Author's note: yay! It seems I am back on a schedule again! Today I have 5 chapters for you to enjoy... we are nearing the end of this story... I am thinking a short add on afterwards covering the holidays and the birth of the twins... what do you think?

As always so much love to my amazing beta warehouseluver13 who is so sweet and encouraging... already talking more ideas for more stories with her

please review and check out my polyvore for this story

Disclosure: I own nothing of Arrow but I will be filling up my supply of mint chip in preparation of the return Wednesday

1136 roses total. That's what Felicity found in their room the next day when Oliver woke her. He stood there dressed in a suit, looking sharp and dapper, while surrounded by 7 vases filled with a 150 red roses each, 6 smaller arrangements consisting of a dozen red roses each and one small jar on her nightstand beside her that had 8 red roses in it. In his hands were 8 single stem roses; 5 were pink and 3 were white. Felicity sat up and rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn't still dreaming. She grabbed her glasses and saw the time. 10:25 am. The babies had finally let her sleep after a rough weekend. Seemed they didn't like Central City as much as everyone else did. She glanced back at Oliver and was about to ask why he wasn't at work when he stepped forward to her.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean what I said to make you feel like I was ignoring your skills and talents. Felicity, your computer skills have always been pivotal to not only my success at QI or QC but also with the missions. You have saved me more times than I can imagine by sitting behind that computer. Just hearing your voice and knowing you were there, cheering me on, was all I needed most days to know that I could handle whatever those bad guys sent my way. I never intended to belittle you or make you feel like you needed to be a housewife. I just wanted to offer the option of staying home with the kids until you were ready to come back to QI fully. Maybe start slowly with half day or short weeks. Just until you are back up to speed in terms of your health and sleep levels. Raising three kids is going to be a chore for us and I just wanted to let you know you didn't need to put that stress and strain on yourself until you are fully ready."

Felicity huffed out a sigh of frustration. This man! "Oliver, that's what I planned on doing. I didn't expect to pop these two out and then stroll into QI the very next day. I want to make sure they are safe and healthy in every way, as well as Connor, plus get them settled and all of us a schedule of some kind before I even think about returning to work. But I intend on returning. I love being a mom but just because I love it doesn't mean I only want to do that."

Oliver walked over to the side of the bed and sat down next to Felicity, facing her and passing her the roses in his hands. "Sweetheart, I know. I would have to be crazy to think you would give up anything dealing with QI. Seeing you around our investors Friday, plus the office everyday, shows me your passion for your work. You're not even taking time off really. You said it yourself. You're gonna use this downtime to work on a program project for QI. Your work and its success is important to you. I just want you to be happy and not feel like you have to give anything up. I don't want you to regret our life together."

"You silly man, when will you get it through that thick head of yours? I could never do that. I love our life together. I know we had bad moments and times that most would want to change, including yourself. But for me that shows all the struggles we fought through and still ended up together. It shows our strength as a couple. Just like the scars that cover your skin. They help to make the good times even better."

"I'm sorry for fighting with you." Oliver whispered as he leaned in and pressed his forehead to hers.

"I'm sorry too. I have been a bit on edge and stressed. The babies didn't let me sleep well and that made me cranky."

"I didn't notice." Oliver snickered.

"Hey!" Felicity smacked Oliver playfully before leaning into his embrace. "You know I think this is the first time I slept in a flower shop." Felicity giggled as she looked around.

"Well there's one for everyday we have known each other. Or rather, one for everyday since I walked into you office with that laptop and story."

"A really silly and ridiculous one to boot."

Oliver huffed a laugh then smiled at her. "There are also 5 pink roses for our family that you made possible. And 3 for the 3 best days of my life. The day I walked into your office, the day you said you loved me for the first time, and the day you married me."

"Those are your best days? Wedding I get but the other two involved you lying to me and us getting your sister resurrected."

"The first one involved me find my smile again, the second my heart and the third my soul."

"Oliver Queen, you are too much." Felicity smiled up at him as she fought back tears. His words were just what she needed to hear at that moment. She had not slept well the last couple days, partially due to the babies and also dreams. She had a few very vivid dreams for being a single mom of 3 because Oliver left her for an up and coming VP at QI after she started to stay home more to take care of their kids. She imagined losing her share of the company and being left penniless.

"Sweetheart what's wrong?" Oliver asked as she started to softly sob and cry.

"Just really needed to hear that. I'll be okay."

"Fe-li-ci-ty."

"Fine but you asked. So I spent all night not sleeping well because I kept having dreams of you running off with a woman from QI after I became the housewife you wanted and I became a single mom of 3. I just… I was worried that we would turn into…"

"Our parents. Sweetheart, I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. I should have talked to you about this yesterday. You just seemed so mad and tired that I figured I would let you sleep when we got home. I would never leave you or the kids. You're my world. My everything."

"I know. I knew that when you said what you said. I just… my head sometimes has a hard time believing this is really my life. My heart has no problem doing so. I just have this little voice in the back of my head that is always waiting for the other shoe to drop."

"Well that won't happen with us so don't worry. I am not going anywhere. I could barely function before you came into my life. I would be lost without you now. And as for cheating on you. You are the only woman I dream of. The only one I want to touch. Taste. Feel. The only one I ever want feel come apart under me while I am buried inside. You were it for me from day one. I was just too blind to see it. This is proof." Oliver waved his hand through the air to showcase the roses in the room. "Each one of these shows me a moment in my life where you made me smile, feel loved, cheered me on, held me while I dealt with my sorrows, supported all my goals and dreams. I have a memory for every rose in this room; a point in each day where you took my breathe away and made me fall in love with you more than I was before. Like I always say, more today than before. This is proof. Each day, you were the voice inside me that helped me carry one. And now you wake up beside me, in my arms, to help me start each day with a smile. And a kiss." Oliver smiled as he wiped away her tears then leaned in and kissed her. It was a delicate kiss but she felt her heart rate pick up with all the emotions Oliver including in it.

When they broke apart, their foreheads staying pressed together, Felicity giggled. "So can I expect to have a flower shop pop up in our bedroom every time you apologize?"

"No I'm sure I can come up with better ways to apologize. Like buying you tech gadgets." Oliver chuckled. "I know this sort of thing will happen a lot because I seem to always upset you."

"Not on purpose and like I said I am very snappy right now."

"Well how about we eat breakfast then we can curl up and you can go back to sleep. I know you need it and I wouldn't mind a nap."

"What about work?"

"I took the day off. I went in to check and make sure there wasn't anything dire after I dropped Connor off to school and got the flowers ordered for you. Adira said she'd call if anything came up. I am right where I need to be. Plus we have costumes to shop for when Connor gets out of school today."

Felicity groaned as she buried back into the pillows. "Don't remind me. I am not looking forward to trying to find a costume to fit me. I am the size of a house."

Oliver stood up, slid off his jacket and toed off his shoes before throwing the jacket across the back of the nearby chair and crossing around the bed to climb in on his side. He snuggled up to Felicity, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into his chest. "You are beautiful in every way and if others can't see that then they are stupid and blind. Now do you have any ideas of what you want to wear?"

"I want to be comfortable but most female costumes are short, thin and slutty. Not to mention would never fit me. The pregnant ones look bad."

"Well then we will make up your own. Now let's see." Oliver leaned back in their bed and stared at the ceiling and started to think over a few ideas.

"Okay well while you think that over, I'm going to pee and get dressed. Then we can get something to eat."

"Hey I have an idea."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. Felicity, will you have brunch with me? It's been awhile since we had a date and I promised to always earn your love and show you I appreciate it and you. So will you have brunch with me? We can look at a couple shops while we are out and see about some ideas."

"Oliver Queen, are you asking me out on a date? Like a date date?" Felicity giggled as she remembered the smile he wore the first time she asked the same question.

"Yes, Felicity Queen, I am." Oliver grinned matching the one in her memory perfectly.

"Then yes, I would love to." Felicity smiled as she leaned in and kissed him before climbing out of the bed and heading for the bathroom to start getting ready for their latest date.

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"I'm telling you, jedis are better than bounty hunters." Oliver laughed as he stood outside Connor's school. He and Felicity had enjoyed a long, luxurious brunch together then had ventured into a couple costume shops she had found while searching the Internet for the city listing of costumes.

When they started to head towards the school, Tommy had called to find out where they had gone and why the house had fresh red roses all over it. Oliver fessed up to how he apologized, to which he had received a lot of jests from Tommy about it, then told him where they were and what they were doing. They decided to meet up with Tommy at Verdant before heading to the school house. Tommy had rode with them and had gotten into a lengthy discussion over who was a better costume and character in the Star Wars franchise, jedis or bounty hunters.

"How can you say that? Han Solo is the man."

"Yes but Obi-Wan had a better costume and was the master. Well him and Yoda."

"Whatever man." Tommy laughed as he waved him off.

Just then the school bell rang and within a few minutes a flood of kids came running out, Sammy and Connor included.

"Hey Sammy. Buddy. Over here!" Oliver called out as he saw the kids. Connor looked up then made a beeline straight to his dad.

"Dad! What are you doing here?"

"Well you have your costume for Saturday but you mom and I still need ours. Plus Uncle Tommy needs one. So I thought we could go shopping today and get them. Then maybe get an ice cream and dinner out afterwards. We can even get Aunt Thea to meet us. Make it a family thing."

"Yeah! Can Sammy come?"

"Well we have to ask Max." Oliver smiled as he saw the man in question begin to walk up to them. "Hey Max! How's it going?"

"Good. Crazy but good. Seems the story about Tommy here has created such buzz that my editor wants a follow up and I'm surprised the paparazzi hasn't started swarming you."

"Tommy, this is our good friend and Sammy's dad, Max Craig. He is the one we turn to whenever we need a story done for the social pages. He writes them but has a way of making them look and sound amazing while only saying what we want."

"Max Craig. Pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Merlyn." Max smiled as he held his hand out to Tommy.

"Pleasure is all mine. I read all your work for Oliver and the piece on me. They are great. And please call me Tommy."

"Well thanks. I want the socialites of Starling to see that we on the press line aren't all bad. I used to cover more action filled stories but I had to slow down when things happened here at home. I needed to be around more to take care of Sammy so something had to give and that was the dangerous side of my job. Nothing I really miss anyway." Max laughed then looked around. "So where's Lis? She let you out without supervision?"

"Not funny, Max!" Felicity groaned from inside the car. She was resting in the backseat while waiting for Connor to come out.

"Hey Lis. How's it going?"

"Could be better. I wish these two would decide to follow my sleeping schedule. They did not like our trip to Central City this weekend and are still making me pay for it." Felicity huffed as she rubbed her belly.

"Sorry to hear that. But all good? All safe?"

"Yep. We are about 25 weeks now and they are growing and healthy. All tests came back without any problems. We actually had an appointment today. Wanna see the latest sonogram?"

"Definitely." Max smiled happily as he took the image from Felicity and studied it. "Which is which?"

"Harper is on the right, the one with her thumb in her mouth and asleep. Tommy is the one who looks like he is flipping. He was kicking the wand while they were doing the exam." Oliver explained proudly.

"Oh he is going to be a handful."

"Yep. Why he is getting one godmother and two godfathers. Harper is going to have one godfather and two godmothers, for the little princess she will be." Felicity smiled as she took the sonogram back.

"I'm glad they are doing good. Sorry to run but I have a few errands to run before we head home."

"Well Connor wanted to know if Sammy could come with us? We are heading to find our costumes for Saturday. Connor has his but we still need ours. Then we were going to get dinner. We could drop her off after that."

"You sure it's not an imposition?"

"Yeah. We love having Sammy around plus it would give you a little time to run your errands and have a little downtime."

"Well I am not fighting you on it then. Sammy, be a good girl for the Queens. Love ya, Bug."

"Love you too, Daddy." Sammy smiled as she hugged her dad.

Max said goodbye and the family climbed into the car with Darren driving, giving Diggle the night off. Rob had been at the school with Diggle that day so he was heading back to the mansion to check on the shift change then head home himself.

"So where to first?" Tommy smiled as they started to move through the street, ready to enjoy their afternoon together.