Goodbye and Good Luck

Summer 2010:

Peter: Life gained some normalcy after the events of that Spring. I resumed my work with Mohinder and relished the simple tasks of everyday life. Nathan and Heidi named their daughter Samantha Rose Petrelli. She was a perfect addition to the family. They spent the next few weeks settling back in at the Estate. The boys were so proud to have a baby sister, so was Claire. I knew her well, but the change she had undertaken in just a few weeks was nothing short of astounding. She was a new person.

Claire Bennet paced slowly back and forth between the numerous rays of sunlight that filtered in through the dormer window. The occasional squeak of the floorboards was the only sound in the sun filled nursery. Her trimmed, newly blonde hair created a soft outline around her pretty face. She cradled a small bundle close to her heart. "How can I love you this much? I only just met you," she whispered.

Peter Petrelli hovered in the doorway, watching from a distance. Unintentionally, he was caught up in their private moment. His brown eyes followed them. He swallowed hard as a lump formed in his throat.

Noticing him out of the corner of her eye she turned and greeted him warmly. "Hello Stranger. C'mon Sammie, lets go meet Uncle Peter."

Peter stretched aimlessly. "I think you'll find we've already met . . . And don't call me Uncle. You know it makes me feel old."

Claire ignored him. "You probably don't remember him because he's been gone for a few weeks," she explained to her sister. "He was the one with the strange tie at the christening."

Peter raised his eye brows. "Strange tie?"

Her eyes widened with sudden regret. "Um, yeah. Sorry, Pete."

Peter mimicked her expression. "You told me it looked nice!"

"I was just being polite." She shrugged.

Samantha Petrelli closed her eyes. Blissfully unaffected by the playful banter. Claire laid her gently down and rested her arms along the edge of the crib.

"She's so small, so innocent . . ." Claire breathed.

"It's a good look for you."

"Me?" Claire looked embarrassed. "Oh, no."

He positioned himself on the other side of the cot. "Sure. Why not?" His eyes studied her face.

"I'm her big sister. I just want to protect her . . . " Claire continued.

"Yeah . . ." He had a distant look in his eye.

"Pete?"

"Huh?"

"Little Sammie got you spellbound already?"

"No, not her." Peter grinned. "I like your hair. It's very sophisticated."

Claire blushed. "Thanks . . . So did Mohinder send you to somewhere exotic?"

"Las Vegas."

"Vegas. Cool. I'm so jealous," she added a few syllables to the word 'so'. "Did you have a good time?"

"Sure." Truthfully, he'd been dead bored. His mind constantly wandering to other times, other places and other people. "I'd love to take you sometime."

"Really?" Claire squeaked.

"When you're old enough," he smirked and straightened up to his full height.

Claire cocked her head to the side an unimpressed stare in her eyes. "Thanks. I'm so you made it back," her voice was laced with sarcasm

"I couldn't miss your birthday dinner two years in a row now could I?"

Claire: I finally pulled myself together in the summer of 2010. What surprised me most was that it was Angela who helped me see that there was a new path ahead of me. I made the decision to stop living in the past, do my best in the present and focus on the future. There was only one problem. My future was in one direction and Peter was in another.

Claire stood and raised her glass. "I have an announcement to make, but first I want to thank all of you for your love and patience this year." She paused as they each murmured quite thank you. "This year has been so hard and that's why I have decided to leave New York."

"Leave? When?" Peter didn't hide the disappointment in his voice. Nathan and Heidi shared a bemused glance. Angela was the only one who showed no surprise.

"I'm not leaving permanently. Just for school. After a lot of thought and hard work in the last month I can now tell you that I've been accepted to Stanford. I'll be majoring in Journalism."

"Claire! That's wonderful news," Heidi exclaimed.

Nathan rose to his feet. "I'm really happy for you, Claire."

Peter stayed silent. His mind reeling.

"I can't help, but think you had something to do with this." Nathan looked over at Angela.

"It was Claire's decision," Angela said discreetly. "I just steered her in the right direction."

"I'd like to propose a toast . . . To Claire, may Stanford be everything that you wish for and your education take you to new heights. Just don't be a stranger." Nathan was evidently extremely proud of his daughter.

"I won't," she promised.

The glasses were raised. "To Claire." The voices were happy and they returned to the hum of excited conversation.

Peter smiled openly, but on the inside a new array of emotions swirled. His eyes searched desperately, but Claire avoided his gaze.

Claire found Peter alone in the garden later that night. She positioned herself on the bench next to him.

"You know this is my favourite place in the whole garden," she stated.

"I'm surprised." He stared up into the clear night sky.

"I know . . . I was-"

"I thought you loved New York," he interrupted. The urge to convince her to stay was overwhelming.

"I do, Pete. It's just . . . I need to do this. I need to challenge myself."

"I understand, but in California? It's like the other side of the world out there."

Claire frowned. "Geez, couldn't you at least pretend to be supportive, Pete?"

"I know. I'm sorry. It's just a shock I guess. When do you go?"

"Next week," she paused when she saw the look on his face. "I know I should have told you sooner. I wanted too, really I did, but . . ."

"So soon?"

"I've got some additional exams. A prerequisite. I've been studying over the summer . . . "

Peter gave her a serious look. "You're sure about this aren't you," his voice was just a whisper.

Her tone was husky. "It's not forever."

Peter nodded at a loss for words. "Tell her."

"I'll be home for holidays and some weekends too."

"Tell her," the voice was more insistent. "Say something. Anything to get her to stay."

She gave him a soft nudge with her shoulder. "I need this, Pete. I'm not happy here. I haven't been for awhile now."

"But, I'm here. What about me? I need you!" He managed a sad smile. "I guess it'll be good for you." "Lier."

"I'm scared," she confessed. "The future is so . . . unknown. I don't want to screw up again."

"I know you, Claire, and you will go to California and find success beyond your wildest dreams."

"Thanks." She smiled shyly.

"I only worry about one thing."

She flashed her bright green eyes at him. "What's that?"

"How Nate will handle it . . . Having a potential paparazzo in his midst."

"Oh, come on! I'm interested in serious writing. What do you take me for?"

"The most beautiful girl in the world. Why? What's it to you?"

He pulled a small box from his pocket. "Here." He thrust the shiny gold present in her direction. "Happy Birthday, Tex."

"Thanks." She accepted his offering. "You haven't called me that in ages."

"Open it," he insisted.

She tore at the wrapping and opened the box to reveal a silver Celtic ring. "Oh, Pete. It's beautiful."

"It's called a Claddagh ring."

Claire nodded slowly, not taking her eyes from the contents of the box.

"With these hands," he began nervously, "I give you my heart and crown you with my love."

"Wh . . . What?" Her voice was shaky.

He held her gaze steady as he explained. "The symbol is an expression of Loyalty, Friendship and Love."

She looked up at him and smiled. "I don't know what to say . . ."

"Let me." He reached for the ring and held it up so she could see the symbol clearly in the moonlight. He took her right hand gently with his own. "If you wear it this way, it indicates that you've had your heart captured by someone." Next he turned the ring so the design was facing away from her. "Wear it this way, and it shows that you are open to finding someone new."

The air around them grew still. He held the ring at her finger tip as if he was taking the time to decide how it should be worn. Her green eyes roved his face in the pale moonlight, but his eyes did not meet her own. He slowly placed the ring delicately on her finger. Design facing outward.

"I guess now," his voice was suddenly hoarse, "you have it as something to remember me by." He stood up to leave.

"Pete, I'm not going to forget you . . . I could never forget you." She propelled herself toward him. He caught her awkwardly in his arms. Slowly, he relaxed and let her press herself against his lean frame. He let himself enjoyed the moment. Any guilty thoughts were for once, kept at bay.

He stared up into the night sky willing his heartbeat to return to it's normal rhythm. Claire kept her head on his chest. An eternity passing between them.

"This isn't easy for me." Tears glistened in her eyes. "I'll miss you . . ." "More than you could ever know."

He nodded. Eyelids blinking rapidly. He took a deep breath. "Good Luck, Claire Bennet."

"I can't believe its been three years," Claire breathed nervously.

"I know." Peter took a depth breath.

The boarding announcement for her flight rang out through the airport lounge.

"That's me." She stood up slowly, aware her surroundings were starting to get blurry. "Oh. I promised myself I wouldn't do this . . ."

"Hey." He touched her cheek. "It's not forever, right?"

"Right." She smiled through the pain. "Here I go." She hugged him and was awkwardly aware of eyes on her as she did so. More hugs followed.

"I'm so proud of you," Nathan whispered in her ear.

"Call us when you get there." Heidi instructed as she too blinked back tears.

Claire nodded, thankful she had already said her goodbyes to the boys back at the estate.

"Goodbye, Claire Bennet," Peter murmured one final time.

"Bye, Pete." She adjusted the strap across her shoulder and walked towards the departure gate. She stopped and turned for one last wave.

Their eyes lingered as if willing the other to turn away first. In the end it was Claire. He watched until she was gone from sight.

Peter closed his eyes, a startling image imprinted in his mind. The Claddagh ring. Not as he had placed it on her finger, but instead being worn with the design facing inward to show that her heart belonged to another. Full of sadness as it was, his heart rejoiced.

Peter: Twenty years old, my niece and I loved her. A love that distance would not let fade away.

A/N: Reviews are love! Thanks for reading, Pip :)