Disclaimer: I do not own Heroes. NBC does, thanks to Tim Kring.

A/N: Hey all. Sorry, it took so long. I've been really sick since the last update. : ( This chapter was hard for me to write. I needed to give details without telling you everything—super hard. I did learn that I need to work on my descriptive writing. Anyway, I hope you like it! It is 2008…hope it was great for everyone!

Just a teaser at what's coming up in the next two chapters:

-We get a glimpse at what Angela is hiding

-a new character (maybe)

-Peter comes home

-some 'Mo'action

- Monica

- Sylar on the move

--Claire gets some answers--Including, part two of this story!

Part two: a.k.a. Season 3: Villians; my take on what goes down and all the events that led them here…we'll hang here for awhile, then back to the current story.)

I need to clear up my timeline, it's messy. I'll work on that too…Stay Tuned!

Enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 10: Images

HIRO NAKAMURA & PETER PETRELLI

TOKYO, JAPAN

Peter's eyes scanned the painting before him. "What can they mean? You are involved in every picture, that's why I got you." Hiro said quietly.

"Future me...did I say anything?"

"No. I know this one happens," Hiro pointed to the fifth painting. "You said that you and I were the only ones..."

"What about this one?" Peter asked pointing to number three.

"I—Nathan was dead so I don't know. And Claire, you were married with Callie—"

"Then why did I say we were the only ones alive Hiro? The fifth one can't be true if Claire and I are married. " Peter gulped at that sentence. He never thought it would be possible.

"Peter, she died too." Peter's eyes shot up to Hiro's expression.

"What? Claire can't die. Unless….Sylar?"

Hiro's eyes grew. "No. You believed it was your mother." Peter fought back the thoughts that crept to his mind in the awkward silence.

"This can't happen," Peter sighed as his eyes drifted to the first painting.

"Who is the other man?" Hiro pointed to the third painting. Peter ran his hand across the canvas. The image was so vivid and the resemblances were so true. Isaac was gifted, there was no denying that. He had been right about the saving Claire, about the bomb, about the Company's involvement with Mr. Bennet and Mohinder… he had a feeling he was right about the images before him.

Peter's gaze followed the corner of what he knew to be his apartment. It was accurate in detail, right down to Claire's edition of the new clock on the end table. Peter smiled as he saw Claire in the picture, sitting sandwiched between himself and Nathan on the couch. Nathan was sitting with his arm around her shoulder as she had a hand in Peter's and a hand across her stomach. He could see the distress in Nathan's face as he tried to sit calmly, in what Peter could only assume to be a stressful situation, given the appearance of the other man.

"That's Claude Raines." Peter said, focusing on Claude's figure in the painting. Claude was sitting in the chair, which had been pulled closer to the couch. A hand was in the air as Claude explained something to the trio.

"Who is he?"

"He's invisible. I haven't seen or talked to him since before I blew up." Hiro nodded a small "oh" sound into the room. Peter's eyes stopped at the window in the painting. "Hiro, there's someone at the window. It's just a shadow."

Hiro glanced at the picture. "Wait…this shadow is in others." Hiro piled two and four next to it and pointed. "Do you think they are all the same person?"

ELLE BISHOP, RACHEL HOPKINS & SYLAR

SEATTLE, WA

"Hi, Elle. It's been a long time. What…nine months now? How's daddy dearest?" Sylar smiled as he looked down at her. She rolled her eyes and pushed him away.

"Sylar. I wish I could say it was a pleasure."

"Now, now, now Sparky…is that any way to treat your old friend?"

"Is that what you are? My friend? I more thought that we were enemies who hated each other."

"No, I reserve that title for greater foes. I would consider us friends, since you are living to fight with me longer. If I hated you I would kill you, but luckily, you make my life fun, keep me on my toes." Sylar smiled. Elle scoffed in his face as he moved from her and kissed Rachel's cheek. "I've been expecting you, Sparky. I'm glad you finally made it. Have you eaten dinner yet?" "

Elle raised an eyebrow at his smile and ignored the nickname he'd given her months ago. He expected her to be surprised and go off the subject after that dinner comment. She wasn't going to be fooled but whatever he was playing at, she would bite. "No. 'Expecting me'? What does that mean?"

"I knew you were coming. Rachel told me."

"How did she tell you? She was with me the whole day." Elle snapped. Sylar turned at her tone.

"She knew before you got here. That's how I knew to bring extra food. You like General Tsao's right?"

Elle nodded. "How would she know that?"

"She's gifted in that area." Sylar smiled.

"I thought you manipulated water and ice…how are you gifted in knowing I was coming?" Elle asked Rachel.

"I didn't kill for it, if that's what you're asking." Rachel snapped as she sat a bowl on the table.

"I just assumed—"

"That since she's with me she's a killer too? No. That's not always the case." Sylar informed as he sat down some bowls at the table.

"Then how?" Elle asked.

"I have a twin sister. She has no powers. I got two, both similar to what my parents had. I got the one you saw and another one, one that lets me sense people—their arrival mostly, down to the second. I see images, snapshots if you will, of people but I never know names. I know what they look like, what they'll act like and when they are coming." Rachel explained as she worked around the kitchen.

"When Rachel told me, about two weeks ago, she said there was a, let me get the exact words…'frisky, pretty, pain-filled blonde girl with a secret and a problem coming for me.' Seeing as how I only know three blondes that fit those adjectives it was obvious."

"What was obvious? That you need to branch out more on the people you know?"

Sylar huffed. "No, it was obvious that it was you Sparky—or the psycho or the cheerleader—I doubted it was he cheerleader. She wasn't too fond of seeing me the last time and she'd never seek me out, unless it was to kill me. And the psycho is busy with the smart kid and adjusting to not being psycho…she's too weak to care. No, I knew it was you Sparky. Besides…" Sylar moved in closer to Elle's ear. "I already know your secret." He whispered. Her face was filled with disgust and she felt a little nauseous at the memory of it.

"It's ready." Rachel announced.

"We'll talk after we eat." Sylar said as he pointed her back into the kitchen.

PETER & HIRO

Hiro grabbed picture four. "Why is Elle with Sylar? And why are you and the doctor there?"

"That's a great question."

"I can't think she'd trust him again after what he did to her, to all of us," Hiro said solemnly.

"I don't think anyone has heard from him in months. Molly tried to find him once right after but nothing. There has to be a reason. Mohinder wouldn't let him stand there like that after all that's happened." Peter nodded toward the dark figure around the corner of what looked like the offices of the Company. "That shadow is in this one too."

The door opened and Peter bolted up, electricity sparking in his outstretched hand. "Dinner," Ando smiled as Peter lowered his hand. "Sorry I'm so late. I got caught up in the office." He tossed Hiro a look and Hiro nodded. Ando spent all his spare time trying to get Kimiko to go on a date with him. Hiro thought Ando had made progress…considering his sister.

"In this picture," Peter pointed as Hiro drew his focus back, "this looks like my mother."

"Who are the other two people? What are they looking at?" Hiro asked.

Peter looked at the balding man beside his mother and the man with thick grey hair. "I have no idea. I can't tell from the back. But I know this is my mother. I'd say that was Bob but he's dead so it can't be him. I can't see what they are looking at but if my mother's involved, I can't say how innocent it is."

"What do you think the third picture is?" Hiro asked, pulling the picture to the top. Peter's eyes glanced across the canvas.

In a semi-circle in what looked like Matt's apartment, stood Matt, Peter, Mohinder and Molly. They were looking at a puff of smoke in the middle of the apartment. All that was visible in the smoke that grew thick around them was the tip of a pair of shoes on the floor. In the corner of the picture behind the smoke were four shadows. One was on the ground, two were knelt over it and one was standing. "It looks like two different scenes. And you know, I don't think the shadow is the same person. I mean, how can there be four in this one and just one in the others? It doesn't make sense. Maybe Isaac was seeing two things, maybe they happen at the same time…"

"Want to eat?" Ando asked the duo as he approached the table.

"There is only one more. Let's wait. We know what it is…"

"I want to look at it again," Peter said angrily pulling the last canvas onto the top. He didn't want to see it again, the image was already drilled in his brain but he knew he had to.

The final painting sent a silence through the small room. All three people were staring down at it. He knew it disturbed Hiro as much as it did himself. The though of being the only two people to survive a war…it just didn't make sense. "Maybe I meant the only two that were still alive, Hiro. I did say it was two years ago. How can everyone die? Claire can't die here if we have a marriage and a child…" Hiro shrugged. "All the other paintings must cause this, lead up to it. This mass—are we standing on it or near it?"

"It looks like we are on it but I can't tell." Ando put his nose close to the canvas as they tried to decide if they were on it or near it. "Ando…" Peter stopped and they watched Ando. Ando spoke up in Japanese to Hiro. Peter waited until Hiro looked closer toward the canvas. Peter copied for a second then realized he had no idea what they were doing.

"Hiro, what did he say? What are you looking for?"

Hiro looked at Peter fearfully. "That mass—the mass is people."

"People?" Peter exclaimed.

"I think they are dead people, Peter." Peter raised an eyebrow and followed the patterns Ando pointed out on the page.

ELLE, RACHEL, SYLAR

"So Sparky," Sylar smiled as he looked at Elle, "did you miss me so much that you had to come all the way to Seattle to find me?"

"Don't flatter yourself. I came to find Rachel."

"Who you knew was with me. She's an excuse to get to me. Don't lie Sparky, why are you really here?"

"You haven't changed at all."

"Good things shouldn't change. Don't change the subject. I never thought I'd see you again, at least under these circumstances. Why are you here?" He stared at her from his chair and she shifted uncomfortably in his gaze.

"I need you to come back with me."

Sylar laughed.

PETER PETRELLI

Peter had spent the last four hours looking at the images. The curiosities of them were embedded in his subconscious, so much so that he dreamed about them now as he slept. He could see the images playing over and over his head. He didn't know any more detail than he knew before so he filled them in with the worst possible scenario. It could only get better from there.

He felt as if he was grasping at straws. Nothing made sense. Who were these shadows lurking in the futures of his friends and family? What was Angela up to now? Smoke. Shadows. Claude. Death. It all made him think of one thing: secrets. He didn't like that. Secrets had been his life for two years. He was tired of secrets.

ELLE & SYLAR

"Stop laughing!"

"Why would I go back there with you? They'll kill me."

"They won't. We need you."

"Did they send you here? What's the big plan: lure me in by sending you, I go to the city, they all attack as soon as I arrive? I don't think so, Elle."

"Elle?" She asked taken aback. "You haven't called me Elle since…"

"I don't trust you. I let you in. We fed you. I listened. My answer is no, I won't go back to New York with you so you can kill me."

"Sylar!" Elle yelled as he started to walk away. "Not everything is about you! You have no clue what's about to go down there. We have to help stop it!"

Sylar stopped and turned to her. "What is it?" Elle paced the floor before him. He leaned against the wall, waiting for her to finish.

"I don't know."

"You don't know?" Sylar huffed.

"No, not exactly. I know pieces. I know we need to help them stop it."

"Why me?"

"Because…they'd never expect you and you are the second-most-powerful person I know."

"Really?" Sylar's eyes lit up. "Who's first?"

Elle tilted her head. "I'm not saying it."

"Peter Petrelli." Sylar sighed. "I wish I would've killed that man when I had the chance."

"You can't. He's involved. He had to be there."

"What is this? What are you talking about? You haven't told me anything!"

Elle sat on the chair and pulled a notebook out of her bag. Sylar sat beside her as she placed it in front of him. "This explains more than I can."

PETRELLI RESIDENCE

MANHATTAN

Claire stood. She stood and stared as the wooden door. It was her enemy. It taunted her silently as it looked down at her. She never really liked it anyway. It was big as she approached it that first time years ago to meet her biological family. It intimidated her then but not nearly as much as it did now. She realized this as she stood at the door for a few more minutes. Should she ring the bell? Should she just go in? She wanted to cry at her confusion but just as her frustration was at a boiling point, the nemesis opened and Monty's voice rang out.

"Claire!" He said as he ran out to his sister.

"Monty," she smiled as she hugged him.

"Why were you standing outside?"

"I thought I forgot something," Claire lied as she smiled at him. He nodded understandably and led her inside by her hand.

"Claire's here!" he bellowed as he ran through the house. Within seconds, Simon joined them in the room, gave his sister a small hug and retreated to the couch with his video game. Claire giggled at the sight.

"I'm so glad you made it!" Heidi smiled warmly as she hugged Claire. "How have you been?" She whispered in her ear.

"Not horrible," she whispered back in her ear as she thought of Peter, who days before was in her arms. Heidi pulled away and smiled.

"Dinner should be ready shortly."

Claire settled down beside Monty, who insisted on telling her everything that he had been learning in school for the past five days and reminding her that she hadn't even called him. She smiled at his passion and half-listened as he rambled on. Her eyes bolted upward as she heard Nathan's voice creep into the room.

"I'm glad you made it," Nathan smiled as Claire stood.

"Me too," she smiled back as he wrapped her in a hug.

ELLE & SYLAR

Sylar sat speechless as Elle stared at him. "It's all been put into motion since my father's death. I don't know details. I don't know how to get them. They won't let me near the headquarters since…You're the only one who can help."

"What about Peter or Dr. Suresh? Have you told any of them?"

"Peter's dead Sylar, or have you forgotten?" Sylar caught Elle's cold glance and held it.

"Right, yeah."

"I haven't told anyone else yet. This is all I have to go on. I need some more evidence. Plus, Mohinder isn't exactly welcomed after what he did. Hiro is awol and non-responsive. You're the only one who can help."

"By that you mean you've asked everyone else and I'm your last resort."

"I didn't say that. God, you're so frustrating! I knew you would turn it around either way I did it. I figured if I tried to find them you'd be more willing to help. This is your future too!"

"Calm down Sparky. I'll help you. I assume you have a plan?"

"New York—"

"I can't do New York. Besides, I have Rachel to worry about now."

Elle stared at him and bit her bottom lip as she decided what to say next. "Rachel?"

"Mmm-hmm."

"Explain to me that comment you made earlier?"

"What comment would that be?"

"The one about the big plan…I think you said they'd lure you in by sending me?"

Sylar nodded. "I believe that's what I said."

"Why would I lure you if have Rachel now?"

"Well…" Sylar sighed. "Old habits die hard."

"Or," Elle smiled, "Rachel really isn't anything to you, except maybe your cousin?"

Sylar groaned and raised his eyebrows. "Why would you say that?"

"I have her file idiot. I saw it. That's why I came to her to find you."

"Well played," Sylar said as he moved from her and sat down. "Alright Sparky, since I'm doing you a favor; you have to do me a favor."

"What would that be?"

"I'll tell you when I think of something good." Elle rolled her eyes as she sat down.

PETRELLI RESIDENCE

The dining room was full of laughter, it was just the way Nathan liked his house—though he rarely admitted it. It had been so void of that for such a long time now that he'd almost forgotten how much he liked it and hadn't realized how much he missed it. Heidi talked about the newest thing she'd learned at a meeting or a class, which Simon retorted with a sarcastic remark that left everyone, even Heidi, in stitches. They asked Claire about her finals and Simon talked about video games. Monty was in mid-joke when the front door of the Petrelli home opened and slammed shut.

Everyone looked up from the table toward the door. There was a red suitcase on the floor. "What's everyone gawking at? Can't I come to my own home if I want to visit my family?" Angela Petrelli shot into the room.

"Ma," Nathan said as he moved from the table. "We weren't expecting you." She hugged him awkwardly as he grabbed her bag.

"Leave it; I didn't mean to interrupt your dinner.I'll just go upstairs."

"Nonsense. Are you hungry? You can join us." Heidi smiled. Angela nodded.

"I could do with a bite of something." She said as she took the seat between Nathan and Claire. Everyone watched her as she sat.

"Grandmamma, that's…"Monty started to speak but Simon shushed him.

Angela smiled. "Something wrong?" she asked. Monty and Simon shook their heads as Heidi passed some food.

Claire glared at Angela when she turned her head. She never sat there; no one sat there. It was Peter's seat between Nathan and Claire, it always had been.

"So, Ma, what brings you home?" Nathan asked his mother as they began eating again.

"I had some plans that changed so I took the time to come visit my family." She smiled at Claire as she took a bite. Claire tossed a look at Nathan and shook his head slightly.