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Connor could tell that Hank wanted to tell him something. Had done for the last ten minutes, he was pretty sure. The reason? He’d seen him sitting on the couch, walked in the room, walked back out, then came back in, stopped in the kitchen and was staring at him across the house. He wasn’t sure if he should mention that he could detect this happening behind him, perhaps not like a human could. But that might make things awkward.
Alas, he didn’t have to say a word. Five or so minutes later, Hank plucked up the courage and walked over.
“Uh, so, Connor… I, uh… I’m having a friend over today.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. So, just letting you know…”
“Do you want me to leave? I’m sure Jericho will have me over—”
“No! No, I’d rather you didn’t leave. I mean, there’s something I wanted to do together. With this friend. But it’s surprise.”
Connor couldn’t help but smirk a little at Hank’s unusual shyness about this. He had his suspicions…
“Who is this friend?”
“Uh, Rose.”
“Ah.” Just as he thought. After meeting her at the Christmas fair, the two had been visiting each other every now and then. The first time, he’d gone over to their house in Canada and met Kara. Along with Alice. Along with the realisation that Rose’s friends were the androids he’d chased back as a machine.
But, they’d made friends well enough. After the ice was broken and the tension smoothed out, along with a promise he was fully deviant and very sorry, they’d actually become friends.
He was surprised Kara hadn’t texted him to warn about this. Mostly so they could chuckle together about how oblivious the two were. He had to assume Kara was probably busy and didn’t know.
“Is she staying over?”
“Just for today and tomorrow. Going back tomorrow afternoon.”
“I see. What’s the thing you wanted us to do?”
Hank shook his head. “Nope. That’s a surprise.”
“Right. If I promise not to tease you whilst she’s here, will you give me a hint?”
“Aw, fuck off.”
Connor snickered. “What? I’m… just being hypothetical.”
“Yeah, hypothetical my ass.”
“But it’s just a fact that you swear a lot less when she’s over, you tidy up, you…”
“Maybe I have respect for company coming over. Who usually brings their friend’s child.”
“Just saying.”
“Yeah, well…” Hank paused. Looked at Connor, eyes narrowed. “Look. I’m… I’m planning something tonight, alright? Sayin’ something. Please don’t spill the secret.”
“I won’t. So, you’re serious about her?”
“I think so. Well, yeah. I am. I just… it’s been a long time. But so’s it been for her too.”
Connor nodded. “For what it’s worth, I think she’s lovely.”
“That’s cause she spoils you when she comes other.”
“What can I say? I’m a delight.”
Hank rolled his eyes, before jumping at the sound of the doorbell. Sumo rose from him place on the couch beside Connor, a bark lingering in the back of his throat, that was silenced with one stern look.
A moment later, Rose came in the front door.
“Hello!” She smiled at Hank, before turning to the two boys. “Hello, you two! So nice to see you!”
Hank held up his hands as she walked past him. “See? Favouritism.”
Rose chuckled, petting Sumo’s head, and bringing Connor in a brief hug. “They need the attention first, Hank. They’re growing boys.”
“If y’ spoil them, they’ll be pain in the ass kids. Then what’ll we do with them?”
“Well, as long as I spoil them and you keep up your big tough love attitude, I think they’ll be fine.”
“Tough love?” Connor laughed. “Rose, I think you’re forgetting what a big softie he actually is.”
“Can it. I’ve got a reputation.”
“Well,” Rose smiled, putting her bags down before walking back over to Hank, “it’s nice of you to invite me over, Mr-got-a-reputation. You mentioned on the phone there was something you had planned…?”
Hank nodded. “Yeah. Uh… holiday cards! With both of you. You and Connor.”
Connor looked up. “Huh?”
“Holiday cards. You know, you take the photo together, put it on a card for Christmas… send it out to people…”
“What? Holiday themed cards?”
“Oh, sweetie, you don’t know what they are, do you?” Rose stepped in.
Connor shook his head.
“Well, think of them as greeting cards. You’ve seen them, right?”
“Yes. I gave Hank one on his birthday.”
“Great. Well, these are just ones for Christmas.”
“What I don’t understand is the ‘photo together’.”
“Oh. That’s just something some families do.” Rose stopped at her own words, looking across to Hank. “I suppose there was more than holiday cards you wanted to tell me about?”
“I, uh, basically… If you wanted to do a holiday card with me and Connor—I know you have your family at home. Adam and Rose and Alice… but we can do another one!”
“I’d love to be on your holiday card.”
“Great! Sumo can be on there too, if the big lug’ll sit still for second.”
Fortunately for them, when Connor was involved, Sumo was surprisingly obedient. He hopped up onto the couch beside the Christmas tree, sitting serenely, even allowing a pair of fake antlers to be placed on his head.
The rest of them: they wore Santa hats. Connor sat on the couch by Sumo, and on the floor in front, sat Hank and Rose together.
However, after half a minute of sitting awkwardly, smiles starting to falter, Sumo shaking his head about in annoyance, nothing had happened.
“How long did you set the camera to take the photo?” Rose asked, smile finally dropping.
“I don’t know. New camera, Connor made me get it—”
“Yours was about a hundred years old! I was doing you a favour.”
“Yeah, well—”
The light flashed. Hank groaned, running over to the camera, watching the photo come out. Rose looked like she was trying not to laugh. Sumo’s eyes were shut. And he and Connor were bickering.
“Amazing. Don’t think I can give this out to the neighbours.” He deleted the photo.
“Aw, but it captures you two so well!” Rose pointed out.
“It’s realistic.” Connor agreed.
Hank didn’t reply, instead setting the camera timer again, before running back to his spot.
“It’s on ten seconds. Smile for the camera, everybody.”
A second before it was due, Rose tilted to the side, planting a soft kiss on his cheek.
Hank took a moment to collect his bearings before going over to look at the photo, sort of in a daze. He… hadn’t expected that. Okay, maybe they’d technically been dating for a while, or at least trying things out. Slowly. He hadn’t actually realised…
It would be a beautiful photo, that was for sure. Maybe something he’d be happy seeing as a photo. Sure, his face was probably going to look goofy on it. The shock of being suddenly kissed by the woman he loved. But—
“CONNOR!”
But behind them, Connor was holding his fingers over Hank’s head, doing the typical ‘bunny ears’ photobomb.
Real-time Connor was currently laughing his ass off about it.
“What? I—I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“No. You know what, I’m sending this version out as the holiday card. You like it, Rose?” He turned the camera around.
“I think it’s wonderful. If you do.”
“…yeah. I think it is.”