Chapter notes: Thanks everyone for all your great reviews! Since you all seemed to enjoy the prelude I decided to post Chapter 1 sooner than I was planning on. Thank you all again! Please keep reviewing your comments truly motivate me.

Chapter 1: Nathan's Regret

"Come on Pete, we gotta get home." Nathan said catching his brother as Peter left his final class.

"Can't. I got detention," Peter replied with a sigh.

"Detention! What for?"

"I fell asleep in class…"

"Peter…"

"But Nathan, I had the most amazing dream! I was soaring, literally flying…"

"Look Pete, you are suppose to dream at home in your bed not in class," Nathan replied feeling exasperated from the conversation.

"Nathan, I'm telling you I think it was more than a dream. I think I can fly…" At this Nathan shot his brother a curious glance.

"Did some one spike your orange juice or are you still asleep?"

"No. I'm serious! When I woke up this morning my foot hovered…it was…"

"It was a dream, Pete. You were probably still asleep and just thought you saw it," Nathan interjected getting frustrated. "I've got a class presidency speech to write. If I hope to win, I'm gona have to work."

"Pick me up in an hour?" Peter replied some what downcast.

"I have a lot of work," Nathan sighed.

"Nathan home is thirty blocks away."

"Alright," Nathan sighed again and headed outside with out another word. Nathan climbed in his expensive sports car. He gazed into the rear view mirror and caught a glimpse of himself. "What are you looking at?" he growled. Something in his gut wanted badly to run back into school and apologize; the other part of him wanted to go and never look back. Why did he always give in to the latter? He knew exactly what to say to his brother, and yet never said it. Peter, I know you're made for greatness. One day you'll find it. One day you will soar. Yes, he knew he should have said that; but instead of building up his little brother, Nathan left him with a stupid I might not even have time to come pick you up. Why had he said that? He would never leave his brother stranded…would he?

Nathan pulled out and started towards home.

BANG. Nathan startled awake when he heard the front door slam. Is mom home already? He doubted it, and he knew for sure it wasn't his father. He glanced at the papers he had been sleeping on top of. He had finished just in time to go pick up Peter.

Suddenly he felt his stomach lung. He had finished just in time to go get Peter, but he hadn't meant to fall asleep. He nervously glanced at the clock and his eyes grew wide. He was supposed to have picked Peter up, two hours ago!

He got up quickly from his chair and grabbed his ceil phone. Five missed calls. Peter, no doubt. He quickly dialed Peter's number as he bounded down the stairs. He heard something ringing as he turned into the kitchen. Peter wouldn't have left his ceil phone here would he?

Nathan turned into the kitchen and stopped dead. His eyes met his mother's. Her arms were crossed and she gave him that I'm-disappointed look, but Nathan barely noticed this. He looked straight at the person sitting at the kitchen table.

"Peter!"

Peter waved at his brother as Nathan disappeared from sight. It was only the second week of school and Peter already had detention! He walked into the detention class room and sunk into a desk.

The next hour passed impossibly slow. He found himself glancing out the window more often than listening. His eyes traced the clouds. A deep longing arose from the deepest reaches of his soul. He wanted to fly amidst them. Just like his dream.

Finally detention ended and he headed out to the front steps of the school. He plopped down on the top step and waited.

How long has it been? A half hour maybe longerand yet Peter still waited. He picked up his ceil phone and dialed. One ring, two rings…three…four and still no answer.

Nearly two hours, and five phone calls later; Peter still slumped on the step. He dialed his mom's number. He hated having to do this, but Peter felt a ting of worry in his gut. What if Nathan wasn't ok? His mom picked up on the first ring.

"Hi, honey." She said sweetly.

"Mom, I need you to come get me."

"What? Why?" He could hear the worry leaking from his mother's voice.

"I'm still at school…I need a ride."

"Why didn't you ride with Nathan?"

"He…uh…was gona come pick me up, but…"

"I'll be right there." Click. Peter sighed deeply. Within a few minutes his mother was there and they went home.

Peter went into the kitchen and dropped his bag on the floor. His mother was equal parts mad and worried, but it was only a few minutes before they heard Nathan come down the stairs.

"Peter!" Nathan nearly ran over and hugged his younger brother. Peter looked up at Nathan. Peter had that look again. Nathan knew it well. "Pete…I'm…"

"What ever, Nathan," His voice was leaking with apathy. A mask, Nathan knew. Peter always pretended not to care when he was mad.

"I had to come home early from work, Nathan." Their mom was using that voice again. Nathan had heard that voice all too often.

"Mom I didn't mean…"

"You didn't mean to abandon your brother?"

"No, I didn't!" Nathan fumed. He hated when his mother did this. Sure he was wrong, but she could at least listen. His mom shook her head and left the room, casting him one last disappointed frown. "Just like your father," He heard her fume on her way out.

Nathan turned back to his brother, and the anger left instantly; replaced by the ensuing guilt. "Pete, I…didn't mean…I lost track of time…" Peter didn't reply he just trudged up the stairs with out looking back.

After Thoughts: This chapter was an introduction to the characters of this story and their relationship with each other. Peter and Nathan are easily my favorite of the Heroes to write about. Which is why I chose them to play the lead in this first story. This story mostly focuses on them, but keep your eyes peeled for more Heroes…

BTW here's a challenge for you all. When you write your reviews try guessing which characters will pop up in this story.