A/N: A dozen hugs and kisses to all my lovely reviewers! I adore you all. Thanks so much and I hope I can keep on entertaining you and intriguing you with this story! In return, you can keep on delighting me with your reviews!
NIKI, DL, MICAH, CLAIRE & MOLLY
NEW YORK
"Did you hear something?" Niki nudged her husband's arm.
"No…" DL moaned. "I was sleeping."
"I thought I heard something," Niki insisted. She sat up in bed, listening intently for any unusual noises.
"Maybe Micah's up."
Niki glanced at the red numbers on the digital clock beside the bed. "It's three thirty! What would Micah be doing up?" She swung her legs out of bed.
"You're paranoid," DL told her. He rolled over, stealing her abandoned pillow for himself.
"I have reason to be." Niki reminded him. "Living in Vegas with a mob checking in every other day hasn't exactly made me very calm. And in case you forgot, our son was kidnapped a couple weeks ago."
"No one's after us anymore Niki." DL sighed, finally giving up on sleeping when he realized that Niki was already moving towards the door of their bedroom.
"Ouch!"
DL pried open his eyes when he heard her run into one of the still unpacked boxes that were stacked around the room. "You should just come back to bed before you hurt yourself."
"I swear I heard something." She picked her way around the room more carefully until she reached the door. "Stay here, I'll check it out."
"Okay, right…" DL rolled his eyes, frustrated with his wife's stubborn persistence, but he wasn't about to let her go and investigate a strange noise all by herself. If it was something serious, she would never let him hear the end of it.
By the time he had pulled himself out of bed and made his way across the cluttered floor, he found Niki already standing by the front door of the apartment. He crossed the living room just as she pulled open the door—a slight gasp indicated her surprise.
"Claire? Molly?"
The younger blonde looked up at Niki with an apologetic smile. "I know it's ridiculously late! I'm so sorry to wake you up, but we didn't know where else to go…"
DL had reached his wife, but when he realized who was at the door, he quickly retreated to the bedroom to pull on sweatpants over his boxers.
Niki glanced over the girls' heads and noticed the cab waiting at the curb. "Come in." She stepped back and allowed the girls to enter; Claire was nearly dragging Molly. "Where's Peter?"
"At home." Claire answered briefly. "I need to get back to him as soon as possible."
Niki flipped on the living room overhead lights and motioned to the couch. "Sorry about the mess…just go ahead and shove things out of the way."
Claire moved a box from the couch and urged Molly to sit down. "I know this is probably like the worst timing possible…you guys are just moving in and everything, but I was wondering if Molly could stay with you for a while."
"Stay with us?" Niki glanced around the room as if evaluating the size of their apartment.
"She isn't any trouble!" Claire assured Niki. "It's just that something's come up and I don't think it's a good idea for her to stay around Peter right now…" She glanced at Molly who seemed to be doing her best not to make eye contact. "If Mohinder wasn't in Seattle, I know he'd take her, but…"
"It's fine," Niki decided quickly. "She can stay here for a while. Can I ask what's going on with Peter though? Why don't you want him around her?"
Claire glanced at Molly again. "Sweetie, please stay right there okay? We'll be right back." She waited for Molly to nod before directing Niki into the bedroom where DL was now dressed and waiting for them. "Molly has nightmares."
"All little kids do," Niki said.
"Not normal nightmares," Claire started to explain. "They are because of her ability. There is a man who finds her when she sleeps…she calls him the nightmare man. He's horrible and he makes her see awful things that he does to people. She thinks that he uses her ability to find them and hurt them."
"What?"
"I'm not sure if that's really how it works, but it's what Molly believes. Anyway, sometimes this man won't let her out of her nightmares. She gets stuck and she'll scream and cry trying to get out. If that happens, you have to be there for her. You have to try to talk her out of it, sometimes even shake her until she wakes up. Mainly, just be there to comfort her the moment she wakes up, though." Claire paused to let them process it all.
"What does this have to do with Peter?" Niki asked.
"Tonight he absorbed her ability for the first time. It was terrible. I've never seen it affect Molly like it affected Peter. When she woke up she told me that the nightmare man had been waiting for her to bring Peter to him." Claire shivered at the memory. "Mohinder thinks it would be best if they weren't near each other for a while; not until Peter can get this ability under control like the others."
"Will he be okay?"
"I hope so," Claire said. "That's why I need to stay with him. If I hadn't been there tonight I don't know if he would have woken up at all."
"You should go then. He needs you." Niki led the others back into the living room where Molly had now curled herself up into a ball in the corner of the couch.
"Sweetie, I have to go now…" Claire kneeled beside her.
"You promised." Molly flung her arms around Claire's neck and held tightly. "You promised to take care of me. How am I going to wake up if you're not there with me?"
"Niki is going to take care of you." Claire felt tears burning in her eyes. She hated to disappoint Molly. "Peter needs me right now. You're going to be okay here. You're strong. I know you are."
Molly's eyes were watering, but she seemed determined not to cry. "I still don't think I should stay here."
"Molly, you can't be alone. You're too young and the world is too dangerous. Until Mohinder returns or I help Peter get this under control, I need you to be a big girl and stay here with Niki and Micah. You like them. It will be fun…"
"It won't be safe."
"Molly, listen to me." Claire took her hands and held them tightly. "You are not dangerous to us. Peter is only hurting because he can do what you can do. You're not going to hurt anyone else." Claire brought Molly's small hands to her own lips and kissed them softly. "Molly, I need you to know how much I care about you."
"I know," Molly sighed. "You need to take care of Peter now." She hugged Claire's neck once more. "I'll be fine."
"I know you will," Claire planted a kiss in Molly's hair and stood up. "Okay, I'm out of here. Thanks again for taking her."
Niki nodded, walking Claire back to the front door. "I hope everything works out with Peter."
"Yea, me too." Claire smiled sadly and headed back out to the still waiting cab.
SYLAR & EMILY
LONDON
"Tell me more about you."
Emily smiled, adoring the attention she was receiving from her idealized artist from New York. "Really? You want to know more about me? Haven't you heard enough about me? What about you?"
Sylar gave her one of his practiced smiles and tilted his head to the side. "You know all you need to know about me. I paint and I crossed an ocean to come and see you."
"You really are a charmer, aren't you?" Emily let her hand rest on the table; her bright green eyes connected with his deep brown ones.
"Are you complaining?" Sylar inquired; his hand inched across the table until his fingers were nudging hers.
"Do I sound like I'm complaining?"
"I just wanted to make sure. I can never be too sure with that accent of yours." He slipped his hand beneath hers until their fingers entwined. "So, tomorrow I need to get in some painting, so as much as I wanted you to spend the day showing me around town…"
"Can I watch you paint?" Emily asked with an intrigued smile, rubbing her thumb over Sylar's hand. "Please, Isaac? I would love to watch you work."
Sylar shook his head. "I've told you before that I have to paint alone."
"Please?"
"Not tomorrow. I haven't had a chance to paint in a long time, but maybe another time." He lifted her hand to his lips, brushing them gently. "I promise to make it up to you though."
Emily nodded. "How can I argue? You have given me two of the best weeks I've had…in a long time…"
"They have been good, haven't they?" Sylar leaned further across the table and Emily met him halfway—their lips meshed together.
"All right, you can have your alone time tomorrow. I'll be at the gallery if you find yourself at all lonely during the night."
"So, we were going to learn more about you, weren't we?" Sylar restarted the earlier conversation. "Let's start with your childhood."
"My childhood? Hardly a thrilling story."
"Why don't you let me be the judge?"
"Okay, I'll make it quick. I was born here in London. My parents died in a car accident when I was seven. I went to live with an aunt in Wales until I went away to Uni, which is when I returned to London."
"And how'd you get into the art gallery business?"
"Art is my passion. I wish I could paint better myself, but I suppose that's why I immersed myself in the gallery. I was able to enjoy the paintings of others." Emily smiled. "The day I came across yours for the first time changed my life."
Sylar tried not to show a reaction in his face. "I'm glad I contributed to making you happy."
"And it hasn't stopped yet." She offered him her lips again for a second kiss and he gave it to her easily.
"What about past relationships?"
"Are you seriously going to ask me that?" She settled back in her chair after breaking the kiss. "I've told you there isn't anyone else right now. That will have to satisfy you." Emily laughed. "I'm not going to go into all the sordid details of my exes."
"Fair enough," Sylar accepted her answer without complaint. He wasn't actually interested in her other boyfriends. He just needed to learn everything he could so he could confirm his boss's suspicions.
"Oh my, I didn't realize how late it was." Emily exclaimed with a glance at the wall clock at the far side of the café. "I should be getting home."
Sylar stood with her and dropped a few bills on the table to cover their check. "I'll walk you."
"It's only around the corner."
"A lot could happen in only a few feet. I don't want you to run into trouble." He escorted her out of the restaurant with his arm around her waist.
"And what exactly would you be able to do if someone did attack me?" Emily teased.
Sylar smiled to himself. "I have talents you couldn't imagine."
Emily analyzed his expression, considering him for a moment and then her face broke into a smile. "You are such a laugh, Isaac. You're always teasing me."
Sylar slid his arm further around her thin waist so that she was drawn in closer to him. "You're very easy to tease." He listened intently, enjoying how her heart raced as his lips tickled her cheek.
"All right…" She pulled away from him when they reached the door to the flat she lived in above her gallery. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight." He stood still as she unlocked the door.
She started to enter, but stopped, turned back and captured his lips with hers. The kiss lasted for a full minute before she pulled away, giggling like a schoolgirl, and disappeared through the door. As he walked away from her street, Sylar pulled out his cell phone for his required check-in call.
"Mr. Okenberg, I'm just checking in."
"I've been waiting for your call. Do you have proof yet?"
"No Sir. I haven't been able to learn anything unusual about Miss Banks."
"Nothing? Are you sure?"
"Yes, I need more time."
"You've been with her for two weeks. I've been waiting for you to return. I have other assignments for you."
"I thought Miss Banks was your priority."
"She is, but there are many priorities. You haven't forgotten your assignments have you?" Mr. Okenberg's voice was harsh.
"I haven't forgotten," Sylar snapped back.
"Good, then tomorrow I will need you in Rome. There is a young man there who has been seen using his powers."
"Will I be bringing him in?"
"No. This one has become too great a risk. You may dispose of him as you wish."
"Fine. I'll take care of it."
CLAIRE & PETER
NEW YORK
"I don't know how I'm going to take care of you if you won't let me close to you when you're struggling." Claire set the mug she was holding down a little harder than she meant to. Her eyes glanced up at Peter, hoping he hadn't noticed—he had.
"Claire, I don't want you mixed up in this," Peter shifted his position on the couch.
"And I've told you that I don't care what you want. I care about what you need." Claire poured boiling water from the teapot into the mug she had already slipped a teabag into. "And right now you need me to look after you." She brought the mug over to the couch and placed it on a coaster on the coffee table to cool. Since he refused to cooperate, it took all her strength to lift his head so she could slide in to sit on the couch; once she was seated she settled his head back on her lap.
"Claire…" Peter pulled away from her, trying to sit up, but she held him in place.
"Stop fussing," she commanded. "I know you have this need to be independent or whatever, but I need you to let me take care of you."
"I don't think it's a good idea." Peter persisted. You don't know what it's like. He wished he could give her a logical reason, but without telling her how he was feeling…how he loved the way she was running her fingers through his hair, or how content he would be to lie there with her for the rest of his life…she can't stay here alone with me. I can't handle it. Before he had a chance to protest again, Joan Jett's "Cherry Bomb" sounded from Claire's cell phone across the room.
She debated ignoring it briefly, but gave in. "It might be important."
Peter sat up readily to let her slide out. She frolicked across the living room and retrieved her phone from where it was stashed in her purse. "Hello?"
Peter waited, curiously, for her to announce the caller. When she turned her back to him and lowered her voice a little, he wished she hadn't answered it.
"Hey…I was hoping you'd call." She paused, clearly listening to the caller. "I just wanted to apologize again for how strange everything was last night with Molly…it's hard to explain, but things are just weird right now."
Peter dropped his head back on the couch, knowing exactly whom Claire was talking to. He could tell by the tone of her voice. It was softer than usual, a little bubblier as well. It was the voice she got when she was talking to Jaden…or about Jaden…or even if she was just thinking about Jaden. This is ridiculous. I'm jealous. I'm not supposed to be jealous! She's my niece. I should be encouraging her…he smirked—he would never be able to encourage her into a relationship.
"Tonight?"
Peter tried to ignore the fact that Claire was undoubtedly setting up a date. He stared resolutely at the ceiling.
"Umm…I don't know…" she hesitated. Peter's only consolation was that he knew she was only fighting the urge to say 'yes' to Jaden because she was concerned about Peter. "I know, but I have other things…what about tomorrow?" she giggled and Peter knew he was losing the priority competition. "Okay…yea…no I'm sure…yes…I'll be ready…goodnight…" she giggled again. "Sweet dreams to you too." She hung up the phone and slipped it back into her purse before turning back to Peter; he pretended not to notice that she had even gotten off the phone. When she had returned to the couch and perched on the edge of the coffee table, leaning over him, he was unable to ignore her any longer.
"Anything important?"
Claire couldn't keep from smiling. "Will you be okay alone for a couple hours tomorrow night?"
Peter fought his desire to say 'no' just to see if she would cancel her date. Considering that he was trying to convince her that he didn't need her to live with him though, he simply shook his head. "I don't need you to take care of me Claire. I'll be fine."
Her smile widened; he didn't think it was possible. "Good, because I have a date with Jaden. I promise not to stay out too long though. You don't have to worry. I'll be home in plenty of time for you to go to sleep."
"God, you make me feel like I'm two years old again."
Claire pulled back a little at the sharpness to his tone. "I'm sorry."
He realized he was unnecessarily harsh. "No, I'm sorry Claire. I didn't mean to snap at you. You're being incredible…really…I do appreciate it…I just don't feel right making you baby-sit me, when quite honestly I could be dangerous to you!"
"I can take it," she assured him.
"That's just it. I know you can, but I don't want you to have to."
"Let's just wait and see how it goes." Claire handed him the mug of tea, which had cooled down considerably. "You might not even have the nightmares now that Molly's gone. You didn't have any last night, right?"
"You're right," he took the tea from her. "I want you to sleep in the bed though. I feel bad enough without you taking the couch."
"Not a chance."
"God, your dad would kill me if he knew how badly I was taking care of you. I'm supposed to be protecting you, remember? Not the other way around." Peter took a sip of the tea. I don't even want to think about what he would do if he knew the thoughts I was having about you…
"Luckily for us, my dad's thousands of miles away." She took the mug from him and stood, motioning for him to do the same. "It's time for you to relocate to bed. I need my beauty sleep for my date tomorrow!"
Right, the date. Peter stood obligingly and let her lead him into the bedroom. "Just for the record though, you don't need any beauty sleep, Claire."
She gave him the briefest of smiles—the kind she usually reserved for Jaden—and his heart soared. The next instant it had been replaced with a teasing glint in her beautiful green eyes and she poked him in the stomach. "You on the other hand could definitely use some beauty rest. You've been looking pretty crappy lately."
"Thanks," Peter's heart settled back down to where it should be.