The wedding planner was rushing around making last minute adjustments making sure everything was perfect, they all had their places and were ready. Claire took the spot in front of the bride as the maid of honor.

Simon and Monty's faces were flushed with excitement and impatient energy. They fought over how to exactly hold and balance the pillow with the rings on them. Claire wished they'd drop them and they roll and fall in the vent in the floor a few feet away.

She didn't get her wish.

Claire wandered through the Petrelli mansion. It was so big! She felt rather small and out of place. It was nothing like her home in Costa Verde. There were even servants! The lifestyle the Petrellis lived…It would take some time to get used to it all.

She found her way back to her room. She had unpacked her things and had set them up. It still didn't feel like her place. Even her closet felt foreign, Angela had insisted on getting her new things. Her, not liking the wardrobe she had currently possessed.

Claire was going to be living with the Petrellis for a while. She was enrolled at the New York University. Nathan insisted on paying for the tuition. Angela and Nathan thought it was a great opportunity for her to get to know her biological family.

Claire figured it had something to do them with looking good in front of the media now that they knew about her. Embracing estranged daughter, that sort of thing. Don't want bad press to tarnish Nathan's image.

Whatever their motives, self interest (probably) or genuine kindness (probably not) she still felt strange to have them pay for her college tuition and her other expenses plus inviting (more like insisting) she live with them in the infamous Petrelli mansion.

They wouldn't even let her get a job. Nathan said no child of his was going to be working a job and attending university at the same time. He even supplied her with credit cards. She hadn't spent any of it yet except to pay a cab ride once.

School wouldn't be for a few weeks. Besides the social functions she was required to attend Angela took her with her to visit and work at the local charities. Isn't this stuff people should be doing anyways and not for the sake of political ambitions?

Heidi was out running errands and Nathan was at the office. She felt awkward around Nathan and especially Heidi. She tried, and so did they but… How did this affect Heidi and Nathan's relationship? How must Heidi feel having this girl waltz into her happy life, Claire, a child out of wedlock by Nathan with some other woman and unbalance everything? Awkward…

Simon and Monty were downstairs in the living room playing with their action figures, pretending to be super heroes. Their laughter from down stairs brought a smile to her face. They had so readily accepted her into the family. She hadn't expected it. Now she wasn't just a step sister to them now but a friend as well. It was nice.

Angela was mysterious and cold. Nothing like Claire had expected a grandmother to be. As to her whereabouts, Claire wasn't sure... some social function, meeting or something. She wasn't sure she wanted to know.

Regardless she was just glad that she didn't have to go today and sit around pretending. Because, there being something else she wanted to do today. Someone she wanted to see. And he was coming over early.

She stopped in front of her mirror and examined her reflection. She was nervous with anticipation as she drummed her fingers on the vanity. She swiped on some lip gloss and sprayed herself with her perfume then finished by running her brush through her hair.

Noah Bennett had been hesitant on letting Claire stay with the Petrellis for a while. It had taken a good deal of convincing on her part. Basically her argument was that they were her biological family and they wanted her to be part of their lives so she owed them that chance. She felt obligated to go. It was an opportunity to make things right with them and she couldn't waste it. That was what she tried to convince herself of too.

The only reason that closed the deal for her in coming to New York was Peter. Peter was her friend, her hero. It had been months since they'd seen each other last. She wanted to see him so badly.

He was coming over for the first time since she arrived in New York. He'd been really busy and couldn't before or so Nathan said. He was coming over for dinner with the family.

She heard the doorbell ring and raced down stairs to answer it. She stopped in front of the door and surprisingly, breathing hard. She knew who it had to be. Instantly a wave of butterflies hit her stomach. She mentally chided herself for getting nervous to see Peter, her uncle Peter she reminded herself. She seemed to be doing that a lot.

She looked through the peek hole. Sure enough, there he was. He was looking around at the mansion waiting to be let in. His dark hair fell into his eyes and his hands were buried in his trench coat.

She flung the door open with childlike delight.

"Peter." She breathed, taking him in.

His trademark crooked grin lit up his face. "Claire." He said back in also a rather breathless voice staring at her with those dark eyes.

Claire leapt forward and gave him a big hug. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close in a tight embrace. He smelled nice, musky with a hint of cologne. She missed this. She was loath to let go and he seemed as equally so. It lasted a bit too long than was appropriate. She could imagine Angela glaring at them for such a show of affection. She didn't care, she had missed him more than she had realized.

Peter dropped his arms and Claire reluctantly did also. They both stood back and just stood there for a moment taking the other in.

"You're looking good." She said with approval. Did she just say that out loud? Oh well.

He let out a small laugh and let his gaze drift to the floor for a moment then back up at her. "So do you." He said with sincerity. Claire couldn't help but flush slightly.

"It's great to see you." When she had gone back to Costa Verde she had no idea how much she would miss him. She didn't want to say so and sound pathetic and clingy to her uncle. She did have other friends, just none she could talk or relate to like Peter.

His brown eyes met her green ones. "I missed you" He named what they had both been feeling for the past several months, like something had gone missing. It felt right to be in the other's presence again.

Peter hung up his coat then let Claire lead him to Monty and Simon. The twins had been so intent in their play that they at first didn't realize that they were there until Monty by chance happened to look up. They raced over and tackled him. Peter lifted them up in the air and hugged them back. Shouts of "Peter! Its uncle Peter!" filled the air.

Claire stood in the opening to the room watching, smiling at the happy scene before her. Peter was so good with kids, always ready to spend time with them. He had such a good heart. He'd make a great father someday.

Her vision blurred slightly from the sudden tears that threatened to spill. God, what was with her today? It was like she riding a roller coaster of emotions. She quickly blinked them away before any one could notice.

Later after the twins had calmed down and had gone back to their play Peter and Claire made their way into the kitchen. Claire put some water on for some coffee. It'd be a while before they were going to eat and Claire really felt like a cup. The caffeine didn't affect her, just like alcohol or any type of drug wouldn't. She always just found it soothing. She could do with some of that now.

She told him about her excitement to start at NYU this fall and what had been happening with her in Costa Verde while she was away, though she found herself skipping over anything to do with West.

Her smile faltered for a second at the thought but it couldn't last. Everything felt so right in the world at that time. She wasn't worried about people finding out about her, secret organizations hunting her down or not fitting in with the Petrelli world.

Claire noticed the dark circles under his eyes and felt a twinge of concern.

He told her about learning more about his ability and keeping them under control. Having an ability wasn't easy; it came with responsibility, and good deal of sleepless nights, that Claire knew. With his ability it was only harder.

He seemed more at ease after he began opening up. He didn't give too many details, wishing to spare her yet at the same time knowing if any one could understand it'd be her. That was just Peter. She knew it was more than he had probably shared with any one for a while. He put up quite a front, being on the positive side most of the time, not letting on how much some this really affected him. How costing was that front for him? He was always so noble and self sacrificing. When did he ever do anything for himself?

He went on to tell her about how his job as a hospice nurse was going; the patients he helped, the stories they told him about their lives. Claire knew he loved his work, helping people. He was a compassionate, good hearted guy. Another reason he treasured and took his abilities so seriously.

Claire reached into the cabinet to pull out two cups. She could also see how hard it was on him spending time getting to know people then watching them die. That would be how her life would be like, many long years from now, when she was still young from her regenerative ability, and all the people she cared about would be dead.

Pain shot through her for a moment at the thought. Distracted momentarily, she slipped. She immediately fell forward and let go off both cups. Peter instinctively reached out and caught her in his arms, forgetting the telekinesis he could have used to stop her and the now shattered pieces of the mugs on the floor.

She looked up at Peter, his arms still around her. His eyes seemed to have darkened and he stared intently at her in his arms, not letting go even though she wasn't in danger of falling anymore. She found she couldn't look away, completely transfixed. The way he was holding her….

"That's my hero," She joked, trying to lighten the suddenly heavily charged atmosphere. "Save the cheerleader. I'm indestructible you know but the cups weren't."

He helped her regain her feet then quickly did a once over her with his eyes, checking for signs of damage (which had obviously not occurred) then stopped back up at her eyes. "You're not a cheerleader anymore." The air around them seemed to radiate with energy.

"No," She whispered, subconsciously brushing her fingers lightly on his forearm. "I'm not."

Peter paused for a second, realizing he was still holding her. He dropped his arms and took a step back.

Claire felt a blush start to form on her cheeks. She ducked her head hiding her face behind a curtain of her blonde hair. "I'd better clean this up." She started to make her way to the broom closet, glad on having something to focus on, anything than whatever had just transpired between them.

"I've got it." Peter directed his telekinesis. The two glasses started to reform in air, all the pieces finding there place. This way no piece would accidently be left on the floor. Finished he guided them to the trash can. All Claire could do was watch in fascination.

"Show off." She muttered and strode out of the room to check on Monty and Simon. She needed to get away from him, to be able to think, and breathe.