There were many things that Felicity enjoyed doing in her free time, but recently, trying to fit with Oliver into the university-issued twin sized beds probably took the cake. This time they were in his bed, making good use of the rare instance when theirs and Roger's schedules did not overlap. Oliver kissed her neck, his hand disappearing under her shirt and skimming along her waist. She didn't know how he was able to make her entire body thrum with the lightest touch. And when he did more than that…

Her phone buzzed on the desk. It had been doing that for the last five minutes, and Oliver propped himself up on his elbow and asked, "Are you sure you don't need to get that?"

"Very sure," she said, reaching up and tugging his face down to hers again. He didn't ask again, returning his attention to her neck and then her jaw, her mouth. His hand inched higher, fingers brushing the bottom of her bra, and then the door opened quickly, Roger rushing in.

Felicity groaned, pressing her head back against Oliver's pillow and said, "We need a better system for this."

Oliver snorted, his chin resting on her chest.

"Why didn't you answer your phone?" Roger hissed.

"I was busy?" Felicity returned, ruffling Oliver's hair.

"Yeah, well, you're going to regret that in a minute," Roger said.

Before she could ask why, a high-pitched voice said, "Felicity!"

"MOM," Felicity said loudly, instinctively pushing Oliver off of her. His shoulder hit the wall hard, and he swore under his breath as he sat up, attempting to put some distance between himself and Felicity in the presence of someone who apparently was her mother. Felicity sat up, furtively tugging her shirt down.

"I was lucky that on my way to your dorm I ran into Roger and he told me you were here!" Donna said.

"That's why I called you," Roger said. "Repeatedly."

So, that's what all the buzzing was about.

"And who is this?" Donna asked indulgently, wiggling her fingers toward Oliver. She leaned in conspiringly whispered, "Nicely done, babe."

"He can hear you," Felicity said tightly. "What are you doing here?"

"Can't a mother visit her daughter?" Donna said airily, dragging her suitcase on the floor with her as she walked over to Roger's desk and sat down. She tossed a used coffee cup behind her on the desk and Roger quickly darted forward, taking it off a comic book.

"Yes, but there usually is some advanced notice," Felicity said.

"I wanted to surprise you," Donna said.

Felicity took a deep breath and said, "Well, mission accomplished."

"So, introduce me to your friend, Felicity," Donna said leadingly. "We don't want to be rude."

Felicity hesitated, wondering exactly how to introduce Oliver. He wasn't exactly a friend anymore, but she didn't really know what he was beyond that. They were definitely together, but what did that even really mean?

"Mom, this is Oliver. He's my…"

"Boyfriend," Oliver finished smoothly. He stood up and extended a hand toward Donna, who practically blushed as she reached forward and shook his hand.

"Those are some very nice manners."

"He's rich," Roger said, by way of explanation.

"Oh, how nice," Donna said with a brittle laugh, not quite knowing how to react to that, and she looked over at her daughter and said, "I was hoping we could have dinner tonight?"

"Of course, Mom," Felicity said.

"And you should come, too," Donna told Oliver.

"I don't want to get in the way of any mother-daughter time," Oliver said.

"Nonsense," Donna said. "We'll see you tonight."

"And what about me?" Roger asked.

"Well, it goes without saying that you'll be with us," Donna said, kissing his cheek. "You're practically my second child. Felicity, you can stay here for a little longer, if you want, and just give me the key to your room."

"No, I'll go with you," she said. "You can head out to the elevators, I'll be there in a minute."

Donna nodded happily. "Alright. I'll see you boys tonight!"

After she left, Felicity leaned in toward Oliver and said, "Girlfriend?"

"I hope you didn't mind," Oliver said, looking nervous.

Felicity took a hold of his face and gave him a quick, hard kiss. "Not a bit. You know, it's been a while since I've been a girlfriend."

"It's been a while since I've been a boyfriend."

"I think we're going to be very good at it," she said, running her thumb along his jaw.

"I tend to agree."

"Oh my God, you guys are annoying," Roger groaned. "I thought the pining was bad, but this is worse."

Felicity grinned, looking over at her friend. "Feeling neglected, Roger?"

"Oh please, we both know I could get a girlfriend if I wanted," Roger said. "Heather from Accounting is one comment away from sexual harassment." Felicity snorted. "Also, your mother is waiting outside."

"Frak," Felicity said, standing up quickly. "I will see you boys tonight."

Felicity darted out, and Oliver looked over at Roger. "You do remember that you orchestrated our getting together, right?"

"I do," Roger said with a sigh. "I guess this is the price to pay for my genius."

That evening, they all met at Biaggi's for dinner. Conversation floated easily enough, Donna not divulging too many embarrassing childhood stories, when Felicity thought she asked the easy enough question of, "So, how long do you plan on staying?"

"Oh, I don't know," Donna said off-handedly. "Probably just for a few days, and then I thought I might rent a car and see some of the sights around here."

"When does the casino need you back?"

Donna reached for her glass of wine. "They don't, actually."

"What do you mean they don't?" Donna answered with a gulp of wine, and Felicity pressed, "Mom. What do you mean they don't?"

"I'm taking some time off from the casino."

"Like a vacation?"

"Sure."

Felicity stared at her, and said, "You quit, didn't you?"

"Felicity, I don't really think this is the time-"

"Mom, it took you months to find that job. Especially after what happened at your last one."

"Felicity, it's fine," Donna said. "I'm taking care of it."

"How? By going on random road trips?"

"Felicity-"

"How are you supposed to support yourself? To pay for rent? Food?"

"Felicity, that's enough," Donna said sharply. "I will not sit here and be lectured by my own daughter."

Felicity flushed. "Mom, I'm sorry. I'm-"

"You three enjoy your dinner," Donna said, standing. "I'm not very hungry anymore."

Felicity watched her mom walk away, and she murmured, "It wasn't that bad, right?"

"It wasn't great," Roger said.

"I better go after her."

Felicity went after her mother, and Oliver asked, "Is that…normalfor them?"

"Kind of," Roger admitted. "Felicity feels like she has to be the adult. Which, in her defense, she sort of had to a lot when we were growing up. And then, Donna gets defensive. It usually doesn't happen over dinner, though."

"Should we do anything?"

"Give them space," Roger said, plucking a piece of bread from the bread basket. "So, are we thinking appetizers or no appetizers?"

Felicity felt guilty for how she had acted at dinner, but when she went to apologize, Donna shot back, "Do you think I enjoy bouncing from job to job? Do you think I do it on purpose?"

"I don't know," Felicity said defensively.

"Because, I don't. But sometimes, you have no choice. You never knew the sorts of things I had to deal with when you were growing up, and that was purposeful. I shielded you from it all and I don't regret that for a moment. But, the work I do. The sorts of people I have to deal with. It's not a walk in the park, and sometimes you need to make the difficult choice."

"I know that," Felicity said. "I'm really sorry for what I said. I just – I didn't expect you to be here. And then you say you're not going back to your job, when I know how difficult things have been over the past year."

"That shouldn't be your concern," Donna said, brushing a bit of hair away from Felicity's face.

"I know, but I worry. How could I not?"

"Your mother can take care of herself," Donna said. She took a deep breath. "Which is actually how I lost the last job."

"What are you talking about?"

"My boss tried to force himself on me after one of my shifts and I kneed him in the groin. That didn't go over particularly well, as you can imagine, so…"

"Mom," Felicity breathed out.

"It's okay," Donna said, taking Felicity's hand and giving it a quick squeeze. "I mean, it's not. But, I'm okay and I'll find another job. I actually was looking into some secretary jobs. I figured maybe it's time to hang up my cocktail dresses."

"There's nothing wrong with being a cocktail waitress. I don't want you to ever think…"

"I know you never would," Donna finished.

Felicity gave her mom a tight hug. "I love you, Mom."

"I love you, too, sweetheart."