Chapter 2: Baby

Three months had passed since Slade's attack, Oliver found that everything had changed, he constantly thought about how much he missed Felicity even though she was there all the time. He was constantly jealous of Roy, not because they were together but because he had become someone who made her laugh, joked with her, even made sexual innuendos which were always set up for his ears. But the one thing he was jealous mostly about which had become borderline anger and had taken him at least a week of workout routines to get rid of some of that anger was when Roy had been on the news and the world had given him a name Arsenal. Roy was discussing how he didn't really like that name and it had been Felicity who told him that heroes needed names, he was angry and jealous, she had only ever called him that and he couldn't help but feel like she didn't even see that in him anymore. He would never tell anyone but he would watch her from afar, follow her home, and when she was sleeping he would sneak into her house through the window and watch her sleep, she had limited the amount of contact and the amount of interaction and he missed her. One night he went to stand on the roof of the house opposite Felicity's he looked into the window and saw her and Roy dancing, the music was so loud he was surprised nobody was calling the cops. She was jumping on the sofa moving her head back and forth and Roy was doing the air guitar. He became miserable he should be happy that she is having fun that's all he has ever wanted for her but it wasn't with him it was with Roy.

The whole team was in the lair, the boys were training, and Felicity was updating some new programs, she could not stand Laurel but she was always civil with the girl, what had begun to piss her off to the point where Felicity was imaging all sorts of things to hurt her like slapping her, hitting her with her bag, hitting with a lamp, running her over with her car, tasering her, she always had to push those thoughts out. This wasn't Felicity she never wished anyone any harm but Laurel had set up her desk fairly close to Felicity she had brought herself a computer, did her work on it and whenever they needed to find information about somebody she would use google. This annoyed Felicity, angered her, what the hell is google going to tell you, the bad guys are importing drugs and weapons, what would these criminals post this on their Facebook pages? Tonight the whole team including Lyla were going for dinner, they were waiting for Lyla to show up, at this point Felicity was thankful to have Lyla, they got on like a house on fire and Felicity had asked Dig for copies for the baby scans which she had pinned to her fridge, they had told her that they were expecting a girl and Felicity had become so excited anyone would think she was pregnant.

Felicity was thinking, in her own little bubble she didn't realise Lyla had arrived and that Diggle was looking for a shirt, "I swear I left it around here" Diggle protested, he began to open some of the draws and cabinets as the rest of the team looked on. He went to open a cabinet near Felicity's desk they all had their own cabinets for their own personal items, which no one ever really went into each other's personal stuff.

"NOOOOO …" Felicity ran and jumped in front of the cabinets her arms stretched out, everyone was staring at her she could feel all eyes were on her they were wondering what the hell had gotten into her.

"Felicity … what are you doing I'm just looking for a clean shirt" Diggle asked looking confused.

"Right, but not in here … I mean it's not in here this is my locker thing, your stuff is nowhere near here …" at this point Diggle moved her out of the way to open the locker, when he did a bunch of shopping bags in different colours came falling out. Everyone looked at them shocked.

"What is that?" Oliver asked walking towards her, he looked at her she was standing there playing with her fingers looking away, he bent down and picked one of the bags up and pulled out what appeared to be baby clothes. Lyla squeaked and Diggle just smiled everyone was waiting for her to explain. "Well …" Oliver asked again staring at her, he moved closer, he hadn't been in her personal space in a while and he was staring down at her holding a baby's dress in his hands.

Felicity snatched the dress and bag from Oliver's hands, he couldn't help but smile since the whole Slade fiasco this was the closest thing he got to having her back, angry at him, glaring at him. "Ok so you weren't supposed to see these till Saturday … I mean what Saturday nothing is happening on Saturday" as she was collecting the bags and shoved them back into the locker she turned around everyone was staring at her, she never liked being the centre of attention. "Ok fine … yes its baby clothes I couldn't resist they are so cute, so what if I've been doing a bit of online shopping, I was going to have them in my house but Roy has a big mouth and he would've let it slip that I had brought all this stuff and …"

"I do not have a big mouth" Roy interrupted sticking his tongue at her.

"Felicity … is that all baby clothes, why would you do that, I mean I haven't even begun to buy her any clothes, you do not have to do that" Lyla was walked up to her and gave her a hug, she looked so surprised and thankful.

"Lyla is right Felicity, why would you waste money on this stuff …" Diggle spoke as her put his arm around Lyla.

"It's not a waste of money Dig, I am so happy for the pair of you, this is the best thing ever, I couldn't resist and then sometimes I go this market and they have things really unique baby clothes… I can't resist they are so cute and tiny and this Saturday I was going to throw you both a baby shower at mine all of us to celebrate and that's when you were going to all of this stuff …"

"Felicity … a baby shower, that is .. amazing but you do not have to go all out, hun I love that you are but .." Lyla continued she didn't know if it was hormones but she began to cry.

"Of course, if I'm not going to spoil this baby who am I going to spoil, speaking of spoiling before Saturday … seeing as you know I might as well give you this present early" she ran back to the locked and began to look through until she found what she was looking for. Oliver never took his eyes off her, he knew that she was genuinely happy and excited about the baby; he loved when she was happy and excited and such a child over things, like her computers, a pair of shoes, the latest Star Wars figurine. "Found it … o I could not resist … here open it" She said with the biggest grin on her face. Lyla opened the bag and found a sleeper, onesie, it was pink and it had writing written on it. Diggle and Lyla began to laugh. Lyla turned it around to show everyone in the centre of the onesie in black it said MY DADDY HAS BIGGER MUSCLES THAN YOURS. It also had a muscle imprinted on it. Everyone began laughing and looking at her. Diggle walked up to her and gave her hug which she gladly returned and Lyla did the same. "You like it?" She asked her blonde ponytail titled.

"Felicity I love it, once she is born she is hopping straight into this" Lyla said as she kept looking at the onesie and back at Felicity with grateful eyes.

"It's perfect … bang on actually" laughed Diggle.

"Yeah it is on point" Oliver said as he walked up to her and placed his hand on her shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze which she accepted, making Oliver's heart jump. What he wasn't prepared for was that she immediately went to Roy's side who was sitting on the desk with his hands folded; she sat next to him and put her arm around him staring at Dig and Lyla. Great Oliver thought, just when he thought there was nothing left of his heart to break she went and walked away from him again.

"That's not even the best present .. I don't want to give too much away in case it doesn't happen, but this guy I knew in college, Gus is working on getting me something, he owes me a favour or two … I kind of wrote some of his essays back in college and fixed his penalty he got for littering but that's besides the point .." Felicity said still looking at the couple.

"You loser .. you nerd, writing essays why am I not surprised" Roy said laughing using the hand which is around his shoulder she used it to smack him glaring at him.

"So Saturday everybody able to make it? It will be at mine at 2pm" Felicity said looking back at everyone who nodded, even Laurel who hadn't said a word.

Saturday came; Felicity had opened her back doors wide to her garden, where Roy was starting the barbeque. She had gotten balloons, saying it's a girl, had ordered a cake, had Roy bring all the presents from the lair home. She made some lemonade, seeing as Lyla couldn't drink and she had gotten her camera out, she wanted pictures of this day. There was a knock at the door and she welcomed Oliver and Laurel in, Oliver knew that he shouldn't come in with Laurel, but she had expressed how she wanted to feel part of the team and it's hard for her sometimes because everyone else got on so well. Oliver handed Felicity a bottle of champagne and asked where to put his baby gift. "Oliver, I do hope you got them an actual present, instead of I don't know a gift voucher, money, a check, a college fund" Felicity looked at him smiling her head titled glaring at him.

"Don't worry I actually got them a present" he winked at her, wanting to go up to her and hug her. She winked back and then turned and walked away as she headed into the bedroom. Oliver realised that apart from her bedroom where he sneaked in to watch her sleep, he had never been to her house, not inside. He began to look around, it felt homey, it felt like Felicity, it smelled like her too, he noticed a couch which looked worn out, he couldn't help but notice the floors were painted different colours he smiled to himself. The floors in the living room were a yellowish colour, the floors in the kitchen were blue and the hallway floors were painted a light shade of pink, He shook his head, why is he not surprised that this is what he saw. He walked to the hallway and noticed it was filled with pictures that had been stuck onto the wall. He looked at them, took them all in, there were pictures of her as a kid with some friends, she was dressed differently, more of a tom boyish style, which was unbelievable if you were to see her now. He saw pictures of her and Digg, so many in fact of them making faces, stuffing their faces with burgers, pictures with her and Roy all sorts of them dressed up in what looked like Robots, pulling faces, and other respectable pictures of them smiling. He noticed there were pictures of all three of them, Felicity, Roy and Diggle and also pictures of her and Sara. Sara had been wearing Felicity's glasses and she had worn her wig. He also noticed a picture of her and Sara wearing their balaclavas on the night they blew up applied sciences, he laughed. He realised there were no pictures of him, not even him with anyone else not just Felicity. He remembered then when he was asked once he had turned it down, why did he do that, why would he want pictures with his friends, the only people he trusts and loves, who have become his family. He continued looking, noticing a picture of her and a Dog in a couple of pictures, the dog was a golden retriever, he noticed pictures of her as a kid with what he assumed was the dog as a puppy and when she was older. He noticed a man in a few pictures with her, he thought her dad, but she looked like a teenager in the pictures with him, there was one with him carrying her on his back and another of the two of the dog. He had so many questions, he then noticed a picture of himself, he was what looked like the old lair, asleep with Felicity standing behind him making a face, he smiled, he liked the picture and next to that picture was another of her smiling with him asleep face down on the desk, he looked around to see if anyone was there, he took the picture down and put it in his pocket. Felicity had her hair down in the picture, her contacts in, she was so close to Oliver bending almost to his level and smiling. He had missed that smile, all he knew in that moment of taking the picture was he needed it, he wanted it as if that was them back then and he needed to hold on to that.

Felicity came out of her room she had dressed up, Oliver noticed she had worn a tight black fitted dress, her back was exposed, she had big hair, straight big hair, tossed to one side of her head. The front of the dress was a light purple with some crystals on it, he realised in that moment that it had been so long since she wore a dress and he had seen her legs, she always wore different dresses but of late it was black trousers, different colours trousers and tops, and no heels, he didn't mind because she still looked beautiful but in this moment she literally took his breath away. He was mesmerized, in this moment where it felt like time had stopped, he was called back "Ollie" he turned to face Laurel, for such a long time her found her the most beautiful woman to lay eyes on, but lately wasn't surprised or mesmerized by what she wore, he felt like he always knew what she would wear and that every item of clothing practically looked the same on her, she was never a colours person, she wore black and red a lot, she had never took the risk or had the confidence to try different colours like Felicity, she wore all the colours in the book of colours, she gave choosing a paint colour in a paint book a run for its money. A knock at the door brought everyone together as Felicity practically was hopping like a rabbit to the door.

"Hellooo … come in" she exclaimed hugging the pair at the same time, she thought Lyla looked so gorgeous, she had worn a stripy maxi dress and you couldn't even tell she was pregnant, people were right Felicity thought, when they say pregnant people glow, she was glowing and Digg didn't look to bad either. Everyone greeted them hugs all round and they headed to the garden, Lyla took in the balloons, the banner and a shirtless Roy at the barbeque. Felicity stood in the kitchen watching them.

"They look happy huh …" Oliver spoke coming up towards her, he gave her space and stepped closer to the fridge.

"Yeah they look so happy, I'm happy for them …" she was interrupted by the doorbell, "that's Gus" she stated and ran to the door. She opened it to reveal what Oliver thought looked like a drugged up red neck, this guy went to college with her. He was wearing blue jeans and a white vest and had boots on in what was probably the hottest day of the year. "Hi Gus did you get it" she looked at him.

"Yes I got it …" he handed her a card before he could say anything more Felicity slammed the door in his face and shouted back at him "Thanks Gus". She walked up to him "Got it".

"You just slammed the door in his face …" he was laughing, "your friend" he couldn't stop laughing.

"o yeah, Gus took history at college and now works at the store Mommy Haven, I did quite a lot of his essays he didn't pass his exams though, no idea why he went to college, history did you see him, I had to slam the door, everyone slams the door at Gus before he goes off and starts talking about his side business breeding dogs, I love dogs but I do not need to hear about you breeding them, I've heard it like a million times, he always brings it up". She looked at him, deep and for a moment longer than she has in so long, Oliver didn't even dare to blink, he was scared if he blinked she would look away from him. He needed this.

"Dog breeder huh … ok … like the dog in your pictures" he said pointing towards the hall. Looking at her hoping she would answer him, tell him about the dog and not just say it was her dog and end the conversation. He hoped.

"The dog in the pictures, is Harley, my dad's best friend who knows my mother gave him to me when my dad left, had him since he was a puppy, he was my best mate" she said as she walked towards the fridge and began pouring drinks. He hoped she would continue. "He was the best dog, used to walk me to school, he used to make his own way home after dropping me off, he would come pick me up, and would carry my bag in his mouth". "As you can imagine I didn't have that many friends but I had Harley, a golden retriever's lifespan is 11 years, I had Harley for almost 12. He passed away when I turned 17." She finished pouring and looked at him she fought back the urge to cry, she loved Harley so much.

"I'm sorry, I'm glad you had an amazing friend when you were growing up. I've missed this you know … you … us …" Oliver started but she turned and saw Laurel standing behind him giving her the evils, she walked back outside the garden.

"How can you miss me when I'm here" what am I thinking she thought that was the worst sentence in the history of sentences.

"It's not the same …" Oliver yet again started but was interrupted.

"I'm here Oliver, don't be silly .. anyways let's get back to the party" and yet again she walked away. This is what his life was going to consist of her walking away from him always.

It was time to open presents, Lyla and Digg firstly opened Laurel's present, she had brought them a pair of baby shoes, sandals to more specific and they were grateful. Roy had brought her a red hoodie and everyone began to laugh, he didn't know what they found funny he was dead serious about the red hoodie. Felicity stepped up towards them, "Ok so all these gifts are pretty much baby clothes, shoes, dresses, onesies, socks, hats the lot and couple of bottles; I didn't know whether you had brought any and also a breast pump. Perfectly normal I was reading this book about babies and breast milk is the best for the baby and …"

"Felicity enough about my breasts please" Lyla said going a little red.

"Yeah please stop seriously" Roy added as he walked towards the table and sat down

"Right anyways this is what I got Gus to get me, like I said he owes me favours, big favours, like the time he lost his dog, I used street cameras to find it and …" she looked at everyone staring at her with smiles on their faces "right well here" she handed them what appeared to be a card. Lyla opened the card and inside there was a card, like a credit card.

"Felicity a year's supply of nappies" Lyla exclaimed looking at her completely shocked. Diggle snatched the card out of her hands and looked at it, he was lost of words.

"Yeah, Gus works at Mother Haven, he got it, it's all legit trust me, nappies are expensive, it's like 20 bucks for a pack of 20, a waste of money you throw the nappies away afterwards, I don't understand why they are expensive, I thought pads were expensive but nappies seriously, but then again you need pads every month, from like 12 until you're like 60" she looked at everyone realising she was discussing pads, she began to go a little red.

"Felicity this is amazing, seriously, a whole year, a whole year, wow thank you" Diggle stood up and embraced her holding on and placing a kiss on her head. "I love you, you know that right?"

"Yeah and I love you too, both of you and of course baby" she walked over to Lyla and placed the side if her head on her stomach listening to the baby. "With the money you can start saving for college, but she has you two as parents and she has a cool aunt like me she will be a budding genius she get scholarships just like I did." She added letting go of Lyla.

It was then Oliver's turn to give them his present, Diggle opened the box to find a bracelet, it was gold and looked really expensive, it had an encryption on the front Baby Diggle and in the inside it said from Love Uncle Oliver. Diggle smiled and gave him a hug. "One more thing, tonight the jet is taking you too to the Bahamas, for a week, everything is paid for the hotel, food, everything for a whole week, you guys never had a honeymoon and when the baby comes it will be all hands on board so go we can hold the fought for a week" he added looking at them.

"Are you sure man …" Diggle started

"Of course … go enjoy yourselves, you deserve it, you deserve a break". Felicity walked up to him and pecked him on the cheek, he closed his eyes taking it in looking down at her.

"That was really lovely of you, they do deserve it" she turned back to face Digg and Lyla.

"Well at least I didn't get them a voucher" he laughed, she swung her head back.

"Hey I got them other things, a year's supply of free nappies is not just any voucher" she argued with him. He raised his eyebrow and stared down at her. Maybe just maybe things were going back to normal.