Author's note: Hey y'all... we'll I am back... I have received so many funny and amazing comments from these last few chapters... I know I promised 2 chapters but I had to go back and rewrite parts of 11 so I will be submitting it back to my beta warehouseluver13 tonight and posting as soon as I get it back... I know this is a slight slow burn sort of thing for Olicity fans but I have plans for it... so please stick with me and in the end it will be so worth it... tomorrow I will be spending the entire day working on my story actually... planning and writing
As always thanks for your love and support especially my incredible beta warehouseluver13... please review because that feeds my soul and my muse and if she is happy then we get more updates ( is having issues with reviews posting but I do get the email notification telling me what you say... ticket already sent up but until fixed unable to reply to them)
Disclosure: I own nothing of Arrow and only do this for fun and stress relief
For a few moments her world froze in time. Everything seemed to stop, including her own breathing and beating heart. She couldn't think. Couldn't react. She was just in shock of what she was reading. Another knock at her front door drew her out of her stoic state and she moved towards the sound without even consciously knowing her body was doing it. She opened the door to find Oliver on its opposite side, smiling brilliantly down at her. Until he caught sight of the single tear that had started to flow down her cheek. "Felicity? Is something wrong?"
She was unable to answer, her emotions lodged in her throat preventing her from even breathing deeply. Her mouth fell open to speak but no words broke free. She slowly turned back into her apartment, leaving the door open in a silent invitation for Oliver to enter. He stepped in and followed her as she glided over to her sofa in an almost coma like state. He shut the door behind him before joining her on the sofa, turning his body to face her and grabbing hold of her hand in quiet support. His face gave away the deep concern he had over her state.
She was still clutching onto her phone, unable to release her grip on the object that had torn her world apart that morning.
"Felicity, please. Talk to me. What's going on?" Oliver begged softly, each word drenched in worry and heartbreak for the woman beside him.
"It's… It's my… my dad." Felicity tenderly sobbed as her words finally found her again.
"Your dad? I thought you said he walked out on you years ago. Did he come back? Is he wanting something?" Oliver instantly went into a protective mode. He would not let this man hurt Felicity again. Wouldn't give him the chance. He refused to let that happen. Not to her. She had already felt enough heartbreak and disappointment due to that sorry excuse of a man.
"He um… he…" She held out her phone and Oliver could see the open message on the screen. Taking it from her, Oliver glanced at her, silently asking permission to read the message; to which she only nodded and released another soft sob as more tears moved down her cheeks.
Noah: Hi baby. I heard about you graduating MIT. Top of your class no doubt. Always knew you would take after me and be a genius. Just like your old man. I also saw that you are now working at Queen Consolidated in Starling. I will be in town next week. I was hoping to meet with you and talk over some ideas I have for ways for us to combine our minds and change the world while making a true profit. Hope to hear from you soon and I am so proud of you.
Oliver read and read the message again, amazed that the man had the guile to express pride and joy over the accomplishments Felicity had worked for and claim they were all due to him. He sat the phone to the side, away from her, then turned his attention back to her as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his embrace. He waited as she came apart against his chest, silently willing her to move past this because the man wasn't worth her tears or time. His hands slowly moved up and down her back and arm, soothing her as she calmed her sobbing and crying, breathing deeply for the first time since he arrived. Once she was calm enough to talk, Oliver decided to let her lead the conversation, knowing that he didn't want to push her if she wasn't ready to talk about it yet.
"So that's my dad. Noah. Noah Kuttler. Mom always said that my genius came from him. I guess she was right." Oliver began to pull away from her to look down at her and argue against her last statement but she just buried herself into his chest further. "When he left when I was 7, I thought it was because of me and for years I blamed myself. When I was a teen my mom finally told me who he really was and why he really left. He had hacked into some of the local bank systems and stole money. He left to avoid prison. When I went to MIT, I looked for him. Wanting to search for him and see if he was still alive or in jail or what. Turns out he was set up in a country far away that has no-extradition policies when it comes to the U.S. He was still running and hiding while hacking and stealing money and information from companies and organizations worldwide. He was free and had no care for me or my mom. Not that I wanted him to send any of that dirty money to us or anything. But he didn't even reach out to us. Not even a birthday card or letter or anything. I followed his activities for a while, tracking him and getting as much evidence as I could about his illegal businesses so if he ever came after me or my mom I could protect us. But now he is… he's… acting like he never walked out on me over a decade ago. Like I'm still his little girl and he is just checking in on me. Like we talk all the time. Really?!"
The more she explained the more her blood began to boil from her dad's actions. She couldn't believe that he felt like she would just forget about the last 12 years and drop everything to meet him and work with him. She stood up and started to pace back and forth in front of the sofa while Oliver looked on. "And what does he want me to do? Just meet him and play along with his delusion of our quaint little family? Why? Because I share his DNA? He has another thing coming if he thinks I'm that stupid. That naive." Felicity growled out her anger as she continued to pace. "I'll meet him, just to set him up and send him away for all he has done. Yeah. That's what I'll do. He deserved that at least."
Oliver knew she was hurt and angry, he could see that easily a few moments ago, but he also knew that she wouldn't like herself if went forward with her plan. Sure it was the right thing to do but she was not a hateful person and he would never want her to become one. "Felicity, hold on a sec. Are you sure you want to do that?"
"Well of course I do. He is evil and a criminal. He deserves to be locked away."
"Yes. I understand that but he is also your dad. For all the bad things he has done and all the pain he has caused you and your mom, he is still your dad. Trust me when I say there are things you can't come back from and this would be one of those things. Setting your dad up to be busted by the cops would not do you any good. It may seem like it would make you feel better but do you really think you could live with yourself knowing what you did. How you lied and tricked him into meeting you only to turn him in? Is that the type of person you are? I don't think so." Oliver stood and walked to her, grasping at her shoulders to pull her towards him. "You are sweet and kind and caring. You are forgiving and compassionate. You see the good in everyone you meet. You never speak ill of someone and hate yourself when you do accidently. You have the most beautiful heart and spirit that I have ever had the pleasure to know. And that is all because of yourself and the choices you have made in your life. Not because of the genes you share with your dad or the time you lived with your mom. Your brain and skills were something that you trained and nurtured on your own over years of studying and challenging yourself. Your dad wasn't the one that graduated from MIT, top of his class with two master's degrees at the age of 19. He wasn't the one that was scouted and recruited by some of the best technological companies in the country, if not the world. That was all you. And the girl I met under that tree, all those weeks ago that helped me study and believed in me so entirely, would never like the person she would turn into if she did what you are thinking of doing." Oliver saw a flash of shame crawl across her face when she thought over his words. She ducked her chin down into her own chest as her shoulders began to droop, her anger releasing as she eased into a new calm state. Oliver wasn't going to let her beat up in herself either. If he was in her shoes, he would probably feel the same way. He reached down and drew her chin up so that his eyes met her, shining into the stunning blue pools found beneath half drawn lids. "Now, we are going to put this in the past; where it belongs, and enjoy the rest of the day together, if you're still game?"
Felicity nodded and smiled up at him softly, wanting to do just that. "Give me a couple minutes to freshen up and we can go. I looked up that pastry thing you told me about and if Raisa's are anything like the photos I saw online, my mouth was already drooling over them. Plus coffee is a must for me every morning."
"Don't I know." Oliver chuckled as he watched her head down the hall to her bathroom to clean herself up. He started to look around the space and felt a warmth fill him. He had always felt weird being in a girl's apartment previously but he didn't now. It felt right. Like he was home. Here brightly colored furnishings and eclectic collection of baubles and decor items seemed to brighten the space and fill it with a welcoming tone. He glanced around and noticed a lack of photos. None of her family or friends or her past. Everything in the room reminded him of the beautiful blonde he had come to care deeply for but the fact that there were no pictures felt odd to him. To not see her surrounded by others, people that would treasure her spirit and heart as much as he did, just felt wrong to him. He made a note to ask her about that fact. He remembered that she had told him she had finished unpacking finally the weekend before so he knew she didn't have any in a box waiting to be put out. A sadness entered his mind at the fact that he knew she had difficult relationships with both of her parents. Surely there was someone that cared for her in her past, right? Oliver thought the himself as he looked around more.
Soon Felicity was back in the room, talking a mile a minute and smiling boldly at him. Her sunny disposition returned. She gathered up her purse and phone, closing the message deciding to deal with it later and put it away from her thoughts for now. She turned to find Oliver standing in the middle of her living room, smiling at her as if he is seconds from laughing at something she had said, and the image caused something deep in her chest to expand. Could this really be a possible future for her? Nope! Not going there. Not right now. Felicity pondered before asking, "Ready?"
"Yeah. But are you okay? I mean really okay? You don't have to do this if you aren't up to it now. I'd understand and would explain it to my family. With everything that happened with my dad, I could not fault you for wanting to cancel."
"Oliver, I'm fine." Felicity stepped closer to him, taking hold of his wrist before looking up at him and continuing, "You being here helped. And you're right. I would feel good for about doing that to my dad for a few moments but then I would hate what I turned into to do that to him. I'm not that type of person and I won't let him change me. He doesn't have control over me or my choices anymore. And I refuse to let him ruin my entire day. So thank you for your concern and for helping me through a bad situation but I am ready to get on with my life. And that includes meeting my friend's family and hoping that I don't babble too much or say something inappropriate to your mom." Felicity smiled up at him and Oliver could finally see the light return to her eyes. He knew she was telling him the truth, and not just putting on a mask, so he moved to her door and opened it for her to exit through; following close behind.
A quiet mumble from him was the last thing said before her door shut them out of the room. "You could never babble too much for me."
/OQ\
/OQ\
/OQ\
"I am soooo underdressed for this place." Felicity groaned as Oliver pulled the car to a stop in front of Queen Manor. The estate was a large stone faced mansion with three stories. The facade looked like a mix of a house and a castle with its grand entryway and driveway. It rested on arches of lush grass and gardens that were closed off to the public. The driveway had seemed lengthy but Felicity realized that the house was hidden deep into the family property and away from the public and press.
Oliver chuckled as he placed the car in park and unbuckled. "You look fine. Perfect actually!" Oliver smiled over to her as he leaped out of the car and ran around to open her door. He helped her out of the car and started to move to the front door when his grin grew. "I especially like today's choice of nails. Not quite sure when you find the time to redo your nails each day but I always love seeing the different colors."
"My nails?" Felicity asked, slightly thrown by his comment. She glanced down at her hands and saw what he meant. "Oh! You noticed that?"
"Well yeah." Oliver shrugged. "I noticed them the first week we started hanging out. You always had colorful nails, a new color each day. Then one day you had some sort of glitter design on them. I figured you either spend a fortune at a salon or do them each night while relaxing at home."
"Sort of that second option. They are stick on designs. I just heat and stick them on and I can pull them off like stickers and change them out whenever I want to. I found this company a few months ago and love them."
"Well it's just one of the things that makes you, you. Your nails always seem to change and fit not only your clothes but you mood as well. Today you are floral and soft. Quiet. Muted. Like you are trying not to stand out too much." Oliver grinned again as he held the front door open for her and followed her inside into his family home's foyer.
"Oliver Queen, you never cease to amaze me." Felicity giggled sweetly as she watched him walk into the room and come to a stop.
"Don't be. I have a sister and when she was younger I had to learn how to braid hair and paint nails so that I could do hers. She hated going to the salon with my mom because it was an all day sort of thing and the place smelled awful."
"That's due to the chemicals they use in hair dye and acrylic nails." A young, tender voice noted from above them. Oliver and Felicity glanced up to find a striking brunette standing at the top of the stairs watching them. Dressed in a simple pair of jeans, brown leather jacket, and a loose fit mint top, the brunette was a prime example of simple and chic. She finished the look off with touches of jade jewelry and brown leather ankle boots. She moved down the stairs with such grace that she seemed to float down them, a grace far past her years. "And you were never really good at the nails thing. Always seemed to get more paint on my fingers and toes than the actual nails." the young girl teased.
Oliver huffed out a breath and rolled his eyes. "At least I tried and I always fixed it in the end. So they looked great when I was done. And if I remember right most of the time it was because you refused to sit still while I painted them for you. Still don't." Oliver teased back as she moved towards him. "Speedy, meet my friend Felicity. Felicity this is my sister Thea."
Felicity smiled warmly at the young teen and held out her hand to greet her. "Nice to meet you Thea."
"Trust me the pleasure is all mine. I still can't believe someone was able to make my brother actually like studying. Never thought I would see the day." Thea chuckled as Oliver groaned towards her.
"Speedy, where's Mom?"
"Out back last I saw. You know her and that garden. She spends more time there than inside the house it seems. So Felicity, you gonna hang out around this old house today?"
"That's the plan." Felicity smiled as she shrugged. She loved seeing Oliver in his element and he was a lot more relaxed here at home than she had ever seen him before.
"Cool. Well Raisa is planning a feast for dinner so be ready. Ollie, how about you show her around then meet me in the tv room and we can watch a movie together?"
"Sounds like a plan Speedy." Oliver agreed as he pulled her in for a hug.
"Great then I will get into my pjs and grab my nail stuff and you can show off your skills." Thea laughed as she bolted back up the stairs, hearing only Felicity's attempt at suppressing her laughter at the comment behind her.
Oliver and Felicity started to move towards the gardens, Oliver showing her around the house while they walked. They were in the back living room when Felicity finally lost her internal battle and asked, "Why 'Speedy'?"
"Huh?"
"Why do you call your little sister, 'Speedy'? It seems like a weird nickname for her."
Oliver chuckled softly next to her as he held the back door open for her and watched her walk through it. "That is because she is fast and hates that name. When she was a kid, I think I spent more time chasing after her then anything else. She was always running around this place and getting into trouble. Tommy and I would spend hours tracking her down. So the name started. Speedy. As she got older and we stopped chasing her, she hoped that I would drop the name but it annoyed her and that is what all big brothers live for. To annoy and embarrass their younger sisters."
"Much to the hindrance of their parents. We just wanted them to get along and stop arguing, which happened a lot it seemed." A voice remarked as it seemed to float on the gentle breeze around them. Oliver turned to find his mother moving around the curve on the garden and to his side. "Oliver."
Moira was a vision of elegance in her dark blue suit with pencil skirt and ruffled blazer. She was wearing simple pearl jewels and silver velvet pumps that help heighten her coiffed appearance. Her hair and makeup impeccably placed on so that every inch of her former was picture perfect.
"Hi Mom. Thea said we could find you out here. I was just showing Felicity around before we go and get some snacks. I bribed her with coffee and some of Raisa's Korzinkis."
"Oh well you are in for a treat than dear. It is a pleasure to meet you, Felicity. I hope it's okay to call you by your first name."
"It's okay, Mrs. Queen and the pleasure is all mine. Your house is amazing. Of course I would hate to clean it or play hide and go seek in it. Too many rooms." Realizing what she had just noted to, Felicity started to rush to fix it. "Not that I'm saying that your house is dirty. No in fact it seemed like everything was neatly put into place just for my visit. Not that I'm saying that I'm important enough to require a specially cleaned house or something. I'm not. I just mean that it seems like the house had been freshly cleaned; a deep cleaning like people do during the Spring to get rid of all their old stuff. Not that you need to do that. And now I'm babbling so I going to stop talking."
Oliver snickered under his breath as his mom smiled pleasantly at them. Felicity could only glare at Oliver as if she was stunned he didn't stop her early on in her babble. "I understand just what you mean my dear. Raisa takes a lot of pride in the house and keeping it tidy. Which wasn't always easy with my children living here. Not to mention Tommy."
"Tommy does seem to be a trouble maker."
"Met him already?"
"Yes. We met after my first week of knowing Oliver and working at QC. Oliver took me out for drinks and dinner to thank me for helping him study for a test he had earlier that week and we met up with Tommy for drinks before going to dinner."
"Yeah where you called him gay."
"I didn't mean to. It just sort of happened. Which happens a lot with me it seems."
"Just makes being around you interesting. You never know what you will say next but one can pretty much bet it is far from what we expect you to say." Oliver teased as he grinned down at her.
Moira watched the interaction between her son and his newest friend, intrigued by just how at ease he was. It seemed like it had been years since she had seen this side of Oliver. Even before her husband's death, Oliver had hidden his cheerful side and played off his reputation as a playboy and troublemaker. She missed the carefree and simple boy she saw grow up before her. The one that always saw the good and light in the world around him. It looked like Felicity was bringing him back out of the dark corner he had hidden it away in inside himself.
"Well I believe my son as a promise to fulfill. I am going to head inside and get some work for a couple charities done before dinner. Try not to eat too much or Raisa will be disappointed. She has planned out a wonderful meal for all of us." Moria leaned towards Oliver who embraced her and kissed her cheek. She then turned to Felicity and smiled. "It was a pleasure to meet you. I am sure I will see you around Felicity and get to know you better." With that Moira moved into the house and left the young couple in the garden.
Felicity and Oliver watched his mom walk inside before turning to glance at each other. "I didn't mean to run her off. She could have stayed." Felicity blushed at how his family seemed to be leaving them alone for some reason.
"It's okay. She knows that. She just has work to do and never likes to put it off. A trait that she didn't pass down to either of her kids I fear." Oliver shrugged as he started to walk further into the gardens. Felicity had started walking along the stone path, studying the different blooms on display. Although it was late fall, it seemed that the garden was mapped out and planted as that no matter the season there would always be blooms there.
The two walked on for a few moments in silence before Felicity saw an enchanting fountain in the middle of the path ahead of them. The path broke off into a large cove that seemed to include a hidden bench and fountain. A few feet behind the fountain as a stunning iron gazebo.
"Wow! This place is amazing!" Felicity gushed as she stepped into the cove and up to the fountain. She let her fingers dance across the top of the water there, feeling its icy temperature chill the tips of her fingers. She felt the water splash up slightly from where it fell from the level above into the puddle below. "I always wanted a garden growing up."
"Really?"
"Yeah. After Dad took off, Mom and I lived in apartments or condos so we never had a yard or garden. Even though it was Vegas, I always thought I could have found a way to have a garden like this. I became obsessed with the book, the Secret Garden. I wanted to find a doorway that lead to a breathtaking garden filled with every possible plant and flower. I love all the colors and how they change with the seasons."
"Do you have a favorite flower?" Oliver asked, curious to see what she said and wanting to take note for the future.
Felicity walked towards a row of mum bushes, each a vibrant fall color. She reached out to a deep crimson colored one and softly brushed it with her finger. "Daisies. Regular ones or the gerbera ones you sent me. Any daisy really. You can't help but smile when you see them. They are like small little suns. Bright and cheerful no matter what is going on around them. These mums are close to them, just less petals and different colors."
"Daisies huh? I have always been drawn to my mom's Gardenia and Jasmine. I love the smell."
"Yeah they do have a wonderful smell. Light but fresh and delicate. I love that smell too. I actually have a line of bathroom products I love that comes in those smells. They help relax me." Felicity grinned as they moved to sit down on the bench and take in the garden. They sat there for a few moments before Oliver started telling her about some of the fun he and Tommy used to get into in his mother's gardens. How they would convince Thea that the plants would eat her if she got too close or that the gardens were infested with snakes under the dirt. He was telling her about how he and Tommy had spent one afternoon digging worms out of the dirt to use to scare Thea when Felicity's stomach decided it had waited long enough for nourishment.
"Wow! That thing is serious. You must be wasting away with how hungry you sound." Oliver teased.
"Not funny, Queen." Felicity glared at him and used the name that Sara used from time to time with him.
"Come on. I remember that I promised you coffee and Russian pastries." Oliver smiled down at her as he held his hand out for her to take to help her up off the bench. Once they were both upright, they started for the house; Oliver inching closer and closer to Felicity's personal space.