~Ellie's POV~

Flashback: Age 7

Feeling weary and weak, fever burning through me, I shivered in my bed. I felt my twin's arms around me as he held me close trying to offer me his body heat. Another coughing fit claimed me. Eli looked down at me, his face contorted with worry.

"I think I should call mom and dad." He said softly as he pressed his lips against my forehead to check my temperature, "you have a fever."

"N-No." I protested weakly not wanting to bother them. They'd gone away for the weekend leaving us in the care of our neighbors, the Aizawa family. "They'll make me go to the hospital again." Hot tears streaked down my cheeks.

Eli frowned but gave in with a sigh. "Fine, but if your fever doesn't go down before dinner, I'm calling them."

I nodded reluctantly and closed my eyes leaning into him to steal his body heat. Though my skin was on fire I felt like I was freezing. There was a knock at the front door. Eli looked hesitant to leave me. He let out another sigh and released me from his hold. Hurriedly he scrambled out from under the covers and tucked them around me trying to keep in as much heat as possible before going to answer the door.

Moments later Eli returned with our neighbor Shota. Shota frowned as he took one look at me lying in bed, I was sure my cheeks were red and my eyes glazed over with fever. He turned his frown to Eli, "I think we should at least tell my parents if you don't want to call yours."

Eli looked to me. I feebly shook my head. "Ellie doesn't want to go to the hospital anymore..."

"I'm keeping my promise." Shota turned on his heel and went to tell his parents.

Eli smiled softly. What promise was he talking about?

Shota returned with his mother not more than a minute later. Despite my feeble protests, I was taken to the hospital. Eli was allowed to go with me and stayed at my side the whole time. It wasn't as bad with Eli there holding my hand.

I made it through one full day of bedrest before I was over it. There was too much to do, I couldn't just lay around and do nothing. It reminded me of how weak and helpless I'd felt when I was younger and was constantly confined to a bed or in the hospital. Waking before Toshinori, I crept from bed unable to lay in it and do nothing any longer. Careful not to wake him I wrapped myself in a comfy robe before stepping into a pair of toasty warm All Might slippers and made my way downstairs.

There were some dishes in the sink. I almost squealed with joy, there was something for me to do! As this joyous thought crossed my mind, I groaned a little, "Ugh, I need to get out more if I get this excited over dirty dishes."

As I got to the sink and reached for one of the dishes, a rubber spatula smacked my hand with a loud resounding 'whap' sound. A squeak escaped me and I recoiled and rubbed the back of my now throbbing hand.

"OW! What the hell?!" I snarled and turned to find Grace holding a rubber spatula in hand.

"What are you doing?" She hissed at me.

"Getting water." I huffed.

Grace shook her head, "Liar...and besides you're supposed to let me or your husband know if you need anything, remember? You should be in bed."

"It's so boring!" I whined as she dropped the spatula and grabbed me by the shoulders steering me back up the stairs.

As we reached the master bedroom, Toshinori had stirred awake and was waiting in the doorway with his arms folded in front of his chest. He looked tired. His sunshine hair was all mussed up and duller than usual. Guilt turned my stomach, he was worried about me.

"What were you doing?" He asked me with a sigh.

"I caught her trying to do dishes." Grace said as if it were a crime.

"Ellie." Toshinori's voice was reprimanding and instantly brought tears to my eyes.

"They're just dishes!" I cried.

Toshinori shook his head before offering Grace a smile and a polite nod of his head, "Thank you, Grace."

Grace giggled having way too much fun with my bed rest though she was calling it bed arrest and acting like my parole officer. "Anytime, I shall return to my post and keep an eye out for escaping Ellie's." She stuck her tongue out at me childishly before disappearing down the hall.

I lowered my gaze not sure I could take seeing the look of disappointment on his face, it might kill me. His fingers lightly trailed up the side of my neck before sweeping under my chin drawing my gaze to his. They were filled with worry.

"You're supposed to be resting."

"I know." I mumbled and averted my gaze.

"Ellie..." He sighed, "Look at me."

Tears welled in my eyes as I reluctantly met his gaze. My emotions were spiraling out of control thanks to the hormones. A sob hitched in my throat. "I'm sorry." I choked.

Toshinori smiled somberly and wiped away my tears before pulling me into a warm loving embrace. "I know you hate bedrest, but please bear with it for now, if not for your own sake then for mine and Eli's." He kissed the top of my head as he cradled me in his arms. "Please."

Tears streamed down my face. I felt like I'd let him down and the thought of disappointing him was enough to send me into a state of hopeless despair.

"Ellie?" Toshinori panicked, I couldn't stop crying. "It's alright." He swept me off my feet and carried me back towards the bed rocking me in his arms in an attempt to calm me down. "I'm sorry!"

"Why are you sorry?!" I choked between sobs.

"I-I don't know!" Toshinori was beside himself, "That usually helps when you're crying."

"I-idiot! It's m-my fault not y-yours." I cried even harder.

"But, I made it worse. I was too hard on you." Toshinori looked like he was on the verge of crying.

I heard laughter from the doorway and realized Grace had returned with a glass of water in hand. Her bright green eyes glowed with amusement, "You two are a hot mess!" She laughed hysterically. "Also, this is probably the cutest and most pathetic fight in history."

A gust of wind shut our door and I heard Grace giggling as she walked away. Sighing I turned my attention back to Toshinori and snuggled closer to him. "...sorry..."

"It's okay." He smiled warmly as he carried me to the bed. I started to protest and he paused. "What is it?"

I looked longingly over at the bench beneath the window with the soft cushion and pillows. "What if I rest over there?"

Toshinori smiled, "I think that can be arranged." He snagged fleece blanket off the bed before heading to the window. Rather than set me down as I had expected, he sat down in the window and gently set me down in front of him. He swept the blanket around us as I leaned against his bony frame, using him as a pillow. Even in his weakened form he was still comfy and warm. "How's this?" He asked me as he kissed the top of my head.

"Perfect." I smiled as I snuggled into his arms and looked out at the vast ocean out the window. We stayed like that for a few hours until I finally drifted to sleep.

When I awoke later, I found myself tucked into bed. There was a bouquet of fresh flowers sitting on my nightstand next to a plush rubber ducky wearing an All Might costume. I smiled softly to myself as I pulled the plush ducky into my arms and snuggled it. The material was silky smooth and softer than anything I'd ever felt before. There was a note attached to the bouquet.

'To the number one wife. STAY IN BED! Love, Toshinori.'

I shook my head at this but couldn't keep myself from smiling as I hugged the soft plush duck close. I caught a whiff of lavender, Toshinori must have sprayed some kind of calming essential oils on it. Not wanting to upset him, I decided to stay in bed and tried to go back to sleep.

When next I woke it was dark outside the windows and there was a painful crick in my neck. I sat up with a wince and rubbed my aching neck. Perhaps I slept funny. The sound of approaching footsteps gave me pause.

"Ellie?" Toshinori's voice relaxed me as he appeared in the doorway his lips pulling into a frown. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I think I just slept on it weird." I mumbled feeling more tired than when I'd gone to sleep. I must have been having nightmares, though luckily, I didn't remember them.

I felt the bed sink in a little before his warm hands gently grasped my hands trying to rub away the ache in my neck. My pulse quickened at the sudden intimate contact as he clasped my hand in his, tenderly rubbing my wrist with his thumb. He gently moved my hand away before kissing the back of my neck that I was sure was a bright red from my attempts at working out the knot. A delightful shiver rolled down my spine as he kissed my neck again trailing a line of sweet kisses around the side of my neck, up my chin until he finally captured my lips in a sweet kiss.

"Let me." He pulled away from me with a smile before his warm hands gently massaged my neck and shoulders urging an involuntary gasp from my lips.

I leaned into his warm comforting touch and closed my eyes. His deft hands made quick work of all the aches and pains moving with expert care to soothe my sore muscles. He chuckled as I leaned back against him after all my aches and pains had been tended to feeling like I was in a euphoric state of pure tranquility and relaxation. My body turned to mush as I melted into him with a soft sigh of contentment.

"Better?" He asked as he kissed my neck. I could feel his lips pulling into a smile against the soft sensitive skin on my neck.

I was in too relaxed a state to even open my eyes or respond coherently feeling like I could drift to sleep at any moment. Somehow in my state of peace I managed to mumble out a very pleased sounding, "mhmm."

He wrapped his arms around me from behind and pulled me with him back onto the bed. I laid on my side with his arms securely around me holding me tightly against him. A small smile twisted onto my lips as he rested his hand on my belly.

"Toshinori..." I breathed his name softly never wanting to leave his warm embrace.

"What is it?" He kissed the back of my shoulder tenderly before pulling the blankets around us.

"I love you." My voice was whisper soft yet filled with so much emotion as I tried to convey just how much.

His hand splayed across my belly moved in gentle soothing circles as he placed another tender kiss to the back of my neck. "I love you too, Ellie." He said softly, his voice cracking slightly as he too was overcome with emotion.

"I'm sorry for being difficult all the time..."

He chuckled at this though it was a soft sound I could feel it resonating in my back pressed against his chest, "I wouldn't have it any other way."

My face flushed scarlet, "I-idiot."