Chapter 18

Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.

Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks

Within his bending sickle's compass come;

Five years later.

Connor is driving his family to Dillon's elementary school. First day at school for him but he was a confident child, he would make friends easily. And he also had Janie, April and Ethan's little girl who was only a year younger than Dillon. They were kindred spirits already.

Connor looked at the back to his quiet son. He was probably worried about his first day, he was never this quiet. Not with the twins making a racket at the back there too. Robin looked to him worriedly.

"Hey buddy. It's gonna be just fine. You'll see." Connor tried to reassure his son. He just sighed.

"You'll have lots of friends and you'll come home to your brother and sister." Robin tried too. "And Janie will be there too, I'll ask her parents for a play date tonight. How about it?"

At that he lightened up. "I just wished we were going to the same school, that's all." Dillon said somberly.

"She'll be in the next class next year. Promise." Connor said. His son wasn't all that happy about next year but he was hopeful for a play date with his bestfriend tonight. That ought to do it.

As soon as they dropped Dillon off, the twins started clamoring.

"Daddy daddy we want to go with Dillon."

"No, you two will be going to kindergarten in a very short while. We'll be dropping you off in a few minutes."

"No kindergarten. We want school." They yelled at the same time. It was almost like having two parrots with those two.

"Ok, you two, tell you what? Ice cream after kindergarten." Robin said

"No mommy we want to go with Dillon." That was Jack, the boy. The leader of the pair.

"We want to go with Dillon mommy." Elizabeth echoed the same. They were a handful, the twins. Connor remembered when they were born, so delighted was he that they were having twins. After the year that they had had following Ava's scandal and arrest, they were due for a break. And what a gift, twins. Their birth wasn't as difficult as Dillon's had been but when they started crying at the same time in the middle of the night, there was no taking turns like they had done with Dillon. It was one for each. Still he wouldn't give them away, even now when they were making being on time for work a little harder than usual. They had named the boy Jack, it was his father' second name. Elizabeth was actually Elizabeth Caroline Rhodes, named after the two dearest women, both his mother and Robin's. He looked at his wife besides him for something better than ice-cream. She looked at him and shrugged, she didn't have anything. She usually did, just the way she had worked Dillon there. Guess this was his turn to placate the twins.

Elizabeth was the first to make a fuss, crying and throwing a tantrum. Daddy always did what she wanted, she was the spoilt one.

"Ok, ok guys. We'll come visit Dillon after a little while, how about that?" Connor tried.

"No! Now!" Elizabeth fussed

"Ok, Elizabeth Caroline Rhodes!" When her mother called her like that, the game was over. "You behave yourself right now or there will be a spanking."

Elizabeth calmed down and pouted.

"What about Jack? He told me to do it." Elizabeth complained.

"You too Jack Daniel Junior." Robin said firmly. He sounded like a bottle of whiskey. That suited his son just right.

And the fuss was over for the three year olds. They were friends with Natalie and Will's three year old boy, James Halsted. The three of them could make a mess. Owen was now about nine and always played big brother to them all. Dillon might only be five but he was mature for his age and played the big brother role even more. Connor breathed and whispered an 'I love you' to his wife for settling the chaos. She just smiled at him and whispered it back. Even after all these years, they grew closer not apart. His life was full, complete and he wouldn't ask for more. This was already more than he could have hoped for.

They dropped the kids at kindergarten and then proceeded to East Mercy to drop off Robin before Connor finally made his way to work. The driver will pick up the kids from school but he liked driving in his car with his family doing their morning routine like a normal family. With all that morning hustle and traffic one would think he would utilize the plenty of cars and drivers he had at his disposal, but he needed this kind of family. Dinners together, school home works, vacations, church on Sunday and every school function where parents were requested. The whole thing. A family he and Clare never had.

….

Ten Years later the Rhode family had not only contributed and donated much to the Chicago society than anyone but had now established a foundation for the hospital. Their Philanthropy was being celebrated tonight at the biggest hotel in Chicago. The well-known names in the philanthropy world were going to be in attendance as some would be celebrated too. It was a great occasion. He was ready in his Tux, now waiting downstairs with Russell with a glass of scotch while Robin finished up. Clare had gone upstairs too to assist her with the twins.

The twins were the first to come down, looking sharp in a tux was Jack, his son. He ran downstairs and threw himself in Uncle Russ' arms, excited to see him. Elizabeth Caroline was not far behind, looking like a princess in a hurry. She threw herself into her daddy's arms first before going to Uncle Russ'. She was such a daddy's girl and spoilt like one. The twins were now eight year olds, their energy seemed to be increasing with age. At least they didn't fuss at night anymore, too grown up for midnight crying. The parents could have a good night's sleep. They were also past the age of jumping their parents in bed in the morning if they didn't lock the door. His twelve year old Dillon came down the stairs next, looking dashing in his tux. Everyone said he looked and carried himself like his dad, already so mature at his age and responsible. Just like Connor had been at his age, but he prayed to God he would not give him the terrible burden and bad memories that his own father could not shield him from.

"Looking sharp young man." Connor commented.

"Not too bad yourself old man." His son joked with him and gave him a high five.

Connor loved his children, they were his joy and pride and he was proud to see he had made a real family with Robin. They had been put through it like everyone else and they were still standing, even stronger through it all.

Then his beautiful wife came down the stairs and as usual his heart stopped a bit there, did a little triple trip at the sight of her. She was going to turn heads as she usually did at these functions but tonight, tonight she looked exceptional.

"Looks like those extra minutes of waiting paid out, Connor." Russell joked, also looking admiringly at Robin as she came down the stairs.

Connor couldn't take his eyes off his wife, he went and stood at the foot of the stairs and offered her his hand. She took it and he looked into her eyes and gave her hand a kiss.

"My love, my queen, you look radiant tonight." He said, in awe.

"And you look dashing, my king." She returned with a smile.

Yes, he had seen her in jeans without makeup, she was still the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He had seen her in her hospital coat, he had taken her to too many occasions like these and she had looked radiant. He was blessed as a man to have seen her in white in her wedding gown and she looked like an angel then, nothing beat that. But tonight was a close contender. He had never seen anything quite like her tonight. He would be the envy of every man at that Charity fundraiser tonight, and he was looking forward and proud of it.

Clare came down the stairs last, looking beautiful, pushing her third trimester stomach and Russell had eyes only for his own wife. After five years of waiting and being busy with the company, they had finally decided to have kids and this was going to be their first. They were so excited to be parents.

The fundraiser was a grand occasion. Their longtime friends, the co-partners in the foundation, the Averies had also come from Boston. They were a lovely couple, had been through it too according to what Connor had been told by Jackson Avery. They had both found the loves of their lives, but their loves had been tested. They had had to fight real hard to come up tops. Loosing was easy but winning took bravery, both men knew this. When a love is true, it was easy to win. It only took bravery. He remembered Dr Latham telling him that fortune favors the bold, that's what had made him decide to pursue Robin despite her father's objections. It had worked out right, but it had not been an easy road. Dr Jackson and April Avery were one of a kind couple too, now three kids down the line just like him and Robin, life was great. Connor was holding a glass of champagne now standing with Jackson Avery watching their wives interact a few feet away. They had become fast friends, and now business partners.

"I feel like we've made it man." Connor said to Jackson. "More than ten years with Robin, three kids, who would have imagined?"

Jackson laughed, "Same here man. April and I have been through it, on and off again, lost a child, got divorced. I think we've finally come full circle and we know where we belong, with each other. I don't think there's a storm we cannot weather now. We are stronger for it."

"And to officially open this Foundation, help me to welcome on the podium our benefactors, Dr Rhobin and Dr Connor Rhodes!" Sharon Goodwin announced from the podium.

Connor handed Jackson his champagne glass, "Get ready, you're coming up next." He said, leaving to take his wife's hand, they approached the podium amidst cheers and applause.

"Also help me to welcome their Co-founders, Dr April and Dr Jackson Avery!" Sharon announced again, Jackson and April approached the podium as well, hand in hand.

They took the stage, gave their speeches and officially opened the foundation. After that it was a party with their families and friends.

Their families had grown, Connor observed as he danced with his wife, watching Will and Nat dance, April and Choi, April and Jackson, Maggie and Ben, Noah and Sarah, so many of their friends had turned out ok. These people with their children were the same people at their family gatherings, Thanksgiving dinners, Christmases, New Years and birthday celebrations. Connor wanted his children to remember these moments, not to have to conjure up fiction just to make up for what they lacked. He made sure his children never lacked anything, least of all his presence and love in their lives. They will always have the good memories of their mom and dad, and they had done a great job so far of being good parents.

…..