CHAPTER 21: All I Want For Christmas

"Honey, hurry up. The party is in 30 minutes."

"I know, I know."

Felicity sighs as she goes upstairs to her room after the little conversation with her mother. She just came home from trying to find a last minute dress but it didn't work out. She didn't save any money for a dress and she went out to look for one at the last minute. Obviously it didn't work out so she's mentally decided she'll wear the one from Bruce's banquet.

Donna is making Christmas cookies for Queen's Christmas party while the boys are putting on their suits. The dance at the school has already started and Roy is running late to pick up Sin. Felicity walks by Tommy's room and can hear him on the phone with someone. She keeps going to her room knowing he's probably on the phone with his father or Oliver.

When she gets to her room she hears the song Santa Baby on the stereo. Knowing it's her mom's doing she smiles and goes into her room. Felicity goes straight to her closet without even noticing a red, green and silver present on her bed. She hums to the music her mother put on and takes out the old dress. Turning around she throws it on her bed and finally sees a single present on top of her sheets. Feeling a smile go to her lips she walks up to the present and sees a note next to the big bow. Picking it up she reads it and couldn't help but giggle.

I know you forgot to buy a dress. Let's hope this one is the right size.

Oliver.

Folding the note and shoving it into her pocket she pulls on the ribbon to open it. Thea and Laurel must have told him she didn't go dress shopping with them. When she opens the box a flash for forest green meets her eyes. She takes out the dress and goes to her mirror, holding it up in front of her body.

The green dress goes down just above her knees, below the waist it's slightly puffy to give her plenty of room to walk. It will fit her waist nicely to show all her curves on the chest. It shows a respectable amount of cleavage with thick straps on her shoulders. Setting the dress on the bed she goes to her closet to get her favorite black heels for the dress. After that she takes a gold necklace, a few rings, bracelets and hoop earrings out for the outfit.

She smiles as she looks at the things she laid out with the dress. It's perfect she thought, she almost wanted to text Oliver but thought she'll tell him what she thought about the dress in person. As she gets ready all she could think about now is Oliver and how she'll be wearing his dress in front of everyone. She couldn't stop smiling as she braids part of her hair in front of the mirror. Her mind it currently wandering to Oliver's reaction when she sees him at the party.

"People are already coming, Dear. You ready?"

"Almost."

"Can I come in?"

"Sure."

Oliver is in front of his mirror while fixing his forest green tie. His mother, Moira, comes in with a dark red dress with a big black scarf around her. He could already hear the man they hired playing Christmas music on their piano down stairs. His father is probably greeting everyone at the moment, tons of his work friends will be here. Moira comes up to stand next to him and smiles.

"You clean up good."

"Thanks." He laughs like he's kind of nervous as he finishes putting his tie on.

"I think I saw Helena and her father down stairs." His mother informs him and adds, "You know he works with your father."

"Yup." Oliver sighs while wishing she didn't bring up Helena right now.

"I take it you rather not see her tonight." Moira blurts out as she looks to him through the mirror.

He shrugs and fixes his hair, "Let's just say she isn't on top of the girls I want to see."

"I get it. She's not Felicity." His mother sends her son a knowing smirk.

Oliver looks away from his hair to Moira when he hears the girl in his mind on her lips. His mother is absolutely right, Helena is no Felicity. She didn't have Smoak's soft long thick blond hair or her full colorful lips like her. Helena didn't have her full curvy body or the light that's always in her eyes. Helena is the exact opposite of Felicity. In Christmas terms, Smoak is the presents and Helena is the coal in the stockings.

"No, she's not Felicity." He agrees and turns to actually look at her.

"I like Miss. Smoak way better anyway." Moira grins and winks at her son.

"Me too." He laughs and goes to get his wallet and phone.

Moira nods and goes to his bedroom door to leave but then stops when she remembers something. Turning back around she lifts up a small present, it's a thin bag with red tissue paper poking out. A note is attached to one of the handles, she sets it on Oliver's desk sending him a knowing smirk.

"Felicity wanted me to give you this right before the Christmas party. And of course, I couldn't say no."

Oliver raises a confused eyebrow and walks slowly to the present she set down. Moira winks at her son one last time before walking out of his room to the party. He stares silently at the present for a moment before lifting up the note to read it.

It's not too late…

Felicity.

He scrunches his face at the little note and goes to take the tissue paper out. Looking inside he burst out laughing. He takes out to packages of easy make gravy, one is white and the other is dark. Shaking his head with a wide grin he puts the packets back in the present bag. Of course Felicity would give him something like this without even knowing the present he got her for the party. They certainly were a good pair he thought while looking at her simple gift.

"Oh, shut up."

"I'm serious. I'm going to be your first dance tonight."

"Not if I get Bruce to dance with me before you."

"Please, he's going to be too wrapped up in your sister to dance with you."

"You watch, my sister owes me anyway."

Laurel and Tommy burst out laughing on their phone call. They both are getting ready for the Queen's Party when he decided to call her. They been doing that a lot lately, texting and calling each other. They didn't do that when he was dating Felicity or when Oliver was dating her. They guess being single just helps their friendship get stronger.

"So you're telling me you don't want me to be your first dance of the night?" Tommy gives her a teasing voice, "Me as in, a ex-millionaire, playboy, football player."

"You should really find another title, I fell asleep in the middle of all that." She giggles through the phone while putting on her heels.

The two were getting dressed in their own rooms. Laurel is putting on the last touches to her outfit and Tommy is fixing his collar and tie. Roy just left their apartment to pick up Sin and Bruce is now at Sarah and Laurel's house waiting for the girls to be done so they can go. Laurel can hear her sister flirting with Bruce in the other room. Tommy can also hear Donna turning up the stereo that's blasting Christmas music.

"Hey, I'm about to leave with my sister and Bruce. I'll see you at the party." Laurel blurts out as her laughs die down.

"Yeah, OK. See you there." He smirks and goes to get his shoes, "And don't forget, I'm your first and last dance."

"I didn't agree on the last dance."

"You also didn't agree with the first but here we are."

"Girl! Why are you still up here?!"

"Yeah, come on. No one is dancing, you got to help people get in the mood."

"Seriously, plus Helena is here and I can already see her wanting to ring our throats."

"I don't know guys."

Laurel, Sarah and Lyla just busted into Thea's room when they heard she hasn't come down to the party yet. They were the first to arrive, Diggle and Bruce came with their girlfriends but since Oliver is already down stairs they stayed with him. Thea is currently standing in front of her mirror with a defeated look on her face. The girls instantly see her expression and come to her side alarmed. Laurel is the first to speak up in concern to the Queen's daughter.

"What's wrong? Did something happen?"

Thea sighs while shaking her head no, it wasn't a big deal but it was to her. Roy is going to the school's dance with Sin and it's a stab of reject to her. She thought maybe he come to the Queen's party for she and change his mind about the dance. But Felicity had just texted her Roy is picking up Sin for the dance. She didn't understand how she could still want Roy after doing what he did to her. Looking up to her friends she says without thinking.

"Roy is going to the dance with Sin."

All their faces break knowing what she is secretly telling them, Roy picked Sin instead of her. They all stand around Thea speechless. How were they going to tell her it's going to be okay? Sarah then grabs Speedy's hand and says softly.

"That's his lost, okay?"

"She's right. Roy's missing out." Lyla adds with a warm smile.

"You think?" Thea looks down to her feet, "He knows what he's missing out since I gave him my all before."

They all know about how Thea and Roy were fooling around for a little while. Now Thea wanted them to be official but he clearly wanted to stay with Sin. She couldn't believe herself that she still wanted him, but then again she knew why. It's the same reasons she wanted him the first day they met. She wanted him for his loyalty for his family, his open heart, his love for his friends.

"He's an idiot, Thea. So come on, let's go down stairs and show these stuck up adults how to throw a party." Laurel smiles at her friend encouraging.

After a long moment of looking into the mirror Thea nods, "Okay."

"Good, because we all look too good to sit in here all night." Sarah teases and waves at everyone's dresses.

Thea is wearing a floor length red dress with no back with her hair in a classy bun. Sarah is wearing a black strapless floor length dress with straight hair. Laurel is dressed in a puffy cream color dress with a little silver at the ends, her hair is in a fish braid. Lyla is wearing a dark green tight fitted dress with a bow on just above her butt, she has loose curls in her hair. They all look way older in their outfits but their eyes shows their youth.

Thea sends all the girls a look as she tries to get Roy out of her head, "Well, what are we waiting for?"

"Come on, Roy. We're already late."

"I know, I know. Sorry."

"Don't be, now hurry up."

Roy is being dragged to the school by Sin. The dance is at full swing, there's cheap decorations everywhere, people are sneaking in alcohol, and kids who haven't hit puberty yet are there. Felicity's brother hated being at school during the week and now he's being pulled here on a weekend. Roy's mind wanders to Thea, knowing she wouldn't want to come here at all either.

He decided to dress down in dark blue jeans and a dark red button up shirt with brown shoes. He has a few buttons open on his shirt and his winter jacket. Sin complained the way here how he should have worn his suit. She is wearing a plan tight grey dress with high black boot that flattered her figure. His girlfriend looked nice but it's nothing compared to how Thea looked at school on Friday.

The two give the teacher their tickets and walk into the gym to find tons of students dancing, talking and eating. The DJ is playing some cover of a famous Christmas song. It didn't sound like the ordinal song and wasn't nearly as good. His girlfriend smirks at him while asking him to dance. He doesn't really have a choice since she drags him into the middle of the gym. She pulls him close and he sets his hands on her waist. They slow dance in a crowd of teenagers.

Something is wrong he thought, the person, the place, the time, everything. As he looks around the room he couldn't find anyone he knew since they all are at Queen's party. It's almost like he's searching the room for a familiar face. He looks down to the girl in his arms and feels a stink of annoyance.

Thea would never wear something so plain as the grey dress Sin is wearing, she always wore something the lifted up people's spirits in the room. She would never bring him to the school on his free time, or to a dance as dull as this one. She would bring him to the party she's at now, she's probably dancing with some guy right now too he thought. He didn't like where his mind is taking him but he couldn't help it.

A student then comes up to the couple with a camera and aiming it at them saying, "For the yearbook."

As Sin smiles Roy looks at the camera awkwardly, the student takes the picture and goes to another couple. Felicity's brother looks back to Sin secretly wishing it was Thea in his arms instead of her. She would have him twirl her around and whisper something cheerful into his ear. She'd have them ditch and go somewhere covered in snow to make snow angels or make a snowman.

Abruptly that's when it hits him, he stops in the middle of the dance when he realizes his biggest mistake. This whole time he thought he was falling for Sin when really he has been falling in love with Thea. He is in love with Thea Queen. His heart begins at ache knowing how he had the chance to be with her instead of Sin.

He should have done what he thought he would do when Thea wanted a real relationship. Break up with Sin, but he believed he had something real with her. Not something boring, dull, and old but he sees now the lie he kept telling himself these past months. He feels like a freaking idiot for not realizing his mistake until now.

He wants Thea, he always wanted her and he was the moron to think they should just be friends. Pulling away from his confused girlfriend he looks around the room like he's seeing it in a new light. Sin looks irritated at her boyfriend since he stop dancing with her. She then snaps in confusion.

"Roy? What are you doing?"

"I can't, I'm sorry." He looks around shaking his head, "It's over. We're over. Should have done that a long time ago."

"You're breaking up with me now? In the middle of a dance? Are you crazy?" She looks at him in disbelief.

"You're right, I am crazy. But not about breaking up with you." He answers her as he backs away, "I got to go but you can get a ride home from a friend."

"Excuse me? That's so shitty!" Her mouth drops as he walks toward the exit.

"I know, I've been doing a lot of shitty things lately." He blurts out, "But I really am sorry, about everything. I seriously need to go though."

With that said he walks out of the gym leaving his now ex girlfriend there to go for the girl who he knows deserves better than him. Roy knows now that it was his mistake for not fighting for her, not breaking up with Sin when he should have, and not realizing he's completely in love with a certain Junior in the Queen's household. He takes out his keys with a plan in his mind.

Oliver is scanning the room for a certain green dress covering a petite blond. He hasn't seen Tommy, Felicity or Donna yet. He's talked to Malcolm who's already here, he said Donna texted him that their on their way. He chatted with his father, his partners and employees for the time being. He saw Lyla and Sarah lure Diggle and Bruce into the dance floor earlier. He also noticed his sister and ex-girlfriend dancing out there like they're idiots but adorable idiot nevertheless.

Helena however has been trying to talk to him but he's been coming up with excuses to leave the room. She's is constantly batting her eyes at him and flirting carelessly with him. Just as he leaves the dining from trying to get away from her he runs into Ray in the living room. He looks at him in surprise, he doesn't remember Ray coming to the party. His mother has had him talk to everyone who has walked through their doors but Ray wasn't one of them.

"Hey, man." Ray speaks up while looking around, "Nice turn out. You Queen's now how to throw a party."

"Thanks, we try." He shrugs lightly, he's just happy he's talking to Ray instead of Helena.

"Haven't seen Felicity around." Ray then brings up.

"She hasn't arrived yet." Oliver vaguely explains, "But she's coming."

"Okay, good. Was hoping to get her under the mistletoe." He smirks and nudges Queen knowingly.

Oliver rolls his eyes and moves slightly away from him. The pianist starts playing another song just as he sees his mother open the front door for more guests. He sees Donna come in making his heart jump, Tommy walks in after her with an excited smile. In the next second Felicity comes through the door in the dress he bought her. He stood there in amazement as she practically glides into the living room. Ray blurts out while watching her.

"She looks beautiful in that dress."

"I know. I bought it for her." Oliver says with a smug look before walking over to her.

The gang reaches Felicity and Tommy before he does, everyone in the party turns to look at the loud teenagers in a big circle. Diggle and Bruce bring Felicity into a light hug and clap Tommy's shoulder in welcome. The girls begin talking Smoak's ears off and she's doing just the same thing to them. However her words die on her lips when her eyes meet Oliver's from across the room. He sends her a small smile just as he reaches the group.

"Oliver." Felicity blurts out with a bright smile.

"Felicity," He lets out and waves to her dress, "So do you like it?"

"How could I not?" She laughs and twirls around for him to see all of it on her.

"You bought that for her?" Sarah asks in surprise, "I didn't know you had good taste."

The gang all laugh at that until Thea informs them, "I actually helped him pick it out."

"Figures." Laurel send him a teasing smile.

Abruptly they all begin to get in small conversations with each other but Felicity and Oliver. They couldn't help but just watch each other. It's like they were silently telling each other thousands of words from the look in their eyes. No one noticed the way they were looking at each other besides two certain mothers across the room. Donna and Moira are currently both sipping on wine watching their children with knowing eyes.

Getting an ounce of courage Oliver moves closer to Felicity whispering, "I missed you-"

"Ollie! Come on, this is my favorite Christmas song. You have to dance with me." Helena grabs him by the arm and is already dragging him to the dance floor.

"Oh, I-"

Staring at Felicity makes him forget to think of an excuse and letting Helena pull him away from her. Felicity smile drops as he goes to the dance floor with the brunette. His tongue felt heavy to where he couldn't speak so instead he decided to dance to one song with Helena and get it over with. It's just one dance, he'll dance with Felicity the rest of the night he says in his mind.

He sees Barbie look to the ground before Ray comes up to her and gets her attention. She smiles at him as he asks her something. She glances at Oliver before nodding to whatever he asked. Felicity sees the two dancing hoping it's just some dance and it didn't mean anything. Oliver then has to watch Ray take her hand and guide her to the dance floor.

His heart sinks in his chest and he dances with the last girl he wants. While watching the only girl he wants to dance with in another man's arms right in front of him. Felicity glances at Oliver hoping she isn't the only one desperately wanting to switch partners.

"What is going on?"

"Why is Helena dancing with Oliver?"

"Helena and Oliver? Look at who's dancing with Felicity! What the fuck."

The group watch two of their best friends dance with strangers instead of each other. Diggle and Tommy look at Oliver in frustration while Bruce looks confused. Thea and Lyla are looking at Ray and Helena in disgust. Sarah and Laurel look down right pissed at the scene in front of them. They didn't understand how the two can literally be dancing around each other.

"I can't fucking believe it." Laurel sighs and waves to their friends on the dance floor.

"What do you expect, the two clearing think they both moved on." Sarah barks, "When they really haven't. I mean, come on. No guy gives a girl a dress like that and just wants to be friends."

As the group obviously watches Oliver and Felicity dance with the wrong people the two are glancing at each other when the other isn't looking. Ray is holding Felicity too close for anyone's comfort. Helena face is inches away from Oliver's with a sly smile. Rubbing Barbie's hip as Ray whispers.

"You look absolutely lovely tonight."

"Thanks." She smiles but it looks rather dull.

Ray sees her sad expression and gives her a twirl hoping it will bring up her spirits. She then offers a genuine smile to him as he pulls her back in. Leaning her head back a little to see his face she couldn't help but looks passed him to Oliver and Helena.

The bitch looks up making Felicity do the same and realize Oliver and her are right under mistletoe. Helena whispers into his ear making him look up alarmed. Before anyone knows what's to come Helena plants a kiss on his lips making both Oliver and Felicity stop dancing. Helena has her arms wrapped around Oliver as she stick her tongue down his throat. His eyes are closed looking both shocked and surprised.

Ray sends Felicity a confused look and turns around to see what has her attention. She feels like a bus hit her and the air from her lungs is gone. Feeling like an idiot and embarrassed she tries to hold back tears as she walks away from Ray. How could she believe that maybe Oliver didn't actually move on she thought. She didn't dare interrupt the two like she did with Tommy and Helena dancing at Bruce's banquet since that didn't end well.

Turning to look away from the heartbreaking sight Felicity walks to the first door in her sight. Trying her hardest not to cry in front of anyone in the house she goes to her her purse near her friends. They try to talk to her but she blocks every word from them. She doesn't get to see Oliver shove Helena away but she does hear him calling out to her.

"Felicity! Hold on, wait!"

She doesn't answer or react to him, Ray and Helena are now standing on the dance floor speechless from what has just happened. Felicity goes out the front door and practically runs to her car. Tears fall onto her face as she fishes for her keys. She couldn't believe she let herself have hope that he still wanted her. Why would he, she broke him and Laurol up and got together with his best friend. So many things were going through her head but the same image kept popping up, Helena and Oliver kissing under mistletoe.

Oliver runs out the front door just as she starts her car. He's halfway to her car when she speeds away, he can see through her car window her sobbing in pain. He felt like falling to his knees at the girl of his dream leaves his sight. Why couldn't he just tell Helena no in the first place he thought in frustration. He should have asked Felicity to dance first and maybe he wouldn't have kissed some bitch and lose the girl he could never move on from.

"Roy? I thought you were at the dance?"

"Where's Thea?"

Roy storms into Queen's house with a dozen red roses in his hands. Moira looks at the 18 year old confused but he doesn't care since he's searching for the other Queen woman in the house. Some people look at him and the roses in his hands, there's some snow on them from walking to the house from his car.

The group was talking with concerned looks but he didn't bother to notice. The only thing he noticed is the gorgeous dress Thea is wearing while being surround by their best friends. To him she's a sight for sore eyes. He also didn't realize Felicity isn't in the group of teenagers Thea's in.

All he kept thinking about is Thea and how he has to make things right. He walks toward their group with a mission on his mind. Thea looks away from a defeated Oliver when she sees Roy strutting over to her. She sends him a confused look as she asks.

"Roy? What are you-"

"Shut up."

He whispers as he wraps an arm around her waist. Pulling her to his chest he rest his lips on hers, she moans out in surprise. Wrapping her arms around Roy's neck she closes her eyes in delight. The two kiss like it's their first and last one. Roy's holding her like she'd disappear forever while Thea is kissing him like she'll never get this opportunity again.

The group is around them in shock, even though the two have kissed many times it was never in front of anyone but each other. So it came to a shock for the teenagers. Some one the adults glance their way in disgust, Moira had to hold back her husband at the sight of his daughter and Roy. Slowly pulling away Roy whispers to Thea as he tries to gain his breath.

"I'm completely, absolutely, terribly sorry. I should have fought for you, you should have been the girl I asked out months ago-"

"Roy, I-"

"No, I need to say this." Roy interrupts her with his arms still holding her tight, "I was a moron for not realizing I love you. God, how I wish I told you that a month ago-"

"Roy-"

"And I know I don't deserve you but from this point on I will make sure you get the man you need because I love you more than I ever thought I would love someone."

Thea wipes a single tear from her eye and smiles softly at the man in her arms, "You love me?"

"I madly, deeply, completely love you Thea Queen." He whispers as he tugs her closer to him.

"And Sin?-"

"We're officially done." Roy quickly answers, "And if you don't mind I'd like to take you on a real date sometime."

"Okay." She nods with a giddy grin before giving him a peck on the lips.

He laughs and demands for another kiss before finally pulling away. When the two finally let go of each other Roy hands her the roses. She bits her lip and smells them, he shoves his hands in his pocket silently thanking the lord. Looking around he notices his sister nowhere in sight. He see all their friends, a pianist, business men, even Helena and Ray but not Felicity. Turn to look at his friends he asks innocently.

"Where's Felicity?"