Author's note: Thank you all so much for the reviews and sweet words... i loved them
so my muse has jump started so updating tonight... loved tonight's episode btw... but if I start having issues with my muse, may have to get some of those miracuru soldiers to whoop her into place so I can get some work done on the story.
Please review and let me know what you think... much love to my amazing beta warehouseluver13
Disclosure: I own nothing of Arrow or I would now who is in the box... if you know what I mean
"So are we all set up for today?" Oliver asked as he passed Adira while coming off the elevator. He had just come from a lunch meeting with Rebecca about the dedication later that afternoon.
"Yep. Oh and your sister phoned. She asked that I remind you she was on club duty tonight so she would not be available at all."
"Thank you Adira." Oliver knew that he would be hitting the streets tonight in Thea's place. Diggle would be staying in the Bunker running comms as Laurel and Nyssa joined him on patrol. He was still worried because it had been almost a month since Damien's deadline had passed. They still had no plan on how to deal with him as well as no idea where we was.
"Oh and Mr. Queen, I need to know about the masquerade ball for the Children's Hospital. They need your R.S.V.P. today."
"Go ahead and confirm my attendance."
"And your plus one, sir?"
Oliver thought about it for a second. He wanted to bring Felicity but was worried that she may not want to go since she was still a bit cautious about public appearances with her being pregnant. She had been better that morning about her looks but he wasn't sure how long that would last. He was just stepping into his office and looked through the glass to find Felicity stretched out on one of her couches, napping. "Um?"
"She should be waking up soon. She was out the entire time you were at lunch since she knew that the press conference would be when she normally naps and the babies were quiet now." Adira smiled as she followed his eyeline. "I would say she would like for you to wake her and if you want I can help her find a gown and costume for the ball. I have had experience with the difficulty of find comfortable clothes in her condition." Oliver studied her curiously. "I noticed last week and she was becoming more and more concrete with her image. I think being around all these people and being pregnant has put a lot of pressure on her self image. Let me guess, she has had a few self esteem issues recently?"
"Yeah. How'd ya know?"
"Because I have been in her shoes. Twice. Never with twins but we all go through it. It's normal."
"How do I stop it?"
Adira chuckled softly. "To be honest Mr. Queen. You can't. Just show her you love her as she is and be patient with her. She is going to start going through mood swings and will cry over everything. You will think and feel like she is going crazy and you too. But know that she will go back to normal later. It's just because of the pregnancy and increase in hormones in her system. Show her that you love and support her every chance you can. It helps. Trust me. Now go wake your wife and give her this." She held out a small takeout bag that she grabbed off her desk. "And check with her about the ball. It is in a week so they really need to know. I have put them off as long as I can."
"Thank you Adira. For everything." Oliver smiled as he snatched the bag and moved to the doors that joined their offices.
Oliver walked up to Felicity's resting form and grinned as he saw that she was wrapped up in not only her throw blanket but one of his hoodies. She had brought it from home that morning, wanting to have something that smelled like him for when she napped. He placed the bag down on the coffee table and sat down on the corner of it. He reached out and pushed a small section of hair that had fallen into her face back behind her ear. He brushed her warm cool with the back of his curled fingers, sighing softly at the thought that this was the woman he got to share moments like this with for the rest of his life.
"Sweetheart?" Oliver whispered as he traced over her face again, trying to lure her out of her slumber peacefully. Felicity began to stir but didn't wake. "Felicity?" Oliver called a bit louder this time. Felicity groaned and stirred again. "Come on Baby. You need to wake up and eat. I have takeout for you. Adira ordered it. Not sure what it is but it smells good." Felicity's eyes slowly opened, testing the reaction to the light in the room. When she was comfortable with the level of the light, she opened them and left them slightly split. "Hey."
"Hi." Felicity giggled as a tender blush painted her cheeks rosy again. He could see where one wore a rosy tint from where it had been pressed into her hand while she slept. Her left hand was wrapped around her belly, securing their children in the warmth of the father's hoodie while she slept on her right side.
"Sleep well?"
Felicity sat up slowly, Oliver reaching out to help her rise up off the couch. As soon as she was upright and finished stretching to pull her body out of the last moments of rest, Oliver moved to sit next to her. "Yeah. No interruptions, bathroom runs or weird dreams. I think the babies like it when I sleep with you. Or at least your scent. It puts me at ease and they settle down."
"Well then the hoodie stays. Anything that makes my wife sleep better and feel better I will do."
"Okay what do you want?"
Oliver huffed. "What makes you think I want something?"
Felicity glared at her and cocked her head to the side. "Because anytime I want something I butter you up and right now I feel like a piece of toast. So what is it?"
"It's two things really. Thea is needed at the club tonight. And I did have the last couple nights off so I need to help the team out tonight."
"Oliver, I understand. It's fine. I knew you would be returning to the team soon and we need to treat life as normal as possible. So go ahead. I will stay at home with Connor. Just be careful."
"I will. Laurel and Nyssa will be with me. Dig will be on comms. I will have Darren and Greg stay with you and Connor."
"But Darren has tonight off."
"No he switched with Rob so Rob could have tonight off. Date."
"That was nice of him." Felicity smiled as she pulled the bag of food over and found a full take out plates of chimichangas and sides made for her exactly how she normally orders it as well as a couple heartburn meds for her to take along with it. "I swear your assistant is perfect." Felicity laughed as she dug into her lunch.
"Adira is incredible but she is no Felicity Smoak."
"It's Queen now. You should know that."
Oliver chuckled. "Oh I do and am happy about that every moment of every day since that change happened."
"So what is the other thing?"
"Well I got an invite to a function next week. It's to help support the Children's Hospital. A charity ball. I told Adira to confirm my reservation but she asked about my plus one. I didn't want to just..."
"Assume that because I'm your wife I would want to go. Oliver it's sweet but I don't know."
Oliver turned to face her and placed his hand on her knee. "Sweetheart, I know you feel bad about your appearance but you look stunning. I love you and I want you to come with me. You know how I detest these things but they are good for the company. Adira said she would help you find a costume and gown that would make you look gorgeous and be comfortable as well. She knows what you are going through. She has been there too. She said it's normal."
"Wow! Never thought anyone would ever call me normal." Felicity giggled. Oliver looked solemnly at her, silently pleading with her to accept his invitation. "Are you sure?"
"A night out with my remarkable wife looking ravishing and knowing that every man wishes he was half as lucky as I am. I'm sure. So what do you say?"
"Well with a request like that, who could turn you down Mr. Queen? I would love to go. But no silly costumes. I want elegant not stupid. We have an image to uphold after all. I mean we are the face of Queen Inc."
"Perfect. You eat and I will tell Adira to confirm you as my plus one." Oliver jumped up and started to run out of her office. He stopped just at the door joining her office to his and turned back to her. "I love you Felicity Queen."
"Love you too." Felicity smiled up at him as she watched him move out of the room and she turned back to her lunch.
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"Okay so I have several local and national papers out there as well as the local news networks. You are just going to say the statement we agreed on and that's it. No questions. It's a simple dedication speech. They may want to know more about the company and your personal life. May even goad you into a conversation with a few questions like that. Please refrain from speaking on it. We need today to be about the building and the company and that's it." Rebecca briefed Oliver as he and Felicity moved off the elevator and towards the staging area. There was a small platform set up with a curtain and podium set on it. There were rows of chairs set up in front of it for the press corp to sit.
"Got it. Say the speech, smile and be my charming self." Oliver grinned as he sarcastically teased Rebecca. He knew she was a bit tightly wound over the press conference and wanted to ease some of her tension.
"Yeah. Yeah. I know you know the drill but I just like reminding you so if you don't listen I can yell at you later and you can't say I didn't warn you."
"You yell? Never." Oliver chuckled.
Felicity slapped at him playfully. "Come on Oliver. Be serious. This is a big day for our company."
"Yes dear." Oliver groaned as he adjusted his tie again. He liked being back at QI. He felt like he was accomplishing new things everyday but he did miss not having to wear suits and ties all the time.
"Now that is something I never thought I would hear coming from you. Married life has changed you." Rebecca joked.
"No, he was doing that before they got married." Thea laughed as she moved towards them.
"Hey you made it!" Oliver smiled as he wrapped his sister in a loving hug.
"Of course I did. This is a big deal. Not only for the company, which I own 10% of, but also for the Queen family. Dad would be proud of you Ollie."
"Proud of us." He smiled down at her as he stepped back and released her.
Thea turned and looked at Felicity. "My don't you look amazing. Love the dress Lis." Thea hug Felicity. Felicity was dressed in a cream tunic dress with a white collar. It laid over a pair of black leggings and knee high caramel colored boots.
"Thanks Thea. And thanks for coming. I know you tend to be busy on Fridays with the club."
"Are you kidding? Your mom has that place running like a well oiled machine. I left her there dealing with suppliers and the stock boys. The suppliers love her and will do anything she asks. She has them wrapped around her finger. And the stock boys are terrified of her because not only is she a manager but also your mother. Seems you have a reputation at my club. No one wants to get on yours or Ollie's bad side." Thea chuckled.
"Really? I didn't think I was that scary."
"The same goes around here. Seems my wife is a bit of a silent enforcer. Everyone is scared that if you don't like what they are doing they'll be let go." Oliver teased.
"At least I don't have to use a growly voice to scare them." Felicity snapped back playfully. Oliver wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into him, leaning down and placing a kiss on her temple.
"Mr. Queen, they're ready for you." Rebecca smiled as she walked up to them. "And remember..."
"Smile." Oliver groaned as, Felicity, Thea and Rebecca all mentioned it at the same time. The girls all laughed sweetly at him.
Oliver smiled at his wife as his hand brushed across her growing belly. "I'm proud of you Oliver. He would be too." Felicity whispered softly.
"I love you more today than ever before." Oliver smiled wider at her then kissed her lips sweetly once before moving towards the stage.
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"Good afternoon. Today we gather to pay tribute to a man that most know for his dedication and drive to grow this city or advance the technical world. I knew him as a father. Robert Alan Queen was a difficult man to understand sometimes but he was always passionate. Passionate about his family, his company and his city. He saw his success as a way to help this city. To help people everywhere. He knew what it took. He secured his company's success by hiring the best and brightest. Surrounding himself with the most talented people he could. Supplying them with the top of the line products and labs so that they could work to create the devices and advancements to move and shape the future. I see how that had helped him be a better boss and CEO so I am following his lead today. This building and its labs will help this company grow and develop life altering technologies that will not only help our company grow and flourish but our city as well. We will use the inventions and accomplishments made within these walls to grow a stronger and more resilient city that we would all be proud to call our own and raise our families in. I am honored to stand before you today and dedicate the Alan Hall of Sciences."
Oliver glanced over to see Felicity smiling proudly as her eyes filled with tears. His heart stopped as he pictured himself doing just this for years to come. He finally understood what his father meant about family meaning everything. He knew in that moment that he would do anything to provide for Felicity and his children. He stepped away from podium, reporters shouting question after question over each other, and stepped up to Felicity.
"So how do I do?"
"Beautiful speech. Your mom and dad would be so proud of you Oliver. I am." Felicity grinned as she stood closer to him in his arms and kissed his cheek. "Plus you look really sexy when you smile." A sweet giggle left her as Oliver huffed a laugh and rolled his eyes.
"Mr. Queen?" Oliver turned to find a familiar face.
"Iris? What are you doing here?"
"Well this is a big story right now. I mean the scion of Queen family rebranding and rebuilding his parents' empire. What is bigger than that?" Iris explained as she stepped towards the couple.
Rebecca had started escorting the press corp out of the main hall of the building. The employees that had gathered had been instructed by their supervisors that a luncheon was being held for them in the breakroom. "I'm sorry miss but Mr. and Mrs. Queen will not be doing any interviews or answering any questions today. Please move to the doors." Rebecca smiled as she held her hand out.
"Actually I didn't want an interview. I have some news for them instead."
"It's okay Rebecca. Iris is a friend. I'm sure our conversation is off the record."
Iris smiled and nodded in agreement, causing Rebecca to look at Oliver and smile as well. "Okay but just a few minutes. We need you and Felicity to make the rounds at the luncheon so that your employees know you. It's good for morale." Rebecca walked off with the rest of the employees towards the large breakroom.
"Can we talk somewhere?" Iris asked as she looked at the couple in front of her and the brunette at their side.
Oliver nodded and started to walk them all towards the elevator, knowing that privacy was needed for this talk.