Chapter 26 Little boy in the snow

The week in Paris was the most magical week in Claire's life. She did not want to go back, but she knew that they had to do it eventually. When that day came, she looked sad. Peter promised her that they would come back here when they wanted, but Claire knew that it was not going to be the same.

Mel was exactly the opposite. She had talked with Sean and they were on new terms now. They were a couple. Mel was happy about it and Sean had realized how he had missed her.

However, they life should go on. Therefore, Peter and Claire continued their little and dangerous game of cat and mouse. They still spent most of their evenings together. The only exceptional were when Peter was at his trips. They were a lot after the New Year. He had busy at works and came back home exhausted. He barely touched his food. Claire looked at him with worry eyes every time he got off his chair and went into his bedroom. Usually, she followed him few minutes later, found him lying on his stomach, and burring head under his pillow. Claire locked the door and crawled on the bed close to him. Her hands grabbed his shoulders and squeezed them repeatedly until she did not feel him completely relaxed under her hands.

There were times when he was not that tired and they just talked. Claire had snuggled in him. Her head was lying on his collarbone and she played with his fingers. She loved these evenings. Peter told her about his work and she just listened to him. She felt that he just needed to talk with somebody and that somebody was her.

'I saved one little boy today.' Peter said one evening. Claire smiled on his shoulder and looked up at him.

'Really?'

'Yeah.' Peter said with smile, but then his eyes darkened. 'His mother left him alone in the playground and just disappeared. The poor kid was frozen when they brought him into the hospital.'

'She left him?'

'I was angry at first.' Peter said. 'You should've seen him. He is so cute little baby. I think that he has two years, but not more.'

'He is a baby.' Claire exclaimed.

'He is a baby and I can tell you by his clothes that his mother is not poor!' Peter frowned. 'What a bitch would've done that?'

'We don't know who she is or why she left him there, Peter.' Claire rubbed his chest calmingly.

'He almost died in my hands, Claire.' Peter hissed. 'If she had to leave him, why she didn't do that in some hospital? It's easy. Why she left him to die in the snow?'

'Maybe she couldn't keep him.' Claire said and saw his eyes narrowed. 'Maybe she was desperate.'

'Desperate?' Peter hissed again. 'Desperate to the point to left her own child to die?'

'Maybe it wasn't her. Maybe someone else put him there.'

'Nope!' Peter snapped. 'Some people had seen young woman sitting on the same bench were the boy had found.'

'Okay.' Claire reached and caressed his face. 'But you saved him, right? He is okay now.'

'He is okay and he is awake.' Suddenly, Peter smiled. 'You should've seen him. He is so cute when he smiles.'

'You're going to be a wonderful father.' Claire could not stop these words and suddenly, the room went quiet. She coughed nervously and tried again. 'So, what are you going to do tomorrow?'

'I have a conference.' He said and saw his face faded immediately. 'It'll be in New York this time.'

'Oh.' Claire lay back on his collarbone. 'So you aren't going anywhere?'

'Nope.' Peter shifted and hovered over her. 'I won't go anywhere. You look sad?'

'I've missed you.' Claire shrugged and placed hands on the both sides of his face. 'It's been a lonely month.'

'Lonely month?' peter frowned. 'I thought that Mel makes you company while I'm gone.'

'Yeah. Mel and I do some things together, but… She is with Sean most of the time. They have a lot to catch up.'

'You really look… lonely.' Peter frowned. 'I thought I told you that you have to live your life as a girl at your age.'

'Girl at my age?' Claire rose up her eyebrows.

'Yeah. Young girl.' Peter said and Claire pushed him back. He lay at his side of the bed and say her angry face. 'What now?'

'I thought I told you that I have a life!'

'You have a life, but you don't have friends, Claire!' Peter frowned.

'Like you have, right?' She frowned and sat on the bed.

'This is different!' Peter frowned too.

'No, it's not!' She snapped. 'Tell me, why don't you have friends?'

'I've never have, Claire!'

'Why?' She insisted. 'I know about your love to loneliness, but why?'

'People could hurt you really bad if you let them close.' He answered huskily and avoided her eyes. 'I'm very careful about that.'

'Someone hurt you?' Her anger passed quickly. 'Who did this?'

'I don't want to talk about that.' Peter snapped and Claire touched his arm.

'It's okay.' She searched his eyes. 'You can tell me whatever you want.'

'Thank you.' Claire heard his weak voice and wished to hug him, but he was quicker. His arms wrapped around her body and pulled her closer. 'Thank you for being here.'

'I love you.' Claire slipped hands around his waist and rested head on his chest. 'I love you and it's okay.'

They did not talk much about this. The rest of the night, they spent in talks and then Claire was falling asleep in his arms. Peter was lying awake until he saw the daylight peering through the window. He kissed Claire for one last time and teleported back into his room. He took a shower and then stared at the mirror. He looked tired. It was not from the sleepless nights, but from the feelings he should not have to feel.

He thought that his love towards Claire eventually would pass and both of them would continue their lives normally. He thought that Claire would not like this hiding and the things would end up quickly. However, the things only got deeper between them. They both could feel the connection growing between them. Claire was the only person, who could make him feel better. She was the only one, who could make him feel love. She made him whole and that was frightening. He would never think that someday things would end up like this. Peter was too dependable on her and he needed some boundaries. At least that was what he thought at first. However, when he saw her coming down for breakfast, all pale and looking bad, his mind changed completely.

'Claire!' He jumped off his chair and rushed to her. 'What's wrong beautiful?'

She did not talk. Her hands wrapped around his waist and she cried on his chest. His heart pounded and Peter realized that his love for her was too strong. There were no ways back. There were no boundaries. Good for them was that they were still alone.

'Hug me, please!' Claire sobbed on his chest and Peter wrapped arms around her small body.

'What's wrong, beautiful?' He asked and rubbed her back. 'Nightmare?'

'I dreamt some kid's cry.' Claire uttered. 'It was crying and I couldn't find him.'

'Him?'

'I think it was a boy, but it was so real. I could not find him, Peter! He was screaming for help and I couldn't help him!'

'Oh Claire.' Peter sighed and his lips touched the top of her head. 'I'm sorry. This is my fault. I shouldn't have to tell you about that boy. I didn't know that you could…'

'I just got scared, that's all.' Claire finally calmed and pulled back to look at him. 'I'm okay now.'

'Are you sure?' Peter studied her face, but she smiled.

'I am.'

'Okay then.' He smiled too and stroked her hair.

It was a busy day for Claire. As a captain, she had to think about new moves for their cheerleading dance. It was huge responsibility and she had to find the exact girls for that. On the top of this, Brody had started to tease her again. Claire did not notice him at first, but when he shoved her at the ladies locker room, she was sure.

'What are you doing?' Claire asked with annoyance and tried to release her wrist from his grip.

'I've missed you Claire.' He pushed her against the near wall and did not let her go.

'You are a pig, Brody! One giant greasy pig!' She spat on his face.

'Oh, now I like you even more!' Brody laughed ominously. 'I thought we could have some fun together.'

'Fun together? Are you crazy?'

'I think he is!' Peter's voice, coming from the door surprised the both of them.

'Oh you are the uncle.' Brody said and released his grip around Claire's wrist. It was enough for her to shove beside him and went straight to Peter. He pushed her behind his body. Claire could see his fists and swallowed hard.

'I'm your death wish!' Peter snarled and Claire winced from his voice. She could not recognize him. It was so deep and full of hate.

'Peter, let's go.' She tried to reach him, but without success this time.

'No.' Peter just said. 'I think that he has to learn one important lesson here.'

'Really?' Brody tilted his head, without even knowing what to expect. 'And what is that lesson might be?'

'Don't touch her, ever again!' Peter narrowed his eyes. The hazel in them was almost black now.

'Who are you?' Brody clenched his fists too. 'Her boyfriend?'

'I'm something that you'll never forget!'

'Peter, no!' Claire screamed in the moment, Peter slammed Brody against the wall telekinetically. The impact was so strong that he fell on the ground like a puppet. Claire saw two balls with electricity glowed in Peter's hands and grabbed his arms. 'Peter, enough!' Her panicking voice finally reached him. The electricity in his hands disappeared and he turned around to look at her. 'What are you doing?'

'Protecting you.' The answer was simple and she saw his eyes studied her face and slipped down on her body.

'I'm fine, but was that necessary?' She rolled eyes towards motionless Brody.

'It was.' Peter shrugged and stroked her hair. 'I doubt that he'll try to touch you again.'

'I don't know.' Claire looked up at Peter. 'He looks pretty bad right now.'

'Is there cameras here?' He asked huskily and Claire shook her head.

'Nope.' Her hands wrapped around his neck. 'It's ladies locker room, so I doubt.'

'Mhm…' Was his only answer than his lips attacked hers and Claire pulled him closer. 'My room… tonight…' He whispered after the kiss and disappeared before her eyes. Claire touched her lips with trembling hands, staring at the empty space.

'You really have to be more careful!' Mel's voice made her twirled around. She saw her standing by the door with arms, crossed before her chest. 'What if it was someone else?'

'Don't scare me like that!' Claire frowned and watched how her friend walked into the room. She saw Brody, lying on the ground, helpless and then looked back at Claire.

'What happened here?'

'He tried to rape me, again!' Claire frowned. 'Peter came and protected me!'

'Protected you or broke him?' Mel rose up her eyebrows.

'I think both.' Claire shrugged and came closer to Brody. 'I doubt that he's going to do something to me again.'

'Oh yeah.' Mel frowned again. 'It's gonna be interesting what he's going to say after he wakes up.'

'Oh crap!' Claire cursed.

'Exactly!' Mel nodded. 'I'm suggesting you to think about something.'

'I have to talk about with Peter.' Claire rubbed her forehead. 'Maybe he'd think about something.'

'That's a good idea.' Mel nodded and then looked around. 'Now I'm going to call for help and I want you out of here!'

'But… why?' Claire looked confused.

'It's better in this way, trust me!' Mel nodded at her friend. 'Go!'

Claire hesitated one moment more, but then ran out of the locker room. Mel waited until she did not hear the bell, announcing the end of the classes. Then she screamed for help.