Author's note: so we are getting close to the end of the story... I have decided to do a sequel so hope you all enjoy the end of this one and should have it completed in the next week or so... final chapters will be posted with the first couple chapters of the sequel
Again please review and check out my polyvore for this story
Much love and thanks to my beta warehouseluver13 for all she has done
Disclosure: Wish I had a part ownership of Arrow but I don't
"So how did brunch with your future mother in law go?" A boastful voice asked as the footfalls on the stairs ended.
"Great. Donna had a great time and Thea enjoyed being able to just have a family again. We even had dinner with Donna and Walter last night." Oliver smiled as he stopped his training with the dummy and grabbed his towel to dry off the sweat that had gathered on his form. "Wait! How do you know about the engagement? Felicity didn't tell you and neither did I because neither of us have talked to you since we ran out on Sunday."
"One word. Thea! She had the entire team at the house Monday setting up everything. She even called Barry in from Central City."
"Oh." A shy grin curled on his lips as he thought back to that night and all that had happened. He knew he owed words of gratitude to the entire team for helping him give him and Felicity that perfect night.
"Congratulations by the way." Diggle slapped him on the shoulder while happily smiling at him. "Just so know you break her heart and what you have lived through the last 8 years will be heaven compared to what we will all do to you."
"Understood, Dig. I won't hurt her. I am trying to be better."
"Good she deserves a happy story in her life."
"And I am trying to give that to her. I just don't want to fuck this up."
"Well you are learning to make right when you fuck up. I mean your first proposal was terrible."
"Thea told you guys about that?"
"Just me. I needed to know why I couldn't call Felicity about the computers running their updates last night. She told me about everything from when you left Sunday to last night's dinner party."
Oliver bowed his head, ashamed of some of his actions and reactions over the last few days. He knew he needed to do better. Think before acting. Maybe even talk it out with Felicity, Thea or even Diggle first. Every time he acts before thinking things through fully, things only got worse after. "Sorry about all that."
"Hey man! I understand. If I watched Lyla be with another man, I would have been considering the several different ways to kill him in the most painful way."
"Oh I did that too. Ray is lucky he is missing right now. If not he would probably be in a cell next to Slade on that fuckin' island." Oliver and Diggle both chuckled a bit at the idea.
"I am just glad you guys finally talked. And I mean about everything. I don't need to know unless you want me to but you running around with all that happened to you on the island bottled up inside was never healthy for you. I started watching you over the last year, making sure we didn't lose you to that darkness. With Felicity being gone so much and the everything with Thea and Ra's, I was really scared for you man."
Oliver nodded his head slightly, dropping his gaze to the floor. He knew that this last year had been hard on him, but he never really knew how hard until he started to open up to Felicity about everything. "I know. Thanks for keeping me together this year. I know that isn't in your job description and you had plenty going on."
"It may not be in the bodyguard description but the partner and friend ones, it is definitely there." Diggle smiled softly at him as Oliver looked up at him, seeing a little of the old Diggle he had come to love as a brother over the years."So everything good on the home front?"
"Yep. Thea got Felicity moved in and stored the rest of her stuff away. Donna is enjoying staying at the hotel. They are all meeting up tomorrow for a girls shopping day. Walter has the company already in great shape. Thea is happy and elated with all the time she can now spend with her future sister-in-law."
"And Felicity?"
"She is happy I think. She was a little worried about her mom's visit but when Thea outed us at brunch, Donna became ecstatic about the wedding. She even gave me her blessings."
"Wow! That was a hell of a brunch."
"I never knew it could feel like this."Oliver sat down in Felicity's chair, pulling his shirt on before leaning back into the chair. "Like you were finally accepted for who you are. It still surprises me. I keep expecting to wake up alone on that damn island or in that godforsaken dungeon in Nanda Parbat."
"I know what you mean. Standing over Sara's crib, I can't believe I was lucky enough to have that. A kid and a wife that I love more than myself and would do anything for."
Oliver felt a pinch of guilt as it held tight to his heart like a vice grip. "I really am sorry about taking Lyla, Dig. If I had any other option, I would have taken it. I was stupid and didn't think everything out; like always. I seem to just jump without really thinking things over properly."
"Okay. Who are you and what have you done with Oliver "Control freak but closed off" Queen?"
Oliver rolled his eyes as his friend laughed at him. "I am trying to be better about a lot of things."
"It really is amazing what the right woman can do for a man." Diggle continued to laugh.
"Yea. Yeah." Oliver growled back, but a contented smile shown on his face. He knew that Diggle was right completely. He looked back at the computer, checking on the searches that were still running to find whatever evidence they could to tie the Reynolds' to Ken Shane and Irish mob of Starling City.
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"Okay. I have escaped the office for the day. I have to swing by tomorrow for a few moments but I think we have found the replacements for me and Jerry, since Walter has requested to use him until I return to work. Man, can Sally in HR talk a lot. And that means something if I'm commenting on it. It took me 30 minutes just to get out of her office after refilling all my paperwork. Which I will have to do again when we get married. Man I am not looking forward to that."
"Your marriage?" A young male voice asked that had her finally pull her eyes up from her tablet.
"No the paperwork. What are you doing here?"
"Well I heard about the company and all and wanted to check on you and Oliver. So I guess they left something out of that article I read. Something major too. You're engaged?"
Felicity walked over and wrapped her arms around the small male form. Roy was back. Even if it wasn't for good. He was here and had been keeping up with them. She had been drawn to him and had come to love him like a young brother. Of all the people she had expected to be in the Foundry that afternoon, Roy definitely was one of the last on that list. "Yes but it is very recent. When did you get here?"
She smiled as she pulled back to look at him, taking in every inch of his figure. He seemed to be happier. He looked as if he was still working and and eating well. The bag under his eyes were gone, showing instead a bright vibrant youthful pair of eyes. "I just got here. I didn't get time off until last night but I set off this morning. I'm here for the next two days."
"That's great! I'm sure everyone will be glad to see you. Well those that know you are still alive. Where are you staying?"
"Not sure yet. But let's get back to this engaged thing. He didn't do it as a ploy or anything? You don't have to be married to get the company or anything right?"
"No Roy! The company was mine before we got engaged and currently we have a couple bad guys were chasing but nothing concrete yet." Felicity rolled her eyes and laughed at Roy.
"Wait! Are you pregnant? I know you guys hooked up in Nanda Parbat after I left. Thea filled me in when she came to visit."
"Roy! Really?!" Felicity slapped his arm hard, upset that he would jump to that situation.
"What?"
"You really think that the only way Oliver would want to marry me is because I'm pregnant?"
"God no! I know he loves you. Shit that was easy to know over the last year. I saw him erupt here once. Turns out you had kissed Ray that night and he had gone to tell you had he felt about you. But you have to admit it is weird that he is jumping to sharing the company with you and marrying you so soon. You guys did just become a couple for real."
"Yes but Oliver has changed. I can't explain it but he is really trying to be with me, instead of pushing me away. We even sat around Sunday night and talked. He told me about things from his past and about the island years."
"Really?" The shock of this information was evident on Roy's face.
"I was just as surprised as you. He was willing to tell me. All of it. I still can't believe all that has happened. One minute I was thinking Oliver was going to run away again and I had finally broken my heart to the point past repair. Next thing I know, we are sitting down to dinner with Walter, Thea and my mom and talking about the house and possible travel plans during our vacation and shopping here in town before me, Oliver and my mom leave. My head has been spinning for weeks and I don't think it will stop anytime soon."
"Well good. I am glad he is finally stepping up. So do I get to see the ring?"
"Yes!" Felicity bounced in her chair as she dug through her purse to find it. Pulling it out, she slid it on her finger then held her hand out for him to look at.
"Nice. It's beautiful. And of course it's green."
"Hey, I love it. Plus it was his great grandmother's. It's a family heirloom. It has a story to it and all."
Roy smiled down at her, glad to see her fully happy for the first time in a year. "It's good to see you so happy. I missed this Felicity. She was always my favorite. Nauseating but my favorite." Felicity slapped his arm again playfully. A question had been bouncing in his head for the last few moments ts so he decided to ask, "Hey, what did you mean by 'Oliver was going to run away again and finally broken my heart to the point past repair.' Did something happen?"
Felicity bowed her head a bit, embarrassed by all that had happened but in a weird way grateful it did to. It caused her and Oliver to really open and talk. It all lead to the ring that was now shining on her finger. Felicity filled Roy on all that had occurred since he left., making sure not to leave out any major development but keeping out a few more personal details.
"So he saw the video and bolted? I'm surprised he didn't wind up killing some bad guy since he couldn't find Ray. I would still be careful when you guys do find him, Oliver can hold a grudge like it is nothing and you are very important to him so he will be out for blood."
"He's not the only one." Felicity mumbled under her breath, still slightly upset that she had been recorded like that.
"So that lead to you guys talking and him proposing. Man, he really has changed."
"Yes but only to be better for Felicity." Oliver stated from behind them. He had come into the Foundry from the back door, bags of food in hand. He walked over and sat them down on a nearby table, clearly away from Felicity's computer systems because she had perched about that in the past. Then he turned towards her, as she had stood and walked up to him to greet him, and leaned down to place a chaste kiss on her lips. "Hi."
"Hey! I was wondering where you had headed to."
"Diggle had to head home to check on Sara and Lyla. I tagged along then stopped on the way back with food. I ordered plenty because Thea, Nyssa and Laurel should be here soon." He turned to face Roy and reached a hand out for him. The younger man grasped it only to be pulled into his mentors embrace. "Good to see you, Roy. What are you doing?"
"I came to visit and see for myself the settled down and domesticated Oliver Queen."
"He saw the article about us and what to see what it was about."
"And I take it you have been filling him in." Oliver smiled as he lifted up her left hand, his ring displayed beautifully on her finger.
"I may have been rambling about all the paperwork I had to do with HR and how I am not looking forward to redoing it when we get married when I came down here. Roy heard it all so I had to tell him."
"Well it seems your sister has told everyone else."
"First of, she is your sister not mine. And secondly if you hadn't blurted out your proposal the first time, which I did like, then you wouldn't have had to redo it. I didn't really need the redo, I really like the first one."
"Yes but I never really asked you until that night."
"True."
Roy laughed as he watched the two bicker back and forth, just like they had previously. He could see the ease in Oliver's form and the twinkle of happiness in Felicity's eyes. He knew they really were content in their lives finally.
"So how long are you here, Roy?"
"Couple days. Why? Looking for a sparring partner?"
"I could use a change from Diggle yeah. But mostly just wondering how long we have you for." Oliver missed the younger man. He was like a younger brother and had a sense of humor and lightness that reminded him of Tommy in some ways.
"Well if Felicity is okay with it then you're on."
"How about we eat first, boys?"
Both of them nodded as they started to dig through the bags and fish out the food. While they ate, Felicity filled Oliver in on her day at work and Roy told them about what he had been doing since he left. Oliver also filled them in on the current standing with the Reynolds', explaining the background to Roy as needed.
