Chapter 3

The fight started quietly they had five minutes to either finish the fight or it would be a draw and the students would judge who won. The slow start was uncharacteristic of Ground Zero, his quirk using explosions almost always meant he started his fights with a bang. However here he was trying to keep his distance if at all possible. Aydin had agreed to not use her quirk on him until she came into contact with him during the fight. He was glad for the playing field to be evened out, because without that concession on her part he'd have been tap dancing the second Shoto blew the start whistle. They circled one another gauging the other carefully, one of them had to attack first but both of them also knew who ever did first was going to decide the fight. Bakago knew he had to attack first, she was to fast for range attacks so he had to get close, but he'd only have time for one attack and if he missed it or improperly gauged her it would be over. She stepped across her dominant leg behind her, keeping her hips open to watch him. That was it, dominant leg back she was the most off balance she could be; he exploded forward his hands propelling him towards the smaller woman. Her eyes widen, had he gotten her? After the last six years of sparing and losing to her in spectacular fashion had he won? He moved both of his hands forward to unleash a deafening explosion into her chest. Then her eyes narrowed and a small warm smile graced her face, and she moved leaping to the side her hand whipping out as if to push off of thin air. 'No!' he thought his as he registered what she had just done and the trap she had laid; he'd fallen into it completely. She moved agilely around him her fingers tracing his elbow to shoulder as he passed her. His body locking up joints immobilizing, muscles going lacks, his quirk stopping the explosion only igniting to half of its normal power. He hit the ground behind her crumpling into a limp heap, motionless, while Aydin stood tall, her outstretched arm blistered, burnt and red, the cloth of her costume was still on fire, but she had won. Shoto blew the whistle signaling the end. Katsuki whirled on her as she released him, his eyes calculating and narrowed. He sighed shaking his head, "Everytime." he snarled, he opened his mouth to say more but then looked at Shoto and closed his mouth biting his lip.

The whole class went from dull conversational whispers to dead silence as they stared at their teacher, eyes wide, finally realizing just how powerful she was. They had witnessed her take down the current number 3 hero in a flash. It had barely been a fight before she had overpowered him. "Alright we are going to be pairing you up this will be an inter-class activity. You will not know your pairing until you hit the battlefield and you will all be doing so at the same time! You will have 5 minutes to fight then the buzzer will sound, if the fight is not already over. We will then break down on the fly strategy and what you did well and what were some opportunities you can work on in the future." Aydin explained to the class handing each of them a number 1-20 in an envelope which told them which arena to go too. They weren't allowed to tell each other what the numbers were. All of them nodded curtly and hurried off still in shock by the power that she had displayed.

After they all left Katsuki dove at Aydin again, she turned with him gripping the cross strap of his costume and slammed him into the ground as he kicked her leg out from under her. She landed heavily on top of the blonde smirking at him. Shoto rolled his eyes, pulling Aydin up and off of Bakago. "Careful" he said a protective arm around her, "I don't think you want to deal with the 2 on 1 situation."

"Whatever Icy Hot, you aren't the threat, especially with your wife here." He snarled.

"Lucky me then. I never have to worry that she can't take care of herself." He said following Aydin into the observation room where 20 TVs were set up and 40 chairs behind them in sets of two with a monitor on the desk between them.

"Yea, I just have to worry about you not being able to deal." She jabbed back smiling as she tucked her head into his chest. They stood watching the monitors split screen on the waiting room. Once all the students were ready and on the different sides of their arenas Aydin pressed a button starting the countdown, and on one the curtain dropped. They knew who they were fighting, improvising and being able to quickly adapt and think on their feet was going to be a huge advantage here, and Aydin had paired them up accordingly.

Real world applications right off the bat for the 3rd year students. All across the monitors the aspiring heroes clashed some were smarter than others in adapting, others floundered, panicked and forgot how to adjust to their opponent. As the 3 heroes scanned the fights they switched between nods of approval, concern, barely veiled amusement, and shock. A knock came at the door in the last 2 minutes of the fights, Aydin stepped out of Shoto's arms moving to open the door. Izuku smiled back at her from the other side "Zu!" she laughed as he stepped into the room hugging his friend completing the top hero trio in the room. He walked across the room surveying the monitors as he came to a halt next to Bakago, the blonde raising an arm and putting it over the shorter man's shoulders quickly yanking him sideways into a possessive hold. "Had to come get a look at the 3rd years?" Aydin asked scanning the monitors as the fights came to a close, only a few had finished faster than the 5 minute time limit.

Izuku nodded leaning his head against the blonde's shoulder, his costume still on from his day at work. "When I heard Shoto and Kachan were going to be here I couldn't let them get a step up in scouting, especially a class that has had your guidance Aydin-chan all three years." he laughed scratching the back of his head.

"Well good" Aydin said, "now you three can help me grade each side and figure out who won. The class is going to come in and sit in their pairings and watch all the fights but their own and take notes then we are going to share notes all together. Then us as pros give a breakdown of the fight and what the grade is. Then they all vote on who won lost or if its a tie, we are the tie-breakers." Aydin said explaining the exercise. "You three can start looking over the video's on that screen, I have spare paper in my teaching bag for notes." Bakago nodded walking to her bag to gather the paper and pencils, he stooped down to look through it; shuffled the papers in her bag around trying to find the blank paper behind her notes and lesson plans. Aydin watched the door, while Shoto and Izuku were already in discussion about one of the fights, no one noticed Kacchan shove a piece of paper into a pocket of his costume. The hero course students shuffled in minus a few who'd taken their partner to Recovery Girl, or in one case both had gone since their situation was more dire and in need of immediate healing.

The whispers exploded again as they caught sight of the teal green costume. The big three. The class was wide eyed staring at their teacher, she had gone to school with them, the top three heroes in the world, and she had even beaten one of them and from the sound of their earlier classes was on par with number one, Deku. Aydin sat on top of her desk her legs crossed waiting for everyone to settle down. She could hear the boys behind her pausing the video rewinding then arguing and tapping the screen as they worked together to grade the fights. "You all know the drill, if your partner is here work together if not, pair up with someone else who doesn't have a partner." she called to the class, watching them all get settled before walking back to join the big three, and help grade and vote on who won which fight. For the most part they all agreed about each fight and were done and ready to provide insight and training tips to the youngsters in the class who, as driven as they were, were having a difficult time focusing with the big three in the room. Aydin noticed as she faced her class from the far side of the table where she was standing next to Izuku. She turned away from the desk and walked to the front of the room "If you want to be where these three are, I suggest you study your film and stop gawking at them, I can tell you these three were in the top 5 of our class both in academics and in hero classes. And they didn't get there by stargazing at our teacher and the number one hero at that time All-Might." She quirked a menacing eyebrow at the 34 students in the class, all of whom nodded and apologized quickly and quietly before dropping their heads to the monitors.

As she walked back over Shoto bumped her shoulder leaning in to the middle and whispered "Fear of God."

Izuku and Aydin laughed while Aydin shrugged and Bakago yelled in aggravation "Argh! Shut up Half n Half!" this only had Aydin and Izuku laughing harder.

"Back to work." Aydin called not turning around, causing Izuku to burst into another fit of laughter, Shoto to smirk and Bakago to let out a loud groan. As he watched all the heads drop in the reflection of the dark screen above them drop back to their desks.

Aydin allowed for a few extra minutes as the class watched and sorted through the last of the videos. The big three as pros and her as the teacher had already raw scored each of the students and were now taping different points on the clipboard and discussing them. Bakago excused himself to go to the bathroom. When he came back the group was discussing one of the fights that had been closer to a draw. "To me I know what both of you are capable of, you are best friend's so you both know what the other can do."

"So why did you pair us up? We don't match up well and we already know the other's strategies!" The purple haired girl complained, she was obviously mad that she was getting downgraded for it, not understanding the reasoning.

Bakago smirked as he walked to the back table gathering the extra blank paper, slipping the paper he'd grabbed earlier back into Aydin's bag before joining the conversation. He dove in, he knew exactly why Aydin had paired them. "She paired you for that exact reason. To see if you could get out of the box and even though you know your opponent, thinking on the fly and creating a new strategy or counter. In a way you had a bigger advantage in this, you know what they are probably going to do next. Being able to think fast smart and out of the box is a huge component to being a pro." Kachan said.

Aydin smiled it was the same reason, she still spared with him on the regular, both with and without their quirks, they knew the other's styles and in that sense could push the other harder than anyone else. "Exactly," Aydin smiled "who in this room know's Shoto's quirk?" every hand shot into the air. "Ok so do you think every villain knows his quirk?" Slowly heads nodded. "So a villain with a fire quirk as well would be smart to stay on his left side, making it harder for Shoto to get him with his ice right?" the classes nodded again. "In situations like that, a pro has to realize and study a situation incredibly fast, devise a plan and be flexible to changing that plan cause, villains know our quirks and styles of fighting, they see pro's on tv and in the news constantly. We don't know the villains, but they know you, out of the box thinking and making sure we don't fall into standard set patterns is essential." The three heroes behind her nodded as Aydin explained where the pair had missed the mark and concept of the training activity.

"Despite us having gone to school together and even though they sparing regularly with and without quirks, I'm 99 percent sure that if Deku and Shoto faced off three times right now, the first ten seconds would be completely different each and every time." Bakago said. "We adapt, study and have to evaluate and notice the smallest of things, it's how we can constantly be the heroes we are. It's how we can be the best, it's how we can find all the villains we do and bring them in so efficiently." Bakago explained leaning back against the table, the others nodded agreeing with his point.

"Ground Zero and I grew up together, and we have used that to keep one another sharp, everytime I know it is going to be a challenge he is one of the best in the business at analysing his opponents, I know if I'm not on my game he can and will win a sparring match." Izuku said putting his hand on Kachan's shoulder. "Being friend's is the best way to help one another grow, it doesn't mean your stuck, Henkan-chan was just trying to show you how much you can benefit one another." Izuku chimed in, the class nodding realizing the match ups were truly done to push them and help them learn and adapt and Aydin had been very deliberate when picking the partners.

When the bell rang at the end of the day all the students had things to work on and a new outlook on how they could utilize one another for sparing, training, and how to study one another to make them better heroes once they graduated. As soon as they were all gone Aydin let out a wide yawn, walking over to grab her bag. "I'm gonna go grab Takea from daycare, and head to the store, Zu, Kachan you two are welcome to swing by for dinner if you'd like." they nodded accepting her offer.

"I have to talk to principal Nezu first," Katsuki said, "but I'll meet you there."

"I have a change of clothes in my car, Shoto you mind if I follow you to the house?" Izuku asked Shoto shook his head as they all walked out of the room.

"Zu, Kachan what do you want for dinner?"

"Not asking me?" Shoto feigned hurt, pulling her against his side.

She laughed poking him in the ribs, their arms settling around one another. "No I'm not because I already know you want soba, you always want soba, I'm just seeing if these two want something different, not everyone is a robot." Aydin teased squeezing him.

"Hey!" Shoto exclaimed unable to hide the smile, he knew she was messing with him.

"Tonkatsu"

"Sukiyaki!"

Aydin laughed "ok I'll pick one of those."

When Aydin came flying through the door she had a child in one arm with a shopping bag and Takea's daycare bag and her own bag somehow balanced across her body and on her shoulder. The other arm was full as well containing four shopping bags. As soon as she was through the door Takea's eyes fell on Bakago who, for some reason, was her favorite uncle in the world. That's all it took before Takea squealed with delight, and from the look of it, was trying to take a death defying head dive into the hardwood floors, to get out of her mother's arms and run to Katsuki. Aydin yelped dropping bags as she torqued around crashing heavily into the floor back first, Takea, safely landing on top of her. Takea, not registering how incredibly acrobatic and clumsy of a save was just made, hopped off and ran straight to Bakago's legs wrapping her arms around his calf tightly. Bakago howled with laughter as she lay in the entryway on her back scowling at the mini version of herself and Shoto that currently had his leg in a death grip. "You'd thing she hadn't seen you in years." Aydin muttered rolling her eyes, they had been over less than a week ago. She sighed sitting up from the floor and starting to shove spilled contents back into bags.

Shoto stood from his place on the couch, laughing while he crossed the room. Even Izuku laughed at her as Bakago scooped up the small girl and placed her in his lap. Shoto picked her up from the ground as he laughed, gently nuzzling her hair, kissing her cheek before bending to pick up the dropped and spilled shopping bags. She smiled after him and followed him into the kitchen with the other bags. Izuku laid his head against Katsuki's shoulder, his arm snaking around the larger man's waist as Shoto helped Aydin in the kitchen. Takea chattering animatedly to Bakago about her day, as well as an 18 month old could, Izuku watched admiring how Bakago was engaging with the small child between them, he really did love the tiny tike. And she was infatuated with her blonde uncle it was a special bond between them and he loved watching it grow.

Shoto walked out of the kitchen holding Takea's sippy cup full of water. "Would you two like tea or another beer?" Shoto asked grabbing the empty bottles.

"Beers." Bakago replied for both of them. Ruffling the multicolored ringlets on Takea's head the other arm settling over the green haired man's shoulders, he was perfectly content right then with his goddaughter and long time boyfriend next to him. Shoto nodded disappearing into the kitchen for a few moments before returning with bottles of beer. They relaxed in the living room fully knowing if they went into the kitchen that it was fully at the risk of getting vegetables, thrown at them until they left and that was if Aydin was in a good mood, plates and the occasional fork had been known to fly at Bakago's head.

"Did you get the information you wanted from Nezu?" Shoto asked the blonde.

"I did. I've glanced over the information but I haven't looked too in depth on it but from what I've seen it's another dead end, at least so far" Bakago mused, his mouth twisted into a hard line, his mind turning with the other possibilities.

Takea giggled and poked him in the cheek, "Uncle Katsa you look scary like that." she laughed poking his cheek again. His face dropped from the expression, in a snap, his gaze dropped to the little girls. Shoto smiled at the interaction, while Izuku started to laugh. "Do it again!" The little girl laughed. Shoto relaxed in his seat, one leg kicked up on the sofa the other on the floor as his daughter giggled joyfully at the two other top heroes making faces at her, as she tried to replicate them. Aydin walked out of the kitchen carrying her own beer, watching the interaction and smiling at them as she set a timer on her watch and sat down between Shoto's legs leaning back against him. Shoto kissed her temple his arm falling around her as they watched, she snuggled into his broad chest resting her beer on his thigh his beer coming to rest on her hip.

"You know if she gets your ice quirk, Kachan is going to have to watch out," Aydin whispered.

Shoto laughed nodding "Especially since she's got you temper." Aydin smacked his chest gently.

"Hey now,"

"I married you love, that's most definitely not a down side in my book. However if there are two of you I think Kachan would run for the hills."

"I don't think he'll be able to, Takea has a vice grip on him." She murmured as they watched, the timer on her watch went off and Aydin rose from the couch retreating back to the kitchen, Shoto followed her to help set the table for everyone. He moved around the kitchen seamlessly with her, knowing exactly where she was moving so he stayed clear of her moving with hot pots and pans, he wasn't sure if he just knew where she was going after the last three years or if she still was moving him around her as she worked.

She dished up Takea's food and set her highchair between Bakago and herself out in the dining room. Shoto set the serving dishes on the table, Aydin following him with plates and silverware. As Shoto stood from placing the water jug and sake on the table he found a weird feeling takeover his legs, ahh that's what it feels like he mused realizing she now had taken control. He felt himself walking around the table toward Aydin, he smirked at her, a dark red eyebrow raising, and his eyes narrowing, he felt Aydin's control lift as he got to her, but he didn't pause. His hands landed on her hips as he backed her up, her back hitting the dining room wall, she hummed in pleasure as she tilted her head up catching his lips. Her arms going around his torso. "How did I get so lucky?" Shoto asked his head dropping onto hers their foreheads pressed together.

"I could ask you the exact same question Sho." Aydin said turning her head to nuzzle into his neck her lips leaving butterfly kisses down his jawline and neck to his collarbone.

He squeezed her tightly before dropping back a fraction of an inch and brought her chin up to look at him. "Aydin, you could have been with anyone you wanted, yet you picked me," she leaned forward kissing him stopping the words she knew were haunting him and about to come out, she knew he still struggled with feeling adequate, especially after how long he'd been abused by his father.

She pressed into him, fingered threading in his hair "Of course I picked you love," she smiled stroking his left cheek with her thumb cupping the side of his face. "Why would I not choose someone who is so determined, intelligent, strong, captivating, loving, incredible and handsome?" She asked kissing him on each word she used to describe him. "And just in case you didn't already know, you had me the second I saw you."

A voice cleared their throat from the dining room's doorway; breaking up the quiet moment they were sharing. "Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt, but Kacchan…" Izuku trailed off.

Shoto kissed her and let out a sigh, his head resting on Aydin's, turning to face Izuku, "The table is set, if you all want to come in." He said, Izuku nodded going out to get Takea and Kacchan, he slowly stepped back from her frowning as they had to untangle. She let her hand slide down from his cheek down his arm before intertwining their fingers her thumb slipping under his, as they made their way to the table Kacchan entering with Takea under and arm, as she giggled hysterically. Izuku entered just after carrying the beers from the living room in setting them in their respective places around the circular table.

Takea made it through most of the meal, but towards the end you could tell that she had started to get tired cause her head started to droop, she spilt her water, and then when she got bored and fussy which resulted in rice being thrown into Bakago's hair when he ignored her, much to the amusement of everyone at the table. Bakago scowled at the little tike with multicolored hair, as she imitated him and glared back thinking it was a game. Aydin laughed at the amount of personality her child had already started to show, "I think it's time I got this munchkin off to bed," She stood clearing empty plates and Takea's place as well, she reentered the dining room quickly scooping up Takea letting her hug and get her kisses goodnight from the group before she swept the girl up stairs with the bags in the entryway, for Takea's bath and bedtime routine.

Aydin had been upstairs for quite a while, so they had relocated to the living room again with beers and a few sweets Shoto had found in the cupboard, since he and Izuku enjoyed them. Aydin liked sweets ever once in a while putting her much on the same page as Katsuki when it came to dessert. Bakago stood as Shoto and Izuku debated the best way to grade and access the up and coming students. What was the best standard to use from year to year to see who would break into the scene with a bang, and who would flounder and never amount to much. He walked out of the room commenting something about a bathroom to no response, they only vaguely registered the blond walking up the stairs. Bakago walked back in a few minutes later, his mouth in a thin line as he threw himself into the seat next to Izuku glaring at the door when Aydin walked in about eight minutes later. She walked into the kitchen making herself some tea, before joining the others. Bakago scrolled through news feeds on his phone while she relaxed, and added into the conversation Izuku and Shoto were already on.

As the night wore on, Bakago commented at some point that Fais had struck again leaving a criminal out front of the police station. This turned the conversation back to more of the lines of her class that day. Which then ran into Shoto recounting Aydin's blow out match against Bakago, Izuku laughed showing his boyfriend zero sympathy only asking him how he hadn't learned better yet. "Well I don't remember any of us having much luck against her in school, she kicked our butts every year. Even after we understood her quirk, she still won each time." Bakago grumbled.

"I beat her once," Shoto said quietly, "Sports festival our first year, I think she also lost on purpose though" he said daring her to correct him. She only rolled her eyes, he remembered it as if it were yesterday.

….Flashback….

Shoto stared across the arena at the girl with hazel eyes and auburn hair faced off against him. This was going to be interesting, he'd been in school with her for the last month and he still hadn't figured out her quirk, then again none of them had. She was a fiery girl with a temper to match Bakago's, the strength to take him out at the same time and the drive to push to be better everyday. He knew she already had a plan, now he needed one and not knowing her quirk was a huge hindrance. He knew she didn't use it on people much preferring strategy and combat to bring her opponents down. He knew from this month she was one of the best tacticians in the school, and in combat she could go blow for blow with him. A fact that shocked him; his ankle and ribs still tender from the lesson his father had taught him after hearing that another student had beaten him. His eyes watched the clock as it counted down, he started to panic which wasn't like him, he had no idea what to expect though, this girl had knocked everyone else out without even moving. They had simply frozen, then walked out of the rink. He felt the hot glaring eyes of his father from the crowd, his eyes flickering back and forth between the clock and the tall man. Her eyes followed, seeing the fuming fire hero in the stands noticing the quickening in Shoto's breathing and the nervous shifting in his weight that increased as he looked at his father.

He needed a plan. His mind was blank. The clock struck 0. He tried to move. Frozen, he couldn't activate his quirk or move, it felt like a thick fog was holding him in place throughout his body, it was a strange feeling. His heart started to beat erratically, and suddenly he wasn't worried about her anymore, his eyes swung to the crowd. Endeavor was snarling his face turning red, and fast, Shoto knew if he could move he'd be trembling, that look had done exactly what it normally did, activate his fight or flight response and a panic attack along with it this time. His breathing was now erratic to match his heartbeat. All of a sudden he felt his heart slow to normally, his breathing evened out and what felt like soothing hands rubbing up and down his arms. His eyes glanced back to Aydin who was looking at him quizzically, her eyes wide and knowing, she was nodding her head as if she'd put together a difficult puzzle, he felt the weird fog disappear. She knew. He reacted ice flooding the arena freezing her in place. She quirked the outside edge of her lip, he stared at her, his eyes wide and questioning as he crossed the arena. He'd won. He melted the ice around her "did you just let me win?" he asked quietly through his teeth.

She didn't answer, "I got distracted." she said when she could finally move from the ice. "Todoroki-kun before you face Midoriya-kun you should see Recovery Girl about your ankle and those broken ribs." She said quietly as she walked past him her head down, so no one could see her lips. He stood frozen as she walked out of the arena, she had stripped him of his armor in a single go. He'd worked so hard to build up his armor and keep it strong, impenetrable, yet here was Henkan-chan shocking him and rattling him to his core yet again. But this time it wasn't with her strength or power it was with how much he could tell she cared that he was ok right then, knowing he certainly was not. He staggered for a moment, she paused "If you ever need to talk let me know Todoroki-kun, you aren't as alone as you think, you have more people supporting you than you think." He watched as she walked off, he could tell that she knew, and that cared if he was ok, her actions speaking volumes to him. He followed her out of the arena, keeping his distance acknowledging the crowd with a quick short bow before retreating.

"Henkan-chan." he called just before she disappeared down the hall.

"Aydin" She corrected, stopping at the end of the hall. She shocked him yet again the girl he'd watched have a temper that could rival Bakago's, stepped closer to him, her voice soft, "You're not going to go to Recovery Girl are you, Todoroki."

"No, Aydin-chan, I'm not. Please call me Shoto."

She nodded "Ok, Shoto-kun, do you trust me?" His eyes narrowed gauging her intent and movements carefully, before nodding. His heart quickened as his first name slid past her lips.

He swallowed "What are you going to do?" he asked his breath catching as she stepped even closer. His arms suddenly itched to feel how she would feel in his arms.

"Take this off, it's easier." she tapped his gym uniform shirt not answering his question. He felt calm though even in the hallway. She looked up meeting his two color eyes with hers, he pulled the shirt up and off her eyes dragged across the toned muscles on his torso, he was strong, with his shirt he was attractive but without Aydin definitely took a second to appreciate the man in front of her. Only parts here and there were discolored from bruises in different stages of healing, she was pretty sure she was responsible for the one on his hip. But the black mark by his ribs was what concerned her the most as she evaluated and admired him.

"Like what you see?" He asked his voice cold, trying to find some sort of protection, he was distinctly aware of the marks covering his body, the biting words coming out as a shield, a flimsy one but it was all he could muster at the moment.

"Yes, you are quite attractive Shoto," She said bluntly smiling up at him. He should have known she'd be unfazed by his attempt to put up a guard and knock it right back down. She placed two hands on his torso causing him to inhale quickly, he felt like he'd been jolted by and electric current "Sorry my hands tend to be cold" she said looking down, this was a quieter side to the normal fiery girl he was used to.

"Its ok, temperature normally doesn't bother me too much," he said.

She nodded looking back up to meet his eyes, "This will probably sting a fair bit." She said.

"Ok thanks for the heads up" he conceded, as soon as the words were out a stinging sensation ripped through his ankle and ribs, he gasped his eyes going wide she hadn't been kidding around, it smarted and a lot he could have sworn it felt like bones grinding together in his ribs. Then it stopped. He looked down, the bruises were all gone, he tentatively rolled his ankle around and stretched his torso, finding no pain. "What is your quirk?" he asked his mind reeling, Aydin stepped away, but Shoto held her wrist to his chest his eyes searching hers. She was becoming more and more of a mystery.

"Good try." She smirked at him pulling her hand away. Turning and starting down the hall, she stopped before heading up the stairs "Oh Shoto?" he looked over at her. "Good luck,"

"Aydin." He called back. She turned back to him "Next time I want a real fight."

She chuckled, "No, you really don't." And she was gone.

….End Flashback….

He'd never told her but she'd saved him more that day than anyone else had ever before. That was the day, he found his rock, and he leaned on her when he needed to and she always welcomed him and supported him and eventually he learned that he was her rock in return.