"Still haven't heard anything?"

Sighing, I stared into the depths of my tea, disrupting the surface with the tip of my finger.
"No..." I replied vacantly, my foot tapping beneath the table. It matched the ticks of the kitchen clock, echoing off the walls.

"I know it's hard, but stay positive, okay? Heroes always have so much on their plates." Natsuo sat across from me, giving me that soft, reassuring smile. It didn't work. Furrowing my brows, I lifted my finger from my tea and flicked off the residue, picking my phone.

"M..maybe I should try calling again..?" Beginning to dial, I was stopped as he reached across and gently pushed my phone down, meeting my eyes with his frosty grey.
"You've probably filled their voicemail up already. Everything is going to be fine. Sit back and try to relax."

Easy for you to say...

Sighing in defeat, I let my phone drop and leaned back, placing my hand on my small, barely noticeable baby bump. I couldn't help but worry.
"Want some more mayo and soba?" Natsuo asked, immediately shuddering at the thought. "Ugh, just saying that makes me feel queasy...Cravings really are odd with you, huh?"

Shaking my head, my finger joined the tapping of my foot, and no matter how hard he tried to hold my gaze, it always strayed back to my mobile phone.
"I should go to the agency. What if he forgot? What if-"
"Dad's not that daft. You can't keep stressing like this, (Y/N). It's not good for either of you."

He was right, and I knew that, but I couldn't help it. Despite Endeavor having promised me, I had my doubts. Plenty of them. No matter how much I trusted the pro, there would always be fear.
"No, I really think I should-"

"Pardon the intrusion, it's us." When a familiar voice called out from the entryway, I sprung up, ignoring the slight wave of dizziness as I watched our guest turn into the room.
"Tokoyami! H..hey! You haven't heard anything about..."

I trailed off into an almost violently heavy sigh of relief as the person I wanted to see most rounded the corner after him, windswept blond all over the place and bright, honeyed amber sparkling as our eyes met.

"Mama! Look! Uncle Tokoyami bought me a candy apple!" My daughter beamed, her silver wings twitching with excitement. Biting my lip, I tried to stop myself, but there was no way. I raced over and nearly tackled her into a hug, squeezing her tightly.

"I was so worried! I'm sorry, but I just expected you home over an hour ago, and when I couldn't reach Poppa Enji I panicked!" Squishing her into my chest, I peppered the top of her head with kisses, and she squirmed around.
"He had to go do hero stuffs, so Uncle Tokoyami and Uncle Shadow picked me up and I really wanted to go see the Yuuei festival!"

Beside me, Dark Shadow warped into existence, nodding along with her in equal excitement.
"Couldn't say no to our favourite niece! Nope! That would be illegal!" It explained, and I felt my concerns begin to slowly ebb away. My little girl pulled back from me and raced around towards the dining table, where Natsuo sat and watched.

"You want some of my apple?! It's so super sweet! This is my second one because I was such a good girl!" We both glanced to Tokoyami, who cleared his throat and cast his gaze to the side.
"My apologies...It's uh, as Dark Shadow stated...It is quite unlawful to deny her anything..."

He offered me a hand as I tried to stand up, and I took it gratefully.
"It's no issue, I'm just glad she's home safe. Besides, by bedtime she'll doze right off from a sugar crash." I chuckled softly, watching as my daughter handed her apple to Natsuo and stepped back.

"Also, look what I can do!" Shutting her eyes tight, she began to flap her small wings, and very shortly after, only for a few moments, her feet left the ground. It made my throat tighten.
"That's incredible, kiddo!" Natsuo applauded, glancing to me to gauge my expression.

"Y..yeah, that's really great, starshine..." I added, a lot quieter than I had been before. I didn't like her flying. Everybody knew that, but it wasn't like I could stop her. Noticing my withdrawal, Natsuo patted his knee and welcomed the small girl onto his lap, handing her candy apple back with a smile.
"So, tell me all about what you did at Poppa's agency! I wanna hear everything!"

Thanks for the distraction...

Tokoyami followed me out into the den, and I motioned for him to join me on the couch. Once he had adjusted his cloak, he turned to me.
"I deeply apologise, (Y/N). Endeavor didn't reveal he had set a return hour with you. I should have contacted you."

Shaking my head, I gave his shoulder a light pat, offering a small smile.
"No, no, it's fine, really. I'm just...well, you know how I get. I need to toughen up before she starts school next month, anyway." I chuckled, but it wasn't exactly happy. "Do you think I'm one of those helicopter parents? Be honest."

It was Tokoyami's turn to shake his head this time, shifting a little so he could face me more directly.
"I do not believe so, no. After what occurred, nobody can blame you for being protective. You are a superlative mother." I knew he was speaking from the heart, yet I couldn't quite accept it.

"It's been almost six years. It took me four to even let her leave the house without me..." I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose in exasperation towards myself. "It still hurts. Every day, it still hurts so much...Why do other people make it seem so easy to move on?"

Edging closer, Tokoyami placed his hand on my shoulder, comforting me in his own, stoic way.
"I believe that it will always hurt, to a degree. My soul still grieves, to this very day. You need to understand, however, that he is still with you. As cliche as this may sound, he lives on in her. That little miss is so unbelievably similar."

I know...That's what scares me...

We had discussed my late husband many times before, away from everyone else, and I had done the same with Endeavor, too. Tokoyami still carried a weighted guilt on his shoulders, despite me repeatedly assuring him that he had nothing to feel guilty for.

It was so strange, seeing him all grown up. Once he had graduated from Yuuei, I had handed over Hawks' agency, and he had instantly proven that it was the right decision. Despite being taller, and his hair just slightly longer, I still saw that brave, selfless student I had scouted so long ago. In some ways, it hurt, because it reminded me of...

"Mama! Daddy took a bite out of my apple with his big, fat mouth!" The little blonde came skidding into the room, wings puffed up and finger pointing accusingly at Natsuo, who was at her heels.
"You offered me some!" He retorted, trying to look cross. His small snort gave him away.

"Yeah! Some! Not half! Mama, tell him he's gotta let me have a snow cone as...uh...compilation!" Now, even I had to snicker at my daughter after that, though I quickly managed to compose myself.
"I think you mean compensation, starshine. I really don't think you need any more sugar today, though. How about he can owe you one tomorrow?"

Pouting, the child who everyone saw as a carbon, gender swapped copy, mulled it over in her head before her wings settled against her back.
"Fine...I guess that'll work..." Still giving an attitude, she turned and poked her tongue out at Natsuo, who mirrored it perfectly.

The third born Todoroki had been there for me since the incident, along with his father and sister, even his mother. Eventually, after my daughter was born, we moved in together, because he was undeniably wonderful with her. I had been too scared to be alone, and it had purely been as friends, until she had begun to call him her dad.

From then, we just happened. Natsuo was well aware that I wasn't over Hawks' death, and that I may never be, but he was okay with that. I did love him, and we acted as a strong family unit, but it would never be as deep as it would have been if things had been different. I still couldn't bring myself to marry him, despite carrying his child.

Tokoyami eventually left, having a great struggle with prying Dark Shadow and my daughter apart. I never knew a child and a quirk could share just a bond, but I found it precious.

Yakitori for dinner, which had become a ritual every Thursday night, and a rather intense battle to drag the little sass machine up the stairs to brush her teeth and get ready for bed. The entire time, I could see Natsuo regret offering to take over. She had inherited my stubbourness, ten fold.

Once she had finally complied, I began my usual routine of folding laundry. When I had been younger, I always tried to avoid it, but after becoming a mother, for real, I found it therapeutic. I did, however, despise putting them away. Seeing that dusty box at the back of the wardrobe, the collar of that familiar coat poking out, made me feel sick.

"Mama..? Can I ask you something before I go to bed..?" Without looking up, I nodded, hearing her small feet pad closer.
"Sure, Starshine. What's up?" Neatly tucking the sleeves of my favourite sweater, I waited for her question.

"Have you heard of an old hero called Hawks..?"

My heart stopped beating. At least, that's what it felt like. Dropping the sweater into a heap, I turned and finally faced my daughter, seeing her fingertips twiddling together in front of her.
"Y..yes...I have...Why..?" Suddenly, words didn't want to form, and my eyes darted to the bedside table. That was where I kept the lasting piece of him.

"Well, at the Yuuei festival thingy, a heap of people said I looked like him..." She explained, looking somewhat nervous for once in her life. "Like, really look like him. Wh..when I went on the jumping castle, some older boy said he was my dad...I told him no way, though! Daddy is my dad! I was just wondering...maybe you could show me a picture of this Hawks hero guy?"

No...I can't tell her. She's too young. I'm not ready. I'm not fucking ready...

That was what my mind said, but deep in my aching heart, I knew I couldn't lie to her. I had known that at some point somebody would say something to her to spark her curiosity, but I didn't expect it so soon. Natsuo had tried to coax me into bringing it up a few times, but it didn't feel right. She didn't need to share the pain.

But...why did it have to be painful for her?

Slowly, I sat down on the edge of the bed and beckoned her towards me, and once she was close enough I scooped her into my lap, stroking her soft, silky wings as she did the same to my swollen middle.
"Actually, I knew Hawks very well..." I started, leaning slightly so I could open that precious drawer, pulling out the single, crimson feather so carefully, as though it might shatter.

"...I'll tell you all about him, Suzume..."

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***Okay, I actually feel terrible because I thought that one little part I wrote near the end of the previous chapter wouldn't go unnoticed, but it did, big time ;-;

Next Time: Closure***