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

A/N: Here's the other. They are winding down. My goal is to finish this before "Breaking Dawn" comes out on Aug. 2. Well…Thanks for reading and being patience.

Please leave some reviews! Please??

Chapter Twenty One: The Calm Before

PETER & CLAIRE

Peter watched her sleep. She looked so peaceful, so beautiful. If he could've he would've stopped time to watch her sleep forever. He could stop time but he'd have to start it again eventually and he'd still have to tell her the truth that he didn't want to admit. He didn't want to ruin her, what they had. But he knew her and he though he prayed she'd wake up and forget, he knew she wouldn't.

He paced the apartment. How was he supposed to tell the woman he loved that everything that had happened to them and the people they loved was their fault? All the things that happened was to keep them apart?

Peter sighed and started on breakfast. He just had to say it. There was no way around it. She needed to know.

SYLAR & ELLE

"I'll see you again," Sylar said. Elle shrugged her shoulders.

"I'm not sure. I don't know what's going to happen."

"It wasn't a question. I will see you again," he kissed her softly. She didn't fight him or try to make him stop, which made him kiss her again. Then it was over. She jerked away.

"Ready?"

He nodded and he walked out the door, away from Elle, away from freedom and toward the enemy.

PETER & CLAIRE

Claire stirred in the bed. Peter sat in the corner of the room, eying her over his coffee. She smiled when she saw him.

"Morning," she said. "You're up early."

Peter smiled. "I had something very important to do."

"What's that?"

"Watch you sleep," he said. She laughed. He put down his coffee. "I'm serious."

"I know," she said.

He moved his finger and called her over to him. She shook her head and covered her mouth. He read her mind, smelly breath but he ignored her and was at the bed in seconds. "I don't care." He kissed her softly and looked at her.

"What?"

"You should brush your teeth. You can't kiss someone with that breath," he grinned a lopsided smile at her. She smacked him playfully on the shoulder. "I'm kidding. I love you and your smelly morning breath."

She laughed and then lost herself. He could see it in her eyes. Her mind was somewhere else. He knew where. He didn't have to ask. He kissed her but she pulled away.

"I need you to tell me Peter." She said it calmly, but he could feel the build up of tension inside her.

"I dreamt about it," she whispered. "About what Isaac painted. There was a war, people dying around me and I just stood there. Everyone died in front of me. But you and me and Hiro. But it was weird Peter, like I wasn't there. I was there but I was like a ghost just watching it happen. My family, my friends falling around me to the ground. Then I couldn't breathe…I was holding something and I had to let go, give it to you. I didn't want to but I did. Then it was over. It was black. I think…I think I died."

Peter stroked her hair. "Is that what happens Peter? What aren't you telling me?"

He sighed. "A lot. I couldn't—I didn't want to tell you. I don't know how."

"Because you wanted to protect me. Stop trying that. Just tell me the truth. All of it Peter."

He nodded. "Okay, if that's what you want."

Claire straightened and leaned against the headboard, waiting. Peter looked around the room before sighing heavily.

"When Hiro came for me before, he told me he had gone to the future. I sent him here to tell me, us, that we needed to stop the war, keep everyone from dying. What he saw there was surprising. Claire, we had a daughter."

Claire's eyes grew at his statement. "That's Callie?" she whispered. He raised an eyebrow. "You muttered her name the other night. I wasn't sure what it meant."

He nodded. "We had her after. Hiro said she was cute. She's the reason—part of it—that I went with him, part of why it has to change."

"Why?"

Peter inhaled. "You were dead. After the war, after her birth. Someone from the Company killed you." Claire nodded silently. Peter reached out for her hand and continued. "It was Angela. At least, Hiro said I thought it was. It was supposedly an accident. I don't know the details."

"I don't want to know."

Peter paused before continuing. "My meeting last night was eye-opening. I learned the motivation of the company." She locked eyes with him. He kissed the hand he held in his. "It's us."

SYLAR

"Where are we going now?" Sylar asked lightly as they walked down a hallway.

"To meet the boss. Just got back into town today, so your timing is perfect," the man's expression didn't change.

He walked into a large office. The man did not enter with him but closed the door after Sylar entered. Sylar stood in the dark office.

"Take a seat," a woman's voice proclaimed in the darkness. Sylar did so and the woman turned around.

"Mr. Grey, it's good to finally meet you. I'm Angela Petrelli."

Sylar nodded silently.

"The pleasure is mine, Mrs. Petrelli."

She moved from behind her desk and sat on the edge of it in front of his face. "Tell me, why are you, of all people, sitting in my office?"

"We have a common interest," Sylar said. Angela lifted her chin in response. "Peter."

Angela shifted at the sound of his name. "You killed my son last year."

Sylar shook his head. "No. He is very much alive. I know for a fact that he is in this city as we speak."

Angela got quiet and contemplated this answer. "Are you aware that you are in a deadly zone, Mr. Grey? You are intriguing, someone we've wanted to catch for years. Tell me why I should trust anything you say, why I shouldn't just take you captive and get he answers I want."

Sylar smiled. "I've wondered that myself. I've thought and thought and I've decided that as much as your company wants me, there is one thing they want more. At first I didn't see it but now it makes sense—to me at least. I could be wrong, but I don't think I am. And I'm in agreement in that desire."

"If you are wrong?"

"Then I'm in your domain, aren't I?"

Angela and Sylar stared at each other in silence. "Fine. I'll hear you."

Sylar inhaled. "Peter and Claire."

"What about them?"

"I said I know for a fact that he is in this city. And I do. It's no lie that there are two powers that I've wanted and never been able to obtain. Claire's invincibility. So, since my return I've been tracking her, waiting for the best time. That's when I saw him."

"Peter."

"Yes. Naturally, I was intrigued. The things he did with her—well, last time I checked nieces and uncles didn't do."

Angela shifted uncomfortably. "They are not related."

Sylar raised an eyebrow. "So I discovered. A mistake, I believe they called it. He's in my way. I have no hesitation to take them both out. I have a feeling that this mistake was purposeful. A ploy, to keep them apart. A ploy by your company."

"That's why you're here," Angela said. She paused. "Are you saying you want to help us keep them apart?"

"Yes," Sylar said. "That's what I'm saying. My question is only, how far is your company willing to go to do that?"

Angela moved back to her seat. "We're willing to—at this moment—keep them apart. It's been an issue since her birth. All of our attempts have failed, except for the newest plan."

"If it fails?"

Angela looked at him. "Then you'll be in luck." Sylar nodded. "We could enlist your help for the newest plan." She bit her bottom lip. "Yes, let's go meet your partner."

"Partner?"

She nodded. "Welcome to the company."

PETER & CLAIRE

"What do you mean it's us?"Claire asked calmly.

"Everything that's happened…Elle said they wanted to keep us apart," Peter whispered.

Claire's eyes jumped to him. "What's everything?"

Peter sighed. "Nathan's wreck, the bomb, my disappearance and memory loss, Adam, the virus, Nathan's shooting, the attacks…"

"My paternity. Everything's because of us? My family, yours, our friends. They've all suffered because of us?" Claire jerked her hand from Peter's. "Why? Why would they want to keep us apart?"

"I don't know all the details. I do know that they fear we're too powerful together. If Callie ever came into existence…"

"She'd be powerful. That scares them? A child that may or may not exist?" Peter nodded. "That's insane. They've been torturing everyone because of me."

"What? No. It's not just you, it's me too."

"No it's not. It's me. If I had never come here…if I had controlled my feelings for you when you were my uncle then…nothing would be this screwed up. Nathan wouldn't hate us, no one would be hurt, no one would be dead. It's me."

Peter bolted toward her and pulled her in his arms. "No. No it's not something we could help. We loved each other. This isn't your fault. It's just the evil that they produce, Claire. That's all."

Claire sobbed in Peter's arms.

MATT, HARPER & MOLLY



Matt was falling asleep in the living room. Molly had come across the hall to his apartment to visit Harper. She'd taken to him well.

"Matt!" Molly yelled. He opened his eyes in the recliner and followed her voice to the bedroom.

"What's wrong?"

"Something weird just happened," Molly said. She pointed to the television.

Matt looked at the television. "Yeah, you're letting him watch Diego."

"I didn't," she said. "We were watching something else and he pointed to the TV. Then it came on this show."

"Really? Maybe you sat on the remote."

She pointed to the top of the TV. The remote sat there.

"He asked me Matt. I said no. Then a second later it was on."

Matt looked from Molly to Harper. "I don't know Molls. I don't know what could've happened. Maybe it's a glitch."

She shrugged and raised a skeptical eyebrow.

PETER & CLAIRE

An hour later and Claire had stopped crying. No, it wasn't crying. It was weeping. She lay in Peter's arms on the couch. He couldn't say anything to her crying because he didn't know what to say. There couldn't be any tears left in her. He hated when she cried.

When she stirred in his arms, he was careful to breath. But she woke up with a smile.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"Yeah," she whispered. "I'm going to jump in the shower." She kissed his cheek and moved from his sight.

NATHAN & HEIDI

Nathan and Heidi sat, curled up on the couch.

"Well, there are two options I can figure."

"What?"

"Do you want me to tell what you want to hear or the truth that you need to hear but don't want to?"

Nathan laughed slightly. "I'm guessing you prefer the second."

"You know Claire and Peter, Nathan. You know they wouldn't hurt you intentionally. Frankly, I can't believe it surprised you as much as it has. It's been there since I met the two of them. You can't control who you fall in love with." Heidi said calmly, stroking her husband's hair.

"It's not going to be an easy adjustment. Not for the boys, not for me, or ma..."

"Or the state of New York?"

He eyed Heidi. "Don't."

"Nathan, I'm just pointing it out," Heidi smiled. "Our family can handle it. I spent an hour with them last night and it was the most natural thing, like they were destined. You and the boys will adjust, your mother will get over it and the state of New York has more problems than who your brother is dating."

Nathan laughed. "I still think of her as my daughter."

"I know. But she's not."

"He said he wanted to marry her one day. God, Claire as my sister-in-law. That's messed up Heidi."

"It's not. It's just adjustment. They want to be together, Nathan. I think that they deserve your blessing."

Nathan sighed. "I know. I just don't want to let go. This makes it real, means it true and she's not really my daughter. She's just Peter's girlfriend. It makes me wonder if my child is still out there and I just don't know it."

KYLEE RYDER

JFK

"Where to?" the taxi driver asked.

"Brooklyn," she said.

"I don't go to Brooklyn."

"Then take me as close as you can."

"Lady, I need a destination." The driver yelled in his accent.

Kylee sighed. "NYPD."

The driver muttered something she couldn't understand and pulled away from the airport.

Kylee pulled out a sheet of paper from her purse. Matt Parkman. She silently prayed that he was at his office.

PETER & CLAIRE

When Claire came into the room, she was wearing her jacket.

"Where are you going?" Peter asked, losing his smile.

"A walk. I need to get out," she said.

"I'll come with you."

"No, I want to be alone. I need to think," Claire said calmly. He knew she was hiding something.

"What's going on?"

She barely paused. "Peter, I don't think this is going to work."

"What?"

Claire sighed and put down her purse. "Everyone is hurting because of us. It's not fair. I think that I shouldn't live here anymore."

Peter's mouth fell. "Claire."

"I've made up my mind. Don't try to tell me differently. I just need to think and figure out what to do with all this."

"I'm not letting you leave. I can't protect you if you're not here." Peter said.

"That whole "save the cheerleader" thing was a one-time deal. It's not something you have to keep doing over and over again. I'm an adult now Peter. I can make my own decisions." Claire said.

"Really? Can you?" Peter said. He moved closer to her. "That's not what you're doing now. You're making this decision because you're scared. You can't give them the power."

"I don't know that I can look at you and be with you and not think about all the pain that our relationship has caused everyone else. And I can't not look at you Peter," she said.

He pulled her to him as the tears started to flow again. "There's got to be something else. Please don't leave Claire." He whispered.

"I don't want to. What else can we do?" she asked.

Peter sighed. "Just stay. Just be with me. We'll figure it out." He kissed her.

"Peter…how can it be okay?"

"It has to be. We'll stop it. We'll change the future. It's not written in stone, Claire." He said. She let him kiss her again. "Stay?"

She nodded slightly. "For now."

"That's all I ask," Peter said.