Author's note: Sorry this is a bit late... got busy cleaning and organizing my house this weekend and hurt my back in the process... now I have a clean house but a sore lower back... so now for the story... I hope you enjoy this chapters... bit of fluff before we get into the story of the bad guys... also we find out about the twins and their names
As always special thanks to my beta warehouseluver13 for all she has done and please review... I love them so much
Disclosure: I own nothing of Arrow
"Welcome! Come on in!" Felicity greeted as a few parents and kids from Connor's class enter the house. The kids ran into the house and straight to the back door while the parents all gathered into foyer.
"Thanks for having us Felicity. The house looks great." Max laughed as he started to grab presents from the other parents.
"Oh that is all Thea. She has put this whole thing together."
"So where's Oliver?" Brad's father asked as he looked around the house. It was decorated all over with superhero posters, balloons, streamers, and superhero themed items all over the lower part of the house. In the parlor was a bunch of tables set up and decorated. The first one had party bags and cups on it filled with toys and candy, all superhero themed, for the kids to take home when the party was over. Another was covered in snack foods and barbecue hotdogs and hamburgers for the kids to eat. It again had superhero themed decorations all over the table. There was the one was set up for the presents near the doors to the foyer. The last was one with a 3 tier cake on it. Each layer was decorated in a spiderman theme. A Spiderman figure was set atop of it as well as a rainbow number 8 candle for Connor to blow out later. There was also a bunch of hero masks next to it for all the kids to wear and have fun with.
"Oh he's out back keeping an eye on the kids while some of the guys finish making the hotdogs and hamburgers. Come on outside." Felicity said as she walked the few parents who had come along with their kiss to the backyard.
In the backyard, the kids were running around playing. They had short superhero capes on along with their masks and were chasing each other around. There was a bounce house set up for them as well as the playset to use in the backyard. Connor was running around in a green hoodie, pair of jeans, a pair of Flash tennis shoes and a white shirt that Thea had made for him with a Green Arrow logo and Flash logo on it. He also had his quiver strapped to his back and his bow and and arrow in his hands. Oliver had adjusted the arrows to have small soft tipped balls on them instead of arrowheads. They were chasing Cisco and Barry around the backyard. The two were dressed as bad guys so that the kids had someone to save little Sara, who was being held at the top of the playset as a hostage, from evil.
Oliver laughed as he watched Connor thread two arrows and shot Barry in the back just like his crossbows had some time back. Barry fell to the ground and Connor climbed up the side of the playset and saved the innocent he found there. Felicity applauded the kids playing as they set up to play another round. "You know he really is a lot like his father." She chuckled as she walked up beside Oliver and Diggle, who were manning the barbecue pit.
"Oh yeah. You should see him in the gym. He is getting pretty good at the salmon ladder. And I swear that bow and arrow set is becoming a part of him now." Diggle laughed as he moved inside to put the last of the hamburgers and hotdogs on the table there.
Oliver smiled and wrapped his arms around Felicity. "I haven't seen him so happy. Look at him running around with his friends, laughing and smiling. This. This is what I want. What I want for all of them." He set his chin on her shoulder and looked down at her belly. "Nervous about telling everyone tomorrow?" Felicity let her cheek fall heavier on his head, enjoying the feeling of him nuzzled into her neck as they watch the kids happily play in the backyard.
"A little." Felicity shrugged. "I mean I know they're going to freak out. We are having two now. But I hope they see this as a good thing like we do. Yeah sure we freaked out about it a bit at first."
"A bit?" Oliver humorously huffed.
"Okay fine a lot. But now that some time has passed and we have gotten used to the idea, we love it. I don't think I could ever want for more. I just hope they see that we can do this and want to. More than anything."
Oliver spun her around so that she was facing him. "Hey listen to me. They will. They're our family. They are going to not only love the news and the two babies but also support us as we go through this. They're gonna help us anyway they can. I know they will because that is what family does."
Felicity grinned and giggled sweetly at him. "My, my. I think my optimism is catching on with you."
"Well it's because you married me and agreed to have a family and a future with me. I have to be hopeful now because I finally have something I want to live for. All because of you." Oliver reached down and kissed her. When the kiss deepened, a small group of giggles and a couple throats clearing pulled them back. Oliver and Felicity broke apart from each other and Oliver laughed along as Felicity blushed.
"Mommy, is the food ready? We're getting a bit hungry. Plus I really wanna eat some of that cake." Connor laughed up at his parents.
"Sure thing Buddy. Dig brought the last of the food inside just now so let's go eat then you could open gifts."
Connor started to looked around and Felicity saw his smile to slip. "Sweetie, what is it?"
"I was really hoping they would come."
"Who Buddy?"
"Flash and Arrow. I was hoping they would be here but I guess they didn't want to come."
"Well maybe they're just busy with saving the cities." Oliver tried to explain. He was trying to hold off turning into the Arrow as long as possible so there would be less witnesses and less light out to see him.
"No because Arrow doesn't come out during the day and the Flash could pop up here really quick if he wanted to. It's okay though. This party has been a lot of fun. My friends are having a great time and the food smells great."
"How about you gather everyone up and we head inside and eat then you can open gifts. The party isn't over yet so give them a little more time to show up. Okay Sweetie?" Felicity gently offered trying to keep his hopes alive.
"Okay." Connor smiled and ran off to gather all the kids and start to venture inside. "Oliver, we need to do something."
Oliver considered how to get his son to smile again. It killed him seeing his son unhappy, especially when he could easily make him happy just by slipping on his leathers. He looked up and saw Barry laughing and knew what needed to be done. "And I know just what to do. Get everyone inside and start eating. I'm going to go talk to Barry real quick and plan this whole thing out." Oliver smiled and kissed Felicity before running off himself.
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"So cool! Connor that is awesome, man." Brad smiled as he looked over the comic books and toys Connor got for his birthday. Everyone had eaten and Connor had started opening his gifts. He also received a brand new chest set as well as several movies and video games.
A knock on the back door stirred the party to look up and see who it was. Standing there on the back patio was the Flash. All the kids gasped and ran for the doors. Connor pushed the door open and smiled as he saw the Flash stand there in all his glory. "You came?!"
"For my biggest fan in Starling, of course I did. Wouldn't miss it. Just had to take on a bad guy before coming this way. So how has your birthday been, Connor?" Barry said in an altered voice as he smiled down at the young boy. Barry had slipped away for a moment and come back dressed in his suit.
"Great!"
"Good. Now I have a gift for you and a message. Which do you want first?"
Connor considered the question for a few moments then answered, "The message."
Barry knelt down and grinned at him. "Always a good boy. Now I talked to the Green Arrow."
"You did?!"
"I did. He told me to tell you he is running down some leads on a bad guy, trying to keep this city safe. But he said he will be by to see you today and for you not to worry. He has a special gift for you. Just like I do. I read in the card that you are a big fan of mine too so I got you this." Barry pulled a poster out and handed it to him. Connor opened it to find a Flash poster that Barry had autographed personally to him.
"Cool! Thanks." Connor smiled down at it, so happy that he got to meet a hero of his.
"Now I have to go but you guys have fun and be good okay?" Barry stood up and smiled down at Connor.
"Hey. How about you guys go play for a bit more before all the kids have to go. Thank the Flash for coming Sweetie." Felicity smiled, proud of not only her son but her friend. She knew how much this moment meant for Connor and how hard it is for Barry to be in the public like this.
Barry smiled at all the kids as they ran off into the backyard. "It was great meeting you Connor. Stay good."
"I will Flash. Thanks for coming." Connor stuck his hand out to shake but Barry knelt down and hugged him. Barry let him go and smiled as he stood. Then he winked at Felicity and Oliver and dashed off. "Whoa! Dad. Mommy. Did you see that?"
"We did Buddy. What did he give you?" Oliver grinned down at him as Connor turned towards them.
"A poster that he signed. See?" Connor showed the poster to his parents. "Can we hang it in my room?"
"How about we get it framed so nothing happens to it then of course we will hang it up for you, Buddy."
"Awesome. Here Dad. Can you take it inside? I want to play a bit before my friends have to leave."
"Sure thing Buddy. Go have fun." Connor handed the poster to his dad and hugged him then ran off to play. Oliver felt a warmth fill him like never before. He was finally truly happy.
"You know your father would be so happy to see you like this. Married with a family of your own. He would be so proud of you." Walter eased up to Oliver's side after Felicity had taken the poster inside and started cleaning up.
"I hope so. I really do." Oliver turned and moved so that they could sit down at the patio set they had outside.
Walter sat across from him as they watched Connor run and play with his friends. He smiled watching his grandson laugh out loud as he chased around Cisco again. "Nervous about tomorrow?"
"A little."
"Oliver my boy, you will be fine. Being nervous about adding to your family is normal. But you must know that you are a great father already and you will continue to be one for the new little one on the way."
"I don't know about that." Oliver mumbled.
"What's wrong?"
"I have been so focused on Damien and what he could do that I didn't see the hurt I was causing my family. I almost lost them."
"How?"
"Felicity. She almost left me yesterday. I had to plead with her to make her stay. I almost lost this. I almost lost it all because of my foolish pride."
"Then stop being so proud, son. I don't know a lot of what you two have been through but I do know this. You two are the best thing for each other. You're better together than I have ever seen in a match. So trust her. She believes in you, supports you. So believe that she can help you through anything. She already has. Think about it, my boy." Walter grinned at him as he grasped Oliver's shoulder in silent support.
Oliver considered Walter's words as he watched his son and family move about the inside, getting the rest of the party cleaned up and ready for cake.
"Hey kids! Come inside for cake and ice cream!" Felicity shouted. Soon the whole backyard full of kids cheered and they filed inside. Oliver stood and walked inside as well.
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"'... that they had been in the back room all along, and that she could not have looked properly.' And that's all for tonight Sweetie."
"Mommy, do you... um... think that the Flash was wrong?"
"Whataya mean Sweetie?"
"Well he said that the Arrow would come see me but he hasn't shown up yet."
"Well maybe he is just waiting until you are alone? I mean he never comes out during the daytime. You said that yourself. So maybe he wants to say 'hi' to you when you are alone so there aren't any witnesses. He has to stay a secret for his own safety."
"And his team's."
"Team's? You think he has a team?"
Connor sat up and looked at his mother as Felicity shifted to sit on the side of the bed. "Well yeah. He needs a team to help him. Someone to have his back and of course someone to dig in and find all the information."
"You don't think he does the research himself?" Felicity grinned trying not to show too much pride in that fact that Connor recognized the work she does.
"Of course not. He does some but he needs someone to help during missions, to talk him around town and to give him new details while he is out patrolling."
"Well then yes he needs to stay a secret from his team's and his own safety. But I don't think Flash was wrong. If the Arrow said he would show, he will. He is a man of his word."
"How do you know?"
"Well he said we would always work to protect the city and he has. So if he says he will come, he will. Now get ready and go to sleep. We have a big day tomorrow."
"I can't wait. The guys is gonna be so excited once they find out. These two are gonna have a really big family when they come out."
"Just like you do Sweetie. Connor everyone here today was here for you. We are all your family just as much as we are for these two. You know that right?"
"I do Mommy. Thank you. Today was the best birthday ever. I just wish my other Mommy had been here. She would have loved it."
"I'm just glad you had fun. That was what was important. Now let's get to bed. We have a busy day tomorrow." Felicity smiled as she kissed Connor goodnight. "Goodnight Sweetie. Sleep tight."
"Night Mommy." Felicity walked out of the room and Connor began settling into his bed when a creak of the window drew his attention away from his covers. Connor slipped out of his bed and to his knees on the floor. He had stored his bow and arrow under his bed, like always, so he grabbed them and when he came back up he took aim in that direction. "Who's there? Come out where I can see you!"
"Easy kid. I was invited. Remember?" A deep mechanical voice said as a figure stepped out of the shadows and through the window. Connor looked up and gasped. "So you gonna lower that thing?" The voice joked.
"Arrow!" Connor gasped as he lowered his bow and replaced the arrow in his quiver. "You came!"
"Was there ever any doubt. I just had to wait. You see I was on a mission."
"Cool! That's okay. Thanks for coming." Connor stored his bow and arrow under his bed and climbed back in under the covers.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world." Oliver grinned as he watched his son move around the space. His voice was disguised and he was hidden in the darkness of the room. Connor only slept with the light from his bathroom on and even then the door was only cracked. It had surprised Oliver just how brave his son truly was at such a young age. "So get lots of cool presents for your birthday?" Oliver asked stepping further into the room.
"Yeah. All kinds of comic books and movies and games."
"What was your favorite gift?"
"A really cool hoodie and bow and arrow set from my parents. Not as cool as yours but still really cool." Oliver smiled with pride as he thought about Connor's reaction when he had opened the gift earlier that day. He had special ordered the bow to fit Connor and his skill level and made the arrows himself. He wanted to give his son the best gift possible.
"Sounds like really cool parents to give you those."
"Yeah, they're great. Oliver, my dad, he didn't know about me until a few months ago. And Felicity, she isn't my real mom but I love her like one. They took me in and I love them so much. Now I'm getting two siblings too. It's great but I'm scared that they're not gonna want me after the babies show up."
"Well I know it's not right to listen in on other people's conversations, and is definitely something you shouldn't do, but I heard what that woman said."
"That was Felicity, my mommy."
"Well I heard what Felicity said and it sounds to me like they are going to love you just as much then as they do now. They're gonna need your help with the babies. One is a lot but two is a handful. They are going to need you to be a great big brother and help take care of the babies. Love them."
"Oh I will. I can't wait! And tomorrow everyone will find out what Felicity is having. Can you keep a secret? Of course you can. You're the Arrow. Anyway. Wanna know what my mommy is having? Cause I know."
Oliver panicked. He wanted to know desperately but he wanted to find out with Felicity. "That's okay. I'm sure you were told to keep that a secret right?" Connor nodded. "And I assume it was your parents that asked you to keep it a secret so you keep that to yourself. I have something for you." Oliver smiled under his hood as he moved to the foot of the bed and sat on it facing slightly away from Connor to hide his face. He pulled out a small box from his jacket and handed it to the boy.
"A gift?!"
"Well of course. Can't come to a birthday party without a gift. That'd just be wrong." Oliver watched as Connor smiled at him and opened the gift quickly, the boy excited to see what was inside.
Connor pulled out the item he found inside, a dark green leather domino mask. "Cool! A mask."
"Just like mine." Oliver lowered his head more and slid his hands under his hood and slipped his mask off to show the boy. He held it out in his hand so that Connor could see it then slipped it back on his face. "Now you can be a hero just like I am. Believe in yourself but know that a hero knows when to fight, when to protect those he loves, and when to ask for help. Be safe okay."
"I will. Thank you so much for coming. Too bad no one will believe me."
"As long as you know that is all that matters right?"
"Right. Thanks again. Can I ask one more thing?"
"Sure."
"I know you protect the city but if you ever see my family in trouble, could you help them out? They're all I have left and I really love them."
"I will always protect your family Connor." Oliver promised, fighting back tears at the level of maturity his son was showing in that moment. Oliver had never felt more proud of Connor.
Before Oliver could realize what was happening, Connor was hugging him. "Thanks." Connor kept his eyes down, not wanting to take away the secret identity of his hero unless allowed to. He respected the Arrow too much for that.
"Now be a good boy and go to sleep. Sounds like you have a big day tomorrow."
"And you have a city to protect." Connor laughed as he watched the masked hero stand from his post on the bed and move back to the window. "Be careful, okay?"
"Always." Oliver grinned as he shot an arrow out of the window and road down the zip line that it created. He looked back over his shoulder one last time, Connor smiling and waving from his bedroom window, then ran off into the dark gardens.
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"So how did the meeting go?" Barry laughed as Oliver walked up to the Bunker from his bike.
"I seriously have the greatest, most perfect kid ever. He was awesome about it. We talked for a bit and when he gave me a hug he never looked at my face. I swear I have no idea what I did to deserve him and Felicity but I will start to treasure them the way they deserve from now on. No more obsessing over bad guys. No more long hours at work. I want to see my family and be there for every moment I can."
"Well damn. Makes this talk a lot easier with you coming to that conclusion on your own."
"Talk?" Oliver and Barry walked into the Bunker and to where the suits were stored.
"Yes talk. Felicity told me what happened yesterday and asked me to talk some sense into you. However I'm not sure how she expected me to do that. The only person to ever get through that thick skull of yours is the same person that tasked me with the job."
"Very funny Barry."
"Fine. Fine. But seriously man. You're not alone anymore. Thea told me that when you decided to hang up your hood after defeating Ra's a few months back, you told them that you could not have won if you didn't have a team and that was what you all were. Oliver you still are. It is not just your job to protect the city anymore. This city has several very smart, very strong and very capable heroes in it and they are all on your side. Use them. Trust them. They love you, your family, and your city just as much as you do. Believe in them. They need you to do that. To believe when things are tough, you will allow them to have your back. If you keep trying to do things on your own, that's how you'll end up. Alone."
"Thanks Barry. And thanks for keeping an eye on the city tomorrow. I know we have used you and your team a bit more often here recently."
"It is our honor and I know that if the time comes that we need you to do the same, you guys will. That's what family does. Help each other."
"Well I better change and get back to my wife. She is a bit nervous about tomorrow."
"It can imagine but you guys are all set right?"
"Yep. You'll be there?" Oliver lifted his clothes that Thea had left on a nearby table and started to walk to the back of the Bunker.
"Definitely. We have a bet going on the names. I think I may have a fighting chance."
"Really?" Oliver called out as he moved into one of the changing rooms.
"Yep. I think a boy and the name is Robert Thomas."
"So how do you guys determine a winner?" Oliver asked as he started to change out of his suit and into the workout clothes Felicity had sent over with Thea earlier tonight.
Barry laughed. "Well the person has to be right completely to take the pot. We have one going for the names and another for the sexes. Why? Interested in getting in on the action? You can't play the names one, which has a higher buy in, since you have insider information. But the sex one you can."
"You do know that if Felicity gets wind of this, she is going to hurt all involved. I wouldn't be surprised if she hacks into your bank accounts and send anonymous donations to charities in you guys' names because of this."
"Yeah. Yeah. We know but it's all in good fun. Maybe you can tell her and lessen the blowback?" Barry asked timidly.
"Oh no! Not a chance. I will tell her because I am not hiding anything from her ever again but I am not going to take the fall at all. You're all old enough to take the punish for your decisions." Oliver laughed as he finished changing and ventured out of the room. He walked over and hung his suit back up and replaced his bow and quiver in their places as well. "Now if you will excuse me, I have a lovely wife waiting in my bed at home and this is not how I wish to spend my night off."
"No problem. I'll see ya tomorrow. And remember what you said and think about what I said. You have a great team here, Oliver. Use them. Believe in them. Let them help you. They want to more than you know."
"I will. Thanks again Barry. You really are a great friend." Oliver patted Barry on the back the ran out of the Bunker, in a hurry to get home and wrap his arms around the blonde who laid asleep in his bed.