Nathan Petrelli sat at his oversized, overpriced, wooden desk, his mother's words replaying themselves like a bad dream.

"Underneath that gruff exterior, Nathan, you're a sap."

Then, his self-righteous reply.

"I owe Meredith more than that. I owe them both."

The words seemed so lofty at the time, but when it had come to the true test, he had failed. He had chickened out. Seeing the photo on that phone had sent a pang through the politician's heart he never thought he could feel. He knew that if he met the girl in person it would be over. He would never be able to spin her as he did his other scandals, make her one of his "skeletons in the closet".

I need advice, Nathan thought. I don't know what to do with this...I need help, and not from Mom. Closing his eyes for a moment, he let his mind wander, thinking about the people in his life and who he could trust with this latest, and most damning, secret. The innocent face of his brother, Peter, floated to the front of his mind, and his eyes flew open. Taking a deep breath, he picked up the phone on his desk and fluidly dialed Peter's cell phone.

"Hello?" came the familiar, warm voice of his younger brother.

"Pete? It's Nathan."

"Hey, Nathan, what's up?" Peter's voice took on the friendly and pleased quality it assumed whenever he realized he was speaking to his brother. Nathan wondered sometimes how he could still hear that quality in his brother's voice after everything that had happened between them. Peter always had a talent for forgiveness, thought Nathan, I'll need that now.

"Pete, there's something I need to tell you. I need your advice."

"Sounds serious. Do you want me to come over?"

Just like Peter, thought Nathan. He was about to refuse the offer when he realized that he needed to see his brother's face at that moment.

"That...would be great, Pete. Are you sure you can come?"

"Of course I can. It's one of the perks of unemployment."

Nathan could hear the smile in his brother's voice, and it made him smile, too.

"Thanks, Pete."

"I'll see you in half an hour. Later, Nate."

"Bye, Pete."