'He threw her at the roof of his building. When I found her, my mom was almost alive. At the fall, her neck was broken in two places. She was happy; she told me that finally she and dad would be together. Then she saw me, finally saw me. I cried. I lost my father and now my mother also dying… in my hands. Then she looked at me and told me what I had to do for all of this won't happen. After her funeral, I went at uncle Gabriel and he teaches me to develop my powers, so I came back here and save you. And now I am finally here and I…' surprisingly Sandy burst into tears. 'I'm sorry, but I missed you both so much!'

Claire and Peter hugged their daughter trying to comfort her. The threesome stayed that for long time. Nobody can't say a word.


Chapter 9 Love Is The Key

Sandy stood in front of the window. She watched her parents in a bed, sleeping. It was good, warmth feeling. She didn't remember them so happy. Hers Peter and Claire were always concerned, always under pressure. These two were completely different. They were so in love and carrying for each other.

Sandy closed her eyes, tried to stay focus, but she can't stop herself watching them. Last couple of years in her life was full with pain, agony, and so little happiness and she desperately wished to change that. Nevertheless, it was so hard to distract your feelings from your purpose, especially when you were inherited your fathers empathic ability. Uncle Gabriel told her not to try to suppress feelings, but made it in a power. She still can't understand that and wasn't fully developed her powers.

'Feel. Love. There is nothing wrong in that.' Uncle Gabriel told her while he trained her for her adventure.

'I can't feel that. I can't love or feel without felt the pain.' She can't understand why he pushed her to felt those feelings. 'It hurts and I don't want to.'

Uncle Gabriel smiled.

'You will learn. I know you will. You are just like your father. He was strong and carrying person. I learned a lot from him.' He sat beside her and touched her hair tried to explain. 'I was a very bad person, really bad. I killed many people, but your father… he changed me, without even knowing. He showed me that people can be good, can change and can love. Even the monster I was. You have to learn that power, the power of forgiveness, of care, of love. You have to learn to accept the pain, yours and the other people. Pain is inseparable part of life. Embrace it. Learn it!'

Sandy looked at the darkness outside the window. Two more days left. Two more days and then her life can be much differed and maybe when she got back her parents would be still alive. Short moan cut of her throat.

'Sandy?' she heard a low whisper of her mother behind her. She hasn't heard her stood up of the bed.

'Are you crying?' Claire touched her face politely. Sandy was shocked. She didn't felt the tears, until her mother told her.

'It's nothing,' Sandy mumbled under her nose.

Claire gently wiped her tears with her fingers.

'It is something. You can tell me. Maybe I can help you?' she carefully took one blond curl and put her behind her daughters' ear.

Sandy looked at her mother and then quickly at her father, who was still sleeping.

'Nothing, just…' Sandy took a deep breath and started. 'Can you tell me about my father?'

'Peter? Sure, what do you want to know?' Claire and Sandy sat the table one opposite the other.

'I want to know everything about him.'

'But you told us that he died when you are at 9, don't you talk with him before?'

Sandy shrugged.

'Not so much. He was so overprotecting with me and I was a child so… we didn't talk so much about the past. He told me stories mostly about you and told me fairy-tales. I what get to know him as a person. What is he? How he learned about his ability? That kind of stuffs.'

Claire smiled.

'I get it, OK. Peter is… well, maybe I'm too partial, but he is the most amazing person I've ever met. He is gentle, carrying, never selfish, always thinking about the others. And when he loves, he loves deeply, without thinking.' Claire paused. 'Your father has a beautiful heart. He is never afraid to take a chance or try to save someone if he could. His ability came with that love from and to people. His ability came from the love…'

'What about the pain?' Sandy asked carefully.

'What pain?' Claire looked at her strangely.

'That pain which comes with love. When you are open for people, always came the pain.'

'You have his power, haven't you?' Claire finally started to understand.

Sandy nodded.

'Well, I can't tell you how to develop that ability. I can only tell you that – Peter feel. He does not scare to feel everything. My advice – do it like him! Do not be afraid to open your heart. Don't fear to feel everything. Maybe then, you will finally embrace your ability completely.'

'You love him already?' Sandy asked even though she doesn't need an answer.

Claire nodded and looked at Peter on the bed.

'Your father changed me.' She finally said.

'Now you sound just like Uncle Gabriel.' Sandy smiled.

'Oh, God! No!' Claire waved her hand in front of her face. 'Now how can I live with that?'

Sandy chuckled. Claire thought that she had a beautiful laugh. Just like Peter.

'C'mon, mom, you get use to it!' In the moment, Sandy told this she cast a look at Claire and silenced.

'It's OK, honey!' Claire tried to calm her. 'Sooner or later you will start to call me that and I love it!'

Suddenly Sandy stood up and hugged her.

'I love you, mom!' she whispered.

Claire hugged her daughter too. It was a good feeling.

'I love you too, honey!' she answered and felt how Sandy smiled in her hair.

The beautiful sun laughed at them in the next morning.

'Can we go to the beach?' Claire tried to convince them for a little walk.

Peter and Sandy looked at her as she lost her mind.

'Can I have to remind you, that we are not here for pleasure?' Peter asked her politely.

'Yeah, yeah… But, Peter can we just walk then? Just a little walk?' she jumped of the bed and started to kiss him at the entire face. He laughed.

'Nice try!' he said and put her in one of the chairs. 'My answer is still no!'

Claire pouted and tried with Sandy.

'What about you? You can…'

'Claire!' Peter snapped at her with little higher voice. 'I said, no!'

'Don't talk to me with that tone Peter Petrelli!' Claire was ready for fight, but low laugh stopped her. Sandy chuckled on the bed.

'What are you laughed for?' she asked her more curious than grumpy.

'Um… nothing.' Sandy blushed. 'You looked just like my parents now that's all.'

Peter went to her and pinched her at the nose.

'Good then, because we are!' surprisingly for him, the young girl hugged him and whispered.

'I missed you dad!' Peter shot confused look at Claire, but she smiled and nodded.

Peter knelt so he can look his daughter in the eyes and said:

'I love you, kiddo!'

'Hay, you two' Claire called them and waved at the table. 'A little attention here, if you don't mind.'

Peter and Sandy laughed and went to Claire.

'We have to talk about Thursday' Claire started.

'What about it?' Peter shivered a little. 'The eclipse is coming and I have to restore my powers.'

'Do you have any idea how to do that?' Claire asked him politely.

'Honestly, no. But I'm sure that everything will be OK, somehow…' Peter wasn't sure, but he tried to convince himself. One little hand reached from the other side of the table and covered his.

'Don't worry dad, you can do this.' Sandy said and smiled at him. 'We'll help you…'

'How?' Claire interrupted her. 'You said that you didn't develop your ability completely.'

'Is it true?' Peter took curious look at his daughter.

'Mom!' Sandy blushed and threw grumpy look at Claire.

'Maybe Peter can help you,' Claire said.

'What is the problem?' Peter asked and since Sandy was still quiet, Claire started to talk instead of her.

'Sandy has your ability, but she is afraid to love and feel the pain in the same time.'

Peter smiled and squeezed one of Sandy's hands.

'I know that problem.' He looked deeply at her eyes. 'You love me and mammy, right?'

Sandy nodded.

'And you felt pain when we died?'

Sandy nodded again.

'If you have the chance to love us in a same way again, will you take it?'

'Of course I will.' Sandy looked at him surprised.

'Well, imagine all that people which haven't nobody to love them. Nobody even cares about them. They are innocent and don't have anybody to protect them. When you think of your ability, think for these people.'

'What about pain? The pain always comes with love.'

Peter gazed at Claire for the moment and she smiled at him gently. Smile full of memory. He turned back the smile and then looked again on his daughter.

'You can't escape the pain. It is natural part of the live, but think about what you're going to miss if you always afraid of pain. How many love will passed you by.'

Sandy nodded, but this time she began to understand those words. Peter saw the understanding look at her eyes and let her hand.

'But you healed your mother,' he said. 'How could you do that if you can't fully..'

'My DNA is special.' said Sandy. 'My ability to heal others or regenerate myself and your ability comes separately.'

'Then who send you back here?' Peter looked at her carefully.

'Uncle Gabriel,' Sandy answered. 'But I supposed to have that ability now, did I?' her voice was filled with enthusiasm.

Claire and Peter looked each other and laughed.

'Maybe you can' Peter said. 'When I fulfilled my ability for the first time I almost blow out New York.'

'Huh?' Sandy looked disappointed.

'Maybe with you will be different?' Peter said and stood up. 'Let's trained for little.'

'So much for my walk and my coffee,' Claire added.

'I don't like coffee.' said Sandy while she stood up.

Claire looked at her and raised one eyebrow.

'Trust me, I know.' she said and touched her belly. 'You won't let me even think about it.'

Peter and Sandy burst into laugh. Then Peter bended down at Claire and gave her a kiss.

'You get use to it, my little love! It's just for awhile!' after those words Peter raised up.

'I guess you are right.' said Claire and leaned back at the chair.

Peter turned to Sandy.

'Now, my little Claire, show me what you can.'

The father and the daughter smiled at each other and the training started.

The eclipse was coming. Two more days…