Recipient: BellonaBlack

Title: 'Tis the Season

Pairing/Characters: Sylar/Claire (with mention of HRG, Sandra, Lyle, Angela, Arthur, Peter, Nathan, Heidi, Monty, Simon, Linderman, Claude, Adam, Hiro, Kaito, Mr. Thompson, and the Haitian)

Rating: R

Summary: The Petrellis and Bennets have a little family get together for the holidays… So who said Sylar had to play nice? Who said any of the Petrellis did? AU fic in which Sylar and Claire meet for the first time.

Word Count: 4,687

SECRET SANTA HEROES_EXCHANGE 2008

"This is ridiculous." Claire Bennet said as her dad, Noah Bennet pressed the doorbell. The Bennets were visiting New York City for the holidays. Their family would be considered more than just a normal family, even though only one had an ability. The fact that the Bennets were connected to the Petrelli family would be more than enough to gain them spotlight, but considering that Claire was also the President's daughter... Well that was enough to gain them their own division of the Secret Service.

"We are here for two more weeks Claire and that's final." Noah said as they heard footsteps. The white door hung with a Christmas wreath opened to a kindly face.

"Mr. Bennet, Mrs. Petrelli has been expecting you and your family. Please this way." Claire rolled her eyes as the maid led them through the door. Sandra and Claire paused as the Butler took their coats while Lyle and Noah followed the maid.

"Claire please try to get along with them. It's not like you can forget that you are the President's illegitimate daughter, the whole country already knows." Sandra said to her ill-tempered adoptive daughter. Claire gave her mom her signature fake smile.

"I know Mom, it's just dad knew how much the party this weekend meant to me and we're only staying because Angela Petrelli-"

"She is your grandmother, you could call her grandma or granny..." Sandra said with a secretive smile on her lips. Claire smiled, the first real one all day.

"Oh I just bet she'd love that." Mom and daughter laughed as the Butler led them through the house to join the other dinner guests. At Thanksgiving the dinner guests had only numbered eleven. The heads of the table went to Angela and Arthur Petrelli. Peter and Nathan sat on Arthur's left and right. Claire usually was forced to sit beside Peter while Heidi, Simon and Monty sat beside Nathan. Noah and Sandra sat on Angela's left and right. Lyle sat between Claire and Noah. "Great more guests this time..." Claire said under her breath to Sandra, who just shushed her.

"Claire! It's good to see you again." Heidi said walking up to the Bennet females. Claire liked Heidi, unlike Angela, Arthur, and Nathan; she didn't try to acclimate Claire into their family. Heidi was content to treat Claire as a friend or little sister. The brunette woman smiled warmly with a hint of apology in her eyes. Hugging first Sandra and then Claire.

"Hey Heidi, how are my half brothers?" Claire asked, but as she did she caught the dark eyes of an unfamiliar face. Claire's field of vision was blocked as her sandy-haired brothers raced up to her.

"Claire!" They both shouted at the same time. Claire couldn't help but smile at their jubilant faces.

"As you can tell for yourself, they are just fine." Heidi said stepping out of the way of the two boys. They were very big for nine and seven. Heidi smiled at Sandra and motioned towards the dining room as Claire tried to keep the monkeys from pulling her onto the floor.

"Okay guys, it's not been that long since the last time you've seen me." She said giggling as Monty tried to swing from her arm. "Monty! I have the ability to heal, not super strength!" She admonished as he reluctantly let go. Simon was still fashioned around her waist with a iron-clad embrace. Every now and again, Claire wondered if the two boys would gain abilities or if Grandpa Arthur would give them ones, free of charge of course because their father was the President after all.

"Need some help taming the monkeys?" Claire looked up into those dark unfamiliar eyes she'd seen earlier. He was very tall, taller than Peter even, with longish dark brown hair. It looked like he was sporting the long bangs that Peter had tried out a couple of years ago, but for some reason they worked on him. Claire smiled.

"Naw, I'm good. If I've learned anything from being a Petrelli, it's how to handle my brothers..." She trailed off embarrassed by how stupid she'd sounded. The guy smiled, which made him look younger. Claire wondered just how old he was. He seemed older than Peter, but then Peter doesn't look his age anyway.

"I'm Gabriel, a Petrelli cousin." He said extending his hand. Simon and Monty seemed to take this as an invite.

"Gabriel!" They shouted together as they flung themselves from Claire's arms and waist to his. She kind of felt bad now, but the monkeys seemed to like how strong Gabriel was and Claire realized that the arm as a tree limb worked with him. Her eyes widened as the muscles in his arms bunched in order to hold Monty up. Blushing slightly Claire looked away and laughed awkwardly.

"I'm Claire Bennet-"

"I know." Gabriel said as he looked from Monty's exploits on his arm into Claire's eyes. He smiled again, this time showing his teeth and Claire's knees threatened to collapse beneath her.

"Monty! Simon!" Nathan Petrelli said walking up to them. Monty and Simon released Gabriel at once; the youngest racing to envelope his father's waist while Simon resumed his death-grasp on Claire's. She ruffled the boy's hair and vaguely wondered where Lyle was hiding. "Hello Claire, I see you've finally met Gabriel." Nathan said very formally, though being the President for the past two years would do that to anyone. Claire smiled and then glanced at Gabriel before looking back at Nathan.

"Yes, I'm curious where the President's been hiding him, since he's a Petrelli and all..." Claire replied snidely. Nathan's stern face cracked just a little as the corner of his mouth lifted. Gabriel on the other hand laughed.

"Hiding me? Why no where... I've always been close by, but the powers that be-"

"Gabriel." Nathan said as he looked at the other man. Claire's eyes widened as Gabriel's smile turned into something other than joyous, almost predatory. She looked back and forth between the two men knowing that she was missing something, but couldn't figure it out. She looked around the room quickly and spotted Peter, yes, he was looking at Nathan and Gabriel too. Claire was sure that Gabriel also had an ability now... Maybe more than one.

"Dinner's almost ready everyone." Angela Petrelli said from the Dining room doorway. Simon and Monty raced off towards their mother and Claire finally saw Lyle, who was talking to an older man with striking white hair. She spotted her dad standing beside her mom and talking to a scruffy looking man with a very crooked nose. Claire kind of thought he looked familiar, but wasn't sure. Nathan and Gabriel had disappeared and Claire was left standing alone.

"Hey Claire." Or so she'd thought. She turned around and smiled at Peter.

"Hey Peter." She said skipping formalities, she was almost nineteen and didn't think she needed to call him 'uncle' anymore. "So... Who's Gabriel?" She asked in an offhand way, but knew Peter would be suspicious right off. They both navigated towards the Dining room along with everyone else.

"He's a distant cousin, Gabriel Grey, likes to be called Sylar for some unknown reason... And isn't very popular with the President..." Claire was surprised that Peter had told her so much. Usually she got a few juicy details, but it seemed that Nathan not liking Gabriel (Sylar) was very important.

"How old-" Peter paused just outside the door to the dining room and held Claire back as a tall blonde man as well as Kaito Nakamura and his son, Hiro continued through the doorway. Peter grabbed Claire's wrist and pulled her farther away from the door. "Ow-"

"I told mom that this was a mistake. Listen Claire; you need to stay away from Gabriel. As you've probably guessed, yes he does have an ability... Something close to my own, but his is uncontrollable. It could be very dangerous for you... That's why most of the Founders are here and some of the Company employees." Peter's whispers were urgent and hurried and as soon as he'd stopped talking he grabbed Claire's hand and pulled her back towards the door. She wanted to ask questions, but she had to put on a smile for the guests.

The long table was even longer this year and Claire noted that place settings were different as well. The two chairs that were empty were beside Arthur Petrelli and Gabriel Grey. Peter sighed as he walked her around the table and pulled out the chair for her. She sat down and tried not to look at Gabriel, which took her eyes around the table. Nathan was across from Peter as usual, Heidi with Monty and Simon, Hiro Nakamura sat next to Simon with Kaito on his other side. Next to Kaito was the tall blonde man whom Claire suspected was a Founder, though he looked quite young. The scruffy looking guy with the crooked nose was beside Angela. Getting a good look at the man now, mostly his profile which accentuated his crooked nose, Claire remembered him now. It was Claude, her dad's old partner. Her dad was of course on Angela's left with her mom and Lyle next. Lyle was talking very animatedly with the older man Claire had seen him with earlier. Next Gabriel was... Mr. Thompson. Her dad's boss. Claire had only ever seen the man once, and that was when she'd been to the Company for an emergency.

Claire wasn't quite able to avoid Gabriel's eye in the end, but she quickly looked away. She concentrated on her food and only answered questions that were directed at her, making sure to make eye contact before looking at her meal once again. The topic of conversation changed from one thing to the next and not once was Gabriel addressed or asked a question. Claire had the distinct impression that everyone was avoiding him, ignoring him. At one point during dessert, Claire did glance purposefully at Gabriel only to find a small smile and a faraway look in his eyes. She of course quickly looked back at her cheesecake.

"Don't tell me you're ignoring me too..." The sound was so soft, so low, Claire wasn't sure if she heard it or not. Actually I'm the only one not ignoring you... Claire thought, but remained silent. "It's no big deal really... I'm only here for business anyway... You, well you're the bonus I would say..." Claire's eyes widened, but she remained silent. Thinking instead, Can... can you hear my thoughts? "More like I read them... I can see them in my mind, but I project mine in a sound so low that you almost think you can't hear it." Claire took a bite of her cheesecake and glanced at Gabriel again. His eyes were on her now. She smiled. Business you say... For who? Are you really related to the Petrellis? "Oh yes. I'm a distant cousin... But a well kept secret. If the world knew that... that someone like me was related to the President... Well we'd all be in trouble then..." I don't understand... Peter said to stay away from you, but you don't seem so bad... "Wicked is found in many forms." Claire pondered over this waiting for more, but Gabriel didn't say anything else and no matter what she thought at him, he wouldn't respond.

"Claire, why don't you entertain yourself in the library." Angela said as the men headed off towards the study, Lyle tagging along this year. Leaving Sandra and Heidi with Angela who she ushered into another room. The door closed and Claire shrugged. She didn't care that she wasn't being included. These meetings seemed rather boring anyway. She made her way upstairs careful to be silent as she walked by Monty and Simon's room. She found the library quiet and hardly lit, which changed when she turned on the lights. She looked around wondering if anything had changed from the last time she'd been here. She fell into an overstuffed armchair. I don't want to read... She thought wondering for once just what the men discussed while in their private meetings.

"Then don't read." The library light went out and Claire was plunged into darkness. She stood up fast, heart hammering. She wasn't scared, more like excited. She'd heard his voice enough tonight to know it anyway.

"I thought you'd be in with the rest of the men..." Claire said looking around for him, though her eyes hadn't adjusted yet to the darkness. She gasped when she felt a hand on her cheek, but when she lifted her own hand, nothing was there. She didn't see anyone close to her at all.

"I'm not allowed... Though if they wanted me away from you they should have invited me in..." His voice trailed off, he sounded closer to her now. She felt a thumb on her lower lip and she wiped at it only to find nothing.

"How are you doing that?" She asked her heart hammering. Her vision was better, but she still didn't see him.

"I read very interesting things from Peter's mind earlier... For some reason he seems to think I'd find her, you very, very useful... Tell me Claire, what's your ability?" Claire jumped as the word 'ability' was whispered right beside her ear, she'd even felt his breath, but once again he wasn't there when she turned.

"Stop playing games with me." She said becoming irritated. "If you can read minds, then you can pull my ability from my mind..."

"True, but I like to hear your voice..." Then he was there, tangible, solid, and very daunting. She looked up into his dark face and tried to find his eyes. His hands were on her upper arms and his body was very close to her own. She smiled, loving the feel of danger that seemed to emanate from him.

"Cellular regeneration... Basically I'll look like this... Forever." Claire said as she bravely placed her hands on his chest. She saw the play of shadows as he smiled, his white teeth almost glowing in the dark.

"What a nifty ability to have..." He said trailing off. Claire could sense his intentions as he leaned closer, but she was curious herself.

"Wait, what ability do you have?" She asked as he paused, their mouths two inches apart. He exhaled and she could smell the cinnamon from his dessert.

"I can... acquire other's abilities..." He said slowly. He leaned back a little, and she saw his eyes clearly. They were such a dark brown and they looked black in the shadows. "Yes like Peter's..." He said answering Claire's unspoken question. "Enough chatter, as sweet as your voice is..." He said as he crushed her mouth with his. They tasted the desserts that they'd just eaten and it was intoxicating. Gabriel's hands left her arms and wrapped around Claire's waist, lifting her up. Claire wrapped both her arms and legs around him as he pushed her back against a bookcase.

"Wait, wait!" Claire said breaking away from him. "I can't think..."

"Who needs to think?" He asked as his mouth ravished Claire's again. Claire gave up her protests as she let her desires take over. Gabriel's hands hiked up her dress as she unfastened his belt and pants. The fact that they could get caught at any moment heightened the experience. It was a frenzied dance of wants and desires. She wanted to please him, but he pleased her instead. He wanted to caress her face, but she caressed his. She wanted to bite his lips, but he bit hers. Suddenly he was still, his movements stopped and he slowly placed a hand over Claire's mouth while placing his finger over his lips. Gabriel seemed to be listening to something, but Claire didn't hear anything other than their breathing. Gabriel untangled himself from her quickly, but taking the time to right her dress and smooth out wrinkles. He patted her hair so that it lay flat and smooth once more. His hand was still over her mouth otherwise she'd have been questioning him. Once he removed his hand he grasped the sides of her face and overbalanced all her senses with a mind-blowing kiss. "They are looking for me and they know where you are... I must go, but I'll be close by..." It was very unsettling to hear his words and not see his mouth move. Claire nodded once as he simply disappeared right in front of her.

She smoothed out her dress as if he hadn't done it already and just thinking about what they'd done flushed her cheeks. She heard heels on the wooden floors and hurriedly grabbed a book and sat down. It was just lucky that she'd grabbed something she'd already read once, in case Angela questioned her. Not two seconds later the library door did open and the room was flooded with light, thankfully while she'd been thumbing through pages she'd thought to cut on the lamp beside her. "There you are." The voice was not that of Angela, Heidi, or her mother and Claire looked up. She smiled, this was a pleasant surprise.

"Hey, they unhooked their claws from you huh?" She asked as Peter walked over to her. He laughed.

"Yes..." He trailed off and looked around. "So... You haven't seen Gabriel since dinner have you?" He asked in a semi-casual voice. Claire's expression changed to one of contemplation.

"Nope. I thought he went into the Study with all the other males..." She trailed off, closing the book in her hand. "Why? What's up?" Peter smiled again and shook his head while placing his hands in his pockets, Claire recognized the stance. He did this whenever he was uncomfortable.

"Nothing." The answer was short and clipped and for some unknown reason, it unnerved Claire. She felt like it was a bad idea to be alone with Peter right now. This was of course silly and just to prove that to herself, she stood up, placing the book on the table beside the chair and stepped closer to Peter.

"Is there something wrong?" She asked concerned about him, she was also feeling concerned for herself. Claire had never gotten a 'creep' vibe from anyone in her extended family before, but Peter seemed to be emitting it in spades.

"Yes. You don't know the whole truth about Ga- Sylar, damn it I can't call him that sham of a name. He's a killer Claire. I know you were talking to him at dinner, I could tell by your expressions; I didn't need to read your mind. He's a cold-blooded killer, but for reasons my mom won't tell me, she's keeping him around..." Claire digested this information with a stunned silence. She thought back to everything Gabriel had said to her, done to her... She had to admit that there was a certain quality to him that was unnamed, a danger that she ignored... Perhaps Peter was telling her the truth, but it didn't bother her as much as she thought it should.

"Peter, my dad's a killer... Your dad's a killer..." She trailed off as Peter gave an inarticulate shout. He seemed mad all of a sudden and this frightened Claire more. He grabbed her shoulders, as Gabriel had earlier, but Peter's fingers bit into her skin. It hurt.

"You are not listening. He acquires his abilities through killing others. He FEEDS on their abilities! He'll kill you so that he can live forever!" By the end Peter was shaking her, the bruises disappearing as fast as he made them, but it didn't mean that she couldn't feel them.

"Peter! Stop it! He wouldn't do that to me!" She yelled as Peter released her. He turned his back to her and ran his hand through his hair in a very Peter-like gesture.

"You don't know him, Claire. He will kill you..." Peter trailed off just standing there with his back to her. She was a bit confused now, but not about Gabriel's intentions. She had an uncanny sense if someone was being false, she didn't know where she picked it up, perhaps her dad, but she knew that Peter wasn't telling her the whole truth. Gabriel hadn't lied to her; he'd said some very perplexing things though. Claire was about to say something, but she didn't get the chance as Peter literally pounced. She was wrapped inside his arms and her mouth was being invaded so fast that didn't have time to even register that he was related to her. From Claire's previous activities, her mind went into autopilot as she kissed him back, all the while thinking 'Gabriel.' Then the wrongness she felt kicked in and she tried to push away from him. His arms were like steel vices, but a bite on his lip at least freed her mouth.

"What the hell are you doing?!" She yelled in his face, his lip was bloody but had already healed over. His eyes held complete surprise and shock and for one moment, Claire thought that maybe he hadn't been in control of himself. His arms were still around her though. "Peter let me go, we're related! You're my uncle for God's sake!" She pushed at his chest, but he refused to let go. "PETER!" She was screaming now, full panic setting in as she heard running through the door. Claire was still trying to push Peter away from her.

"What the hell is going on?!" The bellow was accompanied by a loud crash as the library door bounced off the wall. Claire had never been so happy to see both of her dad's at the same time, though Noah Bennet had been the one who'd yelled out.

"Good God Pete." Nathan said as several more people came through the door. Claire looked back at Peter, confused that he still had not released her. She watched as Peter turned to look at the others, the surprise and shock still evident on his face. "Peter, let her go-"

"Ignore that." Everyone's head whip-lashed to the library door, too many people were in the way for Claire to see her grandfather clearly. "This was bound to happen... So why ignore it now."

"What the hell are you talking about Arthur!?" Noah Bennet asked as he surreptitiously reached for a gun that was not at his waist.

"Yes, Arthur... Please enlighten everyone... I believe no one but you, Peter and Angela knew about this..." Claire looked around and found Gabriel at her elbow. She sighed as relief flooded her senses.

"Dad?" Nathan asked hesitantly.

"What? It's an arranged marriage... Usually the father of the bride knows about it too, but since Noah works for us and Claire was only an assignment, he has no legal right to refuse. I didn't involve you, son, because you're president and don't need this on your hands. Dr. Suresh has assured me that their offspring will wield the strongest abilities... Claire's abilities won't let the fact that Peter is her uncle harm her babies... It's a win, win situation and Angela agrees with me." Arthur's long tirade was delivered as he forced his way through everyone and stood beside Peter. Claire was too stunned to say anything.

"This is absurd, Arthur! Really, Angela?" Mr. Linderman said turning towards Angela. "Do we really have to condemn Claire to this fate? Why does the world need stronger abilities when anyone can have an ability?"

"Do I have a say in this?" Claire's voice was tiny, but everyone heard her. Arthur looked at her and frowned.

"I'm sorry my dear, but you don't. I am the provider for this family. What I say goes and I just so happen to speak for you both."

"That's not quite true anymore..." Claire looked at Gabriel who sent her a conspiratorial smile. "You see Arthur, I was under your thumb because I was unable to control my ability... Well I don't have that problem anymore... Thank you Angela." Gabriel sent a wink to Angela Petrelli who smirked and then glanced at Arthur. Claire followed the line of site and flinched at the hatred held within Arthur Petrelli's eyes. His movements were lightning fast as he threw Gabriel across the room where he fell through a glass showcase. Gabriel didn't stay down long, the long gashes on his face healing as he stood up. Arthur gasped and then looked at Claire.

"You've fucked her?!" He shouted looking back at the bloodied man. Claire fell to the floor unexpectedly as Peter's arms finally released her. Her face flamed as she watched Gabriel fling Arthur away with two fingers.

"Sylar, take her and go!" Two different voices shouted out. Claire looked around confused. Angela and Noah were looking at each other, as if without knowing it, they'd been in this together.

"What the hell is going on?" Peter shouted as Noah Bennet muscled his way towards Claire. Peter looked at Arthur who was being held against the wall by Gabriel and then he looked down at Claire. "You're coming with me, for your own good." He said as he reached for Claire's arm. She of course flinched away.

"I don't think so son!" Noah Bennet said as he tackled Peter. Claire watched as they fell towards the floor and then disappeared.

"Dad!" Claire shouted as Peter phased back into reality.

"Sylar, take her NOW!" Angela screamed as Peter lurched towards Claire again. Claire slid her butt along the floor to get away from Peter as a dark hand grabbed the top of Peter's head.

"Go, I will hold them off. Leave now!" Claire looked at the tall dark man and only had a couple of seconds to think that his eyes were kind. Then the world dissolved around her. She looked behind her to see Gabriel, blood drying on his face, and goofy smile on his lips.

"That was the Haitian and he's a very good man." Gabriel said as Claire got to her feet.

"What the hell-" But before she could get all her sentence out, Gabriel phased out of existence. "Hey!" She yelled at the air. She then noted where she was. He'd taken her to her own house, in Texas. She was standing in the backyard, no coat and the air frigid. Two seconds later, Gabriel materialized with another person. "Dad!"

"That fucking bast-" Noah Bennet cut himself off as he saw his daughter. "Clairebear!" He said folding her into his arms. Gabriel smiled. "Thanks Gab-"

"Please, call me Sylar... That pansy ass name was what Arthur called me. Drove me crazy!" Noah smiled and adjusted his glasses as Claire released her hold on him. She looked between her adoptive father and the man she'd just met this night. It seemed like a very awkward situation, but both men were smiling and looking at her. She raised her eyebrows questioning.

"So what the hell was go-"

"Oh!" Sylar said looking at Noah, "Almost forgot." And he was gone again.

"That's starting to irritate me..." Claire said looking at her dad. Noah chuckled as Sylar plus several more people popped back into existence.

"The rest of the family..." Sylar said as Sandra hugged Noah and Lyle together. Angela Petrelli, who looked well out of place in the Bennet's backyard had her arms around Mr. Linderman. Claire's eyes were on Sylar, who was smirking and waggling his eyebrows while pointing to Angela. "She's been hot for him for years..." He said without moving his lips. Claire laughed and pulled a disgusted face as Sylar traversed the distance between them. His mouth was on hers in seconds and Claire didn't care that anyone saw. This is the best Christmas ever! She thought.

End.