Five Reasons for Love – Chapter 2
Because they shared ice-cream.
Nathan played baseball until he was 18, Peter watched until he was 6. Nathan loved baseball. It was his one break from the responsibilities of his studies, his family, the name Petrelli. On the field, he didn't need to worry about the consequences of his actions on the family name, he didn't need his mannerisms, nor did he need a mask of successful heir to hide himself behind. No, on the field was one time when he could truly be himself, do his best knowing it was good enough. His parents hardly ever came to games, since they were busy with their own schedules, but ever since their mother had taken Peter along to see a special interstate match Nathan's team had managed to make, Peter had fallen in love with watching his brother play.
"But I want see Nathan play!!" he had insisted when their mother had tried to reason with him as to why they were too busy to go see Nathan at the following weekend match afterwards.
"It's only a small game Peter, we can go and see the big ones," his mother had said, "I need to attend a function with your father next week."
"I go with Nathan!" he had persisted, now grabbing onto Nathan's hand.
"Nathan would be too busy preparing for the match to look after you," his mother had retorted, but Peter stubbornly shook his head.
"Panni take me?" he had then asked. Panni was Peter's nanny, a sweet Mexican lady that had taken quite a delight to the dark hair moppet. "Panni will come!"
"And how would you and Panni get there?" their Mother asked again.
"Walk!" he had stated with affirmation. Then a second later, "Please Mommy?"
"Okay…if Panni agrees," Nathan's mother had then relented, giving in to the irresistible round pleading eyes. "And I will give you money to take a cab so you don't have to walk. It's a ten minutes away by car! Even if you don't mind walking, I'm sure Panni would have something to say about walking so far."
"And two dollars?" Peter cheerfully asked.
"For what?"
"Ice-cream!" he yelled in glee, grinning almost ear to ear.
Nathan, who had been standing by listening to the conversation couldn't help himself and chuckled at that point.
"Petey, are you sure you don't just want to come so you can eat ice-cream afterwards?" he teased his baby brother, affectionately ruffling his hair.
"Noooooooooo…" Peter had retaliated, eyes widening in indignity.
--------------------------------------------------
Right after the next match, much to Nathan's surprise, Peter had dragged him to the nearest ice-cream stand, only to use his two dollars to buy an ice-cream and held it out to Nathan.
"For Nathan!" he gleefully chirped, an expression of pure joy spreading across his features. Nathan blinked, wondering what his brother meant. "Hurry Nathan!" Peter had then scolded, grabbing Nathan's hand and pushing the ice-cream into it.
"Peter, what about you?" Nathan finally asked, allowing himself to take the ice-cream. Peter smiled at him and hopped from foot to foot…
"Well…well…Nathan share?" he smiled, looking pleadingly up at Nathan. Nathan smiled, knelt down to Peter's height and held the ice-cream out to Peter's lips. Peter quickly leant in to lick, only to pull away with an extra dopple of ice-cream on his nose as well. Nathan laughed, shaking his head at his adorable younger brother and reaching into his pocket to take out his hanky to clean Peter up.
--------------------------------------------------------
That had been back when Peter was four years old. Now at six, it had become a ritual for the youngest Petrelli to be in the stands of every single game Nathan's team played, waving his self made banners proudly bearing the team colors and loudly cheering Nathan's name. Although slightly embarrassing, Nathan didn't mind too much. Especially when the cheerleaders all thought Peter was the most adorable thing they've ever seen, and would accompany Nathan and Peter to the ice-cream stand. Peter always bought an ice-cream for Nathan after the game. It wasn't that Nathan couldn't afford his own ice-cream, but it mattered to Peter than he was able to get Nathan ice-cream, so Nathan played along for his baby brother's sake. Peter usually ended up eating most of it anyways.
"Peter, why don't I buy you an ice-cream?" one of the cheerleaders would offer, but Peter always stubbornly shook his head.
"Nathan will share!" he would answer them, beaming.
-----------------------------------------------------
Soon the time was looming for Nathan to enter college, and knowing his responsibilities as a Petrelli heir, baseball would have to become a distant memory left behind in his youth. He was to commence studies at none other than Harvard, and his time was to be dedicated to gaining top marks and building an exceptional resume. Baseball did not fit into the portrait, and despite Nathan's heart telling him otherwise, he announced his resignation from the team a month prior to his final exams.
"But why Nathan?" Peter had begged when Nathan told him that he was to be playing his final match that very Saturday.
"I have to study, I'm too busy for baseball now," Nathan answered him. Peter had looked at him with skepticism, as if seeing right through Nathan's heart and knowing Nathan was lying to himself as much as he was to Peter and everyone else. But still, Peter accepted Nathan's words, and simply told Nathan that he was going to make an extra special banner for Saturday. It was only when during dinner, as Nathan's father announced a last minute business trip to Las Vegas on the same Saturday, that the normally docile Peter had flared up.
"But Saturday is Nathan's game!" he had spoken up in the midst of his father's words, causing Nathan's father to frown at his younger son's interruption. "You and Mommy have to come, it's his last game."
"Peter," his father had warningly responded, "please do not interrupt me when I am speaking. Yes we are aware it is Nathan's last game, but your mother and I have business to attend to that is more important."
"But Nathan is important too!" Peter had bravely retaliated.
"Yes, Nathan is important, and we are proud of your brother. But Nathan's focus isn't on trivial matters such as baseball, and there is no need for us to attend some game in place of business." Nathan's father had spoken sharply, signifying the end of the conversation, but Peter wasn't fazed.
"Baseball isn't just a game! Baseball is important to Nathan too, but you never come. You never come, and you've never seen. Now you're not letting Nathan play anymore, and you still won't come to his last game...It's his last game!" Peter finished with a sob, now having sprung off his chair and thrown his fork to the ground. Nathan flinched immediately when his father grabbed Peter harshly by the shoulders, towering over him.
"How dare you! You do not talk to me in that manner, do you understand? We know what is important to Nathan, and you are in no position to speak. Your mother and I have already decided, and we are going to continue this dinner with no further interruptions from you at all, is that clear?" he yelled, shaking the six year old with every word. Peter had kept silent, staring directly at their father, a mixture of fear and anger, tears brimming at the edge. A few more seconds and their father finally released him with a shove, causing the youngest Petrelli to hit the floor hard. Biting down a sob, Peter raced out of the dinning room, leaving Nathan and his mother sitting still in shock, not quite knowing what to say or do.
Picking at his food for a few more moments longer, and deciding that he could not eat another bite, Nathan gingerly placed his fork down.
"May I be excused?" he courteously asked, and without waiting for an answer, he stood up and walked away also.
Nathan found Peter in his room, crayons strewn over the ground as he colored Nathan's team colors over a large poster board. He quietly walked over and sat down besides Peter, noticing the tear streaks on his brother's cheeks.
"It's your last game," Peter stated to him in a sob, continuing to run the crayon across the paper. Nathan didn't answer, finding himself absorbed by the coloring, his team colors, colors that had made him proud, colors that had gave him so much simple joy… he suddenly shook himself, "you are Nathan Petrelli," he told himself. He had his role to play.
"It doesn't matter," he finally spoke.
Peter abruptly dropped his crayon, and turned towards Nathan, brown eyes staring deeply into Nathan's own, a haunting look that would question Nathan's decisions concerning his life for years to come.
"Yes it does," Peter whispered, a tear sliding slowly out. "It does matter, you know it does."
-------------------------------------------------
To Nathan's utmost disappointment, it was dark and cloudy when he woke up early Saturday morning. He found his parents downstairs, luggage packed, about to leave for their 9am flight.
"We will be back on Monday," his father told him, giving his shoulder a squeeze before heading out to their limousine.
"Peter's sitter is coming at eleven, so make sure you stay until she comes," his mother instructed him as he helped her take her luggage out.
"Where's Panni?" he asked.
"She's on leave, her son's wedding or something," she answered.
"What? Oh…well, can I take him to my game?" he asked instead.
Nathan's mother sighed, "You heard your father the other night…Peter's not allowed to go. I'm so sorry we can't make it to your game," she apologized, giving him a final kiss on the cheek before she ducked into the car. Nathan smiled curtly, and waved them goodbye. He looked up into the sky and sighed, praying to any God out there that it wouldn't rain.
--------------------------------------------
Peter's sitter had come exactly on time at eleven, and after some tearful goodbyes, namely on Peter's part after he found out Panni wasn't coming and that he wasn't allowed to go to Nathan's game, Nathan finally headed off. Nathan had taken the journey slowly, opting to walk to the field instead of taking a cab as he usually did. By the time he arrived, most of his teammates were already there, everyone looking skeptically at the sky. The audience was also sparse, many leaving knowing full well that the match probably wasn't going to get going, whilst a few stayed on pure optimism. Still, the team played some pre-match practice and warmed up, preparing for the game.
"Okay guys, ten in the dressing room, then we are going to win this thing," his coach ordered them, and the boys headed back in, many complaining that the match probably wouldn't happen anyway. Nathan tried his best to ignore the thunder and lightning storming outside as he slowly changed into his uniform, savoring every moment of pre-game excitement that engulfed him. Gripping his bat tightly in his hand, he practiced his strokes to himself, gearing up for the match. If he was to leave, the least he could do was to try his damn best to leave on a win. Stretching his arms a couple more times, he finally felt ready for the battle, and started out from the changing room to meet up for the team huddle.
-------------------------------------------------
Nathan was just about out the door when the rest of his team filed back in, the previous quiet now taken over by noise and activity as people began changing out of their uniforms.
"Jason, what's up?" Nathan asked his best friend on the team, dread filling his heart.
Jason shrugged, "Rain just started, falling pretty heavily too, match has been postponed until later, but most of the guys think there's no way there's going to be a match today anyways" he answered as he pulled a T-shirt over his head. Seeing the disappointment paint across Nathan's normally masked expression, his friend finally realized. "Oh man, it's your last match isn't it? That's tough man! It's been good," he said pitifully to Nathan, giving Nathan a firm pat on the back. "You sure you can't go one extra week man? We totally need you."
Nathan shook his head, not even attempting to hide his disappointment.
"I need to concentrate on the finals," he declined, before burying his head into his hands, "Man, I can't believe it."
Jason gave his shoulder a comforting squeeze.
"We're going to miss you man. And our little fan club too," he told Nathan, a smile flashing over his expression as he spoke of Peter. "Where is he by the way? Usually he'd be yelling the field down by this time."
Nathan shook his head, keeping his face buried in his hands. "He couldn't come today…maybe it's a good thing, at least he won't be too disappointed."
"But he always comes! Man, your little bro wouldn't even miss a match if a Hurricane hit!" Jason joked to Nathan, but eyes of concern brushing his friend. Nathan finally lifted his head up.
"Yeah well…he's not missing out on much today, is he?"
Half an hour later, the rain had only gotten heavier, and the match had been officially announced cancelled. Nathan watched helplessly as the team started heading out to return to their respective families and homes, wishing he could hold them all back and beg them to wait out another half hour. Finally everyone had gone, leaving only Nathan in the dressing room. Reluctantly, Nathan slowly packed up his locker, changing out of his uniform one last time and folding it neatly into his bag. Picking up his bat, Nathan twisted the willow around in his hands, gripping the bat into a batting position and shadow batting in the air. He was in the midst of another stroke when his best friend walked in.
"Hey man!" he greeted. "Mom's still on her way over, she's stuck in traffic. Want a lift when she gets here?" he offered, seating himself beside Nathan. Nathan shook his head, slightly lost in his strokes. Suddenly he stopped.
"Hey man…would you mind, I mean, I know it's raining and all, but would you mind pitching me a few?"
Jason smiled at his friend's unusual request. Nathan Petrelli was hardly one for such spontaneity.
"Of course man, what's another shower when I get to pitch to the retiring match of a champion?" he grinned, grabbing the ball out of his bag and heading out. Nathan grabbed his own bat and followed.
-----------------------------------------------------
Outside, Nathan stepped up onto his plate, and held his bat into position. The rain soaking through his clothes bought him a shiver, but none of that mattered to him at this very moment. All there existed was his bat, and the feeling of exhilaration he always felt before facing a ball. Jason squinted to see through the rain, taking his aim before pitching a slow one to Nathan. Nathan swung, and missed, running back to pick up the ball and throwing it back.
"Pitch me your best," he shouted to Jason over the noise of the rain, and his friend nodded.
Jason aimed another one, but this time, the ball flew near Nathan's body, and after half swinging, he ducked out, running back once more to throw the ball back to Jason.
"Strike Two!" Jason yelled to him, and Nathan gripped his bat tighter.
"Just worry about the pitching," Nathan yelled back, squinting his eyes to concentrate on the ball. Jason pitched again, Nathan swung, hard, and bat connected to ball, sending the ball flying to the other side of the field. Nathan took off, and ran to second base whilst Jason ran after the ball. Then onto third, feeling only freedom as the wind and rain brushed his cheeks. Heading to fourth, Nathan saw Jason running back with the ball, racing towards him complaining, "No fair man! I have to pitch and field!" Nathan laughed, speeding up before Jason caught up to him. Jason gave a good chase, gaining certain ground over Nathan before he flipped down and slid smartly to home base just as Jason tagged him. Both friends stayed on the ground, trying to catch their breath as they laughed.
"Home run!! Home run!!" a small voice sounded somewhere in the distance, and both boys looked up in surprise.
"Go Nathan!" the voice cheered again.
Nathan's eyes scanned the grounds for the source of the voice, finally spotting a small figure standing at the back of the stands, nearly covered by a large poster board, bearing the same colors as Nathan's uniform.
"Hey, it's your little bro man," Jason started to say, but Nathan had already taken off in the direction of the voice.
"Peter?" he yelled back, racing towards the figure.
"Homerun!!! You did a homerun Nathan!" Peter continued to cheer, lifting his sign up in jubilation.
"Peter, what are you doing here?" Nathan asked as soon as he managed to reach him. Grabbing Peter under the arms, Nathan quickly raced him to the undercover of the changing room. Peter was as drenched as Nathan, water dripping off dark tendrils of hair, his large brown eyes staring brightly through the curtain his wet hair formed. Kneeling down to Peter's height, Nathan's hand went to affectionately brush the wet strands back from covering Peter's eyes. Jason, who had followed the brothers into the changing room, held out a towel Nathan which Nathan took, swiftly draping it over his younger brother as he saw Peter shiver.
"Petey, what are you doing here? Where's your sitter?" he asked again.
"I came to see you. Connie's still at home, she thinks I'm coloring in my room," Peter answered, looking slightly guilty when he mentioned his sitter.
"What…how did you get here?" Nathan asked again, checking Peter over for injuries, and frowning at a gash on Peter's knee. For all his logic and calm, it worried him to see his little brother unaccompanied.
"I walked. I remember the way the taxi goes," was Peter's answer, "I tripped when I was crossing the road…" he confessed when he noticed Nathan looking at his knee.
"You walked? All by yourself? Peter, you could've been killed by a car! Try explaining that one to Mom! And just what do you expect me to tell Pa?" Nathan scolded, but Peter cut him off.
"I had to come Nathan, I had to come and see you play, and show you my banner, and buy you ice-cream," he whimpered, his voice breaking into tears as he reached into his pocket to pull out his two dollars. "It's important to you, so it's important to me, I have to buy you ice-cream, because on your first match Dad came and bought you ice-cream, and you smiled when you remembered it."
"Peter…what are you talking about?"
"In the big game, the one with Mommy too, you said when we got ice-cream that Dad got you ice-cream on your first match, and you wished someone would get you ice-cream every match," he sobbed again, tears now streaming down his cheeks. Nathan felt a lump rise in his throat as he listened. He remembered those words slightly, said as an offhand reminiscence with his mother whilst the Petrelli trio had gone for ice-cream after his match, that very first one that Peter had gone to. He didn't know that the four year old Peter had in fact been paying attention to their conversation. Suddenly, all the times Peter had been so adamant about buying Nathan ice-cream finally made sense. Peter only wanted to make Nathan happy. Peter also wanted to share with Nathan, so that in a way, his "daddy" was also buying him ice-cream as well. Nathan couldn't help but feel a deep sense of sorrow wash over him, not quite understanding why it was that Peter had to pay price for being an unplanned baby, when it wasn't his fault. Nathan had always seen father as his role model, but at that very moment, he questioned the man he had looked up to his whole life.
"Nath, Mom's here. You still up for that ride?" Jason's voice broke over Nathan's train of thoughts. Not allowing his eyes to leave Peter, Nathan shook his head.
"It's okay, we'll catch a cab or something."
Jason smiled, clipping Nathan once more on the shoulder.
"Sure then man, we'll catch up! Bye little guy!" he waved to Peter before walking away.
"Her Jase!" Nathan called after his friend, "Thanks…for everything," he finished. Jason only grinned back before lifting his fingers in farewell exiting the door.
Now left alone with Peter, Nathan placed his hands onto the younger's shoulders affectionately.
"Let's go get that ice-cream then…my favorite little fan," he smiled at Peter, pulling him into a tight hug. Peter too, tightly wrapped his little arms around Nathan, and at that moment, Nathan stopped pretending. He stopped putting on a mask for his family. Stopped acting that he was fine with his father directing his life. With Peter in his arms, Nathan allowed a tear to run down, a farewell to his childhood. And Peter continued to hug Nathan back, simply understanding.
------------------------------------------------
"One vanilla cone with chocolate sprinkles please," Peter ordered, proudly placing his two dollars onto the counter. Both boys had dried off, Nathan lending Peter one of his extra uniforms to wear, which Peter was only all too happy to put on, despite it being entirely too big and almost hanging down to his feet. The rain had finally stopped, and as promised, they had arrived at the ice-cream parlor since their usual ice-cream stand had been closed. Nathan held his brother in his arms comfortably, smirking to himself when he caught Peter's almost dribbling expression as he saw the ice-cream being scooped into the cone. Happily taking the ice-cream from the hands of the cashier, Peter gave Nathan an expression of pure joy, holding it out for his brother as usual. Nathan grinned back, before leaning in to lick.
Somehow he just knew that nothing would ever taste sweeter.
-----------------------------------------------
Another chapter done! This one ended up being way longer than I had initially planned, which is why it took longer to update. I thought that Peter may have been a little too understanding of such grown up concepts as saying goodbye to ones childhood and everything, but then I thought that since he's a little empath, he'd probably have been more tuned in to people's feelings, especially his brothers.
Thanks for everyone's reviews of last chapter! It was muchos appreciated! See, the added fuel raced the chapter to seven pages on microsoft word! hehe...
Please review this one!