After being given the clear from Abby after one final exam Connor was released from the facility, and allowed to return home under the strict instructions he continued to rest, and didn't do anything physically exerting that could re-injure his abdomen after being shot. Android self healing programs are beyond incredible and often times are superior to that of a human's own immune system, but without CyberLife being able to actively monitoring android software and update their programs at the earliest opportunity many androids; especially prototypes, it meant deviants needed to take extra precautions to keep their systems up to date and functioning at optimal capacity.

Leaning against Hank's right shoulder Connor slowly walked toward the front door of the house with his left hand pressed warily against the still healing bullet wound in his abdomen, and followed after Barbara and Cole as the little boy ran to the front door and used Hank's keys to unlock it. As the door was pushed open Cole stood just inside the livingroom and held Sumo by his collar to keep the large dog from either running outside or jumping up on Connor.

"Take it nice and slow, son." Hank urged as he helped guide the deviant inside the house and shut the door behind them with a casual kick of his right foot. Everyone was exhausted and needed to sleep, but everyone was also wound up and needed to let out their nervous pent up energy. "Do you want to lay down on the couch, or upstairs in your own bed?"

"Bed, please."

"No problem. Come on."

"I can make it on my own."

"Nope. I'll keep helping you." Patting his hand right on Connor's right shoulder Hank guided the deviant toward the staircase and helped Connor to ascend the stairs to the second floor where everyone's bedrooms were located. Guiding his wounded son into the bedroom and over to the bed Hank helped Connor to sit down on the edge of the bed for a moment before the deviant laid back over the length of the mattress and rested his head on the pillow. "Need anything?"

"...Thirium."

"I gotcha' covered. I'll be back in a minute."

Connor weakly nodded as he laid back and breathed slowly. Pulling up his black t-shirt by the hem he looked down at his abdomen where there wasn't any sign of a wound or even a scar; just fair artificial skin dotted with a few freckles. The deviant ran a scan over the affected area and determined his status to be stable but not optimal at the moment. He still needed some time to heal entirely.

"...Connor?" Cole's voice called out to the deviant from the still opened bedroom doorway as he peeked inside the bedroom. "...Are you okay?"

"Cole, I'm fine." Putting his shirt back down Connor gave the little boy a reassuring grin. "I can assure you that I've been through worse and I'm still here."

Cole gave Connor a silent and wary nod as he stared at the floor for a moment.

"Come here."

Looking up at Connor for a moment Cole's eyes drifted back to the floor as if feeling guilty. Walking over to the bed Cole stood beside it and almost jumped when Connor suddenly wrapped his left arm around Cole's shoulders and pulled him in for a hug.

"We're all okay, that's all that matters."

Sumo trotted into the bedroom and a few seconds later Judo did the the same. As the dogs gathered in the bedroom Hank walked through the doorway with a bottle of Thirium in one hand and an ice pack in the other. "I had to let Judo out of his kennel so he can burn off his energy. Hope you don't mind the company, Connor."

"It's never a problem."

"Here's your Thirium and I brought you some ice. I know it doesn't do much for android pain, but I had to at least offer."

"Thank you." Sitting upright on his bed a little while keeping his arm around Cole's shoulders Connor accepted the ice pack and put it over his abdomen as a show of good faith, and then accepted the Thirium with his right hand. "How long until I'm permitted to return to the precinct?"

"One week."

"That seems excessive."

"Not really. The usual protocol for a wounded officer is two weeks for physical recovery and one more week for a mental recovery after being injured in the line of duty."

"Mental recovery?"

"You can't just act like what happened to you didn't happen." Sitting down on the edge of the bed beside Cole without jostling him, and lightly put his right hand on Cole's back in a comforting manner, Hank addressed his more stubborn son in a stern voice. "You and Barbara both went through some pretty terrible things recently. Maybe you both should talk to a therapist a couple times just to make sure you're both really okay."

Connor quickly picked up on Hank's hinting and knew it was something that he'd need to do for the sake of Barbara's own health. "...Of course. I will speak to a therapist regarding the incident on the bridge, and... I'll talk to them about my encounter with Zlatko. There is no shame in seeking help."

"Yeah..." Giving Cole a somber look Hank sighed and pressed the matter a little further. "And while we're doing our thing Cole can do his own. We'll all have a talk with a therapist and make sure we all put this horrible event behind us, right where it belongs."

When Cole's tense shoulders finally relaxed Connor lessened his grip and Cole stood upright and just stared at Connor's face blankly.

"Tomorrow we should spend the day speaking to a therapist," Hank continued as he patted Cole's shoulder lightly. "and make sure none of us are going to have nightmares or misplaced guilt and anger."

Agreeing readily Connor opened the lid on the bottle of offered Thirium and drank a small amount. "Yes. That's will be for the best." Downing a little more of the Thirium the healing deviant looked at the doorway and waited for Barbara to return. "...Where's mom?"

"Downstairs. She needs a minute to herself."

"...I want to speak to her. In private."

"Son, stay put. I'll let her know you want to talk."

"Okay. I'll wait here."

Cole stayed with Connor and kept his big brother company as they watched Hank leave the bedroom for just a moment to retrieve Barbara. "Are you hurting right now, Connor?"

"Not really. It's like my stomach is covered under a big bruise, but it's not bothering me."

"Were you scared when you fell off the bridge?"

"I was only afraid of not seeing my family again. The falling part was scary, but not as scary as the idea of never see you, mom or dad again."

"Connor?" Barbara's voice called out to the deviant as she entered the bedroom with Hank right beside her. "What's wrong?"

"I just wanted to talk to you."

"What about?"

Nodding at Hank to signal that he wanted to be alone the senior detective picked up on the hint and motioned for Cole to step out of the room for a moment. The bedroom door shut as Sumo and Judo followed after the two masters, and Connor propped himself up on his elbows so he could look his mother in the eyes. "...Please don't blame yourself."

Breaking down all over again Barbara pressed her hands to her teary eyes as she leaned forward in her wheelchair. "...I'm sorry."

Moving slowly Connor rose from his bed and knelt down on the floor in front of Barbara so he could hug her. As he embraced his mother Connor felt his own tears welling up as the idea of her being so heartbroken made his own heart break. "Please don't cry!"

"You're my son, I'm a detective and I got you shot!"

"No, mom." As he spoke the term 'mom' he felt Barbara's shoulders tense up for a moment and then relax again. "Daniel is the one who did this. Don't blame yourself because an angry deviant from my past wanted revenge. If you let him hurt you, even emotionally, then he'll win. Please don't do this to yourself."

Realizing that Connor was right and that she had nothing to be ashamed of Barbara took in a calming breath and dried her tears. "...Okay, Connor. I won't let him hurt us anymore."

Feeling Barbara's tension lessen Connor leaned back on his knees and slowly released his arms from around her. "...Thank you."

Staring at Connor's face Barbara used her left thumb to wipe away his own tears as she stayed strong for her son when he needed her the most. "...You're so sweet. Thank you for saving my life."

"It was my honor to save you and have you become my mother." Standing up slowly, his left hand pressing to his abdomen where his healing wound still ached at him as he moved about, Connor extended his right hand toward Barbara as he cybernetically turned on the small radio on his bookshelf to begin playing a soft song. "...Can I have this dance."

"It'd be my honor." Accepting his hand Barbara stood up, her movements more stable and swifter than before, and let her son lead her in a slow dance in the middle of his bedroom. "You're such a graceful dancer."

Blushing a pale blue Connor smiled at the compliment as he supported Barbara and guided her about the room. "You're a good teacher."

"Hard to believe I gave up on my physical therapy just because I was angry about needing the therapy at all. Guess I should've accepted my fate and been a better role model for Cole, huh?"

"You're a great role model for Cole, and for myself." Determined to keep Barbara's thoughts focused in a more positive light Connor refused to let her try to tear herself down over a past decision. "I understand how frustrating it can be to feel like a part of your own body has betrayed you, and not wanting to acknowledge what's happening. You're still a good person, a dedicated wife and a love mother."

"And you're the second child Hank and had dreamed of having."

Pausing for a moment Connor gave Barbara a curious glance before resuming the slow dance. "...You wanted to have another child?"

"We did. Being shot affected more than my legs and that dream was taken away."

"...I'm sorry, I didn't know that."

"I think that's what kept me from doing the physical therapy even after I had this wonderful microchip implanted in my spine. It could help me walk again, but it'd never let me have the feeling a completed family. And then you showed up in our lives and that empty feeling... It's gone."

"I'm... I'm glad I could help." Wincing as the motion of the dance pulled on his sore abdomen Connor sighed and helped Barbara return to her wheelchair as he cybernetically turned off the song. Sitting down slowly on the edge of his bed Connor let out a slow breath and gave Barbara a kind smile. "...You know, tomorrow is yours and Hank's wedding anniversary."

"I know. Twelve wonderful years together, and I spent seven of them in a wheelchair."

"You won't be wheelchair bound for much longer. I know you'll find the strength to walk again without needing my assistance."

"When?"

"Very soon. Your spine and core have strengthened considerably, I no longer feel you shaking when you stand."

"Then maybe my gift for Hank won't be a one time experience after all."

"No, you'll be able to dance with him every day of your lives at the rate you're going."

"Then I won't give up on my rehab ever again."

There was a soft knocking on the bedroom door as Hank returned with Cole right at his side, and the two dogs right behind them. "Hey? Is it okay to come in again?"

"Yes." Connor confirmed as stayed upright on his bed and gave Hank a reassuring nod. "Everything is fine."

"Cool."

Connor looked at the group gathered in his bedroom; his father, mother, brother, Sumo and Judo, and realized he had a real family. One he wanted to protect with his life and one he was determined to keep safe and happy. "...Maybe I should rest in the livingroom." The deviant decided in an almost casual manner. "That way we won't have to be crammed in my small bedroom. We can be more comfortable in the bigger livingroom."

Without any doubts Hank picked up on what Connor was suggesting and offered to help get back downstairs. "Yeah, and we can just sit in the middle of the couch and watch a bunch of movies until we pass out. Shouldn't take too long, I know I'm exhausted." Offering Connor his hand Hank easily pulled the deviant up and off of the bed back to his feet. "Come on." Letting Connor lean against his side again Hank watched as Cole put his hand on Connor's opposite arm as if to help support the deviant, too. "The sooner we're down there and relaxed on the couch the sooner I can get some damn sleep."

"That sounds good to me. How about you guys?"

"Yeah." The little boy sounded as tired as Hank and Connor felt as he guided his big brother down the staircase and into the livingroom. "It's better to sleep here than at a facility or a hospital."

Hank laughed and agreed wholeheartedly. "You're one-hundred percent right on that one, son."

Connor looked over his shoulder as Barbara wheeled over the guide rail and hooked her wheelchair into the rail to accompany her family downstairs. As she let the wheelchair get connected to the guides she gave Connor a knowing glance that reassured him that soon she wouldn't need the guide rails at all, and she'd be able to walk up and down the staircase without needing any assistance.

"Let's stay up until midnight." Barbara suggested coyly as she met her family down in the livingroom beside the couch. "I want us to start our anniversary off with the whole family together."

"Yeah?" Hank smirked as he had his own secretive plans for their wedding anniversary ready to go as soon as possible. "Sounds good to me, Barb."

Sure enough within an hour the family had gathered on the couch to watch a movie and had slowly fallen asleep one by one. Hank had been the first to pass out and was leaning heavily against a large, square pillow against the armrest with Barbara resting against his side, and Cole was sitting in the middle between Barbara and Connor under a blanket that was spread out over the four of them. Judo was curled up on Cole's lap and in a deep sleep while Sumo had spread out his massive body to lay over all four of the occupants of the couch.

Connor rubbed his hand along Sumo's ears and watched from the corner of his eye as Cole's heavy eyes fell shut and he began to fall asleep. As the little boy gave way to sleep Connor smirked and felt completely at home as Cole ended up leaning against his right side and arm in a deep slumber. Tired himself Connor leaned his head back and cybernetically lowered the volume on the movie as the family stayed by one another on the couch while setting an internal alarm for just before midnight.

"...I now know for certain that I did the right thing." Connor told himself as he compared the two timelines together and noted the drastic improvement in Hank's health, his mood and overall mental stability. "Everyone is happy."

The changes not only helped Hank; possibly even saved him from himself, but they allowed a good detective to live on and allowed an innocent child to live on, and had even allowed a small puppy to be brought into a loving home instead of staying at the shelter.

The precinct had also been affected in a positive manner. While Tina had tragically lost her boyfriend in a car accident she did gain a daughter that had never been born in the other timeline, and Gavin had mellowed out considerably as he volunteered to help his best friend raise her baby. There was also a substantial leap of faith toward the precinct in regards of deviant protection, and it seemed like that faith hadn't been misplaced.

New Jericho Tower was still thriving and Markus had maintained a healthy, safe and protective environment for deviants in need of shelter. There was also a well known bond of trust between Markus and Connor that had given the city a prime example of how android rights had been approved, respected and acknowledged in light of the peaceful Revolution in the eyes of the law.

"It was a risk that paid off. My friends," he whispered as he looked over at Hank, Barbara down at Cole and then at the two dogs cuddled up with them. "...my family, is safe." The very term seemed to catch Connor unexpectedly off guard. "...My family." A smile appeared on his face as he realized how easily the concept came to his mind and how normal it felt to say it. "I truly have a family. A father, a mother and a little brother to take care of."

The idea of an android having any type of family had always been mocked and laughed at by bigoted humans in the past.

How could a machine have a family? How could machines understand love, life, pain, emotions or dreams? How could plastic be alive?

As is turns out the 'how' isn't important at all. It's the 'when' that decides how androids and humans can come together as friends, live together as people and most importantly, recognize one another as a family.

Connor sighed and looked at Barbara and Cole, two lives that had been saved and given a chance to actually live. It was like the Revolution had taken place for the Anderson family long before that fateful cold November night in Hart Plaza.

"...I'm finally home. I finally know where I belong. It's here."

Drifting off into a light sleep Connor almost jumped when his alarm went off and he noted the time. Reaching his right hand over to Barbara's left shoulder Connor gentle woke his mother and gave her a kind smirk.

"It's time." Barbara whispered as she sat upright and gently pushed Sumo from her lap so she could get up. Sumo grumbled but got down on the floor so Connor could assist Barbara and quietly guide her up the staircase. He supported her weight at his side to allow her to walk up the staircase and into her and Hank's bedroom at the end of the hallway. "I'll just be a minute, let me wake up Hank myself."

"I understand." Whispering in response Connor stayed outside the bedroom and watched the time tick past midnight. Barely twenty minutes passed before Barbara emerged from the bedroom wearing a cherry red spaghetti strap dress, low black pumps, had her hair pulled back into a wavy manner that ran down her back, and an elegant display of make up over her face. "...You look beautiful."

"Thank you, Connor." Blushing at the compliment Barbara struggled to balance on her heels but she was determined to look her best for Hank as they finally danced together again after seven years. Letting Connor guide her back down the staircase Barbara returned to her wheelchair and wheel over to Hank to give him a kiss on the cheek. "...Hank."

Opening his blue eyes Hank looked Barbara in her eyes and smiled. "Hey. Happy anniversary."

"Happy anniversary."

Noticing that Barbara was dressed up rather elegantly Hank gave his wife a surprising stare. "You look amazing!"

"You don't look so bad yourself."

"Liar. Give me a minute and I'll manage to put together something that might hold its own against your dress."

"I'll be waiting."

All but rushing upstairs Hank passed by Connor as the deviant leaned over the back of the couch and shook Cole's shoulder lightly. "Cole?"

Looking up at Connor the little boy gave his big brother an odd look. "Connor?"

"I need you to come upstairs for a moment."

"What time is it?"

"It's twelve fourteen in the morning."

"Okay, I'll go to bed."

"No, don't do that."

"What? Why?"

"I'll explain everything in a minute. I just need you to pack up some clothes and be sure to pack your swim trunks."

Even more confused Cole opened his eyes even wider and gave Connor the most perplexed look of his life. "What's going on?"

"Please? You'll find out soon enough."

"Okay, I guess." As he climbed off the couch with Judo in his arms Cole passed by his mom and stopped short as he noticed that she too was dressed up, and looked far more radiant than usual. "...Mom?"

"I want to look nice for your dad during our anniversary." Smoothing out her dress Barbara gave Cole a small smile. "What do you think?"

"You look pretty." Continuing up the staircase with a groggy yawn Cole went into his bedroom and packed a bag as he had been instructed.

"You do look very nice, mom." Connor stated confidently as he walked past her to pack his own bag. "I'll take Cole to the hotel tonight so you and dad can have the whole day to yourselves."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure." Pressing his left palm to his abdomen he gave his mother a small nod. "I'm uncomfortable but I can handle a day at a water park with my little brother."

"Thank you, sweetheart."

By the time Cole and Connor had packed their bags Hank finished changing his clothes and was now wearing a pair of black slacks, a navy blue dress shirt and a pair of black dress shoes that had been shined to a perfect luster. As the brothers approached the front door, Cole looking exhausted and ready to fall asleep at any moment, Connor turned to face his parents as Hank stood before Barbara in the middle of the livingroom.

"Have a nice anniversary." Cybernetically Connor turned on the stereo and began playing the song that he and Barbara practiced dancing to for months on end in the basement. "We'll be back tomorrow morning."

"Thanks, son." Hank replied as he presented Barbara with her anniversary gift. A red rose with a modest black pearl ring on a silver band. "Barb, I know you don't ask for jewelry, but I saw this and I thought of you. A rare black pearl that stands out above all the rest."

"Oh, Hank. It's beautiful!" Watching as Hank removed the ring from the box Barbara flashed him a loving smile. "I hope my gift is just as thoughtful."

"You could give me only a passing glance and it'd be all I need since it came from you..."

Opening the front door Connor put his hand on Cole's shoulder and watched with pride as Barbara extended her right hand toward Hank to take. As the senior detective of course accepted her hand Connor silently motioned for Cole to turn and watch as their mother stood up from the wheelchair and stood before Hank for the very first time in over seven years.

"Barb..." As his blue eyes went wide tears welled up and Hank stared at his wife with shock and admiration. "You're... You're standing!"

"I can do more than that." Moving her hands to Hank's shoulders Barbara gave him a loving stare as the song continued to play. "This is my gift to you, Hank. A long overdue dance with the man I love more than anyone else in this entire world."

Taking Barbara's right hand from his shoulder Hank slipped the new ring on her finger and then held her right hand tightly in his left as he moved his right hand to her waist. "...I could've waited a thousand years if I meant we could dance together again."

Smiling at his parents and guiding Cole, who had wide eyes wonder at the sight of his mother finally standing up after only having memories of her being wheelchair bound throughout most of life, out of the house and into the night Connor closed the front door quietly behind himself and led Cole over to the car so they could go to their hotel.

"Our parents deserve a night to themselves, Cole." Connor explained in a low voice as he studied his little brother's shocked face. "Our anniversary gift to them is to let them have the house to themselves so they can be together just like when they were first dating and fell in love for the first time."

Cole didn't hear anything Connor said. Instead he was more focused on what he just saw. "Mom... can walk?!"

"Yes."

"But..." Opening up the passenger side door of the car Cole threw his backpack in the backseat as Connor turned to watch their parents dancing together in the livingroom through the front window. He too watched with awe at the sight of their parents slow dancing together. "How!?"

"Our mom went through physical therapy to stand up, walk and even dance again to be role model for us. This is just the beginning when it comes to how our family will overcome the odds, and find renewed strength in one another."

-End of Story-