Chapter 22: Always and forever

Four months later

Like Father Like Son

By Nathan Green

The hearts of hundreds of women will be breaking today as after months of speculation I can finally confirm after a private interview with the pair that heartthrob Thomas Queen youngest son of Oliver and Felicity Queen is dating his childhood friend Jessica Harper. Yes you heard me right Thomas Queen IS dating Jessica Harper.

Much like today it came as completely surprise when Oliver Queen gave up his playboy days to make house with his pretty blonde EA. Nobody believed it could last but after years of being together with pictures of nothing but love between the two Starling City begun to root for the pair. We bathed in their happiness when they married, sent love with flowers and warm wishes when Oliver found out he had a long lost son who had just lost his parents and when their family of three became a family of four we knew we had been proven wrong. Oliver Queen loved his wife and there was no doubt that they would be together until their dying day.

Like his father before he found love with his EA, Thomas Queen most commonly known as Tommy took the term playboy billionaire to the extreme. Never seen with the same women twice and tales of heartbreak in his wake. Men wanted to be him and women wanted to change him. It looked like Tommy would never settle down but just like his father it seems Tommy may have finally found the one in childhood friend Jessica Harper.

Jessica Harper often called Jess I'm told by her friends and family is the only child of former teenage thug turn good guy and long term friend of both Mr and Mrs Queen Roy Harper and his beloved late wife Cynthia Harper, is the manager of Thea Queen's very successful nightclub Vendetta where she frequently spotted with Tommy.

For years Tommy and Jess have been just friends and yesterday I was given the opportunity to find out what changed in a private interview over lunch with the pair.

Born in the public eye Tommy did most of the talking with the same wit and charm as always, where Jess was more reserved and shy, however still incredibly lovely to talk to. From the moment they entered the restaurant it was clear to see they were together not only were they holding hands but you could easily feel the love. After ordering lunch it was time to get on with the interview. Here is a short extract from said interview.

Me: Clearly the two of you are no longer just friends. What changed the relationship between the two of you?

(Tommy picked up Jess hand and kissed it.)

Tommy: Nothing really changed. (He said smiling.) Jess asked me for some help with a project which lead to us spending more time together and I realised how incredible she was. (Tommy looked over at Jess and she smiled back.) Then before I knew she was all I could think about and when I knew Jess felt the same I knew we had to be together.

Me: You guys are photographed together regularly anyway so it's been hard to tell who long you guys have actually been dating?

Jess: About five months, I think. (Tommy is smirking as he shakes his head.)

Tommy: Longer.

Jess: How long then? (Jess asks looking at Tommy confused. Tommy laughs.)

Tommy: I am pretty sure I've been in love with you for years, (Tommy learns in and presses a kiss to her nose.) I just never new it until recently. (Tommy smiles and Jess looks back at him with so much love I feel like I am interrupting a very intimate moment.)

Me: Is it the same for you Jess?

(Jess looks over flustered as she remembers they are not alone.)

Me: Do you think you've loved Tommy for years?

(Tommy laces his fingers through hers as if he can sense how nervous she is.)

Jess: Yes. (She admits nodding.) Tommy has always been there no matter what. (She looks at him and smiles.) He is the person I go to when I'm sad or happy. He is the person who makes me happy and has for a very long time.

It was so adorably cute to watch the pair of them as we talked.

Me: Is being in a romantic relationship that different from just being friends?

(Tommy laughs giving me a smirk which earns him a playful smack on the arm from Jess.)

Tommy: In all seriousness no, not really. I mean apart from getting to kiss Jess whenever I want to nothing is really that different. (Jess nods in agreement as he speaks.)

Me: Would it be fair to suggest that you were much like your father in his playboy days when it came to women? (Tommy looks grim as he nods. Jess gives him a small smile and squeeze's his hand in comfort. Clearly Tommy does not like to be reminded of his old ways) Would it be fair to say that also just like when your father found your mum, when you got together with Jess that is it, she is your one and always will be?

(Tommy kisses Jess's cheek.)

Tommy: As much as we like to think we do, we don't know what the future holds. But. (Tommy takes a breath and looks down at Jess which such love in his eyes.) I know I want to be with Jess for the rest of my life. I know that I want to spend the rest of my life with her and I'm pretty sure she feels the same.

(Jess places her left hand on his cheek as she nods her head in agreement.)

Jess: Always and forever.

You can read the full interview on our website. But even after a few questions I knew all I needed to. Like father, like son Tommy Queen has given up his playboy ways just like his dad for his one and only in Jessica Harper. Let's hope he and Jess have just as much happiness as his parents.

Tommy smiles as he put down the paper.

"It came out quite well didn't it?" Tommy asked and Jess nodded. She bit her lips still looking nervous.

Rumours had been spreading for months about their relationship but Jess was a very private person and he had wanted to protect Jess from the press as much as he could. So they let them run until his mum told him about Nathan Green, she said he was a good guy and would report honestly. Tommy had like Nathan and the article announcing their relationship had come out better then he imagined.

Tommy stood up and walked over to Jess as she leant against the kitchen counter. He put his hands either side of her body and capture her lips with his. Jess gave a little sigh against him mouth as she kissed him back. He loved how comfortable they had come with each other's movements. He loved that he could calm her with his touches and vice versa. He pulled away and rested his forehead on hers.

Jess panted a little breathless. God he loved that sound. Her sounds did things to him that nothing ever had.

"What are you worried about?" He asked, needing to know what she was worried about so he could fix it.

Jess sighed.

"It's stupid." She argued.

Tommy smiled and shook his head.

"It doesn't matter if you think it's stupid, something is bothering and if I can help you make it go away then I want to know." Tommy told her.

Jess smiled as his words.

"What if the public don't like me?" Jess said.

Tommy couldn't help but smile. How could anyone not like her?

"See I knew it was stupid." Jess said trying to pull away. Tommy refused to let her, he moved his arms around her waist and pulled her close.

"I don't care what anyone thinks." He told her honestly. One day he was going to marry the girl in his arms and he didn't care what anyone but his family and friends thought and they already loved her.

"My family loves you, my friends love you but more importantly I love you and that's all that matters to me." He promised.

Jess relaxed and looked at him a soft smile on her beautiful face.

"I love you too." She replied.

Jess kissed him softly on the mouth and moved away. He really wanted to pull her back and kiss her again but they were going to meet to Connors house warming party tonight.

Jess followed Tommy into his apartment. Connor's party had been lovely but Jess like it best when it was just the two of them.

"Connor knows how to throw a party." Jess commented as she followed Tommy into the kitchen.

Tommy handed her a beer.

"That was all Jenna." He told her.

Jess frowned confused.

"I love my brother truly I do but if it wasn't for Jenna I'm pretty sure the man couldn't function." Tommy explained.

The more Jess thought about it the more she could see it. Connor was a very hard worker but in doing so he sometimes forgot about the outside world. Jenna reminded him about everything from his work appointments to remembering to eat.

"Connor is lucky to have her in his life." Jess stated.

Tommy nodded.

"I think he is starting to realise that." Tommy replied absent-mindedly.

Tommy shook his head as if to clear his thoughts. She was going to ask him what that was about later.

"Are you staying tonight?" He asked pulling her in close.

Jess shrugged as his arms went round her waist and she pushed her arms up his chest and round his shoulders.

"If you want me to." She replied.

Tommy grinned that boyish grin she loved so much.

"I always want you too." Tommy told her.

Jess laughed.

"I'm serious Jess." Tommy added.

Jess stopped laughing and look him in the eyes.

"I want us to live together." Tommy said and she could tell he meant every word of it.

Jess would be a liar if she said she didn't want the same thing. Some people might have thought it was too soon but when you know you love someone you know and with Tommy she knew it was going to be forever.

"Ok." Jess nodded.

Tommy smiled.

"God I love you." Tommy told her before crashing his lips to hers.

Jess smiled as she kissed him back. She was really looking forward to their future together.

Hey guys so this is the end of 25 things to do before I die. I wanted to say thank you for reading and for your reviews I love reading them. There will be a sequel based mainly on Jenna and Connor's relationship but it will include bits from other characters including Jess and Tommy, as well as Sara and Andy. So if you're interested in more look out for The Importance of You. I am already half way through the first chapter so I will upload it soon. Hope you enjoyed and thanks again for reading.

The Importance of You:

Connor Queen always knew he couldn't function without is EA Jenna Holiday but a series of advents leads Connor to realise just how important Jenna is to him and he will do anything to keep her in his life.