Title: When Things Change
Pairing/Characters: Noah/Claire (with mention of Lyle, Sandra, & Jackie)
Rating: PG13
Summary: Written for Dref... Noah Bennet suddenly realizes that things have changed, but how, why, and when?
Disclaimer: I don't own Heroes or the characters... It's a good thing too.
Word Count: 1,954

Author's Note: It's broken up funny because it was suddenly born in a messenger window...

In a rare moment of peace, Noah Bennet found himself home alone. Sandra was with Lyle at a soccer game and Claire was at the mall with friends. Noah had returned early from a trip to New York and was sitting on the sofa wondering what to do with his free time.

He remembered a few words an old friend had said to him once. A long time ago he'd been a take-no-business man who thought his family came second to his job.

That friend had set him straight at a certain family bar-be-que. Now he was the most wanted father a family would want, though that was only Claire's point of view he was sure. He smiled as a memory of her came to mind. He couldn't quite remember if it'd been jam or chocolate smeared on her face.

Standing up he walked over to the entertainment cabinet and opened doors until he found the family albums. They were neat, tidy and categorized by year. He pulled out the years when Claire was nine and ten years old.

Rifling through the pictures he'd smile as the memories came to mind with the pictures. Some pictures were new to him though and he figured these were taken while he'd been away on business. Noah Bennet frowned more and more as the time through the album progressed. He was seeing more and more new pictures, ones where memories weren't attached.

He turned the page and a newer picture lay on the page, not behind the clear sheet that kept the pictures inside the album. It was a school picture, fairly recent if not from this school year. He studied the young woman in the picture and frowned. His detached emotions towards the little girl in all those other pictures did not reach to this picture. "When did I stop seeing her as a little girl?"

He asked himself as he picked up the picture. He studied her expression and the way she was wearing her hair now. He saw that her eyes seemed sad while her smile remained bright. This was a young woman who'd seen more than she should at her age. Noah was conflicted with emotions that seemed beyond his reach of understanding. "She's my Clairebear, my little girl." He said trying to convince himself.

"No, little girl is not the correct term anymore..." Noah said as he closed the photo album. Only when he had the albums returned to their place did he realize that the school picture of Claire was still on the couch. He sat back down picking up the picture. Unbidden images accosted his mind as he remembered standing in her doorway watching her practice in her cheerleading uniform.

His mind brought forth a clear image of her kicking up her leg and the skirt riding up to show her thigh. He closed his eyes and remembered one afternoon when Sandra had been at the daycare picking up Lyle and he'd had to wash the mud off Claire's face and out of her hair. It was getting everywhere and all she did was laugh as he took off her mud-soaked jumper.

"This is not right..." He said as he chased away the memories. The disjointed images were leaping from two separate times. Some being more graphic than others. And then the ones where she really was his little girl. "It's like she's two very different people now."

Noah Bennet was very confused. He cherished the memories of his little girl as she was growing up, but the images of the young woman who'd replaced his little girl pulled on emotions that just should not be attached. He knew technically that he was not Claire's biological father, but something's a father does, he had done for her. He had played the role. So why is it changing now?

He looked at the photo again and before his mind could bring forth tantalizing memories of his older Claire, he focused on memories of before she turned fifteen. The day Sandra showed her how to apply makeup (sparingly). The day she had told him that the Bears-Around-the-World were too childish for her.

Then ten minutes after helping her box them all up, she'd started crying and he'd helped her un-box them and arrange them lovingly on her bed. He remembered the day she had her first crush at school. She'd came home scarlet-faced and with tears in her eyes because the boy she'd liked had been kissing her best friend, Jackie. He remembered that day well.

He'd ended up taking her out for ice cream and promising her that her dad would never 'cheat' on her. It was a joke then and she'd laughed appropriately and the matter was behind her. She even remained friends with Jackie... All those memories, Noah was glad to note, were unsullied. Clean and innocent of his unnatural thoughts. "So when had it all changed?"

He asked himself, staring off into space and trying to pinpoint the exact moment his father senses had left and had been replaced with lecherous thoughts. Suddenly Claire's own words came to mind. "I think it's time I met my real parents..."

"Of course..." Noah said, eyes widening as realization struck. "The day that I was forced to hand the mantle of being her father over to her real father, Nathan..." Noah's memories were now categorized. It didn't make him happy that he now had two lives with Claire. The time when he and he alone was her father, her dad, her protector and the time when she wanted him only as her guardian...

Even if she still referred to him as 'Dad,' his role in her life had changed. "I wonder if she's realized this... Or if I'm just a very sick pervert..."
"Dad!!" Noah stood up suddenly his face burning as he turned towards the front door where Claire was standing. She had several mall-looking bags in her hands, but dropped them all quickly as he smiled.

He felt guilty all of a sudden and realized that he was holding the picture of her behind his back as if it was a sin to look at pictures, decent pictures, of his own daughter.
"Clairebear." He said smile widening as she rushed around the couch, arms wide.

"You're home early!" Claire Bennet said with a welcoming smile on her face. Noah enfolded her in his arms, picture still in his hand, slight blush on his cheeks.
"Yeah, trip ended two days early." He said to the top of her head. For some reason the turned over, forgotten shopping bags warmed his heart.

"That's good," Claire said as she squeezed his waist once more before releasing him. "Because I love spending time with you... You're away too often now." She said her smile faltering for but a moment.
"I know. I know." Noah said as his arms and hands reluctantly released her. He was glad she was home, but at the same time he wished he had Sandra and Lyle here to... buffer things.

"I think we need to talk... It's actually a great thing that you're home early. I know Mom and Lyle will be gone for at least an hour more..." Claire's words seemed to strike an unusual feeling in his gut. He was very uncomfortable with the situation all of a sudden. He felt like he was no longer allowed to be alone with this young woman.

"What is it Clairebear?" He asked as they sat down on the couch, shopping bags remaining in front of the door for now. Noah also realized that her baby nickname was being used more and more these days and wondered if it was his subconscious trying to keep her innocent in his mind. He too noted that both times he'd called her that her eyes had twinkled just a little bit more than usual. Or was that his imagination?

"Things have changed..." Claire started and all Noah could hear was the sound of his heartbeat increasing. He was panicking. This is not happening... He thought as Claire continued. "I mean, I'm not naive anymore. I know about the Company, my real parents, and that I'm the Catalyst..." She trailed off as Noah began to claim a little. "Hey you found it!" Claire exclaimed.

Puzzled Noah followed her gaze to his hand and the picture he'd found in the photo album. "Yeah, I found it. I was looking through the old albums... I didn't know it was lost actually..." He trailed off as he handed the photo to her.

"No you keep it... It, uh, was a special... deal. I had a friend take pictures because I always hate my school photos... I, uh, did it for you." The last sentence was rushed and he puzzled over this as he looked at the picture again. This time with new eyes. He then noted that her blouse was unbuttoned a little too low and that the skirt she was wearing was very, very short. Not an innocent picture at all...

A pink tinge colored Claire's cheeks, but Noah wasn't paying attention. He was too wound up in how the pose was supposed to entice... The photo was no where near the innocent little girl he'd raised. This was a young woman screaming for someone to pay attention. "For... For me?" He asked dumbly.

"Yeesss." She said the word slowly, drawing it out. He looked up to note that she was closer, had scooted closer to him on the couch. "I was going to give it to you... Um, when you got home from your last assignment, but that was the day I found out that you were partners with Sylar... and well I must have misplaced it..." She said in a rush. Noah was barely listening because he was being drawn into her eyes.

Two seconds before he buried his hand in her hair and pulled her face to his, Noah thought This is so wrong... The picture lay forgotten on his lap as his other hand cupped Claire's cheek. The kiss broke and he looked down immediately waiting for her to kick and scream, yelling at him to 'get off.' It didn't come. Instead he heard a small laugh, a giggle. "It's about time."

Claire Bennet said as Noah looked up into her eyes again. He didn't think a day had ever come before where he'd been this confused. She smiled at him and placed her hand on his cheek. "When did you finally realize..." She trailed off before leaning in and kissing him again.

Noah continued to stare at her, eyes wide and unbelieving. Claire giggled again. "You just now realized didn't you... after months of... Well not consciously trying, but hints... I left all kinds of hints."
"How long?" He asked simply, knowing she'd know what he was referring to. Her smile faded, but her eyes were trained on him.

"Since Sylar... took my ability. That night I cried myself to sleep because I realized that I didn't want my 'Dad' to protect me... I wanted you... And you weren't there." She said trailing off. Claire looked down and then back up again, "We cleared the air of you always leaving... When you taught me to fight with baseball," She laughed as he remembered that harried day of the eclipse.

The day she'd died a second time. "I had hoped that you'd realize then... But of course the interruption..." This time she trailed off and remained silent. She looked away from him. Noah didn't know what to think, what to say. In the end his actions spoke louder than any words. He kissed her again. They had fifty minutes after all.