Thanks for the reviews last chapter! Some of you were wondering if any other Arrow characters might be making an appearance. You'll get your answer this chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 21

There was nothing her tablet couldn't do, Felicity was convinced. Not only did she have all the recipes she needed immediately on hand, but the multiple timers she created to keep track of each cooking dish were a literal godsend. Hacking into the FBI's facial recognition software took less coordination. Thankfully, the food should be ready by the time everyone arrived in a half hour. Felicity was determined that everything be perfect.

"The turkey is looking good," Thea said. She was on basting duty.

"Good. If you want to go upstairs and finish getting ready, I'm fine down here."

"You sure?"

"Yes. You've been a great help, but I've got it all handled for right now." They'd gotten up early to start prepping the food and had been working through the afternoon. After giving Thea specific instructions, Felicity had taken some time for herself to get ready. She knew she wouldn't get a chance later when it got closer to the time for their guests to arrive.

"Thanks. I really need to fix my hair," Thea lamented and turned to face Felicity. "What do you think of this dress?"

Felicity took in the black sequined dress and smiled. "You look beautiful. Why?"

Thea hesitated for a moment. "I sort of invited a friend to dinner. I was going to tell you and Ollie but..."

"What's his name?" Felicity knowingly inquired. A girl only gets worked up over an outfit for one reason.

"Roy. We met last year and have kept in touch. He actually works at Verdant now."

"Roy Harper?" Felicity had a vague idea of who Thea was talking about. Roy was a server and bus boy at Verdant. He was a little on the short side for a guy but had the face of an Abercrombie model. The only time they'd spoken was when Roy had almost caught her going to the Foundry's secret entrance. Felicity had made up a lame excuse about Oliver asking her to check some wiring that ran through the alley. Roy didn't call her on it, but he didn't seem to actually believe her either.

"Yeah. He doesn't really have any family, and I didn't want him to spend the holiday alone."

"Thea, it's fine. I'll set another place at the table."

"It's actually not you I'm worried about. Oliver can be a little overprotective."

Felicity, grinning, knew firsthand just how protective Oliver could be. As exasperating as he could be sometimes, it was also one of the reasons why she'd fallen in love with him. "That's true, but I think he'll be on his best behavior. It is Thanksgiving, after all."

"Who'll be on their best behavior?" Oliver questioned as he came downstairs. He wore a form-fitting navy blue sweater over his dress shirt and a pair of khaki pants. His hair was still slightly damp from his shower, and his face was freshly shaved with only a little bit of scruff remaining.

"You when Thea's friend arrives," Felicity answered, sending him a pointed look.

"I'm not following."

Thea clarified, "Roy Harper is joining us."

"Roy from the club?"

"Yes."

"The one who stole your purse last year?"

"Ollie, you know he's not like that anymore," Thea immediately defended. "Tommy wouldn't have hired him if he couldn't be trusted. Please be nice when he gets here. He doesn't have any family, and I already had to beg him to come because he didn't want to intrude."

"Any friend of yours is a friend of mine, Speedy," Oliver assured her. He hadn't been a fan of his sister's friendship with Roy. For a while, Thea had been acting out. She had a drug problem and a couple of brushes with the law last year. From what Oliver heard, Roy had a rap sheet of his own. Oliver worried Roy would be a bad influence on Thea, but the opposite seemed to have happened. In her determination to help Roy find a second chance, Thea picked herself back up as well.

"Thank you." She kissed her brother's cheek and headed for the stairs.

"Don't scare him with your voice," Felicity warned once Thea was in her room.

"What voice?"

"You know, the voice," the blonde hinted as she grabbed another place setting. "The one you get when putting the fear of God into criminals."

"Ah, that one. As long as he behaves around my sister, I won't have to make the usual threats."

"Yeah, that doesn't exactly put my mind at ease, Oliver."

Oliver stared at the elegant setup. The kitchen table had been extended to create a dining room table. There was a dark orange tablecloth covering it with six place settings and a cornucopia centerpiece. Upon closer inspection, Oliver noticed the small turkey salt and pepper shakers. "Where did you get these?"

"Thea found them. She said it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without Mr. Feathers and Mrs. Butterball," Felicity explained.

"She's right. My mom bought them when I was five. She put them at the kiddy table with Tommy and me. We used to pretend they were action figures. Eventually, Thea gave them names. Even after we could join the adults we still used them."

"They certainly are cute," Felicity agreed and walked back into the kitchen to put the finishing touches on a few dishes.

Oliver watched her flutter around the kitchen. Felicity looked beautiful in her maroon lace dress and heels. Her hair was down and curled, and her makeup highlighted her feminine features. He loved her eyes especially. Even through her glasses they managed to be bright and striking. One well-placed look from her had the power to shift his entire day. The finishing touch was the apron she wore as she cooked. Oliver didn't think he'd ever seen his mother wear one, since they always had a hired chef growing up. On Felicity, it looked so adorably normal and domestic.

Felicity had just taken the yams out of the oven when she felt Oliver come up behind her. He wound his arms around her waist and pulled her against him. He placed a kiss on her cheek and then her neck before she even had a chance to question him.

"Thank you for this," he murmured.

"Don't thank me until you've actually tried the food," she joked.

"I'm sure it'll be great." Felicity was the type of person who could find success in whatever she set her mind to.

"I hope so. I want everything to be perfect."

Oliver turned her around to face him. "Even if it isn't, you've done more than enough. I was worried about Thea. When everyone thought my dad and I were gone, it was just her and my mom. For better or for worse, Thea always had her to depend on-especially when I couldn't be the brother she needed. Now that she's gone...today could've been much harder for Thea but seeing the two of you together, smiling and laughing, I can tell that you've helped her get through it."

"I'm glad," Felicity replied and gently rubbed his shoulders. "But what about you? Are you okay?" Oliver had mostly stayed out of their way. He spent a few hours at the Foundry this morning, most likely to workout. Felicity got the sense that he needed some time alone with his thoughts.

"I'm getting there," he told her and placed a hand on her cheek. He guided her mouth to his. The kiss started off soft and tender before becoming wrought with inherent need and passion. There was something about Felicity that both soothed him and yet always left him wanting more.

Oliver had never felt that way about any other woman. Even though he'd once loved Laurel, Oliver had felt a sense of restlessness and detachment throughout their entire relationship. It hurt to realize that those feelings never quite left despite returning home with a new outlook. With Felicity, it was different. He felt restless when he wasn't with her. All the times he'd tried to compartmentalize his feelings proved futile. Felicity hadn't opened the lock on his heart, she'd broken it. Before Oliver even knew what was happening, she'd become a part of him.

By the time they pulled apart, Felicity was breathless and clinging to Oliver like her life depended on it. In a way, it did. "This is important to me, too. It's the first time in a long time I feel like I have something to be truly thankful for. That's because of you."

"I know what you mean." Oliver captured her lips once more, savoring the moment. "Felicity..."

With one last kiss, she drew back and smiled up at him. "Yes?"

"Felicity," Oliver repeated softly. "I..." The three little but powerful words were on the tip of his tongue. Once he said them, there really would be no going back. There was no going back for Oliver regardless. What mattered was that she deserved to know how he truly felt. "Felicity, I-"

The doorbell rang, breaking them out of the spell. Oliver groaned internally at his shoddy timing. He couldn't catch a break with her.

"That would be our guests. Later," Felicity promised while quickly wiping off the small smudge of lipstick on his bottom lip. She checked her own appearance in the side mirror. With a nod, she signaled Oliver to open the door.

"John," Felicity happily greeted and pulled him into a hug. "Happy Thanksgiving."

"Happy Thanksgiving, Felicity, Oliver." He shook hands with Oliver and stepped aside to reveal a woman of medium height with short, curly brown hair. She wore a simple black dress that highlighted her fair complexion and natural beauty. "I'd like you to officially meet my girlfriend, Lyla Michaels. Lyla, this is Oliver's friend Felicity that I was telling you about."

With a welcoming smile, Felicity stuck out her hand. "Lyla, it's great to meet you."

Lyla shifted the dish she was holding and shook Felicity's hand. "You, too. Oliver, it's good to see you again. Thank you for inviting us. I brought some of my grandmother's famous corn bread."

"And wine," Diggle said and held up the bottle.

"Oh, thank you. This looks great," Felicity complimented and took the dish from Lyla. She put it on the counter with the rest of the food.

Oliver was taking their coats when the doorbell rang again. This time it was Tommy. He'd also brought a bottle of wine and a dessert. It was, of course, from the best bakery in Starling. After doing the whole manly shoulder pat with Oliver, he went over to hug Felicity properly.

"Wow, it smells great in here. I'm already starved," Tommy declared. "Is there anything you can't do?"

Felicity pretended to think about it and shrugged. "Play sports?"

Tommy chuckled. "Athletic ability is highly overrated. A full stomach is much more important. Ask any man. Need help with anything?"

"Trying to take my job, Merlyn," Thea called as she made her way downstairs. She said hello to Diggle and Lyla before sidling up to Tommy.

Tommy feigned a look of terror. "You cooked?"

"Thea actually helped me with everything and did an excellent job," Felicity spoke up.

"Thank you, Felicity," Thea replied with satisfied smile. "At least someone has a little faith in me."

"Speedy, I'm impressed. If you can learn to cook, then there might still be some hope for Laurel."

"Oh, even I know there's no hope for Laurel," Thea retorted with an amused scoff.

"That's probably true," Oliver agreed as he worked around Felicity to open the bottles of wine and get everyone drinks. He wouldn't dare attempt to help with the food but as a former party boy, according to Felicity, he could certainly handle the beverages. "She really is a terrible cook."

"Do you remember that time she read the recipe wrong and put two tablespoons of pepper in that pasta sauce?" Tommy asked.

"Oh God, that was awful," Oliver replied with a groan. "There wasn't enough water in the world to stop the burning."

"My eyes were watering for a solid hour."

"That shouldn't happen tonight. I don't think," Felicity added while taking the turkey out of the oven. There was more small talk as Felicity and Thea finished getting dinner ready. Even Lyla assisted in the setup. All of the food would stay on the counter, so that everyone could serve themselves before sitting down.

Thea practically sprinted to the door when the bell rang a final time. Roy cleaned up nicely in black dress pants and a red, button-down shirt. He held a small bouquet of flowers in his hands. If it weren't for the large bruise on his left cheek, he would've looked like the perfect gentleman.

Thea reached for his face, concerned. "Roy, what happened?"

"It's nothing. Some guy at the club got out of hand last night. When I dragged him out, he took a swing at me. I'm fine." He held the flowers out to Thea, seemingly eager to drop the subject. "These are for you."

Thea's entire face lit up in a beaming smile. "That's really sweet of you. Thank you, Roy." She ushered him inside and introduced him to everyone.

"Give the bouncer the name of that guy last night," Tommy told him. "I'll make sure he's banned from now on."

"Sure thing, boss."

"No need to be so proper, Roy. It's Thanksgiving. Tommy is fine."

Felicity discretely nudged Oliver, to which he agreed, "Right. Make yourself at home."

"Dinner's almost ready. Oliver, do you want to carve the turkey? Not sure I really trust myself with a carving knife," Felicity joked and held it out for him.

Oliver smiled and let his fingers lightly brush hers as he took the knife. "I think I can handle it."

Diggle grinned before taking a sip of his wine. "Let me know if you need backup, man. That bird looks kind of big."

"Save me a leg, Ollie," Tommy instructed. He was practically salivating in anticipation of the food. Felicity wondered when was the last time he ate a decent meal. What was it with these billionaires and their terrible eating habits?

After Oliver was done carving the turkey, everyone grabbed their plates and helped themselves to the delicious food Felicity and Thea had prepared. They all took their seats. Oliver was at the head of the table with Thea, Roy and Tommy on his left. Felicity, Lyla and Diggle sat to his right. Once they were all settled in, Oliver cleared his throat to say a few words. "So I'm not exactly used to doing this. It was usually my father or my mother who made a toast before these things. Now neither one of them is here. They're greatly missed"-he met Thea's eye-"but never forgotten. There's the phrase you can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family. I have to disagree. If there's one thing I've learned over the years, it's that family isn't always about blood. Family is a choice. We choose the kinds of people to let into our lives, and today I'm thankful that all of you are in mine. So...Happy Thanksgiving, everyone."

"Happy Thanksgiving," they all repeated and raised their glasses. Afterward, the sound of forks on plates and laughter filled the room as they began eating.

Thea leaned over to whisper to her brother, "Mom and Dad would be proud, Ollie."

Oliver gave his sister one of his special smiles and placed his hand over hers. "Thanks, Speedy." He looked out over the table at his friends who were more like family, surprised by the sense of contentment he felt. As he'd told Felicity, Oliver didn't know how he was going to deal with the holidays now that both his parents were gone. The pain of their loss would always be there, but it wasn't as crippling as he'd expected. One thing he did know for sure was that this never would've been possible without Felicity. He watched the blonde as she spoke with Lyla.

As if she could sense his eyes on her, Felicity looked over at Oliver. She offered him a small, meaningful smile before turning back to answer a question from Diggle. Tommy complimented the food before getting up for a second helping, to which Roy followed. The stuffing had always been Oliver's favorite, and even he couldn't resist getting more.

"You guys better save room for dessert," Felicity affectionately warned.

Tommy joked, "I might need a nap before then."

"You're telling me." It felt good to finally be sitting down after slaving away in the kitchen all day.

They took a little break after dinner, and the lighthearted conversation continued. Everyone was laughing hysterically after Tommy finished telling them about the time he'd filled his entire swimming pool with beer.

"How many kegs did that take again?" Oliver questioned.

"Roughly a thousand or so. It seemed like a good idea at the time but to this day I still can't drink that brand."

"Too much of a good thing?" Felicity teased.

"Just a little bit."

"I wouldn't want to see that bill," Diggle commented.

"It wasn't cheap." Tommy shrugged. "But what can I say? The idle rich are tough to entertain."

"I once wanted to fill the bathtub with chocolate," Thea said. "Mom wouldn't let me do it, though. So I colored on the walls instead."

"Which you totally got away with, because you were just 'so cute' while doing it," Oliver stated, making air quotes. "Meanwhile, Tommy and I have one Super Soakers battle in the house and I get grounded for a week."

"That's because you soaked Dad's art collection."

"That's not how I remember it."

"Of course it's not." Thea shook her head at her brother before looking to Felicity. "Felicity, you got any childhood stories of mischief? Vegas seems like the perfect place to cause some trouble."

"Um, let me think...oh, I know. Sometimes my mom would take me to work with her when she couldn't find a babysitter. She got friendly with one of the showgirls. I can't remember her real name, but everyone called her Big-D for...obvious reasons." They all laughed at that. "I just called her D. Anyway, she would let me play dress-up with her costumes. One night I sort of ripped one of the clasps. It was literally hanging on by a thread, and I was too afraid to tell her. So D puts it on and has no idea that it's broken. A few minutes later I'm back with my mother while D is on stage performing. She goes to do her cartwheel, gravity takes over, and the entire back strap that supports the front of her costume let's go...let's just say the audience got their money's worth that night."

The entire table erupted in laughter once more. Felicity placed her hands over her face to hide her blush of embarrassment. She couldn't believe she actually told them that story.

"Nice," Oliver complimented, enjoying this side of her. Felicity was almost as tight-lipped as he was about her past growing up. He loved that she felt comfortable enough to open up a bit more with all of them now.

"Sounds like my kind of show," Tommy added.

"I felt terrible," Felicity insisted. "Aside from that, when I was older, I would put hot sauce in the drinks of guys who were jerks to my mom."

"Well, thank you for not putting that in our food tonight," Diggle said and raised his wine glass to salute her.

"That's only because I like all of you. Speaking of..." Felicity stood. "Who's ready for dessert?"

"How can you possibly look so exhausted when you didn't do anything today?" Thea teased as she sat down next to her brother on the couch.

Oliver muted the football game he was watching and affectionately nudged her. "Hey, I cleaned while you ladies were chatting in the living room."

"Diggle, Tommy and Roy helped you. That hardly qualifies as a strenuous task."

"Putting up with you is exhausting in and of itself, Speedy," Oliver joked and threw his arm around his sister.

"I could say the same about you," Thea sassily quipped back. "You're just lucky I love you."

"Did you have a good day?" Their friends had stayed for a while after dinner was over. They all sat in the living room by the fire, sharing stories and laughing about random things. Oliver had sat between Thea and Felicity, enjoying the mere fact that they both seemed so carefree. It was the reprieve they'd all desperately needed.

"I had a great day." Thea offered him a smile before her expression turned serious. "I still missed Mom and Dad, though."

"I know." He felt the pang of loss in his heart that had become all too familiar over the years. "Me, too."

"Ollie, do you believe in heaven?"

"I believe in hell." He'd lived through it himself those five years he was away. "If that exists, then I think there's a good chance the opposite is true."

"Mom and Dad weren't perfect. Sometimes I wonder..." She took a heavy breath. "I wonder if they can still see us. As angry as I was at them for the Undertaking, the idea of Mom and Dad suffering for all eternity because of the wrongs they did in this world makes me-"

Oliver cut in, "Thea, you can't think like that."

"But I do." Her eyes began to water. "It doesn't matter how far away I get from Starling, it bothers me all the same."

"I know we haven't really talked about this, but I was angry. It comes and goes for me, too. But for all their faults, Mom and Dad loved us, Thea. They would do anything to protect us, and they did. That's how I choose to remember them." Oliver wiped away her tears before hugging her tightly.

"When did you get to be so wise?"

"I have my moments."

"You do seem different," Thea acknowledged, pulling back slightly to look at him. "I could attribute it to you maturing as a person, but the only difference between now and the last time I saw you is a certain attractive blonde."

"Thea, I told you. Felicity and I are-"

"Full of crap," she interrupted. "Spare me the spiel, Ollie. I know there's more to it. I saw you guys kissing in the kitchen this afternoon."

That brought Oliver up short, and he was suddenly thankful that Felicity had decided to retire to her room to take a bath. Not knowing where his sister was going with this, Oliver wasn't sure he wanted Felicity around to hear. "I thought you were in your room getting ready."

"I ran out of hairspray and was going to ask Felicity if I could borrow some of hers. She looked a little busy with you kissing her senseless and all, so I decided not to interrupt." Thea shrugged. "Not that it came as that big of a surprise. I had my suspicions when you said someone was staying with you. Those suspicions were confirmed as soon as I came home and saw that new carpet by the door and the pictures on the walls. You don't let someone decorate if it's not serious."

"We were still friends when she did that."

"Doesn't matter if you're more than friends now," Thea pointed out. "But let's just say a new, colorfully plush carpet didn't tip me off. I knew something was up within five minutes of meeting Felicity. You were totally in protective mode. Then there were the cute little ponytail tugs. Isn't that what you used to do on the playground with girls you liked? Tug on their hair? Not to mention the way you look at her-"

"How exactly do I look at her?" He meant it as a challenge but was actually genuinely curious to hear his sister's thoughts.

"You kind of look like a guy who's seen the sun for the first time. It's hard to explain. Ever since you came back from the island, you smile and laugh but it never quite reaches your eyes. It's like you have this little cloud hanging over you all of the time. When Felicity is around, you seem so much lighter," Thea declared. "You actually smile for real. It's obvious that you really care about her, and I know she cares for you, too."

"And how do you know that?"

"I see the way she looks at you, too. She has the same reaction when you're in the room. She totally lights up. Plus, she takes care of you and I'm not just talking about your accident. I mean, the girl makes sure you get a proper meal, Ollie. You're practically married."

"Don't you think you're getting a bit ahead of yourself?" Oliver jokingly replied.

"Felicity told me point blank that she would do anything for you. From that look in your eyes, I know you would do the same. Am I wrong?" his sister challenged, not backing down.

Thea had always been too perceptive for her own good. She was also very trusting, which allowed Oliver to convince her of the opposite if he really needed to. When it came to Felicity, Oliver didn't want to lie to Thea. "No. But it's also not what you think. We're not technically dating...it's sort of complicated right now."

"Then you need to un-complicate it, Ollie." Thea sighed and motioned for him to lay it on her. "Let's hear it."

"She lives in Boston, for one thing." Felicity said she wanted to be with him, but it was hard to take her at her word when her life was still in danger. It wasn't that Oliver thought Felicity didn't mean it. He did. It was just that Felicity was so used to being under Cooper's thumb for so long that when she was finally free, she might feel differently. Maybe she wouldn't want to be a part of his team and spend her nights worrying about all the dangerous situations he took on. There was no underestimating the importance of normal.

"You don't think she'd want to move to Starling? She did come all the way out here and stayed to help you at QC."

"She's got a lot going on. She might not know what she wants right now."

"Have you actually asked her to stay?"

"No."

"Then how do you know what she wants? I've always told you that you need to let someone in," Thea said and placed a hand over his heart. "If that's who Felicity is for you, Ollie, then you shouldn't let that go."

Oliver stared at Thea for a moment, in awe at how much she had grown since he'd last seen her. "When did you get to be so wise?" he asked, turning her own quip back on her.

Thea lifted her chin, beaming proudly. "I've got mad relationship skills, bro. You should ask Felicity out on a real date." She patted his shoulder and stood. "Think about it."

"I will." He meant it.

"Good." She threw over her shoulder, "By the way, let me know if you need suggestions for trendy places to propose."

Oliver shook his head at his sister. She just couldn't resist. "Cute."