Chapter Text
Epilogue
Felicity stood at the nursery window, looking out at the blanket of newly fallen snow covering the grassy expanse at the back of their home, Avalon. Since the birth of the twins, it was a rare moment of peace and quiet for her to have an opportunity to reflect on all the events of the past year. After Carter Bowen and Council Member Briggs were declared martyrs for standing up to the criminal underbelly plaguing Star City, Oliver had been swept into office on a tidal wave of bringing back law and order to the masses.
The local Bratva families had each received contracts to help build the City’s infrastructure, legitimizing most of the Bratva businesses in town. Those wanting to maintain their more illicit activities were forced to move elsewhere. A few of the older families had complained to Anatoly about this new situation, but their complaints fell on deaf ears the minute he discovered that he and Katya were to become grandparents. Felicity smiled at the memory of the tears streaming down both Katya’s and Anatoly’s faces as she and Oliver told them about the babies via skype. Anatoly had reassured them that he knew they were trying to make their home a better place for their family to live and grow.
She heard one of the twins snort and walked over to the crib they shared. Katerina squirmed in her sleeper, then settled as soon as her hand touched her brother, Thomas John. Both infants remained sleeping, snuggled as close to each other as possible. They had tried separating them into their own cribs, but the two babies would wail at the top of their lungs until they were placed together for their slumber time. She knew that Little T.J. was always going to have his big sister, Kitty to look out for him and Kitty in return would always have the steady reassurance she needed from her little brother.
The ding of a text message interrupted Felicity’s thoughts and she looked down at her phone to see who it was from. Thea messaged to say she and Peter were on their way to the airport to pick up Anatoly and Katya and bring them back to the house. Felicity smiled knowing how important the holiday season was to the Queen siblings, especially now that there were two new little ones to spoil in the family.
So important, that Oliver had discussed with her that he wanted to revive the tradition of the Queen Family Holiday Party. Felicity thought it was a wonderful idea and they decided to have two parties instead of one. The first party would be the more public event, inviting their friends and colleagues from City Hall and the community. They held the event at City Hall and used the opportunity to recognize all the hard work that had been done to safeguard their city. The second party was to be held that night and would be a more private event including Anatoly,
Katya, Donna and Quentin. She was also hoping that Peter would finally use the event to ask Thea to marry him.
Peter and Thea had been inseparable since the events before the election last year. Thea had used the excuse of taking care of Peter to stay close to him and Peter had used the excuse of needing her help to maintain her by his side in the days after the shooting. As each day passed, Felicity and Oliver could see the budding romance blossom before them.
Oliver at first was hesitant, not wanting his sister involved with someone from the Bratva. However, seeing the way Peter watched over her, he knew that no harm would ever befall his sister. Even he had to admit that when Thea began working out and sparring with Peter, once he was fully recovered, he worried that Peter might change his feelings. Instead, it seemed to deepen their connection to each other. They had both lost something important to each other and had now found what they were missing in each other.
Felicity knew that a few months earlier, Peter had asked Oliver’s permission to court his sister, which she had found Old-worldly romantic. Oliver had given his permission readily and insisted that he really needed to ask Thea that question. Oliver warned Peter that she had left Star City to get away from events that had caused her pain in the past and that he wasn’t sure how long she would be willing to stay. Peter had reassured him that he would make every effort to see that Thea Queen was never hurt or sad ever again. After Peter had left him, Oliver had told Felicity about their conversation and predicted that they might be gaining a brother-in-law in the near future.
Since then, Felicity had noticed a significant change in Thea’s demeanor. She was more relaxed and joyful with each passing day. Thea never mentioned wanting to go back to the life she had been leading after originally leaving Star City. In fact, Thea had been looking at homes nearby to purchase. Felicity offered to give back the loft to her, but Thea had insisted she needed some place with room to run and play, especially if she was going to be baby-sitting her niece and nephew.
A gentle knock on the door diverted Felicity’s attention. Oliver stood there and motioned for his wife to join him in the hallway. Felicity walked over to the crib to check one more time on the sleeping children, smiled and then walked out of the room to find out what her husband needed.
Oliver stood there and opened his arms to which his wife eagerly stepped into the offered hug.
“Is everything alright?” she asked as she nuzzled his chin with the top of her head.
Oliver brushed a quick kiss on her forehead and replied, “I think tonight’s the night.”
“Don’t get my hopes, Queen,” Felicity cautioned. “You said that last week at the Holiday party at City Hall and nothing happened.”
“Well, tonight is different, Babe,” retorted Oliver. “I think Anatoly and Katya being here is what is finally going to push that great big Russian to finally get down on one knee and ask my sister to marry him.”
“What makes you say that?” Felicity questioned.
“Peter and I were reviewing some paperwork and he casually mentioned that Katya had been emailing him photos of several lovely ladies she thought would make a great Bratva wife.”
Felicity looked at Oliver in horror, “Oh, no! He hasn’t said anything to Anatoly or Katya about Thea?”
Oliver shook his head no. “The last time they were here, was for the twins’ birth and he and Thea were still in that gray area of their budding romance. Now, that they are officially dating, I think he has plans to announce Thea as his beloved.”
Felicity gave a quiet little shout of joy so as not to wake up the twins, “Yes!” Then she looked at Oliver and asked, “So is that why she’s been looking to buy a house close by to us?” Then she swatted at his chest, to which he responded “Ow!” and she asked, “Do you think that they are already engaged and are wanting to do a big family announcement tonight at the party?”
“I don’t know, Baby,” Oliver responded, “but it would be the perfect opportunity to solidify Thea with the Bratva and stop Katya from playing matchmaker.”
“OMG! I hope so!” she exclaimed a little too loudly waking up both babies, making both parents go inside the room to soothe their children.
Later that night at the party, Peter Daskin and Thea Dearden Queen announced their engagement. There were many loud cheers of congratulations and a few tears shed by both men and women who had fancied them both.
Anatoly was cradling Kitty and soothing her little cries when she was startled by the raucous caused from the announcement. While, Donna was cooing over a seemingly oblivious, T.J. who was snuggled against his Bubbe. Oliver looked around the room. There at the celebration besides, several of the other local Bratva families were his best friend, John Diggle, on leave from the army for the holidays, his wife Lyla Michaels, obviously pregnant with their second child, and little Sara Diggle looking brightly pink in a pretty fluffy dress he knew Felicity had already bought an exact copy for their daughter to wear one day. To his left were the new team members he and Felicity had recruited, Rene Ramirez, Rory Regan, and Evelyn Sharp. The only one missing was Curtis Holt who was at his husband’s company’s Christmas party. Then his gaze finally rested on his beautiful wife standing at his side. He wrapped his arm around her tighter, bringing her close enough so that he could kiss her on the lips, then he looked up at everyone in the room, raised his glass and said, “Thank you all for being here. Thank you for coming tonight to celebrate new beginnings…” and he tipped his glass toward Thea and Peter, “and thank you for helping to make our home brighter and festive this holiday season.” Oliver stopped as he caught a familiar face at the back of the room. He recomposed himself and said, “So please join me in raising your glass to all of us. We each played our own special part in making this year a success and I say thank you for all that you have done. Cheers!” Everyone else drank from their glasses and Oliver joined them, but maintained eye contact with the party crasher at the back of the room. He gave Felicity another kiss on the forehead and let her know he would be right back, then made his way to where the person had been standing.
“Merlyn,” Oliver said tersely when he approached the interloper.
“Merry Christmas to you too, Oliver,” was the sarcastic reply. “I understand that Thea has gone and gotten herself engaged to that Russian hulk you keep on a short leash.”
“Peter loves her and she loves him, Malcolm,” state Oliver. “Leave her alone to enjoy her happiness in peace.”
“Relax, Oliver,” replied Malcolm. “I’m only here to wish the happy couple glad tidings and to give them my blessing if they want it.”
“Well, we don’t,” replied Thea with Peter standing behind her. “But my soon-to-be husband is a bit old-fashioned that way and has been hoping he would see you to ask you for my hand in marriage.”
Malcolm smiled at the happy couple and looked up at Peter. “Agent Dashkin, you are a brave man to get yourself attached to a Merlyn…”
“Dad…” Thea seethed in warning as she adopted a fighting stance.
“Calm down, Thea,” Malcolm jibed, “and hear me out please.”
He turned to face Peter and continued, “I appreciate that you have been looking for me to ask me for my daughter’s hand in marriage. That proves to me that you are an honorable man and
will always put her needs first, even above your own.” Then he looked at Thea and said, “I know that you think the only gifts I ever come bearing are the ones of regret and malice, but today I have something for you I hope you will consider wearing on your wedding day since I won’t be able to walk you down the aisle.” Then Malcolm took out a black velvet box from the inside of his jacket pocket and presented it to Thea.
She opened it and gave him a startled look, unsure of what to say. There lay a beautiful pearl necklace with a sapphire and diamond clasp and matching pearl, diamond and sapphire earrings.
“These were my mother’s pearls that were a wedding gift from my grandmother to her.”
Thea replied, “They are beautiful. Thank you.” She held the glistening snow white pearls up in her hand. “I would be honored to wear them and pass them on to my daughter.”
Malcolm’s eyes grew large at the comment and he flashed a look at Dashkin.
“It’s your turn to calm down, Dad,” Thea responded. “Peter has some rather old-fashioned ideas about a lot of things so we are planning on getting married as soon as possible.”
Peter turned red as Oliver and Malcolm chuckled.
“Well, then,” Malcolm started, “I’ve crashed your festivities long enough. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.” Then Malcolm turned and left as quickly as he had appeared.
Oliver, Thea and Peter returned to the party to celebrate with their guests. Felicity catching her husband’s eyes walked over to him to see what had happened. Oliver explained to her about
Merlyn and the gift he had presented to Thea. Felicity wrapped her arms around her husband’s waist and settled the side of her head against his chest. They stood there watching as their guests enjoyed the revels of the season. Then she turned her head to look up at Oliver and said simply, “I love you, Oliver,” to which he replied, “I love you, Felicity.”