Winter Musical

Felicity felt like she was going to puke. Probably from nerves, definitely from nerves. Not for herself, no for her two middle kids. Their school's winter musical was on and both of them had signed up. Originally it had been because they were kept at school two hours afterwards and they were both excited at the idea of doing something other than stay at after school care. The older Tommy got the more he wanted to just come home or visit them at work. She couldn't blame him, at almost nine she was already a latch key kid and was home working on her computers. Of course Tommy would rather be doing something more active and preferably involving more high risk, but still she knew where he was coming from.

Never the less both of them had signed up for the winter musical with excitement. The roles were fitting. Tommy was a weather man that sang everything and wore ski gear, he had twenty lines that he had been stressed about for a week until he had them memorized flat. Rehearsals had been since early October. Kit on the flip side was in the choir and came out once to sing in a group of snowboarders. She had enthusiastically sang her four verses since early October, it was the middle of December. Felicity knew both their parts by heart, so did Oliver, do did Rose. But William had been saved. He'd only come home from college two days prior.

Kit raced down the stairs at a speed they did not tolerate in their house, sassed that they'd done the same two weeks before when Rose had screamed bloody murder because she'd whacked her head on the corner of the kitchen doorway when running away from Tommy, jumped straight onto William even though he had just took two steps in the door that was opened by Felicity, and sang her parts loudly in his ear. In true William style, he had furrowed his brow for a second before pulling Kit away from his ear, dropping his bags, and walking into the living room to sit and chat with her. Rose had been a slight distraction due to the fact that she also wanted to wrapped up in William's arms. He didn't even blink, just opened his arms to her and she and Kit curled into his sides.

Tommy had been more shy. William had found out all about the play from Kit's long explanations, but when William asked Tommy during dinner he had shrugged and said it was nothing. Rose spoke up for him and babbled all his lines including wild extra stories in between sections. Tommy's face had been blank. Felicity would have worried but she knew Tommy didn't really like bragging, unless it was to Kit. Oliver had gently asked what Tommy's favorite part of the play was and Tommy had cryptically answered the ending song with the hands.

Felicity wrung her hands and looked in the mirror. She needed to calm down. Despite a few tears that morning, Tommy was not nervous at all. Kit had been buzzing with excitement and, as she normally did right before a recital, she threw up. But that had been in the morning. The kids had been resting their voices since they'd gotten home that afternoon. Well Tommy had been. Kit had to be reminded on a few occasions when her words would get away from her. Felicity felt really bad about passing that gene on.

"They're going to be fine," she told herself. So what if Tommy forgot all his lines, he would bounce back. And Kit had a group to back her up. Though what if Tommy did forget all his lines. Felicity was positive he'd just wing it and make up some lines after an encouraging smile from her or Oliver or William, which was why they needed to get seats up front. Which was why they needed to leave soon. Which was why she needed to pull herself together.

"Mom!" Felicity jumped. She still wasn't totally cool with Tommy not calling her mommy, but it was better than the phase he went through calling her Felicity. Not that she didn't love being called by her name, it was just odd that her two year old was so formal with her. At the time even William had mostly only referred to her as Fliss.

"What?" Felicity called back not leaving her closet.

"Where's my snow pants?" Felicity cursed under her breath before making her way down the stairs and to his room. It took her one look to find them, on his dresser under his pajamas. "Thanks." He flashed her a bright grin. She calmed at the sight of his steadiness. He threw off his shirt in a manner that reminded her all too much of her husband and pulled on a turtle neck.

"Are you sure you're not going to be too hot?" Felicity asked. He stripped to his underwear. If it had been Kit, she would have been shoved out of the room, but Tommy was like his father in the fact that he just loved to walk around half naked.

"I'll be okay. I can roll up my sleeves, see." He got the bottom of his snow overalls on and rolled his sleeves up to his elbows. He grinned toothily at her again. He was going to be fine. Felicity let out a sigh of relief.

"Okay, good. I'm going to check on Kit." Tommy mumbled something as he clipped the overalls on. She knocked on Kit's door.

"Yeah?" Kit replied. Felicity cracked the door open and saw Kit on her bed reading, in her white blouse and black skirt with bright red Star Wars socks on. Felicity grinned. That's my girl.

"Your ready." Kit put the book down and sat up.

"Are we going?" She chewed on her bottom lip. Felicity's stomach dropped. Frack.

"Almost. Daddy needs to get home first." Kit nodded and released her lip with a sigh. "You okay, sweetie?" Felicity walked in and sat next to Kit. Kit head dove into her chest. Felicity arms few around her.

"I don't wanna do it," Kit mumbled. Felicity rubbed her back.

"But you've been so excited about it for so long." Kit cried softly. "Kit, what's wrong?" Kit was silent as Felicity rubbed her back and rocked her gently side to side. It'd been a while since they'd sat curled together rocking. Which was sad because Kit was only seven. Sure Kit hung on her, sat on her feet, laid on her, and even asked to be picked up at times, but Felicity never got to rock her, Kit was adamant that rocking was only for babies like Rose.

"It's gonna be so many people," Kit moaned. "And they're gonna look at me. And I have to sing!" Kit shook her head rapidly. Felicity ran a hand through her curled `locks and tilted her little girl's head upwards to look at her.

"You're going to be amazing, Kit." Kit's brow furrowed deeply causing two little lines to form. "You want to know how I know?" Kit pouted her bottom lip. "Because you have a beautiful voice." Kit's eyes flew between both of Felicity's. "You do, Kit. It's so so pretty. And even if you had Daddy's voice you'd be okay because you have a team behind you. They're going to make you sound even better." Felicity poked Kit's chest. The lines disappeared and Kit looked at her in that way that little kids did when they started to believe someone. Felicity smiled down at her daughter.

"Mommy?" Kit whispered.

"Yeah?" Felicity whispered back.

"You'll be up front right?" Kit bit her lip again. Felicity cupped her cheeks.

"Me, Daddy, William, and Rose. We'll be as close to the front as possible. Even if I have to sit in the aisle."

"Like Daddy did last year to get photos." Felicity grinned and nodded. Kit's shoulders relaxed. She let out a big breath. "I can do it." Felicity kissed Kit's blonde curls.

"Good." She took a deep breath smelling that strawberry kids' shampoo, outside, and what was just Kit. Felicity pulled back with a pleased smile. "Then you'll get to have that ice cream scoop after the show." Kit's eyes widened. Felicity tickled her sides and Kit screeched.

"Mommy, stop!" Kit squealed rolling around her bed. Felicity pinned her easily and tickled her trying to get that spunky, fearless little girl back. Kit laughed loudly in between screeches.

"What are you doing?" Tommy's voice came from Kit's doorway. Felicity looked back for a second. Kit took that second to breathe deeply.

"Save me," she pleaded right before Felicity resumed her attack. Tommy grinned evilly and ran over to tickle under Felicity's arms. Their mother yelped, jumped up, and tumbled off the bed.

"Mommy!" Tommy exclaimed kneeling down to Felicity's side. Felicity took a few breaths before flipping over and pining her son to the ground in a motion she actually learned from Digg, though to be honest it only ever worked on small subjects, in theory it was supposed to work on someone closer to her size but she hadn't had much field action that had her running into someone her size in the past few years. "Kit, help!" Tommy yelped.

"Will!" Kit shouted running out of her room to grab her eldest brother who was probably entertaining Rose with all her wild stories.

"Wait, Mommy, wait," Tommy panted between laughs. Felicity paused. "I switch sides. Let's get Will." Felicity tilted her head as if she had to think.

"Nah," she decided with a wrinkle of her nose. Tommy's eyes widened in fear. "I'll just kiss you." Felicity placed slobbery kisses over Tommy's face which he shrieked in horror at.

"Not my hair!" Felicity raised her lips to the crown of his head. "Mom!" Tommy begged. What is it with this boy and his hair?

"Fine," Felicity grumbled moving to kiss his cheek. Tommy struggled against her grip.

"Don't struggle, Tom." Felicity froze at the deep voice coming from Kit's doorway. She peeked up and saw her husband leaning against the doorway.

"Dad! Help me!" Tommy begged. Oliver opened his mouth and Felicity knew it was going to become a training situation so she crawled off Tommy and got to her feet to greet her husband. Tommy huffed, red in the face, and on the floor watching his parents upside down. They kissed before looking down at him.

"You ready for your play tonight?" Oliver asked threading his fingers through Felicity's.

"Yeah!" Tommy chirped getting up. He checked his hair in Kit's mirror then walked up to them.

"Okay, come on Tommy, I'm driving," Will said from down the stairs. Tommy pushed past his parents. They shared a look of bewilderment but followed Tommy. They found William in a tie and suit just forgoing the suit jacket. "Is it okay that I'm taking the SUV?" he asked the pair of them.

"We're not coming with?" Oliver asked.

"But Mommy promised, Will!" Kit said.

"No. You are coming. I just want to drop them off at their call time. The play doesn't start for an hour after that. I'll grab seats for all of us and I figured I'd show Rosie around the school she'll be going to next year." William grinned down at his youngest sister.

"What. But. … what will we do?" Felicity stuttered. Will looked up at them confused for a moment.

"What?... I. Don't know. Talk about Chanukkah. Enjoy an hour without kids." William waved at them and leaned down to pick Rose up. She eyed her parents at the new level with happiness.

"If you're sure," Oliver said slowly. William shrugged. "Is this our Chanukkah gift this year?" Oliver teased. Will stared his father in the eye levelly for a few seconds before breaking and looking to Felicity.

"No. It's a belated anniversary gift," he answered a blush creeping onto his cheeks. Felicity and Oliver looked to each other. They'd taken a week off and went to France with the kids for their tenth anniversary, well true the week had been in the middle of the summer and the actual day was spent on Arrow duty.

"We celebrated early, Will, with all of you," Oliver answered softly. Will nodded.

"Still. Take the hour. Talk about Chanukkah. Figure out ideas for me for the kids and you. Talk about your day or week or whatever. Just. Don't be late for the play." With that Will rounded up the kids and they took off. Felicity and Oliver staring at each other.

…

Will took the turns to the school sharply causing his siblings to squeal in the back of the car. He grinned proudly to himself. He switched lanes easily and sped up to the speed limit before slamming on the breaks and turning left.

"Hands in the air!" Will sang. The kids laughed and raised their hands. Then squealed as they jerked with the turn. To be fair Rose didn't move too much in her car seat, but Tommy and Kit flung their bodies along with the movement and giggled. William grinned big as they turned into the school's parking lot. "Wave 'em like you just don't care!" Will sang. "And if you like fish and grits and all that…" Will started to mumbled incoherently the lyrics while he drummed the beat against the steering wheel and then just hummed the tune really loud.

"Now throw your hands in the air!" Tommy sang as William pulled into the parking spot.

William turned the ignition off and unlocked the doors. Kit and Tommy spilled out just as Will opened Rose's car door. She jumped at him. Will's arms slung around her and grabbed on tight before she fell. Rose laughed in his ear and Will closed his eyes enjoying the moment for a second. Then he heard Tommy shouting at another family.

"Tommy," he warned closing the door and carrying Rose. Rose settled herself on William's hip wrapping her arms around his neck. Tommy stopped shouting at his friend and instead ran over to give him a hug. Kit took Will's free hand as they walked into the school.

"Jacob, Jacob, this is Will my big brother," Tommy introduced. The little boy standing next to Tommy waved. Will smiled at him.

"Hi, Jacob Jacob," Will greeted. Jacob frowned momentarily before giggling when Tommy gasped to correct Will.

"No. It's just Jacob," Tommy corrected.

"Okay. Sorry, Just Jacob. I misunderstood. Where are you-."

"Not Just Jacob, his name is Jacob. Jake. Like you're William. Will."

"I'm not William Will, I'm William Clayton," Will corrected. Tommy groaned before opening is mouth to start again. "Tommy, I'm joking." Tommy's cheeks turned beet red as Jacob folded over in his laughter.

"Wait, I thought you were brothers. How come your last name isn't Queen?" Jacob asked his voice getting quieter as he spoke becoming shyer by the second.

"Will has his mom's last name but she-."

"That's it. I have my mom's last name. We don't share the same mom. Tommy's mom is my step-mom," Will said before Tommy could go on a rant about Grandma Moira saying Will didn't exist then Dad finding out Will did exist because Uncle Barry needed help in Central City and that's where Will and his mom lived and they just happened to run into each other then Will eventually moved in with Dad because in a horrible accident his mom died.

Will was okay with Tommy knowing the full truth, Kit knew almost everything despite the circumstances as to how his mom died or why he wasn't known to his dad, but Will wasn't comfortable sharing with anybody. He had actually made Tommy and Kit pinkie swear they'd keep it in the family.

"Oh. I have step-cousins. My Granddad and Grandma got divorced after I was born and now I have two step-cousins, two step-aunts, and one step-uncle. But I just call the normal cousins and aunts and uncles."

"That's cool," Tommy chattered on with his friend until they got to the auditorium. Kit's grip on Will's hand tightened.

"Go on, Tom, but give me your coat. Kit, you want to help me chose seats up front? We'll put our coats on the seats so no one takes them. Rose and mine for both of ours and Mom and Dad get yours and Tommy's." Kit nodded and guided him to the front row on the right. "You sure we'll be able to see you?"

"Yeah. I'm right up there." She pointed to the empty stands on the stage. "Tommy's on the other side though."

"That's okay. We'll see him just fine." Will smiled and placed their coats on their seats. "You have to go backstage. I'm going to show Rose around. Want us to walk you?" Kit nodded then tucked her chin into her chest. "You're going to be wonderful, Kit-mix."

They walked Kit backstage then walked down to where Will remembered dropping Kit and Tommy off for Kindergarten. Will stared at the doors for a moment with Rose still in his arms, on the other hip though.

"You've been quiet, bug," William said turning to look at his baby sister. She rested her chin in her hand before grinning comically at him. "Want to walk?" She frowned comically again. William chuckled. "Right. Then let's go sit."

"Can I go on your Instagram?" Rose asked reaching for his pants pocket. William gave it to her as soon as they were seated.

"Stay on my dash though." Rose nodded seriously.

"Who's this?" she asked pointing to a girl with dark hair coming out of her red beanie with a white pompom.

"That's Zoe." Rose furrowed her brow. "Rene's daughter." Rose nodded. She started to scroll down but Will quickly double tapped the photo of Zoe.

"Who's this?" She asked scrolling to the next picture of two guys with six pack abs on a tropical beach with girls dressed in skimpy bikinis on each arm. Will chuckled.

"My friend Dominic and his cousins. They celebrate the holidays in Rio de Janerio." Rose's brow furrowed again. "Brazil. South America. The continent south of us." She nodded and scrolled down but not before Will liked the photo. She simply pointed this time. Will's grinned ear to ear as he saw the face of one of his best friends.

"That's Olivia. Remember my high school girlfriend?" Will tilted his head. Rose looked up at him through her unearthly dark eyelashes. "She used to play blocks with you and change your diaper and help me babysit. We dated."

"I thought that was Henry." Rose pouted her red lips. Will chuckled and blushed slightly.

"No that was my high school boyfriend, senior year."

"What about Eliza?" Will's blush spread to his neck.

"That was my last girlfriend, in college." Rose furrowed her brow.

"But…" she paused and looked stumped. "Who's now?" She held out her hand still holding his phone in the other hand.

"No one right now."

"Not Alex?"

"He's my roommate. And no. Just no." Will shook his head swiftly. Rose stared at him intensely.

"Why not? He gave me chocolate. He'd be a good boyfriend." Will felt like his face would burst into flames. He was not having this discussion with his four year old sister.

"That's not what makes a good partner, kiddo," Will sighed. Rose huffed in frustration much like her mother did at times. Will watched her soak in the information. He liked Olivia's photo of her and her dog in matching reindeer antlers then scrolled down. Then he saw the beginnings of an inappropriate photo and tried to flick the photo up but Rose stalled it with her finger.

"She's naked!" she exclaimed.

"No." Will grabbed his phone but Rose held on tightly eyes wide looking at the photo of one of Will's more daring friends nude pressed against the corner of two walls so nothing was showing.

…

"Was that Rose?" Felicity mumbled as they entered the auditorium.

"Did she just said 'she's naked'?" Oliver mumbled in reply.

Then they spotted Rose and Will fighting in the front row for something. Then all the parents in the audience turned to stare them down as they descended to their seats. Felicity picked up the pace as soon as she felt Gretchen Wilson's eyes on her. That woman held too much power for the PTA and Felicity hacked her way against all the stupid reformations that woman put up. Oliver gripped Felicity's hand tighter.

"Rose, give it back," Will growled. Rose looked gobsmacked at his phone.

"Rose Theodora," Felicity's low threatening voice came as she bent down next to Rose's aisle seat. Rose froze and relinquished the phone. Will immediately pocketed it.

"He had a picture of a-."

"No," Felicity said firmly. Rose's mouth opened and closed a few times.

"William," Oliver greeted taking his seat next to his son.

"It's not what it sounds like," William blurted out. Oliver raised a single brow. "It was artistic."

"I'll be the judge of that, give it," Felicity held her palm upward to Will. Will looked terrified.

"It's my phone, Felicity."

"And my daughter, your four-year-old sister just saw the photo on it. I will hack your system, William. Do not think for a second that-." Will slapped his phone down on Felicity's palm.

"Just open the app," he grumbled. Felicity sat in the open seat next to Oliver and opened the app. She stared at the photo for a second before nodding and nudging Oliver's shoulder. Oliver immediately closed his eyes.

"No. It's artsy," Felicity murmured. Oliver didn't open his eyes. "Fine. Here, Will."

"She's private anyway so it's not like anyone but friends are supposed to see," William grumbled.

"Friends and friends younger siblings apparently." William rolled his eyes. Felicity pushed down a prideful grin. She knew not every step-parent had this much influence and friendliness as her.

"Mommy," Rose begun. Felicity steeled herself. "Can I-."

"No, you're not allowed to ever take photos like that," Oliver interrupted in his Green Arrow voice. William gulped. Felicity's hand came down to unravel Oliver's twitching fist. Rose wiggled in her seat before turning to her parents.

"I want to go up there." Rose pointed to the stage where the curtain had been drawn.

"You can't, baby," Felicity said softly. "That's where Tommy and Kit are performing."

The rest of the night went smoothly. Tommy, as far as everyone was aware, didn't mess up a line, and Kit carried her little group of singers. William kept Rose busy by playing Thumb War and Oliver videotaped the whole thing on Felicity's newest camera. They ended the night by getting ice cream and cookies at a little food truck a few blocks away from the school. Tommy blushed profusely as they complimented his performance. Kit grinned widely as they complimented her. On the way home, Oliver and Felicity picked up a bouquet of pink daisies for Kit and a bouquet of white lilies and lavender for Tommy.

Tommy took a nose full the moment his eyes caught sight of his flowers and smiled shyly before asking quietly if he could put them in his room. Kit gasped and gripped Oliver tightly in thanks. She wanted hers to be displayed on the dining room table. Felicity pressed a kiss to Kit's head and pulled out one of their nicest vases for the dining room table. Tommy snatched the plastic rectangular one that went in the living room. Felicity pressed a kiss to his head taking a nose full of his hair and smelling that fruity gel he used, school, and lipstick which made her smirk knowing one of his teachers had kissed his head before her.

She hoped one day her kids would know how wonderful it felt to know others loved your kids too. Especially the ones that were shy and tried their hardest to not outshine others but outshined anyways because they were just so bright. Felicity wiped away a tear and wrapped her arms around her too big of an eldest son. William wrapped her up in his arms tucking her cheek against his heart.

"Love you, Fliss," William whispered somehow picking up on the loving moment. Felicity hugged him tighter. She hoped he understood just how much she loved him too.