AUTHOR'S NOTE: We only have a few chapters to go. Glad you've stayed with me through all of this. Sometimes words flowed so easily, other times not so much. But, it was too good a story plot to pass up.
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THE NEW BRATVA CAPTAIN
CHAPTER 14: A Father's Wish
"He needs to be in a hospital!" Oliver shouted to Diggle and Anatoly.
John looked to Anatoly, they first pulled Robert out from the warehouse to examined his wounds. It was more than obvious that they could only do so much for Robert and that he was in dire need of professional help, his life depended on it.
Anatoly nodded to John, an approval to make the 911 call. Robert Queen was first and foremost his dear friend, to hell with all the repercussions.
Oliver had continued to be by his father's side telling him repeatedly to stay awake and that help was coming.
After John ended the 911 call, he approached Anatoly again, "all hell is about to break loose in a few minutes. As far as the whole world knows, Robert Queen had been dead for years. This is going to raise a lot of questions not only about him but about his connections to the Bratva. The old dogs in the force haven't still given up trying to build cases against the Triad and the Bratva."
"Robert's life is more valuable than any of that, he deserves the chance to survive, after everything that happened."
John looked at Oliver and Robert pausing for a few seconds before he said, "you have to leave Anatoly. You have to go back to the estate. I'll take care of this. We have to sell a story here. I have to brief Oliver too."
Anatoly took one look back at the father and son then nodded at John then saying he would be at the estate with Felicity if he was needed.
Oliver was pacing in the emergency room for how long he had no idea before familiar footsteps approached him made him turn toward them and circle his arms around the person without even double checking to see who it was. He immediately buried his head on her neck breathing her in as if her scent was all he needed to center himself.
"Oliver," Felicity uttered his name and nothing else knowing that she didn't need to say anything at all. Her presence was enough to give him the strength he needed.
Upon hearing his name he tightened his arms around her infinitesimally and let out a heavy breath.
"From the short time I had known him your Dad is clearly a survivor, a fighter. He's going to push through, for you. For his family," Felicity tried to provide comfort.
"I didn't even get to really tell him how happy I was that he was alive. I spent all these weeks practically ignoring him. I didn't even get to tell him how much I loved him when he could hear it properly. I just thought we had time."
Felicity pulled back and to look at Oliver, as the tears he couldn't help fell down his cheeks. She lifted her hands to wipe the tears away, "he knew you loved him. He knew you were glad that he was alive. He knew."
Oliver pulled Felicity closer again sinking his lips on her temple for a lingering kiss.
John had stationed himself just inside the door of the private waiting room after eyeing the couple the first few seconds he diverted his attention to another side of the room to give them some privacy. He was also first to hear the commotion outside the door before it opened with a bang with the Queens, Moira and Thea together with Moira's new husband Walter Steele walking in.
"Ollie!" Thea spotted her brother and slightly pushing Felicity aside making her stumble at the impact as she wrapped her arms around her brother.
Despite wanting to provide and receive comfort from his own sister, he couldn't help scold his sister, "be careful Speedy, Felicity almost fell." He acknowledged his sister by wrapping one arm around her while stretching his other arm out to steady his girl.
Thea had enough awareness to realize what she just did and rather than apologize verbally, transfer hee arms around Felicity and squeeze her tightly as if she had know her brother's girl for a long time when they hadn't even officially met yet.
"I'm sorry," Thea whispered to her.
"That's okay," Felicity squeezed the younger girl's hand.
"Oliver dear," Moira approached her son more regally than her daughter, the moment she opened her arms Oliver stepped inside the circle, "Mom."
"How? What happened? Mr. Diggle gave us so little information on the phone," Moira told him.
Oliver looked at Diggle, they had already rehearsed this part multiple times before he answered, "I know as much as you do. I was with John when we got the information from our sources. What little we were able to put together, it seemed like Dad was making his way back to Starling City but whoever was after him got to him first, he never made contact. Lucky for us the Bratva sources contacted us immediately. When John and I rushed to the location indicated, we just saw him and a few other dead bodies, Bratva and Triad men."
Moira lifted a shocked hand to her mouth, "the Triad is involved."
Oliver slowly nodded before he continued, "from what John was able to gather, China White was one of the other victims. When we first got to him, I thought he was….he was, his pulse was so weak and he had a bullet to his chest. We still hadn't gotten any update from the hospital."
Moira turned to Walter who all this time remained on the sidelines, "Walter?"
Because Moira and Walter were so in sync, Walter immediately knew what Moira asked, "I'll contact Dr. Morgan, he may be able to provide us with some updates," after saying that Walter went to step out of the room supposedly in search of Dr. Morgan the hospital administrator and close family friend but was stopped by Moira.
"Thea honey, go with Walter please."
Thea was momentarily confused but consented and grabbed the hand that Walter reached out to her.
When only Oliver, John and Felicity were left inside the room, Moira gave each one a penetrating look before she asked no one in particular, "care to share what the real story is?"
Oliver and John looked at one another while Felicity wrapped her hand around Oliver's bicep with Moira carefully watching all their telltale movements, "Oliver sweetheart, you should know me better. I am your mother. I can always tell if you're keeping something from me. Now I understand why you've kept away the last few weeks on top of keeping Felicity safe from harm that is."
"Mom….."
"Sweetheart, the truth please," looking pointedly at her son who exhaled a heavy breath.
"Maybe we should give you both some privacy?" Felicity told no one in particular before Moira quickly responded.
"No need dear, I think it's very clear to me that you three know the exact answers to me questions, there is no need for me to exclude the both of you. Why don't we all sit down, I have a feeling we all need to be seated for this."
Moira took the arm chair and John took the opposite chair leaving Oliver and Felicity the couch in between.
"Mom, I only found out recently. We all just found out recently. Things just escalated so fast what with the Triad and threats against the Bratva and Felicity specifically. He was holed up at the Bratva estate that eventually was where Felicity and I now share a home," he said the word home deliberately because that was what it really had been for him and his girl.
"He just revealed himself to me one day and truthfully, I didn't really take it well. I left for our lakeside cabin that very same day with Felicity," he squeezed the hand he was holding even tighter making Felicity react by rubbing her thumb against his repeatedly hoping to give him some comfort.
"We almost got ambushed by the Triad that night at the Lakehouse, all the Bratva men with me were killed by the Triad and I barely had time to get Felicity to safety."
"Felicity was later on contacted by a faction of the Triad who wanted China White out permanently. We worked with that faction but things went…..not according to plan, while we were finally able to deal with China White, Dad was caught in the crossfire, he was shot by China White before I was able to get to her."
Moira nodded at her son's story, this was more believable than the bullshit that was meant for all the others. If they were going to be able to salvage the media nightmare that was Robert's unexpected return from the dead only to be back at death's door, she needed to know the whole truth. She was after all the master at circumventing information. They needed her expertise to spin this properly, not only for the sake of Robert Queen, but for the Bratva and most importantly for the Queen family. But before she would do all that, she needed to be a mother to her son. She knew that look very well. Oliver was guilty for not being able to save his father.
She reached out her right hand and placed it on top of the still twined hands of her son and his girl, "it's not your fault son. This is not on you. I'm sure you did all you could at that moment."
Oliver stood up abruptly making his mother and his girl drop their hands on their sides as Oliver walked to the other side of the room, "I should have done more. I could have prevented him from getting shot. He should have come first."
Both mother and girlfriend were looking at Oliver with the same expression. Moira tilted her head to give Felicity as small nod which she interpreted as Moira's directive to go to her son for she was what he needed most right now.
Moira watched Felicity's progress as she made her way to Oliver for a few moments before she gave her full attention to John Diggle, "Mr. Diggle, we need to rewrite the story you crafted. I also need you to get me Anatoly. I intend to have a press conference within the next hour."
And with that statement, everything moved forward quickly. Moira, the woman who had been beside Robert Queen when he first built the Queen empire was at her element all but commanding everyone to do her bidding.
With separate quick meetings with the Starling City Chief of Police, the District Attorney and a lengthy phone call to Anatoly then an even lengthier sit down with QC's PR head, everything was set with Moira taking her place in the middle of the podium, her daughter to her right and her son on her left with his arm wrapped around his girlfriend, as the media waited in attention.
The story was told and retold so many times during the next few days as the Queen family put up a united front in the wake of several speculations about Robert's return. Primary among them was how that would affect QC and for the more malicious, how Moira would now be dealing with the reality of having two husbands.
Felicity rubbed her palms against the Oliver's rough cheek that had his beard growing out, liking the feel of it against her palm. He hadn't left his father's side the last four days in the hospital content to shower and change in the small bathroom the private room had to offer.
Robert Queen still remained in the ICU but the family had already booked a private VIP room inside the hospital in preparation for him being transferred once he was cleared to be moved. In the meantime, the family had been using the room as temporary quarters.
Oliver leaned in to kiss his girl in the temple. It was one of the things he loved doing as he allowed himself the luxury of a few seconds of bliss with him wrapping his arms around his girl and forgetting the world around them.
Without her by his side, he was almost certain he would not have been able to cope with the revelation that his father was alive the way he was doing now.
His sister was presently sleeping in the private room they had sequestered several floors up and since they only allowed one family member inside the ICU at a time, he and Felicity were parked outside the room. He could however see his mother through the glass walls as she stared blankly into her husband, ex-husband's face.
He didn't envy what his mother was going through right now. Growing up in the Queen household, he knew his parents didn't have a perfect marriage but what they had was a solid partnership, the second best thing.
Walter had made it a point to visit everyday however with both Oliver and Moira out of QC, it was left on his more than capable shoulders to make sure the company continued to run. Oliver didn't even begin to fathom what could be running through Walter's mind. The husband of his wife was alive, legally that made her first marriage still valid.
When Walter and his mom first got together, he had wanted to resent the man who had 'replaced' his father, but it was impossible to. Not only had he know Walter as his father's best friend for so many years but he knew in his heart his step father was a good man. Robert being alive must be especially heartbreaking for the man. Oh Oliver was sure that his step father was undoubtedly happy that his oldest, closest friend was alive but also that his heart must be breaking knowing that at some point he would have to face the reality of Moira going back to Robert, the first man she loved.
John had been in and out of the hospital, giving both he and Felicity daily updates about the other business. Anatoly had he had been taking care of business, cleaning up a lot of loose ends with the Triad and the Robert Queen revelation aftermath.
Now all that remained was the sitdown with the 'new generation Triad' which Anatoly had refused gracefully to do without the Bratva counterpart present, Felicity Smoak and Oliver Queen. That was how it was meant to be from now on. Anatoly was sure the Bratva presence in Starling City and the other city's aligned under the young Bratva Captain would be left in very capable hands.
"Oliver dear," Moira peeked out of the ICU room catching her son unaware, his mind somewhere else.
"Mom?" He took a moment to react, standing up with Felicity beside him.
"The doctor told me he wanted a private word with me, I would like for you to join me," sparing Felicity a glance, "you too my dear."
It was only as Oliver looked beyond his mother that he saw the doctor behind her.
"Dr. Morris, I'm sorry I didn't notice you there," Oliver stepped forward to shake his hand.
"That's fine son," Dr. Morris responded. He was in his mid fifties and was highly regarded in the industry as one of the top surgeons.
"Doctor what is it you wanted to talk to us about?" Moira asked him.
Dr. Morris nodded then said, "as we've already told you before, the damage to his lung is severe. The bullet broke into splinters and it was difficult to get all the scattered shrapnel out but we were able to do so, not without a lot of complications. We placed Robert in an artificially induced coma, it was necessary for his body to recover from such a trauma. Tomorrow he will be induced out of the coma but that's when the real work starts."
"He will need a lot of care and attention, during the first couple of months he will be mostly be required some bed rest but it would be good to carefully start of routine of short walks. He would still be required to have regular consults, just so we would be able to monitor his progress properly. I usually don't do home visits, but for Robert I will make an exception. I will be doing those once-a-week."
"I don't want to be insensitive," the doctor continued, "but I need to ask, is Robert going to be moved back to the Queen Mansion?" Dr. Morris asked his last question.
Mother and son looked at one another for long seconds before Oliver looked at Felicity as if for guidance then seeing her almost imperceptible nod he answered the doctor, "my father will be moving in with me and Felicity," tilting his head to his girlfriend in case Dr. Morris didn't know who he was referring to.
Dr. Morris didn't miss a beat as he acquiesced with the plan, "that's best I think. Moira, both you and Robert are my oldest friends but at this point I think this arrangement works best for all."
Moira gave Dr. Morris a penetrating gaze then concurred with a single nod, "whatever is best for Robert is all we want."
"Then everything is settled then, I'll have the documents prepared for discharge tomorrow assuming that no hitches occur when we induce him." With that last statement Dr. Morris left leaving the mother and son and Felicity alone again.
Moira was the first to talk as she faced her son, "it was the right decision son. He was living with the both of you anyway before all this and it keeps him at least away from all this media commotion."
Oliver and Felicity were finally enjoying a quiet night together a day after Oliver's father was transferred back to the estate.
Felicity was exactly what Oliver had needed, knowing exactly what he wanted even before he even could complete the thought.
She had him immersed in the hot tub of the large ensuite bath they had in their room and was currently scrubbing his back gently. He had thrown his head back while he lifted one hand to the back of Felicity's neck so he could lower her head for a kiss.
Felicity yelped when Oliver took hold of her waist and in one move had her repositioned sitting on his lap as he continued to kiss a line on her neck making her moan loudly with pleasure as he continued to suck.
The fact that they were both naked with her womanhood right on top of his cock sent sensations from her toes all the way to the tips of the hair on her mane. Her man definitely could kiss. He was so good at giving her what she wanted that Felicity was momentarily lost in the pleasure before she realized it should be the other way around.
Tonight was all about Oliver, not about her. Reciting that mantra in her brain, she finally found the strength to lock Oliver's head between her palms and gently part it from her neck leaving both of them a little disappointed for a few seconds with Oliver a little confused.
"Felicity?"
Still seated on his lap with her legs on each side she left small kisses across his face, "tonight is about you Oliver, not about me. Tell me what you want?"
Oliver leaned upward so his lips captured his girl's for a long kiss spent thoroughly exploring every fraction of her mouth with his tongue as Felicity's tongue battled his. Oliver mewed in his mouth, a sound that was foreign to him that he had to pause back with a silly grin on his face, "baby, you know what I want more than anything right now?"
Felicity tilted her head to the side in question.
He leaned in to whisper exactly what he had in mind, "I want to take you hard right here, right now."
Felicity could just manage an 'oh' before she felt her bones melt away in anticipation. It's been a week since she and Oliver had last had sex which was understandable given the circumstances but because it had been sometime, her lover's words had her almost orgasm right at that moment making her shiver.
Oliver sensed what almost happened giving her a wicked smile shrewdly aware that he was the reason for her tingle.
Repositioning her so that her back was to him and her hands where on the side of the tub, he placed himself behind her and took her in one stroke making her scream his name out loud, the best he ever heard his name screamed yet.
And just like that he made it his goal to have her screaming his name again and again as he repeatedly pounded into her, his hands all over her body tracing every curve and fissure of her, chanting her name like an ode.
"Felicity baby!"
"Yes, O…liver, yes!"
"Oh baby!"
"Oliver!"
"Felicity, you feel so good!"
"Oliver!"
"Felicity, say you're mine!"
"I'm yours Oliver!"
"Forever Felicity, I need you forever!"
She tried to tilt her head so she could look Oliver in the eye for what she had to say but he was pounding into her so hard and his chest was arched at an angle making it impossible for her to twist. His hands finally locked on to her breasts squeezing then twisting her nipples making her forget whatever she was planning to do next.
"Baby, I need you to come for me right now, right now Felicity! Let go!"
"Oliver!" Felicity screamed his name at the top of her voice as she finally came hard.
Oliver started to thrust erratically into her a few more times before he emptied himself inside of her with a loud moan.
After taking a few seconds to recover, he turned his girl around so she was once again seated on his lap, "I love you, so much Felicity."
"I love you too Oliver, forever."
Oliver gently stoked her cheek before his lips followed the path of his fingers, "thank you for this, for tonight."
"You don't have to thank me. You'd do the same for me. Whatever you need Oliver."
Oliver unexpectedly pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her, "You are all I need baby, just you."
Felicity leaned back so she could look into his eyes deeply, "you have me."
"Dad, the doctor said not for you to overdo anything. This is exactly what you shouldn't be doing, you're so stubborn," Oliver said shaking his head at his father.
The stay-in male nurse, a Bratva soldier had come to him because his father had repeatedly waved away any and all good intentions by the nurse to make him slow down.
Robert laughed heartily at his son's censure, "there was a time when I could say the same thing about you son. Maybe being stubborn is a family trait after all."
"I wasn't stubborn. I was just young and didn't know any better." He looked at his father with regret, "I could have been a better son, I'm sorry."
Robert waved his son's apology away, "you and me both have made a lot of mistakes, yours could be excused away as youthful, but some of mine….." he trailed off. "I said it before son, it wasn't my time before, it wasn't even my time this week too, life it too short to dwell on the unpleasant. I'd like for us to have a relationship again, I hope you would allow me that. To make up for all the mistakes I've made. I'd like to do that too with Thea and your mother, but I want to start with you."
"Dad," Oliver said brokenly as he circled his arms around his father, "there are no mistakes to make up for, none. Whatever they were, they were in the past. They have helped me be the man I am today, the son I hope you are proud of."
"Oh son, I am, very much so. But, I can't take credit for that. That is on you. It was all you. Even on the sidelines, I have made it my business to check up on you and Thea. I am not blind to what you have accomplished in QC, of what the company has become today. Sure, Walter and your mother, they were a large part of the company. But, it's very clear to me, it was your stamp, your footprint that is all over QC. You've done me proud son for being even better than me."
"Dad," Oliver could hardly see the man before him as tears clouded his eyes.
From the window, Felicity watched the father and son in what could only be described as a heart-to-heart moment for them. From her vantage point, she could clearly see they were both affected. Feeling like she was intruding on a very private moment. She stepped away from the window and made her way back to her office dungeon.
"There is one more thing you can do for me son."
"Name it, it's done."
"I'm almost ashamed to share my one wish for you, if I'm allowed one."
"Wish?"
"Desire, hope, longing, call it what you want.'
"It's done, I'm sure I'm up to it."
Robert gave his son an impish smile before he put in words what his thoughts were, "when do you plan to put a ring on that woman of yours?"
Of all the things he expected his father to say, that wasn't one of them. In fact, it wouldn't have been in the hundred things his father would ask of him if he had bothered to make a list. But then again, it wasn't even a stretch of his imagination as to why his father was asking this of him now.
He made it more than obvious several times that he approved of Felicity. In fact, his girlfriend had earned the stamp of approval of the whole Queen family a long time ago.
But still having this conversation with his father was…Oliver gathered his thoughts, it actually wasn't distressful, in fact it was welcome, very much so. Looking his father in the eye with vim, he said bashfully, "soon, very soon Dad. I even have it all planned out."
Okay, that's it for this chapter.