I intended this as a single chapter, then went for a trilogy, so this is the last part of that trilogy. Sylar and Claire are still together, but for how long?

I do not own Heroes.

We're never alone : 2,000 years later

Claire sat in the station, waiting for Sylar to show up. What if he decided not to. Would she leave without him? She heard soft padding heading in her direction. When she looked up, Claire saw the somber face of the man she'd spent the last 2,000 years with, off and on. They would stay together for the most part, but on occasion, they'd go their separate ways, only to meet up again decades later.

"I wasn't sure you were coming," she said, sliding over on the bench to make room for him.

"I wasn't sure I was coming either," he remarked.

"What do you mean? This is the last flight out." She grabbed his hand, holding it tightly. Something wasn't right.

"Claire, I'm not sure I want to go." His visage was one of sadness, but his voice seemed determined.

Claire turned on the bench, facing him with fear etched on her face. "Sylar, everyone I've ever cared for and loved has died. You're the only constant in my life. I refuse to leave you here. If you don't go, I don't go," she promised.

"Don't be insane! I want you on that flight." His eyes roamed over her face. The eyes that had often censured him as well as smiled at him, the pert nose he loved to tweak, the mouth he loved to taste. He bent to kiss her. "We've seen so much living, Claire. I'm tired."

"But Sylar, it's going to be like a new chapter. It couldn't possibly be the same. Don't you want to experience the changes? Or we could go somewhere more established. Several of the earlier colonies are as advanced as Earth now."

He pulled her to him, wrapping an arm around her. His free hand took hers. "The way you talk, makes me think you want to go. You should."

"Sylar, come with me. Please," she begged him.

A flight attendant came over to them. "We'll be taking off soon. You'll have to hurry."

Sylar looked at her, then at Claire. He pursed his lips, and looked down at their joined hands.

Claire peered up at the worried, but very professional woman, telling her, "We won't be going. You can give our seats to any stand-bys you have."

The woman nodded, and walked away. It wasn't the first time she'd had people refuse passage. But these ones seemed so young. She thought it wasteful for them not to go.

Claire leaned against Sylar, closing her eyes. It was done then. They would stay here until the end, together.

Sylar chuckled. "Remember when I chased you all around your house? You actually thought you could get away by hiding in the closet."

Claire smiled. "Yeah, and remember when I sent that piece of glass into the back of your skull? Damn fire melted it, so you came back." It was strange to talk about the days when they had been mortal enemies. Now that they had decided to stay behind, the Rule seemed so unnecessary.

"I'm still sorry about Nathan."

"It was so long ago." Claire played with his fingers. "I love you."

Sylar bent and kissed the top of her head. "I love you too."

They stood together, and went outside. The sky was beautiful, filled with pinks and reds. It was unseasonably warm, but neither seemed affected. They found a stretch of grass and sat down. "We can watch from here," Sylar said. He heard a small noise, and turned to see tears flowing down Claire's cheeks. "Why are you crying?" he asked, startled.

Claire wiped her eyes. "I'm sorry. I just can't help thinking, this is our home. I'll miss it. It's hard to accept that it'll all be gone by morning."

"Claire, there won't be a morning."

She let the tears fall, unable or unwilling to stop them. She nestled as close to Sylar as she could force her body. "What if we still can't die?"

"I don't know. Maybe we'll float around in space forever."

The idea was so absurd to Claire, that she started laughing. Sylar felt the tension leave him as he also laughed. They watched, as the last flight took off, heading for deep space.

Claire turned to Sylar, who bent to kiss her, their tongues sparring. He held her within his arms as she wrapped hers around his waist. When they broke from the kiss, she leaned her head against him, saying, "It's a good thing I don't feel pain. But you don't have that lack of sensation, Sylar. I'm afraid for you."

"According to the experts, it should be over pretty fast." He noticed the sky was becoming more red, and the air warmer. It was starting. "Claire, have you ever regretted being with me?"

"Of course not. I mean, not since we made our peace. You were there when I needed someone most. I never would have imagined you being my savior Now I can't think of my life without you." She looked into his face, memorizing his features in this, their last moments. "Think there's an afterlife? Maybe we'll still be together."

Sylar laughed. "I don't think I'll be going to Heaven, do you?"

Claire sighed. "If not, I won't either then. You won't be going anywhere without me, Sylar."

The heat was becoming oppressive, and the sky was turning a deeper shade of red. It was more difficult for either to breathe.

"We could go inside somewhere to wait it out," Claire suggested.

"No. Let it end quickly," Sylar said, noticing several fires cropping up in the trees across the city. Soon, everything would be on fire. The very air would be consumed, and Earth would be unlivable. Eventually it would just be a burned out cinder orbiting in space.

Sylar placed a hand on Claire's cheek as he looked into her eyes. "You'll always be a part of me. I think I knew that back in the day. I couldn't kill you then. I never would." As they kissed each other one last time, the Earth burned up around them.