Chapter 24 Presence

Odessa, Texas

One month before Pete and Peter's birthdays…

Claire opened her eyes with this thought on the next morning. She felt his hand above her waist and his head resting above hers on the same pillow. Claire closed her eyes again and just sighed deeply. It felt good to wake up every morning like that. She had brought Pete back on his crib early in this morning. He needed his morning feeding and Claire had fed him and put him back to sleep. Then she brought back to Peter and snuggled in him, falling asleep again.

She lay motionless, just enjoying on his presence beside her. Couple of months ago, that would be only a dream, but now… She could feel his body behind her… She could feel his hand resting on her waist and his breath in her hair. That was Peter and they did not have to hide anymore.

His breathing changed and Claire felt him awakened. Peter did not move… He just lay quiet as she was before. Claire was sure that he knew that she was awake. They both just wanted to feel the presence of the other.

'Good morning…' she heard his whisper and turned around with face at him.

'Good morning…' Claire answered and ran fingers through his hair. 'How did you sleep?'

'Good…'

It was good, Claire could tell that too. His nightmares were gone last night and he had slept peacefully in her arms.

'Like to hear that…' she said quietly.

'Where is Pete?' he asked.

'Pete is on his own bed and I am with his father.'

'I know where you are…' Peter said and pulled her closer. He thought about all these months when he did not know anything about her. He just had dreamed about her, but nothing more. It was heavy months and they had marked his body and his soul. Peter flinched and Claire felt that.

'What now? Bad memory?' she asked carefully, without moving of her place.

'They are many, but I don't want to talk about them now!' Peter said bitterly.

'When you feel that it's time, would you tell me?' her voice was soft. She did not want to push him.

'I'll tell you! Now I only need this!' Peter said and hugged her even closely.

'Be careful… Your wound…'

'Is healing good and I even got up today. Pete was trying to walk and…'

'Wait! He was trying…' Claire pulled back and looked at him. 'Are you serious?'

'I am! He was grabbing the edge of the bed but loose balance and fell on the floor…' Peter tried to explain. 'I helped him to get up again, but he was afraid, so…' he shrugged.

'It happens for the first time!' Claire's eyes widened.

'Really?'

Claire nodded.

'Maybe we can help him today…' Peter said with strange expression in his eyes.

'Maybe…' Claire answered and thought about her conversation with Angela. Her face faded and Peter noticed that.

'What now? You are sad?'

'How can you do this?' she looked at his eyes.

'Do what?' He had confused look on his face.

'You can tell when I'm sad or happy just by one look!'

'I love you! I can do that every time…' Peter rubbed her back calmingly. 'Now, tell me, what's wrong?'

Claire hesitated just one second.

'Your mother called me yesterday…' she said, watching him carefully. His face darkened and she felt sorry almost immediately. 'I thought that I could tell you this, but now…'

'No, it's okay… Go on!' Peter said huskily and she studied his face.

'She asked me about Pete… She wants to meet him…'

'What was your answer?'

'I said no! I am sorry, Peter! I know that she is your mother no matter what, but she hurt me! She hurt me and I almost lost Pete, because of her and your brother…' Claire said apologizing. She did not give a damn about Angela. Peter was the important for her now. What he thought, also.

'You don't have to be sorry. I know what is like to hate my mother…' Peter smiled bitterly. 'I already did that… numerous of times. The result is the same – nothing good!'

'You forgive her every time… It is normal… She is your mother. However, I cannot do that! I'm sorry, but I can't!'

'I told you not to feel sorry, Claire! You are a mother too! You know what it is to protect your son!'

'I know! I have to tell you about the day Pete was born…' Claire said with sadness in her voice.

'I want to know before that…' Peter said huskily. 'What was like…' he put his palm on her stomach and both looked there. 'What was the feeling to felt him inside of you? I missed that…'

'Oh Peter…' Claire covered his hand with hers.

'Tell me! I want to know…' he insisted.

Odessa, Texas, 17 months earlier

Claire just got back from her new job. She felt exhausted, but she felt in that way almost four months already. She knew why and she was happy about that. Nevertheless, the taste in her mouth was bitter… She could not feel completely happy without one man beside her. However, Claire hid that. She was so good in hiding and acting that sometimes, she thought that she could be an actress.

It was late at night and she got in the bed. Her whole body ached and she knew that she had to take it easy, but she needed that job. She knew that soon there would be someone new in her life. Claire turned at one side and wrapped hands over her stomach. Soon…

She woke up four hours later and her pillow was wet as usual. She dreamed him… She had dreamed him repeatedly these months. He just refused to walk away. It was as he had sealed in her heart and could not been removed.

Claire sobbed once again and slipped hand over her wet face. She missed him so much. She needed him so much, especially now… Then she felt it. Some strange movement down in her stomach... She sat on the bed and touched that place. She felt it again. Suddenly, Claire understood.

'Hi, my baby…' she said in the quiet room. 'Now we are two…'

And the tears started rolling again… They supposed to be three…

Odessa, Texas

Peter looked at her face and felt sadness. Her life was not easy. Part of that was his fault. If it was not entirely his. He had left her. He thought that he was doing the right thing, but Claire was right. Nobody had talked with her then. Nobody had asked her what she was not.

'Peter?' her quiet voice pulled him out of his thoughts. He smiled, but they both knew that this smile was not real and it had meant only for comfort her. 'You don't have to feel bad! Not because of me anyway! I'm fine!'

'You weren't then…' He said with haggard voice. 'If I only knew…'

'If you knew… What that could change? What you could've done?'

Peter smiled bitterly.

'I couldn't do anything then… Then I was a mess! Full mess and you don't even want to know how much!'

'Was it that bad?' she felt his pain and just wanted to help him, but Peter pulled back in his shell. He wanted to protect her from his previous life. He did not want her to know.

'It was… suffering every day…' He said undefined. 'There were moments that I felt like I was suffocating…'

'I know that… I felt it…' Claire said quietly.

'I was like that the whole time…' He made short pause. 'And I accepted these moments willingly…'

'Why?'

'Because… The pain was the only thing keeping my thoughts away from you!' he said and looked her straight in the eyes. Peter was honest and Claire could feel it that too. She slipped fingers over his face and buried them in his hair. 'Claire…' His voice was a whisper now. He knew what was about to happen, but he did not pull back. Just waiting…

Claire moved closer and her lips touched his. Her tongue skimmed over his half-opened mouth and found his. He deepened the kiss and pulled her closer. She felt his hands slipped over her thin waist and pulling her closer.

'I missed that…' He whispered close to her lips. 'I missed you then…'

'I missed you too…' Claire smooth some bangs and touched his face again. 'But we both are here now…'

'We both are…'

That was the first morning Peter came down for breakfast since from the shooting. He looked good and felt little better emotionally. He and Claire had talked a lot this morning and agreed for some things. They agreed that there was a time for their life as a family. That was the easy part. The hard part was to do that.

'Look who is finally up…' Sandra said and smiled at Peter. 'Nice to see you down here…'

'Um… Thanks!' Peter smiled insecure and took his place beside Claire.

'How are you feeling?' Noah asked politely and Claire was surprised of his tone.

'I'm feeling good…' Peter said and took a sip from his juice.

'He is better.' Claire said and looked at him.

'Any plans for today?' Noah asked.

'I thought…' Peter coughed. 'I thought about looking for a job.'

'You didn't tell me…' Claire frowned.

'I was just a thought and I think that it's time for this.' He said carefully and flipped out his bangs.

'Nice thought…' Noah sipped from his coffee. 'Any ideas?'

'There were not many things, I am capable of, but… ' Peter shrugged. 'I thought I check in the Paramedic Service.'

'You want help?' Noah's question was surprise even for him.

'No!' Peter shook his head. 'I prefer to do that by myself.'

'I'll drive you to there.' Claire said.

'Okay…' Peter agreed.

'Maybe we could take Pete with us?' she looked at him quizzically. 'Some fresh air it would be good for him…'

Peter nodded again with shy smile.

'So we'll go after breakfast!' Claire said and saw that someone was missing. 'Where is Lyle?'

'He went again this morning!' Sandra said.

'Oh! Right! The State Competition! I forget about it!' Claire saw Peter's confusing look. 'He is a quarterback!'

'Um… I get it!' He nodded and sliced his meal.

Peter liked Claire's family. He liked them, because he always had wanted to have one like this. However, Petrelli family was anything but Bennet. They were colder and full with secrets. Arthur and Angela were parents, but not in the traditional meaning in this word. They never had showed affection to their children. Not to Peter anyway… The closest person to him when he was a child was his nanny, but she was fired when Arthur had understood that Peter loved her more that his parents. He had not allowed on that, his father had told him. Peter was obligate to put his family in the first place always. He was obligate…

'Peter?' he felt Claire's hand on his shoulder and tried to smile.

'I'm fine… just thinking…' he answered.

'Okay!' she said and moved closer to him. 'If you are ready…'

'I am!' He said and dragged his chair back. 'We can go, when you are ready…'

'I'll go and prepare Pete…' Claire said and stood up too.

'Peter!' Noah called him and Peter turned around. 'Don't forget about…'

'I never forget!' Peter said and nodded at Claire's father.

Noah and Sandra looked after them as they disappeared through the stairs.

'I thought he need more time…' Noah said pensively.

'He obviously gets better!' Sandra shrugged. 'Hope he gets lucky for that job too!'

Noah looked at his wife pensively.

'I hope Nathan won't find out about him! Peter maybe is better than before, but I don't think that he is better enough to meet his older brother…'

'You think that he would make a problem?' Sandra asked concerned.

'That sneaky bastard already gets what he wanted! He is on the Senate now! But you never know…' Noah shrugged.

New York

'My lips hurt!' Heidi hissed and dropped on the bed. 'Why I have to smile all the time?'

'Because, you supposed to look happy about your husband!' Nathan loosened his tie and threw it on the chair.

'My… cheating husband!' she snapped once again and got off the bed.

'Be careful with your words!' Nathan shot her one look and dressed off his jacket.

'Why?' Heidi switched on the lights in the bathroom. 'What worse you could do to me than this?'

'You are complaining of your life now?' Nathan unbuttoned his white shirt and looked in the mirror. He frowned at his reflection. He looked tired and he always had to look good.

'I am not complaining of my life now…' Heidi said and took off her jewelry. 'I'm complaining of the men beside of me!'

'That is enough!' Nathan snapped and turned around to look at her. 'You agreed!'

'I agreed and now I'm feeling like I'm living with the devil!' She said bitterly.

'Everybody has to pay his bill!' Nathan answered icily. 'Look at my brother for example… He made a mistake and now he is God knows where and…'

'Oh yes! Peter!' Heidi dragged the last word. 'I think that he is your pain right now!'

'Pain? Why?'

'Because…' Heidi came close to him. 'You can't control him now! You don't know even where he is! You can't touch him and that is driving you mad!'

'Stop it!' Nathan grabbed her wrists. He breathed heavily.

'Or what? You are going to hit me like you did with Claire?' Heidi challenged him.

'How could you know about…?'

'I know! That is enough! I know more about you than you think!' Heidi looked him straight in the eyes. 'But you are right! Everybody has to pay for his mistakes! I'm paying mine now!'

Odessa, Texas

Claire waited for him outside of the Paramedic Service. She held Pete in her arms and they both waited for Peter. Claire hoped for him to have luck this time. He needed this job. He needed it to feel useful.

'Dada!' Pete shifted in her hands in the moment they saw Peter walking out of the Service. The sun could not allow her to see his face, so she had to wait until he got close. 'Dada!' Pete repeated and reached arms for Peter.

'Well…' Claire asked with unsure voice.

'I'm starting next week!' He said and finally she saw his face. Here wasn't any smile, but Claire could see the relief in his eyes.

'That is… I'm so glad for you!' she tried to hug him over Pete.

'Dada!' Pete squealed joyfully.

'I think he is happy too!' Peter said and smiled nervously.

'We both are!' Claire said and kissed him without thinking. That was their first kiss in public. It felt good and… so normal. 'Come on! Let's go!'

'Yeah…' Peter said and thought that all of this was like a dream. He took deep breath. It felt like rebirth. His new life with Claire finally started.

They stopped first at Claire's job and Peter walked in with mixed feelings. He remembered his first time here. His meeting with Ando at the night of the Homecoming. That was where he had met Claire and saved her for the first time. That was where he had fallen in love with her.

'So that is Peter…' he heard one girlish voice and turned around to look Claire's colleague. He frowned.

'I'm Peter. Have we met?'

'Barb!' Claire called her and the girl turned around. Claire had frowned too. 'Sorry, Peter!'

'No, we haven't met!' Barb said and turned back at Peter. 'Claire kept you all by herself! I'm Barb.'

'Nice to meet you!' Peter nodded and licked his lips. 'Are you ready? He is…'

'I'm ready!' Claire said and they both walked out of the diner. Barb followed them with one look and saw them got in the car. Then she saw the backseat and the boy there.

'My! My, Claire! You have so much to hide!' Barb shook her head and brought back to her work.

New York

Angela had woken up by the sound of her cell. She opened her eyes and reached hand for it.

'Hello!' she snapped.

'I think we have news for your son!' the voice of her detective awakened her completely.

'I'm listening!'

'We sent you the info on your e-mail. Should we proceed?

Angela bit her lip for one moment.

'Proceed!'