A/N: Five yeas later everything looks good, but only on the surface. They can never be the same again. Claire is living in the Petrelli Mansion. She's trying to have a normal life and she's about to graduate from the University. The dark side in Peter rises and their lives are about to be changed forever.

Note: It's AU Paire fic. It's not the typical Paire fic you're going to read. The dark notes here are highlighted. I've never written such Paire fiction before. It's dangerous and it's a challenge for me to write it, but I'm going to try it.

Rated: M

Couple: Peter/Claire

Warnings: Again, it's AU. I don't own Heroes, sadly. The dark themes here are highlighted.

Enjoy reading,

ArinnaVal

Chapter 10

When she finally got back home, there was a big surprise for her and she wasn't sure how to react on it. Her father was there, talking to Angela in the small foyer. They both looked at Claire when she closed the front door behind her back.

"Hello, Claire bear." Noah said, watching her throwing her car keys onto the small nightstand.

"What are you doing here?" She simply took off her thin jacket, ignoring the well-known name. Her voice was rather cold.

"Your father and I wanted to talk to you, Claire." Angela spoke quietly.

"Is that a nice family meeting or what?" Claire stopped in few steps away from them. "What's about?"

"I don't think you're going to listen to us, but we have to try at least." Noah frowned, fixing his glasses.

"Right, because every word, coming out of your mouth is a lie!" Claire folded her arms on her chest.

"We only wanted to protect you! All of you!" Noah scoffed. "I wouldn't lie if there was another option."

"Sure." Claire trailed off and looked at Angela. "Just tell me and let's finish with this. I've had a tough day."

"Follow me." Angela twirled on her heel and led them into the library.

Noah was the last to walk in there so he closed the door carefully. Claire was rather irritated than curious. Her emotions were in total chaos. It wasn't like she was confused. She was honest in front of herself that she was always secretly in love with Peter. However, when Peter had kissed her and everything had emerged on the surface – she wasn't ready. She still had a barrier preventing her of doing that mistake, because her love towards Peter was a mistake – a big one. The name of the barrier was Andy.

"It's about Peter." Noah's words made her frown.

"What?" She scowled and her eyes narrowed. "What about Peter?"

"He can't be saved, Claire." Angela said quietly. Claire could see only the hint on the internal struggle this woman had right now.

"What are you talking about?" Claire tilted her head and her heartbeat raced.

"You saw him the other day." Angela skipped a beat. "I saw you two."

"It was a mistake!" Claire scoffed. She felt the need to protect Peter now and she didn't even know why she was doing it. "God, Angela! You're talking for your son! The only one you still have!"

"Claire… This is not easy for me!"

"It's not?" Claire glared at Peter's mother. Her green eyes darkened. "I don't think I'm going to like this conversation!" She turned around with the intention to leave the room, but Noah was standing in her way. "Move!" She scoffed.

"I know it's going to be hard, but you have to help us, Claire!" Noah pretended that he didn't hear her. "We're doing this for your own good! We're going to save lives maybe!"

"Save lives?" Claire almost chocked with her anger. "You? And how are you going to do it?"

"We're going to put Peter in Level 5." Angela said quietly and this time the rage was obvious on Claire's face when she looked at the older woman.

"Are you out of your mind?" The former cheerleader yelled. "Level 5? I thought you've finished with this! It was the another lie, was it?"

"Claire!" Noah grabbed Claire's arm, but she pulled away.

"This is Peter for fuck's sake! Peter! The guy who saved me! The guy who saved the world so many times I've lost the count! What the hell is wrong with you two?" She stepped back, swaying a little. "I can't believe this!"

"Claire, please!" Noah tried again, but his daughter shot him a look full of anger.

"Don't!" She snarled. "I don't know you anymore!"

"I wish you can see the reason in what we're doing!" Angela tried to convince her. "It hurts me too, but this is the only possible way!"

"You don't really believe this." Claire shook her head. "Only because he kissed me once and you're going to lock him down? Why?"

"Because he can't fight anymore." Angela said quietly. "And because I've had a dream."

"He can't fight what?" Claire knew really well what Angela meant. However, now she thought that what happened between Peter and her was their business.

"He can't fight his love for you." Noah said instead.

"Huh?"

"We knew Claire." Angela spoke again. "We've always known about this. It was more obvious than you think."

"You haven't asked me." Claire snapped. "What if I love him too?"

"You want to have a normal life and he's ready to kill to have you." Noah frowned. "There is a big difference as you can see."

"Ready to kill?" Claire knew they were right. She had seen the dangerous flames in Peter's eyes.

"He's unstoppable, Claire." Angela frowned. "You know what he can do now."

"I know, but he's still Peter!"

"Still! I think it's safer in this way." Noah insisted.

"Safer for whom?" Claire snapped and glared at her father. "For you?"

"Everyone, Claire!" Angela insisted.

"Damn you both!" She raised her voice up. "That is Peter! Peter, who saved me so many times I've lost count! Peter, who saved the world! Peter, who saved us from the monster and now you want to treat him like the monster himself? Really, what the hell is wrong with you two?"

"We haven't forgotten that, Claire." Noah tried to convince her once more. His voice was quiet and he only used it in this way when he wanted to teach his daughter a lesson. Claire hated it. "It's just… Peter's starting to look like…"

"No!" Claire clenched her fists. "He killed him! He killed Sylar, but he has nothing to do with him! That son of a bitch didn't have a heart and Peter…"

"…Peter is doing everything because he loves you!" Angela finished her sentence and looked at her. "But Claire! That love was safer when he could control it! He's not even fighting against it anymore! He doesn't have a vision of right and wrong anymore. Don't you get it? He'd do everything to have you! He could kill a person if he has to protect you or… have you!"

"He wouldn't!" Claire insisted, but even she wasn't sure anymore.

"Claire!" Noah took a step towards her, but she put her hands up and shook her head.

"No! Don't make me do this! I won't and you know it! I'm not going to be a part of that insanity!" She scoffed and stormed out the library, slamming the door behind her back.

"I told you she won't do it." Noah muttered, stating at the closed door.

"It's a shame." Angela sighed. "She could've been the perfect bait for Peter. Claire can distract him like no one else."

"We have to think of something else." Noah looked back at Angela. "I don't want him near my daughter."

"You and me both." Angela lowered her voice and looked to the window. The night was falling.

What Noah and Angela didn't know was that Claire didn't run away. She stayed by the door, listening carefully to their conversation. Her fear from Peter turned into a need to protect him. It was an irony really. She wanted to protect the strongest person among them. And by them, she thought about the specials. Peter had given that name to their kind. He had told her once that the world would was never going to be the same again. That they were special and not weirdoes. He had taught her to be proud of her ability. She owed so much to him. She… loved him more than she could ever love a human being.

The decision had been made. Claire run upstairs and packed her bags. Then she called to the airport for a ticket toLas Vegas. Then she sneaked out of the Mansion and called for a Taxi. Two hours later she was flying toLas Vegas. It wasn't the best idea ever, but it was the only thing she could think of.

It was night when she finally arrived in her hotel. They gave her the best room they've had. The name Petrelli was able to do miracles. Claire smiled sadly, staring to the window. Vegas looked good at night, even beautiful with its lights.

She felt his scent first and then his hand lay on her shoulder.

"I knew you're going to follow me, Peter." Claire whispered and closed her eyes.

"You doubted?" His voice was thick.

"No." She said quietly. "Not even for a second."