So I apologize (not for the last time) that updating has taken so long. I know where this is going and what happens when, but I've had a hard time not letting Real Life kick my butt.
The song for this chapter is Each Other by Maggie Szabo and Andrew Allen. I immediately thought of Felicity and Barry's dynamic.
Connect with me!
Twitter: teamdemonmonkey
Facebook: teamdemonmonkey fanfiction
Disclaimer: I, sadly, do not own Arrow or its characters.
Chapter Five: Each Other
"Why did I let you talk me into this," Felicity gasped out through labored breaths as she jogged beside her best friend down a mostly deserted park sidewalk. Barry laughed, turning so that he was facing her, not missing a beat.
"This is good for you. It releases endorphins and will prevent me from walking onto a crime scene and seeing your cold corpse on the ground after suffering a heart attack."
"Instead you'll just turn around and see that I've died from my lungs exploding," she sassed and he laughed happily. She let out a begrudging chuckle. Barry wasn't a health nut but at least twice a week, he forced her out of bed to go jogging in the park. While she complained and griped about the physical exertion and early hour, she had to admit that she always felt better after jogging around with him. Her head was clearer and she felt like she had a little more energy to tackle her day.
She suspected that Barry knew this too.
"A couple more miles and then you can die in the comfort of your own apartment," he said. "So how's Oliver," he asked in a teasing sing-song voice. She rolled her eyes.
"He's fine. We're supposed to go on a date tonight. He's taking me to dinner."
"This is your eighth date in a five week period. Are you two getting serious?"
"I don't know. I like him. He seems to like me, despite my obvious word vomit. But we haven't really talked about it."
"Has he mentioned the baby thing since your first date?" Felicity frowned.
"No. But I'm trying not to worry about it until it happens. If he doesn't want to date a woman with a kid, I don't want to worry about it until I'm actually a woman with a kid."
"That's really… practical of you. What if he doesn't want to date you if you get the baby? Will you break up with him?" Felicity stopped, stretching her arms above her head and mulling the question over in her mind. She'd wondered about that too. Eight dates wasn't a lot –and she certainly wasn't ready to marry the guy –but she liked Oliver. She liked the way he laughed and thought that her babbling was endearing rather than annoying. She liked that he made her feel safe and protected. He was without a doubt the greatest guy she'd met or dated in a long time. But she wasn't fighting for this baby for kicks and giggles. If Oliver didn't want to be an "InstaDad" then she couldn't see any alternative other than to end their relationship. The thought made her stomach clench and she tried to push the thoughts out of her head.
"I'll cross that bridge when I come to it," she mumbled. Barry seemed to sense her melancholy thoughts and didn't push the topic. She was grateful that Barry understood her so well. "What about you? Have any girls caught the eye of the charming Barry Allen?" Barry shrugged.
"Not really. I tried to ask Iris out the other night but she thought I meant as a group thing and so now a bunch of us are going to see a movie."
"Why didn't you explain that you meant a real date?"
"I dunno. I was embarrassed. I didn't want to push her into it and make it awkward. It's not a big deal. Iris isn't the only woman in the world." Felicity picked up on the deflection immediately.
"If she still hasn't realized how completely wonderful you are and how stupid happy you could make her, she's not smart enough for you," Felicity said, wrapping her arm through his. He blushed and tried to shrug the compliment off. "I'm serious, Flash," she said, using her childhood nickname for him. "I'm not just trying to bolster your ego. You are a genuinely great guy and if she's not interested in everything you have to offer, you deserve to be with someone who knows she's hit the jackpot." He blushed profusely under her praise and rested his hand on hers.
"Thanks, Lis. I just don't know how she can't see how much I like her. We've known each other for forever. It feels really obvious. Is it not that obvious?"
"As a woman, we don't always pick up on when guys like us, especially guys we've known for a long time. Remember when Ray Palmer was 'madly in love with me' when we were twelve? I had no idea he liked me!"
"Yeah but now he's an investor in your company and you hold a seat on the board of Palmer Tech. When he finally got up the nerve to tell you how he felt, it didn't ruin your relationship."
"Iris will figure it out. Maybe you should just make a big gesture. I mean, the worse that happens is she finally realizes that you feel that way about her and tells you that she doesn't feel the same way. I know that seems like the end of the world but I promise it isn't." Barry was silent as he mulled the idea over in his head. Felicity's heart hurt for him. He had been crazy for Iris since he was eight and the girl still didn't have a clue. And sure, Barry had dated other girls. But none had ever made it longer than a couple months. Any relationship where one participant was hopelessly devoted to another person was pretty much doomed from the start. Hell, Barry had tried to get Felicity to date him. That had mostly ended in laughs and a whole night of him baring his soul to her over a quart of ice cream.
"I'll think about it," he promised, bringing her thoughts back to the present. "Thanks, Lis. I know you're probably tired of hearing me complain about it." She stopped, planting herself in front of him.
"Hey," she said, demanding his eyes meet hers. "You are my best friend. You've listened to me complain about boys, talked me out of trying to break an ex-boyfriend out of prison, supported me when I was crazy enough to start my own business and you've stood by me while I try to become a single mother. I care about you and hearing about your life makes me happy," she said fiercely. Barry finally smiled and pulled her into a hug.
"I'm so happy you're you," he said happily into her shoulder. She laughed quietly and squeezed him before stepping back.
"Felicity?" She turned and her stomach dropped.
"Oliver! Hi!" Oliver was walking up to her in measured strides, dressed in a pair of gym shorts and somewhat sweaty hoodie. He was smiling but she could see that it was a bit tight and his eyes kept moving over to Barry, sizing him up.
"How are you," he asked politely and she waved her hand nonchalantly.
"I'm good. Just out for a jog," she said airily, mentally wanting to bang her head against a wall.
"I didn't know you jogged," he said. "I usually do at least six miles in the morning. We should jog together sometime." Was it just her or was that comment a little pointed in Barry's direction?
"Oh, no. No I'm not a religious jogger. I don't even do it more than a couple times a week. I'm positive I could not keep up with you. I mean, look at you. You're like some sort of Greek god. You could easily run circles around me. I just do it because I get a donut as a reward." She clamped her mouth shut, cheeks heating as Oliver bit his lip, trying to hold back a smile like he usually did when she said something without thinking. "Sorry. I'm rambling. As per usual." Barry cleared his throat quietly, a hint to stop talking and introduced him. "Oliver, this is Barry Allen, my best friend. Barry, this is Oliver." They shook hands and she noticed that both of their biceps –Oliver's much larger and defined –flexed.
"Nice to meet you," Oliver said politely. "How long have you two known each other?"
"Since we were six," Barry said happily, sadistically enjoying the fact that Felicity was shooting him daggers at him.
"Wow, that's quite a while," Oliver acknowledged.
"Our dads were college roommates," Felicity explained. "Barry's basically family."
"Well, the best family members are the ones we choose," Oliver supplied and Felicity felt herself relax as the last of his stiffness melted away and was replaced by his usual warmth. "So, are we still on for tonight," he asked her.
"Definitely," she said enthusiastically, feeling like one of the blonde bimbos from a teenie-bopper. Barry hid a snort behind his hand, trying –and failing –to turn it into a cough. "I'm looking forward to it," she said with more reservation, glaring at him.
"Me too. I'll see you at eight," Oliver said. "I have to go. Diggle and I have a finance meeting in an hour. It was great to meet you, Barry. I'll see you tonight, Felicity." He jogged away. As soon as he was out of eyesight, Felicity whirled around and pounded her fist into Barry's arm.
"What is wrong with you? Are you trying to kill my chances with him?" Barry burst out laughing and she just glared at him.
"Come on, Lis, it was funny. He was so jealous!" She rolled her eyes and began to head towards the parking lot where they had parked. "Don't be mad, Lissy. It's my job to make him squirm. He so self-assured, it must have been nice to seem a little bit insecure."
"Okay, fine; it was." They hopped into the car and she pulled out of the parking lot and began to head towards her apartment a few miles away. "He's always so put together. I still don't know what he sees in me."
"Hey, don't be self-deprecating. You are great and he's lucky you give him the time of day." Felicity shook her head slightly. "Who's at your place," Barry asked as she pulled up to her street and parked at the end of the sidewalk. A blonde was standing at her door, back to them. She had a big bag on her shoulder and something bulky at her feet. Felicity shrugged and got out of the car. They walked up the sidewalk towards her door. The blonde turned around and Felicity felt her heart speed up exponentially.
"Oh, there you are. I was just about to leave a note for you. But I guess since you're here, we'll do this." Sara Lance reached down and picked up the bulky item at her feet. It was a baby carrier and sleeping inside was the –slightly bigger –baby girl that Felicity had been fighting so hard to make a part of her family. Barry whistled softly.
"Congratulations, Felicity, she's all yours," Sara said and Felicity felt like the world had just sped up and then stopped spinning suddenly.