A/N: This chapter jumps forward in time to 2012. Claire is now a graduate of Stanford. I had initially intended to write brief chapters to cover those years. However, I found it difficult and to be honest nothing vital to to the story occurs during this time. Plus, skipping ahead in time means we're now getting into, what I hope to be, the best parts of Peter and Claire's story. I just hope it does not seem disjointed. Thanks for reading, I really hope you enjoy it! Pip :)

Closer to Your Heart:

Summer 2012:

Peter: Claire's Graduation was a highly anticipated event in the Petrelli Family. For myself, it meant an end to the distance between us. I'd been counting down the weeks until her return. When the time arrived, I was nervous. Sure, she'd been home plenty of times in the previous two years, but now it was for good. Would she be different? Would she still need me? Would it be the right time to tell her how I felt? Would there ever be a 'right time'?

Peter Petrelli nodded politly as he watched the brunette's mouth move. Words, he had long stopped listening to. "God, I can't even remember her name." His mind was consumed by Claire. "Petrelli. Claire Petrelli." Ever since she dropped the surprise on them at her graduation ceremony, he couldn't get her name out of his head. "Why should it bother me?" He whipped his eyes away from the woman in front of him. A strange crept over him as he spotted Claire across the room. She had aged, albeit slowly, in the time she was away. She truly was an amazing soul. Poised, confident and beautiful. And, she was alone. "Finally."

Claire ran the rim of her champagne glass absently along her bottom lip. "Who are all these people?" Heidi and Angela mingled easily, but Claire could not bring herself to make idle chatter with strangers any longer. She focused her gaze on Peter. He was standing in a corner, deep in conversation with a tall brunette. He was close to the woman, listening intently. Claire sighed and moved her eyes again. Her father was commanding the conversation in the centre of the room. "Politics." She wrinkled her nose. Next, she followed a couple on the dance floor. They were laughing as they stepped and span the night away. "If only-"

A voice breathed in her ear. "Bored? At your own party?" Peter had suddenly appeared at her side.

"I don't even know half these people," she moaned. "Do you?"

He shrugged.

"You seem to be enjoying yourself though." She gave a light nod towards the brunette who was still making eyes at Peter. "Who would've thought?"

He followed her gaze. "Oh. Well, I guess things some things do change."

Claire nodded and took a sip from her glass.

"So how does it feel to be a Petrelli?" he asked.

"Oh you know. Special."

Peter gave a throaty laugh. "Good to have you back, Tex."

"I hope you don't mind."

"Mind? That you are a Petrelli now?"

Claire nodded.

"Of course not." He swallowed hard, but recovered well. "You've been part of this family for a long time."

"I was," she hesitated, "a little worried. Since it was sort of a surprise."

"Congratulations, again."

"Thank you."

He held out his hand. "Care for a dance?"

She smiled and her green eyes shone brightly. "Absolutely. What would I do without you?"

"God, I've missed that smile." His heart jumped as she placed her hand gently in his.

Claire: It was a beautiful night. It felt everlasting as Pete and I danced the night away. It was the perfect start. We had the whole Summer ahead of us. For once, I didn't worry about the future. I was so content in that moment I could have stayed there forever. After that night, Peter and I instantly returned to our inseparable ways. Everyone joked that they would never find one of us without the other.

Claire took another spoonful of ice cream and let the creamy goodness linger on her tongue. She and Peter were hanging out in the Petrelli kitchen after dinner one night.

"What are you doing tonight Claire?"

"I'm was thinking that maybe I'd watch some retro movies."

"Like?" Peter

"Um . . ." She licked her spoon thoughtfully, "Sleepless in Seattle, An Officer and a Gentleman orTop Gun. Maybe The Breakfast Club . . . Dirty Dancing."

Peter raised his eyebrows. "Dirty Dancing?"

"Yeah? What's wrong with that? It's an 80's classic."

"An 80's classic?" Peter almost choked on his ice cream.

"And what's your idea of an 80's classic? Die Hard? Terminator?"

"Hey, Terminator was a good-"

"Oh my God. Wouldn't it be cool if you had a power like that?" Claire's eyes shone with excitement.

"Sure, it would. But, Dirty Dancing? Retro? Why is it that when some says retro people automatically thing of the 80's. It's stupid. Were you even alive in the 80's?

"No. But-"

"That's my point exactly!"

"What?" She furrowed her brow. "Your point? You never made a point! How much of the eighties do you remember?"

He opened his mouth and then closed it again.

She took another scoop of ice cream. "Your point is weak, Petrelli."

"And your taste in movies is appalling, Petrelli." He winked at her.

The ate in silence for a few seconds. "So are you in?" she kept her eyes on her bowl.

"Sure. Why not?"

Peter awoke later that night. In the dim light he watched as a pajama clad shadow moved towards him.

"Claire?" He questioned. It was to be the only word that passed between them.

The sweet aroma of her perfume drifted over him as she slid between the sheets next to him. His breathing quickened when he saw her green eyes in the pale light. She reached for his hand and brought it up to her face. She kissed his finger tips and laid them on her cheek. His hand trembled as he caressed her cheek. She closed her eyes and exhaled softly. He hesitated, mesmerised by her. A smile formed on her soft lips. He held his breath to stop himself from kissing her. She rolled over and snuggled back into him. The softness of her hair brushed against his throat. He ran a hand lightly across her temple and down her neck. They stayed like that until dawn; when daylight came to break the spell between them. She was gone when he opened his eyes. This continued throughout the summer. Every few nights, Claire would come to him in the middle of the night for comfort, but would never stay beyond daybreak. They never spoke about it. Instead, they fed off the guilty ecstasy of their time in each others arms.

Peter: That summer was love unspoken. I think it was around this time that we both realised the true extent of our feelings. We both worked hard to deny it. Never lingering in the others presence for too long among others. Our time alone was precious. We avoided talking about the about the future and let ourselves enjoy the summer; knowing that it would catch up with us eventually. Fate works in mysterious ways. It had thrown us together and torn us apart. Little did I realise, that Fate was conspiring to keep us apart again. Just when we thought we had achieved an equilibrium of understanding in our relationship, the future caught up with us.

"Morning." Claire rubbed the side of her face as she entered the kitchen.

"Hey." His eyes followed her shapely body as she padded across the tiled floor to the refrigerator. She was dressed in tight blue shorts and a white tank top.

She helped herself to some cereal and settled on to a stool next to him. She sat and munched on a mouthful of cereal. Slowly, she leaned closer to him, straining to read the paper in front of him.

He smiled in her presence. "You want some to read?" He gestured towards the paper.

"Uh-uhm." She shook her head as she chewed.

He returned to reading the paper in front of him. After a moment, he felt the pressure of her shoulder on his arm. The close proximity of her body sent a warm wave of pleasure down his spine

He turned his head to her. "Are you sure?"

She nodded without sound and continued reading.

"There's mail for you, by the way . . . I think it's from France." He pointed to a letter on the sideboard.

This got her attention. She looked up at him, a confused look on her face. "France?" she questioned. "Oh." She got off her seat and picked up the envelope. Gingerly, she ran a slender index along the seal as if trying to decide if she should open it.

Peter was oblivious to her inner turmoil. "Got any plans this morning?"

"No."

"I thought I'd take Sam to the park. Want to come?"

"Sure." She pealed back the seal on the envelope and pulled several sheets of paper from inside. Her eyes roving the words. Suddenly, she let out a loud squeal. "Oh my God, Oh my God!"

"Claire," there was concern in his voice. "Are you okay?"

She turned and sprinted over to him, waving the paper around. "Yes. I'm a hundred times better than okay!"

"What is it?"

"Paris. I'm going to Paris. God, I thought I'd never get it. This is so amazing," she chatted excitedly.

"Paris? What?"

"This letter is from Paris Life." She waved the letter again. "It's a magazine for English speaking Parisians. Each year they have three internships for college grads. I got one! I can't believe it," she gushed.

Peter wrinkled his brow at her odd behaviour. "Congratulations."

"Paris!" Claire stepped backwards slowly and knocked over the stool she had just been sitting on. It landed with a hard smack on the floor. "Shit. Oops . . . Paris. This is incredible."

Peter reached down to help her as she bent to pick up the chair. "That's great Claire. When do you go?"

"I've got to be there by the twenty fifth."

Peter froze. "The Twenty-fifth? Claire, that's what? A week away?"

She caught the pained look in his eye and the smile slipped from her face.

He continued, "I'm going to Chicago tomorrow. I might not be back in time. How long will you be away for?"

Together, the lifted the stool back to an upright position.

"A year," she said quietly, unable to look away.

"A year?" Peter nodded slowly and took a few steps back. "Okay then . . . You never thought to mention . . ."

"I'm sorry. I never ever expected I would get this."

"Hey." He forced a lop-sided smile to his lips. "This is the opportunity of a life time, right?"

She bit her lowered lip and looked away. "Yeah . . ."

"What's all the commotion?" Heidi wandered into the kitchen.

"Claire's moving to Paris," Peter said coldly.

"Paris? What?" Heidi was obviously confused.

"I've been offered an internship," Claire began.

"Wow, that's fantastic Claire. Just wait until Nathan hears about this," she exclaimed after Claire had given her all the details of her new job.

"I know! It's unbelievable!" Claire was too caught up in the moment to realise that Peter had slipped silently from the room.

In the next Chapter of Volume Five: The tension between Peter and Claire hots up, but will she move to Paris and leave him behind?