Wind whipped past the sleek, stolen car as Sylar and Leigha crossed the NYC boundary. Sylar drove, his knuckles white as he clutched the black leather of the steering wheel; Leigha sat quietly beside him, staring out at the landscape as it rushed by them. They hadn't spoken very much since leaving California – Sylar was simply trying to control the uncontrollable emotions raging within him, and Leigha couldn't stop thinking about the surprise that awaited him. The buildings stretched taller above them, and Leigha turned her head toward him a bit.
"Do you know where you're going?" She tried desperately to keep the condescension out of her voice.
His eyes burned a path ahead. "I could never forget," Sylar responded shortly.
* * * * * *
Shadow groaned, shifting her ever-increasing weight to her other foot. She stared around her apartment with mixed emotions; it was practically empty, her life's possessions packed into boxes and ready to be moved. This place had been her home for the past two years, all she knew of living in New York. Now she was starting anew – new apartment, new life, new baby.
She heard soft footsteps come up behind her. "You look thoughtful," Peter commented as he laid a hand on her shoulder.
Shadow sighed. "I can't believe I'm actually moving on with my life, you know? Before any of this, before I found Sylar, I just lived day to day, trying to forget, trying not to cause any accidents or kill anybody." She smiled gently. "But I'm going to be a mother in like, a month. That's incredibly surreal to me. I have something to live for, instead of not caring whether or not I make it to tomorrow."
"I think that's a healthy place to be, Shadow," Peter said softly.
"Yeah?" she looked up at him with hopeful eyes.
"Yeah," he grinned. His smile faded a little. "Do you ever think about him?"
Shadow shrugged. "Of course I do. Every single day." She wrapped her arms around her protruding stomach protectively. "How can I not? But I think . . . I mean, I've accepted the fact that I'm going to be a single mother. My baby will be loved, no matter what."
Peter offered her a soft smile. "I don't really think you can say you're a single mother when you've got at least two other people perfectly willing to help raise this baby with you."
"Ah, yes. At least I'll never be alone."
"Of course not," Peter said. "Never again, Shadow."
Shadow's eyes started watering. She swore under her breath. "Damn hormones." She glared up at Peter. "See what you made me do?"
He backed away, playfully holding up his hands in surrender. "My bad, Shadow," he grinned, glancing at his watch. "Moving van should be here soon."
She nodded and jerked her head toward the hallway. "I'll just be a minute," she said as she headed toward the bathroom.
Peter looked around the apartment and sighed. It was good that Shadow was moving on with her life. Getting out of this apartment was a promising first step. He smiled slightly and moved toward a pile of boxes marked 'dishes.'
An insistent knocking at the door stopped him before he had even picked up the first box. He checked his watch; the movers were a little early, but that was all right. The sooner, the better, Peter thought as he went to let them in.
The stream of expletives that fell from Peter's tongue when he opened the door were perfectly justified, because whoever he had expected to see, it certainly hadn't been Sylar, fist raised and ready to break down the door.
It was hard to say who was more surprised to see the other. Almost instantly, though, both of their expressions shifted from surprise and shock to fury.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Peter demanded through clenched teeth.
"I could ask the same of you," Sylar hissed back, his hands balled into fists at his sides.
Peter scowled. "I am helping Shadow."
"Peter!" Shadow's voice suddenly came from the bathroom. "Could you get me a towel? I forgot to grab one before I turned the water on!"
Sylar's face blackened. "'Helping' her, Peter?"
Peter didn't have time to prepare himself before he heard the crunch and felt bones break. He let out a shout and stumbled back, holding his bleeding nose and shifting it back into place. He glared at Sylar.
"What the hell!"
The shouts were enough to bring Shadow out into the living area, whipping her hands about and dropping water on the floor. She waddled as fast as she could when she heard the angry voices.
"Peter, what's going –?"
Shadow stopped dead when she took in the sight that met her eyes. Peter was wiping blood from his lip, casting a worried glance over at her; Sylar froze on the threshold, clearly trying to comprehend the vision of a very pregnant Shadow. She could almost see him counting back in his head.
Peter regained his senses and hurriedly rushed to her side. "Shadow, go back to the bathroom. I can handle him."
She shook her head mutely, eyes burning into Sylar. Peter released an exasperated sigh.
"Look, I don't want you getting upset. It could be bad – I need you to stay as calm as you can."
Her mouth drew itself into a stern line. "I'm calm," she said in a strained voice.
Sylar seemed to hesitate in the doorway. "You're –"
"Shut up!" Peter snarled over his shoulder. "Just shut up and get out!"
Shadow shook her head. "Let me," she growled, jerking herself out of Peter's grasp and shuffling to the door. Her stride didn't alter as she drew back a hand and swung.
The sound echoed into the silence of the near-empty apartment. Sylar didn't react as the imprint of her hand appeared on his cheek in angry red; he only stood there, staring between Shadow's face and her swollen belly. He shook his head slowly.
"I didn't . . . didn't know," he whispered. His dark eyes met hers. "Is it . . . is it mine?"
"Of course it's yours," a soft, impatient voice chimed in from behind Sylar's frame. A wave of red hair poked around his body. "I wouldn't make you come all the way back to New York for nothing."
"My baby," Shadow said softly, her voice trembling, "is not an 'it.'"
Peter was once again at her side. "Shadow," he said in a tone that sounded suspiciously close to begging, "please try to stay calm."
"I'm calm," she said again.
"Sylar," Peter said urgently, locking gazes with the other man, "please get out. We can make plans to meet up later in the week, maybe after Shadow's gotten over the shock. You really shouldn't have just showed up at her –"
Shadow suddenly cried out and doubled over, gasping for air.
"Shit," Peter swore as he knelt beside her. "Shadow, look at me … look at me!"
With effort, Shadow lifted her head to meet his eyes. She looked terrified.
"It's too early," she whispered. "Peter, it's too early." She groaned as another contraction ripped through her.
"Just breathe, Shadow," he said softly. "Breathe. It'll be okay."
Shadow felt the gush of liquid and gasped. "Peter, she's coming now!" she yelled hysterically.
Peter quickly snatched up the duffel bag they had prepared specifically for this reason, although he had hoped they wouldn't need it so soon. He grabbed her hand.
"Let's go!" he said urgently.
"Where are you taking her?" Sylar demanded, still in shock.
"The hospital," Peter replied as he pushed past the other man. "You have a decision to make, Sylar, right now. Your baby is coming into this world, and you have to decide if you're going to stick around to see that happen!"
Sylar didn't even have to think about it. "You drive. I'll carry her."
Shadow cried out as he scooped her up in his arms. He looked down at her, a glimmer of the Sylar she knew touching the features of his face. "You'll be okay, Shadow. I promise."
She only let out a scream as they rushed her toward the nearest vehicle.
A/N: W00t! Baby on the way! I know it's a shorter chapter, but I couldn't fit everything into one scene. Gotta keep you coming back for more, don't I?
Please review!
