nanny." her voice was so laden with tears she could barely speak.
Oliver's brow furrowed as he looked at her in confusion, "But..."
"She's been taken. I checked the security feed, it was...oh god, Oliver, it was Helena." as soon as the words were out she collapsed. Oliver caught her on reflex, but it took him several moments to wrap his arms around her as she clung to him.
Her fear overwhelmed her and if it wasn't for him she would have been on the floor.
His hands found her face, his thumbs swiping away tears as his eyes bored into hers. "We are going to get her back. Do you hear me? I'm not going to let anything happen to her." she'd never heard such conviction in his voice before.
"Please..." was all she could get out before she began sobbing again. He pulled her to him fiercely, one hand buried in her hair as he pressed his lips to her forehead.
"I promise you, I'll get her back. We're not losing her." the break in his voice made her look up to see the fear and panic in his face. It struck her suddenly that it wasn't just her who was in this, Oliver was too.
Her hand cupped his cheek. "I know you'll get her back. I know you will." she whispered raggedly. His eyes slammed shut and she lifted on her toes so she could bring his head down to her shoulder. "We're not losing her." she repeated back to him, feeling his fingers scrabble against her back to bring her even closer. He let out one long shuddering breath and then stood up straight hands still grasping her arms as they separated.
"Digg's getting the car and your gear." she told him, "But the daycare already called the police...how will I explain that you're not there."
A shadow crossed his face and she could see him struggling to think, "Tell them I went home to see if there were any ransom demands. Hopefully I can find Helena quickly and this will all be over soon."
Felicity nodded, hating that he'd be out there without her, but knowing they had to do everything they could to bring Alice home safe.
"Stay here. I'll call down and have the police sent up, then you won't have to deal with the press." he said, somehow managing to sound calm, even though one look at him told her differently.
"Okay," she nodded, feeling like her chest was being crushed as horrible thoughts flashed through her mind of what Helena could be doing. "Oliver..." she said brokenly, "What if...she's hungry, or cold, or...what if she's already..." her knees began to buckle.
Oliver's arm wrapped around her waist quickly, securing her to him. "Stop it. You can't think like that." he said desperately, finally letting go of the control he'd been fighting so hard to hold on to. "I'm going to get her back." His lips brushed over her cheek, her eyelids, her temple, her hair. "I will get her back." he vowed, and with one more hard kiss to her forehead he was striding towards the door.
Felicity pressed one hand over her mouth, the other wrapped around her waist. It was the only thing she could do to not completely fall apart. She took halting steps to Oliver's chair and collapsed into the plush leather.
She didn't know how long she sat there, staring at a spot on the floor. No one disturbed her. She was vaguely aware of two members of the Queen's security staff come to take up stations outside the door, and she assumed Digg had sent them over, but no one came in.
The next thing she knew a figure was crouched in front of her, and a hand was clasping hers. Blinking rapidly and with a great gasp of air she came back to the present to see Detective Lance before her.
"Ms. Smoak...I'm sorry to startle you." he said carefully. Felicity pulled her hand from his and ran them up under her glasses, shutting her eyes tight in an attempt to slow down her rapid pulse.
"It's okay. Is there any word? Has anyone called? Have you found her?" she asked frantically.
Lance stood up slowly and drug a nearby chair closer. "There has been no contact. No calls to the daycare, or to Queen Consolidated." he said gently. She pressed her lips together tight to keep from crying out.
"Ms. Smoak, I have to ask, where is Mr. Queen?" Lance was trying to keep his tone even but she could hear the suspicion.
"He uh...he thought there might have been a ransom request sent to the mansion so he went over there." even as she was saying it she knew it sounded weak.
"So, Mr. Queen is at the mansion and he left you here?" now he sounded slightly angry,
"I told him to go Detective Lance." she said with as much force as she could.
"Ms. Smoak...given the nature of your...history...the day care director said you looked at the security footage and said you knew who took the baby."
"Alice." Felicity said immediately, "Her name is Alice."
Lance's expression softened, "Of course, Alice. She said you knew who took Alice."
Not seeing anyway out of it she told him. "It was Helena Bertinelli."
Lance's eyebrows lifted into his hairline, he knew who she was. "If I recall, she was working with your hooded friend."
Felicity's eye's flashed up, "He wasn't working with her, he was trying to stop her, she's a psychopath."
Lance's head cocked to the side, but he didn't argue with her. "You haven't contacted him, have you?" the way he asked made her think he hoped she hadn't.
Anger flared in her, "You don't think I'm going to use every resource at my disposal to get my daughter back? Of course I contacted him!" she bit out, "Oliver's meeting with him now!" she swore under her breath and looked away.
"So Mr. Queen is in fact, not at the mansion then?"
She lifted her gaze to his and held it. "No. He's also doing whatever he can to get Alice back." That, was not a lie.
"Alright...I can't promise him any help. We have to work this on our own the best we can even though it seems pretty obvious to me she's taken the baby because of your involvement with Green Arrow." He stood suddenly and looked down at her with sympathy.
"Thank you, Detective." her eyes caught the clock on the wall and with a pang she realized Alice should be getting her dinner right then. "I just want her back safe." she choked back a sob and tried to keep herself from having a breakdown in front of him.
"Ms. Smoak, we're going to do everything we can. I..." he started and then ran a hand through his hair before turning back to her, "I know what you're going through." and with a start she was reminded that he had lost a daughter himself. And because the universe had a sick sense of humor, the knowledge that it was because of Oliver that he had lost that daughter hung between them, making the air thick with everything that wasn't being said.
"Thank you," she said again.
He nodded stiffly and exited the room, leaving her in silence.
For the next two hours she paced, and worried. She wanted to call Oliver so badly she'd started to numerous times before she made herself stop. She couldn't risk outing him to anyone, nor did she want to distract him in any way.
The thought that she could be doing something useful had passed through her mind more than once, but she was forced to stay in the office, getting occasional updates from the police as they looked at her with sympathy.
When her text alert went off she fumbled frantically for her phone, almost dropping it before she swiped her thumb across the screen.
But it wasn't from Oliver or Digg, the text was from Helena.
Felicity's stomach twisted as her rubbery legs gave way. She half sat, half fell into the chair as she read.
'Call off your dogs if you want to see your daughter again. 9 p. we first met. only you.'
Her breath came out in short, jagged bursts.
The club. Not the lair. Helena wouldn't be able to get in now, all the security protocols and systems had been upgraded and changed, but she meant the club.
Oliver and Digg must have tracked her if they were getting close. Felicity had no idea how she'd get them to stop. If she called Oliver and told him Helena wanted to meet he wouldn't let it happen.
A quick glance at the clock showed it was already after eight. A desperate sob escaped her throat. It was too soon. Too quick. She didn't have time to think.
With a shaking hand she picked up her phone and called Oliver.
He answered on the second ring, slightly breathless. From the dull background noise she could tell he was on the motorcycle.
"Felicity! Do you have her?" he asked immediately, and her heart clenched.
"No." she managed to get out before taking a deep breath and forcing herself to calm down. "Oliver, I need you to listen to me. I...overheard the police. They think...they think she's going to her father's house. She may already be there." she felt sick lying to him, but the old Bertinelli house was on the other side of town from Verdant. She'd buy herself enough time if she sent them there.
There was a pause before he replied, "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I heard them." panic laced through her at the thought that he might not go along with what she said.
"Ok. We're heading over now." the comm was silent, "Felicity..." he began and she stopped him.
"I know, just do what you do." she said through tears and forced herself to end the call.
She clenched the phone in both hands and pressed the edge to her forehead. She didn't have a choice. She had to do this.
Without giving herself time to think she grabbed her bag and slipped out the side door into the board room. There was another exit into a little used hallway that would allow her to get out without the bodyguards seeing her. As she pushed into the stairwell her heels sounded excessively loud.
She went down two floors then walked the hall like nothing was wrong. Only one person passed her and they didn't notice who she was. There wasn't a stop for the executive elevator on this floor, but there was an express elevator to the garage.
Her car was there, but she didn't want them tracking her. Luckily for her what she did have was training by one John Diggle on how to break into a car and hot wire it.
She chose a nondescript car that was a popular model and would be difficult to track on traffic cameras. Within a few minutes she was pulling out of the garage. At this time of night there was no guard on duty at the exit, just a mechanical arm that opened smoothly as she passed her employee I.D over the scanner. She knew if anyone looked they'd be able to track when she left, but she was hoping it would take some time before they noticed she was gone.
The further she drove from the office the more focused she felt. She'd do whatever she had to do to get Alice back. She knew Oliver would never forgive her, but it was worth the risk.
Her hands shook some as she pulled into the back lot of Verdant, but the rest of her was eerily calm. She slid her phone into the pocket of her skirt and left the stolen car and her bag behind. For a moment she considered entering the back stairs to the lair to get a weapon, but she knew she was no match for Helena and she didn't want to risk letting her down there.
She punched her code into the side entrance the employees used and left the door ajar. Anything she could do to make Helena give Alice back she would do.
The only light came from the emergency exit signs that hung overhead in the hallway. She paused for a moment to allow her eyes to adjust before she continued. The skylights high above the dance floor let in a small amount of moonlight, but that was it. The space was cavernous and empty. She winced as her heels echoed across the floor, but she knew that if Helena was already there she surely had spotted Felicity.
She made her way to the center of the floor and turned slowly not noticing anything out of place. The shadows seemed longer than usual and she could only just make out the edge of the bar.
"Helena! I'm here. I did what you asked. Give me my baby!" she called, still trying to look everywhere at once.
There was a light laugh that sent chills up her spine as it echoed off the walls. Felicity turned suddenly to try and spot her just as a whistling sound cut through the air.
A flash of pain burned across her leg.
With a cry she went down, clutching at her thigh, as blood pooled beneath her fingers.
The bolt from a crossbow lay on the floor next to her and she pushed herself backwards as best she could, trying to ignore the throbbing pain that flared through her leg at every movement.
"Why are you doing this?" she screamed in frustration, "Where is she?"
"You and your merry band of men were going to kill me when I was in town last. I just thought it was time for a little payback." Helena said, this time much closer although Felicity still couldn't see her.
"I knew there was something between you and Ollie waaay back then. Simmering beneath the surface, just waiting for the right moment. I can appreciate that. I like the hunt, but the wait can be fun too. So imagine my surprise when I saw the news. Oliver Queen and his new family. Well, that was one hunt I just couldn't pass up."
Felicity's entire body shook with fear. Helena didn't have any intention of giving Alice back. She may have already-
Oliver's words came back to her and she had to force those thoughts down and lock them away. That was the only way she'd be able to get through this.
Felicity kept pushing herself backwards. The pressure she'd put on her leg was making it numb and for that she was grateful. She refused to look at it. It could be fixed later.
She felt in her pocket and found her phone. Knowing it was a risk she sent a text message to Lance. All it said was 'Verdant'.
"She's just a baby, Helena, even you aren't that coldblooded." Felicity countered, hoping she could keep her talking or appeal to some small sliver of humanity she may still have.
The laugh that she heard make her stomach drop and fill with ice. "Losing his child would destroy Oliver. If the baby is collateral damage in the greater war, who am I to find fault." Helena practically cackled, "And losing the woman he loves...that's just gravy."
The sound of another bolt being set into the crossbow sounded like a death knell and Felicity looked around frantically. She tried to push up on her injured leg but fell back to the floor instead. Hot, angry tears poured from her eyes. She wasn't scared for herself. She was scared for Oliver and what this would do to him.
Feeling like she'd failed both Alice and Oliver, she shut her eyes tight. Helena would never see her pain.
"Drop it, Helena." his voice rang out, loud and forceful, deeper than she'd ever heard it. Relief flowed through her that he'd come. Somehow he'd known she was lying and had come.
"Oh goody, Daddy's come to play." Helena drawled, "I've already shot her once Oliver. How many more times can I put a bolt in her before she bleeds out?"
"I'm fine, don't listen to her!" Felicity yelled, not wanting her getting inside his head.
"Where. Is. The baby." Oliver ground out. Felicity could hear how close to the edge he was and she prayed he could hang on long enough to get Helena to tell them where Alice was.
She laughed again, "A long way from here."
Felicity couldn't hold back the whimper that escaped her throat.
"You can have me. That's what you want. Just let them go." Oliver offered
"I don't want you. I want to destroy you. Letting them go doesn't accomplish that, Ollie."
Panic was creeping through her again. In Helena's mind this was only going to end one way.
"Get Felicity out of here and let me put a bullet between this psycho bitch's eyes." Digg said from the shadows.
"Oh, the big growly bear too. Just for little 'ol me. Really boys, you shouldn't have."
"You've turned into your father Helena." Oliver said, his voice now coming from somewhere else.
"That may be, but you're never going to get the chance to be one, so...I can live with that." she countered.
"You're not walking out of here alive. Tell me where she is." there was a break in his voice and Felicity knew he was at the edge of his control.
"Nah, I'd rather shoot out your hacker love's femoral artery and watch her die before the medics arrive."
Oliver must have saw something, or heard something or maybe he just knew she'd pulled the trigger because before Felicity could blink she heard Oliver release his bow at the same moment Digg fired his gun.
"NO!" was torn from Felicity's throat as Helena fell.
Her voice still echoed in the dark. Their only chance of finding out where Alice was had fallen from the rafters and now lay in a pool of her own blood.
She wouldn't know until later that Digg shot the bolt out of the air, and Oliver planted an arrow in Helena's throat.
No one moved. No one breathed.
A siren cut through the silence, jolting her to the present.
"Go!" she commanded, "Get out of here."
"Felicity..." Oliver began but she stopped him,
"Go, so you can come back as you. Please. We have to...we have to find her." she choked out, tears clogging her throat.
"Felicity!"
"Digg, get him out of here!" she pleaded and she heard a scuffle as Oliver was dragged bodily from the dance floor.
Not five seconds after she heard the side door close, Lance and his men busted down the front door of the club.
Bright flashlights lit the space before Lance turned on the lights. He raced to her side, "Get the medics in here, now!" he said as soon as he saw her.
"What happened?" he demanded.
"You have to find Alice. Helena doesn't have her here, unless she was lying." she was starting to shake now from shock. Lance shrugged out of his SCPD jacket and wrapped it around her.
"What happened, Ms. Smoak?" he asked again.
Her eyes cut over to where Helena's body lay, several of his men already surrounding her.
Lance sighed heavily and rubbed a hand across his forehead. "She's the only one who knows where the baby is. Doesn't that hooded menace realize-"
"He saved my life. She was going to shoot me again." she told him, "He didn't have a choice."
EMTs rushed inside and Lance waved them over.
"I've got uniforms canvasing this entire city. If she's out there, we'll find her. I promise you."
He stood back to let the medics work. One of them had to pry her hand off her leg to see the wound.
There were raised voices at the door and she looked over to see Oliver being held back by two police officers. He hadn't bothered with his jacket or tie. Digg must have only been able to get him to the basement.
Lance walked a few steps toward him and motioned to the officers to let him go.
The next thing she knew he was skidding to his knees at her side, pulling her as close to him as he could with the medics still working on her leg.
She clung to him, burying her face in his neck.
"Are you alright?" he asked throatily. "Is she alright?" he directed at the man working on her leg.
"She should probably head to the hospital for some stitches, but no permanent damage."
"No, I'm not going anywhere. Just tape it or glue it or something and wrap it up. I don't have time to get stitches right now." she told them.
Oliver's hands framed her face and she raised her hands to grasp his wrists, leaving bloody fingerprints on his skin. "Why would you do something so stupid?" he said desperately. "Why would you agree to meet her?" He wasn't even attempting to hide the fear and panic he'd felt for her.
"I had to. She sent me a text saying if I wanted to see Alice again I..." her voice broke on a sob. "That's why I had to get rid of you." she whispered. "I'm sorry."
He pressed a kiss to her forehead and shushed her.
"We're going to get her back. I swear to you. Digg's trying to catch her on traffic cameras right now to see where she went after she left the daycare." he told her, keeping his voice low and by her ear so only she could hear.
Felicity shook harder, not even noticing as several butterfly bandages were placed to hold her wound together.
Oliver's arm wrapped around her shoulders and pulled her towards him. She could feel the ragged rise and fall of his chest and she leaned into him.
The medics finished up and once again advised her to get seen at the hospital before they disappeared.
Oliver was about to lift her when Lance came jogging up, unable to hide the smile on his face. "We found her!" he exclaimed.
Felicity let out a shocked "Oh!" as fresh tears fell, unable to speak.
Oliver's eyes shut tight and he bowed his head into her hair until he felt he had control over his emotions.
"Where was she? Is she hurt?" he asked rapidly, his voice still broken, able to ask what she couldn't.
"She was found in her car seat in the back of a car in a parking garage two blocks from your building. She's perfectly fine. Just hungry and mad as hell about missing her supper if the screaming I heard over the radio was any indication." he relayed happily. "They're bringing her here now. I didn't see the point in having you wait any longer."
"Oh my god." Felicity gasped out, "She's okay. She's really okay." she said aloud before turning tear filled eyes to Oliver, needing for him to reassure her.
"She's safe." he said thickly as he wrapped a hand around the back of her neck and pulled her in tighter. "She's safe."
Felicity clung to his arms, feeling lightheaded. She just wanted Alice in her arms and to know for sure that she wasn't hurt.
"We'll get her to you as soon as she's here." Lance said and stepped away.
"Text Digg." she said suddenly, sitting up and grabbing her own phone. "He needs to bring a bottle up from the fridge, she's going to want to eat. And maybe the changing stuff, it's been hours since the last time she was changed." she tried to touch the screen but her eyes were too filled with tears to let her see straight.
Oliver took the phone from her hand and did it for her before he pulled her onto his lap, being careful of her leg, even though she couldn't feel it just then.
She sat with her head tucked into his shoulder while he rhythmically carded a hand through her hair providing them both comfort. He kept brushing his lips over her temple while they waited in silence.
Digg arrived a few minutes later, crouching down next to her. "Hey girl, how you doing?"
"I'm ok. Although I'll need you to stitch my leg up later." she told him
"I can do that." he told her with a comforting smile, "Bag's here. Bottle and all."
"Thanks, Digg, for everything." she whispered
"Anything for my Ali, you know that." he replied and went to see what could be done about getting Helena's body out of the club as soon as possible.
She watched, her eyes not totally seeing as Lance received a call over his radio and headed for the door.
When Oliver tensed underneath her she looked up at him. He was staring at Lance who was now walking towards them, holding Alice.
She tried to get up, but Oliver held her down and Lance quickened his pace. Both she and Oliver were reaching for her when he was still a few feet away.
"Here she is." Lance announced, "Medics looked her over quick and she seems fine." he said as he crouched down to hand her over.
Felicity was grateful for the support of Oliver's arms under hers as she took Alice. She pulled her close and held her as tight as she dared, breathing in her scent as she pressed kisses everywhere she could reach. Oliver surrounded them both, his hand stroking her head over and over, unable to keep the smile off his face. He kissed Alice and then Felicity. She felt his ragged breath on her neck and a hot tear drip under her collar.
Without taking her eyes off of Alice she reached a hand up and cupped his cheek, feeling him turn into her. "She's really okay." she whispered. His head bobbed once before he began to pull Alice's blanket away, wanting to see for himself that she was unharmed.
They checked everywhere, but there wasn't a scratch on her. Alice tolerated them as long as she could and then began fussing.
Oliver grabbed the bottle and handed it over. Felicity's hands were still shaking so hard he had to help her hold it, Alice's little hand came up to lay across theirs.
As the adrenaline abated, Felicity turned her face into Oliver's chest, her forehead pressed into his neck. Her eyes grew heavier but she refused to let go of the bottle or Alice.
The sounds around them didn't register with her. She didn't hear the officers, or Lance barking orders. She didn't hear the forensics team begin their investigation. All she heard were Alice's breaths and Oliver's heartbeat.
She was slightly groggy when he slipped the bottle from her hand. Alice was sound asleep and Oliver took care to wrap the blanket around her more securely. He squeezed Felicity's arms once, "You got her?" he asked quietly, at her nod he lifted her and sat her to the side, careful to avoid the spot where her blood still stained the floor.
"I just need to talk to Lance for a minute, I'll be right back." he promised. His hand stroked over Alice's head once before he kissed Felicity's cheek and rose to his feet.
She watched as he crossed to Lance, "Thank you." Oliver said solemnly and held his hand out.
The detective hesitated for only a moment before he shook it. "No one deserves to lose a child, Queen."
"No, they don't." Oliver agreed and six years of bitterness, and blame, and hatred fell away.
"Take care of them." Lance ordered gruffly and didn't wait for a response before he turned away.
Digg approached just as Oliver was walking back. "Ready to go? They said you can do your statement tomorrow."
She let out a sigh of relief, the last thing she wanted to do was go to the police station.
Digg sat the car seat down beside her and she gave him a look. She didn't want to let Alice go.
"Come on, it's just long enough to get her home." he said gently, and held his hands out.
She couldn't help kissing Alice once more. Digg took the time to undo her blanket so she could be put in the seat properly. But as Felicity watched and she saw him pause she realized he was doing the exact same thing they had done; he was making sure she was okay. Tears blurred her eyes again.
Wiping the back of her hand over her face she made to push herself to her feet when Oliver stepped in and stopped her. "Don't even think about it." he ordered, and before she could protest he'd scooped her into his arms.
"Is this necessary?" she questioned, "I'm pretty sure I can walk."
"It's necessary." he replied, and his tone let her know that was how it was going to be.
Digg didn't carry the seat by the handle, he had the entire thing held to his chest by one massive arm and Felicity knew there was absolutely nothing in the world that could hurt Alice right then.
No one stopped them as they headed for the door. She turned her head away as they passed Helena. She never wanted to see her again.
They crossed the back parking lot and she saw the car she'd driven there.
"Oh, I kind of stole a car." she said with a grimace.
Digg gave a short laugh, "I have a feeling Lance will overlook it."
The ride back to the mansion was silent. She sat next to Alice, curled into Oliver's side with his arm stretched around her to rest on Alice's feet. Digg took the back way in to avoid any press who might be at the gate. They entered through the kitchen and were swarmed by Thea and Raisa who had been watching the entire night unfold on the news.
Oliver carried Felicity into the nearest sitting room with everyone else following. He placed her on the sofa and hadn't stepped away before Thea's arms were around her. "I'm so glad you're okay." she whispered fiercely.
Thea and Raisa fussed over Alice who slept through it all. Digg went to find a suture kit and asked Felicity if she wanted to do this somewhere else but she declined. She wanted to be right where she was.
Watching Raisa change Alice and love on her with Thea hovering kept her mind off the pain. She crushed Oliver's hand as Digg injected the numbing solution. He made quick work of his task and let Oliver do the bandaging.
When she let out a massive yawn he took that as a sign. "I think we need to let both of them get to bed." he told Thea gently who didn't want to give up the baby. With a sigh she passed Alice to Oliver and gave Felicity another hug.
There was a brief moment of panic on Oliver's face as he looked between Alice and Felicity and the stairs.
"I can walk." she assured him and reached a hand out for help off the sofa.
Her leg was still mostly numb, although sharp pains shot through when she put weight on it, but Oliver didn't need to know that.
They made their way up the steps one at a time, moving slowly. The walk to the nursery seemed to take forever.
It took a long while before Oliver laid Alice in the crib. She made a few soft sounds and rolled to her side, oblivious to the ordeal she'd been through.
They stood and watched her sleep. The tightness in Felicity's chest hadn't really abated, she still felt like if she blinked Alice would be gone.
Finally Oliver's hand wrapped around her waist and helped guide her from the room. He shut the door, and they slid down the sturdy wood, an unspoken decision to not leave Alice quite yet.
Her head fell to his shoulder. The wound in her leg throbbed now, and she was glad. At some points it felt like the only thing that was grounding her. That, and Oliver's hand as he held hers.
Even hours later she still felt shaky. Without permission, memories and terrible thoughts flooded her mind. She relived every horrible moment, and even worse ones that hadn't happened.
Her free hand clenched into a fist and she pressed it tight to her forehead in an attempt to block the thoughts, but to no avail. One particularly horrid one came and she gasped aloud, as she shook her head, trying to make them disappear.
Oliver gathered her to him, lifting her slightly so she was in his lap once again. His hands coasted over her back, and through her hair as he shushed her gently. She turned her face into his neck and tried to stay quiet, but a keening wail was torn from her throat.
She felt him shift, and then he was carrying her across the hall.
He headed straight for his room, only pausing long enough to turn on a small table lamp. He sat her on the edge of the bed and knelt in front of her.
When her sobs quieted she took his face in her hands and looked at him with sad eyes. "How'd you know?" she asked, sure he would understand.
"Helena hated her father, she'd never have gone back to that house." he said and she let her eyes fall shut with a sigh. "Digg traced your phone. When we saw you were heading for the club we knew she must have contacted you."
His head dropped in her hands and she saw him studying her torn and bloodied skirt. "Can we...can we get you out of this please, every time I see it I..." he had to fight for control before he continued. "I almost lost you." his voice broke and she reached for him but he was on his feet, crossing to a dresser before she could blink.
He returned with a t-shirt. "Is this alright? I can go get something from your room..." he trailed off, but she knew he didn't want to leave her just then, and she didn't want him to.
"No, this is perfect." she said as she took it from his hands.
"I'll let you change, I need to..." he looked at his hands and she could see where they were still bloodstained, she hadn't realized they were that bad.
He left the door to the bathroom open all the way, and she could hear the water running.
With weak hands she undid the buttons on her blouse and let it fall to the floor, her tattered skirt soon joining it as well as her bra. She slipped the shirt over her head, grateful to see it covered her to mid thigh, although the bandage on her leg peeked out from beneath it.
By the time she'd taken her glasses off and pulled out her pony tail she realized she could still hear the water. Concern shot through her and she made her way to the bathroom.
Oliver was hunched over the sink, scrubbing his hands furiously. They were clean, but he continued to scrub. His eyes were unfocused and every muscle in his body seemed to have tension in it.
Slowly she approached. When she leaned past him and turned the water off he froze, but he didn't look at her.
She grabbed a towel and carefully pulled his hands toward her. Taking them one at a time she dried them off. They were pink and raw looking from where he had tried to get clean.
Gently she lifted one hand and pressed her lips across the knuckles. "I'm okay." she whispered and he let out a ragged breath, his eyes flying to hers.
She couldn't have blinked if she'd tried. His eyes held hers until he took a step back and dropped his gaze, finally seeing her in front of him. When he looked back everything had changed.
His eyes darkened and she could see the desire. A shiver went through her, as hot licks of need shot straight to her core. In an instant she knew what she wanted. Knew what she needed.
She closed the gap between them as she slanted her mouth over his. He reacted instantly, one hand gathering a fistful of material at her back and hauling her in tight.
Her stomach continued to flip as he took over the kiss. Every time his tongue touched hers her heart jumped. Her fingers scrambled for the buttons of his shirt. She made a noise of frustration when she fumbled with the second. Oliver took pity on her and tore through the remaining ones, she smiled into his mouth as he began to walk her backwards out of the bathroom.
When she stumbled he didn't pause, just ran his hands over her hips and down, lifting her in one smooth move. She gasped into him as he kneaded the flesh of her ass, the shirt riding up about her waist.
Her need for him crawled up from her belly. Her hands roamed wherever they could reach, and when her nails scraped down his chest he practically roared. He tore his mouth from hers to nip along her jaw, and down her throat, scraping his teeth over her collarbone and making her arch up into him, seeking pressure right where she wanted it.
He deposited her on the bed, and followed her immediately, not letting any space exist between them. The mewling noises she was making as he sucked the soft flesh of her throat didn't seem to be dissuading him, if anything he just redoubled his efforts.
She needed this. She needed to forget all the horrible things that had happened. She needed him to make her feel alive and whole.
The hand at her waist wrapped around her hip and then ran down her thigh. She jolted hard, and sucked air through her teeth as he accidentally touched her injury.
With a gasp he pulled back and looked at her. "Felicity, stop" he said breathless, as he leaned his head against hers. "Not like this. Not right now."
Shame flooded her face. The shock of the shift in attitude struck her like a blow. She tried to turn away from him but he wouldn't let her. "Why not? You don't want me?"
The growl started low in his chest and made it's way north as his hand clenched the sheets next to her hip so tight he may have torn the fabric. "I've wanted you for months."
She didn't know if it was possible for her stomach to drop and flip at the same time, but it did. Slowly she reached out and traced her fingers along his jaw. "Why didn't you say anything?"
He turned into her hand and shut his eyes, "I didn't want you to think it was just because of Alice. I knew how you felt and I didn't want to screw it up."
Her heart was racing again, but now for a much better reason. "Is it...is it because of Alice?" she asked hesitantly. It was possibly the most important question she'd ever asked.
When he looked up at her she saw it all. Everything he'd been hiding. Every emotion, every desire, directed at her. She didn't need him to say it.
She leaned in and placed a slow, soft kiss on his lips.
"No, it's because of you. You kept worrying I'd want someone else in the future...I think I already knew then that was never going to happen." his eyes fell away as his brow creased.
She smoothed her fingers over the lines, "What?" she prompted.
"I don't want to hurt you. I'm not a whole person, I'm..." she stopped him with a finger to his lips and waited for him to look at her.
"You're the best thing that's ever happened to me." she said with such conviction he had no choice but believe her.
"You stole my line, Felicity Smoak." His eyes were bright as he shifted them on the bed. He pulled the covers back and settled against the pillows, her head on his chest. Her fingers traced patterns on his skin marveling at the revelation that he'd felt this way for so long.
With a smile she turned her face into him, pressing a kiss to the scar he still had from the bullet that had started it all for her.
One hand stroked through her hair, the other laid heavy on her hip. "Who would have thought? Us, as parents." she said.
He let out a low laugh and she could feel it as well as hear it. "Not me." he admitted.
"But she's ours now, right?
"She's ours." he confirmed, and she finally let her eyes fall shut in sleep.
When Felicity could walk without a limp they made their first visit to Tommy's grave. She brought a blanket and they spread it out on the grass. Alice could sit with some assistance and Felicity let her lean against her as she played with toys in front of her.
Oliver still stood with his arms crossed, his eyes fixed on the headstone. Finally he looked down at them. His chest expanded with an inhale and when he let the breath out slowly she reached a hand towards him. He took it and dropped down next to them.
They spent the next hour talking to Alice and telling her about Tommy. They'd decided she could never know who she really was. After the incident with Helena they were too afraid of losing her again. She was a Queen and she would forever remain a Queen. This visit was the only one where they could talk about Tommy honestly.
The choice to deny her the truth was painful for both of them and they knew it could backfire in the future if it ever came out, but they didn't know any way around it.
When it was time to leave Felicity gathered their things and brushed her fingers across Tommy's name. "Thank you for my family." she whispered.
When she turned, Oliver was several steps away with Alice, she jogged to catch up with them and slid her hand into his.
Her future looked nothing like she had expected it to, and she was glad.
