Chapter 10: A weekend at the beach: Part 1

2 months 2 weeks and 2 days till deadline

Jess knocked on the door to Oliver's office and waited.

"Come in." Her Uncle's deep voice called.

Since they were leaving for the beach this evening Oliver had offered to give her a Russian lesson during his lunch break before they left.

Jess pushed open the door and smiled at Oliver. She had picked up some lunch on her way in to say thank you.

"Hey." Jess said handing him a bag of food.

"What's all this?" Oliver said looking in the bag.

"I wanted to say thank you." Jess said with a shrug of her shoulders, it was the least she could do.

Oliver smiled and shook his head.

"You didn't have to do that." He said leading them over to his sofa's.

"I dropped some off with Felicity and Connor too." Jess added, knowing she couldn't very well bring Oliver lunch and not them.

"That was nice of you." Oliver replied.

They sat down to eat their lunch. About ten minutes later Oliver caught sight of her arrow tattoo.

"Is that new?" Oliver asked slowly.

Jess down at her tattoo. It had come out really well. It was simple arrow with her mums name inscribed into it, the tattoo was then outlined with the dark green of Tommy's suit. Not many people had noticed it yet.

Jess nodded.

"I got it a few days ago." She informed him.

"Can I see it?" He asked.

Jess was surprised but nodded anyway and held out her wrist. Oliver gently looked over the tattoo. He smiled.

"Your mum would have loved this." He told her.

"She was one of the only people who knew me as the arrow before she knew me as Oliver Queen." Oliver announced.

"Really?" Jess asked excited. It wasn't very often that anyone talked about her mum and she loved it when they did.

Oliver nodded his head. He looked thoughtful for a moment.

"Did your dad ever tell you how she found out he was the Arsenal?" Oliver asked.

Jess shook her head.

"She had been looking into the disappearance of some street kids and she got into a little bit of trouble. In saving her you dad had pulled down his hood and taken of his mask." Oliver explained.

"But instead of being grateful like your dad expected your mum was seething. She yelled at him. Demanded to know why he didn't tell her." Oliver added laughing, as if he could see it happening right at that very moment.

Jess smile she wished she could have been there. She wished she could have seen her parents interact with each other.

Tears built in her eyes. She wished she could see her mum.

"Oh hey I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry." Oliver said handing her some serviettes.

Jess quickly whipped her tears and shook her head.

"No please I love hearing stories about my mum." Jess promised.

"I just wished I could have known her." Jess added.

Oliver gave her a sad smile.

"Oh honey we all do." Oliver replied gently squeezing her hand.

He took a breath.

"Let's get on with your lesson." He suggested and Jess nodded.

Connor looked around his office. He was defiantly forgetting something.

"You have to get going, Tommy has already called twice." Jenna called from the doorway.

Connor sighed. They needed to hit the road if they were going to make it to the beach before nightfall. Tommy and Andy were picking him up first before going to get the girls from Sara's work.

"Are you sure you'll be ok for the weekend?" Connor asked.

Connor is not a workaholic, he really isn't. However he did have some problem with handing over control off the work he love so much.

Jenna raises her eyebrow at him.

"Connor everything's already been handled all I have to do is answer the phones and take messages." Jenna pointed out.

"And you know I will call you if there is a problem." She added in reassurance.

Deep down Connor knew Jenna was more than capable of looking after things while they were gone but there is still a part of him that was nervous about giving up control.

Connor nodded.

"Then I guess I should get going." He said and Jenna nodded.

She walked him to the lift.

"You'll call me if anything's wrong, right?" He double checked.

Jenna sighed as the lift doors opened.

"You know I will." Jenna promised.

Connor stepped inside the lift.

"Connor?" Jenna called.

Connor looked up at her.

"Have fun ok?" She ordered a bright smile on her face.

Connor couldn't help but smile back.

"Ok." he agreed.

Tommy tapped his fingers on the steering wheel.

"For someone who is nearly always late himself, you're a very impatient person." Andy commented from beside him.

Tommy glared at his friend.

"We agreed half four so he should be here at half four." Tommy pointed out. Andy laughed. Sure it was only fifteen minutes later but he still had a point. Tommy opened his mouth to reply when he spotted Connor making his way towards the car.

Connor had a smile on his face. Tommy sighed. Connor had been so down lately, not that Tommy could blame him but clearly whatever made him late also made him happy. Suddenly Connor being late didn't bother him anymore.

"Sorry I'm late." Connor said as he got in the car.

"It's all good brother." Tommy told him as he pulled away from the curb.

Sara was next to be picked up from the hospital and Jess said she would meet them there to make it easier for them.

When they got to the hospital Jess looked ridiculously uncomfortable as Sara made out with a man standing next to her.

"Err no brother wants to see that." Andy complained.

Tommy and Connor laughed at their friend's discomfort. Andy was always laid back unless it came to his sister.

Jess rushed to the car when she spotted them and Tommy couldn't help but notice how good she looked in a blue and white summer dress.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you." Jess repeated as she got in the car.

Connor laughed at her as he moved over.

"Who's that?" Andy demanded.

Tommy couldn't help but smile. Andy might be younger then Sara but he took protecting his older sister very seriously.

Jess laid a hand on Andy shoulder to calm him and Tommy tried not to feel jealous.

"That's Dr Clayton West, your sister's new boyfriend." Jess informed them.

"Boyfriend?" Andy asked in disbelief. Not that Tommy could blame him. Sara didn't do long term relationship. Not for the lack of trying she was just always busy working at the hospital or patching one of them up.

"For almost a week now, they have been out every night this week." Jess told them.

"Is he good to her?" Andy questioned.

Jess sighed.

"She wouldn't be with him if he wasn't." Jess reminded him. Sara could protect herself if she had to.

Andy glared over at his sister's new man.

"Fine but if he hurts her you better put an arrow in him somewhere." Andy ordered Tommy.

Tommy nodded, that wouldn't be a problem. No one hurt their family and got away with it.

"Sara let's get going." Andy yelled out the window.

Sara glared at her brother before kissing her new boyfriend one more time and making her way over to them.

Jess couldn't help but stare as they pulled up at the Queen beach house. She had been here once when she was a kid but she didn't remember it being this impressive.

"This place is incredible." Sara said as the got out the car.

Jess nodded in agreement.

"Go have a look around." Tommy ordered.

Jess shook her head.

"What about the bags?" Jess asked, she couldn't expect him to bring them all in by himself.

"We've got them." Connor told her as he walked past carrying a couple of bags.

"Thank you." Jess said as she headed into the house.

The house was directly on its own private beach. Jess followed Sara into the house. Everything was so bright and open.

"Now there are only four bedrooms, do you girls mind sharing?" Tommy asked as he followed them in caring more bags.

"You'll get your own bathroom." Tommy added. It was a good selling point.

Jess looked over at Sara who smiled and shrugged indicating it was fine with it.

"Sure which room?" Jess asked.

Tommy smiled his thanks.

"Upstairs last door on the left." Tommy directed.

Jess followed his direction with Sara following behind. The room was beautiful. The walls where white with two big windows and a double door that led to a balcony.

Jess couldn't help but step out onto the balcony just in time to see the sun set.

"I knew you would like this room." Tommy's deep voice rumbled from behind her.

Jess had no idea how long she was standing there or where Sara had gone.

Jess looked at Tommy as he made his way to stand beside her, he looked so relaxed in his dark blue jeans and white shirt.

"The room is lovely." Jess replied looking up at him.

He stood next to her his arm touching hers.

"What made you think of me for this room?" Jess asked.

Tommy pointed to the view.

"I knew how much you would like the view." He told her.

He knew her so well.

"Well thank you." she whispered looking back out at the view.

"It's beautiful" She added.

"Very beautiful." Tommy mumbled.

Jess could feel his eyes on her as he spoke. She shook her head, he didn't mean her. Her heart rate speed up. She had to know for sure. Jess turned slowly to look at Tommy. He was so close, she could feel his breath on her face. She had to crank her neck to see his face. To see him staring right at her. He had been talking at her.

"Tommy." she breathed.

Tommy lowered his head, his lips now mere inches away from hers. He was going to kiss her Jess how no doubt about and she wanted him too. Jess closed her eyes and moved to meet him half way.

"Foods up." Sara's voice shouted their room.

The moment broken. They jumped away from each other. Jess avoided his eye. Kissing him could have been a big mistake. Part of her was screaming that it could have also been amazing.

Tommy cleared his throat.

"We should probably go eat." He mumbled and before she could reply he was gone.

Tommy shook his head as he all but ran out of the room. How could he have been so stupid? Jess wasn't some random girl she was his friend, his best friend. Kissing her was not an option but she had looked so dam beautiful in the sunset and he had Lance words about listening to his heart and his heart wanted Jess badly.

"You ok?" Andy asked as Tommy walked out to the porch.

Tommy's mum had the caretaker of the house fill the fridge and Connor had been dying to do a barbecue. Tommy nodded. Andy looked sceptical but never pushed him and Tommy was grateful.

Tommy busied himself helping Andy lay the table.

Dinner went well even if Jess was avoiding his eyes. Not that he was surprised, he knew he confused her on the balcony.

After dinner was over and everything was cleared away they made their way to the beach and lit a bonfire. They sat on the beach talking and laughing. The smile never left Tommy's face all night, it had been so long since the five of them had been this carefree.

"Can I ask what happened between you and Katie?" Sara asked and everyone froze.

Jess slapped Sara on the arm.

"Seriously Sara." Andy muttered.

"No its ok." Connor said.

Everyone looked over at Connor. Even though Connor had been living with them Tommy still wasn't sure why Connor broke things off with Katie.

Connor took a swig of beer and looking into the fire.

"I love Katie and I probably always will but I'm not in love with her anymore and if I'm honest I don't think I have been for a very long time." Connor told them.

"Can people really just fall out of love like that?" Jess asked from next to Connor she looked so sad about that.

Connor took Jess's hand.

"Jess everyone is different." Connor told her softly.

"For most people like my dad and Felicity, you find that someone and there is nothing the world that could make you stop loving them but with me and Katie it was different." Connor explained.

"How was it different?" Tommy found himself asking.

"Things changed and in our case it wasn't for the better." Connor replied.

"So you ended things?" Tommy questioned.

Connor looked over at him.

"You have to follow your heat Tommy." Connor told him and Tommy couldn't help but look over at Jess.

There was no denying it his heart wanted her.

"What if that's not an option?" Tommy probed, forcing himself to look back over at his brother.

"There is always an option Tommy you just have to be brave enough to take it." His brother replied.

It was his brother's word that had him three hours later silently waking Jess. Jess had wanted to kiss him too, he had felt it and if she wanted him just as much as he wanted her he would be brave for Jess. He once he would follow his heart and see where it took him.

Jess blinked awake slowly. Tommy was leaning over the bed gently shaking her.

"Tommy?" She asked unsure.

"Shh, we don't want to wake Sara." Tommy whispered.

Jess sat up slowly and looked over at Sara who was sound asleep next to her. Jess looked back over at Tommy.

"What's wrong?" She questioned keeping her voice low.

Tommy smiled and held out his hand.

"Trust me." he said.

Jess took a deep breath and nodded. She gently placed her hand in his and Tommy pulled her from the bed. He pulled her towards the door.

"Wait, I should get changed." Jess whispered looking down at herself.

She was only wearing a tank top and a pair of shots.

"Your fine as you are." Tommy said looking her over and Jess couldn't help but blush.

"Plus you won't need clothes for what I have in mind." Tommy replied and Jess looked at him confused.

"I thought we could tick another item of the list." Tommy informed her, pulling her out of the room.

Jess's heart rate speed up as she thought about what he could mean.

"Now it's the perfect time to get skinny dipping out of the way." Tommy stated as he grabbed two towels from the bathroom on their way downstairs.

Tommy held her hand all the way to the beach and Jess loved the feeling.

He stopped a little away from the water and dropped the towels.

"You ready?" He asked, laughter lines traced his face.

Jess looked out at the sea. He was right now was as good of time as any.

Jess nodded.

"You can't look." she told him adamantly even though there was a part of her that wanted him too.

Tommy laughed and turned round.

"I won't." He promised.

Jess slipped out of her shorts and pulled the tank top over her head. Her nipples hardened in the cold breeze. Dam it was cold tonight.

"Ok, I'm going." Jess told Tommy and before she could rethink her decision she took a deep breath and ran into the water. Jess squealed as the cold water touched her skin but she continued on.

"Oh god, oh god, oh god." Jess repeated as she submerged her whole body into the sea.

She heard Tommy laughing from the beach. When she was sure her whole body was covered she turned to face Tommy.

"Are you coming?" Jess yelled.

Tommy laughed harder.

"Are you crazy, it's freezing." Tommy replied still laughing.

Jess couldn't help but laugh too.

The breeze picked up and Jess shivered. Tommy must have seen because he stopped laughing.

"You've skinny dipped now how about getting out before you freeze to death." Tommy suggested and Jess nodded in agreement.

"You can't look." Jess reminded him.

"I won't." Tommy promised again.

Tommy held out the towel and closed his eyes.

Jess quickly got out of the water and all but through herself into Tommy's arms and he quickly wrapped the towel around her. Jess buried her head in his chest and he rubbed her arms trying to warm her. He put the other towel he had around her shoulders.

Tommy cleared his throat.

"Jess." he called.

"Yeah." she replied. The moment feeling to intimate for her to able to meet his eyes. She could feel his eyes on her.

"I have spent the whole day trying not to want to kiss you." Tommy told her.

Jess sucked in a breath of complete surprise.

"But right now I have never wanted to kiss you more." He added.

Jess breathed in and out deeply. He wanted her just like she wanted him. Connor words ran through her mind.

You just have to be brave enough to take it.

Jess took a deep breath before slowly lifting her head up to meet Tommy's face. She wanted to be brave.

"Then what are you waiting for?" she asked her voice breathy then she had ever heard it.

Tommy kissed her then his lips meeting hers in a searing kiss that made her breathless. Jess always new that Tommy had to be a good kisser but it was so much more then she imagined.

Jess put her hands on Tommy shoulders and stood up on her tiptoes as she pulled herself closer. One of Tommy's arms went round her waist pulling her closer, while the other buried his hand in her hair and deepened the kiss.

Jess gasped at the feeling of him so close and Tommy deepened the kiss.