Secrets of the Heart

2014:

"Pete," she softly began her reply. "After all that's passed between us I think I know you well enough to know your heart. I'm sorry about Caitlin. I'm sorry she left you heartbroken, but I don't want to be the girl that you break trying to fix the hole in your heart. I can't be THAT girl for you."

"I'm not asking you for something you can't give me. Since I found out that I'm not your Uncle, everything between us changed. I started falling in love with you all over again and I can't ignore my feelings anymore. You are my destiny, Claire."

"No," Claire said quietly, "I can't just drop everything to be with you, Peter. My career . . . Victor . . . It's just . . ."

"You don't love me," Peter said solemnly.

Old feelings were suddenly bubbling to the surface, adding to her confusion. "I'm not convinced you're doing this for the right reasons. " Her eyes filled with compassion. "I'm not giving up my life on some fantasy."

"Fantasy? I met you by believing in something fantastic, something so amazing and . . . That something was you."

"Meeting like that was . . . Fate. But, look at our lives now. Everyday we are hiding who we really are and for good reason."

"I don't care anymore. I need you in my life, Claire."

"It's just not that easy for me. What will everyone else think?"

"They can think what they want," he said stubbornly.

"Our Family? Our Friends? How on earth would you explain something like this?"

"Stop thinking about everyone else for once in your life and think about you."

"That's just my point, Pete. I am thinking about me."

"Either you want to be with someone or you don't."

"If only it were that easy for me." She swallowed hard, trying to rid herself of the bitter taste in her mouth.

"Why are you so afraid of taking a chance?"

"Afraid? I've been getting burned by men since I was sixteen. I'd like to keep you off that list."

"You know I would never hurt you."

"But you do. I know you don't mean to, but every time I'm near you . . . " She blinked back tears.

"So . . . That's it? This is what you want? . . . Him?"

She nodded. "Please, please understand. This is the best we can hope for, Pete. A normal life."

"Best for whom? Not me. I'm so sick and fucking tired of coming second with you."

"With me? What about you? I was your Niece, your best friend, and you drove me away. Now you're all alone and begging me to come back to you. If that's not second best I don't know what is!"

"Of course. I what was I thinking? What could I possibly offer you?" Peter couldn't disguise the hurt in his voice.

"Don't be like this," she scolded him. He started toward the doorway, thinking he had heard enough. "Pete! Wait! Please, we need to want to talk about this."

"Talk? I don't want to 'talk' okay. All we do is talk and it never gets us anywhere."

"Wait. Don't leave it like this," she pulled him back, "you once told me I was your best friend and that you loved me."

"I lied," he said coldly.

"Pete, please. I . . ." she pleaded with him in spite of his hurtful words.

"You what, Claire? Six months ago you were perfectly happy to give up on us. I see now that nothing has changed."

"Six months ago? You were engaged! You were getting married, in love with Caitlin. What was I giving up on? I wasn't even in your life anymore, so why now?"

"I made a mistake, okay. I didn't know what to do. Six months ago my heart was a secret, even from you . . . especially from you. I . . . Just . . . Stay. Please," he stammered.

"I can't do this," Claire slowly released her grip on his arm overwhelmed by his confession.

"Then at least you'll know . . ." his hazel eyes swirled with acceptance.

She couldn't speak. "Know what?" she asked silently.

"I never loved her. At least, not like I love you." He slid silently from the room, leaving his final words to crash down around her.

"I love you, Claire." Peter's voice echoed around her. Images of him flashed behind her eyes. Claire couldn't sleep that night. She just lay there, playing out their fight over and over in her mind. Victor had returned to the suite only minutes after Peter had left. She had barely had anytime to process his words. The next morning she took a long hot shower and wept uncontrollably the whole time. When she eventually stopped, she hid her blotchy eyes with makeup and put on a happy face for Victor. The drive to the airport was excruciating. She loved her life and thought she was exactly where she was meant to be. But, as Peter's words floated through her head again, she couldn't help, but remember the events that had passed between them over the past few years.

"This can't be the end." She stepped out of the limo and into the cold. Her eyes reaching the waiting jet; ready to take her to Paris. Away from Peter. "I can't let this be the end."

Claire watched as Victor strolled across the tarmac towards the jet. "Victor," she called his name and jogged to catch up to him. He turned to face her.

"I . . . I can't come with you," she said with determination in her voice.

Victor stared at her a moment, taking in the sight of the beautiful woman with wind swept blonde hair. He closed his eyes for a moment, wishing he hadn't heard what she had said. In his heart, he knew it was true. A woman as lovely and kind as Claire, could never have stayed in his life for long. He nodded, before putting a gloved hand on her shoulder.

"I understand."

"Thank you." Claire's eyes blinked away tears. "I'm so sorry."

"He's a lucky man," he said as Claire turned and hurried away. "Charles," he called out towards his driver. "Take Claire where ever she wants to go." Claire turned back towards him and mouthed 'thank you'. Victor watched sadly as she hurried towards the car and out of his life.

Claire fidgeted nervously the entire way to the Petrelli house. Over and over she tried to imagine what she was going to say. She stood on the doorstep and took a few deep breaths. She rang the buzzer and waited. An eternity passed before she remembered her spare key. Her almost blue fingers trembled as she struggled to open the door.

"Peter," her shrill voice echoed in the entrance, "Pete . . ." "Oh God, please be here." Her eyes started to well up as she went from room to room searching for him. The sound of her boots on the marble floor was echoing around her. "Pete . . ." She burst through the french doors and into the frozen garden to continue her search. She hurried through the snow, leaving small foot prints in her wake. Becoming more desperate by the minute, she failed to watched her step. The black ice caught her off guard and she over balanced; tumbling arse first into a cold puddle of muddy winter slush.

"Fuck." "There's always someone home, why not now . . ."

"Claire?" Peter suddenly appeared in next to her, a surreal, yet surprised look on his face.

"Pete!" She almost began crying at the mere sight of him.

"I saw the foot prints, and then you. I thought it was a dream," he noticed the distress in her eyes. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

"I didn't leave," she panted.

"I can see that. What are you doing here?" a smirk was forming on his handsome face, as he watched her struggle on the cold wet concrete.

"Are you going to help me up or not?" she asked angrily.

"Not until you tell me what you're doing here."

"I couldn't get what you said yesterday out of my head. I-I needed to ask you-" she broke off when suddenly she found herself being lifted off the ground. Peter held her securely against his broad chest. Within seconds they were seated on the park bench. Peter holding Claire in his arms.

"I'm all wet." She wriggled, but he held her firmly on his lap.

"I don't care," he said, the warmth of his breath hitting her gently in the face.

"I'm all dirty."

"I said I don't care. Now, what did you want to ask me?" His brown eyes lingered intently on her face.

Her stomach fluttered as she melted in his arms. "What did you mean when you said you were 'falling in love with me again?"

"Claire, there has never been a time since I met you, that I didn't love you." He laid his heart bare for her again. Only, this time she truly felt his meaning.

She inhaled sharply. "All those years?" Suddenly, his behaviour started making sense. "You've loved me all those years? But, you never . . . " her voice trailed off as a million thoughts rocketed through her mind.

He sighed. "I already know I'm the biggest fool in the Universe. I don't need you to remind me."

"Then I am the second biggest."

"Care to enlighten me as to what you're still doing here? In New York? I'm a little busy right now and-"

At last, the words he had longed to hear slipped from her mouth. "I love you," she said breathlessly.

The lop-sided smile widened, but he said nothing.

"Did you hear me? I said I'm in love with you, Peter Petrelli," she stated, growing impatient with his nonchalant manner.

"I heard you," his voice was more masculine than she remembered.

"And?"

"Just wanted to make you squirm for a bit." He watched her mouth fall open. "What about Victor?"

"I'm not in love with him.

"And your career?"

"I think I can be a journalist anywhere."

He gave no reply, instead he pulled her closer. She blinked as tiny snowflakes attached to her long eyelashes. She trailed her fingers across his forehead, sweeping a strand of his dark hair from his eyes. They gazed hypnotically at each other, before Peter finally tilted his head forcing their lips meet in a soft tender kiss. She rose up in his lap and pressed herself up against him as their kiss deepened. His body shuddered with a deep ache of desire and he struggled to stay in control. Claire moaned softly as his tongue deftly caressed her own. After a moment they parted, blissfully breathlessly.

It was Peter that spoke first. "I love you too, Tex." His hands cupped her face.

"It's cold. Can we go inside now?" she grinned at him.

"Sure. Hot chocolate?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Pancakes?"

"Oh God yes," she groaned.

She was light in his arms and he lifted her easily. "I'm never letting you go," he stated, "ever."

"What are we going to tell your family?" she wondered.

"I don't think we'll need to worry about that."

"Why?"

"Because, we're Peter and Claire." He winked at her before leaning in close and whispering in her ear. "It's just meant to be." He kissed her again and carried her away amid the shimmering snowflakes falling all around.

A/N: Fini ~ Thanks for reading and a BIG thank you to all who have reviewed and kept me going over the past year! I look forward to sharing more Paire stories with you in future. Regards, Pip :)