Sylars Pov

I'd woken up earlier than everyone else as I could hear them all breathing lightly. Out of habit, I made my way downstairs into the kitchen and started cooking. Breakfast was my favorite meal of the day, and I couldn't help but think of how Claire would love it if there were waffles with warm syrup waiting for her. I wanted to do something nice for her, so I took out a bunch of ingredients and began my usual morning mantra. As I cooked, I'd made coffee so that I wouldn't be tempted to fall asleep on the frying pan.

Just as I put the food onto serving plates and had set it all down on the dining table, I could hear Claire coming down the stairs. "Whoa, you cook?" she sleepily sauntered over and sat down. I set a plate in front of her and she piled a little bit of everything onto it. I looked at her as she smiled happily at the bite of waffle that she shoved into her mouth. "This is really good." "I have a secret ingredient." "Is it apple sauce?" "No." "Hmm, cinnamon?" "Now you keep that to yourself." I pointed at her and she looked back down at her food.

It seemed we were getting on the right foot this morning, I was rather enjoying it. I could tell she was too, but that could just be her enjoying the food without caring who cooked it. I couldn't seem to stop staring at her though. Claires smile was intoxicating. She got up after a few minutes and took care of her own dishes. "Thanks for breakfast." "Anytime." I smiled shyly at her, not knowing how she'd feel if I'd smiled the same way I always did before.

The morning passed by rather quickly, Peter and Angela went out and that left me and Claire alone. I wasn't sure if she wanted company, so I went into the den and picked up a book. I haven't picked up a book in a few years, it felt good to just relax and read. I'd randomly grabbed Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. It was rather ironic, but I wasn't going to let it bother me as I'd began reading. I'd dived right into it and just when I'd finished reading the whole book, Claire graced me with her presence.

"I'm going out for a bit." I put the book down and got up, she tentively took a step back. "Will you be ok by yourself?" "Yeah, I'll be back later." She grabbed her car keys from the table and disappeared through the front door. I couldn't help but think someone should be with her, but I know she can't get hurt. Not yet anyway. Pushing the thought away, I decided to go out for a bit too. This house is like the worlds most boring museum.

I stepped outside and shot into the sky. The air was cold, but it felt good against my skin as I flew across the line of clouds. Just getting out of the house made me feel a lot better. I spent about an hour just flying when I thought I recognized someone's voice. Focusing, I picked up on it. "Let go of me you bastard!" Claire.

I followed her voice quickly and dropped down to find her in an alleyway behind a department store. There were several men surrounding her as one had her held tight in his grip. Anger took over me as I dropped completely to the ground and walked up to them. "Let her go." "Who the fuck are you?" "Don't make me ask again." "Waste this piece of shit!" Before they could even cock their guns, I'd already disposed of the weapons. "Que demonios, es el diablo!" They looked scared to death and that was more than enough for them to run like rats.

Claire was let go rather violently and fell to the ground. I ran to her side as the men turned the corner. "Claire, are you ok?" I reached out and took her hand in mine as I helped her up. "They said they knew how to kill me." She buried her head into my chest. I stood there holding her as she sobbed against my shirt. They really must have scared her. I had a whole new perspective on the things I'd done to her. "I'm so sorry Claire." I wrapped my arms around her, holding on tight so that she knew I was here for her.

I had half a mind to track the men down and kill them, but Claire wouldn't want that. I wouldn't want that, because I don't want to go back to being a killer. As I flew us back, Claire had fallen asleep. She looked so peaceful, so beautiful when she slept. Upon getting back, I reached the bedroom balcony and with my ability opened the balcony door to Claire's room. I tucked her hair away from her face as I placed her on the bed. There was no way I was leaving her alone.

I'd taken to sitting on the other side of the bed and had once again a book in hand. My mother had once read to me Pride and prejudice and I found it to be an incredibly beautiful story. I found the book in the room and began reading it as Claire continued to sleep soundlessly. A half hour passed, and Claire breathed in deeply. I looked at her to see that she hadn't woken up, but rolled over and her head came to rest upon my lower abdomen. I smiled hopefully and put the book down. Leaning back, I let myself nodd off.

OoooO

I woke to the slight sting of someone slapping me. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" Claire was awake, staring at me like I was the devil. "Keeping you safe." "Keeping me safe is sleeping with me?" "No, Claire. I'm sorry, I brought you back here after those disgusting mongrils tried to hurt you. But you fell asleep, so I stayed with you." Her face softened. "Oh." She seemed to recall what had happened as she turned away from me to sit up on the side of the bed. "I'm sorry I slapped you. But you shouldn't have fallen asleep next to me like that."

It was in that moment I wished I had Parkman's ability. Claire had deeper issues going on, I could tell. But since I was unable to, I had to settle with giving her space wether she needed it or not. "I'm sorry to Claire. I'll just leave you alone." Getting up, I grabbed the book off the table and left the bedroom. As I closed the door behind me, I could hear her begin to cry. It broke my heart that she was in so much pain from the things I'd done to how I was changing now. I couldn't think of how to cheer her up, but for the time being, I was giving her what she wanted.

"Hello? Is anyone here?" I quickly got up and went down stairs to see Peter and Angela were back. "Claire's sleeping." "Oh, sorry." Peter shrugged out of his jacket as Angela swiftly removed hers and hung it up on the right hanger hook. "Has she been sleeping all day?" Angela couldn't seem to help but made snide comments at me about anything, including Claire. "No, she had a rough afternoon is all." "Well, she'll be hungry so I'm going to wake her."

"Mom, why don't you go make something to eat and I'll go wake her." "Alright." Angela strolled through to the kitchen and began moving about as Peter ascended the stairs. As usual I'd taken to the den and opened the book to where I'd left off at. I finished reading the book a quarter after two and decided I needed a shower. As I made my way to the bedroom I was staying in, I passed by Claire's room to hear her breathing lightly and writing.

I'd turned on just the hot water and stepped under it. Standing underneath it, I placed my hands on the wall and relaxed as the water cascaded down my skin. When the water got to be cold, I turned it off and got out. Running the towel through my hair, I dried off and slipped into my sweat pants. Putting the towel over my shoulder, I opened the door and stepped out. Claire was sitting on the bed as if she was waiting for me.