Time had passed for everyone and 2040 was just a day away. Connor, Brooke and Hank decided to go to a New Years eve party to celebrate the new year, life was perfect for them all. Brooke and Connor worked together bringing the crime rate down for the first time in years in Detroit.
Hank turned fifty-five just three months ago. He wasn't happy with another year added to his growing age, but Brooke and Connor were able to lift his spirits. Sumo and Nala were better than ever, still best friends and spent a lot of time together going for walks and seeing each other when everyone visited.
"I don't know what to wear tonight," Brooke called from the bedroom. Connor was in the bathroom, figuring out what to do with his hair. He wanted to change the style and maybe colour, but the options his processes had were hard to choose from.
"Wear something warm, it's going to be quite cold tonight," he replied. The third colour he looked at was bleach blonde, he instantly hated it. The colour made his skin look even paler than it really was.
Brooke decided to wear her favourite leather jacket, high waist blue jeans and some wedged heel boots. Her hair had grown even longer during the year, so she decided to straighten it and let it flow down her back. "Okay," she said looking into the mirror. "I'm ready."
With no reply, she headed to the bathroom to see Connor staring harshly at himself into the mirror. "What's wrong?" she asked, coming to a stop by his side. Even with her heels on, he was still over a head height taller than her.
"I wanted to see what I would look like with a different hair colour, but I don't like any." Brooke placed a hand on his shoulder, turning him partly to look at her.
"Don't change it then, your current colour is fine just as it is. Change the style a bit, but you don't need to change everything else." With a determined smile, he looked back into the mirror. Decided to cut some of the longest hair from the top and then slick it back with some gel. Brooke watched with awe, seeing his whole complexion change with just some scissors and hair gel.
"That okay?" he asks as he looks at her through the mirror. Brooke nodded, smiling brightly at him. With that done, he finished getting ready and they both headed to fetch Hank from his own house before heading to the party.
"Well you look different," Hank commented as he climbed into the car. The man was showing his age with his hair becoming thinner and greyer, but he was happier with it.
"I will take that as a compliment," Connor replied. Setting the destination to the party, it was being held at a festival park, fireworks, music, rides and food stands would be present.
The car drive was silent, Brooke was happy enough to look out at the night sky from the back window. She couldn't wait for more years with Connor, but the dark thought of her ageing was still scaring her. She and Connor had spoken about it more and more as of late, it seemed Connor wanted to get married soon but that was something he hadn't shared with her just yet.
Before her thoughts when too deep the car had pulled into a space, it was packed. This party would be full, but also nice to see so many people coming together, both human and androids. "Ready?" Connor asked as he turned to look at her concentrated gaze.
"Yup," she smiled. They all got out of the car and headed for the paying booth, the proceeds from the evening would be going to charity to help android children who had no families. It seemed the revolution had the downside with kids, many were just thrown to the side by their human families as they escaped the city. Most were able to get adopted soon after, but few weren't so lucky and Markus had started a few social care centres to help them.
"This place is amazing," Brooke commented as they all walked inside. It was crowded, but still enough room to get around. Connor noticed Hank trying to sneak off from them both.
"Hank!" he scolds the older man, he turns around with a sour look on his face. "No drinking," Connor said with a pointed finger.
Hank scoffed, but nodded as he walked away, "yes, mum," he whispered. Connor could hear it clear as day. Brooke was worried about Hank's drinking, but he had done real good since his surgery. They just hoped being alone tonight wouldn't tempt him into buying a beer.
"Would you like to go on some rides?" Connor asked as he took Brooke's hand into his. She nodded with a grin, feeling like a kid again.
They both went on multiple rides, some a bit too much for Brooke and her poor stomach, she nearly threw up twice on a twister ride that spun them fifty feet in the air. Connor was having a blast, he screamed, shouting and threw his arms in the air as the rides gave him a new sense of thrill.
Midnight was slowly rolling over and the firework display was about to start. Brooke and Connor had to find Hank before it started, but the grumpy man was nowhere to be found. "Let's split up," Connor shouted over the yelling crowds. She nodded in reply and they both split up, heading to different parts of the park.
Connor headed straight for the bar, begging too himself that he wouldn't find Hank passed out drunk on a table, he looked around and asked at the bar, but he wasn't there. With a sigh of relief, he headed to the food trucks.
Brooke went to the quiet side of the park, there were mostly kids there. No one fitting Hank's heavy build. She was about to walk back to find Connor but the shouting and crying of a kid caught her ears. Turning towards the noise she saw three older boys, twelve to fourteen years old all surrounding a younger girl, no older than six or seven.
"Give us your money and we will leave you alone, smelly kid," one of the boys shouted as he kicked her leg. The girl cried out in pain, tears formed around her eyes and her cheeks flushed pink.
"Hey!" Brooke roared as she stormed over, the boys looked at her, but barely paid her much attention. She pulled the boy away, blocking herself between them and the crying girl. "Leave her alone," she shouted.
"What are you going to do?" one of the boys dared to push her. Luckily Brooke had her badge on her, she dug it out of her pocket and practically shoved it in the kid's face.
"How about a night in a cold cell?" she asked, the boy's face dropped to our fear. They quickly apologised and ran away. Sighing with anger and frustration she slowly turned around and bent down to the kids level. "You okay, darling?"
The little girl nodded, wiping her tears away as she held the three dollars tightly in her hand, not wanting to part with it. "Where are your parents?" The little girl shook her head to the question. Brooke looked at her, she was obviously human, the tears and flushed cheeks gave that away. "Come with me," she said, offering her hand to the little girl. The girl gazed at her but nodded as she was pulled to her feet.
She held tightly to Brooke's side as they both walked to Connor and a sleepy Hank, he had eaten his weight on junk food and now needed a nap. "Who's that?" Connor asked as he looked down at the kid attached to Brooke's thigh.
"I found her being bullied by some boys, she shook her head when I asked her where her parents were." Connor looked at her kid, he could see the pure fear in her eyes. "We should head back to Hank's, she's freezing cold." Brooke had taken her jacket off, but the little one only had a thin t-shirt and ripped leggings on, she didn't even own shoes.
"Come on, let's go," Connor said. He picked the little girl up, letting her drop her head over his shoulder, he raised his body temperature to get her warm. Hank put his scarf over her back to get her warmer quicker.
"What do we do now?" Hank asked as he stroked the now sleeping child's head, she had passed out in the car and was curled up in a small ball on the couch. Sumo laid next to her, keeping the little one warm.
"She's an android," Connor blurted. Brooke quickly looked at him, shaking her head at him.
"But she was crying and had red flushed cheeks, and why would she be cold?" Connor sat down in the armchair, resting his head against the palm of his hand.
"Android children show more human characteristics than adult androids. I can turn off the cold setting, but she needs to be awake." Brooke sat on his lap, stroking his hair. "She is homeless, I would assume. By her clothes, not speaking and fear of giving up that money."
When all went silent the little girl jolted awake, she cried out for someone, a nightmare had woken her up. Brooke ran to her, letting her cradle against her chest. "Darling, what is your name?" she spoke softly as the little one sniffled against her.
"An... Annabelle," she squeaky replied.
"Where are you mother and father?" Hank asked in his softest voice, she was notably shy of him. She shook her head. "Do you have a home?" Another head shake.
Connor walked over and knelt down in front of the couch, he pulled back the skin on his hand and held it out to her. She looked at him with her own hand, doing the same as she held his hand tightly. "You are the same as... me?" she asked as the tears finally stopped falling.
"Yes, I am. Can I help you get warm?" Annabelle nodded, she leant her head to the side as Connor placed his index finger against her temple and turned off her temperature setting, she instantly smiled as the coldness finally stopped.
"Thank you," she shyly replied, cuddling back up with Brooke. Her heart melted, she felt a strong sense of protection for the child, she needed to keep her safe and not let anyone put her in danger.
"We need to see if she might have a family," Connor said, bursting Brooke's bubble of the chance of having her own child. "We will see about that tomorrow at the station. Annabelle," he got her attention as she looked at him. "Would you like to stay with us tonight?"
"Yes, please," she replied. Hank smiled at them all, he watched as the three of them looked like a small family. It was odd that Annabelle looked like them both, she had Brooke's skin complexion and long, thick hair and Connor's chin, grey eyes.
"Hank, meet us at the station tomorrow morning, you might be able to help me," Connor said as he got up to get them both into the car and back to his apartment. Annabelle looked visibly tired, she clung tightly to Brooke as she was carried to the car.
"No problem, son. Goodnight to you all," he waved as they got in the car and left.
Brooke got the spare room ready for Annabelle, it seemed Nala was also attached to the little girl, they both played in the living room and when Annabelle was put to bed, Nala refused to leave her, instead, sleeping on the end of the bed.
"Goodnight darling," Brooke called from the door.
"Night night," Annabelle's sweet voice called back. Brooke felt her heart melt as she quietly closed the door.
"I've fallen in love with her, Connor," Brooke said as she walked into the room, climbing into bed with him. He held her close, stroking her cheek.
"We need to see if she has a family, my love." Brooke furrowed her brows at him.
"They obviously don't care about if she is homeless and clinging to three-dollars like it's a lifeline." Connor hummed against her, letting her head fall to his chest.
"Or they might be parents that are trying all they can to find their daughter. Get some sleep, we will get this sorted tomorrow." Brooke sighed, but closed her eyes, she struggled to sleep. Fearing Annabelle does have a family and she will lose her after forming such a strong attachment to her.
A/N: Well, it seems Brooke and Connor might get their wish for a child of their own, but first Annabelle needs to find out if she does have parents out there that are looking for her. See you next time.