Lara awoke screaming. She lashed out at an invisible foe, the nightmare replaying in her head. She struggled to battle this figure who had stolen her daughter. "NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!" She howled as the figure began to fight him. "DON'T TOUCH HER!!!!!! ELECTRA!!!!!!!!"

"Lara!" Lara was snapped back to reality when Alex struck her across the face. Lara collapsed on the bed, struggling to breathe.

"Lara?! Are you alright?! I'm sorry I hit you, what's wrong?" Alex blurted out. He turned on the lights and held Lara against him. Lara gulped in the sweet oxygen and tried to calm herself, refusing to cry.

"Are you okay?" Alex murmured.

"I had a nightmare. . ." Lara replied, taking Alex's hands in hers. "I dreamt about Electra." She choked down a sob. "Electra was a girl, seventeen or eighteen."

"What happened?" Her husband asked.

"There was this man. I couldn't see who he was, but he told Electra that we abandoned her. That we didn't love her. Then she begged him to make love to her and she said that he was the only person who cared about her. Oh God, Alex." She murmured. "She said she wanted to have his children. And then. . . he, he, took her virginity. But he was staring at me. Like he was laughing at me."

"It's okay, Lara. It was just a dream." Alex said, kissing her forehead.

"It seemed so real. It felt like it had already happened." Lara said.

"Don't say that." Alex said, sternly. "Electra is still just a baby and we're going to get her back and that'll be that."

"Alex, I have a bad feeling about this." Lara confessed.

"Maybe it's heartburn." Alex muttered. "Come on, let's go down stairs and find something for that. Some ice cream maybe." He said, thoughtfully.

"Ice cream for heartburn?" Lara asked.

"Okay, okay. I just want some ice cream. . ." Alex admitted. "Come on, we can talk."

***

"Everyone here?" Hillary looked around the dinning room where Lara, Alex, Bryce and Smoke sat, ready to be briefed on the Potter's annual charity ball.

"We're all here, let's get started." Smoke said. She was cleaning one of her guns, her feet propped up on a chair.

"Okay, the Potters are a couple composed of Martin Potter and Natalie Potter, maiden name; Smith. They have two children, Susan and Herald." Hillary said, handing out pictures of each of the family members to the group.

"Herald. . . Harry. Harry Potter." Alex murmured. "He must get teased at school." Alex mused.

"Probably does." Hillary agreed. "At the last charity ball Herald caused quite a stir when he threw water balloons at guests as they departed."

"Can you get to the point?" Lara asked.

"Right, sorry. Anyways, Martin and Natalie own the Potter manor where they hold their annual ball for a charity that is selected randomly. Some people think that they Potters pocket some of the money, but that has yet to be proven. Here is a lay out of the house that Bryce made." Hillary said, setting a large computer print out on the table in front of Lara and Alex. "Everyone needs to pay attention to this." He said, glancing at Bryce who was meddling with a small electronic piece. "Right, the ball is held here." He pointed to four rooms that were highlighted in blue. "The second and third floors are off limits to guests. There is a ball room, a large foyer, a sitting room and a smoking room. The event begins at seven and usually lasts until midnight." Hillary said. "I called this morning and inquired if there was room for three more guests. Mrs. Potter was delighted to hear that the West's will be attending the party." He turned to Smoke. "I couldn't come up with a valid reason for a paid assassin to be at her party, so I informed her that you're Alex's cousin."

Smoke gave him 'the look'.

"I do apologize, miss." Hillary said, politely.

"It's alright." Smoke said. "What's the plan?" She asked, turning to Lara and Alex. Alex shrugged and glanced at Lara.

"Hillary, you act as our chauffer and stay by the car and keep watch there. I also want you to ring the police ahead of time and make sure they are on standby. Bryce, you get into the house and rig the security cameras. Even the ones in the upper rooms. Smoke, Alex and I will spread out, look for anything suspicious and keep in close contact." Lara said.

"That's where I come in." Bryce said. He pulled out a box of small pieces. "Here, I have microphones and ear pieces for all of us. I checked out the Potter's security system this morning, I can hack in any time I want and they won't be the wiser. But we do have one problem." Bryce said.

"What?" Smoke asked, wrapping her arm around Bryce.

"You don't have anything to wear." He smiled.

"That's right." Smoke bit her lower lip.

"I can loan you something." Lara muttered, looking over the lay out for the house. "When is the ball?" She asked, looking up at Hillary.

"Tomorrow night." He said.

He glanced at Lara, she looked exhausted. He wanted to comfort her somehow, but he knew there was little he could do to help her.

"I'm going to train." Lara muttered. She walked away from the group. Alex ran to catch up with her, taking her hand in his. Hillary watched the pair and shook his head. "I don't see why their lives have to be so complicated." He muttered to himself.

"Some people's lives are never easy." Smoke said, cryptically. She nudged Bryce. "Come on." She murmured.