A/N: Grateful thanks to all who are following this story, reviewed and favourited. Hope you continue to enjoy.
As always this would not be possible with the support and inspiration provided by misspsycho24
Takes place after 3x12…My version of the future.
It was almost two in the morning and Oliver was still awake. Not just awake and fighting sleep but wide awake and thinking. About things that had occurred over the last few days. Lunch had been Thursday. Technically it was now Monday. And Donna Smoak had breezed in and out of Starling during that time but not before promising to return and soon.
And not before confronting Oliver about Felicity.
"What are your intentions towards my daughter?"
Oliver had been around enough Mother's over his lifetime to know he should have seen the question coming. It was his own fault too for feeling guilty after what happened at lunch.
Felicity had managed to finish her lunch despite her sexual release although strangely enough she was unable to eat her pie and therefore got it to go. He was surprised it took her so long to figure out it had been him with the remote and not some malfunction, but after four forkfuls of meatloaf and mashed potatoes her eyes had changed narrowing and fixing in on him. Perhaps looking back smirking at her had not been the right response. But seeing her face at the moment of her release, seeing it flushed with heat (and embarrassment) throughout the remainder of lunch had made it worthwhile.
She did kick him in the leg once she put two and two together. He had felt it but didn't react which only angered her all the more. By the end of the meal her anger had dialed back a few notches and that was when the guilt started to set in. There were tears in her eyes, unshed ones clearly visible behind her glasses. Her lower lip began to tremble in a way her had never witnessed. This was his Felicity, his tough as nails IT girl who could hack just about anything and ruin lives with the flick of her index finger. That Felicity was not the one in front of him now.
This was pregnant hormonal Felicity who had been through too much in one day. So when everyone had exited the restaurant Oliver heard himself saying he would be glad to keep Donna company while Felicity finished work for the day. He also heard himself telling Felicity not to bother with anything that needing taking care of after work for the remainder of Donna's visit, all the while he was looking pointedly at Jerry throwing hints at needing his help with their nightly activities. Jerry got the hint. Donna was thrilled to be spending time with him. Felicity…well…she looked annoyed, at least that was what her eyes were telling him. And sure enough when he tried leaned in to talk to her and his hand cupped her elbow, she'd jerked away, eyes flashing.
"Do you think I want you touching me right now?"
Five minutes ago she'd been about to cry, now she was back to being angry and upset. He tried to say something, tried to explain but she walked off in a huff with Jerry rushing to keep up.
And so he'd been left alone with Donna for the afternoon and after retrieving her suitcase from security at Palmer Technologies he'd decided to take her back to the loft in hopes that Thea would still be around.
Fortunately, Donna had loved the loft with its bright two-story windows and wide-open space. Unfortunately for him, Thea wasn't home. He'd texted her asking where she was and if she was free, could she come back to the loft. He'd refrained from using the word emergency but if she didn't text him back within twenty minutes he would use it.
He'd played the perfect host and offered her something to drink before she hit him with her question.
"What are your intentions towards my daughter?"
To protect her. To love her. To make love to her…
"I'm gonna be honest here, Donna. I want to be with her, I want to be there for her and the baby but things are…complicated. And we're not exactly in a good place right now."
"Do you love her?"
"Yes." No hesitation. No deliberation.
"She hasn't said it back, right?"
He stayed silent.
Donna sighed and it sounded like the sigh of a woman defeated. "I didn't think so. Look, Oliver…she loves you. I know it. She knows it. And I'm pretty sure you do too." Oliver looked intently at the grandmother of his unborn child and saw the strength and determination of her daughter. "I'll let you in on a little secret, Oliver. When my girl loves she does it with nothing less than her whole heart. And when that love isn't returned in some way, it breaks a piece of her trust away. Which only makes it harder for the next person she loves to hear her say it. Do you understand?"
He'd nodded, understanding that Donna Smoak had just confirmed his own suspicions about Felicity's feelings and her history with love.
Donna smiled at him, a smile so reminiscent of her daughters. "The first time I saw you, I knew my girl loved you."
He laughed. "We met for all of ten seconds and she denied I was her friend."
"Yes, but a mother knows these things. Trust me."
"Alright."
Donna reached out and grasped his hands in hers, looking at him with a seriousness he'd witnessed before. "I'm not going to pretend to know what's going on between you two right now or what happened today at lunch," he opened his mouth to speak but she cut him off, "and don't try to deny it because I know it was something. But I know how pregnancy works and seeing how hard it's effecting her, I know one thing – you better have the patience of a saint. Because trust me, you're going to need it."
Donna Smoak was the very opposite of Moira Queen and he loved that about her. Where Moira had been aloof and secretive, Donna was open and honest (sometimes to a fault). Where Moira had been stiff and dry (at times), Donna was loose and bubbly. And all those qualities were what helped make her daughter so special. So if he loved the daughter, it was hard not to love the mother too.
"But mister, if you've done something you better fix it."
"Yes ma'am." He smiled at Donna's fierce protectiveness.
Thea had arrived shortly afterwards and had been delighted to see Felicity's mom again. They'd met the year before at Diggle's wedding and then again at hospital after the shooting, and just as before they hit it off right away. Thankfully Thea had offered to take Donna shopping for the afternoon. All he had to do was wait for Felicity to come and pick up her Mom at the end of the day.
Which didn't happen because she'd sent Jerry instead.
Friday morning he'd called and spoke with Jerry wondering when would be a good time to stop by the office to see her. Jerry informed him that she was at home taking a conference call this morning and had taken the rest of the day off to spend with her Mom. He tried several times during the afternoon to call her but they all went to voicemail. Time to try a new tactic.
Saturday morning found him outside Felicity's place, a bag of her favourite bagels in tow. When she'd finally answered the door she looked like she had just rolled out of bed after only a couple of hours sleep. Her hair was…interesting.
She'd been a little upset that he'd woken her up at seven in the morning and even the bagels didn't have the effect he'd been hoping for. She'd yelled at him, grabbed the bagels from his hand then shut the door in his face.
A couple hours later he received a text from Donna.
Donna: Patience Oliver. I'm working on her.
If he could survive Lian Yu, he could survive this. Absolutely.
Saturday night he'd been working out at the foundry when his cell phone rang and he almost tripped over himself to get to his phone because he knew it was Felicity. She'd called to ask him if he, Thea and Roy would like to join her and Donna for brunch tomorrow at the Marriot.
"Yes."
"Are you speaking for everyone or just yourself?"
"All."
"You might want to ask Thea & Roy first, don't you think?"
"No."
"Do you know to say anything that requires more than one word?"
"No."
She hung up on him after that. His goal hadn't been to be deliberately difficult, instead the idea had been the less words said the better. He'd failed.
Digg who'd overheard his side of the conversation dispensed his wisdom.
"I take it that was Felicity?" At Oliver's pointed look, he'd clarified with, "The ring tone gave it away, man."
The ringtone had been Jerry's idea of a joke and despite Oliver's efforts to change it back it always seemed to revert back to the same thing. And at the same high volume level also. This had been going on for a week now and it did not seem to matter what Oliver threatened the man with, nothing changed.
"I'm a grieving Uncle. What are you going to do to me?"
So now every time Felicity called his phone squawked, "It's the wife! It's the wife!" over and over until he picked it up or it went to answer.
"When are you two going to figure things out?" Digg asked.
"When she decides to start talking to me again."
Digg chuckled, arms crossed and one leg propped against the edge of a work table. "Remember that summer Lyla was pregnant and we went to Coast City for a couple of days tracking that arms dealer who'd escaped from Iron Heights?" Oliver nodded, remembering how hot it had been that week both in Starling and Coast City. "She was fine when I left, she was fine every day when we talked on the phone. I came home and she didn't speak to me for four days. No reason, she just decided for whatever reason that I was persona non grata." Digg got up and slapped Oliver on the back. "And I hate to break it to you man, but it only gets worse."
Five more months of this? Suddenly Lian Yu was looking good.
"Glad we had this talk, Digg."
The Marriot in Downtown Starling had the best breakfast/brunch in town. With its mile long buffet filled with every imaginable breakfast food one could think of. There was even a chef who made omelettes to order, another who made Belgian waffles, and a third who manned a juice press for fresh custom order juices. And it was all you can eat.
Oliver walked in to the restaurant feeling unsure and uneasy not knowing what to expect. He certainly did not expect to see her smiling and laughing. There was no way he could have predicted the glow to her face or the way her dimples stood out. He definitely did not expect the complete back flip his heart did at the sight of her clearly happy.
Sensing his arrival she turned and looked at him with a softness that was reminiscent of their first date. Her hair even reminded him of that night but instead of the red dress today she was clad in cream lace. She looked innocent and sweet and wholesome. And he wanted to both protect her and tear the lace from her to take her in every beautiful way he could.
Just like their first date, she rose from the table and stood before him. And just like their first date he was nervous. Did he hug her? Did he lean in and kiss her? Did he sweep her up in his arms and carry her out of there? He settled for the hug but she had other ideas and leaned up to brush a quick kiss across his lips.
"Hey," she smiled up at him and he felt himself melting into her eyes.
"Hey."
"You look…"
"So do you."
He'd decided to go all out and wear a suit to brunch. Why exactly he wasn't sure and his sister teased him about it the whole way to the hotel. Seeing Felicity now and being reminded of their first date made him realize that he'd worn an almost identical suit. He'd been just as nervous on their first date as he was now. And now just as then he felt like he'd waited far too long for this moment.
Whatever happened he did not want to screw anything up and ruin the happy place she appeared to be living in. But in his desire to do just that he couldn't think of anything right to do either. Go with your gut, he told himself.
And his gut was telling him to kiss her, kiss her like he'd never kissed another living soul, kiss her until his body could only survive on the air she provided.
He started to lean towards Felicity when suddenly Donna was there instead and she took advantage of lack of height differential to lock her arms around his neck in a vice grip hug and whisper in his ear.
"She's in a good mood. Don't spoil it," she hissed.
Spoil it by kissing her?
"Yes. There will be time enough for hanky panky after I'm gone."
Oliver wasn't quite sure what to say to that so he smiled tightly at Donna in return and made his way to the table where he chose a seat across from Felicity and hoped brunch would be peaceful and enjoyable and not the semi disaster lunch was.
It was almost two in the morning and Felicity was awake and wondering what on earth had possessed her to walk out of the house in her pajamas. And to find herself standing in front of the door to the loft no less.
Should she knock? It wouldn't be polite to wake everyone up. But should she? The alternative was, go home and get back in her bed, or wait in the hallway until a more reasonable time and then knock.
But the hallway locked uncomfortable and her bed was equally so, therefore neither option appealed to her. So knocking it was.
Felicity lifted her hand to the door but stopped just before she made contact. Was this a good idea? After all, today had been a good day. She'd woken up sore and tired but with a smile on her face and oddly looking forward to brunch (and not just because of the food). But after two hours, three dresses, four hairstyles, five choices of shoes and three lipsticks she was mentally exhausted and as nervous as a ten year old going to her first dance. And when she'd finally emerged from the room ready to go her mom had simply said, "Oliver's going to have a hard time keeping his hands off you."
The nerves got worse after that. She was almost as nervous as their first date. At least then pharmaceuticals were available as an aid. This time, she was on her own. Or they were, her and Sweet Pea.
Oh just knock and get it over with, she heard a voice inside her say.
She took a deep breath and knocked, a short rap of her knuckles and waited.
One Mississippi…Two Mississippi…Three Mississippi… Everyone was asleep so they probably couldn't hear the knocking. She tried again, only louder and harder and waited, again.
One Mississippi…Two Mississipp –
The door yanked open revealing a disheveled but wide awake Oliver Queen. And he was shirtless, of course he was shirtless…shirtless all the time. At least he was wearing pants but they were riding so low on his hips that the V that led to…you know where was clearly visible even in the low light of the hallway.
"Felicity?" Oliver frowned obviously perplexed as to why she would be knocking on his door in the middle of the night. She saw the minute his confusion turned to concern and worry. "Are you okay? Is it Sweet Pea?" His hands were instantly cradling her stomach and the warmth he gave off spread across her skin making it tingle.
Felicity embraced Sweet Pea, effectively trapping Oliver's hands under hers. "Everything's fine. No worries."
Oliver visibly relaxed at her reassurance "Then what?..."
"Couldn't sleep."
He didn't say anything just continued to gaze at her not unlike he had that morning at brunch. Then it had been cute and a little embarrassing because it had attracted the attention of their brunch mates. Jerry and Thea in particular had teased Oliver about it mercilessly. And he had sat there taking it all and smiling the entire time.
"Can I ahhh…come in?" Her words broke his stare and his connection to her belly. He stepped back to let her in.
Walking back in the loft after two weeks of being gone felt like coming home. She loved everything about being there. Everything.
"Did you drive over here in that?"
She looked down at her open trench coat to the yellow Minion tank top and matching shorts. She'd walked out the door so fast she hadn't even noticed that she was wearing two different shoes – one sneaker and one panda flat. It suddenly made sense why she felt so unbalanced on the walk from the car.
"Yeah, I guess so. You got something against Minions?"
"If that's what's plastered across your chest, no but I'm wondering what you were thinking to leave your house in the middle of the night dressed like that…and are you wearing two different shoes?"
Annoyed she toed of her mismatched shoes, dropped her purse on the floor, and padded across the floor to the kitchen in search of food. Even with her head in the almost empty fridge she could hear Oliver sigh in frustration.
"Are we back to this again?"
Felicity opened the milk carton and sniffed. "Yuck…Doesn't anyone buy groceries around here." She dumped the sour milk down the drain and flattened the carton.
"Felicity…Why are you here?"
She turned back to the fridge and continued her search for something edible. The crisper drawers were empty and with the exception of a bottle of white wine, a couple of beers, and a carton of orange juice that appeared to be within its expiration date it was empty. She grabbed the orange juice since it was her only viable option and drank right from the carton. It was three quarters full when she tipped it to her mouth. And when she pulled back, the carton was empty and she wiped her hand across her mouth.
"Told you, couldn't sleep."
"So you thought you'd come all this way and drink our orange juice? Which, by the way, I'm pretty sure was Roy's."
She shrugged. "So I'll buy him a new one. It only had a few days left before it went bad anyways. So really," she titled her head, "he should be thanking me."
Oliver huffed out a laugh before sobering. "You really didn't come here for that."
"No," she sighed looking away. "I've missed being here."
"Funny, you seemed happy enough to leave."
"Well I wasn't. Not really…" She fought her emotions trying to control her words and forced herself to meet his eyes. "I was happy to have control over my life again, to know my brain would have use and that life as I knew it could be, including living back in my own space, surrounded by my own things – my favourite Doctor Who mug, my purple floral duvet I spent months searching for on the internet, even the leaky faucet in the bathroom I never make time to get fixed."
"Then I don't understand – "
She cut him off wanting, no needing to finish. "But after a few days those things lost their charm and after the first week I realized that I missed you and Thea arguing over the coffee, that I missed the mess you made every time you used the bathroom. Hell," she laughed through the tears that were forming in her eyes, "I even missed Roy walking around in his boxers."
Oliver growled, "How many times do I have to tell that kid to put on some pants. And you shouldn't be noticing that either."
She looked at him over the top of her glasses. "Oliver, I'm pregnant. I'm not dead." She coughed, clearing her throat and pressed a hand to her chest fighting the growing and now persistent, heartburn she was experiencing. "But that's not what we're talking about. Because even though I'm still pissed at you…yes pissed," she replied to his arched eyebrows, "at you for what you did to me at lunch I still would like it if things could go back to the way…the way they were before…before Christopher died."
She let out the huge pocket of air she'd been holding and looked at him, wondering what he was thinking and waiting to see what he would say. He took a step towards her and spoke her name softly and with feeling.
"I am not sorry for what happened at lunch," he held up a finger to her mouth to prevent her angry retort, "But I am sorry for any embarrassment it caused you in front of your mother. I saw the remote on your desk and honestly Felicity you just left me there in the boardroom…" he shrugged. "I couldn't help myself."
She pushed his finger away. "That's not much of an apology."
"It's all you're going to get I'm afraid." He had the audacity to smirk at her. "I have to say though, I was impressed with your leg cramp excuse. Guess you really did work on them."
Felicity gaped at him, stunned.
"Something to say?"
She closed her mouth and narrowed her eyes.
"Nothing?"
She looked at him over the top of her glasses.
"Are you actually speechless? He laughed.
She stalked off to the couch plunking down in the same spot she'd taken up residence in during her six week confinement. Felicity knew he would follow her. Sure enough he did, sitting down next to her.
Wisely he changed the subject. "How was your mom when she left?"
Donna Smoak had only a few days in Starling to spend with her daughter so Felicity had made the most of it with the shopping and the diner's out. And surprisingly she'd had a good time. While they always hadn't seen eye to eye on life and their goals Felicity never doubted her mother's love. She'd been a bit sad to see her go actually. Until she'd squeezed Felicity in a hug one last time before going through security and said she was considering moving to Starling permanently.
"She pled your case. Told me I was a fool if I let you go."
He raised a brow. "Have I told you I like your Mother?"
"Don't get too excited. I think she just doesn't want to see me struggle as a single mother like she did. Which is pretty ironic considering she actually accused me of going to a sperm bank."
"What?"
"And that was after she asked me if Jerry was the father and inquired if I'd gotten back together with Ray."
He smiled at her and she could feel her animosity slipping. "She seemed happy with the reality."
"Again, don't get too excited. She'd probably been imagining the adorable grandchild she was finally going to have thanks to you."
"By the way, Thea wants to adopt your mother."
The rancour slipped three more notches and she actually managed a smile. "Yeah, she said as much at brunch."
"Thank you for inviting us by the way. It was…nice. Really nice."
The last of her hostility blew away. Damn the man and his gorgeousness.
"Okay, you're forgiven. I forgive you."
"Ahh…okay. For what exactly?"
"Lunch!"
"Oh, sure…Well if we're handing out forgiveness then I forgive you too."
"Me? For what?..." She trailed off at his pointed look and she remembered. "Oh…Okay. Thank you."
Oliver let out a sigh of relief. "Now that we've sorted that out are you going to tell me what you're really doing here in the middle of the night?"
"I told you…I missed being here."
"And…"
"And I've missed being here with you and Thea and Roy… I've missed not being alone."
"And…"
"And I want to come back."
"Okay."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Oh…I expected so kind of… I don't know, resistance."
"You're always welcome here. You and Sweet Pea," he said softly.
She let herself breath and the reality that she would be moving back to the loft sank in. And she smiled. Everything felt…right for the first time in weeks. This is where she belonged. It was only place she wanted to be. And until the baby was born it would be home. Afterwards, she would have to face the next step. But that was months in the future.
"Oliver, would you go out on a date with me?"
He jerked his neck back, surprise on this face at her question. "A date? Don't you think we're a little past dating, Felicity?"
"I knew it."
He sighed. "Knew what?"
"You got the milk for free so now you don't want the cow."
"What?...Felicity…." Oliver rubbed his face with both hands in frustration.
"Well it's true! Who would want this?" She swept a hand over minion pajama clad seventeen week pregnant self.
"I do!"
"Really?"
"Yes."
She cocked her head. "Why?"
"Felicity," he said softly reaching out and grasping her head between his hands. "I want the cow. I love the cow."
All she heard him say was cow. Not the want or the love…just "the cow".
She pulled his hands from her face. "Are you saying I'm fat?"
"No."
"Because it sounded like you were."
"I didn't say that."
"You were weren't you? You think I'm fat."
"Felicity…"
"No, Oliver….Please tell me how you think I'm fat because cows are fat and did you or did you not just compare me to a cow?"
"This is ridiculous!" Oliver stood up and began to pace.
"Oh, so now I'm ridiculous?"
"I…didn't…say…that," he bit out.
"Then what are you saying? Because I've got news for you buck-a-roo this," she lifted her tank top up exposing her swelling pregnant stomach to his eyes and pointed, "is called having a human life growing inside of you and it's hard…probably the hardest thing I've ever done. Between my bladder, my stomach, my esophagus and these," she grabbed her breasts in both hands, "I have no control over anything. And you know what scares me the most? I'm not even at the half way mark. How am I going to feel one month from now, or two….or five when I look like a real cow? What then?"
"I told you, you need to talk to me…to tell me these things."
"I know but…"
"No. No but's, Felicity." He came towards her and placed his hands on her bare belly. "Whatever happens, you are not alone. Okay?"
"I'll try…"
"Felicity…" His voice held a hint of a warning.
"You're impossible."
His eyes went wide. "Speak for yourself."
"Now I'm impossible?" She asked incredulously. "Who's the stubborn pigheaded one in this relationship? It's certainly not –"
Felicity was effectively cut off and had absolutely no warning before Oliver swung her up into his arms and started for the stairs. "Ahh…Oliver, where are you taking me?"
"To bed."
"Oh!" She exclaimed delightfully. Now he was talking her language.
"To sleep," he replied matter of factly.
"Oh…." Her face fell, disappointed.
Oliver laughed at her crestfallen expression. "Is that all you can think about?"
"Lately? Yeah, pretty much." His smile grew until she could see every one of his perfect lily white teeth glowing back at her. "Although today is a holiday and I don't think even my boss would make me work on a holiday."
"It is?"
"Yup." The p made a popping sound as it left her mouth. "It's Memorial Day, so how about we," she used her free hand to stroke her thumb across his lower lip, "make today memorable."
He nipped the pad of her thumb with his teeth before striding up the stairs two at a time with her in his arms.
It was all the answer she needed.