Hey Guys, sorry this chapter has taken a little longer. I wanted to get it right and I've written and rewritten it several times. Thanks to everyone for reading and reviewing, you make my day. Here it is.

Chapter 7

"Dude, she knows?" Peter pointed a questioning finger in Claires direction.

"Long story..." Sylar nodded digging his hands in to his pockets, uneasy at the thought of what was about to happen.

Peter shook an ever pesky strand of hair from his eyes, "You know why I'm here right?"

Staring down at his bare feet Sylar nodded, "...you know I could just shoot you full of 1000 volts and push you right back into that broom cupboard?" he narrowed his eyes as though considering his options.

Peter scoffed at his friends idol threat, knowing that Sylar was at least half joking otherwise he would have done it by now.

"Sure you could" Peter nodded in mock agreement, "...but Claire would just heal me and get all pissy with you for electrocuting her favourite Uncle"

Despite the distinct air off smugness that he was getting from Peter at that particular moment he couldn't ignore the pang of affection he felt. They were once sworn enemies and yet there Peter was before him not the slightest bit afraid, it really was testament to the faith that his friend had in him.

The apologetic look in Peters eyes was not lost on Sylar "Come on, time to say your goodbyes"

Stepping into the kitchen he surveyed the scene, Claire pottered around making Noah's packed lunch while the boy in question was making short work of his waffles. It was so...normal. For a person who had always coveted the special and extraordinary he suddenly realised that he craved this particular kind of normality more than anything he had ever wanted before.

Sensing his presence Claire looked around to meet his gaze, "Your Dad has to go to work now honey, say goodbye" Claire chirped, trying her best not to give herself away. Lies had never really been her strong suit, even the little white ones told to save peoples feelings.

Taking her lead Sylar knelt down before Noah who instantly turned around to face him, "Are you going to work with Uncle Peter today Dad?" he asked, his eyes deep brown and inquisitive...Pete had been right he had inherited his fathers eyebrows.

"Yep...sure" Sylar nodded, searching for the words that were stuck in his throat.

"Catching bad guys?" Noah continued. Well that was something, no matter what his future profession was he was glad that they'd been honest with their son, at least they'd not told him his Dad worked in a paper factory.

"I'm gonna let Uncle Peter catch them, then I'll just scare them into being good" he tickled Noah's sides making him giggle.

"You're not ...even...hahaha...scary!" the boy chuckled almost wriggling off of his chair.

With that Sylar called a truce on the tickling and pulled him in to a hug, "I know, but don't tell anybody huh?" he spoke into his sons ear.

Over Noah's shoulder Sylar caught Claire's gaze, if he wasn't mistaken that was sadness on her face, he wasn't sure why, her Gabriel would be back in a matter of hours, she'd hardly have time to miss him. Not in the way that he would miss her.

"Come on Noah, it's time to get ready for school honey" Claire spoke, but her voice was ever so slightly croakier than before. With that the boy pulled away, not before giving his Dad one final hug, with that he headed for the stairs, "See you tonight Dad!" he called out, not bothering to look behind him. Sylar wanted ever so much to answer but found that his voice was stuck somewhere behind the tears that kept threatening to spill.

As soon as Noah was out of sight Claire raced around the kitchen table, faster than was strictly necessary and enveloped him in a hug. Picking her up he sat her on the counter top to negate their height difference. He buried his face in the crook of her neck and let her comfort him.

"I don't want to go" he whispered.

"I know baby...I know" she stroked his hair and squeezed him tightly; she raised his face to meet hers until their foreheads were almost touching. Her voice was low and wavering, "I just want to tell you that I'm sorry for all the mean things that I am going to say to you..."

"Claire don't" He tried to cut her off but she placed a finger over his lips to silence him.

"...I know but I need you to listen to me, I always knew you had changed after the carnival, I didn't hate you I just had to come to terms with the way I felt about you. Don't give up on me..." she struggled to speak clearly, a few stray tears mapped their way down her cheeks,"...even when I'm cruel and I'm pushing you away, please don't give up on me"

"I'm not a quitter Claire, you should know that by now"

He couldn't bear to see her cry any longer, so closing his eyes he cupped her face and kissed her hard, she grabbed on to his shirt and clung on to him as if shear will alone could make time stop for a moment.

They were shook from their moment by Peter clearing his throat to make his presence known in the doorway.

"Guys, I'm sorry but we have to get back, Gabriel...well...future Gabriel will be on his way back from the airport..."

"Hello! I can fly? Why the hell do I need an airport?" Sylar cut Peter off, throwing him a confused expression that Peter was pretty sure was just a stalling tactic.

Claire laughed quietly to herself, wiping her eyes,"I dunno genius, maybe your employers think that it's a little less conspicuous to put you on a plane rather than have you running around the world doing your Superman impression...besides, we can use the air miles!"

He looked back at Claire with a half smile,"Well, whatever...future me sounds like a douche" he pretended to sulk or at least it looked like he was pretending.

"He's not, he's amazing and I love him completely...he's just like you" Claire forced a smile and stroked the stubble on his jaw.

Peter was behind them now only a few feet away, trying his best to look anywhere but at his best friend and niece wrapped in one another's arms.

Claire looked at Peter, knowing he was growing impatient and looked back at Sylar.

"Go, go with Peter" Claire tried to sound firm, knowing that one of them at least had to be strong. This earned her a wide eyes mournful look from Sylar and it was all she could do not to melt. Luckily she was well rehearsed with this particular look,"Don't give me that look!" she rolled her eyes, trying to act nonchalant, though she was dying a little bit inside.

"What look?" he asked, eyes still burning through her.

"That look, the one you're doing right now, it's the same look Noah gives me when I tell him he can't eat Ice Cream for dinner" she bit her lip and looked up at him through long lashes that were still damp with tears.

"...go back and woo me!" she half heartedly pushed him away.

To her surprise this drew a somewhat devilish smile from him,"Nasty motel room you say?" he cooed under his breath.

Realising he was referring to the recollection she had given of their first road trip the night before, her emerald eyes flashed and her face burned ever so slightly red.

Peter cleared his throat again.

"You know you really ought to see someone about that Pete!" Sylar called behind him, his eyes not moving from Claire.

"Go" was all she said, in a quiet little voice that broke his heart a little.

He nodded.

He turned to his friend ready to teleport. Looking directly at Peter he took a deep breath.

In an act of shear impulse a small well manicured hand grabbed ferociously at his collar and pulled him back to her for one last searing kiss. He poured so much affection and need in to that kiss that he thought he might just go nuclear.

"I love you" he whispered the words feeling woefully inadequate.

There was the distant sound of a key in the door, but as he turned he felt Peter's firm hand on his shoulder and in an instant they were gone. Claire stood lonely in the kitchen her arms encircled around herself, staring at the empty space before her, trying to comprehend the last 24 hours. Before she had chance footsteps made their way through the living room and a deep ever so familiar voice called to her,"Hey Babe, I'm home!"