Emma

Chapter 7

It's been almost a week since Oliver and Emma had gone to Central City for her school's field trip, but Oliver hadn't told Thea about their encounter with Felicity in STAR Labs, and he wasn't planning on doing so. He knew how Thea felt about his ex-girlfriend, and he wasn't ready to deal with it. He also knew that somehow Thea had sensed that something was up – what with his broody disposition stretching for days since their return – but he was glad that she had not asked or called him out on it. He was grateful that his younger sister had really outgrown her childish ways. Perhaps helping him with the responsibilities of raising Emma and managing the ranch had forced her to mature faster than she would have if their mother were still alive.

But Emma had overheard him and Thea talking in the kitchen that morning; hence, he could no longer avoid it.

While they had tidied up after breakfast, Thea had told him that she was scheduled for a job interview in Central City the next day. They had been discussing about her getting a "real" job where she could practice everything she had learned in interior design school. Oliver wanted her to make a life for herself and not get stuck in the ranch just because she felt obliged to stay with him and help, especially with Emma. He had always assured her that he was fine about her moving to one of the cities near Starling Town if she could land her dream job.

"It's just an interview. And even if everything goes well, it doesn't mean I'll take the job. I'd like to keep my options open. Central City isn't exactly 'nearby,'" Thea had said earlier, shrugging her shoulders while watching her brother's reaction from the corner of her eye.

"Speedy, you know I'm behind you a hundred percent," Oliver had replied. "I've always wanted what's best for you. If taking a job in the city will help you grow and become the best version of yourself, then you should go for it. You don't have to pass up a perfectly good opportunity on account of us. Emma and I will be fine." He'd placed his hand on her shoulder as a gesture of reassurance.

"Thanks, Ollie. Hearing you say that means a lot. If I do get the job, I promise to come home every weekend," Thea had said, and then she had added with a chuckle, "Okay, make that almost every weekend."

"Are you taking the truck?" Oliver had asked.

"I can take the bus."

"No, take the truck. That way you save time, and you'll get there with plenty of time to compose yourself. The bus stops at least twice. What time is the interview?" he had asked her again.

"10 a.m."

"Oh… You'll have to get up early and leave around six. I'll pack you sandwiches for the long drive."

"Thanks!" Thea had beamed, happy that her big brother is being very supportive.

Just when they had thought that their conversation was just coming to a pleasant end, a tiny but enthusiastic voice had echoed throughout the room. "Can I come?" Oliver and Thea had turned around too quickly that they could have gotten a mild case of whiplash. It was as if they had gotten caught trading rumors. Emma had been standing near the doorway to the kitchen, her posture betraying that she must have been standing there in silence all that time, listening to their conversation. The little girl had stared at them in anticipation, her eyebrows raised to her hairline. They both would have thought she looked so adorable if they had not been taken by surprise.

"It's may, Emma," Thea had corrected her. "And say go instead of come… May I go…"

"That's what I said," the little girl had reasoned out, pouting this time, with her hands akimbo on her hips. "May I go with you to Central City?" she had asked a second time.

"Emma, why would you want to come with me to Central City? You were just there last week," Thea had asked, wondering why the cutest niece in the world would ask such a thing from out of the blue.

Oliver, on the other hand, had started to fidget, unease obviously emanating from his body movement.

"I want to see STAR Labs again," Emma had declared so resolutely. She had punctuated that statement with the cutest smile that made her blue eyes sparkle with excitement.

Thea had asked, "And why would you want to go back to STAR Labs? I somehow got the impression that you and Ollie didn't really enjoy your recent trip."

Emma cocked her head slightly and said, "What makes you say that? STAR Labs is the coolest place on earth. I had so much fun there!"

"Maybe you had, but Ollie certainly hadn't. It was written all over his face when you got home from the trip," Thea had remarked, giving her brother an elbow to his side.

Emma had crossed her arms in front of her and bit her lower lip. Oliver immediately saw Felicity in her. That was exactly how she looked when she had something important or urgent going on inside her head. Why won't images of Felicity in his head leave him alone?

Emma had been quiet for beat, and then she had spoken, choosing to ignore her aunt's remark. "I still want to go. Please?" she'd begged Thea. From what she had heard (or eavesdropped) of their conversation a while ago, she had inferred that her sister's job interview would be over before noontime. If that was the case, her sister will have plenty of time to take her back to STAR Labs after lunch, and they'd still have enough time to drive back home before dark.

"Emma…" The way that Oliver had said her name, the little girl had sensed immediately that her older brother disapproved of her request.

"Please, Ollie. I wanna go back and see Felicity again," Emma had pleaded, this time more meekly, in order to persuade him and gain his approval.

"Emma, you have school," Oliver had replied, his voice laced with an emotion that neither he nor his little girl could recognize.

"I can miss a day. It's just one day. I can catch up."

"Emma…"

"Ollie, please. I want to see her. I need to ask her something. It's important," the little girl had begged him, closing their distance and finally crashing into him with a fierce hug around his midsection.

"Emma, I'll think about it. Okay?" he'd told her. "Give me some time. I promise I'll get back to you before Thea has to leave."

His little girl had simply nodded, even as tears had threatened to fall from her eyes. Oliver hadn't been sure what to say, so he had taken the safest way out of the unnerving situation – stalling. He'd known that he'll still have to deal with it later on, but he had bidden time to think and sort through the tangled web of mixed emotions deep inside him.

As soon as Emma had left, Thea turned to her brother with a knowing look and asked, "Would you mind telling me what's going on?"

Oliver took a deep breath and then heaved a heavy sigh. He leaned back against the kitchen counter, with his head hanging low. After letting some time pass, he told his sister, "Felicity is in Central City. We ran into her at STAR Labs. Apparently, she works there now."

Thea couldn't believe her ears. "What?"

"It's true. She-"

"Did you get to talk to her?" Thea interrupted her.

"Yes."

"What did you say?"

"…"

"What did she say to you?"

"…"

"Did Emma get to talk to her?"

Oliver nodded once.

"Does Emma know?"

Oliver shook his head.

"Are you going to tell her?"

"I don't know," Oliver replied truthfully.

He honestly didn't know what to do. When he finally had that heart-to-heart talk with Emma about her being adopted, he had also told her that she could ask him about her birth mother. He had also told her that if and when she decided that she wanted to meet her mother, he would support her, but she had not asked him for anything yet. Nevertheless, now Emma was asking. She asked to see Felicity again, so adamantly. After that brief but unforgettable incident in STAR Labs, Emma must have been trying to piece things together. Oliver wouldn't be surprised if Emma, who inherited her mother's smarts, somehow had an inkling, a vague idea about who the woman was that used to be his very good friend. Whether or not Emma knew who Felicity really was, Emma pleaded with him. He used to think he was ready when she was ready. But now, he didn't know if he could do it. Would he, at least, try?

A/N: So, what do you think? Is Oliver going to let Emma go and see Felicity?