Author's Note: HEY GUYS! Sorry I haven't been posting anything! I mean, I have been posting things, but they have been elsewhere on the internets. ;) So I am slowly going to be transferring fics over here for your reading pleasure! Starting with this lovely AU! Enjoy! And don't forget to review!

Chapter One - Introductions

Felicity Smoak stands nervously backstage, waiting for the panel to begin. She's the first celebrity to arrive and she's been unable to learn who else will be in attendance for this mixed panel. She fidgets with her dress, smoothing out the wrinkles and making sure the hem is at a decent length. Volunteers dash back and forth, checking camera feeds and microphones, making sure everything is ready and up to Comic-Con standards.

Slowly the other stars begin to arrive, some she's met and others she hasn't. She says hello and exchanges pleasantries. Everyone chats about upcoming films or television seasons, being supportive of their craft. A few moments before the panel moderator is set to take the stage, everyone begins gasping. Stars she might never have assumed to be the type to become starstruck suddenly begin swooning, making her feel a new wave of nervousness.

She follows their gaze to find the biggest movie star of their current generation, heartthrob and overall hunk, the man you wanna be in a love scene with: Oliver Queen. No one goes to say hi. No one moves from their positions. Felicity watches as he stands confidently in a corner, waiting to be told where to go. She admires his broad shoulders and perfectly stubbled chin. And his eyes. Blue. Perfect blue.

"All right. Here's the line-up according to the place-cards on the table, everyone. Line up as I say."

The volunteer reads off the list of panelist and they all begin to form a line in preparation for the introductions. The last two names recited are hers and Oliver Queen's. She takes a deep breath and falls into line beside him. He glances down at her, then does a double-take.

"Wait… Felicity Smoak… The Felicity Smoak…?"

She looks up at him, surprised. "Yeah…?"

He laughs excitedly. "I love your show!"

Her mouth drops open and she almost can't bring her words out. "Y-you know my show? You watch my show? A huge movie star like you watches my little CW TV show? Are you kidding? I mean… you seem like the type of guy who would only watch sports and action flicks… Not that there's anything wrong with that! I mean… you're such a big name. Silly television shows don't seem like your thing… Ugh. I need to shut up now."

He smiles, a genuine one that makes her feel less ridiculous. "I'm a huge fan of yours. I've always wanted to meet you but I've never gotten the chance!" He extends a hand and winks. "My name's Oliver Queen."

She takes his hand in hers and instantly can't contain her giggles. "Felicity Smoak…" she chokes out between her fangirling. "Pleasure to meet you! Now let's kick this panel's ass!"

Out on stage, the moderator is introducing himself and the purpose of the panel, getting laughs and cheers from the audience with each hint he gives. Felicity fidgets once more with her dress, straightening out a newly discovered wrinkle. Beside her, Oliver Queen chuckles. "You look great," he mumbles as the first panelist is called out to be met with lengthy applause. One by one, the next six panelists are introduced and met with the same excitement.

"T-thanks," she stammers, silently cursing herself for not being more put together and confident in the way most people assume celebrities are. But Oliver Queen seems to find it... endearing.

"...and next up we have the perfect girl next door with a deep dark, crime-fighting secret... Felicity Smoak!"

She puts on a smile, sends a little prayer out into the universe in the hopes she won't trip and begins to walk out onto the stage. Behind her, Oliver whispers an adorable encouragement that sounds to sexy. As if it came out of one of his films. Her cheeks grow warm with the thought. The lights hit her and she's instantly transported away from the darkness backstage and brought into the world of stardom. Fans cheer, applaud and shout out marriage proposals... the usual embarrassing stuff she never gets tired of. She loves her fans. She loves her job.

As she takes a seat and the crowd quiets to a persistent murmur, she looks at the empty seat beside her, at the very end of the table. There's no nameplate by the microphone that her and Oliver will share, and she now knows that his appearance is a complete surprise for the audience. She grins.

"...and last... the surprise all of you have been speculating about. The man of the hour, the man that makes every woman weak at the knees and every man wish he could be as perfectly toned. The one. The only. Oliver Queen!"

The audience goes insane. The marriage proposals triple, sent out by men and women alike. Oliver steps out, feigning nervousness, but Felicity can tell just how much he loves the attention. He catches her gaze and winks like he did before. The moderator was completely right about the weak knees thing. Every woman in the hall must be feeling it and Oliver Queen knows it. When he arrives at his seat, he digs a nameplate out of his back pocket and places it in front of him, then leans over toward the mic. "You know... In case you have no idea who I am."

The moderator laughs. "That's not likely, buddy."

The panelists get situated, taking sips of water and then the questions rapidly begin. Each one receives one directed specifically at them regarding whatever new project they are promoting. The answers are thoughtful, most of them rehearsed and all of them completely spoiler-free. When the time comes for Felicity to speak, she listens intently to the question, not wanting any word-vomit to overflow and take up valuable panel time.

"So, Felicity," the moderator begins, glancing down at his notes. "Your character went through some really intense development last season. How will this impact her going into season three?"

Felicity gulps down her nerves and smiles. "Well," she murmurs, leaning into the mic and catching the godlike scent of Oliver's cologne. "First I have to ask... How many of you have seen the season two finale?" The hall erupts into screams and cries, many of them containing crucial plot twists that shocked the fandom. "Okay... Good. Well, I'd say all the drama really established my character as a strong woman. I mean, we've always known she was strong intellectually. But I think in the first season she appeared very emotionally fragile. Last season we really worked to establish her potential as a true cyber vigilante. And all I can say about season three is that she will kick major ass... 'cause, remember... She's a bitch with wifi, and she's not afraid to use it."

More screams and cheers erupt, causing her to feel great pride in herself and her answers. Leaning back, away from the mic, she whispers: "No word-vomit! Win!" Beside her, Oliver chokes on a gulp of water. He turns to her and laughs once his mini coughing fit passes. "Sorry," she mouths to him, and he waves off the apology with a shaky smile.

"Well... Oliver Queen," the moderator says before being drowned out by the audience. "Geez, guys! Settle down!" The hall quiets and the moderator nods as he goes over his notes once again. "You've been in some major blockbusters recently... big action films, a superhero flick. All very physically demanding work. What made you decide to put the big studio productions aside and try your hand at the indie genre?"

Felicity frowns. The question comes off slightly negative, as if such serious pursuits are beneath an actor like Oliver. She glances over at him and can tell he's feeling the same way. His hands are balled into fists beneath the table as he considers his answer. His brows are furrowed as he leans awkwardly forward and says, "I wanted to try something new."

The simplicity of his words brings a rumbling murmur up from the crowd and everyone on the panel goes stiff.

The moderator chuckles, clearly uncomfortable. "Some might say you're heading down the road of Ryan Gosling, with all his indie works over the past few years. Is that what you're going for?"

Oliver shakes his head. "I'm not really going for anything, specifically. I've hit a point in my career that I feel like putting serious thought into the stories and characters I choose to bring to life. As fun as it is to run around in a superhero costume or film a fight scene with the likes of Sylvester Stallone, I'd really like to bring my acting to the next level and do something that truly means something to me emotionally. And hey, if I can remain as popular as Ryan Gosling, it's a win-win."

The crowd cheers and then the panel continues. The moderator is off-kilter after Oliver's answer, but remains peppy for the sake of the show. The final question before opening the floor for fans is the one everyone knew was coming: "All right. Let's go down the line. Who on this panel would you like to work with?"

The audience is dead-silent. No one laughs. No one speaks. Somewhere in the back of the hall a phone goes off, but no one goes to scold the person for their bad manners.

Every other panelist answers that they'd love to work with Oliver Queen. When it comes to Felicity, she follows suit. "I'd be crazy to say anyone other than this guy." She nudges him playfully and he smiles down at her, clearly flattered.

Oliver chuckles into the microphone and everyone hold their breath. He glances toward Felicity and says: "I'd love you work with Felicity Smoak. Is there any way I could make a guest appearance on your show?"

She gawks at him, shocked. As the audience reacts, she shakes herself out of her stupefied silence and says: "I'll see what I can do..."

The panel is over. Photo ops are done and the panelists are congregating backstage, chatting and milling around as the next collection of celebrities gather. No one speaks to Oliver Queen, and he doesn't seem to care. Felicity watches him from her spot in a circle of women talking about some of the cosplayers they've seen throughout their time at the con. He's watching her as well, sending odd somersaults through her stomach and more flush to her cheeks. Finally she works up the courage to confront him.

"So," she says, drawing the word out as she comes to stand in front of him. She looks up at him and can't help but marvel at how gorgeous he is. It's no wonder he was cast as a Greek god. "Were to serious?"

He raises an eyebrow. "Serious about what?"

"About wanting to work with me..."

He nods. "Oh yes. Like I said before, I love your show. If there's any way I could cameo or something, I'd love to."

She laughs a little, unsure how to let him know the unfortunate truth. "Oliver, as awesome as it'd be to have you for an episode, I highly doubt our measly production can afford you." She looks up at him through her lashes. "Not that you're expensive or high maintenance or anything. But youare high profile and I don't think-"

"I'd do it for free. Just to do it."

Her mouth drops for a moment before she blurts out: "No agent or manager would ever allow their talent to work for free... on anything."

He leans in, hiding his mouth behind his hand as if he's going to indulge her with a really juicy piece of gossip. "I have my manager wrapped around my finger." He lets loose another wink, turning her knees momentarily to jelly.

"Ah, well... I guess I will see what I can do." She looks around and finds her family peeking in through one of the exits. She smiles and waves them away. "Well, it was a pleasure to meet you, Oliver Queen. I hope to see you again soon." She holds out her hand and he takes it gently into his. The size difference is baffling, but somehow it feels right. They fit together well despite having only just met. The idea makes Felicity feel giddy and on the verge of fangirling.

"I know we will..." he replies, letting her hand go and walking away toward a bodyguard hiding in the shadows.

Once he is out of earshot, Felicity closes her eyes, a new wave of shock running over her. "Oliver Queen wants to work with me?"