Chapter 37

"You know, I knew this would happen one day."

Thea told Felicity while helping her attach the computers Moira had supplied them from QCs IT section. Moira told them that they are all available for Felicity's use if it meant that William will be back home safely. Felicity had already brought her most powerful computers to the mansion. They had three more hours to wait until Oliver and the rescue groups start their mission. So, Thea and Felicity was setting the communication station at Queen Mansion, while Cisco and Roy went to bring Caitlin and Iris from the train station. They were coming here to help them. Felicity was so grateful for their support.

Thea had volunteered to help Felicity and Felicity knew that Thea was waiting for a chance to talk to her alone.

"What?" Felicity asked from Thea from under the table where she was setting the cables.

"That, you and Ollie will get together." Thea replied.

"Since when?" Felicity asked back this time coming up from the table.

"Since you worked with Ollie as his EA. He was smitten by you even then." Thea replied.

Felicity furrowed her eyebrows.

"I don't think so. He was dating Mackena those days." She said.

Thea gave her a smirk.

"And why do you think they broke up?" Thea asked from the blonde.

"Because Oliver got bored?" Felicity suggested. At Thea's incredulous look, she amended.

"Or… because he still loved Laurel?" Thea rolled her eyes back and sighed.

"What?" Felicity asked from the brunette who was irritatingly persistent.

"Oh, you are so stupid for a girl with a 180 IQ sometimes, Felicity." Thea exclaimed.

"It's 176." Felicity corrected her.

"Whatever… I mean how couldn't you see it? We all saw what happened. Even Mackena. That's why she ended things with Oliver."

"What do you mean?" Felicity asked her friend, this time stopping what she was doing and turning her attention fully to her.

"Ollie was in love with you for a long time, Lizz. And you were with him too. He had eyes only for you."

"But he got back with Laurel just after that." Felicity disagreed.

"Because you went out with that Palmer guy to the annual Queen's Gala. Ollie was so pissed that night and he came home drunk. Then next day he called Laurel and took her to dinner. When he finally realized that you had no feelings for Palmer and you two were not taking things far, he stopped seeing Laurel and broke up with her." Thea explained.

"Oh…" Felicity processed what she heard.

"Yeah, Oh…" Thea remarked with a grin.

"You know, I'm still having trouble processing all these things. Yes, I was in love with Oliver since forever and he didn't love me back. I knew that and I had accepted the fact. I fell for him and he rejected me, brutally. That was how I knew it. But now, all of you tell me that what I knew was wrong. You, Tommy, John and even Oliver himself told me that he had been in love with me since those days. I don't get it. If he was in love with me, how could he hurt me like that?" Felicity's voice didn't hide the pain from remembering their past.

"We all saw it, Lizz. But it took us sometime to recognize it for what it was. Ollie lived with us only for a few days in a year for a long time. Then he came back to live with us and we didn't know how to connect with him. I mean, it was new to us. And he never showed his feelings to anyone. When he came that time, he was completely different from the brother we knew from before. He was silent, but reckless. It was a dangerous combination." Thea said.

Felicity nodded her head in agreement. She clearly remembered those first days. Oliver was a total tool. He insulted her. He tried to irritate Malcom. He always argued with Moira. He ignored Thea and spent his nights at clubs and bars. Tommy had to go from club to club to find his whereabouts.

"Then he joined QC and you went to work with him. Day by day I saw you two arguing and fighting. Then it reduced and you two started defending each other. Even when you were with us you two were different, as if you were sharing a secret that we were excluded from. Ollie dated Mackena, and then Laurel again. Then he broke up with her and stopped going out with other girls. We were so used to seeing you two at galas and other parties we didn't realize that Ollie had stopped taking any other woman in his arm. Ollie was working hard in the company until late nights with you, and we didn't notice that he had stopped going to clubs. That was until you two separated. Lizz, even to this date I really don't know what happened between you two, and I don't even want to know. But we noticed that something had happened because suddenly the old Oliver was back. He was rude and insensitive, just like he was before you."

Thea continued. Felicity thought back about what happened those days. No, nope, she didn't want to go back to those days. She was so hurt by Oliver's rejection that she resigned from QC and started working with Tommy at MG. Oliver paraded his arm candies in every party or gala they attended and even brought those vultures to their home at night. She remembered one night particularly when she came home late from work and met Oliver and one of his leggy model at the top of the staircase. Oliver had smirked at her and taken that model to his room. Felicity had stared at the door which he closed to her face. Ohh… There was a reason that she still refused to go to Oliver's room. To her, that room was equal to a torture room.

"We really understood what happened when you left Starling." Thea's voice broke Felicity's inner ramble.

"Hmmm?" She raised her eyebrow at her friend.

"Ollie was furious… at all of us… First he completely destroyed his room in rage. Then he spent two days in a totally drunken stage. Next, he fired Carrie Cutter, who was his secretary and fling those days. Then he stopped coming home and started spending his time at the penthouse. I was so angry at him for making you leave, I didn't care that he wasn't home anymore. But after a few weeks, I realized that he was suffering. Ollie was hurting, badly… and he was retaliating it by closing up. He was punishing himself and us for letting you go… And then, he went on that wretched ship and went lost…

Thea sighed with the last words.

Then she continued. Felicity listened to her patiently.

"After that… I had a lot of time to think about what happened. And I fell for Roy. That's when I completely understood Ollie's behavior. It's like a family thing. I too had hurt Roy, first by not opening to him and insulting him. I was trying to fight the attraction, the feelings I had for him. Then when I realized that he was not giving up and staying by me, I opened up to him. I know I'm my best self when I'm with him. Just like Ollie was with you. But then Ollie was lost and I went down emotionally. I tried to make him go away. Just like Ollie did to you. But luckily for me, Roy never left. He stood by my side and helped me get back to my former self. I'm not blaming you for leaving. Because I know I can't compare our situations. I just want to tell you that I know Ollie was in love with you because I too did all of that out of my love to Roy. It's complicated but also simple as that."

"Love is irrational…" Felicity stated.

"Yeah… something like that…" Thea agreed.

Some things were cleared in Felicity's mind with Thea's explanation. It was like seeing another side of the same story. She knew that she had completely forgiven Oliver for what he did. But the pain and hurt was still real and still there.

"Felicity… Your friends have arrived." Moira came to them and handed them steaming cocoa cups with information.

"Thanks Moira. I'll take them to the guest room." Felicity started for the living room.

"I'll help Roy to move to the communication room and then set chairs for you and Cisco at the computers." Thea said.

…

"Captain Lance, can you hear me?" Felicity talked to her com.

They had set everything up and were testing the communication devices. They agreed to take three groups each and Felicity was handling Captain Lance's, Diggle's and Lyla's groups while Cisco was handling Detective West's, Eddie's and Oliver's groups.

She heard Cisco asking the same thing form Oliver in the other side and was relieved to see Cisco's thumbs up at her with Oliver's answer. Captain Lance replied to her that he was clear.

Felicity repeated the procedure with Diggle and Lyla too and received their replies. Cisco gave his nods for the other two groups too. They were all ready for the mission.

To bring their child home.

They divided the suspected locations into two clusters and Felicity's groups took the northern locations while Cisco's groups took the southern ones. Felicity and Cisco were busy locating the nearby cameras and satellite images to get clear views of the locations and the groups drifted closer to their targets.

In the communication room, Thea was holding Roy's hand and sitting near Felicity, watching the videos and the way Felicity and Cisco guided the groups.

Moira was with Iris in the library of the mansion, making plans of handling the media at this stage. It was a relief that Iris had experience on that particular subject.

Caitlin was keeping an eye on Raisa, who was injured at the kidnapping and making the medical supplies and equipment ready if anyone needed them after the mission.

"Lyla, your location has two guards at the front entrance and two more at the back. But I can't get any IR detections in the warehouse. I t suggests that there is no one inside." Felicity pulled up the IR radiation map of the area and informed the ARGUS agent.

"Copy that. We think that it's better to check it ourselves, Lizz. We'll engage it from the back and cover the area. If it outed to be a decoy we can move to the next location." Lyla replied through the comm.

"Got it. Go ahead then." Felicity said.

They had no way to see the happenings after the team entered the warehouse. Felicity held her earpiece tighter and listened to the noises coming through it. There were sounds of grunts and a gun shot. Felicity prayed to the god that it was not shot at any of their ones.

"Lyla…" Felicity called her group captain after a few minutes of silence.

There was a sound of a door opening, or rather breaking and then came Lyla's voice.

"We are okay, Lizz. And the place is covered. No sign of the boy."

Felicity felt relief and anxiousness both at the same time. She was relieved that no one was hurt but she knew that it meant that they are another step away from finding William. And there was a chance that Isabel get to know about this attack.

"We have to be quick with the next step. Isabel will get to know about this soon." Felicity said to the open line and got the approval from both Lance and Diggle.

"One location is down with our set too." Cisco said from her side.

"Two down, four more to go…" Thea sighed.

"We are near our location. Felicity, give me the details." Captain Lance told her. This was very similar how she had helped the police officer with their Bratva Raids. Felicity checked the footages and supplied the details about the guarding team. It took a bit more time for Captain Lance's team to neutralize the situation and to clear the area. They too informed her that William wasn't being held there.

Another group of Cisco's had cleared their location and had come up with the same result.

There were only two more places to go and Felicity felt her heart beating erratically. What if William wasn't in both places? This was their only lead. What would they do if they couldn't find him there? And what if he was kept at one of those places? Or somewhere else? She was the one who lead the rescue teams to the locations. What if she was wrong? What is she doing, handling a rescue mission?

"Lizz…" She came out of her terrifying thought at Thea's voice. She turned her head and saw Thea's understanding look.

"Hey… We'll find him. If he is not there, we'll turn every stone and fins him. You have to be strong and guide the groups. I know you can do it. Ollie and others trust you to do it. They have faith on you and so do I." Thea squeezed her shoulder and told her.

Felicity nodded her head and took a long breath.

"Felicity, I think we found the location. I can see one of Isabel's bodyguards in front of this warehouse. There is a bit hustle near the entrance too." Diggle said through the comms.

"I have no images on that warehouse, Digg. I'm blind here." Felicity replied. She was typing frantically trying to find a way to see the location but was unsuccessful. If this was where they kept William, Isabel had chosen well.

"Oliver's group is near their target. But he asks if he should retreat and come to Diggle's support." Cisco informed her.

Felicity couldn't decide what to do. What if this came out to be a decoy too? What if the location Oliver was, the actual target? What if he left there and they miss the chance to save Will? And what if William is at Diggle's location and Diggle needs help and no one was there?

"Felicity, talk to me…" Cisco had connected Oliver's line to Felicity and she heard his soft voice in her ear. She quickly gave him the details and Diggle's location.

"What do you think?" He asked her.

"I don't know Oliver. I'm scared." She whispered to the comm.

There was a few seconds of silence and then Oliver spoke.

"I'm taking my team to Diggle's location. Detective West and Eddie are 10 minutes away from us. They can cover my target until I give them a signal."

"Copy that." She heard both group leaders' replies.

Still she didn't say anything.

"Felicity…" Oliver spoke again.

"Yeah…" She supplied.

"I'm bringing him home." Oliver said her.

"I believe in you…" She replied.

…

Next hour was the hardest one in Felicity's life. And she had gone through several terrible incidents.

She held into her earpiece and listened to the fight. Diggle's group engaged the attack from back and they were outnumbered by Isabel's goons by three folds.

Lyla's team managed to bring cavalry and they helped Diggle's team to clear the back entrance and enter the warehouse which was by any means not abandoned.

They cleared the compartmentalized building one part by one and found a staircase to an underground layer. Felicity listened to the sounds of doors opening and walls breaking, Gun shots and fighting shouts, grunts and moans, and cuss words in both English and Russian.

The two groups were fighting with another Russian goons' attack when Oliver's team arrived there. Oliver entered through the door easily and went past the fighting groups. Then he entered the underground room.

"You impressed me…" Felicity felt a cold seeping through her spine at that icy voice she heard through Oliver's line.

"Isabel…" Oliver growled at the evil woman.

"Though, I knew you were capable of defeating my team, I thought that it would take more time for you to find the location." Isabel's words were bold as much as they held her cold icy self.

"Where is my son?" Oliver asked her. Felicity could literally hear him biting his teeth.

"Your son? I thought William was Ms. Smoak's son, Oliver. You didn't have any children with her, did you?" Isabel mused.

"I don't share your likings to drama, Isabel. Where is my son?" Oliver asked again.

"Why so urgent Oliver? I know that William is your son. Even though your father tried his best to hide the child and protect your legacy. I found him. I must give some credits to Ms. Smoak though. It was a very smart move. I didn't think to check her whereabouts for your child. But I found my mistake when certain Ms. Lance came to me and handed me over the news of the child."

Felicity could imagine Isabel's feline smile by her voice. She was enjoying this.

Diggle informed her that they had restrained all of Isabel's goons and now heading to the other rooms of the underground complex. She gave them the 'go' and was relieved to know that Oliver's team, Barry, Tommy and Malcom was at the door of the room where Isabel and Oliver were, ready to attack at the slightest sign of a need.

"I found it very amusing, Queen. One of your ex, raising your child, who was born to another one of your flings, and another ex-girlfriend giving that child into the hands of your enemy, which happens to be your ex-fiancé. It's good material to a soap opera." Isabel continued.

"Not more interesting than your story, Isabel. Trying to take control of a billion dollar business by marrying a man who detested you and that man going missing just a few days short of the wedding and also after publicly rejecting you. And thinking that even after that you'll get the company and again being disappointed because of a child. Then trying to destroy them again and again to being failed repeatedly. Finally having reduced to kidnap a child to take revenge. Your story is pathetic." Oliver countered.

"We found William…" Lyla's voice rang in Felicity's ear and she felt Oliver taking a deep breath at that revelation. A soft sob left her mouth and she turned to Thea and nodded her head at her, Thea understood the unspoken words and hugged Roy and Cisco in her joy. Felicity felt tears spilling out of her eyes and didn't care a bit. Her son was safe now. All they had to do now was capture Isabel and hand her over to the Police.

"You are defeated, Isabel. What do you think will happen when I informed about this to Anatoly?" Oliver growled at Isabel and Felicity was happy that Cisco had left his chair to share the news of William's rescue with Moira and Caitlin. Only Diggle's and Lyla's lines were connected to Oliver'[s and they both knew about Oliver's connection with Bratva.

"You won't dare." Isabel seethed.

"Oh, I would dare Isabel. I would go to Russia myself and make sure that you or your father doesn't make it alive there." Oliver said.

"They don't respect you anymore, Queen. You were forgiven just because you saved Anatoly's life. Otherwise you would be dead right now." Isabel said.

"I'm sure that they still remember me for what I can do, Isabel. I didn't get to be a Captain just because my father was a one. I had proved myself and they know it. I have a deal with them. I don't interfere with them until they don't interfere with mine. But your actions have broken that deal and if Bratva tried to save you, they will have me no more bound to the deal. They know that clearly. Do you think that Bratva will risk their business for you? Seriously?" Oliver asked her.

"You…" Isabel cursed at him and suddenly Felicity heard gun shots.

She listened to the calls shoted by Tommy and Malcom. They had entered the room and there were sounds of gun shots and glass breaking.

"Oliver…" Felicity shouted to her comm when the gun fire stopped.

"I'm okay. Everyone is okay…. Except Isabel and one of her gun men." Oliver replied her.

"What happened?" She asked him.

"Two of her gun men entered the room from behind and started shooting. We shot back and one of Malcom's shot hit Isabel in the chest and she is dead." Oliver replied.

"Oh…" Felicity sighed.

"Tommy, are you hurt?" She heard Barry asking Tommy.

"Tommy?" She called him.

"I'm okay. It's just a graze." Tommy returned.

"But,"

"Felicity, it is not serious. We'll have the wound cleaned and bound. Caitlin can treat it." Barry told her.

"Ummm… Oliver, we have a problem here." Felicity heard Diggle saying.

"What…?" Oliver asked him and she could hear him rushing to Diggle's side.

"Oh…" She heard Oliver saying.

"Oliver… What?" She asked him.

"Felicity, William is okay… I have him in my arms now. He is a bit shocked but will be okay. Lyla, Diggle and others will handle the situation here. I'll be there with William and Tommy as soon as possible." Oliver told her.

"Okay."

"But, what about her?" She heard Diggle asking Oliver.

"She too." Oliver replied.

"Oliver…" Felicity was confused. What were they talking about?

"We have a little problem, Felicity. But don't worry. We'll talk when we get home." Oliver told her and disengaged his line. Diggle's line went off along with that too.

…

Felicity didn't know how many times she went to the entrance of the Queen Mansion and only to find the road empty and turned back. She was anxious. She was happy that everything went well but couldn't put off the thought that something was not well. What happened that made Oliver not tell her it by the line but opted to talk to her directly?

Moira had sent the Queen's jet to Central city to get Oliver and the group as soon as possible and Diggle had informed them that they landed safely.

When she heard the vehicle entering the gate, Felicity ran to the outside. Thea and Moira closely following her.

The SUV stopped and Oliver got out of it first, holding William in his arms.

Oh my god…!

Her son… her baby… was in Oliver's safe hands.

She ran to them and when William saw her he wriggled out of Oliver's hold and sprinted towards her.

"Mommy…" He called her and jumped into her embrace.

"Oh, William… My baby…" Felicity held her child tightly to her chest and ran her hands over his body, checking for any injury or wound.

"I was scared Mommy…" William said to her chest.

"You are safe now, baby… Daddy and I will never let anything happen to you. We will always come for you, Will." Felicity told her son.

Oliver came to the crying mother and child and they walked into his arms.

"Hey…" Oliver greeted Felicity with a kiss to her hairline and banded his arms around her waist, William in the middle of their circle.

"Thank you for bringing him to me." Felicity told him, looking into his eyes.

"I promised you that I would. There was no choice to make. I'll never break my promises to you." Oliver replied her, wiping her tears.

"How is Tommy?" Felicity broke out of the embrace and saw Moira and Thea checking on him.

"I'm fine, mom… It's just a flesh wound…" Tommy tried to get out of their flustering but failed.

"Tommy…" Felicity went to him and hugged him.

"I'm okay. Lizz… And look. We brought Will home." Tommy told her.

"I'm taking you to Caitlin. She will check you wound and if she clears you as fine, I'll be okay with it." Thea told them and took Tommy's hand.

"This was not the way I wanted to meet Felicity's doctor friend in Central City." Tommy winked at Felicity.

"Ummm… Felicity… There was another person held up by Isabel there." Oliver told her and Felicity turned to him.

"Who?" She asked him.

Oliver went to the vehicle and e helped a woman to get out of it. Felicity watched the slender brunette holding Oliver's arm and taking slow steps. Felicity had never seen the woman before. She watched the woman leaning on Oliver and walking to the entrance where Felicity was standing with William in her arms.

"Felicity… This is Sandra… Sandra Hawke…" Oliver introduced the brunette, who was looking at her with an innocent look on her face.