7: Reuniting with old friends.

They travelled through the forest till the sun set, the orange light beaming through the trees. Scouts made sure the way was safe as the rest of the company chatted between themselves. It had been a long time since she heard so much laughter. It almost felt like the war never happened.

The forest eventually thinned, revealing a crumbled stone keep infested with moss and ivy. It looked like a lord's residence from an age long gone, the spires wilted like a flower. Several figures emerged from the stone, arrows knocked back in their bows. One look at their group and they relaxed, climbing down the ruin to greet their friends.

Among the handshakes and hugs, a rather large man with a bandana covering the bottom of his face came forward. "It's good to see you back, captain. Who's that there?" He gestured to Izuku.

"An old friend," Shoto replied. "He's stabilized, but we need to get him inside. Mind getting the door for us, Shoji?"

He nodded and bent down, swiping away some leaves that were covering a wooden hatch. A quick pull on its rusted handle opened it up to a large staircase. "Need some help?" he asked, nodding to the stretcher.

"Please."

It was hard letting go of Izuku's hand. Ochako had to keep reminding herself that it was the only way they could get down the stairs and into proper care. It didn't do much to quell the feeling she had just let go of half her soul.

"Injured!" Shoto shouted. "We have injured!"

Ochako heard bustling further down the staircase. Slowly, an orange glow came into view, shadows cast along the ground. When they reached the bottom, a large cellar room greeted them. People passed to and fro, some soldiers, some families. Lanterns hung off the walls and tables sat around the sides.

It wasn't long before people crowded them and before she knew it, Izuku was being taken away down a corridor. She moved for him, but Shoto held her back. "Where are they taking him?"

"To our infirmary. We have proper healers there."

She pulled on his arm. "I have to go with him." They hadn't been separated since it all began. "I need to be there."

"He'll get healed better if you aren't there. You know what healers are like: they want complete concentration."

"But…"

"Shoto!" There was another voice she hadn't heard in a while. To her left, Momo came from another corridor, walking as fast as she could with whatever she was holding in her arms.

Looking to the man in question, Ochako was shocked to see such a smile on his face; the kind of smile Izuku would send her. "Momo." They embraced and shared a kiss. Ochako looked away in embarrassment.

"We've been waiting for you. How did the patrol go?"

"It went pretty well. We found some people I'm sure you'll like to meet."

Shoto tapped her shoulder and Ochako looked back into the shocked face of Momo. Tears leaked out of the woman's eyes. "Ochako…" She was swept up in a hug, her face firmly pressed against Momo's neck. When did she get so affectionate? "I'm so glad you're alive!"

Ochako was about to respond in kind when a gurgling noise caught her attention. Pulling away and looking down, she saw a chubby face wrapped up in a blanket staring back with sharp blue eyes. Her mind quickly made the connection.

Shocked, she looked between her two friends who smiled back at her. "You, the, wha?"

"Yes, he's ours," Momo said. "My little angel."

"He was born a month ago. Thankfully we were with the Resistance by then."

"You couldn't have waited for a better time?" Why did she say whatever came to her mind when she was panicking?

Momo chuckled. "It came as quite a surprise to us. We were on the run, but… we loved each other too. It was hard to, uh… hold back."

Ochako was glad she and Izuku hadn't been so risky. She couldn't deal with having a baby in her situation. Still… "I'm happy for you. He's very cute."

"Isn't he?" Momo poked his cheeks. "Just look at these chubby cheeks," she said in a baby voice. "Chubby chubby cheeks." The baby gurgled. "Yes they are! Yes they are!" She brought the baby up and started nuzzling him, babbling incoherently.

Shoto shook his head fondly. "You won't get through to her now. She'll be like this for another fifteen minutes."

"I bet it gets quite a handful."

"Sometimes. It's worth it though. And we have Mama Inko on hand to help."

Inko? Where had she heard that name before? "Who's Mama Inko?"

"She's the backbone of this whole place. Sure, we have the generals and soldiers, but she keeps this place clean, puts food on the table, and looks after the kids. We're thinking of making a monument to her when this whole thing is finished."

"She sounds amazing."

"She is." Shoto looked over her shoulder. "Speak of the devil. There she is."

Ochako turned. There, holding a toddler against her hip, was a chubby woman with large eyes and a kind smile. What drew Ochako's attention, however, was the familiar green hair and emerald eyes.

A/N: Just a quick one whilst I'm stuck on Pillars. Had to get something out or I would have gone insane. Hope you all enjoyed this chapter!