the fundraiser

In Oliver's hideout he and Diggle are training by using some metal bars as Escrimas and sparring against the other. During their training Diggle tells him that he'll have to reveal what happened on the Isle to him sooner or later after it came up where he learned the technique from.

When they take a break Oliver tells him who he thinks should be the next target but Diggle argues that they should take care of the robbers, who are robbing cities by threes and have robber Starling City trusts this morning, killing a cop in the process.

Oliver argues that he doesn't fight street crime and that it's only a symptom and he's fighting the disease. Diggle doesn't agree with his view of how they should operate but Oliver is resilient in believing that the only way to honor his father is to cross everyone off the list while Diggle thinks that if they can stop a crime they should whenever possible.

|At CNRI|

Laurel is going over her schedule with Joanna and she asks her who much time she'll need for a task when Tommy comes in and walks up to them.

"I have fiesta time or is it siesta time? Which one is a party and which one a nap?" Tommy asks.

"Tommy as much as I'd love to give you a Spanish course I'm busy." Laurel tells him.

"Of course, working in this tiny office encircled by brickwalls who can make time, but here's what I'm thinking, Coast City. Sunset flight on my plane, dinner at Brumes and I'll have you back by midnight or maybe in the morning." Tommy offers.

"What is this?" Laurel asks confused as she continues her work.

"This is what we talked about. This is you getting to know the real me." Tommy replies.

"Tommy so you don't misunderstand CNRI just lost his largest donor which means all of the hard work and sacrifices I've done to help this legal clinic survive it may have been for nothing." Laurel tells him upset.

"Maybe another time yeah?" Tommy replies and leaves feeling confused.

"Harsh sis, maybe you should cut him some slack? I don't think he knew about it." Ryan tells Laurel as he walks past her, making her think about it quickly before she refocuses herself on work.

|Queen Mansion|

"Haven't you notices that mom is upset a lot lately?" Thea asks her brother as they walk around the house and is met by silence.

"What am I saying? Of course you haven't." She says disappointed.

"Who are you to judge, since when do you pay attention to how mom's feeling?" Oliver challenges.

"Since our stepfather decided to take a business trip halfway around the world." Thea replies.

"If someone of Walter's paygrade takes a business trip it's always sudden so I wouldn't worry Speedy." Oliver tells her.

"Ah, guess who I just hung up with." Moira says greeting her children as they make their way down the stairs.

"Jenice Bowen, Carters mother." She tells them.

"Ah, Carter Bowen the perfect son." Oliver says laughing.

"Is he perfect?" Moira asks playing innocent.

"According to you. Carter Bowen just won the national chess championship, Carter Bowen is anchoring the debate team." Oliver says recalling what her mother said in the past.

"I'm sure I didn't make that much of a fuss." Moira replies.

"Oliver, Carter just got accepted into Harvard and Stanford." Thea says playfully.

"That is because Carter got a perfect score on his SATs." Oliver adds.

"But how did he manage to study and cure cancer?" Thea asks.

"Alright, alright I get it. They are coming to brunch and I expect you to be there." She tells them.

"I have plans." Oliver says.

"That's fine. The brunch is tomorrow." She says making Thea laugh at Oliver's misfortune.

"I think she just ruined your clean getaway." Thea taunts her brother.

"Oh you'll be there too Thea." Moira tells her daughter.

"Snap." Oliver says snipping at his sister.

"Nobody says that anymore." Thea informs him.

"Mom, I can't actually go." Oliver tells his mother as she starts to walk away.

"I haven't seen the Bowen's in years, so whatever it is that you have planned I'm sure the two of you can make this sacrifice just this once." Moira tells them.

"OK, we'll be there." Oliver agrees.

"Mom, can we bring a guest to this brunch?" Thea asks.

"Who did you have in mind? Tommy? Because I thought about him too." Moira asks.

"I was actually thinking Ryan, but Tommy sounds even better." Thea says, having a secret crush on her brothers' best friend.

After Thea and Moira left Oliver gets a call from Diggle who tells him to come to Starling General, because Oliver's next target tried to kill himself. Just as Oliver is about to leave the house Tommy appears in the door.

"Hey, I just got a new sportscar so I'm thinking we can open her up, pick up a few speeding tickets." Tommy greets his friend.

"That sounds great, but I gotta jet." Oliver replies.

"OK, nice talk thanks." Tommy says sarcastically when Oliver already went past him.

"Oh hey, we were just talking about you." Thea says greeting Tommy.

"Really why?" Tommy asks.

"Brunch tomorrow, with the Bowens. You going to come?" Thea asks.

"Carter Bowen huh, I think I'll pass thanks." Tommy tells her, looking back where Oliver disappeared to.

"Goes fast doesn't he?" Thea asks.

"It's ironic because you're the one we call Speedy." Tommy tells her.

"Called please, for the love of god. But if you need somebody to talk to…" Thea offers embarrassed that he called her by her old nickname.

"You know, maybe you could help. There is this girl that I'm interested in and I'm really not sure how to pursue it." Tommy says.

"Have you tried using you usual lines? Hi my name is Tommy Merlin and I'm a billionaire." Thea asks him.

"Yeah she is aware of that and she doesn't care. Money isn't really a big deal to her." Tommy answers.

"Why don't you just tell her how you feel?" Thea asks.

"I've known her for a long time and I'm not really sure the direct approach is the right way to go." Tommy tells her.

"Maybe you just have to figure out what's a big deal to her and make is a big deal to you." Thea suggests, thinking he was talking about her.

"Thea, you're amazing. Love you." Tommy says leaving the Mansion.

Once Oliver arrives at the hospital Diggle introduces him to the wife of the police officer who got shot and Diggle convinces him to work the bank robberies. In order to find out the robbers identities Oliver sees a ring on one of the robbers fingers and sneaks into the police station to steal the files, amongst them a picture of the injury one of the bank employees sustained when he got punched and Oliver can pull the imprint of it and run it through a database and soon finds the shooters identity and figures out that the whole family is robbing the bank together.

|The next day - CNRI|

"Alright, so where are you going to take me today, Monte Carlo?" Laurel asks walking into her workplace and sees Tommy chatting with Joanna.

"Actually, I was just telling Jo here that the Merlin global group is looking to expand its philanthropy and I thought we could start by sponsoring a benefit for CNRI." Tommy says.

"Cute Tommy, but I think we can manage without your family's finances." Laurel replies.

"Laurel a word." Joanna says intervening and pulls her aside.

"What are you doing?" She asks.

"He's not interested in throwing us a fund raiser, what he wants to do is have his first annual attempt to get into my pants." Laurel says.

"Who cares why he's doing it, we need the money." Joanna tells her.

"Not like that we don't." Laurel says.

"We really do. So you're going to listen to your best friends advice and you're going over there and say: Thank you Tommy we'd be honored if you'd throw us a fund raiser." Joanna tells her.

"Thank you Tommy. We'd be honored if you'd throw us a fundraiser." Laurel repeats obviously not liking it.

|Queen Mansion|

"Well I'm sorry Walter couldn't join us." Mrs. Bowen says sharing a glass of Orange juice with Moira, Thea and her son Carter.

"Oh well, the Australia trip came up suddenly. He sends his apologies." Moira says.

"Where is Oliver, he's not out of town too is he?" Carter asks.

"I'm sure he's just…" Moira says when Oliver shows up saying "Stuck in traffic, one of the things I didn't miss on the Island, Sunday drivers. Sorry I'm late."

"I'm so happy to see you, we all thought you had…" Mrs. Bowen says hugging Oliver once he hugged his mother and sister as greeting.

"We're just glad he's home." Moira says.

"And returning as a celebrity." Carter says shaking his hand.

"How do you mean?" Oliver asks.

"Billionaire scion cast away for five years I'm sure there is a bidding war for the rights to your life's story. At least that's what my agent says." Carter says as they all take seats at the table.

"Agent? I thought you were a neurosurgeon Carter." Oliver replies.

"I know it's crazy. One time I'm publishing this book on a medical theory and the next thing I know some agent is trying to make me the next doctor OZ." Carter says.

"Why would he want you to be a wizard?" Oliver asks questioningly making everyone chuckle.

"For all our sake's start reading us weekly." Thea suggests and then asks Moira "Mom, why is there another plate?" Seeing another seat prepared next to her.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you honey. I picked up your idea to invite Ryan afterall. He should be arriving soon." Moira tells her.

"Ryan? Who is that?" Mrs. Bowen asks.

"Oh he's a family friend and we wanted to have him over anyways so we thought why not introduce him to you as well." Moira replies.

"Olvier, what are your plans are you going to be working for Queen Consolidated?" Carter asks him.

"I'm opening a nightclub." Olvier replies, making Thea have to stifle her laughter and Diggle walks in saying "Sir, your liquor distributor is on the line", whispering to him that another bank is being hit right now.

"Sorry, business." Oliver apologizes leaving the table.

Moira goes after him and asks "Oliver, where are you going?" disappointed.

"Something's come up. I'm really sorry." He apologizes and leaves with Diggle. Just as he steps out Ryan comes in.

"Good to see you…" Ryan says but Oliver is going straight past him.

"Sorry, did I come at a bad time?" Ryan asks Moira unsure as he walks into the foyer, wearing a blazer and dress shirt as well as a black jeans.

"No, no come in. Oliver just has something to deal with about his nightclub apparently." Moira tells him, giving him a hug.

"Nightclub huh?" Ryan asks.

"Yes, now come on we're about to eat. I'm sure Thea will be glad to have some company now that Olvier is gone.

"I thought you had friends over?" Ryan asks confused.

"Yes well, my friends. Not my childrens' I'm afraid." Moira tells him and leads him to the dining room.

"Hi." Ryan greets everyone waving at them and sits down at the seat next to Thea, her mother points him to before she retakes her own seat.

"So Ryan, we only heard you're a family friend, what do you do?" Carter asks the younger teen.

"I'm a secretary for CNRI but I'm thinking of starting law-school." Ryan replies.

"So how do you know the Queens?" Mrs. Bowen asks him.

"Uh, Oliver is my sisters ex, as well as old friend and I've helped them once or twice." Ryan replies.

"You are having legal issues?" Mrs. Bowen asks Moira shocked.

"No, gods no. Ryan, you don't have to be so shy. He saved both of my childs life." Moira replies.

"Really, what happened?" Carter asks.

"I was almost shot during that sniper incident and Oliver almost got killed by a hitman when he was mistaken for the hood." Thea tells them, starting to eat.

"Oh that must have been scary." Mrs. Bowen says.

"Not the first time I've been shot, or the first time I got pummeled by a professional." Ryan replies offhandedly and follows Thea's lead, starting to eat.

"Really." Mrs. Bowen says surprised.

"Happens when you live in the glades and are defending champion in a cage fighting arena." Ryan tells them.

"Cage fighting? At your age?" Moira asks shocked.

"Well the illegal ones were while I was in foster care and had to win some money somehow." Ryan says.

"I thought you said Oliver knows your sister." Carter says.

"She's not my real sister but she took me in when I saved her from some gangbangers. Laurel Lance, maybe you've heard of her?" Ryan replies.

"I went to highschool with her and I'll meet her tonight at the fund raiser." Carter replies.

"Oh right, that's today, well looks like I can stay in this monkey suit for the rest of the day then." Ryan jokes, making Thea chuckle.

"You know Ryan, my son is a neurosurgeon." Mrs. Bowen brags.

"That's a brain doc right?" Ryan asks, making Thea almost burst out laughing.

"In lamest terms yes. I operate on brains and discover their functionality." Carter replies.

"Know anything about bullet wounds and how long they take to heal up? Cuz mine reopened like three times already." Ryan asks rolling his shoulder, while giving Thea, who's grinning like a madman, a smirk.

"Well, I'd have to take a look but in general I can…" Carter says when Ryan cuts him off saying "great, after brunch then?"

"Alright I guess." Carter agrees.

Moira then tries to get the conversation back on a more fitting topic, while Thea leans over and whispers "That was hilarious, did you do that on purpose?"

"Maybe a little bit." Ryan replies with a grin.

Meanwhile with Oliver

The bank robbers are escaping by using the steam tunnels under the bank when both the police and Oliver as the hood engage them in a fight, during which Oliver pins down the money they were trying to steal and forces them to escape.

Olvier tries to stop the robberies before they happen but can't find an address for the family and asks felicity to look them up for any sign of digital life and she informs him that the father was an employee for Oliver's father before they started to rob banks. So Olvier decides to confront the father and try to offer him a good way out with a new job but he refuses to take charity and the family decides that they are going to do one last heist before they retire.

|CNRI banquet|

"Wow, you just look really lovely." Tommy tells Laurel, seeing her walk over to him.

"Well it's good to see you've extended your vocabulary from hot and mega hot." Laurel teases.

"Could have said thank you, you know." Tommy says.

"Thank you, you know." She repeats.

"You're welcome." Tommy says giving her a smile.

Tommy then sees Thea at the bar and excuses himself from Laurel and Joanna who just came over.

"Thanks for coming." Tommy says hugging Thea.

"Thank you for inviting me." She replies.

"Well I figured the entire Queen family and their checkbooks should be present." Tommy says playfully.

"Right and how is it going for you so far?" Thea asks.

"It is going amazing and all because of you, Thea Queen the unlikely voice of reason." Tommy tells her.

"Aww, me? What did I do?" Thea asks with a wide grin.

"Gave me that great advice. I thought about what the girl was interested in and it's working" Tommy says stepping aside and looking at Laurel.

"And you did this for Laurel." Thea says disappointed, which Tommy doesn't notice.

"Thanks again Speedy." Tommy says before he rejoins Laurel.

"Yeah, anytime." Thea says to herself and takes a glass of Champaign, chugging it down in one go.

"Oh hey Tommy, you remember Carter Bowen from high school?" Laurel asks him.

"It's good to see you, and you. You look amazing. I'm so impressed at the work you and CNRI are doing. You know I've actually been thinking of starting a free clinic down here in the glades, maybe grab a couple of drinks and tell you what I'm thinking?" Carter says talking to Laurel mostly.

"That sounds great." Laurel agrees and walks off with him.

"Hi." Oliver greets his mother.

"Hello, I didn't think you were going to make it given your hectic schedule." Moira says.

"Mom, about the stuff with the Bowens earlier, I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise." Oliver apologizes.

"That is nothing new for you Oliver, I know you and I have had our difficulties, but I always thought that you and I had a connection. So can you imagine, after being granted the miracle of having my child return to me that you seem to have little to no interest in being with me or telling me the truth." Moira tells him.

"Mam." Diggle says coming over to the two and informs Oliver that they're hitting the next bank right now.

"I have to go. I'm sorry." Oliver apologizes.

"Don't bother apologizing, honestly there are times when I wonder why you even come home Oliver." Moira replies.

Oliver then leaves the banquet and goes to stop the robbery. During him intervening the father gets shot by the security guard who regained his consciousness during their fight.

Meanwhile at the banquet Tommy is drinking and sulking to himself as he watches Laurel dance with Carter.

"Did you know that as a doctor I'm able to diagnose myself as a giant tool." He says to himself, taking a sip.

"Good one." Ryan says walking past him as he tries to find new donors, having been tasked by Joanna to put up a nice front.

"How about a dance handsome?" Thea asks Tommy, obviously drunk and leans on his shoulder.

"Hey, I thought that we agreed, you'd call me before you did something stupid." Tommy tells her.

"You're no fun. I'm going to show you how to have some fun." She tells him and tries to pull him in for a kiss but Tommy takes her hands off his neck asking "Whoa, what are you doing?" shocked.

"You said I was amazing." Thea says confused, thinking in her drunken state that he's into her.

"Thea you are amazing but you're also like my sister. My baby sister." Tommy tells her.

"Well I'm not a baby anymore. Thank you for noticing." Thea tells him, she sees over his shoulder and sees her dancing with Carter.

"Hah, Laurel doesn't even like you. She doesn't understand you. I do. Why can't you just see that?" Thea asks.

"Thea, it was a mistake to talk to you about girls. It was inappropriate and I think it may have confused you." Tommy tells her, leading her away.

"Another rejection? It's pretty clear. Even if it wasn't, between my mom and Oliver and everybody in my entire life I'm pretty much used to it by now." Thea tells him and steps away backwards, into a waiter and knocks over some glasses which catches the attention of the nearby guests, amongst them Laurel and Ryan.

Both of them go after Thea and Tommy and find them in the alley behind the banquet where Thea is throwing up with Tommy's jacket over her shoulders.

"Tommy?" Laurel asks.

"Yep?" Tommy says.

"Is Thea OK?" Ryan asks.

"Yeah, she just ate some bad crab cakes." Tommy says and Laurel gives him a look while Ryan goes over to the girl.

"Are you sure it wasn't something she drank?" Laurel asks.

"Don't worry. I got it. You can go back inside. You were having a nice little Dosie-do with the good doctor." Tommy tells her.

"Tommy I'm gonna let you in on a little secret about doctor Carter Bowen. The man is a gigantic ass." Laurel tells him.

"And he knows squat about gunshot wounds." Ryan adds from his spot next to Thea, holding her hair out of her face.

"And the only reason I danced with him is because he wrote a massive check to CNRI. Why would you think anything else?" Laurel informs him while Tommy looks at Ryan with confusion.

"I guess when it comes to you I tend to not think straight." Tommy confesses.

"Can you call me a cab?" Thea asks Tommy having stopped puking and goes over to the two adults with Ryan behind her.

"Forget that. I'm sure the good old Tommy won't mind us borrowing his car while he goes dancing with my sister, right?" Ryan asks.

"Uhh, I guess not." Tommy agrees, throwing him the keys after looking at Laurel for any objections.

"Sorry for making such a scene." Thea says giving Tommy his jacket back whispering "please don't hate me." With fear written on her face. Tommy only gives her a hug whispering never. She then enters the car with Ryan opening the door for her, after his own jacket across the girl's shoulders.

"Don't worry, just feel better OK?" Laurel tells her.

"Is it OK to leave those two on their own?" Tommy asks Laurel quietly.

"Yeah, Ryan knows what he's doing and don't worry he's a gentleman like you." Laurel tells him, giving him a kiss on his cheek.

"Alright, let's get you home." Ryan tells her and starts up the car, driving then to the Queen mansion.

The ride was quiet with Thea being ashamed of herself and Ryan focusing on driving while wondering about what happened between Thea and Tommy.

When they arrive in front of the mansion Ryan shuts off the car and goes around it, opening the door for her before locking the car.

"There is a key under the welcome mat." Thea tells him, taking off her high heels once they are on the pavement.

"Original." Ryan says amused and fetches the key, opening the door for them.

"Thank you. I'm alright now." Thea says but Ryan follows her into the house saying, "No you're not and we both know it." Ryan brings Thea to the living room before he searches for the kitchen and fetches her a bottle of water.

"Thanks." Thea says accepting the water.

"So if you don't mind me asking why'd you get drunk? I mean it was a banquet not a party." Ryan asks some mirth hidden in his voice.

"It's nothing." Thea replies sadly.

"Come on, just tell me. Can't be worse than what my mom once told me." Ryan says.

"What'd she say?" Thea asks.

"I drink because I gave birth to you." Ryan quotes his mother, some embarrassment in his voice.

"I tried to hit on Tommy." Thea tells him quietly, fearing that he'll leave and reject her just like everyone else.

"Tommy huh? Bit old don't you think?" Ryan asks trying to lighten the mood.

"He was always there for me when Ollie was gone and I relied on him a lot, so when he asked me for advice about a girl he knows for a long time who doesn't care about money I thought he meant me." Thea tells him embarrassed and puts her head into her legs, which she pulls up on the couch.

"So what'd he say?" Ryan asks.

"You are amazing but you're also my sister. My baby sister." She repeats.

"Well he is right, you are amazing." Ryan says.

"What?" Thea asks surprised.

"I too think you're amazing." Ryan says.

"What are you talking about?" Thea asks.

"Come on, do you really think I'd voluntarily sit through a meal with dr. Carter Bowen if I didn't like someone at the table? And no offense to your mom but I don't think we have much in common." Ryan tells her laughing and gets Thea to chuckle herself.

"Well I guess at least one person didn't reject me yet then." Thea says leaning on his shoulder as he sits down next to her.

"Why would I reject you, you're perfect. Well if you overlook the frequency in which you get drunk." Ryan tells mirthfully.

"Shut up." Thea complains with a big grin.

"Do you want me to bring you to your bed?" Ryan asks her, seeing her about to doze off, but she doesn't reply and is out like a light.

"Guess that's a yes. Hope Oliver doesn't get the wrong idea and snaps my neck like that hitman's." Ryan murmurs to himself as he picks up Thea in his arms and carries her to her room, where he lies her on her bed and puts the covers over her, having put her on her side to be safe, incase she's not done throwing up. He then steps into the hallway but lets the door open so he can see her incase she does throw up or something while she's out.

A few hours later Moira is fixing herself a drink after she came back from the banquet.

"Nightcap?" Oliver asks his mother, standing in the doorframe.

"Well I thought it might help me. I don't sleep well alone." Moira replies downing the drink.

"I'm sorry about what I said tonight." She apologizes, turning towards her son.

"No, you were being honest." Oliver tells her.

"Not entirely. The truth is with Walter being gone I'm lonely and you know you and I used to talk. I used to know what you're thinking but now even when you're home you are somewhere else. I guess I just miss my son." Moira tells him.

"I miss you too and I wish that… are you hungry?" Oliver says.

"What do you have in mind? Oh Ryan what are you doing here?" Moira replies asks the teen, seeing him come down the stairs.

"I heard some noise and figured you guys are back. Thea was upset at the banquet and had a glass too much I'm afraid. I brought her to her room but I think someone should stick around just in case." He tells them.

"Oh, thank you." Moira says.

"And I know it's most definitely not my place but friendly advice, Thea is having a hard time coping with you two being closed off and I don't think she'll get rid off her bad habits unless you open up to her." Ryan tells them.

"Ryan it's nice of you to take care of my sister but I don't think this is any of your concern." Oliver tells him.

"Sorry, just thought I'd tell you directly, well good night." Ryan says bidding them farewell leaves, bringing Tommy's car to his home, having looked up the address on his phone.