Father.

The term and reality was so familiar for humans and yet it was a seemingly impossible role for a deviant to take upon himself.

But not anymore.

Everything had changed and now anything was possible.

Connor was left effectively mute, awestruck and expectedly stunned by Abby's life changing words. As she continued to hold his now trembling hand against her laboring belly Connor almost jumped when he felt the small baby kicking against his palm again, and felt a sudden weight pressed against his heart as it began to thunder in his chest with uncontrollable emotions. Breaking his gaze from Abby's bright hazel eyes he looked down at her large belly under his hand where he felt the baby still kicking, his baby, and looked back up at her as if expecting her to say something else about the miraculous situation that he had been brought into.

"H-How..." Connor stammered and immediately trailed off with awkwardness as he stared at Abby with utter loss in his massive soulful brown eyes. "I-I don't... This is impossible! We never... We spent the night together once before, but we were never... We didn't... We're friends! What's happening, Abby?"

"Connor, it's going to be okay. Take in a deep breath and try to calm down." Abby stated in a soothing voice as she could see that Connor was thoroughly confused, almost frightened, and seemed like he was on the verge of losing his cool. "Listen to me, let me tell you what happened. You did nothing wrong, okay? Just listen to what I'm saying and take in a deep breath."

Unable to move, let alone speak, all Connor could do was stare at Abby with his absolute full attention as he tried to keep breathing.

"That D.N.A. sample that I took from your blood ten months ago gave me a look at your technical aesthetic parameters." Abby spoke with such a confidence that it was enough to keep Connor grounded as he listened. "When I finished analyzing the sample with Dr. Wilson we noticed that the parameters were equivalent to the genetic allele markers found in human D.N.A., and like human D.N.A. those parameters can be selected and activated at will. It's connected to the software androids use to alter their aesthetics; hair color, hair length, artificial skin tone... You get the idea."

"I still don't... Abby, how is this possible?" Too stunned to move Connor tried to process everything that she was telling him and he could feel his heart beating so hard he was certain that Abby could actually see the biocomponent pressing up against his chest with each thrum. "My D.N.A. isn't organic."

"No, it's not. BUT with a little clever bio-engineering and A LOT of favors called in, Dr. Wilson and I were able to have some fun with genetics and we discovered that we could apply your D.N.A. parameter markers on a donated human sperm sample and override the human's traits with that of your own. Essentially we theorized we could splice android D.N.A. with human D.N.A. to transfer the android likeness over the organic sample and give a biological connection to the deviant parent despite not being organic. All of this happens with the baby remaining one-hundred percent human but genetically connected to the deviant parent or parents."

A sharp contraction stole Abby's voice and made Connor's hand tense up as he could feel the muscles in her abdomen tighten in response. As the contraction ebbed away Abby breathed steadily and Connor's hand relaxed a little as well. Everything quieted down for a moment and it seemed as though everything was somehow natural.

The deviant who just discovered he was about to be a father was thoroughly stunned, but now understood the incredible breakthrough in the relationships between humans and deviants. A breakthrough he had the honor of taking part of as the first deviant android to father a biological child.

Connor was going to have a child of his own.

"Abby... You... You did this for me?" Slowly pulling his trembling hand away Connor leaned back in his chair and stared down at his shaking palm in shock as he tried to process everything that was happening to him. "I... But, why?"

"Because you're a good guy and deserve to be happy! I know that you and Skye wanted to have kids, and I know that you both would've fought side by side for decades to adopt a child in need. When she died I know a piece of you died along with her. I will never replace her Connor, but she was my friend and we shared a lot of aesthetic similarities. Just as we altered your D.N.A. to splice with organic human D.N.A., we took a volunteered sample from a deviant who was the same model as Skye and applied the same science to my own egg. I'm carrying the child you and Skye could never have yourselves."

"Th-That's... I... I don't know... what to say." The very human emotions were overwhelming both Connor's heart and his voice. "Other than... thank you. I honestly... don't know what else to say. This is... This is too much to ask of anyone! Even from a friend..."

"It was my choice, Connor. I wanted to do this for you."

"It's such a huge sacrifice to... to your body and your free time... even to your ability to work as a technician and your finances. It's all so much and I can never repay you for-"

"Connor." Collected as ever Abby did her best to get Connor to calm down and breathe again. "Don't worry about it."

"I can't brush this off as if you simply held a door open for me. You're... You're giving me something truly priceless and I... It's just too amazing to truly think about. You're giving me a family of my own."

"Well, stop thinking about it. I know that by being a single parent with a dangerous career your chances of adopting a child were already low, but being a deviant - even with all the progress in the laws and rights in place, would make it nearly impossible. It's not fair that you'd be denied a child because of a very outdated and frankly, offensive, view of the law regarding what makes a happy home and when it comes to parentage. And I wanted to help you."

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Connor was still shaking, but logic was beginning to force his emotions back into line. "This is... a shock. A true shock."

"Because I know you. You're one of the most protective guys on this whole planet. If you knew I was carrying your child you would've personally assigned yourself as my private bodyguard against my will. And to be honest, I wouldn't be able to handle being put in a protective bubble for nine months."

Replacing her hand over Connor's hand after he retracted his palm from her belly, Abby gave him another comforting squeeze.

"Not to mention seeing the heartbreak you had suffered when you were denied by the adoption agency and your reluctance to even try again because you didn't want to be crushed by disappointment just really got to me. If I had told you that I was going to try to conceive and then carry a child for you as a big 'fuck you' to the rules, only to have things fail or suffer a complication... I just never wanted to see that look of absolute heartbreak in your eyes ever again."

The deviant didn't respond. Instead he slowly bowed his head as if he were either ashamed or frightened of what was happening. In reality he was just feeling the true gravity of the situation and was struggling bear it on his shoulders and within the confines of his healing broken heart.

"Connor? Are you going to be okay?"

"You're giving me... a child. That's..." Tears welled up in soulful brown Connor's eyes and he fought to control a sob of gratitude. "There are no words, no way I could ever possibly thank you enough for this!"

"You finally being able to have a family and being happy is all that matters." Abby held on tight to his hand as she felt his grip slowly beginning to tighten around her fingers. "You're the type of person who'd scale Mount Everest to help a total stranger when that same person wouldn't bother to cross the street for you. You've done so much to help everyone else and it's about time someone went that extra step to help you."

"Abby... I..." Still without any words all Connor could do was stand up quickly and throw his arms around her in a tight hug. He held her as tightly as he dared as tears of gratitude rolled down his face and fell onto the pillow behind her head. "...Thank you so much for this. Thank you for everything."

Two hours had passed by and Abby's labor was progressing slowly but smoothly. Connor remained by her side throughout the entire ordeal as she neared the time to deliver, and was becoming increasingly restless as he waited to meet his child. After having her epidural Abby's pain had lessened considerably but she was still very uncomfortable thanks to all the pressure in her core. To keep herself calm and ready for delivery Abby took a small nap to rest a little before giving birth and Connor watched her full term belly with great interest. Putting his right hand back over her belly lightly without disturbing Abby's rest, he smiled as tears returned to his soulful eyes and he spoke to his unborn son.

The small kicks and fluttering movement helped Connor accept that he wasn't dreaming. He was really going to have a child of his own.

"Hello, there. I... I didn't know you and I were destined to be together as a family, and to be honest I was scared when I found out. But now that I've had time to think and learn of Abby's reasons for bringing you into the world so we can be a family, I'm very excited to meet you. I promise I'll be the best father that I can be and keep you safe."

Very lightly he leaned forward and pressed his right ear to the pregnant belly and listened to his son's rapid and soft heartbeat.

"I will make sure you're always happy, no matter what."

A light knocking on the opened door drew Connor's eyes upward where he saw Hank casually leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed over his chest and sly smirk on his face. The excited gleam in his blue eyes was more abundant than ever as he watched Connor speaking to his unborn son and promising to devote his whole life to making sure the baby was going to have a wonderful life.

It was then Connor understood why Hank had been so anxious as of late and sat back in his seat as he gave his father an almost accusatory glance from the other side of the room. "...You knew."

"Yeah, I knew. But I didn't know until two months back." Entering the room Hank stood on the other side of the bed across from his son and lowered his voice to ensure he didn't disturb Abby's sleep either. "Gavin told me at the precinct while you were doing your own thing on your anniversary, and said that Abby wanted to tell you about it herself. I didn't know she was going to wait until the day of it actually happening though."

"I wish I had known earlier." Connor admitted as he realized that the house didn't have anything for a baby waiting for their return. "I could've prepared for this day in advance."

"Relax, son. I gotcha' covered."

"Huh?" The look of bewilderment on Connor's face was genuine and sweet. "How's that?"

"Why do you think I suddenly started messin' with all that stuff at the storage locker? I've been sorting through some of Cole's old things to give to the baby and everything's back at the house ready to go."

"Thank you, dad." Connor smiled appreciatively as he looked over at Abby still sleeping peacefully in the bed. "Is Gavin here, yet?"

"Yeah, he got Chris to cover his shift and he's with Aria in the waiting room. He said he'd wait outside until it was over since, you know, it's your baby."

Abby groaned in pain and woke up suddenly as her labor progressed steadily and was focusing in her lower back instead of just her belly.

"Abby?" Pressing his palm down lightly against her arm Connor gauged her pain level and stood up next to the bed. "What can I do to help?"

"...My back!" She hissed through her gritted teeth. "It feels like all of the pressure is in my back!"

Hank reacted quickly and stepped out of the room as he remembered a few things from when his own wife was in labor. "Hold on, Abby. I know what to do."

Connor was personally at a loss but he wasn't going to let his friend lay in pain alone. Staying with Abby in the room he helped the laboring woman to roll from her sore back and onto her left side. As she moved the pressure moved from her spine, but the pain was still relentless.

"Babe?" Gavin entered the room while Hank stayed outside with Aria. Moving over to the bed Gavin ran his fingers through Abby's hair and spoke to her in a comforting and supportive manner. "Come on. You can do this!"

"Gavin! Shit this hurts!"

"Yeah, I can tell. Hold up." Compassionately Gavin proceeded to gently rub at Abby's back to try to soothe her discomfort and make it easier for her to endure the painful contraction. "You can do this, you did it before with Aria and you did it without any pain killers."

"DON'T. REMIND ME."

While Gavin tended to Abby's pain and did his best to comfort his laboring wife Connor had taken his leave of the room and was pacing anxiously up and down the corridor with Hank watching his every step.

As the deviant walked the length of the corridor and back Hank just shook his head as he held Aria in his arms as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Connor. Everything will be fine."

"I hate waiting." The deviant stated as he continued to pace. "I... I don't know what's going to happen."

"I don't think Abby is having any more fun waiting than you are, son. But now that you're about to be a father you'll need to understand patience more than ever from this moment on."

"I... I know. I'm just... I don't know how to describe it." Stopping before Hank for a moment Connor shook his head a little as he tried to find the word to describe what he was feeling. "Scared?"

"You're not the first one to be scared before their child is born. I was petrified when Cole was born but when it was all over I was suddenly fearless." Seeing that the deviant was stressing himself out Hank tried a new tactic and adjusted Aria on his hip. "Thought of any names for the baby?"

"...No." Connor continued to pace about as his thoughts were overwhelmed by so much so quickly. "I didn't even know I was going to have a child, let alone think of what I was going to call my own child."

"You'll know what to name the baby as soon as you hold them in your arms. That's how I was with Cole. I was leaning toward the name 'Bryan' for a long time, probably why I almost went with that for your middle name, but something about just didn't feel right. Once Barbara and I saw Cole for the first time the name just fit him like a glove and we never looked back."

"Once I hold my baby... I'm..." The deviant suddenly stopped pacing again and stared at Hank. "I'm really going to be a father." Connor beamed happily only to have his smile disappear as doubts set in his mind. "But... What if I can't do this?"

"Son, you CAN do this. I know you can."

"Why am I so frightened all of a sudden? I've wanted a child of my own for so long, but now that I have one on the way I'm suddenly so scared and full of doubts. Where did they come from?"

Hank couldn't stop himself from smiling as he stood before Connor and put his hand on the back on Connor's head to hold him still. "Because that's what EVERY 'soon-to-be father' feels and experiences. It's normal. That's like a hazing ceremony for all new dads."

"...'Dad'." Connor parroted the word and his eyes soulful brown eyes lit up. He looked at Aria smiling in Hank's arms and immediately all of his doubts vanished. "I'm really going to be a dad."

"Yup." The pride in Hank's voice was palpable and genuine. "It's finally happening, son. YOU get to be a DAD, too."

"And you're going to be a grandfather."

"I think I like the term 'Papa' over 'grandfather' or 'grandpa'." Hank replied without missing a beat. "Makes me sound hip and young."

Connor just laughed as Hank pulled him in for a hug. "Well, 'Papa Hank' does have a very endearing ring to it."

"You're going to be a great dad, son. I know it."

"Yeah, I think you're right." Reciprocating the hug Connor let out another breath of utter emotion he held tightly onto Hank in a warm embrace, his left arm wrapping around Aria in the process to give his goddaughter a hug, too. "I learned from the best."

After four hours of increasing labor, contractions and her water breaking, it was finally time for Abby to push. As Abby squeezed onto Connor's hand with mounting pain and pressure in her abdomen and in her lower back, she knew it was time to finally bring the new life into the world and give her friend the one thing he wanted more than anything in the world. Abby was ready to push and it seemed like the baby was ready to born. Abby's attending obstetrician checked her progress and confirmed that she was ready to deliver and ensured that Connor had been changed into the proper sterilized dark blue scrubs while Abby was as comfortable as she could be.

The team of doctors and nurses saw the delivery as business as usual, none of them knowing that they were actually passing through a moment in history as they were about to help deliver a very special baby. A baby who'd know only love and happiness throughout his life.

"Okay, Abby." The doctor, Dr. Darius, confirmed that it was indeed time after she checked on the laboring woman's progress. "You're fully dilated and ready to push on the next contraction."

Hank leaned over the bed and gave Abby a small kiss on the top of her hair before he excused himself from the room. "I'll be outside with Gavin, good luck, Abby." Turning to look at his son with a proud smile Hank pointed at the deviant with a knowing glance. "Connor, I'm happy for you and I know you're going to be over the moon."

Gavin held Aria in his arms as too leaned down and kissed Abby on the cheek and gave her hand a final squeeze. "Hang in there, babe. You got this! I love you and we'll celebrate with that expensive champagne back home!"

As the two detectives took their leave of the room Dr. Darius helped Abby place her ankles up in the stirrups at the end of her bed. The attending nurse adjusted the head of the bed so Abby could sit upright and lean forward slightly into a more comfortable position as she pushed. Ready for everything to finally happen Connor held onto Abby's hand as she prepared to push and give birth to the deviant's son.

"Everything is good to go." Dr. Darius was dressed in teal scrubs with latex gloves over her hands. Her demeanor spoke volumes of years of professional experience. Taking her position at the end of the bed she gave Abby a single nod. "You know what to do. When you feel the next contraction bear down and push for as long as you can."

"Yeah, okay..." Abby panted as she tightened her hand around Connor's hand. Looking up at the deviant while the nurse wiped sweat from her brow she gave Connor an amused glance. "You were there when Aria was born, too. Are you ready for this?"

"I am." Connor confirmed with a level confident voice as he tightened his hand around Abby's hand in response. "I'm ready to be a father."

"Okay." Dr. Darius called out as she watched Abby's progress and timed her contraction down the second. "Push!"

Abby held her breath and bore down with everything she had as she began to push with the next contraction right on cue. As she pushed with all her strength Connor supported her and waited for any sign of the baby, his baby, to arrive.

"Good, very good..." The seasoned doctor encouraged as she continued to monitor Abby's progress. "Just like that, push again!"

With each push the baby was inching closer and closer to being born, and with that Connor was closer and closer to finally becoming a father. What felt like an eternity of pushing came to an end as the baby neared making his grand entrance into the world.

"All right, the head's crowning." Dr. Darius announced as Abby let out a sharp pained yelp in response. "This is the worst part, but you can do this! Pant your breaths and I'll ease out the head so you don't tear."

"FUCK." Abby swore loudly as she panted and waited for the doctor to ease the head out under a gentle touch. Her hand tightened like a vice around Connor's hand, and he let her squeeze as much as she wanted to endure the pain. "The epidural is wearing off! I should've asked for a double-shot!"

"Almost there..." Patient and calm Dr. Darius encouraged Abby to hold out for a few seconds more as the nurse placed a cool cloth against Abby's hot forehead and helped the laboring woman by supporting her body in a more upright position on the bed. "Push again!"

With the next push the baby's first shoulder slipped through and then the second. One final push was all it took for the tiny newborn to slip into the doctor's hands and begin to wail loudly as he took his first breath of life in the real world after his airway was cleared.

"It's a healthy boy." With a proud voice Dr. Darius announced the successful delivery as she tended to the newborn and the nurse took care of Abby post delivery. Holding up the squirming crying baby in her hands toward Connor Dr. Darius smiled at the deviant and asked him a question he wasn't expecting. "Would the father like to cut the cord?"

Connor's eyes were filled with tears as he looked at his newborn son, his right hand slowly letting go of Abby's hand as he was presented with the sharp sterilized surgical scissors. "...Yes. I want to do this."

With a quick snip of the scissors Connor felt a strange sense of pride and completeness enter his heart as he cut through the tied off cord and stared at his newborn son for the very first time.

Ever the professional Dr. Darius quickly cleaned up the baby and swaddled him in a soft white towel before he handed the newborn over to Connor's awaiting arms to hold for himself. "Congratulations, Mr. Anderson. Here's your son."

"...My son." Connor whispered in awe as he held the newborn baby close to his racing heart. "He's my son."

Making sure Connor had a supportive hold of the newborn Dr. Darius turned her attention back to Abby to ensure she wasn't suffering any postpartum complications. "You're both doing well, Abby. Take a moment to catch your breath and we'll take you up to recovery in a minute after I get you cleaned up."

The swaddled newborn quieted slowly as he settled into Connor's warm arms and opened his dark blue eyes for the first time. It was as if the baby knew that Connor was his father and was instantly calm by seeing him. Feeling safe and secured in the deviant's protective arms the small baby looked content and quickly settled into his father's warm embrace for the very first time.

Sitting down in the chair beside the bed before his shaking legs gave way underneath him, Connor smiled his rarely seen true, full smile - one of a sincere happiness from his heart and not one of social politeness, and looked over at Abby proudly. "Abby... He's beautiful."

"...He looks just like you." She grinned proudly as the nurse tended to her after the delivery and wiped the lingering sweat from her forehead. "But, you know, smaller."

"Thank you for this, Abby." Connor held the baby closer to his chest in a warm hug and felt his heart lighten considerably. "Thank you for everything... You gave me a son. I have a son."

"You're welcome." Abby smiled almost as brilliantly as Connor as the doctor and nurse readied her to be taken out of the delivery room and into her own private recovery room elsewhere. "Talk to him, Connor. You two have only just met and need to be properly introduced."

Looking down at the small baby who was looking back up at him, the new father took in an emotionally calming breath and let it out slowly. He didn't know what to say or even how to begin. It was all so new. "This is all so new and incredible for me to finally experience." Letting his tears of joy roll down his face Connor just stared at his son's face in true awe and love. "...What do I say to him?"

Abby was thoroughly impressed by how emotional Connor had become and couldn't keep herself from grinning. "How about... 'Hi'?"

Finding the courage to finally speak to his son Connor held him tightly and glanced down at the newborn lovingly as his voice returned and his tears continued to flow in a steady stream. The words he spoke seemed so natural and perfect for the unforgettable moment he was sharing with his newborn son.

"Hi, Henry."

Connor beamed with his seldom seen full smile still on his face with his joyful tears glistening in his soulful brown eyes. Holding his swaddled newborn son closer to his chest and against his thundering heart Connor began to cry with unspeakable happiness as he looked into the infant's dark blue eyes and greeted him with a loving and warm voice.

"I'm your dad!"

-next chapter-