I got really pissed when they wrote Zach out of the script in Volume 1. So, I decided to bring him into Heroes Volume 3. It very well MAY end up being Clach. But, I don't know yet. I'm going to have Zach have feelings for Claire but be unaware of them and see where that takes him. But, it mostly centers on thier friendship. If I feel like I could pull Clach pairing off, I will definitely try.

So, this is how I feel Zach should be written back into Volume 3. It will be his POV, of course, throughout my whole story. BTW, spoilers for 2x11 Powerless. Oh, and I don't own Heroes. If I did, Zach would have never been written off the show, Sylar would have more air time, Nathan would have never gotten shot, Adam would have never gotten buried, and the list goes on and on and on.

I decided to name this after the song 'Time After Time'. I guess it's because I saw a youtube video about them with the song, and so now everytime I think about Clach, this songs plays over and over in my head. Finally, I downloaded it onto my iPod, so everytime I hear it I think of Zach. I, of course, downloaded the Quietdrive version, since I like that one best.

Wow, really long intro. Sorry. Please, enjoy my fic. And review, so I know how I'm doing.

The houses lined up perfectly. They were all different colors, and all were different styles, but all seemed the same to the boy as he drove his car down the road. Sometimes he took this route on his way home from school. It was the long way home, but he didn't mind. One house stood out from all the rest. Well, what used to be a house.

Zach slowed his car as he passed by it. It was burnt and charred, and pieces still lay around the dying grass. He always thought the noise of his car would make it come crumpling down. "Where are you?" He asked himself, as he looked out his window and sighed. He had someone in mind when he asked this. A pretty blonde girl, who haunted his thoughts.

He didn't know if it was healthy to think about a person this much, but he couldn't control it. Her name echoed through out his mind. Claire. It would often roll of his tongue with ease, and was often followed by a frown. This was the second time he had lost her.

He cursed at himself when he realised he had just drove past a stop sign and didn't stop. He held his breath, but there was no hidden cop to blink his or her lights at him and give him a ticket. He let his breath out as he focused on the road. He didn't need a ticket, not when he was trying to save his money up.

It was the truth, though. The first time was when they were in fourth grade and she became popular and he didn't. They had been the very best of friends. But, they just stopped talking to each other. But, years later and exactly almost five months ago, she had come to him in her time of need. They had rekindled their friendship and Zach couldn't have been happier for that half of a month. Until, of course, her house blew up and she mysteriously disappeared. The first time he lost her, he thought nothing could ever hurt more. But the second time…the second time blew him away. He had never experienced pain before the second time.

He remembered getting a voice message from her about a month or so ago. He had listened to it so many times he had memorized every word, every pause.

"Zach, it's me Claire. How come you didn't answer? Are you mad at me? I'm sorry…I- it's a long story. People found out about my power. I had to run, along with my family. After a lot of stuff happened, my family and I are now in hiding. I'm in Costa Verde, California. I'm not supposed to tell you that. I'm not even supposed to contact you. And I'm sorry it took so long for me to contact you, though. I can't fit in here, Zach. I know you would tell me that it's okay to stand out, but it's not. According to my dad, I have to blend in as much as possible. I'm not even allowed to raise my hand in class. I'm in prison but there are no bars. Maybe…no. Well…I don't know. I wish you could come visit me. You don't know how much I miss you. I don't know how much more of this I can take." There was a long pause here, and then she quickly whispered some sort of address before quickly hanging up.

He had also memorized that address. And with the help of Google earth, found out it was a nice looking house in Costa Verde. He held onto the little hope that it might be where she was living now.

So, it was that hope that got him to where he was now. Which was on the way to the airport with a ticket to Costa Verde. It had taken him a while to raise the money for the ticket. His parents had been suspicious about his offering to do a lot of chores for extra money. Finally one night he came home to them raiding his room, looking for drugs. After much yelling and accusation, he was forced to tell them the truth. He was going to visit Claire. To his surprise, they were happy to hear that. They actually gave him a raise on his allowance, and started to give him money. Zach got a job at the local burger shop to raise more money. After a few times of wanting to just quit working there, due to his annoying co-workers and his self-absorbed and verbally abusive boss, he finally pulled through with enough money to visit Claire.

As the houses slowly faded, and he started to drive through the deserted space between his hometown and the next town, he let out an exasperated sigh. After she had left the message, he tried to call her cell phone, but it was out of service. At first he thought he had dreamed it all, but the proof was still sitting in his voicemail. So, it wasn't just a trick of his mind.

If only he could call her and tell he was on his way. He was on his horse and was galloping to her rescue, like a knight in shining armor. Of course, his white stag was actually a rusted light brown station wagon. His armor was his casual shirt and dusty pants, accompanied by his worn black converse. And he didn't have long gorgeous blonde hair and rippling muscles the show off. No, he was pretty skinny. And his hair had grown since she last saw him. In fact, it was quite shaggy that almost passed his eyes.

No, he was nothing like a knight. He had the right motives, though. To save the beautiful princess and live happily ever after. Though, Zach knew deep down there wasn't going to be a happily ever after just yet. And saving the princess was easier said than done.

He should be at the airport in about an hour. And it would take a few hours for the plane to get to Costa Verde. He gripped the steering wheel tighter, anxious. There were spots in his memory that were blurry to him. She had said her father sent a man to erase his memory of him and Claire becoming friends again. He remembered how sad and hopeless she had seemed when he didn't remember anything that had happened. But, with her determination to keep him, she had helped him remember most of it. She didn't give up on him, and he couldn't give up on her, no matter what obstacles he would face.

If only he knew just what those obstacles were…

So, next chapter will be up soon, I hope. Maybe tomorrow, or thursday. Starting next week, though, it'll be a lot harder for me to update quickly cause school will be starting again. But, I'm not going to go and abandon my story or anything. I promise, I will keep writing.