"So, how were they?" Ryuko asked, side-eying her kids. Mika and Rin were bouncing on the balls of their feet as they spoke over each other in an attempt to tell Fuyumi all about their sleepover and how fun it was. It was a little after breakfast and Tsu's siblings had already been picked up.

Izuku thought back to last night when he had left the bedroom at around 2 am to begin his predawn ritual.

Izuku stepped onto the first floor and heard something; the mischievous giggles of children. Using Float, he hovered over the floor as he drew closer to the source of the sound. When he peaked around the wall that separated the kitchen from the rest of the common room, he saw them. Eri, Yuki, Satsuki, Mika, and Rin were all still in their pajamas and they were currently attempting to scale the refrigerator. Clambering on each other's shoulders and a chair they had dragged over, they reached for the cookie jar on top.

Izuku floated right up behind the unsuspecting kids.

He cleared his throat.

Yuki's fur puffed out as she jumped straight up like a startled cat, Mika and Rin screamed in perfect stereo, Satsuki froze, and Eri startled without a sound. They all fell, tumbling off chairs and shoulders. When Yuki tried holding onto the fridge, it began to tip. Expecting all this, Blackwhip shot out and halted the fridge's forward momentum and gently arrested the girls' downward fall and placed them all down in a row in front of him.

"And that is why you shouldn't climb things. What if the whole fridge had tipped over on you?" Izuku asked the wide eyed kids in his best Dad voice. He was trying very hard to hide how excited he was to have finally gotten a chance to use it. It was so much more satisfying than practicing in the shower!

"Sorry, ribbit. We wanted a snack…" Satsuki said sincerely even if her words were monotone like Tsu's.

"Sorry, Daddy…" Yuki whined, her tail wrapping around her middle and her eyes refusing to meet his own.

"We're sorry…" Mika and Rin both said in unison while they toed the floor. He narrowed his eyes at them, he could sense the dubious nature of their remorse. Their cute act wasn't going to work on him! He maintained the stare until they shuffled uncomfortably.

"Sorry," They said again, but this time genuinely.

Izuku looked at Eri and realized she was shaking, her eyes were shut tight, and her shoulders were drawn in. Her chin wobbled and she sniffled. She looked like she was expecting the worst. During her time with Overhaul, she likely saw what he did to those that disobeyed. In her experience, disobedience was met with brutal, and often violent, punishment. He didn't believe she actually thought he was going to hurt her, it was just a trained response born of trauma. Izuku understood that too well, hell, he still got nervous around fireworks.

"Pa-Papa…I-I-I'm s-s-sorry," She whimpered quietly.

He knelt in front of Eri, but didn't reach out. Yuki wrapped an arm around her sister and glared at him. He was so proud.

"Eri…please look at me," He begged. He wanted her to see the truth on his face as well as in his words what he was about to say.

It took a few seconds, but Eri squinted a glossy red eye open.

"I'm not mad at you and I would never hurt you, I promise. "

Eri looked at him in silence for what felt like an eternity before she abruptly burst into tears and flung herself at him. He cradled his adopted daughter close, placing a kiss on top of her head.

"You're all supposed to be asleep and you worried me, climbing on the fridge like that. Now that you saw how easy it could have fallen and you with it, do you understand why you shouldn't do that now?" He asked the group as Eri's sobs turned to hiccups. The girls all nodded somberly, Eri too, smearing snot into his shirt.

Once things had settled down, he caved a bit and gave them each one cookie and a glass of milk before sending them back to bed.

Izuku blinked the memory away.

"They were good, only had to use the Dad voice once," He replied.

Ryuko nodded in approval, her satisfaction with the non-descriptive answer spoke volumes of how much trust she had placed in him. She turned as Ochako approached, radiating nerves.

" ! I umm…was wondering if I could ask ya a personal question?" Ochako asked, moving her hands around like she wasn't sure what to do with them.

"Relax, Kid. Ask away," Ryuko said.

"Well…I was wonderin' how ya and Fuyumi had kids since you're both girls?
I know it's none of my business and it's fine if that's too personal! It's just that Mika and Rin seem like they have a combination of yer Quirks and they're the spittin' images of you two so I figure a donor is out and I was thinkin' I want'a kid with Tsu and Himiko in the future and well-'' Ochako rushed out as fast as she could vomit out words, but stopped when Ryuko held up a hand.

"Here," Ryuko said, handing over a business card she'd fished out. "That's a privately owned fertility clinic. They have staff with Quirks that can change your gender permanently or temporarily, change sperm into eggs and vice versa, a male seahorse transformation, and a few other options. There's even a staff member with a Quirk called 'Magical Lesbian Babies'. Their services aren't cheap or covered by health insurance. Despite that, they are in high demand and have a year-long waiting list."

Ochako's face had fallen at the mention of the cost but lifted marginally when Izuku placed a hand on her lower back in silent support. If this was something she wanted in the future then she wouldn't be going it alone, far from it.

After Ryuko left with her family, everyone was milling about the common room and talking about returning to classes tomorrow. A few headed out to do their own thing before Golden Week was over. Izuku was wondering what he should do with his not so little family when Tokoyami came downstairs dressed suspiciously well. It was all black, sure, but it was obvious at a glance that he had put some significant effort into his outfit. Dark Shadow was rubbing his shoulders like a coach would a boxer. That and the fact that he was radiating nervous, yet excited energy could only mean one thing; he had a date.

To Izuku's surprise, he walked straight up to him.

"You're looking sharp, special occasion?" Izuku asked, doing his best not to tease. Tokoyami's feathers ruffled anyway.

"Thank you, Midoriya," Tokoyami replied. "I find myself in need of your counsel due to your experience."

Izuku blinked, parsing Tokoyami's words for what he meant.

"Are you asking me for relationship advice?"

Tokoyami's feathers ruffled again and he darted his eyes around to see if anyone was eavesdropping.

"More so date advice, we haven't made anything official as of yet."

Izuku couldn't help it, he beamed and gripped Tokoyami's shoulder.

"Good for you! Who's the lucky person?"

Izuku could physically see Tokoyami's thoughts drift to the person in question. He noticeably grew less nervous and a beaked smile graced his face. Izuku was pretty sure that was the first time he'd seen the man smile, it had the effect of causing Izuku to smile as well.

"Persons," Tokoyami corrected. "Reiko and Shihai from our sister class."

Izuku did his best not to shout "I KNEW IT!". It was a near thing.

"I had a feeling you three would see eyes to eye to eye…get it? Because their hairstyles cover an eye?"

Tokoyami stared. Dark Shadow stared.

"Maybe we should ask someone else," Dark Shadow whispered into Tokoyami's ear.

Izuku waved his hands.

"No,no,no,wait!" Izuku rushed before clearing his throat. "So, have you had a relationship before?"

Tokoyami's feathers ruffled again.

"I have not."

"That's ok!" Izuku quickly reassured. "Being yourself is pretty solid advice, but you're normally pretty aloof and mysterious most of the time. My advice would be to put yourself out there more and open up to them. I'm assuming you want to get to know them better, so give them a chance to get to know you too and who knows, maybe they'll open up to you too."

Tokoyami smiled that great smile again and bowed.

"Thank you, Midoriya. Truly."

When Tokoyami left soon after, Mina and Toru bounded up to Izuku.

"What was that!?" Mina asked as she pressed close enough that her chest brushed against his abs.

"Love advice!?" Toru asked, bouncing from foot to foot and causing her prismatic hair to flail. It was impossible to not notice the way her ample chest bounced with every little hop.

When Izuku failed to answer immediately, they took his silence for refusal instead of the gawking that it was.

"We got our nails done together! You have to let us in on the hot goss!" Mina pouted, her bubble gum cheeks puffing up.

"It's the rule!" Toru complained, giving him puppy dog eyes made all the more effective with her prismatic eyes that shone with ever-shifting colors.

He didn't know there were rules! Getting your nails painted was a bigger deal than he had thought!

"Ok, Ok!" He said in surrender then proceeded to tell them about Tokoyami's date and the advice he'd given. Tokyami hadn't said it was a secret and had approached him in the common room so he hoped he wasn't betraying his trust.

Before Izuku could ask why Mina's thick tail was curling around his leg, Recovery Girl walked in.

"Izuku, can we speak privately?" She asked right away.

Borrowing Nejire's room, Izuku closed the door behind him after leading Recovery Girl inside. She looked different, but he couldn't put a finger on exactly how. More concerned by what she had to say privately, he put the question from his mind.

"I shouldn't be telling you this, but the news will break soon anyways," Recovery Girl started off. "Iida's brother, Ingenium, was attacked by the Hero killer, Stain. His spinal column was severed, rendering him paralyzed. I couldn't fully repair the damage."

Izuku nodded solemnly, he was hoping this wasn't the case, but he was glad it wasn't the worst case scenario he had been expecting.

"Did you want my help with Cell Activation? I'm not sure if I can heal something you can't though."

Recovery Girl shook her head.

"No, our Quirks speed up the process of repairing and building new cells, but only to the extent of what the body is naturally capable of given enough time. It's not our help that Ingenium needs, it's Eri's. Her Quirk might be his only chance at walking again, at being a Hero again."

"Have you told anyone else about this idea?" Izuku asked, his lightning flecked eyes boring into hers as he read every single emotion that came off her, searching for falsehoods.

"No," She answered and Izuku could find no lie.

Izuku wanted to refuse out of hand, to protect Eri from the possibility that she failed to heal Ingenium or worse…but what would Eri think if she found out years from now and he had robbed her of the chance to help because he didn't believe in her.

"I'll talk to my partners, but I'm sure they'll agree with me that this should be Eri's decision. BUT you will not pressure her and if she refuses in ANY way then you will take this idea to your grave. Deal?" He asked with deadly seriousness.

"Deal."

After gathering and speaking with his girlfriends, they returned to Nejire's bedroom to speak privately with Eri. Izuku had been unsure what to say or do with Yuki for this conversation, but when he'd exited the bedroom Violet was already leading Yuki outside to teach her how to skateboard. He wasn't sure if she'd overheard the conversation and decided to help, but if anyone knew how to keep a secret it was her.

"Eri," Izuku addressed his white haired child as she kicked her legs out on the edge of the bed. "We have something important to ask you."

Eri stopped kicking her legs and looked around, worry beginning to suffuse her aura.

Izuku knelt so that he was at eye level with his daughter.

"You Iida right?" He asked.

"The funny robot boy with glasses?" She asked innocently, causing Himiko to snort.

Wrestling the smile off his face, Izuku nodded.

"His brother is a hero called Ingenium and he was hurt really bad by a villain."

"Are you going to heal him, Papa?" Her voice full of sympathy for the person she'd never even met.

"Unfortunately, I can't, not even with Chiyo's help. He's not in any danger, but he can't walk anymore. He'll have to stop being a Hero." Izuku explained the situation as simply as he could to the four year old.

"But, won't Iida be sad? You have to heal him, Papa can do anything!" Eri asked, growing more distraught.

Izuku's lightning flecked eyes glowed as he soothed her emotions, he wanted her calm for this next part.

"The only person that has a chance of healing him now is you, Eri. You can say no, you don't have to-"

"I'll do it!" Eri shouted, cutting him off and hopping off the bed to stand in front of him with fists clenched to her chest, her eyes ablaze with determination. This little girl had experienced the worst the world has to offer and had every reason to cling to fear and refuse, but she didn't. As if to spite the world's cruelties, Eri radiated kindness and compassion. When given the opportunity to help someone, even a stranger, she didn't hesitate. Eri was just over three feet tall, but at that moment she appeared a hundred feet tall.

"Midoriya? What are you doing here?" Iida Tenya asked as Izuku approached Tensei's hospital room with Eri's hand in his. The heavy bags under his bloodshot eyes spoke volumes of the man's mental state, with Empathy it was nearly overwhelming.

Recovery Girl was the only other person with Izuku, the rest of the polycule had wanted to come, but it was decided that there were too many people for a hospital visit.

"Hey, Iida," Izuku said in greeting before glancing down at his daughter. "We're here because we might be able to help your brother."

Anger suffused Iida's tired demeanor.

"Dont-Don't say that," Iida bit out, his voice cracking with emotion. "Don't give me hope just to take it away."

Izuku opened his mouth to say what, he wasn't sure. Before he could come up with anything, Eri spoke.

"I'll save him!" She said it like it was the only possibility. Her emotions reflected her words, it was as if she was envisioning only success in an effort to make failure an impossibility. There was, however, a kernel of doubt hiding in the corner of her mind. It threatened to swipe at the house of cards her emotions had become.

Izuku's eyes glowed, viridian energy arced within his irises as he used Empathy to smother the life out of that doubt. Eri could train with her Quirk unaided later, right now he would help in any way he could.

Seemingly unable to form words, Iida led them inside silently.

A short explanation from Recovery Girl later and Eri was sitting on Tensei's bed, a small hand on his arm while everyone else was as far away as they could get without stepping out of the room.

"I'm ready," Tensei said as he closed his eyes. He had been made aware of the potential risks and knew that this moment could become his last.

Golden light, that wafted like flames in an imaginary breeze, enveloped Eri's horn as Izuku continued to sculpt Eri's emotions into overwhelming confidence. The golden light spread at a measured and sedate pace. Her stark white hair became enveloped in the golden light of her Quirk and began to float as if underwater. There were soft gasps as the golden light completely engulfed Eri and began spreading to Tensei. Tensei's body began to change, it was subtle at first. His hair that had been cut earlier in the week returned. Then it became more obvious. Tensei hissed in pain as healed wounds rewound and reopened. Bruises reformed and scars became cuts once again.

Panic began to fight him for control of Eri's emotions as the wounds grew worse with every passing second. When a hole opened in Tensei's torso, Eri cried out and her emotions snapped away from Empathy's hold.

Izuku stepped closer, eyes blazing with power.

"You can do this, Eri! I'm right here with you! Papa's here!"

Eri's brows snapped together and she gripped Tensei's forearm with all her strength.

"I can do this! I can be a Hero too!" She yelled.

He grappled for control over her panic, her declaration bolstering her nerves enough that he could grip the reins again. With all the control Empathy could muster, he wrestled the panic down and smothered it with its own weight.

The cuts began disappearing one by one until they were all gone and Izuku shouted for Eri to stop. This time, Eri had a much easier time stopping than before with the tree.

His hospital gown stained in blood, Tensei opened his eyes. The room held its collective breath. A toe wiggled and Tensei let out a bark of laughter that was half crazed. He scooped Eri up by the armpits and stood on the bed, holding Eri high enough that she nearly touched the ceiling. The Iida family began to sob and laugh in relief. Eri laughed musically as she swung around.

"ERI, YOU'RE MY HERO!"