A/N: Hey loves! we have a little more action in this chapter and Detective Lance makes an appearance, too. Also, i am thinking of doing a series of one shots based on prompts from you guys, so if you have one let me know. The prompts will be filled as inspiration strikes and the series will start after this story is complete. Once again let me remind you that this is an AU and will not follow cannon. Let me know what you think!
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After dinner that evening, Oliver left Thea and Felicity sort through the shopping bags in Felicity's room, though he was pretty sure Felicity would move full time in his fairly soon. Then again, maybe it would be a good idea for felicity to have her own space, even if she stayed in his room. Maybe they could turn one of the unused rooms in a study for her. but that was something for another day.
At the moment, Oliver was looking for his mother. She wasn't in her room or in her study, so Oliver tried thee family room. It was always one of her favorite rooms in the house and she could be found there often.
And right he was. His mother was in the family room, with a cup of tea and a book. "Hey, mom. Do you have a minute?"
"Of course, Oliver. Is everything okay?" she out down her book.
"Yes, everything is fine. I just wanted to talk to you." he said, taking a seat next to here. "I was talking with Thea and Felicity earlier and I realized that I haven't told you something. Felicity and I together. We have been for almost four years now." He said. "I didn't want to keep it a secret from you, or anything like that. It's just we have been away from civilization for quite some time and we are not used to sharing. I mean you are the first person to tell this like that. Thea outright asked us on her first visit. And I am sorry that I didn't tell you sooner."
"Well, thank you for telling me, sweetheart. Though I must say that I suspected. And I do understand. I even think that she is good for you." Moira smiled warmly at him. "And just so you know, I like her very much."
"Thanks, mom. It means a lot." Oliver said relieved. "And I am really happy for you and Walter. I am glad that you found someone like him."
"Thank you, Oliver. It means the world to me." She brushed a hand across his cheek. "Now, I want to hear all about you and Felicity."
Felicity decided that she loved waking up in Oliver's arms, in his very comfortable bed. During their time away, they rarely had this opportunity as they were sleeping in shifts, so that they wouldn't be killed in their sleep. It was the second morning in a row that she woke up in his arms and she loved that feeling. She felt safe and content.
"Good morning." She said, knowing that he was awake.
"Morning gorgeous." He kissed her shoulder.
"What time is it?"
"Early enough for me to have time to worship you."
Well, she definitely liked starting her day like this.
Some time later, they made their way to breakfast. The other three residents were already there.
"Good morning, lovebirds." Thea grinned at them.
"Good morning, everyone." Oliver rolled his eyes and Felicity echoed his greeting.
"You made front page at TMZ." The young woman told them.
"Already?!"
"What?"
"A paparazzo was tailing you for most of your trip yesterday." Walter told them.
"At least the photos are quite nice, and the accompanying article is fairly tame." Moira told them.
"Mom's right. The most scandalous thing is the two of you holding hands." Thea nodded and handed them her tablet with said article.
There were some photos of the three of them getting in and out of stores at the mall, in each one he and Felicity were holding hands, and one from the bistro they had lunch at.
OLIVER QUEEN BACK IN THE DATING GAME! WHERE IS LAUREL? WHO IS THE MYSTERIOUS BLONDE?
"Well, they don't know who you are yet. That's something." Oliver commented reading the article.
"But, did they really had to bring up Laurel?" his sister made a face.
"If they think it will make it more news worthy, they will bring up his first nanny." Moira commented dryly.
"Quite true." Walter nodded. "There are already reporters at the front gates, so be careful."
"We will. And I will write a program to let me know when our names are mentioned in the news. As soon as all the computer parts are delivered." Felicity nodded.
"You can do that?" Thea asked in wonder.
"Sure. It is fairly simple." She said. "I can link your email, too, if you want." Felicity offered.
"Yes, please. I think it would be a great tool. We could be on top of all the rumors and gossip and no more ugly surprises at school." She winced.
"Plus, I could accidently take down anything very bad, if we catch it early enough." The blonde said innocently.
"Now, that would be cool." The brunette admired.
"Give me some time to catch up with all the tech developments and I will show you what other cool things I can do with computers. I need to get back in the game."
"I will hold you to that."
"And speaking of technology, would you be interested in coming back to work at QC, Felicity?" Walter asked the genius.
"Really?" she squealed excitedly.
"Of course. I am working with the board the last couple of months to create a new position. We need someone trustworthy at the executive floor to be in charge of all the IT and tech, and since the information on that floor is sensitive, we cannot have just anyone." He explained. "I think you would be perfect for the position. You can make suggestions for improvements in our systems and security if you see the need. And from our estimates you will rarely need to work over time."
"I would love to do it!" Felicity gave him a radiant smile "Thank you! you don't know what this means for me!"
"I am certainly happy you accepted. We need to iron out some details, but I believe that we would be able to hold an interview, just a formality, in three weeks. Then you will be officially a QC employ once again."
"Thank you, Mr. Steele. Really."
"We are not at the office, Felicity. Walter will be fine."
"Thank you, Walter." Felicity nodded.
"Congratulations, dear." Moira smiled kindly.
"You totally deserve it" Thea winked.
"See, I told you they wouldn't just let you go." Oliver grinned. "And I was tight."
"That you did." She chuckled. "What time is Tommy coming over?"
"Not for another couple of hours." Oliver said picking some fruit.
"What are you doing today?" Thea asked interested.
"Tommy offered to take us out to the city give us a tour, since a lot has changed as he said. And we're doing some research for a couple ideas I have. And no, I am not telling you yet."
"Spoilsport."
"You love me anyway."
"Yeah, yeah. Just beware of the paparazzi. The will be out for blood soon enough." His sister advised them.
"Will you be ok at school?" Felicity asked over her apple.
"The paparazzi can't get in. the only danger will be nosy school girls, but I can handle them, don't worry. I daresay, it will be fun shutting them up. Yup, it'll be an interesting day." she smirked.
"Now, that's a dangerous look." Walter commented.
"Just be subtle, dear. I don't want to get a call from the principal's office" Moira said lightly.
"Of course, mom." She smirked.
After breakfast, Oliver gave Felicity a grand tour of the Manor, giving her tips on how not to get lost and even told her a couple stories of growing up in this house. how he had broken a very expensive vase and had blamed it on two-year-old Thea, for example.
They discussed one last time what they were going to talk to Tommy about, ironing out any and all the details. They had decided that other than exposing those that poisoned the city, they were going to work on helping it, too. Starting with the Glades. They would start with a soup kitchen and a homeless shelter. They would work on opening a club at the old Queen factory to create jobs from people from the Glades, and the club would also work as the cover for their base of operations to clean up Starling, not that anyone else was going to know about it.
"You know, you could have told me that you guys are together and save me the embarrassment of flirting with my best friend's girl all night." Tommy said to them when he arrived at the Manor.
"Where's the fun in that?" Oliver teased.
"Smartass." Tommy rolled his eyes. "I am sorry for flirting with you all night, Felicity. I didn't know you were in a relationship." He apologized sincerely, surprising them both.
"Apology accepted." Felicity smiled politely.
"Well, now that this is settled, let's go. My car is on the driveway. I am taking you to this tea place for starters since you can't have coffee yet."
"Thanks, Tommy. That's very thoughtful of you."
"I will take this as a compliment." He said to his best friend as they got in the car.
They talked about their day with Thea and the article on the way to their destination. Tommy even politely complimented Felicity on her new hair look.
"So, you said you wanted to talk about something." Tommy spoke after they had given their orders.
"Yes. Felicity and I have been talking for years about what we'd do if we ever made it back here."
"And we have decided that we want to help the city, staring with the Glades." He blonde continued.
"That's interesting."
"Among other things, we want to open a club at my father's old factory. It needs a lot of work and then people to work there and we want to have people from the Glades to work for all that." Oliver explained. "And I was wondering if you wanted to open the club together. You and I will finance it and Felicity will work for us to do her magic with the IT."
"Wow. That's … a great idea actually. We can do some good, while working and having fun. Maybe it will get my father off my back for a while. Count me in!" Tommy agreed with a smirk.
"You're sure you don't want to think about it before agreeing?" Felicity asked.
"I'm sure. I've been wanting to do something like that for a while now. This gives me the opportunity to work with my best friend and help people in need." Tommy replied.
"We are coming back from the dead the day after tomorrow, so how about we go to the bank afterwards and we can see one of our lawyers tomorrow, for the legal matters?" Oliver suggested.
"Sounds good. Would you be coming with us, Felicity?" the billionaire asked.
"Just for the bank part. I need to open an account again. I will let you boys deal with the legal matters." She responded, as their teas arrived.
"Well, I can't blame you. I would try to avoid the lawyers, too, if I could." He laughed. "Now, tell me what else you plan on doing to help the Glades."
"First order of business will be a kitchen soup and a homeless shelter. We will go from there." Oliver answered.
"And you are welcome to join if you want." Felicity added.
"Sure. I like this idea of us helping people. We can start a foundation, too. We can have galas to raise money and maybe an auction, too. I'd like to do this this." Tommy said sincerely. "Maybe they will stop seeing us only as trust fund babies."
"How about we drive through the Glades to look for the proper buildings and then take a look at the old steel factory? We need to take a look before asking Walter if we can buy it or use it." Felicity suggested.
"Good idea. We need to know what to expect." Tommy agreed.
"And I suggest we buy it. We don't want board members snooping in on our business. I am sure they will be glad to get rid of it." Oliver added.
"Plus, you should get an accountant. We don't have experience with the monetary part of running a club." Felicity said. "We will have everything digitized, so I will be able check everything, so don't worry."
They stayed a couple more hours there talking about their ideas for the club and the charities. Tommy had some good ideas, too, and Felicity was happy that she and her husband's best friend got along nicely. She didn't want to put Oliver in a difficult position. And Tommy was a good guy, even if a little immature sometimes. But Felicity liked him.
They got to the car and Tommy drove them to the Glades. It pained Felicity to see what the area had come to. People on the streets, abandoned buildings… it was the ghost of its former self. And Felicity promised herself that they were going to fix it.
They found some interesting buildings that were for sale and could be convenient for their future activities. Some others gave Felicity new ideas for future projects.
Their final destination was the old Queen factory. Tommy parked the car, and they took their time to explore the premises. They had plenty of space for a parking lot outside and good places for surveillance cameras and lights.
On the inside, there was plenty of space to do pretty much everything they wanted. They could have a VIP section, tables, and a big dance floor. They could probably add a floor where they would put the offices. The ceiling was way too high for only one floor. And then the basement was going to be their secret lair. After the renovations, Felicity was going to play around with the building schemes to make the basement appear smaller than it was, so that no one could figure out their secret and they would look to be legitimate on that front. Felicity could not wait to get started.
As they were nearing the car, she knew something was going to happen. Something bad. She barely had time to breath when she felt a pinch on the back of her neck. A tranquilizing arrow. Everything went black.
Felicity was in and out of consciousness. She could hear bits and pieces of sentences. Something about Mr. Queen. But what about him? Everyone knew he didn't make it out of the Gambit. They told them that themselves. So, someone was worried ha could have told them something. Hm, she'd think about it later. She would rest her eyes for a moment first.
The next think she hears were sounds of fighting. Her head screamed for her to get up, assess the situation and act, but her body wouldn't obey. The darkness was so sweet, but she knew she had to wake up.
"Felicity?" Oliver's voice came from afar. "Are you okay?"
"I'm 'kay." She murmured.
"Open your eyes, baby." He asked.
She had to put some effort to it, but she managed to open them.
"There you are. I need you to collaborate the story I tell the police. Say something about a green blur, alright?"
"Green blur, okay." She nodded "Tommy?"
"I'll check on him now. You should rest, now. I'll call for help once I check on Tommy." He kissed her forehead as she closed her eyes.
Felicity could hardly remember how she ended up back at the Manor, in the family room, sandwiched between Oliver and Tommy, with Detective Lance taking their statements. Really, who thought it was a good idea to assign him in a case involving Oliver?
"So, that's your story? A guy in a green hood flew in and singlehandedly took out three armed kidnappers?" Detective Lance looked at him with a look that clearly said I don't believe you. "I mean who is he? Why would he do that?"
"I don't know. Find him and you can ask." Oliver said casually, but Felicity knew he was annoyed with Lance's attitude. "He also said to tell the police that he was going to cleanse this city."
"Right, a vigilante. What about you, Miss Smoak?" he turned his eyes on her.
"I remember hearing voices. I was in and out of consciousness for the most part, but I remember a green figure hovering over me. I think he or she were checking to see if I am alive." She replied. "I heard some crashes after that, like fighting. Next thing I can remember is Oliver asking if I was hurt."
"And you, Mr. Merlyn?" the detective asked."
"I vaguely remember some crashes and Oliver calling for us. I was pretty out of it." The billionaire said to Laurel's father.
"Where are they?!" Thea's voice rang through the room as the brunette barged in to the room. Looking around, her eyes landed on the three. "Are you okay?" she strolled towards them ignoring the rest of the people. "What happened?" she hugged her brother tightly.
"I am fine, Speedy." He hugged her back.
"Are you sure? She looked him in the eyes.
"I am." He nodded.
"Okay." She let go and tackled Felicity in to a hug.
"I'm okay, Thea." She assured the girl, returning the hug.
"I am so happy you guys are okay." Thea said.
"Even me?" Tommy tried to tease her.
"Yes, you idiot." She let go o f Felicity and hugged Tommy. "You may be an idiot, but you are my brother, too."
"The most handsome one, right?" he smiled.
"Whatever makes you feel better." She slapped his arm.
"Miss Queen, if you don't mind, we were in the middle of something here." Lance glared.
"I'm sorry I was worried when half of my family was kidnapped." She shot back.
"Family?" he raised an eyebrow.
"Not that it is any of your business, but Tommy has been a part of this family since I can remember, and I recently adopted Felicity." She said squeezing herself between Felicity and Tommy.
"Right. So, it's funny, isn't it? One week back and somebody's gunning for you. aren't you popular?" Lance mused.
"Were you able to identify any of the men?" Moira asked sharply.
"Scrubbed identities. Untraceable weapons." Lance's partner replied. "These were pros."
"Yeah. They figured you'd pay a king's ransom to get your boy back. Or a Queen's ransom, as it were." Lance said, "After all, a parent would do anything to keep their child safe."
"I think that's enough." Felicity said. She knew where this is going. This was all about Sara. "We have given our statements. Your partner can take care of any follow up questions. And I really don't like what you are implying." She greeted her teeth. "Because you should know, that we searched for her for days. Sara was not just your daughter, she was my friend. My only friend."
"Felicity is right." Moira stood. "We are done here. Go on, children. You should et some rest. Tommy, I expect you to stay for dinner, at least."
"He is not going anywhere. The four of us are having movie night after dinner and we will camp at the entertainment room. Now you three go clean up. I will be up soon. I want to hear everything." Thea shooed them while Moira turned to deal with the detectives.
"By the way, some computer parts were delivered earlier." Moira said over her shoulder. "They are in Oliver's room"
"Yes!" Felicity exclaimed as they climbed the steps to the bedrooms.
Thirty minutes later, Felicity had showered, dressed, dried her hair and was in Oliver's room. She was on the floor with the packages all around her and her tablet in her hand. Oliver himself was in the shower and Tommy was sitting on a chair watching Felicity as she tried to explain to him about the computer parts. Felicity could not hide her glee as she opened the parcels. She organized everything according to which computer they were going in to: hers or Oliver's.
She told Tommy about the computers, but the young heir just nodded his head. He had no idea what most of what she said meant. She was so happy about what she was doing that he didn't have the heart to tell her to stop. She was like a kid at Christmas.
Thea came in a few minutes later, just as Felicity had started building Oliver's computer.
"What's that?" she asked as she made herself comfortable in her brother's bed.
"This is Oliver's new computer, or at least it will be once I am done." Felicity answered, screwing the motherboard in place.
"I haven't known any woman to shower as quickly as she did just so that she could play with the computer parts. She even dried her hair, all in half hour." Tommy told her.
"I haven't been able to play with computers in five years. I would have showered later, but Oliver wouldn't let me anywhere near them until I was showered." He complaint.
"And I was right." Oliver said from the bathroom door. He was dressed in sweats and a T-shirt and was using a towel to dry his hair.
"Yes. You were, but it was a little mean. You wouldn't even let me see them." She said securing another screw.
"So, tell me everything. What happened." Thea interrupted.
"Well, we were at this tea place and the lovebirds were telling me about their plans to help the Glades." Tommy started.
"What plans?" Thea inquired.
"Tommy and I are opening a club at dad's old factory to create jobs for the locals, and then Felicity, Tommy and I are planning on starting a Foundation to help the whole area as much as possible." Oliver explained.
"Can I help? I really want to help. Please?"
Oliver looked at Felicity who nodded and then at Tommy who repeated the notion. "If you are sure, we would love to have you in the Foundation."
"I am sure and thank you." she smiled her thanks. "Tell me everything. I want to know all your ideas and plans and everything."
So, they spent the time until dinner filling her in on everything. She seemed excited to help them and added her own ideas for future projects as well. "We should host a gala to raise money. We know a lot of rich people, let them give some money too. It's for a good cause. And I will organize it. No worries. Hm, I should get an address book like mom."
"That's a very good idea actually." Felicity said from her place on the floor.
"The little one is right. God knows, we have attended enough galas to know how to throw one. It's for a good cause and since it's us we are hosting; my father will be forced to make a donation. Maybe he won't like it. Argh, do you think he'll cut me off?"
"You can open an independent account to transfer money from your trust fund. He won't be able to touch it." Felicity suggested. "This one's ready." She said proudly.
"That is actually a very good idea. And since my lease is up next month, maybe I will look in to buying an apartment instead of renting it."
"And maybe you can sell your 'old' cars. You just have them collecting dust at the garage." Thea pipped.
"I'll do that to. It's time to get a little more responsible." Tommy nodded thoughtfully. "Good thing we are going to the bank soon. And maybe I should meet with my lawyer, too. Thanks guys. You've given me some food for thought."
"You are welcome. Now, I decided that we are watching some comedies and Raisa will prepare some snacks for later. We are wearing pjs for the movies. Dinner is in forty-five minutes. I will see you then."
"And I need a pen and a paper." Tommy said.
"Who knew that everything was turning upside down just because we came home?" Oliver mused.