Hi All

Long time reader, first time writer. Please note: I am NOT a writer, I did not study writing in anyway during the one college I dropped out of. Please be kind, as I read once you write how you talk so I am sure this long winded, I am just hoping it makes sense. This is un-bataed – all mistakes are mine, and mine alone.

Slightly AU as we all know Tommy did not survive the Undertaken and in this story Oliver did not flee the city after, he stayed to look after Tommy and Thea.

Also, I pieced together the classes/theories MIT I found on the internet. I do not own Arrow or any of their characters.

A Smart Woman in a Real Short Skirt – Jimmy Buffett. (A marketing genus by the way)

Oliver spend a better half of the last hour trying to get back to Felicity, he caught a fleeting glance of her sunshine blond hair and her hands waving back and forth as she spoke with the banquet room manager regarding the timing of dinner. He saw her steal a shrimp canapé from a passing tray only to have a waiter stop her from enjoying it when he came up to her with what look to be a question regarding which wine was to served. They arrived together but Isabel insisted as Oliver's PA she work tonight's fund raiser, so there she with the help, and there he was mixing with Sterling's wealthy.

While he wasn't alone tonight, it was Tommy's first night out since coming home from the rehabilitation hospital three weeks ago, Laurel by his side. His injury during the Undertaken and four month stint in the hospital was all it took for both Oliver and Laurel to understand their love for Tommy was larger than the love they had for each other. Tearful apologies and promises to remain friends put both them in better places. Thea was here with boyfriend, Roy, while Oliver was still trying to understand his appeal, Roy looked more miserable then him if that was even possible about being here tonight. He thought, at least I can keep an eye on both of them. Despite being surrounded by friends and family Oliver felt a little empty, lonely and lost without his "girl Wednesday" by his side.

Tonight's fundraiser was for the rebuilding the hospital and a handful of urgent care units that were destroyed in the Undertaking, Sterling's elite were out in full force tonight and while both Oliver and Tommy weren't sure they would be welcome. Turns out while their parents may have been the masterminds behind the destruction of the Glades, Sterling's elite did not hold that against Oliver or Tommy. With Oliver's 5 year absence, and Tommy's carefree, playboy lifestyle it was clear to all in the room these two had no idea what their parents were plotting.

Trying to make his way back to the back of room in hopes of grabbing Felicity and make an escape. All he needed to say was three words… Big Belly Burger… he was certain Felicity would toss her clipboard to the side and run as fast as her 4 inch heels would allow. A small smile graced his face when he spotted her; she was looking down at said clipboard with a pen caught between her colorful lips. Her dress was all Felicity, above the knee, deep pink, an A-line silhouette with spaghetti straps and scoped neck that shown off her long legs in a pair of mile high nude heels.

My God she was beautiful and as his mind started to produce some not so platonic thoughts – like how that dress would look on the floor next to bed – his arm was yanked forcing him to step back and turn to his sister who gave him a "save me" look. Looking around he realized Thea and Roy were circled by none other than Carter Bowen and his mother.

Crap, he's never going to get out of here, Thea turns to Oliver with that – "you forced me here, now you're going to pay" look she perfected over the last year. "Oliver have you heard about Carter's latest accomplishment, he is going to head the Neuroscience department in the rebuilt hospital"

"No, I haven't heard – that's great Carter". Carter's mother just couldn't help herself, "Carter will be the youngest head of Neuroscience department in all of Sterling City". "Of course while he waits for the reopening he going to travel to Nigeria with Doctors without Borders." "Of course he is..." mutters Oliver. His hand went up to rub the stress out of the back of his neck and as he lifts his head up he sees a flash of pink to the right of him, "Oliver, uh em sorry to interrupt, but uh, em may I please have a word with you…. em in private?" Oh thanks the Gods... "Of course Felicity, please excuse me a moment..."

His hand just automatically went to the small of her back as they turned away from their group, "Excuse me, miss – do I know you?" Felicity turns and takes a full look at the man Oliver was speaking to, her eyes squint just little and as recollection was forming… "I am Carter Bowen and I could swear we have met before." Felicity's eyes widen, and she bit down on her hot pink bottom lip and shakes her head from side to side – "oh no, sorry no, you must be mistaken". She starts to look for an exit, an excuse, anything, she need to leave like now. "I'm sorry to interrupt, please carry on... um I have to check on… anything…um excuse me."

Just like that she was gone, "strange girl" Mrs. Bowen says. "Anyway, I was saying Carter…" Her voice drifted off, Oliver no longer heard her he was trying to figure out what just happen. Why did Felicity run like that? Did she know Carter? What did he do that made her runway?

Nothing escapes Thea Queen, there was a story there – Oliver's PA and Carter Bowen – she knows it. "Please excuse me Mrs. Bowen, gentleman I need to go to the ladies room before we sit for dinner." And just like that Thea was gone and on a mission – find Felicity.

It took her about 10 minutes but she found her in the lobby near the coat room, grabbing her arm she spun her around. A very wide eye Felicity gasped seeing not only Thea, but Oliver, Roy, Tommy and Laurel coming up behind her.

"Ok Blondie, how do you know Carter Bowen, there has to be a hell of story there to make you run like that, in that high enough heel."

"Well, I don't know him personally; I only meet him once and his three lawyers actually". Oliver's hands went in to tight fists, "Why would you meet Carter's lawyer, what did he do?" His voice was rather loud and their little group looked at him. Felicity blinked a few times, her heart started to beat a little faster, a little louder, that's what protective Oliver does do her. Shaking her head.. "Nothing big he was threatening to sue me".

Laurel – the lawyer was thoroughly interested now, "Why, what did you do?" Oliver just glared at her, she ignored him.

"Funny story, you see… um I kind of disproved his grant-winning, Harvard Medical Review published theory in neuroscience studies and their implications for TEL, you know Technology Enhanced Learning."

Deer caught in headlights would be how Felicity would describe the five people standing in front of her.

"You might want to dumb this down for us... um..." "Felicity, Felicity Smoak" She re-introduced herself to Tommy.

"In my freshmen Probability and Statistics class at MIT we were asked…"

"You went to MIT?" Laurel stood there with her hands on her hips, in disbelief.

"Yes, Summa Cum Laude in both my undergrad program of Science, Technology and Society and my graduate program Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Class of 2009 – go me."

"But, you're a secretary!" "Executive Assistant!" Both Oliver and Felicity answered at the same time. Only Felicity kept her eyes on Oliver, he turned slightly, "notice that I did NOT say secretarial arts"

"I'm looking for a smart woman..." Tommy hummed around his drink straw, earning hard glares from both Laurel and Oliver

"You were saying Felicity" "Oh yeah, well in our Experiment Study Group, we were required to prove or disprove a published theory, well I choose Carter Bowen's new published, using her fingers she made air quotes "masterpiece". You see my roommates' boyfriend's roommate girlfriend met Carter once and said he was a royal tool. Her words, not mine, well not till I met him myself."

"So where do the lawyers come in?" Laurel questioned.

"Well, I disproved his theory, I thoroughly spanked it actually, and my professor sent it back over to the Harvard Medical Review where they were going to retract the paper, reverse his grant and well basically flunk him for the semester. Let's just say he lawyered up quickly."

"Well, what happen?" Roy asked.

"We met at the MIT Dean's office, editor of the HMR, Carter, his three lawyers and me. Carter started making demands for my expulsion, forfeit of my scholarship and make me publicly apologize to him."

"What a tool." "Roy, hush not so loud" Thea said as she playfully slapped his arm.

With a smirk on her face, she said "my research was solid, my facts undisputable and with the backing of the Dean of Technology from MIT – Harvard had no choice but to retract the paper. I heard his grant was reduced and he got put on academic probation that year."

Thea looked at Oliver, Oliver looked at Tommy, Tommy looked at Laurel and they all busted out laughing. Felicity looked at Roy who shrugged his shoulders – "must be rich people humor".

Oliver, after wiping an eye looked Felicity with so much pride, admiration, desire that Felicity immediately started to blush.

Tommy asked, "Did you say your freshmen year? What were you like 19 almost 20?"

"Just turned18 actually, AP classes all through high school granted me early admission."

"Waiting a minute, how did he not recognize you, you almost destroyed his career." Laurel asked.

"Well I did grow up, believe it or not I haven't always this put together, oh and hair defiantly the hair".

"Hair?" Both Roy and Laurel asked at the same time. Looking straight at Felicity Oliver said "No ponytail tonight."

Thea threw an arm around her and looked directly at Oliver, "She's so cute, I love her, and I'm keeping her." And with a twinkle in her eye Thea turned to Felicity and said "you just made my whole year, my whole life, I can't wait to tell Mom, I am buying you a drink."

Off they went, Felicity turning around looking at Oliver with a what's going on here face, he just laughs and slaps Tommy on the back.

Tommy on the other hands starts humming again, "come on you know you know this song".

After a hard look, Oliver shakes his head and started out slowly and low…..

I'm looking for a smart woman

in a real short skirt

Smart woman show knows how to flirt

Smart woman got a mind of her own

Smart woman that'll take me home

Take me home

Beauty and brains (beauty and brains)

Best of both worlds (best of both worlds)

Think I can change

If you'll be my be my be my girl

I'm looking for a smart woman

in a real short skirt

Smart woman who knows how to flirt

Smart woman got a mind of her own

Smart woman that'll take me home

Take me home

A few drinks later, Felicity did just that.