A/N: Summer's here, and so am I! Now that school has finished I will be able to write again, hopefully frequently. I hope you all are not too disappointed with how long I have been away, and I hope you still enjoy my story and will continue to read and review. Thanks so much for all the faithfulness and reviews so far. XOXO

NATHAN, HEIDI AND CLAIRE

PETRELLI RESIDENCE

"Are you sure there's nothing I can get for you?"

Claire shook her head slowly and offered Heidi a weak smile. "Just being here is helping, really. Thank you so much for letting me stay."

"Of course," Heidi sat down beside the girl on the couch and put a gentle arm around her shoulders. "You can stay as long as you need to."

Nathan stood in front of the couch, watching his wife comfort his daughter, and he felt a strange sense of joy he didn't know was possible. Witnessing the scene filled his mind with possibilities of the future and the connection he hoped Heidi and Claire could one day have together. He realized at that moment that it was all he wanted—he wanted Claire to be welcomed as a part of his family. Of course, he also knew that in order for that future happiness to exist, Heidi would have to forgive him for his infidelity. She was being incredible to Claire, but she was still barely speaking to him.

"Are you hungry? You can have anything you want."

"I'm okay…"

"Claire," Heidi smiled at her patronizingly. "You don't have to be polite or considerate with me. I can tell you're hungry. What would you like to eat? We have almost everything here, or we could go out and get you something if you like."

"I'd rather not go out…"

"Okay, then let's find you something here," Heidi stood and held out her hand to Claire.

After a moment, Claire nodded and stood with Heidi, giving her hand. The girls passed Nathan together and he smiled at them both.

"Do you need my help with anything?" He offered quickly.

"I've got it covered," Heidi told him briskly.

"Okay…" he appreciated Heidi's assistance, but there was definitely still a part of him that hurt at not being allowed to help.

In the kitchen, Heidi showed Claire the pantry.

"You can help yourself to anything in here, or I can have the cook make you something," Heidi offered.

Claire shook her head. "I don't need anyone to be put out for me. I can make myself something."

"You cook?"

"Yea," she shrugged. "My mom and I cook together a lot…we did…"

Heidi nodded. "You will again."

"I hope so."

"While you're here though, you should get used to Jackie. She's a great cook and she'd be happy to make you anything you ask for." Heidi glanced around the kitchen as though looking for the cook. "Peter just raves about her cob salad. He asks for it every time he comes over. Maybe you'd like that…"

"No thanks," Claire answered quickly—perhaps too quickly.

"Umm, okay…"

"I don't like cob salad," she corrected her over-eager response. "I'd just rather have something else."

"Of course sweetheart," Heidi smiled kindly. "Anything you want."

"Maybe just a sandwich for now," Claire decided. "I can make it, of course."

"All right," Heidi continued to smile and took a step backwards out of the kitchen. "I assume you can find the fixings on your own. If you need anything else, anything at all, just let me know."

Claire nodded and moved to the fridge. Once Heidi had left, Claire changed her mind about the food. She realized she wasn't hungry, or if she was, she didn't think she'd be able to eat. Her eyes burned, wanting tears, and her head ached. All she wanted was to be with Peter. He was the one she always turned to for comfort, but that was ruined for her forever. Unable to consider the degree of her pain, she grabbed a bag of cookies from the pantry and ran up to her room to hide from any questions Nathan or Heidi might confront her with.

Once alone in her room, all she could think about was Peter. Tears came quickly and intensely. In order to take her mind off of her problems, she called Jaden.

"Hey baby, what's up?"

"Jaden…" She sniffed, trying to keep herself under control.

"Is something wrong?"

"I just…umm…I just wanted to talk to you…" She snuggled down beneath the duvet on the bed. "Actually, I'd really like to see you. Are you busy tonight?"

"Umm…"

She waited for a minute and then spoke up when he was still quiet. "Jaden? If you're busy, it's fine…I just…I don't really feel like being alone and…"

"I'm surprised you're not busy with your uncle."

Her tears returned in full force.

"Claire, what's wrong?"

"I'm not staying with Peter anymore," she told him. "I'm at my dad's house. Things with Peter just got a little…complicated. I'm not exactly speaking to him right now actually."

"Oh?"

"Are you sure you can't go out tonight? I'd really rather not be alone."

"Of course I can go out baby," Jaden responded quickly. "I could be there as soon as you want me."

"Really? Well, whenever you want to come…"

The line went dead and she looked at the phone curiously. She only had a brief minute to consider what had happened though before she heard the bell of the front door ringing. She knew in an instant who it was and hurried out of her room and down the stairs to beat the maid to the door.

"You said to come as soon as I could." Jaden stood at the door smiling broadly.

"Jaden…" Claire threw herself into his arms eagerly and let him hold her tightly for almost a full minute before saying anything.

"Claire…"

She finally pulled away from him when she heard Nathan speak in the doorway behind her.

"Umm, Nathan, this is my boyfriend Jaden," she introduced.

"Good to meet you," Nathan held out his hand and Jaden shook it.

"You too Sir."

"You look a little out of breath, son…"

"Oh, yea, I ran here…" Jaden told him.

Claire smiled and took his hand. "We'll be up in my room, if you need anything."

"In your room?" Nathan hesitated as she pushed past him with Jaden in toe.

"Yea, we'll be in my room," she repeated and moved more quickly.

"Are you sure your dad's okay with me being here?" Jaden asked when they had reached her bedroom and she had shut the door.

"It doesn't really matter," Claire told him. "We're still working on the whole father-daughter relationship thing."

"So, you said you wanted to talk."

"Yea…" Claire hesitated. Now that he was actually there, she had no idea what to say. She had felt the need to be with him, or at least to not be alone, but she didn't know why. She couldn't quite admit the truth to herself, but the truth was, she wanted to be with Peter, not with Jaden. Tear welled up in her eyes and she dropped onto her bed. Jaden stood beside it, uncertain about what to do until she reached for his hand. "Can you just hold me?"

"Hold you?" He repeated.

"Please," she gripped his hand tighter. "I just want to be held."

Jaden still seemed confused, but he sat on the bed and let her curl up in his arms. "Like this?"

"It shouldn't be that hard for you to hold me," she told him. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he responded quickly. "Nothing's wrong. I just…" he adjusted his arms around her slightly. "The last time we were alone together, you pushed me away."

"I didn't push you away from holding me, I pushed you away from…" she stopped. "From whatever else we might have done."

"I just wish you'd tell me what was going on inside that head of yours. I never know quite what to say or how to act around you."

"I'm sorry…" She was surprised by his sudden outburst and pulled away from him. "Maybe I shouldn't have called you."

"No, Claire," he shook his head. "Don't be like that. Of course you should have called me. I'm your boyfriend, aren't I?" He put his arms around her again and pulled her close. "You're supposed to call your boyfriend when you're upset."

"I guess so," Claire sighed, but couldn't let herself fully relax.

"Baby, tell me what's bothering you," he pleaded. "Tell me what happened. Why are you here and not with Peter?"

"I don't want to talk about that," she told him quickly.

"Isn't that why you called me? On the phone you sounded very upset and you told me something happened between you and your uncle, so I just assumed that something bad…"

"You don't understand."

"Of course I don't understand! You won't tell me anything."

"Jaden, I'm sorry." Claire covered her face with her hands, again fighting tears. "It's just so complicated, and I feel so confused about everything…I don't know what to say right now. I don't know what to tell you."

"The truth might be a good place to start."

"I can't Jaden. Not right now. Can't we just sit here together, without talking?"

"Yea, sure we can." He was quiet for a minute and then tried again. "But if you feel like talking in a little while…"

"Jaden…"

"I know, I'm sorry. We'll just sit quietly."

PETER PETRELLI

NEW YORK

Notepad…Peter scrambled around his apartment trying to locate something to write on. Where is it? He cursed loudly after a moment of searching. Ever since Claire had lived with him, she had been progressively rearranging all his little items to her preferences, so now that she was gone he knew were almost nothing was. He hadn't realized how much he relied on her presence. Finally he found a miscellaneous notepad in the drawer of the small table by the door. Fortunately he found a pen there as well and hastily started to write.

For almost ten minutes he write constantly, scribbling down everything he could pull out of his mind from his brief visit to the future. He knew it was important to document everything he could recall, though he couldn't necessarily explain why. It just seemed urgent, and crucial. When he had fully stretched his mind and written everything he could force himself to remember, he had filled nearly three pages, and yet he still felt there were things missing.

"None of it makes sense," he complained out loud. He scanned the pages, briefly re-reading all the information, and then threw down the pad in frustration. He knew it was insufficient to figure out the insane future he had landed in. Everything had been so wrong there, he didn't know how a couple of pages of written information would help him straighten everything out. All he knew was that he had to do something. The future he ha been in was not the one he wanted for himself, or for Claire. "Claire…"

His eyes moistened automatically as his mind turned to Claire. With all that had happened in his jump to the future, he had almost let himself forget about his present situation—his problem with Claire. Again he started cursing himself, blaming himself for running her out. He wondered where she had gone, and if she was safe. He hated that he had forced her away from him.

"I'm supposed to keep her safe," he sighed and shook his head. "I have to know she's safe."

He thought of the likely place for her to run; he could think of only a couple in New York. Knowing that time was important, he decided to exercise his abilities. First he focused on his invisibility, and then moved out onto his balcony and pulled his brother into his mind. He hadn't quite mastered using more than one power at once yet, but Claire believed in him, and he wouldn't let her down. Focusing hard, he held onto his invisibility as he shot into the air and soared high above the city.

I'm doing it! He almost let himself relax, but he felt his height dropping, and focused harder to stay airborne and invisible, as he flew to Niki and D.L.'s apartment.

Over the past few weeks, Claire and Niki had started to develop a friendship. It started when Molly had moved in with them, and Claire would visit her frequently after school, often staying to visit with Niki as well. He figured that if Claire felt threatened she would go to someone she considered a friend. When he reached their apartment, he settled on the doorstep and looked around cautiously before returning to visibility. Then he knocked and waited anxiously.

The door opened slightly and Molly's bright, curious eyes peered up at him through the crack.

"Peter!" she grinned when she recognized him and threw the door open fully.

He smiled and let her jump up into his arms, squeezing him tightly around the neck with her little arms.

"I thought you'd forgotten all about me!"

"I know it's been a while, sweetheart," he patted her back endearingly and carried her across the threshold into the apartment. "Things have been a little crazy lately."

She pulled back to look into his face. "Are you okay?"

He nodded. "I'm fine. Just…well…it's complicated."

"Have you been having the dreams?" Now her brown eyes looked worried.

"No sweetheart," he smiled and stroked her hair softly. "I haven't. Not for a while."

"Good," her eyes cleared and she matched his smile. "That's good."

"Is anyone else here Molly?" He put her down and looked around the apartment, leaning slightly to see down the hallway.

"Yea!" She raced down the hallway, calling out, and returned a moment later with Micah and Niki in toe.

"Hi Peter," Niki greeted him warmly. "Haven't seen you in a while. How're things?"

He nodded. "Things are…" he shrugged. "You know."

"Yea," her smiled wavered slightly. "I know. How's Claire? Is she here with you?"

Peter's hopes fell. "No…she's…no…I actually was hoping…" He stopped and looked down at Molly who was staring at him intently. "No, she's not."

Niki seemed to instantly pick up on something more because she quickly dismissed the children to one of the other rooms so she and Peter could have "grown up talk" alone.

"What's wrong Peter?" She asked once they had their privacy. "Where's Claire?"

He shook his head. "I don't know."

"What do you mean? Is she okay?"

"I think so," he sighed. "I hope so."

"What happened?"

"We, uh, we had a fight, sort of," he explained carefully. He knew he couldn't tell Niki the truth, no matter how well-meaning she was. She would never understand. Nobody could know the truth—ever.

"A fight?" She repeated. "You two? That's weird, isn't it? I thought you two were super close. I didn't know you could fight!"

"Yea, me either."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No, not really," he shook his head. "It was sort of…well…yea…no. I just upset her and she ran out. I thought maybe she would have come here. I don't know where else…"

"Did you try Nathan's?" She suggested.

"No," Peter considered the likelihood of Claire running to her dad's place. "He hasn't exactly been offering her a homely atmosphere. I wasn't sure if she'd turn to him."

"Well, she hasn't even called me, and I don't know who else she'd go to, except her boyfriend. Do you know where he lives?"

"No," Peter almost growled. He hated to think that he had driven Claire to that man. His trip to the future jumped into his mind and he felt furious. "She doesn't even know where he lives though, I don't think. As far as I know, he's never invited her over."

"Oh, well, then I'm out of guesses," she shrugged. "Unless she went to Matt's, but it seems unlikely that she would have gone there and not come here."

"You're right," Peter sighed. "I'll try Nathan. Thanks anyway, Niki."

"Let me know when you find her, okay? You've got me worrying now."

"I'll call you as soon as I find out anything, I promise," he headed back to the door and turned to call to Molly. "Bye Molly!"

She came running out of the back room and flew into his arms for another hug. "Come back again soon, okay? And bring Claire. I miss her too."

"Okay," he patted her head "I will."

She released him and he stepped outside. On the doorstep, he checked his surroundings again and then turned invisible and flew upwards once again, this time heading speedily towards his brother's home.

When he arrived, he once again landed on the doorstep and relinquished his invisibility before knocking. After a moment, Heidi opened the door. She looked a little surprised to see him.

"She's here, isn't she?" Peter could read the expression on her face.

Heidi pursed her lips and didn't answer, so he pried into her mind swiftly.

Oh, she is not going to be happy. This is not going to go well.

"She is," he spoke again. "I know she is, I read your mind."

Heidi frowned. "Nathan didn't tell me you could do that."

"Sorry, I know I shouldn't have, but I need to see her Heidi."

She shook her head. "I don't know, Peter." Stepping aside, she motioned for him to enter. "Wait down here, and I'll ask her."

"Please, just let me go to her."

"No," she was firm. "Claire wouldn't appreciate it if you just barged in on them."

"Them?"

"She called her boyfriend this morning. They're upstairs now."

"Jaden's here? With her?" Peter felt his temper rising. "And you let them upstairs alone?"

Heidi smiled slightly. "She's a big girl Peter. And, she's not my daughter. I don't exactly have the authority to restrict her from making her own decisions."

"Then Nathan should have."

"I don't think he knew what to do. He's never had to deal with a situation like this before. The teenager thing is a little new for him, particularly a teenage girl!"

"Yea," Peter sighed. "Can you go up and tell her I'm here, please? It's really important for me to see her."

Heidi nodded and left him in the living room to wait while she went upstairs to Claire's room. A few moments later she returned, shaking her head.

"She doesn't want to see you," she told him. "She asked that you leave immediately."

Peter couldn't respond. He had expected it to be difficult, of course, but he at least hoped she would hear him out. Perhaps it was too early.

"I'm sorry Peter, but whatever happened between you two, she's very upset. You need to give her time."

He left respectfully, but out on the doorstep he once again became invisible and flew upwards, this time in search of the window for Claire's bedroom. He had no way of knowing which room she was staying in, but he was determined to search them all until he found it. Starting at the top story, he was lucky to find hers first, since she was staying in the guest bedroom there.

He hovered outside the window, peering in, just wanting to see her. And he did. He saw her sitting on the bed, curled up against Jaden's chest with his arms wrapped tightly around her. Peter hated seeing her there with him. He hated that he had driven her to it even more.

Kill Jaden.

Claire's words from the future came back to him and he felt his temper once again getting the better of him. He could not understand what her words had meant, but he was determined to carry out her orders, knowing it would inevitably give him a great amount of delight.

He watched for another moment until Jaden's lips started tickling Claire's neck and his hands started to become a little too familiar with her thigh. He wanted to kill him at that moment, but he didn't have a reason yet, and murder was not something Peter was quite yet ready to commit. Before he had too long to seethe, Claire herself stopped Jaden from any further unwelcome exploration. She pushed his hands off of her and moved a little away from him, but she held her hands out to him and let him kiss her.

Peter had seen enough to make his heart break and his mind sick, and so he left, hoping that Claire would indeed be able to take care of herself and keep her boyfriend at bay. He took one last look at her and floated back down to ground level, became visible, and chose to walk the twenty blocks back to his own apartment. He needed the fresh air to cool his mind and to organize his thoughts.

A few blocks down, he had almost convinced himself to turn around and run directly back to Claire and force her to talk to him, but he was distracted by a familiar face crossing the street ahead of him, and Claire was pushed from his mind. It took him a moment to figure out why he recognized the young woman. She had light brown hair, which was at the moment hanging down around her shoulders. When she reached the sidewalk, she paused and pulled her hair up away from her face. Her eyes were bright and so familiar—he couldn't look away. Suddenly she looked up and straight at him, but since he was still a little ways away from her, he couldn't imagine she was actually noticing him. It had to have been coincidence that their eyes met, and yet…the way she was staring made Peter feel a little uncomfortable. It was as if she were trying to read his mind. He decided to try and read hers, despite the difference. It would be one of the greater distances he had ever read a mind at before, and it would be especially difficult because of all the people pushing past him on the crowded sidewalk, but he knew he had to try.

Concentrating hard, he blocked out all the others around him and focused only on the girl at the end of the street. She was still staring at him. And when he started to push into her mind, she frowned.

What does he want? Why is he looking at me? He had gotten in, but it was difficult to hold onto her thoughts when everyone else's were trying to invade his concentration. Does he know me? He recognizes me. Why does he recognize me?

He had to pull out. The concentration was too difficult and it was starting to hurt. She shook her head and turned away from him, suddenly moving more quickly in the other direction. Peter didn't lose a moment in following her. His instincts told him it was important to remember her face.

Three blocks down, she stopped walking, but didn't turn around. He had gotten closer now, and the sidewalks were less crowded, so he once again pushed into her mind, this time more easily.

He's following me. Dammit.

He saw her hands fiddling with the bag hanging on her shoulder.

He could be dangerous. Maybe he's one of theirs and he's coming to take me…why didn't I let Ray walk with me?

Suddenly it all clicked for Peter. He remembered exactly where he had seen her, and he understood why she didn't know him.

"Sarah!" He called out now, perhaps a little carelessly, but he couldn't lose her.

She turned in shock and stared at him with wide eyes.

"Sarah, wait!" He ran towards her, and she started backing up. Her hand had slipped into her bag and he assumed she was going for a weapon of some sort.

"Do I know you?" She asked cautiously.

"No, you don't," he slowed a he approached her, hoping she wouldn't react against him. "But I know you. It's difficult to explain, and you probably won't believe me, but you have to trust me. I know you can sense my emotions…"

Her mouth dropped slightly.

"Please, sense them now, know that I'm not a threat to you."

He watched her concentrate for a moment and knew she was reading him. When she had finished, she was frowning again.

"Why do you know me?"

"I can travel time, and I jumped to the future and you were there."

Her eyes stretched wide.

"I know it sounds absurd, but you have to…"

"I believe you," she cut him off.

"You do?"

"I know someone else who can travel time, but I didn't realize there were any more like him," she explained.

"Well, I'm probably not exactly like him, but…" he paused. "Do you know Hiro?"

She nodded slowly. "Yes, you too?"

"That's why I have his ability. I absorb others' powers."

She gasped. "You're him!"

"Who?"

Now she was smiling. "We've been waiting for you!"

"What? Who's we?"

"You are Peter, aren't you? Peter Petrelli."

He nodded. "I am."

"Claude told us all about you."

"Oh," he shook his head. "You work with Claude. Of course. I should have known." He sighed. "Take me to him."