Title: Bonded yet Broken

Rating: PG

Chapters 1/1

Spoilers: None…totally AU

Short Summary: Au. Claire and Peter were married but their lives were shattered by an unforeseen event. Short story.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything…

Peter Petrelli never had peace.

It was derived from him.

But Peter didn't want peace.

All he wanted was Claire Bennet back in his life.

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Sometimes he goes to visit her at the diner.

She always smiles at the customers as she passes him.

Claire never sees him.

That's where his invisibility is greatly valued.

Because she's not allowed to see him.

Not now.

Not ever.

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Peter doesn't like her new hairdo.

He knows it's because of him.

Because he loves her blonde hair.

She's doing it to spite him…even though she thinks he doesn't see it.

He does.

And every time he sees it his heart breaks.

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There are days that he thinks she sees him.

She stares at his seat with determination.

Like she's trying to will him to be there.

But after a while she shakes her head and walks away.

And Peter feels his heart break.

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Days go by when Peter follows her home.

He stands in the shadows of her room.

Watches her.

Not in a perverted way.

Just watching her crying.

Wishing he could be the one to comfort her.

But it's the last thing she wants.

Because he caused the hurt.

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He still remembers it.

Relives it in his dreams every single night.

Mohinder coming to tell them the news as they sat together.

Her distraught face.

Their tears mixing.

Niki taking Claire away.

Matt struggling to contain Peter's self destruction.

But by then the damage was done.

Five months later Matt goes to the house that Peter and Claire once shared.

Claire's stuff is long gone.

He's there to pick up Peter's stuff.

The shattered crib doesn't even shock him.

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One night he goes to her again.

Stands in the same place as always.

"Peter."

That's when he realizes she knows he is there.

"Yes."

He stays invisible.

"She would have been two."

"I know."

Silence.

"Do you think she would be pretty, Peter?"

"Would have looked just like you."

Silence.

Peter watches his wife as she plays with the ring on her finger.

"We can never go back can we?"

Peter doesn't answer but his head drops and Claire takes it as her sign.

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One day they follow each other.

They land up in the least possible place.

Yet the most horrific.

The headstone is tiny but the words on it speak forever.

Kayla Petrelli

Beloved daughter.

Mommy and Daddy's angel.

Born 21/06/2008

Died 25/06/2008

Claire's hand is in Peter's.

They don't move.

Just stare down at their daughter's grave.

In utter silence.

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Peter disappears again.

This time he doesn't appear to her again.

Claire understands.

It's messed up but she knows life will never be the same again.

Their daughter has torn them apart.

Claire never stops wishing them back.

Neither does Peter.

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Claire stays a Petrelli.

Peter stays faithful to his wife.

And when she walks home from work…

He walks next to her.

Invisible to the world.

Except to her.

She turns to him.

He disappears.

As always.

oOoOoOoOoOo

Story of Claire and Peter Petrelli.

Forever bonded by love.

Forever broken by hurt.