The day passed in a blur. Felicity had been working on trying to determine where The Archer had disappeared to after he'd fled the houses of Croft and Grayson but she wasn't having much luck. Apart from there being virtually no clues to help her along, she was also completely distracted.

She wasn't sure if it had been excitement or terror at the upcoming Gala that had prevented her from getting a decent night's sleep. Perhaps a mixture of both. She'd never attended anything as glitzy before and if the office gossip was anything to go by, everyone who was anyone was going to be there.

She glanced at the time at the bottom of her tablet screen. 02:45pm. She'd promised Carly that she'd leave by 03:00pm so that she'd have some time to relax before getting ready. As though relaxing was even a thing she could do. Her nerves were wound tighter than a two dollar watch – which was ridiculous – this was not a date.

She hadn't seen Oliver since he'd dropped off the invitation. He'd called her a few times to discuss her progress on The Archer investigation, but it wasn't the same. She missed seeing him. The one time she'd popped by the foundry, he'd been wrapped up in club business and so she'd left without ever laying eyes on him. Much to her disappointment.

She glanced at the time again. 2.47pm. Shaking her head in annoyance she logged off and packed up for the weekend. There was no point in sitting there when her mind was clearly elsewhere.


Nervously Felicity turned from her bedroom mirror to face Carly. "Well, what do you think?" Her face was covered in trepidation as she waited for the verdict.

Carly gasped, her hands reaching up to cover her heart. "Oh Felicity… you look amazing!"

She made her turn in a full circle. "Yip, I knew this was your colour the second I saw you yesterday. Trust me, he's not gonna know what hit him," Carly said as she admired her handiwork.

"That's not the point," Felicity said, rolling her eyes in response.

"That's the whole point. Of course it's equally important that you like the way you look and that you feel comfortable and confident? That's more than half the battle won," she said, starting to gather her things. She'd popped around to help Felicity with her hair and make-up.

Turning back to the mirror, Felicity nodded. She looked different, but not in a way that made her feel like she was someone else. The reflection staring back at her was the person she knew herself to be, albeit a more glammed up version.

She smoothed her hands over her waist to give them something to do. It was almost time. Oliver would be there at any minute.

"I gotta go," Carly said as she grabbed her bag and other paraphernalia. "Almost time for Cinderella to go to the ball," she teased, stuffing her curling iron into a backpack.

"Let's hope I don't turn into a pumpkin at midnight."

Carly walked over, her bags slung over one arm. Giving Felicity a side hug she smiled brightly, "You look radiant, so stop worrying. Go and have a good time."

With her gone, there was nothing left to do but wait for Oliver to arrive.


"Do I look alright?" Oliver asked from the back seat of the new BMW he'd purchased for Diggle's use.

Meeting his eyes in the rear-view mirror, Diggle seemed amused. "That's the third time you've ask me that and it's the third time I'm telling you that you look fine."

He couldn't stop fidgeting, his fingers drumming restlessly on his thighs. He felt nervous, something that had been completely foreign to him before he met a certain IT girl. Relax, almost there.

"Which makes me wonder why you're asking me for advice on your appearance?" His tone suggested that he already knew the answer. "I don't recall you ever asking before." Diggle added.

Choosing to ignore him, Oliver hopped out of the car the second it came to a stop outside Felicity's apartment. Heading in, he called over his shoulder, "Be right back."


Clearing his throat he knocked on her door.

When it opened his greeting stuck in the back of his throat, his mouth suddenly so dry he felt like he was swallowing sandpaper.

Her hair, always tied back was allowed free reign. Loose curls cascaded down her back and shoulders, shimmering like a golden halo. His eyes nearly popped out of his head as they travelled down her body – at present encased in a red strapless dress that gently hugged the curves of her waist, hips and thighs before flaring gently at the knee and falling to the floor in soft waves.

Her make-up was simple yet flawless – bright blue eyes rimmed with black liner, her lashes impossibly long, no hint of her glasses in sight. Her cheeks held a hint of colour, growing even brighter under the intensity of his scrutiny. Her mouth – Lord help him – was crimson, the perfect shade to match her gown. Free of accessories save for the diamond drops at her ears, and a similar cuff at her wrist, she was perfection.

"You're beautiful," he breathed.


Felicity was staring. She'd seen him in a suit before and had always thought him handsome. But standing in her doorway, there to collect her, put a whole new spin on things. She drank in the sight of him - his suit black and tailored to precision; his broad shoulders palpably hard and lean beneath the snowy whiteness of his shirt evident beneath his jacket. She smiled inwardly as she noted his black silk tie, a thing she knew he wasn't overly fond of. His ever present stubble added a rakish appeal to his otherwise sophisticated look. In a nutshell, he was gorgeous.

Her feminine sensibilities didn't fail to notice that her appearance had rendered him momentarily speechless. She was flattered. Having spent a considerable amount of money on the dress she was wearing, seeing his reaction made the splurge completely worth it.

"Thank you," she said, her stomach doing back flips as his eyes settled on hers.

The silence stretched as they simply stood looking at one another. Felicity felt the need to fill the void with something, anything. He was looking at her in a way she didn't quite understand but it was doing crazy things to her heart rate.

"Um, I'm ready if you are?"

Blinking once, twice, Oliver replied, "Yes. I'm ready."

Grabbing her wrap and silver clutch they headed out.


Oliver was blown away. It was her, but it wasn't her. He couldn't remember the last time he'd had such a visceral reaction to a woman. Thinking back, he didn't know what he was expecting, or even if he'd had an expectation, he only knew that the end result had bowled him over. After just one look he'd been mesmerised.

Not Helena or even McKenna had ever had such an effect on him. The only other woman who'd elicited such gut clenching reactions had been Laurel and even that had been more than five years ago.

The drive to their destination wasn't very long. Sitting in silence he listened as Diggle and Felicity engaged in a lively conversation. Satisfied that they weren't paying him much heed, he retreated into his thoughts.

Suddenly, he didn't think that spending an entire evening in Felicity's company was such a good idea. Who knew that beneath the sarcasm and the smarts beat the heart of a temptress? Not that he thought Felicity was entirely aware of the effect she had on him. Chances were she didn't have a clue – for which he was thoroughly grateful. The last thing he needed was for her to know that she could twist him around her little finger with very little effort.


A little intimidated by the amount of stylish people milling around the outside of the Starling City Metropolitan Museum, Felicity looked around, fascinated, as Oliver steered them toward the entrance.

"Oliver! Is that Senator Ross?" She didn't protest as he tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. It felt nice.

He glanced over his shoulder. "Yes. You seem surprised?"

"This might be your regular scene, but it's not mine. Allow me a moment to be a little star struck," she quipped as she fell into step beside him, the click of her silver stiletto's resounding on the stone floor.

"You're star struck by a Senator? Seriously?" Oliver looked incredulous.

"What? I'm into politics," she defended.

She watched him shake his head, a faint smile tilting his lips upward.

The entrance was just ahead and Felicity could see into the foyer. Oliver's mother was standing just inside the door, greeting the guests as they arrived. She suddenly felt nervous again.

"You alright?" Oliver asked. "They're just people you know."

"I'm fine," she responded, even though that wasn't exactly true. Right at that moment, she wasn't too concerned about the other people. The object of her anxiety was waiting to welcome them.

She'd only ever met Walter, never Moira Queen. All she knew about her was courtesy of the office grapevine, not an altogether reliable source of information.

"Mother," Oliver said warmly as he planted a kiss on both her cheeks. She was wearing a silver draped floor length gown that Felicity was sure cost more than her monthly income.

"Oliver, you made it." She smiled, genuinely happy to see him. Noticing Felicity at his side, she pulled back.

Oliver placed a hand in the small of her back, the sensation making her spine tingle. "Mother, this is Felicity Smoak – Felicity, this is my mother, Moira Queen."

An old hand at social graces, Moira focussed her blue gaze, so similar to her son's, on Felicity. "Miss Smoak, I'm pleased to meet you." Her smile was friendly and welcoming, her handshake firm.

"Thank you for having me. Oh, and it's Felicity. Miss Smoak is what my third grade teacher called me when I punched Barry Schulman in the face for stealing my lunch money." Dammit. She bit her tongue in an attempt to keep her mouth closed.

Beside her, Oliver laughed. His mother just looked at her strangely. "You look familiar. Have we met at the Country Club?"

Felicity would have laughed at the absurdity of the question had Moira not been looking directly at her. "Err, no. I work at Queen Consolidated."

"Felicity works in the IT Department," Oliver explained.

"Well, that's lovely," was his mother's only response. Felicity wondered what her thoughts were on her son fraternising with company staff. Not that they were fraternising. This is not a date.

The line behind them grew longer. "Oliver, find your sister and keep an eye on her." Then to Felicity, "I hope you have a good time."

Unable to detect any hint of disapproval in her tone, but not entirely sure that it wasn't merely properly disguised, Felicity breathed a sigh of relief when they moved on.

They made their way through the crowded foyer, Oliver grabbing hold of her hand so that he didn't lose her in the throng. There it was again. That feeling – her hand in his. Perfect.

He stopped and turned. Not expecting it, she bumped straight into him. Looking up, her face was mere inches away from his. With an embarrassed gulp she took a step back. "Sorry," she mumbled inaudibly.

"Mind if we find my sister? Or would you like to wait for me somewhere?" He hadn't let go of her hand.

"Let's find her."

She didn't think she'd want to be left alone in this crowd. She knew she didn't exactly belong there. Perhaps part of her fear had been that everyone would stare and point at her, picking her out as an interloper. Maybe that particular insecurity had been a tad irrational.

Everyone they passed, men and women alike, greeted Oliver like an old friend, all of them clearly in possession of money – if the amount of diamonds on display and the fine cut of their clothing was any indication. For the most part, he was polite if not friendly.

She detected some inquisitive glances directed her way, not entirely unexpected. She wasn't one of them, despite what her dress might suggest, and yet there she was, on the arm of the City's most eligible bachelor.

"Ollie!" Felicity turned in time to see a petite, pretty brunette, her hair twisted up in a fashionable knot and secured by a diamond pin, hurrying toward them. Dressed in a beautiful flowy green gown, the colour almost perfectly matching her eyes, she looked flirty and feminine.

Reaching Oliver's side she launched herself at him, hugging him close. "Where have you been? There's only old people here and they're so boring. Shoot me now."

Felicity smiled to herself. This had to be Thea Queen.