Hello, lovely readers! I'm so excited to be posting a new chapter, especially since it's one I've been dying to write for the longest time. It's another game changer, and what happens in this chapter will be continued in the next. Big thank you to SassySnow1988 for lending her editing skills and a suggestion of a particularly hilarious line for Tommy! Hope you enjoy and will let me know what you think. Happy reading!


Chapter 52: Return to Me

April 13, 2014

It was physically impossible for Oliver to take his eyes off of his family. Felicity lay wrapped up in his embrace with her golden curls splayed out across the pillow. Resting on her chest was Connor, also sound asleep. There had been a terrible rainstorm last night. Thunder had cracked the sky and the wind had howled. Connor had cried nonstop, obviously frightened by the chaos outside.

Since it was unlikely he'd fall back asleep on his own, Felicity had brought the baby into Oliver's—now their—bedroom. Connor rested with his head over Felicity's heart and cradled under Oliver's arm, completely nestled between their chests. She'd hummed a familiar lullaby to drown out the storm while Oliver rubbed his back. Eventually, Connor's crying had tapered off. The storm continued to rage outside, but he'd calmed in their warm, protective little cocoon.

A part of Oliver was almost convinced he was still dreaming. He'd certainly never thought he'd ever get to have precious moments like this. His fingers absently wandered into Felicity's hair, and he stroked the silky strands while he counted the adorable little freckles on her nose. His lips followed, pressing the softest of kisses against her beautiful skin.

A moment later, when he'd lightly kissed her eyelids, she let out a small sigh. She shifted ever so slightly in his arms, and he knew she was awake. Felicity lifted her chin, and Oliver took the silent invitation to kiss her lips. He free hand traveled up his arm, her touch giving him goose bumps as their mouths moved in perfect synchronicity.

"Good morning," he murmured, pulling away just enough to gaze into her dazzling blue eyes.

"Morning," she greeted in an adorably groggy voice before checking on Connor. She pressed a kiss to the top of his head. "You'd think we were the ones who kept him up most of the night."

Chuckling quietly and rubbing soft circles into his son's tiny back, Oliver replied, "Can't blame him for sleeping in. He's laying on the best pillow ever."

Felicity hummed at the compliment. "Well, he's also got the best blanket. You're always so warm at night." She pushed her feet between his legs.

"Damn, how is it your toes are always so cold?" Despite the shock of her chilly limbs, he locked his legs over her feet to give her some of his heat.

"Lucky for me, I have my favorite human space heater back," she teased and pecked his lips. "Let's just stay like this all day."

"You read my mind," he mumbled. "Although eventually we will have to get up if we're gonna be ready on time."

"Yeah," Felicity sighed as a crinkle formed between her brows.

Oliver knowingly asked, "Are you nervous?"

"Yes," she admitted. "Are you?"

"Yes," he agreed.

They'd already experienced so many changes, and their world was about to drastically shift yet again.

It'd been a couple of days since they'd decided to tell their family the truth about what had been going on these past several years. It was probably an understatement to say that Oliver was nervous. He felt like he was teetering on the edge of a cliff. There was no going back; he would have to jump and pray that he made it to the other side.

He and Felicity had wanted to wait until they'd defeated Darhk and Waller, but the situation had become too dangerous to keep their family in the dark any longer—not to mention the complication of Tommy and his private investigator. But more than that, he and Felicity were done lying. The burden of their secrets was too much to bear. They weren't just ready for a new start with each other but with their family, too. Making the same mistakes again wasn't an option. They owed it to themselves and their son to be better.

"I just…" Oliver paused, trying to find the right words. "It's been such a long time, and I worry I won't be who they expect me to be. I'm worried I'll disappoint them."

"We've all changed over the years. And after everything you've been through, it's to be expected that you're different. But they're going to be so happy to have you back," Felicity reassured him, reaching out to gently caress his scruffy jaw. "Just like I am. It'll mean the world to Thea, especially."

"You know me better than anyone else, and you're unbelievably patient. What if they aren't like you? What if they can't understand why I never reached out?"

"Honestly, I'll probably be the one they're most mad at," Felicity confessed. The little worried crinkle between her brows deepened. "You were stuck in hell, Oliver. There wasn't much you could do. I'm the one who's been lying to them all these years about my job. I didn't tell them when we reconnected or about being pregnant. Tommy's already upset with me. I can only imagine what he'll think when we tell him what's really going on. Or how my mom is going to react when she learns about Malcolm and my dad." She glanced down at Connor. "But mostly I'm worried about him. No matter how angry they are with me, I hope they can accept Connor. He's innocent in all of this."

"That's the one thing I don't doubt," Oliver said and pressed a comforting kiss to her palm. "Whatever they may feel about us, I know they wouldn't hold it against him. It's impossible not to fall immediately in love with Connor."

"That's true. He already has us wrapped around his tiny finger," she jokingly replied.

He stroked Connor's soft, round cheek and his heart swelled when their son smiled in his sleep. Oliver kissed him before returning his attention to Felicity. Her blue eyes were glassy, an ocean of tears ready to fall. But she didn't exactly appear sad.

"Talk to me, sweetheart," he implored.

"I love you, and I love Connor. You're both everything to me. So let's just promise that whatever happens today this"—she gestured between them—"is all that really matters."

He reached up to wipe away the moisture on her cheek and kissed the wet trail. "You're both everything to me, too, and I promise that we'll get through this together. We're a team." He kissed her lips. "I love you so much. Nothing will change that."

They kissed until Connor stirred. He let out a tiny yawn before his sleepy eyes opened.

"Hey, morning, munchkin," Felicity greeted in a soft voice. She kissed the crown of his head and patted his back.

Connor lifted his head and took them in. When Oliver tickled his chin, Connor let out a breathless laugh and smiled again. Within seconds, he was wide awake and squirming. His little hands reached for Felicity's chest and tugged at the strap of her nightgown.

"Someone's hungry," she giggled as he made gibberish pleas.

"Can't say I blame him. I want the same thing when I first wake up," Oliver chuckled. That earned him a smack on the arm, but it was worth the blush that colored Felicity's cheeks. "How about you stay here and feed him while I make us breakfast in bed?"

Felicity sat up and positioned Connor to nurse. "That sounds wonderful."

He watched them for a minute, in awe of the connection between mother and baby. Oliver no longer felt like an outsider looking in. He shared that familial connection with them, too, and it was the best feeling in the world. With a final kiss to them both, he got up and grabbed his robe to head down to the kitchen. They surely had a long day ahead, but they were going to take advantage of the calm and quiet moments when they came. These, after all, were the moments worth fighting for.


Gnawing on her lower lip, Felicity contemplated for the hundredth time that day what she was going to say to her family. A quick glance at the clock told her they'd be arriving any minute now—assuming Sara and Mei were able to coax them to the Queen mansion. Felicity had called her mom and Thea this morning and said she had something important to tell them. Since Tommy currently wasn't speaking to her, Mei—who agreed it was time to tell Tommy about her involvement, too, or else risk losing him—promised to convince him to come.

Felicity and Oliver—along with input from Sara and Dig—had decided the meeting needed to be last-minute. They couldn't risk Donna or Thea telling Malcolm or anyone else where they were going if they had advanced warning. Not to mention Tommy, who would probably call his snooping private detective. Felicity just hoped they wouldn't make too much of a fuss when Sara and Mei led them through the underground tunnels of the mansion. The risk was too great if they were seen entering the main gates. Oliver trusted his men, but they couldn't take any chances that someone would report the suspicious activity back to Darhk or Malcolm. This was too important.

When Felicity heard voices in the hallway, she sprang from her seat. Out of habit, she pushed her glasses back up her nose and fiddled with her ponytail. Her entire body vibrated with nervous energy, and she hoped she could keep it together long enough to explain herself. She feared the words would just burst forth, and she'd inevitably say something wrong or spew it out in a babbling mess of incoherency.

"I haven't been here in years," Donna's approaching voice echoed through the hall. "Was it really necessary to take the tunnels? Felicity didn't mention anything about creepy tunnels. I think I still feel a spider web somewhere on my back. I hate spiders!"

"How come I never knew about the tunnels?" Thea added. "And why are the coverings off of the furniture and paintings? Did Malcolm say he was going to reopen the manor?"

Tommy piped in, "If Felicity has nothing to hide, what's with all the secrecy?"

"Who said Felicity was hiding anything?" Donna replied. "She just said she had something important to tell us."

"Why here, though?" Thea's voice was solemn—being in her childhood home probably brought back memories, and not all of them pleasant.

Finally, the trio entered the living room with Sara and Mei in tow. Facing them, Felicity's heart raced. How she wished Oliver could be by her side right now! But they'd agreed to ease their family into the truth. The sight of Oliver would shock them, and they'd be in a complete tizzy. Felicity had a few things she needed to say first.

"Thank you all for coming." Her gaze lingered on Tommy, who looked to be fastidiously scrutinizing her. His suspicions were undoubtedly at an all-time high now.

"Felicity, honey, what is going on?" her mother questioned.

"And why are we in my family's house?"

"Is this where you've been staying?" Tommy rightly assumed.

"Yes, I've been staying here at the mansion since my return. And I promise to explain everything," she quickly stated before they could bombard her with more questions.

"Everything?" Tommy repeated with a probing stare.

"Yes, everything," Felicity emphasized.

Thea frowned and glanced between them. "I am so confused."

"Me too," Donna agreed.

"Please have a seat," Felicity directed.

When they hesitated, Sara and Mei came forward to do as she asked. That prompted the trio to follow. Donna and Thea sat together on the long couch. Tommy took the single chair, notably keeping his distance from Mei, who was on the loveseat next to Sara. Felicity had asked them beforehand to remain in the room, since they were both involved in what Felicity was about to reveal. Also, she could use the added support. Dig, though out of sight, stood outside in the foyer to make sure none of the guards passed through and overheard.

Felicity remained standing. She took a deep breath before beginning. "I asked you all to come here today because there's something you need to know about me. I'm sure you've all noticed over time that I'm very private about certain aspects of my life. Actually, secretive is probably a better word. Because I have been keeping secrets from you—all of you—for a few years now."

Donna's confusion morphed to concern. "What kind of secrets? Hon, you're being awfully cryptic, and I have to say it's really freaking me out."

"Me, too," Thea said. "Are you all right? Are you in trouble or something?"

"Yes and no." Felicity took another much-needed deep breath. Her heart raced again, and a slight tremor ran through her. Her voice, thankfully, remained steady. "I don't work for Brighton Tech. I mean, I did work for Brighton Tech but Bright Tech isn't actually Brighton Tech. It was just a cover for my real job."

"Our real job," Mei spoke up.

For the first time, Tommy acknowledged Mei. "Which is?"

"We work—or I used to work—for a secret government agency called A.R.G.U.S. I was a cyber-intelligence analyst, and I was part of the leading team in the agency with Mei," Felicity revealed.

"I'm still an agent," the brunette informed them.

"So you're like…James Bond or something?" Thea asked. "Do you guys go on missions and catch bad guys?" To Felicity's surprise, she actually sounded intrigued by the prospect.

"Yes, that's basically what we did. Our agency and missions are classified. That's why I couldn't exactly tell you guys too much about my job or coworkers. It's also why you couldn't get into the building to visit me." Felicity directed that to Donna, who had tried on a few occasions to surprise her for lunch. "When I was traveling for 'tech conferences,' I was usually involved in some kind of operation overseas. I didn't want to lie to you guys, but it's always been part of the job—both for your safety and mine."

"So is that why you haven't been around this past year?" Donna inquired. "Were you on another mission? Have you ever been shot at? Gosh, I thought my baby was just some techie genius. Now I find out she's a super spy…"

"I'm not a super spy, Mom—"

"No wonder you covered your tracks so easily," Tommy muttered. His hard expression had softened as he clearly tried to process this revelation. "Markus suspected whoever helped you was either government trained or a criminal mastermind."

"Who's Markus?"

"The private investigator he hired to track me," Felicity answered while staring down her stepbrother.

"You hired a private investigator to spy on Felicity!" Thea exclaimed.

Donna was just as outraged. "And you didn't even tell us!"

Tommy at least had the decency to look somewhat embarrassed. "As she just said herself, she was keeping secrets from us. I was concerned about her, and clearly my suspicions were right," he defended before turning to Felicity. "Would you honestly be telling us all of this right now if I hadn't done it?" He directed his challenge to Mei, too, but she let Felicity respond.

"Not right away," the blonde admitted.

"See!"

"But I was going to tell you when the time was right. It just so happens that it came sooner rather than later. There's more to the story, though."

"How much more?"

"A lot." Now came the real bombshell, she thought. Felicity squeezed her fingers together to calm the tremors and continued, "You see, I was recruited by the agency right out of college. I agreed to work for the government because I wanted to do something big and important in my life. I wanted to help people."

"Nothing wrong with that. It's really kind of awesome when you think about it," Thea reassured her. "Have you ever needed to shoot a gun?"

"Don't answer that," Donna interjected. "If I know you have to handle weapons, I'm just going to worry about you even more than I already do."

"I did most of the shooting," Mei explained. "Felicity handled computers and comms for us."

That seemed to calm Donna. "Oh, good."

Felicity sent Mei a nod of thanks.

"Do you have a gun in our apartment?" Tommy asked Mei.

"Several," she admitted. "I have to be armed at all times."

His eyes widened. "Where?"

"Guys, Felicity isn't done," Thea reminded them.

The blonde pressed on, "As I was saying, a big part of my decision to join was to help people. But I also had another motive. Working for the government meant I'd have unlimited resources at my disposal. Resources I could use to investigate something we'd all been wanting to know the answer to for a very long time."

Thea was the first one to put the pieces together. "You wanted to find out what happened to Oliver and my parents."

Felicity nodded. "The truth is I never stopped loving Oliver, and I've never been good at letting mysteries go. I at least had to try. For almost five years I dug up all I could about what happened to the Gambit. Mei helped, too."

"You did?" Tommy asked his girlfriend, his expression softening ever so slightly.

"I told you about my father and sister. I knew what Felicity was going through. We tried to help each other."

"Felicity…" Donna trailed off. For once, words escaped her. But her eyes were beaming with pride.

"Did you ever find out the truth?" Thea pressed. Despite the eagerness of her voice, her intense blue eyes were filled with trepidation. Felicity recognized the source, having experienced it many times herself: hope mixed with fear of disappointment. "Did you find them? Are they…" She couldn't bring herself to finish.

She met Thea's penetrating stare and declared, "I found Oliver. He's alive."


Oliver rolled up the sleeves of his dark gray, V-neck sweater. It felt like a thousand degrees in the foyer where he stood, listening as Felicity began telling their family about her real job at A.R.G.U.S. Her voice was composed, but he knew firsthand how incredibly anxious she was on the inside. Oliver thought his emotions had been tumultuous this morning, but now that he was so close to being reunited with his family, it felt like he was having some sort of out of body experience.

His palms sweated and his mind had trouble processing. At times, all he could focus on was the sound of Felicity's voice as the words went in one ear and out the other. He'd never dared to get this close to Thea before, and yet just a single wall separated them now. Every time she spoke, his heart soared before thudding erratically in his chest. Oliver's stomach was in knots, and he couldn't stop himself from imagining a myriad of scenarios for how potentially well or disastrous this might actually go.

Felicity was right when she said they'd be thrilled to have him back. But it was difficult to shake the fear of their expectations; Oliver was no longer the brother or best friend they remembered. When he and Felicity shared the rest of the story, what would they think of him?

"Breathe, man," instructed a deep voice behind him.

Forgetting Dig's presence, Oliver startled. Then he took a few breaths, because he really did need them after the rest of his limited oxygen supply had whooshed out.

"You deserve this," Dig encouraged and placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's finally time."

"Thanks," he replied, hoping his tone conveyed that it was for more than just this moment.

Felicity's voice pulled his attention back to the living room. "I found Oliver. He's alive."

They were silent for a few seconds. Then Thea, Tommy, and Donna all started talking and asking questions at once. Felicity did her best to quiet them before calling for Oliver.

"He's here?" Tommy asked.

Utter silence followed as Oliver approached the living room. This was it. A moment seven years in the making—when his dream of returning home to his family would finally come true. He paused in the doorway, taking one last second to center himself, and crossed the threshold.

"Holy shit, he is here," his best friend muttered.

Donna gasped and held her hands over her mouth while staring in wonder.

Immediately, Oliver's eyes honed in on his sister. Thea. She stood, allowing Oliver to see how much she'd grown over the years. Her brown hair was shorter and her face more mature, but her frame was still small and willowy. From what Felicity had told him, he had no doubt her fiery spirit and pure heart also remained.

"Hey, sis," he greeted thickly, breaking the silence. He stood next to Felicity, unsure of whether to approach his sister or give her more time to process.

"Ollie," Thea whispered, and then made the decision for him. She crossed the short distance and threw herself into his arms. He caught her and hugged her so tightly, there was no telling where he ended and she began. "I knew you were alive. I knew it! I missed you so much." Her hot tears soaked his neck, and he suddenly became aware of his own.

Oliver looked to Felicity, who was also overcome with emotion. She kept her distance to allow them their moment. "You were with me the entire time, Speedy," he murmured to his sister, rubbing her back as she clung to him.

He kissed her hair and cheek and drew away to get a better look at her. "You're all grown up." He affectionately tapped her nose. "Nice nose ring."

"I told you I'd eventually get a real one," Thea teased, wiping at her tears.

"You look beautiful, Thea," Oliver said more seriously. "Mom and Dad would be in awe of you, too."

She frowned. "So they're not…?"

Oliver shook his head. "I'm sorry."

Her eyes watered again, but she managed a smile. "Well, I'm so thankful to have you back, Ollie." Afterward, she addressed Felicity. "And thank you for never giving up on finding him."

When Thea released him to also give Felicity a hug, Tommy stepped up. "Buddy…" he trailed off.

Not knowing what to do at first, they shook hands—which then turned into a bear hug with them chuckling at how ridiculously formal they were being.

"It's so good to have you back. We missed you, brother."

"I missed you all, too."

"Oh, Oliver, honey," Donna squealed. "Welcome home." She gave him a hug and kiss on the cheek before taking his face between her hands. "Gosh, you're even more ruggedly handsome now. The scruff really works for you."

"Mom," Felicity warned.

Oliver laughed and reached for Felicity. He gave her a soft, quick kiss that had Donna sighing. It felt so unbelievably freeing to take a moment with her while their family and friends watched. He left his arm around her waist, not ready to let her go anytime soon.

"Sara, aren't you going to—" Tommy said and gestured to Oliver.

She cut him off, "We already had our little reunion a while ago."

"You did? When? You have to tell us everything, Ollie," Thea declared. "Where you were, what you were doing, how Felicity found you…"

"We will," Oliver assured his sister. "There's still a lot you don't know." He exchanged a loaded look with Felicity. "We should probably take a seat first, though."

Oliver sat between Felicity and Thea on the larger couch. It seemed neither woman was ready to let him go—Felicity held one hand while Thea clutched his arm—and he was completely fine with that.

Felicity listened as Oliver recounted the night the Queen's Gambit went down. While he spoke, her free hand rubbed his back. She remembered how difficult it was for him to tell her this story. It was probably more so retelling it to Thea, who had no idea about her parents. Felicity noticed that Oliver didn't mention anything about Robert making it onto the raft and taking his own life. He probably didn't want to upset Thea with such a disturbing detail, which she understood. The young brunette already shed plenty of tears while hearing about that night and Oliver's journey to the island.

"So were you on the island this entire time?" Tommy spoke up. He added to Felicity, "How were you eventually able to track him down?"

Now came the hard and complicated part.

"Actually, even though I was always looking for Oliver, I didn't find him. I mean, technically, I found him by accident. Or, rather, he found me," she nervously babbled.

Donna, clearly confused, replied, "Huh?"

After an encouraging hand squeeze from Oliver, she tried again. "Mei and our team were on a mission in Moscow a couple of years ago. I was in a casino purposefully trying to get caught counting cards, so I'd be taken to the owner. He was involved in some shady dealings that we had to stop. My cover was almost blown, but Oliver stepped in and saved me."

"So how did you get from Lian Yu to Russia?" Tommy inquired.

Thea was even more unsettled by that revelation. "You said this was two years ago. So you got off the island and didn't come home?" She looked to Felicity and demanded, "You knew he was alive this long and didn't say anything?"

"Can we go back to the part where you were purposely trying to be captured by evil Russians or whatever?" Donna asked. She whirled on Mei. "And how could you let her do that alone?"

Mei hadn't expected such a question and was taken aback.

"Mom, the team was there covering me," Felicity stated—coming to Mei's rescue—before Donna really started freaking out.

Oliver went on, "It wasn't like Castaway. I wasn't alone on the island. There were dangerous people there. People that I later found out Mom and Dad were also connected to. Lian Yu was a base for an organization called H.I.V.E."

Explaining H.I.V.E. and his situation on the island was met with even more questions from their family. Oliver figured it would be a long process, and it took almost an hour to catch them up on his parents' involvement and the Bratva connection—and even then he'd scratched only the surface of the truth. Felicity let him do most of the talking on this. Even though she didn't have much to say, her touch grounded him and offered silent support.

"I can't believe this. How could Mom and Dad be involved in something like this?" Thea lamented. "It's like we never knew them at all."

"They made a lot of mistakes," Oliver agreed. "They saw Starling City descending into chaos with crime and corruption—some of it they were involved in themselves—and were convinced that H.I.V.E., led by Damien Darhk, could get everyone back in line. Before Dad died, he told me he wanted me to right his wrongs. I think they were already in too deep when they realized what a grave mistake they made."

Not buying his explanation, she retorted. "Who 'convinced' them? They were adults and should've known right from wrong."

Felicity decided it was her turn to step in. She met Thea and Tommy's intense stares before focusing on her mother. She would most definitely take this the hardest. "Malcolm got involved with H.I.V.E. and brought them in. He's still a part of the organization." She was quick to say, "Mom, I swear I didn't know about Malcolm until just a few weeks ago."

Donna turned pale. She opened her mouth to speak a couple of times but abruptly closed it. Although Tommy and Thea appeared livid by this revelation, they didn't say anything either—sensing Donna needed a moment. Finally her mother said, "I knew it. I didn't know what it was, but I just had this horrible feeling that something was off lately. All the odd hours, calls, and business trips. I thought maybe Malcolm was having an affair. When I confronted him, he dismissed it. Said I was watching too many soap operas and reality TV."

"Mom," Felicity said, her tone full of sympathy. She'd had no idea her mother had any suspicions at all about Malcolm, or that they had marital problems. Apparently, Felicity wasn't the only one keeping secrets about her relationship.

Donna shook her head. "I wish it was an affair. That would've been better than this."

A knot formed in the pit of Felicity's stomach. "Mom, there's something else." She took her mother's hand, and Donna instinctively squeezed back. "It wasn't by chance that you met and married Malcolm. He was ordered to seek you—seek us out. Damien Darhk, the man Oliver just told you about, I met him recently and I recognized him. His alias was Noah Smoak. It's Dad."

"What?" Donna gasped, her grip turning vise-like.

"He was a member of H.I.V.E. before taking it over. That's when he left us, and I've learned that he's been keeping tabs on us ever since. He has a long list of enemies, and he eventually asked Malcolm to marry you to 'keep us safe.' The same person responsible for the Gambit sinking was also going to target us."

Tommy laughed, but it was completely devoid of humor. "I always knew my father was a bastard," he muttered in disgust. "I just didn't realize how much."

"I thought it was the storm that made the Gambit sink. You're saying it was sabotaged?" Thea cut in.

Felicity kept her attention on Donna. Her mother's eyes were glassy as she stared ahead, lost in her own thoughts. "Mom, I am so sorry. Are you all right?"

"It's not your fault, sweetie," she eventually said, although she sounded distracted. "I need a minute, I think." Donna didn't leave the room, but she stood up and walked over to the large windows.

Felicity's anger at both Darhk and Malcolm reignited. She hated seeing her mother in pain. The depth of betrayal Donna must be feeling was all too familiar to Felicity.

Oliver pulled her into his side, and she clung to him. "It's not you. You did the right thing telling her," he whispered into her ear. "She just needs to process."

The blonde nodded and wiped at the few tears that had fallen. Oliver took over the conversation yet again, and she was thankful for the reprieve.

Picking up where Felicity left off, Oliver filled Tommy and Thea in on the backstory with Amanda Waller. He recounted how—without going into the gory details—he and Felicity were reunited after Moscow and the events that unfolded. He explained about Malcolm wanting him to spy on Felicity for information and spending his nights as The Arrow to atone for the sins he'd committed while in service to H.I.V.E.

That's when Sara jumped in and told them about him helping to take down Brodeur. Shock overtook Tommy once again as he listened intently. The deep creases in his forehead revealed his efforts to absorb all of the information. But gratitude shined from his eyes as well.

Oliver recounted the rest—from Mei telling Felicity about H.I.V.E. and her leaving to what they'd recently learned about Waller's revenge. Donna, at one point, returned to her seat next to Felicity. She didn't speak much but reached for her daughter's hand. Despite her heavy silence, Donna's gesture and silent support of her daughter brought some relief. Felicity also suspected her mother needed the support in return.

"Damn, this is some serious James Bond versus Spectre shit," Tommy said with a whistle. He shook his head and rubbed his eyes. "That explains why we never met Aaron, though. He was you."

Oliver nodded. "You should know that Felicity desperately wanted to tell you guys about me"—he squeezed her shoulder—"but I asked her not to. She was respecting my decision."

"But why, Ollie?" Thea replied. "Why take all this on yourself? We could've helped you instead of letting all these wasted years go by."

"These people are dangerous, Thea. They're killers," he stressed. "I didn't want to bring you into this. I wanted to be out of H.I.V.E. and free and clear of the Bratva before I came home—assuming it was ever possible."

She pointed out, somewhat dejectedly, "You trusted Felicity. You still went to her even before Malcolm and Darhk made you spy on her."

"Felicity was trained and backed by A.R.G.U.S. She could handle herself," he stated matter-of-factly. Then his voice softened. "But I also didn't expect her to come back into my life. I'm glad she did, though, because I probably wouldn't be here right now with all of you if it wasn't for the fact that I couldn't let her go." The pair shared a loving look. "I'd resigned myself to my fate, but she believed in me and urged me to keep fighting to get my life back. I tried to protect her, too, and I was wrong in not telling her the truth. I won't do that to her or any of you again." Oliver patted Thea's hand and reassured her, "Despite how everything unfolded, it doesn't mean I didn't miss you any less either, Speedy."

That last comment seemed to placate Thea, and she offered Oliver a timid smile.

"We've both made mistakes," Felicity spoke up. "We don't want to repeat the past, and we hope that you can forgive us—although we'll understand if it takes some time. Please just know that all we've ever wanted is to keep you safe."

"And we'll continue to do so, no matter what it takes," Oliver stated.

It was difficult to get a read on the trio, especially since they all seemed to be in various states of shock and working through everything they'd just learned. However, Felicity took it as a good sign that no yelling or stomping out of the room had occurred. Although there was still one last significant piece of the puzzle they had yet to share.

"How can we help?" Tommy asked after a moment of silence passed.

Felicity, taken aback, replied, "What do you mean?"

"Now that we know what's going on, you can let us in on the plan," Thea stated. "We're grateful that you've protected us, but we're not going to let you guys keep doing this on your own."

At Felicity's shake of her head, Donna piped up, "It's not just your fight anymore, sweetie. It's ours, too. If Malcolm and your deadbeat father think they can get away with manipulating us for their evil agenda, they've got another thing coming." She raised her chin in defiance.

"We appreciate that, but—" Oliver began.

"Don't you dare say it's too dangerous, Ollie," Thea interrupted. "After what you've told us, it's always been that way. We're just more aware of it now. Waller and all these other psychos need to be stopped."

"We're not fighters like you," Tommy amended, "but we can be your eyes and ears if Malcolm doesn't suspect us. Just like what Mei's doing with Waller now."

"Felicity, honey, why are you crying?" Donna suddenly asked her daughter.

Oliver tightened his hold on her and murmured, "You okay, sweetheart?"

The tears she'd been holding back throughout this entire emotional conversation came in full force now. Sniffling, Felicity wiped at her wet cheeks. "Sorry. I'm okay," she reassured them all. "I just…I didn't expect this. I thought you'd be furious and hate me for lying."

Donna ran her fingers soothingly through Felicity's ponytail. "We could never hate you, and why would we? You are not responsible for Noah—Darhk's actions. I'll probably never get a good night's sleep again knowing what you do for a living, but I couldn't be more proud of you"—she smiled at Oliver—"both of you for how you've fought back."

"We're not happy about all the lies, but we understand what you're up against," Tommy agreed.

"My mom used to always say there's nothing more important than family, and she was right about that, at least. We're family," Thea declared, "and families stick together."

"Thank you for saying that." Oliver smiled at his sister and nodded to the others. Afterward, he shared a silent agreement with Felicity that it was time to tell them their final secret. He still felt the tension in her entire body and ran his hand along her back. His touch seemed to calm her at least a little bit.

"There's one last thing we have to tell you," Felicity announced, "and it'll change everything."

"Even more than what you already told us?" Tommy incredulously questioned.

"I'm still trying to wrap my head around Dr. Evil and Number Two," Thea muttered.

The blonde smiled at the quip, which wasn't all that far off, before becoming serious once more. "There was another reason why I left Starling and stayed away."

"You said you were worried about Waller and didn't know what side Ollie was on."

"True, but that's not the main reason I left." Felicity exchanged looks with Sara and Mei, who both gave her encouraging nods. Oliver, meanwhile, kept rubbing gentle circles into the small of her back. "If I was wrong about who to trust, I could've been captured or worse. I couldn't risk it because…" She took a deep yet shaky breath. "I was pregnant."

"What?" Donna exclaimed.

"I thought I had the flu at the time, but I was pregnant. When I got checked by one of our coworkers who's a doctor, she told me. Mei found out, and that's why she defied orders and warned me that A.R.G.U.S. was after me. I confided in Sara, and that's also why I asked her to come with me to Ivy Town. I was scared and didn't want to be pregnant and alone."

"I'm glad you did tell me," Sara spoke up. "You did so much for me. It's the least I could do for you. Plus, I'm a cop. No way was I going to let my best friend face all that in her condition."

"My God, I can't believe this," Donna mumbled and wiped at her own tears. "You had a baby, and I wasn't there. I'm a grandma, and I had no idea."

"Mom, I'm so sorry," Felicity apologized for what felt like the hundredth time. "I must sound like a broken record by now, but it doesn't make my remorse any less true. You have to know that my decision wasn't about not trusting any of you, it was about protecting the baby no matter what. I couldn't let A.R.G.U.S. or H.I.V.E. have even the slightest clue of where I was or what I was doing. And if they thought you knew, they could've targeted you."

"Waller had you all under surveillance in case Felicity slipped up," Mei confirmed. "If Oliver hadn't made a deal to help us, I'm not sure what she would've done to draw Felicity out."

"Is that why we were together?" Tommy sounded more dejected than angry.

Mei held his stare and replied, "No. I'm with you because I love you. You're not an assignment."

"You lied to me."

"I was protecting you."

"That seems to be the primary excuse today," he bitterly retorted.

"Doesn't mean it's not true," she defended.

"This is too much," Donna suddenly sighed.

"Mom—"

"This isn't right, and I'm not blaming you. I'm just so heartbroken," she cried, "that it's gotten to this point. That all the lies you told to keep us safe are causing so much pain now. That my daughter had to hide her own child from us and go through a pregnancy and birth mostly alone."

"So if you only told Sara and Mei and didn't meet up with Oliver again until recently then…" Thea frowned as she worked out the details. "You kept the pregnancy from my brother, too."

"Yes, I did," Felicity tentatively answered. She noticed the anger building in the other woman's eyes and braced herself. "I thought I was doing what was best at the time."

Thea glared at her. "You didn't tell him or try to question him at all. You've loved him all this time and yet the one time he needed you to believe in him, you just left and took his baby with you? How could you?!"

"Thea," Oliver warned but was interrupted by Donna.

"As a single mother, I've been there. I know exactly what it's like to feel betrayed by the man you love. When a child is involved, there is nothing a mother won't do to protect it. I won't deny that I'm upset, too, but Felicity did what she had to do," Donna defended.

"But Ollie didn't betray her. If she was pregnant, she owed it to him and the baby to find out the truth. If she had, then she wouldn't have had to run and we might've all been together sooner," the petite brunette argued.

Felicity confessed in a small voice, "That will always be my greatest regret."

"Whether Felicity told me right away or not, we'd still be in this mess, Thea," Oliver declared, keeping his voice calm and even.

Thea stood up and folded her arms, glaring down at her brother. "You missed the birth of your own child because of what she did, Oliver. How can you be defending her right now?"

Oliver stood up to face her. "Whatever you're feeling, I assure you that I've already felt a hundred times over. Felicity and I both had reasons for what we did, and we've acknowledged our mutual mistakes. We've worked through all of this in the past weeks and have forgiven each other."

With her eyes glistening, Thea huffed out, "Well, it might take me a little longer."

A heavy silence fell over the room. Oliver understood his sister's—and Tommy and Donna's, for that matter—anger. Although he believed Thea really was upset over Felicity hiding her pregnancy, he also got the sense she was overwhelmed by everything and lashing out. She needed someone to blame, and Felicity served that purpose. That didn't mean, however, that he would just let her take it all out on his girlfriend.

"Take the time you need but just know that she's the reason our child has remained safe. She's made sacrifices, too," he stressed.

Tommy, who'd fallen silent, finally spoke. "Can we at least see our niece or nephew?"

Donna's mood instantly brightened. "Yes! Is the baby here? Can we please see him or her? Is it a girl or a boy?" she fired off in rapid succession.

"It's a boy," Felicity revealed. "His name is Connor."

Donna squealed. "Oh my God, I have a grandson! And your bigger boobs totally make sense now. You're breastfeeding, right?"

Felicity flushed. "Mom!"

"What? Breastfeeding is one of the most natural experiences in the world. I tried breastfeeding you, but you had issues latching on." She said to the others, "You see, if the nipple—"

A chorus of uncomfortable groans echoed in the room.

Tommy muttered, "I never thought I'd hear the word 'nipple' and be less turned on in my life…"

"Sweetheart, why don't you go get Connor?" Oliver suggested before Donna could get into the gory details. Tommy already looked pale. Also, it would allow Felicity to leave for a few minutes, and he sensed she needed time to recollect herself. "He's with Raisa in the nursery," he told the others.

"Raisa?" Thea repeated. "As in our Raisa?"

Felicity stood and gave Oliver a grateful look. She knew he was giving her a momentary reprieve, and it filled her with relief. Despite anticipating her family's shock and anger, it still hurt that Thea thought the worst of her. Felicity, however, forced a smile when Oliver kissed her cheek and then quickly left the room.

"You all right?" Dig asked when she passed by. He reached for a tissue on the side table and handed it to her.

A mirror hung over it, and Felicity caught sight of her appearance. Her eyes were red and a little puffy. Tear tracks also stained her cheeks. "Frack, I'm a mess."

"It's a lot to deal with at once." He cleared his throat and added, "Not to eavesdrop or anything, but I heard some of what happened in there. You're handling it like a champ."

"Thanks, Dig." She quickly freshened up before saying, "I better get Connor. I know my mom and if she has to wait any longer, she'll burst."

"My eardrums might, too." He made a show of rubbing his ear. "I think I've figured out where Connor's volume comes from."

She giggled. "Me too."

Felicity proceeded to the nursery. Raisa sat with Connor on the floor as he played with his toys and crawled around. She took a moment to simply watch them and calm down. Dig's reassurance had helped, and she reminded herself that the worst part was over.

"Is it time?" Raisa questioned.

"It is." Felicity rubbed Lucky's head when he approached her. Connor finally noticed her and smiled while crawling to her. It was such a simple gesture, and yet it meant so much to see her son light up in her presence. No matter what the others thought, she just had to repeat to herself that her son was happy and healthy despite the chaos unfolding around him.

Felicity picked him up, giving him a loving squeeze before showering him with kisses. Once again, she was grateful Oliver let her take a moment. She definitely needed it.

"Here, take this." Raisa handed her Sir Quackers. "It might be a lot for him with so many people downstairs."

"You're welcome to join us, Raisa," Felicity offered. "I'm sure Thea would love to see you."

"I would love to see her, too, but I can wait. Go be with your family."

With a deep breath, Felicity ventured back downstairs. She clutched Connor tightly in her arms, drawing strength from her little munchkin. Lucky, of course, followed closely. Felicity heard her mother's impatient voice from the foyer, and Dig looked like he was trying not to laugh.

"This is it," she whispered. Connor, meanwhile, played with her hair and tried to speak—which just came out as adorable nonsense.

"Oh my God, I think I heard him!" Donna exclaimed.

After pressing her lips to her son's head once more, Felicity reentered the living room. Donna squealed in excitement when she saw them. Connor whipped around to stare at her and also let out a playful screech. He thought it was a game and kept mimicking Donna.

"Look, he likes me!"

"Mom," Felicity warned, "can you tone it down? He has little ears, and we're going to go deaf between the two of you."

Donna lowered her volume but continued to gush over him. "Look how adorable he is! I just knew I'd have beautiful grandbabies!"

"You guys got a dog, too?" Thea questioned and bent down to pet a cautiously sniffing Lucky.

"Jeez, not only is my best friend back from the dead but now he's gone full nuclear family on me," Tommy joked. "What's next?" Shaking his head, he amended, "You know what? Save it until after I've had a strong drink."

Felicity watched Oliver kiss the baby's head in almost the exact same spot she had earlier. He then wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled them both into his side. It brought yet another wave of calm that she needed.

"Okay, everyone, this is our son, Connor Jonas Queen," Felicity announced.

She shot a quick look to Oliver, whose head had snapped back in her direction when she used the baby's full name. They hadn't discussed Connor's last name, and there really was no need in her opinion. She might've given their baby a different name as an alias in Ivy Town, but he was a Queen through and through.

Felicity smiled up at Oliver when he gave her a loving squeeze and continued in a tender tone, "Connor, this is your family, and they're really excited to see you. Meet your grandma and your Auntie Thea and Uncle Tommy." She pointed at each person, and they waved at him to claim his attention. "And you already know Auntie Sara and Mei."

"Wow, he's so…" Thea's eyes shined with tears. "God, he's seriously the cutest baby I've ever seen."

"Look how alert he is," Tommy observed. "He just waved at me! He's not shy at all."

Felicity said, "He loves people."

"Definitely didn't get that from Oliver," Thea teasingly muttered.

"Can I hold him?" Donna didn't wait for an answer and already made a beeline for Connor. "Come to Grandma, baby."

The older woman swiped him from Felicity's arms so fast, the younger blonde barely registered what happened. She was simply left with Sir Quackers and a chuckling Oliver next to her. Thea moved next to Donna and started cooing at her nephew.

"I guess my babysitting competition just got real," Sara joked.

While the women fussed over Connor, Tommy approached Felicity. Much to her surprise, he reached out and drew her into a hug. "Congratulations," he whispered into her ear.

"For what?" she couldn't help asking.

"You've always loved Oliver, and you have him back along with the baby. I'm happy for you."

"Thank you," she hugged him fiercely back, "and I really am sorry."

"I know you are."

"Are we okay?" She pulled away to look at him.

"I still need some time to wrap my head around all of this." He briefly glanced over at Mei, who was talking with Sara on the couch while trying to subtly check out Tommy in return. "But, yes, we're okay. And you don't have to worry about the detective anymore. I'll call him off."

"Thanks."

"Glad to have you back, too, man," Tommy said to Oliver and gave him another hug. "But now you have another problem to deal with."

Oliver frowned. "What's that?"

"Donna is never giving you guys that baby back."

Donna bounced Connor on her hip while they both made silly noises at each other. Meanwhile, Lucky lay on his back as Thea rubbed his belly. They were quite the sight.

Felicity smiled and leaned into Oliver's side, feeling an overwhelming sense of relief—which was a miracle in and of itself after the roller coaster of emotions she'd been on all day. Tommy wasn't wrong about Donna. It would take the Jaws of Life to pry Connor away from her mother, but it was a small price to pay to see a smile on her face after the day they'd all had. They deserved to take this moment. Their family finally knew the truth, and the fallout was only just beginning.