A/N: Hey guys! So here is the promised chapter! This is the last one that takes place during Christmas break. I might write a one-shot about New Year's, but I'm not sure. If I do, it'll be posted in 'The In-Between Moments'.

Wow, you guys! We reached 254 reviews! I can't even say how excited I am about this! Great job, people!

Oh, and I posted this story on another site that prismdreams recommended. It's called www dot theflashandarrowfanfiction dot com, and I posted it under the same penname.

Chapter 21:

Felicity POV ~ 25 December

Watching Disney was fun. Thea was an adorable kid, and even Oliver's sarcastic comments were worth it. She still worried, though. Oliver still wouldn't tell her what had happened, or why he refused to turn on his phone. Thea didn't seem overly bothered, so that was probably a plus, but every time the eight-year-old left the room, Oliver seemed that much more on edge.

"So what's your favorite Disney movie, Queen?" Katie asked Oliver, maybe a little arrogantly.

"Hercules," he replied without pause. Felicity snorted, of course Oliver's favorite movie would be the one about a legendary Greek hero.

"I would have thought it would be treasure planet," she replied playfully.

"Huh?" was his eloquent reply.

Thea rolled her eyes. "He hasn't seen it. He wouldn't take me to the movie theatre. He said watching Disney movies in the theatre is bad for his image." Her tone was so sarcastic, and the air quotes to typical for a younger sibling, that Felicity couldn't help but laugh. She could just imagine Thea trying to drag her brother out to watch Treasure Planet, only for him the grumble all the way and glare at everything in sight. Actually, the thought of Oliver standing in line to get popcorn was pretty hilarious at that moment.

Thea, Katie and Oliver were all looking at her with concerned faces. No doubt a result of her sudden and hysteric laughter fit.

"It's okay, she does that sometimes," Katie said with a shrug. She turned back to the huge screen and selected another movie.

Felicity sniffed and managed – barely – to compose herself. "I'm going to get some more drinks, does anyone want anything?" she asked, already getting up.

"I was about to put in Pocahontas!" Katie protested.

Waving her away, Felicity took another step towards the door. "It's okay, I think I've memorized every Disney movie already. I'll catch up."

"Could you get some more popcorn, please?" Thea asked. "Ollie ate all of it."

Felicity snorted and left the room, followed by the sounds of Oliver's protests and the opening credits of Pocahontas.

She popped some popcorn in the microwave and went to fetch a coke bottle, when her phone rang. Since her mom had already called her the night before, Felicity wasn't sure who it could be. Letty and Dylan both had plans, as did most of her other friends.

Setting the soda bottle back down, she picked up. "Hello?"

"Miss Smoak? This is Moira Queen."

Felicity was glad she'd put down the bottle, or she would definitely have dropped it. "Oh, uhm… Mrs. Queen! I… How can I help you?" she managed to ask.

Mrs. Smoak sighed, and Felicity could hear the weariness. "I'm looking for my children. I understand that you are usually the person to ask."

Felicity could feel her cheeks heat up. "Uhm…" She wasn't sure if Oliver wanted his parents to know where he was.

"I understand that you don't want to betray his trust, and I commend your loyalty. But they are my children, and they shouldn't be away from home at Christmas. Just… tell Oliver that… We are sorry, and we just want him and Thea to come home."

Felicity bit her lip. "Mrs. Queen, I… I'm sure they're alright," she said lamely.

There was a pause on the other end of the line. "I understand. And thank you, miss Smoak."

Before Felicity could answer, Mrs. Queen had hung up, and she was left to stare at her phone. Felicity wasn't entirely sure what had just happened or if she'd said anything wrong, but she was fairly sure she needed to tell–

"Hey, what's taking you so long?"

Speak of the devil. "Hey Oliver. Uhm, I need to tell you something," she said, hopping onto the counter.

Oliver leaned against the fridge door opposite to her. "Sure, what's up?"

Worrying her bottom lip between her teeth, Felicity thought about what she should say.

Oliver tensed up and stepped forward. "Hey, you know you can talk to me. What's wrong?"

"I just got a call, and… I thought you should know about it."

Nodding, Oliver indicated that she should continue.

"It was your mom, and she's really worried about you. Thea too, of course, and she asked me where you were, and I didn't know what to say. I didn't want to give you away, but on the other hand, she sounded so tired, and I didn't know what to do, so she just said that she understood, though I'm not entirely sure what she understood. I mean, I know she understood what I said, like the words and stuff, but it felt like she meant something–" she babbled.

"Felicity!" Oliver interrupted, not unkindly. "What did she say?"

Felicity took a deep breath to calm her racing thoughts. "She said 'we're sorry and we just want him and Thea to come home'."

Oliver stepped back to lean against the fridge again, frowning to himself. Felicity was worried, and she was never very good with secrets. "Oliver… what happened? Please tell me?" she asked quietly.

He didn't answer right away, but when he did, his voice was as soft as hers. "Mom and dad… they don't get along very well anymore. They're always arguing about everything, and… Christmas day and they couldn't keep from biting each other's head off. Thea, she… she idolizes them, I couldn't… I needed to get her out of there," he explained.

Felicity didn't say anything, but hopped off the counter and stepped forward to give him a hug. Oliver tensed, but didn't push her away. "You were being a good brother, there's nothing wrong with that," she whispered. After a few seconds, Oliver finally relaxed into the hug and wound his arms around her.

"She asked me today if mom and dad were going to split up, and I lied to her. I told her that they wouldn't do that, but… Honestly, I don't know. For all I know they've already contacted their lawyers."

Felicity thought about that for a minute. "I don't know, Oliver. I think you may have scared them enough to make them reconsider. Your mom sounded really tired and scared, Oliver. I mean, she's one scary lady, but she does love you, and Thea, more than anything else. I think it's one of her only redeeming qualities." And then she realized what she'd said. She quickly backed out of the hug. "I mean, not that she isn't a great person, I'm sure she is! Just being scary isn't reason to- I mean, not that she's scary, I'm sure she's a wonderful person, really."

Oliver chuckled. "Don't worry about it, Felicity, I'm well aware of my mom's shortcomings." Some of the tension seemed to have left his shoulders, and the tightness around his eyes was gone as well. At least her ramblings were good for one thing, then.

"Ollieeeeee!" Thea voice drifted in from the hallway. "Felicity! Come on, you're missing the movie!"

Oliver let out a breathy chuckle. "Someone's getting impatient." He made to leave, but Felicity stopped him with a hand on his arm.

"Oliver? At least consider calling your parents?"

Oliver pursed his lips for a moment, before turning to face Felicity fully. "No need. I'm taking Thea home after the movie. It is Christmas after all. Which reminds me: merry Christmas, Felicity Smoak."

She smiled softly at him. "Merry Christmas, Oliver Queen." And then she followed him back into the media room.

/*/

Oliver POV

"Are you sure about this? You're welcome to stay longer," Katie offered. They were at the airstrip where the Queen jet was waiting for them.

"I'm sure, thanks, Katie," Oliver replied, nodding to the girl. She gave him a half-smile, hugged Thea, and climbed back into the car. It was freezing after all.

Oliver waited a moment while Thea and Felicity said goodbye. He wasn't entirely sure if he should be happy or horrified that his little sister and his… friend, got along so well. "Bye, Felicity," the eight-year-old said, before dashing off towards the plane.

"So," Felicity said awkwardly when it was just the two of them remaining. "I guess this is goodbye?"

Oliver rolled his eyes. "I'll see you at school, it's only a week and a half from now."

"True. Take care, Oliver, and try not to get into any more trouble, will you?" she said sarcastically.

"Can't make any promises," he replied with a charming grin.

Felicity just rolled her eyes and gave him a light slap to the shoulder. "You're incorrigible. I'm going to read about you in the gossip papers again next week, you'll see."

Oliver raised an eyebrow, and felt a smile tugging at his lips. So Felicity liked to read about him in the gossip columns, did she? Judging by the shade of red her face was turning, she had just replayed her words in her head and realized what she'd said. "No! Not that I usually read those, I don't, I swear. I mean, yes, sometimes I'll pick one up that Katie leaves around our room, but I, myself, don't, I mean… I'm not some weird stalker-y person who reads everything there is to know about you, I swear. I'm not–" she babbled.

Oliver barely contained his laughter. Other people might be disturbed or insulted by her ramblings, but he loved it when she did that. "Sure, stalker girl. I'll see you at school," he said. Impulsively, he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. If possible, Felicity turned even redder.

As he was walking towards the plane, he glanced over his shoulder one more time, and saw Felicity still rooted to the spot, a gloved hand covering the cheek he'd kissed. He couldn't quite keep his smile to himself.

As he settled into a seat and the plane started moving, Thea eyed him suspiciously. "Is she your girlfriend?" she asked in that obnoxious little-sister voice.

"Thea!" he protested. "Felicity is not my girlfriend!"

Thea sat back with a smug smile. "Suuuuuure."

Oliver let his head drop into his hands. This was going to be an extremely long flight.

/*/

At long last, they arrived back in Starling city, with minimal annoying-little-sister comments provided by Thea. To be honest, he was a little nervous about his parents' reaction, but he steeled himself and remembered Felicity's words: You were being a good brother, there's nothing wrong with that.

He grabbed his and Thea's bags and stepped off the plane. It was still fairly early, though the skies were dark. A car was waiting for them. Thea stepped up next to him, and looked to him for a clue. Giving her his best smile, Oliver wrapped an arm around her shoulder and walked towards the car. Two figures got out, and, before he could grasp the situation, he was wrapped in his mother's embrace, while Thea was given the same treatment from their mother.

"We were so worried," his mom whispered, running a hand through his hair. She stepped back, only to switch places with dad.

"Just so you know, we've instructed the pilot never, ever to take you anywhere without our permission again," his dad said, but there was a smile on his face. "We're just glad you're safe."

When they stepped back, his dad put an arm around his mom, which surprised Oliver. Usually they preferred to keep their distance from each other. Perhaps Felicity was right and they were turning over a new leaf? Oliver left hope soar in his chest, and he was sure it showed on his face. He didn't care.

"We missed you too, mom, dad," he said, smiling at them.

"Let's go home," his mother suggested, her voice thick with some unidentified emotion. "We still have presents to open, after all."

Thea squealed. "Yay, presents! Come on, Ollie!" she shouted and jumped into the car.

Oliver and his parents chuckled at her antics. Looking at his parents, Oliver thought this might actually turn out to be a good Christmas. "Thank you," he said. "For… for everything," he finished softly.

His mom cupped his cheek. "My sweet boy. We're sorry."

Oliver just smiled and hugged each of his parents again. Yup, this was going to be a great Christmas.

/*/

Felicity POV

A few days after Oliver and Thea had returned home, a package arrived at Katie's house, addressed to Felicity.

'Oliver told me you might need this,' was the only text on the card that accompanied it. Curious, Felicity tore the brown paper wrapping away and gazed in shock at the box. It was the newest, most advanced cell phone on the market.

"Oh my god, who sent it?" Katie asked, just as excited as her. She grabbed the note again and squinted at the signature. "Moira Queen?"

Felicity shrugged. "Don't ask me, I have no clue." In any other circumstance, Felicity wouldn't accept a gift like that, but she'd been using a crappy, cheap phone to replace the one she'd broken, the one whose motherboard she now wore on a necklace, and it had frustrated her to no end. Who was she to deny a gift like that? It wasn't like the Queen's needed the money anyway. Right? She bit her lip. Crap, now she was starting to feel bad.

Katie swatted her shoulder. "Stop worrying, if they didn't want to send a gift, they wouldn't have. Just accept it!"

Slowly, a grin spread over Felicity's face. "It is pretty awesome…" she said, opening the box.

Katie smiled at her proudly. "That's my girl. Now, I want to test out that camera!"

A/N: So what did you think? Please let me know!

I'm not going to do guest reviews, because it's 2am, and I'm exhausted. But still, thank you Guest, Krissie and BugsBunny for reviewing!

See you at next week's update!