Laurel was in her kitchen making herself something to eat when she felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her waist.
"What are you doing out of bed?" Oliver whispered into her ear as he placed a gentle kiss on her neck.
Laurel giggled and kept making her toast. "I got hungry and I have to go to work in a few hours"
"I could have gotten it for you Laurel, you should be in bed" Oliver replied as he gently rested his chin on her shoulder.
"I'm pregnant Ollie not disabled, I can work through a little morning sickness" Laurel rolled her eyes.
"Okay okay" Oliver laughed as he finally pulled away from her. "I just want to make sure you're okay"
"I know, and I think it's adorable" Laurel said as she leaned in and gave him a quick peck on the lips. "I'll be fine, I promise" She whispered against his lips.
"Fine" Oliver whispered as he smiled and gave her another kiss. "You know Thea is going to be over the moon when we tell her" He let out as he pulled away.
"Right about that.." Laurel said with a bit of hesitation.
"About what?" Oliver asked slightly confused.
"I don't think we should tell everyone right away, we have a lot of things to consider before we break the news to our family and friends" Laurel replied.
"Things like what?"
"I need to see a doctor before we tell anyone, just to make sure. We also have to figure out how i'm going to balance the pregnancy and being the black canary-"
"Wait Laurel..you can't be serious?" Oliver asked in disbelief.
"Ollie I know-"
"You can't suit up while you're pregnant Laurel, it's too dangerous" Oliver interrupted her.
"Why not?" Laurel sighed in frustration.
"We are not having this conversation right now. There is no way I'm letting you go out there in your condition. No" Oliver firmly stated.
"What else am I supposed to do then? Just sit around and knit booties until the baby comes?" Laurel sighed.
"No, of course not. You're an amazing lawyer, there are others ways you can protect this city besides going out there a taking out bad guys Laurel." Oliver could tell Laurel was having a hard time adjusting to the upcoming changes. She loved being out there in the field as the Black Canary, a hiatus was always going to be difficult for her.
"But I like taking out the bad guys" she pouted as she turned back to the toaster to check on her breakfast.
"I know, and that's just one of the many things that I love about you" Oliver replied, gently wrapping his arms around her waist again and pulling her into his chest. "You can protect the city in the courtroom for a few months while I handle everything else. I promise you your suit isn't going anywhere"
"You're probably right" She finally relented.
Oliver finally released her and leaned against the kitchen countertops.
"So besides that what else do we have to decide? I thought you would want to at least tell your dad and thea right away"
"I just want a little time to adjust to the idea before we start telling everyone. You know once it comes out the team is going to change." Laurel responded.
"Well yeah, but I think the team is going to be okay with it. They know how I feel about you Laurel"
"Not all of them" Laurel quickly replied.
"Right….felicity" Oliver sighed. They usually avoided talking about Felicity. He had gotten so caught up in his excitement he hadn't thought about how they would finally have to tell her that they are together.
"I don't want to hurt her, we aren't the best of friends but she loved you Oliver, and the two of us got together fairly quickly after she left you"
"Yeah, but come on Laurel, with our history I don't think anyone is going to be shocked, especially not felicity. She knew how much you meant to me even while we were together."
"Maybe, but I just think we should take it one step at a time. Doctor first-"
"I want to be there" he interrupted.
"You don't have to come but fine, just promise me you won't get all squirmish." Laurel rolled her eyes.
"I can't make that promise" Oliver replied with a soft laugh.
"Doctor first, then we can tell my dad and Thea, then the rest of the team" Laurel finished.
"You do realize they are going to get suspicious when I make up an excuse for your absence right?" He asked.
"I'm sure you'll figure something out you're a convincing liar when you want to be" Laurel quipped.
"Ouch" Oliver laughed. His eyes travelled her face as he watched her laugh and finish spreading the jam on her toast. He always liked the way she looked in the mornings, while he was on the island he missed waking up to her and playfully teasing her about her messy morning hair. Suddenly he felt extremely grateful to have her all over again. "You know what" he finally spoke up. "We can do whatever you want Laurel. I just want you to be happy"
"I am happy" Laurel smiled before she leaned in and brought her lips to his. The kiss lingered much longer than she had planned and before she knew it she had dropped her toast and Oliver had snaked his around her waist. Laurel brought her hand to his cheek and pulled him into her, deepening their kiss as his nose brushed against hers. She reached for his shirt and started to pull it over his head.
"I thought you weren't feeling well" He whispered against her lips as he pulled her back into his shirtless body.
"Maybe you should help be feel better" she smiled, biting down on his bottom lip. Oliver smiled against her lips and untied her robe, pulling it off her shoulders and letting it pool at her feet. Laurel snaked her arms around his neck as he gently lifted her up and sat her down on the countertop. Laurel reached down for his pants but before she could reach them he had already grabbed at the bottom of her oversized t-shirt and started pulling it off. With a smile of relief she wrapped her legs around his waist and got lost on the feeling of bliss she was experiencing.
By the time Oliver made it to the lair the whole team was already there. He usually got there before everyone but he couldn't pull himself away from Laurel. If it was up to him he would have held her naked body in this arms for the rest of the day but laurel insisted that he leave and go meet the team.
"Hey guys sorry I'm late" He quickly said as he put his bag down on the floor.
"Have you talked to Laurel? She hasn't made it in yet" Thea asked.
"Actually I have….Laurel is going to take a little break from the team. He nervously replied.
"What? Is she okay?" Felicity asked before Thea could get a word out.
"She says she'll be fine soon enough, she just needs a little break." Oliver continued to lie. "Speedy you'll take her position for the next few missions"
Thea looked at Oliver's nervous demeanor curiously. She could tell that he was hiding something but she didn't want to bring it up in front of the team. "Okay she replied"
Oliver jumped onto the main platform of the lair and quickly changed the subject. "So have we made any progress on getting the mole to talk?"
After getting a briefing from the team and coming up with some plans for their next mission Oliver dismissed himself from the team to go work out.
Thea watched him from afar and she could see that he seemed unusually happy and would occasionally get lost in thought. Normally he would be very focused during his workout and when he lost focus he would get frustrated with himself but today he didn't seem to mind at all. She knew something was going on and it had to do with Laurel's strange absence.
"Hey Ollie" she interrupted him.
"Thea!" he yelled in surprise as he spun around. " I didn't hear you come up behind me."
"That was basically the point" she smiled. "You said Laurel is taking a break...I know Laurel, she wouldn't just leave the team…."
"She's sick Thea, she'll be back" He quickly replied, turning back to his punching bag.
"You're keeping something from me, unlike the rest of the team I know you Ollie, I can tell when you're hiding something." She continued to push.
He wanted to tell her so badly, she knew she would be excited but he promised Laurel to wait. He couldn't break his promise. "Just let it go Thea" He finally said, finally turning to face her again.
"At least tell me if Laurel is really okay, I'm worried about her." Thea replied in frustration.
Oliver quickly grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into a corner "Keep your voice down Thea" he commanded her.
"Why? Is Laurel really okay? You're starting to worry me Ollie."
"She's fine" He said looking past her head to make sure felicity wasn't paying attention to them.
"I don't believe you" Thea defiantly replied.
"You have to trust me speedy. I can't talk about this right now but you won't stay in the dark for long. I promise". Just as he was about to wait for her response he felt his cellphone vibrate.
It was a text message from Laurel.
My doctor's office had a cancellation today so they can squeeze me in at 4:00 :)
Oliver looked at the message and held in the smile that wanted to creep up on his face. He could feel Thea's eyes on him. Placing the phone back into his pocket he grabbed his shirt and started to get dressed.
"Going somewhere?" Thea asked.
"Listen Thea, I have to leave. Cover for me with the team" Oliver replied as he continued to grab this things.
"Why should I do that when it's clear you are lying to all of us and especially me" Thea spit back.
"Thea please" Oliver sighed." I told you to trust the team that I had to leave for an emergency but I'll be back and I swear to you that I'll explain everything to you soon. Please" He begged.
"I'll cover for you this time Ollie, but I'm doing it for Laurel, not you." Thea replied finally giving in.
"Thanks speedy. I'll be back soon" He said just before he left the lair before anyone else could notice.
Oliver felt like he wanted to run down the hallway as he approached Laurel's apartment door but he settled on just walking really quickly. He wanted to get home before she left for the appointment so he could take her and he was anxious to find out for sure if they were having a baby.
When he barged through the door Laurel popped her head up from the paperwork she had been reading.
"Good you're still here" Oliver sighed as soon as he saw her.
"What are you doing here Ollie? I didn't expect you back until tonight"
"You texted me about the appointment I was hoping I got here before you left" Oliver replied.
"You didn't have to come, it's just a routine thing to confirm the pregnancy Ollie" Laurel laughed.
"I know but I want to be there, I want to be at every appointment. I didn't want you to go alone" Oliver replied.
Laurel stood up and walked over towards him, slowly snaking her arms around his neck and pulling him into a steamy kiss. "I think it's really nice that you want to be there for everything but you don't have to hold my hand for a routine gynecologist appointment Ollie" Laurel laughed as she rubbed her lipstick off of his lips.
"I know I know, it's just that…." He started to explain to her why he was so anxious about this but then he changed his mind, thinking it might be a sore subject for her. "I'm just anxious Laurel that's all" he quickly covered up before he walked away from her.
Laurel knew him well enough to know when he was lying and she had a sneaking suspicion about what he was hiding.
"This is about William isn't it" Laurel let out.
Oliver sighed. He should have known that she would figure him out. She knew him better than anyone.
"We don't have to talk about this Laurel, trust me it's nothing. I'm just anxious" He replied.
"Oliver you can talk about your son with me. When I decided to forgive you I forgave you for everything."
"I'll never understand what I did to deserve you Laurel" Oliver sighed, the guilt still ate away at him when he thought about what he did to both Laurel and Samantha.
Laurel sat down next to him on the sofa and slowly ran her fingers through his hair. "So tell me what's really going on Ollie" She softly whispered.
"I missed almost his entire life Laurel. When Samantha told me she was pregnant all I wanted to do was run away from the responsibility and the consequences of you finding out the truth so I don't blame her for keeping him away from him at all. I just wish things would have been different. I want to do everything differently, I want to be the person I should have been before, the one you believed in." He finally confessed.
"And you will be Ollie" Laurel told him as she continued to run her fingers through his hair. " Now let's go, it looks like we have an appointment to get to" she smiled. Oliver reached over and cupped her cheek in his hand and gently kissed her.
Laurel was in the kitchen trying to cook when she heard the doorbell ring. "Ollie could you get that my hands are kinda full right now" she yelled to him.
"Got it" he quickly replied as he sprinted from the bedroom to the front door.
"Hey Ollie" Thea greeted him as he opened the door.
"Thea, we weren't expecting you" Oliver replied surprised.
"Thea!" Laurel peaked her head into the living room from the kitchen.
"You look like you're feeling better" Thea said as she pushed past Oliver into the apartment. She immediately went to Laurel and pulled her into a hug. "I was starting to worry about you Laurel"
"I'm fine Thea," Laurel said before pulling away from her but keeping her hands firmly on her shoulders. "But thank you for being so concerned" Laurel smiled.
"Yes Thea than you for being so concerned" Oliver echoed.
"So Oliver said you are taking a break from the team," Thea said as she folded her arms and leaned against the kitchen counter.
"Just for a few months. Why do you miss me already" Laurel replied, giving Thea a small playful nudge with her shoulders.
"Yes, I do actually. It's not the same without you Laurel you know that" Thea replied.
"Laurel will be back before you know it speedy. Don't worry" Oliver interrupted.
"I wasn't talking to you Oliver" Thea quipped, rolling her eyes at him.
"Of course you weren't" Oliver playfully replied in return.
"I'll keep your suit warm until you come back Laurel I promise," Thea said turning back to Laurel before she finally left the kitchen and plopped down on the sofa next to Oliver. "So what's for dinner," She asked as she curled up next to him.
"Pasta" Laurel replied.
"You haven't stayed for dinner in weeks Thea, the " Oliver remarked.
"You're right, but since Laurel is sick I figured I would come around a little more. The two of you are the only real family I have left Ollie" Thea replied honestly. Oliver's face lit up with a smile. He reached one arm over and pulled her into his side for a hug.
Thea was leaning against his chest when her eyes caught what looked like a black and white photo on the table in front of her. The longer she stared the more curious she got. It looked like a medical photo. Pulling herself away from Oliver she reached to the table and grabbed it.
She immediately recognized what the image was, an ultrasound, and when she picked it up she saw Laurel's name at the top.
"Laurel are you pregnant!?" Thea squealed, catching the attention of both Laurel and Oliver.
AN: sorry for the slight wait and the shorter chapter. Hopefully, the next one comes sooner and it longer. This story is probably going to be a little bit longer than I originally planned. REVIEW please!
