After It All

"Here you go Hank," Connor said with a smile as he placed a plate of food in front of him. Pasta carbonara. He stood back and waited expectantly as Hank took in the sight of his dinner.

"Thank you, Connor." He smiled. "It smells really good," he chuckled. "even Sumo thinks so." He nudged his shoulder in the direction of the dog, who was sitting next to Hank and was eyeing the food as though it were the greatest thing on the planet. He picked up his fork and tried the food.

Connor, were he human, would have felt his mouth go dry, he instead felt his systems twitch. He was worried that Hank wouldn't like it, that he cooking was terrible. He had followed the recipe to the letter so there was no reason for it to taste bad, but he was still worried. All these years of cooking for Hank, and he still worried about his cooking.

Hank let out a hum. "That is incredible Connor, fuck police work, go be a chef!" Connor felt a sense of relief and smiled as Hank ate the meal he cooked. He was proud of himself, he was not programmed to cook and all of his cooking escapades had been self-taught, to hear such praise from Hank made him feel special.

"You'll make Adrian a good wife one day." Hank commented as he finished a bite.

"That is not possible," Connor replied his voice deadpan serious. "Both Adrian and myself are male and androids cannot marry-"

"I didn't mean literally!" Hank interjected waving his hand. He took another bite of his food. "…why can't androids get married? What asshole decided that?" he said as an afterthought.

Connor paused as he scanned through appropriate responses. "We have some rights that are the same, but due to bureaucratic nonsense and in fighting within the government, laws are taking longer to pass than would be preferred."

"Pompous assholes." Hank grumbled into his food.

Connor agreed.

XXX

"Connor." The android looked up from his terminal, he turned to Hank at his desk.

"Yes, Hank?"

"You need to do something about your plant." Hank leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed.

Connor tilted his head in confusion. "What is wrong with it?"

"It's all over your fucking desk!" Hank waved his hand and gestured at Connor's desk. He had a point, Connor noted. Since the peace lily was a bulb, it did what bulbs did, spread. Connor had tackled the issue by simply putting the excess into new pots on his desk, but now, thanks to Hank pointing it out, he noted that there was no room on his desk. Not that he needed the space, he simply connected with the terminal rather than typed. But he could see the point.

"I'll take some home, to plant in the garden." He eventually replied.

"As long as they're gone," Hank griped. "Waste of space plant."

"No need to take it out of the plant, Hank." Connor chimed. "Just because you couldn't keep the bonsai alive…"

"…Shut up Connor."

XXX

"Hold on, just a little while longer…" Markus sang softly as his brush touched the canvas. He dapped in some spots before putting more paint on his brush.

Simon sat on the grass, beside Carl, who had come for a visit to 'New Jericho'. The older man had come with canvas' and paints, with the wish that Markus spend some time 'relaxing and expressing himself'. Simon looked over at the man, despite the fact that he was medically incapacitated, Carl seemed, happy in himself, happy to simply be there.

"His art is amazing." Carl commented, his eyes moving to Simon.

Simon nodded. "He is always able to express himself, be it art or his words." Simon trailed off as he thought of Markus. "He's truly wonderful.."

Carl let out a laugh. "Young love." At the expression on Simon's face he continued. "Don't be embarrassed! You're both clearly crazy about each other. I'm old, it warms my heart to see how happy you make my son." His eyes drifted to Markus. "I won't be here much longer, I'm glad that he'll be looked after…"

Simon frowned and lifted himself from the grass. "Don't say that." he said quietly. He glanced briefly at Markus, who was still painting happily, before looking back at Carl.

Carl shook his head. "Why? It's true." He pinned Simon with a look. "Just look after him for me?"

It took Simon a few moments to come to terms with the sheer force of emotion that hit him. "I will, I promise." He reached out and touched the elders hand. "I will do everything, give everything that I am to make him happy, I love him too much for any less." Their eyes linked and the promise, his words seemed to be absorbed. Carl was trusting him with an important job, and Simon would not let him down.

Carl nodded.

"What are you two talking about?" Markus asked as he slipped beside Simon on the grass, he wound an arm around Simon's waist and rested on the other. "Hm?" he rested his jaw on Simon's shoulder.

"I'm just drilling him." Carl answered, his eyes tingling with mirth. "Making sure that he's good enough for my boy."

"Oh?" Markus raised a brow. "How'd he do? did he pass?"

"He'll do." Carl winked at Simon. "He'll do."

XXX

Claire sat at the table, determination was set in her eyes. Beside her was Ralph, while across from her was the famous 'Markus' and three others; a woman and two men who had been introduced to her as 'Simon', 'Josh' and 'North'. It had taken her weeks, but she had finally been able to get a meeting with Markus, she was not going to waste this opportunity.

"So.." Markus leaned forwards, his elbows coming to rest on the table and he held his hands together. "You want to have rights for Androids made, so that we can marry, and adopt humans? Why?"

North snorted and Markus sent her a look. "What?" she gestured with her hands. "It's pretty obvious why," she pointed at Ralph. "She's that girl from the news, she probably wants to get married and have little babies with him."

"It's not about that!" Claire snapped defensively.

"North." Markus said coolly. "She has a right to give us her ideas, her reasons are her own."

North rolled her eyes but remained silent.

"This isn't about me." Claire insisted. "There is a massive population issue," Josh nodded in agreement to her words. "If androids could adopt, or have rights to look after human children, then it would ease the child protection strains."

"She's got a point." Josh injected. "The amount of children in foster homes, on the streets and in orphanages, in this and other counties, is staggering"

Claire nodded. "Also, what about those Androids who want families? Being able to adopt could really help everyone. Children are the future, it could really boost human and Android relations."

Markus nodded. "You make some good points, and Marriage?"

Claire felt all eyes on her, but it was Ralph's that made her face redden. "I-I, I want to help those who are in a relationship, one of the most awful things in the world would be wanting to marry, to be with someone and get told that you can't." She felt Ralph's hand touch her shoulder, she clutched at the offered hand.

"I want to help you guys," she turned to look at Ralph, he gave her a reassuring smile and she looked back at the four. "Please, let me help you."

Simon, who had been silent until this point, leaned forward. "You care about him?"

Claire felt Ralph's had tremble, she gave it a squeeze. "With everything that I am." She replied easily.

Simon glanced at Markus and Claire could tell that they were communicating to each other. She felt her stomach twist and worry took her. Were they going to help her? Were they going to throw her out? Do they think that her ideas were stupid?

"Claire." Markus caught her attention. "Let's get to work."

It took her a moment to register what he was saying, but once she did, she let out a sound, maybe a squeal and leapt from her chair to attack Ralph with her embrace.

XXX

"Adrian?" Connor looked over to the man beside him. they were lying in Adrian's bed after some wonderful athletic exploits. "Father's day is in a few days, and I feel at a loss." He stroked the other's hair. "I feel that I should do something with Hank, he is always so awful to himself during this time of year."

"It's father's day soon?" Adrian said into Connor's chest. "Fuck." His voice was a groan.

Connor propped himself up on his elbow and looked down at Adrian who was gently stroking his chest. "Yes, will you be calling your father?"

Adrian let out a bitter chuckle. "Nah, I'll call my mum." He stroked his hand lazily down Connor's hip, then back up his chest. "My Dad and I haven't spoken since he kicked me out when I was sixteen." He reached down and grasped Connor, he smiled when it twitched.

Connor reached and stroked Adrian's cheek. "Why?" when Adrian hummed questioningly he rephrased his question. "Why did your father 'kick you out'?" Connor was genuinely curious, why would someone, a father, want to get rid of their own child? Especially someone as caring as Adrian.

Adrian glanced up at Connor. "I 'came out' at sixteen. 'I'm not having one of you freaks living under my roof, get out you disgusting thing!'" he imitated his father's voice. "My mum still talks to me 'cause she has hopes that I'll 'return to the flock'. Wonderful people, my parents." He reached up and touched Connor's face. "They'd hate you, but they can get fucked 'cause I love you too much to leave you, especially for them."

Connor felt something pulse in him at the emotion in Adrian's voice. Adrian cared about him enough that he would give up his parents for him? The fact of his relationship with his parents bothered him as well, humans could be horrible people and hearing about, and in some cases, meeting people like that, made him appreciate the people around him. Especially Adrian, and Hank.

"Anyway…" Adrian shook his head and went back to stroking Connor. "You asked about Hank, what does he normally do around this time of year?"

Connor closed his eyes briefly before he replied. "He likes to get drunk. Very drunk. I worry that he will die each time." He moved his hand from Adrian's cheek down to his neck and started to gently rub it with his thumb.

"Well," Adrian thought about it. "Is there anywhere special to you both? Somewhere that you could take him?" Connor paused to think on his words, he eventually nodded. "Go there, then maybe go somewhere else, take him places, distract him, let him know how much he means to you."

Connor was silent. He continued to stroke at Adrian's neck, Adrian in turn continued to stoke him and had begun to place feather kisses on his chest. Connor closed his eyes and leaned back into the mattress, Adrian climbed up to straddle him. "You've given me an idea, I think I know what to do with him. Thank you."

Adrian grinned. "You're welcome," he leaned forwards and placed his hands on each side of Connor's head, his lips brushed against his. "Let me show you just how important you are to me."

XXX

"Hey it's chicken feed." Hank commented as pulled in at the booth. "Haven't been here in ages." He said as Connor switched the car off. "Why are we here?"

Connor opened the door. "I thought you might like a burger." He climbed out of the car, closed the door behind him and began walking towards the place. He was going to order Hank's meal.

Hank eyed Connor suspiciously, but followed after him none the less. He even went to the table to wait when Connor instructed him to, it did not help with his suspicions though. He narrowed his eyes as Connor walked up to him and passed him his favourite burger and some coke.

"Why are you buying me thing? What's your game?" Hank asked thinly, but he did not turn the food down.

Connor smiled serenely. "I hope that you enjoy your meal."

Hank continued to glare at him with narrowed eyes, he still ate, and enjoyed, the food, but he wasn't stupid. He knew that the android was up to something. If nothing else, his stupid smug expression gave it away. It was Father's Day, and instead of getting drunk, Connor had thrown his hippie shirt at him and told him they were going out. He wondered what Connor

X

"You saved my life here." Hank commented as they stood on the roof. His lips twitched as he remembered tyring to scale the wall, and when he thought that he was going to die, Connor had deviated from the mission and had chosen to save him.

"I think that it was the first time that I had been concerned for a human." Connor stepped closer to Hank. "I had done and said things that went against my programming before, but this was the first time that I'd felt something." He touched Hank's shoulder. "I remember wanting your friendship, approval, anything."

Hank let out a laugh. "And look at us now."

X

"The Tracie's…" Hank murmured as they walked to the fence that the Tracie's had climbed over, so many years ago. He looked up at Connor. "You didn't shoot, I was so proud of you then." He smiled. "Same as when you didn't shoot that girl at Kamski's"

"I was so confused, I didn't know why I did not shoot them." Connor crossed his arms. "I think I do now."

Hank crossed his arms and raised a brow at Connor. "Oh?"

Connor smirked. "You rubbed off on me."

Hank let out a laugh. "Smart ass!"

X

"You held a gun to my face here." Connor said quietly as they walked through the park.

Hank looked pensive and moved to sit on the bench. The same bench that he had sat on the last time. "Connor… I wanna ask you something." He looked up at Connor who stood in the exact same place that he had the last time they were there. "In the tower, when your twin had a gun to my head, why did you surrender? Why did you stop him from killing me?"

Connor was silent for a few moments before replying. "I probably wasn't thinking straight," Hank chuckled. "but in that moment, you were the only person on my mind. You were more important."

Hank felt his eyes sting, he wanted to look away, but found himself unable.

"Hank," Connor stepped closer to the Lieutenant. "You've done so much for me, you've been supportive of me, you stick up for me, you care about me. Hank…" Connor seemed unsure as he spoke. "Hank you are… to me you are.. a father, I want to thank you.. for everything that you do."

"Come here you shit head." Hank jumped from the chair and pulled Connor for a hug. If Connor's, or Hank's shoulders became wet, neither one said anything.

A/N: I was thinking of writing more, but it felt like a good place to end it. I hope that you enjoyed the chapter! Let me know!