A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews! I'm glad you're all enjoying the interactions between Peter & Claire. They're my favorites, so I do tend to focus on them, but here is an update that doesn't have them in it. Don't worry, they will be back next time!

HIRO NAKAMURA & TAKEZO KENSEI

"Again!"

Hiro sucked in his breath and prepared to lash out with his wooden practice sword once again. He did so, but once again Takezo expertly blocked his attack, swiftly swinging around and landing a blow on Hiro's side with his own practice sword.

"I'm not getting any better." Hiro complained, taking a break to catch his breath.

Takezo shook his head. "You need more practice, that is all. I have been training since I was five. You have only been training for one week."

Hero was bent nearly double, panting heavily with his practice sword hanging limply at his side. He didn't understand why this training he had been doing with Takezo was so difficult for him. He could freeze time and time travel, but he couldn't succeed with a bit of sword fighting. He remembered the brief lesson he had received from his father, at the end of which Hiro had felt victorious, like a true samurai. He couldn't believe how wrong he had been! His father had done nothing more than to equip Hiro with the basics of defense so he could stand a slight chance against Sylar. Or perhaps, he had only trained Hiro enough to equip him with the necessary courage. Now though, after a week of working hours daily with Takezo, Hiro had realized how much was required to fully succeed as a skilled samurai warrior. A part of him feared that he would never reach that stage of skill.

"Hiro, pay attention!"

"Sorry." Hiro mumbled, quickly pulling himself together as Takezo prepared to issue another attack at Hiro.

"Always be ready!" Takezo shouted as he simultaneously swung his sword out. Hiro just barely managed to block it before Takezo was swinging the other direction, swiftly bring the broad edge of the sword down on Hiro's shoulder. "Be aware of all your surroundings, all directions, not just what's in front of you."

Hiro nodded feebly as he ducked another swing from Takezo's sword. "I am trying, sir!"

"Don't try Hiro! Just do." Takezo paused and stared hard at Hiro. "You have the ability to be a great hero for your people. You simply have to believe in yourself and in the power that you have been given. You have a destiny Hiro Nakamura. You have a great purpose in this world."

"You keep telling me that, but I don't understand what it is that I am supposed to do."

"You will understand when it is time for you to."

Hiro was feeling very irritated with Takezo's cryptic messages. "Will you at least tell me when that might be?"

"It isn't for me to do so. I am simply destined to train you into the greatness that you are already capable of and then you must return to your own time and be the hero for your people." Takezo smiled. "You are one of many and you will lead all the others who are gifted like you." He finally placed the training sword aside and ended the session with a slight bow of his head. "You should rest now. I must meet with Kaori, so we will resume tomorrow at the regular time."

Hiro kept his head bowed respectfully until Takezo had left the room and then he collapsed onto the ground, stretching out fully to rest his sore limbs.

D.L. HAWKINS & NIKI SANDERS

HOSPITAL, NEW YORK

"Hey!"

"Hi, honey, how are you feeling?" Niki approached the side of her husband's hospital bed, giving him her brightest smile.

"Better, now that you're here. As always." He returned her smile and reached up for her hand, which she gave to him readily. "Where's Micah?"

"He's hanging out with Molly for a couple hours, Claire's looking after them." Niki answered. "I wanted a chance to talk to you without him overhearing."

"Oh? Is something wrong?"

Niki pulled a chair over and sat down, trying her best to sound calm and collected for the sake of her husband, even though in truth she was more unnerved then she had been since before Jessica had released her.

"We need to talk about what we're going to do."

"About what?"

"DL, you know what I'm talking about." Niki frowned. "What are we going to do about everything? Are we going to return to Vegas, or are we going to stay here and see if Dr. Suresh can help us with our…problems…"

"Problems?" DL sighed. "I thought you said she was gone."

"She is. Or she has been, but how do we know if she's gone for good?" Niki insisted. "I have never managed to control her, DL. She made a choice to save you and Micah and me, but how do I know if she's really done with me? Jessica could come back at any second and then what do we do?"

"I don't know." His response was quiet. "Trust me, I've thought about it, but I just don't know."

"You've thought about it?"

"Of course I have. Jessica is not safe for any of us, but Micah needs his mother, and I need my wife. We were both miserable when you were locked up, and it isn't fair for you because you've done nothing wrong, Niki!" DL gripped her hand tightly. "You are a good woman, the best, but Jessica seems determined to ruin all of us."

"Maybe…" Niki replied.

"Not 'maybe' Niki. I know you better than anyone. You would never hurt anybody!"

"I might…if I had the right reasons." She stared at her husband with surprising calmness. "If someone wanted to hurt my family, I think I could be very capable of hurting them back."

DL wasn't sure how to respond, but he finally smiled at her. "That's different Niki. You care for nothing as much as your son."

"Or you." She added.

"That's good to know." He raised her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers gently. "Look Niki, whatever happens, we can handle it together, as a family."

She nodded. "I know. About the other things though…"

"I will do whatever you want to do." He told her suddenly. "If you want to return to Vegas and try to get our lives back to normal…or as normal as possible…then we'll leave the second I'm free to get out of here!" He paused. "Or, if you want to stay here and set up a new life, keeping these new people in our lives…then I will start apartment hunting as soon as I'm allowed."

"Thank you!" Niki leaned forward quickly and kissed him.

"I'm thinking that means you want to stay here."

"There's just so much that I need to know about the past few months, and I really believe that Dr. Suresh can help all of us!" She answered. "I do want to talk to Micah though before I commit to anything."

"I'm sure he'll be fine wherever we go. He never enjoyed Vegas very much anyway." DL reminded her.

"I'll talk to him tonight then, and we'll both be here to see you tomorrow."

"Hey, only a couple more days until I'm allowed out of this place." He told her. "I can't wait to sleep in a real bed again, with my beautiful wife next to me."

She kissed him again. "I could stay with you tonight if you want. I'm sure Claire and Peter could keep Micah overnight."

"Sweetie, that's a nice thought, but you wouldn't get any sleep here. You'd be so uncomfortable."

"I don't care. I miss you!"

"I miss you too, but you should be with Micah." He decided. "I'm a big boy."

Niki smiled and rested her head on the bed beside his arm. "I'm so sorry for everything DL."

"Hey…" DL heard her sniffling and moved his hand to run through her long hair. "What are you apologizing for?"

"Everything is my fault." She was crying fully now and DL had a difficult time hearing her through the tears.

"What's your fault?"

"Everything!" She repeated. "Your arrest, and Linderman…"

"No. Niki, stop." He used all his energy to sit up straighter and to force her to look him in the face. "You are not responsible for anything that has happened. You did not steal that money or kill those people. Jessica did that. You have only ever wanted to take care of your family and you have done incredibly well, despite Jessica's attempts to ruin it all."

"But…"

"No." He cut her off firmly. "I don't ever want to hear you blaming yourself again, do you understand me?"

She nodded and her tears slowly stopped.

"Good, now why don't you get on back to Micah and let me get some rest."

"Are you okay?" She panicked instantly.

"Of course, I'm just a little tired." He assured her. "There's no need for you to worry." He gave her a smile and a quick pat on the hand as she stood up. "I love you."

"I love you too." She gave him one last kiss before leaving.