And in a moment of joy and fury I threw myself
In the balcony like my grandmother so many years before me
I've always been in love with you
Could you tell it from the moment that I met you? - The End of Love by Florence + The Machine

The train station was warming in the early spring sunshine. The noise and smell of the trains running, people moving hither and yon, even small birds twittering in the eves made me feel like I was home. That wasn't quite enough to make me smile, though. Although I'd just been here with Izuku, it was a different feeling being here with Katsuki and contemplating my parents and their reaction to... "Katsuki?"

"Yeah?" His arms were crossed as he stood tapping his foot, waiting for the train doors to open so we could board. "What's on your mind?"

"Are we dating?"

He laughed aloud, "You're already pregnant with my kid. I think in some places that means were married."

"But we're Japanese." I copied his stance.

"No." He turned, his hands dropping, "Don't look so upset. I would rather just marry you."

"Marry?" I coughed, and turned my head to see the doors slide open and a torrent of people wash out. "Shouldn't we not skip the getting to know you part?"

He grabbed my hand, and we got on, finding seats quickly. He sat across from me, leaning forward to place his hands on my knees, "We practically lived in each other's belt pouches since the November before last. And I considered you a person I needed to keep on my radar since first year. You've been..." He leaned back, his superior smirk on and a twinkle in his eye, "Special to me for a long time."

"My dad is pretty upset at you for what you've done to me in every Sports Festival, you know." I laughed, "Last May was especially memorable. Why did we always have to fight? I felt like UA was picking on me. Or I've been paying back Karma for the last three years."

"Ah, come on. It's better that way." He let his smirk go but kept his eyes steady on me, "You've always been good. That's why we were always in the finals. It's just my good luck, I suppose." He sighed, "I will apologize to your dad for last year. I didn't mean to blow off your pants. I know everyone enjoyed it though."

He laughed again and I joined him. It had been hilarious. Me, standing there in my torn top and underwear. Him gaping stupidly as the entire stadium raised a clamor of stomping feet and cheering. I'd fainted dead away after that. The memory of it was so embarrassing that a blush rose again.

I punched his leg, "So you're saying we've been dating for two years already?" I nodded, "Makes sense." I smiled, "I wish you'd told me. I think I would have enjoyed this all a lot more that way."

"So, you'll say yes?"

I shook my head, "Not telling. That'll ruin it. When are you going to ask?"

He gave me a saucy wink, "Not telling."

"Fine." I settled in, "Are you quitting your job?"

"If you say yes, then I will. When I helped write the contract, I didn't know where I was going. I just..." He sank back too, "I just wanted to get away. I ended my time at UA totally differently than I was hoping. So, I thought I might need an out." He rubbed his hands on his jeans, another nervous gesture, "I thought, with time, I'd repair things with my friends, maybe even with Todoroki. We'd do like you and I used to talk about, form a multi-hero agency like the All Might Memorial Agency. I always intended to try and win you."

I tilted my head and watched him talking. His eyes were slatted toward the window, his hand bouncing on his knee like it did when he was thinking about too many things at once. I had no idea that he'd thought that far ahead. Not that it was surprising, he'd always been about the long road by the shortest means possible. His contradictions would never end. I hoped in that moment that I'd always find them so damned endearing.

"So in the contract, I asked that I be allowed to terminate my employment at any time. They countered with as long as I have a replacement ready to go, then I could." His hand stopped, "I have to do that today, too. What do you think of Kirishima? He and Midoriya are the only two I was still talking to at graduation."

"I haven't kept up with anyone except Midoriya." My chin sank in sadness, "I was so buried by one day. One horrible day followed by two terrible weeks. I can't tell you how happy it made me to know that Kyoka didn't blame me." I ran my fingers though my hair, a soothing exercise, "I was going to spend time writing e-mail today too. In fact, I was going to do that tonight. I have until about 3pm tomorrow to try and repair bridges before leaving."

"Well, you're going to have dinner at my place tonight. I called my parents while you were showering. You're staying in my bed tonight too."

"You don't have an All Might bed set, right?"

He chuckled, "No. I did until Middle School, though, so I won't try to say I wasn't a fan."

"Kirishima's good. If your company was looking for a powerhouse like you?" He nodded, "Then Riot would be good. He'll like Li Na, too, I bed."

His eyebrows twitched up, "You bed?"

"I meant 'I bed.' Oh! My god. I bet! Bet!"

"Don't worry." His eyes lit up as a wolfish smile stretched his lips, "I got plans that involve you and a bed."

I ducked my head, "Katsuki? I know this is going to sound stupid, since I'm almost five months pregnant, but I'm a little scared." I felt a blush writhing over my cheeks, "Scared of plans that involve me and a bed and you in that bed and things..."

"If you're not ready, I've waited this long. I can wait longer."

My blush redoubled. I didn't want to wait, not really, I was just scared. In fact, just as much as I was afraid to have sex again, my body had definite ideas about making Katsuki wait. I was horny as hell with all these hormones.

"I don't. I don't want to wait, I'm just scared. I don't remember the first time. Did it hurt? Did I like it? Did you? I'm just nervous. What about the baby? I mean, I know it's fine, but, I'm not the same as I was. What if I'm too fat?"

Kaksuki sat forward again, his hands going to mine, "Look at me." He waited for me to raise my eyes, "That's my girl. First off, you're not fat, you're pregnant and even more beautiful than before. Last night, I didn't want to keep my hands off you, so put that thought away. I get that you're scared. I'm just as nervous as you."

"I didn't mean fat," I fumed, "But there is a volleyball sized lump here that isn't going to go away between now and tonight. I'm just kinda freaked, okay?"

"I am too." He blushed again, surprising me, "I bought a book, though. It helped."

"Y-you bought a book? Why?"

He scratched behind his ear, and his eyes moved away, "After the mission, I decided that nothing was going to keep me from talking to you. But since we're confessing, let me tell you, I'm terrified. Terrified of becoming a dad. Afraid that I'm going to do or say something really stupid, or hurt you somehow. Scared about having sex with a pregnant woman. This whole experience is like nothing I've ever had to deal with." He sighed, "So, I bought a book."

I nodded, this was so Katsuki, studying a problem with the resources he could find. I would have laughed if I didn't think he'd take it the wrong way. "That's kinda awesome. Can I borrow it?"

"Yeah, you don't have one?"

"No. If I have a question, I can talk to one of the women at J5, my agency, who've had kids. One of the receptionists, two of the side-kicks and the Owner herself! And the internet. But, you know, I was kinda off men, so I didn't ask about that."

"In any case, I've been reading it, and it says that you've seen bean. Have you? What was it like?"

"I did, right after I found out, actually. So bean's not a bean anymore, but.." I pulled my purse close, and grabbed my phone out. I thought about Shoto for a second, the first person outside my family to see this photo. How reverent he'd looked in that moment.

I found the picture, and handed it to Katsuki, who took the phone with careful fingers. He looked at it for what seemed an eternity before he spoke again, a smile spreading across his face, "It does look like a bean."

"Too bad Kyoka isn't here. You should hear it's heartbeat, too. It's really comforting, somehow."

A tear was tracking down his cheek as he stared at the my phone, "I think you're due for your ultrasound. Right?" He looked up, "Are you going to find out if it's a boy or a girl?"

"Actually, yes. I get home Monday morning, and two hours after I get off the plane, I go to the imaging center. I'll finally get to meet bean for the second time." I placed a hand on our baby, "I did want to know, so I was going to ask."

He handed the phone over, "I want to know, too. Will you call me? Right away?"

I took it back, looking at the bean shape again. Smiling at it too before putting it back in my purse, "Yeah. I will video it for you if you want. Mara'll be there. She won't mind."

"Mara?"

"Wrest is her hero name. She's my partner until I can find a side-kick that works well with me. So far, no one like you has come along."

"Really? There's no gorgeous, perfect specimen of maleness with an awesome quirk and blazing intelligence for you to partner with?"

"Oh, no. Nope, there's a few of those hanging around Seattle. I needed an egotistical asshole who always thinks he's right, has an explosive quirk, and a scary kill face." I gave him my best smirk which made him snort a laugh out at me, "I haven't find one of those yet."

He moved over to sit beside me, and wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. I lay against him. "Well, give me some time. I'm sure I can develop those qualities you were talking about." He pulled his own phone free, "I gotta work. Seems like I've got to settle some things if I'm going to get married."

"Right." I laughed, "I have work to do, too." I retrieved my phone, and plugged in the WiFi card I'd had to buy to use my American phone. "You should get this app." I showed him my phone again, "It allows people to text without international fees. You'll have to give me your number."

"You don't have it? Wow. Maybe we should date for a little while."

"I did." I elbowed him in the rib, "And you know it, since we used to text nearly every day. When I left, J5 gave me a work phone, and it's got, like everything! So, I just use it since it's free." I gave it back to him, and he added himself to my contacts. I looked at it, 'Kacchan'. "I've never called you that." I deleted the affectation and typed in Katsuki. "And you've never given me a nickname that I liked. I'd better as heck not be 'round face' on your phone."

He flipped his phone toward me, showing my old number and e-mail address. "It's not." A picture of me, obviously taken without me knowing since I wasn't smiling, along with the moniker 'Angel'.

"I-.." I snuggled against him again, "That is very close to the sweetest thing I've ever seen you do." I smiled up at him, "When did I get a nice nickname?"

"It was kind of an extraordinary day. You fought against me hard, and won."

In Ochaco's Hometown

Standing on the platform inside the station closest to where my parents lived with Katsuki was proving to be another experience. I straightened my raglan shirt, pulling the front over the belly it was straining against. He watched me with raised brows and I tugged it again before making sure my jeggings were doing their best.

He laughed, a hand out to forestall my outburst, "Sorry! Sorry!"

I snorted though my nose, and crossed my arms over my chest, "Well, here we are." I spun about on my heel, suddenly grinning and happy to be so close to the ocean, "Do you like the sea?"

He stifled his mirth, instead, grabbing a hand, and leading me out of the station. "You know, we never did the beach thing when I was a kid. I always liked skiing and rock climbing. But seeing you like this makes me wish I'd gone on the class trip last summer."

"You really missed out. I think I practically slept in my swimsuit. I know..." I sighed. It's never a good idea to talk about your ex to your current boyfriend. I tried to salvage, "I know you would have looked amazing. That swim training before we went to camp in first year was a very memorable day for me."

"You can talk about Todoroki. I mean, you're not with him, and to be honest, I'm morbidly curious."

"Well. That's disgusting." I sighed again, "I'm not gonna gossip about Todoroki to you."

"It's probably better that way." He paused, turning to look at me, "I could learn to love the ocean, though."

"Aww." I bumped his arm with my shoulder as we continued down the street away from the noise and bustle of the train station.

"Seattle's on the water? I think I remember that it's on a bay, right?"

"Yeah. Well, sort of. Puget Sound is a series of inlets, I think?" I thought about it, "I can see the water from my condo, but it's probably as close as your apartment in Hong Kong."

Katsuki forcibly stopped me saying anything more, wrapping his strong arms around me, "Anywhere with you is exactly the kind of place I want to be."

"You're going to love it there. I promise." I mumbled into his shirt, "We should get home. Mom and Dad'll be worried about me. I mean, us."

"Just one more thing," He let me step away, "Do you know where the closest court house is?"

I craned my neck, "Um, I think it's just down this way," I pointed. "Why?"

Katsuki knelt there on the sidewalk, people slowing to watch what was happening, "Ochaco, will you marry me?"

There were several gasps and a random teen who took her phone out and snapped a picture. I stood, flummoxed and staring. He was so beautiful and earnest. I had loved him for a long time, maybe even longer than I thought I had. I smiled, and nodded, "Yes. A million times, yes."

He jumped up, sweeping me into a swinging hug as strangers clapped and the teenage girl wiped her eyes and took another picture. Katsuki put me down, and people dispersed, some offering me good luck.

"Hey, girl!" He called, and the teen turned around, "Send those pictures to me."

The girl walked back, "Uh, I'm sorry! I love romance. Sorry."

Katsuki gave her a smirk, "It's not a big deal. Here, take my number, send the pics."

"Uh?" The girl grinned, "You're a lot less scary than the first time we met."

"We've met?" Katsuki studied the girl as he held up his phone so she could type in the number, "Nope, can't say that I remember you."

"Oh, well, I go to UA? My name's Kasumi Kaihari. I barely squeaked into the hero course. I accidentally bumped into you a couple weeks before graduation in Lunch Rush's?"

Katsuki just impatiently shook his head while he pocketed his phone, "Sorry, kid."

"Oh?" I smiled at her, putting out my hand. She was a tall thing, the fact that she had some kind of quirk easy to see. She had long, white, stiff hair that stood in a tall crescent that reminded me of Present Mic. Her grey-edged, elegant fingers and teeth that looked uncomfortably shark-like caught my attention. I wondered what exactly she could do. "If you ever need advice or just someone to talk to..."

The girl lit up, "I don't, um, shake hands? My mom's the Reef Shark Hero, Samehada." She showed me her phone, covered in a thick, glossy material, "My skin's sharp, too." She smiled again, "But I can send those pics, no problem. I have a friend in Aizawa-sensei's class? You want me to show him?"

Katsuki and I shared a look, "Please do," I nodded, "Tall him thanks from me, too. My name's Uraraka."

"Oh. Yeah! Uh, yeah. I know, Uravity, right? I always wanted to fly. I know you. Ok? Um, I have to go?" She backpedaled before using those long legs to make a getaway.

"I've heard of Samehada." Katsuki watched the girl disappear, "But her daughter seems to be a nervous wreck."

"She said she just squeaked by." I shrugged, "Maybe she's like Ojiro, just needs more confidence in her quirk." I giggled, "You should teach a course in confidence. I bet kids would just love you."

He looked stunned, "You think I'm good with kids?" He started walking down the road toward the town center.

"I think you have confidence. Both in yourself and your quirk. Even when other people put you down, or called you a villain, you were always right there..." I laughed loudly, "ready to kill them." He smirked out at the world, "And I heard about what happened when you went back for your provisional."

"Give it a few more months, and really put me to the test. Come on, let's get married."

I followed after him in a daze, "You're serious? Today? We're doing this before going to eat lunch with my parents?"

"You want to wait? How long?" His voice was fierce, "I'm never waiting for you again."

Katsuki spoke in his gruff, no nonsense voice, but I shook my head. "I'm leaving tomorrow evening. Who knows how long it'll take for you to come. I don't want to be married and not have you around."

"I know lots of people that make it work, Ochaco. I won't forget. I'll be one hundred ten percent true to you. I never touched another woman while you were sleeping with Todoroki, and after we..." He pinked slightly but continued walking toward a cluster of official looking office buildings, "I may have watched Li Na clean, and I'll admit to having a great internet connection, but I only ever thought about you."

"That's both gross and sweet. I wish I could say the same."

He turned, his eyes widening, "You were dating again?"

"Oh, no." I paled and shook my head, "No, after that day, I tried to put you and Shoto out of my mind. I threw myself into work. The only time I thought about you..." I paused. I thought about him everyday I was out working with a partner that didn't have tricks I could exploit. I thought about him when sitting down to watch my favorite anime or television show because he used to watch them with me. Every time I caressed the bean. Anytime I burned my dinner. "Was only all the time." It came out as a whisper, then another realization hit me, "Oh. My. God. You weren't kidding. We have been dating for years!" I nodded and trotted after him, "I'm gonna be Bakugo Ochaco." My footsteps faded again, "Oh NO. That sounds horrible! No! Oh no! The name I wanted for the bean is going to be terrible, too!"

"You have a baby name picked out? For a boy and a girl?" He looked up at the cluster of buildings, and opened the door for one of them, drawing me on, "And Bakugo is a good, strong name. You're taking it."

"It's a great name. One I'll be proud to live with." I gave him a decisive nod, "And yes, I was waiting to tell you, but I did have a name I like. I'm willing to haggle over it, though."

"Well?"

"Ichigo. For a boy or girl. The kanji are one and protect."

"That's kinda a strong name for a girl. I like it." He smiled, the signage proclaiming marriages and family records dangling over us, "Bakugo Ichigo is..." He swung his vermilion eyes toward me, "I love you."

"I love you, too." I placed my hand on top of my gravid womb, "You too, Ichigo..."

Katsuki grabbed a couple marriage forms and a pen, bending over them studiously as I watched him. He filled in everything neatly, asking me a few questions. I was amazed at what he already knew about me. "We'll need copies of our family registration." Katsuki smiled, though this time it wasn't self-assured, it was almost tremulous.

I acquired a copy of both of our family registers and we turned in the paperwork. A clerk smiled at us, "Congratulations, you two."

Uraraka Residence

I looked at the house I'd called home before UA swallowed me whole. It wasn't as nice as the homes in Musutafu, but Dak was full of plain, yet neat little houses. Ours is blue with dark trim, and a chunk of driftwood dad had found the day before he'd married mom now was sanded and etched with our names. Katsuki looked at it and then eyed the house.

"I know you said your parents didn't have a lot, but this is a nice place." He closed his eyes, "I can hear the ocean, wind and birds. It's really restful."

"I always thought it was boring until I moved to Musutafu. Then I missed it terribly." I smiled as I grabbed his hand, leading him to my front door, "Moving to Seattle was different, though. It's all tall buildings one second, old homes and parks the next. I love it there."

The door banged open, showcasing my father who ran down the steps in his house-slippers, "Ochaco! Baby!" He reached us, and pulled me into his arms for a hug, lifting me easily off my feet, "I'm so happy! And look at you! Big as a house!"

"Daddy! Stop, I'm not big as a house!" I play pouted as he put me down, "Daddy, this is Bakugo Katsuki. Katsuki, this is my dad, Uraraka Ryouichi."

Dad raked his hand through his sandy blond hair and smiled before extending the other, "Just Ryouichi, if I can call you Katsuki?"

"It's my pleasure, Ryouichi." He took a deep breath, but I shot him a murderous look. If he told dad before mom, I would literally break his leg. "I just wanted to apologize for blowing up Ochaco so many times."

Years working construction had packed my father with lean muscle. He's a scant inch or two shorter than Katsuki, with hair a shade or two darker, with dark blue eyes that remind me of shaded pools. Yet, his presence was such that Katsuki stood straight, and shook his hand with respect that usually took time to win.

I realized with a start that Katsuki was fighting to win right now. He hated losing. Ever since his earliest battles he'd started learning to size up opponents, to know what to do in the face of fear, how to overcome to get the outcome he wanted. Katsuki was going to win my parent's love, and I couldn't be prouder.

"The train ride was long, and this has been a really exciting afternoon so far, I really need to get inside." I gave Katsuki a large smile and then gave my dad a nod. He'd met Todoroki, too, but it seemed different this time. Katsuki was meeting my father like a man. The kind of man he wanted to be, a man worth my parent's respect.

"Of course," Dad tipped his head to Katsuki, "I hope you like sukiyaki. Come on in."

I made a beeline for the bathroom, and listened as dad introduced Katsuki to my mom. I could imagine her face, so much like mine, smiling at my new husband. I blushed furiously, and I was glad no one could see it. This had been the strangest weekend of my life so far.

I washed up and came out, "Mom, daddy?" I stood by Katsuki's side as he gave me an appraising look. I gave him a short nod. "We have something to tell you."

Katsuki took his cue, and bowed to my parents, "It will be my honor to take care of Ochaco and my child from this day forward. Please accept my love for her and allow me to show you the honor you deserve."

My mother broke into tears, her big hazelnut colored eyes the mirror of my own. My father swallowed and then put a hand on Katsuki's shoulder, "It's done?"

"It is." Katsuki never even twitched. His pride as a man was on the line, and he'd never give that up.

"If my daughter has agreed, then we welcome you. Will you please unbend?"

Katsuki looked though his lashes at my dad who gave him a nod, and straightened. "I'm sorry I didn't ask your permission. I promise to make Ochaco very happy."

Mom smiled, "Ryou didn't ask permission, either." She rushed over to enfold Katsuki in her arms, "Welcome to the family, you're responsible for Ochaco?"

"Yes." He squeezed one eye shut, mom must have been squeezing the life out of him, "It wasn't planned, but I'm.." He gasped, "Uh?"

"Mom." I scolded her, "It was just like I said, mom. An attack, but Katsuki has been a friend for a long time. It took that incident to realize we were lovers, too." I smiled at Katsuki, "I'm happy, mom. You can let him go."

"Well, we have sukiyaki made up for everyone." Mom chewed her underlip, "Let's sit."

We all gathered at the table, and after a chorus of "Itadakimasu" we all picked up chopsticks and had a delicious meal. I watched as my man charmed my parents. How mom and dad asked him a million and one questions, and smiled at what he had to say.

After a few hours entertaining Katsuki, my parents bid us goodbye. I hugged his arm, and he leaned close to me all the way back to Musutafu. I hoped that meeting Katsuki's parents would be a good experience.


AN/ Kasumi Kaihari should mean something like Pure Mist / Ocean Needle. A man has to be 18 and a woman 16 to get married without their parent's permission in Japan. Dak is the name of the planet the Mon Calamari were from in Star Wars. Ochaco's parents are as yet unnamed. I named dad Ryouichi which means Good One and mom Hanako which means Flower Child. I thought they'd give their child a sweet name: 'Ochaco' Tea Child or 'Chatterbox' LOL I adore Ochaco's name. Thanks so much to Mosevic for reading it over! Thank you so much to all my readers out there! Feel free to leave a comment, they make me happy.

ANN/ This chapter marks a sharp decline in word count from now on, I think. I have only one and a half more chapters to write! Though, there's way more than that waiting for you still! Just... making notes. I love notes.