Chapter 9 The Homecoming

Peter rubbed her back lazily. Claire was lying on top of him and her blond hair was tickling his arm. He could live like that without any problem. He would like to sleep beside her and kissed her wherever he wanted. His hands could not release her now. His eyes could not move out from her for too long and Peter started to worry about that. Sooner or later they were going to get caught and then…

'What are you thinking?' Claire asked him and he smiled.

'I'm thinking for you, beautiful.' He answered and heard her giggle.

'That was nice.'

'But it's truth.' Peter became serious. 'We have to be very careful from now on.'

'I know.' Claire sighed and leaned one elbow on his chest, resting her head on her palm. 'I know we have to be extra careful, but it'll be hard.'

'We can stop if you want.' Peter stroked her hair. 'You just have to say.' He saw her frown.

'You want us to stop from the moment we started all this!' She said.

'I thought that this was a mistake.' Peter said. 'My position is the same now.'

'I thought that you love me.' Claire pouted.

'You know that I love you!'

'No, I don't!' She stared at him. 'You never said that to me!'

'Of course I do!' Peter frowned.

'No, not before. That doesn't count!' Claire blushed little. 'I want to know if Peter loves me now!'

'Peter loves you very much, beautiful.' He said smiling and placed one soft kiss over her lips.

'I love Peter too.' Claire said and leaned back over his chest.

'I'm happy to hear that.' He said and rubbed her back again. 'We have to go now.'

'Oh, no.' She moaned. 'I don't want to go back in the mansion. Can we stay like this forever?' She asked him and felt his quiet laugh.

'We could try, but for now we have to go back.' He said and Claire rolled over his body. She watched him as he got off the bed and put on his clothes. She sighed and got off too.

'I hate this.' She said few minutes later, while she helped him spread the new sheets over the bed.

'Hate what?' He looked at her.

'I hate to live without you.' Claire said and Peter went to her. He pulled her into his arms and inhaled the sweet scent of her hair.

'I miss you too, but we have to do this, Claire.' His soft whisper made her winced. She looked up at him and he saw her sad little smile again.

'I know and that's why we are here.' She looked around and then back at Peter. 'When we come back here?'

'When we can.' Peter said and pulled the extra key for the apartment. He placed it into her open palm and kissed her lips. 'We both have keys now.'

'When, Peter?' She insisted.

'Whenever you want to scream?' He pinched her nose and Claire blushed.

'Fine.' She said. 'I like to scream with you.'

'That's what I thought.' He grinned against her and they leaved the apartment minutes later.

It was time for dinner when they got back in the mansion. Nathan was grumpy and Heidi looked suspicious. Angela just enjoyed at her dinner.

'Good evening.' Peter and Claire sang in one voice and then burst into laugh.

'Where the Hell, were you two?' Nathan frowned against them. 'It's almost eight o'clock!'

'Library.' Claire said and sat on her chair. 'We searched one book for my Biology project and then Peter took me for coffee.'

'I deserved that!' Peter crooked his face, trying to look annoyed. 'After three hours, sitting in that crappy place…'

'At least you didn't have to deal with crazy people!' Nathan snapped and took a sip from his glass.

'What now?' Peter asked carefully.

'One crazy Indian professor yelled after me on the street!' Nathan said with annoyance. 'He told me that my life is in danger.'

'Why?' Claire asked this time.

'Because he said he knew about my ability.'

'Wait a minute!' Peter dropped his fork on the table. 'You have ability?'

'I think I could fly.' Nathan said and shifted on his chair. 'Don't laugh! I know what I'm talking about!'

'I bet you know!' Peter looked at Claire. She nodded. Then he looked back at his brother. 'I have ability too.' Peter said quietly.

'What?' Heidi looked shocked.

'It's true.' Claire nodded. 'He has many.'

'Excuse me?' Angela looked at her son. 'What are you talking about?'

'It's true.' Peter looked at his mother. 'I found out one amazing book in the library about that, by one Indian professor. It's all about the human gene and that people with abilities actually exists.'

'Are you serious?' Heidi looked at Peter.

'I saw him do some stuff.' Claire said. 'He can fly and travel through time, and he can heal fast.'

'I took that from you.' Peter looked at Claire and Nathan choked with his drink.

'What?'

'Claire has ability too.'

'But you have more.'

'I can mimic people's abilities and make them mine.' Peter nodded. 'I'm like a sponge.'

'I'm totally confused now.' Nathan leaned back on his chair.

'It's okay. You get use to it!' Peter looked at his brother. 'However, I have to tell you something more. Some Japanese guy from the future came to see me while you were on that trip. He asked me to save Claire.'

'Peter stop!' Claire dropped her fork on the table and frowned at him. 'You don't have to do this!'

'Then I saw some paintings, drew by Isaak Mendez. He can draw the future. I saw Claire at her Homecoming, lying dead on the ground.'

'Homecoming?' Heidi looked at her adopted daughter. 'Honey, you didn't say about this.'

'She is the queen.' Peter said and his eyes shone.

'The queen?' Heidi smiled. 'That's awesome!'

'Yeah.' Peter nodded. 'Too bad that she can't go!'

'I'm going!' Claire snapped and Peter frowned towards her.

'No!'

'You are not my father!' Claire answered challenging.

'But I am and you won't go!' Nathan said and narrowed his eyes. 'If Peter thought that you are in danger I don't want to risk your life!'

'There!' Peter leaned back on his chair and looked at Claire. 'We have the same opinion!'

Claire clenched her fists and got off her chair. She looked upset and her eyes stared at Peter.

'You ruin everything with your paranoia! I hate you!' She stormed out and leaved the room. Peter followed her immediately and Nathan just narrowed his eyes with annoyance.

'Not again!' He murmured and took a hard sip from his glass.

Peter and Claire did not talk with each other. Claire acted grumpy and Peter was too proud to make the first step. That silence continued the whole week. They were together only when they had to join the family around the table. Other than that they acted like an absolute strangers.

It was Friday afternoon and Claire thought that she was alone in the house. Nathan, Heidi and Angela were on their campaign trip. Nathan was a candidate for the Senate and Heidi helped him. As for Angela, she loved her son and was doing everything to help him too. Claire knew that Peter was at the Hospital and decided to make few rounds in the pool. She put in her bathing suit with the thong. She loved it, because it was too scandalous and made Angela frown every time she saw Claire wore this. Claire took her towel and walked out. It was so hot outside and she thought that the cold water would help her calm.

Then she froze. She was not alone. Peter was there and swimming into the pool. Claire threw the towel onto one lounge and stood by the edge of the pool with spread legs. Man, he looked gorgeous. She could not stop looking at him. His moves were so slow and precise. Claire bit her low lip, watching him coming close. She thought that he did not notice her, but she was wrong. Peter stopped by the edge of the pool and looked up at her. He did not say a word. His eyes slipped down on her body and make her wet immediately. He made her want to scream right now. She swallowed hard, but looked at his eyes challenging.

'Can I join?' She asked and Peter nodded still looking at her. Claire plunged into the pool. He waited for her as she was near him and grabbed her arm, pulling her closer. 'What are you doing?'

His mouth over hers muffled any protest. Claire wrapped arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. She felt him pinned her to the pool wall and rubbing his body against hers.

'I missed you.' He said and continued kissing her.

'I missed you too.' Claire moaned and wrapped legs around his waist. She was ready and felt his hand slipping under the water and pulling out her tongs just a little bit. It was enough for him to dive into her waiting body. They moved together, finding their own rhythm and when they reached their peak, Claire muffled her scream, biting his shoulder.

'Oh… Damn!' She panted and Peter laughed pressing his forehead against hers.

'Good, isn't it?' He asked and saw her smile.

'Make up sex is always good!' Claire kissed him again and both leaved the pool completely satisfied. They were alone and nobody could see them now so Peter led her straight at his room and pushed her onto the bed. He wrapped arms around her wet body and pulled her closer. Claire waited for him to fall asleep and slipped out of his hug. She went to her room and changed her clothes with her cheerleading uniform.

'I'm sorry, Peter!' She said at the mirror. 'I have to go!' Then she leaved her room and then took his car leaving the mansion.

Peter woke up an hour later. He sat on his bed looking around and suddenly frowned. She was not there. He could swear. She was not in the mansion and he knew exactly where she was. Peter cursed under his nose and put on his clothes and his raincoat. Then he teleported away.

When he opened his eyes, he was in the middle of the hallway of Claire's school. Peter heard her scream and his blood froze.

'Claire!' He screamed and ran towards her voice, but then saw her running at him. He stood on her way and Claire bumped on him. She looked up and saw his face. Her eyes were teary.

'Peter! I'm so sorry! I shouldn't…'

'Are you okay?' He asked instead, studying her face. Claire did not answer and looked back. Peter followed her look and saw one man, wearing a hat standing not so far away from them. He pushed her away and screamed. 'Run! Keep going! Run!'

Claire listened to him and ran away. Peter followed her, but then he decided to gain her some lead. He stood still and turned around to look at the man. He still was there and suddenly some iron lockers started flying towards Peter. The first one hit him hard and he ran away again, trying to find and protect Claire.

He reached her as she was trying to climb up some stairs. Peter grabbed her hand and the climbed up the top. When they looked down, the man with the hat was standing there.

'Find people! Hide in the crowd, okay? I'm gonna take care of him!'

'What about you?' Claire asked him panicking.

'Don't worry about me! Just go!' He pointed her way out and she ran away. Just then, the man reached him and Peter turned around to look at his face. He did not have time to do that. The man grabbed his coat, but Peter was faster. He grabbed man's shoulders and pulled him down. Both of them fell off the edge.

The pain was short but strong enough to make him fell unconsciousness. When he woke up and saw Claire's face above him, one crooked smile appeared on his face. Claire helped him got off the ground and he looked around.

'Where is he?' Peter grunted out.

'I don't know.' Claire hugged him tightly. His blood socked through her uniform, but she did not care. 'He ran away before I got here.' She whispered and Peter hugged her back.

'You came back for me.' He said and Claire looked up at him.

'I always will.' She said seriously and hugged him again. They both survived that night.