Ok guys, sorry for dragging my arse on this one. It's been a busy week! Here's chapter 13. Big huge thankyous to Smithsbabe65 for bouncing around ideas with me and generally being supportive and awesome. And of course to everyone who continues to read and review, you please me greatly, I can't thank you enough.

Chapter 13

2019

For the first time Claire took a moment to really take in her surroundings, her eyes were particularly drawn to the refrigerator, there were so many collages and drawings secured on to its door. It appeared young Noah was quite the little artist; he must get that from his Dad Claire surmised. Amongst the various pictures of Daleks, Spiderman and Wolverine there was a photograph of herself. She appeared to be sat on a swing, in a playground somewhere. She was holding Noah on her lap, who couldn't have been more than one the time the picture was taken, he was beaming away at the camera with a big toothless grin, the most angelic looking child she had ever seen. Behind them, with one arm resting possessively but gently around her neck and the other arm stretched forward as far as possible, presumably holding the camera towards them and taking the picture was Sy...Gabriel.

They both looked the same but different Claire considered. Both of them of course had not aged a day, they never would, but Gabriel looked all together more comfortable with himself. He was wearing a gray hooded sweater and thick framed glasses; his hair was a little longer than normal but still slicked back off of his face. Looking at herself she saw that she had clearly decided to take the plunge and dye her hair dark shortly before or after their son was born, perhaps in an attempt to look a little more mature? Or maybe just for the hell of it? Either way she was glad she had seen sense and dyed it back to her original blonde, it suited her better.

Wandering over to the picture for a better look Claire spoke up, "What's he like?"

Her future self was busy clearing away their now empty tea cups, "Who?" she responded absently, not quite giving her full attention.

"Your Gabriel" Claire clarified, his given name still feeling alien as it tripped off of her tongue.

"Pretty much like yours I guess honey!" Future Claire scoffed placing the cups into the sink.

"I know, I know but what's it like living with him? What's he like" she pondered, running single digit over the photograph.

The older woman turned around to face Claire, resting her hands on her hips in an action reminiscent of Sandra Bennett. It was true, we really do turn into our mothers, "He's a pain in the ass sometimes" she smirked, "He's a total neat freak, forever picking my stuff up an putting it away, he always fiddles with the radio when I'm driving..." her eyes suddenly fell on the picture that Claire was also fixated on, and a warm smile flooded her features,"... but he's my pain in the ass. He's funny, God that guy can make me laugh, and he's sweet...warm and vulnerable." She toyed with a dish cloth in her hands as though drawn off into her own world, there was no mistaking the genuine affection she felt for the subject of her musings.

For the first time in several minutes Claire turned from the picture to face her future self, "Really?" She questioned in a somewhat doubtful voice.

"Really" Future Claire confirmed with a firm nod that slowly turned in to a thoughtful half smile, "Hey, I may have an idea." Claire could almost hear the cogs turning, "Why don't you meet him? Switch places with me for tonight. You get to meet my Gabriel and I get to go back in time with hot stuff out there?" Future Claire nodded in the direction of the garden, where Noah and Gabriel were still running around. Claire looked back at her through narrowed eyes, utterly unconvinced, holding up her hands, "Whoa whoa whoa, I'm not sure about that!"

Still throwing the dish cloth around future Claire pursed her lips, "Oh come on it will be fun, just like a movie or something! I swear if you just meet him, he'll set your mind at rest. You just need to see the real Gabriel. I defy you not to fall in love with him!" the tone of her voice was unwavering, that was it; the challenge was set.

Claire covered her face with her hand and shook her head, "You're crazy you know that? This whole thing is crazy...just crazy! Peter will FREAK!" Instantly her future self waved her hand in dismissal of her concerns, "Oh you leave Pete to me, you and me both know we can wrap him around our little finger! I'll need to leave you notes though, this place doesn't run itself." Future Claire clucked taking Claire's accusation that she was in fact, "crazy" as compliance.

Before she knew it Claire was bombarded with a, "to do" list as long as he arm.

"Noah goes to bed at 8; don't let him go later because he'll just be cranky in the morning. He'll push his luck because sometimes Gabe lets him stay up later and fall asleep on the couch, so you'll have to stand your ground on that one…ironically somewhere along the line I became bad cop!" Future Claire chuckled to herself peering into the oven at the casserole she had prepared, "Dinner should be ready for around 6.30. And do not let Noah, or Gabriel for that matter feed the dog from the table..." she concluded with a theatrical sigh,"...they both do that when they think I'm not looking!"

Claire stared back at herself shell-shocked. "You have to be kidding, we're not really going through with this?" but her pleas were ignored.

"I don't even know your Gabriel!" Claire began to fret as her older self pulled on her shoes and made her way towards the door.

"Sure you do honey! He's like your Gabriel with a few more miles on the clock!"

Claire chased herself around the house, concern rapidly turning into panic, "Stop saying that! He's not my Gabriel, there's no such thing as my Gabriel…wait…you can't just leave me like this!" Turning on her heels, future Claire, in an almost motherly gesture cupped her younger self's face,"Honey, I hate to throw you in at the deep end…"

"Then don't!" the younger girl interjected.

"…but this is for your own good, trust me, I'm you. Would I do anything to hurt you?"

"I guess not." Claire agreed grudgingly.

"Good girl, you'll love him, I just know it! Have fun!" Her last sentence was punctuated with a knowing smile...maybe even a wink.

"Wait, you're going now?" Claire hung on to the door frame, unwilling to step into the view of Noah, who she would no doubt end up explaining the dynamics of time travel to should she be seen, "Hello! You're abandoning me! This is very irresponsible Claire!" she yelled after herself hoping it would prick the older woman's conscience, however it did not.

Noah was immersed in color coordinating his toy cars, Claire watched from the doorway as her future self took herGabriel by the hand in a very sultry manner and whispered to him, explaining her plan. Even from her disadvantaged position she could see the bashful smile that it drew from him and a pang of something sharp hit her deep in her chest...what was that, jealousy? Before she could chastise herself for being totally ridiculous they were gone.

Oh snap.

2019

After about a half an hour of exploring her future home and watching an episode of Ben Ten with Noah, Claire found herself gazing out of the kitchen window once again, clasping yet another cup of tea. Her mother always swore by its calming properties but it currently wasn't doing much for Claire, her nerves were still frayed. She wasn't sure she was cut out for this time travelling stuff. Especially not the heavy handed approach that Gabriel seemed to take to it! Hmm, she paused, when did he stop being Sylar and start being Gabriel? she wondered to herself.

She didn't have long to ponder that one, she was shook from her thoughts as two strong and really quite hairy arms entwined around her waist from behind and drew her in to a tight hold, she felt stubble graze the delicate skin of her neck as a half kiss half bite was placed on her jaw. Instantly her body was rigid, and a small involuntary yelp escaped her mouth.

Forcing herself to relax into the embrace she tried to regain her composure, her surprised reaction had earned her a low mischievous laugh from Gabriel, "What's up Babe, did I make you jump?"

"Mmm...Something like that. I didn't hear you come in." she breathed the words out as if trying to exhale her anxiety.

"Probably couldn't hear me over "Ben Ten" huh?" he concluded, reaffirming his hold on her, "So, did you have a good day off work? Did you miss me?" he playfully fired the questions to her in between laying wet kisses from her ear to her collar bone. Why the hell does that feel so nice? She was suddenly glad of his warm body behind hers as her knees turned to jell-o.

"Yeah it was fine, I guess" she turned herself around expecting him to step back and release her but he didn't, he kept his arms encircled around her and closed the distance between them, zoning in for a kiss.

As their lips met she expected many things, revulsion, hatred, her phantom gag reflex, hell the last time he had put the moves on her she had stabbed him in the eye with a pencil! She was not however expecting her heart to start beating manically through her chest, or to suddenly feel like they were only two human beings on the planet...or to lose the power of speech, hearing and thought all in one damn go! How was he doing that? The kiss was slow and gentle, his lips brushing hers intimately, his tongue just daring to brush hers.

With a lazy smile he pulled away, she had never noticed how long his eyelashes were, they were thick and dark, perfectly framing those intense eyes of his. Claire found that she was transfixed by them, her jaw hanging slightly open. Raising his hand Gabriel gently but playfully cupped her chin and shut it for her, with a look that was a mixture of pride and bewilderment.

"Are you sure you're ok Babe?" he furrowed his brow pulling back from her to get a better look at her face, "You seem...kinda freaked out or something?"

Shaking herself Claire gave her best saccharine sweet smile, "Oh honey I'm fine, you just took me unawares that's all" she craned her neck to meet his eyes, their height difference was crazy at this proximity.

Leaning down to place one last kiss on her forehead he accepted her reply with a shrug, "Ok, I'm gonna go shower before dinner."

Claire felt her legs buckle as she watched him make his way to the stairs, what was happening to her?