Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed and left Kudos! it feels amazing to know that you are all reading and loving this one! Please enjoy the Christmas present that i'm leaving for you :) Someone mentioned about Moira liking Felicity now but what about when she gets together with Oliver...you know i'd thought about that and couldn't work out how it would it work. I like the idea of it and i think I have worked out a plan :D so please...i hope you can wait to see hehe
Just an FYI - a lot of this story takes place after the boat accident so young Oliver and Felicity won't be hanging around too much but i promise - it'll be worth it (I hope!)
Chapter 3 – I Miss You
Thea placed her knuckles against Oliver's bedroom door. It had been a couple of days since she had been shopping with Felicity, clearly something had happened between her and her brother and it was upsetting them both. Felicity wouldn't tell Thea what was wrong but the girl wasn't so young that she couldn't make her own thoughts on what her brother had done. Knocking lightly on the wooden door, Thea felt somewhat surprised that he was actually home. It was a Friday night after all and he was usually never home - or Tommy was there making an absolute mess of things.
"Ollie..." she softly spoke as she pushed the door open, half expecting him to be getting dressed to leave for the night. But she found him lying on his bed, a simple t shirt and shorts on his body, barefoot and all. Was he really not going out tonight?
"Hey Speedy. What's up?" He looked over at his sister, placing his phone down on his chest when she didn't come over. Usually she would be right by his side, hanging off him at all chances that she got. "You coming..." he placed his hand on the bed next to him, motioning for her come to his side.
Instantly her smile grew wider, she headed towards her brother, jumping on his bed. "I miss you Ollie." She whispered as she snuggled into his side, his arms wrapping around her. It was then that she noticed the TV was playing in the background, some movie she didn't recognise. They fell into comfortable silence, just enjoying being together again. It was something that didn't happen much anymore. Oliver was either out at parties or with Laurel or some other girl and Thea was either at school or with her parents or on her own.
Her own.
That's the one she hated the most.
Sighing deeply, Thea moved to looked toward her brother really wanting to speak to him but not sure of what to say. "Hey Ollie..." he looked down at her, intrigued by her soft voice. She sounded so unsure of herself.
He let her sit for a moment, waiting to see what she'll say or do. But when it became clear that she wasn't going to speak, he did instead. "Hey, what's going on Speedy... you know you can tell me anything." He held her closer, trying to gage what was happening in her head.
"I miss you Ollie. You're always out or with Tommy or with Laurel. I just...miss my big brother." She shrugged against him. Her words more a mumble than anything. But she felt Oliver hug her tightly.
"Oh Speedy, I haven't gone anywhere. I'm still your brother."
But this caused her to shoot up and away from his arms. "Haven't gone anywhere now. But you think I haven't heard mum and dad talking? You got arrested not long ago...again! Last week you had a party when you were supposed to be looking after me! We promised that we would go to the movies that night. You said we could go and eat burgers and you would take me to the movies!" She was upset, holding herself away from his reach.
Oliver closed his eyes, groaning to himself, "Oh Speedy, I am so sorry…that's why you went with Felicity…" He knew he shouldn't have had a party when he was supposed to be looking after Thea but Tommy had mentioned it and he had just ran with it, completely forgetting about the promise he had made.
"You made me a promise Ollie and you broke it. Just so you could hook up with some random girl!" This made Oliver blink, he knew his sister was young and he had never expected her to know what he did or even think about what he did but he should have known that all the times he was walked out of his bedroom with a girl on his arm or the comments his parent's would make would start to make sense to her.
He swallowed as Thea looked away, tears forming in her eyes. "You're not my brother anymore. Not really…" And with that she moved from his room, heading straight out the bedroom door to her hiding spot. The same place she had gone every time her parents would argue or she was feeling scared or upset. But every time Oliver would come and find her, giving her time to calm down before he would huddle in by her side, letting her cry on his shoulder.
This was different, she had never said anything like that to him and for the first time in a long time, he was starting to question himself. He never wanted to disappoint his little sister; she had always looked up to him, she had always trusted him to be her big brother but it was clear that he was losing that trust. Little by little he was losing that little girl who loved him unconditionally.
Did he need to make a change? Was that something he could do? Was that something he wanted to do?
Slipping from his bed, Oliver made his way towards the little hideout that she had taken up, finding a small doorway underneath a staircase one night years ago and that's where he found her. Huddled up under the stairs, he slipped – awkwardly – into the small pace next to her, this seemed easier when they were both younger. Silence came over them both, Oliver with his feet planted on the ground, his knees bent up as he looked at Thea, she mimicked his position but her head was resting against the top of her knees.
"Thea…I am so sorry. I never meant to hurt you, honestly I really didn't mean to forget about taking you to the movies." He reached out to touch her, he tried but she moved away from him, further into the corner of the small space.
"But you did…" She still wouldn't look at him, her voice small, smaller than that of a 14 year old girl "I want my Ollie back…" God he hated hearing her speak like that. It was one thing to have his parents on his back about how he was acting – when he wasn't really hurting anyone – but he was now hurting his innocent sister. The one thing he had always promised himself he would never do. Sighing he nodded to no one but himself, knowing that he needed to try something new, maybe he needed to look at himself.
Slowly he tried again, reaching out his hand to place on her back, rubbing small circles on her back. "I promise, I'll try to do better…" This caused her to look up at him, her eyes softening as she looked at him, her eyes rimmed red from crying. "I promise…" He meant it, Oliver never really had to think about his actions, this parents would always bail him out, Laurel would always come back to him and Tommy would always be by his side, providing some sort of alibi if it was ever needed but Thea was the one person he had never had to worry about.
Until now.
"What happened with Felicity? Please…please tell me you didn't hook up with her. Ollie, she is my friend…I can't lose her."
Oliver blinked as he looked back at his sister, realising what she thought had happened. Something that he could honestly say didn't happen.
Felicity and Thea had wandered around the mall for a few hours, Thea talking over and over again about her school and friends and the boy she liked, Felicity giving her some attention but mostly she had zoned out, she couldn't stop thinking about what Oliver had said, what she had overheard that night.
"So what's going on with you and my brother?" This caught her attention as she looked back the younger girl, they had come to sit at a table in the food court – when did that happen? "I'm not stupid, I know something has happened between the two of you. What did he do? Please don't tell me that you hooked up with him."
But Felicity just shook her head, she really didn't want to say much to Thea, it really wasn't something that she wanted to relive. "Don't worry about it Thea. Really it's fine." But Thea knew better, something was clearly upsetting Felicity, she just hoped her brother hadn't don't anything totally stupid.
"Come on Felicity, Oliver likes you…you are his friend, I'm sure he didn't mean to do whatever he did…"But Felicity just looked away, taking a deep breath to try and settle herself.
Thinking for a moment, Felicity decided to approach the subject a different way, "Did you know that I haven't actually met Tommy…" Thea just blinked at Felicity, how was that possible? Felicity and Tommy had been in the same room more than once over the last 12 months. "Yeah...Oliver hasn't actually introduced us at all. I'm just your tutor Thea…" Thea didn't believe it, how had Oliver not actually introduced them? And there was no way that Felicity was just her tutor anymore.
Groaning, Oliver through his head back against the wall behind him, "I just" he really didn't want to tell her that he'd said something really stupid, "...she heard me say something stupid and it upset her that's all." The look on his sister's face told him that she wasn't going to let him get away with just that statement. "Fine. She heard me tell someone that she, Felicity, was no one. That she was nothing..." he had barely gotten the words out before Thea's hand raised to slap him across the shoulder.
"Ollie! That's really stupid!" he nodded; he already knew that.
He sighed, "Yeah that I know Thea, I didn't even know I'd said it. She was so heartbroken when she told me that she'd heard me say it." He shook his head, dropping his forehead to his knees like Thea had done when he had first found her.
This made Thea think of something that Felicity had told her when they had been shopping, "Did you know that Felicity hasn't met Tommy."
Oliver snorted a laugh, "Of course she had Thea. I've seen them have conversations before…"
But Thea just shook her head, "No I mean, did you know that you had never actually introduced Felicity to Tommy. She told me the other day when we went shopping. She shrugged and said that she was just my tutor." Thea really hated hearing Felicity talk like that about herself.
Once again, Oliver dropped his head, "Oh."
"Ollie…you have to fix this…"
He looked over to Thea once more, nodding, "Yes…yes I do."
Tommy had noticed that Oliver had been distracted the last few weeks, it had been just over a month that Tommy had noticed that Oliver had been off with the fairies, quiet and maybe a little distant, he'd been spending more time with Laurel, not wanting to go out much but wanting to stay home with her or Tommy. "Hey man…are you sure about this? I mean, if you are changing your mind about all this…" Tommy motioned around him to the empty factory.
They had decided that they would think seriously about opening the club, Tommy had more of the idea about the actual running of the club but Oliver had many more ideas about the design and set up. Something he had credited to Felicity and her overwhelming support.
"Why aren't I surprised that Oliver Queen wants to open a club…" she laughed as she sat across from him at the table, her book spread out around her. It had become a habit for her to hang around after tutoring Thea, doing some of her own study as well. She enjoyed having Oliver as company when she needed a break. But tonight, Oliver had sat across from her in silence for about half an hour. His own paper's spread out around him.
She had wanted to ask him what he was doing but he had been so caught up in his sketching and note taking that she didn't want to disturb him. But curiosity had gotten the better of her. She reached over for one of the paper's closer to her before he could stop her. Her eyes had skittered over the page, taking in the details of the tables, the bar, the stage and the VIP area.
Verdant.
The single word at the top of the page had caught her attention. She looked up at him with a raised eyebrow waiting for him to explain. The look on his face showed that he was nervous, unsure of himself. He sighed, "Tommy and I want to open a club. There is an old factory my father owned that is now abandoned that I think would be great. I want to take the idea to him but I want to make sure I have everything I need before I do."
Felicity's laughter had died on her lips when she listened to what he was saying, "You've really thought this through huh?" She bit her lip, looking over the page again. "I think that maybe you should put more tables around the outside of the dance floor, even if they are just high bar tables, people like to have somewhere to lean when they come off the dance floor…" She shrugged before handing him back the page.
Oliver looked at the page once more, taking her advice, he sketched a few more tables, happy with the design that was coming up.
"I like it though. I think it's a great idea…" She didn't look up at him again, missing the kind smile he had given her in return.
"Ollie!" Tommy was now by his side, waving his hand in front of his face, trying to get his attention. Oliver shook his head, looking back at Tommy finally. "What has gotten into you man?"
Oliver sighed, "Sorry, yeah I'm alright. I just…I upset Felicity a few weeks ago and I guess I'm just trying to work out how to fix it." He rubbed his forehead; it had been weeks since she had even looked at him when she was at the mansion.
"Felicity? As in the tutor"
Oliver groaned. She had been right, he had never introduced her to Tommy. He had tried to claim that she had become such a good friend to him but he hadn't even bothered to actually show her how much her friendship had meant to him. "She's more than that man. She has become someone close to me and I said something stupid. She's so kind and pure and good. She is nothing like us and I hate that I'd upset her. She is one of the only people who actually believes in me…" his voice trailed off, realising just how much important she was becoming in his life.
Tommy just nodded, not really sure how to take what he was saying. Was Oliver sleeping with the girl? "Well why don't you just talk to her. Put on the Ollie Queen charm…" he laughed but quickly stopped when Oliver didn't laugh with him. "Ok…well if she had become such a good friend to you…why don't you do something for her. I'm sure you know enough about her to know what cheers her up."
That caught Oliver's attention, there was something he knew that might cheer her up, something that he could do for he that would show the he cared about her, that he listened to her. He smiled to himself at the thought of what he would do. He would need to get Thea to help him though, thankfully he was sure she would be more than willing.
Taking the chance, Tommy looked over at his friend, "Is everything alright man? Other than the whole Felicity thing? We don't go out as much anymore and if we do, it's with Laurel…I mean, when was the last time that you got blind drunk and hooked up with someone?"
That made Oliver groan, he hated how it sounded. He knew he could be honest with Tommy; they had known each other long enough that lying just wouldn't get them anywhere. "I don't know man. I just…I upset Thea as well a few weeks ago. The party we had at mine…when I hooked up with that girl near the pool…" Tommy smiled, remembering how smug Oliver had been after that little triumph.
"I had promised Thea I'd take her to dinner and a movie that night. I forgot, that's why she went home with Felicity. Thea told me that she I wasn't her brother anymore. That she didn't know who I was…it hit me, I haven't treated Thea very well recently, I haven't treated Felicity very well either. What sort of boyfriend am I to Laurel then? I guess I'm just trying do better. Maybe…I don't know. I don't really know what I'm doing but I want to show Thea that I can do better."
Tommy just nodded, he kind of understood what Oliver was saying. He always wondered why he was still in a relationship considering he could get a girl every day of the week if he wanted but he understood wanting to be better for his sister. "I get it man…I just don't want to lose my best friend either…" He clapped his hand on Oliver's back. Not really sure how well Oliver's new direction would go and how well Oliver would be able to able to keep on track but he would always support his friend.
Oliver laughed, "I'm not going anywhere Tommy…I'm still gonna be Ollie Queen…just gotta try to be better…" because that's what Thea needed, what Laurel expected and what Felicity deserved from him. "Actually, come for dinner on Thursday…I have an idea…" Oliver looked around the factory one last time, satisfied that he had made the right choice about this club and about his next plans.
Felicity pushed on the handle of the Queen Mansion front door, glad that Thea had reached out for her felt for her test the next day, it was unusual that Felicity would tutor Thea on a Thursday night but she would always help the young girl out if she needed it. She was also thankful that Walter had given her the next day off, something about her working hard during her internship and he wanted to give her a day off as a thank you. Felicity had planned on doing a whole lot of nothing the next day, something she thought she mind would need.
As she pushed on the door, Felicity all but went face first into the locked door, her body coming into contact with the hardwood. Huh…they never lock the door when she is coming over…Shrugging to herself, Felicity knocked on the door, listening to the echoing of the knock, she waited.
The door burst open suddenly, causing Felicity to take a step back, shocked. Thea stood there, a bright smile on her face. "Felicity! Come in!" This was strange, something was off. Thea never opened the door and she was never this happy to see Felicity for a study night.
"Thea…what is going on?" Felicity wasn't stupid.
But Thea's smile grew even more as she moved towards the kitchen, Felicity in toe. Rounding the corner, Felicity signed, "Thea I'm not really in the mood for games. I've had a really long week…" Felicity didn't like being played around with when it came to the Queen Mansion, ever since her falling out with Oliver, she didn't like spending more time there than she needed to, mainly because the longer she stayed at the mansion, the more chances she had to run into Oliver and she really didn't want that.
Coming into full view of the kitchen, Felicity stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes taking in Oliver Queen, standing by the stove, music filtering through the kitchen gently, the smell of food entering her senses. What was going on?
"Hey…" Oliver spoke, putting down the wooden spoon, he moved to stand near her slowly, unsure of how she'd react. "…I ah…thanks for coming…I was kinda worried you wouldn't come if I'd ask you so I asked Thea to…" He motioned towards the side door where Thea had rushed off to and out of sight. At least he had the nerve to look sheepish as he spoke.
"I don't…I don't understand…" She really didn't, she didn't even know Oliver could cook let alone that he would do something like this.
Rubbing the back of his neck, Oliver blushed, she was making Oliver Queen blush, who would have thought? "I want to apologise to you for what I said that night and how I acted the last time I saw you. It was completely not true and I was hoping that you would forgive me…"
Oliver was cut off by Tommy rushing through the wide open back door, Thea on his back, her arms around his neck and legs around his waist, "Ha! Got you now!" They laughed, Tommy skidding to a halt when he saw Felicity there. A smirk coming to his face.
"Felicity, I want to introduce you to the two most important people in my life, Thea my sister…and my best friend Tommy…" Oliver motioned towards the two, both still standing the same way that had been, "Tommy, Thea…this is Felicity. Someone who has also become a very important part of my life…" He looked towards her, gauging her reactions. Her light smile shining in the room.
Tommy gracefully dropped Thea to the ground, reaching out his hand for Felicity, which she took happily. "Felicity, it's nice to officially meet you. Now…dinner!" He lead Felicity from the room, out the open door to the backyard and down the pathway.
Thea smiled over at Oliver as the follow close by, bowls of food and drinks in their hands. "You did good big brother." But Oliver only focused on the moment that Felicity realised where they were going. Down by the pond there was a table set up with the four places for them to set, a drinks cooler by the side and food waiting for them.
Felicity turned to Oliver, slight shock coming to her face before she smiled again, still not reaching her eyes but it shone in the moon light. She was giving him a bright thank you.
Dinner went well, a lot of laughter and stories. Apologies and thank you's echoing around the table, Tommy and Oliver arguing about some stupid story or another. "Well at least I didn't get a girl a day off so she could spend the night!" Tommy laughed, Thea echoing but Oliver's smile fell from his lips and he glanced over Felicity, who had also stopped smiling, her head tilted to the side as she watched him.
"I'm gonna go and get desert…" Oliver stood suddenly from the table, glaring at Tommy as he went, rushing up the path back to the house. Felicity was on his heels, following closely behind him.
"What was that about?" her voice found him in the kitchen, his back to the doorway, shoulders slumped. She should have known he wanted something in return from her.
Oliver sighed, his shoulders dropping even further. "It wasn't what it sounded like Felicity…" He almost sounded agitated. She just didn't know if it was at her or Tommy.
Silence stretched between them for a few moments, Felicity's anger growing. She spoke first, her words were quiet, "Do you really want to know why what you said upset me so much?" He turned to face her slowly, he knew there was a reason that her smile hadn't reached her eyes all night, she still wanted to speak to him about it. She did deserve that though, he knew that.
Felicity brought her hands together, right hand playing with the left, a nervous habit that Oliver had noticed in the past. He didn't want to push her, letting her speak on her own terms "Because it made me realise something Oliver - you are... we are from two different worlds…all of this," She motioned around her, the kitchen was bigger than her whole apartment. "And hearing you say I was nothing, that I was no one just reminded me of that. I mean it's taken you almost 12 months to actually introduce me to Tommy."
She sighed, leaning back against the wall she was closest to. "I just wanted you to be honest Oliver, with me and yourself. I want you to grow up, for yourself and your sister and Laurel. I just want the truth." She crossed her arms over her chest, protecting herself from him.
Oliver moved to her side, slowly placing his hands against her shoulder, "I am being honest. What I said wasn't the truth. This, now, here. This is the truth. Tommy and Thea are the two most important people in my life and I want you to be part of that. You know me better than anyone."
He didn't want to tell her that he had been trying to be better since his talk with Thea the month before, he hadn't been spending as much time going out or if he did, he always ended up back home alone or going to Laurel. He wanted to show Thea that he could be the brother she remembered and the boyfriend that Laurel deserved. He didn't want to tell Felicity because he didn't want to disappoint her that he wasn't doing better.
Felicity nodded after a moment, belief slowly making its way into her brain, her smile widening as she thought about how well she really did know Oliver. "Ok well then…tell me what Tommy meant…" this caused Oliver to groan and drop his head a little.
Moving back from her, Oliver rubbed the face, sliding his hands over to the back of his neck, "I know how much you hate late nights when you have to get up for work the next morning and I knew you wouldn't want to hang around here after dinner if you had to go to work, so I may have asked Walter to give you tomorrow off…" The redness in his cheeks grew again. Yeah, he was going to upset her now that she knew what he had done.
Disbelief crossed her eyes; he had done what?
"We thought you could stay for a movie or something, Thea doesn't have school tomorrow. I thought you might like a night in to relax with friends…" He was sounding so shy now, like he suddenly realised how stupid his idea had been. Turing away from her, Oliver shook his head, expecting her to yell and get angry. But instead he suddenly felt the gentle pull of her hand on his. She had reached out for him, her hand resting in his gently, her smile finally reaching her eyes.
Any love? :D I am trying to show Oliver growing up a little bit but how long can that last? How long can he hold onto his new found maturity?
