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 28

However, they've never spoken about Andy again. At least throughout the followed week. Claire calmed down a bit. Well, she calmed down as best as she could have. Peter didn't talk much. His usual routine was to disappear in the morning and to appear back again almost before dinner. The door of the apartment they were living was unlocked. Honestly, Claire was surprised by it. There were two options, it was either his trust in her or he was too absent-minded right now. Maybe it was the second one, because when it came to Peter... trust was the last word you could use. Either way, she didn't have any desire to go out. She didn't feel like a prisoner either, which was curious, because he was keeping her under his control. She should have felt sadness at least. She should hate him for what he had done. However, it wasn't that way. The only thing that she felt sad about was the growing coldness in his eyes. Claire was trying to reach him since the moment they had fought. Heck, she was trying to reach him since the moment he had decided that he wants her he would not accept no as an answer.

Claire sighed and sat in a small chair on the balcony. The view to Manhattan was wonderful. She had to admit that sometimes being a Petrelli had its advantages. Her eyes closed for a moment and she took a deep breath again. Her hand slipped on her waist and light frown crooked her delicate features. She took the small pillow, lying near by and shoved it behind her back. That felt way better. She smiled and her hand rubbed her protuberant belly. Then she remembered Peter's cold hazel eyes and her smile faded again. Maybe with Andy would have been different. Maybe he would care enough for her to make sure that she and her child are happy. It didn't look that Peter cared about this right now. His only thought was... Actually, Claire didn't know his thoughts at all. There was a time when she was able to read him like an open book. That wasn't the same case now. Peter was too careful. He was too secretive over his plans. Claire sighed again, this time with annoyance. Her anger started to grow and this time she didn't stop it. She had to confront Peter when he decided to come back home that day.

"Claire?" Andy's voice almost made her jump in her seat. She turned around just to see her ex fiance standing there. "It's okay, Claire." Andy stepped out on the balcony and she got off the chair to look at him closer. "He's not around."

"What are you doing here?" Suddenly her heart raced and she looked around nervously. "Andy, you shouldn't be here."

"Why?" Andy took a step closer. "He's not here, Claire. You don't know how long I've been looking for you."

"Actually," Claire murmured, "I know. You couldn't be more louder. The TV? You even alert the media?"

"I'd do everything for you, Claire!" Andy said and took a step towards her, but she put her hand up. "What?"

"I didn't ask you to do it!" She looked at him carefully. "You should forget about me, Andy. Please? You could still go on and live your life." She licked her lips. "I want you to be happy, okay? I'm happy!"

"What?" Andy looked at her with disbelief. "You are happy? How this can be possible?"

"I love him," Claire said quietly.

"You can't be serious!" Andy snapped. "Why are you doing this? You want to protect me? It's okay, Claire! I can protect myself from him!" Andy reached out and grabbed her wrist. "C'mon, let's go now! Your family must be worried!"

"No!" Claire tried to pull back. "Let go of me!"

"Claire..."

"And my family knows where I am," she stared at him. "Why do you think Angela stopped your media campaign? She knows where I am. My father knows where I am. They know that I'm... okay."

"It was her?" Andy stared at her with confusion. His hand still was wrapped around her wrist. "Are you serious!? And they are doing nothing to save you?"

"I don't need to be saved!" Claire snapped. "I have to save... him!"

"Him?" Andy scoffed. "Peter?" Suddenly his eyes widened and he released her wrist. "You really love him, do you? You just settled for me, because you thought that you can't have him?"

"What a nice thought." Peter appeared right behind Andy and Claire's heart raced again. His face was blank and his hazel eyes showed no emotions as per usual. "She settled with you?" Peter wrapped his arms before his chest. "I think you just hit the jackpot, puppy."

"Peter?" Claire rushed to him and put her hands on his wrapped arms. He looked down at her. "He was just leaving okay? Please..."

"Claire!" Andy snapped. "I can't take care of myself, okay?"

"Oh, that's sweet!" Peter glared at Andy. "You can take care of yourself? Did you think of yourself when you decided to break into our apartment?"

"It wasn't locked!" Andy put his brave face on and Claire's heart skipped a bit. He was challenging Peter. That wasn't going to end well.

"It wasn't?" Peter looked down at Claire again. "Did you invite him then? How nice of you, baby." His finger wrapped around her chin and he lifted her face up. "Did you offer our guest a drink at least?"

"I didn't invite him in," Claire answered quietly. "You know that."

"Then he broke in!" His logic was crystal clear. "I should call the Police."

"What?" Andy started at him.

"Or... I can deal with you by myself," Peter tilted his head and brought his attention back to Andy. "Actually, I prefer the second option."

He waved his hand towards Andy and slammed him to the wall. Andy fell down, coughing and looking up at Peter. "You can't get away with this!"

"Who? Me?" Peter pushed Claire aside and walked to Andy, crouching near him. "How well do you know me?"

"Enough," Andy tried to get up, swaying but Peter pushed him back onto the ground.

"Not good enough!" His voice lowered to the point of a snarl. "She is mine, she's always been mine! And you... you touched her! I wanted to kill you so many times... you can't even count that much!" Peter hissed. "And now... you're all over the media, showing your broken heart all over the place! Six months already! Six! Don't you think that's a little too much? She's pregnant with my child! My child! What the hell did you think you're doing, huh?" Peter lifted his arm up and slid Andy's body over the wall. "If someone put a hand over what's mine... I feel really angry. You know how angry I am now?"

"You are crazy!" Andy coughed.

"I am... very... very angry!" Peter's face closed Andy's. "I have her! I have her heart, her mind... her body!" He smirked when he said the last part and saw how Andy winced in his hands. "What's the matter? You're feeling hurt?"

"Peter!" Claire shouted and he turned his head around to see her. "Enough!" Her small fists clenched. "Can't you see that he gave up on me?" She took a step closer to him. "You can let him go now."

"Hmm..." Peter crooked his lips, as if he was thinking.

"Please?" Claire stared at him with pleading eyes. "Why not?"

"He has to learn a lesson!" Peter scowled.

"But... Ah!" Claire sudden scream forced him to look back at her. She was bending in two and her breathing became erratic. "The... baby..." She said through gritted teeth.

Andy dropped down right the way and Peter stormed to Claire faster than the speed of the light. She leaned on him and his arms wrapped around her, but his eyes stared at Andy.

"We're not finished yet, boy!" He scoffed and teleported away, taking Claire with him.

She had relaxed into his arms, wrapping her hands around her belly. Claire had read enough to recognize a contraction and that was a contraction and it was a strong one. Her face crooked again when another one passed through her body. She released her breath when it ended and looked at Peter. He didn't say a word and just put her over a small stretcher and then Claire realized that they are in the hospital he used to work.

"Stay there!" He just said and ran away, down the corridor. Claire stared after him. His behavior scared her. He looked distant, too distant. She didn't have time to think, because another contraction passed through her body. Claire bit her lip and squeezed her eyes tightly.

"She's here!" She heard Peter's voice and saw him rushing to her along with a young brunette doctor. She was just as taller as he was. "You can sacrifice the baby if you have to chose!" His voice were cold again.

"No!" Claire scoffed and looked at the young female doctor. "Don't listen to him!"

"You just relax, my dear!" The doctor smiled at her and soon two nurses took her away. Peter and the doctor were walking at the both sides of the stretcher. "It's too early to say whatever."

"But..."

"If that baby does something to you," Peter squeezed her hand and leaned closer to her, "I'll go back in time and make sure that... you're safe!"

"No!" Claire shook her head. "Peter, please!"

"I can't..."Suddenly his voice broke. "I can't live without you here. Just won't happen!"

Claire wasn't able to respond, because they shoved her into a small room and Peter had to wait outside. She stared at the door with disbelief. He just had showed emotion... again. Another contraction brought her back to reality and she turned her look to the doctor. The young brunette smiled and Claire took it as a good sign. Just few minutes later the contraction stopped and she was wrapped in wires, few of them attached to her belly. They wanted to make sure that the baby is doing fine. After they checked its heartbeats and decided that it was okay, they put an IV to Claire's arm and soon she felt better.

"When I could take her home?" She heard Peter's voice and turned her head in that direction. The doctor answered something that she wasn't able to hear and he nodded. "Bed, okay. She has to keep the bed. I'll make sure of it."

The doctor said something else and he nodded, walking to her. He took her in his arms and her head lay on his shoulder. His lips touched her forehead and she closed her eyes. When she opened them, they were already at the apartment. He placed her carefully onto the bed and then spooned her. Her back was touching his chest and her eyes opened again.

"Peter?"

"I'll keep you safe!" He whispered close the her ear. "I swear, Claire!"