A/N: I'm not sure how happy I am with this chapter... but here it goes anyways :)

Disclaimer: I do this for love, NOT money. CW & DC own everything.

" I don't understand. It's not like she hasn't met my mother before." Oliver sighed as he answered yet another panicked text from Felicity. He was having breakfast with Tommy and Laurel before interviewing a couple new candidates for assistant club managers. Now that he was running Queen Consolidated with Walter his manager Rory was going to need some back up. Since the club was still under construction, he would be meeting them all at Big Belly Burger.

"Of course you wouldn't, she's your mother." Laurel pointed out.

"I can't really say I understand either." Tommy raised his fork as if being called upon in class.

"No, you wouldn't either because you've known her forever." Laurel rolled her eyes. "But you have to imagine it from Felicity's view." She turned to Oliver. "You are not only Moira's first born, but her only son. Aside from all evidence that you yourself give her to the contrary, to her you are perfect. There is absolutely no way that anyone can live up to what magical fantasy she thinks your future wife should be."

"My mother likes you." Oliver argued. Laurel shook her head.

"Your mother likes me now. Do you not remember the first year we together? All the extra explanations of fancy things I 'probably hadn't experienced'? She totally thought I was a gold digger."

"Did not-"

"She kind of did." Tommy admitted. They both looked at him. "She may have asked me a few questions back then about Laurel's intentions."

"The defense rests." Laurel emphasised her point by stabbing the last pancake on the serving tray and moving it to her plate.

"Ok, but I'm obviously old enough now to make my own decisions."

"Like that ever stops a parent? We're eternally twelve." Laurel commented.

"The only reason Lance puts up with me is because he figures if I do something stupid he can leave me at the top of a tall hill with the breaks off." Tommy added. Laurel threw a grape at him. " Hey, you were the one who started the intimidating parent discussion. We can't leave out the number one contender."

"I second that, your dad is far worse than my mom." Oliver added.

"No no, your mom is worse. With my dad you know he hates you. Your mom says just enough to keep a girl feeling awkward and considering that's Felicity's natural state she probably feels it even more." Oliver's phone buzzed again. "So whatever she asks you to do, short of cancelling the dinner just do it."

"She's asking me to pick a colour." Oliver read.

"She's trying to decide what to wear. Just pick something you know she owns." Laurel translated. Oliver shot off a quick text before taking another sip of coffee. He didn't like to think of Felicity being uncomfortable in his home. He only hoped that dinner tonight would make things better, not worse.

Later that night, and later than Felicity would have liked, the mini pulled up to the newly reinforced main gate. Since Moira's return the decision had been made to post a guard at the front instead of the old pass code system. A happy redhead peeked out as Felicity rolled down the window.

"Good evening Ms-" The guard stopped as Felicity cleared her throat. "Felicity" She smiled to show her approval.

"Hey Carl, this is my mom." Denise leaned over to wave at him. He tipped his imaginary hat. "Are we really late or only kind of late?"

"Mr Diggle has arrived but not Mr Merlyn and Ms Lance. I'd say you're safe." He hit the button to open the gate. "Have a good night." Felicity waved as she drove through. When they finally reached the house she heard her mother gasp.

"Oh Felicity!"

"Yeah I know." She said having completely expecting that reaction.

"So I get to move in when you do right?"

"Mother." She parked the car and waited.

"What, you haven't talked about it? I mean if things progress you'll probably live here eventually." Denise theorized.

"Yeah I'll set that date for the fifth of never. At the earliest, the second of not-while-Moira-lives-here."

"She can't be that bad."

"Maybe not, but she terrifies me. I refuse to live with someone who scares the living crap out of me on a regular basis." Mentally she added the caveat of 'unless he's saving the city.' A knock on the window startled the two women. It was Dig and Carly. Felicity opened her door.

"Psyching yourself out again?" He asked.

"No," Felicity lied. "I was just talking to my mother." She got out of the car and Denise joined her.

"About how the lady of the house hates her." Mrs Smoak extended her hand. "Denise."

" I'm John , but call me Diggle. This is my girlfriend Carly." The women shook hands. "Come on, I think Oliver is worried you aren't actually going to show up."

" I always show up. It just takes me longer sometimes." Felicity argued as they walked in.

Oliver knocked on the door to his mother's room. After a muted reply to come in he entered. She was sitting at her dressing table putting on earrings. "I'm not going to lie, it feels a little weird to be a guest of the party instead of the host in my own home."

"It seemed like a good idea at the time. Now I just want to get it over with. Is that normal?" He asked. She smiled.

"Oh yes, very normal. I remember one time offering Raisa money to burn dinner in hopes your father would cancel the whole thing. She didn't fall for it." Oliver nodded.

"Well there goes that plan." Moira pulled a bracelet out of her drawer and started trying to put it on. Oliver knelt down in front of her and held out his hand in an offer of assistance. She placed the simple tennis bracelet in his palm. "Mom, you like Felicity, right?"

"She seems like a nice girl." She replied. "Walter always thought highly of her."

" But what do you think?" He finished latching the jewellery and looked her in the eye. Moira sighed.

"I think she isn't the type of girl I saw you ending up with." Oliver looked upset. "At first. However, you are a far different man than I thought you were. A better man. So maybe, you've found the right woman for him. I'm not sure how highly she thinks of me though."

"She's terrified of you." Oliver admitted. Moira looked surprised. "It might help if you let her in on the little secret that you don't hate her." The sound of voices downstairs signalled that it was time to make their entrance.

Oliver went down first. He entered the circle of friends, now two larger by the arrival of Tommy and Laurel, sliding an arm around Felicity's waist and giving her a kiss on the forehead. Moira paused at the top of the stairs and took a moment to let the scene sink in. She looked from Thea to Tommy and Oliver. Her three kids who it seemed just yesterday were running around her house with Nerf guns and driving each other crazy, were now well dressed, confident adults with loving partners. But sadly, because of mistakes she could never take back, She was the only one left to enjoy it.