Disclamer : I don't own Heroes.
Author's note : Peter is one stand-up guy. With attitude like that, it's hard to expect him to give up so easily on his feelings, which he considered wrong. And like West said, Peter was the adult. He knows better. But still, he had difficulty to get over his feelings to Claire. By looking at Claire, sometimes he'd forget about everything else.
When Peter took Claire out of the party, he doesn't think too much about what the consequences for his actions. But when he see the fight between her mother and Noah, he knows he can't avoid his feelings anymore. And when he see the despised look of her mother, making him have the courage to confess everything.
Sylar is the one who is always on their side since the beginning. Peter trust him to replace him to keep Claire save if he can't do it, so Sylar is very clear about the problem between both of them. Sylar is the one who didn't care about anything, just do what he wanted.
And Heroes continues...
Peter wrapped Claire in his arms while they were flying back to Peter's apartment. They must lean on each other. Claire wrapped her arms in Peter's neck. While Peter wrapped Claire's waist tightly in his arms.
Their faces just inches apart, so that Claire could smell the alcohol in Peter's breath. " Have you been drinking?" Claire asked. Her eyes looked straight into his eyes, the thing that they've been avoided during their flight.
Peter just smiled at her. Claire rolled her eyes to Peter. " You can't get drunk, you know. You have my power. My power can make the liver keeps regenerate so you can't get drunk."
Peter gave her his lopsided grin. " Yeah, after seventh glass of scotches and one glass of champagne, I finally figure that out."
Claire laughed. She enjoyed the night air in her face. " I feel like Lois Lane." Claire said, smiling at Peter. Peter smiled back at her " West used to took me flying like this." Peter just stared at Claire, without said any word. " I'm sorry about West earlier."
Peter smiled a little. " He said nothing wrong, Claire. All that he said is right." Claire just silently stared at him.
Peter landed on the rooftop of on their apartment. " Rooftop again?" Claire asked.
" You know that I have a love hate relationship with rooftop." Peter smirked at her.
As soon as Claire's feet stepped on the ground, she immediately looked at Peter. " Are we going to talk about this?"
Peter looked at Claire with a blank expression. " Talk about what?" Peter pretended to not understand what Claire is talking about.
Claire stared at Peter. " You kidnapped me."
Peter laughed. " That hardly kidnapping, Claire. You live with me. I'm going home. You should have come with me."
Once realizing what he had done, Peter instantly regretted it. He shouldn't take Claire away from the party. But eventhough he continued to lie to his own feelings, he knows that he doesn't want Claire to really become a Petreli.
Claire sighed. " You'll never going to admit it, are you?" Claire can't take her eyes from Peter. She kept stared at him. Claire couldn't hold it much longer. " Fine. You have nothing you wants to talk about. I have. I'm in love with you, Peter."
Peter just looked at Claire, with a surprised expression. " Claire."
" And not niece to uncle kind of love." Claire added.
Peter scoffed. " We wouldn't be having this conversation, Claire." Peter is about to take a step away when Claire pulled his hand.
" I said I love you!" Claire shouted.
Peter stared at her. " What do you want me to say? You want me to say the same thing to you?"
" I want you to say the truth, Peter. I love you. That's not an easy thing to say given our relationship. But at least I'm not afraid to admit it. I just want to be honest with myself. For once!" Claire looked at Peter. " What are you afraid of, Peter?"
Peter just stared at Claire in silence for a while. " You're my niece. You're Nathan's daughter." Peter said to Claire, quietly.
Sylar suddenly flew down towards them. Sylar smirked at them. He didn't notice the cold atmosphere between them. " I didn't even know you had it in you! Well done, Peter!" Sylar approached Peter and patted his shoulder.
" I don't understand what you're saying." Peter turned away his gaze from Claire, and looked at Sylar.
Sylar looked at Peter with a puzzled looks. " You kidnapped Claire." Sylar said.
Peter laughed. " Why is everyone saying that is a kidnapping? Claire lived with me. I want to go home. It's natural if she came home with me."
Sylar looked at Claire, who shrugged her shoulders at Sylar. " You're not seriously use that as an excuse?" Sylar said to Peter. Peter just said nothing. Sylar couldn't take it any longer. " You know what. I'm sick of you, Peter! When I was still a serial killer, you're the only heroes I have ever saw as an opponent. You are the most powerful one. Your power. Your courage. You save the world, not just once. You even brave enough to stand up to your father when you know he's wrong. You brave enough to challenge him even when you lose your power. But for this kind of feelings problem, where is your courage, Peter?"
Peter looked at Sylar, still in blank expression. " You're babbling, Sylar."
Sylar shook his head. " Whatever. I am done interfering with your relationship." Sylar looked at Peter. " You better return to the Petrelli's house to take care of the mess you created, for no reason." Sylar said to Peter, with sarcastic tone.
Peter stared at Sylar. " Don't worry. I will responsible with what I did." Peter said. " Stay here with Claire." Peter said before flying off to leave them.
As soon as Peter stepped in Petrelli's house, he could hear Noah and Angela arguing voices. Its came from the living room.
" It has nothing to do with me!"
" This is your event!"
Peter walked into the living room. Heidi sat in the corner. She just silently watched Noah and Angela argued. Peter cleared his throat. Noah and Angela turned their head, looking straight at Peter. " The people who should be responsible is already here. You better ask directly at him." Angela said to Noah, gesturing at Peter's direction.
Noah followed Angela's words, and stared at Peter. " What happened, Peter? I really don't understand what has happened here." Noah said to Peter.
Peter looked at Angela with a surprise looks. He thought that Angela had told Noah all about it. Angela also knows what Peter was thinking about. " I haven't said anything to him. You better tell him yourself. Didn't you always responsible with what you did?"
" What exactly had happened here?" Noah asked again. Noah looked at Peter and Angela.
Peter was just silently looked Noah and Angela too. " How could I ever tell that to Noah?" Peter thought.
Angela scoffed to Peter. " I know you'll never going to say it. I've tried to tell you about this. But that didn't work. I was forced to involve Noah. You better realize that now, that it wouldn't be happening."
Peter sighed. He thought about Claire. Angela was going to say something to Noah. But Peter is the first one who opened his mouth. " I have a feeling for your daughter." Peter said, suddenly. Peter said it quietly, but everyone heard it.
All eyes look directly at him. Angela widened her eyes. Heidi gasped. " What -" And Noah was speechless. Noah tried to open his mouth many times, but no sound came out of his mouth. It takes him a while, before Noah finally managed to form a sentence. " What that supposed to mean?" Finally, Noah managed to ask it to Peter.
" I think you know what that means." Peter said.
" We probably thinking of different meanings." Noah said, desperately.
Peter scoffed. " I don't think there are many definitions for what I say."
Noah shook his head. " But you – she – she's your niece!" Noah stammered.
" I know." Peter sadly said. " I didn't choose this. It wasn't me who chose to fall in love with my own niece. It just happened." Peter sighed. " They were right." Peter thought of Claire and Sylar. " I know I shouldn't feel this feeling. This is wrong. But at least, I must admit it. Since this is the truth. I really feel these feelings, no matter how wrong it was."
" You're out of your mind, Peter!" Angela shouted.
Peter just said nothing. He had guess what their reaction going to be, if he admitted this. He had preparation.
Noah looked at Peter. " I'm going to pick up Claire right now."
Peter lifted his head and looked at Noah. " What?"
" You two can't live together anymore. You said you love Claire. You care about Claire. I thought it was because Claire is your niece. But if that's not the case, you can't keep live together." Noah said, firmly.
Peter shook his head. " No! She will keep live with me." Peter looked at Noah without blinking. " You know the danger that she faces now. And you also know, no one can protect her better than I am."
" But the relationship both of you have, this -" Noah wasn't even able to continue his sentence again.
" She's my niece. No one here is forgetting that." Peter said. " Claire's safety is more important. After the situation calmed down, I promise to leave her." They all just silent hearing Peter's word. They just never think that Peter would say that. Peter himself was surprised by what he was said. In fact, he never thought of leaving Claire. But with his feeling now, the line must be drawn. Noah is right. They can't stay together any longer.
Peter looked at them one by one. " I promise." Peter said. Then he turned and walked out of the house.
Claire woke up from her sleep because she felt thirsty. She looked at the clock on the wall. Hours are shown at three o'clock in the morning. Claire got up from bed and walked out of the room. She walked toward the kitchen and drank one glass of water. After that she walked back to her room. But as she passed Peter's room, she heard voices. Claire opened Peter's door slowly. She saw the sleeping Peter. Claire could see Peter looked uneasy, even in his sleep.
Claire stepped into Peter's room and approached him. Peter forehead wet with sweat. Claire sat next to Peter and hold his hand. " Do you have nightmares, Peter?" Claire stroked Peter's damp hair from his forehead. " It's okay. It's just a dream."
" Claire." Peter said in his sleep.
Claire immediately pulled her hand. Claire observed Peter, afraid that he will suddenly woke up. What she saw was Peter who was still asleep. There were tears in the corner of his eye. Claire raised her hand again and wiped Peter's tears. " Peter." She said his name, quietly.
" I beg you, Claire." Peter mumbling in his sleep. Claire watched him carefully. " Get out from my heart, please." Peter said quietly. Even so, Claire hear it.
Claire could see that Peter had really suffered. Because of his feelings for Claire. Claire always knew that Peter did have feelings to her, but he never wanted to admit it to Claire. But seeing Peter like this, she knows why Peter never want to admit it. She never knew that loving her, make Peter suffer like this.
Tears fell down on her cheeks. She kept hold her tears until she stepped out of Peter's room. She ran into her own room, and venting into tears.
Peter walked into the hospital. He just completed his shift. He looked at his watch. 8 o'clock. Hesam is on leave today. Because of that, Peter had to cover his shift too. Peter spent the day thinking about Claire. This morning when Peter walked Claire to NYU, she was silent during the trip. Peter tried to make conversation with her, but Claire just smiled and not responded to Peter.
Peter swept up in his own mind so he didn't see Emma is coming out from the administration office. Emma doesn't plan to say 'hi' if Peter didn't see her. But Peter saw her when she passed him.
" Emma." Emma stopped walking and looked at Peter. She smiled at Peter. " I tried to call you a few times." Peter said.
" Yeah." She tried to make excuses. " I'm busy."
" Can we talk?" Peter asked Emma.
Emma sighed. " Fine." Emma walked into the nearest room. Peter followed her. They went into the pantry. No one was there. " The other were busy in the operating room." Emma explained because she saw Peter's puzzled expression. Emma looked at Peter. " You said you want to talk? I'm really busy."
Peter looked at Emma. " You really have decided to -"
Although Peter didn't finish his words, she knew what he wanted to say. " Do you love me?" Emma asked Peter.
Peter didn't know what to say. He didn't want to lie to her. He's been doing a lot of mistake to her. The one thing he didn't want to do, is lie to Emma. So Peter just said nothing, didn't answer her. But oddly, she smiled at him. " We can still be friends, Peter."
Peter sighed. He looked at Emma, then he nodded and smiled. " Of course."
" With the position as a friend, I really hope you can live well, Peter." Emma looked at Peter with a serious looks. " Especially you and Claire. I wish you two could finally face your feelings towards each other."
Peter scoffed. " Me and Claire?"
Emma smiled. " You have to be more honest with yourself, Peter." She paused for a moment. " Actually I have felt it from a long time, that your heart always has a she who you're never want to admit. Since I know you from the first time, there's always this wall that is keeping me too close to you. Now I understand."
" Emma." Peter will just about to deny that.
" You really don't you love her?" Emma asked Peter once again.
Peter rubbed his head. Peter sighed. " That's not the problem, Emma."
" The problem is, you don't dare to admit your feelings toward that person, Peter." Emma said.
Peter shook his head. " The problem is what I feel, I shouldn't feel it. This feeling is wrong."
" You're all about moral. That's why you feel guilty with that feeling. But you're not wrong, Peter. Neither is Claire." Peter looked at Emma. " If there is nothing you can do about it, just follow your heart, Peter. You're a good guy. But you don't have to be a good guy all the times." Emma looked at her watch. " I've got to go. Good luck, Peter."
" Emma." Emma turned and looked at Peter. " I really liked you." Emma gave Peter a smile before she stepped out of the room.
When Peter stepped into the apartment, he heard a voice from the kitchen. He followed the voice and stepped into the kitchen. Claire was standing in front of the stove. " Claire." Peter said her name.
Claire turned around to see him. " You're home?"
Peter looked around. " Where's Sylar?"
Claire put back her attention to the pot. " He's asleep. In your bed." Claire simply said.
Peter walked over to Claire. " What are you doing?" Peter said, watching Claire. She doesn't looks like she's cooking. She just stirred through the contents of the pot like she was looking for something.
Claire didn't look at Peter, she kept focus her attention on the pot. " I was cooking soup, but my necklace broke and fell into the pot." Claire turned around to see Peter. " The necklace was given by my dads." Peter saw Claire, confusedly. " My dad gave it to me. In Mexico, I pawned it. Then, Nathan bought it back for me. This necklace is very important to me." Claire put a soup ladle on the kitchen table. " It's just a waste of time." Claire raised her hand and wanted to put her hand into the pot.
Peter hurriedly pulled Claire's hand. " What are you doing?"
Claire looked at Peter. Seeing his strain face made her smile. " It's okay, Peter. I healed very quickly. I've done it before." Claire pulled her hand away. And moving it to put into the pot again.
Peter pulled her again. " No! I'll do it." Peter pulled Claire away from the stove. Peter turned off the stove, pulled his sleeve, and put his hand into the pot.
Claire stood silently behind Peter, watching him rifled through soup for her necklace. His hand had turned red because of the boiling water. The looks on Peter's face was in pain.
Peter pulled his hand away. The necklace is in his hand. But Claire only see Peter's burned hand, which began to heal. Peter handed the necklace back to Claire.
But Claire wasn't moved. She kept stared at Peter. Her eyes began to wet. A single tear fell down on her cheeks.
" Claire." Peter was surprised. " Why are you crying?"
Claire looked at Peter with her wet eyes. " Why you have to do that to me?"
Peter looked at Claire. " What do I do? Am I doing something wrong to you?"
Claire couldn't stop crying. Her tears continued to flow. And she keeps to wipe it with her hand. " When I get into trouble, you'll help me out. Could you don't be so good to me? It's enough, Peter. The former me could only rely on myself to handle my own problem. But after I knew you, everything becomes different. I feel like I wasn't not able to do anything anymore without you. I've become too dependent on you. The more you're good to me, I'm getting more afraid. Afraid that I can't let go of you."
" Claire." Peter stepped forward toward Claire.
But Claire stepped back. " Don't come near me." Peter had stopped walking. " Your kind to me has crossed the line." Claire looked at Peter. " I don't know how to hide my feelings anymore, Peter. I don't know how to looked at you as my uncle." Peter was just silent while listening to Claire. Claire looked at Peter. " Maybe I should just stay in the Petrelli's house."
" What?"
" Sylar live there. You believe him so much. So you don't have to worry something will happen to me. This is better for all of us."
Once heard Claire say that, Peter couldn't help himself anymore. He stepped up to Claire, and immediately wrapped Claire in his arms.
" What do you want me to do? Want me to be bad to you, I can't." Peter pulled himself and stared at Claire. " I don't know why I wanted to save you. I didn't even know you at the time. I don't know why I always want to protect you. I have another nephews, but I never felt like this. Maybe it was destiny." Peter cupped Claire's face in his hands. " No matter what relationship we have, I want to stay with you. I don't want to be apart from you." Peter hugging Claire again. Claire hugged him back. Peter sighed. " Just like that, it's okay." Peter said in his mind.
Sylar stepped into the kitchen. " Am I interrupting something?" Peter and Claire pulled away from each other immediately.
" I'll clean the table." Claire stepped out of the kitchen.
Sylar smirked at Peter. " This is not like what you're think." Peter said.
" You have no idea what's on my mind." Sylar grinned amusedly.
" I can read your mind." Peter stared at Sylar.
" I forgot about that." Sylar grinned again. " So, you've decided to acknowledge your feelings in the end?"
" Sylar."
" Fine. I will not interfere with your problems." Sylar looked at Peter with a serious look. " I just want to remind you that sooner or later, everyone you know is going to leave this world. One day there's only you and Claire. Well, maybe me, who know about the relationship between you two. You will be free."
" That's not the point, Sylar." Peter is not going to spend more energy to pretend in front of Sylar. Sylar already know all of it. " Other people might not know. But Claire know. I also know. It against the moral, Sylar."
Sylar shook his head. " Moral? That is more important to you? For you, moral is more important than Claire?" Peter turned his head and looked at Sylar. Sylar's word just hit him. He is right. How could he thinks that moral more important rather than Claire. But still he can't blindly pretended that everything's okay.
Peter's mind interrupted by the knock at the door. Peter and Sylar looked at each other and stepped out of the kitchen. They see Claire is opening the door.
" Matt?" Matt Parkman standing at the front door of the apartment.
Matt saw Claire and Peter, and Sylar. " What is he doing here?" Matt asked Peter.
Peter sighed. " Just let it go, Matt."
" Fine. I don't have time to care about that, anyway." Matt stepped into the apartment. Claire closed the door. Matt went to Peter and Sylar. " We have a problem, Peter." Matt said. Peter rolled his eyes, confusedly. " Our kind of problem."
to be continued...