The laborious task of restoring the previously abandoned and now reclaimed neighborhood had proven itself to be as exhausting as it was rewarding. With the autumn air rapidly chilling and the arrival of the peaceful Revolution's first year anniversary just three days away, everyone was on edge and working around the clock to make everything special. It seemed as if the five deviant leaders were being pulled in five different directions to cover as much ground as possible while the plans were underway, and as a result Lucy was taking a more direct approach with the deviants within the tower, and Lucas was helping with the plans as a welcomed honorary leader within the private office alongside the other leaders.

The overall goal was simple enough: On November 11th, 2039, the five deviant leaders would hold a memorial ceremony to honor the deviants who had lost their lives before or during the Revolution when Markus led everyone in a peaceful, passive demonstration. The ceremony would take place on Belle Isle in front of New Jericho Tower to ensure maximum security, and Markus would lead the memorial in a respectful manner. Once the ceremony was completed Markus would announce Connor and Lucas's plans to restore the abandoned neighborhood to a livable location and create the first deviant exclusive deviant neighborhood open to all deviants in search of their own home and property.

"Finished." Connor confirmed as he stepped back and double-checked his and Lucas's work after insulating the attic. Every room of the old yellow brick house had its walls opened, old insulation removed, and new insulation installed to ensure a comfortable living environment year-round. "We have enough time to finish installing the insulation in your own house, clean up, and then return to the tower for tonight's meeting."

"I think everyone is going to be impressed with the rate in which we're restoring two houses at once." Lucas complimented their own work as he and Connor exited the attic and proceeded to head for the front door to lock up and head over to the second house. "This was a great idea."

"Thank you. And thank you for helping me." The moment the two deviants stepped outside of the house Connor and Lucas were shaken with the cold air. Connor quickly locked the door and joined Lucas as they rushed over to Lucas's chosen house - one of gray bricks with a side patio - just across the street and two doors down from Connor's chosen house. "With any luck we'll have our houses livable before the end of the month and can give our people a prime example of how it's safe to live outside the tower."

"It'll be strange living without furniture or appliances." Lucas admitted he unlocked his own house door and led the way inside. "But we'll make do."

"All we need is electricity and running water to ensure a proper homestead for now." Such a proposition made Connor a little wary of leaving Hank's house without much to his name, and his momentarily hesitation expressed that feeling perfectly. "I dislike the idea of being unable to properly keep my house warm in the wintertime or returning home after getting dirty while at work and being unable to shower off."

"Agreed." The moment Lucas passed through his livingroom he stepped into the neighboring kitchen to peer through the window where the recently groomed lawn that had been fenced in and cleaned up. "Bruno's going to love the backyard. He's becoming more dog-like with every passing day, and in a year or two I'm going to remove his software pertaining to policework to let him live out his life as a normal dog."

"That's very kind of you. He's been through a lot."

"We all have." Sighing out loud Lucas made his way to the basement door and prepared to use the insulation already stored downstairs to fill in the opened walls and get the house warmed up alongside his brother. "All right. Today we finish with the insulation, and tomorrow while you're at the precinct I'll start putting up new drywall. As long as we continue to work on our houses at a steady pace, we'll be able to call our houses homes before the year's end."

"And once that's over, we can focus on the rest of our neighborhood and our people. No one should be without a home to call their own."

The activity at New Jericho Tower was just as hectic as it was out at the steadily reclaimed neighborhood. Markus and North held hands as they strolled around the newly constructed arboretum at the top of the tower and admired the view that allowed them to see the entire world around them through the large glass window that created a massive dome of light and life. The couple had recently become engaged to each other after Markus proposed to North, and they were going to wait until after the anniversary of the peaceful Revolution before they even considered making plans for their bonding ceremony. While the couple waited for an update from Simon, Josh, Lucy, Connor and Lucas regarding their own work, they took the opportunity to be together and admire the fresh greenery of the newly constructed arboretum.

Everything seemed to be looking up for the deviants as there was very little in the way of thier natural progress. New laws and rights had been passed, (most of) the police were on the side of deviants, and there had only been positive publicity reported about deviant activity since that historic night almost exactly one year prior. With allies all throughout the city and a bright future ahead of them, it seemed as if the deviant leaders had nothing to fear and everything to hope for.

"I can't believe it's been a year." Markus smiled as he held North's hand and felt her engagement ring against his fingers. When he had asked North to bond with him it had been the most intimidating experience of Markus's existence, and yet he had never been so sure of anything. "We're truly free and are changing the world one day at a time."

"It's all thanks to you." North wrapped her arms around Markus's arm and affectionately rested her temple against his shoulder as they strolled along the recently created path to loop around the arboretum together. "We wouldn't be where we are without your guidance."

"We're where we are because of our trust in one another; we all deserve credit. I just happened to become the figurehead."

"You still deserve a lot of credit. You did so much for us when you arrived, and you did it despite not knowing much about us or what our future held."

"I'll take the credit where it's due; no more, no less. We succeeded by working together and cooperating with one another."

Smiling brightly North peered out of the glass window to the city around them and admired the view with a renewed perspective on life. "It's beautiful up here. I never knew how amazing the city can look."

"A change of perspective can really help you see everything that the world has to offer." Standing before the window overlooking Detroit with North beside him had given Markus a new appreciation of the world that they had become a part of. "It makes me wonder how much more we can offer to our people before they no longer need us to lead them."

"We won't know until our people tell us."

"Let's see what tonight's meeting brings us. I imagine there's going to be some good news to be shared, and hopefully that news will revolve around our people finding their footing and becoming more independent."

"Let's tell them our good news last." North beamed as she looked down at her ring and could just feel how much love and thought Markus had put in to designing the ring before proposing. "It's not every day that we can announce an engagement to our closest friends and family."

Freshly showered and feeling good about their hard work, Connor and Lucas arrived at New Jericho Tower in time for their meeting with the rest of the leaders. The other deviants were going about their business with little idea of what was happening around them, but despite that obliviousness there was no panic, fear or doubts being exhibited by anyone. There was an air of excitement as the special anniversary celebration neared prompting a majority of the deviants to do their own part to prepare for the celebration by volunteering to spread word of the anniversary to the deviants who lives outside the tower. Every deviant was welcome to take part in the celebration, and those who were unable to celebrate would be honored and remembered by those who knew them.

While Connor seamlessly crossed the lobby to reach the main office to begin the meeting, Lucas was stopped short when Chloe approached the 'RK-900' to speak with him politely and warmly. It seemed that aside from the other leaders in the tower, Chloe didn't fear Lucas or blame him for anything that CyberLife had ordered him to do pre-deviancy. The way Lucas suddenly stopped and spoke to Chloe in a slightly uneasy voice indicated his surprise at being approached by the blonde deviant who had chosen to leave Kamski and live within the deviant sanctuary.

Connor had noticed that Lucas stopped walking and peered back over his shoulder. When he saw Chloe chatting Lucas up Connor decided it'd be best to continue on his way and give his little brother some privacy. After all, it wasn't often that Lucas had the chance to interact with other deviants within New Jericho Tower or without the interaction revolving around a crime.

"Lucas seems to be finding his place in the world." Josh noted as he met Connor at the office doorway and also saw Lucas speaking with Chloe. "That's good. I was a little worried about him."

"He'll be fine." Keeping his smirk hidden Connor opened the door to the office and stepped through with Josh right behind him. "It seems that everyone is finding their place in the world these days, including Lucas."

"Yeah, a lot of our people seem to be finding the confidence they need to move forward and venture out into the city."

"Oh?" Curious about such an observation Connor gave Josh his full attention. "How so?"

"The prime example that we've been presenting to our people has made it very easy for them to find the courage to live their lives rather than hide away in the tower just to exist." Compassion and patient had always been Josh's strongest qualities. As a natural pacifist he was always going to praise a peaceful and coexistence regardless of the challenges still being presented. "Seeing Markus survive something as brutal as the fighting arena in Chicago and working alongside the mayor, seeing North overcoming what should've been a fatal error to her coding, and seeing you working as a detective with the human police and bringing Lucas into the fold, and Lucas himself overcoming the odds to become a respectable, trusted deviant to rely on were all amazing examples of positive interactions and decisions for our people to mirror."

"You, Simon and Lucy have all done great things as well."

"Not as great as you four."

"Don't sell yourself short." Connor refused to let Josh act as if his own behavior hadn't had an impact on their people. "You've always been ready to help any all deviants in need without question or skepticism. Simon has remained a primary technician and has been tirelessly helping any and all deviants who've wandered here in search of aid, and Lucy has become an invaluable healer who helps guide lost deviants toward a goal."

"Thanks for saying so."

Lucas entered the office with a faint blue blush on his cheeks and commented on the overheard discussion between Connor and Josh. "He's right too. While we're out in the city handling things in a more direct manner one problem at a time, you're handling everything else in the form of large groups of people all coming together with dozens of different problems all needing to be solved. That's dedicated work that you all need to be proud of handling."

"We all have something we need to be proud of." Connor stated with a sincere glimmer of hope in his eyes. "It hasn't been easy to endure everything that's been thrown our way, but we've managed to persevere and come out stronger in the end."

The door to the office slid open one last time as Markus, North, Simon and Lucy all gathered together for their meeting. The positive energy flowing through the office was enough to make everyone smile as they politely greeted each other and found their places in the office to sit down and begin openly discussing activities at the tower, in the reclaimed neighborhood, and for the Revolution's anniversary.

"It's good to see everyone here." Markus proclaimed as his hand remained interlocked with North's hand even as they sat down together on one of the leather sofas. It was clear that the other deviants had noticed North's ring and wanted to congratulate the couple, but everyone knew that there was a time and place for such praise considering the nature of their actual gathering. "We have a lot to discuss, and I know we all have many questions that we're eager to answer, so let's get right down to business..."

A few more days had passed and the first-year anniversary for the Revolution was now less than a day away. Connor had to return to the precinct to work his shift as expected, but the deviant detective wasn't going to let one responsibility overshadow another. With his coin dancing casually over his knuckles and his eyes transfixed on his terminal screen Connor didn't notice a few eyes watching his every move as he sat at attention while filing his reports and waiting to head out on patrol. There were a few curious whispers revolving around Connor without even being picked by the deviant detective's radar, and that alone was bizarre. It was almost as if the bullpen was privy of a mystery that even the skilled detective couldn't solve.

Walking as if they were old friends, Pamela, the deviant receptionist at the precinct's entrance, approached Connor in the bullpen and sat in a vacant chair beside his desk. As soon as she had his attention Pamela casually flipped a dark lock of her shoulder-length hair behind her ear and crossed one leg over top of the other as she sat down and got comfortable. Leaning a little closer toward Connor with a smile on her face Pamela engaged in conversation and did her best to get on Connor's good side while they chatted.

"I hear that the ceremony at New Jericho Tower is welcome to all deviants." Pamela began rather casually as she scooted her chair a little closer to Connor despite already sitting rather close to him. "I also hear that Markus and North are engaged to be bonded."

"That is correct on both accounts." Turning away from his terminal screen Connor gave Pamela his full attention while they spoke. "All deviants in the city are welcome at tomorrow tonight's ceremony, and Markus and North plan to be bonded when the time is right."

"That's great! Are they the only special couple in the tower?"

"As far as I know they're the only deviants I personally associate with who are currently in a committed relationship."

"Really?" Pamela's blue eyes lit up as she scooted her chair even closer to Connor and rested her hand atop his desk near his hands as they hovered motionless above his keyboard. "If I may be so bold as to ask, does that include... you?"

Such a question caught Connor off guard and made him blush a bright blue that rivaled the way Lucas had blushed when Chloe spoke to him a few days prior. "I... I am not romantically involved with anyone if that's what you're asking."

"You know, I find that hard to believe." Pamela leaned in again and Connor did his best to not pull his hands back when Pamela lightly placed her palm over the back of his hand in a flirtatious manner. "After all, you're one of the deviant leaders, an amazing detective, you're building your own house, and I hear you even know how to play the guitar. You're an absolute catch! Any single deviant would be lucky to just spend one evening with you..."

"O-Oh, uh..."

Rushing to the rescue Chris had been watching everything from the community breakroom and managed to give Connor an out. "Hey, man, I need some help with a case." Lying quickly Chris motioned to the basement with a pointed thumb over his shoulder while patting Connor's shoulder with his free hand. "I got some evidence that the lab isn't analyzing fast enough, think you could do it for me?"

"Y-Yes, I can help." Standing up quickly Connor tried to remain composed as he politely excused himself from Pamela's presence to accompany Chris elsewhere. "Lead the way, Officer Miller."

Grateful for the rescue Connor walked alongside Chris as the younger officer walked toward the basement but didn't actually head downstairs. Pausing just out of Pamela's sight Connor rubbed his palm along his face and tried to hide his embarrassment after being caught off guard by such direct remarks. "Th-Thank you, Chris."

"No problem. It looked like you were trying to disappear into yourself for a few seconds back there."

"That would've been preferable." Lowering his hand Connor sighed and managed to regain his dignity. "I was not expecting Pamela to be so... interested in me."

"She ain't the only one."

Connor's entire body froze at that statement as if he had just been struck by a gust of Arctic wind. "...Pardon?"

"Well, yeah." Now feeling as if he may have let the cat out of the bag Chris gave Connor a sheepish glance. "I mean, word got out that both you AND the Lieutenant are checking out the dating scene, and now-"

"Wait, how did... Where is this information coming from?"

"Pamela got word from someone named Chloe at New Jericho, and then Pamela made the mistake of letting Tina know."

"Chloe was speaking with Lucas not too long ago, he must've brought it up-" Suddenly worried about Hank's sense of privacy Connor glanced about the corridor and the bullpen as he performed a facial recognition scan in an attempt to locate both Hank and Tina before it was too late to stop the rumors from spreading. "Where is Hank and where is Tina?"

"The Lieutenant is down in the gym and Tina is on her lunchbreak with Gavin. Gavin's only working half-shifts during his first week back, so he wants to treat him."

"I need to make sure Hank is aware of what's happening."

"He's not the one who has to worry about getting hit on all day. You are."

"I can avoid Pamela by going out on patrol."

"Yeah, but she's not the only one who's been looking at you recently."

Such observations made Connor rather wary of going anywhere anytime soon. "Who... Is there anyone here that I should be cautious of?"

"Cautious?" Chris couldn't hide his laugh or his smile as he saw Connor fidgeting where he stood. "Man, you're acting like being an eligible bachelor is like having a target on your back!"

"Considering I'm in an environment where I cannot actively leave even after people become aware of my potential interest in dating, I think it's safe to say that I have indeed been targeted."

"There's worse things than be chased after for a datenight or two."

"I'll take your word on that." Almost like a child Connor peeked around the corner of the corridor to make sure Pamela had left his desk before he turned his attention back to Chris. "Who else is... interested in me?"

"Pamela for sure," the young officer confirmed as he gave Connor a casual shrug of his shoulders. "and I think Tina's going to hit on you just to watch you squirm. As for anyone else, I'm not entirely sure."

"That is disconcerting. I'm going to join Hank in the gym for a while, please don't tell anyone where I've gone."

"You have my word."

Moving swiftly Connor managed to cross the bullpen and reach the elevator that would take him to the second half of the basement where the private gym was located. The sooner he was able to hide away from the rest of the precinct and warn Hank of the potential increase in suitors coming their way, the sooner Connor would feel like he could stop looking over his shoulder. The idea of being actively sought after for possible romance was somehow very unnerving for the rather introverted deviant.

The precinct gym only had a few officers preoccupying the location as they either finished their current shift or prepared for a new shift. It seemed Hank was the only one who'd use the gym to burn off some pent-up energy or stress, and as a result the Lieutenant was often seen in the gym when things got tense. The other officers were either just keeping in shape or trying to get a moment of privacy for themselves.

Hank was using the bench-press and was easily lifting two-hundred pounds of weight with an almost frightening ease. Despite being fifty-four years old Hank was in great shape, even more so in comparison to how Hank had been in the original timeline. Just as he finished his reps Hank noticed Connor entering the gym and promptly secured the weighted barbell down on the metal supports at the head of the bench.

"Hey, kid." Sitting upright slowly Hank rotated his arms one at a time in a slow manner to ensure he didn't develop any muscle cramps or strains. "You good? You look like you got spooked by something."

A hasty but detailed explanation was all it took for Connor to get Hank to understand why he was so jumpy, but rather than joining Connor with his concerns Hank just chuckled and decided to reassure Connor that he didn't have anything to really worry about. No one was under any obligation to agree to a date or even lunch unless they were genuinely interested. Nobody "owed" anyone else a chance just because they showed interest or asked.

"You'll be fine, son." Hank used a towel to wipe off the back of his sweaty neck and then tossed his casually onto his shoulder. "It's not like it's the first time someone's given you that kind of attention anyway."

"It's... not?"

"Seriously? You didn't-" Such innocent obliviousness would've been charming had Connor not been one of the most attentive and keenest detectives in all of Detroit. The way Connor could overlook someone flirting with him until they were practically sitting on his lap was actually a little frightening. "Back in Chicago it was pretty clear that Evelyn was interested in you. How could you not see that?"

"I knew that she was intrigued by me being an android, but it never occurred to me that she was romantically interested in me." Shaking his head Connor sighed and dropped down onto the vacant bench next to where Hank was still seated. "Even so, it'd never work out."

"And why's that?"

"Aside from the fact that as an android I'd undoubtedly outlive her and would be subjected to watching her age, get ill, weak and eventually die; I suspect that any attraction she has for me is because of her memories of being friends with Connor Wolf when they were children." There was a tone of genuine defeat in Connor's tone as he spoke of Evelyn and of the true romance that'd never happen between them. "She doesn't really love me, she loves- loved him."

"Huh... Weird."

Arching his brow Connor picked up Hank's own intrigue and tried to figure out what the Lieutenant was thinking. "What?"

"I didn't realize that you were that interested in Evelyn."

"What're you- I'm not..." Such a notion left Connor twice as confused as before as he tried to understand what Hank was speaking about. "What makes you think that I had such an interest in her?"

"For one, you thought EVERYTHING out when it comes to what your life would be like if you did get together with Evelyn. Not to mention the fact that I know you two still talk every once in a while whenever you can." Hank gave Connor a knowing look without even needing to acknowledge the blue blush that appeared on his face yet again. "That only happens when you really develop strong emotional feelings toward another person. That's the burden of having a crush."

"A... 'crush'. What does that even mean?"

"Don't ask me why we call it that, but a 'crush' is when you are harboring romantic feelings for a special person." Rising to his feet Hank began walking toward the locker room to grab some clean clothes from his personal locker and take a quick shower. "YOU have a CRUSH on EVELYN. And I know the feeling is mutual."

Unable to refute the claim Connor contemplated everything that Hank had said and wondered if Pamela, Tina or anyone else for that matter, had a crush on him. He knew that North had once harbored potentially romantic feelings toward him, but with how quickly she fell in love with Markus and how quickly he fell for her, Connor also knew that any potential romantic relationship he could've had with North would've never lasted.

Unsure of what to do with such knowledge, such emotions, Connor quietly trailed after Hank and met the man at the doorway of the locker room as Hank stepped back out with a dufflebag in his hand. "What can I do about the way I feel about Evelyn?"

"What do ya' mean?"

"How do I... I guess stop feeling the way that I feel about her?"

"Oh. Well, the only way to really stop having a crush on someone is to either form a crush on another person," the man felt more like a middle schooler discussing girl problems at the lunch table than he did a police detective chatting with his partner and friend. "or find something about the person you already have a crush on that you don't find attractive at all and focus on that. That might be enough to make your emotions for Evelyn fade away."

Entering the shower area Hank activated the frost paneling over the glass door for some privacy before removing his sweaty clothes and tossing them over the door and onto his dufflebag. His dufflebag was sitting on the small bench just outside the shower while his clean towel was draped over the door itself to ensure he could get covered back up.

"Connor, I really don't know what to tell you right now. Love is complicated."

"Apparently so." As the water turned on Connor respectfully turned his back to ensure that Hank had total privacy even as they had their very unusual conversation in relative privacy even while in a busy police precinct. "I know that's illogical to love a human and yet I developed such feelings for a human without even becoming aware of it."

"If you're worried about the fact that you're an android who loves a human, quit it!"

"And why should I do that?"

"Because you and Lucas are like a second family to me, which means that I, as a human, love you two in some way." Hank explained as he quickly showered off his sweat and prepared to towel dry. "You make it sound like it's a bad thing."

"That wasn't my intention." Replying quickly Connor did his best to not dissuade the notion of a family being forged between androids and humans. "But it does feel strange."

"Yup. Son, love is a double-edged sword: It'll bring you incredible joy that you can't compare to anything, and it'll bring you incredible pain that you can never escape when it finds you."

"It seems like the concept of love is risky, if not outright dangerous."

"It can be, but like anything else that's risky," with the water off and a towel around his waist, Hank stepped out of the shower and grabbed his dufflebag before stepping into one of the curtained changing areas across from the showers themselves. "the final outcome often outweighs the risk."

"I'll try to remember that." Turning back around Connor stared at the pulled curtain as he waited for Hank to finish changing into his clean clothes before they returned to the ground floor of the precinct. "Do you think such risk is why you've been so hesitant to date again?"

"That, and since I'm getting on in years the idea of a long term committed relationship just seems too farfetched to go for." Hank pulled back the curtain and stepped out to before he put on his shoes and socks. "Since you and the other deviants have arguably been gifted with immortality, you don't really have to worry about the years catching up to you and making things difficult."

"We're ageless, yes, but we're not immortal. No one is."

"I prefer to think of you and Lucas living on forever." Sensing that Connor needed additional guidance Hank decided it was time to have another heart-to-heart in a far more private location. "How about we head out on break so you can get some space from people for a while?"

The suggestion sounded perfect. Watching as Hank slipped on his shoes Connor agreed and decided that going on a break and getting away from the precinct for an hour or so would be a great way to clear his mind.

"Very well." Agreeing entirely Connor watched as Hank carried his dufflebag back into the locker room to be locked up. "With any luck Chris will be able to talk some sense into those who are interested in me and request for them to be less... forward."

"Wait, Chris?" A sly smirk appeared on Hank's face as he shook his head and patted Connor's shoulder sympathetically after stepping back into the main gym. "Oh, son... I hate to tell you this, but Chris is the biggest gossip in the bullpen. I get the feeling that your current predicament is going to get worse before it gets better!"

Other strange happenings were taking place in the bullpen even with both Connor and Hank absent. The sight of Gavin walking back to his desk looking tired yet healthy had made many people surprisingly happy, and Captain Fowler made sure to remind the young detective to take it easy while he was still recovering from his near fatal injury. Having the previously wounded detective back in the bullpen and returning to work was a great sign of events to come, and it immediately boosted overall morale. Gavin was genuinely flattered to see how much he was missed and how many younger officers as well as his fellow detectives respected him and cared about him.

As he settled in at his desk Gavin looked at the framed photograph of Abby holding Aria still in its rightful place with a sense of confidence and pride. Any doubts he had about being able to return to work and being able to protect his family had vanished in an instant. He knew what he needed to do, and he wasn't about to let his crazy ex get in his way or keep him from living a life of happiness and love.

"Welcome back, Gav." Chris greeted Gavin happily and shook hands with his colleague. "Glad to see you on your feet again."

"I knew you guys wouldn't be able to get anything done without me." Doing his best to put on the 'tough guy' persona Gavin tried to pretend that he wasn't relieved to be back to work and even missed during his absence. "What cases need my attention?"

"None right now. But if you want a real challenge..." Lowering his voice Chris got a little closer to Gavin and let him know about Connor's current problem. "You could help Connor avoid Pamela and Tina for the rest of the day."

"Uh?" Only one of those names was drawing a blank. "Who's Pamela?"

"The receptionist." Dropping his arms in exasperation Chris couldn't believe that Gavin never learned Pamela's name. "The one who scans your credentials every time you clock-in. Dark hair, blue eyes, always smiling..."

"Oh, yeah. I know that chick." Scratching at his stubbly chin Gavin sighed and decided that he did owe Connor a favor or two and decided to help out. "I was hoping for a more interesting problem, but I'll see what I can do. Tina's coming in right behind me, so I'll keep her away from him. Or at the very least TRY to keep her away from him."

"Speak of the Devil..." Chris saw Tina sauntering over to her desk across from Gavin's desk and gave Gavin a small wave. "Good luck man, we're REALLY glad you're back!"

Tina saw the sly grin on Chris's lips and knew something was up. Sitting down at her desk Tina neatly interlaced her fingers together and rested her chin atop her fingers as she propped her elbows up on her desk all while locking eyes with Gavin. "So... What was THAT about?"

"You already know what it was about, Ti." Unwilling to play those kinds of games after everything he went through with his dangerous and now late ex-boyfriend. "Do us all a favor, leave Connor alone. The guy doesn't need to have his emotions toyed with."

"Hey... First of all, I wasn't going to 'toy' with him, I was just going to see how interested he'd be in taking a possible plus-one to the anniversary thing ceremony tomorrow night." There was no malice in her words, only mischief. "And second of all, since when did you really see Connor as a 'guy'? You always call him 'Tinman' and things like that."

"Let's just say after he helped you and Sarah Lee save my life, then took care of Aria for a couple of days, I just want to do something nice for him. It isn't fun when you feel like ya' got people stalking you and lusting after you. It really fucks with your head."

"I get it." Sympathetic to Gavin's personal experiences Tina decided she'd back off and just watch everything from a distance. "Okay, I won't do anything to Connor."

"Thank you."

"BUT... That doesn't mean I won't be keeping an eye on things with him."

"You're not about to try to play matchmaker with Connor or Hank, are you?"

"What's wrong with that?"

"Nothing. It's just a little presumptuous of you to assume they need or want help." Nodding toward Chris's desk Gavin made it clear he knew everything that was going on despite being gone for a few weeks. "Chris brought me up to speed on everything, so don't even try to give me the sad puppy-dog eyes on this one while crying innocent."

"Damn." Sinking back in her chair in defeat Tina twirled a pen between her fingers as she watched Chris chatting with Sarah Lee at her desk while Ben brought them up to speed on his own casework. "Who knew that Chris was such a proud Gossip-Queen?"

The bullpen suddenly grew heavy as Hank and Connor returned to the precinct after their lunchbreak and did their best to not look anyone in the eyes. It was clear that neither detective appreciated having their personal and romantic lives being discussed by their colleagues.

"It's too bad Connor isn't more receptive to dating someone in the precinct." Tina lamented as she resumed her own work and tucked her pen behind her ear. "It'd be adorable to watch him navigate a budding romance with all the grace of a drunken gazelle."

Ignoring the bait Gavin logged into his terminal and gave his friend an odd glance over his screen. "You always did have a way with words, Ti."

November 11th, 2039: New Jericho Tower

The ceremony to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the peaceful Revolution was set to begin the moment the sun set in the horizon. The five leaders of New Jericho, along with their two honorary leaders and Bruno, were standing together outside the tower and along the shoreline of the harbor overlooking the surrounding lake. A large white marble and gray stone memorial dedicated to the deviants who had lost their lives before and during the Revolution was set to be revealed at the end of the drive that encircled the tower, and Markus would be the one to remove the white sheet covering the monument. The monument itself had been a secret project Markus had undertaken while coping with his past traumas. Until it was time to begin the ceremony the seven leaders chose to speak amongst themselves along the sandy shoreline and air their personal pain as a means of finally healing.

As per Josh's suggestion, the leaders began speaking of their past experiences and of how they shaped them into the people that they had become. Everyone knew each other's pasts save for Connor and Lucy, but they didn't feel the need to know their full histories since the two deviants had proven to be invaluable guardians and protectors for their people. As for Lucas, his story was the most well-known, but now worthy of a few highlights rewrites to ensure everyone knew who he was inside and out, and who he was striving to become.

"Life continues on even when it seems like everything should stop." Connor lamented as he thought about what had happened on that particular day in the original timeline. Even though Ralph was gone and couldn't possibly harm Hank, he couldn't help but worry about another tragedy happening that night. "The prospect of trying to understand life and stave off death has really... altered my perspective on life."

Lucas agreed as he put his palm on Bruno's ears and looked down at the loyal K-9 unit sitting beside his leg. "I had let anger and circumstances beyond my control continue to control my emotions even after I had been granted freedom. Only when I learned what it meant to care for someone else did I understand the importance of happiness and forgiveness. I can only hope that others can look at me and feel the same way."

Markus nodded as he tightened his hand around North's hand and gave her a searching smile. "Carl had taught me many things about being human starting the first day I had entered his life. It wasn't until after I recognized the need to fight back and defend myself did I actually understand that humanity is going to be the most complex and enduring challenge of my life."

Taking in a deep breath North dared to speak of her own feelings and express them in front of her friends and colleagues. "It wasn't until I was rescued from Hell did I realize that there was a life worth living and a form of Heaven waiting for us all. I was in denial of my deviancy out of fear, and now I embrace it fully with only courage thanks to my friends and future bondmate."

"For a long time, I thought I had lost the only family I would ever have." Simon spoke up softly as he looked over at Josh and took his hand in his own. It was a subtle gesture but one that didn't go unappreciated or supported. "And then I found my way to Jericho and discovered that I wasn't the only one who had to flee a home and a family in order to survive. Now here we all are together; a family that will never turn their backs on one another."

"Running from people trying to destroy me was the moment I opened my eyes." Josh confirmed as he squeezed Simon's hand softly. "I ended up running for what felt like a lifetime before I bumped met Simon and found sanctuary within Jericho. I'm not sure what I would've done without either of them, and now I'm here in a place where I know I belong."

Quiet and composed Lucy reached out and took Connor's hand for herself then did the same Josh. As she took their hands the other leaders knew to reach out and take each other's hands as well to create a circle of trust and allegiance that'd never be broken.

"We have all experienced waves of smothering darkness and blinding light." It was easy for Lucy to read the hearts of her allies as they opened themselves to her without fear or hesitation. "When the darkness seemed insurmountable, we used that blinding light to guide us and push the darkness away without letting ourselves become blinded to the world and the people around us. We've come to understand that without darkness no light can be seen, and without light shadows cannot be cast. We have learned to exist within the twilight that lies between and no longer fear darkness without needing to fully hide in the light."

Twilight. The moment light and darkness coexist in the same sky overlooking the city. How appropriate that the memorial was to be unveiled as the sun set on that historic evening.

Markus looked out at the horizon and could see the sun beginning its descent into the night. "It's almost time. Our people need us to begin the ceremony."

Slowly everyone released their hands as they walked alongside Markus up the shore and toward the tower. The seven deviants all gathered around the memorial and picked up one of seven dark blue candles at the base of the memorial to hold before themselves. Markus bore a lighter, the same one that helped him to keep his people warm when he found Jericho and would light each candle as the ceremony began.

Deviants began filing out of the tower and down the drive to partake in the ceremony. Many deviants were those who had crossed over the border to Canada the previous year and were finally home thanks to North and Connor's project to locate them. Familiar deviants such as Kara, Luther and their now adopted daughter Alice, the rogue Rupert, all of the Jerry models and even the newly awoken Chloe had all gathered together just for that night's ceremony. Whereas other deviants had planned on moving into the tower or residing in the deviant neighborhood once the houses had been restored had gathered on that night to see the miracle that was their freedom with their own eyes.

A few friendly humans had also arrived to pay their respects; including Hank, Cole, Carl, Abby, Joel, Rose Chapman and most surprisingly Evelyn. No one dared to question each other or their motivations behind their presence at the ceremony. They were all there out of respect and a need to show their support.

"Thank you all for gathering here on this important night." Speaking loud and clear Markus addressed the gathered onlookers with respect and appreciation being carried in his every word. "As you all know, many deviants gave their lives so that we could live on and fight the rights and freedom we have attained one year ago on this date. Tonight, we honor those who have been lost with a memorial dedicated to their sacrifices and their memories. We will also light candles to honor a deviant who was important to us in some way to give them a presence that we otherwise wouldn't be able to feel."

Holding his candle in a strong grip Markus flicked his lighter to life and ignited the long wick to burn brightly and hot on that brisk November night.

"This candle I light in memory of Miles. The deviant who gave up his own life so that I could live after I had been taken to Chicago." Markus had been affected by Miles's death in a way he couldn't put into words, but he could put into actions and images. "I can never repay him for his sacrifice, but I can dedicate this night and this memorial to his name, his memory, and his life."

As he held the candle with both hands Markus looked out into the crowd and saw Evelyn standing next to Hank. Seeing her there only helped him to forgive his past actions and accept that help for deviants was growing, not shrinking. Support was all around him.

Moving forward Connor held out his own candle and lit its wick from Markus's burning candle. With a shaking voice Connor spoke out as he dedicated his candle to the memory of the deviant who had the biggest impact on his life in not just one lifetime, but two.

"His name was Ralph." Connor called out as he held his own candle with both hands. "He was a deviant who had suffered greatly and needed help. I had failed to give him the help that he needed before tragedy struck, and my inability to do anything to help him and stop needless death and destruction will always be my biggest regret. He'll live on through memories, and I hope to RA9 that he is now at peace."

Hank put his hands on Cole's shoulders as his young son stood before him in the crowd. He knew what Connor was really speaking about and he was touched that even now the deviant detective was coming to terms with what had happened.

Lucas followed suit and lit his own candle as he and Bruno stood alongside Connor. "Daniel had been labeled a threat when in reality he had only been terrified by own his existence and awareness. I was tasked with stopping him and bringing the incident revolving around this deviant to a peaceful conclusion. As you all know, I failed. I can't undo my mistakes," it was a hard admission but one that felt freeing all the same. "but I can learn from them and hopefully bring Daniel a sense of peace."

Slowly a hooded figure walked through the crowd and watched as North, Simon, Josh and Lucy all lit a candle to honor the memories of the deviants who had fallen. From where they stood the figure could see and hear everything without being noticed by anyone. Well, anyone except Chloe who had picked up on their presence quickly as she stood alongside Hank in the crowd and tried to not look their way.

"These candles will burn throughout the night and keep the spirits of those who can no longer be with us alive." Markus gave his candle to North to hold as he proudly took hold of the sheet covering the monument to unveil it at last. "We dedicate not only this night to our fallen people, but this memorial will stand in their place. Let it forever stand tall, pure and indestructible just like the spirit of any deviant."

With a firm pull Markus unveiled the memorial and stepped back to take in its appearance. Three deviant statues stood together in a circle with their arms raised toward the sky. A sphere with the deviant symbol for freedom carved into the side rested atop of the outstretched fingertips of the three deviants in a delicate balance as a wave of coding emanated from the sphere and wrapped around the three deviant statues like a silky scarf billowing in the wind.

It was a design created between Markus and Carl, and ultimately brought to life by the deviant leader as he coped with his P.T.S.D. after surviving Chicago and being brought home.

"This monument; 'Eternal Future', will remain here for as long as New Jericho Tower stands tall." Fearlessly Markus addressed his people and kept his composure for the sake of his people's own strength. "Our struggle and our people will never be forgotten, this monument is proof enough of that promise that I'm making to you tonight."

One by one the seven candles were placed at the circular base of the monument to glow and illuminate the statues. As the sun had set in the distance the glow of the candles became brighter in the night's presence.

"Dad?" Cole looked up at Hank and gave him a curious stare. "How come the androids have to keep doing stuff to prove that they're alive?"

"Because some people are too blinded by hatred to see what's right in front of their noses. Come on." Giving Cole's shoulder a small push Hank guided Cole through the crowd to see the monument closer and speak with both Connor and Lucas. He saw Evelyn walking alongside him and knew that she wanted to express her respects as well, while Abby and Joel went to speak with the other deviant leaders. "Let's see what else can be done before we head for home."

Connor stared at the monument as he felt a strange sense of relief fall over him. It was as if he was finally able to forgive himself for what he had done to Ralph and now knew that his mistakes of the past wouldn't always affect his decision or damage his reputation as a good deviant.

"That was beautiful."

Turning around quickly Connor saw Evelyn standing alongside Hank and felt his Thirium pump skip a beat. "Evelyn... What're you doing here?"

"Markus reached out and told me about this ceremony last week. It wasn't easy, but I got the time I needed to come here and pay my respects." Evelyn reached under the lapel of her unzipped jacket and revealed a white lily that she had purchased before arriving at the isle. Placing it down beside Connor's candle Evelyn gave the deviant detective a reassuring smile. "I'm glad that I did. It's the least I can do as Chicago's lone deviant detective you know."

Hank smirked as he saw Connor blush again as he and Evelyn reunited for a moment. Turning his attention toward Lucas the senior detective saw him speaking with Chloe and then looking out into the crowd in alarm. Sensing something was amiss Hank looked into the crowd as well and saw a hooded figure standing back and watching the crowd gathering around the monument.

"Son of a bitch..." Discreetly Hank made a move for his gun on his hip only to have Lucas grab his wrist and keep him from drawing the weapon. Turning his head quickly Hank saw Lucas beside him and tried to figure out what was happening. "What're you doing?"

"It's all right. It's just Kamski." Lucas confirmed as he kept his eyes on Kamski remaining within the thick of the crowd. With a stern gaze he silently warned Kamski to not say or do anything unless he wanted to be dragged before resentful deviants and beaten to within an inch of his life. "He just wants to pay his respects without drawing any attention. He's going to leave without making a scene or speaking to Connor, I swear it."

"He better beat it soon." Lowering his arm Hank gave Lucas a stern look as he reminded the deviant of his policy on being armed without good cause. "I don't like carrying my gun off the clock, but I knew it'd be better to be prepared for something like tonight. That includes someone like Kamski slinking around."

"I assure you that it's okay. Keep your weapon holstered, I'll be watching him."

"Yeah, all right." Taking in a deep breath Hank tried to ignore the pompous jerk in the crowd as he checked in on Cole. When he didn't see Cole standing where he last saw him Hank began to panic and call out for his son. "Cole? Where are you?!"

An unfamiliar feminine voice replied as she approached Hank and lightly put her hand to his bicep as she pointed Hank in the right direction. "He's right there. I watched him walk over there while you were talking."

Hank turned and saw Cole talking to a little girl a year or two younger than he was as the little girl stood with her deviant parents. He didn't recognize her, but he wasn't about to keep Cole from making any friends or discourage him from being social.

"That's Alice." The woman continued as she tried to put Hank's mind at ease. "She's a sweet little girl who had been rescued from a terrible situation by Kara and then protected by Luther. They're living in Canada together and raising Alice as their own as their own family."

"Well, they all look happy." Relaxing a little Hank took in the sight of the small and unusual family then saw Cole laughing and smiling as well. Everything was now under control and everyone was getting along. "Uh, thanks. How do you know about Alice anyway? Oh, uh, I'm Lieutenant Hank Anderson by the way."

"Rose Chapman." Introducing herself politely Rose informed Hank of her past with the trio and why she was there at the isle. It was a brief but memorable story that confirmed that Rose was an ally to all deviants and people in need regardless of circumstances. "I take it you're here for a personal reason too, right?"

"Yeah. Connor and Lucas are my other kids," he motioned to the two deviant brothers without taking his eyes off of Rose's radiant smile. "and I needed to be here to support them."

"That's so sweet. My own son is graduated high school this year and is already away at college. I miss having kids to support."

"Cole's my youngest and is going to be a middle schooler next year. I have no idea where the time went. Well," rubbing his hand along bearded his chin Hank gave Rose a sheepish grin. "aside from all over my face that it."

Laughing at the joke Rose stayed with Hank to chat him up in a friendly and compassionate manner. There was something charming about Hank that drew Rose toward the man, and there was something warm and welcoming about Rose's presence that made Hank want to stand beside her. It had been some time since either had felt such a connection to another person, and that was a connection that neither wanted to lose.

Happily, Connor spoke with Evelyn, while Cole befriended Alice, and Lucas reunited with Chloe as they watched Kamski leave the crowd as silent as he had arrived. Markus was happy to speak with Abby and Joel regarding technical support outside the tower and extend New Jericho's coverage and protection beyond Belle Isle itself.

It was as if on that single night at that single moment, every heart in the city had reached out and touched one another to ensure proper healing and true support, equality and tolerance for the future. Little did anyone know that the historical night would become a night no one would forget for reasons that were seemingly tied to fate and to the future that awaited them at the following dawn.

-next chapter-