A/N: Thank you all for your continuing support. This is the last installment of volume two. Look out for volumes three and four, coming soon. Due to your feedback, we've decided to post them rapidly, several installments at a time. :) Thanks again. Don't forget to review!

-- Mel and Check

APRIL 2536

It's strange to think how many things can change in three short years, especially when your frame of reference spans about five and a half centuries. Children grow, relationships flourish, neighbors come and go… My life is no different. Since I arranged for Kale's parents to disappear, since he became another member of our little family, my life has evolved.

The relationship between Claire and I remains… intense. We argue, like any couple, and we make love… unlike any other couple. We have our disagreements, our inside jokes, and fantastic sex. It works for us, this bond we've constructed from hate. Our bridges are well and truly built now, and though I think the record for my saying it still stands at two or three times… I love her.

The children have matured quickly in such a short time. My daughter… is no longer an infant. I'm hard pressed to believe she'll ever be anything more than a child to me, especially when comparing Claire and I's vast experience to her short 15 years of life, but she is maturing. Her wheat blonde hair is still as shockingly light as ever, but her skin has bronzed out to an even tone that neither her mother nor I can claim. It becomes more painfully evident every day that she is some other pair's biological legacy. Danielle, of course, knows she was adopted, but it has never been an issue. She took it in stride when we explained it to her as a child and never brought it up again.

Kale too has grown. The childish lilt is completely gone from his voice and he's nearly as tall as I am. He shaves now too, and the pride he takes in his appearance, the carefully combed black hair and twinkling blue eyes, he definitely did not learn from me. He takes longer in the bathroom than Claire or Danielle, but it seems to pay off. Apparently being vain and approachable makes it easier to empathize with the dredges of society, which in turn makes it easier for him to acquire power. He's gotten quite the collection in the past few years, but his control is superb. I told him once before that if he used any of the powers on Danielle, I'd kill him. He seems to have taken the threat to heart. He keeps all but the most trivial powers out of our home.

The children's relationship has changed as well. They no longer find it necessary to spend every waking moment with one another. They have begun to develop individual interests and hobbies outside of each other. Claire assures me it's a positive development, citing her own love of painting and our first few, unhappy years of marriage as evidence.

Still, the adjustments in their friendship are still taking place. Hormones are beginning to rage (though for Kale it has more than begun) and they are seeing one another as not just genderless friends, but as male and female. I'm not sure how I feel about that. On the one hand, it's a transformation I've always known would come, I'm nothing if not a practical man, but it makes me uneasy. It's not exactly comforting to look up from your morning meal and find your eighteen year old ward staring wistfully at your quickly maturing fifteen year old daughter.

And that's what brings me here.

I'm working with the boy in the back yard, showing him just how much the electricity he's acquired takes to be used masterfully. Danielle's watching from her window seat on the second floor. I can hear her thoughts from here. They make me want to throttle the boy.

He looks so handsome like that. God, his muscles are huge, It looks like Daddy's really giving him a work out. I wonder if he'll want something to drink when he comes back in?

She leaves the window seat, presumably to find something cool for consumption. I have to stamp down the jealousy at the thought that my daughter is thinking of her 'friend' before her father.

"Mr. Gray, how much longer do we have to work on this?" He's sweating by the tire swing, sending volts of electricity coursing through the thick rubber.

"Until you can control yourself." I hiss, not completely in control of my temper.

Kale frowns, but continues. He looks like he's about to faint from the exertion.

"Daddy, Kale! I brought you something to drink!" Danielle's voice is clear and far too mature for my taste as it rings from the doorway into the kitchen. I motion for the boy to stop and follow me. We reach the doorway quickly. Danielle is there, loose blonde ringlets flowing down to her waist and arms bare in one of the floral sun dresses she seems to favor. I think the dresses are impractical. Thank God Claire likes a sturdy pair of jeans and a tee-shirt.

She looks so damn pretty. I wonder how soft her skin is… maybe if I just brush her casually she'll smile like last time—"

I cut off the boys intrusive thoughts with a glower and take a lemonade, forcing out a smile and a thank you for my daughter before pushing my way past them and into the kitchen. I can't bear to stand there while they flirt awkwardly and tip-toe around what I now want to kick myself for not recognizing earlier as the inevitable.

Of course they're going to end up becoming more than just friends. They're practically the only non-familial contact either has ever had. Both are physically appealing. And most importantly… neither can die. It was the main reason I decided to pursue Claire.

None of this makes me any more comfortable sitting around and watching. And it doesn't mean I didn't have a very long chat with Kale about exactly what respect for my daughter constituted.

I am no prude, I understand that sexuality is an inevitable part of human nature… but precautions and care must be taken. I won't have some little shit fucking other women behind my daughter's back. Or doing to her what I do to Claire, however much we may enjoy it. Lucky for Kale, his ideas are far more chaste than mine have ever been. I think he may actually be in love with Danielle, though he'd be loathe to admit it. She may have him wrapped around her finger tighter than she has me, but he has his pride.

I have to work to keep from noticing what's going on in the back yard as I make my way up to Claire's work room. She's painting, splatters of bright color across her cheeks and painting clothes.

"The boy is trying to engineer a kiss between himself and our daughter, downstairs," I say, scowling darkly. She's painting a harbor at midnight, it's amazing how many colors she's managed to use and make look natural in a night scene.

She laughs at my expression, putting down her brush and paints before crossing the carpet to stand in front of me, toned arms snaking around my neck as she arches up to plant a kiss on my cheek. It strikes me then how very young my dear wife looks. Danielle is taller than Claire now… they look roughly the same age physically—but there in the eyes I can see a world of difference. Literally.

"Are you really surprised? I've been expecting it since they met," she teases.

"Sure, rub it in," I say, keeping my scowl firmly in place and trying very hard not to smile.

"Well, I know more than you so infrequently…" she's enjoying my discomfort. I think it's a motherly thing, this near unconditional approval of her daughter becoming a sexual being.

"Doesn't it bother you that our daughter will very likely be… doing things with Kale in the near future?"

"If by 'things' you mean sex," she says, kissing the corner of my lips, "then no. I've already talked to her about it, I've given her contraception—"

"You what?" I gasp, eyes flashing. I can't think about this. I just can't.

"I gave her condoms. Christ, Gabriel, we do it often enough you'd think it wouldn't bother you so much."

"This is different," I grit out.

Claire only laughs, pulling herself up my body and wrapping her thighs around my hips. I feel myself grow firm against those denim jeans of hers I love so much.

"Really?" she asks before taking my mouth in a kiss.

I push all thoughts of the children from my mind and let myself get lost in her lips.

I suppose there really isn't that much of a difference…

And suddenly, from the backyard, I feel it… a tingle of sensation across my skin, the spark of emotion rushing up towards us.

The little shit has done it, and Danielle seems to be enjoying the achievement thoroughly.

It strikes me very suddenly, as Claires lips trail across my jaw line and the children pull apart, smiles and racing hearts to show for their efforts, that this is perfect. Maybe not in the traditional sense. The fates have thoroughly fucked my plans, but the taking has been so long, so sweet. My dreams of hunger have been crumbling for years; I can't even remember the last time I thought about cutting Kale open and dissecting him to look for what I've lost.

And I understand. The opportunity, the one I thought he was there to give… it was never for me. He wasn't meant for Sylar. He was for Danielle. It took Gabriel to recognize that, to stay Sylar's hand and guide the child through the waters that could have created a monster… And now, both of us recognize the irony and the sweet sense of utter right that envelops us as we embrace it.

I do not know what the future holds, not because I lack the power, but because I lack the desire. I do not know what manner of man or child this god has made, or whether this new found contentment will last… but I know it is real. I am, for better or worse, at peace. The hunger is gone, but Sylar lives. My daughter is grown, but my wife will always remain mine. It is a full life I am living…

I smile and let Claire kiss me, laughing completely and losing myself in this moment. Rare, Complete… Perfect.

END VOLUME TWO