A.N: This was written for the one-shot challenge, Life Is Like A Movie over at Pairechallenge. Enjoy!

Warnings/Disclaimers: Spoilers up to the end of S1. Canon!Paire. I don't own Heroes.

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Home Movies

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The expanse of cold, winter sky stretches out before him, the tops of trees and skyscrapers spinning and spinning…

"Zach, turn it off."

The lens spins out to accommodate the concrete pavement and the form of one, Claire Bennet-Petrelli, wrapped up warmly from head to toe, arms folded and an irked expression on her face, her golden curls tucked underneath the hood of her coat.

The voice behind the camera laughs, "Aw, come on, Claire, this is New York we're talking about. Plus, it's my new project, 'The Daily Escapades of Miri-Gro Girl and her Secret Life as a Manhattan Socialite.' Got an edge to it, don't you think?"

Claire rolls her eyes and scoffs, "Puh-lease." She starts walking down the pavement, heels clacking, "Miri-Gro Girl? I didn't invite you here for Christmas so you could document my boring life and turn it into a superhero film."

Shakily, the camera follows her, Zach trying to keep up with her fast pace, "But I've got it all worked out. It could be your alias, and you could play yourself in the film! I've got the synopsis all figured out…"

A laugh escapes the blonde's lips without meaning to, turning to the camera to roll her eyes good-naturedly at her friend, "I don't think a movie is the best idea when I'm supposed to be in hiding. Kinda gives me away, you know?"

"Whatever. Anyway, it's the story of Claire Bennet," Zach moves in front of her and walks backwards. The lens zooms into her face, as she laughs and tries to shove it away, "Who wakes up one morning with mysterious powers of regeneration."

Playing along, Claire pretends to look shocked, as her friend carries on, "As she tries to figure out what these powers mean, the evil Brain Man attacks her at school, where she's trying to live a double life as a cheerleader."

"Zach," She warns, brows furrowing.

"Will you shut up; I'm getting to the best bit!" In his hurry, Zach trips over a stone and almost falls backwards, the camera slipping in his hands.

"Dork," Claire helps steady him, breathing out icy, cold air, "What's this best bit?"

They've arrived back at the Petrelli mansion now, and the girl pauses in front of the iron gates, taking in a deep breath. It's all decked out for Christmas, the exterior warm and inviting, but the thought of her grandmother waiting for her inside is a less than inviting thought.

"The best bit is the arrival of Sponge Boy -" At this point Claire bursts into laughter, "Sponge Boy?" – "Who gets there in the nick of time and saves Miri-Gro Girl from the clutches of Brain Man, to which she's eternally grateful and says he's totally her hero."

Claire whacks Zach on the shoulder for that one, face reddening without meaning to. She blushes even more when Peter comes to greet them at the door, and she's suddenly giggling hysterically without reason.

Obviously, the man's confused, eyebrows raised. He looks into the camera for an explanation, "Er…hi to you too?"

Zach immediately springs back into director mode, zooming in on the empath's face, "And here is Sponge Boy himself, helping Miri-Gro Girl cope with the turmoil's of everyday existence now she's trying to integrate into New York life."

"Sponge Boy?" Peter looks, slightly amused, over to Claire, who's still trying to suppress giggles. She shrugs, pointing to Zach, who beams.

"It's the plot for my new movie," The boy explains, "You know, I might re-name it: 'The Adventures of Miri-Gro Girl and Sponge Boy.'"

The former hospice nurse nods doubtfully, "Right. Claire, Ma says if you want to get this dress sorted for the Ball next week, you better get moving."

At this, the blonde rolls her eyes, exaggerating for the camera as Zach spins to follow her movements, "Great."

The three of them move inside, and Zach seats himself in the lounge while he waits for Claire to finishing seeing her scary grandmother of doom. Peter waits with him, and the boy shuts off the camera and moves it around in his hands, an almost-comfortable silence settling between the two of them.

It's not like Zach doesn't like Peter or anything; he just doesn't know what to say to a man who can, potentially, pin you against a wall with a flick of his mind. So he stays silent and, sooner or later, Claire appears in a gorgeous, white, flowing dress that's obviously custom-made. He quickly switches the camcorder back on as Peter stands up, eyes completely focused on the girl walking delicately down the staircase.

Zach's about to make a witty comment but the sight he can see through the camera lens stops him. Claire's eyes have met Peter's and, Zach's no expert, but he can see a flash of, well, something, pass between them.

Peter clears his throat, "You look…lovely, Claire."

"Thanks," She answers quietly, looking down at her feet. It's then she notices Zach still filming, "Turn it off, you dork."

There's warmth in her voice, but he can sense another emotion there that's forceful enough to make him press the stop button, closing the camera with an apologetic smile.

Later, as Zach re-watches the tape, he decides that his movie is going to have a slightly different ending. In his movie, Miri-Gro Girl would be saved by Sponge Boy, as planned but, when she came to live in New York, instead of finding out they were related, Zach would make them fall in love and live happily ever after.

He decides that's the least they deserve.