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 16
Claire never thought she'd wear a gown one day. She looked herself at the mirror and her throat went dry. That woman, watching her from there... that wasn't her. That wasn't the real Claire. She could feel that something wasn't right. The veil was beautiful and didn't cover her face. Her hands trembled when she reached to touch her face. It was right and wrong at the same time. The engagement ring sparkled in the light.
"You look beautiful, my dear. Your mother should be proud." Angela walked into the small room.
"Which one?" Claire scoffed. There was something in Angela that made her feel nervous.
"Sandra of course. She's the one who took care of you." Angela walked closer. "Is everything alright?"
"Like you care."
"More than you know, Claire." Angela paused. "I want you happy."
"You know what I need to be happy, right?" She paused. "He called?"
"I'm afraid, not." Angela turned her back to Claire and sat on a small couch in the dressing room. "He's too busy I guess."
"That's not him." Claire shook her head and looked at the mirror again. "It's just... not him!"
"He moved on, Claire. You should accept that and move on as well. I know you loved him, and he loved you too." Angela shrugged. "However, I think he was smart enough to move on and let you live your life."
"Peter would never do that." Claire whispered. "And I have the feeling that you're hiding something from me."
"I'm sorry, have you seen the press lately? And the paparazi column?" Angela tilted her head. "His relationship with that girl is everywhere."
"He hates publicity!" Claire scoffed. "We both know that!"
"Maybe he's changed!"
"Or maybe you're lying to me!" Claire twirled around. She looked furious. "There is something wrong in here and I can put my finger on it!"
"Your wedding day is in two days so... I would suggest you to focus on that and forget Peter!" Angela got off her place. "There's no reason to think of him!"
"That's exactly the reason I should!"
"Stubborn little girl!" Angela walked to the door. "You've just reminded me of who I was before."
"Then you know I won't give up."
"You can call him if you want to."
"I've tried." Claire frowned. "His phone's not working."
"Or... he simply doesn't want to talk to you." Angela chuckled lightly, walking out and closing the door behid her back.
Claire just stood there with hands hung at the both sides of her body. She clenched them in fist. After few seconds she forced herself to breathe normaly again and quickly removed the dress from her body. Somehow it didn't feel right for her to wear it. She flashed a smile to the woman who entered the small room to ask if everything was okay.
"Yes." Claire answered and to any other person it would look that she was the most happiest bride on the Earth. She had learned how to act it. It was simple really. She had to go with the flow. It wasn't nessesary to run right now. There were no place to go. Peter wasn't here. Nothing really mattered more now than her wedding.
Maybe that was her chance to be happy. Maybe that was all she needed now. Maybe... Peter acted as his old self now and set her free. Claire put on her clothes and left the wedding boutique. She looked up the sky and remembered the time when she was flying with Peter. She couldn't say that she was completely happy then. She couldn't be when she was with him. The burden of their same blood was always going to be there. They couldn't be happy. Not in the most normal way on the Earth. But this is how it should be. When Andy grew old, she would find a way to disappear. She didn't want to make him suffer, watching her young and never growing old.
Claire walked among the crowd and her thoughts were complete mess. What had happened to her? Just few months ago she was completely oblivious about her feelings to Peter. It wasn't until he had showed it to her. He was like a guide to her and she always had accepted him in this way. From the moment he had saved her until now, Peter had changed a lot. However, only one thing had stayed constant - his love towards her. His ways of showing that love now had changed, but Claire was sure that he loved her no matter of time and space. It was the thing that kept bugging her all the time. Did Peter had really given up on her? Was it true? Claire looked up the sky for a moment. A slight frown passed through her face when she saw the clouds gathering there. Why she couldn't accept the truth that Peter had probably moved on? He deserved to have sort of normal life. Claire couldn't give him that. There was always going to be complicated with them. Nothing was simple.
"Maybe it was my destiny?" She whispered to herself and shivered when a cold wind brushed her face. "Maybe I should let him go and be happy?"
"Claire!" Andy's voice startled her and she turned around to see him almost running to her. "I thought you were with your grandmother?"
"I was. She left." Claire tried to suppress the annoyance in her voice. This was her future husband after all and she loved him... right? "What are you doing here? I thought you left to see your parents. What happened?"
"Oh, I'm going. I just wanted to see you first." Andy leaned to kiss her and Claire had to suppress another shiver. "Is it wrong?"
"No, it's okay." Claire forced a smile. "But we're together almost 24/7. I think we both need some space, right?"
"Are you okay?" Andy lay his hand on her cheek. "Your eyes are sad, Claire."
"It's just your imagination." Claire tried to smile. "I think I need to go and get some rest. These wedding preparations are really... tiring."
"Sure, okay." Andy flashed a smile and kissed her cheek. "I think you need some time for yourself. I'll be back in two days, okay?"
"Okay." She nodded, watching him leaving.
When she finally came back home, the first thing she did was to go upstairs to her room. She looked at the newspaper on her bed and saw the picture of Peter and Caitlin holding hands and looking happy. Claire frowned and grabbed the paper. Her eyes ran down the article and she frowned even more. She grabbed the scissors, lying on her nightstand and even before she could realise what she was doing, she drilled a whole where Caitlin's face was.
"Bitch!" Claire hissed, couldn't control herself anymore. If was good that this woman was in miles away from here. She was going to save her life in that way. Claire wasn't sure what would happen if she lived in here. In spite all the good mentions, Claire was jealous of that woman. She could have Peter in every way possible. It was going to be legal. "Oh, fuck this!" She cursed and grabbed the phone, dialing the number of the hotel Peter and that woman were in. Angela tried to hide that, but Claire had found it anyway. Just in case she wanted to talk to Peter. She thought she would never use it, until now. "Hello?" She answered when they picked up the phone at the other side of the line. "My name is Claire... Petrelli. My.. uh.. can I have the number of Peter Petrelli's room, please?"
"One moment, please." A nice woman's voice answered her. Claire bit her lower lip, waiting. "I'm afraid I can't help you, miss."
"What?" Claire scoffed. "I'm from his family! How is this possible?"
"It's not that, Miss. Just, Mr. Petrelli is not a guest of our hotel."
"But... he said.." Claire muttered. "Never mind, thank you."
She hung up the phone and stared at the empty space for awhile. Then she jumped off the bed and stormed out of her room.
"Angela!" She yelled.