A/N: New Paire story from me. It's a little different from the others and I hope you like it as well. I also hope for reviews. They always make me feel better and inspired my muse fr more. Thanks to all who'll take their time and share their opinion with me. I'm gonna be grateful. Also - please, please let's make it clear once again. English is not my first language. The reason I'm going without beta here it's because I want to learn from my mistakes and get better. Thanks for your understanding and please let me know what you think of the story. Thank you!
Story: Claire works as a stripper in a night club. Peter distance himself from his family and goes to see her. He inherits his father's fortune, but he's not happy. He's hunted from memories of the night he resorted his powers. Night, spent with Claire.
Few notes: It's AU Paire. Spoilers up to the "Brave New World", but without Claire's jump. Peter and Sylar are enemies. Claire is distant from her family, same as Peter. Isaac is alive. His girlfriend name is Kay (a fictional character, created by Valor95 - thanks for letting me use her); Zack is in New York and is Claire's and Isaac's roommate. Claire is working as a stripper in a night club. Peter can't forget the night he spent with her and goes to see her every night. How they reached to here - read and you're gonna find out. "winks"
Enjoy and review, please!
Loves, Arinna
Chapter 51 Kay's dream
Darkness and shadows battled in his eyes when he looked at Kay. His own dreams and fears were standing against each other now. In his heart he knew he didn't have to go there, but his mind was telling him that might be something important. Therefore, his eyes narrowed.
"Why?" It was simple question and yet filled with meaning.
"You know damn well, Peter!" Kay was standing on his way to the front door and didn't move. "Are you willing to risk everything just because of your mother?"
"Look," he punched his eyebrows with a sigh. "I know she's evil and all, but she's my mother. She might need my help for something. I'm telling you, she sounded desperate on the phone."
"Yet, Angela proved that she could care much more for her own interests than her only son." Kay emphasized on the only part. She took a step forward. "You also know that she wanted to kill your son."
"Maybe she was confused?" He didn't believe to that really, but in his heart he felt he had to protect his mother.
"You can't seriously believe to that!" Kay sounded irritated.
"Kay…"
"She kidnapped you! She held you as a hostage in the Mansion!" Kay stopped at one place and glared at Peter. "Do you know how Claire felt then? Do you have any idea through what she's been through?"
"But-"
"She didn't eat! She didn't sleep! She just… stared at the door and cried night after night while you were gone!" Kay punched Peter's chest and he swayed back. "How dare you say Angela was confused? She knew damn well what she's been doing, Peter!"
"She's my mother!"
"Who thinks only for herself!"
"You can't understand, Kay!" Peter shook his head, rubbing the place on his chest where Kay had hit him. "We're a family!"
"Claire is your family now! Claire and your son and you should start think about them!"
"I think about them every day and night!"
"Really?" Kay tilted her head to a side. Her hear fell on her shoulder. "Have you thought about them now?"
"My mother sounded like she's in some kind of a trouble…"
"Claire needs you, Peter!" Kay rose up her voice.
"I know."
"I thought that meant the world for you."
"It does, but I just-" He just stopped in the middle of his sentence and ran his fingers through his hair. "I wish I knew what I have to do, Kay."
"I can't tell you what you have to do, Peter." Kay shook her head.
"Then why did you come here? Why did you stop me?"
"Because I thought that's the right thing to do. I had to tell you this." Kay sighed. "It's up to you to do the rest."
Peter fell back in the couch and grabbed his head. "I can't just… let everything… fall apart."
Kay hesitated, but walked to him and put her hand on his shoulder. She wanted to help him somehow, but she knew she couldn't do that.
"Look, I know how you feel." She spoke quietly. "Just remember who my father is." A bitter chuckle escaped from her lips. "I know Angela couldn't be any different."
"But she's my mother, no matter what she's done." Peter said quietly.
"I know that." Kay skipped a beat. "I mean, I know what is like to want to be a better person. I know what is like to want to save everybody."
"Yeah."
"But Peter… Some people just can't be saved."
"I know that."
"And why you want to save her all of a sudden? I thought you hate her. Angela's done enough troubles for a life time."
"I want to be a better man." Peter muttered, looking at Claire's door. "I want to be someone Claire would be proud of. I just… I'm tired, Kay. I'm tired of fighting. I just want to be left alone. Claire and I deserve some peace, don't you think?"
"A-ha." Kay nodded her head slowly. "So that's the real reason of going to the mansion then?"
"Huh?"
"You wanted to make a deal with Angela?"
"Something like it." He grunted out and got off his place, started pacing around the room nervously.
"And how about the prophecy?"
"What about it?"
"You know the painting Isaac drew?"
"Yeah, but it didn't happen." Peter stopped at one place all of a sudden. "Don't you get it? I was at the Mansion already. You said it yourself! When my mother kidnapped me. She sedated me then and there wasn't any blood."
"True, but it doesn't mean anything."
"It does! Don't you get it?"
"Damn it, Peter! You know damn well that Isaac's paintings always come true!"
"Not always!" Peter scoffed. "New York didn't explode few years ago! He painted it and didn't happen!"
"But you exploded! You!" Kay's angry voice rose up again. "Yeah, he told me about it!"
"It's only because of Nathan!" Peter frowned. "My brother saved me! And now he's… dead."
"Exactly!" Kay threw her hands up in the air. "He is and don't let his death be for nothing, Peter!"
"What?"
"Don't do the same mistakes you've done before!"
"But Kay!"
"Look, I know I'm not the one you should listen to." Kay sighed. "But here is someone you probably should." She nodded at Claire's bedroom and Peter followed her look. Claire was standing there with hurtful expression on her face. "I only came here to stop you from going somewhere you shouldn't be."
"But how did you know?" He looked back and forth between Kay and Claire.
"I've had a dream." Kay looked at Claire. "It's up to you now. I've done what I can." With that said she closed her eyes and teleported away.
Peter just stared at the empty space for a brief second. He leaned back on the wall and avoided Claire's look. His empathy and his mind were at war now. With his heart he felt like he had to go, but his mind was telling him now that it was a trap. The next thing he felt was Claire's soft palm on his cheek. He leaned on it and looked into her eyes.
"Don't." She said softly. "Please? You promised me, Peter."
"I have the feeling that something's not right there." He sighed and his eyes were full with confusion. "There is something that's… just not…"
"I know." Her voice caressed him and she gave him her sad little smile he loved so much. "I know you want to do the best thing. I know you still believe in the good in this fucked up world. I also know she's your mother no matter what she's done… But Peter." Claire sighed and took his other hand and put his palm on her belly. Peter winced. "Yeah, that's your son. Now I want you to think of him too."
"I am thinking, Claire." Peter whispered.
"You are scared." Her thumb caressed his cheek. "You think I don't know that?"
"Claire…"
"I know you want to protect me, baby." Claire leaned to him and felt her hand slid on her waist. "I know you want to be better, but Peter… Don't you know? You've always been my hero. You've always had my heart. You don't need to prove anything to me."
"Maybe I need to prove something to me?" He whispered.
"I'm sure that... Oh!" Claire curled up in two, panting. She grabbed his arm tightly.
"Claire!" Peter almost screamed.
"Sh-hh" She looked up at him. "Kicking."
"You sure?" He led her to the sofa. "Here, sit here."
"Okay." Claire listened to him and leaned her head on his shoulder. "I think your son agrees with me." She tried to smile. Peter brushed her sweaty face.
"I think you two are a great team."
"We three are." Claire squeezed his hand and felt how his healing energy flew through her body.
