After It All

"Something's changed between you two." Claire looked up to see Markus walking towards her. She was sitting in the lunch area of 'New Jericho', underneath one of the apple trees. She shifted on the white bench that she was sitting on and made some room to accommodate him.

"What do you mean?" She asked as he sat down. She closed the laptop that was sitting on her knees and placed it beside her.

Markus adjusted his shirt and leaned back on the bench. He raised his leg and propped his ankle on his knee, he then rested his elbows on the back of the bench, he looked quite comfortable and relaxed. He nodded to Ralph, who was excitedly expressing something to Simon. "You both seem… lighter, happier even." He tilted his head and smiled. "Did something change?"

Claire felt her lips twitch and she pushed her hair behind her ears. Something certainly had happened, something that definitely improved both hers and Ralphs dispositions. "We," she began, not embarrassed, but shy. Markus, while quite easy to talk to, made her quieter, more demure than she usually was. "Ralph, he proposed, we're engaged." She felt her face heat up.

Markus' face lit up and he clapped his hands together. "Well that is good news!" his voice was full of cheer. "I'm happy for you both!" he looked over at Ralph who was now jumping around Simon with excitement, he hid a grin, poor Simon looked like he needed saving. "It would be good," Markus looked back at her. "I think that the two of you should be the first to marry, once the law is put through."

Claire felt her heart pulse as her eyes widened. She had never even thought of that, she had just wanted to help androids. She imagined her wedding, she could see Ralph standing with his childish grin, she could see herself, in a simple dress, the two of them saying their vows. A small gathering of people to witness the event. Tears prickled at her eyes as she was overwhelmed with emotions. She did not even care if she was the first, she would just be happy to have it happen. She looked up and noticed Markus watching her with a raised brow, amusement on his face, she felt her cheeks redden.

"S-sorry." She murmured.

Markus chuckled. "There's nothing wrong with being excited. You have every reason to be, I am excited for you and," he chuckled again. "I can tell that Ralph is too." He inclined his head and Claire followed to what he was gesturing to. Her eyes widened and she giggled as she saw Ralph tackling Simon and holding the poor android in a tight hug.

Her face scrunched up in amusement. "Poor Simon. I should probably save him."

Markus waved his hand dismissively. "It's okay, Simon's tough. He'll survive." He continued to watch with a grin, a chuckle escaped his lips.

Claire found herself joining him in the laughter.

"Would you four be there?" she said after some time, gaining his attention. "You guys have been nothing but kind and supportive of our relationship." She laughed quietly and pushed more hair out of her face. "I want to say thank you, and, and I think that Ralph would like for you to be there too."

"The two of you give me hope." Markus replied, he reached out and touched her shoulder, he rubbed it reassuringly. "Seeing how you both are with each other, it gives me hope that, in time, that humans and androids can come together." He grinned at her. "We would be honoured to attend your wedding."

Unable to contain her emotions, Claire jumped at Markus and held him tightly in a hug. Her actions caused Ralph and Simon to freeze, confusion etched on their faces- this only caused her to smile brighter and laugh harder.

X

"You seemed pretty comfortable with Claire." Simon said evenly as he came to stand beside Markus who was standing by a tree, a pomegranate, in the lunch area. When Markus did not instantly reply he understood that it was because he was busy painting, so he instead waited and watched Markus paint. He loved watching the other paint, Markus put so much soul in his painting, so much heart, it was wonderful. He watched as Markus added some vermillion to the painting, he had never been one for art, and he hated the colour vermillion, but somehow, Markus was able to turn a hideous colour into something spectacular.

"They're getting married." Markus replied as he took a step back from the canvas. He eyed his work for a brief moment before he picked a colour from the palate and went back to his art.

Simon crossed his arms and moved to lean against the tree. "Is that why Ralph was so excitable?" he tilted his head and thought about it for a few moments, he eventually nodded. "I'm happy for them, they seem to genuinely care about each other."

Markus nodded and placed the palate on the grass. He then moved over to where Simon was, he leaned casually against the tree beside him. "It's nice to see them together, I find it humbling." He moved closer and his arm brushed against Simon's.

Simon glanced down at their touching arms, then back up at Markus' twinkling eyes, he moved his hand and linked it with his. He smiled when Markus rubbed his thumb against palm. Their skin began to disperse and their minds joined. Simon's eyes flashed as Markus' feelings for him flowed through him, and with his other hand he reached and cupped the other's face. They both leaned forward and their lips met, no other words were spoken between the pair. They weren't needed.

XXX

"H-Hello Connor." Adrian's voice flowed through Connor's mind as he called Adrian, there was something off about his voice, it sounded strained, almost panicked. Connor tilted his head in slight confusion, what was wrong with him?

"Hello Adrian, I was wondering if you would like to do something tonight?"

"Tonight? Umm, Connor, tonight probably isn't best." There was a sound in the background, yelling?

"Is everything alright Adrian?" Connor was concerned, something was wrong.

"Um yeah, look I gotta go," The 'yelling' increased, it sounded like a woman shrieking. "I'll see you tomorrow, bye!" the phone was hung up. Connor's eyes fluttered open and he was met with the sight of Hank and Sumo eyeing him from the sofa.

"You okay Connor?" Hank asked while he chewed on his dinner, a chicken salad roll- which had been made by Connor, a concession for the beers that he was going to drink that night. He reached over to his beer and had a drink, he then made a sound of protest as Sumo took that moment to try and steal the roll, Hank shooed the dog away.

"Adrian seemed, I don't know, different." Connor replied standing awkwardly beside the couch. He moved to sit when Hank gestured for him to do so, he gave the sulking Sumo a pat. "I heard shouting on his end." He said with a frown.

Hank patted Connor's shoulder and took another bite of the roll. "Adrian's a big boy he can look after himself," at the expression on Connor's face Hank sighed. "Look Connor, you'll see him tomorrow anyway, don't stress, I'm sure that he'll explain it all tomorrow."

Hank had no idea how true his words would be.

X

"Hey what happened to your eye?" Gavin's voice drew the attention of Hank and Connor. "Your plastic boyfriend being a bit rough?" he barked a laugh and walked off to his desk. Connor and Hank's eyes followed the detective as he walked to his desk while laughing.

"Hey Connor." Connor's eyes shot to the front of his desk, his eyes widened at the sight he was met with. Adrian was dressed the same way that he always was, his uniform was neat and tidy and ironed, in fact, he seemed to be better presented than he usually was, the thing that stood out, however, was his swollen and black, left eye. A scan indicated that he had been struck from a side blow to the head.

"Holy shit, what happened?" Hank asked with wide eyes.

Connor rose from his seat and stormed around the desk to where Adrian was. "What happened!?" he reached out to touch the other's cheek, he was careful not to touch the swollen part of his face. He took in the bruising and the blood shot eye, what had happened? Why had this happened to Adrian?

Adrian let out a breath of laughter. "I pissed off my mum."

"Your mother did that to you?" Hank seemed to be gaping.

"Why," Connor stroked the cheek. "Why did she do that to you?"

Adrian tugged on his sleeve before leaning into the touch on his cheek. He let out another laugh. "She came down for a visit, tried getting me to 'meet' some women, I told her that I wasn't interested." Connor moved and got a chair for Adrian, he placed the chair beside his at the desk and gestured for Adrian to sit beside him. Adrian sat at the chair and Connor sat in his own, he then took Adrian's hands and waited for him to continue.

"She got angry," he snorted. "like she isn't always angry." He shook his head then winced at the movement. "She demanded to know why, so I told her." he locked eyes with Connor, and ignored the many watching them. "I told her that I had you, she tried to make me choose, I chose you." He laced his fingers with Connor's and gave the android a small grin. "So she gave me a black eye and disowned me. I like to think that I got the better end of it all." He winked at Connor before wincing.

Connor's LED flashed red at what he had heard. How could she do that? What kind of person would do that to their own child? What kind of parent would make their child choose between them and their love? He thought that he had seen everything that humans could do, but he was wrong and he was constantly being surprised by them. He shook his head and squeezed the hand linked with his.

"You should not have been made to make that choice." He heard Hank make a sound of agreement.

Adrian sighed. "I'm surprised that it didn't happen earlier, to be honest. I meant it though, I made the right choice. I love you Connor."

Connor's LED flashed between red and yellow as he processed what he had been told. Adrian had chosen him, him. Adrian had chosen him over his family, Adrian loved him so much, that he was willing to give up his family, all connections with them, for him. He felt warmth radiate through him and his eyes locked with Adrian's. He could feel the eyes of the DPD on him, they were watching, waiting for his response.

Connor smiled, a smile that Adrian returned. "I love you too, Adrian."

X

Hank groaned as he lowered himself into the park bench. They had gone to the park where Hank used to go, many years ago. The park where Hank had held a gun to Connor's head. The park where they had both learned so much about themselves and each other. He looked up and Connor who was leaning against the railing and looking out at Detroit.

"You got something on your mind?" Hank called out.

Connor inclined his head. "Adrian," he turned around. "Adrian gave up his family for his feelings, for his beliefs, for me."

Hank nodded with a thoughtful expression. "Kids probably better off. From what I've heard about them." he eyed Connor and raised a brow. "What's going on?"

Connor looked pensive while he replied. "Am I truly in love with Adrian?"

Hank barked a laugh. "There's a stupid question, of course you fucking do. What made you think that?"

"You."

"Eh?" Hank blanched. "What the fuck do you mean?"

Connor turned to face Hank, the expression on his face was troubled. "If I was told that I had to pick between you and Adrian, I would choose you, it would hurt, but I would choose you. Do I truly love Adrian?"

Hank rolled his eyes and leaned back into the chair. "Connor you're thinking in hypotheticals," he waved his had dismissively at the other. "that's a human trait. It's not going to happen, so don't think about it. You'll never have to choose between the two of us."

"Hank there are a number of scenarios where-"

"Connor!" Hank snapped. "Shut up." When Connor went silent he pulled himself up with a groan. He was getting too old for this shit. "You love that man, you only need to spend one minute with you both to see that." he walked over to the other and leaned against the railing. "Would you do anything, anything within your power to make him happy?"

Connor tilted his head and pondered the question. "Yes."

Hank nodded and proceeded. "If Adrian was going to get shot, would you take the bullet."

Again Connor thought of the question. "There is a… high probability that I would."

"Just fucking say yes." Hank rolled his eyes. "Are you happy, completely happy and at ease with him?"

Connor turned to look out at the city, he thought about his time spent with Adrian. He did, Adrian filled him with a feeling of contentment, he was happy with Adrian. "I am."

Hank clapped a hand on his back. "Then you love him. Don't worry about shit that's not going to happen."

"But Hank-"

"It's not going to happen."

Connor's lip twitched upwards. "Thank you, for everything, Hank."

Hank grinned. "You're welcome, Son."

A/N: And that's the end, I probably won't add anymore unless inspiration hits, or someone asks me to write something. I want to say thank you for reading, and I hope that you enjoyed it. Thanks!