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Post by clairebear on Apr 2, 2009 23:51:05 GMT -5
Claire had finally told Nathan, her dad she loved him, and it felt good, she felt she would always love him, and she was glad they had their close bond now, she never wanted it to break again. There was a time, when she'd tried to bond with him and he hadn't been particularly too bothered and it broke Claire's heart. Now was different though, they both had that bond now and it was the most magical thing Claire had experienced in a long time. When Nathan said he loved her too, Claire once again got a fuzzy feeling inside, it was wonderful to hear him say those words to her and she knew he meant them, she could tell with the sincerity in his voice. She nudged him playfully again, and then wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him close to her as she hugged him. It felt so natural. "It's so good to hear you say that dad, because I got you something" she said softly, as she went into her bag and brought out a small square black box and inside was this signet ring. She handed it to him with a warm smile, "I hope you like it" she said softly. On the inside of the ring it had the following words engraved into it. Love Forever, Your Daughter ClaireShe hoped he wouldn't be annoyed at her for spending money on him, but Claire had plenty of savings and since she didn't want to go spending her money on West who had abandoned her, she couldn't think of anybody better she'd rather spend her money on. Most importantly she hoped he would like it. Claire was probably the happiest she had ever been in a long time so when Nathan agreed they were fine, and indeed they were perfect Claire felt that warm glow return, and maybe even a slight flutter of a kick from the baby. Obviously the baby letting Claire know it was good to have mom feeling happy again. "That's right, we're fine, no we're perfect" Claire said and laughed a little as she nudged into him again. "You're starved?" Claire asked with a grin, "At least you're not eating for two" she added with a laugh as she flipped open her cell phone to find out what had happened, and as she did so Nathan mentioned about ordering more, "Alright then" she said with a laugh, "Hi, I placed an order about twenty minutes ago, could you double the order and add in a portion of fries, yes that's right, the White House" and then Claire heard a lot of noise in the background, and muttered words of apologies and curses, before the voice said "Sorry madam, we'll have it to you in the next five minutes" Claire closed her cell phone and began to laugh, a good laugh which she hadn't done for a long time. If Nathan wanted to know what had made her laugh so much, she'd gladly tell him, but right now, she was too busy laughing to say what had got her so happy.
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Post by nathan on Apr 3, 2009 8:09:13 GMT -5
Nathan gently took the small black velvet box from his daughter. He wasn't a huge fan of receiving gifts, but on this occassion he didn't see why not. "Claire, you know you shouldn't have..." He sighed heavily, feeling bad he now hadn't brought her anything. Turning the box around in his fingers, he didn't know whether to accept it now. It felt wrong receiving something from his daughter and not giving something back to her. "I..." He looked up into her and eyes and found himself smiling. He nodded to himself, opening the box. It was a beautiful gold signet ring. He smiled, lifting it out of the box and holding it in his palm.
Nathan held it up with his thumb and index finger, holding it up to the light. He noticed the words 'Love Forever, Your Daughter Claire' engraved inside. "Claire I... I don't know what to say." He was actually speechless. No-one had ever given him something so nice; except Claire herself and the two boys of course. He then shook his head, sighing once more. "But this is too expensive, you shouldn't be wasting your money on your old man... But I love it." He slipped it on right 'wedding' finger and smiled as it glistened in the sunlight.
Claire mentioned the two being 'perfect' once more, lighting Nathan up inside again. "And yes I'm starved," he laughed when she said she was eating for two. "Well I certainly hope I'm not eating for two... or there would be something MAJORLY wrong." He laughed, grinning powerfully as he did. He watched her order more food, feeling his stomach rumble once more.
All of a sudden Claire burst out laughing, not seeming to stop. "Um, have I missed something?" He asked as she hung the phone up. But she continued to laugh. Nathan couldn't help but grin at his daughter, feeling so happy she was here. "What's so funny eh?"
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Post by clairebear on Apr 3, 2009 21:07:31 GMT -5
Claire watched Nathan for expressions when she gave him the black box with the ring inside. She had expected some sort of protests from him about it, but Claire just kept smiling that sweet smile of hers and shrugged her shoulders a little. "It's fine, really" she prompted when he began to protest at first, and then thankfully he opened it. Just because Claire had bought him something, didn't mean she expected anything back in return, after all she had one of the best gifts of all, she had him in her life again.
She could tell that despite being annoyed at her spending money on him, he liked the ring and the engraving which lifted Claire's heart in more ways than he would probably ever realise. Seeing him smile like that was a precious gift in itself. Hearing him say he loved it, and putting the ring on his finger made Claire smile warmly.
"You don't have to say anything dad, the look on your face is telling me all I need to know" she said warmly, and wrapped her arms around him again, "And you want to know something?" she asked, continuing before he had a chance to ask her what it was, "You're the best gift I could have, my very own Superman" she said as a lump formed in her throat through happiness and a tear threatened to fall down her cheek.
Claire had been teasing her father with the eating for two remark, but she was glad he made a joke out of it, Claire would be extremely worried if her father was eating for two as well. "Yeah, not wrong there" she said as she laughed as much as he had done.
After Claire had phoned to add to the order and mentioned how long ago she had called it, the lady on the phone had began shouting at her colleagues about taking so long to get an order delivered to the White House of all places. Of course Claire was laughing so much over it and now Nathan was asking what was so funny.
"The woman who answered the phone obviously got very embarrassed when she found out the order was for here, she started shouting at her colleagues about taking too long to get an order to the White House, then all I heard was a lot of swearing and apologies, I just thought it was really funny" Claire said grinning as she continued to look at her dad in a loving manner with a warm smile. It was so good to be here with him, and she was sure now more than ever she wanted to move in with him.
Claire suddenly thought of something she and Nathan had never done as a father and daughter and that was watch the sunset together. She'd done it plenty of times with Sandra and Noah, which had been special at the time, and still was, but somehow in light of Nathan being her biological father it just didn't seem the same. Linking her arm through his, she sighed gently and nudged him slightly.
"I was just thinking, after we've eaten, could we maybe go for a walk around the grounds, I've got a thing about sunsets and as we've never watched one together I think it would be a nice idea" she said plus it would probably make her sleep easier, now that she had that phone call from earlier in her mind as well as the worry of telling the Bennets she wanted to live with Nathan.
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Post by nathan on Apr 6, 2009 17:36:41 GMT -5
"I see." Nathan said jokingly raising an eyebrow about his daughter's sudden outburst of laughter. He chuckled lightly himself, looking at his daughter for a moment. All those years without her, without his baby girl. And look at her now; the most beautiful girl in the whole World. And she doesn't even know it. His mind drifted back to the first time he saw her, telling her he was 'too busy' for her in his life. Now he regretted that than almost anything. Never more had he wanted someone so badly in his life. Claire was his heart and soul... Claire was him.
Nathan felt his daughter's arm linked through his suddenly. He smiled, resting his head against hers. "A walk around the grounds sounds perfect." He said, feeling on top of the World. "Actually I can think of something a lot better than walking around the grounds to watch the sunset." Nathan would take her up in the sky, letting her watch the sun set in the clouds. He had done it plenty of times, and it always soothed him. Then they could chat on top of the White House, with no-one bothering them. "Can't wait."
There was a quiet knock at the door. Nathan unwrapped himself from Claire and stood up, moving towards the main door. He unlocked it once more and pulled it open. "Yes?" There was the pizza and extras Claire had ordered. The small woman nodded at him excitedly. "Why thank you." He grinned widely, showing his softer side which the public always liked to see. He opened the door to the office further and let the woman in. Nathan left the door open slightly, and watched her reaction to Claire. He pulled his wallet out, "I got this one Claire." He wouldn't take no for an answer. He pulled out a fifty dollar note and grinned at both Claire and the woman. "Thank you, it smells great." He nodded at the woman and escorted her back outside the door, handing her the fifty dollars.
As he closed the door, this time not locking it he watched Claire open the pizza boxes eagerly. It was so nice to see her act like a teenager, like she was supposed to. "Claire I..." He paused, continuing to look at her. "I... want you to know I love you. I really do."
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Post by clairebear on Apr 9, 2009 23:05:36 GMT -5
Maybe you had to be on the phone to hear what had made Claire laugh so much she realised, but still he had smiled at the way she had laughed about it, and that was a bonding moment in itself. When she linked her arm through his, he rested his head on hers, it was such a tender father and daughter moment it made Claire so happy. So happy to be with the man she wished had been able to raise her from a baby, as much as she loved the Bennets, Nathan, her blood father meant the world to her.
She was glad he liked the idea of walking around the grounds to see the sunset. But then he mentioned about something much better than walking the grounds to see the sunset. She looked at him, with a questioning look and a soft smile, "What would that be then?" although she didn't expect him to actually say anything, knowing Nathan he would want to surprise her with it. "Me neither" she replied when he said he couldn't wait.
The next thing the door was knocked upon as the delivery arrived, Claire was so happy because she was so hungry by this point. "Thanks dad" she said when he shouted that he would pay for the order. She hadn't expected him to, but it was lovely he had. Just another touching moment between father and daughter.
She more or less attacked the pizza boxes as she began to take a bite of one of the slices and grinned, "Delicious, me and bub are really hungry" she said, as she laughed at how quickly she had eaten the slice she had lifted out of the box. She noticed that he was about to get serious, even if he still had his smile on his face.
He said those oh so important words, and Claire felt her inside go tingly, her heart melt, she sort of already knew he loved her, it was obvious to tell from the way they had been with each other recently, but she could tell when he said it, that he really did mean it. She felt a lump forming in her throat again, as the tears threatened to fall again, only this time they were going to be happy tears. His words actually made her stop eating for a second as she looked into his eyes, locking her own with his, searching his face. "I feel complete when I'm around you" she said, not that she meant it in a weird way, it was just that she was a part of him, and when she was with him, she felt like there was no longer a piece of her life missing.
She then thought about something, she had known for quite some time she was a Petrelli, and even though she'd always be a Bennet by the fact they had brought her up, she wanted to be known as a Petrelli. Some people might think it a crazy idea because the Petrelli's were a rather dysfunctional family at times, but Claire was proud of them regardless and she wanted to be known as one of them.
"Would you mind if I took your name?" she asked, smiling, but her voice serious, "I mean, to make it official I'm Claire Petrelli?" she added, as she held her breath for a second waiting on his reply, she didn't know why, but she felt if he agreed to that, then she would know for sure she truly belonged here.
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Post by nathan on Apr 10, 2009 12:28:00 GMT -5
Claire wasn't the only one wanting to get the father/daughter bond sorted out between them. It had just been going on too long now. Nathan had never seen his daughter during her early teens and childhood. He missed out on some of the best years; teaching her how to ride a bicycle, taking her to her first day of school... and so much more. He had a sudden flash of guilt, but he decided not to share with her. It wasn't her fault after all, it was just... the way it went. He actually couldn't wait to take her 'up' and over Washington, showing her the beauty of the World from a bird's perspective.
Once the delivery came, Nathan noticed how quickly Claire tucked in. Once he turned around, she was already devouring a slice of pizza. "Well, bet they'll love that Claire. Good food for a Petrelli eh?" He smiled, hoping she wouldn't mind he said the baby as a 'Petrelli' rather than a Rosen or Bennet. Nathan sat down opposite her and grabbed a large slice, balancing it between his fingers. Usually Nathan only ate homemade food; the chefs already had a list of his favourite dishes. But this once, it felt so good to just... veg out with his daughter. He had never done it before, not even with Monty and Simon. When his boys grew up, he realised they would be wary of Nathan not being in their lives all that much. It broke his heart thinking about it, but it was just the way they were.
He smiled widely when she said she felt complete around him. Nathan felt similar; Claire meant more to him than almost anything. She was born a Petrelli, despite being with the Bennet's for most of her life. "Claire..." But she interrupted, asking if she could take his name. He smiled again. "You don't have to even ask, you were born a Petrelli, you always will be one." He finished up another slice of pizza and stood up, noticing the light grow dimmer in the Oval Office. "Come on," He said gently, holding his hand out and twiddling his fingers at her. "Let's go for that walk."
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Post by clairebear on Apr 12, 2009 18:54:25 GMT -5
Claire grinned at Nathan when he spoke about the baby loving the good food of fast food. One thing was for sure, she had already come to know that the baby certainly loved pizza. It was a craving for Claire. Not that she didn't like fast food anyway, but in the past few weeks she had craved pizza. She also noticed he had referred to the baby as a Petrelli, which made Claire feel warm inside. It was nice that he was acknowledging the baby as one of his own. Which they were.
"Yeah, they seem to love pizza, I've been craving it a lot over the past few weeks dad" she said, as she grinned at him, "and being a Petrelli they're bound to be strong as well" Claire added smiling up at him as she eat another slice of pizza. It was almost as if she couldn't get enough of it. As if she couldn't please the baby quick enough.
He was about to say something to her, but she hadn't realised and interrupted him by asking her own question about taking his name. She was glad when he said she didn't have to even ask. "Well I didn't want to assume, I know Sandra and Noah might not be too happy, but there's no denying I'm a Petrelli, and I want to be known as a part of the family I really look up to" Claire said warmly, and it was true. Yes they might have been a very dysfunctional family, but she still looked up to them in a big way, probably since she had befriended Peter all those years ago.
Funny how things work out, she'd had a bit of a crush on him back then, weird finding out he was actually your uncle. Just as well she hadn't acted on those feelings. Now he was just a good friend as well as her uncle.
She just finished her last piece of pizza when she saw Nathan stand up and hold out his hand to her twiddling his fingers, asking her to go for the walk now. "Sure" she said as she stood up, grabbed his hand and leaned in to him giving him a hug. She realised it was getting late as well. She certainly didn't want to go back home to Costa Verde that night. She'd ask Nathan if he could fly her back there tomorrow to sort things out for her moving back here permanently.
"So, I was wondering" she began looking up at him with her bright eyes misty, realising how good it actually felt to be spending such quality time with her father, "would it be alright for me to stay here tonight? I don't really want to go back yet, so long as you're alright to fly me back tomorrow?" she asked, hoping he wouldn't mind.
Yes it was true that Angela had a private jet Claire could use for flying between California and Washington, but just this once, what with the whole bonding thing, she wanted Nathan to fly her home to Costa Verde, just to be in his arms, like she wished she had been so many times as a child.
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Post by nathan on Apr 14, 2009 20:56:45 GMT -5
"Pizza is a Petrelli favourite all around Claire, and of course they will love Italian food," He grinned at her, munching on another slice of pizza. He was enjoying this; not worrying about work, spending quality time with his daughter. It had been rare occasion when they were together that they acted like father and daughter. Normally they were either at each other's throats or just trying to save the World. They never actually sat down and talked. It just... never happened. "Sure they'll be strong, can imagine them kicking like a trooper in there." He smiled at her. Claire was still so young, too young in his opinion to have a baby. She had her whole life ahead of her, she shouldn't be having to look after a child already. But there was no point in arguing, soon he would have a beautiful grandchild... Oh God... Nathan Petrelli a grandfather. The press will have a field day.
Nathan understood why she wanted to go back to her blood routes. Claire was a very free, individual spirit, she would do whatever she wanted when she wanted. It was just the way she was. And oh did Nathan love her for it. Claire definitely took after the Petrelli's; she had her father's individuality and strength, her uncle's stubborness and determination and her grandmother's wisdom. "You look up to us?" He chuckled, "Honey, we maybe a bit crazier than the Brady bunch, but we sure love you. All of us."
As Nathan stood holding his hand out, he couldn't think of a more perfect evening. Oh yes he could; his two sons, if only they were here. He watched Claire take his hand and hug him slightly. It was heartwarming. She certainly knew how to make a father happy. Because right at that second, Nathan was feeling on top of the World.
Claire commented on how she was wondering, "Well we all wonder Claire. Would be a bit worried if you didn't too." He was teasing her, it was a typical dad thing to do, and he was no different. "Oh I'd love you to stay, we already have a bedroom sorted out for you in the Presidential hallway which is my private quarters. So you can stay tonight and I'll fly you home tomorrow." He smiled down at her and kissed the top of her head, smelling the soft conditioner.
He walked her along to the ground floor, where he opened the private door to the grounds outside. The sun was just starting to set, and Nathan noticed how the sky was a kaleidoscope of oranges and pinks and reds. It was beautiful. He stopped Claire for a moment when they reached the outside and said, "Hang on, I know what we can do." He grabbed her hand and took her back inside, up to the very top room of the White house. He opened the double French doors to the balcony and took her out. Nathan sighed gently and let go of her hand, leaning on the pristine white bannister surrounding the balcony. "Beautiful isn't it?" He said looking across at her. "But I can do better." Nathan smiled, walking towards her and gently pulling his daughter into a hug. He gently touched off the ground and they were now hovering slowly upwards. Of course he didn't realise now Claire had no idea, she seemed perfectly happy. It didn't even feel like he was flying, it was just... so free, so perfect. "Surprise Claire Petrelli." He said as they were now on top of the White house, looking out over Washington as the orange sun started to set.
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Post by clairebear on Apr 17, 2009 21:33:52 GMT -5
"That's good to know" Claire began with a grin, "always wondered why I loved Italian food so much and now I do" Claire continued with another grin. It was nice to finally feel like she belonged in the Petrelli family. It had been a long time coming, since she'd found out she was adopted and found her birth father, all they had done was argue about things, sometimes busy saving the world, to really give a proper father/daughter relationship a try. So Claire was the happiest she had ever been in a very long time as she sat there talking and sharing pizza with her father Nathan.
"Oh they're kicking alright" Claire said almost tempted to grab his hand and place it on her stomach, but she wondered if it would be something he'd be interested in, seeing as it wasn't the excitement of his own child, but it was his grandchild. She wondered how he felt, he had only found Claire not that long ago, and now she was in the process of making him a grandfather, it must have been quite a lot to take in she realised. As the baby began to kick again, she couldn't help it, as she grabbed his hand and pressed it against her stomach. "There, feel that, beginning to think this might be a Nathan or Peter junior you know" she said, referring to football of course.
"Course I look up to you, to all of you" Claire clarified, and then laughed when he mentioned the Brady bunch, but what touched her heart was he called her honey and it was one of the first terms of endearment she remembered him ever calling her, and she liked it. No, she didn't like it, she loved it, she loved him. She was beginning to think that there wouldn't be another man in her life she would love more than her own father. "Well I love all of you too" Claire said, and she meant it, even with Angela. She still found the woman a little awkward at times with the secrets she held, but Claire grew up around secrets, and the longer she knew Angela, the more she began to respect a lot of the ways she worked.
When Nathan teased her about her wondering line, she looked up at him and rolled her eyes with a smile on her face, "Very clever" she said but laughed, she couldn't help it, it was funny for him to be a dad about it all. But he said that of course she could stay there was already a room ready for her anyway. "Thanks dad" she said, as she felt her heart flutter when he kissed her head. It was all these little moments Claire loved with Nathan so much, all the little moments she missed out on as a baby and young child. How she wished she could re-live them with Nathan.
As she walked with him, her hand held in his, she gripped it tighter not in a vice grip way, but in a way as if to say, that she knew he was her father, and he always would be her father, no matter what. A small silence fell upon them, but it wasn't an awkward silence, it was just a nice peaceful silence. Soon they were outside, and she looked up, the sunset was looking so pretty already. But then her dad said he knew what to do, grabbing her hand again and leading her back inside.
"What?!" she asked in exclamation, but she had a feeling he wouldn't tell her, as he continued to walk with her making his way to the top of the building, opening the French doors which lead onto the balcony. Nathan leaned against it looking out after letting go of her hand saying it was beautiful. "Yes, it's very beautiful, but what makes it even more beautiful is watching it with you" Claire said softly. Next thing she knew he was taking her into a hug after saying he could do better and they were hovering upward until they were on top of the White House, looking out into the sunset.
When he said surprise Claire Petrelli, her heart melted all over again, this was the perfect moment with her father she had been waiting for, and it was more special than she could ever have imagined. Claire never usually felt tired as early as the sun setting, but since being pregnant, she felt tired more quickly and more easily.
"It's beautiful" she said wistfully, snuggling into his arms, as she felt her eyes closing, "I love you so much dad" she finished, as her eyes closed over completely and she felt herself drift off into a peaceful sleep.
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Post by nathan on Apr 19, 2009 18:34:29 GMT -5
Claire stretched Nathan's arm across, almost pulling it out of the socket. Sometimes he thought she didn't know her own strength. It was sweet really. He felt a bit uncomfortable though, he wasn't very soppy about the whole baby thing. Of course he was over the moon but he wasn't the type to spend hours talking about it. But when he felt the baby kick, he couldn't help but grin. "Ah how about that?" His grin faded to a smile as he sighed softly. All those years ago it would of been Meredith like this, pregnant with the daughter. The first daughter.
When they reached outside, Nathan realised the small silence. It didn't bother him to be honest, and Claire seemed perfectly content. He could tell she was starting to get tired, Claire always went quiet when she was tired. They both reached the balcony and Nathan also went quiet for a moment, leaning on the bannister of the balcony. Everything was so clear at the moment, usually there were so many secrets between the Petrelli family, but now it seemed different. Everyone seemed clear with each other. Of course Angela still had her massive secrets, but no-one could stop that. She was probably the most secretive person in the whole World.
Nathan moved back towards Claire and held her against him, she stood on his toes, barely making an impact. They began hovering slowly. The sunset was really in its full beauty now, the colours blending together so perfectly. Nathan smiled when her eyes lit up. He rested his chin on top of her head and they began to sway slightly. "It really is Claire." She didn't reply, Nathan figured she was too happy just looking at the sun go down. "Love you too Claire." They swayed for a little longer, high into the clouds. "One day, everything will be great again. We'll be a family, I'll look after you and your brothers, and Ma and Peter... everything will be fine." He smiled, hearing her breathing heavily. As he moved his head away from hers he looked down, seeing her fast asleep against his chest. "Ah Claire, you missed my heart-warming speech." He whispered, laughing to himself.
Slowly he hovered back down to a different balcony, her room. He touched down gently, turning her up into his arms. Nathan pushed the double doors opened and laid her down on the bed amongst the pillows. Once she was settled he tucked her in and kissed her forehead, "Good night Claire, sweet dreams." He then looked down at the baby bump and smiled, gently resting his hand on it. "Night baby."
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