WE HAVE A WINNER SilverLavellen (On A03) guessed the correct artist. Marren Morris's "HERO" is the album that inspired this fanfic. Specifically the song "Once". Also, I want to take the time to apologize for such a long wait between chapters. As you know life is sort of hectic at the moment but know that I try my hardest to get these chapters out for you guys. I love you all for sticking by. Please enjoy.


Spring 2039, New York

Sophie couldn't sit for long periods of time. It was twenty minutes later that the elder woman came out of the church and Connor noted mass was still in session. Though he did not ask, she explained herself. She sat in the truck with a sigh and flinch. A medicine bottle was pulled from the clunky center console and pills were popped into her mouth. After she swallowed them, a smile came to her lips. "You always have some time to have a chat with the man upstairs."

Humans had different religions and beliefs. Some more spiritual and some more scientific. Androids even had their rA9 as well. It didn't take long for the woman to turn over the engine to her truck, pull out of the parking lot, and back onto the narrow roads that acted as veins to this town.

Connor spent his time simply observing his surrounds during the time she was in church. The trees would sway to a gentle breeze and a slight sting of smoke that came from far away hung in the air.

The android noted the way Sophie reached behind her seat, keeping one hand on the steering wheel with ease. He leaned back seeing if he could get what she was searching for. "Can I-?"

Before he finished his offer, she found what she was looking for and presented it to him. He blinked upon the object.

"Here. For now, wear this." It was an old, faded baseball cap. When she spoke again, her voice was sad. "Cash's words were harsh but in a way, truth always is. Until you are settled more into town..."

She bounced the faded thing in her hand, beckoning for him to take it. With hesitance Connor took it in his hands and stared it down. Never was he ashamed of who he was. But now, as he looked at the accessory did a pang of guilt and shame crawl into the forefront of his mind.

Connors expression turned heavy.

He jumped away from the hand that brushed lovingly over a LED that flickered a yellow before returning to a blue.

She took her hand away as if she was burned. "Connor..."

He didn't apologize. His voice was robotic. "I understand. Safety first. It's logical."

Sophie narrowed her eyes and turned to him for a moment to get across her firm expression. "Don't you dare think for a moment this is your fault. This has nothing to do with you. It's others that have to change to accept you. As I said before, Connor, we don't bleed the same color but damn it, you're family now. To me and this town. Soon, they will accept that."

Her words cracked like a whip, splitting the air in the cabin. They were strong and firm. She soothed the forefront of the emotions but nothing would be the balm to ease the burning in his heart. Never was he ashamed of himself before. He wore his LED proudly. It was who he was. Who he would forever be. He was an android. He didn't need to hide himself. He didn't think so, but those doubts were now sowed in the soil.

With reluctance did he place the cap upon his head, tucking his hair under the brim. A sad expression crossed Sophie's face as she looked over to him. She tried to reconcile it with a smile. "You look too handsome." Her voice crackled a bit. The compliment was genuine and Connor looked over to her, a small bashful smile crawling over his lips, though it disappeared just as quickly as it came.

They drove back the way they had come, making their way down the street with a handful of other cars that lagged alongside them. They pulled into the grocery parking lot and a curse left her mouth. Her voice was sad and her expression was firm.

"I was wondering where Cash was." Her voice was low. "She never misses choir..." Her eyes narrowed. It was a quick glance over, due to the tone of her voice. The creases of the skin to her eyes were deepened, showing signs of exasperated anger.

Heavy thoughts were forgotten upon hearing the name. Connor turned follow the woman's line of sight. A shot of fire went through him. There, at the end of the lot in the sun, was Cash and her truck. Next to her truck was another larger, impossibly clunkier one, though black in color.

But that's not what he was focused on. No. Like the eye the storm he centered on Cash. Staring for too long at Cash was dangerous. It was playing with a viper ready to strike, playing with fate and chances that she would look over and catch his stare. Even as he opened the car door and stepped out of the truck he never broke his gaze away from her.

She was lounging on the hood of her truck, leaning back on her elbows, her leg folded over a bent knee kicking it to the beat of a country song filtering through the radio. A fraying, straw, cowboy hat shaded her stormy eyes as she greedily soaked in the suns' rays.

Her honey hair flowed over her shoulders and down her back spilling in the most generous ways that had Connors's LED spin a faster yellow.

She smiled as she blew a large pink bubble. The corners of her mouth were curled devilishly as the bubble popped. She sucked it back into her mouth, saying something low and looked over to another man. He was talking and gesturing as he spoke. Another broke in rudely and laughed.

Cash added her word that made the man wave at her with a dismissive shake of his head. She frowned and shouted at him. He laughed and she did too.

Henry.

His long frizzy, dark hair was pulled into a loose bun, framing a sharp jaw shadowed by a straggly unkempt shadow. His hands were calloused and rough, a sign of a hard worker or lack of cleanliness. Under worn loose jeans and a faded t-shirt of an old time rock band, skin was tanned speckled with sun spots and scars. His eyes were dark and merciless.

Henry's stature was scrawny, especially at the hips and legs. Despite this he seemed he could pull his own weight. He only broke away his observing stare when Sophie pulled him by the hand.

"It's rude to stare." She mumbled lowly.

He hated being caught. "I apologize." He quickly scrambled to look away.

She didn't say anything more though she used his arm to help herself stay steady as she walked. He didn't mind but couldn't help but look back at the group. Cash had finally noticed them both. She was looking over at him and his thirium pump froze in its place, like lightning had cracked straight through.

Her jaw was set holding the piece of gum in place as she watched them walk to the storefront. Her head was tipped upward and cocked to the side. Though they were far, he could see those stormy caramel green eyes. They sparkled in the sun sending stardust to flick at the edges. Connor could see it all. He could see her fierce beauty. A fire that made his face hurt all over again.

And because emotions were new, a short flick of a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth and disappeared. It was a giddy emotion, like he had successfully prodded the caged lion and got its attention.

And she knew it.

Cash moved her jaw to chew her piece of gum once before looking away. She continued to bounce her foot again and tipped her hat down, to shadow more of her face. She leaned back on the hood of the car, crossing her arms behind her head. Her shirt rode up revealing a toned stomach.

"Keep staring, Connor." Sophie's voice broke him away just in time to save him from Harvey's glance. "You're playing with fire right now."

Connor smiled again though it was in embarrassment. "What do you mean?"

"If Henry glances this way, be sure to get the lights knocked out of you again." They made their way to the tables that Connor had seen on their way to church.

Only then was his attention ripped away from them fully. There was a musty smell from the damp wooden displays, a sort of green and wet tinge he couldn't quite identify.

"Highly unlikely. Cash was only able to strike me because she caught me off guard. If a fight were to unfold, I could quickly end it in record time. You know this." A corner of his mouth lifted up.

Sophie was quick to mull about in the cucumbers.

He watched with curiosity. She sent him a side glance before her eyes returned to her hands. "Boy, do I know. You wouldn't have to worry about me holdin' you back, none."

Despite everything a chuckle left the android.

Sophie continued on as if they were already holding another conversation. "When I had a garden, when it was at it's prime," she started out in a fond tone, "those damned things were better than this shit you get nowadays."

She plucked one from the pile and handed it to Connor. "You want a small one. The bigger they are the more seeds they have inside. You don't want the seeds. They're sweet to eat but the flesh is what you want." She tapped the vegetable as Connor held it in his hand.

"Oh." Was all he said twisting and turning the thing in hand. He looked back up blinking as the woman went over to a bin of tomatoes still on the vine.

As she shifted the fruit delicately, a new smell met his nose. It was more green than the color itself, a sort of musty and sharp smell that had his nose tingling. He scrunched his nose up and leaned away.

"Don't tell me androids can have allergies now." She chuckled. When she presented a tomato did her hands come back with a yellow tinge.

"That's the pollen and vines you're smelling. Smells good, don't it?" The older woman smirked.

Connor nodded though he rubbed his nose to rid of the itch that had oddly formed there. "It does." He nodded once and chuckled in return. "I...I don't think I was programmed with allergies."

"Good." She replied curtly. "Those damn wild lilacs down the road drive me crazy. Don't need two of us sneezin'."

Connor observed the elderly woman with interest as she mulled about the green peppers. She went on about a three four rule. Upon the bottom of the pepper were there bumps. "If there's four its a female, has more seeds but are sweeter. The ones with three bumps are males and have less seeds but are best for cooking."

He was unaware that produce had designated genders. He knew of pollen and the cycles from seed to plant and all over again. But this was an interesting morsel of information.

Useless to him in the long run but never could the android stop learning. Brown curious eyes lifted up from the pepper she had handed off to him. He held her choices cradled in both arms delicately.

"You seem to know a lot about your produce."

She nodded. "I told you. I had a garden. There is nothing like planting the seeds and watching the fruits of your labor grow. Nothing like dirt under fingernails and the smell of thirsty dirt drinking springs first rain."

Her words were poetic but Connor didn't understand the deeper meaning from her fond voice. She continued to pluck and inspect the peppers and Connor remained quiet.

He couldn't help but feel a prickle go down his neck and hesitantly he looked over his shoulder stealing a glance at Cash and Henry. They were both looking his way now and he quickly turned away. Sophie was unaware of his growing paranoia.

"Sophie!" The android jumped upon the bellow. His LED blinked a red before settling back to yellow then blue. In the meantime he had almost dropped her carefully picked selection.

"I knew it was you. Gotta give every single damn thing the third degree." He turned to face a middle aged man. Something under those words was heavier. He narrowed them critically at him not particularly liking the way he was looking a Sophie.

Under the brim of a leather cowboy hat glittered blue creased and heavy eyes. His mustache twitched as he chewed his cheek in some for of annoyance. Gray hair stuck out from under the hat and tickled the nape of his neck and face. He didn't give him his attention. Not yet anyway. Connor was about to step in feeling as though this man meant ill will. He should have known better. Sophie could hold her own, in her own special fiery way.

She paid no mind to the man. She was busy with her own task. After a moment and a sigh from the older man she decided to give him the time of day. "I'm paying good money for shit, John. Might as well make sure it's good shit."

He backed away from the door frame. "Pah, you're just a damn old woman set in your ways." He waved her off and finally looked at the android. He looked him up and down in a manner that meant he wanted to be seen doing it.

"Who's this? New in town? Shit..." John chuckled. He moved to shake his hand but the android tilted his head curiously. "I am sorry, John, but..." He indicated his filled arms.

"Dumbass." She hissed.

He sighed pulling his hand back upon the, indeed, foolish move. "This is Connor, he's from the city, He's staying with me for a little while." Finally happy with another pepper selected from the bunch she turned to John and challenged him to say any more on the matter.

"Connor this is John, Henry's father and the owner of shit produce."

Never breaking the intense glare, she plopped the thing on top of the pile in the android's arms and in return shifted nervously. The tone of the conversation shifted. He felt it. Or so his programming said so.

"Relative?" He scratched his head moving his hat a bit, though his eyes were twinkling in mischief. Connor didn't think the harsh comment went over the man's head.

"You can say that."

"Ah, I see, well, son, If ya ever need anythin' let me know. I got the best shit in town."

"The only shit." Sophie rolled her eyes.

Exasperated with the insults he couldn't quite defend himself from, he changed the topic. "What's for dinner tonight Sophie? I got some steak on sale."

Like a crack of lightning she wasn't a step too slow with her words. It made Connor's lips turn up slightly. "Is it about to go bad?"

Again the man sighed. His mouth curved into a nervous lopsided smile as he tilted his body in a 'so so' manner. "...It's past it's prime."

"Thought so."

In defeat the man backed away and walked into the shop. Sophie shot the android a look that wasn't impressed. He came back with a wire mesh hand basket. He placed it on the farm stand placing his hands on his hips as if awaiting praise for his courtesy. Connor bit but only by so much with a curt word of thanks before carefully placing each vegetable in the basket.

The man took Sophie by the shoulder to which she politely shrugged off. "You can lead the way, John." Connor smirked upon this. He was truly entertained by her fire that the man clearly did not see or rather, pay any mind to. Humorously he compared him to a fly. A fly bouncing off a window pane in hopes it would get through.

Reluctantly the man walked ahead of her grumbling under his breath. She huffed a little laugh of pity as she followed.

He too, went to go inside and follow Sophie as she spoke away with John, but a voice to the right of him had him stopping in his tracks, stilling any motion he was about to fulfill.

"Yeah you." He looked up to the human calling him. Henry's voice was a grating sound. "New guy." Scratchy and pitched in a way that made his audios attentive to him in a bad way. It was like sandpaper yet had the smooth characteristics of a practiced, sweet talking liar.

"Come here."

He looked back towards Sophie who had walked ahead already, too engaged with John in a match of wits and patience. With a sigh and a shaky intuition, he decided to entertain the human. After all, he might as well start making introductions. Good or bad. Sooner or later. Henry or not...

As Connor moved away from the store front and into the sun he couldn't help but let his eyes stray away from the straggly human and train on Cash.

She watched him just as fiercely though curiously. She chewed her gum thoughtfully, silently. Though when he came close she swung her legs over the side of the truck and reached out for Henry who was standing close by. He wrapped his hands around her middle and she slid down his front. It was a lewd motion, slow and purposely displayed in front of him. Her eyes staying connected with his throughout made him feel uncomfortable.

He kissed her jaw rather messily and Connor couldn't help but find himself disgusted by the hungry gaze that lingered on her for a while.

"I know you're new to town" He started, craning his neck towards him. He didn't bother to face his body towards the android. He wasn't interested in engaging or making a fight. Yet.

"But I see ya eyeing my girl. Lay off."

Cash stood to his side remaining silent. Her arms were crossed and her jaw was set again. Her gaze was unwavering and steady. Again though, Connor felt no intimidation. If he did it was only from the man before him and it wasn't much to worry about.

That is until Henry finally faced him, lifting the hat by under the brim with a curt smack. The cap fell to the dusty ground with a puff of the clay earth. Connor looked down at the accessory slowly, his LED flickered a calm and collected blue.

When Harvey spoke again it was in awe, his voice grating on the audios. "Holy shit Cash, you were right..."

Brown eyes, now dangerous, looked up to the woman. He only felt bad for a moment when he made her falter. He made her feel threatened. Cash looked away from him before a sneer came across her lips, hiding any weakness that she knew he caught. It was halfhearted. "In the plastic." She spat flicking her eyes up and down his stature.

Behind the couple, A few others clicked their tongues in regret and handed over cash to one other man. He was smiling gleefully. Bets were taken on him. Being an android. It humored him and stung him at the same time. Just an object of their fun. An object.

"You're lucky you're under Anderson's wing or else I would have busted you open like a beer can." His voice was stern as he shoved his shoulder and stepped close to his face. He found pleasure as he flicked his gaze to a yellowing LED. A crooked smile crossed his lips, showing yellowed teeth stained by something stronger than coffee or liqueur.

Connor scrunched his nose in distaste. The man smelled of body odor and stale bourbon. "You're not welcome here and never will be. Not what your kind did to our families." Connor leveled him with a flat yet stern gaze. He only broke it reluctantly. He felt anger, annoyance, and despair all at the same time. His hands flicked by his sides wishing for the coin that weighed heavy in his pocket to quit burning his skin.

No. He didn't want to flick his coin about. He wanted to do more. Close them tight into fists and strike them hard against the man's face.

He released a calming sigh that was needed to cool his thoughts. He had to break the intense stare. He had to be the one to back down and submit to the unspoken battle between them. Henry laughed as Connor slowly picked up his hat making a show of dusting off the brim. In one fluid motion did he place it atop his head again. He didn't bother to fix the stray strands that blew in the hot breeze that carried more than hot asphalt and the green of the trees.

"Duly noted." He nodded his head once in a sort of bow.

"Connor? Where did that damn boy go now?"

Henry was the first to move, the same crooked smile spreading his lips. He wrapped an arm around Connor's shoulders. The android sneered. His body odor offended him. This close cheap cologne along with something all too familiar thrived in the heat around them.

He swung the android to face the woman standing at the edge of the wooden storefront. "Mrs. Anderson! You need help with your groceries? I can take them for you!" He shouted in a tone that hinted as if they were having a good ol' time together. Cash huffed a laugh smiling back to the other humans that had begin chuckling. One now held a bottle of whiskey and Cash was quick to move over.

"Share damn it. Fuck."

Connor narrowed his eyes upon this and set his jaw, a worried expression taking over the anger he felt. He didn't want her to go. He didn't want to lose sight of her. This Harvey was nothing but a slimy, lying human that indeed had Cash caught up in his web. What did she see in him?

Connor finally took the man's arm and ripped it away from his body. He stepped away tugging his shirt down and rolling his shoulders. He leveled him with a glare that he didn't mean to be shown. Normally he was so composed. But now…

Never did Connor feel dislike or hate towards another. Sure, he could feel indifference or bothered or annoyed especially in the presence of Gavin Reed but this man...

The smile he gave him was disgusting and promising something more that made Connor want to wipe it off.

"Alright..." He called back to Cash who had downed more than an ample amount of whiskey in one go.

His heart broke when she scrunched her face and shook her head upon the sting. Henry wrapped his hands around her, gripping his hands on her ass. It made him sick and Connor turned away before he could witness a kiss from those disgusting cracked lips.

"Taste so good, babe." Connor walked away setting his jaw tightly. He couldn't bear the broken hearted expression upon Sophie's face. He couldn't bear the chuckle that left her lips. It held anything but happiness. It was forced.

"See you later, android." She called.

Connor didn't reply, taking Sophie's groceries from her hands roughly. She released them with a startled sound.

Regret filled him. He had tugged her arms from the force and caused her to stumble. He had to reign in his emotions. He had to calm down. All it did was earn a nasty laugh from Henry and a comment about him being useless.

His LED continued to cycle a yellow. He felt frustrated. He felt sad. He felt angry and troubled. He easily placed the bags into the back. Swiftly he sat in the front seat. He could feel them watching him. Feel them laughing their twisted laugh. He felt...ridiculed.

How silly. Absolutely asinine. He took the cap off his head and rubbed his fingers through his hair. A human habit he had learned from watching other officers at the precinct when frustration grew. The gesture calmed his nerves but only a bit. His fingers felt twitchy and his chest felt tight.

He was an advanced prototype. Could handle any situation with ease. But this? This encounter had him frustrated beyond what he could possibly comprehend. All because of a few words, gestures and simply observing. He ran through the words and found no immediate explanation for any of it.

Bullets he could take. Harsh words from a spitting mouth he could handle. But when it came to something so clear and obvious, such as Harvey being nothing but bad for Cash…

The solution was there but why didn't she accept it?

He jumped when the driver door was opened. Connor made it a point to not look over at the elderly woman as she sat in the driver's seat. He had hurt her with his impulsive anger. No, a temper tantrum was a better description for it. A nasty huff of laughter left him that had Sophie asking his name. He ignored her.

Next to them the rumble to both Cash's and Henry's truck started with a roar.

He didn't give them a side glance even as they drove away, with their friends sitting in the truck beds.

"Connor. Are you alright?"

This time he acknowledged her. This time he was truthful. It had him struggling.

"No." He grated.

He sat back in the seat closing his eyes. It felt better that they were gone. He felt his thirium pump slowing and his internals calming. His eyes fell to the dashboard.

"I'm sorry if I hurt you, Sophie. I...was immature. I didn't like this encounter."

Sophie turned just enough to face him. "No one does when it comes to that boy." She smiled though it was sad and painful. "You care for her just as I do."

Perhaps.

"So, that makes you angry knowing she is with someone with the likes of Henry."

Maybe.

"That's more than alright, dear. Let the emotions run through."

Connor released his jaw, feeling the pain of his own force crawling up his temples.

"Did he hurt you at all? What did that boy do to you?" She narrowed her eyes and by the change in tone did Connor move to look over at her. He understood why no one dared to go toe to toe with the woman. Though she was old, she possessed a sweet but dangerous voice that could knock anyone down, that could stop a man in his tracks.

Indeed, Henry was afraid of this woman. Being so friendly, twisted and sweet in front of her was just a guise. And he doubted that she believed any second of it. It was the blockade, a wall of sandbags against the raging tide that came with the storm. But one day would that break. One day would one of them do so.

Connor finally shook his head. "Empty threats." He assured.

Sophie sighed herself. The storm was traded for something tired as she sank in seat. She placed a hand to her braid flipping it over her shoulder. She took the keys in her hand and started the truck. "Don't think for a moment that boy has me fooled dear. Henry is nothing but trouble and I'm afraid he has Cash under his crooked spell."

The alcohol, the crude gestures of affection. The disgusting show of faked happiness he saw upon his touch. Why? It was so easy to see that she was unhappy. It made so much sense that Henry was a terrible person. Just from this encounter he knew this. It boggled the android's mind to no end. What could she possibly see in that human? Did she know the pain she caused her mother? The pain she caused herself?

Before he could agree, she snapped at him like a whip. "And don't get me started on John's rusted silver tongue! Try sweet talking me every which way in favor of his brat and my good side."

Though, as they drove along the town's main vein, watching the scenery pass by, the image of her sucking down so much whiskey replaced everything. Instead of Cash he saw Hank, downing his misery, guilt, and depression until the bottom of the bottle was seen. Was she too, chasing down something? Was she too, suffering as Hank had been? She was so desperate to take in so much at once as if to prepare herself for something. To numb whatever was to come with Henry…

He looked away from the window and down to the dash again. Why did he care so much? Was it because she too was part of Hank's family? Was it because...he knew all too well what she was going through? Why did he care?

He had his own emotions to sort through. Learn through his deviancy and his new surroundings. He had his own demons to face. He had his own issues to address and yet he wanted to push them all aside to save Cash. His needs were not important, just as it was with Hank. He placed himself after those before him.

"I wish she would just talk to me. That damned Henry playing with her."

Her voice was soft, broken and faraway. It had his own heart reaching out for her. All they wanted to do was help her, even though she didn't see the need to do so herself. He wasn't even here for a day and he was already thrown into something he was not prepared for.

Family matters were indeed harsh and for a moment Connor didn't want to speak about Cash anymore. He wanted to be selfish. Just once. Everything was becoming too much all of a sudden. It was striking home a little too hard.

He surprised himself with his own words. "Do you wish for me to rid of, Henry?" A slight growl had managed to slide into his tone of voice. He widened his eyes upon this and looked over to Sophie ready for a verbal lashing. Though it never came. Like a child that had gotten away with a swear word, Connor couldn't help but smile.

"Do I wish."

The same smile remained, turning all too clever. He pushed how far he could go. "I can with ease, and hide the body where no one can ever-."

"Dear, as much as I would love to see that boy away from my girl you are not killin' nobody." She chuckled. "Promise me that."

Connor sat back in his seat, the smile lessening to but a clever curl at the corner of his lips. He was glad to make her chuckle even just a little. Pain was something he decided he didn't like all too well. "The offer will always stand, Mrs. Anderson."