She had been home for a few weeks, and was back to working at the hospital once again. This time around, she hadn't even bothered going back to her own apartment. She had what she needed at Metal's place, and she preferred sharing space with him instead of the student she was renting half of her place out to.

SEALTEAM

They were out walking when the question came. She had not been prepared.

"What?"

Metal shrugged a little and adjusted his cap, "Just wanted to know your thoughts."

She kept her eyes on him until he repeated himself.

"About kids… Do you want kids, not necessarily right now… But, in the future?"

She swallowed hard, "What do you want?"

"I asked you…" he smirked, "I want to hear your standpoint first."

She shrugged, "Well… Yes…"

The smile which lit up his face told her what she needed to know, but it also hurt deep down inside of her. She didn't know what to say, she knew she had to say something, she just didn't know how to start.

He must've seen something in her expression, because he tilted his head and his expression softened, "What's wrong?"

"Not sure I can though…" she sighed, looking down at her shoes.

The hand on her shoulder was so careful and so warm she had to look back up even though her eyes were stinging.

"Hey, sorry I brought it up…"

"No. No-no…" she shook her head, "Don't worry about that."

He shrugged a little, "It's clearly something which is tough for you."

"Kinda used to the thought…" she admitted with a shrug, "Just took me by surprise, that's all."

He nodded a little, "Is it that… Endometriosis thing?"

She nodded, "Not being able to get pregnant is one of the symptoms. But then again, there are those who have zero problem getting pregnant… So… I might be lucky. And who knows? I might not even have endo… Might be all in my head, right?"

One side of his mouth curved upward in an apologetic half-smile, "I'm pretty sure you have something… -And not something just in your head either…"

Before she knew it, she was pulled closer to his chest. His arms around her shoulders.

"If you want to, we can wait postpone this conversation until we're back home…"

She shook her head against his chest, "Pretty sure we're anonymous enough along these streets."

She felt him chuckle a bit, "Okay, if you say so…"

She nodded and they eventually broke apart.

"So… You want kids…" she tilted her head and looked up at him.

He shrugged a bit, as they started walking in the direction they had been heading earlier, "Sure, but it's not a necessity."

She chuckled a bit, the smile a few moments ago had told her that it definitely was on his top-five list of things he wished to happen. She knew he tried to protect her.

"How about we try?" she shrugged, "We try for a while, if I don't get knocked up. We try something else."

"Like what?"

"IVF first?" she shrugged, "If that's unsuccessful, what's your stance on adoption or fostering?"

"Good alternatives." He winked at her, "But, all those things are bridges we'll have to cross if we get to them."

She nodded a little, "Yeah. Let's not get ahead of ourselves, right?"

He nodded. "And marriage?"

"WHAT?"

"Not asking you to marry me right now…" He chuckled, "Relax. Just want to know if that's something you'd… Consider."

She chuckled, "Of course."

"Good." He bumped his arm into her shoulder, "Because I plan on getting down on one knee. -I just want to get a little bit better physically before I do…"

She bumped her shoulder back into his arm, "You don't have to worry about the answer. I already know what I'll say?"

"Yeah?"

"I do…" she looked up at him and winked.

"Great."