Author's note: Hello, All! Welcome to the update. I will admit this chapter does seem a little bit filler-ish. However, as always, there is a method to my madness which is to show a tender moment between her and Izuku as well as the making up after the conflict between her and Katsuki (yes, gentle reader that involves sex in case you are wondering). Actually, I have a very good reason for using sex as as part of their making up process which is mentioned in their discussion. This chapter also serves to further the story and their relationships. So read on gentle reader and I do hope you enjoy it! Thank you so much!

When Izuku let himself into her apartment, the whole place was dark. The television was on illuminating her figure lying on the couch. At first he thought she was unconscious from fainting because she was on her belly with her arm and leg hanging onto the floor.

"Oh, my god," he gasped rushing to her in a panic.

The blood pounded in his ears blocking out the sound of the black and white movie on the television. Good God! She looked dead! Her eyes were wide open and staring blindly at the TV. She blinked when he came to stand between her and the screen letting him know she was in fact alive - and semi all right. He exhaled a loud sigh of relief.

"You scared the hell out of me. What's wrong?" he asked, kneeling beside the couch in front of her.

Takara's eyes shifted and focused on his face. "I'm sorry. I've been on an emotional roller coaster ride all day today. It was exhausting."

"What happened?"

Izuku stood up as she sat up to make room for him to sit beside her. He put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her into his side as she told him about the day she spent with Bakugo and his emotions that were all over the place.

"He's just freaked out. That's all," Izuku assured her, hugging her tightly. "Give him time. As he grows more accustomed to our relationship his emotions will level out. He's pretty much always ran hot and cold. Mostly hot." He chuckled lightly, embracing her again. "There's no doubt in my mind he loves you which is why he's losing his mind on occasion. Everything will be fine."

"Okay. If you say so," she said, pressing her face into the soft folds of his t-shirt across his chest.

"I do say so," he confirmed, burying his face into her silky hair and inhaling the scent of her lavender and vanilla shampoo. After placing a kiss on the top of her head, he asked her, "What do you want for dinner? I'll cook."

"There's some leftover rice and vegetables. We can make omurice. Good comfort food," she said, raising her head to look at him.

"That sounds great," he rejoined, placing a little kiss on her cheek when he leaned forward to stand up. "Omurice it is."

"I'll help," she offered, following him to the kitchen.

Without even saying a word to each other, they set about doing their part to get dinner ready. Izuku pulled out the pans, and Takara took the ingredients out of the refrigerator. As he chopped an onion she prepared the rest of the vegetables to go into the fried rice.

"We make a good team, don't we?" he inquired, casting her a flirtatious sidelong glance as she dumped the cold rice into the hot pan with the melted butter.

"We do," she agreed, color flooding her cheeks as she looked at him. Rising up on her tiptoes, she chastely kissed his freckled cheek that flushed a brilliant red. Leveling her lips at his ear, she whispered, "I love you, Izuku Midoriya."

"I love you too," he whispered back, causing both of them to break out into giggles at their own silliness.

After dinner they watched the movie from the beginning she had been staring at earlier but not really seeing. It was old black and white romantic melodrama of boy meets girl, boy is emotionally stunted therefore boy loses girl. Not really the best storyline for their current situation. She cried at the end. t was a good cathartic cry so Izuku patiently held her, stroking her back, as long as the tears flowed without saying a word.

Afterwards, they washed the dishes and went to bed. Takara lay with Izuku's head on her chest stroking his fluffy hair that was as soft as the down on a baby goose. As much as she wanted to sink into the blissfulness of sleep, tranquil repose eluded her. Picking up her phone to check the time, she saw she had a text message from Katsuki.

Bakugo: I'm sorry.

Takara smiled as her heart warmed. She doubted apologizing was something he hardly ever did, and when he did apologize he meant it from the bottom of his heart.

Takara: There's nothing to apologize for.

She lay the phone down on the bed, wrapping her arms around Izuku's shoulders. A few minutes later her phone vibrated making her jump as it buzzed and slid across the sheets.

Bakugo: Since you're awake, can we talk when I get home? I'll be there soon.

Takara: I'll be waiting in your apartment.

Izuku moaned and stirred, his big hands gripping her waist to hold onto her when she moved under him.

"Is everything okay?" he murmured sleepily.

His downy hair tickled her chest as he moved his head before lifting it.

"Yeah. Everything is fine," she whispered to him.

"Can't sleep?" He rolled to the side to lay beside her.

"No," she replied, smiling at his drowsy half closed eyes and the creases on his cheek where it had pressed into her t-shirt. "I'm going next door to wait for Katsuki. We're going to talk a little bit."

"Good," he yawned, patting her behind as she rolled to get off the bed. "You two should talk."

"Go back to sleep," she urged him, kissing his cheek.

"Good night," he mumbled, drifting back into dreamland.

"Good night, Sleeping Beauty," she chuckled, ruffling his hair.

Although wearing a t-shirt and sleep shorts, a fairly modest set of pajamas, Takara pulled on her robe to cover up since she would be walking next door. Once in the apartment, she went to the refrigerator for a bottle of water and shrugged of the robe to drape it across a bar stool. While waiting, to occupy her mind and body, she made tea and small dessert tray for them to share upon his arrival.

The beeping of his code being punched in signaled his arrival as she sat the tea cups down on the counter. Katsuki entered, his boots thumping heavily on the floor along with one loud "whoomp" as he dropped his duffel bag in the foyer.

"Honey, I'm home," he called appearing around the corner from the short foyer hallway.

Takara's heart felt surprisingly light at the sound of his voice. When she turned to look at him, her breath caught in her throat when his eyes immediately locked with hers.

"Hi," she gasped, the corners of her mouth lifting into a wide smile.

"Hey," he responded, his eyes lowering from hers to stare at his fingers that twiddled nervously. "So...I, uhm...I was thinking about things and..."

Her belly tightened with apprehension. Her lips quivered under the smile when his eyes returned to hers.

"I want you to meet my parents," he blurted gruffly.

Her knees instantly turned to jelly almost sending her straight to the floor. Reaching out blindly in front of her, she found the counter so she could lean upon it.

"Meet your parents?" she questioned him, her smile faltering then disappearing. "But don't you think - "

"No, I don't think it's too soon," he interrupted her. "I love you, dammit, and it's important to me that they meet the woman I love."

"O-okay," she stammered, sitting down on the bar stool.

"I mean, if you want to meet them. Is that all right with you?" he asked, sounding far less demanding and a bit apologetic.

"Of course. I just didn't..." She paused to catch her breath. It felt like her lungs were being squeezed, and she could not inhale to get a good breath. "I just didn't expect this so soon."

"Honestly, neither did I," he admitted, moving to stand beside her. "Like I said, I was thinking about things...and I realized how I really feel about you. And it scared the hell out of me."

"Oh," she murmured, fiddling with the empty tea cup.

"I also realized I can't lose you," he said, placing his hands over her fidgeting fingers. Pulling her hands away from the cup, he held her hands in his.

"I feel the same way, Katsuki," she confessed, staring his hands that held hers. She smiled as his thumbs stroked the backs of her hands. "That's why you scared me so much yesterday. I thought you might end things between us. I felt like you were pushing me away and you didn't want this relationship...or me anymore."

"Look at me, Mi Cara," he requested, placing his finger under her chin to lift her head.

Takara raised her head, tilting her chin up so she could make eye contact with him. When his fingers glided over her cheek and his hand cupped her jaw, tears sprang to her eyes from the gesture of loving tenderness. This man bewildered her and infuriated her. He could be so mean and then so loving. She had already made up her mind to love him, love all of him, including his idiosyncrasies, his doubts, his fears, his anger, and his sweetness.

"It was quite the opposite." He inhaled a shaky breath, sliding his thumb across her cheek. "When I saw you holding that baby, I knew then I wanted you to be a permanent part of my life. You were so loving and sweet. I knew had nothing to fear. I want you...and a family."

So this must be why he was acting so weird. He was thinking about jumping in with both feet and getting serious. That explains a lot, she thought. Her weak knees trembled, and she would swear she could hear them knocking together. Or maybe that was just the unsteady galloping of her heart. She could not be sure.

"I love you," Katsuki said, his eyes focused on hers as if to push his genuine intent clear through to her brain to make her understand with her mind as well as her heart.

"I love you, too, Katsuki," she returned, meaning every word with all of her heart and soul. She closed her eyes as he leaned down to her to kiss her lips to reinforce his emotions. "You're sure we're ready to take this step? Meeting your parents is a big deal, and I don't take it lightly."

"I'm sure," he confirmed confidently, squeezing her hand that he still held in his. "I'm not taking this lightly either. I've decided if I'm going to be in this relationship, I'm going to throw all fears, all doubts away and love you like I'll never get hurt."

"I will never ever intentionally hurt you. I will make mistakes and screw up and and and," she stammered, "and say things we might both regret but I will always, always, love you."

Bakugo laughed. He threw back his head and laughed heartily almost like a villain. Her face crumpled and tears welled in her eyes.

"Katsuki, why..." she whimpered, mystified by his bizarre reaction.

"Oh, Mi Cara," he murmured, wrapping his arms around her shoulders to embrace her before she began crying in earnest. "You stole my line. I should have been the one saying all of those things, not you. Forgive me for laughing. You never cease to surprise me."

"Yeah, right back at you," she sniffed, a nervous chuckle of relief bubbling up her throat. Her arms went around his waist, hugging him back.

"We're good? Everything is okay?" he asked her, stroking her back to comfort her and as a gesture of apology.

"Yeah. Everything is okay," she replied, wiping her tears on his shirt.

"Are you wiping snot on me?" he asked but didn't back away from her.

"Yes, I am," she said meanly although she really wasn't.

"Ew, gross!" he muttered, pushing her away.

Takara grabbed the hem of his shirt and brought it to her face, pretending to blow her nose with an exaggerated trumpeting noise made by her mouth.

"Ugh, you're so nasty," he groaned, playfully slapping at her hands.

"It's your fault for making me cry!" she whined in a high pitched voice to tease and annoy him.

As quickly as it began, their little bout of joking was over. The smile dropped from his face and he grew quite serious as he stepped closer to her and put his arms around her waist to drag her out of the chair and onto her feet. He held her close, hugging her.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, resting his chin on her head.

"Stop that," she fussed at him, slapping him on the back. "Quit doing stupid shit you have to apologize for. It's a simple concept really, Bakugo."

"I'll do my best," he assured her, kissing the top of her head.

"Now," Takara said, reluctantly pushing him away. "Our tea is getting cold."

"Tea?"

Now it was Bakugo's turn to be confused. She interrupted their little love fest for tea?

"Yes, tea," she confirmed, pouring it into their waiting cups. "There's also dessert. Cookies, cake, cheesecake, fruit...whatever you want. Take your pick. You go first."

"You," he said, taking her hand and pulling her back to him.

"What?" she giggled when he kissed her neck.

"I want you for dessert," he said, putting his hands around her waist and lifting her up to sit her on the counter.

"Bakugo, I don't think this is appropriate!" she exclaimed, pushing his hands away as they wedged in between her thighs.

"Are you really still upset with me?" he questioned her since she called him Bakugo.

"A little," she confessed.

"You won't be for long," he promised her, placing his lips on her thigh.

She placed her hands on his shoulders, pushing him back. "Bakugo, I don't think - "

"Then dammit don't!" he exclaimed impatiently, standing up straight to come eye to eye with her. "Don't think, Takara. You think too fucking much. Sometimes things can be taken care of without thinking and talking and all of that annoying shit. Sometimes it's okay just to feel."

Katsuki placed his hand on the side of her neck feeling her racing pulse against his palm. His hand glided down her neck to her chest where his fingers did the walking, tracing the V-neck of her t-shirt.

"Sometimes it's better to just feel things," he murmured, his fingers brushing over the top of her shirt across her breast.

Takara inhaled sharply, her nipple drawing to a stiff peak from the proximity of his fingers even it was separated from her skin by the cloth of her t-shirt.

"There are times when emotions can be better expressed through physical means rather than words," Katsuki said, his voice low and deep giving it an almost hypnotic quality.

"Actions speak louder than words?" she ventured, biting her lower lip when his fingers slipped under the edge of her t-shirt.

"That's exactly what I mean," he affirmed.

Takara placed her hands on his cheek pulling his head up before he could place his lips on her thigh again. She tilted his head back to make him look at her.

"Katsuki."

"Hmmm?" He blinked slowly as his eyes held hers for what felt like several long minutes rather than a few seconds.

"Will you just hold me?" she requested.

Her belly shuddered as he continued to gaze at her lengthening the tense silence between them. She expected him to laugh at her again, but he did not. Instead, a small smile turned up the corners of his mouth.

"If that's what you need, I will do that for you," he said, taking her into his arms to not only hug her but pull her down from the counter.

Takara relaxed, leaning into him. Pressing her cheek against his pec, the muscle flexed under her cheek making her giggle. A sigh of contentment passed her lips when his arms tightened around her keeping a firm hold on her as she nestled into his chest. She attempted to stifle her yawn before he could hear it, but she could not.

"Have you slept at all?" Katsuki asked.

"No," she answered truthfully.

"Nervous about tonight?"

"No. I look forward to charity performances. We get to relax and have fun. We interact with the crowd and get everyone involved. It's like a huge party."

"So I kept you awake, huh?" He cradled the back of her head with his hand to keep her close in case she decided to pull away.

"It doesn't matter. I'm just glad we're okay." Her fingers curled into his t-shirt hanging on to fistfuls of the material at his waist.

"Why don't you go lay down on the bed?" he suggested, hesitantly withdrawing his arms from her. She could not go if he was hanging on to her.

"But what about - " she began glancing at the food and tea on the counter.

"I'll take care of all this in here and join you soon. Go," he ordered her gently, sending her off with a kiss on the forehead and a pat on the bottom.

"Am I five?" she muttered, covering her mouth to hide another yawn as she toddled off down the hall.

Snatching back the covers, Takara slid in between the cool black sheets that were silky soft and smelled like lavender. Her favorite scent in the world. She inhaled deeply and snuggled into the pillow to wait for him.

A few minutes later she saw the lights go off in the kitchen. She could not hear his stocking feet on the floor, but she knew he was on his way to her. The ensuing giddiness warded off the drowsiness that had almost dragged her down into sleep.

In the dark, she could not see him. His steps were so light she could not hear him either. The metallic hiss of his zipper lowering made her abdomen tighten. He was getting undressed. There was a light swish of fabric afterward as he removed the pants and his shirt. The bed shifted under his weight when he sat down, and she lifted the covers for him to join her underneath.

Katsuki's arm draped over her waist as he lay on his side facing her, pressing the front of his body to hers.

"Your clothes are still on," he remarked in surprise and disappointment.

"Uh, yeah," she said, her hand resting on his hip and making skin to skin contact. "And yours are not. None of them."

"I sleep naked when there's not three of us," he informed her.

She could hear the smile in his voice. Apparently her reaction amused him. He really did enjoy pressing all kinds of buttons.

"Why don't you get naked with me?" he suggested, pulling at her shirt to help her start undressing.

"If I do, we won't be getting to sleep any time soon." She assisted him with removing her shirt by doing a half sit up so he could jerk the shirt over her head off her arms.

"Don't worry. This won't take long," he assured her, tugging at the waistband of her sleep shorts.

She giggled, lifting her hips. "Didn't you just insult yourself?"

"It's quality, not quantity. Five minutes of great sex with a fantastic orgasm is better than thirty minutes of an unsatisfying tease don't you think?" he questioned her, sitting up to drag her bottoms down her legs.

"Are you saying I was teasing you earlier?" she inquired indignantly. She pressed her hands against his shoulders, shoving him back on the bed and straddling his waist.

"I'm not saying that at all. I am the type of guy who is accustomed to working out my problems and my emotions using a physical means," he explained, enclosing her waist with his hands to lift her and better position himself under her.

"You're one of those guys who when he and his friend have a disagreement they like to beat the crap out of each other, shake hands, and go have a beer and they're back to being best buddies. Is that right?" she asked, hovering above him in a kneeling position over his hips.

"Exactly. And since you're not a guy and more than a friend," he said, pausing as he raised his hips to push up inside of her. "There's a much more pleasurable means to resolve our issues and strengthen our emotional bond."

"Oh!" she cried out as she lowered her body onto him completely. "I think I might like this type of conflict resolution. Especially..." She seized his wrists, lifting his arms, and pinning them to the pillow above his head. "...when you're taking the submissive role for once in your life."

"I think I might like it too," he admitted, breathing heavily as she swayed her hips.

A surge of excitement ran through her body as she moved on top of him, keeping his hands and arms restrained. Takara had no illusions about the fact he could easily overpower her. At any time he could break free of her grip to turn her over on her back to take charge of the situation. But he didn't. Instead, he willingly gave up control, allowing her to be the one in charge.

Katsuki closed his eyes concentrating on every shaky breath and each moan that passed her lips. Giving up control to her was not as difficult as he thought it would be. Giving up the lead was actually quite freeing, permitting him to focus more on the little nuances of sex. Every little sound of pleasure she made. Every delightful sensation she sent rushing through his body with each movement of hers. The warmth and smoothness of her thighs against his hips. The way she gripped him with her thighs on each upward movement of her hips. Her fingers gripped his wrists more tightly on her way back down.

For this woman he had given up more of himself than he ever had to anyone. Takara understood that and took none of his sacrifices for granted. He had placed his heart in gentle hands where it would be held dear and treated with utmost care. He would be loved wholeheartedly in return.

At last he could no longer withhold, Katsuki opened his mouth, sighing her name as she pushed him over that blissful edge. He pulled his wrists free from her hands, holding her hips and pushing up into her to take her with him so he would not fall alone.

Takara cried out, leaning forward to press her forehead to his as successive surges of ecstasy like electricity rocketed through her body and jolted her nerves.

"Do you feel better now?" she panted, rubbing the tip of her nose across his affectionately. "Crisis averted? Issue resolved?"

"Yeah. We're good. We're okay," he said, giving her a quick peck on the lips.

"Awesome."

Takara lay beside him, and he turned into her pulling her close. With her head tucked under his chin and one of his arms hooked over her waist, sleep came quickly to both of them.