Disclaimer: I own nothing of the wonderful world of Arrow and all the wonderful characters that inhabit that world. My first fic ever so be warned I welcome helpful criticism.

Chapter 6: I need a phone number

5 month ago:

I love my new fashion sense. I adore every item in my closet from the cute but slightly dorky panda flats to the 5 inch heels that I have recently learned to walk in. I'm standing in front of my still small but adequate closet attempting to decide what fashion statement I should make today. I went for the cream blouse with the pink pencil skirt and the cute black ballet flats that were so comfortable it should be illegal. My hair I decided would be wavy and in a low ponytail; because well I didn't feel like straightening my hair on this particular morning. As I picked up a tube of pink lipstick and began to apply the bright shade to my bottom lip my mind once again drifted to why I was so tired this particular morning.

I was going over in my mind for the hundredth time my last meeting with Oliver Queen that lasted mere minutes but in my mind should have lasted for far longer. He had come in this time with a new addition so my fantasies needless to say weren't nearly as fun. Instead of imagining him taking me against the wall of my office; I had to settle. Settle for analyzing the simple touches that were exchanged during our last meeting. Also this time we weren't in the IT department but in his mother's or maybe it was Walter's office. I'm still not quite sure on how that all really works. The office is basically a glass room with windows beyond what should be needed in any office building. I mean really one bullet in this room and we are taking glass coffin here. I'm sitting across from him and he is just staring at me with those eyes that make my knees turn to jelly and my words come out in a consistent babble. To my right was his bodyguard John Diggle. A tall imposing dark skinned attractive man who could probably even take out Oliver. He looked like he was nice, kind, but quiet and, he had a sense of humor. What a relief because I've been spending most of my time with Rose. I frankly was starting to get on my own nerves.

I had adjusted my glasses for the umpteenth time as they kept sliding down my nose and looked up to once again see that Oliver Queen was once again smiling slightly at me. He kept doing that, he would smile, smirk, or his face would just slightly soften whenever I did or usually said something that was in the realm of embarrassment on parade. This time my opening line was adding personal assistant to Oliver Queen to my job title. That got me a look and a huff of possible amusement. I then added happily and once again adjusted my glasses. They had come in looking for information as he had done before on a man that he claimed he lost touch with. Again the hair color must really be impacting everyone's judgment of my intellect. Rose would be hearing about that one. After Mr. Diggle made a joke about not even having a myspace account I deduced that whoever this man was it was Hood business and not a long lost friend business. I also deduced based on the body language of the hulk that he was well aware of Mr. Queen's other identity.

I gave him the information he needed in regards to his "friend" and I knew that this was my shot. Rose did indicate that I would need a phone number or something to make some headway into Oliver's inner circle which now included the hulk bodyguard. Mr. Diggle stood up first said goodbye and headed to the elevators. I used my small window to make my move. I stood up as Oliver did and before he could say thank you and proceed to exit the building. I stopped him from leaving by putting a hand on his forearm. I swear to god when his eyes moved to question my actions my mouth went completely dry. Attempting to keep myself under control and keeping my hand on his arm I opened my mouth.

"Sorry Mr. Que oh sorry you don't like that I mean Oliver I was just wondering if maybe we should exchange numbers." His eyes lit up slightly and his mouth curved into a small smile before he responded. "Um why would we need to do that?" My response was to move closer into his personal space and based on his reaction it wasn't all that unwanted because he too moved slightly closer and placed his hand on the one that still held his forearm in a vice grip. "I just think that if you are going to keep coming here to see me, and I don't mean like see me see me like on a personal level. I mean you know when you come in for technical assistance it just makes sense you know?" I must have really gone into a longer babble than I thought because his response was utter confusion. So I tried again. "Sorry I tend to babble I was just saying that with your busy schedule it can't be easy to have to come all the way down here to see me just to find an old friend." I apparently thought that needed more babble added on so I continued. "Not that coming down here is a problem I mean it's your families company or your company and I'm just going to stop in 3…2…1."

He must have sensed my embarrassment or maybe the flush that was started at my face and moved down to my chest that clued him in. He moved the hand that was still on top of mine towards my shoulder and gently grasped it as if to calm me down. I stopped talking and pursed my lips together to form an oh. I must have actually uttered that oh because he smiled and responded in a sweet and calm voice. "Felicity." My heart stopped he remembered my name, which I already knew. It was just the way he said it with such tenderness and care. It just caused my knees to slightly tremble. Which I must have also stated out loud when he replied "Yes of course I remember your name it's beautiful and suits you perfectly; also take a breath and just try to tell me again why we should exchange numbers. I'm not opposed mind you because; based on this conversation I think I'll find the answer equally as entertaining." He was slightly chucking during the last statement and his eyes were light and I swear to god they were sparkling with a little bit of flirtation. Finally realizing that I was still touching him and he was also still holding my shoulder in his big, strong, warm hand I spoke up. "Sorry I have no brain to mouth filter. I really should have had my lips sewn shut when I was a child."

That little smile that I was now dubbing the Felicity smile came back when he spoke once again. "Well I for one would hate if you had that done. I would miss hearing how I have a Felicity smile to which I was unaware." My face must have turned even redder than before, my heart sped up, and I started to open my mouth before he took his hand of my shoulder and held a finger over my mouth. "Don't be embarrassed it's cute. You're cute actually and I really wouldn't mind getting a phone call from you if it meant more of these exchanges." I would have fallen over with glee had it not been for some unseen force of God. I just smiled at him stupidly and said "Great! Alright well here's my card and my number is right here so now I just need yours." He attempted to move to get a pen and paper but then we both realized that we were both still holding onto each other. Pulling my hand away from his arm and once again pushing my glasses up my nose I watched as he wrote down his phone number.

He finished writing it down on the paper he found on the glass coffee table and turned back to me. "Alright Felicity here you go. I look forward our next encounter. I also really hope that you don't have any lip sewing procedures done before our next meeting." I was smiling so much and giggling ever so slightly that I had completely forgotten that Mr. Diggle was still waiting for Oliver to come to the elevators to leave the building. That was until he walked in and found Oliver's hand still holding mine from when we exchanged numbers. "Sorry to interrupt but Mr. Queen we have another engagement we have to be leaving for." His voice was gruff and slightly amused by the sight before him. Oliver nodded and letting go of my hand started to leave. Before he was to the outer glass door that led to the elevator he turned back. "Hey Felicity?" I smiled and responded back with "Yes Oliver?"

"I look forward to talking with you soon. Maybe I can call you tomorrow and we can do coffee. I would really like to know what other types of smiles I might happen to have." With that he winked and walked out the door. I just stood there rubbing the paper with his phone number on it between my thumb and forefinger grinning like an idiot.

Flashing back to the task at hand which was finishing my make-up I also remembered that Rose was going to want every gory detail of our exchange. Hence the other reason why the hair was going natural she was going to be in my office in about thirty minute to review my progress thus far. I checked my appearance one last time and started for the kitchen. My coffee pot was halfway empty at this point so I took out my portable coffee mug poured the rest of the caffeinated beverage of the gods into the it's black confines and headed out the door.

Another perk I had found of this little arrangement was that I got my own car. No more bus routes and annoying Judy like people to deal with in the morning. I could blast whatever music was on my phone that day and go. Today I had a flashback to the 80s and it was Madonna and Cher all the way to work. I hopped off the elevator at the 18th floor and half ran half walked to my office space. I had checked my watch when entering and noticed I had five minutes left before 9. Which meant Rose was either already there or would be in about 2 minutes. The woman was never late and always early. I was always on time but in Rose's world you were there when she was or else. Thankfully I arrived first. I was just settling into my chair and booting up the computer systems when Rose walked in. Today's outfit was simple and fairly basic for Rose. She was wearing a black blouse with a red pencil skirt and basic black heels. Again the woman was flawless.

"Hello Felicity I do hope today's briefing is better than the last few Wednesdays." She stated as she waltzed into the room sitting in the chair that was now across from my desk. "I see your office space has been updated. What did you do to get such a perk?" I almost dropped the pen I had been twirling between my fingers. Rose never ever spoke about my QC cover job. She was always straight to business no chit chat. It was always did you see him this week? Well why not? Did you attempt to contact him? Well come on we do have a time table to maintain. Not that she ever mentioned what our time table was but according to Rose that was beside the point. Recovering from my shock and sitting up a little straighter in my chair I replied cheerfully and with some amount of glee "Yes I discovered a bug in the primary software. Then I detected multiple viruses, found a few possible hacking backdoors and then reinforced the mainframe software. My reward was my own personal office space. Thank you for asking."

Rose's eyes had glazed over at some point during my techno babble but I didn't care I was proud of the work that I had done for QC in the past month. This was what I loved to do and I was the best at what I did. However Rose was not here for my work achievements she was here for my Oliver achievements. I must have said that last part out loud because she all the sudden looked quite alert. "Oliver achievements, may I ask what those are exactly?" Her tone was icy but interested none the less. Despite my greatest efforts I couldn't help the smile the broke out across my face. "Yes I got his phone number. I do believe that a month ago you instructed me to make a connection. Well I must have because I have a beautiful name that suits me perfectly, I'm cute, he enjoys my babbling, and he mentioned getting coffee sometime." The smile on my face had grown even bigger if that were possible. "So yes I'd say I made a connection."

For the first and perhaps the last time I saw Rose crack a smile. An actual smile mind you with teeth showing; and of course her smile like her was flawless. I really needed this woman to have one flaw just one. Rose leaned back in her chair and crossed one leg over the other. Looking like she was settling in like she intended to prolong her visit. "Good this is good. I was hoping you could make this type of connection. Now tell me did he smile, any physical contact, did he seem to enjoy the encounter?" I was slightly taken aback by the questions and thought to myself my god I should have filmed the conversation so she could just watch it unfold. I resumed twirling my pen and responded back unable to keep the slight feeling of joy and glee that occurred whenever I replayed the minutes in my mind. "Yes he did smile quite a bit actually, he touched my hand, my shoulder and put his finger over my lips to silence me. He suggested the coffee outing. Lastly he stated I could have his number if it meant more encounters like this one." I sat back slightly and just grinned. That's right I IT tech girl Felicity Smoak got Oliver Queen's number.

"Good. Now on to the next part of getting into his life. Now on this date I need information such as how does he spend his days. How has it been being home again; who are the people in his life. Also pay close attention to John Diggle he is very interesting to us and might also factor into our over all plans. I also have one more thing that you must do before the end of the outing. You must secure an actual date with Oliver Queen. Alright well I'm running late for a meeting so I must be going. I'll contact you next week to see if you were able to fulfill this week's assignment. "Until next Wednesday good bye Felicity." As she stood up to walk out to God knows where I stood up and slightly shouted out "Wait a minute what does John Diggle have to do with any of this?" She stopped and barely turned her head before replying "that is none of your concern at this point. Focus on Oliver and eventually all your questions will be answered." With that she resumed to walk towards the elevators and out of my office until next week that is.

Great so new mission get Oliver to ask me out or I have to ask him out. Then last but not least figure out why John Diggle mattered to ARGUS.