Disclaimer: I don't own Heroes. Song lyrics are "Delicate" by Damien Rice—don't own those either.

A/N: This is the last one! Please, please leave me feedback. I really want to know what you like and what you don't and if you're still curious about something. Right now, this is the ending. However, I can add an epilogue if you guys want me to. Please leave some love. Thanks to everyone for reading and for all the reviews!!

Thanks to Adrie for Betaing…

It's not that we're scared
It's just that it's delicate…

Five

It was cold outside and the melting snow glimmered as the sun set. Claire sat down on her suitcase outside of Nathan's door. She wanted to go in but she knew that when Nathan saw the suitcases in her hand, he would ask her what happened. She wasn't sure that she could tell him. She wasn't sure what to tell him.

The truth she guessed. But how much of it? She couldn't handle telling him about Sophie—or about Peter. He would freak out. She knew her father well enough to know that.

Claire wiped her eyes and took a deep breath. She had to pull herself together. She had a dinner to sit through and a child to take care of. She stood up and saw Peter in front of her. His eyes were warm as pulled her into a hug.

"Are you alright?" he whispered. She nodded in his arms but didn't speak. "I was getting worried." He kissed her forehead and held her. She breathed him in and whimpered in his arms, resisting the tears that burst through her resolve. He rubbed her back until she was calm. "Let's go inside." Peter grabbed her bags and she followed him into the house.

Hannah yelled Claire's name when she entered. Heidi smiled and moved toward her.. She looked at the bags that Peter held and back to Claire's puffy, red eyes and her smile faded when she was closer

"What's going on?" Heidi asked. She ran her hand down Claire's hair. Claire's tears began again and Heidi hugged her stepdaughter. Hannah yelled for Claire again when she didn't respond to her calls. Nathan told Hannah to wait until Claire was ready and stop yelling as he walked toward the door.

"What's wrong?" he asked when he saw her. She looked at him. He pulled her into his arms and she started to sob. He looked at Heidi, who shrugged, and Peter, who looked down. Peter wanted to tell them but it wasn't his place. He wanted to hold her but he couldn't with everyone else around. Nathan stood with his daughter and held her there until she stopped crying.

She looked at Heidi and Nathan. Their eyes were full of concern. She sighed and looked at Peter who was across the room with Sophie and Hannah. He nodded and smiled softly.

"Um…" Claire fought for her voice. It was soft and husky. "Austin and I split up."

Nathan seemed shocked, "What happened?"

"It's just not working anymore. It hasn't been for a long time," she said.

"It's this permanent?"

Claire nodded. "It's permanent. We're over." Nathan didn't say anything else. They were both quiet for a few minutes.

"I'll take your bags to a room," he said softly. "You can stay here as long as you need to."

Claire nodded, "I-I have to be out this weekend."

"He told you that?" Heidi asked. Claire nodded again.

"Then, we'll get you out," Nathan said. He hugged his daughter again.

"Go upstairs and get cleaned up," Heidi said. Claire nodded and looked at Peter. She moved toward him. Sophie smiled and help up her hands. Claire smiled and picked her up. Peter grabbed Claire's hand on the way up and she locked eyes with him. Then, Sophie in arms, she went up the stairs.

"We're here today to finalize a petition for divorce," the judge said. He looked at his papers. Claire stood beside her lawyer and looked toward Austin. He didn't look back at her. "Are both parties agreed in this petition?"

"Yes," his lawyer said.

"Yes," hers said.

The judge said nothing at first, just shifted some papers. "What is the reason for the divorce?"

"The marriage was formed on false pretenses, which were carried throughout and caused problems that were beyond repair," his lawyer said.

The judge nodded. "On who's part?"

"My client's, your honor," Claire's lawyer said.

Austin looked at Claire. "Both parties are in agreement over separation of marital property and assets?" Both lawyers said yes. "Both parties are in agreement of benefits and alimony?" The lawyers said yes. The judge nodded. "Then, we are finished. You are officially divorced." He hit his gavel on the desk.

Austin left the room without saying a word. Claire watched him as he walked away and she knew she'd never see him again. After eight months it was finally over. She was divorced. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before walking out the door.

Claire looked around. She never realized how much of that apartment was hers until she packed it all in boxes. Each box was packed with memories, delicacies covered in bubble wrap as if it would protect them from being shattered. Claire knew it wasn't possible though. They were already shattered and there was no repair in sight.

She walked through the rooms, making sure she left the right things. Sophie's bedroom was painted a soft pink. The animals were still smiling painted smiles on the walls. They were unchanged through all this, a reminder of happiness. They painted those together before Sophie was born.

She stood in their bedroom with the blue walls that they fought over. How ironic that they were blue. She spent so much time decorating that room. They spent time there together. Laughing, fighting and making up. Had all of that really been a lie? It couldn't have been. It was real. But this, leaving, was more real. Peter was more real. He was so real that it was almost make-believe.

Claire quietly walked back to the living room, where the things she could take sat in boxes. The laughter of her friends filled the room.

"You still have all of these? I'm winning contest." Hiro exclaimed. "I can help you—if you forfeit."

Matt stared at him and gasped, "That's just cheap, Hiro."

"What?" he asked innocently.

"You can't teleport your boxes! You'll always get done faster."

Hiro laughed and tsked, moving his finger side to side. "You never said that in the rules. Besides, it's my destiny to help cheerleader Claire. This is the power that fate gave to me; don't get mad at me for using it."

Matt laughed. "Here then teleporting moving man, take them all." Hiro nodded and took the box from Matt' s hands before they all disappeared. Claire laughed. It was the first time all week and it almost hurt.

Matt smiled. "That's what I like to hear from you," he said. Claire smiled, "He gets bored easily. I had to make it interesting for his sake,"

"Thanks for helping me," she said.

"Anytime. We all love you Claire," he said. Matt stared at her."I'm here if you ever need to talk about things." Claire smiled and hugged him. "Even if it's a babysitter."

"Any more boxes?"Peter asked.

Claire shook her head. Matt went to check on Hiro's packing skills and he left the two of them alone.

Peter touched Claire's face. "Are you ready to start over?"

"I don't want to start over. That means forgetting. I just want to be with you."

"You are," he said and he kissed her. He smiled his lopsided grin, "It gets better."

"What does?" she asked, a small smile brimming through. "High school's been over for a long time."

"Life after divorce," he smiled.

"You mean life with you?" she asked. He nodded. "Is it even possible?"

"I promise everything will work out, Claire," he said.

"It has to. I'll die without you, Peter."

"I'm not worried. Besides, you can't die. We're indestructible."

"So…?"

"So that means we'll never be apart."

"Amen," she whispered as she kissed him again. Then, they walked out the door.

Claire was quiet as Peter hugged her. She looked around her apartment. "Where's Sophie?"

"She's asleep," Peter said. "I just put her down."

"I want some tea," she said. Peter followed her to the kitchen.

"How was it?" he asked.

"About three minutes," she said. She paused. "They lied." Peter raised an eyebrow. "They said it formed on false pretenses and whatever."

"That was true."

Claire shook her head. "It used to say I committed adultery. I'm not sure which one hurts worse. That I cheated on him after a year of marriage or that I lied to him for three." Peter pulled her into his arms. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry. He was your husband. You can be sad," he said. Claire yawned in his arms. "Are you tired? You didn't sleep well."

Claire shook her head. "Will just hold me for a while?" Peter smiled and kissed her cheek. She pulled her legs on the couch into a ball around him and rested her head on his chest. She listened to his heart beat as she drifted off to sleep.

"Something is bothering Cheerleader Claire," Hiro said quietly to his friend.

Claire smiled. "It's nothing, Hiro."

"Ah, you are no good at lying," Hiro's face was no longer smiling. "This is more than just the divorce." Claire looked at him. It wasn't a question; it was a statement.

Claire was silent as they watched Sophie play. "It's something more. A lot more."

"It's something that involves Peter-san." Claire looked up at him. "He has been different since the announcement." Hiro grabbed her hand. "You can tell me anything Cheerleader Claire. We are friends."

Claire sighed. "I love him Hiro. It's wrong but I do. We both do."

Hiro laughed. Claire raised an eyebrow at him. "Why are you laughing? It's not funny."

"I'm sorry. It is funny. You and Peter-san just realize this love? I knew it from long ago. You can not help who you love. It is something that is beyond us. It is fate. We can not fight fate."

"There's more than just that, Hiro."

He searched her eyes. "It weighs on you. You can tell me."

"Don't judge me, Hiro. I've lied. I'm not as good as you—even when I want to be. Hiro, you can't tell anyone."

"No one is perfect. I am not always as good as you would think. I'm not one to judge."

"Peter is Sophie's father," Claire said.

Hiro's jaw dropped. "Peter-san is daddy?" Claire nodded. Their conversation was finished as Sophie jumped on Claire's lap.

Claire woke up in the bed. She didn't remember going there but there she was, still in the dress she wore yesterday. She looked at the clock. It was 8:30. Claire moved off the bed, suddenly very hungry. From the look of the brightness coming out of the window it was 8:30 in the morning. She'd been asleep since yesterday afternoon. Claire jumped in the shower—her desire to be clean overpowering her desire for food.

"Look who's awake," Peter exclaimed at the sight of her.

Sophie looked toward the door from the table. "Mommy!" she smiled.

"Hey honey," Claire said. She kissed her daughter. "Mommy loves you very much. What are you eating?"

"Daddy Peter made pancakes," she said. Claire and Peter looked at each other. "Honey, what did you say?"

"Pancakes," Sophie said as she pointed to her plate. "Yummy pancakes from Daddy Peter." Claire's face twisted in confusion. Did you teach her that? Peter shook his head.

"Sophie, why did you call Peter that?"

Sophie scrunched her nose. "You said Peter was my daddy," she said, "to uncle Hiro."

Claire nodded. She did say that. Two weeks ago.

"Is mommy sad?" Sophie asked.

"No, Mommy's surprised," Claire said. Peter stared at her.

"Sophie, want to do something for me?" Peter asked. She nodded with a glowing smile. "Let's play a secret game, okay?"

"Kay," she said.

Peter thought for a moment. "All you have to do is not say that name again," he said. "You can say it here at home with me and mommy but you can't say it anywhere else."

"Not at grandpa's?" she asked. Peter shook his head. "Why not?"

"Because it's our secret. We don't want anyone else to know yet," he said. Sophie nodded like she understood and gave a thumbs up.

Peter kissed his daughter, "That's my girl."

She smiled and looked at Claire, "Does mommy want a pancake from Secret Daddy Peter?"

Claire laughed. "I would love one."

Claire sat beside Angela's bed. The silence was replaced with a consistent beeping. Angela breathed slowly, each breath harder to take than the last. Claire finally built up the courage to speak.

"You wanted to see me?"

Angela nodded and Claire was silent again. "You surprise me," Angela said in raspy broken words. "I never thought you'd fight; I underestimated you in that."

"What?"

Angela paused. "For most of my life I waited for you, Claire. All the things I did were to protect my family—which includes you."

Angela stopped speaking and her monitor increased. When it slowed down, she spoke again. "I know we don't have the typical grandmother/granddaughter relationship but I have loved you in my way. I love my sons and my grandchildren and Sophie. She's got something, Claire. Don't let her miss it."

"Angela, what—"

"Destiny is a strange thing. It leads us places that we never thought. We can not fight it as much though we try. Embrace it, Claire. Do not question it. I spent much of my life doing just that and in the end, did not change it."

Claire stared at her grandmother but did not say anything. Her brain was registering what she was saying. "I'm not sure what you are saying."

"You will understand one day," she said. "I'm tired now. Please leave me to sleep."

Claire smiled and kissed Angela's cheek before she left the room. It would be their last conversation.

Claire watched Peter play with Sophie. There was never a time that she loved him more than when she saw him with his daughter. He was different then, more. He was more loving, more fun, more gentle. He handled her like she could break, like she was something fragile, something delicate. It was the same way he treated Claire.

Claire watched Sophie with her father and she smiled. Part of her wondered if Sophie hadn't known from the first time she laid eyes on him at Nathan's. She smiled at him in a way that night; she never reacted to anyone like that on the first visit—aside from Micah.

"Mommy, come play!" Sophie yelled.

Claire smiled and sat beside her daughter and Peter on the floor.

"Happy birthday, dear Sophie…happy birthday to you!" Sophie smiled in Claire's arms and blew out her candles. She laughed when everyone clapped and jumped off Claire's lap and ran to her Uncle Hiro—who flew her through the air like he always did.

Claire passed out cake to the small crowd. Sophie ate her cake sitting on Micah's lap with Matt and Hiro squished beside and Mohinder across from her. Claire smiled at Sophie's way with people. Even Angela always had a soft spot for her. Claire wondered if she knew all along the truth about Sophie. She wondered, but she never had a chance to ask.

"She's hilarious," Niki whispered. "Look at her with all those boys. You'll need to keep an eye on her when she's older."

Claire laughed. "She's only three! Give me some time."

"I'm just saying. She's got a way with people. They all love her. Boys will be no different."

Peter looked at Claire. "She's not dating until she's 30," he whispered. Claire shook her head at him and he moved across the room toward the drinks.

"Well, any guy who tries to date her will have to answer to many people," Claire said.

Niki laughed. "She does have many protectors. Look at them all…Mohinder, Hiro, Matt, Ando, Micah, your father, your brothers, Peter…"

Claire shifted at the last one. Niki met her gaze. "When are you going to tell Nathan?" Claire shrugged. "Aren't you tired yet?"

Claire looked at her daughter who was standing at Peter's side. He smiled and gave her another drink in her sippy cup. Claire looked at Nathan and Heidi, deep in conversation with Matt.

"Very." Claire said softly.

"What's the wait?" Niki asked.

"I'm holding off until after the divorce. So, a couple more months."

Niki nodded. "Well, I'm here if you need me. You've got us all."

Peter kissed Claire's neck as he moved the sheets around him. He pulled her close to him and she moved her leg against his. They both sighed as they lay together in the bed. Peter smiled at the thought of lying in their bed together in a world where everything was solved when they were together.

That, however, was just a dream. Reality was that nothing was solved. They'd been playing house for the months leading up to Claire's divorce. They'd been living together since the month before and the month since its finalization. He still had his place but he was never there and was subletting it to Hiro and Ando. Peter didn't mind; he got to be with them. He never complained. He stroked her hair as she purred happily in his arms, their fingers intertwined.

"Peter." Her voice was hesitant and soft as she spoke.

"Hmm?" he replied. He kissed her hand.

"I was thinking that it's time."

"Time for?"

"Time to tell Nathan and the family," she said.

Peter sat up and looked at her. "Really?" Claire nodded. "What brought that on?"

"It's not fair. Not for our friends who have to keep our secret or for you or me or Sophie," Claire said, "I don't want to confuse her: Daddy Peter here; Uncle Peter there. It's going to confuse her later. And it's not fair to her—keeping you a secret like it's wrong."

"It's not wrong," Peter said.

"I know. I want to be with you forever, Peter. We have to tell Nathan. He needs to know the truth," she said.

"This is what you want?"

"Very much," Claire nodded.

Peter kissed her. "Then let's do it."

They were quiet for a moment.

"I know it's really delicate. It could all unravel, fall apart. I don't want this to fall apart, to mean nothing," she said, grabbing his hand.

"It won't," he said. He touched her face so she looked at him. "We'll never fall apart. I'm with you forever." Claire smiled. "He could kill us," Peter added with a smile.

"I'm not worried," Claire said. She smiled. "We're indestructible, remember?"

"Amen," he said before he kissed her again.

Peter and Claire sat across from Nathan in the den. She was nervous but he grabbed her hand and smiled. Her nerves were calmed when she looked at him. Nathan's eyes moved to their intertwined hands.

"God, it's true," Nathan said. They looked at him.

"Nathan, don't be mad. It wasn't something we planned," Claire said softly.

"How long have you been…together?"Nathan struggled with the words. His daughter and his brother were together.

"Honestly?" Peter asked. Nathan nodded. "Years."

"Years?"

"I've loved Peter since he saved me," she said.

Nathan rubbed his temples. "All this time…This can't be happening." Everyone was silent. Nathan paced the room. "Is he the reason you left Austin?"

"He's part of it. He's also part of the reason I even married Austin," Claire said.

"Meaning?"

"Meaning I wanted her to have a normal life, a life without me," Peter said. Nathan shot him a look and opened his mouth in protest.

"But I couldn't. He is my life."Claire said before Nathan could add anything.

"We've both learned that,"Peter added.

Nathan shook his head and froze. All the memories came flooding back, all the signs. They had been there all along. He was so blind to them. He didn't want to see them.

"She said it to me and I ignored it," Nathan said out loud to himself.

"What?"

"Sophie…" Nathan looked at Peter, "God, she's yours isn't she?"

Peter swallowed, "Yes."

Nathan shook his head, "You were gone. How is that possible?"

Peter shrugged, "A random chance encounter in Chicago."

The room was silent again.

"Sophie said it to me once," Nathan said breaking the silent tension. "She said to me 'That's not the way Daddy Peter does it.' I thought she was just displacing not having Austin because she then changed and called you just Peter, like she knew she was supposed to say that." Nathan hit the desk and Claire jumped.

"Damn it!" Nathan said. "What the hell am I supposed to do with this? My brother and my daughter! It's not normal."

"We've never been normal Nate," Peter said.

"It's just destiny," Claire spoke up in the renewed silence."It's a strange thing. It leads us places that we never thought. We can not fight it as much as we might try. And we tried, Dad. We tried. For years we tried. Some things are just bigger than us."

Nathan didn't reply. No one else spoke. They just sat in the delicate silence.

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That's the end. Please remember to review!