Hey guys, I'm so happy to finally be posting again. Thank you for your comments. This chapter is all flashbacks, which have been a long time coming. Special thanks to SassySnow1988 for her supremely helpful editorial feedback. Please read and let me know what you think!


Chapter 53: Wrecked

September 7, 2007

The crisp breeze drifting off the bay was a welcome relief against Oliver's burning skin. Though it was only the first week in September, there was a chill in the air that hadn't been there before. Summer was fading out as fall crept in. Oliver rubbed his hands together to release some of the extra tension. Meanwhile, his eyes darted between the yacht being prepped for departure and the busy street beyond the dock.

A few times his mother had watched him from above deck and called for him to come aboard. Oliver had declined and made a show of helping his dad and the crew. It was better to keep himself busy than to pace back and forth—kind of like he was doing now. Felicity would be arriving soon to join them on their voyage to China. She'd never been on a yacht before or to Asia, and he was excited to share these new experiences with her. But mostly, he couldn't wait to come clean to his parents and finally introduce Felicity as his girlfriend.

He was nervous, too. His parents, like everyone else, had always assumed that he and Laurel would end up together. Oliver worried they wouldn't see that what he had with Felicity was the real deal. He wanted so badly for his parents and Felicity to get along on this trip. His father was already a fan but as Oliver sneaked peeks of his mother's rather serious expression up on deck, he wasn't exactly sure how she'd take the news. However she reacted, he would just have to make it clear that he loved Felicity and emphasize the positive impact she'd had on him these last few months and would have on him in their future.

Checking his watch, Oliver let out a labored sigh. Felicity must be running late; she was supposed to meet him five minutes ago. His father said they'd be ready to cast off soon, and Oliver wasn't sure how long he could stall. Should he come right out and say that he was waiting for his girlfriend? Or should he keep it vague and say it was a friend? He'd hoped to get Felicity onboard and settled in first before they sat down to tell his parents.

Crossing his arms, Oliver felt like he might come out of his skin if Felicity didn't show soon. Then, finally, a taxi pulled up and parked along the street. A smile tugged at his lips until he realized the brunette who arrived wasn't the one he'd been expecting.

Laurel, his mind supplied. What the hell is she doing here?

He watched in confusion as she approached. A part of him felt the instinctive urge to bolt, though his feet remained glued to the wooden planks beneath his sneakers.

She was the first to speak. "Hi, Ollie."

He cleared his throat. "Hey."

"You're probably wondering what I'm doing here." Although she spoke in a steady voice, her hand shook as it jerkily tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Tommy said that you were going on a trip with your parents and I...I really needed to talk to you before you left."

"Uh, sure," he replied, totally confused and a little more than worried. It must be important if she'd chased him down to the docks.

"We have a lot of history together, obviously, and I know what you said the last time that we"—she hesitated, shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot—"got close in your room. But I can't help feeling like since that night that things between us are still unresolved."

"In what way?" Oliver questioned. He thought he'd made it pretty clear that night that they were over.

"I guess so much is changing so fast that it's hard to keep up."

That he could agree with. "Yeah."

"I really hate the way things are between us now, Ollie. You were one of my best friends for so long. Now we can barely speak to each other without it turning awkward."

Like right now, he couldn't help thinking.

"I know," he agreed. "But it's like you said, things have changed."

"Right. See the thing is…well…I've sort of been seeing someone," she blurted out.

Oliver's eyes widened. His ex was just full of surprises today. "Oh. Well, that's good. I'm happy for you, Laurel." When she didn't look any less relieved by that, he said, "But it doesn't seem like that's what you were hoping to hear."

"No. Maybe. I don't know." Laurel shook her head. "A part of me wants to move forward, and yet here I am talking to you."

His phone vibrated in his pocket, and Oliver knew it must be Felicity calling. As badly as he wanted to answer it, first he had to deal with Laurel. What if Felicity was on her way and saw them talking and got upset? What if Laurel saw Felicity arrive and got upset? He really didn't want any unnecessary drama to unfold right in front of his parents and spoil him introducing the woman he loved.

"Laurel, what exactly do you want from me?" Oliver asked frankly, though not unkindly. There was no use tiptoeing around the situation. "You don't exactly need my permission to move on."

"I know I don't need your permission," she replied in a frustrated huff, "even though the guy is someone you know." Laurel eyed him carefully, searching for some kind of reaction.

His phone vibrated in his pocket yet again, and he felt his patience wane. "Okay…so, what? You want me to guess? You want me to demand to know who it is?"

Her chin went up a fraction as she challenged, "You're not curious at all?"

"Honestly, no, I'm not." Okay, so maybe he was a tiny bit curious. But not enough to demand an answer that would no doubt lead to an argument, and definitely not enough to prolong this when Felicity could arrive any moment. "It's your life, Laurel. It's your choice to be with whoever you want."

"What if my heart is still telling me that person is you?" She hurriedly pressed on when he took an automatic step back. "Just hear me out. I got into law school—several, actually. I've been trying to decide where I want to go. The deadlines are almost up. One of them is SCU. I thought it might be nice to stay close to home, especially if you'll be here, too. We've never really been in the same place at the same time for school these last few years, and I think that was part of the problem. That's why we've always been so disconnected."

"Laurel—"

"If we can just start over, then I truly believe that—"

"Laurel, I'm moving to Boston," Oliver interrupted firmly.

She paled. "What?"

"After this trip, I'm moving to Boston and finishing my degree at Harvard."

"But Tommy said you were going to SCU."

"That's because I haven't told him yet. I've been trying to get everything in order first on my end. I was going to tell him when I got back."

"Why Harvard? You said were tired of your parents shipping you off to Ivy League schools," Laurel pointed out.

"I did say that, but now I've finally got my priorities straight. Harvard is a good school, and it's near the QC in Boston. My dad would like me to continue to learn about the company." Oliver paused, considering if he should reveal the main reason why he was moving. He wasn't entirely sure how Laurel would react, but he was also sick and tired of hiding his true feelings. Laurel would find out the truth soon enough anyway. He declared, "Plus, I'll be with Felicity."

"What does Felicity have to do with…?" Laurel trailed off. With the realization, her entire body jerked back as if he'd dealt her a physical blow.

A heavy silence fell between them. The brunette's gaze was somber yet penetrating, but Oliver held steady. A few minor shakes of her head made known her utter disbelief.

"I saw that Kissing Cam story in the tabloids. I thought it was just the media trying to make you two into a couple," she said barely above a whisper. "Is it serious?"

"Yes."

"How long has this been going on?"

"Officially, about a month." Oliver could explain that he and Felicity had grown close long before that, but he figured it was best to keep his answers simple. He didn't want to get into the nitty gritty details with Laurel, or else they'd be stuck on that dock all afternoon going back and forth.

"You've only been together a month, and suddenly you're moving across the country for her?" she replied in disbelief.

"She's a big part of it, but I'm doing it for myself, too."

"Is it because you two were in that hostage situation together? Are you sure it's not a delayed reaction to some near-death experience thing—"

"I love her," Oliver interjected, his tone full of conviction.

Another bout of heavy silence descended. He sensed a multitude of questions piling up on the tip of his ex-girlfriend's tongue. But every time she opened her mouth to speak, she'd abruptly close it again. Then: "Were you ever going to tell me? Or were you just gonna sail off into the sunset, never to be seen again?"

"Felicity is coming on the trip with my parents and me." Hopefully, he silently added to himself. "We planned on telling everyone else when we got back, including Tommy."

The brunette raked a hand through her hair, and it shook even worse than before. "I should go."

"Are you okay?" Laurel had been tense when she first arrived, and she didn't seem to be faring much better now. She looked on the verge of tears.

"I'm fine. I needed to see you and talk this out, and I did," she declared, more to herself than him. "Good luck with everything, Ollie."

"You, too. I'm really glad you got into law school. I know you'll do great wherever you go. Take care of yourself, okay?" He tried to catch her gaze, but she refused to meet his eyes. "And I really do hope things with this new guy work out, too. You deserve to be happy, Laurel."

Despite all of the change Oliver was experiencing, he knew it was ten times more dramatic for Laurel. It wasn't just about him; her family was still in turmoil, too. When she finally looked up, he sensed that her attention was already elsewhere.

He hugged her gently and was surprised how tightly she held onto him back. After a quick kiss to his cheek, Laurel broke away and hurried back to her cab. She looked to be fleeing rather than walking, and he worried that he'd caused her additional pain. There was no sugarcoating the truth, though. Laurel glanced back only for a moment as the cab drove away, a trail of the tears she'd held in before now gleaming on her cheeks.

His father shouted his name, announcing they were about to cast off. Oliver checked his phone. Felicity had called multiple times but oddly hadn't left any messages. His heart sank from her continued absence, his concern multiplying.

Oliver rubbed a hand over his face. This day wasn't going at all like he'd planned.

"Felicity, where are you?"


She hadn't come.

Oliver waited and waited at the dock, making excuse after excuse to get his parents to delay their voyage. He'd even tried calling Felicity back and leaving a voicemail but there was no response. His mother had eventually requested him on deck to help her with something, and the next thing he knew they were sailing off.

Oliver wondered if his mother had distracted him on purpose. She hadn't been thrilled when he said he'd invited a friend along. Hours later, Oliver was still fuming. He hoped that Felicity got his message at some point and realized that he hadn't intentionally left her behind. His own phone was useless now with absolutely no signal since they were so far out to sea.

To make matters worse, it looked like they were heading into a storm. The sea raged against the yacht, rocking it roughly back and forth. Oliver eventually left his cabin to grab a beer from the galley. There was nothing else to do, and he was wound so tight he could use a drink. On the way back to his cabin, his mother called out to him. She sat on the couch in the saloon with a book in hand.

"Not right now, Mom," Oliver growled.

"I need to speak with you," Moira insisted, her curt tone leaving no room for argument.

With a sigh, he joined her in the saloon. As he passed a side table, he poised his beer on the edge and used it to pop the cap. His mother pursed her lips in disapproval, and he felt a small thrill of satisfaction.

"Oliver," she scolded.

"Mother." He took a long swig and plopped onto the couch.

"I was going to ask if you're okay, but you're clearly still moping."

"Whatever gave you that impression?" Oliver realized he was being childish and petty, but he just didn't care. His day was already ruined. Not much else could make it worse.

"Honey, I realize that you're disappointed that your friend stood you up—"

"She didn't stand me up. We left without her."

"If she wanted to come, then she would've been on time or at least left you a message," his mother pointed out. "It's just as well. This trip is supposed to be for us as a family. Your father and I have something to discuss with you, and Felicity probably would've felt out of place anyway."

Oliver's head snapped up at that. "How did you know it was Felicity?"

"She is the girl you've been dating for the past month, is she not?"

"Yes, but…" He frowned, utterly confused. "How did you know? Did Dad tell you?" Although he'd never come right out and told his father that he was dating Felicity, Oliver got the distinct impression that his father was already aware of their connection. He'd dropped enough hints recently.

"No. Actually, I told him," Moira stated. "I've known since the incident at QC. I stopped by the hospital late that night to check on you and found you and Felicity curled up in your bed."

"Oh." When Felicity had visited him that night, he'd been so relaxed that he swiftly drifted off to sleep. He hadn't even heard his mother come in. "But you never said anything."

"I didn't think it was that serious. I figured you'd both been through a traumatic ordeal," Moira explained and put her book aside. "However, when your father told me you wanted to go to school in Boston instead, I realized I'd underestimated your attachment to her."

"It's not an attachment, Mom. I love her," Oliver declared. "In fact, the whole point of her coming on this trip was so that we could tell you and Dad, and you'd get to know her better."

"It was a very sweet gesture, honey"—she affectionately patted his knee—"but I know enough already."

Oliver might've been able to believe her show of sympathy if it wasn't for the sharp lines in her brow and beneath her eyes as her gaze narrowed. Felicity had lamented for weeks that his mother didn't like her, and Oliver had assured her that the two of them spending time together was the solution. Seeing the disapproval firsthand on his mother's face now, Oliver realized that his girlfriend had been right.

"So that's it? You're not even going to give her a chance?" Oliver shot back. "Mom, you've seen for yourself how smart and capable she is. She's a good person."

"I don't doubt that. I'm not denying Felicity's accomplishments or her character. I just worry that you may be rushing into something that you're not ready for. She's only been in town for a few months, Oliver. How much do you really know about this girl? And I emphasize girl. She's barely an adult, what makes you think that given time she won't outgrow you?"

Oliver felt like he'd been sucker punched. He'd always had a special bond with his mother, but the harsh woman in front of him right now was a complete stranger.

"If you think our being together is such a bad idea, then why did you help get me into Harvard?" he challenged when he could finally get his mouth working again.

"Your father placed the call before discussing it with me."

That was news to Oliver, since his father had specifically said that he'd need to discuss it with Moira before moving forward. Was everything his father said a lie these days? How many more secrets was he keeping?

His mother added, "I was worried you'd leave that much sooner if I objected to your acceptance."

"Isn't that what you're doing now?"

"I wanted you on this trip so that we could discuss it without any distractions."

More like so I can't escape, he thought to himself. Felicity was two for two.

"There are things you don't know, Oliver, and I believe you deserve to make an informed decision once you do. You need to be made aware of the consequences should things not work out between you and Felicity."

The boat jostled heavily to the left, almost causing Oliver to slide into his mother on the couch. He'd barely caught his beer from falling off of the table. Seconds later, a loud crack of thunder pierced the sky. The storm raging outside, however, was no match for the one building inside the ship.

"What consequences?" Oliver retorted, completely baffled by his mother's explanation. He was well aware of her protective instincts, but her cryptic talk seemed a little dramatic even for her. "Besides being brilliant, Felicity is the most down-to-earth person I've ever met. She doesn't have an agenda. She's the real deal, Mom, and I'm not changing my mind on this. I won't give her up no matter what you say. She is my future."

"That's how you feel, but what about her? Are you sure she hasn't already given up on you?" Moira countered. "Her absence is a clear indication that she's having second thoughts."

"She's not—" he began to argue when his mother interrupted.

"Felicity is much younger than you, Oliver. While I don't doubt your feelings for her, I worry that you're putting her on a pedestal and betting your entire future on a teenage girl who may think she's in love today but may decide she wants something completely different tomorrow."

Oliver gripped the couch, both to release the exasperated tension inside of him and keep himself steady as the boat jerked back and forth. His mother was wrong. He'd experienced enough meaningless flings and tumultuous relationships to know that the love he shared with Felicity was true. She was his calm in any storm that life could throw at him. Even if she, for whatever reason, had been too nervous to join him on the trip and had changed her mind, he wouldn't give up on her. And given how things had gone, he couldn't blame her for bailing out on the Spanish Inquisition here. As soon as the yacht docked, he'd call her and set straight any of her lingering fears. Then he'd hop on a plane back to Starling, tie up loose ends, and they'd be on their way to Boston together start a new chapter in their lives.

He opened his mouth to tell his mother as much when the lights suddenly flickered. Oliver lost all sense of gravity as the entire room tilted. His mother's high-pitched scream pierced his ears as he flew through the air and landed against the wall. Loud crashes followed from the furniture tipping over and sliding with the violent motions of the boat. He'd barely had time to catch his breath when the couch landed on top of him.

"Oliver!" his mother shouted. Her crumpled form lay a few feet away. She tried to get up but the boat jerked sideways again. A sense of vertigo overtook him, and his head spun. "Oliver, sweetheart, are you all right?"

Her next words never reached him. Oliver's ears rang from another shrill boom of thunder. Except it wasn't thunder, he realized, when the floor began to crack down the middle of the room. It split in two, and water flooded the space between.

With wide, frightened eyes, Moira rushed to scramble away from the break while Oliver attempted to heave the couch off of himself.

"Mom," he called to her, "hold on!"

The boat dipped forward, causing Moira to slide toward the opening. She frantically clawed at the carpet in search of anything to grip and slow her descent. "Oliver!"

"Mom, I'm coming!" Pushing through the pain and lightheadedness, Oliver strained to free himself. Calling upon every last ounce of strength and adrenaline, he heaved the couch to the side and wriggled himself free.

"Oliver," his mother screamed as gravity took hold.

Clutching a light fixture bolted to the wall to secure himself, Oliver reached out his free hand. "Take my hand, Mom!"

She whimpered as tears stained her cheeks. Her voice quivered. "Oliver."

The bottom half of the room sunk further, and the water rose up.

He stretched himself as far as his wingspan allowed. "Mom, take my hand," he repeated.

Moira strained to reach him. Their fingers brushed as their eyes locked. Almost there. She was so close, and yet still out of reach. Another ear-splitting clamor signaled the rest of the yacht tearing away and the floor supporting her slanting. His usually strong, calm, and composed mother stared back at him in absolute terror. "Oliver…I love you."

"Mom, no!" he hollered, helplessly watching as the black, churning depths sucked her under.

His face felt wet, his tears mixing with the spray of tumultuous waves warning that he was next. Oliver didn't know whether to hold on or let go to attempt to find his mother. It'd become so dark he could barely see a few feet in front of him.

Oliver kept shouting until his voice was raw and his muscles trembled from the stress of trying to hold himself above water. That is until the boat buckled, and he found himself submerged in the brutally cold depths. The violent, salty water filled his mouth and lungs, drowning out his cries for help. Darkness enveloped him, making it impossible to locate the surface.

Knowing that this moment could very well be his last, Oliver saw a face appear before him. Fair skin, dark hair, pouty lips, and vivid blue eyes clouded his vision. He reached for the angel before him, praying she'd take him away from this nightmare.

"Felicity," he choked out and surrendered himself to the bottomless abyss.


"Mom, I really don't want to," Felicity whined as her mother tugged her by the hand into the living room.

"It'll be good for you."

"I'm not in the mood to do a movie night."

"Well, I'm not in the mood to let you wither away in your room for hours on end. You've been sulking all day. I get that you're upset you missed the boat with Oliver, honey, but it's not the end of the world. He'll eventually get your message, and you can explain to him what happened. I'm sure he'll understand."

"Yeah, right," Felicity grumbled under her breath. As far as her mother knew, she'd missed the boat because she'd gotten caught in traffic. Felicity didn't feel like going into the whole complicated mess with Tommy yet. Her mother would most certainly interfere, and she couldn't deal with her meddling on top of everything else.

As for Oliver, Felicity didn't think he'd gotten her message; otherwise, he would've waited for her. Which meant that he was probably on the Queen's Gambit right now upset and trying to figure out why she'd stood him up at the docks yesterday. Even if he understood, how was she going to break the news about Tommy finding out about them? How could she explain her reaction in a way that didn't make him question her commitment to him and their relationship?

She'd had an odd feeling all day, besides. An intuitive sense of foreboding that felt beyond her usual worries. No matter what she did, she couldn't shake it.

"While I pick out the movie, how about you get together some snacks in the kitchen? There's still a pint of mint chip left if you want it." Donna nudged her. "Go on."

Resistance was futile, she realized. "Fine," Felicity relented, "but no rom-coms."

"But they're the best—"

"No," the young brunette insisted. If she was going to humor her mother, then she needed to forget about her current dilemma. A movie about a couple getting into a bunch of outlandish romantic entanglements for drama's sake only to end up happily ever after would not help with that.

Felicity entered the kitchen and searched through the cabinets for the popcorn. She read the directions before placing it in the microwave. While it popped, she rummaged through the freezer looking for the pint of mint chip her mother had promised her.

Her teeth began to chatter as she searched with no avail. With her head still in the freezer, she just barely heard the door to the kitchen open.

"Hey, Mom," she called. "I don't see the mint chip, and I can't sit through a movie without my number one snack." It figured; nothing was going her way today.

She reached to push aside the pint of fudge brownie. "Do you know where it is?" If they couldn't find it, maybe she could use that as a final "get out of jail free" card.

Silence.

"Mom?" Felicity questioned again. When there was still no answer, she pulled her head out of the freezer and felt her body go as rigid as the ice-covered items she'd just been searching through. "Tommy?"

Her stepbrother stood in the doorway, much like he'd done the day before. Although unlike the last time, there was no anger or disappointment reflecting back in his eyes. In fact, he looked downright miserable. His skin was pale and his black hair disheveled. There were dark circles under his eyes, and the corners of his mouth were turned down in a sad frown.

Another awkward moment passed before he lamentably announced, "I'm an asshole."

"Normally I'd disagree, but…" she trailed off, letting her unspoken acquiescence hang in the air between them.

"I'm sorry for what I said to you. I didn't mean it, and I was out of line. As shocking as it was to learn the truth about you and Oliver, that wasn't the main reason I was upset."

She blinked in surprise at his apology. Her curiosity piqued, she inquired, "What was it then?"

"I'm in love with Laurel." His eyes darted to the floor, his face contorting in shame. "We, uh…we've sort of been sleeping together for the past month."

"Oh," Felicity muttered, her eyebrows shooting up to her hairline. Of all the possible confessions, she'd never have expected this. And yet, she wasn't necessarily stunned by the revelation either.

Felicity had suspected for a while that Tommy might have feelings for Laurel. The spark in his eyes when she entered the room or his attentiveness to her needs had not gone unnoticed these past few months. Felicity did not, however, foresee him acting on those feelings. Suddenly, his outburst and anger toward Oliver made sense—as did the guilt and remorse he was currently exhibiting.

"But I'm pretty sure that's over now."

Without a word, Felicity opened the utensil drawer and grabbed two spoons. She offered one to Tommy before opening the fudge brownie ice cream. "Seems like you could use this just as much as me."

He took the spoon and gave her a shaky, albeit thankful smile in return.

"Why don't you start from the beginning?" Felicity suggested. Her stepbrother looked as if he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders, and she recognized the need to unload part of that burden.

Tommy hesitated, contemplating. When he finally opened his mouth to speak, Donna interrupted. "Felicity!" she shouted from the living room.

"Frack, movie night," she remembered.

"What?" Tommy replied.

"I'll take care of my mom. Just give me a sec."

"Felicity, get in here!" Donna hollered. The mild annoyance at her mother's command faded when she caught the panicked edge to her tone. Donna shouted for her again, sounding frantic. "Get in here quick! There's something about Oliver on TV."

That also got Tommy's attention and the two hurried to the living room, their ice cream and spoons forgotten. They entered the room just as Donna cranked up the volume. A picture of the Queen's Gambit flashed on the screen as the anchorwoman, Bethany Snow, reported on a horrific storm and an unanswered distress call that had since disappeared.

"Oh my God," Donna gasped.

Felicity barely heard anything after that. It was like her mind had disconnected from her body. Disbelief and fear built up within her, making her limbs tremble before numbness set in. She vaguely heard someone calling her name, but she couldn't tear her eyes away. One hand covered her mouth while the other held onto her heart as it thumped erratically in her chest.

The image switched to a photo of Oliver and his parents—one of the more recent ones taken at the event to honor their act of bravery at QC—and something inside of her cracked. How could he be gone? She'd just been with him the other day. Just heard his voice telling her he loved her. Not long ago she'd been packing her bag to board the very same yacht. Was Oliver still trapped in the storm? Was he okay? Was he with his parents?

She didn't know exactly when her knees had given out or when she'd started crying. One minute Felicity was standing in front of the TV and the next she'd crumbled to the floor. Two strong arms shot out to catch her before she hit it too hard. Within seconds her mother crouched next to her as Tommy encircled her into his arms. They tried uttering reassurances, saying that it was too early to assume anything. That everything would be all right. It could've just been the weather or a mechanical malfunction; that didn't mean the boat was wrecked.

But there was no drowning out the dire report that all communication attempts had failed. No unseeing the glaring headline "MISSING" posted beneath the picture of the Queens. And no ignoring the all-consuming despair as the ominous feeling that had plagued her most of the day completely swallowed her whole.

Oliver was gone.