Uravity finally lost the battle with her supervisor. If she wanted to succeed then she had to comply with her agency's goals. She found the whole situation a little funny, this was never the life she imagined for herself. She always wanted to become a great hero and make enough money to support her family, which she could now do. She never expected the fame though, it was a little surreal. The feeling was intoxicating at first, but now she just felt hungover. The world was watching her though, so she didn't have much of a choice but to comply with her agency's requests.

"You okay?" she was so stuck in her head that she didn't even notice Shinsou come into her office.

"Yeah," she shook her head back into the moment. "I'm just a little tired, today was...chaotic."

"Isn't every day chaotic for the famous Uravity?" he joked, but there was truth in his words. Work felt like such a chore lately for Ochako.

"You're probably right," she forced a laugh. She wondered how other heroes were able to deal with the stress so gracefully. "Hey, can I ask you something?"

"Shoot," nodded Shinsou. He juggled an apple between his hands and sat on the empty chair in front of her.

"How do you keep a work-life balance? I mean you have a kid and marriage too." Ochako knew that Shinsou and Kaminari adopted a 5-year old this past year and neither seemed to struggle too much with the balance, at least not as much as she did.

"Well it isn't easy, but we take shifts and make sure we can spend time with her. The hardest thing is probably spending time with each other though. Date night once a week is essential. It's also important to keep intimate if you know what I mean." Shinsou said as he took a cheeky bite of his apple.

"Lucky you," Ochako buried her face in her hands. When was the last time she and Deku had sex? She couldn't even remember and it's not like they had gone on many dates recently either. She wished she had the time, but right now she could barely spend any time with her kids let alone be intimate with her husband.

"To be fair, they don't slave drive me. I'm not the agency star, so I get off the hook pretty easily. A 40-hour workweek, most of which is nighttime patrols, affords me way more free time than you get. I even get two days off a week," explained Shinsou.

"I don't know what to do about it," huffed Ochako. At this point what could she do? They wanted her to work even more hours now. If she didn't then there was no way she could make Japan's top 10 in the next hero ranking. "They need me here."

"They don't need you, they want you. You're their rising star." Shinsouu gave her a sympathetic look. "Do you even like being popular?" Uravity knew the answer to that question, she just didn't want to admit it.

"Honestly no, but I'm in too deep now. How would Japan feel if Uravity suddenly stopped being a great hero so she could stay home with her family? What can I do?"

"You could always quit and join another agency. It's not like Japan would lose Uravity, they'd just see her a little less. Also if we're being honest, half your time is taken up with those damn publicity events. Maybe if you join another agency you can focus on the hero work." suggested Shinsou. "Anyway, I got to head home, but I guess I'll see you tomorrow?"

"I'll be here," she waved him goodbye but she was still stuck on his previous comment. She couldn't just quit and join another agency. Could she?

It was 3 p.m now and Deku had finally gotten the kids to take a nap. This was one of the rare moments of the day where he got time to himself. He opened up his dresser and dug out the different police academy pamphlets he kept on hand. He wanted to talk to Ochako about this, he really did, but for some reason, the thought terrified him. He had lost a part of himself the day he lost One for All and maybe he could never get it back. Still, he had to try. He was looking through some of the pamphlets when he felt his phone buzz.

Shouto: Hey, I'm in the neighborhood can I come over?

Deku didn't know how to feel about Shouto coming over. On one hand, he could use a friend to talk to. On the other, he was still upset about what Toshi said earlier. He supposed his feelings for the former were stronger so he sent his friend a text.

Izuku: Yeah sure, the kids are sleeping though so we'll have to keep quiet. If they find out you're here they'll never let you leave.

Izuku heard a knock on the door only a few minutes later. His friend was still in his hero costume and Izuku assumed he just got back from work.

"Busy day at work?" he asked the taller boy who let out an exasperated sigh.

"Work? Nah that's been the easy part. It's wedding planning that's killing me. Momo is keeping me so busy right now. I might be hiding out here." said Shouto with a stupid smile.

"Well, I've been trapped in this house for so long, I don't even know how the outside world looks anymore. You might as well join me," said Izuku.

"When's the last time you've been out?" asked Shouto.

"Does the grocery store or children's playground count?" sighed Izuku. He never had time to go out. He always had to take care of the house and the kids. Shouto always suggested that he get a babysitter, but he felt bad about it. His only job right now was taking care of the kids. He at least needed to do that properly.

"You know I never understood why you got married at 19. You already have two kids at the age of 27," commented Shouto. Ochako and he decided that they didn't want to wait to get married and start a family. He loved her so much and back then they were all over each other. He still loved her, more than anything, but it was different now.

"What can I say? I liked it so I put a ring on it." Shouto cringed at Izuku's comment.

"Never mind, maybe I'll just go and hide at Bakugou's place," joked Shouto which caused Izuku to throw a pillow at him.

"Shut up," chuckled Izuku. "Anyway I can't believe Yaoyorozu and you took this long to get married. You've been dancing around each other since high school."

"Well, we were at different agencies for a while and it took a while for us to reconnect. The timing was good though. We're both ready to get married now, although wedding planning is giving me a huge headache. Why can't we just elope already." the bi-colored boy collapsed on the couch. "I swear if I have to taste another piece of cake then I'm moving to Mexico."

"You wouldn't survive a day in Mexico."

"Oh yeah? Watch me."

They soon settled into a comfortable silence. Shouto was his closest friend from UA and they made it a point to talk to each other often. Before the incident, they would go out almost every weekend. They even worked at the same agency. Things might have been different now, but he knew Shouto would always be there for them. Still, he didn't forget what Toshi told him earlier.

"Hey Shouto?" the taller boy turned to look at his friend. "Did you tell Toshi not to talk to me about quirks because I'd feel bad?" The silence wasn't so comfortable now.

"I just didn't want you to worry about it. I remember how devastated you were after the incident. I figured if Toshi kept talking about quirks then you'd feel worse. You've come so far, Ochako and I just didn't want that to change." explained Shouto. Izuku knew what he was trying to do. Ochako was doing the same thing. She'd never talk about hero work in detail, mention who she saw at publicity events, or talk about quirk training with him.

"I know what you're both trying to do, but quite honestly it makes me feel worse. I hate that those closest to me are walking on eggshells around me. The fact that Toshi was doing it just hurt. I'm not 'Deku' anymore, but I feel more useless than ever." He hated feeling like this, but he did. Why couldn't he just move on? He hated himself for it, for being someone others had to take care of.

"I'm sorry. I know things haven't been the same." Shouto paused. Izuku knew what question was coming next. "Did you sign up yet? Did you talk to her at least?"

He was talking about the police academy. Honestly, Izuku didn't even want to tell Shouto about it, but his friend had connections at the local police station. Izuku went over once to ask about the job requirements and Shouto heard about it.

"I know I keep saying this, but you should talk to her. It's been two years, and none of us want to see you like this. I know you love your kids, but I can tell you're miserable being trapped here 24/7." Shouto came over and placed a hand on his shoulder. Izuku knew he was right, he had to talk to Ochako about this.

"Shou-chan?" his sleepy toddler emerged from her bedroom. She must have woken up because of the noise. He wanted to get back out there, he did, but could he just leave them?

It was 5:30 now and Uravity just finished up another rescue mission. There had been a cave-in at a local mine and they needed her zero-gravity quirk. Another half an hour and she'd be able to leave work and go home. That was if she wasn't called in in the next thirty minutes for another save. She desperately wanted to make it to dinner with the kids today, it was Sunday after all. She sat at the desk in her office and looked at the unread messages on her phone.

Deku: Shouto came over. Looks like Hikari likes him.

Below that was a picture of her friend carrying her daughter on his shoulder. Hikari looked so bright and happy that she couldn't help but smile. She looked beautiful like that. Below that was another photo of Hikari smearing paint on Deku's face with her hands. She must have been finger painting. She lived for these pictures and was hoping she could get home fast enough to greet her friend and join in on the fun.

Izuku glanced over at the clock. It was 7:30 now and Ochako still wasn't home. He wasn't surprised though, he wasn't even angry anymore. Shouto left an hour ago and the kids and he just finished dinner. They knew better than to expect their mom at dinner when she was busy with hero work, but it still hurt to have an empty seat at the table. He missed sitting and laughing together as a family. He missed looking over and seeing Ochako stuff her mouth with food and Toshi asking her a million questions about work.

It was 9:00 now and Ochako had just finished another rescue mission. Looks like Japan doesn't want her at home with their kids. She took the train home, ready for more hollow words from her husband. He would insist that her absence was okay and would tell her he understood, but she knew better. He wasn't okay with it, but she couldn't figure out if he was angry or apathetic. She hoped it was the former because that would mean he still cared. Maybe he even missed her.

Deku heard the door open at 10:15, which was late even for Ochako. The kids were both asleep now and had to go the entire day without seeing their mother. It wasn't like Izuku could spend too much time with her either. She was probably tired and had every right to be. He was so proud of her for being such a great hero and he was probably a bigger Uravity fan than even Toshi. It had been a long time since he'd spent time with his wife though. He wanted to hold Ochako in his arms, not Uravity. He wasn't too mad today though. He desperately did not want to talk to her about the police academy. Telling her would mean he would have to go through with it. He wanted to, but maybe he was too messed up now? That and the kids, he didn't want to leave them, but at the same time, he didn't want to be trapped with them.

"They're asleep aren't they?" sighed Ochako. She missed them again. How many more nights would she miss with them? How fast would they grow under her nose? "I'm sorry, I thought I could come home earlier, but there was a last-minute rescue mission. It seems Japan can't give me a break."

"It's fine, you know I understand. You're a busy hero, I get it." he gave her an empty smile and got out some food for her to eat.

"No you don't get it," said Ochako. She was done with this little dance they had memorized. This wasn't the life she wanted. She used to love hero work. She used to love coming home and spending the day with a kid in her lap. She loved it when Deku came in after her and kissed her on the cheek. She loved laying down in her husband's lap while they watched T.V on the couch. She didn't get to do any of that anymore. Life just felt like an endless loop of disappointment.

"What do you mean?" he hadn't seen Ochako frustrated in a long time.

"I work all day and come home so late that I can't even see my kids. My daughter doesn't call me Mama, My son sees me as only a hero and my husband…"

"Your husband?"

"My husband hasn't acted like the man I love in a long time." Ochako winced as she watched Izuku's face fall. Maybe she had gone too far.

"Well, I'm sorry I'm just dead weight then." Izuku retorted.

"That's not what I mean." Ochako sighed.

"Then what do you mean. You always walk on eggshells around me Ochako. I feel like a wounded animal around you."

"I'm trying to be considerate. You know you're no better, I feel like such a robot around you!"

"Robot huh?" Izuku calmed down a little. He realized he had been treating Ochako a little like that recently.

"Yeah a robot. " huffed Ochako. "I mean, I don't blame you. That's how I've been acting recently. I'm just a machine that works and sleeps at this point."

"I didn't realize you felt that way. At least you get to go out and be your own person," said Izuku. "I feel so trapped here, both physically and mentally, but I need to keep it together because I know you already go through it at work."

"I never asked you to keep it together. I want you to talk to me, I want you to trust me again. I am here for you whenever you need me. Lately, it feels like you hate me. You don't even look me in the eyes when I get home."

"I don't hate you. Do you know how much I miss you?" He turned to face Ochako. "Do you know how much it hurts me to not have you here? I don't say anything because I know I can't add another thing onto your plate late like." Deku pulled her in for an embrace, resting his chin on her brown hair. He should have held her like this sooner.

It felt warm in his embrace and for the first time in a long time, she could breathe freely. He was different now, he had changed from the incident, but in the last 8 years, she had changed too. She still loved him, she never would stop loving him. "Don't let go," she whispered into his chest.

Izuku realized just how much he lost himself these last two years. They had both changed so much and maybe it was time for another change. "I'm sorry for being so useless," he mumbled into her hair.

"Don't. Don't do that to yourself, don't snuff all the light out. I want to see your bright eyes again. You're not useless, you never were. You do so much for our family and I want to see you do something for yourself again."

"Ochako?" his breath hitched. "I-I don't know if I can do that."

"You can, I know you can. Please, just try for me. Don't be afraid of what's out there." She broke away from his embrace and cradled his face, still wearing her gloves from work. That way he wouldn't float up in the air. Even without her using her quirk, Deku felt pretty weightless right now.

"I-I was thinking of maybe joining the police force. I wanted to enroll in the police academy, but I've kind of been avoiding talking to you about it. What if I fail in that too? I don't know if I can handle so many broken dreams." he was crying now. He didn't allow himself to cry in front of the kids, but he was crying now.

"Hey, I can't imagine what it must have felt like to retire from hero work at such a young age, but don't let that moment define your life. If you're ready to move on, I'm here to support you." Ochako smiled at him. He knew she was right.

"It's not like I haven't been quirkless before, but it feels different now. I had a taste and then suddenly everything was gone. I'm grateful I got to be a hero for as long as I did, but sometimes I wonder what it would have been like if All Might gave One for All to someone else."

"Don't talk like that Izuku. You inspired so many people during your time at UA and as a hero. One of those people being me, and besides, if you never got One for All we might not have met. Then Toshi and Hikari would never have been born. What I'm trying to say is don't live in the past and look towards the future."

"I suppose if my lifetime achievement was inspiring the great Uravity then my life wasn't so bad." he smiled as he worked to regain some composure.

"About that.." Ochako frowned at the comment. "What if I didn't want to be so great anymore. Don't get me wrong, I love hero work and everything, but maybe being a top ten hero isn't for me. I'd rather have a few more hours with the kids than be so popular."

"Are you sure about that Ochako?" frowned Izuku. "I mean is that not your dream?"

"My dream was never to become a famous hero. I just wanted to make enough money to support my parents, and I've made plenty to do that. It's just I want to support my family in a way that's not purely financial. I want to be here to see our kids grow up and I want to spend more time with you too. I'm ready to be Ochako again."

"Well, whatever you want to do, I'll support you too." Izuku kissed his wife but was interrupted by the footsteps of his sleepy son.

"Mama?" Toshi said, rubbing his eyes awake.

"Toshi, why don't you head back to your room, I'll tuck you in," said Izuku.

"Please can I do it?" Ochako asked. Izuku gestured for her to go ahead. Tonight was good for them, their shoulders had been freed of the loads they'd been carrying. A change was on the horizon and they were both ready for it.

Ochako woke up to her husband drawing circles on her back which was unusual considering it as 5 a.m on a Monday.

"What are you doing?" she whispered to him.

"I'm tired of waking up to an empty bed," he said to her.

"Well, let's hope that's not the case forever." She kissed him on the cheek and got ready for work.

It was noon now and Izuku had been struggling to dial the number on the pamphlet in front of him all day. He already talked to Ochako about it, but it was still hard. Somehow he managed to suck it up and dial the number.

"Hello my name is Izuku Midoriya and I was looking to enroll in your police academy. That is if there are any spots available" He was doing this, he was really doing this.

"Yeah we can offer you a spot, but you'd need to pass the physical test first. How does Friday sound?" the voice on the other end of the phone said to him.

"Okay, yeah Friday sounds wonderful. Thank you for your help." He did it, well he almost did. He would have to go in to take a physical test first, but it felt good to finally be moving on with his life. He got out his phone to text Ochako.

Deku: I did it! I called them. I still have to go in for a physical this Friday though.

Ochako smiled at her phone, she was proud of him. Now it was her turn, she needed to confront her supervisor.

Ochako: That's great news, hopefully, I'll have some soon too.

Uravity braced herself for what was coming next. She took a deep breath and opened the door to her supervisor's office. This was going to be difficult. When she walked in the older woman was focused on the paperwork in front of her, paying no attention to the panicked look on Ochako's face.

"Hello, Uravity? What is our agency's star looking for?" her supervisor asked, eyes still focused on the paperwork.

"I'm actually looking to resign," Ochako said while twiddling her thumbs. Her supervisor was an older woman in her sixties, but she still scared the living daylights out of Ochako.

"What do you mean?" her supervisor looked up at her and for a moment Uravity thought about running away and pretending nothing happened.

"Listen, Ma'am, I appreciate all this agency's done for me, but I can't keep working this hard. I love being a hero, I do, but I also have a family and have no time to spend with them. I know this will mean I won't rank high, but I just don't care too much for that anymore." Ochako explained.

"So you're quitting hero-work?" the older woman pursed her lips together in disappointment.

"No, of course not," Ochako waved her hands in refusal. "I was planning on joining a smaller agency and working fewer hours. That way I can be a hero and still have time to spend with my kids."

"I see. Well, we can't afford to lose you." sighed her supervisor. "I can give you 8 hour days and 1 day off a week." Ochako couldn't believe what she was hearing. She normally worked 12+ hour days so the extra time would be a huge help. Nevertheless, she still wanted to test out her luck.

"Two days off per week," she added.

Her supervisor pondered the suggestion. "I suppose that can be done. Nice having you Uravity." Ochako walked away feeling lighter than air. She pulled out her phone to text Deku.

Ochako: Good news, I'm still at the same agency, but they cut my work hours and I have two days off per week.

Deku: Really? That's great :)

It was 6:30 now and Izuku was busy making dinner when he heard the door open. He had a sneaking suspicion Ochako would be coming home early today, but he didn't tell the kids about it.

"Mama? Mama, you're home early!" cheered Toshi as he went to hug his mother at the door.

"Hey, honey. Mama's going to be home a lot more now." she smiled at him.

"Uravity!" she heard her daughter say while pointing at her. They still had to work on that, and the extra time at home would definitely help.

"Nice to have you home Ochako." Deku smiled at her and she swore his eyes were a little brighter than before. He was slowly, but surely getting his spark back.

"Nice to be home," she smiled back at her husband.

For the first time in a long time, the Midoriya family enjoyed dinner together. Nothing was completely fixed, but that was okay. Change was around the corner, and they were both ready for it. Ochako and Izuku signed up for a lifetime when they married each other, no matter the struggles it might bring. They were ready to juice every last moment from it. When dinner was done, the couple retreated to the couch together as their kids played in their room.

"I love you," Izuku whispered as he kissed his wife on the forehead. He was excited to work again. He was going to miss the kids, but he needed to do this for himself. At least he knew he could count on Ochako to be there for him when he needed her.

"I love you too," Ochako whispered back as she leaned her head on his shoulder. Her heart swelled with joy from being back home with her family again. She grabbed her husband's hand and laced their fingers together, never wanting to let go.