AN: Based on a video I made (Nothing last forever. out on Youtube).
The story is a little AU, but pretty much all that happened in season one really happened and this takes place a few years later. Hope you enjoy the reading. If you do, pelase comment. It's always nice to hear what's good in a story, and what's not.
Nathan sits in his office sighing. Outside the sun is shining and it stings him in the neck. He turns around and closes the curtains to get rid of the heat. He's just finished a very important call with Bob Bishop. He hates to have to talk to Bob, but he has no choice. If he doesn't help Bob certain unpleasant facts about Nathan and his family would find their way to the press. So to avoid scandal Nathan endures it.
- Mr Petrelli? Your wife's on line three.
The secretary's voice is monotonous and boring. He takes a deep breath and picks up the phone and lets line three come through.
- Hello Heidi.
- Hi honey, she says at the other end. How are you?
- Tired, a lot to do. You?
- It works. I'm just calling to tell you that we'll probably stay for at least two or three more weeks.
- Is it that bad?
- I'm afraid so. And I want the boys to spend as much time with her as possible.
- And I guess that goes for you to.
- Yes.
- I understand.
- You'll be okay?
- Of course. If I get lonely I just call Pete.
- Good. I miss you. The boys do too.
- And I miss you too.
He can hear her smile at the other end.
- You'll have to excuse me Nathan, but I have to go. We're going to lunch downtown.
- Okay. Tell them hi from me.
- Promise. I love you.
- Ditto.
He hears the click in the phone, but he sits still with the phone in his hand. He doesn't really want to hang up. But at last he does that anyway. He sighs again. Alone for at least two more weeks. And he's already been alone for about one week. But he have to endure. He's not willing to tell Heidi that he wants her to come home, and he has no opportunity to go there himself.
One week before Heidis father had called telling her that her mother was sick. They had talked for a while and Heidi got to know that her mother didn't have much time left to live. She felt that se needed to go there while there still was time, and she wanted Simon and Monty to spend as much time as possible with their grandmother. When she told Nathan he made it clear that he couldn't go, but that the others could. So they left and Nathan was left alone in the big house. He spend his time working overtime. But in the evenings he usually just sat on the couch with a glass of cognac and watch TV.
He's tired. Tired of being hem alone. He considers calling Peter and ask if he wants to do something later, but changes his mind. He knows that Peter has a big exam to study to. He smiles to himself. After saving the world Peter realised that he didn't want to be a nurse his whole life. He started to take courses at the university to pass his time before he knew what he wanted to do. Right now he's taking an advanced course in art and art history. It's just that Nathan doesn't understand what that knowledge could be good for in the long run, but if Peter wants to take the course then Peter can take the course. He's always done what he wants regardless of what everyone else thinks.
He's pulled away from his thought by a knock on the door. He looks up and sees his secretaries blond head through it.
- Don't forget you lunch with Dr Suresh in thirty minutes Mr Petrelli.
- Of course not. Thank you Jenny.
- If that's all I'm going to lunch.
He looks at his watch and sees that it's already noon. He nods to Jenny who disappears again. He's looking forward to the lunch with Mohinder. The doctor always has something interesting to say. And when he called Nathan two days ago he sounded very exited. He was havering very discontinuous about him finding out which genes that caries the mutation that makes some people special. He always calls Nathan with reports on his progress because Nathan sponsors a large part of his research, much thanks to Peters nagging.
Nathan looks in his calendar and sees that he only has the lunch with Mohinder that day. That means that he doesn't have to get back to his office again but can go straight home to his empty, large and very quiet house.
He picks up the phone and calls the garage telling them to have his car ready in ten minutes. When he hangs up he starts putting away all the papers that lays in front of him on the desk. Some of the papers he lays down in his briefcase so that he can work with them at home. When he leaves the room he runs into Matthew, an intern that helps with some small jobs. Matthew gives him a fax that just came in. Nathan casts a glance at it and sees that it is from Bob. He sighs on the inside but thanks Matthew before he goes down to the road where Patric will pick him up.
When he gets down Patric is already there, standing in front of the car with the backseat door open so that Nathan can just jump in. He's just about to enter the car when he hears someone calling his name. He turns around and sees Peter coming along with two of his friends. Peter smiles at him and waves. Nathan answers, but it's not his brother that he's looking at. Next to Peter a blond angel walks. Her laugh lightens up her face and her hair sparkles in the sun. but what speaks to Nathan is her eyes. They're green, he can see that even on this distance. But they're so much more. They're full of life and joy and hope. He can almost see in to her soul and feels how his own soul tries to reach out to her. He wants to reach out his hand and touch her even though he knows he can't. He wants to stroke her hair and se if it really is liquid gold. He wants to look in to her eyes and be taken far away to a place of life and happiness.
He's pulled back up from his thoughts by the fact that Peter puts his hands on his shoulders.
- You seems lost Nate.
He blinks a couple of times before meeting his brothers gaze.
- Sorry?
- You seem to be somewhere else. And you know that that's my job in the family.
- I'm just tired.
- Understandably.
- Was it something you wanted Pete? I'm kind of in a hurry to a lunch meeting.
- Just wanted to ask if you wanted to do something tonight.
Nathan thanks everyone available that they got Peter to ask. He'd rather not spend the night alone.
- Don't you have an exam to study to?
- Already done. I'm a natural.
- Sure you are. But fine. I'd like to see you later.
- Perfect. I'll be over around seven.
Nathan gives him a nod. Peter pets his shoulder quickly before he turns to his friends again. They walks past Nathan and along the sidewalk. Nathan follows them with his eyes. The blond angel walks close to Peter and it hurts in his heart. He knows that he has no right to think of the angel as his. He already has Heidi. But the angel spoke to him in a way that's only happened to him once before. One time almost nineteen years ago in collage. A special girl, different from everyone else. She wasn't like the rest of them. He can still remember her. Even though he lost her only two years later. He'll never forget her. Never forget Meredith Gordon.