Chapter 37

Noah had forgotten how strong that love was. In his head, Claire was a reasonable young woman. She would never turn her back to her family. He was her family now. Oh yes, he knew Angela's dirty little secret. He was clever enough, even though most of the people refuse to notice it. Noah Bennet was the man he was now with a reason. He could control people's minds and not with abilities. He had that simple tallent to read people. That tallent had helped him when he was working for The Company. He had to deal with scarry people there, people who didn't care what is right or wrong. There, he had learnt how to use that tallent and made himself to look stupid when it was nessessery. That was really useful, when he was in a same room with Angela Petrelli. He knew that Arthur was the head of The Company while he was alive, but he also new that Angela could make every living person acting as a puppy after their meeting with her. She could not only read people, but make them believe in whatever she wanted to make them believe. When she came to emotions though, she was lost. She'd probably never know what the true love means. If he had to be honest with himself, Noah was thinking the same for himself. Yes, he loved his daughter of course, but he wasn't sure how much of it was the truth.

This is why, in the moments like this, Noah felt lost and confused in his beliefs. There was one version of Claire built up in his mind. She was the smart and reasonable daughter she once was. Oh yeah, she trully was, before Peter. Noah trully believed that she could turn her back. However, when Claire was with Peter she couldn't think clearly. He was the one controlling everything. Noah was confused how Claire would let that happen. She always was an indipendant woman and Noah was good with that, but without Peter in her life. Even if he wasn't her uncle, he was a bad influence to her. Not to mention the ten years gap between them. Noah trully believed that Claire deserved something more. This is why he agreed with Angela's plan and kept it quiet when he found out that there was no family relation between Peter and his daughter. Peter was dangerous. It was so simple as that.

"Dad?" Her voice took his attention and Noah looked at his daughter. She was standing right beside of Peter. "Leave, please!"

When Claire's eyes met Noah's, he could tell that she was standing completely behind her decision to stay with Peter. He couldn't let that happen, but he could also couldn't think a way to change that. Claire's love for Peter was legendary and it would look as a fairytale, but it wasn't. It was a durty little secret, she kept hidden in herself for too long. When her wedding with Andy was ruined, that little secret wasn't a secret anymore. Peter had made sure of that.

"I can see that you made up your mind!" Noah looked at his daughter with annoyance. "Nothing will change while Peter is in the picture, right?"

"Do you even have to ask?" Claire tilted her head and leaned it on Peter's shoulder. "When it was ever a change, father?"

"It was better when I didn't know what's happening in that little head of yours," he said quietly and lowered his gun. "I wish you never met him!"

"Why?" Claire looked up at Peter for a brief moment, and then her eyes met her father's ones again. "We're not related, we never were! You should be happy about that and leave us alone!"

"He knew," Peter's voice was low, almost like a growl. "He knew the whole time! Who ask you to keep the secret? My mother?"

"She doesn't know that I know," Noah kept his calm voice. "I found out by accident."

"But you never told me?" Claire blinked with confusion. "Why? You knew how confused I was, dad! Why you kept that secret from me?"

"I wanted you to stay away from him and have a normal life!" Noah looked at Peter. "He couldn't control himself any longer! Angela told me that she had a dream and we did everything to prevent that dream from happening!"

"What?" Claire found Peter's hand and squeezed it tightly. "What are you talking about?"

"His feelings about you, Claire." Noah cleared his throat. "They were so consuming and so... devastating. They could've ruin your life and I thought that's not for you! I wanted what's the best for you! I know how much you suffered! I wanted you to have a normal life with a decent man. A man, not hounted from his desire for you! This is so... unhealthy!" Noah stirred.

"But you knew that I love him?" Claire frowned. "You knew that, don't you?"

Noah nodded. "Yes, I did." His look fell on Peter again. He was unusually quiet, but his eyes were narrowed. "It was so obvious when you know how to read people, and I do know that."

"I didn't know you have a tallent?" Peter finally spoke. "No! Not an ability, I could feel if you have one. " Peter paused. "Do you remember what you once told me, Noah? You asked me that no matter what I do, to keep Claire safe! You believed me then, but you couldn't believe me few years later? Why? You knew that I could never hurt Claire! You knew that I love her that much!"

"That was the reason!" Noah hissed. "When I asked of you to protect her, I didn't know who you where exactly and what you'd become! She's not safe with you and she'd never going to be!"

"I could understand your willing to protect her," Peter's voice was unusually calm. "I could understand that you want to keep her safe from the world! I could even understand why you kept my mom's secret! Yeah, it's weird, but I do. The thing I can't understand is, why are you still doing this? You're making yourself believe that she still needs you! That she needs your protection... from me!" He took a step closer. "The thing is, she is mine! I'd never let anything and anyone to stay in my way!" Blue sparks appeared in his left hand. "I've done that exercise too many times, Noah! You know that, right?"

"Peter..." Claire was still holding his right hand.

"Shut up!" He hissed, but she didn't even blink or tremble.

This was the moment, when Peter took control over the situation. Noah could feel that in the air. Claire wouldn't do anything more for him and he knew it, he could feel it. She was a strong woman, but not when it came to Peter. She was able to put his wishes over hers and stay quiet. And that was completely all right with her. She still felt confident and Noah could feel that. Yes, he could feel it but not to understand the whole thing.

"I should leave now," he said and took a step back.

"Wise decision!" Peter didn't even move. "You knew how much I've done for this world! Now, when I have what I always wanted, I just want that world to leave me the fuck alone! Get it?"

Noah nodded, "I think I did."

"You better!" The blue sparks disappeared from Peter's hand. "If you stay away from us, I'll stay away from you... all!"

"Can I have your word for this?" Noah said with his hand on the door.

Peter nodded, "Yes, you can!"

"I think we have a deal then!" Noah opened the door. "Please, tell me when my grandchild is born!" He said and closed the door behind his back.

"You're going to leave them alone?" Claire asked Peter and went to sit on the nearest chair. He hand rested on her belly. "Can you really do that?"

"I stay behind my words, Claire!" Peter frowned and sat opposite her. "It's going to be hard, giving the circumstances. I'm not planning to just sit here and do nothing though. I'm not the fool I once was, so I'm going to make sure that my mother and Noah keep their end of the bargain."

"I'm not sure they will," Claire tilted her head. Her hand was moving back and forth over her belly. "It's sad, but true. I wasn't to feel angry about that, but I can't. I'm too tired of doing this over and over again. Why they just... don't let go? We have our own life now. We're about to create our own family! Why it is that need to control things, Peter? I know your mother already. I also know my father... Noah. I know how stubborn they can be."

Peter got up from his place and went to sit right beside of her. "I'll make sure that they are behaving, Claire!" His arm slid behind her arms and she leaned on him. His lips touched the crown of her head and he murmured. "I'll keep you safe, I promise!"