Alex Rider's roof was unusually busy for three o'clock in the morning. The occupants of the rooftop were also unusually power figures for the types that lurked in darkened parts of Chelsea. One was a teenage assassin, stood in a black dress, placing a semi-automatic back into its holster on her thigh. The other was a young, self-made millionaire, who showed his face regularly to TV cameras and paparazzi, usually as he was disappearing into a London bar with an up-and-coming model draped on his arm.

The pair made up a quarter of the most powerful terrorist organisation in the world; Swallowtail. He being the leading financier and unofficial president of the group and she being the only assassin and member with orthodox espionage training.

Hera St. Claire and Daniel Goodchild had been bemused by each other ever since their first encounter and, it was unknown to the other members of Swallowtail, cared very deeply for one another. They stood with a meter distance between them and appraised each other.

"What did he do?" Goodchild asked and when Hera looked uncomprehending he continued; "Molotov?" She seemed to remember what he was talking about and shook her head.

"Nothing." Hera put her hands on her hips; Goodchild knew she hated to be mollycoddled by him.

"He came back to Italy with blood on his blades." He was not letting Hera get away from him so easily.

"Molotov gave me a few scratches; it was just a bit of fun!" Daniel could feel Hera getting irritated now. When Hera snapped her blue eyes up to him, she could see he was not going to let it die. A few nights ago, at Mrs Rum's party, Hera had spotted an assassin, but she did not mention to Alex that they knew each other. His name was Igor Molotov, as in a Molotov cocktail, he was Head of Weapons and Aircraft, in Swallowtail. He and Hera often voiced their wonders about who would win in a fight and occasionally tested each other. Only this time it had left Hera with a nasty cut on her shoulder and she had lost a shuriken somewhere in Molotov's ribcage.

Hera had remained quiet for a minute now and the reason dawned on Goodchild.

"Oh God," he muttered before raising his voice. "Another stupid faux duel?" He asked exasperatedly.

"Shhh," Hera said putting a finger to her lips. Daniel Goodchild swore quietly.

"I should have the two of you barred from ever being in the same room. Honestly, Hera, what am I going to do with you?" Goodchild ran a hand wearily through his hair and looked over to Hera who was now wearing a large grin.

"It's the most fun I have around here-"

"Harris would disagree." The smile was wiped off Hera's face.

"What?" She asked slowly.

"You know; that guy you fucked." Hera winced as though Goodchild had hit her harder than Molotov. Daniel adjusted the cuff of his shirt. "I assume you remember why you're here in the first place." Hera smirked.

"Daniel," she said in a soft, velvet voice as she took a step towards him and placed a hand gently on his chest, "you really think I'd forget?" Daniel took Hera by surprise; he put a hand on her right hip, slid it around her waist and pulled her in close. Hera fluttered her eyelashes up at him in a sultry manner as Daniel ran his other hand up her left leg and corrected the holster on her thigh.

"There are a few signs that would lead me to say yes." He answered and let her go. "They're at the front door." Daniel said and Hera nodded.

"I'll catch you later, baby." She said with a wink and Daniel took a deep breath. Many men, including him, would give anything to spend a little longer with her, but she went chasing either men who thought she was a murderer or insignificant nobodies. Even if Daniel bought her the Akbar Shah diamond, Hera would never look at him that way. Although he was beginning to think he was wearing her down.

"Love you," he whispered back to her and Hera looked over her shoulder to him.

"Love you too."

Sabina was stood in front of a sink in the third floor utility room. Tom and Alex had turned up around three minutes ago and Alex said that Hera would be along any second now. The boys had decided to hang around on the third floor and Sabina excused herself to get a glass of water but the truth was she couldn't get what Hera had said out of her head. Leave when Alex asks you. Would Alex ever ask her to leave? How close would Hera and Alex become? Sabina bit her nails with a glass of water in her other hand and turned as she heard a tapping sound from behind her. She almost dropped her glass; Hera was stood outside the window…they were on the third floor.

"Oh!" It took Sabina a second to realise she should let Hera in. Placing the glass on the counter behind her, she moved forwards and opened the window. The young spy slid into the room.

"Hey," Hera said with a small smile whilst adjusting her dress, she looked up to Sabina who was stood in a tank top and shorts. "Sorry, did I get you out of bed?" With a shake of her head, Sabina tried to smile; she found it strange that Hera was suddenly very comfortable after all-

"You slept with Tom." The words were out of Sabina's mouth before she could stop herself. The statement was followed by the most uncomfortable silence Sabina had ever experienced; Hera raised an eyebrow and stood up to her full height. "Sorry," Sabina suddenly realised she was talking to an assassin. "It's just that-"

"Tom's not the type?" Hera asked and Sabina sighed a little in relief.

"Yeah," she said, slowly coming to ease as she felt Hera was not offended. "It's just that…Tom's so.." Hera simply stared at Sabina, wondering what on earth she was trying to get at. "…Un-exotic." She spat out.

"Did you think I just got with millionaires and spies?" Hera smiled as Sabina debated what to say.

"Well, yes." Hera laughed.

"Sorry to disappoint." Sabina laughed as well and felt a little strange; she had not seen a side to Hera that she liked until now. Perhaps it was just that Hera was certainly not after Alex, or that the girl was not some jet-setting, paradisiacal, seductive assassin…she was a normal nineteen year old. Hera winked at her. "Tea?" She asked and Sabina nodded.

"Good idea." For the first time in a few days, a genuine smile was etched on Sabina's face. She could almost feel a friendship forming. Hera and Sabina walked out of the utility room and bumped into the boys in the landing. It was obvious that Alex had realised that Sabina had been away for too long and had indeed met Hera. He was surprised to see Hera and Sabina smiling at them. "Hey guys," Sabina said to break the ice as Hera walked over to Tom who embraced her and kissed her cheek. No one said anymore for nothing needed to be said; it was the middle the night before a Wednesday morning and they were exhausted, a cup of tea and a good conversation sounded good to all of them.

As they walked down the stairs in silence, Alex and Sabina behind Hera and Tom, Alex couldn't help but notice how at ease he felt. For the first time in years, he felt his age. Sure it was strange that it was is ex-partner who he was in love with at some point and had no idea how he felt about her, his girlfriend and his best friend who was currently sleeping with his ex-partner…but he finally had a group of friends. After years, he finally had a few friends round to his house. Something teenagers took for granted was something he had craved for years and, in its strange, crazy way, he'd got it.

The group walked into the kitchen, Tom took a seat at the breakfast table, joined by Hera who lifted herself up onto the table to inspect the cut on her knee. Alex and Sabina began to make tea for the four of them. As Sabina put water in the kettle, Alex walked past her to grab some mugs on the drying rack by the sink, as he did he kissed the side of her head and Sabina couldn't help but smile. Things felt nice, things felt easy, she felt safe.

"Hold the tea for me, Sabina." She turned as she heard Hera speak to her. The spy was sat on top of Alex's breakfast bar and as much as Sabina tried, she couldn't stop the small stab of jealously in her stomach as Alex leant over to inspect Hera's knee as well. "Can I use your shower?" She asked Alex who let out an airy laugh.

"Yeah, go for it," he shrugged.

"My room still free?" Hera asked as she jumped off the kitchen table. Sabina looked over to Alex with a raised eyebrow but he was not looking at her.

"Yeah," Alex answered and stood up straight, trying to think. "Shampoo is in the cupboard; there's none out."

"Cool." She responded and as Hera passed Tom she whispered something in his ear, making him smile. Hera left the room.

"You two certainly wasted no time." Sabina commented and placed his tea in front of Tom.

"Oh," Tom blushed slightly, "yeah. Hera's quite…forward." Sabina kept her eyes on Alex, wanting to see his face for any signs of how he really felt about it. Alex gave nothing away, simply shook his head with a smile, showing his disbelief at his friend's actions.

"How was it?" Tom and Alex looked up at Sabina with wide eyes; what a weird question for her to ask. Sabina smiled innocently. "Oh come on you guys never let me in on anything men talk about!" Tom and Alex exchanged a look.

"And that's why." Alex replied. Sabina pouted at him and he carried on; "because you don't talk like a guy, you ask how it was and how Tom felt afterwards and if he'll see her again-"

"Yeah," Tom interrupted him, "all we need to know is it happened-"

"Even if it didn't." Alex said and Tom stopped mid-sentence.

"It did happen." He said slowly and Alex nodded without looking at him.

"OK." Sabina looked between the two men, unsure of what had just happened.

"So," she said loudly, trying to diffuse the tension. "Tom, when are you and Hera coming for dinner with Alex and I?" Alex inwardly groaned, why would Sabina think that was a good idea?

"Well, to be honest Sabina, you've just kind of assumed Hera and I are a couple." Tom said plainly and Sabina became embarrassed.

"I just-" Sabina was cut off as Hera walked back in.

"That was quick." Alex reacted first to cover the situation up and his ex-partner yawned into her hand.

"I decided to fill the tub instead of shower." Alex laughed.

"Please, help yourself to all the utilities of my house," Alex handed her the TV remote control, "television, ma'am?"

"Piss off." Hera said and batted his hand away.

"Hera." Sabina spoke suddenly and put on a big smile. "There's a fair in Hyde Park tomorrow, we should all go together." Hera was a little taken aback by the offer and after a quick look at Tom smiled.

"Sure."