A/N: So sorry it took soo long to update! And a memo to those Paire spiters, flame me, and you will regret it. Mostly because it's AU, and if you dis-ship Paire, why you even readin this?
Yet Another What you need to know (Last One, Promise): Sylar was captured by the Company after Kirby Plaza, landing him in Level 5 (yes, people, canon) with a few other canon characters: Flint, Knox, Jesse and The German. Matt died at Kirby Plaza, but DL survived, and Molly went with Mohinder.
This chap is dedicated to Jim, who assured me everyone gets bad reviews, especially when you're in the Paire community.
Chapter Four
"Alliance"
One Day Later
Morning. Hannah stirred in her sleep. She had her sleep on the lumpy Petrelli couch which was, surprisingly, comfortable. Or maybe it was just her.
This was a girl who abandoned her remnants of a bed when she was twelve to save the world. For years, her shut-eye was very deprived, and this was probably the most amazing sleep she'd had in a few years.
For a day now, Peter and Claire told Nathan that Hannah was merely a long-lost relative visiting. Nathan, amazingly, bought it as he thought that Hannah looked like Peter. The future prodigy crawled out of the couch and woke up to her mother's sunny smile.
"You're up," she said.
Hannah grunted and answered, "Yeah. What about you? How long have you been awake?"
"Long enough," Claire chuckled. "Listen, you fell asleep before we talked about them. Maybe we can continue now."
The 'them' in question were the two strangers Peter called the night before: Mia Jared, an Australian vigilante with the power of super speed and Evan, her future mentor who was now a little over eighteen and had the powers of plasma generation.
"We should wait for him," Hannah said.
She felt awkward. What was she supposed to call him? Dad? Or plain Peter? It felt confusing to be stuck between two names.
"You can call me Peter, you know that?" someone said.
Claire and Hannah turned to see Peter dressed in a simple white t-shirt and shorts. Hannah smiled at her father.
"And Claire's right. We should at least know about who we're fighting with," Peter said, moving to Claire's side. Hannah looked up to her father, wearing a concerned look on his face, and answered, "Fine."
Two hours flew by with ease. The future daughter was talking with her parents with ease, even adding in a joke or two.
Claire saw that her daughter was getting more comfortable with them, and placed a seat next to her on the couch while Peter took his original position of standing right in front of them.
She told them of Mia and Evan, about how they were the best in the business in the future, about her life in the future, and about Peter's death. It was a subject she never wanted to discuss; it was the event that, she believed, was the one that broke her. But her pain was miniscule when it was compared to her mother's heartache.
Hannah never told them this information, of their future love, because these people standing in front of her weren't Mom and Dad, the parents whose love was undeniable, a love that was the strongest amongst them, they were just Peter and Claire, the more-than-friendly pair of uncle and niece.
The phone rang, shocking Hannah. Peter went to answer it, and hung up after a few moments.
"Was it Mia and Evan?" Claire asked her uncle.
"Uhh, no. It's Mohinder. Seems we forgot we invited Molly and him to lunch today," Peter slapped his forehead.
"Oh my God, I totally forgot," Claire said, getting up. "Is it okay? I mean, Mia and Evan could be coming soon," she said to her daughter.
"No, it's fine. They can't teleport, and judging by that, Mohinder and Molly will be long gone when they get here," Hannah smiled.
"Settles it," Peter said, "They'll be coming over for lunch, and you," he said to Hannah, "are joining us."
Was it supposed to be awkward? No, awkward wasn't the word for it: the perfect word for it was weird.
It was weird to see Molly Walker-soon-to-be-Sanders waltz through the Petrelli Mansion, at only thirteen years of age. It was weird to look older than your babysitter. Yet here she was: Molly Walker wearing her usual sunny disposition, and there Hannah was, a good four years older.
The Molly Hannah remembered always had Micah by her side, or her son, a joyful kid by the name of Ben.
"Hi, Peter," Molly said, and gave the older man a warm embrace.
"Hey, kiddo," Peter said, pulling away from the child's hug. "You been doing your homework?"
"Who cares about homework when you can save the world?" Molly smiled at Peter.
"True," Claire said from the background.
Molly ran towards the blonde and sunk into her arms.
Hannah stood awkwardly in the background, waiting for, at least, some sign of damn recognition. She was dressed in clothes Claire had in the closet that, amazingly, fit the prodigy quite well. Yet it was a little loose at the waist for her, but who cared anyway?
"Molly, Mohinder, this is Hannah," Claire introduced the Indian man and his ward to the dark-haired stranger.
Molly shook Hannah's hand, and so did Mohinder. In a few moments, the thirteen-year-old warmed up to Hannah, even telling her of her school, and her previous adventures caused by her clairvoyant abilities.
They made their way to the living room, while the three others made themselves comfortable in the dining room. Peter had served some tea for the three of them, and some juice that Molly immediately gulfed down.
"How's Molly holding up?" Peter asked the Indian man in the dining room.
"It's been a hard two years, but I think she's better now," Mohinder answered.
"You can't possibly think that, Mohinder. I mean, it's been two years, but that doesn't mean it got easier for her. She lost her hero that night," Claire said. "I mean, I don't know what I would feel if I ever lost Peter."
I wouldn't live a full day without him, she thought. Mohinder changed the subject.
"Who is she?" Hannah could hear Mohinder saying amidst Molly's chipper talking. Maybe she manifested a new ability of super hearing, or maybe it was just the years of eavesdropping playing its part.
"It's a long story, Mo," Peter chuckled.
"Story of my life, Peter," Mohinder replied.
"It's not just that. It's real complicated," Peter said.
"Are you listening in?" Molly asked Hannah.
The prodigy turned back to the brown-haired girl, and awkwardly smiled: Caught in the act…
Molly smiled back and asked, "What are they saying?" Hannah smiled. Molly moved closer to Hannah, and listened in.
"…do you really wanna know, Mo?" Hannah could hear Claire say.
"Surely it's not anything that complicated," Mohinder chuckled.
"Oh, you have no idea," Peter said.
And so it began, Peter and Claire told Mohinder about Hannah being their future daughter, unaware of the hidden audience in the living room. "Oh, good God," Hannah heard Mohinder say.
"You're Peter and Claire's daughter?" Molly asked, incredulous. Hannah merely shrugged at her thirteen-year-old companion. Because, if you were in her position, was there anything left to do?
Peter, Claire and Mohinder sat in silence in the dining room. Their drinks were left untouched, but good God, was Peter wishing for some hard scotch right about then. Mohinder's face was silent. Peter looked sideways to his niece, and saw her give him a 'what the hell are we going to do now?' look. The blonde's gaze went back to the Indian man's.
"Does Nathan know?" Mohidner asked, breaking their silence.
"No," Peter answered. "And he doesn't need to."
"Yes, he does, Peter. You and Claire having a future together…he needs to know," Mohinder said, gazing at Peter.
"That's exactly why he doesn't need to know. Me and Claire having a future together isn't exactly his cup of tea," Peter said, "Or anyone else's, for that matter."
"What about the mission? You told me Hannah told you to stop a league of supervillains. How are you going to do that and not let Nathan know about it?" Mohinder asked.
"That, we're not exactly sure, Mo, but what we're sure of is that we need to do this," Claire responded. "Our twisted personal life can wait after we save the world." Mohinder finally cracked a smile at Claire's comment.
"I know that both of you have found new allies, but I think Niki and DL might want to help," Mohinder said.
"No thanks, Mo. We already have five lives in danger, we don't need more," Claire said.
"Okay. But Molly and I will be staying at their place for a few weeks, so you'll know where to find us," Mohinder said.
"Thank you, my friend," Peter smiled.
Team Petrelli bid Molly and Mohinder goodbye a few minutes later. Hannah still didn't tell her parents that Molly found out, too. She figured the thirteen-year-old's knowledge of them wasn't a matter of world importance.
"What time is it?" Claire asked Peter. "Mia and Evan should be here soon."
"About 3," Peter glanced the big grandfather clock. "
They should be here by now," Hannah said.
She grew worried. If the two allies weren't coming, how were they supposed to save the world, just the three of them? Peter was powerful, of course, but who was to tell if he could battle 9 villains instead of the normal one? Plus the fact that this Peter was nowhere near experienced as her father, they might as well be going downhill.
The door knocked. Hannah's heart jumped and nudged her father to answer it. Claire and Hannah waited patiently like army wives for their beloved soldiers. Peter returned with a pair of odd-looking strangers.
One was a strapping young man with green eyes and messy brown hair. He was dressed in nothing more than simple jeans and a t-shirt to match. He looked about Hannah's age, but there were features that were unmistakably Evan: his strong jaw, his smirk.
His companion, on the other hand, Hannah never had the pleasure to meet in real life. But, somehow, she thought, it was for the better. Mia Jared was dressed in short, black leather shorts, and an equally black top that left her breasts nearly hanging out. But other than her stripper-like clothes, Mia Jared was as beautiful as they said she was.
Black hair that cascaded down her, straight and flowing, with full cheeks, and amazingly striking blue eyes with lashes to match. The vigilante smiled at the two women, but the biggest smile she delivered was to Peter. For some reason, Hannah's stomach churned at the sight.
"What exactly are we doing here? All Peter said was we had to save the world. Define save the world," Evan said, sitting down on the lumpy Petrelli couch.
"Stopping 9 supervillains in 10 days," Hannah explained, sitting opposite him.
"Hmm…Should I be preparing my will?" Evan asked.
"Not necessary. We have the best doctor right here," Peter said, smiling at Claire. "Claire's blood can cure anyone's wound."
"Handy," Evan smiled at Claire.
"These villains, Hannah, anyone we know? You haven't exactly given us their dossiers," Peter said.
Hannah smiled, and walked to the Petrelli computer. "I will," she said.
Soon, the screen was filled with unknown faces, of creepy-looking guys with tattoos, and women whose faces were tainted with pure sadness. One by one, Hannah introduced her four companions to their enemies.
"This is Flint," she said, "Has the power to emit blue flames, meaning he can burn you alive."
This description was matched with a picture of a white man with equally white hair. This continued with the following seven, some of them including Knox, a man with super strength, The German, their version of X-Men's Magneto, Jesse Murphy, a man with sound manipulation, and Natasha Christensen, a mysterious woman whose abilities were emotionally dependent, meaning her powers were based on her emotions at the time.
"But, that's only eight, Hannah," Claire said, as she saw Hannah turn off the computer. "Who's the last one?"
"I just figured he doesn't need a dossier. It's someone you guys know," Hannah looked at her parents.
"Which is?" Peter asked. Hannah looked down and answered her father with a, "Sylar."
While Hannah briefed the two strangers on Sylar, the man who was infamous for his 'skulling', Claire disappeared into the kitchen. Claire needed a drink. But all she could find was just water.
Maybe the Petrellis kept their booze somewhere safe. In the corner of her eye, she saw Peter enter her refuge of the kitchen.
"I can't believe we're back to this," Claire said. "I thought he was dead."
"Claire, it's okay. It's going to be fine," Peter wrapped her arms around, but was surprised when she pulled away from his embrace.
"Don't say that, Peter. The future's not written in stone. Just because we have more people on our side, doesn't mean that we're going to win. It only means putting more people in danger," Claire said, angered. "What if he tries to kill you again? God knows he succeeded the first time."
"No one's gonna hurt me. No one is gonna hurt anyone of us, you hear me?" Peter cupped her face with his hands. He then tried hugging her again. This time, she didn't pull away. The pair just stood there, unaware of the outside world.
Mia Jared had her share of one-night stands, but all of them ended in dissatisfaction. But she had the feeling that Peter Petrelli would be different. He would woo her, like no one else would.
But, then again, the top of her to-do list was already filled with 'save the world from 9 supervillains'. But, she bet Peter's own to-do list was filled with the same thing, and she was almost certain that he needed a little rebound himself. What with finding out he was going to have a daughter with his fuckin' niece, and not having the guts to do it already.
She figured he was the sort of person who kept his balls for special occasions, like fighting villains, not kissing his niece.
She walked into the kitchen, where Peter was sitting. The rest of Team Petrelli and Evan were in the living room, probably discussing game plans, knowing Evan. "Hey, Peter," Mia said, placing a seat next to him.
Next thing Peter knew, Mia's perfectly-manicured fingernails were on his shoulders. It felt weird, like a spider was about to latch itself onto his skin.
All he could think about then was Claire: her sunny smile, her pure concern for him, and the fact that he was head over heels in love with her. He finally admitted it to himself: He was in love. With his fuckin' niece.
What was more was that there was the fact that Hannah was their kid. Their daughter, their result of a night of passion. Peter couldn't help but smile at the fact that somewhere, some when in the future, he and Claire were happy. They were happy together.
But every time he was drenched in the perfect daydream, Nathan's angry face came looming back, his anger, and his disapproval. It always came back to it. There was no light at the end of the tunnel this time. But there was no turning back either.
Peter looked into Mia's eyes, striking blue that he wished were green, like Claire's. Before he knew it, he acted on impulse.
He crashed his lips against hers, feeling pure lust coming from it. But the only face on his mind wasn't the one he was kissing; it was the one he wished he was kissing: Claire.
A/N: Hope you guys like it! And remember, virtual cookies for anyone who reviews! And feel free to ask any question if you're confused.
-Aly