I didn't go to my regular doctor for help with my tiny problem. Billy and I were in agreement that until I knew for sure that the doctor, nurse, and receptionist situation was a one time situation, a task I was planning on giving some attention to once I had my personal situation in hand, that I would go to a more private and less known clinic. Or at least a clinic no one would be able to associate with my normal habits.

I felt paranoid, as I made the appointment from home for the day after we had our showdown with Homelander. Yes, I lied to the pompous schmuck, wouldn't you? Having no actual personal experience in what I was about to experience I did what I would normally do in similar circumstances. I researched what to expect.

With Billy sitting next to me, I read about "medication abortions" and "aspiration abortions" to be certain that I knew what was coming and what was likely. I read about the two pill option, which was most likely to be what I was given, since the timeline was that I was around the very very early point of verifiable pregnancy. Still, since this was a supe induced pregnancy, I thought that the research on the more invasive version would be best, if for no other reason than I could be prepared in case.

Billy was mostly silent, reading along with me, his hand on my free one. As we read about the side effects, what to expect if the pills worked or if I had to have the more 'hands on approach' what my recovery would look like, his hand squeezed mine. Looking at his face to see him studying me with tight eyes, I tilted my head in question.

"Are you sure?" He nodded at the screen that was still alight with the mention of cramping, bleeding, and other discomfort I could expect should I not experience complications. "Ronnie, it sounds painful and-"

"Necessary," I smiled at him. "A little discomfort for peace of mind that my body is mine. And yours, when you want it." I winked, but his brow was still furrowed with concern. "Billy," it was my turn to squeeze his hand. "This is what I want." His eyes were still tight, with worry and something else. "What is it?"

"You'll be in pain and I won't be able to-" he took a deep breath through his nose. "Veronica, you'll bleed. You'll be in pain and I'll be seeing you like that and KNOWING that it's all that-"

Ah, Homelander and the cause of my situation would rear his ugly head. "Then, I should go ahead and distract you, shouldn't I?" I turned and moved closer to him, moving my fingers up his bare arm. "That's usually what helps when you're feeling a little too," leaning forward, I nipped at his neck and smiled when I felt him inhale in an entirely different manner. "Aggressive." My tongue flicked out to touch his pulse and I was rewarded with one of those low deep growls that only Billy Butcher could make sound sexy to me. "Billy?" He hummed as my nose slid against his skin. "Let's go steam up the bedroom windows."

Distracting Billy worked, for a moment. When we were coming down from the latest round of sauna sex sans sauna, I felt him sigh. His fingers were tracing the bumps that created my spine and his lips were on my forehead as I waited for him to speak.

"You won't be able to do this," his kiss on my forehead made me smile, "divert me, I mean, for at least a week after." I tipped my head back to look up at him. "I love you and I want to be as close to you as possible, Ronnie, he's managed to fuck that up too."

"No he hasn't." I moved up, sliding until I was hovering over him. "He hasn't fucked anything up unless we let him, Billy. And as for diversions?" I nudged his nose with mine and teased his lips while holding myself just far enough so a kiss was possible, but not imminent. "It says we can't put anything inside me there, didn't say a word about putting anything in my mouth." His hand was on the back of my head and pushing me down so he could at least put his mouth ON mine. Our kiss deepened, tasting one another and feeling the fire build again before I pulled away slightly. "Not quite what I meant, Billy." My smile held when I breathed the next tease, one that I knew would help him with the other issue he would have with my alternative to the usual diversionary tactics. "And it only said we can't INSERT things in that part of me, not that you can't reciprocate-" that did it, I was under him and he was showing me all the very special ways he could divert me until and after my appointment.

Luckily, with the delicate nature of my problem, I was able to get into the clinic quickly. The next morning, bright and early and happily a Saturday, Billy and I drove up to a nondescript building and took a deep shared breath. Fingers entwined, he was beside me as I signed in and filled out the paperwork. He waited while I handed over and had returned to me my ID and insurance cards. When I was called back, he was at my side, fingers linked tight with mine while I answered the intake questions carefully and honestly.

"Are you the father?" The doctor asked, eyes on our hands.

"Does that matter?" Billy's eyes were on the doctor, tense.

She shook her head and smiled reassuringly at the very large and clearly stressed man seated beside me. "No, that doesn't matter. It's good to see that Dr. Taylor has support, she'll need it."

It was my turn to stare. Did I miss something in my research? "I don't understand."

Her smile redirected to me. "Women who come in asking for the termination of an unwanted pregnancy assume that the physical discomfort is the worst part of the experience. I won't lie and say it's not uncomfortable, but even a pregnancy that's unwanted leaves an emotional mark. Having a support system in place," her nod at Billy reminded me of my very large and substantial shadow, not that I could ever forget of him. "That's going to make your recovery more bearable in so many ways."

I nodded, certain that this 'emotional mark' was simply that Homelander would continue to breathe air. "There's something you should know about the paternal side of the fetus-"

After explaining that I was carrying an unwanted supe fetus, the doctor recommended going the more invasive route. Since the procedure was more effective she felt it was better to start there rather than start subtly. If you could call inserting a medical device in one's nether regions to remove a tiny parasite from one's insides 'subtle'.

She gave me medication to "open my cervix" and sent us out to have a small meal or drinks or catch a movie. Another appointment a few hours later, since she wanted to take every precaution to be certain I had less strain than I was clearly under.

Billy took me to the park, to walk around and take in the fresh air. His hand in mine, we took a long route around the edges, while he showed me the bench from the video he'd watched everyday after Mallory had given it to him. The video of Becca, the last image he'd had of her alive until he saw her in the compound where she raised Ryan.

We walked away from it, and he pulled me closer. "When we get home," I smiled at the ease with which he'd made my home his, the invitation never verbal but clearly implied that he move in with me taken without fanfare from either of us. "I plan on pampering you for the rest of today and then tomorrow," my smile grew. "And if you still feel rotten on Monday, then we both call off and stay in bed, getting out only when absolutely necessary, love."

"You're going to spoil me, Billy Butcher." I pressed my face into the side of his coat and breathed in the scent of him. "I love you."

"Oh, Ronnie," I looked up to see him staring down at me with such adoration that my heart skipped. "I fucking love you so fucking much."

It helped, his reassurances, to get through the first part of the consequences of Homelander's interference in my life. Back in the office, in an actual procedure room, with antibiotics and a mild pain medication working their magic, the doctor performed what she assured me was a simple procedure. Since I'd chosen the mild pain meds coupled with local anesthesia, I was wide awake while Billy held my hand and kept me sane as the doctor talked me through her work. It didn't take long, and she seemed very certain she'd taken care of the issue, but she also reminded me, once Billy had helped me redress after the short recovery period, of the side effects. She told Billy what to watch for that could mean more worrisome complications that would require immediate medical intervention, and then made me a follow-up appointment because, while normally one wouldn't be required, I was a 'special case'. Yeah, thanks again caped wonderfuck.

Padded beyond belief, since I hadn't had the irritation of having an actual period in a long time it felt strange, Billy bundled me into the truck and headed home. He carried me inside, refusing to listen to my assurances that I could, in fact, walk. He asked if I'd rather lie on the sofa and settle in for an evening of mindless binge watching, or to bed, where I could rest. I chose the sofa, and he complied as easily as I imagined he would have if I'd said I fancied a trip to the moon. The man was fulfilling his promise of pampering me.

We ordered in, he sat behind me, cushioning my back with his and helped me to the bathroom when I needed a change of padding. Billy was attentive and careful of me. He showed me as much tenderness as a glassblower showed their newest work, delicate and breakable, that's how he handled me. The pain, and yes I had pain, wasn't terrible, but it wasn't pleasant or a walk in the park either.

I didn't steam, not the rest of Saturday or all of Sunday, not as my body healed. By Monday, I felt well enough to go to work, and Billy was smiling at me like I'd made it through a minefield and came out with minimal damage. I smiled up at him as he helped me into my suit jacket, still sore, but not too bad to function.

"You're still ridiculous," I muttered into his mouth as he kissed me before pulling on his own jacket. "And I don't think I could love you more." I offered as he pulled away to stare into my eyes.

"That a challenge, Ronnie?" His dimples were peeking at me, and I shook my head. "Gonna have to see about that." I bit my lip and let him lead me to his car. It was lower to the ground and made it easier to get in and out of for my current predicament. "Ready?" I nodded and once we were buckled in we went back to the office to get back to work and to move forward on our goal. With a new added focus on just how to bring Homelander right down to his fucking knees.