Title Of Story: Second Chances
Chapter Number: 6
Chapter Name: Apologies

Felicity
After putting Madelyn to bed I decided to change into my own pyjamas and I just wanted to have some me time. I decided to put on my favourite movie, The Notebook, and open some mint chip ice cream. After a hectic day this is how I like to spend my evenings before I have to wake up and do it all again the next day… being a mother is hard work but I wouldn't trade Madelyn for anything in the world. I love her so much and I would lay down my life for her within a heartbeat.

I was at the part of the movie where Noah and Ali are in the house that he's going to buy in the future and do up for Ali. They were stripping off their clothes to have sex for the first time and I was getting really into the movie when the front door knocked. I jumped slightly at the loudness of the knock, I paused the movie and walked towards the door and opened it… without checking the peep hole first… stupid I know.

Stood there in front of me was the last person I ever expected to see standing on my doorstep at nearly 10pm, Oliver Queen "Hello Felicity" He said in his normal calm voice and before I could stop myself my hand collided with his face. He was a little taken back by my action, it didn't seem to hurt him though "Can I come in?" He asked me as cool as a cucumber.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him with a tone that was a mix of shock and anger.

"I'm here to see you and Madelyn" He replied.

"How do you know about Madelyn?" I questioned.

"The Arrow can find out any information he wants" He answered "Please Felicity, can I come in so we can talk?" He asked me.

"I don't think that's a good idea" I replied and tried to close the door but he grabbed it and forced it back open.

"Please Felicity… I didn't mean to walk out on you when you told me. I just wanted some time to think about things and then when I get home you had packed up and gone. Me, Diggle and Roy have been looking for you ever since you left but you're good at covering your tracks… We even had Lyla look into a few things for us. I've been dying to see you so I could apologise to you for everything that I did, I never meant to hurt you like that. You know me Felicity and you know that I would never hurt you like that… I loved you so much and I still do" He explained to me and as he spoke I could see the hurt in his eyes. He was telling me the truth but he left, when things didn't go to his plan he walked out and left.

"You left" I stated "Madelyn and myself have been doing fine without you for the past four years… we don't need you Oliver" I told him.

"I need you… and her" He said.

"You can't just walk out when I tell you I'm pregnant and then show up on my doorstep four years later expecting me to welcome you with open arms! You left Oliver… when you walked out of that door you walked out of my life and Madelyn's. My dad walked out of my life when I was a kid, which you know, and I don't think I can let you in her life for you to just walk out again" I explained to him.

I know it sounded harsh considering he came all this way and I know he's been looking for me but Madelyn comes first. I don't know for sure that Oliver won't get close to her and then walk out on her again… something like that would damage her. I know how that feels and I would never allow my daughter to feel that kind of rejection.

"Felicity please… just let me in for five minutes so we can talk… I'm begging you" He pleaded with me but I just couldn't let him in.

"Not tonight Oliver" I said.

"How about I come round tomorrow, when Madelyn's in bed and the two of us can talk and hopefully I can convince you how sorry I am. I want to prove to you that I can be a good dad to Madelyn if I'm given the chance" He told me.

"Ok" I said with a sigh "Come back tomorrow at this time and we'll talk. I'm not promising you anything in terms of Madelyn but we'll talk" I said.

"That's all I want" He replied.

"Ok… goodnight" I said, he nodded once at me and turned around to leave. Before he could turn around and convince me to let him in I closed the door and locked it, I know a lock on the door is nothing against the Arrow but it makes me feel a little safer.

When I closed the door I turned so my back was leaning against it then I slid down the door until my knees were up against my chest. How could he just show up after all these years like that? No warning. No nothing. I was supposed to never see him again and raise my baby on my own because I couldn't rely on a man to be her father… yet here he is. What was I going to do? I didn't trust him to not walk out again. I couldn't just up and leave again in 24 hours but part of me didn't want to see him tomorrow night… the other part wanted to listen to his explanation. Seeing Oliver again has stirred up some old feelings that I never wanted to feel again. When me and Oliver were together I loved him a lot more then he loved me.

Tears found themselves falling down my face before I could stop them and then I was sobbing once again because of Oliver Queen. I looked up when I heard footsteps walking towards me and saw Madelyn coming towards me looking worried "Mommy?" She questioned when she saw me crying "Why are you crying mommy?" She asked.

"I doesn't matter sweetheart" I told her.

Madelyn sat down on the floor next to me and leaned into me, I knew she wanted to try and make me feel better but she didn't know was that I always felt better when she was around. Madelyn was one of those people that just light up the room when she walks into it, everyone wants to see Madelyn and talk to her, she's so popular at kindergarten and all of the teachers keep telling me how clever she was. I was the one the raised Madelyn since the moment she was born without the help of Oliver Queen or any man for that reason… why should he get to be apart of her life now?

"It's getting cold, let's get you back into bed" I said and I stood up, Madelyn followed and the two of us walked into her bedroom. She got into bed and I kneeled down next to her bed and tucked her in before placing a kiss on the top of her head "I want you to remember that I love you very much Madelyn and I will always be here for you… no matter what" I told her.

"Ok mommy… I love you" She said.

"I love you too baby" I replied.

After tucking Madelyn in it took her mere seconds before falling asleep again, I left her room and closed the door over so I wouldn't disturb her again. I walked into the living room and saw the DVD still paused but I was no longer in the mood for watching it, right now I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do. Apart of me that still cares for Oliver wanted him to come back right now, we can both apologise to each other and then we can kiss and makeup. We can give Madelyn the perfect family that she deserves.

Yet the other part of me that keeps playing back Oliver leaving over and over again wants him to stay away and never come back. Every time I think of never seeing him again I think of Madelyn, she does need a father in her life… every child needs and deserves two parents. I know as she gets older she'll realise that some children have a mommy and daddy and she's going to ask me questions, I'll answer all of her questions truthfully and if she wants to seek out Oliver then I won't stop her.

Of course I hope that now Oliver has come back he is ready to prove he can be the father that Madelyn needs and he can stand up for her. I know things will be difficult for the two of us for a while but it's what Madelyn needs and I'm willing to put aside my differences with Oliver if it means that my baby gets the father she deserves. My life really was a mess and I've made some stupid decisions.

Before I do anything I need to call my mom and talk to her about everything, if someone is going to give me good advice on what is best for Madelyn then it's going to be my mother. I sat on the sofa and picked up my phone before calling my mother "What's the matter?" She asked as soon as she answered.

"Oliver showed up on my doorstep" I told her.

"What?" She questioned in shock, that was the last thing she was expecting my to say.

"He said he was sorry for leaving and he's been looking for me ever since I left… mom he's going to come round tomorrow night to talk but I don't know what to do. Shall I let him meet Madelyn? Shall I keep him away from her? Shall I forgive him? Shall I tell him to keep away from us for good? I don't know what to do" I explained to her.

"It's ok sweetie… I'll come round first thing in the morning and we'll talk about all of this" She told me.

"Ok" I simply replied.

"I'm gonna go but if he shows up again tonight then you call me and I'll come over, I'll give him a piece of my mind for running out on you and my grandbaby" She stated.

"I promise I will" I said.

"Good. I love you sweetie" She told me.

"I love you too mom" I replied.

Well that could've gone slightly better... So Oliver and Felicity are going to sit down together and talk properly about things? How do you think that will go? Well? Bad? Ok? There are so many things to talk about and so many explanations that need to be given on both parties. I hope you enjoyed that chapter, that's chapter 3 of 7 so far? How are you all enjoying it so far? Please continue to support me and my story by reviewing, following and favouriting me and the story! Thanks XX