Chapter 1: Four Months Later

4 months later

Katie had developed a strange relationship with Nathan Petrelli. It wasn't a friendship, not really, because neither one said two words to the other. It was more of an understanding, a need to just be with someone who understood.

And Katie couldn't think of anyone who understood the loss of Peter more than his brother.

After the events at Kirby Plaza, Katie was a mere shadow of her former self, slipping into the depression she once had after Chloe's death. Although this, if possible, was worse. She hardly ate, never slept, and had no one to talk to. Claire, the only person besides Peter she had ever really gotten close to, had moved into hiding.

She had almost forgotten what his face looked like, were his eyes green? Blue? She was just about certain they were brown, but she really didn't know. It was almost too hard to try and picture him in her mind, the memories that came crashing into her too powerful.

But while her thoughts and emotions were tumbling about in her head like a hurricane, there was one constant in her life at the moment.

Kirby Plaza.

Every day at 6am, Katie rolled out of bed and made the journey to Kirby Plaza. It wasn't for the fresh air or the quiet, although that did help, rather it was for the tiny hope that Katie held within her heart. That Peter would come back.

He was her hero after all, and if ever there was a time she needed saving it was now.

For a week she sat alone, breathing in through her nose and watching the sun rise, trying not to let her caged tears fall.

And then one day, someone joined her.

He was a little hard to identify, what with the new facial hair and all, but Katie knew from the look in his eyes who it was, a look that desperate could hardly belong to just anyone.

"Nathan?" she murmured, glancing up at the man beside her. A far cry from the proud politician she once knew, this man was ragged, clothes thrown on haphazardly and a scraggly beard beginning to grow on his jaw.

He didn't say a word, but sat next to her silently.

Katie understood, he needed this hope as much as she did.

And so they sat there together, every morning for 4 months, eyes scanning the skies for a flying man.

Once she plucked up the courage and asked him if he missed Peter.

"Of course I do." He whispered, clenching his fists. Katie hadn't heard him speak in what seemed like forever, but she didn't remember his voice being so raspy before.

"Me too." She replied, reaching over and grabbing his hand in hers.

Nathan's eyes widened slightly and he made as if to pull away, but then stopped, and returned the gesture with a tight squeeze.

They sat like that, hands intertwined, eyes ever glued to the lightening sky, until the city began to wake from its slumber, at which point they left each other's company, each feeling a little better than they had the day before.

He joined her every day after that one.

Katie was humming quietly under her breath when Nathan ambled over to their preferred spot by the fountain and plopped down next to her.

"You look like shit." She intoned seriously, seeing the deep circles and bloodshot eyes.

He chuckled, rubbing his beard between his hand, "I guess I do."

Nathan sighed deeply and rolled his neck. Usually that was the end of their conversations, but today Nathan had something else in mind.

"Katie, I think this is the last time I'll come here."

She was surprised, her features showing it plainly on her face. She turned her body around to face him completely, "Why?" she asked, tone on the brink of being accusatory.

Nathan couldn't leave her; these moments were the only time she really felt at peace. Katie could feel herself beginning to panic, tears welling in her eyes.

"You can't just-"

"I have to," Nathan interrupted, "we have to."

"We most certainly do not!" Katie snapped, crossing her arms to prevent herself from strangling the man.

Nathan placed his hands gently on her shoulders, "Peter would have wanted us to move on." He said carefully, watching Katie closely.

"How do you know? Peter's not here! He's dead Nathan!" She shrieked the last few words hysterically, clenching her nails into her sides painfully.

A moment of silence followed, Nathan looked uncertain, mulling over his next few words carefully.

"I know Katie. But we need to start living again; wallowing in this misery is doing us no good."

She couldn't help but see the truth in his words, no matter how badly she wanted to repress those thoughts.

"I just don't want to say goodbye." She whispered, eyes closing for a moment.

"Me neither, but-"

"Yeah yeah, we have to." She grumbled in anger, before heaving a giant sigh and standing up.

"You go on then; I have one last thing I need to do."

Nathan nodded, but hesitated before turning to leave, "Katie, I don't know if we'll see each other again, we probably won't. So I just wanted to say…thank you. For helping me through," he swept his arms around him wide, "y'know, all this."

Katie grinned, "I didn't do much, but you're welcome anyways."

She paused, contemplating something, "Should we hug?"

Nathan looked apprehensive, shaking his head slowly, "I'm not really one-"

"Too bad!" she cried, throwing herself into his arms, and squeezing him tight.

He was stunned, but slowly patted her back gently, a small smile gracing his lips.

Katie let go, "Well, goodbye Nathan Petrelli. I'll see you around."

"Likewise," he said, smiling again before leaving.

Katie was alone in Kirby Plaza for the first time in a while, and the stillness was unexpected. Nevertheless she walked with purpose over to the fountain, reaching into the pocket of her jeans.

Out came a crumpled piece of paper, well-loved and corners creased. It was the drawing Peter had in his pocket the night he left, the one with his message.

"I wish you were here to tell me what to do," she sighed, "I wish you were here to say anything actually, I miss your voice. I miss your hair. I miss the way you'd smile, and how you thought The Rolling Stones were better than the Beatles. I miss your stupid little knock knock jokes, and your amazing ability to make everything better." Katie stopped herself before she became too enraptured with walking down memory lane, eyes hardening with steely determination.

She glanced at the drawing one more time, before dropping it with purpose into the clear water.

"I won't forget you Peter, but I have to move on."

And as she turned away, Katie lost that small hope that Peter would come back, and her heart felt heavy.

But as they say, fate has a way of bringing people together, and boy did fate have something in store for Katie.