Six Months Ago

I know it's strange to do this, but it all seems to be happening so fast. First Peter jumps off a building and then, out of nowhere, a cheerleader is murdered by an unnamed villain. With all of this happening, you begin to wonder what started all of it. I know I am. I'm not sure of the exact time period in which everything began to unwind, but it definitely hadn't been a few weeks ago. Although many others would argue with me, I believe it happened six months ago. The night before my sixteenth birthday to be exact.

I was forced to attend a dinner party celebrating Arthur and Angela Petrelli's forty-first wedding anniversary. As usual at these type of get-togethers, I was bored out of my mind. This one was different though. Somehow I could feel that there was something off from the social norm I was used to. Instead of just telling you what happened those next few days, I might as well show you.

I stood there at the bottom of the Petrelli Mansion's staircase with Peter and Nathan by my side as my foster father, Arthur began to make his speech with Angela by his side.

"I'd like to thank all our dear friends for coming tonight," he said to all of his guests, "and for helping us to celebrate. Nathan, the finest Assistant DA New York has ever known. Peter, whose compassionate heart is a gift to us all."

"Told you he couldn't say 'nurse' out loud," Peter whispered to us.

I giggled at how true the statement was. Although Arthur would never admit it, he was disappointed that Peter decided to go into the medical field as compared to his brother's great achievements.

"Danielle, the newest addition to our loving family," Arthur continued.

I hissed to Nathan and Peter. "I told you he couldn't say anything nice about me."

Peter smiled at the observation. Nathan on the other hand was not pleased with us.

"All right," he mumbled, silently telling us to listen to Arthur's speech.

I looked back up the staircase.

Arthur faced Angela. "But most of all, to Angela, the love of my life."

Everyone but me raised their glass of champagne. "Cheers."

Once everyone in the room had their sip of champagne, Arthur and Angela made their way down the stairs.

Angela smiled to Arthur. "That was lovely."

"Let me have a…"

Arthur embraced Angela in more than a friendly way that I would've liked to see. I might've been fifteen then, but I really wasn't in the mood to see my foster parents cuddle up like that.

Thankfully, Nathan answered my prayers. "All right, get a room."

Reluctantly, they separated from each other.

"After forty-one years of marriage, you take it when you get it," Angela pointed out to us.

Peter kissed Angela on the cheek. "Congratulations, Mom."

Nathan gave a brief hug to Arthur. "Congratulations, Dad."

"Congrats to the both of you," I said to them.

A familiar English voice came from behind us. "My king, my queen, congratulations."

Daniel Linderman took Angela's hand and kissed it.

"Thank you, Daniel," said Angela.

Linderman shook Arthur's hand. "Congratulations."

I remembered Linderman vividly. He was lanky man with white hair and a small beard surrounding his jaw. Linderman was a family friend of the Petrellis. He would come to visit sometimes to talk business to Arthur. Unfortunately he wasn't exactly a friend to Nathan. Apparently, Linderman had been the head of some big mob.

Linderman looked to Nathan. "So, Nathan, the rumors are true?"

"Excuse me?" Nathan gave a puzzled look towards the old man.

"I heard your office is about to launch a full-scale investigation on all things Linderman. Care to comment?"

He didn't seem pleased nor did he appear to be angry. It seemed that every time I heard his voice I could feel comfort and discomfort as if it was the voice of a snake itself.

"I'd shave my wrists," Nathan responded coldly. "Handcuffs can chafe."

If only I had known that six months later. Linderman chuckled as Nathan led Peter and me away from him.

"Is it a really good idea to have the guy you're charging attending your parents' anniversary party?" I asked him skeptically.

"It wasn't exactly my decision to make," said Nathan.

"Still, he's our guest, Nathan," Peter argued. "Keep your grudge against him inside of the courthouse."

I turned my attention away from the brothers' bickering and looked to Linderman. He was speaking to Arthur as they were both watching us—or rather watching Nathan. Unlike the admiring look that Arthur held whenever he faced Nathan, this one was different. It seemed to be business that the men were speaking about. What business exactly, I didn't know. It just didn't look right.

The rest night went on as it usually did: in utter boredom. The encounter with Linderman stayed fresh in my mind. Somehow I had found it significant to keep it in my mind.

The next morning went on as it usually did. I woke up, got ready, had breakfast and left the house for school. All of which happened without one encounter with my foster parents.

I arrived at school in the tired mess as I normally did, heading straight for my locker. I began dialing in the combination number for my locker.

"Guess what day it is today," a voice sang next to me.

I rolled my eyes, but continued to open my locker. "Geometry final. I barely studied last night because of the Petrellis' anniversary party."

I grabbed the book I needed and slammed my locker revealing my friend, Ava Shah, leaning against the locker next to mine. She had black hair like mine, but unlike my straight boring hair, hers was wavier. Ava also possessed the penny-like skin tone as her Indian relatives did. I told you would meet her later.

She looked at me with an expression of disbelief. "You're not serious, are you?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Serious about what?"

"I can't believe you forgot your own birthday!"

"Oh that," I waved it off.

"Don't you, 'oh that' with me!" Ava scolded me. "It's your sixteenth birthday."

"Okay, so I'm one year closer to dying. What's the big deal?"

"You're sixteen now. You can get a job and a driver's license."

"All right, I'm one year closer to dying with privileges," I smirked.

Ava was not the least amused. "Tell me: do you ever make a big deal of anything?"

Back then, there wasn't anything I got over-excited about. But six months later, of course, I would make a big deal about my power.

I shook my head playfully. "Nope."

"You definitely haven't been my friend long enough then."

"Oh great, what are you planning now?" a voice moaned near us.

I looked up to see Cole with a worried expression on his face.

Ava smiled mischievously. "I'm planning a little get-together after school whether Danni likes it or not."

"She figured out it was your birthday, didn't she?" Cole guessed.

I nodded my head. "Unfortunately."

"What?" she crossed her arms. "Is it wrong to show appreciation for your friends?"

"No, but I just don't celebrate my birthday anymore. Ever since I moved in with the Petrellis, I figured there was no point to celebrating it anymore."

"Well I'm about to change your mind tonight. We're going over to Cole's house and we're going to celebrate it."

Cole raised an eyebrow. "And when did I approve of this?"

"You don't have to," said Ava. "Consider this as Danni's birthday gift."

"But I already got her a gift."

I interrupted them before their bickering continued. "Thanks guys, but really, you don't have to do anything. It's only my birthday."

Ava scoffed. "Please, you would do the same for us. Now, whether you come willingly or I have to drag you by your feet, my mom will drive you guys to Cole's house."

The first bell rang for the day.

"Fine," I sighed. "I'll go, but for a couple hours. Peter's graduation party is tonight."

"Good with me. I'll see you guys during class."

Ava waved at us before trotting down the hallway.

Cole surprised me with an embrace. "I forgot to wish you happy birthday."

I gave into the hug. "It's cool. This is my birthday we're talking about here."

"Exactly."

An irritating voice passed by us. "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"

The voice was easily recognizable. I separated from Cole and charged towards Dylan Harris who was already half-way down the hallway. The boy may have been a sophomore at the time, but he would forever be a sixth grader.

"Yeah, you better run, Harris!" I shouted after him. "Just wait until dance rehearsals!"

Cole rested a hand on my shoulder. "Chill. Dylan is being Dylan."

"Which is annoying, if I may add. I'm tired of people assuming we're dating only because we hang out."

"Is Peter still on us about dating?"

"Is Jack?" I smirked. "Face it: everyone thinks they can choose our destinies for us."

"What is destiny anyway?"

"The reason why things happen to you in life apparently. They're all supposed to lead to that one destiny."

"How do you know if it's your destiny though? What if it passed you by and you didn't know?"

I shook my head. "Do you really think I know the answer to that? It's Friday and I'm ready to shut down my brain."

"Sorry. That certain word has been bugging me lately and I can't figure out why."

"Well, your brother is going to college next year, right? Maybe you're already stressing about that already."

"Yeah, maybe." Cole shrugged. "We should get to class. My mom will have my head if I'm late for English again."

I followed Cole by his side as we traveled down the hallway. "And Cole, one more thing about destiny: it's not chosen by other people, it's all you."

I could go on and tell you what happened during school hours, but you would probably just skip all those passages about it. So to make things easier on you, I'll go straight to the small party that Ava decided to throw for me. I may have not wanted a party but Ava knew how to throw a party for me. It was small and the people I cared about were there. Simple. Cole's mom had made a cake (after receiving a text from Ava that morning). We had already sung the God-awful happy birthday song and now we were enjoying cake as Cole and Ava were handing over my presents.

Ava was the first to shove hers in front of me. "Ladies first."

"Since when does that rule apply to opening presents?" Cole questioned.

"When does the rule never apply?"

He rolled his eyes. "I'm not going to argue with you. Go ahead and go first."

She smiled smugly at Cole before turning to face me. "Happy Birthday, Danni."

I glanced down at the large box with baby-blue wrapping. Please don't let it be a super-sized makeup kit… I didn't let my fears get in the way, though. I unwrapped the present without one care in the world. Thankfully, it wasn't that makeup kit I dreaded (she's been trying to get me to wear more of that stuff ever since I met her). It was a large brown box that had yet to be completely open. I quickly slid the lid of the box revealing it to be an American Eagle top and a pair of skinny jeans.

"Wow, Ava," I examined the outfit. "I am truly surprised."

Ava smiled even more than before. "I know. I figured I'd stop trying to convince you to wear more glittery makeup. The outfit should pull off your sexiness though."

Cole was taken aback. "How is it that you have the ability to make a guy feel uncomfortable in the room?"

"Are you saying guys in general or yourself? Besides, you're going to be a junior soon; it would be about time you got a girlfriend."

"You know, you don't have to date in high school," I sorely pointed out.

"Of course you say that now, but things can change," said Ava.

Cole's face turned a light pink. "OK, let's move on now." He handed me a small wrapped box. "Happy Birthday, Danni."

I gently took the box from him. I had no idea what lied in that box. Not once had I asked anything from him for my birthday yet every year Cole knew what to get for me. I unwrapped the gift as quickly as I had received it. Inside, laid a silver chain heart-shaped locket with a series of roses engraved around the rim of the heart.

"It's beautiful, Cole," I said. "Where'd you get it?"

"I found it in this old antique shop," he answered. "The owner said that he bought it off of a guy in Virginia. Apparently, this was worn by a woman who died during the Civil War times from a murder."

Ava shifted her body uncomfortably. "Well that's a great job to complement her birthday."

"It's okay, Ava," I reassured. "I like it. It's got a story and a mystery to it. Did the owner tell you anything else, Cole?"

He shrugged. "Not much. The shopkeeper didn't know much about it himself, which is probably why I got it so cheap. I don't even remember the town that he said it came from. But that's beside the point. I thought since you lived there before you moved here that, it might bring back the memory of your mother again—you know before she died."

Lightly smiling, I nodded. "We did live in Virginia before she died. I don't remember where exactly we lived, but I remember it was a very peaceful town. The doctors said that reason why everything seems so vague now is because of the shock of my mother dying. I was young and apparently it got to me." I removed the necklace from the box. "Thank-you, Cole. Maybe this thing will help to relapse some memories of her."

"No problem."

A timer suddenly went off from my phone. I took one look at it, realizing what it was for.

I shot up to my feet. "Shoot! I gotta get home before I head to Peter's."

"Are you sure you want to go?" Ava asked. "It is your birthday after all."

"Peter graduated from nursing school. That only happens once in a lifetime. My birthday happens every year, on the other hand."

"Well, if you're going to be leaving so early then you might as well try on the gift I gave you."

I eyed her skeptically. "Is that an option?"

"I don't know, you tell me."

Rolling my eyes, I took the outfit from the box. "Fine. I'll be out in a couple seconds. You guys can come with me, if you want. Peter will be happy to open his doors to you besides his family and friends."

"I would, but my cousin's over from India. My mom said I had to go over for dinner tonight," said Ava.

"I'm pretty sure I'll be able to go," Cole said. "I'll just have to clear it up with my mom."

I gave one nod. "Cool. Let me get changed really quick first then we'll be on our way out."

It was a miracle I could fit those jeans on me. They were a pain to put on (that's why I had spent years in avoiding them). The top, luckily, slipped right onto me. To show my gratitude towards Cole's gift, I placed the necklace around my neck. It was beautiful yet fragile at the same time. I would have to take special care of it considering its age. Once I received Ava's approval for the outfit, Cole and I headed back to the Petrelli Mansion.

With my previous clothes on hand, I rushed up the stairs of the Petrelli Mansion upon entering. I threw my clothes to the hamper in my room and searched my pillow for Peter's wrapped gift.

I pulled it right out from under my pillow. "Got it."

Cole's voice finally caught up with me. "What did you get him?"

"I didn't get him anything. I made it instead."

He left the vague answer there. "Did Peter know it was your birthday today?"

"Probably not. This week's been crazy enough to forget your own name, so I don't blame him if it slipped his mind. Not that it really matters anyway."

Again, he abandoned the chance to contradict me. "So how are we getting to Peter's apartment?"

"Nathan and Heidi should be on their way here to give us all a ride, but Angela is having her driver drive us as well. Pick your poison."

"Let's see…the self-absorbed ADA or the strange foster mother. I think I'd rather go with Nathan if Heidi's in the car."

"We'll have to ride with Angela anyway on the way back."

"That's better than having her both ways."

I had to agree with the statement. A knock came from the door. I turned to face big-headed idiot himself standing at the doorway.

"Hey, have you seen Ma or Dad?" asked Nathan.

I shook my head. "I just got home."

"Could you help me look for them?" He grinned to Cole. "You can wait with Heidi at the front door."

Cole silently took the suggestion. It was clear I was stuck with Nathan whether I had a say in it or not. Shortly after Cole left the room, I joined Nathan in searching for Angela and Arthur. They couldn't have been that far. It's not like they had anything important to do.

My help proved to be useless as Nathan led me through the mansion. We soon approached the garden which thankfully had Angela and Arthur.

Nathan approached them. "Hey there, just thought I'd stop by and see if…"

Angela stopped him as she paced past us. "I tried, he won't."

I rolled my eyes. Could a father really be so ashamed that his son became a nurse? Sure Nathan was in the Air Force and was one of the most successful ADAs, but still, Peter was serving society as well.

We turned to leave, but Arthur stopped Nathan.

"Nathan," Arthur called, "while you're here…"

"I'll be there in a minute," Nathan muttered to me.

"Okay," I said.

Before I left the garden, I could still see that expression that Arthur held as he faced Nathan. Business, again. It somehow bothered me. The look appeared to hold a strong dark figure. Shaking it off as it being paranoia, I headed back inside.

Shortly after I had met Cole and Heidi at the front door, Nathan returned from his chat with Arthur. We left in Nathan's convertible while Angela had a driver take her to Peter's apartment. The car ride would have been in silence if Heidi wasn't as sociable as she was then. She would ask Cole and I the basic questions: how school was and all that junk. Surprisingly it turned out to be a full conversation.

It still shocked me that Heidi was married to Nathan yet I didn't care. They were happy and that was that.

We arrived at Peter's apartment by the time the sun was replaced by the moon. As soon as we found parking nearby, we headed towards Peter's apartment, meeting Angela at the front of the building.

A series of muffled chattering came out of Peter's apartment door. Apparently he had plenty of friends from medical school to fill his usual empty apartment. Nathan was the first to knock on the door.

The door soon opened, revealing it to be Peter smiling at us. "Hey. How's it going?"

Nathan pulled the wrapped box from under his shoulder, flashing the pair of shoes inside. "Ladies, ten and a half."

I almost had half a mind to punch Nathan in the shoulder. He was worse than Arthur for crying out loud!

"Oh, you know, the reason why I became a nurse was to wear shoes like this," Peter responded sarcastically. "Thank you very much."

"Of course." Nathan entered the apartment. "Get a drink?"

"Yeah, yeah. It's right inside."

Peter embraced Heidi as Nathan disappeared. "Hi."

"I told him it wasn't funny," she tried to argue.

"I know," he let out a small chuckle. Heidi followed behind Nathan while Peter moved to the side to allow Angela, Cole, and I through.

"Hey, Mom," he greeted. "Hey, Danni and Cole."

Angela gave him a light kiss on the cheek as she passed. "Hello, sweetheart."

Peter closed the door behind us as we entered. "How are you?"

"Good," she answered. "Your father is very proud of you."

Peter could see through the lie. "And still, he couldn't make it."

"I wouldn't worry about it, Pete," I reassured. "He never comes to my dance performances anyway. I guess being a dancer is shameful to him too."

Angela cut in before I could continue. "Well, he had a meeting. Mr. Linderman's in Atlantic City with…"

I resisted the urge to snort. Even Angela couldn't tell him the truth that Arthur was only in the garden of the Petrelli Mansion.

Peter stopped her. "Listen, I did this without his blessing and without his money. Okay, so, I think it's only right that we celebrate without him."

I smiled at the statement. Nothing in this world would get Peter down.

"I have always wanted a nurse in the family," Angela stated, proudly. "We have enough lawyers."

"Thanks, Mom."

With that, Angela walked away into the party.

Peter faced Cole and I. "Hey, guys. How's it going?"

"Pretty good," I shrugged.

Cole held out his hand. "Congrats, man. You deserve it."

Peter briefly shook it. "Thanks. I'm glad you guys could come."

I suddenly remembered what I was holding in my hand. "Oh! Before I forget," I handed the present to him, "Happy Graduation. It's not the greatest, but it was the best I could do."

"Trust me; anything would be better than Nathan's nurse shoes."

Peter ripped off the wrapping paper from the top of the box and took off the lid. "Wow. I definitely wasn't expecting this." He removed the photo album from the box.

"They're photos of us…and sometimes Cole pops in there too. I figured if you got a nursing job far away you would want something to remind you of New York."

"I don't think I could ever forget you, Danni—if that who you're referring to." He paused, his eyes slowly widening. "Oh shoot! Today's your birthday!"

I stopped him before he could go on a rant. "It's okay. You've been worried enough about your graduation, Nathan's case, and your parents' anniversary. I'm not surprised you forgot."

"That's still no excuse. I didn't even get you a present…"

"Would you stop? My birthday is not important right now. If it's any consolation, being here and celebrating your graduation is great present for me."

Unlike Ava, he didn't persist in the subject. "If you say so…but you better brace yourself for next year though. Now I've got two birthday gifts to get you."

"Sounds great."

Peter turned to leave. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to grab the drinks for Nathan."

"Don't listen to a word he says," I shouted behind him. "Being a nurse is just as much as an accomplishment as a lawyer."

Peter gave me a thumb's up as a response.

Cole furrowed his brow. "What is it with Arthur and Nathan against Peter's career choice?"

"Being a lawyer means you have power," I explained, "and Arthur and Nathan love power. Not to mention Nathan is Arthur's favorite, so therefore he feels the obligation to please his father."

"I couldn't imagine being in a family like that. Jack wanted to be an Engineer because he loved math and technology. As long as I've lived my parents have never pressured my brother and I to be something we're not."

"It's like my mom said to me once: 'Life's a masquerade, you can be anyone you want, but what really matters is what's under the mask.'"

Cole chuckled. "You always know what to say."

My face turned a light pink. Thankfully, it was dark enough for Cole not to notice. Suddenly, I heard the stereo playing my favorite song.

I pulled on Cole's arm. "C'mon, dance with me."

He resisted. "You don't want to see me dance—it's not pretty."

"It doesn't matter, it's just a party." I smirked mischievously. "Besides it is my birthday."

"Now, of all times, you decide to use it to your advantage," Cole moaned, giving in.

I pulled Cole to the dance floor where a crowd of Peter's friends were. Cole didn't lie about being a bad dancer. He flailed around his arms most of the time…but let's not concentrate on that. After spending a couple hours at Peter's graduation party, Angela took Cole and I home (as we dreaded).

Angela and I arrived home soon after driving Cole back to his house. I entered the Petrelli Mansion, slipping off my jacket.

"So how was the party?"

I jumped slightly at the sound of Arthur's voice. I had almost forgotten he decided against coming to the party with us, but I didn't expect him to be waiting for us at the front door.

"It was lovely," Angela told him. "You should have come."

"Nah, I had some gardening to do anyway."

I began to head in the direction of my room. There was usually no point in trying to start a conversation with Arthur. He would only ignore me most of the time.

"And how was your night, Danielle?"

My foot froze on the first step it took up the stairs. Did he really just address me? I didn't feel honored that he decided to speak to me, just shocked.

I faced him, attempting to not appear as surprised as I was. "Fine."

"Well that's good. Did you have a nice birthday?"

"Yeah…how did you know it was my birthday?"

"Danielle," he stared at me as if he knew something I didn't, "you've lived here for about four years now. I think I would know when your birthday is."

"Oh."

I wanted to point out to Arthur of the lack of support he failed to show on my birthday, but I decided to hold that to rest.

"How old are you now?"

"Sixteen," I said simply.

"Ah, I remembered when I turned sixteen," Angela reminisced. "So much responsibility comes to you at that age. Are you ready for that?"

"And what responsibilities are these?"

"You'll see as time goes on."

Surprisingly I didn't have a response for that. Angela caught me off guard…it was as if she knew something was coming and she was holding it behind her smile. Thankfully the phone rang and Angela was the one to volunteer to answer it.

Arthur didn't waste a moment to speak to me once more. "So, what are you planning to be when you grow up?"

"I'm not exactly sure…I don't want to work in an office nor do I want to travel every day."

"As a Petrelli, I believe you should be in a position where you can benefit others—that's where Nathan and Peter are."

"But I'm not a Petrelli," I argued.

"Not by blood, but once you're a Petrelli, you're always a Petrelli."

It must have been in the Petrelli's genes to come up with a closing argument because I could respond to Arthur's statement as well. Again, I could feel the secrets slowly creeping up behind me.

"I have to get to bed," was all I could say. "I told Cole I would meet him to do the Spanish homework with him in the morning."

Arthur gave one nod. "Very well. Goodnight, Danielle."

"Goodnight."

I nearly ran up the stairs. The encounter was weird enough, but then he had to bring up me being a part of this family permanently. Even then I didn't want to think about it. My plan to move out after high school was still visible—no matter what my foster parents said or even what they meant for that matter. As soon as I changed into comfortable clothing I crashed onto my bed, falling fast asleep.

"Danielle," a voice kept repeating in my ear.

The more my name was repeated, the more I felt the urgency in the tone and the more the volume rose. Eventually my consciousness came back (much to my displeasure).

"What?" I groaned.

The voice became stern. "Danielle, wake up."

My eyes shot open to find Arthur hovering over me. "Why…?"

"Nathan and Heidi are in the hospital. We have to go."

Suddenly everything was a blur. I barely remembered what I was doing at the time. Somehow Arthur's tragic news shook me: Nathan and Heidi were in a car crash shortly after leaving Peter's party and Heidi had been in surgery for ten hours. I ran out of the house with Angela and Arthur wearing only a jacket, a pair of pajamas, and fuzzy slippers. The drive to the hospital was deathly quiet. I wanted to reassure them that Nathan and Heidi would be all right, but they didn't need consolation—they needed to think. I wasn't exactly in favor of Nathan yet I couldn't imagine life without him.

All of us jumped out of the car once we arrived in the hospital parking structure. I could distinctly remember running past the receptionist desk as the woman behind the desk yelled after us. She sure got a mouthful out of Angela. Relief washed over me as soon as I saw a familiar figure in the hallway facing his back towards us.

Angela was the first to run up to him. "Nathan, thank God."

"Is she all right?" demanded Arthur.

Angela caressed Nathan's face, attempting to care for his cuts on his face. Nathan looked anything but happy.

"Are you okay, Nathan?" I asked, barely audible.

His eyes were only to the floor. "Not right now, Danni."

"Nathan, is she all right?" Arthur repeated his question.

"Don't even talk to me, Dad," he mumbled.

"Nathan."

Nathan spun around from Angela's grasp and faced Arthur. "You think I don't know who did this?" he seethed. "It was Linderman's guys who ran me off the road."

Unlike Nathan, Arthur didn't return the glare. "Are you sure?"

"That's it, Dad? That's the best you got? Am I sure? You invite that man into our home. He tried to kill me, Dad!"

Peter stepped in front of Nathan, pulling him away from Arthur. "C'mon, stop."

"Heidi will never walk again!" Nathan continued to rant.

"Stop, stop."

Peter soothed Nathan once more. I could've sworn I had gone numb. Heidi would forever be bound to a chair. She would never be able to play soccer with Monty or Simon nor would she ever get to walk with Nathan. The life that once knew was now over and Arthur didn't seem to take any sympathy for his daughter-in-law.

"I'm good," Nathan finally said, his voice down to the minimum level. "Heidi, it's her spine. She broke her back."

Angela was on the verge of tears. "Oh, God. Oh, no."

Peter stopped her. "Mom." He looked back at Nathan. "She just woke up and she's asking for you. Come on."

Nathan charged for Arthur. "I'm gonna hurt that man, and when I do, if you're standing next to him, you're gonna get hurt, too.

"Come on," Peter urged Nathan.

"It's time to choose a side, Dad. Your client or your family."

"Nathan?" Angela called his name as Peter led him away.

Arthur put a hand on her shoulder. "I think we should go. Nathan needs some time alone."

She quietly nodded as they walked out of the hallway. I stood there, frozen. What just happened? Could Arthur really be involved with Heidi's predicament? I tried to stray away from the idea, but the way that Arthur was speaking to Linderman and the way that he looked at Nathan before Peter's party seemed to be more than a coincidence.

"C'mon, Danielle," he encouraged.

"What about Heidi?" I choked out. "Won't she need us there?"

"Nathan won't let us anywhere near her."

"I think you're talking about yourself."

"Excuse me?"

Instead of backing down from my defiance, I embraced it. "You heard me. Just because Nathan is pointing all of his anger at you doesn't mean we should desert Heidi all together."

Arthur took a step towards me. "It's nearly four in the morning, you're tired and you haven't had a breakfast: you're not thinking things clearly right now."

"What's clear then? Me speaking my mind or yours?"

He took my wrist. "You're coming home now."

"No," I struggled against his grip. "I'm staying here with Heidi."

"You listen to me now, Danielle," he hissed furiously, bringing his face closer to mine. "I'm your father; you will do exactly what I say."

"No, you're not," I sneered at him. "Not even close."

I could feel Arthur's grip around my wrist tighten, but before he could take me anywhere, Peter's voice appeared right beside me.

"Dad, what are you doing?" Peter questioned his father.

Arthur released me from his grip. "Trying to convince your sister to come home. Would you care to persuade her yourself?"

Peter faced me. "Why don't you want to go home?"

"I want to stay with Heidi and help her out," I explained, something Arthur didn't let me do. "It's Saturday anyway—I can tell Cole to meet me here to do our homework."

"That's fine." He turned to Arthur. "I'll take care of her, Dad. You and Mom go ahead and rest."

Arthur's eyes laid firmly on me. "All right. Give me a call whenever you want me to take her off your hands."

I stared blankly into Arthur's ominous glare. He was beyond furious with me, but that wasn't what I was afraid of. A glint in his eyes told me he was planning something—something I had yet to know about—and that's where my true fear came from.

Peter nodded as Arthur left with Angela out of the hallway.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yeah," I said. "Though, I think I might have to stay at your place for a while."

"I know, I heard of a little bit of that conversation. So do you want to see Heidi now? I think Nathan's feeling a little uncomfortable being with her alone."

"Sure."

Peter gently guided me to Heidi's room. I won't go into what happened after as I did with that scene with Arthur and me. By now, I'm pretty sure you've figured out my distant relationship with my foster father, the cause of Heidi's inability to walk, and how far I was willing to go to be there for the people I loved. Well, a few days after my last conversation with Arthur, Nathan had come to Peter's apartment to inform us of Arthur's death (at which time Nathan claimed he died of a heart attack).

I can't explain why these certain events come to my mind as I laid on the uncomfortable jail bed in my cell. Maybe I had finally come to the point where I was questioning when everything went wrong. Six months ago was when I began to inquire about my surroundings. Nothing is what it seems. The kind Mr. Linderman became the evil mobster to ruin Nathan's married life and the quiet Arthur Petrelli appeared to be a man of secrets. If I could turn back time to warn myself of the future ahead, I would…yet that would be cheating. It wouldn't be the future if you knew what was to come.

Some birthday that was six months ago…

Thanks for reading! I know I combined the Six Months Ago episode with Villains, but I figured it would easier instead of going back to the same episode and writing it again. The next chapter will go back to the present time so I hope you enjoyed a little blast from the past for Danni. Review and tell me your thoughts!

~Emyrox567