Claire sat up slowly as the first strands of sunlight streamed through the window.
She hadn't slept at all, her head and heart too full to rest.
She glanced down at Peter. He was still unconscious, and she felt the tears threatening to spill down her cheeks again.
She ran her hand along his cheek gently, shuddering at the sight of his blood-crusted skin, hair and clothes. She looked down at herself and noticed she didn't look so good either.
She sighed, taking one of Peter's hands in her two smaller ones. "Come on, Peter. Time to wake up. I need you… You need to heal. Take my powers, fix yourself. Please…" Her voice broke.
There was a soft knock on the door, and she wiped at her cheeks furiously. "Come in."
Matt's head appeared around the door. "Hey, any change?"
She shook her head sadly. "No."
Matt swallowed. "Is there anything I can do?"
Claire started to shake her head no, but then her head shot up. "Actually, can you carry him to the bathroom? I want to clean him up."
Matt nodded, fully entering the room. He walked over, lifting Peter without much trouble.
Claire led the way into the bathroom, and turned on the shower. She was thankful they'd come to Nathan's house. After Heidi ended up in a wheelchair, Nathan had paid big bucks to have all the showers made handicap accessible.
Matt propped Peter up on the sink, and Claire stripped him down to his boxers. "Just sit him in the shower; I'll call you when I'm done." Matt nodded, doing as she asked.
When the door had closed behind him, Claire stripped down to her bra and panties, climbing into the shower with Peter.
He was sitting on a built-in shower seat, his back propped up against the tiled wall.
She held the showerhead over his head, wetting his hair. She squeezed a glob of shampoo into her hands, rubbing it through his hair. She rinsed that out, and then did the same with conditioner.
As she wet a washcloth, she leaned down and kissed his mouth softly. "I love you. You know that, right? I love you so much… I'm never leaving you. No matter if you're like this the rest of your life, I'm never leaving you."
She squeezed some body wash onto the washcloth, rubbing it over his lanky body.
Claire almost chuckled. If he wasn't unconscious, this might be sort of hot…
She rinsed out the washcloth, and then held the showerhead over him again, rinsing the soapy lather off of his body.
She turned off the shower, and stood there, looking at the man she loved.
He was slumped against the wall, his eyes closed. He had a cut over his eye, and his wet hair was falling across his face.
She felt the warm tears as they dripped down her cheeks, but didn't bother to brush them away. She knelt in front of Peter, wrapping her arms around his waist, and sobbing.
She sat like that for a few moments, and just as she was about to stand up, she felt him move.
Her head jerked up and she watched as Peter's eyelids fluttered open. "Claire…" His voice came out as a croak.
She gasped, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him repeatedly.
Peter chuckled. "Claire, I…" He put his hands on her shoulders with some difficulty, pushing her back gently. "Claire, I need to breathe."
She put her hand over her mouth, laughing. "I'm sorry! Oh, you're awake!"
Tears spilled down her cheeks again, and she made no move to wipe them away. "You have no idea how much I love you."
He smiled wanly. "I think I have some idea…" He motioned for her to stand up, and then pulled her face down to his.
He kissed her fiercely, and when they parted, Claire smirked. "Apparently your weakness doesn't extend to your lips or tongue."
Peter smirked back at her, his eyes twinkling. "So, you want to tell me why we're showering together in wet underwear?"
Claire pushed her own wet hair out of her face. "I wanted to clean you up. Matt carried you in. MATT! Oh, he and Nathan will want to know you're okay!"
She hopped out of the shower, throwing a bathrobe over her wet underwear. She stopped in the doorway, and walked back to Peter.
She kissed him softly. "I love you." With that, she darted out of the room to find Nathan and Matt.
Peter ran a hand through his hair, and looked down at a still-sleeping Claire.
After Nathan and Matt had made a fuss over his awakening, he had sent them away. Claire hadn't slept at all the night before, he could tell.
He had pulled her onto the bed beside him, and she had fallen asleep, her head on his lap.
Peter let his gaze wander down her petite figure. She was so beautiful. He caressed her bare arm lightly, letting his fingers run over her soft, sun-kissed skin.
He tried to wrap his mind around the fact that she was his. That she was in love with him. He closed his eyes, murmuring a quick prayer of thanks that no harm had come to the woman he loved.
Peter couldn't remember much about what had happened with Sylar.
He remembered when Sylar had begun to slice his head open, and when he had told Claire to run, but after that, things got a bit fuzzy.
Nathan had told him that Sylar was gone for good, and if that was the case, he and Claire would never have to worry about anything ever again.
He felt Claire beginning to stir in his arms, and he smiled.
She looked up at him, and closed her eyes, sighing. "God, if I can wake up like that every morning for the rest of my life, I'll never want anything else."
Peter leaned down, pressing his mouth to hers. "I'm never, ever leaving you again. Never."
She smiled, sitting up and leaning her head on his shoulder. "So, where do we go from here? Can we go back to your loft in the city?"
Peter chewed his lip for a second, and then nodded. "If that's what you want."
She picked her head up to look at him. "Don't you want to go back?"
He shrugged. "Claire, I want whatever you want."
She raised an eyebrow, a seductive smile spreading over her face. "Whatever I want?"
He groaned. "Give me a few more days to get my strength back before we… do whatever you want."
She giggled, leaning up and kissing him sweetly. "I'm hungry. Stay here, I'm going to go get us breakfast."
Peter nodded, and as she hopped out of bed, he smacked her rear end playfully.
She whirled in surprise. "Oh, that's it Petrelli. You're dead."
He feigned shock. "Why, Ms. Bennet! You wouldn't attack a man who was incapable of defending himself!"
She raised an eyebrow, cocking her hip to one side. "There's more than one kind of torture, Peter."
He swallowed, unsure of what she meant.
Claire leaned down, thrusting her tongue into his mouth forcefully. Peter grunted. "Claire…"
She pulled back, smiling innocently.
Peter reached out, grabbing her around the waist, and pulling her back to the bed. He flipped them over so he was above her. She giggled as he put one hand on either side of head, one leg one either side of hers.
He looked down at her, and then his lips were on hers. She ran her hands over his abdomen, feeling his abs clench under her light touch. He slid one of his hands to her shoulder, then down to her ribcage, finally coming to rest just above the waistband of her panties.
He rubbed his thumb in tiny circles across her toned stomach, and she sighed contentedly into his mouth.
Peter pulled back, and Claire gasped. "What are you doing? Don't stop!"
He shook his head. "Claire, I'm not exactly in the best shape, here. Give me a few days to rest."
She sighed, rolling off the bed
. Peter reached out and grabbed her hand. "Claire, I really, really want to, but I want to do it right. Come on, don't you want me at my best for our first time?"
A cocky grin spread across his face and Claire shook her head incredulously. "You certainly have a lot of faith in your abilities, Peter."
He nodded. "With good reason, trust me."
Claire groaned. "If you don't want me to jump you, you'd better stop talking."
She leaned down, kissing him lightly, and Peter smiled when she pulled away. "Now, go get my food, woman."
She saluted, walking out the door and nearly slamming into Nathan.
He smiled down at the blonde girl. "How's our patient this morning?"
Claire rolled her eyes. "He's impossibly adorable."
Nathan chuckled as he watched the girl continue down the hallway.
He poked his head in the door. "Okay to come in, Pete?"
Peter nodded, motioning his brother in. Nathan sat down in a plush armchair next to the bed. "How are you feeling this morning? All I could get out of Claire was 'He's impossibly adorable.'"
Peter chuckled modestly, brushing his bangs away from his face. "I'm doing okay. The headaches are bad, but distraction kind of helps move them to the background."
Nathan nodded, folding his hands behind his head. "And I guess Claire is the distraction you're referring to?"
Peter ducked his head, his bangs falling in front of his face again. "I don't know what to do, Nathan. I'm totally in love with her, but I'm afraid."
Nathan's eyebrows furrowed. "Afraid of what?"
Peter looked up and Nathan saw the sorrowful look in his brother's eyes. "I completely lost control. Turned into what Isaac painted, a walking firebomb. I could have hurt Claire."
Nathan sighed, rubbing his hand over his face. "Peter, you can't send her away again. It would kill her. Besides, you said you would never leave her again. If you break your promise, she'll never trust anyone ever again."
Peter nodded, sighing. "I know… I'm just… I don't know what to do. I'm scared of hurting her."
Nathan Sighed heavily. "Peter, you love her, she loves you. Deep down, you know you would never hurt her."
Peter nodded slowly, some of the worry draining from his face. "You're right."
Nathan smiled.
"Right about what?"
Neither man had noticed Claire enter the room.
Peter swallowed. "Nathan was just telling me how lucky I am to have you."
Nathan rolled his eyes, and Claire broke into a wide grin. "Oh, don't I know it. Here's breakfast for my patient."
Peter raised an eyebrow. "Does that make you my nurse?"
She nodded. Peter crossed his arms over his chest. "Where's your uniform?"
Claire opened her mouth to speak, but Nathan cleared his throat loudly. "No offense, but I don't really want to hear you two talk dirty to one another, so I'm just going to leave. I'll be back to check on you later, Pete."
He left closing the door behind him, and Claire perched on the edge of the bed. She placed the breakfast tray on Peter's lap, and then sat watching him expectantly. "Well? Aren't you going to eat?"
Peter looked down at the oatmeal and juice that sat on his tray. "Claire, I'm not sick, I'm just weak. Can't I have bacon and eggs?"
She crossed her arms, shaking her head. "Nope. This is a perfect time for you to start eating healthier."
Peter sighed, and then had to smile at the blonde girl in front of him, arms crossed, cheeks rosy.
She raised her eyebrows. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Peter gave her that crooked grin of his. "I love you, Claire Bennet."
She gaped at him for a moment, before shaking her head and grinning. "You're still not getting bacon and eggs."
Peter frowned. "Damn."
So I'm leaving again this morning. I'll be back on Sunday to post more chapters. Disappointed? Don't be, you have one more chapter to read before you won't have any more until Sunday! Now, scurry! Go read the next chapter, and then tell me what you think by dropping me a review.