Here…we…GO! :D
After Mack's very unwelcome and confusing visit, the pair went back to the couch to wait for their other unwelcome visitors.
"So, Andrew Freedmen, huh?" Sylar said offhandedly, just wondering.
"Mmmhm." Claire replied.
"Wonder what his deal is…" Sylar looked into the air as though it had the answers.
"Mack is just manipulating the poor guy. He probably has no idea what's going on. For all we know he probably thinks he's back in reality with his real family…not Mack's twisted world." Claire said, staring at the unlit fireplace.
"…Or he does." Sylar turned his head when she turned hers to look at each other.
Claire shrugged, "Well, he's obviously a valuable asset to Mack and something has to be done." She would let him assume what he wanted from her sentence.
Did he hear right? Was this Claire talking? He furrowed his brows at her, "Something like what?" He didn't want to say what was swimming around in his mind, in case he was dead wrong.
"I think you can come up with something to do with him." Claire answered, no big deal.
"…Like kill the guy?" Sylar asked her carefully, worried he was wrong.
Claire sighed and drooped her head, "Worst case scenario…"
Ok, so he had heard right.
"But that's the absolute last option. We talk to him first and make him see eye to eye with us then…we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. But first we have to find this guy…" Claire trailed off.
"Well, it shouldn't be too hard. I mean, the guy is in this world with us. Maybe it's as simple as picking up a phonebook." Sylar tried to sound optimistic.
Claire turned her deadpan face towards him with the hint of a smile formed on her lips, "When is anything ever that simple?"
Sylar laughed, "True."
Another half hour went by and still no visits from their parents.
Claire sighed; bored out of her mind watching Sylar sleep in the same position he was sitting in minutes before. She had briefly considered pulling a college prank on him. But that would mess up his shirt for the parentals. And she didn't want to look bad.
"I'll go make some ice tea…" She concluded and bounced off the couch with the intention of making the best darn ice tea anyone's ever tasted before. Only because she has the time and energy now.
Moving through the spacious kitchen, she approached the fridge and opened it. The double stainless-steel fridge was packed with everything! There was fruit, meat, a couple bottles of champagne. Claire didn't need to look far for the jug of freshly chilled water with ice. She pulled it out and walked over to the kettle, next to it being a small box of tea bags. She grabbed a few of those and began making the best ice tea anyone's ever drank before.
It didn't take her very long, surprisingly. Last time when she had made it with her mom it had taken her nearly over an hour!
She was just mixing the large jug when Sylar sauntered in, still looking a little sleepy after his nap.
She gave him no greeting, she was too excited! "Try this!" She poured her ice tea in a glass she found on one of the shelves and walked round the island to him.
He sat on one of the bar stools there and took the glass from her hands with a freaked look on his face. How enthusiastic can someone get over ice tea? He faced forward again and squinted his eyes as he took a sip.
Claire's smile never faltered, "So…what do you think?" She clasped her hands in front of her and smiled nervously at him.
He played with the flavour in his mouth a bit before making a face, "It's good." He said simply and took another sip.
Claire's face dropped, "It's good?" She asked.
Sylar nodded his head, "Mhm."
"So, it's not the bestest tasting ice tea you've ever tasted in your whole entire life?"
Sylar raised an eyebrow at her, "Umm…that was going to be my next comment."
Claire smiled wider and ran back around the kitchen island and grabbed another glass from the shelf behind her. She poured herself a glass and took a sip.
Her face contorted and she practically spit the vile liquid out, "Ugh! This is horrible!" She poured the rest of her glass down the sink. She turned back to Sylar, wiping her mouth with her sleeve, "I thought you said it was the bestest tasting ice tea you've ever tasted in your whole entire life!" She mimicked her previous assumption of her terrible-tasting ice tea.
Sylar smiled and put his glass down, "I was being nice." He looked at her.
"Well be more critical next time," She laughed, "It was horrible." She laughed again.
"Yeah, but I just wanted you to say it first." He laughed with her.
She disposed of the probably poisonous ice tea down the drain and rinsed the two cups and the jug. Sylar was watching her, the way she expertly cleaned the dishes like she wasn't a spoiled, blonde cheerleader. He smiled at the simplicity of this moment. He understood now why people just wanted a spouse, a home and a couple of kids maybe…it was all so simple compared to what his life was comprised of. His biggest worry was whether he wouldn't be able to control his devastating hunger instead of worrying if the mortgage rates are going to jump. Waking up next to a warm body instead of a cold motel room. Kissing your kids goodnight instead of being mugged in the car park of your own residence. It wasn't only a simple life; it was also one Sylar would trade his life for any day. He's had the glory, the recognition. And some part of him still wants that, still wants to be significant. But he has a feeling that if this life was laid out on a platter in front of him, he would most definitely eat it right up.
Through his few seconds of thoughts, Claire heard the doorbell shrill.
"Oh crap, they're here!" She panicked herself into getting a tea towel, quickly drying her hands and racing to the door. She looked back to see Sylar still sitting where he was.
"Psst! Sylar!" She whisper-screamed at him.
He turned around and slowly realised what was going on. He leapt off the stool and came to stand by Claire, his heart beating out of his chest.
"Ready?" Sylar asked.
Claire looked at the door, "No."
Sylar wrenched the door open to reveal Noah and Sandra Bennet.
Sandra squealed in delight at the sight of her daughter, "Claire!" She dumped her bags on the porch and threw herself inside and at her daughter.
Claire was surprised, "Oh! Hi Mom!" She hugged the woman back and went with the flow when Sandra started bouncing up and down, giggling. Just how long hadn't they seen each other in this life?
"Sylar." Noah Bennet's voice came from the open door, Sylar pulled his attention away from the girls to look at the man.
Noah Bennet smiled and stuck out his hand, "It's good to see you again, buddy."
Sylar's mouth was agape, but he recovered quickly, "Uh, Mr Bennet! …Sir, it's good to see you to." He offered and smiled nervously, stepping aside for the man to enter.
Sylar nodded typically at Bennet when he didn't bother to carry in the mountain of suitcases from the front porch. He just left them sitting there for Sylar to carry in…
"Dad!" Claire was really getting into this… She hugged her father tightly before hugging both of her parents.
"Oh! I'm sorry, Sylar! Forgot you were there." Sandra laughed and wandered over to him and gave him a hug, "It's been a long time." She finished in her southern accent.
"It has." He answered even though he didn't know exactly how long.
Noah and Sandra stood in the foyer of 'Sylar and Claire's house', they each looked around and above and everywhere, "Wooow. I like what you've done with the place." Noah turned and spoke to them before heading into the living room to inspect some more.
Sandra looked at the couple and rolled her eyes at her husband before following him into the living room.
Sylar and Claire continued to smile till they were both out of sight, then they turned to each other.
"Ok, so what is Mack going to do now?" Sylar whispered.
"I don't know. This is his stupid experiment for us." Claire eyes shifted to Sylar's.
"So, what? We should just play along?" Sylar asked, hardly wanting to do so.
Claire shrugged and nodded, "Yeah. Don't give him the satisfaction of kicking up a storm about this whole situation. Plus, we're stuck here anyway, so why not?" Claire's eyes seemed to shine.
Sylar sighed, he knew he didn't have it in him to refuse her, "Fine. But I have no idea what anything is in this world! I mean, what are we? Your dad doesn't hate me! I don't even know what I do for a living!" These questions only made themselves known after he accepted Mack's ridiculous challenge.
"I don't know either…" Claire pondered for a moment before her mother stuck her head around the corner.
"Claire, you don't mind if I pour your father and I a drink do you?" She asked.
"No! Ofcourse not, go ahead!" Claire found it weird her mother would even ask. Her real one wouldn't have bothered.
Claire was just about to tell Sylar not to worry so much because, even though everything looks real, it's not, when Claire's mother exclaimed from the other room, "Oh Claire and Sylar! This is such a nice picture!"
Sylar and Claire followed Sandra's voice into the living room; she was standing in front of the unlit fireplace, a rich mahogany picture frame in her hands.
The couple came to her shoulder and looked into the picture that was apparently 'such a nice picture'. And it was. It was a very nice picture. Of a couple standing together in wedding attire, holding each other and smiling at the camera.
"Um, yeah," Claire's head still wasn't around at the moment, "That was…that was our wedding day…" The words felt unreal escaping from her mouth.
Sandra rolled her eyes at her daughter, "Well I know that! I was there, silly!" Sandra sighed and held the picture to her chest, "I still can't believe it's been three years…I remember the ceremony like it was yesterday. Your father all teary eyed as he handed you over, that beautiful dress that was a gift from Angela…" She sighed again.
Sylar and Claire stood still, mouths agape at the recount of their wedding day. Maybe playing along with this game wasn't such a good idea…What's next? They had kids? Oh god, they hoped not.
"So!" Noah Bennet called as he walked in from the kitchen, "What have you two been up to? How's work Sylar?" The man smiled.
Sylar was still partially shocked by the fact that he and Claire were fake married.
"Sylar?" Noah moved forward and clapped a hand on the younger man's back. That woke him up.
"Huh?" Sylar said intelligently.
"I asked you how work was going? You're providing for my little girl I hope." He smiled though Sylar could see it wasn't a joke.
"Uh, yes sir. Ofcourse. Work has been…slow…?" He made it sound like a question, he didn't even know what his freakin job was!
"Ah, that's alright. It'll pick up, always does." Noah said almost dismissively.
Sylar could only nod. This day was just too weird. He was still waiting for the ever-loving Noah Bennet to whip out a gun for ever getting his precious Claire-Bear into this mess in the first place. Even though it wasn't his fault, everything was.
"So, what's for dinner?" Noah asked after some silence.
"Um, well…" Claire started but couldn't think of anything to say.
"We were thinking about ordering in Chinese." Sylar suggested, "If that's OK with you." He added afterwards.
"Sounds good to me." Sandra nodded and carefully placed the frame back onto the mantelpiece.
The four had ordered from the Chinese shop around five o'clock and finished about an hour later, during which not much talking was done. Sylar and Claire, after all, had no idea what lives they were living here.
"The trip down here went well then?" Claire smiled as she asked, tired of the silence. This was her idea of following along and she was going to show Sylar just how wrong he was when he said it was a bad idea.
"The flight was excellent, darling. Though I wish you had've told us you bought first class tickets! Now that was a bit of a surprise." Sandra laughed as she spoke.
"Well, in your letter, you did say you had a bit of a surprise for us. After all, we haven't seen you since your honeymoon was over!" Noah laughed.
Sylar and Claire both laughed nervously. Yeah, honeymoon…right.
"I'm glad to hear you two finally shut up about Hawaii!" Noah laughed at his joke and Sandra hit him playfully on the arm.
"They were practically kids when they went! Claire had never even been on a plane before then!" Sandra said.
"It was…nice." Sylar said to both of them. Having no memories of the 'honeymoon'.
"Yeah, it was warm." Claire said. They were both sticking to the safe options of answers and questions.
"You're going to have to show me that photo album you put together again, Claire!" Sandra's eyes lit up.
"…Photo album?" Claire asked apprehensively.
"Another time Sandra. We're all tired. Claire why don't you show us were this guest bedroom of yours is?" Dad said and began getting off the couch.
"Oh, um, sure." She had no clue which bedroom was the guest one!
Claire was getting off the couch when Sylar grabbed her arm and leaned her down to whisper in her ear, "The master is the one at the end of the hall on the right." He said quickly and let go.
Claire gave him a confused look and he returned it with a look that said 'I'll tell you later'.
Claire got off the couch and led them upstairs, carrying two of their three suitcases. Her eyes quickly darted around for an open door, but they were all closed. She sighed, she was going to have to do this the hard way.
She approached and opened the first door on the left, "So this is the…closet." She shut the door and went to the next one, "And this is…the bathroom, for when you…need to use…the…bathroom." She finished clearing her throat and moved to a door on the other side of the wide hall, "This is the spare bedroom you'll be staying in!" She was just glad she found it before the real awkwardness started to settle in.
She walked into the white and blue themed bedroom and placed the suitcases at the foot of the bed.
"Nice decorating!" Sandra exclaimed and looked into the ensuite.
Well, guess they didn't need that bathroom, "Thank you." She said politely.
Her father walked up to her and gave her a big bear hug. "I'm happy for you Claire. Even though I was a bit," He made a silly face, "about Sylar in the beginning. I'm glad he can stay with you even after we're all gone." He finished emotionally.
So they did know about abilities in this world. Even though she couldn't imagine her father without such knowledge in any lifetime, it was comforting to know something had stayed the same.
"Thanks, Dad." She said and bid them goodnight.
She quietly shut the door and breathed in relief. Making her way back to the top of the stairs, she noticed none of the lights were on downstairs. She furrowed her brows and turned towards her and Sylar's bedroom. She walked down the hall and entered.
"Sylar?" She called when she couldn't see anyone.
"Yeah." He replied from what she presumed was a wardrobe.
"What are you doing?" She asked, walking round to him and stopping just short of entering the wardrobe.
"Looking for something to wear to bed," He said while rummaging through draws, "You probably should too."
"Yeah." She agreed. She walked around to the other side of the bed and to the wardrobe that lined the wall there. Atleast she still had her own wardrobe. She opened it and smiled at the amount of clothes, shoes and accessories in there. If Mack were here, she'd probably thank him.
She poked through her draws and came out with some pyjama bottoms and a tank top on. Sylar was still in his wardrobe, so she decided to get into bed. Her cupboard was on the left side, so she would sleep on the left side of the bed she concluded.
The sheets felt like silk against her arms and face and she snuggled into the cold pillow. It wasn't really comparable to the warmth and comfort another body brought, but it would do. It was somehow fitting, being in a cold and distant life that you hadn't lived.
Sylar came out in some sweats and a tank top. She didn't stare this time with much effort. So much effort. Before Sylar could make his way into the bed, Claire picked up a pillow from his side and threw it at his face.
"Oh, hell no. You're sleeping on the floor." She said and snuggled back into her bed.
"Don't you think we're a little past that stage?" He asked with a cocky expression.
"No." She answered simply.
He shook his head with an amused expression on his face, further proof that it wasn't really Claire the night before. He sighed as he wrenched the throw blanket she was using off her and took it with him. She protested with a "Hey!" but he just kept walking to the end of the bed. He laid out his blanket parallel to the end of the bed and got comfortable on the floor.
Claire had to use more energy to get under the doona when Sylar so rudely ripped her other one from her. Now she was back to being comfortable, she raised her right hand to play with the ring on her third finger on her left hand. She hadn't actually looked at it. She didn't know if she was too scared to, or if it wouldn't be to her taste. She just didn't know. Did Sylar have a wedding band?
After Claire had led her parents upstairs, Sylar jumped off the couch to gaze at the photo of him in a suit and Claire in an elegant wedding dress. In all truth, he didn't actually despise the idea of being married to Claire…after all, neither of them could die, it's not like he will find someone willing to accept his past, and she was special like him. She would be special without any abilities anyway. No wonder Mack was fighting for her. Well, if Mack was going to fight this hard, Sylar was going to fight harder. Mack was a lonely, manipulative son of a bitch and could get inside people's heads and screw with them. He's had first-hand experience.
"What are our last names?" Claire's voice sounded louder than she had intended in the spacious room.
"I'm not sure." Sylar answered.
"…Would it be Gray?" She asked with trepidation. She didn't want to evoke emotions in him when he thought about his former identity and self.
Sylar knew Claire was uncomfortable asking the question, but it didn't pierce as deep as he had thought, "Probably."
"Claire Gray." She said quietly to herself, just to test it out. It didn't sound too bad. She wasn't used to it, but she didn't hate it.
Something in Sylar's chest swelled when she whispered her name. Her first and his last. He didn't know if it was nervousness, shock, or pride. Probably all three.
ARGH! I didn't know where to end it! :D teehee. Hope you like my long chapter :) I wrote more than I usually would to make up for the few days I didn't update :( I feel quite bad. But I had a speech due! :D but I've finished that now so :) hopefully no more delays.
I LOVE YOU! :D heheheh x] REVIEW/SUBSRIBE/FAVOURITE! :)
