A/N: Just a little fun. Hope you all are doing well. Please read, enjoy, comment. I love hearing from you.

Rumors and Jailbait

"So, I heard an interesting rumor."

Connor glanced up from the ED computer and raised a curious brow at Natalie as she leaned against the counter, "Oh yeah."

"Yeah, I heard that you have kids." The budding pediatrician shared with an accusing look that reminded Connor of Maggie's when the nurse had first seen him with his kids.

He found it somewhat odd that discovering that he had a family was such big news. He would have bet money that him being married to a medical student would have the bigger scandal to be shared –not him being a father, "Okay..."

"Okay? Really?" Natalie needled almost indignantly, "You've worked here for months now -"

"Barely two," Connor interjected, not that he was heard.

"And you know that, obviously, I'm about to have a kid. And we've worked several patient cases that dealt with children together and you never once mentioned that you're a father." Natalie continued, looking nothing short of disgruntled.

Connor wasn't sure how to respond to that, but he had the feeling that if he said 'okay' again that it would not be taken well. He liked Natalie. She was passionate and headstrong, and she had a huge heart. Given time he could see her being a true friend, but he was still getting to know his new coworkers and didn't think his personal life needed to be discussed. He had no shame over his family, but he did try to keep his work and home life separate.

He had told Natalie once that he tried not to judge. He let things go when he walked through those hospital doors – whether entering or exiting – it wasn't always easy, but he did it.

Now Connor merely blinked at her, "My being a father has nothing to do with my ability to be a doctor, Natalie. It's why it hasn't come up. Is there a reason why you're so upset about this?"

"I'm not... upset." Natalie was quick to defend, suddenly at a loss for why she was reacting so strongly to this – that had been happening more and more lately, "I just... I don't know. I thought this would be something you'd share. It would have been nice to know that I'm not going to be the only one in our group that has kids."

Suddenly, things cleared a little for Connor. Natalie had a support system here at Med. A great one. But all of the parents in that support system were grandparents or were of the age to be grandparents – and not to knock the old schoolers, but parenting wasn't the same as it was ten years ago, let alone twenty. Natalie was uncertain and alone in her parental boat with the exception of whatever friends she had managed to make in her prenatal classes – if she had made friends. He distinctly remembered Sarah hadn't been the biggest fan of the women in her classes and to be frank neither had he.

"Ahh, Nat." He sighed because he wasn't about to apologize for not sharing his personal life, he would apologize for not recognizing her fear. He had only seen it on the face of his wife for nine-plus months. Hell, it had been on his face too, "You know if you have any questions or need an ear, I'm there. Sarah too."

Natalie's eyes widened slightly at the mention of Sarah, "So that's true too?"

Connor had a feeling that he knew where this going but, "What?"

"You and Reese are married?" She asked quietly, not wanting to give more fodder to the gossip stream if she had assumed wrong.

He nearly rolled his eyes, "Yes... Going on almost six years now."

Natalie stared, a slow smile pulling at her lips.

Connor blinked, "What?"

"Pictures. Where are your pictures?" Natalie demanded, and he snorted with a shake of his head.

He'd have to add demanding to the list of her attributes and wondered vaguely if she was an only child. Natalie was certainly used to getting her way. He slid his phone from his pocket and clicked the home button to illuminate his lock screen. A picture of Sarah came up with the chaotic duo in one of the few moments of precious calm they had managed to achieve.

They were getting ready to leave the park. Dirt smeared across Callum's cheek as he grinned proudly, showcasing the gap where he had lost his first tooth as he leaned against his mother. Sarah looked more exasperated, but no less amused as she smiled and cradled Ellie on her other hip. Their little girl only looked curiously back at the camera as she reached up to pull the headband holding her curls off her head for the hundredth time.

Natalie cooed as she stared at the picture, "He looks just like you. And she has her daddy's nose, but those curls... Definitely, takes more after Sarah. They're beautiful, Connor."

"I think so." Connor agreed softly, "Maggie already called Callum my mini-me."

"Callum... Oh." She cried softly and raised a brow, "And what's her name?"

"Elowyn, but we call her Ellie." He couldn't stop the fond smile that tugged at his lips as he stared at his children. His family made him crazy in the best way, "Callum just turned five, Ellie's three."

"Three... My God, going through med school and taking care of a baby – two babies. Sarah's a rock star managing that. I'm doing good getting to the end of my residency and this one hasn't even arrived yet." Natalie murmured in awe.

Connor nodded, feeling a slight pang of remorse as he thought of his wife's struggle to achieve her dreams. The children hadn't made that an easy feat, but his girl was tough – tougher than she gave herself credit, "It's taken her a long time, but she's fought tooth and nail to get her degree. She's so close, just a few more months and it'll be match day and graduation."

Natalie frowned, "Wait, how long has Sarah been going to school?

"Eight years." He murmured and at Natalie's stare explained, "She was finishing her second year of med school when she found out she was pregnant. I was finishing my degree. Sarah dropped out to take care of the baby. And of course, when she started back, I got her pregnant again. I thought she was going to murder me."

Actually, she handled her second pregnancy far better than he had, but that wasn't something he was about to share. Callum's birth had been more traumatic than either had anticipated and he hadn't been keen for a repeat.

Natalie blinked, "Eight years? That means Sarah's closer to my age, but -"

"She looks like she's twenty-six?" Connor grinned amusedly because it was a point of frustration for his wife. She was often mistaken for being younger and was often not taken seriously as a result, "Yeah, I used to call her jailbait when we first started dating."

Natalie rolled her eyes, "I bet she loved that."

As if she knew she was being talked about, Reese appeared at the counter as she dropped off her tablet, "Who loved what?"

Connor barely kept himself in check as he casually answered, "I was just telling Natalie how much you enjoy my pet names."

Sarah furrowed her brow at him in confusion.

"I love my jailbait wife." He cooed sweetly, grinning at the immediate glower that descended over her visage.

"You are so lucky we're at work," Sarah murmured darkly, missing the amused smile that pulled at Natalie's mouth.

"Honey -" Connor began teasingly.

Sarah shut him down immediately, "I swear to God, I know where you sleep, Rhodes."

He shook with silent laughter as he made sure to stay just out of reach. She made playing so much fun for him. He wiggled his brows at her, "Oh, kinky."

He didn't dodge the pen that was flung at him quick enough, and Natalie had to cover her mouth as she muffled a snort. She hadn't really been able to picture the two of them as a couple until now, but oddly they worked.

Sarah snatched up another pen and grabbed a new patient file as she ignored her tittering husband. It wasn't until she moved to leave that a more sincere endearment left Connor's lips, "Babe."

She spared him a glance over her shoulder and smirked as she softly returned, "Yeah, yeah. You too."

Natalie watched in bemusement as Connor lit up. And it was only later she realized that she had just witnessed their shorthanded way of saying I love you.