I do not own Heroes. I'm not making money off this, etc.

Basic Premiums: Set during season one about the time of episode 'Better Halves.' Mohinder leaves for India. Peter comes by his apartment to try and convince the doctor once more. The story assumes that Eden and Peter never met during 'Collision', which means they do not know each other. Also, it closes the plot hole the show left with Peter meeting but never acquiring Eden's ability…Hmm, plot problems with Heroes? Say it isn't so.

The fluttering of a butterfly's wings can effect climate changes on the other side of the planet.

-Paul Erlich

We all imagine ourselves the agents of our destiny, capable of determining our own fate. But have we truly any choice in when we rise, or when we fall, or does a force larger than ourselves bid us our direction? Is it evolution that takes us by the hand, does Science point our way, or is it God who intervenes, keeping us safe.

- Mohinder Suresh

Mohinder's Apartment-NYC

Tack.

She played with the tack. Mohinder's map was so much fun. Eden wondered who she should move today. Whenever Mohinder left her alone with his newspaper and photo covered map, she would move one or two of his subjects. Is that the right word? Subjects?

She pulled a random photo clipping free. Her brown eyes considered the middle aged woman's black and white features. Eden pinned it back to the map someplace in Canada. She smiled with the thought how confused Mohinder would be, if he ever returned to New York.

Eden noticed the quite. She wonders if maybe Noah had finally stopped berating her. He was always too serious. As she adjusted the phone in her hand, she made a noncommittal integrative noise.

Then Noah demanded, 'Are you even listening to me?'

'Of course,' she assured him with a sweet smile like he could somehow see her expression through the phone.

The stern company man said, 'You could have made Mohinder stay.'

'I tried,' she answered with a shrug of her thin shoulders.

'We both know you can try harder,' he answered and the Noah was off again on another company policy rant.

Eden ignored him. She did not want Mohinder to stay. He bored her. The handsome Indian spent more time chasing the ethereal 'people with abilities' than her. Eden had used every trick she new get Mohinder's attention. If Noah had let her take her clothes off, or use her ability, seducing Mohinder would have been so much easier. Now she was supposed to stand here and listen as he chewed her out about not using her ability to make Mohinder stay? She long suspected Noah was a hypocrite. This conversation confirmed it.

She interrupted Noah to ask the obvious question, 'How was I supposed to make him stay?'

Quiet.

With a lipless happy smile, Eden turned back to the map. She picked at one of the tacks. Maybe move the strings around this time?

'You need to come back to Primatech,' he tells her.

Panic.

Eden loved New York. It is different from LA, but the same. The city was alive. It moved and swayed, and danced to a rhythm that she needed, which kept her sane. Plan old boring Texas was hell. Nothing to do. No place to go. She would just sit for hours at that stupid paper company watching endless rolls of paper be cut, stacked, boxed and shipped. Everywhere she looked all she saw was paper cut, stacked, boxed, and shipped ad infin. The place made her crazy.

'No,' she told him, 'I need to stay here. When Mohinder comes back, I need to be here. If I'm not here to guide him, who knows what trouble he could cause.'

Noah sounded unconvinced. 'Eden, you're coming back. We need you to get the precog and bring him in. From what we've gathered, he's like you used to be, maybe worse.'

Eden knew that was supposed to pluck at her heartstrings. She did not want to play nursemaid to junky Isaac, yet some part of her did. Maybe if she helped someone else, it would make her stronger, and make staying clean easier. Then the alcohol would lose its seductive power. Every day she wanted a drink. Every day she wanted to use her power. Whisper those few words that would give her the things, the people, and the experiences she wanted.

Maybe if she helped whoever this person was, then she would become stronger. Eden hoped that would be the case. If she ever did slip up with her power or the alcohol and drugs, then she would run again. The company had abducted her on the way to LAX anyway. Eden considered it fitting that slipping up would mean fleeing the company, unless she wanted to stay for the inevitable bullet to the head.

'Eden?' Noah half questions, half demands.

'Fine,' she told him, 'I'll get him and take him to Hartford.'

'No, Texas.'

Eden wanted to object. Agents were supposed to take special to the nearest facility, which was Hartford. She could argue about it, but…

'Fine,' Eden said.

She quickly pushed the end button before Noah could protest or give her some other unpleasant task. As she turned to toss the phone on Mohinder's desk, Eden saw a man. He stood in the open doorway giving her an uncertain look.

'Can I help you?' Eden probed.

'Umm…is Mohinder around?'

She slowly shook her head back and forth, while her eyes studied the man. Long brown emoish hair, an expensive coat covered a dress shirt and slacks. The formal clothes fit his stiff awkward expression. He was handsome, and familiar. Eden could not say why he looked so familiar. It felt like she had seen him some place.

He interrupted her thoughts, 'Are you his girlfriend or…'

She laughed. Kissing was a close to girlfriend as she would get with Mohinder. Even if the scientist came back, intimate contact with her charges was forbidden. It was one of Noah's inflexible rules, which he touted constantly. Eden told the man, 'No, Mohinder's only a friend. I'm just his neighbor.'

He looked at her shifting his weight from foot to foot. Eden knew this type. All goody goody, follow the rules, until she got them alone and relaxed. Then they became demanding and rough. Mr. Business Suburbia that would never dream of asking his wife to do the dirty things he demanded of her. They always said how they paid her, and that meant they owned her. That it did not matter what they made her do because she was just a whore. Yeah, Eden knew this type. The type had a nice pleasant façade but underneath he would like to control, like to hurt.

Once he understood the ability he had, Emo would abuse it. His power would feed his desire to control, and soon the power would overwhelm him. He would become a slave to it. Besides, he had to have an ability. Why else would he be here asking about good old Doctor Suresh?

'What's your name?' she asked sweetly.

'Peter.'

Eden walked around the table. A long fingered hand extended to Peter, she bats her eyes at him all submissive the way he would like. His soft warm hand shook hers.

'I'm Eden,' she told him. Her thumb rubbed the back of his hand as she pulled her fingers free. They looked at each other for a few awkward seconds.

'Umm…not to be nosy…but ahh…If you're Mohinder's neighbor, are you checking his apartment or something…?'

She smiled back at him. Oh, Pretty Peter you would be too easy. 'I was just checking on Mohinder, when the phone rang.'

He gave her a puzzled look. 'I thought you said he was gone?'

Eden pointed at the terrarium and the lizard inside. She told him, 'I was checking on that Mohinder. The other doctor Suresh, the older one, named the little guy after his son.'

She turned back to Peter. He looked so familiar. Eden felt like she should know him. Her inability to place him was driving her crazy. Eden asked, 'You ever been to LA?'

'What? No,' he stammered back at the unexpected question.

'Vegas?'

He shook his head no, while giving her a weary look. Laying off the questions seemed like a good idea. Better yet, Eden realized how she could 'help' Pretty Peter.

She inquired, 'What can you do?'

He remained silent.

'Oh, come on. You have to have an ability or you wouldn't be looking for Doctor Suresh. So what is it?'

He shook his head again. 'Just tell Mohinder I came by.'

She called out as he turned to leave, 'Wait, please.'

Peter stopped. He gave her an odd inpatient look.

She got him to stop, and now? Eden tried to figure out what she wanted from Peter. Since she was very sure he had a power, then the company would be interested in him. This was a chance to show what a good agent she was. How to get some information on the guy without going all name, rank and serial number? Number, that was it.

'Hey,' she said, 'can I have your number?'

'Ahh,' he drew the word out.

'Oh, not like that,' Eden assured him with a sweet smile. This guy was stiffer than she first thought. 'It's for when Mohinder comes back, then I can give you a call. That way you two can do whatever. You want that, right?'

He agreed and gave her his number. Eden scribbled it on a notepad from Mohinder's messy desk. When she finished, Eden gave Peter a little smile and an innocuous comment expecting him to leave.

'How about yours?' he asked.

'What?'

The must have been something in her face, because suddenly Peter appeared more uncertain. He told her, 'I don't have Mohinder's number…and since you're watching his place. I could maybe call you sometime and see if he's back?'

Eden considered that. She could give Peter her Company cell number. That way it might be easier to tag and bag him later. Brown experienced eyes run over him again. Figured that was the right play with too earnest Peter.

A quick scribble on some scrap paper and it was done. She gave him another pleasant smile. Then Eden hurried him out the door.

Peter gone, her willowy body slumped against the closed door. Thoughts about Texas flooded her mind unbidden and disruptive. Eden hated Texas. Fucking Bennet.