Tommy's First Santa Visit

Felicity bounced Tommy on her hip. Tommy was happily watching everyone surrounding them in the mall. William was begrudgingly next to her. Well half begrudgingly, but to be fair she was half begrudgingly in line too. Oliver was the one that was way too excited to be at the mall which was beyond strange for him, but this was Tommy's first Christmas, and Hanukkah, Felicity would add excitedly. Oliver knew that and they had all be really aware of how much he wanted Tommy's first holiday season to be perfect.

Thanksgiving had been interesting. Oliver had invited people to their new house, which wasn't unusual but he'd never gotten so energetic about it. William had been stunned. Felicity wasn't so surprised having remembered him in Ivy Town. He was all pep, food, and wine. Though they weren't technically in suburbia this time. They had a townhouse in practically the center of Star City, five bedrooms, three floors (not including the garage and storage basement area), and a quick bus ride to William's school. William was more excited about being on a different floor than his baby brother and parents than he was about the quicker bus ride.

Anyways none of the excitement from Thanksgiving had stopped Oliver's energy about the upcoming holidays. Hanukkah this year started the day before Christmas Eve, which would mean it fell right overtop of Santa and Tommy's first birthday. Felicity was fully prepared for Hanukkah traditions to be pushed to the backburner for those two days, but Oliver insisted that they do their same traditions. Santa would come in the morning on the 25th and that evening they'd light the menorah, say the blessing, and give each other gifts. On Tommy's birthday, they'd have lunch out but celebrate Hanukkah that evening, they could have a party for Tommy after New Year's.

But that still didn't stop them from being in line to see Santa. Rather get a picture with Santa. Felicity thought it was stupid. It's not like Tommy would remember his first Santa experience, at least she hoped not as most the toddler and babies had broken into full out panicked tears. William was on the same page as her, halfway. She did see him eye his first Santa photo the other day, which was really the only reason why she agreed to it. Oliver was insistent. He wanted a photo. William had to be in it. He wanted his kids with Santa.

An elf came up and asked what they wanted, Oliver immediately opened his mouth and Felicity knew he was going to ask for a printout and she cringed deeply.

"We want the digital package." That had Felicity brow furrowing. He'd been talking about getting photos printed for the past week. So they could put it up along the row of holiday photos from the past. The baby photo of William on Santa's lap, the photo of them celebrating at the holiday party during their first engagement, the three of them wearing Santa hats (Felicity's blue) two years ago, and the photo of Felicity and Oliver's sushi socks Felicity's big belly somehow making it into frame thanks to the photographer (one William Clayton).

"Do I have to be in the photo?" William groaned. He was a teenager, Felicity understood where he was coming from.

"Yes," Oliver demanded. "If it'll make you feel better we can all get in the photo."

"No, no, no," Felicity said shaking her head. "Do not forget. I. Am. Jewish," she enunciated the words with precision. She'd truly come to love Christmas, but she was still a Jew and she banked on that to get out of certain traditions Oliver wanted her to participate in.

"Is it too late for me to convert?" William asked. Felicity rolled her eyes.

"Yes, because mother's ghost would kill me. Not that I believe in ghosts, or don't believe in ghosts. That's not the point. You're…" Felicity waved to William. "A form of Christian because you obviously grew up celebrating Christian holidays." Will pushed down an amused smirk. "You," she pointed at Oliver. "Are a lot of different beliefs, but you definitely want our kids to celebrate Easter Bunny and Santa so that's a thing. We actually haven't discussed a bar mitzvah's for this one." Oliver's eyes widened. "Not that I want to get into that right now. I mean. That's a long way off. And I don't really know how I feel about Hebrew school. My mom will want it though." She chewed her bottom lip. Oliver let out a visually seen breath of relief the moment Santa was free to them. He pushed William up. "Wait, your brother," Felicity called to the walking away teenager. William slumped his shoulders slightly but got his brother.

Tommy was happy as a pear in William's arms. Santa reached for him but William seemed to have been watching all the other kids in line and simply held Tommy himself. Oliver and her were shuffled onto the other side of the camera. Will talked with Santa a little flashing his eyes over to them every few seconds. Felicity waved at Tommy trying to get him to look toward the camera. Will half squatted next to Santa but looked really uncomfortable.

"Just sit on his knee," Oliver grumbled only so Felicity could hear him.

"He's a teen, why would he do that?" Felicity whispered.

"Because." Felicity was about to roll her eyes when he expanded with, "I did it with Thea." Felicity looked up at him with wide eyes.

"Ready?" the camera elf asked loudly. William put on a big fat grin. The elf took it and both Oliver and Felicity saw pure torment on their elder son's face. "Again?" the elf asked noticing their cringing faces and noticing how Tommy was still babbling to his brother and not noticing the old man next to him.

"Let me talk to him," Felicity sighed. She walked up to William. He moved to hand her Tommy and get away from Santa, but Felicity held her hands up. "Just sit on his knee," she said softly. Will's eyes about bugged out of his head.

"What? No!" he kept his voice low but it was full of pleading. "Why? Why wasn't that one good?"

"Look. Your Dad did this with your Aunt Thea. There's around a decade between them. When she was two or three, she made him sit on Santa's knee too. It's a quick photo. Sit on his knee, take the photo, then you get a candy cane." William leveled her with a glare. "You have some really nice presents this year. I can upgrade them or…" William huffed.

"Fine." Felicity rushed back behind the camera. Tommy was slightly more aware of Santa now that William was on his knee, so he was cautiously looking at the long white beard. "Tommy," Felicity gushed in her singsong baby voice. "Daddy's gonna come give you a raspberry," she teased. Tommy looked at her as she continued saying funny things about Oliver in her voice that always got Tommy to laugh. The elf took the photo. They nodded their heads. Will dashed off Santa's lap his face turning a dark shade of red, and handed Tommy off.

"You better teach me how to upgrade them too," William grumbled. Felicity cooed at Tommy.

"Your brother thinks he can handle my code," Felicity babbled to Tommy. Tommy reached for her hair and grinned nice and wide. William grumbled her name beggingly. "Your brother thinks sitting on Santa's knee holds the same weight as me giving him my hacking secrets," she sang.

"Just teach me how to upgrade, please," Will begged.

"You wear matching pajamas with your brother on Christmas Day with no grumbling or groaning or moaning or any push back, and we get a photo. And yes this is a fair wager. It's part of last year's sock photo deal." Will huffed. "You know how I feel about that photo." Will tilted his head side to side.

"Okay, deal."

"What's a deal?" Oliver asked coming back from giving the elf their backup, non-work non-vigilante non-personal, email.

"It's part of a present," Will said. Oliver frowned.

"Hacking he's way to the best quality video games," Felicity added. Oliver huffed but let them do their thing.

"You're gonna want to play with me, right?" he asked Tommy softly.

"Ya!" Tommy declared raising a fist full of Felicity's hair. She carefully pried it out of his hands. Oliver grinned at him. He picked him up out of Felicity's arms as they started walking out of the mall.

"I'm gonna teach you all about how to build the perfect arrow one day." Felicity flicked her eyes to them, a warning there. "When you're much older," he quickly added. "And you'll like it."

"Dada, da, da, da, da," Tommy replied seriously. Oliver raised his brow.

"Yes, I will teach you how to use a bow with your arrows," Oliver replied. Tommy squealed in excitement at the conversation Oliver was having. Oliver cooed at him. William flashed a look at his father and brother. Oliver sobered quickly. "You wanna try to forge an arrow again?" Oliver asked softly. Will shrugged remembering how he'd burned his hand. "How about we start with target practice?" Will gave him a small but pleased smile.

"Soon William will be able to replace two thirds of the OTA," Felicity said. William frowned at her and Oliver sighed. "Original Team Arrow," she added. William still frowned.

"Not any time soon." Oliver glowered at her. Felicity turned to look ahead quickly.

"Can I see the photo when we get home?" Will tentatively asked a little hope in his voice.

"You can see both," Oliver replied. Felicity eyes widened then she broke out into laughter.

"What?" Will asked. "What's wrong?" Felicity pushed down her laughter and shook her head. Oliver smirked down at Tommy. William huffed but let it go. It was Christmas after all, well almost Christmas.