Disclaimer: I don't own Heroes. Song lyrics are "Delicate" by Damien Rice—don't own those either.

Summary: There is silence in the words they speak, secrets in the lives they live, a love they've always shared--even now. Hearts are delicate and with a single word, a single glance they can break into pieces. PAIRE.

A/N: Sorry this one took so long! Things have been crazy and Adrie and I have been doing and re-doing to get it right for you! Enjoy the chapter. Leave lots of reviews…honest feedback is very needed! Dani

Thanks to Adrie for Betaing…

We might live like never before
When there's nothing to give
Well, how can we ask for more?

Two

Claire sipped her coffee. Why was he here now? Peter hadn't called, hadn't written then he just shows up. She prayed he was here for her but she knew that wasn't true. He returned because of Angela. Her illness was the only reason Peter came back. He shouldn't have to come back; he never should have left.

It was raining outside when Claire woke up. Steam rose from the ground as the cold rain collided with the heat of the city in summer. She looked around the empty room. She called his name. He didn't answer. She moved from the bed into the living room. There were two bags by the door. She looked at him.

"Peter." He turned and saw her.

"Hey." He smiled and pulled her in his arms and kissed her.

Claire eyed the bags, "What's going on?"

Peter sighed and moved away from her, "I'm going out of town."

"When will you be back?"

Peter didn't answer as he poured her a glass of water. He sat it in front of her. "I don't know."

Claire nodded slowly, "Are you going somewhere with Mohinder…?"

Peter sat down beside her. "Not particularly."

"What's going on Peter?"

"I love you, Claire. I really do. You've made my life better than I could've ever imagined. But you're my niece. Our relationship is wrong," Peter whispered.

"That's ridiculous, Peter! We talked about that for the last four year and we agreed. How is this suddenly an issue?" Claire looked at him, fighting the overwhelming urge to cry. She wouldn't. He was wrong.

Peter took her face in his hands, "I love you, Claire. I really do but we can never be together. You should be with someone who can love you like you need to be loved, give you a normal life. Someone like Austin."

"I don't want to be with Austin. I want to be with you, Peter." Her voice was louder now; she was losing her composure.

"You can't. We've been living a fantasy," Peter didn't move from his seat, nor did his eyes meet hers. "Nathan will never let this happen, Claire."

"But he's your brother; he wants you to be happy."

"And he's your father," Peter met her gaze.

"And he'll want me to be happy. If we're both happy then he should be satisfied," Claire said. Peter laughed.

"I'm sure there's an addendum that says 'happiness can not be with your niece.'"Peter said plainly. Claire huffed and moved across the floor.

"Where did this come from, Peter?" Claire paused, waiting for a response.

"Austin told me."

Claire looked at him, "Peter…"

"You should marry him, Claire. He's loved you for years. And you love him," Peter said. Claire looked at him and shook her head.

"Not like I love you."

He shook his head, "Don't say that. This is hard enough."

"So all these years…I've just been a—what?—a fallback? Or a-a booty call?"

"Claire, how could you say that? Do you really think that?"

"What am I supposed to think? You say you love me but you're ready to bolt? You want me to marry to another man?"Claire yelled.

Peter moved toward her when he saw her tears. He pulled her close and kissed her face, "That's not it and you know it. I love you Claire. You're the reason I'm breathing," he whispered softly in her ear.

"Don't go Peter. Please…don't go," Claire pleaded. Peter shushed her as she cried and he held her close. She asked him if he would stay. He didn't give an answer, he just kissed her.

"Good morning," he said as he kissed her, "How's Mrs. McAdams today?" Claire smiled at the sight of Austin. His short blonde hair lay flat today.

"I'm fine," she looked up at her husband.

"Just fine?" he asked. His blue eyes searched hers. "Why just fine?"

"Peter's back. He was at Nathan's last night."

Austin smiled and kissed her gently. "That's bad? I know he left on strange terms with you but it doesn't seem a crime. His mother's dying. Did you think he would just stay away?"

Claire shook her head, "I don't know what I thought. I didn't even know if he was dead or alive."

Austin sat beside her, "Just have faith in him, Claire. People change," he said softly, "You have to forgive him eventually."

Claire looked at him, "I don't want to forgive him."

"He's your uncle. You love him. You can't hate him forever," he said with a small smile. "When I met you, you talked about him all the time. That girl has to be hidden in you somewhere."

Claire wrapped her arms around him. "I love you."

He kissed her, "I love you, too." He moved from the chair and picked up his coat.

"You're leaving already?" she asked, "Sophie isn't even awake."

"I have a trial at 10. I kissed her before I came downstairs," Austin put his arms in his coat.

"Will you be home for dinner?"

"I don't know, babe. I'll call. Love ya," he smiled. Claire sighed. "Be careful today. It's cold," Austin yelled before the door slammed shut.

Claire walked through the living room. She picked up the photo from her wedding off the mantel and thought of Peter despite herself.

Claire looked at herself in the mirror. Her white dress sparkled. She felt like someone else, like this girl standing in front of her was a complete stranger. Maybe she was a stranger; she was missing her soul after all and that changed a person.

"You look beautiful," Peter said and Claire turned at the sound of his voice. She didn't reply. She tossed him a look and looked away. "Don't do this, Claire."

"I always wanted this to be our wedding day, Peter. Not mine and Austin's," she said. His name rolled off her tongue like something foul.

"You love him," Peter said.

"Not the way I love you," she said. He didn't respond and she looked away again. "What are you doing in here?"

Peter sighed, "I just had to see you."

"Well, you have. Now go," Claire snapped. She turned away from him completely.

She closed her eyes when she felt his hands around her waist. "Claire…" he whispered. She gulped back the urge to say his name in one painful swallow. "I'm so sorry, Claire."

She turned to face him, "I don't think I can do this."

Peter touched her face, "You can. Austin loves you; he'll make you happy."

"You make me happy! Just take me away, Peter. You can fly us away; we can go somewhere where no one knows us. We can be together, Peter," she pleaded, still in his arms.

"I can't do that, Claire."

"You can! It's easy. No one will have to know."

"Do you want to do that to Austin?" Peter watched her tense up in his arms. She locked eyes with him.

"Peter…kiss me please. Just one more time?"

She thought he would say no and leave, abandon her, leave her there like he wanted. He studied her face and leaned into kiss her. It was a short kiss but full of passion. She lingered in his arms after it was over.

"Say the word and I'll leave with you. Forget Austin, forget Nathan. Everyone," she whispered, "I love you, Peter."

Peter shook his head, "We can't do that and you know it." He pulled away from her, "You're beautiful. Always, Claire, always."

It was the last thing he said before he walked out the room. She held back her tears. She didn't cry. Those words were on her mind before she walked down the aisle.

"Do you, Claire Bennet, take Austin McAdams to be your husband?" Claire glanced out of the corner of her eye at Peter, who sat beside Nathan. If he showed some sort of desire, some hesitation she would say no and run out with him. But he didn't blink twice.

"I do," she said, tears in her eye. Austin had tears, too—but hers were different. Hers were bitter tears, tears that fell only for Peter Petrelli, the man she loved more than life. The only man who truly had her heart; the one man she could never be with. The man who was looking at her, watching her marry someone else.

Claire put the picture down and sighed. She loved her husband but he wasn't Peter. She hated herself for it because he deserved better. Peter had left and Claire was still bathing in the irony of it all. Peter left long before she was married; she was still here, waiting for him, loving him. She was alone in her love. She felt like maybe she always had been.

"Momma!" Sophie squealed. Claire smiled and ran to her daughter's room. Sophie's arms were outstretched and she laughed when Claire came in. Claire swooped Sophie up in her arms and held her close, kissing her face. "Eat?" Sophie said.

"You want to eat? You hungry?" Claire asked. Sophie nodded and pointed. Claire laughed and made her daughter some breakfast.

-- -- --

Claire rushed to the door. Her smile diminished when it opened. "What can I do for you?"

"It's cold, Claire. Can't I come in?" Peter asked. Claire nodded and he came into her apartment, careful to knock the snow off his boots, "What's going on?"

Peter looked at Claire. "I just wanted to come by, say hi to Sophie. I don't even really know her—plus I wanted to see you."

Claire shot a look at him, "You didn't have to."

"I know," Peter said, "I wanted to."

Claire softened when Sophie walked into the room. Before Claire could pick her up, Sophie stopped in front of Peter and smiled. Peter bent down to her level, "Hey Sophie."

She blushed, "Who you?"

Peter smiled, "I'm Peter."

"Hi, Peter!" she squealed. Peter saw her little brown dog.

"What his name?" Peter asked, pointing to the dog.

"Flop," Sophie smiled.

"He's very cute," Peter touched the dog's ear. Claire looked away.

"He like you. You hold him?" Peter nodded and took the little dog in his hands. She smiled and snatched him back. "That all. He done. He tired now," Sophie bolted out of the room.

Peter looked at Claire. He started to speak but didn't. It was silent, awkwardly comfortable.

"She likes you. Very few people get to hold Flop," Claire replied softly.

"She's really cute, Claire," Peter was too close to her. She backed away.

"I have soup on…you can eat with us if you want to," Claire said before she disappeared in the kitchen.

Claire laid her head against the cool blue wall. Why did she just invite him to stay? She surely intended to torture herself. He was her weakness. She didn't know how much she could be around him before she lost her composure.

The ringing phone brought her out of her thoughts. "Hey, baby," Austin said, "How's your day?"

"It's good. We're about to eat lunch. Peter stopped by."

"That's great. I'm glad you're listening to what I said. Maybe you and Peter can get back the relationship you had before."

Claire smiled at his enthusiasm but she felt like a traitor. He wouldn't be as excited if he knew exactly what their relationship had been. "Maybe," Claire said. They spoke for a few more minutes and he declared that he would be home late tonight. It was a short call but it made her remember the life she'd created with him. Austin loved her and she had to gain some control over her feelings for Peter.

Claire sat on the steps of the library at NYU cramming for her Chemistry exam. She was redoing equations twice to make sure she had them all under control. She muttered a curse word when she messed up the last one again.

"Are you staring at me for a reason?" Claire asked a blonde man. The man smiled.

"I was just noticing that you were having some problems with that equation," he held out his hand, "I'm Austin McAdams. I'm in your Advanced Chem class."

Claire blushed, "I'm Claire Bennet."

He smiled, "It's nice to meet you. Want some help?" Claire nodded.

(sc)

Austin laughed and stared at Claire from across the table. "How does a girl like you not have a man in her life?"

Claire stopped laughing and blushed. She did have a man but she couldn't say that to anyone. That man was her uncle. Claire just shrugged.

"Listen, what are you doing on Friday?"

Claire put up her hand, "Austin, I think you're really great but I'm not looking for anything right now."

Austin laughed and looked at her, "That's fine. I'm just going to be your amazingly, hot friend."

Claire laughed, "I can handle that."

"Good. Now about Friday—wait, wait—I have these tickets to an art exhibit. I bought them but now I have to work. Would you like them?"Claire's eyes widened and she laughed. Austin smiled, "You thought I was going to ask you out? Don't worry. I'm not; not yet."

(sc)

Austin stood close to Claire, shielding her from the rain. He looked at her and she smiled, "I really want to kiss you Claire Bennet."

Claire shook her head, "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why? Will you kill me with your kiss?" he joked. She shook her head. "I think it's a great idea." Before she could deny him again, he kissed her.

He smiled as he pulled away from her. She just looked at him, "I have to go."Claire disappeared into the rain.

(sc)

Claire looked at Peter, "I don't know how to do this," she said, "Austin's great guy Peter but I'm in love with you. I feel like I'm leading him on."

Peter was quiet, "Claire, we can stop. I told you from the beginning that anytime you wanted to stop we could. I love you but I'm not going to ruin your life."

Claire shook her head, "I don't want to stop. I want to make love to you as much as I can. I want to be with you. You, Peter."

He kissed her. "I don't know what to tell you about Austin."

"He's coming to family dinner on Friday. He wouldn't leave me alone about it," Claire said softly. "Are you going to be able to handle that?"

"Ma will love him," Peter said, almost with a laugh, "I'm sorry I make your life so complicated."

"You don't. You make it make sense," Claire smiled.

(sc)

"Claire Bennet," Austin said, falling on to one knee, "You bring something I can't explain to my life. You make me crazy but I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you . Will you marry me?"

Claire was speechless. She looked at him and immediately starting crying. He pulled her into his arms, "What's wrong?"

"I need time…"

Austin pulled away from her, "Do you love me Claire?"

Claire wanted to lie. But despite her best efforts to not even be his friend, she did love him. It was a comfortable love, a safe love. He made her smile but there wasn't the passion that she had with Peter. He in no way completed her like Peter. "Yes, but I don't know if I can. I just—I just need some time."

Austin nodded and kissed her forehead.

Three weeks later, she told him yes and stopped talking to Peter.

"How long will she sleep?" Peter asked. Claire snapped up when she realized that he was speaking.

"Hour and half. That's usually all," Claire said.

"What time does Austin come home?"

Claire shifted, "He'll be late tonight so I don't know."

Claire sighed in the awkwardly comfortable silence. Her heart was racing. She had so much she wanted to ask, wanted to say, needed to know. She practiced all through lunch but now she couldn't say any of them.

"That dog…the one that Sophie carries," Peter said. "You kept that."

Claire looked at him, "Yes, I couldn't throw it out."

Peter nodded, "I'm glad you didn't."

"It was the last thing you ever got me. I had to keep it around."

"So you didn't cut every memory of me out of your life, that's good," Peter looked at her.

"Not the good ones," Claire looked away from him.

They were quiet. "Claire…"

"I can't, Peter," she said. "So much has happened."

Peter nodded slowly and took a gulp of his water. "Will you give me a chance to at least be your friend again?"

Claire shot him a look, "I don't know if I can."

"You can. I know you."

"You knew me. There's a difference," Claire said. She shuddered after she said it. "I'm sorry that I—"

"Don't be sorry. You're right. I just can't believe that you changed that much."

Claire looked at him. All the worry was suddenly gone. She saw the face of the man that she loved then and now, despite the pain he caused. She wanted to kiss him. She wanted to but she couldn't. She was still angry.

"Why Peter?" Claire said abruptly in the silence. He looked at her, unsure of a response. "Why haven't I heard from you? I've sat here pining away after you, wishing I could go back and stand my ground. If I could do it all over, Peter… Why did you let me marry him if you loved me? Why don't you love me anymore?"

Peter just stared at her, "I do."

"You do what?"

"Love you," he said.

He paused, struggling with the words. "That's why I left—because I loved you. I knew you loved Austin. I could see it in your eyes at the graduation party. I thought it would be easier if I wasn't a factor. I didn't talk to you because I didn't know what to say. I still don't."

Claire sat, tears already falling from her eyes. Peter continued.

"If I could do it over, I wouldn't have been so stupid. I let you marry Austin because it was the right thing but it killed me. I couldn't even look at you at the wedding. I feared I would take your offer and fly away with you. I spent the whole ceremony staring at that picture on the wall and reading people's thoughts."

Claire was silent. She moved from the table and faced the sink at the counter. Peter moved toward her. She felt him standing behind her and turned to face him. Without another thought his hands were wrapped up in her hair and they were kissing. It was a kiss full of passion that Claire hadn't been able to release in years. Passion meant only for Peter. She pulled away from him and turned around.

"You should leave, Peter."

He nodded as he walked to the kitchen door.

"Peter," Claire called to him before he left, "don't forget to come back tomorrow. You promised Sophie."

Peter nodded and closed the door. Claire fell into the couch, Peter's kiss still lingering on her lips.