Chapter 8.
"Come on JD you're really going to let Addison take you down like that?" Oliver yelled as he and the older members of Team Arrow watched the younger two spar. "She's half your size."
"Yeah but she's fast." JD said standing to his feet. "Plus Sara's been showing her that whole, use your attacked weight to your advantage crap."
"You should know how to counter that." Sara told him, "It's a skill Addison needs to have if she's going to improve at hand to hand combat."
"And I've clearly mastered it." Addison smiled. "Don't worry I'll take it easy on you next time."
"Whatever." JD rolled his eyes. "I wasn't ready for it today, next time I will be."
"Okay kids." Diggle laughed. "Go get cleaned up so we can go grab lunch." The adults began to chat amongst themselves as JD and Addison went to shower and change. They team had fallen into a familiar routine on Saturdays. Tommy and Carson would spend the morning together with Thea and sometimes Felicity, while Team Arrow went to the foundry to train together. At lunch they would all meet up and the rest of the day would usually be spent together. When the kids were finished changing the group headed out to Big Belly Burger. Tommy and Carson ran straight to Sara and Nyssa when they caught sight of them. The two had become determined to spend as much time with their "aunts" before they had to go away again.
"Aunt Sara, momma and Aunt Licity took us to the zoo today." Carson said as he sat next to his her.
"Yeah we saw lots of animals and we got to hold a snake." Tommy grinned.
"Well aren't you two lucky." Sara smiled.
"They ran all over that place." Thea laughed. "I'm glad I waited till a day Felicity was with me to take them, I never would have kept up on my own."
"Next time we decide to take them somewhere like that you guys are coming with us to do the chasing." Felicity said looking at Oliver and Roy. "They get all the wild energy from you to after all."
"Do you not remember the time Ollie lost Addison at the Zoo when we all went for her fifth birthday?" Sara asked.
"Yes, I do believe we spent half the day trying to find her." Nyssa smiled.
"She wasn't lost….she had just wondered off." Oliver said.
"You let me wonder off at the zoo?" Addison looked at her father.
"We found you an hour and a half later, you'd wanted to see the lemurs and your father wasn't moving fast enough for you. You had manage to find them yourself and had been there the whole time." Felicity laughed.
"Father of the year." Addison smile and laid her head on her dad's shoulder.
"From that day on Ollie was the most overprotective dad I've ever seen." Thea laughed. "You couldn't get more than three feet away from him with him flipping out." Everyone laughed except Oliver who just rolled his eyes at his younger sister.
Nyssa and Sara left a few days later after promising that it wouldn't be long before they came back. Oliver had wished they would have stayed a bit longer, he still wasn't sure what the Welsh gang was up too and they were having to put Addie and JD off duty a few nights a week now as the school year drew to a close. Neither kids was happy about having to give up there Hood time, but Felicity and Lyla had insisted that they needed to spend their last month of classes focused on school work instead of being out fighting crime. So now the pair were spending most of their nights at Addison house studying while they listened in to what the Team was up to on the coms.
"I can't do this anymore, if I read on more sentence my mind will explode." Addison said slamming her book shut.
"I'm not sure that can actually happen." JD chuckled.
"Oh I bet it can, death by studying. Maybe this is what dad should be protecting me from, school books." They both laughed.
"I'm kinda glad they went ahead and gave us time off for the next few weeks." JD sighed as he leaned back on the couch. "I'd be asking for free nights anyway with finals, prom, and graduation."
"Oh prom, please don't remind me." Addison groaned. "Aunt Thea's been bugging me about going dress shopping for weeks. She has all these "tips," like since this is junior prom I should go with a simple dress, and save the whole ball gown thing for next year."
"I've just gotta go pick my tux up, I'm ninety percent sue mom already ordered it."
"Aren't you lucky." Addison rolled her eyes. "You found a date yet."
"Do you know how hard it is to find a prom date this close to the dance at Starling Prep?" JD asked. "Just about everyone's coupled up already and the ones that aren't are all stuck up." He shook his head. "And all I can think about is what happens if there's a hood emergency during the dance and I have to cut out. I can't ruin someone's night like that."
"Yeah I was thinking about that too." Addison shook her head. "That's one thing I didn't think about when I asked to join the team, how difficult dating is gonna be. Having to keep secrets, duck out on dates."
"We'll figure it out, it might just take us awhile." JD shrugged. "Well I guess I should be going, they should all be heading home before too much longer. See at school tomorrow Addie."
The Arrow and his teammates had just arrived back at the foundry for the night, Diggle had been going over the surveillance of the Welsh's hideout while Felicity had kept an eye on the guys.
"How's it looking Dig?" Oliver asked as he walked over to stand by his friend.
"They were busy today and most of the night." Diggle said, "A lot of traffic going in and out, looks like Roy was right about them taking time to regroup."
"We'll have to keep an extra good eye on them." Oliver nodded. "I'll tell Anatoly to see what his guys have heard."
"And I'll email Sara and tell her and Nyssa to give us a heads up if they hear anything." Felicity said.
"Alright." Oliver nodded. "Well let's all head home for the night and get some rest, if they are planning something we'll need to rest up." The group disbursed everyone heading to change and the heading up the stairs.
"Oliver." Felicity said holding him back as the other's left. "Friday night Rhy's company is holding a charity gala he wanted to me extend an invitation to you and Addison. I already spoke with Addie about and she's only willing to go if you do. I don't want to force you into it, but I think that it'll be good to show others that relations are good between the two companies. I think he's sent invites to your mother and Walter also."
"I'll be there," Oliver nodded as he forced a smile. "I'm sure mom would kill me if I didn't attend. Queen's don't miss anything that raises money for charity."
"Thank you Oliver." Felicity smiled and kissed his cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow night."
The next day Felicity recruited Thea to help Addison and herself do a bit of dress shopping. Addie now needed two dress, one for the gala and one for her junior prom. Felicity knew she was going to need all the help she could get in order to get Addison to find both dresses. The two women were waiting for Addison when she got out of school, she groaned when she got in the car and saw both of them.
"Do we really have to do this today?" she asked as she looked between the two of them. "Prom's not for three more weeks."
"No, but you have to get a dress for that and a dress for the gala this Friday." Felicity said as they drove away from the school. "Your dad is going so you can go and accompany him." Addie groaned again.
"Oh it's not going to be that bad." Thea laughed. "We just need three dresses so we should be done in a couple hours."
"A couple hours?" Addison looked at her aunt. "I don't even want to spend one hour dress shopping."
"Get over it kid." Thea grinned. A half hour later the three women arrived at the dress boutique Thea went to anytime she had a formal event to prepare for.
"Mrs. Harper." A woman with bleach blonde hair and too much makeup came up to greet them as soon as they walked into the shop.
"Hello Lilly." Thea smiled. "I need dresses for these to lovely ladies. My niece here needs two one for her prom and one for a charity event, and her mother needs one for the charity event also."
"We can take care of that." Lilly smiled. "Follow me back ladies and we'll start pulling some selections for you." Addison sighed but followed the three older woman back into the shop. Felicity's dress was found first after about thirty minutes, a dark blue, backless, halter floor-length gown. With that taken care of all the attention turned to Addison, she was handed dress after dress to try on. At one point she decided to stop leaving the dressing room all together. It took an hour of trying dresses on before she, her mother, and aunt all found two they agreed on. A knee length teal dress, with a lace overlay on the top, that poofed out around her waist for prom, and floor length sleeveless dark purple gown for the gala. They spent another hour getting shoes and jewelry to go with the dresses before heading back to the car.
"See that wasn't so bad." Thea said to her niece as they made their way home.
"You would say that." Addison rolled her eyes. "You didn't just try on fifty different dresses."
"Oh please, you lucky it was us and not your grandmother, three days of dress shopping I would have to go through." Thea told her. "Perfection is what we Queen's strive for."
"Well I'm half Smoak and we don't really do the whole formal wear thing." Addison shook her head.
"We do if we have too." Felicity said. "And being part of Starling's elite few means that we have to on occasion."
"The curse of being us." Addison sighed.
"I think you'll live through it." Felicity laughed.
When Friday came Addison was dropped off at Queen Manor so she and her father could ride to the gala with Moria and Walter. Addison noticed her father looked none too happy about having to get all dressed up tonight and she was sure he'd rather be heading out as the Arrow.
"Having I mentioned how much I'm not looking forward to this?" Addison said as she walked over to stand beside her father.
"Neither am I kid." He sighed, "But it's our job to smile and pretend we are absolutely thrilled to be there and there's nowhere else we would rather be at."
"Not sure I can do that." Addison frowned.
"You'll do fine, now come on. I think Grandma and Walter are ready to head out."
Outside the gala was the media circus Addison still wasn't use too, photographers and interviews stood on both sides of the entry way, stopping people as they walked in for pictures and to get comments from them. Addison linked arms with her father as they got out of the car.
"I know it's intimidating but do your best to ignore them." Oliver whispered to her. Cameras flashed on either side of them, people yelled questions at her father. Why'd you bring Addison with you tonight? Is it true Queen Consolidated is going to merge with Nerth Company? Why did Felicity arrive with Rhys Jones? Oliver ignored him and did his best to stand in way that blocked the majority of photographers trying to snap shots of Addison. He quickly ushered his daughter through the door noticing how she relaxed when they finally made it inside.
"You mom always hates that." He told her. "No matter how many times she's done it."
"It's a bit overwhelming." Addison said. "You get out of the car and all of sudden flashes are going off in your face and people are yelling your name. I don't see how anyone can handle that."
"When you've grown up around it, it's not that bad. Your mother and I didn't want you and Tommy plastered on every magazine in the city so we tried to keep you away from all that." Oliver looked down from her. "Thea and I have been dragged to these things since we were little so we've gotten use to the madness." He smiled at her. "Now, let's go mingle before you grandmother comes over here and starts fussing at us." Addison nodded and the pair began to walk around the room. Oliver began introducing Addison to investors of QC who of course began to ask her all about her internship and if she intended to join the company. This was the kind of thing her grandmother had prepared her for since starting at the company, so she put on a smile and answered the same set of questions over and over, always being sure to put her best foot forward.
"Oliver!" Addison and her father turned at the sound of Laurel's voice, she, her husband, and Ava were making their way over to them.
"Laurel, Mark it's good to see the two of you." Oliver smiled.
"We just wanted to thank you again for giving Ava a chance to intern with your company." Mark said. "She's really been enjoying her time there."
"I've heard nothing but good things about her work." Oliver told him. "I'm not down in the law department very often but I do have them keeping me up to date on the work she's doing. She and Addison have both progressed very well since starting with us." He smiled at his daughter.
"Are you planning on overthrowing your father once you're finished with school Addie?" Laurel teased.
"No." Addie shook her head. "Tommy's already made plans for that. I'll be perfectly happy doing mom's job. I'd rather deal with the computers than the people."
"Speaking of your mother." Oliver said. "You should go spend a bit of time with her before it gets too late."
"Alright, I'll be back in a bit." Addison said before making her way over to where her mother stood next to Mr. Jones.
"Addison, I'm glad you could make." Mr. Jones said as she hugged her mother.
"Thank you for inviting my father and me, we've had a lovely time." Addison smiled.
"How were things when you came in?" Felicity asked.
"A bit overwhelming, but having dad there helped a bit."
"I really didn't want the press here tonight, but the PR team insisted." Mr. Jones said. "Well if you ladies will excuse me, I need to go and address the room." He said before giving Felicity a smile and leaving the pair.
"Your father's behaving right? Making sure he speaks to all the stockholders and investors?" Felicity asked.
"Yes we've been making the rounds, he introduced me to at least a dozen of people." Addison nodded.
"Good sometimes he tends to forget that he has to mingle at these events." Felicity smiled. "I'm sure Moria would never let him hear the end of it if he forgot to speak to everyone." The room when silent as Rhys Jones took the stage behind the podium and began to speak.
"I would like to take this chance to think everyone for coming out tonight and for the donations that you all have made." He said. "It is our job as some of the higher standing in Starling to make sure our town keeps improving and moving forward. Tonight all the funds raised will go towards a new low income medical center for the Glades and its citizens." Rhys speech seemed to drone on for a few moments, it was the same one Addie had heard at most other parties and charity events she'd been to. A speech to assure everyone that tonight was about the less fortunate and not about getting good press for them. After he made his way back down stopping to talk to those who seemed to flock to him as he came down from the stage. Oliver had come over to stand next to Addison and he gave Felicity a smile.
"You look wonderful tonight Felicity." He said, "Rhys is lucky to have such beautiful company tonight."
"Thank you Oliver." Felicity smiled. "Thea will be glad to know all her hard work is appreciated." Oliver turned his attention back to his daughter.
"You about ready to head home?" he asked, "I've spoken to the investors and made a Queen sized donation, so we can head out. Everyone's waiting at Verdant."
"You guys are going out tonight?" Felicity asked.
"Just for a little bit." Oliver told her, "Lyla's down taking care of surveillance for the night."
"We'll be fine mom." Addison smiled.
"I won't keep her out there long, we're just going to patrol the glades for a bit."
"Listen to your father." Felicity said as she hugged her daughter. "I don't want hear about you running off on your."
"I'll stick with the guys mom" Addison smiled.
"Call me when you two get in." Felicity said as they headed toward the door.
Sure enough, Lyla, Diggle, Roy, and, JD were waiting for them down in lair, the last two already hooded up. Addie and her father went to do the same before joining the rest of the team.
"You guys haven't headed out yet?" Oliver asked as he looked at JD and Roy.
"It's been pretty quiet so far tonight, so we thought we'd wait for you guys." Roy said.
"How sweet of you." Addison smirked. "So what's tonight's plan then?"
"I want you and JD to head out together tonight." Oliver said, "It seems like it's going to be slow night so they two of you can use it to get used to working together. You two take the north end of the glades and Roy and I will cover the south and the rest of Starling. We're only staying out for about two hours after that will meet back here. If you have any trouble call for backup. Layla will be on the coms. JD do not let her out of your sights."
"I won't Oliver." JD nodded. "Ready?" he asked Addie.
"Always." She smiled. "See you guys in two hours." She said as the two headed up the stairs. They took JD's bike down to the South end of town, hide it, and found one of their usual spots to sit and watch. After they'd been there for a while Lyla's voice came across the coms.
"Looks like they've had a problem with one of the smaller gangs vandalizing a local business, cops are still fifteen minutes off. It's just a couple streets over from you two."
"We'll take care of it." JD said before the two took off.
"Remember Oliver's wanting the two of you to work together, make sure you have each other's back. Don't just rush into it." Lyla said as they neared the location. "It's just a small group, looks like four guys."
"We see them now." Addie said, she glanced over at JD. "Ready?" he nodded and they ran toward the group. They quickly got the four guys disarmed and tied up.
"You're ride will be here soon." JD said, sitting the last of the group down as sirens sounded in the background.
"I'm sure Captain Lance will be thrilled to have some more of Starling's thugs off the street." Addie smirked before she and JD headed back toward the bike.
"We're heading back in Aunt Layla." Addie said as they hopped on the back and headed back toward the lair. When they parked the bike JD stopped Addie from going inside.
"So prom's next week…" he said.
"Yeah it is, Aunt Thea won't let me forget it." Addie shook her head and JD chuckled.
"I was wondering if maybe you wanted to go together." He said. "I understand if you don't, but I thought it might be fun."
"Yeah, I'll go with you." Addie smiled.
"Alright," he smiled back, "now I just gotta survive your dad finding out."
"Oh he already knows." Oliver's voice sounded in the pairs ear pieces. "Your coms are still on kids, we'll talk when I get back." Addie and JD switched there coms off as they headed into the back of Verdant.
"He is so gonna go all hood on you." Addie laughed.
"I can handle it….I think." JD chuckled. Addie was a bit surprised that her mother was with Lyla when they got downstairs, both of them smirking.
"I thought dad gave you the night off?" Addie said as she neared her mother.
"He did, but the gala ended a bit early so I thought I'd head over here." Felicity said. "Walked in just in time to catch that little gem of com drama. Always turn the coms off once the mission's done."
"We'll remember that next time." JD said. Moments later they could hear Diggle, Roy, and Oliver coming down the stairs. Oliver walked over and stood in front of JD.
"You want to take Addison to prom?" he asked, JD nodded. "Know that if I hear of either of you being on anything less than your best behavior, or if anything happens to her while she's with you, you'll be dealing with the Hood, not Uncle Ollie."
"Yes sir." JD nodded.
"Alright then, let's all get ready to head home." Oliver said.
