Heroes - Rise of the Phoenix
EPILOGUE - THREE MONTHS AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF REBIRTH FROM THE ASHES
Chapter One - Family

Angela Petrelli walked through the hallway from her master suite toward the kitchen chambers of her son's new home; the place was beautiful inside and out. The mansion was only a few doors down from their old home in upstate New York. She had been enjoying the last few months reconnecting with some of her old friends and trying to construct a boring "normal" life. She felt alive again, in her expensive silks and name brand cloths. She was enjoying being the bell of the ball and having no responsibilities. She smiled at the house maid sisters Emily and Esther as they put the finishing touches on a large Christmas tree in the grand hall, "Ladies, how beautiful!" Angela proclaimed as she took in the sight. "Thank you ma'am." Emily replied. "Enjoy your time at Christmas Dinner at the Bennet's this evening." Esther offered in a voice almost identical to her sisters.

"Thank you ladies." Angela said with a lift to her voice while she handed each of the women a large envelope with a bow attached. "I understand you have a Grandmother you girls have never met."

"Yes, Mrs. Petelli we have not been able to see her since our father died over a year ago. She lives in Norway." Emily agreed.

Esther chirped up to remind her sister, "We need to call her and wish her a Merry Christmas."

Angela indicated the envelopes she had handed the girls, "Maybe you can do more than call this year if you hurry." than she walked away along the main hallway and entered into the kitchen chamber enjoying the squeals of delight behind her by the Christmas tree.

"Good Morning Alfred. Good Morning Greta. Isn't its beautiful day?"

"Good Morning Mrs. Petrelli," Alfred replied in his most dignified manor. "I trust you slept well." Alfred finished drying the crystal glass in his hands and placed it on the counter beside a fork and knife setup on the large central kitchen island, and filled it with cool orange juice fresh squeezed that morning. "It was a wonderful rest, thank you. And I had the most delightful dream." Angela sat down on a stool next to the island counter top and smiled warmly as Greta stepped away from the stove and placed a plate before her, with a warm fresh baked muffin and a poached egg."Thank you Greta. Have you heard from your husband recently?." She said as she looked at her muffin playfully and took a bite. "Not since early this morning ma'am. By the way Alfred we need to add eggs to the sopping list." Alfred replied a little frustrated. "That man will eat us out of house and home."

Greta grinned widely, "Yes, isn't it wonderful!"

Angela placed two large envelopes on the kitchen island, each with a large white bow attached and slid them toward Greta, "Maybe you two can spend some special time together, Merry Christmas!" Greta gave Angela a big hug as she opened the envelopes and saw what was inside.

"I must go find my Husband! He will want to thank you too!' Greta exclaimed as she turned off the stove and rushed out of the kitchen.

"Alfred I did not realize how late it was. We do not have much time." Angela said as she looked up at the clock on the wall. It was already half passed seven in the morning. "We have shopping to do, errands complete and a girl to meet. she is so lovely, tall and thin. Her hair is such a beautiful shade of golden red." Angela's heart flooded with joy deep inside. She liked being one step ahead of everyone else as she watched Alfred face darken with confusion. "Oh, and her eyes are an incredible deep ocean of greenish blue. You will love her once you meet her." Alfred collected the plate from Angela's breakfast and began to wash it by hand in the sink. "Someday it would be nice to meet her Mrs. Petrelli, she sounds enrapturing. How did you meet this woman, was she at the Christmas ball last evening?"

Alfred spoke half wondering if he would receive an envelope. maybe he could take some time off and go back to the Island estate and try to find the remains of his Wife and sons graves. He decided he would purchase new headstones and bring flowers.

"I have not had the pleasure of meeting her face to face yet, but I dreamed a lovely dream last night. She is all alone. An orphan. She has been living in Texas while going to college. She is studying to become a nurse." The two of them heard from down the hallway the front door bell ring of the house. "In fact, that should be her now. And my friend," Angela beamed as she rested a hand on his arm, "She is your only surviving relative. Merry Christmas, Alfred." Angela eyes sparkled with excitement as she sipped the last of her orange juice and Alfred hurried down the hallway toward the front door. " Her name is Melody." she called out to Alfred from the now empty kitchen.

"I need to introduce Melody to Peter. Yes, that would make a nice Christmas indeed."

X-X-X

Tracy Bennet stood behind Noah Jr and Molly and watched the two sat on the floor, eagerly looking over their Holiday gifts, "Can we open a gift now?" Molly pleaded for the fifth time that hour. Noah was also entertaining himself by clapping his hands and making the Christmas tree lights blink off, and then back on again. "Soon my dear, after dinner." Tracy answered as she lifted her hand into the sunlight and watched the early afternoon sunlight glint off her diamond wedding ring. She was happy for the first time in her life. She had a family. The house was decorated for the season and the walls held pictures of her children and her husband smiling back at her. They had worked hard these last few months to return from the dead.

"It looks like the bird should be ready right on time." Noah said from the kitchen as he closed the oven. "What time did you say everyone was showing up?" Noah tossed a towel over his shoulder and wrapped his arms around her waste, scrunching his "Kiss the cook" apron. Tracy relaxed into his embrace, "They should be here within the hour," Tracy replied as she kissed her husband on the cheek, "and Claire should be back with the Ice Cream pumpkin pie any minute."

Molly jumped to her feet and ran to the door and threw it open, just as Clarie Bennet started to fumble for the door knob. "You're late!" Molly announced as she pulled the bags low so she could dig into them for any treasures. "What flavor did you get? It better be double peanut-butter fudge, or Mint-Chip. You know how Daddy loves his Mint."

Claire stepped around Molly and into the apartment, handeding Tracy the bags of groceries and her father a beautiful cheese cake. "I know it wasn't on the list but you love cheese cake." Clarie beamed at her father with a large grin. "You forgot the mint-chip didn't you?" Noah asked as he took the Cheese cake.

Gabriel Grey came through the door way unannounced carrying to the living room several large presents wrapped in glittery red paper and white bows. "I would have been here sooner but flying with all these presents would have been a disaster. Do you realize how much a taxi costs these days? And how slow they are?." Gabriel asked as he set the presents on the floor by the tree and pushed them one at a time under the branches. Noah Jr. squealed with delight and jumped onto Gabriel's back grabbing his hair and pumped his feet into Gabriel's sides "Horsey!" Noah screamed with delight. Gabriel rolled over onto his back and tossed Noah Jr. high into the air. The little boy squealed with delight as he was launched into the air and caught by his Gabriel.

"Oh, please that is so dangerous." Tracy called out from the kitchen, as her eyes grew large with worry, "Claire make his stop!"

Everyone in the apartment stopped frozen by Tracy's outburst. They looked at Gabriel holding Noah Jr. by his mind floating in mid-air, with his hands outstretched ready to catch him if he fell. Then everyone broke out into laughter, Tracy the loudest as she realized what she had just said.

"What is funny?" Hiro asked as he flashed into the apartment with a young woman at his side. "Hiro!" Molly screamed in delight and ran to him, catching the young boy around the waste and squeezed hard. "We weren't sure if you were going to make it." Tracy said in with a big smile and trying to stop laughing. She composed herself and took both of Hiro's hands in her own while and turning toward the woman at his side. "Can you please introduce me Hiro? I do not believe your Sister and I have officially met yet." Hiro turned and introduced his sister Kimiko to Tracy; "This is my Older Sister Kimiko. She now runs my father's company and looks after me, until I can grow up again."

The in hast Hiro and grabbed Molly's hand "I have to show you what I got for Christmas," and they were gone in a flash.

"It is very nice to meet you Kimiko, Welcome to our humble home." Tracy said as Hiro's sister bowed in greeting and handed her a steaming bowl of white rice and a large platter of exotic sushi. "Thank you for inviting us we are greatly honored. One moment please?" Kimiko said with another bow and a quick dial of her cell phone. She turned away from the family and spoke into the phone with authority and sternness, "Hiro, you get your bum back here right now. Do you hear me? You can show Molly your toys when dinner is over. Your action figures and comic books are not going anywhere. No buts, get back here now!"

Behind her Hiro and Molly flashed back into the room. "Yes, Ma'am." Hiro said as he put his cell phone away and bowed in respect.

"That's okay Hiro, I can show you my things first, I got a new dress. Its a lovely shade of salmon. And I got matching hair scrunchies, and a new doll with blue eyes, come on." Molly spoke a mile a minute as she grabbed his hand and pulled him toward her room. Hiro glanced at Gabriel and Noah with the look of save me, but they only smiled and Gabriel said, "Have fun children, you only are young once." Noah snorted to himself as the doorbell rang. Molly let go of Hiro's hand and ran for the door and flung it open "Grandma!"

In walked Angela Petrelli with a beautiful young lady at her side. Alfred stepped past them with a mountain of presents and handed them off to Gabriel. Angela took her coat off, and laid it across her arm, "Merry Christmas everyone" Noah greeted Angela with a kiss on the cheek as he took her coat. "Merry Christmas Angela. It is good to see you."

Everyone stared at the new arrival. Her beauty and pose made Molly stand quietly and for a moment silently take in the face. Angela turned toward the young lady, "This is Melody, she is Alfred's distant cousin and last surviving relative. She is a delightful young girl and has come to live with us at the estate while she works through her internship as a nurse at the hospital. She is going to be working at the new Pediatrics wing." She announced as she greeted Claire and Tracy with warm hugs and kisses. "Is Peter here yet?"

"Is Peter here yet?" Peter's voice said from the hallway, "Why am I late?" He stepped into the apartment with his arms loaded with presents and several bottles of sparkling apple cider. Molly could hardly contain herself as Peter placed his gifts under the tree and handed the bottles to Tracy with a hug. This was the very best day of her life. "Merry Christmas!" Molly shouted out as she launched herself into his arms. She pulled herself back from the embrace, with a big smile and a twinkle in her eyes, "Grandma brought a girl for you to meet." Molly said looking over his shoulder behind him, directing his attention. She leaned in and said in his ear "She is absolutely beautiful!"

Peter dropped Molly to the floor as he turned and shook Melody's outstretched hand and welcomed her to the Christmas gathering. Molly bubbled with joy and excitement as she declared to Melody, "This is my Uncle Peter, he is the greatest person you will ever meet in your entire life. He is very special. You just have to love him as much as I do." Noah Bennet placed a gentle arm across Tracy's shoulders and whispered into her ear, "How much sugar has that girl had so far today?"

Suddenly Molly's eyes burst into a glowing bright blue light. She dropped to the floor on her knees. A grin spread across the young girls face as her countenance lit up like an angel. Melody stepped backward away from the girl and toward the apartment with worry and alarm. What had she gotten herself into? Alfred took her hand in his own and patted it gently, "Melody, my dear there are few things you will need to know about being part of this family," he said chuckling under his breath, "I'll tell you all about it after dinner."

The family gathered around the little girl as her eyes burned a bright blue and then faded back to her normal color. Her face lit up like a star as she grinned from ear to ear. She looked around for Peter. She jumped up and down with excitement and she clasped his face in her hands, "I just felt a new special!" The rest of the family took a breath in shock. Then Molly eyes burned a bright blue once more "No, Wait!" she spoke in a hushed but elated voice. Her eyes glowed and filled the room with a soft blue haze, "Twins!"

~ Heroes - Rise of the Phoenix ~

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