Disclaimer: Why must you break my heart? I don't own anything supremely awesome like Peter, Heroes, Peter, Claire, Noah, Peter, New York, Peter, NBC, or Peter.

Okay people, in this chapter we aren't in Wisconsin any more. I sadly realized that we must part from Peter for a chapter so we can see what is going on with everybody else. But do not worry my fellow Peter fans; he will be back next chapter! I guarantee it! For it is written! (Notice I said written not typed, sorry.)

Like I said last chapter, this is an AU, and Paire is a main element in the story.

Thank you time!

Teresa- I am so happy to hear that you like my character! Also, I have made it a bit obvious I like Superman haven't I? I even unconsciously mad a character like him.

Winter19- The ranch is a very nice place to get away, I agree. As you can see, the pace is being kept. Also thanks for all your help! You've been great!

Nightingale- I will most certainly keep writing with more reviews like yours! Glad you like my story!

Guys also remember, all of you readers, and I mean each and every one of you; if you want me to keep writing you gotta let me know! Review and the story goes on!

With all that said, read and enjoy my humble story!

A few hours later in a New York apartment, many miles away, someone else was waking up. The subject had not changed when she had gotten home earlier that night. It was still dark outside and she realized that it was still night. She stood up from the bed, and made her way to the dresser she'd been using; the floorboards creaking loudly as she did so. She just reached it when she heard noise outside her room and the door was opened. In the doorway a man stood, "Claire?" he asked as he turned on the light and illuminated her features. She looked the same as she did in Peter's picture with two exceptions. She no longer wore a cheerleader's uniform or a smile. She instead bore a surprised expression that quickly faded to be replaced by a mournful one that had been on her face for the last couple days. Her father, as he stood gazing upon her from the doorway, missed her smile. He asked, "What are you doing, Sweetie?"

She replied in a tired voice, "I couldn't sleep."

He sighed as his own face assumed a melancholy expression, and began to ask his most popular question of the last few days, already knowing the answer, "Wanna talk?"

Claire shook her hair out of her eyes, "Not tonight, Dad."

Taking a breath, Mr. Bennet tried another tack, "Would you at least join me in some hot cocoa, Claire-bear?"

With the faintest of smiles, Claire answered, "Of course. Just give me a minute."

"Whatever you want, sweetie." He replied ad he turned from the room and shut the door behind him.

Mr. Bennet was worried. Claire had been like this ever since that night downtown. Since then, there had been a definite void in his daughter. She hadn't eaten as much and could only sleep a few hours each night. She was also disturbingly quiet in Noah's eyes.

He reflected what had happened as he turned on the kettle and got out two mugs. At her homecoming back in Odessa, she had been attacked and a friend murdered. If that wasn't enough she had been through more. She discovered her gifts, met her real parents and was forced to run away as he was shot and left with a wiped memory. There was also the business with the Petrellis in New York.

It was enough to drive any sixteen-year-old girl into a depressive state. He was in fact surprised it hadn't happened sooner. But nonetheless he missed the old Claire; she smiled more. This new Claire had to grow up too quick and missed out on stuff she shouldn't have. Now all he could do was be there for her when she wanted to talk.

He could tell the most recent mood change had occurred because of the loss of Peter and Nathan. And though it broke Noah's heart, she had finally found her biological family and would be with them for a while.

Her real father was going to embrace her after elections were over, and he was declared Congressman, and she and Peter already knew each other. She had grown close to Peter even before they found out they were related and she cared for him. Sometimes Mr. Bennet worried she had grown too close to him.

They were actually staying in Peter's apartment. His mother, Angela Petrelli, had let them, because she said that Claire was still family. Though Mr. Bennet had received the impression that deep down, Angela believed that when Nathan and Peter flew into the sky, it would be the last time any of them saw the brothers. Noah wished to believe differently, for Claire's sake. For even though Claire never said it, Mr. Bennet knew she wasn't of the same opinion of her grandmother.

After the explosion, she cried so hard. While it was true that she wasn't the only one in tears, it is true that she still could be found crying when she thought she was alone.

Of course of the group that had gathered there the night of the explosion, she had been closest to the pair and known them better. Nathan was her newly discovered real father, and Peter had been the one to save her at homecoming and was a close friend.

She was incredibly shaken, that night. They and the Petrellis weren't the only ones there that night though; other people from all over were there, but were undeniably connected.

The ones there at the beginning of the night were the Petrelli brothers, Peter and Nathan, a pair of Japanese office workers, Ando and Hiro, Hiro had the ability to bend space and time and teleport. Matt Parkman, a psychic cop, Mr. Bennet has had dealings with in the past. There was also an Indian professor on genetics named Mohinder Suresh; the locater child Molly Walker and a family of people with special abilities. This included the Dr. Jekyl- Mr. Hyde, Nikki Saunders as well as her phasing husband, D.L. and their technopage son, Micah.

At the end of the night the Petrellis were a blast in the sky, Hiro sent somewhere in time, Parkman carted away in an ambulance, D.L. was shot, and Noah himself was in a sling. There were losses on all sides and everyone was affected by the end of that night.

One more person that was more linked than the rest was there as well. The murderer Sylar had slipped away silently into the night through a manhole near where he had lain.

Though Mr. Bennet could not now remember whom, someone had suggested that they call themselves heroes and it became adopted and accepted.

Earlier that day the heroes had met at the hospital where some were staying. They realized that there was no coincidence in them all coming together that night and they wanted to do something about it. Ando suggested that the day of the explosion be called Doomsday, and so it was since then.

Some of the group had their own idea what use they should put their abilities to. Ando wished to find Peter while Mohinder wanted to spread the word to all the other located heroes and warn them about potential threats from Sylar and the virus that killed his sister. There was scattered consensus to this plan. Nikki meanwhile just wanted to keep her family safe and out of further danger. Mr. Bennet himself suggested for the sake of his daughter that they look for Peter in hopes that he could heal himself. Those that knew him agreed that finding Peter would help with any future endeavors but some still doubted the likelihood of his survival. Noah was determined to keep hope if not for Peter then for his distraught Claire.

At the end of that summit of sorts, the heroes agreed not to resolve anything until a later date. After communicating with Angela Petrelli, Claire suggested that they should meet again after Nathan's Memorial Service, which was set to take place six days from then, on the 16th.

The group agreed and went their separate ways.

Claire now entered the kitchen where her father had just finished making hot cocoa. He made a motion with a mug- occupied hand that they enter the living room, and Claire nodded and she led the way.

They sat down on the couch next to the fire where Mr. Bennet had sat reading before he heard Claire get up. In awkward silence the pair sat for a moment, sipping their hot chocolate. Claire broke it, "So any word from Mom?"

Noah nodded, "I talked to her tonight. They are staying with one of her friends in New Mexico, for safety. I told her to do so if anything happened and her friend seems to love having them there."

Claire said, casting about for what to say to this, "That's good. How's Lyle?"

Just as awkward, her dad replied, "He's physically fine, but he's a little resentful about being left behind."

With that conversation exhausted, Claire searched for something else to talk about. She then noticed a book on the other side of her father, "What are you reading?"

He picked it up and showed her, "I found it on one of Peter's bookshelves. It's called In Troubled Times. It's a little dull, but it seemed appropriate, for the present situation."

She averted her eyes as though this wasn't a subject she was comfortable with and in doing so her eyes rested upon a picture on the mantle; one of Peter and Nathan at Nathan's wedding.

Upon seeing this, she seemed to sadden a considerable degree before asking, "Do you really think we'll find them, like you said we might at the hospital today?"

He followed her gaze to the picture and sighed before beginning, "Maybe. There is really no saying. I do think that if Peter can heal like you can, there is definite hope for him. Then, yes, I think we'll find him. Nathan is another matter though. I really don't know if your father is-"

"Don't call him that." She interjected sharply.

"Call him what?" he countered.

"My father." She answered. "He is not my father."

Mr. Bennet put a hand on her shoulder. "We both know he is your father Claire- bear. No matter how much I love you."

"He may be biologically but when you look at how he acted around me, you would see that he doesn't love me. He will never compare to you. He tried to hide me for fear of losing votes! He tried to send me to Paris! You meanwhile sacrificed yourself for my safe escape! He may biologically been my father, but he is so not my real dad. You are my real dad!"

Mr. Bennet was so touched by this explosion of emotion he reached over and hugged Claire. "I love you Claire. And so did he, even if he didn't show it. He must have, cause you are too special to not love. He died to help save you and the whole city." He sighed realizing what caused this outburst. "But you loved him too, didn't you? That's why you are so upset. You already loved both of them."

Claire began to cry, "I just can't understand why they had to die. I know that if Nathan hadn't taken Peter everyone would have died, but… Why did it have to happen at all? I just found Peter. And I found my real family, and now this. This wasn't supposed to happen. We are supposed to be arguing about whose house I'm staying at this week, not what I should wear to Nathan's memorial! This isn't supposed to happen."

Mr. Bennet leaned closer and held her as she cried into his shoulder, "I know, sweetie. It's gonna be okay. I know you loved them and that you and Peter were very close. And you're right, this shouldn't be happening. It is so unfair to you. A sixteen-year-old girl shouldn't go through what you have, and I wish I could make it better. But I promise you, if there is a possibility of finding Peter, I will look for him with you 'til there is no where left to look."

Claire looked up at her father and asked thickly, "Really? You would do that?"

Noah wiped a tear off her cheek and replied, "Absolutely. I love you that much."

"Oh dad, I love you too." And she and him hugged on the couch.

As they separated, Mr. Bennet smiled, "Not tonight though. Tonight, I just want you to stop crying and do something fun for a change. What do say we raid the pantry, make s'mores, and a fort like we used to? Of course, we'll only do it if you want to."

Claire laughed and threw a pillow at him, "I'm not five, Dad!" He made a fake sad face before she added, "but I would love to!"

And so they did, restoring a bit of the old Claire; and though she never said so, the promise he made about Peter was what cheered her the most.

It's over now, and I hope you didn't mind the small break from Peter-ville. And remember, with the right amount of reviews, the next chapter complete with Peter- filled fun, will be posted!

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