Chapter Text
For Better or Worse: Chapter 1
“Are you okay?” William asked Felicity as she came back from the bathroom again. She had been running to the bathroom every so often since he got back from school. His Dad was still at work, not as the Green Arrow, but as the mayor.
“Yeah, something we ate just didn’t settle well with me. Probably shouldn’t have ate all that sugar for dinner…” Felicity said sheepishly.
“Yeah, maybe we should have stuck to the meal Dad prepared for us instead of the cookies and ice cream.” William replied seriously.
“Probably, but it wouldn’t have been as good. Not that your Dad isn’t a good cook cause he is. He’s the best. Like in another life he could be a chef…. but ice cream and cookies are just too good. Just not any with nuts that wouldn’t go well for me.” Felicity rambled as she sat down on the couch beside William.
“Yeah, that wouldn’t be good. You want to watch a movie?” William asked.
“Sure, what do you want to watch?” Felicity asked snuggling into the couch. She really was not feeling the greatest and on top of it all she was exhausted from all the nights she had stayed up doing Arrow business trying to find Cayden James and his evil posse.
“How about the Avengers?” William suggested with a big grin, knowing his stepmom loved all the superhero movies just like he did. His Dad was another story, he liked them, but often complained about the unrealistic aspects of them.
Felicity eyes lit up. “Yeah! But you can’t stay up too late. It is a school night and that would make me a bad stepmom… I am sure the parenting books have talked about being consistent with bedtimes and routines.”
“I am not 5, Felicity.” William said with a chuckle as he found the movie and put it in. He found Felicity to be amusing and genuinely sweet with how much she cared for him.
“I guess you’re not, but I still think you need to go to bed at a decent time so that you are not falling asleep in class tomorrow that wouldn’t be good.” Felicity said with a kind smile.
“Alright, I won’t stay up late, but I think we have time for at least the first Avengers movie.” William said as he sat down beside Felicity.
“More than enough time.” Felicity said as she put an arm around William.
8:30pm
After Felicity made two more trips to the bathroom, she was looking rather pale as she was slumped on the couch half asleep on the couch under a blanket that William put on her when she fell asleep the first time. He was beginning to really worry about her so he pulled out his phone and found his Dad’s messages in his phone.
When are you coming home? – William
SOON. WHY WHAT’S UP? – DAD AKA OLIVER
I think felicity is sick…. – William
I’M ON MY WAY. – DAD AKA OLIVER
Good, because I think she been throwing up. A lot. – William
IT WILL BE OKAY. SHE MAY JUST CAUGHT THE STOMACH FLU. IT’S GOING AROUND. – DAD AKA OLIVER
She fell asleep during Avengers. It must be a bad case if she couldn’t stay up for one of her favorite movies... – William
SHE’S ASLEEP? – DAD AKA OLIVER
Yep. Snoring too. Did you know she snores? It’s kind of funny. – William
YES, I DID. NORMAL SHE DOES WHEN SHE IS EXHAUSTED. I’LL BE BACK SOON. JUST LET HER SLEEP. – DAD AKA OLIVER
Will do. – William
I guess it wasn’t the ice cream and cookies then… - William
WAIT. WHAT? – DAD AKA OLIVER
Uh… nothing... – William
WILL? – DAD AKA OLIVER
...
WILLIAM? – DAD AKA OLIVER
Yes, dad? – William
YOU KNOW WHAT... – DAD AKA OLIVER
Aren’t you driving? You know texting and driving isn’t safe, dad. – William
WILLIAM. – DAD AKA OLIVER
TRUTH. – DAD AKA OLIVER
NOW. – DAD AKA OLIVER
Fine. Felicity and I didn’t eat the meal you prepared... – William
OKAY...WHAT DID YOU EAT? – DAD AKA OLIVER
...
LET ME GUESS...ICE CREAM AND COOKIES. – DAD AKA OLIVER
Yeah, but mine had protein. – William
BECAUSE OF THE PEANUTS. FELICITY DIDN’T HAVE THAT RIGHT? – DAD AKA OLIVER.
No. She had mint chocolate chip like normal. – William
YOU TWO. WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH YOU? – DAD AKA OLIVER
:) – William
I’LL BE HOME SOON REFRAIN FROM EATING ANY MORE JUNK FOOD. :) – DAD AKA OLIVER
Yeah, yeah. – William
9:00 pm
Oliver walked into the apartment to hear the movie quietly playing as William and Felicity sat on the couch. He put his coat down as he walked over to them.
“You aren’t mad, are you?” William slightly apprehensive after telling him about the ice cream and cookies they had for dinner.
Oliver gave him a little smile. “No, but I think maybe from now on we should stick to non-dessert meals.”
“It was Felicity’s idea...well I may have encouraged her a little.” William said with a sheepish smile.
Oliver looked at Felicity who really didn’t look good. Her face was pale and she just looked drained of energy. She was laying her head on the back of couch in a way the couldn’t be that comfortable.
“She said she was okay, but I don’t think she is.” William said in worry as Oliver came to sit on the other side of Felicity and gently felt her forehead.
“No, she’s not okay, but she will be.” Oliver said as he frowned at how she was warm under his touch.
At the moment, Felicity opened her eyes and blurrily looked between Oliver and William then back to Oliver. “Hey. When did you get back?”
Oliver tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as he responded, “Just now. How are you feeling?”
“I am fine.” Felicity said with a confused look at him.
William smiled and held back a chuckle.
Oliver raised his eyebrows at her. “Now the truth please.”
Felicity looked up at him in surprise, but then realized William probably figured out that she had been getting sick whenever she went to the bathroom. “Ok, yeah. I guess I am not feeling the greatest, but it's not that bad just something that did not settle well with me. I’ll be fine.”
“What did you eat?” Oliver asked wondering what she would say.
William’s eyes widened and he looked at Felicity to try to warn her that he already knew.
Felicity looked from Oliver to William, trying to figure out what he was trying to tell her.
“uh not what you prepared. We weren’t feeling it tonight.” Felicity answered without really answering.
Oliver smiled. “What did you have?” he asked again, finding it funny how she was trying to get around answering the question.
Felicity looked at him curiously before it dawned on her. “You already know, don’t you?”
“Yeah he does.” William answered first.
“He had protein…” Felicity started.
“Peanuts, I know.” Oliver said with a chuckle. “I think I may need to stop buying ice cream...”
Felicity eyes widened in horror. “You wouldn’t...”
Oliver and William both started laughing at her response.
“You’re kidding...” Felicity said in realization.
“Sort of. I think we do need to make a new rule.” Oliver said.
“Oh like Felicity isn’t allowed to use the oven or stove without supervision?” William said seriously.
“What? When did that become a rule?” Felicity asked as she looked between her boys.
“That was a secret, Will.” Oliver said before turning to Felicity. “To keep you safe and keep the building from burning down.”
Felicity frowned. “I am not the bad. Ok… well…maybe I am, but it is not my fault that kitchens have something against me. I mean how do you screw up macaroni and cheese? Yet somehow it ended up on fire? Or the oven that always burns everything I put in it, yet it is never fully cooked inside. It’s not my fault that the kitchen has had it out for me since day one...”
“Oh remember the time you tried to make breakfast for us? There was flour, eggs, and sugar everywhere!” William said with a huge grin at the memory of the first morning after Felicity moved in and wanted to do something special for Oliver and William, but it failed miserably.
Oliver tried to hide a smile at the memory. He had ended up making them French toast and eggs out of what was left after Felicity had tried making breakfast. “That was very sweet of Felicity to try to make us breakfast.”
“Yeah it was.” William agreed with a smile at Felicity.
Felicity smiled. “We did have fun that morning.”
“Yeah, we did.” Oliver said. “But I think we do need another rule.”
“Alright, what is it?” Felicity asked with a smirk.
“No dessert for dinner.” Oliver said seriously.
“But we can still have dessert after dinner, right?” Felicity asked seriously.
“Yes, as long as you eat a real dinner.” Oliver said looking between Felicity and William.
“Deal. That ice cream did nothing for me tonight.” Felicity said with a frown.
“Good. Now I think its time for bed for you.” Oliver said looking at William and then at Felicity. “And you.”
“But the movie...” Felicity started.
“Is over...” Oliver said as he looked over to see the credits scrolling on the screen.
“But it just started.” Felicity said as she looked at William.
William smiled at her. “You fell asleep.”
“Come on, let’s get you in bed.” Oliver said as he stood up and helped Felicity stand up.
“Hope you feel better, Felicity. I am going to head to bed too.” William said.
“Thanks, Will. Sleep well.” Felicity said as she leaned against Oliver for support.
“Night, Felicity. Night, Dad.” William said with a soft smile before going to his room.
“Goodnight, William.” Oliver said softly.
Felicity leaned more heavily on Oliver as the little energy she had drained from her body after standing for a few moments.
Oliver supported more of her weight before bending down to put an arm under her knees as he picked her up in a fireman’s hold.
“I can walk…” Felicity said half-heartedly, she really didn’t have the energy to walk.
“Mm hm.” Oliver said as he carried her to their room.
Since she was already in her pajamas, he set her in their bed and covered her up with the comforter. He then sat on the edge of the bed. “Now, tell me how you are really feeling.”
“I’m okay, Oliver, really.” Felicity said softly.
“No, you’re not.” Oliver said with an amused smile at her trying to deny it. “I just need to know so that I can help you. Are you throwing up?”
Felicity nodded.
“And you have a fever.” Oliver said in worry as he felt her forehead again. “You might have the flu.”
“I don’t think so. It was just the ice cream or the cookies.” Felicity said. “Or maybe it was my lunch… can’t imagine my ice cream betraying me like this...”
“Maybe.” Oliver said with a smile.
“Seriously, I just need to sleep it off and I’ll be fine.” Felicity said as she put her hand on Oliver’s forearm.
Oliver leaned down to kiss her forehead. “Sleep then. I’ll be right here if you need me.”
Felicity just smiled softly, knowing he would be. She closed her eyes to try to sleep again.
Oliver watched her for a moment as she fell asleep before getting up to take a shower and get ready for bed.
Later...
Oliver jerked awake and wondered what woke him as he looked around his room. He then looked over to Felicity’s side of the bed to see it was empty. “Felicity?” Oliver called softly before seeing the light coming from under the bathroom door.
He got up and went to the bathroom door to knock softly on it. “Felicity?” When he didn’t get an answer, he opened the door which was unlocked and went in. “Felicity?”
She was laying on the floor in front of the toilet asleep.
“Felicity.” Oliver said softly as he went over to kneel beside her. “Why didn’t you wake me?” He added softly as he started to lift her off the floor, but then she woke up and went to throw up again.
Oliver held her hair back and rubbed her back as she did. When she finished, she leaned back into his arms and closed her eyes.
Oliver felt her forehead as she did.
“I am never going to get use to you seeing me like this.” Felicity said with her eyes closed. She had only got sick in front of him twice before. It wasn’t something she liked him to see.
“You’re beautiful.” Oliver told her sweetly and meant it. Even if she was getting sick over the toilet, she was still beautiful to him.
Felicity huffed, not in agreement with him on that one, but not strong enough to voice her disagreement.
“You are and I signed up for this. For better or worse, remember?”
Felicity smiled weakly. “Yeah.” She remembered when he took care of her when she was paralyzed. She might not have been puking her guts out, but it was a different kind of “worse” yet, he was there for her through it all.
“Come on, let’s get you off this floor and back to bed.” Oliver said.
Felicity nodded, but didn’t make a move to move from the floor.
Oliver smiled and carefully picked her up off the floor. He carried her back to bed. “Do you need anything else?” Oliver asked softly as he tucked her into bed.
“Maybe some water?”
Oliver nodded before kissing her head. “I’ll be right back.”
After a few minutes, Oliver was back with some water and some tea. He handed her the water first and she took a few sips. He then handed her the tea. “It should help settle your stomach.”
Felicity nodded and was about to drink it before she stopped to look at him. “This isn’t your island tea, is it?”
Oliver chuckled. “No, it isn’t.”
“Okay.” She said before starting to sip the tea.
After drinking most of the tea, Oliver took it and placed it on her side table before turning back to her.
“If you get sick again, please wake me up. I don’t want you sleeping on the bathroom floor again.” He told her softly before adding, “You don’t have to do this alone.”
“Okay.” Felicity said, knowing he meant it. He wanted to be there for her, but sometimes she tried to do things on her own because she was use to that.
“Get some sleep.” Oliver said seeing that she was starting to drift off to sleep, but was trying to stay awake for him. He tucked her hair behind her ear as she closed her eyes.
He then got in bed next to her and Felicity snuggled up to him, but then back away quickly. He sat up quickly to look at her, thinking she would get sick again. “What’s wrong? Are you going to get sick again?”
“No, I just don’t want to get you sick.” Felicity said with a frown.
Oliver looked at her for a second. “Get over here.”
“Oliver…”
“Felicity, get over here. If I get sick, I get sick. I don’t care.” Oliver interrupted her with a smile.
Felicity smiled as she snuggled back up to him so her head was laying on his chest with his arm around her.
“I thought that it was something you ate.” Oliver said.
“I think I might have been wrong about that.” Felicity said. “Oh, I hope I didn’t get William sick…”
“William will be fine.”
“I hope so.”
“Get some sleep.” Oliver said as he ran his hand up and down her back.
“Ok, love you.” She told him sleepily.
“I love you, too.” Oliver said with a grin. He would always take care of his wife no matter what.