Chapter 3: A Place and Time

"Hiro?" I say as I knock on the door of his apartment. Even though I know it's late and he's probably busy, he's a better choice to stay with than Uncle Peter.

"Just a….WAAAAHHH!" I hear Hiro frantically scream as I hear a loud thud on the floor.

"Are you okay?" I call to him.

"Just a minute, Claire-san," Hiro says. I hear a click and I come face to face with a very dishevled Hiro. His hair is sticking up at all ends and his face is covered with soot. It looks like someone has been using him as target practice…

"Hiro!" Ando says and then sees me standing at the door. He looks shocked for a second, then straightens himself. He runs a hand through his hair to smooth it out and then gives me a bright smile.

"Claire, it's so nice to see you!" Ando rushes to me and takes my hand, giving it a kiss.

"Right…" I say as I pull my hand away. Lately, Ando's been a little strange…always running his hands through his hair, smiling at me, buying me things, holding doors for me, picking fights with Peter, kissing my hand…

"We were just making cookies!" Hiro says with giddy as he holds up a tray of burnt cookies.

"I helped," Ando smiles.

"He ruined them," Hiro sighs and then goes to throw the cookies away.

"I just came to get my purse," I say as I walk into the room.

"Really? Isn't there another reason…let's say…a person you wanted to see?" Ando grins cheesily and then flexes his arms.

"Right…" I just roll my eyes.

"YATA!" I hear Hiro cheer as he runs into the room with a new batch of cooked cookies.

"Hiro…did you just bend time to get cookies?" I ask.

"Yes, but these cookies are really good. They were cooked by my mother," Hiro says as he stuffs his face with cookies.

Hmm…maybe…

"Hiro?"

"Yes, Claire?"

"Can I ask you a favor?"

"Sure…after I finish my cookies…"

"Can you show me the future?"

"I'm not Matt, Claire."

"No, I mean time travel there…"

"Why?"

"Peter said that Matt had a vision about something happening…something that might be dangerous…"

"Ahh…you are worried about the man you love…"

"WHAT?" I back away. How did he know? "It's not like that…"

"Well, you are family…uncle and niece, I mean. So, you love each other."

"Yeah…sure," I laugh uneasily. Okay…maybe I'm safe.

"Well, later…but it is a big responsibility. Whatever happens, you cannot try to change it…and make sure that you are safe at all times"

"Okay…"

"I'll make sure of that…" Ando smiles as he puts his arm around me. This guy is really starting to freak me out.

"I can do it…let's go Hiro…"

"You stay here, Ando," Hiro smiles as he waves his index finger at his friend.

"Aww…I don't want to stay here…I have to protect Claire…"

"I think Claire would have more protection if it was just the two of us…away from you…"

"Man.."

"Let's go?"

"Let's," I say as I take Hiro's hand, relieved that Ando is going to be left behind.

"Hold on…" he says, and then everything disappears…

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