Alright thanks to everyone who has stayed with me for this long! You're all awesome people who have sent me such wonderful reviews. To nallemorin I really hope you like this installment and hopefully you see a little bit of the family reunion you we hoping for!
Disclaimer: I own nothing in regards to Arrow or it's characters.
Chapter 10: Daddy's Scars: Rebecca Part 1
My name is Rebecca Anne Queen and this is my story. I always wanted to say something like that ever since I was 6 and had begun reading my mother's science fiction books. I was sitting in front of my constant defender Tommy who once this story was finished might very well attempt to murder our parents. Riley my guru for all things girly, my female other half who made my days bright; last but never by far least was Jake. Jake my other half the yin to my yang, the peanut to my jelly who I had lied to for over three years; he out all of them was going to be the most upset with the tale I was about to tell. I hadn't wanted to lie to them but my parents were scared and my father had almost died in part because of me. The three of us have kept this secret for fear of what knowing would do to the others. However Tommy and Riley have all but joined the team and Jake was bound and determined to follow in their footsteps. That meant the danger that I had already faced was going to befall each of them one way or another. Last night my parents and I had decided that it was finally time to break our silence. It was time to reveal what really happened three years ago…
"Oliver it's one afternoon, I'm going to be gone for two hours three tops. You even said you haven't spotted the tail in over a week." I was pacing the floor at this point and most likely wearing down my favorite pair of heels all because my stubborn overprotective husband wouldn't let me go to work. I was now standing in front of him, with my arms crossed over my chest attempting to stare him down. "Don't look at me like that, Felicity he threatened your life, he has almost taken you away from me three times now. I'm not going to give him a fourth opportunity to ruin my life." His voice was still and filled with anger, remorse, and stubborn pride. I could feel our other less productive energy starting to build. Even after all these years he still had this overwhelming ability to reduce my entire body into a mass of aroused nerves with just one well placed stare. I could see his eyes begin to darken as my heart began to race, my blood was pulsing through me with a feverish burn. Our bodies were now inching closer and closer each yearning to be closer to our own personal flame. "Oliver we have to focus, we were having a conversation that we need to finish." Our hands were now entwined as our foreheads began to rest against the other. His tone had gone from angry, to filled with longing in a matter of seconds. Our eyes were trained on each other each one waiting to see who would make the first move. "Felicity I can't lose you, our children can't lose you. Please try to understand."
Our bodies were now flush with one another leaving no space between us. I loved this our natural connection that both pushed and pulled us in so many different directions. My head was beginning to go blank I all I could focus on was the sound of his breaths as they left his perfect soft lips. I could feel the slight stubble he was always sporting as it softly raked across the skin of my face moving back and forth over my lips. I could feel our thumbs as they both moved to rub the other's skin. All my senses were filled with him and I was beginning to lose my resolve. I had to stop this before it went too far, before I was wearing nothing but the bed sheets and a sated smile. I heard my voice filled with my own longing as I attempted to break our connection. "Oliver baby we have to focus, its one day baby, not even a full day just an afternoon. I'll take whomever you want as backup, but please I have to do this I've been working on this presentation for 7 months. I need to be the one who see's it through to the end." As I spoke I was attempting to break away but his body had other intentions his hands tightened around my own, as he pulled our bodies back to their previous positions using his eyes to keep our connection firmly intact. His lips were upon mine seconds after the last words left my mouth; his kiss was soft, gentle, and quick. "You're taking Digg with you, along with possibly Sara if I can get her here in time. You are also going to be wearing that new tracker you yourself designed that monitors your vitals as well as your location. I'll have the receiver placed in my watch, cell phone, and the com system of my suit. The moment you heart so much as spikes in a way that I don't like I'll be coming to get in you in 5 seconds flat. I wasn't kidding Felicity I won't risk losing you not if I don't have to."
My heart slightly broke upon hearing the strain in those last words. This man who had already lost so many didn't need to go through losing anyone else. I softly kissed him back then proceeded to kiss a trail down beneath his chin, over his neck and ended at his collarbone before returning my forehead to his. "I take it based on this answer that I've partially one." His smile both breathtaking and smug had answered my question for me. "Fine I'll go to work tomorrow, I'll call Nina and have her reschedule the presentation for tomorrow at 1pm instead of today. Well that work for you ?" Still displaying his very smug smile he replied with a little bit of lust lacing his voice. "Yes Mrs. Queen that shall do quite nicely. Now correct me if I'm wrong but you did call me baby not once but twice during this conversation correct?" I untangled our hands as I slowly let them drift up his arms, over his shoulders to caress his neck as they finally settled in his hair. His own hands had begun traveling along the sides of my body as he once again made sure our bodies were flushed together before using his arms to band around my waist sealing the bond. Now staring up at him with a myriad of emotions playing across both our slightly flushed faces I spoke. "As a matter of fact I did, so baby what…" his lips were on mine before I even finished my sentence. Later as predicted I was wearing nothing but the bed sheets as he traced his finger lightly up and down my spine creating a wonderful chill with every long and languid stroke. With our foreheads once again touching and our bare chests still pressed together I spoke. "Well at least this time we finished the conversation before we ended up in bed. I would consider that real progress on our parts." He just chuckled and rubbed his nose against mine while I trailed my own fingers up and down his spine. "Well I always thought we'd get better with age. Looks like I was right." I descended into a fit of laughter as his lips once again leaned forward to capture mine.
Why did I agree to this? What in the hell was I thinking? Oh right my brain was impaired while focusing on her body and the effects that those sensations were causing as she was pressed against mine. I had spent all of yesterday afternoon making love to my wife. Our disagreements always did end in the best possible way. We had finally found the incentive to separate when I heard the sounds of our kid's voices echoing through the downstairs hall. Thank god for school hours. I pinned my wife with a suggestive stare that indicated we would be re-visiting our rather enjoyable make up process later this evening as I left the warmth of our bed and her embrace and dressed to go downstairs and greet our children. As promised we did re-visit that very process for many hours that night which was why I was on my third cup of coffee this morning and mentally berating myself for ever saying yes. I had called Sara during our evening interlude. She had agreed and had Barry "race" her right over. Digg was already aware of the impending danger and was currently sitting across the kitchen table from me questioning my rather weak resolve. "Oliver what have I told you 25 feet at least whenever you two are having an argument. You've been married for what 16 years now and you two still haven't learned that one simple rule."
The problem was we had learned that rule it's just we never really seemed to hold to it no matter how hard we tried. I looked over at my best friend who had over the years become my brother and sighed. "Digg I just can't help it, she really is perhaps one of my greatest weaknesses. I just can't seem to stay away from her even after all these years." Digg smiled and I knew that he was happy for us and our entire story but he still needed for us to have some kind of boundaries. "Yes I know remember I've walked in during some very unfortunate moments during the past 17 years and well needless to say I've been scarred for life." I began to chuckle since some of our more interesting conversations happened because of those unfortunate moments. "Digg we had been alone together for almost 6 months and well we hadn't really adapted to being amongst people upon our return. You have to admit once we were married the unfortunate moments stopped." His response was quick and filled with humor "That's because once you were married you were even more attached to her than before. Oh and the lair was underneath your house with a bedroom." Still chuckling I went back to the matter at hand keeping my wife out of harm's way over the time span of 1-4 in the afternoon.
"Mommy why can't I come with you?" Rebecca had been sick with the stomach flu since last night so me being home was really great timing. Thinking back to my previous abduction attempts I smiled slightly at my husband's protective nature. Oliver of course hadn't let me out of the house for a week to even go to the store for eggs after the first attempt. My father Damian Darkh the leader of HIVE was still a threat after all these years. Given his age I was hoping maybe he would be dead by now but due to his seemingly immortal lifespan he barely looked older than 30 which given my current age really pissed me off. A child shouldn't look older than her father it's just not natural. His threat was clear he wanted my husband dead, our children and myself taken into HIVE custody and then forced to work for his group until we died. Our children after the first threat we're watched all hours of the day by either Roy, Laurel, my father, Digg or Oliver. Thea and Sara when she was in town had as Oliver had called it had Felicity duty. The second attempt happened three weeks after I finally convinced Oliver to let me go to my lab to help Cisco on a new biotech suit adapter for Barry. They had broken into the lab and had I gun in my back within five minutes of me entering the building. Over the years being the wife of the Green Arrow had taught me some basic self defense moves and boy did they come in handy on that particular day. Once they had me moving towards the elevator I waited for the right moment and then with the arm that wasn't in the kidnappers hold I slammed my fist into his nose, while jamming the heel of my shoe into his toes. Feeling his hold loosen I sent my elbow into his ribcage and twisted my body enough to allow my knee to connect quite forcefully with his groin. He was lying on the floor when both Thea and Sara came charging in; smiling I stated in my sweetest voice possible "You guys really need to work on your timing."
Oliver had been less than pleased but he rewarded my "bravery" later on that night. I made a mental note to have more "brave" moments in the future. The third and last attempt happened about a month after that. This time he sent four men to bring me in and sadly my skill set wasn't going to save me a second time. I was getting out of the car in front of Tommy and Riley's school. I had gotten a call from the principal apparently my two oldest children had decided to use their rather advanced intelligence to build a prank volcano for the school science fair. I was halfway between my car and the school's front doors when four men dressed in black surrounded me. I didn't know who Oliver had on guard duty today nor did I know if they had any way of getting to my location in enough time. I held my hands up and very forcefully spoke while remaining deathly still. "We're in front of my children's school, let's all remain calm and not cause a scene. I believe my father has ordered that I be taken alive and unharmed." The first man grunted his agreement and the guns all lowered. While still keeping their faces concealed we walked toward the far end of the school where there were no windows in sight. Sensing that this might be the moment where I was actually taken I clenched my hands in small fists and mentally prepared my body to fight. Thank god for my father. I heard him before I saw him. The school had apparently called both Oliver and him before they had tried me. Seeing that I was surrounded he produced the best surprise of all a rather strapping man in a green hood. With his arrow at the ready and with my father now holding his gun Oliver spoke. "LAY ONE HAND ON MY WIFE AND YOU'LL FIND AN ARROW FIRMLY LODGED IN YOUR THROAT." I melted a little, god I loved his Green Arrow voice. The first attacker spoke his tone disinterested but tinged with fear. "You can't protect her from him forever. We will bring her in one way or another." With that he held up two fingers and signaled for them to stand down. My husband's reputation had once again saved my life.
That night my reward could have resulted in another pregnancy thankfully it did not. Now I'm sitting on the edge of my daughter's bed taking her temperature before I headed out for my presentation. "Well baby girl you no longer have a fever, I believe my angel you are on the mend." I ruffled her hair and began to stand. "Mommy please I'm bored and you just said my fever was gone. Please let me come with you." I had my hand on the door and looked upon my still flushed faced little girl with adoration shining in my eyes. "Baby mommy will be back soon and then we can curl up on the couch with mint chocolate chip ice cream and the Little Mermaid but; first I have to go to work. Sadly you can't come with me since I have to make a big presentation for many important people today. I wish you could come angel but this time you can't ok?" She nodded her little head and made a pouting face "Yes mommy." I walked back over and kissed her forehead before heading back to the door. With my hand on the knob I turned back once more "Thank you angel next time you're home you can come with deal?" She smiled "Deal" I turned the knob and headed out the door. If only I could see into the future, if only I had paid more attention to my little girl. If I had I would have noticed that she was wearing her favorite pink and green coat and the fact that her favorite black ballet flats were missing from the floor. That would have saved us a whole lot of trouble.
I might be nine years old but I wasn't stupid. I had in the past year along with my brother skipped a full grade and I had beaten both mommy and Mr. Palmer in hacking the QI mainframe. I knew about the presentation she was going to give after all she had done nothing but talk about it for months now. I had been sitting in bed all night and most of today and I frankly wanted out. So when she made me agree to next time I did so willingly than once my door was closed I slipped out of my bed and pressed my ear to the door until I couldn't hear the click and the clack of her shoes on the hardwood floors as she head back down the stairs. I turned the knob slowly and tiptoed down the stairs to the hybrid SUV that was parked in the fourth slot out of the 8 that were available in the garage. Hiding in the trunk of the car I waited another 5 minutes before I heard her voice and my Uncle Digg's voice enter the driver and passenger seats of the car. As the car started I began to get excited I always did love visiting my parents at work.
Uncle Digg had parked the car in the executive level of the 10 level underground parking garage located underneath QI. We had spent most of toddler aged years in this building and therefore knew all the passcodes for the executive elevators that would lead straight to my parent's co-joined offices. I punched in the code and waited with a mixture of joy and glee as the elevator traveled up the 42 floors. Once the doors pinged and opened I very quickly excited and moved to the back entrance of my mother's lab space. What I saw next would stay with me for the rest of my life. Uncle Digg was lying on the floor and I assumed he wasn't asleep, his head was covered in blood and I could see a bruise forming over his left temple. To the left side of his body was Aunt Sara who was in a crouched position holding two odd looking sticks and looked to be defending my mother. My mother the strongest woman in the world to me looked scared, her hand was wrapped around a weapon as well and that one I did recognize it was a gun, it was Uncle Digg's gun that he always had attached to his side. I turned my head to see at least 15 armed men wearing black from head to toe and holding some kind of remote. I knew in that moment I was in big trouble.
Having entered the lab from the back entrance the men in black hadn't yet spotted me but my mother did. I looked up to see her eyes locked onto my form as she followed me through the lab to where she kept the spare communication devices. I guessed she was attempting to stay calm but that had all but shattered once she saw me. I followed the direction of her gaze until I saw a small ear piece connected to a larger device. Having grown up in this lab I had seen it before and I was aware of how it worked. I put the small ear piece into my left ear and turned on the larger remote device. It crackled to life with a slight popping sound and then I heard it the sound that would forever alter my world; I heard my very confused and very bewildered father on the other end of the line. "Felicity, FELICITY!" He kept repeating her name over and over again his panic rising each time. Finally realizing that this must be an older coms device I spoke to my father. "Daddy?" my tone barely above a whisper "Becca, baby what are you doing with this old com?" "Daddy, I did a bad thing, I wanted to go with mommy to the office today but she said no." My father's tone was now frantic "Baby are you telling that you sunk out and went with mommy to work?" My voice was small "Yes daddy I did. Also mommy is in big trouble, Uncle Digg is bleeding and on the ground, Aunt Sara is in front of mommy and there's lot of guys in black." My father sounded like he was moving at quite an accelerated pace. "Baby stay down, stay hidden and stay very quiet. I'm going to be there very soon, just don't move." I replied yes quickly before the line went dead. I crouched in between two lab tables and attempted to make myself very small.
I knew it was a mistake to let her leave, I knew that he would take any opening that was provided to make his move. I awakened this morning with a terrible weight in my heart that had advanced over the course of the morning to the gnawing pit in my stomach. Felicity however didn't deserve to have all my apprehension and horrible worst case scenarios weighing her down. I wasn't going to destroy all the time and energy she put into this project for the past seven months. This life had already caused her to suffer more pain and loss than any one person should ever have to experience in ten lifetimes. Therefore I pushed all my fears aside and did the only thing that I could do I supported my wife in one of the things that truly made her happy. I could hear the sound of her heart beat coming in its normal slow and easy rhythm. The sub-dermal tracker was positioned right underneath her 4 and 5 rib just below the skin directly underneath her heart. I had never seen her more unnerved then when I had carefully placed the tracker underneath her smooth pale skin. The lengths my wife would go to in order to give me peace of mind still caused my heart to tighten with appreciation. I was sitting across from QI in whatever coffee shop had moved into the constantly changing venue this week when her heart rate changed. I was about to order yet another cup of black coffee my fifth for the day when my heart rate changed from slow and steady to rapid and alarmed. Her rhythm had changed in the past few seconds becoming faster and slightly erratic…Felicity was in trouble.
I had almost knocked over the poor server who had the misfortune of coming to place my now forgotten order in front of me as I stood and bolted out the front doors. I was breaking into a fast run, much faster than my body had been used to running in years. I was to the entrance that led directly to the underground levels in seconds. I tapped the com that was still resting comfortably in my ear and opened a channel. The voice that answered still to this day caused my entire body to shake with unexpressed rage. "Yes Oliver what can I do for you today? Perhaps you are calling to ask for my assistance with your little HIVE problem?" I scowled in disgust but answered a fair amount of venom lacing my voice. "Malcolm cut the crap I need them now." I could almost feel the delight in his voice with his next verbal volley. "Come now son we are practically family after all. Nyssa per our agreement is already in route, she along with 15 of my best should be to your location in a matter of minutes." I closed my eyes in anger when he said the words son and family but he was agreeing to help me and that meant I had to play nice just until my wife, Digg and Sara were all out of harm's way. Then I could travel to Nanda Parbat myself and kick his sorry ass. "Thank you Malcolm I'll await their arrival. Also per our agreement Damian's life is mine."
Flashing back to the present I looked upon each of their now very shocked and very stunned faces. Mom and dad were right this was going to shatter whatever trust they had in all three of us. Tommy's face was unreadable much like our father when one of us had broken one of our mother's house rules. My gaze shifted to Riley her face started the crack in my already rapidly breaking heart. Her eyes were slightly red and puffy from the tears that she had started to shed. Sometime during our story she must have needed reassurance because her right hand was grasping tightly to Tommy's while her left hand was being firmly grasped by Jake. I didn't have the courage to even look my brother in the eyes in this moment. I knew once I did I would see our bond, the bond that I valued above all else would forever be broken. I had lied to him for years, I had told him to wait and be patient, and hey they lie to me as well. I had played along with this lie and now I was going to suffer the consequences. I was going to lose Jake's trust and that thought alone caused my heart to finally shatter. Feeling my parents strong hands' encircling my own is what made me finally meet my brother's gaze. His response allowed a little bit of hope to seep directly to my now very broken heart. With his own eyes slightly wet from what would remain unshed tears and his voice unsteady he broke the silence for all three. "Alright you three you've gone this far; so let's continue the story… tell us what happened when dad entered in the building…" With each sentence his voice began to gain strength and confidence. "Tell us what happened the day the three of you almost died."
Alright don't hate me! I'm writing the second part right now so hopefully I'll be done soon! This chapter just kind of took on a life of it's own and I just really wanted to tell this story! Thanks again!