Hey guys! I want to apologize because I'm not revising anything...but I want to get this chapters out really fast. I hope to be able to write at least a little every day...so I'm really sorry, but I'll try to revise it at some point. Also I'd like to thank my reviewers! You keep me motivated :D Enjoy!

Sean didn't like running with ear buds.

It wasn't that he didn't like music. He wasn't fanatic about it. He had a healthy, average liking of music.

He liked hearing the wind cutting his ears better.

That was also why he loved pushing and pushing, faster and faster, until he felt the cold wind burning the sides of his cheeks, until his lungs gave in. His whole life he had pushed himself a little harder every day. He became a little better every day, and that was how he'd become a SEAL at the age of 23.

It had worked, or at least most of the time, telling himself that he could always be better. That is, until…

His lungs screamed for air, but he ran just a little bit faster in a desperate attempt to block out his thoughts. He was determined to outrun those memories. Maybe if he ran a little farther, they wouldn't catch him…

His pocket vibrated, a most welcome distraction, breaking his train of thought. He halted, fishing his S3 from his pocket. It was lit up by a message from his mom that read "Honey, please come by my house in the afternoon". He put his phone down and sighed. He certainly didn't want to be a bad son, but he'd had enough of running around doing chores for his mother. He wasn't bred for this. He recognized how much his mother had always done for him, but he honestly couldn't stand attending another gala.

His phone vibrated again. "Are you coming or not?" he stared at the luminous letters, exasperated. Rubbing his eye tiredly, he texted a quick "be there in half an hour" and turned back on the direction of his home to, at least, take a shower.

Alex checked her outfit again before walking out the door of her apartment. It couldn't be something too flashy, so as not to attract attention. But it couldn't be too shaggy either, in case she did attract attention. Division had to believe that she was just playing the part of the Russian heiress, paying visits to the women who helped her with her charity. In the end, she chose black pants and a black coat from Balenciaga, just in case. And of course, black Isabel Marant sneakers, which were comfy just in case she had to kick someone's nuts. Or run like hell.

Anyway, maybe they were last season's shoes, but they were perfect for her, she though idly as she walked out on her quiet, middle class neighborhood. She didn't know what would be more of a scandal: if the paparazzi found out that the Russian socialite lived in a small house and wore shoes she'd bought a year ago, or if Division found out she'd been sneaking around too much.

She snorted a little at that thought. The paparazzi were definitely worse. She could, at least, hit division agents. She couldn't hit the paparazzi, no matter how annoying they were. You couldn't even throw coffee at them, because them they would sue you, and they would have it all on camera. She often considered the latter option though, but she refrained herself every time, either for love of her Starbucks or for not having heard of one celebrity who got away with messing with the paps.

The good thing was, unlike the real celebrities, she knew how to stay under the radar. She only ever was spotted when it was convenient for the mission. Truth was, the more attention she got, the safer she was from being swiftly murdered by her late father's dear friend, Semack. That had been Amanda's argument to convince her to play the klutz. And as much as she hated Amanda, she sure did have a point.

She finally arrived at Senator Pierce's door, rang the bell and anxiously looked around, eager to get in. She couldn't very well sneak in to the woman's house, but it was best not to be seen either.

After what seemed like a lifetime, Madeline's valet finally opened the door. She put on her best fake "my life is nothing but shopping and that is why I have so much energy all the time" smile and held her expensive (albeit small, to be discreet) purse like her hand would fall off if she touched it too much. She then mentally rolled her eyes.

"Hi!" She said brightly, barging in without really having been invited, trying to pass her anxiety for confidence. "Is the Senator in? I'd like to have a word with her." She blinked, staring at the unmoving butler. "About charity. I mean, my charity".

A woman's voice came from above. "Alexandra is always welcome in this house". Alex looked up and so did the butler. The Senator was descending the stairs, followed closely by a maid in uniform. Alex put her fake smile back on. "Madeline! I'm glad you're home. I would like to discuss saturday's Gala." She then quickly looked at the sitting room, not wanting to talk in front of the help. The less people who heard, the better. Madeline followed her gaze and gestured towards the room "After you".

Alex sat down where the Senator indicated. "Tea?" Madeline offered, gesturing the maid. "Yes, sure." Alex smiled again. It was good to keep the maid occupied. She tended to hover around the Senator.

"So, what about the Gala?" the Senator asked pleasantly. "It wasn't cancelled, was it?" Alex swallowed a choke, thinking that she wouldn't be so lucky. "No. No" she said, as pleasantly as possible. She took a deep, silent breath. "I regret to inform that the speech will be given by someone else". Unless you're looking forward to a bullet in your forehead, Alex thought, trying to keep her face neutral as she searched for the Senator's reaction.

"Oh. That is unfortunate. May I ask why?" Alex frowned slightly. She didn't seem so surprised. Maybe she, like herself, only pretended to enjoy those boring evenings. Alex quickly unraveled the lie she had prepared for this occasion. "Oh, please, don't get me wrong Madeline. It is just that you have always been a strong woman. Always successful. Always at the top. We, of the committee, thought that it wasn't fair to the mere mortals. We thought of putting someone who had a history of overcoming difficulties. To help inspire the poor children we want to help." Alex wanted to gag at her own words.

"Oh, Alexandra. You flatter me. Let's not make a fuss about this. I know how to step down with grace." She smiled benevolently. "Who is speaking then?" She asked pleasantly.

Alexandra's mouth gave a quick, involuntary twist. "Me". She looked down quickly, averting Madeline's eyes for a few seconds. She always felt under intense scrutiny whenever she was under the older woman's gaze. But the worst part was yet to come. "And…I feel embarrassed to ask this of you…but if you could please justify your stepping down for a case of strep throat…you know, so it won't look bad in press". Or rather, Alex thought, to justify why Amanda's target suddenly stepped out of the line of fire.

Madeline looked uncertain. Fortunately, the tea came just at the right time, covering up the awkward moment. Alex's cup was put down in front of her and she looked down at it. Madeline raised her own cup to her lips "Of course my dear. I understand", she said gracefully. Alex breathed in a silent relief before taking a sip.

Sean silently walked in through the kitchen's door. His mother always complained about his stealthy ways, claiming that he would someday be shot by her own security if he kept sneaking in like this. He couldn't help it, though. It was just a part of who he was, now.

His mother's huge, white kitchen was empty, which struck him as odd. There was usually at least the maid there. Was his mother with company? If she did, why had she demanded his presence? He slowly walked all the way to the other kitchen door, which lead into the dining room. He then heard a woman's laughter, though it definitely wasn't one of his sisters. He heard his mother talking easily, and he relaxed a little. He then opened the door to the sitting room.

The mysterious guest was sitting at the sofa that faced the door, with his mother sitting across from her. "Sean!" his mother raised easily from where she was, going around the sofa to greet him with a kiss. The woman, however, had risen stiffly, with her hand at an odd angle at her waist. Actually, her palm was turned to her back. He found it suspicious, as if she had… tried reaching for something. That only lasted a second though, and as his mother released his cheek, the woman was already looking as relaxed as if she owned the place.

"Sean, this is Alexandra Udinov" Madeline said as she gestured towards the woman. He immediately connected the name with the socialite who constantly made the news lately. He finally looked at her face and her intense blue eyes stirred something within him. He remembered seeing those eyes somewhere….but he couldn't quite place them. He started hacking his brain for memories. He had been in Russia as a SEAL, and he'd certainly seen many eyes like those. Some of them were agonizing…

He shoved those memories out of his brain. His brain then turned to a happier place…something that seemed a lifetime ago. It finally dawned on him that he'd seen those eyes on the girl he attempted to drunkenly rescue.

"Alexandra, my son Sean is my absolute pride. He is a Navy SEAL" Alex smiled at Madeline and extended her hand towards the woman's son. It bothered her that he was a SEAL. Maybe he would notice the gun she was hiding down her pants? She searched his face as he took her hand, and he looked at her with the same scrutinizing look as his mother. He also looked familiar, which unnerved her. He looked at her as if he also knew her, and she could almost see the wheels turning in his brain as she made her face blank, like she could shove him out with her will. He finally spoke in a deep voice "Ex- SEAL, mother".