The air was different that day. Winter had finally begun to relax its grip on Tokyo and the cold snap that has clung to everyone's breath had faded to the wet warming do spring.

The visit was like all the others before. Shioto bounding into the room, already chattering away to her mother. Toshinori watched from the door with a soft smile giving the girl a private moment as she changed the flowers in the vase. She straightened the blankets at her mother's feet, making sure to avoid touching her directly.

In the hospital bed, Kenko still lay in her unnatural, but serene quiet. Toshinori approached the bed, only half listening as Shioto told stories of her week at school.

His eyes drifted to Kenko's still concealed face, now hidden behind a smooth dome of metal. Toshinori wasn't sure what it did exactly, but he had been told it helped regulate the pressure and inflammation.

Shioto came to stand beside him, and they both watched her slow breaths, almost unnoticeable, except to those who had been there, and watched, many times.

"I have to use the washroom," Shioto whispered quietly, shuffling to the door.

Toshinori knew she didn't. He knew she would go sit just outside the door and wait. Give him his turn.

He reached out his hand, his fingers stopping just above her lips. He could feel her breath, the soft rush of air warming the tips of his fingers. The subtlest of kisses.

"Hi Kenko," he whispered softly.

He never said much to her. It was odd, but he didn't want to bother her with how much he missed her. How much he felt her absence in the darkened hours of night. He didn't want her to worry.

He leaned down, his forehead pressing a giant the cool metal of the helmet. "We're taking care of each other." A tear fell from his eyes, landing on her cheek. The only way he could touch her.

"So sleep well, I promise..." He stuttered for a moment as more tears fell, "I promise I'm always here."

"What do you want for dinner little Shioto?" Toshinori said as he rifled through the fridge, pulling out various containers, scrutinizing their contents.

"Don't worry about me," Shioto said from where she was lying on his couch, "I'm supposed to meet Izuku and everyone else cause Jiro's dad got her a karaoke machine. So were just going to grab soemthing at lunch rush."

"That sounds fun," Toshinori popped up over the counter. He pulled a water bottle out of the fridge and placed it on the counter, "You were just running around though, so you should drink this." He stood a little straighter, as if his height would somehow give him authority.

Shioto rolled off the couch, slouching her way over, giving Toshinori side eye as she undid the lid. "You worry too much."

Toshinori frowned, "Being hydrated is important!"

Shioto raised her eyebrows as she chugged half of the bottle in a few gulps, "Yes sir, water manager sir."

Toshinori tried to be stern, but he cracked a grin before glancing to the top of the fridge. With just one small corner visible, he could see the crumpled yellow paper he had placed there weeks ago.

He turned back to Shioto, who was sipping the water while texting non stop in a very active group chat, at least that what Toshinori assumed by the amount her phone was vibrating.

He took a deep breath and pulled the paper off the fridge, "Shioto..."

The girl paused, glancing up from her chat. He eyes darted around his head, and without looking she turned off her phone, sliding it into her shirt pocket. "What's up?"

Toshinori ran his thumbs over the edges of the paper, his dry tongue making it hard to speak. "Well you see..." he bit his lip, pulled a pen out of a drawer as he thought, "Summer break is coming up and, well."

He looked up. Shioto was leaning on the counter her eyes still dancing around his head. But her usual ever present snark was missing. She was still, an impossibly old patience settling behind her eyes.

"I have this form you see," Toshinori placed it on the counter, "I've filled out as much as I can but I need your help." He faltered, "And well. With the summer coming you see..."

Shioto took the paper, her eyes finally leaving him. She scanned the page, her expression stoic. "Application of Guardianship," she said evenly.

Toshinori nodded, "Shioto. Please don't think this means I've given up on your mother, but it could make things simpler and, uh..."

Without a word Shioto took the pen, filling in all the blanks Toshinori had left. He stood ridged, his fingers twisting together, forgetting to breathe.

After she had finished, Shioto dropped the pen. Instead of placing the form down she walked around into the kitchen. She held it out, "Toshinori, were family right?"

Toshinori nodded.

Shioto broke into a grin, "Then the paper just makes it official."

She walked around, attaching the form to the fridge with a magnet she had made in third grade. Satisfied it was well attached she whipped around, embracing Toshinori around his waist.

Toshinori returned the hug. "You knew didnt you?" He chuckled softly.

"Yeah," she replied without breaking the hug, "I was always fine with it." She pulled away tugging on one of Toshinori's long bangs, "But I could see you weren't ready."

Toshinori placed his hand on her head. He marvelled how he could still be surprised by the compassion of the young. This young one. "My wise little Shioto," He said rubbing her cheek.

Shioto sniffed rolling her shoulders as she tried to his the redness growing in her eyes, "Well I better head out. I can maybe grab some guitar practice before I meet up with everyone."

She bounced around the counter before Toshinori stopped her with a cough. "Shioto?"

"Yes?" She paused, her hand on the doorknob.

"What about your homework?"

Shioto stuck out her lip. Toshinori could see her brain already whirring with a million excuses and a thousand negotiations. Instead she sighed, "Yeah alright."

The first call went unnoticed by Toshinori. His phone buzzed in the pocket of his jacket which was sling over the back of his chair as he planned out the upcoming exam.

He almost missed the second, hearing it only because it rattled against the metal of the chairback. He looked down curiously, pulling it out of his pocket. Catching his breath as he ready the name on the caller ID

Toshinori couldn't see anything but his route as he ran, unperturbed by the stares of students and teachers alike. His heart was already miles ahead of him, pulling him to one, unassuming classroom.

He burst through the door, each student looking up to the disruption. Even Yamada stared, Toshinori's energy keeping them silent.

But Toshinori only had eyes for Shioto, who was standing up at her desk, gripping on to the edges as her knees threatened to buckle.

"Shioto..." Toshinori said through his gasping breath. He didn't need to say anymore.

She could see.

Shioto broke into a smile, then whimpered as she threw herself across the room and into Toshinori's arms.

They cried and they laughed as Toshinori pulled her close.

"She woke up."

Neither could recall the trip to the hospital, how they had raced precariously through traffic, to joyous to speak. Nor could they remember how they ran past the reception desks, ignoring the call of the nurses to slow down.

But they did remember ever detail of walking through the door.

Sitting, backlit by the sun which poured through the now open window, was Kenko. She was turned away, speaking softly with Recovery Girl.

She was awake.

It was the most beautiful thing. The culmination of all their dreams. All their hours of waiting and worrying. It was too good to be real. It was too aching not to be.

"Mom!" Shioto covered her mouth with shaking hands. Toshinori could see she was scared. They both were. They had trained themselves for so long not to touch her that the prospect of it froze them in place.

Hearing her daughters voice, Kenko snapped around, leaning forward eagerly. She was already smiling, one arm reaching for them.

Toshinori and Shioto gasped.

Across all of Kenko's forehead was an angry, red, scar. It's tendrils followed the lines of her face, some reaching down either side of her nose, brushing the edges of her eyebrows down disappearing into her hairline. It was the shape of a star, almost beautiful, except for all the pain it implied.

Kenko's eyes darted between them, reading their expressions of shock and sadness. She did her best to recover, chuckling as she pulled some of her hair in front of her face. "It is bad isn't it?"

Shioto ran over first, diving her head into the blankets as she wrapped herself around her mouth. Toshinori slowly crossed the room. As soon as she was in reach his fingers found her hair, running through the strands. The feeling shot through him, electrifying his joy. His gaze followed all of the new lines on her face. "Kenko..."

She dropped her eyes and threw out her arms, embracing her daughter and Toshinori in one hug. "I'm so glad you're alright." She kissed them both several times, "I'm...so sorry for making you worry."

She sniffed too, emotion overwhelming her, "And it's not so, uh, bad right?" She flicked her hair over her forehead again. "I can always hide it with my fringe. No my bangs sorry."

Toshinori pushed away her hands, pulling back her hair until she could no longer hide. She was trying so hard to be strong, but he could see the discomposure. How vulnerable, angry and shattered she felt. He kissed the scar hard, "No. Don't you ever hide that mark."

He looked down to Shioto, who still had her arms around Kenko's waist, and she smiled up at him, her red face full of teary joy.

"What you bought with that," he ran his thumb over her cheek, "What you did for that." Deep inside his chest, Toshinori could feel his heart swell, a similar feeling from when he had used One for All. It filled ever fibre of him as he stared into Kenko. "You wear it proudly you hear?"

The next few days were a flurry of visitors, check ups and many many laughs as students, teachers and friends visited Kenko in the hospital. Toshinori spent the end of everyday taking home the many gifts and flowers as they had run out of room at the hospital on the first day.

Toshinori sighed, trying releasing some tension from the days bustle. It had been a week since Kenko had woken up. Normally she would still be in hospital but now that she could use her quirk, and combine it with Recovery Girls, meant that she recovered fast enough to come home.

He poured water from the tap, circling it around the ice cubes. His body was a mix of fatigue and adrenaline but it wasn't until the apartment was dark and silent that he really noticed.

He paused at the counter, flipping through the stack of pages sent home by Recovery Girl. All the information they would need. He flipped to the second page, frowning at the long list of side effects Kenko could possibly experience from the trauma.

The list was long, and several had already been highlighted by Recovery Girl. Symptoms she had already witnessed in the hospital.

His brow furrowed as he read them. Short term memory problems. Some loss of dexterous motor function. Mild cognitive function impairment. Migraines. Mood swings.

His lip stung and Toshinori loosened his jaw, the familiar taste of copper running over his tongue. His had chewed his lip to much in anxiousness. He flipped the paper over, the flat white easier to handle.

She shouldn't have to suffer like this. She shouldn't have had to suffer in the first place.

He took the water and walked down the hall of the dimly lit apartment, opening the door slowly as not to wake the sleeping teenager, sprawled across the bed with her head on her mother lap.

He tip toed to the bed and when Kenko met his eyes he began tapping at his forehead while tilting his head to the side in a silent question.

Kenko chuckled at his ridiculous pantomime. "You can talk." She gazed affectionately at her daughter, softly snoring in her lap. "She's sleeping like a log."

Toshinori held out the glass of water, perching himself on the side of he mattress, paying mind to avoid Shioto's legs. "How's your head?"

Kenko took the glass, and Toshinori could see the liquid ripple with the minute trembling of her hand, "It's a little better now." She took only one sip, slowly moving the glass to the night table. It base smacked into the wood hard and Kenko winced. "Dark in here isn't it?" She tried lamely.

Toshinori studied Kenko's face as best he could in the dim, but the subtle cues he could use to read her were hidden by soft shadows. So he took a different track, looking down at the dozing girl, "I think this is the first rest she's gotten in awhile."

Kenko murmured in agreement. Toshinori watched as she gently worked an errant knot from Shioto's hair, so soft the girl didn't even stir.

She looked to him after a moment, smirking as he fidgeted awkwardly on the edge of the bed. He was trying not to be pushy, but he wanted nothing more then to be wrapped around her.

She smiled, sensing his wants. "Come over here," she patted the space beside her, and Toshinori crawled across, leaning into her arms.

As he felt the familiar sensation of her fingernails along his scalp, the release of tension was immediate. He dropped further onto her shoulder and she grunted then chuckled.

"Tired?"

"Very," he breathed in deeply, still greedily soaking in the scent of her. She still smelled vaguely of hospital

"Kenko" he asked softly, "Do you remember anything that happened?"

"I remember," Kenko's fingers brushed her forehead as she strained to remember, but they recoiled upon touching her scar. She frowned, curling her fingers into a fist before dropping her hand.

"I get flashes. I remember the girl. I remember seeing you and Midoriya hurt,". She screwed her eyes shut, shaking her head, "But it fades away...like a..."

She paused, "It's like a, oh what are they called." She pursed her lips, and wiggled her fingers, as if she was trying to pull the lost word from the air.

"A dream?" Toshinori said softly.

"Yes," She chuckled, "A dream."

Silence after that. Toshinori figured she was doing the same as him. Trying to find something to distract from the new and terribly obvious cracks in Kenko.

Shioto snorted loudly, breaking the tension and making them both chuckle.

Kenko smiled at him, and spoke soft. "Inko said you all have become quite a family while I was away."

Toshinori nodded, his hand absently resting on Shioto's head. "I think we always were."

Kenko bit her lip, her brow furrowing, "I'm sorry I missed it."

Toshinori cupped her face kissing her deeply, "You're here now. We have all the time in the world."

Kenko sniffed, smiled trough her tears. She kissed him back, as Toshinori selfishly pulled her in, wanted to make up for all the ones they had missed.

"As cute as this is, please stop its gross."

Toshinori broke away from Kenko and they laughed. Shioto was covering her eyes and pretending to be sick, "I mean really it's awesome you guys are happy and all, but can you be that kinda happy when I'm not right here?"

Kenko pulled Shioto into a squeeze, kissing her on the head as if she were a small child. "Get used to it. From now on we're all going to be together."

"Oh god that's so cheesy," Shioto whined, face palming dramatically.

Toshinori pulled his family in, his large arms easily holding them both. "We'll always be together."

Neither adult could see, but in the darkness, a young girl had all her dreams come true.

sorry for the wait on this! The summer is a really busy time for me! And wow holy cow. I love/hate to say it but we are nearing the end on the fic! Two three more I think? Depending on how I break it up! Thank you all for being on this crazy ride with me!