A/N: Okay, so I wasn't going to post this yet, but after tonight's episode, I am totally freaking out and I have to share! Adam Monroe. That was my name. I created that name weeks ago to be Mohinder's patient in Seattle! I had no freakin' idea that it was going to be an actual character from the show. I created it purely from my imagination. Monroe was the city my dad was working in that day and my roommate was talking about Adam Brody. The moment I saw the name on the file in the episode today I wanted to scream. Okay…I'm trying to calm down now, but somebody sympathize with me. It's weird right? So, I guess now I'm going to have to add a disclaimer every time I use him. Adam Monroe was a character that I created and is in no way affiliated with the actually Adam Monroe from "Heroes". Pure, freaky coincidence…super freaky. If the character in the show has dark hair and x-ray vision I'm writing to the director.

NIKI, MICAH, MOLLY

NEW YORK

"Mom, something's up with molly."

Niki glanced up at the sound of her son's voice. "I'm sorry sweetie, did you say something?"

Micah's eyebrows peaked; he contemplated his mom's aloofness, but let it go for the moment. "I think something's up with Molly."

Niki shrugged, "What makes you say so?"

"She's sitting in a corner of the living room…I think she's crying."

Niki stood instantly. "Where?"

"Behind the couch," Micah told her as she rushed from the bedroom in search of Molly. Niki spotted her huddled in a corner, just as Micah had told her. The girl's face was hidden in her arms and she was definitely crying.

"Molly?" Niki knelt beside her, not quite sure how to respond. "Are you okay?"

"He's mad at me…he can't find Peter anymore and he thinks it's my fault…" Molly cried harder.

"Sweetie, I don't know what you're talking about?" Niki reached out to touch caress Molly's hair, but did so hesitantly.

"I have to warn him…"

"Molly, Claire told me that she's taking care of Peter. I'm sure he's fine."

The girl lifted her head, showing Niki her tear-filled eyes. "No…he won't be."

"Okay, here's what we'll do," Niki stood and lifted Molly to her feet as well. "We're going to call Claire to check in, and then we're going out for ice cream, because you have been cooped up in this house too long missy." Niki looked over her shoulder to locate her son. He was lurking in the doorway. "Micah, can you get my purse and keys for me? We're going to take Molly out."

Molly seemed hesitant to agree, but since she was a guest in Niki's home and she didn't want her to worry, she agreed to go along.

"Come with me…" Niki took Molly by the hand and led her into the kitchen where the phone was located on the counter. "Do you know Claire's number?"

Molly nodded and punched in the numbers while Niki kept the receiver, listening to it ring and waiting for Claire to answer.

"Hello?"

"Claire, hey, it's Niki."

"Hi! I'm sorry I haven't called you much. Things have been a little crazy here with Peter." Claire sighed. "I haven't had much free time, but how's Molly?"

"Actually, that's why I'm calling," Niki told her. "She's not doing so well. I'm trying to take care of her, but I don't know what to do for her."

"Did she have another bad dream?"

"I think so. She was saying something about someone being mad at her because he can't find Peter…"

"Oh god..."

"Claire, what's wrong? I don't understand what's going on."

"I know it's confusing Niki, and I really appreciate that you so readily agreed to take care of her…" Claire let out a slight squeak and Niki heard a noise that sounded like the phone dropping on the ground. A moment later Claire was speaking again, though a little out of breath. "Sorry…I'm a little scattered right now. I'm running late for my date."

"Date? I didn't realize…sorry to hold you up!" Niki apologized instantly.

"No, I'm glad you called," Claire assured her. "I want to know everything that goes on with her, so please do keep me updated."

"I will," Niki knew Claire was eager to get back to prepping for her date, but she needed to talk to know more. "Claire, what do I do with her? How do I keep her calm?"

"Just let her know that you're there for her." Claire answered. "Comfort her, soothe her when she wakes up from her nightmares. Other than that, I don't think there really is anything we can do for her."

"Okay, well, thanks for talking…" Niki was distracted by Molly who was trying to pull the phone out of her hand. "Oh, Molly wants to talk to you really fast."

"Sure, put her on."

"Here, Molly, but don't keep her too long, she's got a date."

Molly took the phone, gripping it tightly. "You have a date? What about Peter? Is he okay? I thought you were going to be taking care of him?"

"I am taking care of him, sweetheart. He's fine, I'm just going out for a couple hours to have dinner with Jaden…" Claire tried to explain in a way that the girl would understand. "Peter's fine…"

"I don't trust him," Molly confessed suddenly.

"Peter? I thought you really like Peter."

"Not Peter. Jaden. I don't trust him," Molly corrected. "There was just something strange about him. I don't really trust him."

"Okay…well…you don't really know him like I do Molly." Claire appreciated Molly's concern, but she was only a child. What did she know about relationships? "He's a good guy. Really. I'm sure you'd like him if you gave him a chance."

"If you say so," Molly didn't sound convinced, but she had more important things on her mind. "Please don't leave Peter alone for too long. I didn't think it's safe for him."

"Don't worry sweetheart, I'll only be gone for a couple hours, and I'm making sure Peter's had plenty of caffeine, so he won't fall asleep when I'm not home."

"Okay…"

"I'm sorry Molly, but I really need to go now. Please promise me that you'll trust Niki. I want to bring you home as soon as possible, but in the meantime you need to let Niki fill in." Claire told her.

"I know. I will."

"Good girl. Goodbye now! Say goodbye to Niki for me."

"Goodbye," Molly mumbled into the phone, a little disappointed with how the conversation turned out. She didn't know what she had been expecting, but somehow Claire always seemed to be able to comfort her; this time she failed though.

"So, ice cream?" Niki suggested again as Micah brought her the purse she had requested.

"Sure, ice cream sounds great." Molly did her best to fake a smile. Niki was doing her best, after all. Not wanting to bring down the day with her nightmares, Molly simply tried to ignore the pain in her head and the leftover terror of what she had seen.

JADEN & CLAIRE

NEW YORK

"So, there's still something I just don't get."

The night had been blissful. Claire couldn't think of any other word that would describe it more accurately. Everything had gone exactly as she would have wanted it. He hadn't asked her any awkward questions, he hadn't taken any calls from work, and over all he had seemed completely focused on her. For some reason though, when he stated this sentence, her insides tensed.

"What's that?" She asked anyway, hoping he would only be thinking about something trivial that had happened at dinner or the movie they had seen afterwards—during which he had made the bold move of holding her hand. She hadn't protested.

"It just seems weird to me that you live with your uncle…"

Claire hoped he didn't notice the twitch in her eye. "Really?" She tried to play dumb.

"Yea, I mean, you mentioned that your dad lived here in the city, but you live with your uncle. He doesn't seem to be much older than you. Isn't it kind of weird? Like, doesn't he ever bring dates home?"

"I know it's a little unusual," Claire thought fast, "but really it's not that weird. We get along really well, better than my dad and me actually. I told you before that I sort of just discovered my dad, and he has this whole other family…I haven't even met his sons yet…for the time being it's just easier to live with Peter."

Jaden clearly wasn't convinced. "Seriously? It's weird Claire. I mean, what if I wanted to come up…he'd freak out!"

"You want to come up?" Claire picked up on the important part of Jaden's ranting.

"No," he quickly corrected himself. "Well maybe, sure, but it's not like it matters because he'd never be okay with it."

Claire smiled. "Trust me, he's not like other uncles. I mean, he's only known me for a couple months, so he's not as protective as you might think." She considered what she was saying for a minute and knew she was wrong. At times Peter seemed to be more protective of her than either of her dads. "It doesn't matter anyway, he doesn't have a say in my relationships."

"So, if I wanted to come up tonight…" Jaden glanced towards the doorway that led into the lobby of Peter's apartment complex.

Claire winced. If only it were another time. "I'm sorry Jaden, but tonight really wouldn't be a good idea. Peter's not feeling well."

"Oh, okay, right…" Jaden sighed.

"Are you upset?"

"No," He smiled a little. "Maybe a little. Upset's not the right word. Just confused."

"About what?"

"You. Us." He expanded. "We've gone on a dozen dates Claire, and I still don't know what to think of our relationship, or if we even have one."

"I know it's confusing, but I'm sort of in a confusing place in my life right now…"

"I've heard all your excuses before Claire," he cut her off. "I'm not interested in stories. I just wish you would trust me enough to tell me what's going on and how I fit in."

"I don't know what to say…"

"Well let's start with something simple. Tell me about the other night. What was going on with Molly? Why didn't she go home with you? Where did you take her?" Jaden pried.

Claire glanced around the street. The sidewalks were thinning out in the progressing nighttime, but a few late stragglers still wandered, seeking exciting Manhattan nightlife. "It's a long story."

"I have time," he assured her.

She hesitated, not sure how to talk herself out of talking this time. "I just don't know what I can tell you."

"Don't you trust me, Claire?"

"Yes…" She wished her voice hadn't sounded so shaky.

"No you don't," he shook his head. "I don't know how you expect to have any sort of relationship if you can't even trust me."

"Give me a break, Jaden. I have reason to be cautious in relationships," she defended herself angrily. "You don't know what I've been through."

"Because you won't tell me!" He pointed out. "I want to know, but you're so careful to hide everything about your past from me."

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to hide it, you just wouldn't understand…"

"Try me." He stood in front of her with his hands firmly planted on his waist and his eyes boring into her.

I can't tell him. If there was anything Claire had learned from her past few weeks, it as that nobody could be trusted until they proved themselves. "I'm sorry Jaden, but I just don't think I'm ready to talk about it."

"Maybe you're just not ready for a relationship," Jaden snapped. Without waiting for her to respond, he turned and started down the sidewalk, leaving her alone in front of her apartment.

Claire wasn't ready to lose him. Her dates with Jaden seemed to be the only thing she looked forward to anymore. "Jaden, wait!" She ran after him, the stiletto heals of her sandals clicked against the pebbled sidewalk.

"What?" He stopped before turning the corner and waited for her to catch up.

She didn't say anything, because she had no idea what she would say to him yet. Instead she tried solving their problems another way. When she reached him, Claire lifted herself onto her tiptoes, wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, and pressed her lips against his. It was clear by his delayed response that she took him by surprise—it was their first kiss. He made up for his moment's hesitation though, by quickly securing his arms around her waist and eagerly responding to her lips with his own. Claire had to break the kiss after a few moments. She had never kissed anyone like that before. The intensity and the passion that Jaden contributed to the kiss caught her off guard.

"Was that too much?" He seemed to sense her discomfort.

"No…it was…incredible." She smiled up at him, still holding her arms around his neck. "Really incredible."

"Yea, it was." He agreed and started to lean in for a follow-up kiss.

"Umm…maybe that's enough though for tonight." Claire pulled her head back before their lips had a chance to connect again. "I just wanted to assure you that I am ready for this relationship. I just need you to be patient with me to talk. You don't know have to know everything about me up front, do you?"

"No, I guess not." He still had his arms around her waist. "Can I take you out tomorrow night?"

"Yes you can," Claire agreed.

"Good. I'll see you tomorrow then." He released her slowly, somewhat reluctantly.

"Goodnight," she turned away from him and hurried back down the sidewalk to her apartment.