A/N: Hi! It's Wednesday! Which means time for another chapter! You guys have been incredibly wonderful! So glad you're enjoying this story as much as I am!

Enjoy! And see you again soon!

Despite the restraining order now in affect against her ex, Cooper's appearance at her doorstep left her slightly paranoid. In the following days, she noticed that Oliver didn't stray far from her side, when he could help it. Sara stayed close when he couldn't.

She was grateful for them and their attention even if it did make her feel a little suffocated sometimes.

"Felicity!" Oliver's voice filtered over the hum of the crowd in Brown Cup. "Time for lunch!"

"It's only eleven," she answered as she poured another cup of coffee for a customer. "I told you that I couldn't go to lunch until one."

"But…"

"You better have brought your books," she answered with a slap to his chest. "You promised we'd study too."

Oliver's face scrunched up. "I don't want to…"

"Yes you do."

"Fine," he huffed. "But only because I know that studying is important to you."

"Finals are coming up Oliver," she reminded him sternly. "You've been doing great in your classes. No reason to slack off now."

"I know."

"Good. I'm ready for this semester to be over. It's been…"

"Yeah."

"Find a seat and I'll bring you some coffee," she told him. "And don't disturb anyone else."

"Yes ma'am."

Oliver settled into a table by the window and pulled out his books. He might put up a fight to Felicity, however she was right. He was happy to study. Oliver was enjoying his classes and he felt like he was doing something right with his life. His parents were proud of him for the first time, longer than he could almost remember, and it was all because of an accidental meeting with an enchanting brunette that made him want to be someone that she could be proud of.

It sounded cheesy even to his own ears. And he didn't care.

"We need to talk." Sara said to him as she sat down pulling him out of his thoughts.

"Okay?"

"I'm leaving for Christmas break soon," she explained with a sigh. "And I'm being dragged on some family vacation somewhere. I don't want to leave Felicity alone…"

"Is she not going home for the break?"

"Nope," Sara answered extending the word with an exaggerated pop on the end. "Her Thanksgiving break didn't go well, from what little I could get out of her. She's planning on staying here…"

"That's not a good idea."

"I agree," Sara assured him. "But I can't exactly take her with me…"

"I'll invite her home with me," Oliver replied with a nod. "I'll insist."

"She's going to put up a fight."

"I know," Oliver agreed. "But I'll turn on the charm and make sure she can't refuse. She'll be safe with me."

Sara eyed him closely. "I know your feelings for her are genuine Oliver and I…hesitantly approve, but just make sure you're careful with her, okay? This mess with Cooper has left her…"

"I know."

"I just want what's best for her."

"Believe me Sara," Oliver answered quietly. "That's all I want for her too."

Sara laughed, "You're not so bad anymore Queen. I'm kind of surprised to see you actually growing up."

"I know, it's crazy."

"This is definitely a better version of you. I like you better like this."

"Can I get that in writing?"

"Can you get what in writing?" Felicity's voice interrupted and Sara laughed. "What?"

"Nothing," Sara assured her. "I've got to go, damn study group. But I'll see you both later. Remember what we talked about Oliver."

He nodded and Sara pulled Felicity into a quick hug before she headed through the door.

"That was weird."

Oliver looked up at Felicity, "What was weird?"

"You two were being friendly. And without me forcing you to. Care to explain?"

"We've come to an understanding."

Felicity eyed him closely. "That for some reason scares me a little bit. But I'm also glad. I'd like my two best friends to be friends…not that I'm your best friend. I mean, I know you have Tommy and that's great. He's…great, I'm sure. I just meant…"

Oliver placed his hand on her arm and her words died on her lips. He smiled up at her. "Felicity, you're one of my best friends too."

Felicity's smile brightened and she nodded. "Okay, good. Muffin?"

"Sure. Yeah that'd be good."

"Be right back."

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Oliver debated with himself for days and still hadn't come up with a solid enough way to convince Felicity to come to Starling with him for the Christmas break. He had thought about just asking but he was sure that wouldn't be enough.

"Stop thinking so loudly."

Felicity's voice grabbed him from his thoughts and he looked up surprised. She laughed.

"You're tapping your pencil with this weird look on your face," she explained, "and it's not studying."

"What if it was studying?"

"I think I know you better than that Queen. So what are you thinking about? New girl taking up residence in that head of yours?"

"Not new, exactly."

"What?" Felicity exclaimed. "You have a new girl and haven't told me about her yet? Whatever is wrong with you?"

"I don't have a new girl," Oliver said and cursed under his breath at himself for saying anything out loud about this with her. "Just drop it."

"Come on! What's her name?"

"It doesn't matter," Oliver told her and picked up a book. "We should get back to studying."

"Why don't you want to tell me about her?"

"Felicity…"

"Come on!"

"No!"

Felicity eyed him and he shook his head at her. "Fine. I'll drop it for now. But don't think this gets you out of telling me about her, eventually."

"Sure, whatever."

Felicity chewed on the end of her pen, "You know it's going to be weird when everyone leaves for the holidays. Campus will be deserted and I won't have you, and Sara being my shadows."

"We're not…"

"You're totally shadowing me," Felicity interrupted with a smile. "And even though I could handle this on my own, I'm glad I don't have to."

"You're not alone."

"I know."

"And I could continue being your shadow if you wanted."

"You're not staying behind for me Oliver," Felicity said sternly. "I'll be okay."

"I wasn't talking about me staying behind," Oliver said with a slightly hesitant tone. "I was thinking you could come to Starling with me."

Felicity stared at him. "What? Oliver you can't be serious."

"I'm being serious."

"But…"

"Look I wanted you to come for Thanksgiving, why not Christmas?"

"I'm Jewish."

"Oh, I didn't know. Well, Hanukah then. But I guarantee my sister will drag you into some of the Queen family Christmas traditions, but you don't have to participate…and we can do Hanukah. I don't know much about it, but you can teach me. And Thea. She'd love to learn. And it would be good for her…"

"Oliver breathe," Felicity interrupted with a small laugh. "I've never really mentioned it and I'm more of a celebrate the holidays and observe parts of the culture. My mom's not Jewish so she always did Christmas. I always celebrated both. And if you're sure, like one thousand percent sure, then yes, I'd love to go to Starling with you."

"I am sure."

"Then it's a plan."

Oliver nodded and then looked at his watch and frowned. "I'm late for a thing with the guys. I'll talk to you tomorrow about travel plans." He shoved his books in his bag and turned to leave but paused. He smirked when he looked back at her. "Make you sure you pack a couple of party dresses. When you hang with the Queens you do it in style."

"What? Oliver!"

He only smiled and waved before he disappeared out the door.

"Damn him."

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"I'm glad you're going to Starling with Oliver," Sara said simply as she leafed through a rack of clothes. "It's better than you sitting here all by yourself with crazy Cooper hanging around."

"I haven't seen any signs of Cooper in days," Felicity replied. "I think he got the picture."

"With a restraining order against him he better have," Sara told her. "Still I don't trust him, or that he's not up to something, so I'm glad you won't be here alone."

"I may not have agreed to go with Oliver if I had known it was going to be dressy," Felicity complained. "And I don't even know how dressy I need to be. Oliver was too vague."

"It's the Queen Christmas Eve party," Sara told her with a shrug, "Nice dress, long if we can find a good one, fairly conservative, it doesn't have to be flashy."

"You've been to one of them before?"

"Sure," Sara assured her. "When Ollie and Laurel were dating in high school our family got a invite. It was fun."

"I'm not going to know anyone," Felicity groaned. "It's going to be so awkward."

"Lighten up 'Lis. Oliver won't let you feel awkward. And besides, I'm sure you'll have the whole room charmed in no time."

"You have far too much confidence in my social skills."

"Relax," Sara said and pulled a hanger out. "You're going to be great. Now, go try on this dress. It's gorgeous."

"It's not too green?"

"It's a deep green, not Christmasy so I think it'll go well without being over the top. Try it on!"

"Fine, fine. Thanks for shopping me with today."

"It's been too long since we've really had a chance to hang out," Sara answered with a shrug. "I'm glad we could."

"Me too! I wish you were going to be in Starling for the break. It'd be fun!"

"Yeah it would. Instead I get to spend two whole weeks in a cabin with my family. Oodles of fun."

"A cabin? Really?"

"Yup. It sounds like it's going be just dandy. If there was a way I could get out of it I would."

"Maybe it won't be as bad as you think…"

"I adore your continued optimism, but it is what it is. And what it is; is my parents trying to pretend like everything is okay and that their marriage isn't falling apart."

"I'm sorry…"

Sara shrugged, "I'm okay. I just want them to be happy. Really it would be easier on everyone if they just called it quits and were done with it."

"You don't mean that."

Sara nodded, "I do. But enough about my fun family adventures and me. I want to see you in that dress."

"Okay, okay! I'm going. But then we seriously have to get food. I'm starving."

"Deal."

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"Oliver dear," Moira Queen said over the phone and Oliver rolled his eyes. "I'm so glad you called. We need to get your travel plans arranged for your upcoming break from school. Now, we should purchase a round trip ticket, correct?"

"Yes mother," Oliver replied as calmly as possible. "I'm definitely returning to Harvard again."

"Wonderful. Your father and I are so glad you've been able to make Harvard work. Now your final class is which day?"

"My last final is on Wednesday the fourteenth," Oliver answered and then took a deep breath. "But I was hoping you wouldn't mind if I waited to fly home until that Friday…

"Of course…"

"And I'm going to need another ticket as well."

That information was greeted by nothing but dead air.

"Mom?"

"You're bringing someone with you?"

"I am," he said. "You remember me telling you about Felicity…Smoak. The girl that helped me with some classes last year?"

"Yes…"

"She's…well, we're friends and she didn't have anywhere to go for the holidays and I asked her to come home with me."

"As your friend?"

"Yes."

"Just your friend."

"For now."

"Oh Oliver! Of course she's welcome to come here. It will be a pleasure to finally meet this girl; you've spoken so highly of her for so long. I'll have your father's assistant book the tickets and forward you the information."

"Thanks mom," Oliver said and then a thought struck him. "Mom!"

"Yes dear?"

"Felicity is um, she's Jewish. I was looking up Hanukah online and was hoping you'd be okay implanting some of their customs and such into my trip home. Hanukah starts sundown on Christmas night this year."

"I'd be happy to Oliver," Moira assured him. "I'll look into it. Let me know if you find out if Felicity does anything specific she'd like to include."

"Thanks mom, I really appreciate it."

"I'll talk to you soon son," Moira answered. "I'm happy to help any way I can. Your sister says hello and she can't wait to see you."

"Tell her 'ditto'. See you next week."

A/N: Thanks again for reading! Leave a review and let me know what you're thinking!