A.N this wasn't meant to be posted until some time next week. But because of the Nathan/Claire issued, I really needed to explain it so here it is. I hope it makes you happier then the last chapter.

Chapter 4: The Lies and deceit of Nathan Petrelli.

"Claire?"

It had been nearly 3 months since the blonde cheerleader had discovered she was the first daughter of Nathan Petrelli, and had decided to leave New York to start her life over again.

The confused voice of Nathan Petrelli repeated itself again, "Claire?"

Claire gave her trademark sad smile and sat across from him, in the small booth. Nathan had received a telephone call from his secretary, about him having to meet someone after work; it had simply expected it to be some client, instead his tired eyes met those of honey brown, Claire's.

"Nathan ever since I heard the news I simply couldn't believe it. I did some background work and I took your hairbrush and your toothbrush," Claire started talking so fast Nathan could barely catch up.

"Claire what are you trying to say?"

Claire stoped and leant in towards Nathan with a broad smile.

"Nathan we are not related"

The small statement caused the very 'Nathan Petrelli' to stop breathing.

"What?"

"We not related. You're not my father and Peter isn't my uncle, the nurse made a mistake"

"Oh"

"I have to tell Peter," Claire eagerly jumped out of her seat, and would have literally run all the way to Peter's if not for Nathan's firm arm pulling her to a stop.

"You can't"

Claire's face reflected a mixture of confusion and hurt.

"What do you mean I can't?"

"Claire you left and Peter broke down. I have never seen a man in so much agony as he was in. Claire he has moved on and to be honest, I have never seen him so happy. Don't ruin his life again. Please Claire."

Claire felt like her very heart had been ripped apart. The words kept repeating over and over again 'Don't ruin his life again'. Claire stepped back away from Nathan.

"I have to get back now"

"Ok Claire"

Claire started to leave but was stopped by Nathan's voice, "You know you can call me anytime."

"Ok"

Claire left.

Nathan sat back down, his thoughts keeping him from thinking about anything except his lie to Claire, 'Claire he has moved on and to be honest, I have never seen him so happy.' Nathan sighed resting his head in his hands.

"What have I done?"

Even as he said it, Nathan knew he wouldn't be the one to tell Peter or Claire the truth. He was being selfish and he knew it. If Peter was to find out the truth, he would run back to Claire in an instant. I can't let that happen. Nathan desperately poured through his address book, until he found just what he had been looking for.

Nathan dialled the number in a hurry, this would be the perfect distraction to keep Peter distracted for a little while, just in case Claire comes to check up on him.

"Hello Nicole, I was wandering if you will be free for dinner tonight?"

"Harris?"

Claire was surprised to see Harris lying beside her front door.

"Claire," yawned a very tired Harris, "Are you ok? I was worried sick about you."

"Harris I'm fine. I just need to get out of town for a little while, I'm sorry I should have told you"

Harris sat up and pulled Claire into a tight hug, "It's ok"

Claire looked around and noticed arrange of letter staked up near her door.

"The bills never stop, even if you are away," Claire laughed, "Harris did you want to come in? No offence, but it looks as if you need a coffee,"

"None taken," Harris smiled and followed Claire into her apartment.

Harris followed Claire into her apartment, taking a seat on one of the barstools at the counter.

"Nice place"

"Thanks. It's only a 2 bedroom, but that's all I really need," Claire replied as she tried to reach up to the cupboards; to grab to mugs, for her and Harris.

Harris noticing Claire's struggles got up from where he had been sitting a walked over to where Claire was.

"Claire let me get that"

"Thanks"

"How ever are you able to look after yourself without someone here, if you can't even reach your coffee cups," laughed Harris

Claire punched Harris softly in the arm, "hey I can look after myself and as for the cups I usually get a chair," Claire managed to laugh back.

"Claire?"

"Yes," Claire answered laughing still.

"Do you realise how beautiful you are?" Harris paused for a moment blushing, "I mean when you're laughing."

Harris stopped laughing and staring down at Claire he leant down and brought his lips upon hers.

"Peter I cannot believe I have to wear this," Claire raised her hands in a 'why me' position and put on her best pouting face.

Peter laughed pulling her into one of his friendly hugs; which buried in his scent, almost allowing her to pass out in his arms, "Come on Claire its Simon's Birthday, personally I think you look cute in the full army suit," Peter continued to tighten his grip around her. Claire eventually pulled away, putting her hands straight back onto her hips.

"But paintball doesn't that hurt?"

"Claire don't worry I look after you," Peter replied wrapping his arm protectively around Claire.

"ATTACK"

Screams were heard from all around Peter and Claire.

"Peter!!"

"Claire follow me, Peter jumped behind a haystack and dragged Claire along with him.

"Peter…"

Claire's words were put to a stop by Peter's hand coming to rest on top of her mouth.

Claire struggled against it.

"Oww!! You bit me," Peter stared at Claire dumbstruck.

"That's right no one messes with Claire"

"You're so going to get it now," Peter smiled down at Claire, before pouncing on her tickling her.

"Peter!! Don't …Peter…Please"

"Never…"

Peter's laughter and Claire's giggles were put to a stop by a suddenly being hit by a flood of paintballs.

"See I told you they would be making out somewhere," Simon told his twenty or so friends, "Come on lets eat, I'm bored with this now"

Simon and his friends then turned and walked away from the paint covered duplet.

"Ok that really does hurt," Peter said breaking the silence as he wiped the paint splashes of his face.

"Oww… this is going to take forever to wash out. Just look at me, disgusting"

"I don't think your look disgusting," Peter said while wiping some paint from Claire.

"Claire do you realise how beautiful you are, if I was just a couple years younger," Peter tried to laugh off what he was really implying.

"You have to say that, your like my…," Claire struggled to find a word to some up Peter, she knew what she wanted him to be, but that could never be.

"I remember one time I was 'totally your hero' Claire," Peter joked

"Hey I was 16 give me a break"

"Claire you really are beautiful though, I just wanted you to know that," Peter said picking himself up from the ground.

"Thanks," Claire replied as she too picked herself off the ground.

Peter smiled over at Claire, "Come on I'll give you a piggyback back to the camp," Claire laughed jumping on.

As Peter started to walk back down the trail; with Claire safely on his back, he felt her lips press lightly on his cheek for a brief second, he wasn't even sure if it had happened at all.

"Peter?"

"Hmm?" Peter managed to mumble nervously.

"You're totally my hero," Claire repeated the same clique words she had said to him a year ago. However there was something about the way she had said them this time; whispered in his ear, for only him to hear, that made them that what more special.

Claire pulled away from Harris, "I'm sorry I can't, I shouldn't have led you on the other week I'm sorry,"

"Claire it's ok. I'm sorry I just hope this weren't affect our friendship, because if it's ok with you I thought we could still be friends,"

"I would like that"

"Claire I have to go, but I'll give you a call later," Harris leant over lightly brushing his lips against Claire's cheek, before walking out the door.

Claire took a deep breath before walking into her room, lying down on the bed she thought about everything.

But one thing kept coming up and she needed to fix it, picking up the phone she dialled Nathan's cell.

"Claire"

"Nathan we need to talk do you think you can meet me"

"Sure. I'll meet you at Sally's tomorrow at noon"

"Ok"

"I love you Claire"

"I will see you tomorrow Nathan, we'll talk then"

"Nathan!!"

"Look Pete I really don't have time for this at the moment," Nathan tried to keep up his ever political smile as he brushed Peter out of his office.

"Nathan you can't just tell me you loved her too and pretend that never happened, I mean she IS YOUR DAUGHTER"

Nathan's smile grew ever bigger as his eyes connected with his secretary, Helen; whose face was a mix of confusion and horror.

"Ok I'll give you five minutes in my office"

Peter rushed back into Nathan's office, leaving Nathan to clean up the mess.

"OK enough everyone back to work"

Nathan held up his smile as he told everyone to get back to work.

Nathan stepped into his office closing the door behind him, his smile dropping almost instantly.

"What do you want to know Peter?"

Peter stood up and walked over to Nathan and punched him square in the face.

"Peter what the…?"

"Nathan how could you. You know how much she means to me, and for Gods sake she is your daughter"

"Peter she is your niece"

"It's not the same thing; you don't understand Nathan you just don't," Peter sighed resting his head in his hands.

"Your just lucky I'll didn't use super strength on you," Peter managed to mumble out.

"It still hurt," Nathan managed a chuckle, trying to make a joke at of the situation.

'This wouldn't be so bad if I just had told him the truth about Claire, well that time has come and gone, I just have to get use to this' Nathan began to think to himself.

Peter got up and walked towards the door, "I can't believe you would do that to me, I just can't be around you right now tell ma Nicole and I weren't be making dinner tonight," Peter then turned his back to Nathan and walked out the door.

Claire walked into the small diner, only a few blocks from her apartment. The place had become a second home for her. Gloria had taken Claire under her wing the moment the tear streaked girl had showed up at her door. Claire had told Gloria everything; over time, and Gloria had sat patiently listening between orders. Claire had adapted quite well to working in the kitchen under Ray's strict kitchen rules, she was also a waitress whenever one of the girls were sick. Today however she was a customer.

"Claire what can I get you?"

"Nothing actually," She replied smiling back at the young brunette, Renee, "I'm meeting someone soon, so I'll just wait"

"Ok I'll come back later then," Renee walked over to the booth directly in front of Claire's.

The bell on the front door chimed, and Claire stretched her head up; her eyes connected with Nathan's, Claire then looked, this was going to be hard.

Nathan walked over in the only Nathan could and sat down opposite her.

"What did you want to talk about?"

"Nathan …I can't do this anymore"

Claire could feel tears starting to form.

"Claire what are you talking about"

"Nathan I loved Peter and what I did with you was wrong, I tried to convince myself I was in love with you to move on, but the truth is Nathan I will only love one person and that is Peter. Even if that means I will be living alone forever"

Claire was now in tears. Nathan seemed to be holding something in to, but the politician in him wouldn't allow him to express it.

"Peter is getting married,"

It was the first time they had mentioned his name in the past months. The very words burnt Claire, only this burn couldn't be healed.

"What, when?"

"6 months. Here Claire Ma invited you," Nathan handed over the invitation.

"I'm sorry Nathan"

"Well I have to get back. I'll see you at the wedding Claire. Ma wants family up in a month, to help organise stuff, I'll see you then. Goodbye Claire," Nathan walked out the door of Sally's Diner. Gloria walked over after seeing that Claire was crying, pulled the shaking girl in her arms.

"Everything will be ok"

"Peter is getting married, his getting married," Claire managed to choke out between sobs, Gloria called over to Ray, who walked over to where Claire was picked her up in his arms and carried her up to the double bed upstairs, Gloria followed closely behind.

Ray laid Claire down softly on the bed, before walking back downstairs to attend to the diner.

Gloria moved so she was sitting next to Claire, who was now lying curled up on the bed.

"Claire you'll be ok, you'll be ok"

Claire continued to cry until her body gave out, sending Claire into a dream filled night.

Claire faced was covered in a mixture of black streaks and tears and she still looked beautiful.

"What?"

"Nothing"

"Stop staring at me"

"I wasn't," Peter defended weakly.

"Will you two SHUT UP," Peter and Claire crouched down lower in their seats muffling small laughs together.

"Claire we didn't have to see this movie you know, I mean if it was going to upset you and all"

"No Peter I'm fine I wanted to see it"

"Well ok then," Settling back Peter watched as Rose slowly made her way towards Jack. How on earth had Claire convinced him to go see Titanic again, Peter looked over and watched Claire's reactions changed as the seen played out until finally resting on a small smile and Peter realised that was how.

"Claire?"

"Yes Peter"

"I… forget it, it isn't anything important,"

"Oh ok," Claire replied leaving Peter with a confused expression before turning back to the movie.

'Come on Peter, just say it, just kiss her already' Peter started to think to himself.

Peter then felt Claire's hand come to rest on top of his hand, however being caught of guard Peter jumped into the air so fast like he had been burned.

"Peter?" Claire asked concerned

"I have to get some fresh air," Peter quickly made his way out of the cinema, Claire following closely behind.

Peter finally getting out of the crowded cinema walked around out in the foyer; around in a circle, trying to collect his thoughts.

"Peter, are you ok?"

"I can't do this anymore Claire"

"Do what Peter?"

"Be around you like this," Peter could see tears threatening to pour out of Claire's eyes again.

"Peter I thought we got along well, I thought you were my friend," Claire managed to choke out.

"That's the problem Claire I don't want to be your friend," Claire lost it crumbling to the ground, Peter ran over realising what he had just said would have sounded.

"Claire look," Peter started picking Claire up, Claire managed to stare Peter in the eyes, "I don't want to be your friend, because I want to be so much more," Peter then bent down and captured his lips with Claire's.

Claire stood still for a moment stunned from what had just happened, however it didn't take her to long to realise that 'Peter' was kissing her, with everything she got she kissed him back.

A.N well I hoped you enjoyed that Chapter. Please let me know.

I will try to update soon.