Hey Guys

TheSparkleQueen here, long time stalker, first time writer! So this story has been a long time in the making; I've been working off and on for the past two years and thought I'd finally share it with you lovely readers :) It's a Peter/OC story from the beginning, but there is quite a fair bit of Sylar in the later chapters...I couldn't resist! It'll span across all the seasons and I've penned out an outline for some action to happen after the finale as well.
Constructive criticism is, of course, always welcome.
R&R?

Enjoy!

Prologue: Waiting for the Echo

"I would hurl words into this darkness and wait for an echo, and if an echo sounded, no matter how faintly, I would send other words to tell, to march, to fight, to create a sense of hunger for life that gnaws in us all."
Richard Wright

It would have been a glorious evening for star-gazing. The night, so unusual clear for New York, was dotted with glittering stars, and the absence of clouds was a welcome surprise. Never before had Katie seen such a sight. Unfortunately for her, she did not get the chance to dwell upon the beauty, for the events unfolding in Kirby Plaza took precedent.

Then again, for her, Peter always took precedent.

He was there, front and center, a position he never normally held, battling against a man. The man that had murdered her best friend. A man named Sylar.

"Chloe! Are you here?"

The normally noisy apartment was deadly silent as Katie made her way through the few rooms. It wasn't like her friend to miss plans, and so when she failed to show up for their movie, Katie had rushed over, her mind whirling with possible scenarios.

She slept in. Her family dog passed away. She couldn't find a cab to meet her.

She caught a glimpse of herself in the hallway mirror, brown eyes nervous and rosy lips turned down into a frown. Worrying for that girl was going to be the death of her, she knew it.

Katie sighed as she reached Chloe's bedroom, before knocking lightly on the mahogany, she could hear the quiet, dulcet sounds of Vivaldi coming from within the room.

"You missed the movie you dolt-"she started, pushing open the door.

All she could remember were those lifeless eyes staring up at her, and the blood. Those eyes haunted her dreams every night since.

Shaking herself out of her disturbing reverie, Katie turned her head back to look at Peter. Their eyes met for mere moments before Sylar took his attention again, but Katie could see the desperation and exhaustion her friend was feeling. They both knew why, but neither really wanted to admit it. If he defeated Sylar, he would blow up and destroy New York. If he didn't, Sylar would continue murdering innocent people like Chloe. It was a wicked double edged sword, but it was obvious which option Peter was fighting for. A true Hero, through and through, Katie knew that since the moment she met him.

She hadn't felt this scared since Chloe died. A mere 2 weeks ago, Katie knew, but those 14 days had been the hardest of her life. Everything she did, everywhere she went, she could see Chloe's eyes. Even in her sleep they chased her, telling her if she had only come sooner, her best friend would still be alive. Still be that bubbly, quirky, amazing person.

But she was gone.

And now Katie wanted to be too. So there she stood, feet precariously balanced on the ledge on the roof of Chloe's apartment building, ready to jump.

She took a deep breath, a small smile on her lips, eyes closed, and leaned forwards, knowing she would be with her best friend again soon.

But something unexpected happened.

A rough hand grabbed the back of her jacket, and pulled her quickly backwards with a sharp yank.

Her eyes snapped open and the air left her lungs in a great whoosh, and she fell onto the hard concrete of the rooftop, a body pinning her to the ground.

Startled, she lay there blinking for a few moments, mind trying to wrap itself around what had just occurred.

Somebody had pulled her back.

"Who-" Katie started, staring at the man in black who had regained his footing and stood across from her.

"It's Peter." He said, flicking his bangs out of the way revealing a boyish, yet charming face.

Katie took a moment to study him; he wore a black trench, which seemed to highlight the intensity in his eyes. His brown hair was dirty, but not overly so, as were his clothes. Then she noticed the hand which he held to her, trying to help her up off the ground.

She took it, dusting the gravel off her jeans, and turned away.

"I'm not going to ask you why you did it." He spoke up, voice rumbling over the fierce Manhattan wind. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye; he was leaning over the rail, observing the pedestrians below.

"Hell, I tried to jump off this very spot a while ago. Everyone has their reasons I guess." He smiled at her, and she couldn't help but to smile back, something about this man seemed to draw her in.

"I'm Katie." She spoke, clearing her throat twice for good measure. "Thank you."

"Hm?" he made a noise in the back of his throat, glancing over at her again, "What for?"

"For not prying. For saving me. I don't know why I was going to do it. Spur of the moment I guess. I'm not crazy of anything, I promise. It's just –" she stopped herself. Why was she telling all this to a complete stranger? A handsome stranger, yes, but a stranger nonetheless.

She spun on her heel, and walked towards the rooftop door, hand hovering over the handle. Chloe would stay. She thought to herself. She would stay and explain everything; she would make a new friend, and not be afraid or embarrassed.

So she slowly walked back to Peter, who hadn't moved an inch, but had kept up his people watching.

"My best friend was murdered." She said the words evenly and strongly, willing herself not to cry, like she did every time she thought of Chloe. Katie held up a hand when Peter's eyes filled with empathy and his mouth opened to no doubt give her his apology.

"No, don't pity me. God knows I've been doing too much of that myself lately."

She paused, it had been the first time she had told anyone out loud what had happened to Chloe, it felt freeing, and so she continued.

"At first I thought I could deal with it, death happens all the time, you know? But…she was my rock. And then suddenly she was gone, and I was drifting through the middle of the ocean, with nothing to hold on to and no one in sight. And I don't know why I'm telling you this, but Chloe would be proud of me for talking about it, and you're just really easy to talk to I guess."

All that was said in one huge breath and Katie hung her head in her hands when she finished.

It was silent for a moment, and then:

"I tried to fly."

Peter hadn't spoken in a while, and so the sound of his voice surprised Katie, who looked up at him in shock and curiosity.

"What?"

"That's why I jumped. You told me your story; I thought I should tell you mine." He smiled, and her heart fluttered a bit.

"Oh," she laughed a little, "what was it? Drugs?" she tilted her head.

Peter grinned, "Something like that."

They both giggled at the stupidity of it, and fell back into silence.

The sun was beginning to set, and Katie glanced at her watch, which read 7:12.

"I should get going," she sighed, removing herself from her place at Peter's side. The temperature had dropped, and her light jacket wasn't doing much good against the whistling wind. Katie shivered.

A thump and a bundle of fabric landed on her shoulder, covering her head to toe in the black material of Peter's trench coat. She held it lightly between her fingers, and thanked the man quietly.

"But won't you be cold?" she asked, hugging herself tightly to keep warm.

"Nah, I don't live very far anyways, and it wouldn't take me long to get there."

"Oh."

She grabbed the doorknob and gave it a wiggle, but it was locked.

That's when Katie remembered she had the key, and she had locked the door behind her when she came up.

"Hey! How did you get up he-" she turned quickly, completely ready to interrogate Peter, but he had vanished.

"What…"

She chuckled quietly, she remembered how utterly confused she had been, thinking that perhaps he had jumped down the fire escape or something.

He stayed on her mind the next couple days, her dreams being filled with him instead of Chloe, a very welcome change. She didn't try to jump again, but told herself it was mostly because she still had Peter's jacket, and wanted to return it.

The same jacket she was wearing right now actually.

Katie fisted it between her hands, and once again found herself watching the fight.

"It has to end soon." She breathed quietly from her spot in the shadows. Peter had pushed her there once the fighting began,

"Don't you dare even think of moving." He had told her, she had begrudgingly agreed, knowing that she couldn't help. She wasn't special like him.

"So wait….you can heal?" Katie sat dumbfounded on the diner chair, propping her chin in her hands, and staring at Peter.

"It's not-" he started, brown eyes watching her closely.

"Don't even try to tell me that's not the case. I just saw your skin stitch itself back together!" she exclaimed, pointing to his arm where she had accidentally cut him a few seconds ago. Imagine her surprise when the cut vanished.

"I was going to say it's not the only thing I can do." He chuckled

"Wait, what?!" Katie was hopelessly confused.

"Come on." he pulled her out of her chair, dropping a few bills on the table to pay for their meal.

They had been meeting up for lunch for the past couple of days after Katie found his number in the phone book to return his jacket, quickly becoming close friends.

Still puzzled, but wanting answers, Katie let herself be pulled all the way up to the roof of a nearby apartment.

"What are we doing up here?" she asked, out of breath.

He ignored her, and gazed out into the sky.

Grabbing her hands, he brought her to the edge of the roof, and instructed her to hold on tight.

"Do you trust me?" he asked, staring deeply into her brown eyes. Katie found herself nodding, although her mind was screaming at her to run away.

"Okay, close your eyes,"

She did, laying her head against Peter's strong chest, and waited.

"What am I waiting for Peter?" she giggled, hugging him tighter.

"Open them" he whispered, warm breath tickling her ear.

Slowly she did, and gasped.

They were flying.

It was a once in a lifetime experience, at least at the time. Katie had coerced Peter to take her flying most nights since, the rush and magnificence of it all was overwhelming, and she loved it.

Katie wondered if she would ever get to go flying again.

She had had enough of sitting like a Barbie doll in the corner, and, mind set, stepped out of the shadows, fully prepared to help, in whatever way possible.

Peter saw her before she could move again though, and he pushed out his hand, sending her back with his telekinesis.

"Stay there!" he shouted, voice angry and determined.

Katie huffed and crossed her arms. It really wasn't fair how Peter got all these cool powers, and she got none.

Her mind once again trailed back into the past, remembering how she felt when she found out who had killed her friend, the man who, she hoped, was getting his butt kicked by Peter at the moment.

"His name is Sylar. And he's targeting people with powers."

"People like you?" were the first words out of her mouth after her brain had digested the information Peter had just told her.

He was silent, face hidden behind long bangs, before he licked his lips and shifted his stance.

"Yeah," it was all Katie needed to hear before she launched herself at him, hugging his tightly around the middle, a torrent of tears making their way down her cheeks.

"I won't lose you. Not you too." She whispered fiercely.

Warm hands caressed her hair, fingers playing with the curls.

"You won't Katie. I promise."

She had believed him then, but now she wasn't so sure.

An anguished cry drew her attention, and as Katie looked she prayed to god it wasn't Peter.

It wasn't.

She took that as her cue to rush out from her hiding place and tackle Peter around the neck, spluttering gibberish while trying to congratulate him.

"I can't believe-and SYLAR! He's dead-oh thank god Peter. I was so worried – and when you…" she broke off abruptly.

Peter's hands were glowing, and he looked up at Katie in fright.

"No. No!" He shouted, concentrating on trying to calm the power he had taken from Ted.

Katie couldn't believe this was happening. Peter never hurt anyone. Never did anything wrong. And here he was, with an uncontrollable power that would kill everyone.

"Claire!" he screamed, and the cheerleader came running, a gun in hand.

It took only a moment for everything to click into place, and then Katie threw herself in front of Peter, arms spread wide.

"Don't you dare!" she hissed towards the blond, eyes narrowed in challenge.

"I have to!" she cried back, eyes watering and hand shaking.

It was all too much, and the burning heat coming from Peter behind her was becoming increasingly hot.

"Peter! Stop it! You promised you wouldn't leave me!" she whirled around, and grabbed his arm, before pulling it back sharply. Her flesh was charred, and burnt.

She groaned, and held the appendage tightly against herself, but refused to move from Peter's side.

"I'm sorry Katie. I truly am."

"No!" she screamed, before being hauled backwards by Claire's adoptive father.

Katie struggled, but it was all futile. Claire held the gun straight, fingers ready.

A whoosh and suddenly Nathan appeared by her side, lowering the gun.

He shook his head, and said something to Claire. She stepped back, and for a second Katie's heart swelled in happiness.

Nathan was his brother, he would save Peter! He wouldn't let him die!

Katie held her breath, watched as Peter struggled to reign in the terrible power, bangs plastering themselves to his forehead in sweat. Claire rushed forwards again, grabbed something out of Peter's pocket, and returned to her spot away from the brothers, skin instantly healing from the burn.

Katie strained her ears to hear what was being said, but could hear nothing, and Nathan's ever stoic face was no help.

"Peter!" she yelled again, struggling against .

His face snapped towards hers, his smile was the last thing she saw before both he and Nathan went shooting up into the air.

Katie screamed, eyes following the two, until a mushroom cloud erupted from overhead.

Everything went deathly silent and no one dared move.

They were gone. Peter was gone.

There was nothing else she could do, and as let go, she collapsed onto the hard pavement, wondering where it all went wrong.

Sneaker clad feet stepped into her vision, and Kate drew her gaze upwards to see the face of Claire.

She was crying.

Claire held out her delicate hand, and dropped something into Katie's lap, before walking away to join her father.

Katie's heart and head both threatened to simultaneously explode as she stared at the paper.

It had come from Peter's pocket that much was sure, the edges were burnt and it smelt of fire. This must have been what Claire had taken from him before he-

Katie refused to finish that thought, and instead looked closely at what she discovered was a drawing.

It was of her and Peter, on the roof of Chloe's building, watching the people down below on the sidewalk, smiles on both faces. It was the day she had almost jumped. The day she first met Peter, when he became her hero. The sun was setting in the background, and his coat was around her shoulders.

In the corner was a message.

Stay strong. I'll be back soon. I love you, Peter

And even though on the outside she was a wreck, a tiny spark of hope lit itself in Katie's heart.

He would be back.

She trusted him.