Disclaimer: I do not own Heroes, NBC, A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens, or anything else official. This is a really crack-headed idea. Let's see how it goes.

(Open on a funereal home in downtown New York. Nathan Petrelli, tall dark and handsome, strides in like he owns the room. Standing nearby is Noah Bennet, owner of the home. He's wearing his trademark horn-rimmed glasses and stands over a body.)

Nathan: This is him?

Noah: (nodding) Yes. We just need you to identify him.

(Nathan looks down. He sees the old man's face, with short white hair and white facial hair.)

Nathan: Yup. Daniel Linderman…my partner.

Noah: Kind of sad, passing like this on Christmas Eve.

Nathan: All that matters is he's dead.

(Cut to a row of buildings elsewhere in New York. Nathan flies in from the sky and lands on the deserted street. He bundles his coat and walks into a building. We pan in on the poster in the window: "Campaign for Nathan Petrelli for Congress: Offices of Petrelli and Linderman."

We see six different years of life of the sign, then finally, a seventh. The last involves snow everywhere and a cold wind blowing.

We pan in to the office. In the annex works Matt Parkman. He's a slightly bigger man with dark hair, who also has the ability to read minds. Right now, he counts and tallies and does a lot of busy work. He glances up to see Nathan is his private office – next to the fireplace that heats the building. Matt shivers and goes back to work.

Behind him, the door to the building opens. Matt turns to see Claire Petrelli, Nathan's niece, entering. She's a blonde in her low twenties. She has a huge smile on her face as she comes in. She glances over to shush Matt, then sneaks into her uncle's office.)

Claire: (yelling) Merry Christmas, Uncle Nathan!

(Nathan jumps at the loud arrival, then looks over at her.)

Nathan: Christmas? Bah! Humbug!

Claire: Humbug? What does that even mean??

Nathan: Never mind. What do you want, Claire?

Claire: (giggling) To invite you to Christmas dinner, of course.

Nathan: I think not.

Claire: But why???

Nathan: (returning to his work) I have a lot of work, and besides, all this holiday is for is exploiting people's good nature.

Claire: That's not true! West and I ask nothing of you! We just want to see you!

Nathan: Well I'd rather not see anybody. I have to push through this holiday in order to win the election.

Claire: But we love you!

Nathan: (dismissing) Love, bah. Everyone always says that this time of year. No one really means it. It's a fake holiday.

Claire: That's not true! People just have Christmas spirit!

Nathan: Well they can have it without me. Don't intrude on me.

Claire: I still say Merry Christmas!

Nathan: Humbug!

Claire: (turning to go) And a happy new year!

Nathan: Humph! (noticing the dying fire) Hey, Parkman! Get in here and poke the fire!!

Claire: Don't bother, Matt! I've got it!

(She reaches into the fire with her hand, and stirs the logs. Her skin crackles and burns and she grimaces slightly in pain. The fire starts up again as Claire removes her hand and Matt walks in. Claire's hand heals over and she turns to the men, beaming again.)

Nathan: (muttering) Show-off.

Matt: Thanks, Claire.

Claire: You're welcome, Matt. Merry Christmas!

(She leaves. Nathan rounds on Matt.)

Nathan: Lock the door behind her! We don't want anyone else getting in tonight!

(We follow Matt as he goes to the door and sadly locks it. Outside, Claire walks to the end of the street. She pauses, and suddenly appearing from invisibility next to her is Peter Petrelli. He's Nathan's younger brother, more innocent and compassionate. He also has dark hair but it's longer.)

Peter: How'd it go?

Claire: Not good. He still hates me.

Peter: I'm sure he doesn't hate you.

Claire: He won't come to Christmas dinner…He has no Christmas spirit.

Peter: (thinking) Hmmm…

Claire: What?

Peter: Spirits…(grinning) You've given me a great idea, Claire.

Claire: (confused) I have?

Peter: Never mind. It's something I'll work on…you just get home to West.

Claire: Thanks, Peter. (They hug.) Merry Christmas!

Peter: Merry Christmas, Claire. (She takes off down the street. Peter turns back to look at the office.) This is going to be an interesting Christmas Eve for you, Nathan…