The painful concussion kept Hank on the injured reserved list for a full week, and of course Connor volunteered to stay home with him as he healed. It was relatively easy for Hank to get the additional rest that he needed in order to recover, but Connor himself was having some trouble sleeping after their painfully close call that he, Hank and Markus had with the vengeful minded Benjamin Perkins of Quondam. More often than not, Hank would find Connor sitting on the couch juggling his coin nervously with Sumo sprawled protectively over his lap at obnoxiously early hours of the morning. The deviant wasn't sleeping well, and it was beginning to show as the days wore on at a snail's pace.

It wasn't the first time that either detective had struggled with insomnia, but with any luck it'd be the last. Hank was making peace with his past and he hoped that Connor would be able to do the same very soon. Letting go of the painful past to embrace a future full of healing was a mindset that Hank never thought he'd achieve in his lifetime. Now that he had it, he wanted to share it with his new family.

"Kid, you need to get some sleep." Hank urged as he joined the deviant in the livingroom at four in the morning and snatched the coin from Connor's hand. Connor didn't even react to the loss of his coin, instead he dropped his hand and sighed. "What's bothering you so much?"

"...Everything."

"By 'everything' you mean what Quondam and what Benjamin Perkins tried to do, right?"

Connor quietly nodded and began to slowly pet Sumo's fur with his freed hand much to the large dog's delight.

"It's over, son. We're safe, Markus is safe, and Benjamin is back behind bars where he won't be able to hurt anyone else." Sitting down in the recliner next to the couch Hank let out a sleepy yawn and pressed his head down against the palm of his hand as he leaned forward slightly where he sat. "What's really the matter?"

"...One person can change the world for the better." The deviant's soulful brown eyes were distant, almost as if in a trance. "Just like Markus did. And one person can change the world for the worst."

"Like Benjamin."

"How can one person willingly hold so much hatred in their heart?" After enduring his own personal hardships and heartbreak Connor couldn't imagine anyone voluntarily allowing to let their hearts ache so much. "It's toxic and it hurts to let hate reside there."

"Yeah." Hank gave the deviant a weak smile of approval. "It really does. But some people find it easier to hate than to learn to understand anything else."

"He was ready to kill us to prove a point, and that point was that hatred was stronger than love. He was wrong. All we did was survive and keep one another safe to prove that point. That was enough to show the entire city that tolerance and coexistence is possible. Even though the city has come to accept deviants as equals, there will always be one more person full of hate trying to prove the opposite. What's the point in fighting back anymore?"

"You can't change the hearts of every single person in the world in one night. It's impossible."

"Why not?"

"Humans are fickle, unpredictable, and dangerous in large numbers." Hank's response was only factual, not malicious. "It'll get better, but it takes time. And time is unforgiving to us all."

"I hate waiting."

"Don't I know it." The senior detective chuckled to himself as he blinked slowly through his sleepy eyelids. "Waiting seems to be your worst enemy."

"How can you be so calm about everything that had just happened?" Connor looked visibly agitated but he never stopped petting Sumo. "He was ready to kill us all."

"I've been a cop for a very long time. I've come to terms with my mortality a long time ago. I won't live forever, not that I want to. I'd get bored." Hank shrugged casually as he watched Connor's own uncertainty regarding life and death flash over his face. "The idea of dying doesn't bother me, but the thought of losing someone I care about still makes me flinch."

"I don't want you to die. I was already scared when Markus was taken, but when I thought he was going after you I was absolutely terrified. But..." His hand paused along Sumo's back as he spoke. "Were you ready to die?"

"It's not that simple."

"Then why did you offer yourself up so readily?"

"Because I didn't want either you or Markus to die, son. I'm the oldest of you two, I've lived a pretty good life, and you both have so much more you need to accomplish in this world. It made sense for me to roll the dice and offer myself up for that damn 'experiment'. I guess you could say it was the logical choice to make."

"If you died then I don't... I don't know what I'd do."

"You'd probably be sad, but you'd live." Hank replied in a nonchalant tone. "And that's all I care about. You'd still be alive and making this world a better place with every day you continue to live."

"You're my father. I need you in my life. I've lost so many people that I had become close with that if I were to lose you too, I don't think I could take it. I dislike being alone as much as I dislike waiting for change."

"Son," rising from the recliner Hank sat down on the couch beside the deviant and put his hand on Connor's shoulder and felt Sumo put his paw over on his lap to acknowledge him. "you're a hell of a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for. You'd hurt because you're so empathetic and you'd mourn because you give a damn about life, but you'd pull through and keep living all the same."

"I can't imagine living without you watching my back. You were my first real friend and you're my family. You're really my dad."

Sighing tiredly Hank moved his hand so he could reach his arm around Connor's shoulders and pulled him in for a half hug. "I swear, Connor, you're way more human than most humans. Hell, there are times where I forget you're not actually a kid, but all the same you'll always be my son."

"And you'll always be my dad. You won't ever be anyone else to me."

"You have no idea how much that means to me." Discreetly Hank dragged this hand over his tired face to wipe away a rogue tear and cleared the emotion from his voice. "You're exhausted. You need to sleep."

"I don't feel tired."

"That's because you're thinking too much again." Handing the coin back to Connor as if offering a deal, Hank just laughed as Connor quickly accepted the quarter and fidgeted it over his knuckles again. "I've told you before that you don't need that coin anymore, and I still believe it. You're still coming to grips with your emotions, but I don't think you need that little tic to keep your mind preoccupied anymore."

"Maybe." Connor stared down at his coin as it came to rest in the middle of his palm. It was his first true personal possession, and he personally couldn't imagine going anywhere in life without it. "I guess fidgeting with this coin is my personal bad habit."

"Uh-huh, at least it's not as bad as drinking."

After a few minutes of silence and calming his thoughts, Connor finally relented and decided to go get some sleep. "...I think I can fall asleep now."

"That's good. Because I know I need a few more hours myself."

"I can understand that. Concussions can be quite painful."

"And I got the medical history to prove it." Patting Connor's shoulder Hank rose from the couch and stretched out his back. "I'll see you in the morning. Don't sleep out here, got it? Go to bed."

"I got it. Goodnight, dad."

"Goodnight, son."

The following morning the entire city seemed to be buzzing with a positive energy, and it was almost palpable even through the walls of the relatively quiet, humble home. Now fully rested and feeling much better, Connor awoke just after noon and smirked as he was greeted by the sight of Sumo's furry face staring at him as the massive dog rested his chin down over the sleeping deviant's chest with his tail wagging slowly as a sign of joyous affection. Everyone was in a very good mood that morning and it seemed like that upbeat, positive energy was responsible for the sudden shift in the excited air that was undeniably tangible to everyone residing in Detroit on that brand new day.

Even the deviants seemed to be celebrating something positive, and Connor could feel the cybernetically relayed joy resonating throughout the city. The deviant detective had to manually silence his connection to the deviant community conversation for a while in order to clear his mind enough to think without hearing so many gleeful voices inside his own head as he focused on enjoying his day off.

"Hi, boy."

Greeting the dog first and foremost, Connor focused on Sumo as a means of feeling grounded and not overwhelmed.

"Good morning."

Sumo wagged his tail even more and raised his head as Connor sat up in the bed and proceeded to go through his morning routine despite it being well into the afternoon. After changing into some clean day clothes Connor walked into the livingroom and saw Hank sitting in the middle of the couch watching a news report on the television with a steaming mug of coffee in his hand.

"Is something happening?" Connor asked as he rejoined Hank on the couch. Sumo had followed after Connor and returned his chin to Connor's knee as soon as the deviant stopped moving and sat down. "There is a mass of excitement amongst the deviants in the city. It's causing some static and commotion that is difficult to decipher properly."

"Yeah," Hank motioned to the television screen with the mug in his hand. "looks like even more good news has come from the downfall of 'Quondam'."

'As of nine o'clock this morning the android sanctuary known as New Jericho Tower has officially opened its doors to all deviants and to all humans throughout the city.' Rosanna Cartland reported somewhat enthusiastically. 'The once reclusive tower had been originated as a high security facility to keep homeless and abused deviants off the street, but now it seems Markus Manfred; the leader of the deviants, has decided that the strict security measures in place are no longer necessary. The gesture is being accepted openly by the entire city and is being seen as a massive gesture toward trust, forgiveness and healing after the events of the Revolution that took place over four years ago.'

Connor's shoulder slumped in relief at the wonderfully good news. "...It's over. We don't have to fight anymore."

"I guess this can work as a pretty good belated Christmas gift, huh?" Hank turned off the television and sipped his coffee. "Not bad at all."

"Considering neither of us could focus on the holidays this winter I would have to agree entirely. It was also fortunate that the snow and icy weather has been very calm this winter. I was so preoccupied with Quondam that I forgot about Christmas entirely this year."

"You know something, kid? Right now, at this very second, we're passing through history. When we went to bed last night the world as we knew it ceased to exist. When we woke up this morning, we woke up in a brand new world with brand new beliefs and brand new changes."

"You're right." Connor's soulful brown eyes closed for a moment and he cybernetically checked all of the news broadcasts and stories circulating not just throughout the city, but throughout the entire world. "Android rights have suddenly progressed forward at an impressive rate. Canada has opened its borders to allow deviants safe passage just as they would for any human without a criminal record."

"I guess this moment of peace if sort of like your 'Berlin Wall', kid."

"Berlin Wall." Cybernetically downloading the information on the historical moment Connor readily understood and made the connection. "A concrete barricade that physically and ideologically divided east and east Berlin from 1961 until 1989. In 1989 a series of... revolutions..." a sly smirk appeared on Connor's face as he verbally confirmed the details of the event. "that took place in Poland and Hungary set events in motion that finally resulted in the wall's destruction at the hands of the people it had previously divided. It was officially slated for destruction in 1990 and had been completely demolished in 1991."

"Yup. I was four years old when that moment happened. I have an extremely vague memory of it happening since my parents were watching it on the news. It's pretty cool that I got to live long enough to see not just one, but two, world changing revolutions. Pretty good for one dull life." Sipping at his coffee Hank recalled the historic event in his mind. "Too bad you guys already repurposed CyberLife Tower into New Jericho Tower. Watching thousands of androids tear apart that tower bolt by bolt would've been an awesome sight. Hell, maybe we should leak Kamski's address and let deviants turn that arrogant mansion into a much more attractive hole in the ground."

"That would be interesting to see. I cannot deny it." An approving smile appeared on Connor's face as he realized that New Jericho was no longer going to be an isolated location on the harbor, but a true beacon of hope and tolerance. "Thanks to this world altering progress New Jericho Tower is now truly a place where all deviants can be free. I imagine Markus is going to be quite busy for the next few weeks."

"Busy, huh?" An enigmatic smirk appeared on his face as he contemplated how many changes their own lives were going to endure now that they were living in an era of peace. "Do you really think a whole flood of deviants and sympathetic humans are going to show up at the tower so quickly?"

"Not necessarily, but I do suspect that changing the security programs and disabling the barricade in the drive will be time consuming."

"I thought you wanted the security programs in place to keep people out. What gives?"

"I did. Now that I know and can confirm that not all humans want to harm deviants the security protocols aren't necessary anymore. Just as deviants needed to be given the chance to prove they are worthy of freedom and trust, humans did, too." Connor turned to look at Hank who had a genuine smile of pride on his usually gruff and indifferent face. "And they did when it really counted."

"Really? When did that happen?"

"Aside from rallying together to save us from Quondam, humans had also been incredibly supportive of deviant rights and eliminating the bigotry in the city as a whole. Bigotry from both sides of the spectrum." Feeling truly at ease Connor gave Hank a knowing glance to acknowledge that deviants were just as prone to bigotry as humans were. "The humans were incredibly generous with donations to both towers to help those in need and have continued to support android charities even without politically manipulated tactics from the new mayor. You're right. It takes time but things will in fact change for the better."

"This took four years to do. That's actually pretty impressive when you think about it." Hank turned off the television as spoke with his son about their now improved city. "That's gotta' be a world record when it comes to getting over prejudices."

"Maybe it won't take as long as I fear for other rights and privileges to be approved. I might even be able to be approved as a foster parent one day, and then maybe deviants will be finally able to adopt human children as their own. More deviants will finally have real families..." Such a prospect no longer seemed like an impossible, torturous dream. "Like us."

"Connor," the senior detective just shook his head and leaned back into the soft cushion of the couch to rest his sore back and head. "don't worry about that right now. Trust me, son, with all these changes happening in the city all around us you need to stop focusing on the 'what-ifs' in the future and think more along the lines of 'what now' since we're still testing the waters. As for family, you need to really focus on yourself and keep improving yourself before you worry about other people."

"Myself? I don't understand."

"When it comes to families and what really matters, well, you'll see in time." It was as if Hank was trying to dance around a delicate subject for everyone's sake. "Until then, you still have a lot to learn about taking care of your needs first, kid."

"Like what?"

"For one, you need to stop fixating on a single thing at a time. I'm glad you have a dream - a goal for your future - but you need to take care of other things, too. I'm proud of you for finally putting your life higher up on your list of priorities and that you now know your life has value, but there's other things you need to consider without any obsessions."

"You mean my health and my overall reluctance to see technicians when injured or ill?"

"For starters, yeah."

Tilting his head a little Connor pondered the request, and a coy grin appeared on his face. "I will be more cooperative at facilities and technicians, but only if you do the same and see your doctor for an annual physical beyond the bi-annual physicals mandated by the precinct or when you too are ill or injured. Is that a deal?"

"Okay. That's a deal. But," Hank pointed a playfully scolding finger at the deviant beside him. "you also need to stop working so hard all the damn time. Devotion to your job is one thing, but you're a borderline workaholic and that can be unhealthy if don't learn to separate work from pleasure. I don't like that kind of single-track thinking in anyone."

"I don't intend to obsess over cases." Connor explained casually as he rubbed Sumo's ears and reflected on his past behaviors. "I simply don't tire as easily my human colleagues, and I don't get bored as humans do when focusing on a single subject."

"Yeah, humans sure as fuck tire out easy. That's the damn truth." Taking another sip of his coffee Hank felt his back twinge in pain and lingering exhaustion from constant strain. It didn't help that his headache was still lingering despite having time to heal. "Still... Learn to relax and do things for yourself every once in a while. All right?"

"And stop thinking so much, correct?"

"You got it. Take the time to sit back, relax and not do anything. It's not selfish to want to do something that'll make ya' happy every once in a while instead of working yourself into the ground to make it easier for other people. Take the time to take care of yourself and you'll be golden. Like me needing to head out and make a long overdue visit with Barb and Cole today." Hank's blue eyes glistened for a moment as he mentioned his late family. "It'll do this old heart some good to visit my family again."

"That sounds like a good idea. I'll contact Luke and share the good news with him to ensure he's included." Connor smirked empathetically as he pulled his coin from his pocket and stared at it for a moment. "I promise that I'll work to better myself." As he pocketed his coin, he gave Hank a pleading and almost childlike stare that gleamed in his soulful brown eyes. "You'll help me, right?"

"Of course I will, son." Setting aside his coffee Hank leaned back heavier against the couch and propped his feet up on the coffee table to try to take the weight from his back as much as possible. "But in a few more months, maybe just over a year, I don't think you'll need me to constantly guide you through your life anymore."

"You seem so certain of that."

"Because I am certain. You're doing just fine by yourself and have really come a long way since the night of the Revolution with you finally accepting that deviancy is not a crime and nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, I get the feeling you're going to be succeeding in a new challenge that you haven't anticipated but will face head on without any fear or needing me to guide you."

"Oh?" The deviant's brow furrowed with utter curiosity at Hank's tone. It was almost like the man knew something that Connor did not. "What makes you say that?"

"A father knows, son." Hank smirked almost devilishly as he gave Connor a cryptic but satisfactory answer that placated Connor's curiosity. "A father always knows."

It was noon and the sun was shining bright in the sky winter overhead. Dark gray snow clouds threatened to blot out of the sun, but the warm bright rays kept the cold and the snow at bay for just a while longer much to everyone's relief. The winter was just continuing to settle in and chill the city, and as much as Hank hated wintertime, he wasn't angered or even annoyed at the increasingly cold temperature as he parked the Oldsmobile along the edge of the dirt driveway that encircled the peaceful expanse of land as he emotionally steeled his heart. In that moment Hank more important things to worry about than a chill in the air or a little snow on the ground.

A deep, ruby red rose and two white lilies that rivaled the snow crunching underfoot were clutched in Hank's strong hands. Somberly he made his way over to the two headstones that belonged to that of his late wife, his late firstborn son and adopted third son as he paid them a long overdue visit. Kneeling down in the snow front of the headstones Hank placed the lilies down before the stone monuments and wiped away a tear as he read the text on the gilded plaques that bore the names engraved over the pristine surfaces.

It had been months since he stopped by the pay respects to his family, but with big changes on the horizon Hank decided enough time had passed.

"Hey, Barb. I still love and miss you, honey, but I know you know that already."

Hank greeted his late wife in a calm level voice even as more tears formed in his blue eyes.

"It's a new year and everything is changing, this time it's for the better. I still miss having you to talk to in the evening, but it's been easier since Connor moved in. I wish you could've been here to meet him yourself. He's a brunette and I remember how much you loved my hair back before it went gray from stress."

Running his hand through his shorter hair he laughed a little at himself.

"He's also an animal lover and fights to protect kids, deviants and when necessary, women. You two would've made an awesome team at the precinct. Hell, you might've taken over the place and personally rewrote all the laws yourselves."

As he spoke Hank felt a sense of pride for his adopted son's accomplishments.

"This morning was a huge victory for all deviants throughout the city, and it's only going to spread further across the entire planet. It's safe to say peace has finally been declared between humans and deviants, and now Connor and Luke won't have to fight for a decent future anymore."

Gently Hank brushed his hand over the name on the headstone to remove what little bits of ice and wayward snowflakes were clinging to the plaque to properly clear off Barbara's name.

"I can't believe I actually have Luke back in my life, I never thought I'd get a family member back from the dead."

Glancing at Lucas's honorary headstone Hank placed a lily atop of it out of mutual respect and the need to acknowledge the deviant who had fallen only to rise again.

"When I lost Cole, I was convinced that my heart would never heal, but when I ended up working with Connor and watching over this rookie, kid-detective who had no idea how horribly cruel humans could be toward innocent androids like him... Well, that changed. I was surprised to learn that I could in fact find some part of me still willing to reach out and bond with someone else. I was more surprised that a part of me that was willing to forgive and actually change for the better."

The admission felt like Hank was removing a heavy weight of past burden from his still healing heart as he proudly looked to the future.

"Connor helped fill that painful void left behind after I lost you and then Cole, and when Lucas was killed, I felt that same void opening back up. Then when I saw that happening to Connor after he lost his little brother and then his bondmate - his wife, Skye - I fought with everything I had to make sure that he didn't get lost in a darkness of anger and despair. I almost lost him when Skye was killed for trying to do the right thing, but by either some miracle or sheer luck, I was able to find Connor and save him before he froze himself to death in the middle of the forest out of grief."

Hank had to take a moment to breathe and collect his emotional thoughts.

"If I lost Connor, I would've finally put a damn bullet in my head, no games involved. That kid saved my life and helped give me a reason to keep living. Now Lucas is back and living out in Boston as a skilled technician and prefers to be called 'Luke' these days. Those two as brothers have never been closer. Connor found a sense of peace after his brother came back to him, but he'll always being hurting without Skye. Hopefully, like me, he'll have someone enter his life pretty soon to help fill that void in his heart so he can finally begin to heal and learn to love again."

Turning to look at Cole's headstone Hank sighed again but kept his voice level as he spoke from his heart.

"Hey, buddy. I wish you could've met Connor, too. You'd have taken him in as your honorary 'big-little' brother, and I know you two would've been best friends. Then when Lucas showed up you would've been over the moon to have two 'big-little' brothers, and you three would've gotten into trouble left and right, and I would've been entirely outnumbered."

Brushing aside the ice and snow from Cole's name with the same gentle gesture Hank continued to speak in the same soft tone of voice.

"I know I've told you both everything about Connor and Luke, but it's still not enough. You're the family they'll never get to meet, and you'll never get to meet them."

A somber thought entered Hank's mind, but he didn't let it affect his tone of voice.

"I guess I shouldn't say never. In time we'll all be together again on the other side, and you can finally be properly introduced. I'm hoping that won't be for a long, long time yet. I still have someone else I need to meet before that day happens."

Placing his palm down over the headstone Hank smiled as he spoke with his late firstborn son with a low and proud voice.

"You'd be thirteen this year, Cole. I have the strangest feeling that you and Connor would be mistaken for brothers everywhere you two would go. There's so much I never had the chance to teach you or to experience with you, but I know I'd be proud of you regardless of what happened and what we did together. I swear I can still hear you playing in the house sometimes, but then I look around and I see that it's Connor going about his own routine and making the house really feel like a home again. It was so empty without you around, and now it feels like a real home again. That was the hardest part about surviving the accident, son. I had to go home all alone and listen to nothing but silence and my own heart breaking."

As much as Hank hated the idea of leaving the cemetery, leaving his late family behind, he knew he needed to go back to the house soon.

"Connor and I had an interesting experience the other day and we're both okay. I'm nursing a mild concussion and the worst of it's already over, but Connor is dealing with sleeplessness, and he's still worried about his friends even though everything is better than it's ever been back in Detroit. It'll be even better soon enough, and it'll finally give Connor the hope for the future he so desperately needs. I'm honestly excited for him yet he has no idea what's going to happen in his life. It's weird actually knowing something that the kid doesn't for once. Makes me feel like a damn genius."

Standing up from the ground Hank brushed the cold snow and ice from his knees, sighed, and placed the red rose down on Barbara's headstone as he took a step back from the two graves with a heavy heart. Pressing his fingertips to his lips he pressed the same fingers to Cole's name, then did the same for Barbara as he bid a reluctant goodbye to his late family with a loving kiss.

"I love you both and I miss you every day. I promise we'll be together again someday, but until that day comes, I'll be thinking about you and living my life as happily as I can with the unexpected and very welcome family that I have. It's not the same without you here, but now that I'm not alone it's far more bearable and I don't feel so hollow inside."

Smiling at the names of his loved ones for a final time Hank bowed his head a little with respect to say goodbye.

"I'll visit again soon, I promise. I will always love you and I know we'll be together again as a complete family. I love you, Barbara. And I love you, Cole. No matter what I do or where I go in my life, I will always love you two without question or any doubts. Until then, I know you two are going to be looking down and watching us and waiting for our eventual big reunion. It's almost time to greet a new year already, which means we're a little closer to reuniting."

Walking back through the cold snow to the car Hank let out a sigh that disappeared in a white cloud of mist before his eyes and turned over the engine to warm himself back up. Cranking up the heat Hank eased the ache in his hand from the relentless cold and felt a warm peace spreading through his heart.

He still had a family to go home to. Even if it wasn't the one he pictured himself having as he grew older, it was still his family, and he would never change it.

"It's about time we have a fulfilling year instead of a stressful one, and this is going to be one interesting year for everyone in the best possible way."

Hank whispered as he left the cemetery and returned to the road where he made his way back to the city to check in on his sleepless son back home.

"I can feel it, and it feels good to have something good to look forward to again."

-next chapter-