Pairing: (Eventual) Claire/Gabriel, Noah Gray

Theme: Family Feud

Dimension: Alternate Five Years Gone

Word Count:1,580

Family Feud

He was dressed in a sleek black suit, a white dress shirt and a black tie. His shiny black boots squeaked when he walked, but he had practiced and practiced until he was sure his steps would be silent. He slid a pair of light sunglasses onto his nose and struck several poses in front of his bathroom mirror. He even stood to the side, turned his head and slowly took the sunglasses off while twisting his head at an odd angle like a character on one of his favorite cop shows.

"Noah! Five minutes, bud." His father's voice shocked him out of his playing, and Noah Gray took one last appraising look before rushing out the door. He nearly tripped over Mister Muggles, but with a yelp and a snort, the dog was able to scramble out of the way.

"Sorry, Muggs! Dad, any waffles left?"

"Yes, but yelling the house down won't do you any good. Sit and eat, but don't get anything on your clothes." Gabriel Gray was a mother and a father to his only son, so when he harped on the little things, Noah magnanimously gave him some slack.

"I know, Dad." Gabriel gave him a half smile from behind a newspaper. It was early summer in Costa Verde, and Noah Gray was officially being inducted to the Company. He was very excited, especially since his father was going to be training him. What he didn't know was that this had been planned for him since his conception fifteen years ago. He wolfed down his food and chugged back a large glass of chocolate milk.

"Ready to go!"

"Put the dishes up and kennel Muggles. I'll be in the car." Noah huffed and grabbed up his plate and silverware, dumping them into the sink before tracking down Mister Muggles, who did not appreciate being stuffed in a kennel, no matter how nice and comfortable it was.

"Come on Muggs! You even have an air conditioner!" Muggles refused to budge from his refuge under the couch. Noah groaned and reached for him only to have Muggles slyly scoot away.

Noah breathed deep and concentrated, coming up with a power he'd picked up from Gabriel. Muggles flew into his hands with a yelp, and Noah crowed with triumph. It was short lived when the honking of a horn reminded him of his task. He hurriedly pushed the Pomeranian into his kennel, slipped him a treat and dashed out the door. Gabriel was shaking his head with a wry smile as his son jumped into the front seat of the dark blue van and buckled his seatbelt.

"Trouble, son?"

"None at all, dad." The lie trickled down Gabriel's spine, but he shrugged it off. The dog was a pain in the butt, though a good vacuum and source of entertainment. Gabriel chuckled and pulled out of the drive.

When they reached Building 26, Noah was full to bursting with energy. Gabriel calmly reminded his son that they were agents, and it was not proper agent etiquette to squeal like a girl at the sight of their headquarters.

"Just do as I say and don't mouth off. You'll do just fine, Noah." The boy wasn't really listening, so Gabriel simply took his son's arm and led him into a side door, up a flight of stairs and into a plush office where Noah Senior and Angela were waiting via computer conference call. Gabriel shut the door of the office and sat down, motioning for Noah to do the same.

"Welcome to the Company, Noah," said Angela. Noah nodded at his great grandmother, waiting quietly for her to continue. She looked at Gabriel and smiled. "He certainly looks like you, Gabriel. You've done a wonderful job with him."

"Hey, kiddo! How goes it?" Noah senior wasn't able to get out to Costa Verde as often as he wanted, so any time he got to see his grandson it was a treat for both of them. While he distracted the boy in conversation, Gabriel's phone rang. It was Angela. He rolled his eyes at the dramatics his boss was fond of and answered while standing and walking to a window on the other side of the office.

"He is very much her son, Gabriel. You know that they're going to meet, and that it's going to be difficult for us."

"You told me she was on a series of missions in the UK and France. Why is she back here?" Angela sighed irritably.

"We couldn't force her to stay out of the country forever, you know. She finished her jobs and wanted to come back. There was nothing we could do. However, I have contacted Peter and Elle, and they should be there to help you run interference."

"They won't help, Angela, and you know it. Noah has never met his mother, and I can already tell you he has a great deal of resentment for her, no matter what I tell him."

"I know this, but for now you'll need to handle it. Claire will be there within the hour. Time to stop shielding her from her choices, Gabriel. It is time for her to see the child she left. I know this will be hard, but I for one believe in taking this particular bull by the horns. Also, I have left a folder detailing your first mission for us. You and Claire are going to be partners with Noah learning from you both until he has gained enough experience to be put on his own team. That is all." Angela signed off without allowing any arguments.

Gabriel wanted to protest, to yell and throw things. The last time he'd seen his partner, she was standing on the door step of her old home, holding a squalling baby and looking at him as if he could fix everything. She'd left the next morning without a word, and he'd had to raise the child almost alone. He had never appreciated Peter, Elle and Noah senior as much as he had those first few years. He sighed and waited for the two Noahs to finish their conversation.

He had hoped to speak to his son about Claire, but when the door opened suddenly, Gabriel knew his chances were gone. Noah abruptly stopped his conversation with his grandfather and turned to see his young mother in the doorway. Claire was strikingly beautiful with her tight black suit and chocolate brown hair. She removed the dainty sunglasses she wore and took in her son and ex-lover.

"Sylar." One word and already he wanted her again. He hadn't gone by that name since his son had been born, but with it came all of the dark and lustful memories he had associated with the cheerleader.

"Claire, nice to see you again." Bennet cleared his throat and said his goodbyes to his grandson. When the computer went black, Noah turned around and faced the woman he'd spent his life hating.

"This is her? She's my mom? I like Elle better." Claire gasped in shock and Gabriel turned and glared at his son.

"Noah!" The boy said nothing, only turned his angry gaze on his mother. Claire looked like she'd been struck, but she valiantly attempted to hide the hurt. Gabriel was torn between the two; he understood Noah's resentment, but he desired the closeness he'd briefly shared with Claire. It seemed he'd never truly gotten over her.

"Well, Noah… it… is nice to meet you, I guess." Claire had never shown any discomfort in the two years she and Gabriel had worked together, but in the presence of her child she couldn't have been more awkward. Noah only sneered and shoved past her.

"I'm going to get a drink." The office door slammed and Claire winced.

"I guess I'm not getting the mom of the year award, huh?" Gabriel snorted.

"What did you expect, Claire? You haven't seen him in fifteen years. You can't expect him to just rush to accept you. He blames you for a lot of things." She bit her lip at his words, but he steeled himself from feeling bad about it. He wouldn't sugarcoat her mistakes, not this time.

"I wasn't ready for a kid, Sylar."

"Neither was I, but I took responsibility. You ran off to France."

"I'm sorry, alright? I made a mistake, and now I've got to live with it."

"Yep, especially since we're doing our missions in a three man cell."

"What? I don't want to work with her!" Noah had obviously been listening in.

"Well maybe I don't want a snot nosed kid holding me back, either! Did you ever think of that?" And there was Claire's spine. Gabriel had wondered where it had gotten to. The two squared off like prize fighters, and Gabriel wished he was far, far away. He had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach that Angela had done this on purpose, too. The summer suddenly seemed to have stretched on into eternity, and Gabriel only hoped Peter got here before Claire and Noah tried to go for each other's throats.

Part one? I'm trying something a little new…