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 34

He hadn't lied to her when he had told her about his anger. Actually, that was his main problem. He thought that he had found the cure in her face, but he got it all wrong. The things just got even more complicated. At one point, he had almost given up. When his mother had locked him up in Level 5 he had some time to think. Yes, they had thought that he was sleeping throughout the whole time. He wasn't though. He was too strong. Just because he didn't have his powers back then it didn't mean that he was asleep. He was awake and able to think.

There was just one moment, one moment he thought of simply given up. Then he had thought about Claire. He had thought what was the best for her. He had turned to his old self. It was so simple decision. It caught him in the moment of weakness when he thought that he had nothing else to lose. He had only himself. Claire deserved to be happy and her happiness was not with him. Then the whole pain punched him in the face, consumed his whole body and for the first time in years he wanted to cry. Then he had realized something, there was not life without her. He had to have her if he wanted to live. She was the light in his life. She was his other half that he had searched for so long. It was sick and twisted feeling, but right then he had realized that he did not care anymore. He was so angry and tired of fighting. He was so tired of watching the other people happiness. He was tired to be someone else's hero. He wanted to be her hero. He wanted her only for himself. And that was the moment he had woken up.

His anger awakened him. It took him awhile to restore all of his powers and even more to learn how to control them again. Then his eyes went cold and he suppressed all of his emotions, except the anger. This was how he got out of Level 5. He had burnt down the place and he didn't even turn around to see it. When he had seen Claire in that white dress, his anger had mixed with his jealousy and that was it. He couldn't control himself in that moment even if he wanted to. And he didn't want that. He wanted Claire. He wanted her only for himself. Andy was just a minor obstacle and he just treated him as one. He didn't care about his mother's feelings or Noah's feelings. He didn't care about anyone but Claire.

And then... when he had her his feelings became mess again. She told him she was pregnant. She was caring his child. That touched something in him, something that he thought was forgotten long ago. He thought that maybe this child would be his cure. He wasn't right, again. It only made him even more angrier than before, because now Claire's life was in danger. Sure, they had told him that with the proper cares and some bed rest, she would be okay.

He was tired though, so tired and sick of everything. He knew that even a person like him, deserved some calmness. He thought that he could be happy. But it was like the life itself was laughing at his face, every time he was trying to earn his piece of happiness. He couldn't believe to anyone. He was surrounded of betrayers. Why? What he had done to deserve that?

Peter stared at the clear night sky and couldn't find the answers of these questions. Then he felt two soft hands sliding at the both sides of his waist and sighed. "You should be in the bed, Claire."

"You weren't there," she murmured and her head rested on his back. "I woke up and the bed was empty."

"I had nightmares," Peter murmured and covered her hands with his ones.

"I thought you couldn't sleep," Claire murmured again. "How can you have nightmares when you can't sleep?"

"That means you can't sleep as well!" His voice changed and he could feel her sigh.

"No, I was sleeping perfectly until your son decided that's great time for kicking!" She said that with tired voice, but Peter could feel the love there. Claire loved this new life already, just as she loved him despite everything. "What's wrong?" She asked quietly, sensing the change in his mood. "Did I say something that hurt you?"

"No," Peter turned around and cupped her face. "I don't deserve you, Claire." His eyes stared at her ones and he knew that she was trying to read him now. "I know that I don't deserve you, but I still want you. This feeling is something I have to live every day. You know what? I don't feel guilty about it. This is something that really makes me wonder of what person I have become."

"Don't," Claire's voice was almost a whisper. "Don't think about it, Peter. What's done it's done. We're together now and this is all that matters. We're going to have a child together and this is something big. I know that you are scared. I can see that in your eyes even if you won't admit that. But you deserve me, just as I deserve you. Do you remember what you told me so many years ago? It's destiny."

"I was a fool back then," he clenched his teeth and Claire flinched. "What?"

"I fell in love with you!" She put her hand over his one, still cupping her face. Her face rubbed against his palm and she closed her eyes. "You don't have to feel guilty now, because I wanted you as well. I wanted you, but I was too scared to admit that."

"Claire..."

"Even my dad saw it!" Claire chuckled bitterly and looked up at him. "You know the night you exploded over New York? I just sat there with my father and looking up the sky. I was waiting for you to come back, but you didn't. Then I asked my dad if we could stay until the first snow. I still had hope that you will come back. And when Angela called us about Nathan, my hope grew even stronger. But then... nothing. Nothing happened and she told my dad that you were dead. I still waited... until the first snow." Claire stopped for a moment, still staring at his eyes. "It was your birthday. And then... something inside of me just snapped and I cried. I don't remember crying that much before. My dad got scared about me. He even called my mom. Yeah, she came and then I cried even more. I thought I've lost you and I've had so many things to tell you. My heart was broken and everybody could see that, but I didn't care anymore. I think that was the moment my dad saw what I really feel about you. It was the night we went to Costa Verde. We were sitting at this hotel room and he said to me that he knows. I didn't know what he meant at first, but he looked at me and he said that he knows and maybe it was better that it happened in this way. I asked him what he meant and he told me that he knows that I love you."

"Claire, stop!" Peter gritted his teeth.

"No, you have to listen to me!" She insisted. "He said that everything was better in this way. He said that he knows how much I love you, but also why we can't be together. I said that he knows nothing and walked out of the room. I was angry! I was so angry at him! How could he talk like that? How?! I didn't realize how right he was back then, because I was still fighting with my feelings. I was a mess and... you were the first true love of my life." She paused. "The only one... but I didn't know that. And when I found West after that, I just needed a substitute. I needed someone like you, but he wasn't and as soon as I realized this he was out of my life."

"You should really stop!" Peter frowned.

"Why?" Claire didn't even blink. "I'm not sorry, Peter. I'm not sorry to be with you and I don't feel guilty about it. And Andy? I think he was the another substitute. I was scared that maybe someday I'd stop fighting and I'll just say what I really feel about you."

"You never loved him?"

"I did," Claire shrugged, "maybe at the beginning. But nothing like you! You just... consume me!" Her hand grabbed his one and placed it over her chest. "You own me, all of me!"

"Claire," he shook his head. "Why didn't you tell me this before? Why I didn't know this?"

"Because your mother didn't want you to know." Claire frowned. "She didn't want you to know about me sitting here and waiting for you. She knew where was I the whole time. The only time she cared about you and your feelings was after Nathan died. Do you remember that night? She spoke to me back then and she told me that you don't trust to anyone but me."

"Yeah," Peter waved his free hand. "We talked about it."

"Then you know."

He nodded, "Yes, I do. Now, let's get you back inside. It's too cold."

"Okay," she said without arguing and that made him raise his brow. "What?" She asked when they were already inside of the apartment.

"You're not gonna argue with me?"

"I'm done arguing, Peter." She said and turned around to face him. Her arms wrapped around his neck and she closed the gap between their faces.

Their lips touched and there was no anger in this kiss. There was no rush or lust. Her hands buried in his hair on the back of his neck and his arms wrapped around her waist. She kissed him fully, allowing him to feel her. Allowing him to be with her and offering her love to him. Just then Peter realized just how much he had needed this. He realized just how much he needed her.

"I love you," he said when they pulled apart and her forehead rested on his one.

"I know," Claire said quietly with a soft smile and then he realized one more thing.

He was wrong, he was so wrong. She was his cure, not only the source of his jealousy. The reason was simple. She was here and she was his, just like he had always wanted. Then he decided to trust her.

"We have to talk," his said and pulled back slightly staring at her face. "You wanted to know where I'm going almost every night. I want to tell you."

"Okay," Claire nodded and her soft voice was like a caress to him. Yeah, she was his and that felt good.