"Claire?" she heard Gabriel call her name, but she made no move to reply. She was numb inside and out and all she wanted was to be held, to feel safe and loved, but she was frozen. Claire could hear him enter the bathroom and sigh as he drew back the curtain. Claire stiffly looked up at him, water pouring into her eyes.

Gabriel turned the shower off and scooped her up into his arms, uncaring that she soaked his clothes. Claire clung to him even as he deposited her on to her bed, unwilling to lose the warmth of his body. His hands rubbed comforting circles into her back. Silent tears escaped and trailed down her cheeks, but he wiped them away replacing them with soft kisses.

"Claire, what's wrong?"

She attempted to catch her breath, struggling to control her crying. "My dad was here…" She broke down, pressing her face into his chest, her small hands grasping his shirt tightly.

"Shhh, it's okay. Tell me what happened."

"He—he was here when I got home. He wanted to know where I had been. Gabriel, he knows about us."

"And that's why you're crying, because he doesn't approve of us?"

"That's an understatement; he hit me when he found out."

"WHAT?" Gabriel stood abruptly and began pacing about the room. "I'm going to fucking kill him, fucking rip him to shreds, I'm going to—,"

Claire grabbed his arm as he passed. "Hey, look at me." He didn't. "Damn it, look at me Gabe. " When he finally turned to her she continued. "It happened okay. There's nothing either of us can do about it now. Don't give him the satisfaction of proving him right. Gabe, you have worked so hard to become a better person, for me, for everyone, don't let him take that away from you. Besides, I can't get hurt, remember."

His eyes softened. "But you can Claire."

She gave him a sad smile and pulled him back down on the bed, her arms immediately warping around him. "I know," she whispered into his shoulder, "but that's why I have you to protect me. You love me more than he ever will."

Gabriel couldn't help, but think of the irony in this situation. After everything that he had done to this woman, he was her hero. Here he was with a naked Claire Bennet in his arms and she loved him. He was finally whole and he would never have to face eternity alone, save for the hunger, but with his Claire.

"Claire, do you trust me?"

"Of course I do. Why would you ask such an idiotic question?"

"Marry me."

"Um, Gabe, I already said yes."

"No I mean right now. Let's fly to Vegas, or something. Why wait any longer?"

It didn't take long for Claire to answer. There was no doubt in her voice as she replied. "Yes, but on one condition."

"What, you want to be married by Elvis?"

"Peter and Emma are coming with us."

"Oh thank god, I don't think I could have handled getting married by an Elvis impersonator." Gabriel stood up from the bed and looked down at his soon to be wife. "Now get dressed before I change my mind."

"You wouldn't dare."

"True, but we probably wouldn't make it there today," he smirked down at her. "Now hurry up."

Claire did not need to be told twice. She tore through her closet and settled on an old pair of jeans that clung to her curves and the first top she saw. No need to dress fancy for the flight there and she fully intended on taking Emma with her on a shopping spree. Having a boyfriend who could turn anything into gold had its advantages. She finished with a neat pony tail and signaled to Gabriel that she was ready.

Hand-in-hand, they exited her apartment, taking the stairs to the roof. "You know this would be much faster, if I had Hiro's power."

"Yeah, but I prefer flying. I always wanted that power." Claire was in his arms once again, soaring through the clouds. She couldn't help the girlish laughter that escaped her, the wind unable to prevent her from staring straight ahead, or watching the ground below. It was not long before the New York skyline appeared before them, the sun gleaming off the towering skyscrapers. She had to admit she was a bit disappointed when they finally landed, but told herself they would soon be on their way again, uncle in tow.

"So we're really doing this?" Gabriel said.

"Bet your ass we are. Now let's go see Uncle Pete."

Claire raced him up the stairs. She almost beat him to the door, but damn his longer legs. "Cheater."

"Next time babe," he gloated. He knocked on the door as they both listened for footsteps. They weren't left waiting long. The door open to a first, confused Peter, but that soon disappeared behind a welcoming smile.

"Hey man," he gave Gabe a hug and then Claire. "Great to see you guys. What brings you to New York?"

"You are coming to Vegas with us." Claire said leaving no room for objections.

"Vegas?"

Gabe answered, "Yeah, I need a best man. So tell Emma to come out here because you two are coming to a wedding."

Peter blushed slightly at the insinuation, but called out to Emma. "Man, why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Well, it was kind of a spur of the moment kind of thing." Neither Gabriel, nor Claire, wanted to explain the situation with Noah at the moment. They were about to go to Vegas and nothing was going to dampen the mood. "Now get your shit, and let's go already. We have some serious partying to do."

Peter retreated back into his apartment, but came back with a slightly bewildered Emma. Apparently he hadn't yet explained where they were going yet. However, as soon as she saw them she too couldn't help but smile, taking Claire in a great big hug.

Gabriel and Peter seemed to shake hands, but Claire knew Peter was taking Gabe's ability. Gabriel couldn't very well fly them all. "Now that everyone's ready," Gabe said. "Vegas," he yelled enthusiastically.

Noah answered his phone immediately. "They're on their way to Las Vegas. Sylar and Claire are eloping."

"Very well," the line went dead. Noah had an old friend to visit.

A/N: This would have been done yesterday, but I got distracted halfway through by other people's stories.