Heroes "Petrelli Land" Peter/Claire AU, Rated PG-13

[quirkysmuse]

Fandom: Heroes
Title: Petrelli Land
Rating: R/M
Chapters: 6/17
Characters/Pairings: Mainly Peter/Claire, others to be determined
Warnings/Spoilers: AU and Canon Paire, Season One Spoilers, turns AU from "How to Stop an Exploding Man", will not follow Season Two storyline.

Notes: This fic is inspired by the Marvel comic series, "House of M". The inspiration belongs to Marvel, and the Heroes characters belong to NBC and Tim Kring, but the story is entirely mine. Thank you to karathephantom for the beta job!

Edit: 8-12-2008

Author Notes: I apologize for this fic being on a short month hiatus due to NaNoWriMo, but I promise to post new chapters with a sense of more regularity.

FFnet Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3735029/1/

Summary: After Peter encounters someone with a dangerous ability, his lack of control causes him to shift reality to the desire of others, where most are happy except one, who vows revenge. Paire.

[Previous Chapters]



Chapter Five

Peter's eyes blinked open as sunlight warmed his face. He felt a light pat on his shoulder, and he craned his neck upward to see Claire smiling at him. The morning light from the window created a glow around her, and for a moment, Peter felt mystified.

"Time to get up. You can't sleep all day, right?" Claire joked, and Peter sniffed. She had already started cooking breakfast, and the smell of hotcakes, eggs and sausage filled their apartment suite. Claire continued, "Besides, Nathan called this morning with a favor." That got Peter's attention, and he raised a curious eyebrow. "Now don't worry. I just made a phone call to some friends." Her face turned sympathetic. "I'm hoping they can help you regain your memory. Maybe you can understand just how much you've missed, and how much the world is better off since you exploded."

Peter nodded, feeling energy rush into him. He stood up, and automatically moved toward the kitchen. He picked up a sausage link and chomped on it. He turned to Claire. "So who's coming?"

Claire smiled, yet there was something strange in the way she looked at him. With tight lips she answered, "Isaac and Simone are coming over for lunch. I called, and they said they'd be happy to talk to you."

The half-chewed sausage fell out of Peter's mouth. Did he just hear her correctly? Isaac and Simone? He could feel the blood fall from his face. 'They're supposed to be dead. How are they --?'

Peter couldn't contain the shock he felt. "How are they?" Then, he became angry. "I saw Simone die! I held her in my arms as she took her last breath, and now you're telling me they're alive? And Isaac, didn't Sylar cut open his head? Nathan had told me he was dead!"

Claire frowned. "I'm sorry, Peter, but some things are different. You'll see when they get here." Claire turned away from him and started setting the table. "Do you mind if we eat at the table or would you rather sit on the couch?"

Peter shook his head, and he picked up the orange juice and napkin dispenser and put it on the table. She watched him as he became distant, stewing in anger and curiosity that his once-dead friends were now alive and well and coming over for lunch.

'Simone is alive, and so is Isaac, but I don't understand it at all. It doesn't make sense.' He halted his thoughts, contemplating and trying to avoid Claire's worried face. When they sat down to eat, he finished his breakfast in silence, stewing over her words and the events to come.

'Did I do this? Did I change things so they could be alive?' he thought, wondering if this was more evidence of his powers. If anything, it only proved how dangerous they were, and Rena was right to want Sylar not to get his hands on them. It was almost as if Peter could paint anything he wanted on a canvas and things would come alive, explained away with some change in reality.

And for the rest of the morning he felt like he was in a daze. Claire figured it was useless to talk to him, and as he sat and waited on the balcony, she kept herself busy around the house until lunchtime.

With every minute that passed, Peter's mind began forming question upon question, and he wanted more than ever to see Isaac and Simone. He felt a pang of discomfort in his chest, and his heart beat faster at the mere thought of Simone.

More than anything, he wanted to see her alive again, smiling and breathing like before. He felt selfish, but he'd give anything to hold her again. He glanced at Claire, who was mixing tuna salad for lunch. Peter's expression fell, and he oddly felt guilty. He could never share with Claire that when woke up, the first person he thought of was Simone, and that he missed her terribly. Seeing her today only added kindling to the fire.

--

"In case you don't remember, Isaac and Simone are together," Claire informed him flatly, putting the finishing touches on the dinner table before their guests arrived. She turned around and crossed her arms. There was fire gleaming in her eyes. Peter could tell she was jealous. Of course, she would know that before he woke up and lost his memories, Simone had been the last person he was with - the last woman he'd been in love with.

And now that he knew she was alive, Claire was obviously unnerved. He could only imagine what conversations they had before about Simone when he started seeing Claire.

He swallowed uncomfortably and nodded. "I hope this talk isn't about that," Peter said truthfully, although he wouldn't deny that a side of him hadn't been curious, if not hopeful of reconciling with a revived Simone. "I just want to find some answers."

Claire looked to the floor and uncrossed her arms. She still seemed troubled. "I want that too, more than anything." She gave him a pained look. "I just want you to remember me again, Peter."

Peter sighed heavily. He knew this subject about he and Claire would come up again. Hell, the idea had been attacking his brain over and over again since he'd woken up this morning. Just how was he really supposed to feel about Claire in a world where she's suddenly no longer his niece but the girl he's going to marry? It felt odd, almost creepy, and he just couldn't shake the unease.

Before he could further dispel the thoughts from his head, the doorbell rang, echoing throughout the suite.

"I'll get it," Claire said a bit too tersely, turning toward the door. He heard her add, "Could you please check the chicken. It was five minutes from being done."

Automatically, Peter did as he was told, but his curiosity got the better of him. He took a quick peek at the food and then quickly turned toward the living room, confirming that the food had a few minutes left before it was done. Frantically, he looked for Simone, but Isaac was the first to walk through the door. Quickly, the painter grinned and held out his hand.

"Peter, my man!" Isaac said jubilantly, drawing Peter into a half embrace. He looked into Peter's face, and he no longer could see the remorse and distaste the man had held for him since the last time he'd seen him. Instead, Isaac looked happy, treating them like they were old friends. Isaac said softly, "Uh... we heard from Nathan you lost your memory again." Isaac clamped a reassuring hand on Peter's shoulder. "Don't worry; you'll get it back again. You always do." Isaac's confidence was jarring. He'd never heard the painter sound so optimistic.

"Um... yeah, thanks. I hope so," Peter returned, swallowing hard. He gave Isaac a good look. The painter he had once known as a strung out junkie had cleaned himself up. He pulled his hair back into a neat ponytail, and he wore a clean white shirt under his open tan dress shirt. He also wore a clean pair of khakis without a speck of paint in sight. He smelled of a stark aftershave that masked the permanent smell of media and oil.

The buzzer in the kitchen went off, breaking Peter from his daze. He moved on his heel, but Claire was already rushing past him to grab the food. When he turned around, Simone was there - alive and well just as he was told.

He stifled back a gasp, but he could feel his eyes go wide as he met hers. She looked slightly different, and her skin was warm and full of life. Her hair was cut short to her cheeks, but her eyes and smile were the same, just as bright and exotic. She wore a subtle pewter one-piece dress, and her arms and neck were adorned with glittering silver jewelry. She was beautiful, just as Peter remembered her. He smiled.

Simone offered her hand. "Peter, so good to see you again. I'm glad to hear you're doing well." Peter continued to stare, which caused the air to thicken uncomfortably. Claire cleared her throat behind him.

"Uh, hi, Simone," was all he could say, and Isaac chuckled next to her, slowly putting an arm around her, signaling his fortified claim. Peter briefly ignored him, gushing. "You look amazing, Simone."

Simone let go of his hand, and Peter watched her throw an uncomfortable glance toward Claire. Peter could feel her seething behind him. He tried not to let it bother him, but it didn't. His heart fell when he turned around and saw her distressed face. She looked away from him, glaring at the stain on her shirt from the food. She bit her lip and then walked toward the bedroom. He caught her errant thought on the surface, "I always look so frumpy compared to her." And Peter knew he'd have to make it up to her later. Somehow, in which he was comfortable.

"So uh, let's get started on dinner, and then maybe we can work on your memory," Simone said, taking charge. Claire appeared again in minutes, now wearing a bright rose-colored shirt. Her cheeks flushed as Peter took notice of her, and she frowned and took her seat next to him at the table.

Begrudgingly, Peter sat down next to her, trying very hard not to stare at Simone, but more importantly, trying not to hurt Claire any more than he'd already had. Niece or not, he did care about her and never wanted to hurt her.

"So," he said, turning to both Isaac and Simone who had started eating. Peter's plate was sparse with food, and he didn't really care about it at the moment. "Tell me how you two are still alive?"

Simone and Isaac looked at each other in amusement.

--

The food was cold now, but most of it, thanks to Isaac, was gone. Peter still didn't have the appetite, but instead he devoured every detail Isaac and Simone had told him.

"I'm not going to lie to you, man. I was surprised myself. I never thought you'd come back to save me," Isaac said, taking a sip of the wine Claire had poured them. He grinned at Peter. "But that smack down you gave Sylar before he did me in was bad-ass." He paused before continuing, reminiscing the event. "I thought you were going to kill him, but I knew that's not your way. Besides, that guy is like a cockroach. I'm just glad Hiro finished him in the end at Kirby Plaza."

Peter eyes went wide. "Amazing. I sort of remember it like that. I just don't remember saving you, or you." He turned to Simone.

"Well, you had to go back in time to do both, so I'm wondering if that's why your memory is so hazy," Simone answered. She shook her head. "I'll never understand these super powers. I'm just glad when they became public the world reacted to them with open arms."

"I find that amazing as well," Peter said with relief. He glanced out the window pensively and added, "The world I remember was so unstable, and there was so much fear. I never would have imagined any one would have accepted us back then."

Claire lightly patted his hand, and he suddenly felt soothed by her warmth. He turned his head to her, meeting her gaze. She seemed less depressed, and Peter supposed she was glad he was starting to get back some of the details he was missing.

"Don't worry," she said. "Everything will come back, and hopefully, it'll be the last time you lose your memory." She smiled sadly. "One day you'll recover from this. I know it's been hard, Peter."

Peter instinctively put his hand over hers. Their eyes locked, and suddenly, it felt like Isaac and Simone were no longer in the room with them. Peter's empathic powers felt like they were working at full blast and he felt Claire's compassion rush into his body. He smiled. "It'll be okay now. I have a feeling this is the last time. I'm… feeling stronger, Claire."

His words seemed to reassure her, and suddenly, the atmosphere between the four of them relaxed more than ever before. They finished the wine and filled in Peter with smallest stories he might have forgotten to pass the time.
The late afternoon snuck up on them, and when Simone and Isaac bid their goodbyes, their suite seemed too quiet.

Peter turned to Claire, and she hugged herself, watching his next move in anticipation.

"Did you… like seeing Isaac and Simone again?" Claire asked nervously.
Peter nodded. "Yeah. I still can't believe it," he said, looking at the floor smiling, "but I'm glad that I managed to save them. They seem happy now."
Claire was silent for a moment, but her gaze on him was intense. She finally whispered, "Yes. Yes, they are."

Peter began helping her clean up the table, and they kept looking at each other with awkward glances. Peter tried to peek into Claire's mind several times, but she successfully held up a wall over her thoughts. She probably knew he'd try to poke into her mind. He gathered her thoughts were probably something she thought would upset him.

The more Peter thought about it, the more he realized that had been considerate of her at least. He'd been through enough surprises lately already, and their relationship had been difficult to digest.

He put the last plate in the dishwasher and closed the door.

"Listen, I'm going to go for a night flight. I need to think about some things," he said. He saw her nod. "Don't wait up for me. Take the bed this time, though. I can stay on the couch."

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"I don't know how long I'm going to be, so you might as well."

Claire nodded, trying to immerse herself in the mindless task of starting the dishwasher. Before he could walk toward the balcony, she turned to him.
"Peter!" He turned around to face her. "I just wanted to say I…" She paused awkwardly. "Don't forget a jacket."

He rewarded her with a lazy smile. "Right."

And as he took off, he saw her from the corner of his eye, watching him as he flew away into the New York night skies.

--

When Peter returned, Rena was waiting for him on the balcony. She had her hands clasped in front of her, and she appeared calm.
"It's not so bad, right?" she asked him smiling. Her white teeth were a stark contrast against her skin.

Peter landed, and then he leaned against the banister and sighed. "It's just strange. And I feel like such an ass in there with Claire," he said, keeping his voice low. He didn't know if she was still up. He supposed she couldn't see Rena either, and she'd just think her was insane if she caught him chatting to ghosts outside.

Rena stepped forward, looking ahead at the sky. "I don't mean to offend, but your situation with Claire is not something you should worry about."
Peter looked at her curiously. Her statement seemed so loaded, and he knew there was more.

"Peter, there are consequences in changing reality in as much as there is changing time. The fabric of time and space is delicate. What you did unconsciously might have seemed for the best in some aspects, but the universe is built on balance, so where you find the positive, underneath there must be a negative."

"What does that mean though?" Peter became frustrated. Rena eyed him sternly.

"Not everyone whose lives you touched is going to be happy with their changes. I'm just warning you. You need to be careful. While saving Isaac and Simone are good, there are moral complications from tearing away their deaths from the hands of fate." She paused and she titled her head. Her expression was very motherly, "Peter, please just think about one thing. Is it better to make people happy or to do what is right?"

Peter furrowed his brow, glancing inside the house. He thought of Claire. "I think I'm starting to understand. If I saved someone and changed their lives when their deaths meant to influence something else, then that means whatever was influenced would be changed as well." He rubbed his hands on his forehead. "This is… just crazy. Sometimes, I wish I never had these powers."

"But you do now, and you must realize they are not without their limitations." Rena patted his arm. "I must go because Claire is starting to wake. I just want you to think about that. When you wake up every day and meet your friends from that battle at Kirby Plaza, not everyone is going to get the greatest gift from your powers."

Peter's jaw clenched. He looked ahead to the sky and felt Rena's presence disappear next to him. In minutes, he heard light footsteps behind him. Claire leaned against the doorframe, and he turned around, noticing she was wearing her long white night gown. Idly, Peter thought it was pretty, and she looked almost ghost-like herself. She rubbed her arms from the cold.

"You're back."

"Yeah, I did less thinking than I thought I would." He watched her as she began to walk over to him. She rested her elbows on the banister as he did. She sighed as she looked ahead.

"I did some thinking too, Peter," she said frowning. "I realize I've been terrible to you lately. I know I've been selfish. I should be more understanding of your situation and not demand you remember me. I know… it'll take time."

Peter watched a breeze move her hair around, and a strand fell over her face. Unconsciously, he reached his hand in and moved it gently from her eyes. He pulled his hand away slowly, and he realized just what he did and how she must have felt about it. He knew one thing. Things were certainly different between them since the time at Kirby Plaza.

Or were they?

"Tell me, Claire, when we found out Meredith lied about the paternity of your father, did we… get together right away?" Peter asked bravely.

Claire pouted. "Of course not. I mean, it didn't happen that long after, but there was a period of time where I didn't see you, especially when you were so erratically ill. You were upset most of the time, and you argued with Nathan a lot. Later you told me you needed some time away from me to think, so I stopped visiting for awhile. I think you were really hurt, especially since there are a lot of secrets in the Petrelli family. But eventually you came around, and we continued to be close friends. Then, things started happening…" She sighed, resting her chin on her fists.

"And how did you feel?"

"Weird, but relieved," she admitted. "I always felt really strange about liking you so much in the beginning and then finding out those feelings could only stay platonic. It was frustrating," she said. She turned to him with a soft smile. "You were my hero. How was I supposed to feel?"

Peter let out a small chuckle. He moved closer to her, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Claire, just give me some time, and I promise it'll be okay." She nodded lightly, rolling her eyes, humoring him. "It'll be the last time we start over."

The silent air began to warm between them, and Claire headed back into the suite. She stopped and told him, "You better get some sleep."

Peter watched her as she disappeared inside. Thoughts jumbled in his head, and he thought of Rena's warning despite the amazing things he was finding out about his new power.

And no matter how cautious he tried to be about the consequences of Rena's power, he was quickly starting to get comfortable in this new world.

Chapter Six

Comments

[dragonydreams.livejournal.com]

Yay, Isaac's still alive! (and simone) Very cool that Peter went back in time to save them. I really liked Rena's warning that not everyone will have benefited from the changes to reality. Can't wait to see who has suffered.

[quirkysmuse.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for commenting! Peter will find out soon enough that things aren't going as well as they seem. ^^