Author's Notes: Hi, everyone. As some of you will recognize, I included some events from the chapter I deleted in this one.
AstroLibra, thank you for the review, and this chapter is dedicated to you for those two previously deleted scenes you mentioned (they have been changed a little).
To answer your question Heavenly Monster, this started out as an OC/Dabi fic. Due to the changes in their relationship, mostly because of the issues pertaining to Dabi being a villain, Shigaraki wanting to kill Melina, and her effectively switching sides to be with the heroes, their being together became impossible. An against all odds, love wins in the end plot with her and Dabi's relationship succeeding and them living happily ever after with white picket fences and a dozen kids would not have fit this story.
One of the reasons I like My Hero Academia is that small tinge of realism that lend the characters a whole new depth. Sometimes things don't always work out for the better, and there isn't always a happy conclusion to everything - even for the heroes. But they carry on, do their best, and live their lives as best as they can despite what happens.
Changing the love interest to Shoto adds an entirely different level of interest and tension while preserving the family dynamic as well which is a major theme of this story. Their relationship won't come easy either given they have their own unique set of problems.
With all of that being said, on with the chapter...please enjoy!
"What are we going to do today?" Shoto asked Melina over breakfast.
"I have a doctor's appointment at nine. We can go to the mall afterward. Shop a little. Have lunch. Sound good?" she questioned in return.
"Sure."
"I'm going to get ready."
Melina rolled up onto her knees from her sitting position on her cushion. Placing her palms flat on the table, she pushed herself up until her behind was in the air then she stood up straight.
"That was quite a production," Shoto teased her.
"I'm only four months pregnant. I didn't think getting up would become this difficult so soon. Maybe I should start doing yoga to improve my balance and keep my muscles strong. I've been lazy. Eating and sleeping too much," she muttered, allowing herself a luxurious stretch after the delectable breakfast of omurice.
"Your little pooch is cute," he commented, patting her slightly rounded belly which stuck out even more as she leaned back.
"Mmmm...thanks," she murmured, rubbing her little tummy. "I'll be back."
Melina had suggested shopping due to her clothes getting much tighter over the past two weeks. It seemed like each day her tummy grew a teeny bit more.
The summer days spent with Shoto were relaxing and fun. She already dreaded their time together ending when he returned to school. Every day had been the same, but every day had been glorious. A walk in the garden in the morning, breakfast, swimming with Shoto, lunch, a nap, and reading by the pool in the early evening before dinner, then to bed. Meals were always taken together. They kept their sleeping arrangements apart to avoid any temptation.
After trying on several things that were uncomfortably tight or did not fit at all, she found a loose pink sundress with a drop waist and short butterfly sleeves that somewhat fit and looked passable. Examining herself closely in the mirror, she sighed. The stretchy material of the dress pulled snugly across her middle. The time had come for her to give in to the inevitable and buy maternity clothes. She inhaled deeply through her nose and exhaled through her pursed lips.
"This is happening," she whispered to herself, running her hand over the small baby bump.
"Ready?" Shoto called to her from the sitting room.
"Y-yeah," she stammered, walking through her closet to grab her shoes. She had so many pairs of shoes there was no way to keep them all by the door. "Let's go."
~\../~
"Ms. Zusa," the nurse called.
The nurse perked up and smiled cheerfully at Shoto.
"Hello," she greeted him happily. "Are you the baby's father?"
"Uncle," Melina corrected her politely.
"Congratulations to the proud uncle," the nurse said, leading them to the back. "We've met grandfather as well. Maybe we will get to meet the father soon."
That's not going to happen, Melina thought, sadness casting a cold shadow over.
They followed the nurse into a room that was dimly lit. A single lamp on a table in the corner shed just enough muted golden light to allow them to see their way around to avoid bumping into medical equipment.
"I need you to change into this," the nurse said, extending a shapeless hospital gown to her. "Leave the opening to the front."
Melina took the piece of light green cotton fabric from her and disappeared behind the changing screen while the nurse directed Shoto to take a seat in the chair beside the examining table. A few minutes later, she reappeared from behind the screen clutching the gown in front. Despite having it tied with the strips of cloth sewn to the edges, the gaps between were far too big.
The nurse assisted her with getting onto the examination table while preserving her modesty then placed a blanket over her legs after she lay down. She carefully tucked the blanket around Melina's hips and under her thighs.
"What's going on?" Melina asked when the nurse untied the tie of the gown at her waist and pushed it open to reveal her belly.
"You're getting an ultrasound today. Your baby's first pictures," she announced in her exceedingly cheerful voice.
Melina held her breath as the nurse squirted the warmed gel on her belly. The flat headed ultrasound probe resembled an electric shaver. A fuzzy black and white image appeared on the monitor screen, wavering as the nurse moved the probe over her abdomen. Feeling movement at her side, she looked over to see Shoto standing at the table beside her, staring at the screen.
In the middle of the grainy grayish white field, there was an oval black space where the baby rested near the bottom of the void. The baby's head was huge, almost the same size as the small body. Completely formed arms and legs twitched as the nurse pushed mercilessly on her belly to get the baby to move. The tiny heart beat fast, a flickering black and white light.
"The black is the amniotic fluid. The baby's head looks over-sized but that is normal at this stage of pregnancy. The heart rate is a hundred and six which is also normal. It should range between ninety to a hundred and ten at this point," the nurse explained patiently as if to dispel her concerns one by one.
The nurse began clattering away at the keys on the keyboard. A tiny white arrow appeared on the screen pointing to toes which she typed in on the line behind it. She did the same thing for the fingers, umbilical cord, and the spine. Little white lines appeared on the screen as she took measurements and typed them into another document on a separate screen they couldn't see.
"Well, the baby is just a little over five inches along. The weight is about, oh, six ounces. Everything looks good," she said with a smile on her face.
Melina stared at her screen, unable to take her eyes off of the baby. A surreal feeling crept over as she watched the baby move, slowly bringing their thumb to their tiny little mouth which opened.
"Oh, my god," she breathed, hypnotized by the sight of the baby sucking their thumb. "It's unbelievable."
She felt as if she was watching a prerecorded image that belonged to someone else. This was someone else's pregnancy. Someone else's baby. This was not happening to her. Momentarily detached from her own physical existence, her head light as air and reeling, she was glad she was lying down. Shifting in discomfort, both physical and mental, she tried to rid herself of the odd, 'swimmy' feeling in her head. The sensation of the lightly padded table against her back and the crinkling sound of the paper cover reminded her that she was really here, and this was her present reality.
The nurse continued to push at the baby with the probe in an attempt to make them turn or open their legs so the gender could be determined. The legs remained curled and tightly closed no matter how much the nurse poked and prodded the fetus.
"Apparently he or she is a little bit shy and doesn't want to share their secret," the nurse said, continuing to take measurements on the screen.
"That's okay. I don't want to know yet," Melina murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
She glimpsed at Shoto whose gaze remained fixed on the screen. He appeared mesmerized by the image, neither frowning nor smiling while he studied the black and white picture.
"That's it for now. The doctor will be in soon to see you," the nurse proclaimed and left the room.
"Shoto, are you all right?" Melina asked when he continued to hover over her, staring blankly at the still image of the baby on the screen.
"I'm fine," he said, his voice low and soft.
Her eyes followed him as he walked to the chair and dropped down heavily. He leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees and holding his head in his hands.
"It's a lot to take in...isn't it?" she stated rather crudely but capturing the shock of the moment perfectly.
"Uh huh," he responded without moving. "I didn't expect...I didn't expect these emotions."
"It's fine. Trust me. I understand your shock, your confusion...your fear," she stated as emotionlessly as possible, only betraying her feelings with a slight tremor in her voice.
"That about sums it up," he agreed.
"This is why I keep telling you that you need time. Time to think longer and harder about what is happening. To be blunt, you need time to grow up. You're too young for this much responsibility, and I won't allow you to take it upon yourself. That's why I won't marry you yet. It's just not fair," she said, turning her head away from him to stare at the ceiling above her. "I do love you. Please, don't doubt that. But love isn't enough, Shoto. Love doesn't conquer all. I loved your brother. He loved me. And look what happened to us."
A strange little smile stretched her lips. There was no joy in her grin; only rage, sorrow, and bitterness from the way the relationship between her and Dabi ended. Circumstances changed when she left the villains. She and Dabi both changed as people. Shit happened. Actions were taken that altered the course of their lives, forcing them apart even further. The adaptations they made to adjust to their lives apart and the transformations they made on a personal level took place so gradually they never knew it happened until it was too late. Hurtful words were said that cannot be taken back, and hearts were broken into a million pieces. The time came when so much damage had been done nothing could fix it.
She did not want that 'growing apart' to happen to her and Shoto. She wanted him to love her always, to never resent her for 'stealing' his youth and forcing him into an adult situation so soon. He had already been through many terrible times, taking on internal emotional baggage and outer responsibilities he should never had had to deal with. He had finally arrived at a good place in his life where he could enjoy family and friends - and just being a teenager. She would not take that away from him.
"A happily ever after is not guaranteed by simply getting married. As a matter of fact, you don't have to marry me at all," she said, the smile fading.
"Melina - "
"No. Hear me out. In two years, if you still want to get married, that's great. If not, well, that's okay too," she stated with an eerie tranquility. "If your feelings should change, don't think it is something you have to do because of a promise you made years before in the throes of being in love."
The phrase 'being in love' was spoken with a harsh, acidic tone, stronger than she had meant it to be said. She cleared her throat to rid herself of the remaining venom clogging her throat.
"You will be a part of this baby's life no matter what. We will eventually figure out exactly what that role will be. For now, you need to be a teenager, a hero in training, an uncle, and my friend. Those are the things I need you to be right now."
Shoto did not say a word. The seconds extended into minutes. The beating of her heart in her ears drowned out the sound of the loudly ticking wall clock in the room.
"Okay. I can do that," he assured her, glimpsing at her. "Are we okay?"
"Of course. Everything is fine."
Melina still could not look at him. It would hurt too much at the moment. She sniffed in an effort to withhold her tears. Things between them had to be this way right now. She was glad he finally understood that. Sticking to her convictions was difficult because she wanted to give into the silly, romantic notion of following her heart ascribed to by so many. Her heart was foolish and selfish and led her into trouble. Love must be tempered by wisdom to stand the test of time. Being an adult sucks.
~\../~
_
Melina studied the directory of the three story mall. She searched for maternity and baby stores, choosing which ones she wanted to browse. After deciding a plan of attack, she met Shoto at the fountain where he waited for her.
"Did you find where you wanted to go?" he asked her.
"Yep. Let's go," she said, leading him in the direction of the first shop on her list.
"Are we okay?" he inquired for the dozenth time it seemed.
"Everything is fine. We're fine," she answered the same exact way for as many times as he had asked.
"I'm smart enough to know when a woman says fine, it means anything but fine."
"You're wise beyond your years, Shoto Todoroki. However, I am not going to be angry, and we are not going to argue. I want to salvage the rest of this day. Let's have a good day together, okay?"
"God, you terrify me. And people think I can be cold," he murmured.
"Let's just say I've been through some shit, and I have finally found happiness. I'll do whatever it takes to hang on to that happiness. Although it doesn't seem like it, I want you to be a part that. One day, I hope you'll understand."
Melina turned to her left abruptly to walk into the store. She thumbed through the shirts on the nearest rack while he stood on the other side as if putting the clothing fixture between them as a protective barrier. Pulling out a white shirt approximately the size of a small tent and decorated with large red, blue, and yellow polka dots, she held it up to her body.
"What do you think about this?" she asked, swinging back and forth as if modeling it for him.
"If you want to look like an escaped clown from the circus, it's great," he answered frankly.
"All of these shirts are terrible. I think we should go to a different store."
After searching through four more stores, Melina finally settled on several basic pieces that could be mixed and matched in easily combined colors of black, gray, white, and beige. She could use some of her own items like jackets, sweaters, scarves, and jewelry to create different looks. She splurged on a few cute tops, a maternity swimsuit, and a couple of dresses from a fifth store.
"Want to check out this baby store?" Shoto inquired as they passed by one named My Baby and Me.
"Might as well," she sighed, going inside.
The place was massive, separated into sections set up in entire nursery scenes displaying different matching furniture groupings and entire decorating themes that centered around everything from a specific color to beloved children's book characters.
"We could be in here for days," she murmured, because the store was approximately the size of a gigantic warehouse.
"Guess we better get to shopping, huh?" Shoto suggested.
He would have held her hand, but his hands were full of shopping bags. Instead, he was relegated to ambling behind her, weighed down with the previous purchases while she examined every single item in a group that garnered her interest.
"What about this one?" she asked, stepping into the middle of a nursery decorated with the characters from the Beatrix Potter story Peter Rabbit using the same muted watercolor scheme of the illustrations presented in the traditional book.
"I like it," he responded with cool indifference.
Melina picked up a six inch tall Peter Rabbit stuffed animal. She smiled at the extremely detailed toy, playing with the tiny gold buttons on his blue jacket.
"The baby is about this size, you know," she said, petting the soft fur of the bunny.
"Yeah. I know."
"I think I'm ready to go. We can shop for this stuff later," she said, her voice quivering with each word. She set the rabbit back down in the crib and plastered a smile on her face. "I'm hungry. Are you hungry?"
"Sure."
"Hey! Hey, Icy-Hot!" bellowed a familiar voice as soon as they walked out of the store.
"Oh, shit," Shoto muttered, rolling his eyes.
Melina recognized the unmistakable voice as well and spun around in a circle in the middle of the flow of people. Her head whipped from side to side in search of Bakugo as she bounced up and down in an attempt to see over people's heads. She finally spotted his blond spikes through the crowd. Kirishima and Midoriya were also with him. Bobbing up and down on her toes, she eagerly waved at the trio.
"Hi, Miss Zusa!" Midoriya greeted her enthusiastically, running up to her.
Acting on her rush of joy, forgetting herself and her surroundings, she threw her arms around his neck giving him a crushing hug. Tears of joy ran from her eyes - and from his as well. Despite being red faced and embarrassed, Izuku hugged her back.
"We've missed you so much," Izuku said, wiping at the tears with the back of his scarred hands after she released him.
"You big baby. Here," Bakugo groused, handing him a handkerchief. "Damn, don't you have any pride at all?"
"But aren't you happy to see our favorite teacher? Kacchan, you were just saying the other day how much you mi- "
"Shut up, dork!" he shouted at Midoriya before he could complete the sentence.
"Hey, Teach," Kirishima said, giving her a wave.
Melina gave Kirishima a hug next. Although caught off guard and obviously embarrassed since his face now matched his hair, he smiled broadly. Neither he nor Midoriya seemed to mind her affectionate embrace.
"That is so inappropriate," Shoto chided her when she stepped toward Bakugo.
Melina wondered if it was inappropriate before or after she went to hug Bakugo. Shoto had not said a word when she embraced the other two. When Bakugo received a hug, he managed to keep the expression of annoyance firmly in place despite the tops of his cheeks under his eyes turning a lovely shade of pink, several shades darker than her pastel pink dress. Bakugo always looked annoyed, even on his best days. The boy had a way with resting bitch face.
"It is really good to see, Miss Zusa," Kirishima said.
"It's so good to see all of you!" she exclaimed. "What are you guys up to today?"
"Just enjoying our summer break and hanging out at the mall," Kirishima replied. "Doing what guys our age do."
Melina gave Shoto a withering glance. He appeared to be transfixed by the display in the window of the baby store which featured the same Peter Rabbit merchandise she was looking at earlier.
"I forgot something in the store. I'll be back in a minute," Shoto proclaimed, darting back through the open doors.
"How are you? And the baby?" Bakugo asked.
"Fine. I just came from the doctor's office as a matter fact. I got to see the baby for the first time in an ultrasound," she told them excitedly.
"That's awesome!" Midoriya exclaimed exuberantly, openly expressing his happiness for her.
Melina had forgotten what a sweet kid he is, so sincere and candid with his emotions. He was like a life sized stuffed animal; fluffy and soft emotionally. He also seemed to really like hugs. Shoto reappeared before she could give in to the urge to embrace Midoriya again.
"We're going to the water park tomorrow. You want to come along, Todoroki?" Bakugo asked Shoto, giving the distinct impression he didn't give a damn if he came along or not.
"Well, I can't -"
Melina's foot shot out to the side, kicking Shoto in the ankle because she knew he was about to refuse the offer.
"I can't wait," he ground out between his clenched teeth, sounding less than thrilled but his three friends didn't seem to notice.
"Great! We'll see you about one at the water park!" Midoriya exclaimed, obviously thrilled that Shoto was coming.
"We won't hold you up any longer," Kirishima told them, raising his hand in a farewell wave.
"We do need to go. Melina needs to eat something," Shoto said, reminding her of their original destination.
"It was so great seeing you guys," Melina called after them.
"Take care of her, Icy-Hot," Bakugo ordered his classmate and friend before pivoted on his heel to walk away.
"You know I will," he returned.
Weariness washed over Melina, most likely due to the roller coaster ride her emotions had taken today. The good and not so good had worn her out equally.
"Hey, can we just go home? I'm exhausted," Melina inquired. "I'm sure Hana has something in the refrigerator we can throw together."
"Sounds like a good idea to me. I'll go get Hibiki."
"I need to stop by the restroom. I'll meet you out front."
Melina went to the nearest restroom which was in the hallway between a women's lingerie shop and a maternity store. After completing her necessary business, she stood at the sink washing her hands. Hearing movement behind her did not rouse her suspicions. She was in a public restroom after all, women come and go constantly.
Glancing at her reflection in the mirror, she saw a person standing behind her wearing a light blue hoodie drawn up over their face until only their nose and mouth were visible. Her eyes centered on the person's mouth. The lips were chapped, peeling, and split with a a particularly long crack on the left side that bisected both the top and bottom lips.
Her eyes went wide with recognition. The repulsively chapped lips spread into a grin so broad she expected to see another bloody split forming before her very eyes.
"It's been a while, Melina," Shigaraki said.
Or rather the person pretending to be Shigaraki. Himiko had a certain unmistakable energy, her own specific set of personal vibes, that set her apart from everyone else. Malevolence mixed with an unusual dose of mischief. She was like an evil pixie, cute and impish with the ability and willingness to kill.
"You always give yourself away, Himiko," she said, her voice staying even and not revealing her fear and fury. "Shigaraki never called me by my name. At least not to my face. What do you want?"
She splashed the cold water on her face to calm herself, feigning disinterest in the unwelcome presence behind her. Snatching a paper towel from the dispenser, she carefully patted her face. By the time she looked back at Himiko, the mask of Shigaraki had melted away leaving gobs of gray goo on the floor.
"I need something from you," Himiko announced, raising a syringe.
The harsh glare of the florescent lights above them glinted off of the sharp needle.
"I don't think so," Melina refused serenely. "I'm not interested in donating blood today."
"I'm not asking, bitch," the woman snarled, her lip peeling back from her incisors.
When Himiko stepped toward her, Melina whirled around on the ball of her left foot, swinging her right leg up to deliver a roundhouse kick to her adversary's gut. Himiko grunted and doubled over but would not be deterred for long.
"I need your blood!" the blonde shrieked, charging at her again with the needle raised.
Melina dodged to her left. Himiko stumbled forward, leaning over. Melina took advantage of the woman's stooped position which brought her head so close to the thick edge of the porcelain sink. She smacked the back of Himiko's head slamming her forehead into the side of the sink.
This was too easy. Her opponent fought half heartedly, distracted in her pathetic desperation. This was not like Himiko. Blood oozed from the cut in the middle of her forehead, trickling down the length of her nose.
"I don't even have a quirk anymore. It required my bees anyway so I'm useless to you. Why is my blood so damn important to you?" Melina demanded, backing toward the door.
"Because I use your blood to transform into you and fuck your boyfriend," Himiko giggled.
"Don't you mean my ex-boyfriend?" she corrected her.
Melina would not allow her attention to be diverted by Himiko's little revelation of hers and Dabi's new relationship status. Actually, she felt a little bit relieved. Maybe he would stop talking her now that he had Himiko to offer him a sexual diversion.
She glared evenly at her adversary, keeping her eyes on that damn scary needle. With her fists raised, ready to lash out if necessary, Melina continued to back away slowly toward the door.
Until she could escape, she could not afford to get upset and lose focus on kicking Himiko's ass. She would not allow this woman to harm her or her child. She would not give into the ire and jealousy attempting to worm its way into her heart and mind. Dabi was no longer her boyfriend. Why did she care who he fucked?
"Do what you want with him. I don't give a damn. But you're not going to do it as me," Melina said, turning on her toes and walking right out of the bathroom into the heavy tide of mall foot traffic.
Walking fast, putting as much distance she could as fast as she could between them, she dared Himiko to follow her. She was taking a bold chance, counting on the fact that the villains chose to operate on the fringes of society, choosing to remain hidden as much as possible. As she neared the front door, her steps quickened until she almost broke into a dead for freedom and safety.
"What happened? Are you all right?" Shoto asked her when she ran toward him, throwing herself into his arms.
Melina could feel her body shaking as he held her.
"You look like you've seen a ghost," he remarked, assisting her with getting into the back of the car.
"I did. Two of them," she answered, reaching into the refrigerator in the back of the limo for a bottle of water.
"What are you talking about?"
Melina relayed the brief but harrowing incident to Shoto.
"Are you sure we don't need to go back to the doctor's office and get you checked out?" he asked her, pressing his palm to her belly. "I'm going to kill that bitch if I ever get my hands on her."
"She didn't touch me. Her mind was scattered. Her moves sloppy. She was too frantic to think straight and focus her attack. It was almost sad really. She's always been so collected and calculating."
"That's the same thing Midoriya said about her. When he fought her, he said she remained completely calm and focused when fighting. Toying with him like a cat does with a mouse. Even flirting with him."
"What?"
"Last year we had a training camp. The League of Villains attacked us. They kidnapped Bakugo. They...they tried to kill us. Dabi almost killed Mr. Aizawa."
That bit of knowledge left her thunderstruck. Although she knew what Dabi was capable of as a villain, she had never witnessed it herself. Then to hear he tried to murder Aizawa, a man she had come to respect as a fellow teacher and a friend, shocked her and disappointed her far more than Himiko's purposeful information leak about her having sex with Dabi.
Melina leaned forward to retrieve two waters from the refrigerator; another one for herself and the other for Shoto. Neither one of the spoke for the remainder of the ride home. When the car pulled into the crescent shaped driveway, they saw the ostentatious red Jeep sitting there.
"Who the hell does that belong to?" Shoto muttered, casting a puzzled glimpse at her.
"Your father," she answered as if he should know.
"He doesn't own a car."
"Apparently he does now."
"He had a driver to take him everywhere."
"I guess he had to start driving when Hibiki became my driver."
"He could have hired another one. I didn't even know my father had a driver's license," Shoto grumbled irritably.
"Huh," she murmured. "That would explain a lot about his driving skills."
After the car stopped, she opened the door and jumped out, making a break for the steps to the house without waiting for Shoto.
"What about the shopping bags?" Shoto yelled after her as she hurried up the stairs to the front door.
"You two get them," she shouted back, opening the door.
"I'll get the bags, sir," Hibiki assured him. "Go on inside after the young Miss."
Shoto gladly accepted his offer, hearing her calling for Enji when he entered the house. But what she was calling his father bumfuzzled him.
"Dad! Dad, where are you?" she cried out as she walked down the hall toward her room.
"I'm in here!" Enji Todoroki answered back without hesitation.
"What the hell?" Shoto muttered under his breath. "Have I fallen into some weird and scary alternate universe? What the hell happened around here while I was gone?"
Her jubilant shriek reverberated through the quiet house prompting Shoto to rush to her. He found her standing in the center of the room on the other side of her sitting room. The immovable Shoji screens separating the rooms had been taken down and converted to sliding screens to connect it to her suite.
Enji Todoroki sat in the floor with pieces of white painted wood and screws and other hardware spread all around him. A screwdriver in hand, he had successfully put together two sides of the crib so far.
"Who is this man?" Shoto whispered to her. "And what has he done with my father? This is some invasion of the body snatchers shit."
"Quite a few things have changed...for the better," she said, smiling at him as if she knew a special secret she would never tell him.
In the past, his father would have hired someone to put the crib together. Presently, there he sat, doing the job himself. Actually, the Enji Todoroki of the past would never have bought the crib in the first place. When she came to him to announce her pregnancy, he would have given Melina a big check and a one way plane ticket back to her home in North Carolina in the United States.
Shoto wondered if his father had put together the other pieces of furniture in the room: a matching chest of drawers and changing table. There was also a white stand alone wardrobe since there was no closet in the room.
"This was supposed to be a surprise," Enji muttered in obvious annoyance.
"Oh, trust me, it is a surprise!" Melina exclaimed happily, bouncing on her toes and clapping her hands like an excited child.
Hibiki knew exactly where to bring the bags so apparently he was in on the surprise, probably from the beginning, which would explain his hesitance and almost horror when Shoto told him they were leaving the mall.
"We're going to have a family dinner tomorrow tonight," Enji informed them in his typical brusque manner. "All of the family."
"Oh! I finally get to meet them!" she cried out happily.
"You're far too excited about this," Shoto said, giving her a sidelong glance.
"Why shouldn't I be? I've been wanting to meet them since I moved in almost two months ago."
"Has it been that long already?" Enji inquired, picking up the large single sheet of directions to study them.
"Yes! How are the sessions with Rei going?" Melina asked sitting down on the floor beside him.
"They're going really well now that we've gotten over the initial hurdle of being reintroduced to each other and offsetting that, I'll just say, awkwardness. The doctor said we could begin our actual marriage counseling soon," he answered candidly, handing the instruction sheet to her to hold up for him.
"Wait, wait, wait. I'm sorry. I think I'm losing my mind. What the hell did you just say?" Shoto asked, not believing his ears.
Melina and his father both stared up at him as if he had sprouted a second head.
"You really have missed a lot, son. Why don't you sit down, and I'll fill you in?" Enji suggested.
"Here," Melina said, handing Shoto the massive page of directions. "Take this and you two have a nice chat. I'll go prepare lunch for all of us. I'm starving!"
"Melina!" Shoto yelled after her.
She made her exit swiftly. An opportunity for Enji and Shoto to have a long overdue heart to heart talk had come, and she wasn't about to let it pass by - or get in the way.
She relished the idea of having a moment to herself. Thankfully Hana had taken the afternoon off which meant she would be completely alone in the peace and quiet of the kitchen. Finally. Leaning against the butcher's block, she took several cleansing breaths to relax.
Opening the refrigerator, she searched for something to throw together for a quick but healthy lunch. Sandwiches, pickled vegetables, and fruit would fit the bill perfectly.
Melina took her time preparing the food, stalling for time as much as possible despite all of them being hungry. Their father/son discussion was more important than food. Finding boiled eggs in the refrigerator, she made little bunnies out of them. She hoped Hana did not have plans for those. She took the time to carve some of the uncut fruits and vegetables into animals for garnishes.
When she was done, she ate alone in the kitchen. Feeling drowsy once her belly was full, she left a note on the table for them that their already plated food would be in the refrigerator and that she was retiring to a guest room for a nap.
~\../~
When she awakened from her nap it was late, close to sunset. Tiptoeing through the shadowy hallway, she made her way to her rooms. At the end of the hall, she could hear Shoto and Enji still talking, although she could not make out the words.
Shoto laughed, a soft, low sound followed by Enji's much louder uproarious chuckle. A jubilant smile nearly split her face in half. They seemed to be getting along well which made her happy. She hoped they had taken a break for lunch.
Assuming they were still putting together the bed, she turned around, deciding to go to the pool to watch the sunset. Perhaps she would do a few yoga moves. She could recall a few basic poses but would need to find her book later which was somewhere on the shelf in her sitting room.
Melina began with the Mountain Pose, her feet placed flat on the cement, her legs shoulder width apart. She concentrated on finding her center of balance while focusing on her breathing. In through her nose, out through her mouth. This would be helpful for practicing the controlled breathing exercises for labor. When performing the poses, she kept her movements easy and slow, working her way through several gentle, stretching positions.
Eventually, she made her way to the downward facing dog, hands and feet on the ground, butt in the air. She was glad she was alone, otherwise this pose would be humiliating and leave her in a vulnerable position for a smack on the behind. After gradually unfolding her body to stand up straight, dizziness washed over making her sway a little. She cautiously toddled over to one of the poolside wooden slatted loungers to take a seat.
Looking toward the horizon, she saw the red ball of the setting sun. Sunsets had always been her favorite time of the day. Seeing the summer sky painted in lovely pastel shades like gentle swipes of watercolors brushed across a dark blue canvas, she recalled she really had liked the Peter Rabbit themed nursery items.
The row of tall bushes forming a living wall around the far side of the pool rustled and shivered. Her heartbeat immediately sped up. Her gaze shifted from the sunset to the hedges that quit shaking. After staring at them for a few minutes, waiting for another movement or sound, nothing happened.
"Probably a rabbit or something," she muttered to herself, returning her eyes to the sunset whose colors had become deeper tinging the clouds pink.
The bushes shimmied again, this time the louder, but she ignored them. The crack of branches could be heard alerting her to the possibility that something might be trying to break through. It sounded bigger than a rabbit. Much bigger.
Melina slowly stood to her feet, searching the area for a possible weapon. She spotted the ten inch wide ribbon of river rocks outlining the outer edge of the cement apron around the entire pool area. As the bushes continued to shake, she seized several of the bigger rocks, all about the size of a golf ball or a little larger. She lobbed them across the pool and into the bushes one by one, aiming blindly for whatever was in there.
"Ow!" a man exclaimed and the bushes instantly ceased moving once more.
"Hey! Who are you?" she shouted. When no answer came, she yelled, "You shouldn't be here! This is private property! Get out of there! Go away! Just get lost!"
Melina held up her hand loaded with another rock, ready to let it fly when the bushes separated. A man stepped through onto the cement. Dabi stood across the pool from her, staring at her. Just standing there, staring, after emerging from his hiding place as if he had arrived from another dimension through a portal in the bushes. He massaged his upper arm where one of her improvised weapons had hit it's mark.
"That hurt like hell," he grumbled. "You've still got one hell of a throwing arm."
"Dabi," Melina gulped, desperately trying to reign in her heart galloping away from her. "Like I said, you shouldn't be here. Leave."
"Shouldn't I be telling you that?" he retorted, looking her up and down critically.
"No, you shouldn't," Enji Todoroki stated flatly from somewhere behind her.
Melina swung around to see him walking down the pathway toward them. Flames exuded from his face, but he kept the fire pulled in on the rest of his body to keep from burning his clothes.
"She has more of a right to be here than you do. She has my permission. You do not," he announced, coming to stand beside her. He took her by the wrist, pushing her toward the path. "I'm glad I came out to check on you. Go back to the house. I want to talk to my son. Alone."
"But - " she attempted to argue.
"Think about the baby," he implored her. "It's not good for the baby if you get too upset."
"You're right," she agreed, turning away from Dabi.
Melina stepped off of the cement and onto the path leading to the house. She did not want talk to him or argue with him anyway. There was nothing left to be said by either of them. She was done.
"Hello, Dad," Dabi said, managing to make the word sound sarcastic.
"What are you doing here, son?" Enji inquired, his voice quivering with the restraint it took for him to not yell at man across the pool.
"Don't call me that, you bastard," he sneered caustically. "I came to check on, Melina. To make sure she's okay."
"She's fine. Shoto and I are taking care of her."
"I bet Shoto is taking really good care of her."
Enji refused to address that remark. He trusted Melina and Shoto to conduct their relationship as they saw fit. What those two did, or did not do, was none of his, and especially not Toya's, concern.
"She's put this baby above everything and will do anything to keep her child safe. You should do the same. Keep your damn girlfriend away from her. You should stay away as well. Grant her peace. Can't you give her that one small courtesy?"
"It's my baby too. Himiko is NOT my girlfriend," Dabi vehemently insisted.
"I don't give a damn what she is to you! Keep her the fuck away from the mother my first grandchild!" he barked viciously, his flames bursting forth then receding back to their original state. "You might have gotten Melina pregnant, but any man can be a sperm donor. That baby is no longer yours. You forfeited the child when you gave up your relationship. Leave that girl alone. She doesn't need you or want you because you broke her heart."
"What do you know about broken hearts except how to give them?" Dabi growled, a blue flame forming in his palm. "You've never had one yourself, but you have destroyed many people's emotions and lives, especially those of your children, so you know that much about them at least."
Enji was not going to apologize to him. It would not be accepted anyway. An apology, no matter how sincere, would be met with anger and hateful words. Rightfully so. He saw no reason to seek forgiveness in a place where he would never find it.
"Ten years ago you left here of your own volition," Enji said.
"I walked away from the hospital after you put me there!" his son bellowed in return, unable to hold back the storm of rage any longer.
A pain formed in Enji's chest in the vicinity of his heart. He ignored the ache and continued speaking.
"I know it's my fault you gave up your family, your life, and even your name. Nothing here belongs to you. Including Melina and the baby. You had a second chance at a family and walked away from her and your child as well. You forfeited a very special chance. A second chance to have your own family. You have willingly given up your family twice, boy. That's unforgivable. And stupid. I won't forgive you for that."
"Forgive me? Forgive me!" he shouted. The flame in Dabi's hand shot upwards nearly touching his face.
"Go ahead, son. If it will may you feel better, fight me. But I swear it won't end well for you," he warned the enraged man.
"I'm stronger than you. I will kill you, old man," he threatened in return.
"That may be true," Enji agreed but only partly. "Believe me when I say this, you may kill me, but you will die first."
"So you'll die protecting that woman?" Dabi asked, spitting out the last two words as if they left a bad taste in his mouth.
"I'll die protecting this entire family, including that woman," he rejoined pointedly.
"You sure have changed," his son scoffed. "If only you could have been a father like this when I was a kid."
"I wish I had a been a father like this too. Things would be incredibly different now."
"Yeah, a lot of things of would be different. But they aren't. They are what they are... and I fucking hate you," Dabi hissed, carefully enunciating the last phrase.
"It's not too late to try to make amends with the rest of your family. Your mother and your siblings," Enji said when his son turned to go.
"Are you kidding?" he scoffed derisively. "Mother wouldn't even know me. I don't want to make her condition worse either. If she did recognize me, she would hate me. I doubt Shoto would want a reconciliation after falling for Melina. Not to mention, I've already been declared his enemy because I'm a villain and he's a hero. As far as Fuyumi and Natusuo goes...I seriously doubt it. There's no hope now. Too much damage has been done."
Silence stretched between them much wider than the distance between them across the pool and ten times deeper than the ocean. There was nothing left to say.
"You should leave, son," Enji told him in a stunningly fatherly tone.
"I am not your son," Dabi seethed, pushing the words through his clenched teeth.
"You should really go see your mother. You're the final piece of the puzzle that she needs. You need to forgive her. And she needs to forgive you in order to heal," he added. "You ripped out her heart and stomped on it when you left the way you did."
"I already said no. That's really hypocritical coming from you. Not only did you destroy her heart, you tried to destroy her body. You tore us all apart! Why do you think I left, you stupid asshole?!" Dabi bellowed furiously.
Dabi turned back around to face his father, adopting a fighting stance. Enji simply placed his hands on his hips, sighing loudly. He needed to diffuse this situation because a battle between the two of them would get ugly and violent. It already was with the mean words laced with hate being tossed around. Regardless of whether it would be accepted or shunned, Enji knew he had to at least offer an apology at this time.
"I know what I did. I'm sorry for that. I wish I could change everything. I've wished a thousand times I could change the past but there's no going back."
"No shit!"
"I'm sorry for what I did to you," Enji said, holding his open palms out in front of him in a gesture of surrender. "I am so very sorry, Toya."
"That's not my name!" Dabi hollered back. "Stop it! Just stop it! You don't mean a damn word of it anyway."
Dabi swayed back and forth uncertainly, possibly debating if he should attack or just leave. At last, he scrubbed his hands over his face in exasperation.
"I'm leaving. I'll never come back," he announced, turning to make his escape through the bushes.
"Dammit," Enji muttered under his breath, hanging his head sadly.
"Are you okay?" Melina asked, appearing from behind the nearby trellis covered in vines and pink flowers.
"You really are a hard headed pain in the ass," he muttered, rolling his eyes. "Sometimes you should do what your told for your own good."
"I'm sorry," Melina apologized. "I was worried what might happen."
"And if we had fought, you would have gotten hurt. Maybe killed. What then?"
"I'm sorry."
"What are you apologizing for?" he sighed in irritation.
"I don't know. I just feel like I needed to," she returned. "Let's go back to the house. Hana will have dinner ready soon."
"How can you be like this? How can you be so calm after the day you've had? After what just happened?" Enji asked her as they walked back to the house.
She shrugged.
"Because I have to be. For the baby's sake. Believe it or not, I've had worse days than this," she said with a dismissive wave of her hand.
"I can believe it," he returned solemnly. "Well, hopefully, you'll have many better days in the future."
"Yeah. I hope we all do. As a family."