Mothers and Sons
Moira smiled up at Tommy as he joined her at the café. There was an extra bit of brightness to her smile and while Tommy wouldn't normally describe Moira Queen as 'beaming' but... she absolutely was beaming at him as he settled down at the table with her, pausing only to give her a hug first.
"Thank you so much for making time for me today, Tommy." Moira sounded so very pleased.
"I've always got time for you, Moira," Tommy replied. "You're looking extra happy. What's the good news?"
"Walter proposed. I-I said yes." No wonder she was glowing.
Tommy grinned widely, happy for her. "That's wonderful."
"It is," she agreed, her smile softening. "It really is. But..." and something of the ever present cloud that haunted Moira came back. "I wonder what Robert would think. If he..."
"I know things weren't always good between the two of you," Tommy said, voice careful as he tried to put his thoughts in order. "But he loved you and... he'd want you to be happy." It wasn't the first time Tommy had heard Moira express her worries about whether or not Robert would approve of her relationship with Walter. She worried and fretted. Was she a married woman waiting for a miracle or a widow who never got to see the body?
It would have been simpler if they'd been divorced. Then Moira wouldn't have this... palpable guilt about prioritizing her happiness with Walter.
"I hope so too." Moira fiddled with her napkin. "I wonder about Oliver, too. I wish... I'm going to have Thea be my maid of honor. I wish Oliver could be part of the wedding too."
"He could have given the lovely bride away." The words just slipped out before Tommy could consider them.
Moira nodded. "I would have liked that a lot. But I... I was blessed with another young man in my life. I would never presume to take Rebecca's place," Moira said, taking Tommy's hand in hers. "But if I could call you my son, I would be so proud. You've grown up in to be an amazing young man. If I was able to play even a small part in that..."
"I'd be proud to be your son too," Tommy replied, his voice choked up with far, far too many emotions to name.
He loved his mother so much, but he'd lived more of his life without her than with her at this point. Moira had picked up where his mother left off. And while she hadn't always succeeded, Tommy knew she'd always tried to make sure he never felt like he was second to Oliver. In a lot of ways... she was his mom.
"It would be an honor... it would be my honor, if you walk me down the aisle, Tommy."
Tommy tells himself he's not crying, but his eyes - and cheeks - are suspiciously wet as he squeezed Moira's hand gently. "I would love to. I... I would love to."
The wedding preparations are a whirlwind. They're not having a big wedding. Moira said she's too old to make a production of her marriage vows and Walter... he just wants to make Moira the happiest woman in Starling City. He, of course, denies Moira could be considered old at all.
Thea might protest that they're all gross and too lovey dovey for old people, but Tommy can see the way she smiles at them. Thea is overjoyed by the upcoming wedding. But she also spends more time out by Robert and Oliver's graves. And Thea's maybe being a little extra cheerful about the wedding, because she... hadn't taken it well when Moira and Walter had first started dating.
Tommy... he hid it at the time, but he hadn't taken Moira dating well either. There'd been a part of him that felt like in letting Robert go, she was letting Oliver go too. And that scared Tommy. His whole life he had Oliver at his side. They were inseparable and now... they'd been separated for over two years. Tommy was almost twenty-five. Oliver was twenty-five. And it had to be present tense, not past. Because Oliver would never be in the past to Tommy.
He'd never be able to let go of the feeling in his chest that told him Oliver was still alive out there.
It's a small gathering at the church and Tommy... he wished Oliver was there to see how beautiful his mother looked. He wished Oliver could see how radiant with happiness Moira looked as she took Tommy's arm and he led her down the aisle of the chapel. He feels hyper aware of the fact it should be Oliver walking in Tommy's place.
But Moira smiles at Tommy, so happy he's there, and... Tommy feels like he's walking his own mother down the aisle to marry a kind hearted man that would love and adore her the way she deserved. And, for a little while, Tommy just lets go. He lives in the moment and he stands beside Thea, letting the girl he loved as a sister strangle his hand with glee as her mother... as their mother said her vows.
The ceremony is absolutely beautiful. And Tommy savors every second, not just of the wedding but of the reception afterwards.
Tommy catches the bouquet, much to his chagrin and Thea's amusement. And he can't help but think, for a moment, of Laurel's smiling face the last time they... lapsed, as she would put it. Maybe he should send her some flowers.
Not these flowers, though. Tommy suspects sending her a wedding bouquet would send the wrong message.
"Does this mean you'll be the bride?" Thea teased.
"I," Tommy replied, with great dignity, "would look beautiful in a wedding dress."
"I bet you would," Thea agreed with a laugh. "Lots of ruffles."
"And frilly lace." Tommy set the bouquet aside, next to Thea's flowers. Standing up, he offered her a hand. "Care to dance, milady?"
Thea beamed. "Why thank you, kind sir," she replied with a giggle, letting Tommy lead her out to the dance floor.
In the end, Tommy enjoys the event for his own sake, because of how much he's made to feel like one of the family. But also for the little voice in the back of his head that promises that one day he's going to share these memories with Oliver.
And, one day, he does.
