"Pete, stop fidgeting. I can't believe you're twenty-six and don't know how to tie a tie." Nathan straightened his younger brother's tie, giving him a final nod of approval.

"Well, I don't have as much practice as you with wearing suits, Congressman."

Nathan grinned. "True."

Heidi glided down the steps, a flowy green gown adorning her curvy frame. The diamonds around her neck(an anniversary gift from Nathan) sparkled brightly.

Nathan kissed his wife. "You look beautiful, sweetheart."

Right behind her was Claire, and Peter's breath caught in his throat when he saw her.

She had chosen a beautiful, strapless black dress. It fell just below her knee, and the back dipped dangerously low.

Her hair was pulled back in a tight bun, and she wore not a stitch of jewelry.

He struggled to speak as she stepped in front of him. "Claire…"

She smiled, reaching out and taking hold of his tie. "Your tie is crooked, Peter."

Peter smirked at Nathan, and while his older brother was preoccupied with admiring Heidi, leaned forward to whisper in Claire's ear. "You look perfect." He pressed a kiss right under her earlobe, and then pulled away quickly.

Claire blushed, and then held out her arm. "Well, it appears that you're my date for the evening, Peter."

Peter nodded. "Shall we? I believe the limousine has arrived."

Claire's eyes widened. "A limo? Geez…"

They followed Nathan and Heidi out the door, Peter resting his hand on her lower back.

Claire was officially the hit of the party.

From the time Nathan had introduced her as his adopted daughter, reporters had been following her around constantly.

There was no chance in hell she would be enjoying herself tonight.

She finally grew tired of being followed by the photographers and reporters, and ducked into the women's bathroom. She leaned against the door heavily, sighing.

She bent over the sink, splashing some cold water on her face, and jumped when she felt a hand on her back.

She was confused for a moment when she didn't see anyone behind her, but then she broke into a wide grin as Peter materialized.

She threw her arms around his neck with something akin to a squeal, and kissed him brusquely.

Peter returned her kiss, and then pulled back, sighing. "I'm sorry. You didn't ask for all this attention."

Claire shrugged. "It's okay. I just ducked in here to get a break."

Peter nodded, his hands sliding up and down her arms. "You shouldn't have to hide in the bathroom all night. Come on, let's go dance."

Claire's eyes widened. "We can't walk out that door! All the photographers would get pictures of us leaving the bathroom together."

Peter placed his hands on her waist. "Who said anything about walking out the door?"

He closed his eyes, and the next second, they were standing in an empty hallway just outside the ballroom.

Claire shook her head, grinning. "I'll never get used to that."

Peter motioned for her to precede him into the ballroom. They nodded at Nathan and Heidi as they entered, and then made their way to the dance floor.

For a second, they struggled with where their hands should be. Finally, Peter settled his hands on Claire's waist, and Claire wound her arms around his neck.

As they swayed back and forth to the music, some ballad they'd heard a hundred and one times in their lives, their eyes locked.

Everything else moved to the background, because they were in eachother's arms.

Heidi nudged Nathan, and pointed to where uncle and niece were dancing.

Nathan raised his eyebrows. "Peter hates dancing. I wonder how Claire convinced him…"

Heidi shook her head with a smile. "Look at her. I don't think anyone could refuse that face."

Nathan chuckled. "You're right. And Peter was never any match for a pretty girl."

He continued to watch them for a few minutes, noticing how many pictures were being taken of the dancing couple. "Heidi, you don't think it's inappropriate that they're dancing, do you?"

Heidi shrugged. "I'd never dance like that with my uncle, but it's not like they're bumping and grinding or anything."

Nathan nodded. "The last thing we need is some gossipmonger starting a rumor that Peter and Claire are having a secret tryst. I'm going to go get a drink, do you want something?"

Heidi nodded. "Martini, please?"

Nathan kissed her cheek, and went to get the drinks.

Sandra and Noah were relaxing over their morning coffee when Claire called. Noah answered the phone.

"Hey dad, it's me."

Noah smiled. "Claire-bear! How's New York?"

Claire frowned at her father's nickname, but continued anyway. "It's great! We're having so much fun. I'll tell you all about it when we get home. Anyway, Peter and I are coming home tomorrow morning."

Noah nodded. "And you'll be traveling the same way?"

"Yeah. So anyway, I just wanted to let you know that we'll be home then. I love you, Dad."

Noah smiled again. "I love you too, Claire."

Sandra raised her eyebrows when he hung up the phone. "Well?"

Noah downed the last of his coffee. "They'll be home tomorrow morning."

Sandra nodded. "Honey, would you do me a favor? I want to wash the bed sheets before they get here, could you get Peter's? I'll get Claire's. That way they'll have nice clean sheets when they come home."

Noah nodded, kissing the top of his wife's head. "Of course, dear."

As Noah was taking Peter's sheets off, he spotted the corner of a piece of paper sticking out from under the bed.

He bent down to pick it up, and studied it for a second.

It was a drawing of two people kissing rather passionately. One had long blonde hair, and the other had short brown hair.

It took him a second to figure out that it was Peter and Claire.

His mouth fell open. "Oh my God…"

He wondered who in the world would've drawn this, but then he remembered Peter's ability to paint the future.

So this was going to happen in the future?

Not if I can help it.

Noah folded the drawing in half, and stuck it in his pants pocket.

Peter teleported them home the next morning, as promised.

As they stood on the doorstep, hands clasped, Peter sighed. "And now we keep pretending."

Claire smiled slightly. "Peter, we're always going to have to pretend. We knew that when we started this crazy fucked-up relationship."

Peter tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Maybe we could move to Alaska where no one knows us. Then we could walk around holding hands and kissing all the time."

Claire grinned up at him. "Yeah, maybe."

She stood on tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his mouth. "I love you."

Peter smiled. "I love you too."

Claire unlocked the front door. "Mom? Dad? Lyle? Anyone home?"

Noah walked down the steps, stiff smile on his face. "Hey! Welcome home, you two. How was New York?"

Claire threw her arms around her father. "It was fantastic! We had so much fun, didn't we Peter?"

Peter nodded, and Noah swallowed. "Not too much fun I hope."

Claire shook her head. "Not as much fun as I bet you and Mom and Lyle had in L.A. How was it? Did you take Lyle to Disneyland?"

Noah nodded. "He made me ride all those scary roller coasters with him. You know how much I hate those things."

Claire nodded, a large grin spreading across her face. "I remember when you took me to Six Flags when I was five, and you threw up after we rode on the teacups."

She turned to Peter, beginning to laugh uncontrollably. "The teacups, Peter!"

Noah shook his head at his daughter. "Laugh it up, Claire-bear."

She abruptly stopped laughing. "Dad, I thought you weren't going to call me that anymore."

Noah walked over, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Sorry, sweetheart. Old habits die hard. Listen, why don't you run the luggage upstairs. I have something I need to talk with Peter about."

Claire nodded, and took the suitcases upstairs.

Noah walked over to a cabinet, and pulled out a bottle of whiskey. "You want a drink?"

Peter's eyebrows furrowed. "Uh…No, thanks."

Noah poured himself a glass of the expensive-looking whiskey. "Before I start, is there anything you'd like to tell me Peter?"

Peter's heartbeat quickened. "Uh, no. I don't think so…"

Noah nodded, downing half the glass of whiskey in one gulp.

He pulled the drawing out of his pocket, and slid it across the kitchen table to Peter. "I found that yesterday, while I was changing your sheets. Care to explain it?"

Peter swallowed thickly a few times.

"No? Well then, let me see if I have this right. This is the future, right? You and Claire, kissing?"

Peter nodded slowly, watching as Noah downed the rest of his whiskey, and poured himself another glass.

"I like you, Peter. I always have. If circumstances were different, I think I'd give my approval for you and Claire to date. Unfortunately, what you've drawn here, incest, is illegal and immoral."

Peter nodded solemnly.

"Therefore, I'm going to have to ask you to leave. I don't want you seeing Claire anymore."

Peter stood up quickly, his stool scraping across the kitchen floor loudly. "You can't do that."

Noah downed his glass of whiskey. "I most certainly can. I hate to burst your bubble Peter, but Claire is only seventeen. I still have the right to tell her who can and can't be in her life."

Peter turned away, fearing that in his anger he would do something he'd regret. "What am I supposed to tell Claire? She's going to hate me if I leave."

Noah shrugged. "Tell her that you got a job somewhere. Or tell her that you need some time alone. I don't care what you tell her, but don't tell her about this conversation."

Peter scoffed. "She's going to hate me forever."

Noah shrugged. "Then let her hate you. This conversation is over."

Noah got up, and walked into the living room.

With a heavy heart, Peter trudged up the stairs to his room.

Review, lovely readers!

Also, as a side-note, while reading my summary of the story I noticed that it said this story will be 15 chapters.

Well, it will actually only be 12 chapters. I profusely apologize!

But to make up for the loss of three chapters, I will be posting another story as soon as this one is finished.

The story will take place after "Kindred" and will also be canon Paire.

So there, you've got something else to look forward to.

NOW! Review!!!!