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 33
There was impossible to know what's hiding behind his hazel eyes. They were such a mystery for her. Although that was the man she loved, Claire knew almost nothing about his life now. His moods changed in every second and he was way too emotional. She couldn't help but thought of the Peter he used to be. He was that dreamy boy you want to protect the moment you saw him. He was that man you fell in love it right away. He was that knight in white and shining armor who was able to save her in any situation. She missed that. She missed it a lot. She couldn't help the thought that this new Peter was also capable of love though. The shiver down her spine every moment he looked at her was enough evidence. His eyes were way more darker and the passion in them was obvious. He wanted her, only her. He loved her and he was able to do anything to protect her. And when she thought of anything, this was in fact anything. This Peter didn't give enough space for thought. He was the man of the action. If he wanted something he was able to get it. It didn't matter who and what he had to pass or walk through. He was just this. There was a hidden anger hidden behind his eyes. Nobody else could see it, but Claire could feel it. She knew him that much. She wanted him to be happy and this was something that was staying on his way. Who was that man he had become? Why he was so angry? Well, she could understand at least one part of that anger. They both were lied so many times the past few years that it was more than enough. Angela had used them both and even tried to orchestrate their lives at one point.
It didn't work. Peter had escaped and Claire was pregnant with his child right now. It was strange really, but she felt good about that. Once she thought that she was not born to be a mother. She thought she was not able to have kids. Maybe because she was immortal, or sort of. Whatever the reason was, Claire had lived with the thought that she wouldn't be able to have any kids. That was until the moment she had found out that she was pregnant with Peter's baby. Then everything in her had changed and she had realized how much she wanted it.
She loved the kid, but its father was like an enigma for her. Even now, laying beside of her in their bed. He was staring at her with his beautiful hazel eyes and he was probably reading every thought that came across her mind. The smile dancing on his lips only proved her point and she pouted. That made him laugh and Claire wanted to smile as well. These moments were so rare lately. Peter's laugh was something precious that she wanted to have it all the time.
"As much as I enjoy reading your thoughts," he said with amused voice, "you told me that you wanted to talk. So, what did you have in mind?"
"I was thinking about something," Claire sighed. "I mean, I was wondering."
"Okay," Peter trailed off and furrowed his brows.
"Where are you going every day?" Claire asked quietly and saw how his jaw clenched. "Why can't you tell me?"
"Because it's not of your business, Claire!" He snapped and got off the bed, going back to his cold self. "And this is nothing that concerns you. Your ex-puppy is safe as long as he keeps his distance from here... and you. Do you feel better now?"
"No," Claire tilted her head, staring at his back. He had turned his face to the window. She didn't want to make him angry, so her voice softened. "But I'd like to know. We're living together now. I love you. We're going to have a child. I think it's time for you to trust me. You know," she skipped a beat. "You know how we used to be? You used to trust me, Peter."
"Yes," Peter didn't turn around. His fists clenched close to his body and Claire wished to be able to read his thoughts right now. "I want to do that, but I don't think it's the right time. Also, I don't want you to know what I'm doing. You just have to trust me!"
"So that means it concerns me!" Claire tried to be more calm right now, but she hated when he was acting like this.
"It does," he said after few minutes of silence. "But now it's not the time or place to discuss this."
"You are impossible sometimes, you know that?" She snapped and he finally turned around to face her. A smile danced on his lips again when he went back to bed.
"I thought I'm always impossible, Claire." Peter leaned on his elbow and rested his head on his open palm. "At least, that's what my mother thinks of me. Even now she's making plans how to beat me in my own game. You know, people would've thought that because we're family, we love each other. You know what? There was a time that Nathan and I were living in the illusion that's the truth. Then... you know what happen." His face went dark. "They played with us, with their own sons in their own game! How can you do that to your child? How can you split your children like this? You know what my own mother asked me to do? She handed me a gun and she told me that I have to go and kill my father! I had to!" Peter chuckled bitterly and Claire almost reached to touch him, but she didn't. "Once I loved this woman! I thought that she was the only one who actually cared about me. I thought... I thought that even my father doesn't love me, at least my mother is there for me. What turned it out? I was badly mistaken! You know what happened before I came to save you in Odessa? She lied to me! She knew that I have an ability! She knew that and she lied to me! She made me think that's all my imagination! She knew all about... us! She knew that's about to happen sooner or later, but she didn't tell me!" Peter punched his pillow and Claire almost jumped off the bed. "She could see it in my eyes when you pulled that piece of glass from the back of my head! She could see it every time I was touching you and you know what she did? She shoved me into the library and she told me that she knows how I feel about you, but this is not meant to be. She told me that: a) you are too young and b) you are my niece!" Peter chuckled bitterly. "Then I had to lie to her and... I told her there is nothing. I told her what she wanted to hear, but nobody actually cared what I really feel. Nathan was too busy playing politician and cheating on his own wife. You were too busy picking up the pieces and listening to what your father would tell you to do. Angela was too busy with her plan to make me explode over New York! What about me, huh?" Peter frowned and Claire realized that he was releasing his anger right now. "What about me?" He repeated. "When I lost my memory in Ireland? When I lost Caitlin, who by the way I thought I loved. When I was imprisoned in that facility! When I met Adam! You know what Claire? They all used me! Each and every one of them!"
"Peter," Claire reached out to touch his face. Her eyes were full of tears. "I'm sorry..."
"For what?" His jaw clenched, but he didn't pull back. "You wanted to know me! You wanted to see me now? Here I am! This is why I'm like this! This is why I feel this way! It's not because I absorbed that monster's ability! It's because I'm angry! I'm so angry to the world, you have no idea! And you know what? I was talking to my mother the other day. Yeah, I went to see her. You know what she said? She said that she's sorry. She said that she wants me back in her life, she want us both. That made me laugh," Peter shook his head. "You know why? I don't trust her! I don't trust to my own mother."
"She knows that," Claire said quietly and he looked at her. "She knows that in a long time, Peter. She told me this at the Nathan's wake. She said that the only person who can help you, it's me. She asked me to stay, even when you wanted me to leave. She said that I'm the only thing that still matters in your life."
"What?" His eyes went wide. "She told you this?"
Claire nodded. "Yes, she did. That happened during the time Andy asked to marry me." His face went dark with her words, but Claire caressed his cheek and her voice went soft again. "But I'm with you now. I wanted to save you when they asked me to play your bait. I couldn't believe they're asking me such thing. This is why I went to Las Vegas," her face faded. "But they found you even there and they didn't tell me where are you. They even made me believe that you're in Ireland with-with Caitlin!"
"You're still jealous?" A crooked smile appeared on his face and Claire blushed. "Yes, you are."
"Yes I am!" Claire shrugged and lifted up her chin. "And I'll always will be to any woman who even dares to look at you!"
"We're so look alike then," for her surprise Peter leaned and pressed a kiss to her lips. It wasn't demanding as before. It was a soft one. When he pulled back, his eyes went dark again. "I hated you, Claire. I hated the way you made me feel. I hated the fact that I love you!"
"What changed?" Her voice softened when his hand rested on her belly, and she realized he could feel the movement of their child as well.
"I stopped running," he finally said and started into her eyes. "I faced the truth that I love you and I'll always will no matter what! I stopped caring for what the other people would say. This is us, Claire! That's the only thing that matters!"
Then he smiled again and she smiled as response. Yeah, she loved that Peter as well, although she could see his old self now. That made her feel even more loved if that was possible.