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As we race down the highway I glance to Lily, who's sleeping curled up in the passenger seat; she looks different, but not much! After we the escaped, flagging down the first car that came our way and discreetly discarded the driver of the small blue ford, getting more than two days distance between us and the disintegrated building of our captors, Lily insisted we stop at some point for fresh clothes and such.

I couldn't help but laugh and roll my eyes as she dragged me from one store to the other; after all she hadn't been shopping for two years. She also made us visit the hair salon, we debated on having her hair cut back to its original pixie fanned short style, but decided the long pin straight black locks suited her new life, followed with multi-layers and a block fringe, she seemed so happy in these small things like having her hair done, but then I suppose those types of things seem quite luxurious now after everything.

Her crimson lip twitches slightly up in her sleep, a small silver pearl lingering in the center just below her lips; oh did I forget to mention she made us get her some piercings? Yeah, only her lip and ears pierced.

Yes she looks different, but I think the paramount transformation is the smile that graces her face and that twinkle in her big blue eyes, both permanent factures since our escape.

She starts to stir lightly and sits up rubbing at her eyes "what time is it?"

I smile and look to the clock on the dashboard "nearly ten o'clock. How's the lip?"

"Better since you gave me that blood, like I've had them for years! Have to admit that's a cool ability! Where'd you get it?" she asks sleepily, rolling down the windows of the car and taking a deep breath of the cool morning air.

"Cheerleader back in Texas, it took me a long while to!" I answer simply

She nods, biting the inside of her snow-white cheek "was she pretty?"

I look at her for a moment, slightly taken back by the question, but her large doe eyes are gazing out the window "She was the typical cheerleader, blonde, preppy, so… yeah, I guess, but I never really liked cheerleaders, all bitch's!"

I see the smile claim her face and she nods, still looking out the window "I know what you mean!"

She looks at me happily and starts to fidget in her seat "so, who are we going to kill again?"

I can't fight the chuckle at her malicious words in an angelic voice and playful smile.

I stand outside the workshop in Baltimore MD of the man I've always known as my father, all this time and he's still repairing timepieces! I feel a soft delicate doll like hand slip into my large coarse one. I look down at the blue eyed girl beside me, her grip tightening slightly as a supportive smile emerges on her face. I smile back as we walk into the shop, her hand still securely in mine.

As we enter the quaint little shop I shudder at the familiarity of it, the resemblance of my old shop slightly unnerving. I notice an unfinished watch lay peacefully on the table and could not resist the urge to put it together, my hand slipping from Lily's and leaving her to fiddle with the equipment behind me.

At that moment a man emerges with a shot gun pointed in our direction, Lily seems shaken for half a second, but I heard his heartbeat from the moment we entered the shop "what do you want?"

"Well that's not very welcoming! What must your customers think?" Lily bites with a hand on her hip, the image of the rebellious teen

I don't look up as I finish repairing the timepiece "Martin?" I ask in an impassive tone "Martin Gray?"

He gives a slight skeptical glare, lowering his weapon ever so marginally "do I know you?"

I give a bitter smile as our eyes meet "Did you live at 423 Kenmore Street in Queens, 27 years ago? It was snowing. In the middle of February, you went out for a pack of cigarettes at 10 o'clock and never came back. Or so the story goes. Kind of cliché don't you think?"

He lowers the gun, eyes filled with question "who are you?"

Lily comes to my side, circling her arm around my lower back, my hand resting on her voluptuous hip as she giggles lightly "well, looks like the wheels spinning but the hamster's dead!"

I fight back my chuckle while Martin scowls the girl "I'm your son and I have some questions for you."

His eyes widen at this and he gingerly places the gun down and marches over to his desk, passing us without as much as a glance! He examines the watch I just finished mending and looks at me over his glasses while taking his seat.

As I sit watching him starting the fix another watch I hear Lily jump on the table behind me. Martin looks from her to me over his glasses, then back to the cogs before him "she seems a little young for you don't you think Gabriel?"

I go to answer but the crash of leather boots hitting the floor interject "I don't think our relationship has anything to do with you… and don't call him that!"

He looks up at her with a distasteful sigh but I quickly change the subject "why did you leave mom?"

His eyes meat mine then "because she was a deeply disturbed woman, I had a child to save a broken marriage, it was a mistake!"

I feel that shuttering tingle and shake my head "no, you're not my father! … so who is?"

"….My brother! Victoria wanted a child and couldn't have any, I wanted to fix my marriage and Samson wanted money!" he says shocked at my knowledge in a dry tone, I hear the gasp of the girl behind me as I mull over this new information

"So you all traded him like a lamb to slaughter?" the blue eyed girl bites angrily

I turn and see the hungry fire in her eyes, burning out from the cold marble of her fair face "Lily… please!"

I ask quietly, taking her wrist lightly her eyes firmly on Martin's "Lily…" I say in a firm commanding tone, she looks to me then, breaths catching in her throat as our eyes meet and she nods mutely

Releasing her I go back to glaring at the old man "where is he now?"

At the rigorous glare from my eyes I see his water with a slight fear as he quickly gets me the address of my birth father "there, now please leave!"

I watch as he simply goes back to his work, pocketing the address and standing. This man hurt my mother and I, she may not have been perfect but she loved me, whereas this man abandoned me, my father….no, my uncle! I feel the twitch off my fingers, I should kill him, this heartless creature before me… and they call me a monster! But as I look at him I can't help but see the man who sat with me for hours, showing me how each piece of small metal could tick!

The black haired girl tests her scribble covered hands as she takes a step forward to him, but I look to her and say "let's go!"

She turns to me in shock, having expecting us to kill Martin "Sylar I…"

"We got what we came for, time to leave…now!" I command, raising my hand to the back of her neck, squeezing gently.

She seems annoyed and disappointed at this, but nods and gives one last malicious glare to the old man and quickly follows me out of the shop, a small pout on her face and her head lowered in a childlike manner.

I sigh as her hair hangs before her porcelain face, she looks like I just took her favorite toy away and I can't fight the pang of guilt for not letting her at least torcher the old man "hey, how about some ice-cream?"

She lift her head a little and asks "with cones and sprinkles?"

I chuckle lightly and nod as we reach our newest car, having ditched the last one a few miles back "with cones and sprinkles… and hey, next time we question someone, I'll teach you how to torture!"

A Cheshire cat grin breaks out on her face "promise?"

I nod in confirmation and she jumps up, bouncing up and down, then rapping her arms around my neck "Thanks Sylar! You're the best!"

I smile at this reaction, she kisses my cheek, but as her lips meet my skin we both linger against the other. Murderous brown eyes meeting tainted doe blue as we pull away still locked in the other's arms.

Our gazes loiter for a few moments until she give a nervous, candid giggle emerges from her and she smiles brightly "come on, I want my ice-cream!"

She slips from my arms and skips to the passenger side, I can't contain my smile and shake my head, she's such a strange little thing!