A/N: Just wanted to say that I love you all! Thanks for the reviews. They really keep me going. Life has been so hectic these past couple weeks. It's like everything that could happen with school, family, future, friends, etc., is happening right now, but still I am trying to write and to make it good. So, I hope I don't let you down! I also wanted to comment on how many reviews I have been getting regarding Jaden—there seems to be a passionate hate for him. Which is great because it means that I'm really succeeding in my job as writer. He's not supposed to be liked. Also, I'm sorry to disappoint some of you, but he's not going to just suddenly die. He will be around for a little while, but I think it's necessary for Claire's story. I hope ya'll continue to enjoy anyway! Thanks again, and please keep up the superb reviews!

SYLAR

HOLLAND

"I miss you too," Sylar gripped the phone tightly and spoke quietly as he waited outside the pub for his latest victim. "I know it's taking longer than I thought, but I'm almost finished." The door creaked open and Sylar instinctively shrank back into the shadows that blanketed the outside wall. "Tomorrow. I promise. I'll see you tomorrow Emily." He smiled as she made kissing noises into the phone. "All right, I have to go now…I have to get back to painting." He hung up and slipped the phone into his pocket as the door opened again and this time the one he had been waiting for stepped out.

Sylar waited for a few moments, allowing the victim to gain some distance before following him. Sylar's feet crept over the cobblestone street silently; a skill that he had acquired through his months of expert stalking—the victim continued on, blissfully unaware of a pursuer.

Sylar followed for two blocks, waiting until they were shrouded in an inconspicuous alleyway before making his move. Focusing his energy Sylar drew on his telekinesis to pin his victim to the brick wall of the building to the left.

"What the…"

"Hello," Sylar approached the wall slowly, planning his attack.

His victim struggled, "who are you? What are you doing to me?" More struggling. "Oh god…please don't hurt me." Tears streamed down her cheeks as she tried to break free from the invisible force holding her to the wall.

"Shh," Sylar placed a finger against her trembling lips. "Crying isn't going to help you at all Anika."

"How…how do you know my name?" She asked, still quivering in fear.

"It's my job to know." He tuned in his hearing and listened to the intense pounding of her heart; it exhilarated him. "That's not all I know about you."

She didn't respond, but she was now whimpering a little.

"I know that you're a student from Los Angeles, here on a student visa. I know that you're studying architectural design. And…" He placed his mouth up to her ear and whispered: "I know what you can do."

Her eyes widened and he heard her heartbeat quicken, but still she was silent.

"Come on…" He crooned. "Show me."

"I…I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yes you do," he now placed his ear up to her chest even though it wasn't necessary to hear how loudly her heart was pounding. "Please show me."

She managed to shake her head in protest, but he only tightened his telekinetic grip around her throat.

"Show me!" He demanded harshly and she reacted only out of fear.

Her eyes turned upward toward the dark, clear night sky, she let out a shriek, her eyes clouded over, and a moment later Sylar heard a rumbling overheard and then a piercing streak of lightening shot out of the sky and struck the street only a couple feet from where they stood.

"Now that's impressive." Sylar stared at the shattered cobblestone that had been affected by the summoned lightning. "It will fit in nicely with my collection…" He raised a finger to her forehead, preparing to cut.

"Wait."

Sylar turned at the sound of a familiar voice behind him in the alleyway. "What are you doing here?"

"Did you really think these assignments were all about you, Gabriel?" Angela Petrelli looked severely out of place in the dark alleyway behind a Dutch pub dressed in Paris fashion's latest array of satin and angora; a pure white pearl necklace rested delicately around her neck.

"Mrs. Petrelli, you didn't answer my question." Sylar didn't loosen his grip on the Anika.

"I am here to give you your next assignment." She stepped closer to him; her manicured nails tapped against her arm. "First of all, you need to release her. We're done with her now."

"What?" Sylar's grip tightened unconsciously and Anika started to gasp.

"Let her go." She repeated more forcefully.

Sylar let his powers loosen slightly, knowing that he didn't have a choice. Angela represented his boss and if he disobeyed her, he was disobeying him. As much as he hated it, Sylar knew better than that. Once free from his grasp, Anika slipped to the ground and sat still, massaging her throat.

"You may leave now Gabriel. There are others coming to take care of her."

"But I thought I…"

"No Gabriel, you don't get this one." Angela shook her head, smiling at him slightly. "Here," she handed him an envelope and he took it, knowing exactly what it was—the instructions for his next assignment. He glanced at Anika in disappointment and left.

CLAIRE & NATHAN

NEW YORK

"How's Peter?" Nathan didn't wait for a minute before diving into the serious topic as he sat own for lunch with Claire.

"He's fine," she responded. "I mean as good as can be expected. He's dealing with a lot right now." She glanced over the menu without really taking anything in. Since the boys still hadn't had a chance to get to know Claire as their sister, Nathan decided it would be easier if they went out to lunch—just the two of them—rather than having her over to the house.

"Is he still having the nightmares?"

"Sometimes. They aren't as bad anymore. Or at least not as frequent." Claire shrugged, "I think it's been better for him with me there."

"I feel a little guilty making you take care of him. I should be taking care of him…" Nathan told her.

"It wouldn't be the same. He needs comfort."

"I'm his brother," Nathan reminded her.

"And I know you care about him, but it's not the same thing as being able to comfort him." She explained. "He needs gentleness and encouragement; that's what I give him."

"How do you provide that for him exactly?"

"I think just being there for him mostly. When he wakes up in the middle of the night with horrible things in his mind, I make sure he knows it's not real and that he's not alone." She smiled thinking of the past few nights that she had spent sleeping by his side, holding his hand until he fell asleep.

"Well, I really appreciate all that you do for him." Nathan smiled at her across the table. "But we need to think about you as well. You can't put your life on hold to baby-sit your uncle."

"I don't mind, Nathan."

"But I do," he insisted. "You are just a kid and kids go to school."

"I'm not a kid," she spoke up.

"Fine, but you still need to finish high school." He pulled a brochure from his inside jacket pocket. "This is an advertisement for a very respected private high school. It's where your brothers will be going when they're old enough."

Claire's lips twitched upwards when he said "brothers" but she didn't say anything. "So, private school then?"

"I'm not really sure how this is supposed to work, but technically I am your father…"

"Not technically," Claire corrected him. "You are my father."

"Okay, then as your father, I'm supposed to put you in school, right?"

"Right," she agreed. "But private school, really?"

"Is that bad?"

"Just different."

"My sons are in private school. Both Peter and I attended private schools. I didn't even consider anything else for you." Nathan explained. "You should have the best education possible."

"If you say so," Claire gave in. "Private school sounds fun."

"Good, the fall semester starts on Monday."

"Already?" She sighed. "I haven't been in school for so long, I almost lost track of time."

"I think it will be good for you to get back into a normal routine."

"You're probably right," she smiled at the thought of trying to regain a piece of her normal life; she actually missed it at times. "So, how's Heidi?"

"She's good," he smiled. "She's been talking about having you come for dinner again sometime soon. I think she really liked you."

"Good, I like her too." Claire considered how much she would enjoy getting to know Heidi better, but she had been so preoccupied with Peter and he hadn't been in the mood for social visits. "Maybe when Peter gets his powers more under control we can plan another dinner."

"I hope so." Nathan started perusing his own menu, but couldn't keep his eyes off her. "Umm, so, have you heard anything from your dad…I mean you know, your other dad?"

Claire caught the hesitancy in his voice and she knew it was a strange subject for him to be bringing up. "No, I haven't."

He noticed the waver in her voice. "That must be hard for you. On top of everything else you're dealing with, you have to worry about your family too."

"It isn't easy," she confirmed. "But they're safer without me."

"Why are you trying to protect them from now? We saved the world Claire."

"And you think that's the end? The company that my dad worked for, the one that you got involved with, they're evil people. They have plans beyond destroying one city; I'm sure of it."

"That doesn't mean it will involve your family." Nathan told her. He stood suddenly. "Claire, I'm not really that hungry. There's something else I want to do instead."

"What?" She stood as well, though a little uncertain of his plan.

"Come with me," he led her out of the restaurant and down the street until they found a secluded alley with no one to see them. Then he wrapped his arm securely around her waist, holding her close. "Hold me tight."

"What?" She was still confused, but she did what he instructed and put secured her arms around his neck.

"You might want to close your eyes."

Before Claire had a chance to ask any more questions he had pushed off from the ground and shot into the sky like a rocket. She could feel the wind pressing down on them and for a minute she was afraid she'd fall, but she kept holding tightly and trusted him to keep her safe.

MATT & JANICE

NEW YORK

"How are you feeling today?" Matt inquired of his wife, resting the back of his hand against her cheek. "Nauseas? Hungry? Tired?"

"I'm feeling fine, Matt!" Janice turned her head to kiss his hand sweetly. "I am very well taken care of."

"Are you sure? Can I get you anything?" He focused on her mind, but she glared.

"If you are trying to read my thoughts, you can just leave right now."

"I just want to make sure…"

"We agreed that you wouldn't do that around me, unless I am aware and okay with it. Right now, I am not okay with it." She sounded upset, but she was smiling slightly.

"I know. You're right. I'm sorry." Matt stopped trying to pry into her mind, and instead leaned down to kiss her forehead. "I love you, you know that right?"

"Of course I do." She tipped up her chin and he kissed her on the mouth. "I love you too."

"Are you sure you don't need anything?" He lingered by her bedside, shifting back and forth between his feet. "I just want you to be content. I…I need to know that you're okay here…"

"What I need is for you to go and find a job and let me take care of things around here." She placed her hand on her stomach as she sat up to pull herself out of bed. "I agreed to move here because I wanted to," she reminded him. "I was as eager as you to get out of LA and put that part of our life behind us."

Even without reading her mind, Matt knew that she was referring to her affair. He had wanted to move for that reason, as well as for his work problems. Starting over in a new city seemed like a good solution.

"If we're going to make a good life here, you need to have a normal job and stop worrying about me all day long. I'm only five months pregnant. I can't imagine how things will be when I'm at eight months."

"Things will be great!" Matt decided.

"Prove it," Janice retorted as he once again was instantly at her side to help her stand.

"Right…" he backed off slightly. "I'm sorry. It's an automatic reaction!"

She smiled, really only appreciating how much he was caring for her. "I love you."

He was a little surprised by her sudden declaration considering that a moment ago he thought she was irritated with him—her constantly changing moods was just another reason why he adored his wife so much. "I love you too."

"You're going to be late for your interview," she reminded him gently, pointing to the clock that showed it was nearing nine.

"Damnit, you're right!" Matt hurriedly grabbed his wallet from the dresser, shoved it in the back pocket of his slacks, and smiled at his wife one last time before sprinting for the front door of their new apartment.

Once alone, Janet allowed herself a moment to relax, again laying back on the fluffy pillows and tucking herself into the duvet—the bedroom things were a few of the only actual items they had unpacked yet. She knew she was capable of taking care of herself and getting the apartment settled in, and she did want Matt to go out and secure a job, but secretly she was worried, which is why she had been so adamant about him staying out of her head lately. She didn't want him to know her fears; he wouldn't know what to do with them.

A small piece of her mind knew that her fears were potentially fully irrational, but she couldn't stop them. There were so many things for her to adjust to and she wasn't sure if she was strong enough for everything. First there was the fact that her husband could read minds, and now she learned that he wasn't the only unique person, but was only one of a whole group of people with strange and powerful abilities. Second, when she let herself consider it for too long she still feared whether or not Matt would ever forgive her for her affair. She hated herself for putting him through that; it wasn't worth it and she didn't know why she had done it. She loved Matt with all her heart—he was everything she could ever ask for in a husband. Third, now they were bringing a child into their lives. She didn't know what to expect from that. Would she be a good mother? Would they be good parents? And she now had to wonder if the child would possess the same abnormalities as Matt. And then there was the question she most feared: was Matt actually the father?

"Stop it," Janice reprimanded herself out loud and threw off the comfortable duvet.

If she let herself fall too deeply into all the serious thoughts rumbling through her mind, she knew she would cower in her doubts until Matt came home and found her exactly as he left her. And then what sort of message would she be sending him? Exactly what he was worried about—she wasn't capable. He had enough to worry about on his own without her piling on her own worries. She knew she would just have to be strong enough, brave enough, and determined enough to crush her fears and her doubts without his help.