Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Alias characters. I just love to write about them.

Chapter 1

"I don't see why all of us have to go to this banquet. Goodness knows I can think of plenty of other things to do with my evening then to spend it with a bunch of daddy's stuffy old CIA friends." Helen Marrisfield complained as her mother laid her gown out on the bed.

"We've already talked about this. It's important that we be there to support your father. The proudest moment is when any director can bring one of his agents to Washington to officially be named a senior officer."

"But still, you know most of the people that are going to be there."

"You'd know a few of them too if you hadn't stayed home all of those other times either reading, practicing your piano, or doing whatever else you do in your free time."

"I probably had more fun than you did sitting on the sidelines with the other wives."

Her mother cast her one of those looks. She should have known better that she wouldn't have won this argument in the first place. As she was getting older, she was finding that what she wanted from life was much different than the ones her parents had envisioned for her. Just last summer, her best friend Marie married John Winkler, the son of a very prestigious politician in San Francisco. It seemed so weird that at sixteen, her best friend was already someone's wife. Surely that was never going to happen to her. There was so much she wanted to do with her life before she would even consider marriage. And nothing her parents could do would change her mind.

"Alright then," Helen finally consented. "I'll go to the banquet, but just to hear daddy's speech. Once it's finished, I'll have Jameson bring me home.

"I have always said it is a very rare to find a young man who is so dedicated and so passionate about their duty to their country. Tonight I present him to you as the newest senior member of the Lost Angeles firm. I am personally honored to have had the opportunity to be a mentor to such a fine young talent. And it is my hope that in his new position, he will find success far beyond anything imaginable. Ladies and gentlemen, I give to you Robert Bristow."

The room thundered with applause as a young man of twenty three stood and shook the hand of his boss, his mentor as he took his place in front of the podium. As Helen sat at the table and observed, she couldn't get over how this Mr. Bristow sat up there so stoned faced. He showed absolutely no emotion as her father presented him to his superiors. If she hadn't caught that brief break in his face, she would have sworn it was frozen in that position. But one thing she had to hand to this stone cold statue of a man, he certainly knew how to make himself look elegant. Never in her life had she ever seen eyes that were as brown as his were. The soft sound of his voice literally cast a spell over the other daughters in the room. She looked away for a moment and noticed two girls literally drooling over every word that came out of his mouth. Honestly girls and their puppy love crushes. Helen knew with that kind of mannerism it would literally be a cold day in Hades before any man would ever take them seriously. When she finally managed to return from her sidetracks, Robert's speech had ended.

"Well," she thought. "There's no reason for me to stick around anymore."

She pulled her wrap over her shoulders and quickly made her escape. As she headed down the stairs, a young man suddenly blocked her path. She could smell the alcohol all over him.

"Hiya sweetheart." The man said as he drained the glass in his hand.

She tried to push him out of her way, but he grabbed her arm.

"Hey baby where ya going? The night's still young."

There was no one around that Helen could see who could possibly hear her cries for help. Suddenly she felt herself being pushed against the wall. He had managed to pin her arms behind her back. Just as he was about to lean in and begin his assault, his eyes seemed to double in size as someone was pulling his tie behind his neck. She looked up and saw Robert Bristow pulling the man closer to him.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!!!" he roared pulling the man within inches of his face.

"Hey buddy, who said you could interrupt? My baby and I were just about to have some fun."

With as much force as he could muster, Robert threw him against the same wall that Helen had been pinned to moments ago.

"Peter!" Robert roared. "Get this piece of garbage out of here before I make him part of this wall."

Helen noticed another man coming towards them. Robert loosened his grip as Peter seized him and proceeded to take him outside.

"Are you alright?" he asked turning his attention back towards Helen. There was a brief pause.

"Yes." she finally managed to answer.

"I'll be sure to report him to his superiors just as soon as I'm able."

"You know him?"

"Matt Preston. A regular twit if you ask me. But then again, most of the people who work in analysis are."

"Thank you Mr. Bristow for what you did." Helen said her voice barely audible. She was still a bit shaken that she had almost been accosted right there on the stairwell.

"I don't believe that we've been properly introduced. I'm Robert Bristow."

"Helen...Helen Marrisfield."

He took her hand in his and gently placed a kiss upon it. She swallowed hard as her eyes met his. Time seemed to stand still as she beheld the man before her. Helen had barely known him, but there was something about him, something that touched her very soul. Many of the men who sought desperately in the past to win her affections were nothing compared to him. Her breath caught in her throat as she examined every detail about her rescuer. The giant grandfather clock chimed the hour and Helen knew that she should be getting home. But the thing of it was she didn't want to go. For if she left now, she was certain she'd never be this close to Robert ever again.

"Well I guess I should be heading home. Thank you again Mr. Bristow for everything. I don't know how I'll ever be able to repay you."

"Helen." he called.

She turned toward him and noticed that he was coming towards her.

"If you have no objections, may I escort you home?"

Helen couldn't help but to say yes.