Midori the Mama

Chapter 7: Babes in Toyland

For the next few months Izumi did her best to put the tragic past behind her. She kept busy by helping Momo plan her wedding, and doing paperwork at the office, but she quickly learned that in order to move on she needed closure. She decided to visit All Might's and Eri's grave, a task she'd been putting off too long. Her mother joined her, the two of them walking together in the winter air, bundled tightly in all black garb, scarves, and mittens.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you the truth right away mom. I didn't want to worry you." Izumi confessed, her mother's arm wound tightly in hers.

"It's alright, Izumi. I know why you did it. Katsuki told me everything, and I'm just happy that for the most part you're alright." She turned to her daughter taking her cheeks in hand. "After everything you've already been through Izumi, this is the last thing that I wanted for you. You should be able to hold onto all those precious memories, the good and the bad."

"Mmm… I'll get them back." She leaned into her mother's touch sighing. Her breath puffed out gently and she glanced around. "Where is the grave site?"

"All the way on the top." She helped Izumi up the last few steps and the two of them stood in front of the regal statue of All Might's likeness, and he held the hand of a little girl with wispy hair, and bare feet.

"They put Eri right next to him." Izumi noticed and knelt down to clean the old flowers and decorations off.

"The poor child," Inko dabbed the first tear away. "She was still so young and hadn't yet known real happiness. She deserved better."

Izumi's eyes stung and her hands stilled on the dry flowers crushing them in her fist trying to fight back the sob that wanted to escape. Inko immediately panicked.

"Oh, baby, no, no it's not your fault honey." She knelt beside her and rubbed her back. "It's because of you she managed to have some happiness in her life. None of this is your fault."

"Isn't it?" Izumi sobbed and let go of everything to cry into her hands. "Savage was after me, not them. He knew All Might was a father to me, and Eri a little sister and he used them to get to me."

"Then it's HIS doing, not yours. You should never regret love, Izumi." She took her hands away and clutched them in hers, Inko's own eyes swimming. "You've the biggest heart in the world, you're capable of so much love. It's because of that wonderful trait that you're the hero you are today. Never, NEVER close it off."

"I'm scared, Mama." she hugged her mother, her swollen belly pressed between them. "I'm so scared to lose someone else I love."

"You won't… Katsuki would never let anything happen." She pulled back and clucked her chin. "Your husband is a strong, brave, and devoted man. He and Shoto will find Savage and bring him to justice."

"Oh Mama… I didn't realize just how much I needed Kacchan in my life." She sniffed and wiped her eyes. "Ever since I woke up without my memories, I had just been letting things fall into place. I loved him in high school, but seeing the man he's become... I'm falling in love with him all over again."

"I know, baby." She stroked Izumi's hair and let her lean on her shoulder. "I know."

~One For All Agency~

Bakugo replayed the video of Izumi's visit to Himeko on his computer again and again, it gave him a jolt every time to see Izumi just collapse and the guards rush in. "Victor Savage… If Himeko knows about him, then the league of villains ties in somewhere."

"He may have gone to them in search of allies. Without All for One and Shigaraki, the League is a pitiful band of nobodies." Shoto put in going over police reports. He'd read the same paragraph over and over til his eyes bled. He was starting to get a headache. "Himeko was the last real threat, and she's just a screaming little girl now banging her head on a window."

"I think we need to do the same."

"Do what bang our heads on a window?"

"No, you idiot, I'm talking about calling in allies." Bakugo turned off the computer and rubbed his eyes. "There's only so much the two of us can do. We need to call in reinforcements."

"That doesn't sound like you. Normally you're like… "We don't need them" or "Who the hell needs those losers?" or something to that effect."

"I've got more at stake this time. I'm not letting savage anywhere near Izumi and the baby. Even if it means putting someone with her round the clock, I want to keep her safe." He stood up and went to Izumi's desk to pull out a tablet with Izumi's contact list on it.

"I know you said she agreed to let you take care of her, but don't you think that's a little excessive? She won't like being hovered over."

"I'll just have to be sneaky about it, then." Bakugo smirked and dialed a number calling the first person on Izumi's list. "Ochaco, it's Bakugo… listen Izumi and I want to invite some of our old classmates to our place for a Christmas party.. Mind getting in touch with everyone and letting them know?" He waited a beat, winking at Shoto with a thumbs up. "Hmm? When? Ah let's go with the 20th. Alright, great, see you then." He hung up

"You're one sly dog, Katsuki."

"Heh, if you think that's sly, just wait til you see what else I've got in store."

~ Later at Bakugo Household~

Izumi sat on the couch with Todo curled in her lap, sighing. She'd been sitting in the same spot for an hour, blindfolded and bored. On top of that the sounds of her husband grunting and cursing, mixed with the various rustles and banging were making her curious.

"Kacchan, you don't need to surprise me to cheer me up. Whatever it is you got me, I'll be happy with just receiving it normally."

"Be quiet Usagi, and indulge me a minute will yah? It'll only take a few more minutes." He cursed under his breath when he banged his finger on the mantle.

Izumi sighed again and she stroked the cat who purred contentedly. Bakugo put the last finishing touches up on the surprise, and walked behind her to remove the blindfold.

"Alright, now you can look." He quickly went back around to see her face, and the tight nerves in his stomach loosened when he saw her face light up with joy. The room glowed and became lightly scented with cinnamon candles. The great ornate mantle was decorated with holly and stockings, Mistletoe hung in the archway leading into the livingroom, and a large Christmas Tree sat in the corner of the room in front of the window, all lit up and decorated.

"Oh! Wow, Kacchan!" She stood up and turned around the room slowly. "It's a Christmas wonderland in here… OH! Look at the tree!" She walked to it admiring the ornaments and the few gifts already under it.

"You're a big geek when it comes to Christmas…" He walked to her and slung an arm around her shoulder. "...and you've been wanting to get everybody together since you came to. So I decided what better way to celebrate than a Christmas Party?"

"Oh Kacchan I love it!" She hugged him tightly and nuzzled under his chin. Tears of joy slipped down her cheek. "I can't believe you did all this for me! I absolutely love it!"

He kissed her temple and pulled back stroking her cheek.

"There's more… I set it up while you were out with Inko." He hefted her up letting her arms circle around his neck as he carefully went up the steps to the second floor. He bypassed their bedroom, and went into the first guest room and pulled open the door. The room was dark and made her nervous… but when Bakugo flicked the lights her eyes sparkled with joy.

The baby nursery was done in green, with dragons depicted on the walls, looking majestic rather than ferocious. The soft light from the lamps glowed on the full wooden crib and rocking chair, and other baby necessities lined the wall.

"Oh Kacchan!"

"I had a little help here… Todoroki, Momo, Iida, and Ochaco all pitched in for the baby stuff, but I did the bulk of the work." He tapped the hanging chime sending baby dragons dancing.

"Oh God, this has done it…" She sniffed. "I told myself I wasn't gonna cry anymore today, but these are too happy tears to hold in." She turned into him and cried into his chest. "Kacchan...I love you."

Bakugo's face lit with surprise and then joy. She hadn't said those words once to him since she lost her memories.. And to hear them now had him bursting with joy. He picked her up again swinging her and making her tears turn to laughter.

"Took you damn long enough to say it!" He laughed and stopped spinning to press his forehead to hers. "Ah hell, me too… I love you Izumi… I always have."

~Elsewhere~

"RAUUUUGH!" Doppleganger knocked over a table, food and glass spilling all over as his temper raged. "I'm tired of waiting! We should crush her while she's down!"

"Patience my boy… it's that impatient attitude of yours that made you lose to her in the first place." Savage puffed his cigar and lounged back in his spot.

"I've waited for years for my revenge. All Might and that brat only spurred her on… I want to see her spirits completely break! I want to rip that spawn out of her belly and hold it crying over her so the last thing she sees before she dies is my killing her child with my own two hands."

Doppelganger laughed maniacally at the delicious image in his mind. Savage sighed and stubbed out his cigar.

"The affects my quirk have had on your mind is troubling. You're a sick and twisted bastard without your memories of being a hero. Makes me wonder whatever possessed you to take on such a profession." He stood up fixing his cufflink. "Still it's your sick and twisted nature that's been quite useful to me… just as Izumi's villainous self will be a powerful tool. We're so close to reaching our goals… yours for revenge, mine for domination. Once we wipe out the last bits of happiness inside Izumi, she'll fall straight into our grasp."

"But when Savage… WHEN!?"

"Soon…" he flipped open his watch and his lips slowly curved. "Very soon."

~December 20th, day of the party~

Izumi dressed to impress in a deep green velvet dress that showed off her holiday spirit. She wore gold knots in her ears and had braided her hair off her shoulder for a simple yet elegant look. The tight fit and flare of the dress showed off her belly which was exactly what she wanted. It was baby Bakugo's first Christmas and she wanted him to be a part of it.

"Speaking of which…" she reminded herself looking up at kacchan who was fiddling with his suit and fighting with tie. "We never agreed on a name."

"We are not calling our son, Deku." Bakugo grunted, and had Izumi scowling.

"It's Izuku! What's wrong with that name? It's better than Mighty Bakugo, which really is just you being an arrogant ass."

"Hey I just want to pay homage to the man who was like a father to you, and an idol to me. Can I help it if his name is awesome?"

"If you want to name him after All Might, then his real name was Yagi."

"Yagi.. more like yucky… tch, we'll figure something out. We've got time still." He gave up on the tie and tossed it aside and turned to his wife. "Why do I gotta wear this again?"

"Because it's a special occasion." She fussed a little with his lapels and smoothed them down smiling. "Plus you look so handsome."

"Heh…" he put one hand in his pocket and lifted the other to take her chin. "You're not too shabby tonight either."

"Kacchan…" Izumi smiled and leaned up on her toes kissing him. "You're such a flatterer."

The doorbell rang interrupting the moment, and Izumi sighed and pat his chest.

"To be continued later… come on, let's go make merry." The two of them walked downstairs to greet their guests. One by one they all arrived, Friends, classmates, family… kids ran around, couples kissed under the mistletoe, and drank champagne or cold cider. Izumi walked the floor carting a tray of horserves and had Bakugo clucking at her and moving her to sit.

"Idiot, just because you're the hostess doesn't mean you have to wait on people. Get off your feet."

"Bakugo being the doting expected daddy…" Tsuyu smiled and lifted up her glass of champagne to toast him. "It's truly a sight to behold."

"Shut it, frog lips." Bakugo's temple throbbed and he slapped the tray down on a table and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "She's been on her feel all day, she needs to rest."

"I can't sit still…" Izumi complain and shifted uncomfortably. "My back is killing me. Walking helps."

Bakugo's face changed and he crouched to rub her lower back.

"Are you alright? Maybe you should lay down for awhile. Have you eaten anything?" He ignored the awws and sighs of delight behind him as he fussed and comforted a pained Izumi.

"Yes, little things here and there… it's just discomfort, Kacchan. The doctor said I'll be having a lot of it in the last trimester… Mmmph." Izumi closed her eyes and clutched her stomach. "I just didn't think it'd be this much."

"That's it, you're lying down. The party can survive without you for an hour." He took her arm, and was surprised when she complied. He paled, and knew she had to be in real pain. "Izumi."

"Yeah, maybe you're right… MMMPH!" She leaned on him, and flushed when she heard the splash of water around her feet. "Oh damn… I'm sorry, Kacchan!"

"Sorr… oh damn!" He looked down at his wet shoes. "Don't worry about it, I'll clean it up… ah.. .wait… isn't that… did your water just break?"

Izumi answered him by crying out in pain as a contraction hit.

"Ah fuck me! TODOROKI! Make yourself useful and get the damn car going!"

"What's going… oh shit!" Shoto took one look at Izumi and shoved his champagne glass at Mineta who immediately gulped it down and paled at the sight of Izumi in labor.

"I got her, Bakugo!" Ochaco took over and shoved him off. "Go get her hospital bag, it's in the-" she didn't have to say anymore. Bakugo knew exactly where it was and he sped dialed Izumi's doctor in the process. Expectant daddy or not, at least the man was efficient.

The party was all in a buzz about the birthing, and it was an easy decision for everyone to jump in their cars and follow the excitement.

~Shibuya Hospital~

Izumi had never been in so much pain. She'd broken every bone in her arms and legs, been cut, and punched, and ripped apart… but she had to give childbirth the top. Every inch of her cramped and contracted, and she could feel the baby moving and thrashing, eager to get out.

"Guess he wanted to join the party!" Izumi panted as they settled her in the room. Her face was already beading with sweat, the hospital gown doing little to hide her body and she began to feel self conscious as party guests came in a little at a time to take pictures, and offer up gifts.

"How far apart are the pains?" Ochaco asked taking a seat and looking at her watch.

"They're pretty much constant now." Bakugo cursed as Izumi squeezed his hand. If his fingers weren't broken it'd be a miracle. "She's dilated plenty but they're worried about the baby's erratic heartbeat and taking a look at some sonogram images to see what's going on. SHIT! Usagi that hurts!"

"SO DOES THIS!" She yelled back at him then whimpered and cried. "Wahhh I'm sorry Kacchan, it's just scary… and it hurts… what if something's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong, Usagi, our son is gonna be fine. There's nothing to worry about." he brushed back her sweaty bangs and kissed her forehead as the doctor came in.

"I don't want to worry you, Mrs. Bakugo, but I'm afraid we can't let you give birth naturally."

"What?" Izumi panted and held her stomach. "I thought you said I was almost fully dilated, how come I-"

"According to the sonogram, the baby's umbilical cord is tangled around its throat. If you give birth normally the force of it will strangle your baby."

Izumi's flushed face went deathly pale and she lay back on the pillows.

"No…"

"Wait a second…" Bakugo stood upright. "The surgery, isn't it dangerous for both the kid and the mother?"

"There is a risk… the baby's chances of survival are seventy eight percent, and the mother's… well less than that, but with a strong woman like Usagi-"

"So you're saying both my wife and my son could die!?" Bakugo grabbed the doctor by the lapels.

"Kacchan stop it!" Izumi pleaded.

"Bakugo, knock it off, this isn't helping." Ochaco tried to soothe Izumi's nerves by rubbing her shoulders. "Have some faith."

"Faith in what? This dip of a doctor?"

"No, in me!" Izumi held out her hands for his and he immediately let go of the doctor to take her hands. "I'm strong, Kacchan. I can do this!"

"I can't lose you, Izumi…" He whispered it low so only she could hear. "You don't understand what that will do to-"

"Don't you dare underestimate me." She got a wicked gleam in her eye and she kissed him. "Trust me… I can do this. I won't die, and neither will our son."

"Izumi…" he felt her shaking, saw the fear hiding behind the gleam and he leaned his forehead on hers. "Why do you always gotta do that? Why do you always have to pretend like you're not afraid?"

"All Might taught me to always smile in the face of adversity." She grinned big at him even as a tear fell. "I'm smiling even in the face of death. It's the kind of hero I always strived to be."

"Baka…" He kissed her full and hard stroking her hair and laying his free hand on her belly. "Alright, le's do this… let's bring this kid into the world."

"Plus Ultra Style!" She grinned.

~Surgery~

Izumi tried her best to keep calm and trust the doctors. In full medical garb Bakugo stood beside her head and gripped her hand, shaking. He was so scared, and Kacchan was hardly ever scared. She lifted her eyes to his, smiling through the oxygen mask.

"It's okay, Kacchan…"

"I know…" He pet her hair. "I know Usagi…"

"Alright you two, here we go.. .stay with us Mrs. Bakugo." The doctor started the extraction, and Izumi felt sick as she heard the rapid beeping of her baby's heart.

Please, Izumi pleaded and shut her eyes, please live, my son. See the world… see the beautiful world.

When the first cries of her child rang out she could help but let out a shaky breath of relief. Bakugo's face was astonished and brilliant as the doctor cleaned up their son and handed him the wailing bundle.

"Is he…" Izumi tried to reach up a hand but couldn't find the strength to. Her world was darkening and she struggled to keep her eyes open and her ears alert.

"He's alive, and well Izumi. You did it.. You-... Izumi!" Bakugo gripped her hand seeing how pale she was suddenly. Her heart monitor was slowing and Bakugo began to panic even while still holding the wailing baby. "What's going on!?"

"She's going into shock… nurse!" The doctor gave orders and one of the nurses urged Bakugo back. It took more than one to push him out. The nurse tried to get him to let go of their son but he cradled him protectively his eyes still on Izumi's face… and the sound of her heart monitor flatlining.

"No! Izumi! IZUMI!"

~Ask Briry~

Briry: *A little ghost escapes mouth* two sad chapters… I'm dead, I'm not gonna make it.

Ochaco: Live Author-san! You must live! Please everyone keep reading!

Next Chapter: A legacy lives on