Disclaimer - This applies to this chapter and all future chapters - I do not own any part of Arrow.

The plan was simple enough, to tell the boys they were going shopping and that was that.

But when did anything ever go as planned?

It was five months after "The Incident" (as Felicity liked to call it in her head) with Slade and things were really starting to look up for the team.

A team that had now evolved and expanded.

Oliver had once again regained control of Queen Consolidated after the whole city had found out about Isabel's part in the destruction that had occurred, providing him with the income needed to keep their base of operations up and running without thought to money and expenses.

After the old lair had been compromised and with a few too many people knowing of its location Felicity had found them a new lair, one that she had planned and designed every square inch of. From its state of the art security system designed by her to the world-class training facilities, she had poured her heart and soul into the project. Mostly because she needed the distraction from her own thoughts.

They had never spoken of the conversation they had in the old manor that night, and if Oliver felt that the talk on the beach explained things to her – it didn't. She was even more confused now than she had ever been before.

So she threw herself into creating the best Arrow Cave she could, and if she wore herself out enough in the process to still her mind for a couple of hours at night to lose herself in some much needed sleep, well that was just an added bonus.

With the added space of the new lair came new people that were added to the team.

Laurel Lance was of course one of their newest members, and while Felicity and her never would see eye to eye on everything they were at least starting to get used to each other. Felicity would try to keep her babbles to herself as she saw how much they grated on the other woman's nerves and Laurel in turn refrained from throwing snide comments about the blonde every now and then.

Lyla Michaels however was one addition to the team that thrilled Felicity. While all the male members of their team were nervous to have a pregnant woman around, both because of her safety and because of all the pregnant, they didn't have much say in the matter. Neither really stepped up to the plate when Lyla announced she had quit A.R.G.U.S and wanted in Team Arrow. Especially once Felicity had supported the other woman.

And Felicity had been more than excited to have a break from all the testosterone that surrounded her in the form of Oliver, Diggle and Roy.

And the bad guys came and went as the months rolled by and between all the hours that they had been putting into Queen Consolidated and the Arrow Cave she felt like her and Lyla needed a break.

Telling the guys that they were both taking the day off wasn't the problem however.

Telling them that they were going shopping, in broad daylight, a blonde and a seven-month pregnant lady alone without security however? That was when the men formed a solid wall of testosterone and forbade them to go out alone.

Forbidding these two women doing something might not have been the best strategy to go with in hindsight. Felicity had turned around and used her loud voice on Oliver and Roy and Lyla brought out the big gun threats onto Diggle, after which once again the men didn't have much say in the matter.

So here they were, enjoying the freedom of being out in the open, in broad daylight, with the sun shining on their faces as they walked along the street between shops.

The day had flown by with them going into every single maternity and baby shop they could find and cooing over all the cute baby clothes and toys that they found. After their hands were overflowing with shopping bags they decided to call it a day and head for the nearest café. Lyla's appetite was still growing at an alarming rate and Felicity had yet to say no to anything chocolate covered or flavoured.

Their last stop for the day was Starling City's National Bank.

Nothing could have tipped them off to the trouble that they would encounter, for as they stood in the cue to get served seven masked and heavily armed men burst through the entrances.

Pure instincts kicked in for both women as they immediately squatted to the ground and scouted for the nearest exits.

Cursing under her breath, Felicity wondered why she didn't know something bad was going to happen. Surely it had been smooth sailing for way too long?

Her main concern was getting Lyla out of the building but with all the exits blocked all escape routes seemed impossible. Diggle would never forgive her if anything happened to Lyla or the baby.

She would never forgive herself.

Moving her hand into her bag she searched for her phone, unfortunately gaining the attention of one of the masked men walking past. He gripped onto the bag, ripping it from her grasp and throwing it well out of her reach, only to then turn back to her and backhand her across the face.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you blondie," his whispered words caused the worst kind of shivers down her spine as she tried to stop her eyes from watering at the sting on her cheek.

He continued on his way, forcing anybody else that wanted to reach for their phones to rethink their actions.

Felicity looked towards Lyla, making sure that she was okay as they crouched to the floor. She studied the other woman's face and thanked every deity out there that Lyla had been trained to handle herself in these situations. The woman was far from panicked and seemed to be more annoyed than anything at this point.

Not for the first time Felicity wondered why she couldn't have that type of confidence and strength.

Around ten minutes later, not that she could have been sure as she never wore a watch and she was unable to look at her phone or tablet, she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end and she just knew that he was there.

Unlikely as it was that he knew they were in the building, she breathed a little easier knowing that as always he had come to the rescue. Her knight in green and leather armour. Not that she'd ever tell him that but that was beside the point.

So it came as no surprise when the glass above their heads shattered and arrows seemed to fly out of nowhere into the masked men. She moved her body over Lyla's, in the hope of covering her from any flying glass or stray bullets that where now being set loose in a rain of fire.

"Shit," Lyla whispered but failed to get the blonde's attention.

"Felicity," Lyla's voice seemed to finally shatter Felicity's concentration on the shooting going on around them so that it could zero in on the woman beneath her.

"Now may not be the ideal time and all, but I think my water just broke".

All Felicity could do was imitate a fish as for the first time in her life she didn't have any words. There was no panicked babble. No inappropriate word vomit. Because really – what could she say at a time like this?

Bad timing? That would be the understatement of the century.

"Okay…okay. Stay calm Lyla. How long do you think you can last? Because our boys are nearly done. Then we'll get you to a hospital. Because I can't really deal with blood or babies or insides of anything. Other than computers, which you know I'm good with…they're my babies after all…"

And there was the babbling, back in full force and inappropriateness.

She ignored the sharp pain that she felt in her right shoulder, writing it off to a flying piece of glass probably cutting her shoulder. She didn't have time for glass or minor injuries.

Once the shooting had stopped she looked up noticing Oliver exiting the building through the roof, obviously not aware of her and Lyla's presence as he made his quick getaway before the police stormed the building. It was a wonder that they hadn't done it sooner to be honest.

Knowing she couldn't yell out his name to get his attention she yelled the next best thing that she could think of. A name that she had given him.

"ARROW!"

She watched as his whole body stilled at her scream, only to slowly move around and search her out with his eyes. While she couldn't see his eyes she knew he was silently praying to have heard wrong, to not have heard her voice.

As soon as his eyes landed on her face he was in motion, speaking softly into what she knew to be the comms that would be connected to Digg and Roy who were no doubt somewhere nearby.

"Call an ambulance, she's in labour!"

He didn't need to ask who was about to give birth, his eyes closed as he spoke to his best friend to call an ambulance for his wife.

They both turned towards the door as it flew open, a swarm of police spilling into the building.

"Go," the single word from Felicity pushed him into action as he climbed onto the roof via the support beams with moves that seemed too easy to the casual observer.

Felicity didn't remember much after that. It was all a blur of police and paramedics.

She had used her loud voice again when they tried to keep a freshly clothed Dig away from Lyla, who was now being carried to the ambulance on a stretcher, but once she had watched the little family as they disappeared in the speeding car she allowed herself a moment to really look around.

Only when the world started spinning did she realize that something was wrong. Warm strong hands had gathered her into the air and then a solid chest right before she hit the ground and it was only when her nose was pressed into the man's neck and the smell of sandalwood and leather intoxicated her senses did she realize just who was carrying her before she allowed herself to pass out.

~:::O&F:::~

"Oliver, don't be stupid! Of course she's going to wake up and be her pain in the ass self again! Stop with the man pain already."

Felicity had never been happier or more confused at hearing the tones of Laurel Lance as she fought the battle for consciousness.

"Guys, shut up I think she's waking up".

Diggle's calm voice always did wonders to sooth her in any situation, even one as strange as this one.

She opened her eyes, only to close them again due to the onslaught of light that attacked her vision.

"What happened?" Her voice was raspy even to her own ears and she was grateful to whoever put the bottle of water and a straw up to her lips. She was yet to open her eyes again.

"What do you remember?" Oliver's voice was soft but cautious and she couldn't shake the feeling that they weren't telling her something. Something important.

"I remember the bank, and the masked guys. And Lyla! The baby! How's the baby? Did she have it? Oh god Dig what happened?" Her voice ended in hysterics as memories of the day flooded back into her mind.

Diggle moved to her other side, the side that wasn't currently occupied by Oliver who seemed to be rooted to the spot. He must have been the one to give her the water then?

"Lyla's fine, our baby girl is beautiful, and I'm sure you'll get to meet Meghan Felicity Diggle very soon".

"No…Digg…what? Oh God I think I'm going to pass out again". She couldn't stop the tears even if she tried.

"Don't think that Lyla didn't notice you using yourself as a human shield for her and the baby. You got shot trying to protect them. You didn't even realize you did get hurt until you got them to safety first. You're amazing Felicity. And I personally wanted to thank you for looking after two of the most important women of my life."

"Digg…I…I don't…I just…" and with that she burst into a fresh new wave of tears, her face buried in the strong chest of John Diggle.

Hope you guys liked it!

LOVE to all - stay safe - Stace - XOX