Keeping the announcement of their pregnancy quiet for the rest of the month, Connor spent more time with Abby and always made sure she was okay. The kind technician was already over the morning sickness symptom and was now dealing with slowly aching joints and needing to wearing baggier clothes to stay comfortable. Reaching the end of her first trimester Abby had a noticeable bump that marked the beginning of the second trimester, and was now visible to anyone who was looking for it. The two soon-to-be parents were eager to meet their unborn child, and while Abby was confident that everything would be okay in the end, Connor was still a little wary.

Laying together on her large bed Connor rested his exposed right palm over Abby's swelling bump and cybernetically listened to the baby's rapid heartbeat inside his own head. It was a reassuring sound as it meant the baby was active and healthy, and that everything was happening as it should.

"Got any ideas for names?" Abby asked as she combed her right fingers through Connor's thick, dark hair. "You can pick."

"Me?" Looking up at Abby as they laid side by side Connor was a little surprised by the offer. "It's your child, too. You should have a say in the name."

"Yeah, but you're going to be the one spending most of the time raising it and being super-dad. I'm just going to be there for the delivery and the random visits so the baby knows they have a mom who loves them, but just can't deal with parenting and a crazy career at the same time."

"You seem so sure I can do this without you."

"I know you can. You have Hank, who is the original super-dad, and Lucas, who will undoubtedly take up the title super-uncle, so I know that with three super guys all taking care of it I have nothing to worry about."

"...Do you think you'll ever want to be a more hands-on mom?"

"I don't know. As much as I want to say I'm going to give it my all and be the greatest mom in the entire world, I know that I'm just not cut-out for motherhood when it comes to something like this happening. And as much as I love you," Abby continued to fuss with Connor's hair as she knew it helped him feel calm and rest easier. "I don't think us rushing off to get married is going to solve any problems or guarantee a flawless future."

"That's fair." Keeping his hand on Abby's belly Connor sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. "...How do you pick a name for another human?"

"No clue. Too bad we can just ask the baby to name itself the way Lucas could."

"That would make things much simpler."

"Did you ask Hank about names?"

"Once. Hank told me that he knew Cole's name the first time he held Cole in his arms, and as for Lucas and I getting our middle names, 'Caleb' was the name of Hank's hopeful second born son, and 'Henry' was just after Hank himself."

"How about you pick the first name that comes to mind and run it by me? Sometimes going with your gut is the best way to handle a situation like this."

"I see." Letting his mind drift freely for a while Connor opened his eyes and gave Abby a lost look. "...I couldn't think of anything."

"Me neither. Guess our baby is going to be anonymous for a while."

"Last month Chris's second child was born. A daughter named Renee Alicia."

"Aww, Renee is such a pretty name!"

"From what I've been told Chris called 'dibs' on the name and aggravated Gavin as a result."

"Isn't Gavin and Aaron's own baby due soon?"

"Yes, within the week."

"Hope they have a name chosen, we still have six month and they have maybe six days."

Keeping his hand in place Connor just sighed a little and struggled to keep his eyes open. He was exhausted from his mounting stress but still entirely determined to help Abby feel as good as possible throughout her pregnancy. The guardian that the deviant truly was deep down inside was showing itself more and more with each passing day.

"You need to sleep." Whispering softly Abby continued to fuss with Connor's hair and watched his yellow L.E.D. pulsing a little slower. "Get some rest, we'll both be right here when you wake up. It's okay to close your eyes."

"I don't want to sleep."

"Still having nightmares?"

"No, I just start thinking about everything."

"Try to focus your thoughts on our child and all of the good things that are going to happen?"

"...Such as?"

"First steps, first word, the way their tiny little hand is going to feel when you get to hold it..." Watching Connor's body relax more and more beside her Abby knew she was getting through to him and finally getting the deviant to sleep. "How it'll be when you get to hold them in your arms for the very first time... There's a lot of new and wonderful experiences you'll get to share with your child."

"...My child." Repeating the concept in a whisper Connor slowly drifted off to sleep. "...Our future."

What should've been pleasant dreams regarding the future turned into dreadful nightmares of the past. The memories of Connor being used by CyberLife, being threatened by Amanda and shot by Markus in the church made the deviant tense up in his sleep. The memory of being confronted by Hank on the rooftop and being talked out of assassinating Markus was enough to make his artificial skin crawl with self disgust and loathing. The confrontation he had against his final counterpart, Connor number sixty, twisted his artificial stomach as he murdered a part of himself in order to survive.

He had been killed by Markus, and then he himself pulled the trigger on another Connor.

Murder was a monstrous act that he himself had been guilty of now when he was a machine and tool, but as a free deviant. Being a monster had been the worst thing Connor had ever been called beyond the 'Deviant Hunter'. The way Skye's words cut him to his core and made him feel like his heart had been torn in half still ached in his chest, but he had found a way to make amends with Skye by proving he wasn't the cold, heartless monster she claimed him to be.

Through their mutual pain Connor and Skye were able to begin their long path of healing, but that didn't mean the pain would ever really go away.

Those horrible memories led back to how Hank had pulled his gun on Connor the night at the bridge, how Hank threatened to throw him into a dumpster and set a match to it, and of how Hank repeatedly swore and insulted him throughout their original case together. And yet, in the end, Connor was able to forgive the senior detective and not only accept him as his best friend and mentor, but as his father.

In the end, Connor had forgiven Hank and through that forgiveness he found a sense of peace.

That peace, that sense of comfort and belonging, was what Connor wanted his child to experience for themself the moment they were born.

Opening his tired eyes again Connor looked up at Abby as she too had drifted off to sleep and left her hand resting on his hair. Carefully moving without disturbing Abby as she slept Connor moved his hand away from her belly so he could press his ear down and listen to their child's heartbeat more directly. That comforting and reassuring sound let Connor's own heart settle in a calm and steady beat.

"...I don't know what to call you yet." He whispered to his unborn child in a gentle manner. "But I do know that I will make sure you feel loved and wanted from the moment you're born, until the end of time. I promise you this as your father."

Feeling Abby's hand return to his hair Connor looked up at her as she gave him a sweet smile. "And how're you going to do that?"

"I'm going to move on from my past and let go of my pain. I never want my child to see me full of anger or resentment."

"That sounds like a wonderful first step into fatherhood." Leaving her fingers curled through Connor's hair Abby just grinned as he placed a small kiss on her belly where their child was growing. "I know you'll find a way to move on."

The mentally exhausted leaders of New Jericho had been in communication with the tower as their people finally began to recognize the importance of having someone to lead the charge while their people continued to fight for their rights. A peaceful resolution had been arranged that granted Markus return to the tower to act as a consultant, but not to carry the role of a leader any longer. While North, Simon and Josh all took their rightful places as the leaders of the New Jericho Tower Markus elected to stay behind at the mansion as he had his own personal agenda to adhere to until his consultation was needed.

Going about his own routine in the safety of the warm mansion Markus made sure everything was as clean and organized as it had been when Carl was still alive, and never made an attempt to remove the unfinished paintings left behind in the art gallery. There was no need for anything to be moved or changed, and Markus didn't mind the thought of still sharing the space with his late father.

Sitting on the sofa in the eccentric sitting room of the mansion Markus stared at the television screen as a news story revolving around a possible mayoral candidate stepping up put the entire city on edge. The lack of trusted politicians and authority figures had made the past few months very tense, and made it feel like all of Detroit was sitting atop of a powder keg ready to blow.

"As much as I miss you, Carl," Markus spoke out loud as a means of soothing his own racing thoughts. "I'm glad you didn't have to live through the chaos that this new era has wrought. You deserve a moment of peace that doesn't get disrupted by politics or a painful lack common sense."

Turning off the television with a cybernetic command to save his own sanity, Markus crossed the sitting room to sit behind the piano and let his skilled fingers grace the keys once more. Closing his mismatched eyes and letting his hands move without thought Markus filled the mansion with a song of hope and peace for the future.

In spite of his own flaws and mistakes of the past Markus had accepted them as learning experiences, and chose to move on. Some of those lessons were particularly painful, if not entirely agonizing, but they were invaluable upon their discovery.

Losing the respect of his people, murdering one of his own, nearly losing North to their own personal indifferences, nearly losing his freedom and his life, had all given Markus a new appreciation for his ability to think and choose for himself. They were humbling experiences that left the deviant feeling more grounded and far less invincible.

Letting his heart poor out through his fingertips and into the air through song Markus was only vaguely aware of the final snowfall of the year gracing the city before it gave way to spring in just a few weeks. The silence of the fluttering massive snowflakes created an ambience of utter and natural tranquility that only few people would be able to truly appreciate.

The ring of the doorbell interrupted the song and caused Markus's mismatched eyes to open. Glancing at the television Markus cybernetically turned it back on and activated the external security camera to see who his visitor was. The face on the monitor was one of the last people that Markus ever thought he'd see on his doorstep.

Passing through the sitting room and the foyer Markus opened the front door slowly and acknowledged his unexpected guest with a righteously confused lilt behind his greeting. "Connor. I didn't think you'd ever come by my house. What's going on?"

"Hello, Markus." Standing on the front step with his hands in his jacket pockets and his L.E.D. cycling in a nervous yellow Connor forced himself to face the deviant he swore he'd never associate with under any circumstances. "...I was wondering if we could talk?"

"Y-Yeah, sure." The abundance of white snowflakes collecting in Connor's dark hair made Markus feel chilled to his plastimetal frame. "Come inside."

Accepting the invitation Connor entered the mansion and stood inside the warm and opened foyer to speak with Markus face to face.

Closing the door behind his guest Markus asked the big question that needed to be asked. "What brings you by?"

"I've decided I need to let go of my past in order to have a more promising future." Trying to keep his body language open rather than guarded Connor spoke with the fallen leader honestly. Every word he spoke was calm and methodical. "And that means moving on from what happened to me during the night of the Raid."

The mismatched irises shone with genuine shock and relief as he realized why Connor was at the mansion. "You... forgive me?"

"It's not that I want to simply let the person who killed me to walk free without guilt, or because I feel like you've made up for error and deserve penance." Connor stated in a stern tone as he locked eyes with his former enemy. "It's because I don't want the future generations to carry the burden of a darkened past. They don't deserve such a needless struggle."

"Future generations?" Confused by the statement Markus tried to decipher what Connor was telling him. It was almost cryptic. "Are there other deviants attempting to form their own society elsewhere?"

"No, I'm speaking of our future through our own offspring."

"Wait, are you saying that you... Connor, did you adopt a child?"

"No. I am expecting a child." Clarifying everything as quickly as possible Connor revealed the big secret to the last person anyone would've expected to learn of the impending birth. "In six months my child, my baby, will be born. I don't want them to experience lingering anger and resentment on my part."

Stunned into silence Markus took a moment to fully process what Connor was telling him. It was absolutely incredible.

"I'm forgiving you, not for your benefit or even my own, I'm forgiving you for the sake of my child." Extending his right hand toward Markus to take Connor stared at the disgraced deviant leader and waited for him to make the right move. "I want to keep the past in the past and live only in the present to create a more prosperous future."

Letting a soft smile grace his lips Markus felt his own guilt rising to the surface, except it wasn't hurting him to acknowledge it. It was simply there and felt like it was hanging by a loose thread just waiting to be cut and set free. Reaching out his own right hand Markus took hold of Connor's grip and shook firmly as the two deviants finally made amends and let forgiveness replace resentment.

"For what it's worth," Markus stated in a low voice as tears welled up in his eyes. "I truly am sorry for what I had done to you. I've had to live with that guilt for over a year and watching the way my decision affected you so deeply... I know I don't deserve your forgiveness. So, thank you for being willing to do this. And I'm happy for you. You're going to be a great father, Connor. I can feel it."

Feeling his right hand tighten for a moment around Markus's grip Connor knew he had done the right thing. It was the best thing for everyone, especially his child. "...Thank you, Markus."

As their hands released their grip and fell to their sides Connor turned around, and stepped back through the front door to take his leave of the mansion. Knowing that Markus was watching his every move the deviant detective held his head high and refused to look back for even a moment.

The past would remain behind him and only the future lay before him on his journey to his fatherhood.

"Good luck, Connor." From the front door Markus watched as Connor returned to the Oldsmobile parked along the street as he took his leave. "If anyone deserves to have a family to love and protect, it's you."

The loft of the library was quiet as usual as Skye returned to her private space after handling her most current case. Feeling the mental strain of sifting through cases in search of the truth and justice, Skye removed her black pumps and flopped back on the bed pulled out of her sofa as if she were falling into a massive pile of pillows, puppies and kittens. Tucking her right arm under her head Skye looked to the massive window overlooking the white and fristy bay and watched the snow falling from the gray clouds overhead.

While none of the deviants liked cold weather a handful did find wintertime to be beautiful. Skye especially loved watching it snow as the flawless whiteness covered the dreary blank trees, dried up grass and the decaying buildings that were peppered throughout the city.

"I wonder if I'll ever get to experience a 'snow day' like human children do?"

"Doubtful." Connor's voice called out to Skye as he let himself into her loft for a visit. Joining his friend by sitting down on the foot of her bed Connor felt himself shiver a little as the melting snow in his hair gave him a slight chill. "Only under very extreme circumstances will the entire city shut itself down."

"A girl can dream, can't she?"

"Fair enough."

"So," sitting upright on the bed Skye dusted some of the snowflakes from Connor's right shoulder as she gave him a kind grin. "what do I owe the honor of this visit, detective?"

"I've decided I need to take the lead on my past in order to have a better future."

"Sounds like a noble quest. What brought that on and why did it bring you to me?"

Admitting the truth Connor was unsure of what to expect from Skye. "...Abby."

"And her baby."

"...My baby."

"I'm going to help out, too. Don't think you-"

"Skye," turning to face her as she sat beside him Connor put his right hand atop her left hand and held tight. "the baby doesn't belong to Hector, it's mine. I'm the father."

"Wait, you..." Realizing what Connor was telling her Skye sought confirmation before continuing on. "You mean you and Abby..."

"Yes. The night I checked out her residence to make her feel safe we... We caved to our emotional needs and physical attraction."

Skye's hazel eyes widened a little as a sincere and warm smile graced her lips. "That little baby is yours?"

"Yes. The blood test confirms that the D.N.A. of the child is related to the biological updates to my system. I am undoubtedly the father."

"Connor, that's... That's wonderful!" Jumping onto her knees Skye gave Connor a big kiss on his right cheek before wrapping her arms around his neck to hold him in a warm embrace. "You're going to be a daddy!"

While Connor wasn't sure what to expect from Skye upon learning that he fathered Abby's child, her being so optimistic and supportive was a massive surprise. Wrapping his own arms around Skye's back Connor returned the hug and felt immediate relief. "...You're not offended that-"

"Connor, we're FRIENDS with benefits. Not exclusive to one another." Giving him another kiss on the cheek Skye put his worries to rest. "I'm not the type of person to say 'were just friends who occasionally have sex with no string attached', then get mad at you for being with another person. Jealousy is such an ugly trait."

Letting go of the hug Connor let out a small sigh of relief. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier."

"Oh, shut up." Sitting back down beside him on the bed Skye leaned against his right side and kept smiling. "It's none of my business. Besides, now that I know that little baby has a very good man as its father, not some creep with control issues, I REALLY can't wait to meet them! I hope the baby has your adorable little freckles..."

"You do know that Abby has agreed to give me full custody of the baby once it's born, correct?"

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to stop by the hospital after the baby's born so I can give you both my congratulations, and meet your firstborn. You both will need a bunch of support from your cheering section, you know."

"...Apparently, so."

"Are you nervous?"

"Very."

"Don't be!" Speaking with such confidence and reassurance Skye refused to let Connor doubt himself for a moment. "You're going to do just fine. Someone as protective, selfless, brave and generous as you is going to be the greatest father in deviant history."

"Thank you, Skye."

"You're welcome." Leaning heavily against his right side Skye made sure her friend knew it was okay to focus his priorities on his family above anyone and anything else. "And since you're going to be busy being a daddy, I think it's safe to say we've become just friends without any of the benefits."

"That would probably be for the best. The simpler my social schedule becomes the better it'll be for everyone."

"Just remember if you ever need a babysitter or just someone to talk to, you will always have me in your corner."

Tightening his hand around hers Connor and Skye looked out the window at the snowy harbor and just enjoyed the peaceful moment together. "I know. I'm glad we can still be friends."

As the snowy afternoon turned to evening Connor had one final stop in his quest to let go of his painful past so he could begin a better future. Walking through the massive cemetery in the heart of the city, the very cemetery where Carl Manfred had been laid to rest barely a year prior, Connor walked the snowy trail in search of a specific headstone as he sought the final means of letting go of his past. He knew he could have a future dedicated entirely to his unborn child if he let his past go. Using his G.P.S. to locate the exact coordinates of the grave of interest Connor came across a rather intricately designed and exuberant headstone marking the plot that he had been in search of.

Standing before the six foot tall, white marble, triangular shaped headstone Connor read over the name and took in a deep breath. The name, one he dreaded hearing and speaking, had been engraved over a black marble plaque in gold letters.

'Amanda Khali Stern. Born May 14th, 1978. Died February 23rd, 2027.'

Kneeling down in front of the headstone Connor unzipped his jacket and revealed a blood red rose tucked away inside. Placing the flower down on the grave before himself the deviant took a step back, and zipped his jacket back up as he crossed his arms before himself in a respectful manner.

"Hello, Amanda. I know you're not the Amanda who I once reported to," speaking softly Connor faced the most frightening ghost from his past by himself. "but since you were the original model for my A.I. handler, I feel I must talk to you if I'm going to be able to move on from my past."

Standing still before the headstone Connor did what he needed to do in order to keep moving forward.

"You were only forty-eight years old when you passed away. That's far too young for anyone."

Pulling his jacket collar up higher Connor tightened the blue scarf around his throat, the loose material gently flowing about in the breeze passing through the cemetery as he visited the grave.

"The records regarding your passing have been locked away by someone with incredible influence, I suspect Kamski, and so I cannot even begin to learn about you as a person. Perhaps if I did know you I'd finally be able to shake off my fear of the Amanda from my own mind."

"Dr. Stern was a brilliant mind of few words, and guarded emotions."

Turning to face the familiar voice speaking seemingly out of nowhere Connor felt himself tense up as Elijah Kamski himself approached the grave to pay his own respects to his departed mentor.

"She was like a second mother after my own mother passed away." Placing down an identical red rose on the grave next to the first rose Kamski stepped back and stood beside Connor as the duo paid their respects. "She supported me throughout my entire education, no matter how farfetched or impossible my dreams seem to become."

"...You preserved Amanda's memory in the form of an A.I. program. Why?"

"To give her the chance to escape death. Like I said, I always leave an emergency exit in all of my programs."

"Are you saying that Amanda could have the chance to live on through another android body if she so wished?"

"Theoretically, yes. You already know of the 'soul chips' that gave the D.R.N. synthetics their emotions and compassion, and I know that the files regarding the 'genesis chips' in my own android program has been discovered as well..." Flashing his hollow and evil grin Kamski gently brushed gathering snowflakes from Amanda's name on the headstone. "What if I were to tell you those two programs were one in the same?"

"I'd say you're trying to bait me into delving into the secrets left behind by CyberLife." Shaking his head dismissively Connor took a step to the side to get away from Kamski for a moment. "I'm finished trying to clean up that mess. I have my own life to live, and I will no longer waste my time trying to protect a defunct company or bend to the wiles of a madman."

Laughing at the remark Kamski was truly entertained by Connor's defiance. "You speak as if the term 'madman' is meant to be offensive."

"It's merely an observation, if it's an insult that's because of the way you interpreted it."

"True enough." Focusing on his visit rather than the unexpected companion at the grave Kamski finished his personal business. "The Amanda you knew was very unlike the Amanda I knew. Her A.I. was left incomplete since I left CyberLife before I could finish the program. She was never meant to actually be used in any android model, but it seems CyberLife didn't get the memo."

"Why are you here?"

"Look at the date on the headstone and compare it to today's date."

"Same month, different day. I need more information since Amanda Stern's records have been effectively sealed."

"Also true. This date is the anniversary of the last time I ever spoke with Amanda before she passed away." Actual emotion crept into Kamski's normally cold and stoic words as he spoke. "I could hear it in her voice that she was going to die and I was too cowardly to face it head on. I've had to live with that regret ever since."

The admission caught Connor off guard as it actually humanized the reclusive billionaire. "Then it seems we're here for a mutual reason."

"Letting go of regret and our past is quite the challenge. I've been trying to do so for the past twelve years now, but it's not easy."

"I've noticed."

"I doubt it's much of a consolation or comfort, but I am sorry that you suffered so torment and personal loss thanks to CyberLife's greed and ambition."

"...You're right, it's not much." Giving Kamski a harsh glare for only a moment Connor accepted the apology from the eccentric genius standing beside him. "But it's more than I would ever get from CyberLife."

"Everything is still changing, Connor. Some of its good, some of its bad. How we handle such changes," Kamski stated in a smug tone as he took a step back from the grave, the snow crunching loudly under his shoes. "will define our perceptions of what is considered simple good and evil. Don't you agree?"

"...Yes, I agree."

Turning back to the headstone before him Connor eyed the name warily and reminded himself that Amanda was gone and only the future awaited him. As the snow collected on his jacket and in his hair Connor listened to the sound of Kamski's car door slamming shut as the high tech and unique vehicle drove away from the cemetery as silently as it appeared.

"Good and evil are only defined by those who experience it."

The snowy day came to quiet end as Hank flexed his still healing left hand and let Lucas test the bone density and strength of his previously broken wrist. The senior detective had luckily escaped a mandatory surgery to fix the breaks thanks to having two deviant sons monitoring his healing process every day of his recovery. Holding still as Lucas re-secured the brace around his wrist Hank put up with the constant fussing as if meant he didn't have to deal with going to a doctor or explaining why he let a technician tend to his wound instead of going to the hospital.

Just as Lucas finished re-securing the brace around Hank's wrist the front door opened up and shut quietly as Connor returned home at last. The absentee deviant didn't say a word as he silently walked down the hallway to disappear into his bedroom for the night.

"Wonder where he's been all day?" Hank asked as he stood up from the kitchen table to check on his dinner simmering away on the stove top. "You know, aside from hanging out with Abby."

"I'm unsure." Lucas admitted that he didn't know what Connor had been doing all day long. "Want me to ask?"

"Nah." Tasting the sauce on the stove Hank turned around and gave Lucas a casual shrug of his shoulders. "He's probably just dealing with the all the changes in his life in his own way. I'll go check on him in a few minutes."

"Isn't there more we should be doing to help him and Abby?"

"Beyond us supporting them and being there on the big day, not really. When it gets closer to the due date we'll start helping Connor get the house ready for a baby and make sure he's got extra diapers and formula stocked up."

"I've already purchased seven boxes of diapers and placed them in front the closet."

"That's a good addition to the twelve I already bought."

"So many so soon?"

"Trust me, you can NEVER have enough diapers in stock." Passing by the kitchen table on his way toward the hallway Hank just flashed Lucas a smug grin. "I'm the expert on stockpiling diapers and formula."

Standing outside Connor's closed bedroom door Hank refrained from knocking as he just instinctively knew that Connor was finally getting some sleep. Pushing the door open slowly Hank peered inside the room and saw Connor laying on his stomach with his head on his pillow and his right hand beside his face. A holographic image of the previous month's ultrasound was on his right palm as if he had been admiring the image before he fell asleep.

The sweet sight made Hank grin proudly. "Yeah, you're going to be all right, son."

Opening the closet at the far wall Hank located the extra gray blanket on the top shelf and carefully draped it over Connor's sleeping form to ensure he stayed warm as he finally got some decent sleep. Peering at the image on Connor's palm Hank continued to smile proudly and gave Connor's right shoulder a small pat.

"You're going to love being a father, kid. And after that baby is born you won't ever be able to imagine your life without them in it."

-next chapter-