Prompt : 'Seasoning'

"What do you think?"

Millie took a spoonful of the appetizing sauce, letting it impregnate her taste buds.

"It needs more seasonings like tarragon, and basil...and that Italian herb mix we brought back from Tuscany last summer."

Oliver didn't try to hide his proud smile. "I think you got it right. Let's do it."

He watched her fondly as she was focused on her task, adding the right amount of herbs using mostly her instincts. At 16 she looked so much like her mother with her blonde hair in a ponytail and her trendy glasses always slipping on her nose. But even though he had not played any biological part in her existence, she was following in his footsteps in so many other ways. His heart always burst with pride and love when he was looking at her wearing her pristine white chef blouse, with 'Emilia Smoak-Queen' broidered on the front.

At 16, she was still in high school, but Oliver let her come help him at the restaurant whenever she could and as long as it didn't interfere with school work. At first Oliver thought it might be a whim, since she had seen him and help him cook since she was a little girl. But it turned out that she had a real talent, as well as a knack for the business side of things, which interested her as well.

Felicity was always joking about the apple not falling far from the tree, and he had to admit that Millie's interest for what was his own work and passion filled him with great happiness.

"Let the sauce simmer for a while. We have to get to desert and I want to show you the soufflés."

She smiled and gasped. "You'd let me prepare them?"

"Hey, I trust you. You're my baby girl."

She cast a nervous glance to the thankfully empty kitchen. "Daddy, please don't call me that when people are around. It's embarrassing."

He gave her a teasing look. "I can try. I don't promise anything though. I mean, you are my baby girl, and you'll always will be, even when you're 50."

She rolled her eyes but raised on her toes to press a kiss on his cheek.

Felicity raised her eyes from her book when Oliver walked into their bedroom that night.

"So, did Team Queen accomplished wonders in the kitchen once again?"

He chuckled and climbed on his side of the bed, sitting with his legs crossed.

"She's such a natural, Felicity. She amazes me."

She smiled fondly at the satisfied look on his face. "Aaaww, look at you proud Daddy." She reached out and squeezed his hand. "I'm so happy and proud of the bond you two are sharing. Asking you to move in all those years ago was the smartest thing I ever did."

"I can't argue with that. Even though I'm sure we would have found our way to each other eventually." He leaned in and kissed her forehead. "I mean, this was obviously meant to be," he whispered before letting his mouth wander on her cheek and throat. "Do you intend on finishing this book tonight?" he asked in a raspy voice and he felt her shiver.

She gave him a flirtatious look. "It's a pretty good book. Do you have a better offer, Mister Queen ?"

His eyes darkened as he took the book from her hands and put it on the nightstand as she came willingly into his arms. "I can assure you you're going to like it much, much more."