A/N: I have this posted on AO3, but thought. What the hell? I should post it here too. Just a blip that's been playing in my head with Reese and Rhodes. A what-if scenario of them being closer in age and having met long before the events in Chicago Med. Thought I would share, but I may remove later... we'll see. Song credit to Ruth B - "Lostboy"

Disclaimer: I own what is mine.

Kid Swap and Lullabies

"Alright Bud, you remember what we talked about?"

A pair of sapphire eyes twinkled innocently up at Connor Rhodes as he navigated through the hospital parking lot. That innocence, however, hid a wealth of mischief and curiosity... Connor was not fooled when he merely got a smile and nod in answer.

"Callum Rhodes, words please." He reapproved gently as he looked over his shoulder at both his children.

"The hospital is not a playground. If I can't see you, then you can't see me and that's not okay. " The five-year-old replied dutifully and with an air of disinterest that Connor swore came purely from his mother.

He smiled ruefully at his son, "I know we were supposed to spend the day together, Bud. I'll make it up to you, I promise."

"S'okay, Daddy." Callum murmured as he fiddled with his ironman action figure, "When's Mommy coming?"

Connor frowned, not liking the easy acceptance his son had given, "Hopefully, she's waiting inside."

It had been a few months since he had been able to spend any real bonding time with either of his kids. Starting at Chicago Med and integrating his and Sarah's schedule to make sure the kids were covered had been more difficult than either had anticipated. He didn't want Callum thinking that his work came before him. He didn't want Ellie thinking that either.

His gaze shifted to the three-year-old currently dozing in her car seat and held in a sigh. It took a feat of Olympic proportions to slide her from her seat and into his arms without waking. He loved his little girl, but she had her mother's temperament through and through when she didn't get enough sleep. She curled into his chest and his heart swelled with warmth as he pressed a kiss to her curls. He wiggled his fingers out for Callum to take and had to hide a smile at the disgruntled sigh he received in return.

His independent little man, "Callum."

A small hand slid into his and... there was the scowl that was definitely his. Connor muffled a snort and squeezed Callum's hand gently, the returning squeeze put a smile on both their faces as they walked into the busy hospital.

Sarah was supposed to be having a well-deserved spa day with his sister and he hated that he had to cut it short. One of his patient's had taken a turn for the worse and there was no putting off coming to the hospital. It would be the first time the kids would see the place where their parents worked. He ushered Callum around the group in the waiting-room towards the nurse's station in the ED as he kept his eyes peeled for Sarah.

"Who is this?"

Callum jerked at the sudden exclamation, moving closer to Connor as he eyed the inquisitive nurse that had seemingly popped up behind the counter.

Connor grinned and squeezed Callum's hand again, "Hey Maggie. This is my son, Callum, and this sleepy-one is my daughter, Elowyn."

"I didn't know you had kids... or a minnie-me." Maggie responded as she leaned over the counter to get a better look at Callum, "Hey little man."

"Hi." Callum whispered, pressing his face into Connor's leg.

Maggie practically melted as Connor mouthed the words 'He's shy', before she pointed an accusing clipboard at him, "You've been holding out on me, Rhodes. Kids? You married too?"

Connor choked on a laugh as he nodded, "I am, yes and she is on her way to pick up these two. Look, I need to get upstairs. Apparently, Mr. Reed has taken a turn. You haven't seen Reese around, have you?"

"No. It's her day off –Did you need her for a psych consult? I think I saw Dr. Charles -" Maggie asked before the high-pitched wail of an ambulance rattled through the ED.

Maggie straightened to intercept the incoming trauma, but relaxed as she watched Halstead and April already taking care of it. The noise, however, startled Ellie awake, and her exhausted whimpers were quickly escalating to outmatch the ambulance.

"Damn." Connor murmured lowly as he started to sway gently to calm down his daughter.

Callum tugged on his father's pants, "Daddy sing. Ellie likes it when you sing."

The suggestion made Connor want to groan. Not many people had heard him sing and it wasn't something he particularly wanted to do in the middle of the ED, but his girl wasn't settling, and his son wasn't wrong.

"Alright Ellie–girl, you win." He whispered and lowly began to sing.

"There was a time when I was alone

No where to go and no place to call home

My only friend was the man in the moon..."

Gradually Ellie settled. Her tear-stained face blinking shyly around the ED before she watched her big brother climb onto the counter to hold her hand. Connor smiled proudly at his son as he began winding down the song, " And forever I will say..."

A soft falsetto joined his voice and Callum lit up as he spotted his mother, "Mommy!"

"I am a Lost Boy from Neverland

Usually hanging out with Peter Pan

And when we're bored we play in the Woods

Always on the run from Captain Hook"

Connor watched as his son carefully maneuvered himself off the counter and practically skipped to his mother. Even Ellie was looking curiously over, though she seemed more content to stay against her father's chest.

Connor could only grin sheepishly as he followed his son, well aware of the looks the family unit was receiving. Sarah bent down, giving their son a hug and kiss before letting him lean against her. Several steps behind her Claire stood, waiting for the hand off to commence as she waved at her brother.

"Hey, Claire." He called as he leaned down to press a kiss to his wife's cheek, "Hi, sweetheart. I'm sorry I had to drag you away."

"Don't be. We knew this was bound to happen sometime. Besides Claire was just saying how she wanted more time with these two." Reese answered as she gently guided her daughter out of her father's grasp. The resulting pout had both parents tensing for a tantrum.

"Don't make eye contact, she can smell fear." Connor whispered as he passed her his car keys. Hers didn't have the car seat in it.

"Stop it." Sarah murmured amusedly, "You love that she's a daddy's-girl."

Connor merely blinked innocently at her as he gently tucked her hair behind her ear, "I don't hate it. Alright, I gotta go."

He pressed kisses to Ellie's and Callum's cheeks, murmuring his love for them and instructions to be good to his son. He stood up and stole one last kiss from his wife, "I'll be home soon."

"Go, I got this." Reese murmured as she nudged him toward the elevator.

The last thing he heard before the doors shut was his son asking his aunt if they could get ice cream. He could only count the minutes until he was home again.