Ahhhhhh! I can't believe it! I'm posting the last chapter AND the season premiere of Arrow aired last week! I did not see that ending coming and if you haven't watched it...What are you doing? Go watch it (it's on the CW app/website for free) then you will understand what I mean.
Anyways, thank you all so much for taking an interest and reviewing and following my story. It means so much! Please, please leave recommendations for future stories and please let me know what you thought of the last chapter.
This is definitely my longest chapter at 9311 words but I hope I did Oliver finding out justice after all that waiting!
Disclaimer: I still don't own Arrow.
Happy reading!
Summary: With the help of her family, Felicity creates a plan. After all the anticipation and mishaps, Oliver is finally told that he's going to become a father.
"Okay, please tell me that you guys have some good ideas," Felicity shut the glass door of her conference room behind her and dropped down in the chair at the head of the table.
Thea, Sara, Laurel, Diggle, and Roy were seated around the oval table that usually held discussions about budgets and QI's technical achievements but today, her family was gathered around to help her brainstorm the most epic pregnancy announcement in the history of pregnancy announcements.
It was going to be flawless because there was no way anyone or anything was ruining this. She and Oliver both deserved this moment.
If Jerry, her assistant, thought that having a family meeting without Oliver and in one of Queen Incorporated's conference rooms was a little weird, he didn't mention it. Not even when Felicity said that he was, under no circumstances, to tell Oliver that they were here today. If he did, he would be fired.
Laurel pulled her computer from her briefcase, "I've been researching some ideas and I think they are all super cute but I'm not sure how practical they are for us. I think we should try to make it a little more personal."
"I agree," Thea nodded, pulling out a notebook and a pen, "I think we should incorporate arrows or green or something like that into this reveal. I think it would be a cute idea. What do you think, Felicity?"
Felicity slowly nodded. She had gotten farther in five minutes than she had in two weeks!
"I think that's a really good idea. It would symbolize the legacy that this child is being born into and the legacy that Oliver will leave for our children. It's perfect, now we just have to come up with a way to tie it in," She tapped her fingertips on the glass table, "I also got a onesie that I think we should somehow use. I saw it when I got the other onesies I used for the girls and I just had to get it."
Roy snapped his fingers, "Hey! I've got a friend who makes all kind of unique ways to announce things. I bet I could get him to do something really awesome that we could use. He's a great guy and he's got a couple kids of his own. He lives in the Glades so the business will do him good."
Sara nodded eagerly, "Yeah, I know who he's talking about. A real upstanding guy. I saw him make this personalized label to put on a wine bottle that I think we could use for the announcement and for the celebration afterward."
"What about you Diggle? I mean, I know you found out about JJ during a gunfight but what did you like the most about finding out? Or how would your 'perfect' experience look like?" Felicity looked at him.
John crossed his muscular arms and leaned back with a fond smile on his face, "You're right. I found out at less than perfect timing but honestly, I wouldn't change it for anything because that announcement kind of summed up mine and Layla's relationship, you know. It was just so 'us'."
His fond smile turned into a full out grin, "Maybe you should wait until one of you have been kidnapped by a psychotic criminal. I mean that has kind of been the theme of your relationship."
Felicity shot him a look and pursed her lips as everyone chuckled, "Shut up."
She got up and pulled over a clear dry-erase board, "Okay, I'll start writing down some ideas and then we can see how to put it all together."
Felicity wrote 'onesie' in purple then looked back at the full table then glanced out the glass walls to make sure no one was watching. She didn't think anyone would buy the excuse 'We're going into business together and starting up our own version of 'Babies-R-Us''.
"Alright, someone give me some facts or an idea or something to jot down."
Laurel looked up from her computer, "Babies at this time are about as big as a lime."
Felicity wrote down 'as big as limes' and waited for someone else.
Sara grinned, "I guess since you vetoed my idea of hiring a biplane to carry a banner saying that you're pregnant that that's not an option?"
Felicity frowned, "No, it's not. All of you already know, including Cisco and Barry and so does my favorite barista at Jitters which is a long story so that's already eight people that I had planned on not telling before Oliver." She pivoted towards Sara, "Surely, you can think up something better?"
"I'll try," She winked.
They all took turns shouting out random ideas and facts until they had about 20 different items on the board ranging from 'belly paint' to 'shirt that says, 'baby daddy'' to 'baby is now making pee'.
Some of the things that were listed Felicity had no idea how they were relevant and some of them, she was definitely not going to use, no matter how much Roy wanted to see Oliver's face when he was handed a shirt that said, 'baby daddy'.
But some of them were really, very good and she thought that they had the beginnings of a solid plan. Now, they just had to pull it off without any interruptions and they had less than seven hours to gather everything and decorate.
John pulled into the club's empty parking lot and exited the Escapade. Oliver got out and they walked towards the door.
"So, I was thinking that we should go back to that warehouse and sweep through it again to make sure we didn't miss anything. Then, we should probably look into that intel about that drug operation down near where that Merlyn Global warehouse used to be," Oliver summarized to John as he filtered through emails on his phone.
Diggle smirked but stayed silent, 'Good luck at achieving any of that tonight.'
There were other plans in store for him. Plans that would soon be put into motion.
He stopped Oliver right outside the door, holding out his hand, "I need your phone."
"What?" Oliver looked at John quizzically as the other man waited for him to surrender the device.
"And those files on the city budget along with anything else that might distract you," He pointed to the manila folders that were under his arm.
Oliver hesitated, "What's going on?"
Diggle sighed and rolled his eyes, "Come on, man. Just go with it. You'll find out soon."
Oliver reluctantly handed over his phone and the folders and watched as John walked over and opened the metal door, "Come on, Oliver. It's not a trap or anything, don't worry."
They walked into the club together and Oliver was surprised to find that it looked nothing like the club it had been last night. The lights had been dimmed to a glow and there were candles placed around the room as well as strings around the room with different pictures of him and Felicity attached to them with clothespins.
There was a pathway to the door that led to the 'flooded basement' aka the bunker, made out of a mixture of glitter, confetti and fern limbs.
Oliver's first thought was that he must have forgotten his and Felicity's anniversary but that couldn't be true because he distinctly remembered celebrating it a few months ago and he swore to himself that he wouldn't be one of those husbands who forgot their anniversaries. Honestly, he didn't understand how it was even possible to forget one of the most important days of your life.
But just in case, because if there was anything he had learned in his line of (nighttime) work was that anything was possible, he turned to Diggle who was watching him with an amused grin. Whatever it was, he was in on it.
"Please tell me I didn't miss my anniversary. Did I?" Oliver asked somewhat desperately.
John laughed and shook his head much to Oliver's relief, "No, no you didn't miss your anniversary. Felicity would have your hide," He clasped a hand on Oliver's shoulder in reassurance, "Relax. Everything's fine."
Oliver nodded skeptically, and Digg pulled out what looked like ear-plugs then he handed them to a bewildered Oliver.
"You're going to need these. Not right now but you will," He winked, "Trust me. I know from experience."
"What is happening?" Oliver asked, and John pointed to Laurel who he hadn't noticed until now.
"I promise, everything will become clear soon but just work with us, man," Oliver nodded doubtfully but went when Digg nudged him towards a waiting Laurel.
She waved at him, a grin on her face as she hid something behind her back, "Hey Oliver! How are you?"
He eyed her and tried to see what she had in her hands, "Very confused and slightly intrigued."
"I've got something for you," Laurel laughed and pulled out one of his tiny arrows that Felicity had designed for easy concealing in situations like undercover or in his boot, just in case.
It was wrapped in a shiny emerald green bow; the exact shade of his suit and the tip had been dulled.
Laurel suppressed her grin as he picked it up out of her hands. Dulling the tip had been her idea and Felicity wholeheartedly agreed. With the luck Laurel knew Felicity had been having, Oliver would have been clumsy for once in his life and would have tripped and stabbed himself which would have resulted in not ending up telling Oliver and a lot of worry that they could all do without.
"Are you going to tell me what this is for?" He asked as he examined the arrow.
She nodded glibly, "It's for teaching."
Oliver raised an eyebrow, "Teaching whom, may I ask?"
Laurel smirked knowingly, "Wouldn't you like to know."
"Really?" He frowned as Laurel pointed down the pathway to where Sara had seemingly appeared, beaming like this was the most fun she had had since scaring the crap out of him, Roy, Diggle, and Barry a year ago.
Laurel rolled her eyes when he looked back with a slightly terrified look in his eye. I mean this was Sara, the international assassin, he was talking about.
"Go on, you Scaredy-cat," Laurel gave him a push towards her sister.
Sara crossed her arms as he approached on his guard, "I'm not going to prank you, I promise. Or kill you. I don't think Felicity would like that very much. She would probably end up killing me."
Oliver silently agreed with her. Felicity could be really scary when she wanted to be. He had unfortunately been on the receiving end of that wrath more times than he cared to admit.
Although, speaking of Felicity, he wondered where she was at. Surely, she was in on whatever the heck was going on around here. Come to think of it, a lot of strange things had been happening around here recently.
"So, I suppose you're not going to tell me what's going on?" He asked hopefully.
Sara shook her head, "Nope," popping the 'P'.
She reached into her black leather jacket and took out what looked like a lime.
Oliver pointed at it disbelievingly, "Is that a lime?"
"It sure is," Sara nodded enthusiastically and he determined she was enjoying this way too much. She grabbed his hand and gave him the lime.
"Now, whatever you do, don't drop it," She ordered pointing a finger at him.
Oliver looked around cautiously, "What happens if I drop it?"
She looked at him with a serious but thoughtful expression, "Uh, probably a lot of freaking out and odds are, a hospital trip."
"This isn't a grenade or anything, is it?" Oliver looked at the lime nervously and more than a little confused.
Sara shook her head, "It's just a regular old lime."
"Then why would a hospital trip be-" He was cut off by Sara steering him to where Roy and Thea had materialized next to the bunker door.
"Off you go! Have fun," She sent him off with a wave and an all too satisfied grin.
Sara covered her chuckle with her hand as she watched Oliver approach, Thea and Roy, looking more confused than she had ever seen him. This might be the greatest thing she had ever been a part of and that was saying something. She could not wait to tell the kid about this in the future. What a story!
"Are you sure that I haven't missed any sort of anniversary? Like the first time Felicity and I kissed or the night I proposed?" Oliver approached his sister and Roy.
He was fairly positive it wasn't any of those because he knew when those things had occurred and today wasn't even near those dates. Maybe it was like the first time he had given her a foot rub or maybe it was when he gave Felicity that bullet-ridden laptop all those years ago. That would be something Felicity might celebrate, right?
He racked his brain, trying to remember when that had been.
Thea looked at him with a bemused expression, "No, it isn't any sort of anniversary. You can stop freaking out."
"Not yet, anyways," Roy interjected happily.
Thea stepped forward and gave him a hug. He was slightly surprised, but he returned it wholeheartedly, "Seriously, what's going on. Where's Felicity?"
Neither of them answered him, they just exchanged knowing glances which only served to infuriate him even more.
"You'll see her soon, I promise," Thea smiled and handed him a card.
He started to open it, "What's this for?"
Roy and Thea put their hands out to stop him from taking out the card, "Uh-uh, not yet. Not till you open your present."
Oliver looked at them inquiringly, "It's not my birthday, is it?"
Thea rolled her eyes, "No, you're just going to have to wait and see," She put her hands on her hips, "Now, you have to promise me that you won't open the card till you open the present."
He nodded but apparently that wasn't enough for Thea. She needed verbal confirmation.
"You promise?" She prompted sternly.
Oliver gulped, "I promise. I promise."
She nodded, satisfied and Roy handed him a champagne glass, "Here, you'll need this."
Oliver took it, adding it to the odd assortment of things he had acquired on the journey from the parking lot to the bunker door, "Am I drinking alone."
Roy shook his head, "Felicity will be there."
"Then, where's her glass? Or more specifically, where is she?" Oliver asked.
At this point, he kind of wanted to know how his wife factored into all of this. Actually, he mainly just wanted to know what was going on.
Roy grinned and replied casually, "She can't have one."
Oliver raised his eyebrows and was about to ask why when Thea entered the password into the hidden keypad, entered her fingerprint and opened the door.
"Alrighty, down you go," Thea held open the door as Roy urged him through the doorway. The door swung shut with a bang.
The bunker was decorated in the same manner as the club and he could faintly hear a popular love song playing. He descended the stairs with caution just in case all of his friends had been impersonated by their evil doppelgängers and they were planning to blow him up although there was a very slim chance of that actually happening.
"Felicity," Oliver called out as he crept down the stairs.
There was no answer and he frowned. Roy said that he would see her soon and implied that there would be drinking but Felicity didn't want too? He didn't know, he was as confused as ever but hopefully, that was going to put to an end very soon.
"Felicity?" He tried again but there was still no answer.
As he entered the Bunker he looked around. There were pictures from his and Felicity's wedding and pictures of them with their friends. If this wasn't some sort of celebration of an anniversary, then he was at a loss.
Oliver spied a dark wooden box tied in an emerald green bow matching the one that was tied to the tiny arrow he was given by Laurel. He figured this must be the present Thea was talking about. It was sitting directly in front of Felicity's main computer, the soft glow giving it a magical feel as well as the spotlight someone, probably Felicity, had rigged to shine down on the box.
"Am I supposed open this now?" He asked into the air, hoping to get a response but none came.
Oliver shrugged and put down the random stuff that he had been given next to the box. He was actually pretty curious to see what was inside after everyone had gone to so much trouble.
He slowly undid the bow and looked for the latch to open the lid then, he opened it. At first, he wasn't sure what he was seeing. It looked like a white t-shirt.
Biting his lip, he reached inside the box and took it out only to find it to be one of those things a baby wears? Perplexed, he turned it around and read the words, 'Hi Daddy, Mommy says you're her hero. I'm sure that you will be mine too.'
He dropped it like it had burned him as he sucked in a deep breath. There was no way. She couldn't be pregnant, could she? Felicity was on the pill. There was no way, but then… Why was there a baby's outfit that said what it said?
Oliver swallowed hard and looked in the box, pulling out some pink and blue booties. He turned them in his hands, trying to believe what this meant.
His mind started flying through the past couple of weeks and missing pieces were being filled in. The way Felicity had been acting, her sudden diversion from coffee, the way her waist had thickened over the past week and her fuller chest, her off-the-wall mood swings that he had just chalked up to being related to her period. It all made sense with what he was seeing.
With shaking hands, he reached into the wooden box and pulled out the last items. He sniffed as tears started to gather in his eyes at what he was seeing.
It was two different pregnancy tests and they were both positive. One with a plus sign and the other, simply the word 'pregnant'. Taped onto the tests were what looked like ultrasound pictures.
Oliver carefully pulled them off. One was zoomed out, but he could make out it was a baby although, the circle around it with the words 'Baby Queen' written to the side confirmed it.
'Baby Queen'… He could hardly believe the words, but the proof was staring him in the face. A baby. Part him, part Felicity and it was residing in Felicity's womb right now.
He collapsed into Felicity's chair, almost missing it but he didn't care as the tears that had gathered in his eyes started streaming down his face.
His eyes roamed over the face he had only just been acquainted with and tried to make out bits of him and Felicity. How long had she known and was it a boy or a girl? And did everyone know but him?
Oliver ran his hand over his mouth as he gripped the picture. He didn't know anything about babies or really, kids in general, but he had started yearning for a family when he saw Diggle with JJ and that want had increased as his love for Felicity grew.
But he always told himself that he could never have a family because of the danger he was always in and the life he had led until a few years after he had returned from the island. He didn't deserve the joy of being some one's father. He didn't think it was possible, but it was happening, and he couldn't seem to contain the excitement that was filling him as the shock was wearing off.
He didn't even know if this was what Felicity wanted. They had only ever talked about kids in hypothetical terms, but she always seemed happy at the prospect of becoming a mother one day. He saw the fond look she had when they kept JJ, or she saw a child playing.
Felicity! Where was she?! He had to see her, to kiss her, to talk to her and get verbal confirmation that this wasn't some kind of elaborate prank.
Oliver looked around the softly lit bunker but didn't see her. His gaze fell on the white envelope that Thea had given him and reached for it, tearing it open.
He pulled out the card and on the front, it had the words, 'What is a Dad?' written in black. On the inside, it had, 'You. You is a Dad.'
The word 'Dad' simultaneously scared and filled him with wonder. He felt overwhelming love for this little person he had only known existed for five minutes and for his beautiful wife, who was right now giving life to their son or daughter.
Down below the words was a note scrawled in Felicity's familiar handwriting.
To my dearest husband,
By now I suppose you realize what's being told to you with various different items. I promise you, this isn't any sort of prank, it's real and Congratulations are in order because you are now a father-to-be. Trust me, it was a surprise for me too, but I am so looking forward to raising a child with your eyes and my hair (the real color, not blonde…I don't think it works that way).
A son with your heart and desire to help people or a daughter with your strength and who knows her daddy's her hero. You're going to be the best father in the world and we will be able to conquer any obstacles that come our way together, even if it's dangerous. I know you will protect our growing family with everything you have and that will always be enough. This baby will be the most protected baby in probably the whole world.
On your way here, you gathered some things and they each mean something:
The ear-plugs Digg gave you are for all the sleepless nights. The ones that I will get up to tend to a squalling baby while you use the said ear-plugs and attempt to sleep so that you can get up in the morning and be the mayor, I, on the other hand, will be drinking as much caffeine as possible to get through my day at the office but that's okay because I'm going to be a mom and that's my job. But never fear! You get the weekends all to yourself, I promise!
The next item on the list that Laurel gave you, is one of those super handy concealable arrows for emergencies. It was dulled down quite a bit and I doubt those are even the arrows you'll use but it's for when he or she gets old enough for you to deem them ready to use a bow and arrow. I know you're probably hesitant about this idea because of safety issues among other things but I know you and when our child begs for you to teach them, you will, and it will become a special thing between a child and his father. It also represents our legacy, the one that you're leaving for our son or daughter and the symbol of hope that the Green Arrow is.
By Sara, you were given a lime. Yeah, this one was a little odd but guess what! That's the size of our baby right now, resting in my uterus. She (or he) has fingerprints now and her veins and organs are actually visible through her thin skin, which is amazing. I know a lot but I'm learning things I didn't even know there was to know. Pregnancy is whole set of different information but don't worry, we'll learn together.
Thea's gift, you're holding in your hands and Roy's was a champagne glass to help me celebrate this joyous, although unexpected, occasion. He only gave you one because well…It's not good for the baby and neither is caffeine which is very unfortunate but for the health of our baby, it's so worth it.
The gift I gave you was the box you just opened. An ultrasound picture of the cutest little face I've ever seen and that's including yours (sorry?). A onesie that is very accurate because you've always been my hero and you'll be our baby's hero when he or she comes. Booties, because they were adorable. And two of the five positive pregnancy tests I took. Yes, five. I was freaking out and I wanted to make sure I hadn't gotten a faulty one or something but as you can see I got five accurate ones.
Your last gift is…well, just turn around.
Oliver whipped around so fast that Felicity was worried he might have given himself whiplash. She had hidden in the shadows, watching Oliver's facial expressions as best she could ever since he got down here. Waiting for him alone in the semi-darkness had felt like an eternity especially since the butterflies in her stomach felt more like elephants.
When he bounded down the metal steps, her heart was in her stomach and she bit her lip anxiously as he preceded to open the wooden box that held the secret that she had been trying to tell him for a few weeks now.
She watched as he started crying and she almost went to him then but decided against it, so he could have this moment to let it all sink in. She almost went to him again when he was obviously looking around for her, but she waited. Then he started to read the card and she crept out of her hiding place, a wine bottle in hand, and waited for him to turn around.
"Felicity…?" Oliver breathed and looked at her in shock and awe, "We're having a baby?"
She smiled fondly, tilting her head to the side and gave a nod, "We're having a baby."
Felicity waited until Oliver took a few short steps and framed her face with his warm hands, "I can't believe it. I'm not even sure what to say."
She reached up and swiped some of his tears away with her thumb, "You're not disappointed or mad, are you?"
Oliver's bright blue eyes snapped open with an intensity Felicity had never seen before, "Why would you ever think that? I'm beyond happy and I would never be disappointed or mad that you're carrying my child. Ever. It makes me love you even more which I didn't think was possible," He tentatively put a hand on her stomach, "And I already love this baby with everything I have in me."
Felicity sniffed as tears gathered in her eyes at his words. That had been one of her main fears. That he would be upset that she was pregnant. She knew it was silly, but the fear had still been there.
He looked alarmed and searched her tear-filled eyes, rubbing the drops away with his thumbs, "Hey, Hey. What's wrong? What's the matter? Why are you crying? Felicity, honey…"
She tried to answer him and shook her head as her tears kept coming. Honestly, being pregnant made her cry at everything and when she started, it was hard to stop.
"I'm just happy and relieved that you're happy," Felicity sniffed and looked into Oliver's concerned eyes, "I was so afraid that maybe you wouldn't want the baby because of all the danger and risks it might have because of the Green Arrow or if your enemies found out you had a child…You were so against us being together because of that reason and…"
Oliver tilted her head up and tenderly kissed her tear-tracks, "I know, I know, and I was stupid for doing it, but I was so afraid of you getting hurt that I just couldn't function with the idea that you might be in danger because of me. Thank God, you made me see reason because even with the danger, it's worth it and we figured it out together. And we'll do the same with this baby. I will do whatever's necessary to keep our family safe."
He gave her a sure, lasting kiss on her forehead, "This I promise you."
"I'm sorry," Felicity laughed through her tears as she reached up to wipe them away, "Being pregnant makes me a lot more emotional than normal. I cry all the time now."
Oliver grinned as he wrapped his arms loosely around her waist, "So, you have to tell me everything."
"Well, first, I have to give you your last present. To celebrate with our friends who are probably dying to know what's happening," She smiled and reached down to grab the wine bottle that she had set down before she accidentally dropped it.
He didn't say anything, and Felicity noticed his smile had dimmed, "What's wrong?"
"So, I'm the last to know, huh?" Oliver tried to joke but Felicity heard the hurt in his voice.
She put the wine bottle back down by her feet. She had been afraid of this, but it wasn't her fault that he had made this so difficult. Because she tried, she really did! It wasn't her fault that everyone was smart and picked up on it. And how was she supposed to know that the comms would go out right at that second? Granted, that wasn't her best idea, but she blamed that one on her hormones.
Felicity sighed and looked at him with as much love as possible, "Oh, Oliver. My darling husband."
She pulled him close to her and he looked into her eyes, "I rushed to tell you as soon as I found out, but it did not go to plan. And then there were a few more mishaps and I didn't tell anyone but your sister because I needed her help with another idea which blew up, literally. Then everyone else found out under their own power."
Realization dawned on Oliver's face, "Don't tell me that strange visit you made to the office a few weeks ago…"
He trailed off as she nodded, "Oh yeah, that was my first attempt. I just couldn't get it out and then Katy came in," Felicity scrunched up her nose, "And then your lunch came and I almost threw-up. That's another side effect of being pregnant. Morning sickness. Although, I don't know why they call it morning sickness; It's more like morning, noon, and night sickness."
His eyelids fluttered closed in disgusted disbelief, "I'm such an idiot. That bottle, it wasn't JJ's was it? You were trying to tell me and that whole discussion on the comms last night…"
Felicity bit her lip. Well, at least he had paid attention. He just hadn't connected the dots.
"I actually ended up telling you, but your comms fritzed out like two seconds before and I hadn't realized it. That's how everyone else found out."
Oliver looked devastated like someone had run over his puppy as he ran a hand down his face, "Seriously?! Of all times for us to have a technical issue."
Felicity nodded, a wry grin covering her face, "That's what I thought too, so everyone pitched in to help me pull this off. I hope you liked it."
"I loved it. I would have loved it even if you had told me in some boring, generic way but this I will be able to tell our son or daughter and it made it very special and for that, I thank you."
He gathered her up in his arms and kissed her deeply, "I love you and I love our baby."
"I guess you've gone to the doctor? Do you know when we should expect this little one?" Oliver pulled back and tucked a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear.
"I went yesterday actually. I was trying to wait until I told you, but it was getting later and later, and I needed to make sure everything was okay, which it is. As for when the baby's due," Felicity bent down and handed him her last gift, a bottle of wine with a sticker on the front that said, 'The best Husbands get promoted to Daddy. Baby Queen, Arriving November 4th.'
Oliver took it. He smiled when he read the label then held up the wine, "Lafite Rothschild's 1982?"
Felicity smiled and rocked on her heels, "I thought it was appropriate."
He hummed and glanced over the bottle again, "November 4th? That's kind of soon, right? That would make you three months pregnant."
Oliver looked a little shocked and Felicity couldn't blame him. She hadn't realized she was that far along either and had been slightly overwhelmed at the words, 'You're almost out of your first trimester'.
"Yeah, I have a week left in my first trimester. Which means I got pregnant in February, but I didn't realize all of my symptoms were pregnancy symptoms until I wanted to throw up at the smell of coffee and I couldn't remember the last time I had had a period. That's when I took a test. Several tests, actually."
Felicity put her hands on Oliver's chest, "I want to tell you everything and there's a lot but, I think we should probably tell our friends that you finally know about the baby. They're probably ready to burst down the door by now."
As if on cue, they heard a slight creaking sound of the bunker door trying to be opened subtly. They both looked up and saw Thea, Sara and Laurel's alarmed faces, presumably at being caught, peeking through the crack in the door.
Oliver laughed as they quickly disappeared, letting the door start to swing shut, "You can come out now."
Sara must have caught the door because she pushed it back open quickly, "She told you?!"
Felicity put her hands on her hips, "Yes, I told him. What did you think I was doing in here? Talking to him about the benefits of solar energy?"
"Who knows? It's taken you this long to tell him, so it wouldn't surprise me if something prevented you from telling him now," She shrugged and stuck her head out the door to yell, "She did it! Nothing stood in her way."
A faint 'Finally' was heard, and Felicity rolled her eyes in exasperation. Sara turned the lights on more, turning the bunker back into well, the bunker and less of 'Glowing romantic restaurant'.
Now that Oliver could see more of the room and wasn't focusing solely on the fact that his wife was having a baby, he saw that it was decorated with pictures of him with his parents when he was younger and of Felicity with her mom. There were present-day pictures, as well. Their wedding pictures, photos with their best friends, including team flash, who were basically their family.
The glass table that they used for pretty much anything from making explosive devices to eating to playing card games when they were waiting on a search, was set up for what looked like a party.
Sara said something to the others who were out in the club portion of the building (Thea had closed it for tonight) and then ran down the stairs with another bottle of wine, "It's time to party! Don't worry Felicity, we got you some sparkling water, so you don't feel left out."
Roy and Digg followed with grins, approaching Oliver to slap him on the back, "Congrats Man! Welcome to fatherhood. If you need any tips, I'm your guy."
Oliver wrapped his arms around John, giving him one of those macho man hugs, "Thanks. This kid is really lucky to have an uncle like you."
The other man nodded, swiping his hand across his eyes to try and cover up the tears that had gathered.
Felicity smirked, I see you John Diggle, you big softy.
Roy stuck his hand out and pulled Oliver into another macho man hug, "I'm so happy for you guys. I can not wait to spoil the kid. He's like baby arrow."
Felicity raised an eyebrow, "First of all, no one will be spoiling anyone and secondly, how do you know it's going to be a boy? It could be a girl."
"Well, I'm voting for boy," Roy said assuredly.
Thea and Laurel came down the stairs each with a pastel cakebox in their hands. Thea pinned Roy with a look as they made their way to the table, "I swear…You'd better not blow this one up."
Laurel sat down the box, opening it to reveal white cupcakes with a sparkly 'Baby' topper in the middle.
She reached in to carefully move them around, "Roy, if you blow these up I will personally see to it that your life will be a living hell for the next few weeks. You will not mess this up. Not now. Not when everything's been so perfect."
Oliver gave Felicity a look, "What do they mean by 'you better not blow this one up?'"
She waved him off, going to help the girls set up the snacks that they had prepared for their celebration, "I'll tell you about it later."
Oliver watched Felicity as she started rearranging things on the table, laughing at something one of the other girls said. She was glowing, and he couldn't believe he hadn't realized it before.
She exuded radiance, her smile was brighter, even the way she carried herself had shifted. Now that he knew, there was no denying that she looked pregnant and not only in the subtle physical changes but in her countenance and behavior.
His undying love had grown for her tenfold and he thought he had already maxed out on his love for her. He didn't even know it was possible to love someone this much.
He watched as she beamed when she talked to Thea, Laurel and Sara, her best friends and when she playfully scowled at John and Roy when they tried to steal a cupcake as they interacted with each other with happy, carefree smiles.
Every time he saw his family and friends so full of life, he was reminded why he did what he did and why he risked his life every single night.
Oliver smiled with a new sense of purpose. Felicity had gifted him another reason to fight tonight. His baby.
"I'm so glad you finally know," Felicity said with a content sigh as she climbed onto their comfy California King mattress, moving the comforter and pillows to snuggle up next to Oliver.
He tucked some of her hair behind her ear and stared into her beautiful sparkling eyes, "You're beautiful. You know that, right?"
She giggled, "I won't be in a few months. I'll be as big as a house."
"I can't wait," Oliver hummed into her ear, giving her nips on her neck.
"So, what do you think about it?" Felicity put a hand on his bare chest and feebly attempted to push him away from kissing her.
He complied and rolled on his side, gathering her into her arms to lean over her, "I think that you are going to be an amazing mother and I can't wait to meet him or her and that we have a lot to do between now and Nov. 4th."
"Like buy a bunch of stuff that I probably didn't even know existed. Figure out where the nursery will be, buy furniture for said nursery then decorate the nursery. We'll need to buy clothes and bottles and blankets, and those swing things and we need to pick out a name, baby proof the manor and the bunker…" Felicity was overwhelmed just by listing all the things she had thought of, but she was sure there were countless other things she wasn't thinking of.
There was definitely a lot of baby researching in her future.
Oliver propped himself up on his elbow, right next to her head, "We'll figure it out together, I promise, and our friends will be more than willing to help especially Sara, Thea, and Laurel."
Felicity's lip quirked up, "Oh yeah. There're already planning a baby shower and a gender reveal and I'm pretty sure I heard Laurel say something about an idea for the nursery."
He laughed, his eyes sparkling, "Sounds like them. Do you know when we get to find out if it's a boy or a girl?"
"Anywhere from 16 to 20 weeks which is not that far away, come to think of it," Felicity snuggled back against Oliver's broad chest and he wrapped a strong arm protectively around her mid-section, "What do you want?"
"I don't care as long as he or she is healthy, but I think it would be kind of nice to have a little girl with curls and your brain. Someone who I can read fairy tales too and take to the zoo."
She could hear the wistfulness in his voice and she could imagine a little girl whose whole world revolved around her daddy's and vice versa. Felicity got the sense that he was thinking about his own parents and what he had wished from them but sadly never got.
She could relate. Her mom had always been at work to provide her with nice things, but she really just wanted her mom to spend time with her. Not that her mom had been a bad mother, but she hadn't been very attentive. However, Felicity could never describe in words how grateful she was for her hard-working mom who went without, so she could have.
"I don't think I'll be a very good dad," Oliver's sad words surprised her, and she rolled over as fast as possible.
"What on earth makes you think!?" She asked fiercely, the look on his face breaking her heart.
Oliver shrugged and looked down, "I didn't have the greatest role models."
"Oliver Queen, you look at me," Felicity grabbed his chin gently and made him look her in the eyes, "You are going to be the best father in the world and I'm not just saying that. I might be a little biased, okay a lot biased but I truly believe that. I know you didn't have the best childhood or the most attentive parents who tried to meet your needs and listen to what you wanted but that doesn't change the fact that they didn't love you. Your parents loved you, even if they didn't show it in the most normal ways."
She placed her hands on his chest, "I know you're going to be a great dad because when you decide to let someone in, you love them with your whole heart. You've learned from your parents' mistakes and I know you won't make the same ones. I've seen the way you act around JJ, the way you listen just as attentively about his Tonka Truck as you would listening to one of DAs about an important issue. And most importantly, you love this baby and you have the biggest heart of anyone I know, and you love me and we're going to figure this out together."
Felicity kissed him, "I know just like you knew I would be an amazing mother and I didn't have the greatest examples either but did you doubt that I would fail in my role as 'mom'?"
Oliver shook his head sharply, "Never! I've always thought you would make a great mother."
"See," She smiled fondly at him, "I know we'll be fine just like I know that you'll give me the same speech I'm giving you when I start to question my prowess as a mother."
He looked at her with intense love in his eyes, "I love you so much, Felicity Queen and," His lips slowly curled up in a grin before he simultaneously pushed her up and moved himself down to where his lips found a strip of bare skin right below her belly button, "I love you too Baby Queen. I'm your daddy and I can't wait till I meet you and did you know that your mommy is amazing and she's super smart? Like beyond genius levels and we are so lucky to have her."
Felicity laughed as his scruff tickled her belly, "See, this is exactly what I mean. You are going to be a great father," She ran her hands through his hair, "So, would you like to know how everyone found out before you. It's actually kind of funny now that I look back on it and I know that you've been told although let me tell you, it was not funny at the time. It was very frustrating."
Oliver moved back up to her level and they faced each other, both laying on their sides, "Yes, I'm very curious to know. Does it have anything to do with Roy blowing up a cake?"
She nodded, laughingly, "Yeah, he kind of ruined my second attempt at telling you. After that whole debacle at your office, I decided I would think up something cute, so I enlisted Thea to help. She was the only one I had intended to tell before telling you although not at first. I decided I needed help."
"How'd you tell her," Oliver asked.
"Well," Felicity drew out, "I hacked Amazon and got a cute little onesie that said something like, 'You're my favorite aunt' and I got a few other things too that I'll get her to show you. Then there was a lot of screaming, hugging and crying. Anyways, she procured a cake that said, 'Congrats on your new addition' and we had planned to let you open the cake box in the bunker with me there so afterward we could all celebrate."
She sighed. Just thinking about it made her realize all the flaws in this plan.
Oliver waited for her to go on, "Our first mistake was leaving the cake in the bunker while we went to eat. Thea convinced me that no one would be going down to the bunker until we got, well," Felicity rolled her eyes, "Of course someone would."
He looked at her in anticipation, "Who was it, Digg?"
"I wish," Felicity gave Oliver a look, "It was Roy. Remember when he blew up the lair? The cake was in the crossfire."
His lips twitched up and Felicity could tell that he thought this was hilarious. She slapped him on the arm, "It's not funny. It cost me a perfectly good cake and I spent five hours that I did not have wiring and putting security on the new monitor we had to get."
Oliver grinned, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Okay, so obviously that didn't work. What happened next? Last night?"
Felicity coughed in disbelief, "Far from it. The next thing that happened was my great idea of a scavenger hunt. That's why there was a bottle in the drawer. By the way, a baby bottle is different than a sippy cup. It wasn't JJ's, it was my way of telling you we were having a baby."
"I'm so sorry, Felicity. I had no idea," Now he looked apologetic and she smiled fondly.
"Don't be. It's not your fault. That idea was a little far-fetched anyways."
Oliver hesitated, "Still. Were there other things around the house?"
She hummed and rolled onto her back, "Yeah, but after three days of you not finding anything, I collected everything, or at least I think I did, pregnancy brain is a real thing, however, before I did that, Sara and Laurel found like, everything in the living room when we came here when I forgot those files."
"Then what happened? Is there more?" He squirmed around, pulling the covers up over them.
She huffed, "Unfortunately, yes. At Jitters."
"Oh no," Oliver gave her a dismayed look, "Don't tell me when Cisco and Barry…"
Felicity shot him a grimace, "Oh yeah. I was so close, and they just had the worst timing."
He closed his eyes in incredulity, "That whole conversation about you not having coffee makes so much sense now. You were trying to get me to catch onto the no caffeine thing, weren't you?"
"Mmhmm," Her lips quirked up. Of course, now he would be having the epiphany now after he knew.
"Then last night happened and everyone who didn't know knew. Although, Diggle had figured it out a couple days ago."
Oliver looked at her, "I am so sorry, honey," He flopped on his back with his arms above his head, "I'm such an idiot."
Felicity rolled back on her side, curling up to look at him, "It's alright. I'm the one who's sorry. I should have come up with this plan in the beginning. At this point, I'm just glad you know."
They laid in silence for a few minutes, each thinking about what had transpired that evening and all they needed to get done before the baby arrived.
"Who else do we need to tell," Oliver interrupted the quietness.
Felicity shifted, trying to think of people, "Well, my mom. I'm sure she'll be ecstatic about this whole thing. The rest of team Flash unless Barry and Cisco already spilled the beans when they got home this morning. Based on their track record, I would be surprised if they hadn't blurted it out or at least made Iris and Caitlin suspicious although they haven't called me yet, so that's a good sign. Then I guess once I can't hide my baby bump anymore we'll need to tell the public."
She continued ranting about how much fun that would be (note the sarcasm) and how they would tell the people who miraculously didn't manage to find out when she realized Oliver hadn't been paying attention nor had he said anything.
"Oliver, are you even listening?" She stretched her neck up to look at him.
He glanced down at her, "I'm sorry, what?"
Felicity frowned, it wasn't like him to be so absorbed that he didn't even know what she was talking about, "What's on your mind?"
Oliver sighed, running a hand over her hair, "I'm sorry, it's just, I wonder what my parents and Tommy would think. To tell them that I'm married to one of the most successful CEO's of an International Corporation in the world, a genius who saves lives every night, including mine and is still chipper and ready to go to work in the morning. My wife, who's carrying my first child."
He shook his head, "They would never believe it. If I hadn't gotten stranded on that island then I would still be sleeping around and have no money because I blew it all on expensive things I didn't need and based on my track record, that's what everyone thought was going to happen. In a way, that island was a blessing in disguise without it, I would have never met you or had a purpose in life."
"Oh Oliver," Felicity sighed and scooted into his embrace, "I love you so much. Tommy and your parents, they would be so proud of you and Thea. They wouldn't even be able to put into words how much."
He smiled wistfully as he tightened his hold on Felicity, "I just imagine telling them sometimes. What it would be like and now getting to tell them that they're going to be grandparents and tell Tommy he's gonna be an uncle. I'm just so sad that they'll never get that. That I'll never be able to tell them."
Felicity stayed silent and settled her head over Oliver's strong beating heart.
"Oliver," She hesitated, "Maybe we can tell them."
It was a brisk, foggy morning as spring still latched on not yet turning summer weather. Oliver pushed open the squeaky black wrought-iron gate and led her onto the stepping stone walkway. He wrapped an arm around her and she tightened the hold she had on his hand as they carefully made their way down the old pathway.
They stopped in front of two impressive looking gravestones. Oliver crouched down in front of them and dusted off the debris that had collected since the last time someone had visited while Felicity stood back to give him a minute.
He sniffed, "Hey mom. Hey dad. I know I haven't come to see you in a while, but it's been busy between being the mayor and running around as the Green Arrow. I know that's no excuse, but I hope you understand. Anyways, there's a special reason for visiting this early in the morning and I just found out myself last night. Felicity and I are going to have a baby. Isn't that wonderful? You're going to be Grandparents and don't worry, we'll bring our children to visit and we'll tell them all sorts of stories about you."
Felicity zoned out as Oliver continued to speak to his parents' graves. She thought it was kind of ironic how full of life she was in the midst of all this death.
There was a new life, a new beginning, resting in her womb right at this moment. He or she is at the very beginning of this journey through life but surrounding her are people who have spent theirs and they have no more time to live. It was sad and yet, it was a bittersweet reminder that life goes on, even after you die. People were dying and being born all over the world all the time.
She smoothed out her bright blue dress, over the tiny, tiny budge that only she and Oliver actually noticed and tightened her beige coat around her.
Oliver stood up and walked past a few gravestones, stopping in front of one close by and crouching down, "Hey Tommy. I miss you. A lot. Every day I wonder what you would be doing. If maybe you and Laurel would be married or if you would have your own company or I don't know, maybe even be a doctor. Guess what? I'm going to be a father. I know right. Party boy Queen is the mayor, married to the love of his life, saves the city at night and is getting ready to have a baby. Trust me, I can't believe it any more than you can. You'd love Felicity. I only wished you and she had gotten to know each other but then you might have fallen for her and well, I don't think I would have liked that very much."
He quieted and hung his head, messing with a blade of grass, "I wish a lot of things but mostly I wished you hadn't died."
Felicity wiped a tear away. She knew that Oliver would never get over Tommy's death or his parents for that matter. More than ever she wished that she had known Tommy Merlyn better than she did which was basically saying hi when he was around Oliver. She wondered if he would approve of her as Oliver's wife.
Oliver approached her, and she held out her arms, ready to embrace him with all the love she could muster.
All of the sadness, all of the pain, it was all worth it because now they had a tiny little person who would be so full of hope and lightness to be a beacon in this dark, dark world they lived in so others could live a happy life. Their hearts were bursting with love for this little Queen who would be, in a few short months, taking the world by storm.
My last chapter! I'm kind of sad now. I do have some special things coming your way so please stay tuned! I'm adding a bonus 'Behind-the-scenes' chapter onto this story. It was originally in this chapter but I took it out because of length but I still like it. I will be posting it in a few days.
The second thing is something that I'm posting as a separate story but it's a companion to this one. I'm calling it a 'deleted scene'. I took it out of one of the chapters because I didn't like how it flowed. So please be on the lookout for that.
Please, please leave recommendations for other stories. Should I write a little pregnancy/baby journey type story or should I write one when they got married or before or maybe even after the baby is a child. Please give me your thoughts because I want to continue writing Olicity!
Thank you so much for reading!
Questions, comments, concerns? Leave me a review!
Love Freckles
