And that Rodney would see John keeping them as throwing his life away the way Jeannie did makes perfect sense for what we know about him.

Thanks, glad you agree with me there. Rodney's so achievement-focused, I think some part of him would think of having kids as kind of a big time-waster. (Of course, in a little while he'll get a taste of that reflected parental glory thing and it'll all change quite a bit! *g*)

Thanks for the great feedback! Glad you liked it.