Title: Always the Unexpected

Author: Hermione Eveningfall

Fandom: Heroes

Pairing: None. Young!Peter & Nathan family fic

Rating: G

Summary: Sometimes little brothers can make life more difficult than one would like, but darn it, why do they have to be so cute anyway?

Part I

Nathan's Birthday Surprise

Nathan Petrelli strolled home from the bus stop on Friday afternoon, avoiding rain puddles leftover from the storm that passed through. It was his tenth birthday, and he couldn't wait to get home and open the presents from his parents. He pulled open the front door, tossing his backpack to the side, and bolted into the kitchen.

"Nate!" He nearly fell backwards as his younger brother, Peter, nearly knocked him over with a hug. "Happy Birthday!" he beamed, and Nathan laughed, ruffling his seven year old brother's hair playfully.

"Thanks, Pete. Where's Mom?"

"She went out," Peter replied, "but promised she'd be back in a half hour."

"Oh." Nathan frowned. His father worked until five thirty, but his mother did her work from home ever since Peter was born.

"I got you a present!" Peter leapt up from his chair and hurried into the living room. When he returned, he carried a small wrapped gift box, and Nathan felt his heart crumble at the gesture.

"Thank you," he replied, and gave his little brother a hug. Peter bounced up and down as Nathan tore the paper away, and opened up a box to find a brand new baseball. He had a feeling his mother or father had taken Pete shopping, because he was almost positive the younger boy hadn't saved enough of his allowance to buy it himself.

"I used my own money to get it!" Peter raised his head proudly, and Nathan stared.

"You saved your allowance long enough to buy me a baseball?" He couldn't believe it, and Peter nodded.

"Yep! I wanted to get you a real good present. You have to promise to play with me, though!"

Nathan grinned, setting the box down on the table, and took the baseball into his hand. "You bet I will," he replied, and Peter's grin stretched even wider if possible. In fact, Nathan pulled his younger brother outside to pass the time with the ball while they waited for their parents. "Be careful, though...the ground's pretty wet and muddy still," he warned, though cringed when Peter slipped and fell almost immediately.

"Ow!" Peter yelped, and Nathan rolled his eyes as he gave his brother a hand up.

"Great," he muttered. "Mom's gonna kill me if she sees your pants all covered in mud. We should wait to play baseball when the ground's dry."

Peter's lower lip stuck out in a pout, but he agreed to go upstairs and change his clothes.

When Mrs. Petrelli returned home, she greeted her eldest son with hugs, kisses, and birthday wishes. "Did you have a good day at school, dear?" she asked, and Nathan shrugged.

"It was okay," he replied. "Pete gave me his present already...I can't believe he saved his allowance for the baseball."

His mother chuckled as she began to put the groceries away, and listened as footsteps pounded on the main staircase.

"Momma!" Peter called, and she smiled when the youngest of her sons entered the kitchen, and she inquired if he'd been a good boy while she was out. "Yes," he insisted, and she kissed his forehead lovingly.

"Good. Your Dad should be home in an hour, and then we'll celebrate!"

"An hour? Really?" Nathan asked, surprised, and his mother shot him a mischevious look in response.

"He had to pick up an extra special surprise for your birthday, and the shop closed before 5."

Nathan's ears pricked at the comment, and his heart pounded with excitement. He could see the expression on Peter's face as well, and realized he knew.

They sat watching television in the living room when the front door opened, revealing Mr. Petrelli, who had a wriggling bundle in his large arms.

"No WAY, Dad!" Nathan exclaimed, hopping to his feet, and flew to his father.

"Happy birthday, Nate," Mr. Petrelli announced, and carefully handed a beautiful golden retriever puppy to his eldest son. Peter sat watching with his wide set green eyes as the puppy licked its new owner all over his face. Nathan laughed, encouraging Peter to come and pet the animal, and the younger boy did just that. "Thanks a lot, Dad!" Nathan added, and Mr. Petrelli pointed to their mother, who was smiling from the kitchen doorway.

"Thank your mother, too," he encouraged. "she had a hand in this."

"Thanks, Mom," Nathan added, running to hug her, and Mrs. Petrelli returned the gesture, smoothing his short, somewhat spikey hair.

"You've shown a lot of responsibility over the past few months, so your father felt it was time," she explained, and Nathan grinned, watching as his little brother sat on the steps, scratching the dog behind the ears.

"Wow." Nathan shook his head with disbelief. He remembered begging his parents for a pet over and over, and every time they would state he was not old enough or mature enough just yet.

"He's cool, Nate," Peter announced, rubbing his eyes a little, and Nathan nodded. "What're you gonna name him?"

"I dunno," Nathan replied. "Let's bring him up to my room!"

Peter agreed, and after shooting a final glance at his parents, bolted up the stairs to the second floor of the large house. When the boys were out of ear shot, Mrs. Petrelli walked over to her husband, arms folded.

"I hope you know what you're doing, Arthur," she said in a low voice.

"Nathan's old enough to take care of a dog," Mr. Petrelli replied.

"I personally think he's too young still, but you know best apparently." Mrs. Petrelli raised an eyebrow, and lead her husband into the kitchen.

Upstairs, Peter sat on the edge of his brothers bed, watching as Nathan wrestled with his new friend on the floor. "Bullet," Nathan announced, and Peter sniffled. "That's what I'll name him. He runs fast, see?" He pointed as Bullet did another quick lap around the room, immediately pouncing on his master's lap.

Peter suddenly sneezed, catching it in his hand, and Nathan stared at him.

"You okay?" he asked, and Peter shrugged.

"I'm all stuffy," he complained, and Nathan stared at his younger brother with concern.

"Maybe you're catching a cold," he suggested as Peter sneezed again, and the dog's ears raised with curiosity at the sound.

"I dunno." Peter drug a hand across his nose, and Nathan made a face with disgust.

"That's gross, Pete," he complained, and encouraged his younger brother to get a tissue.

"Sorry," Peter mumbled, sneezing again into the crook of his arm, and shuffled out of the bedroom. Nathan shook his head with a sigh, before picking Bullet up and carrying him downstairs again.