Sitting across from Stan Edgar, Victoria was doing her best not to look too apprehensive. She had left Evelyn in her pram to the side of her, keeping a hand on the handle bar and rocking the pram back and forth softly. Edgar sat down after pouring himself a scotch. He had offered Victoria, but she figured she was better off not drinking for their meeting. Undoing his suit jacket's button, he slumped into his seat and looked across to the woman who was still dressed in her ball gown from the event, hair having fallen out of her bun and her dress looking crumpled.
"You know as well as I do that Homelander has been on the edge for quite some time," Edgar began, Victoria remaining silent and letting him do the talking for as long as he needed to. "Tonight, he pushed things too far. His little outburst has already cost the company. Share prices have tumbled. He has lost some of his core demographic. Don't get me wrong, some people seemed to love what he said…but his popularity is not the cause for concern right now."
"And what is?" Victoria asked, Evelyn beginning to stir. She stood up and reached down for her, holding her to her chest and patting her back. Settling back in the chair, she sensed Edgar watching her daughter.
"I thought that once your daughter was born he might calm down. He had everything he finally wanted."
"Just because he has a family doesn't mean he's happy…neither of us are happy in this marriage," she said to Stan. "And I know that you gave him something to induce memory loss. Did you really think that I wouldn't find out or that he would just try and use it when we were going to events?"
"More fool me, I suspect," he said, not bothering to try and deny it. "I figured it might keep him on side if his wife was more amenable to his every whim. However, I see now that is not the way to keep him in control. Any semblance of influence you had over him is gone…just as mine is dwindling."
"Then what do you suggest?" Victoria questioned.
"He needs to be kept in check and that is why I know what needs to be done," Edgar said. "He needs some humility put into him. He needs to realise that his actions have consequences."
Victoria shook her head firmly. "And I have no idea what it is you are thinking of proposing, but the fact is that he's my husband and he's…I don't want to be involved in this."
"Oh, but you are involved in this," Edgar said. "Am I to believe that you want to stay with him? I can offer you a way out…a temporary respite."
Victoria clung tightly onto Evelyn. "A temporary respite? So what? You take us away until he conforms to what you want him to do? And then we go back to him. I'm not being used a pawn in this game and neither is my daughter."
"Who is to say that we might not be able to come a permanent arrangement?" he wondered from her and Victoria scoffed.
"Because you know who he is," she said to him.
"He's testing boundaries and I need to discipline him like a child needs to be disciplined," Edgar said. "He might bark, but he won't bite. He is still afraid of me even if my influence is dwindling. I just need to remind him who is in charge."
"It's never going to work," Victoria said with a shake of her head. "And how could it possibly become a permanent arrangement?"
"Becca lived with Ryan for quite some time without him knowing."
"I don't want to live like that."
"Even if it allowed you daughter to grow up in peace?"
"We both know it won't. Besides, the difference is that he knows we exist. He never knew about Ryan and when he found out it took him about two days to find him. You know that there's no getting away from him and I'm not going to be used against him."
"So you're happy just staying as you are?"
"Happy?" she asked with a roll of her eyes. "I haven't been happy in ages. I know that Homelander might be pushing things right now, but I don't have the faith in him not to destroy everything in sight if we go missing. So, you can keep your offer."
Victoria placed Evelyn back into her pram, gently laying her down in it and taking the handles. Edgar stood up, holding his glass in his fingers. "I can be on your side if you want me to be on your side," he said and Victoria's lips arched into a smug smile. She cocked her head to the side and studied him.
"I don't trust anyone, Mr Edgar," she said. "But I'm not stupid enough to turn against my husband and join you."
She walked out of the office having said all that she needed to say.
…
Victoria had hardly slept the night before. She'd changed out of her gown, leaving it on the floor and slipping into her pyjamas. She woke up from a fitful nap at around eight in the morning and showered after sorting Evelyn out, feeding her and changing her. She finished getting ready at about ten, blow drying her hair and tying it into a ponytail. She tugged on the sleeves of her plain white shirt that she'd tucked into her denim skirt with her tights underneath. Carrying Evelyn back downstairs, she rolled her eyes at what she saw.
"John, what are you doing?" she asked him.
He was laid out on the sofa, completely and utterly naked. The TV was playing his speech from the night before. He had a foot on the coffee table, his other leg stretched in front of him. Victoria tried not to take too much notice of his bare skin, remembering how many times she'd seen it before in different circumstances. She laid Evelyn down in her basket that she kept by her desk and bookshelves. Dropping her hands to her hips, she went to stand in front of the television screen. Homelander's gaze moved over to his wife then as she arched an expectant brow at him.
"I'm staying here for the day," he said, answering her question.
"You don't need to stay here. You need to try and sort this out."
He scoffed, hand moving to the remote and pausing it on the screenshot of him speaking to Victoria before he took to the floor. "What's the point? I already know that Edgar's going to lecture me. He can save it. I have no interest in listening to him."
Victoria wondered if she should tell him what had happened the night before with Edgar. She knew that his reaction wouldn't exactly be pretty. She had no idea what he might do. Edgar had faith that Homelander wouldn't hurt him, but Victoria wasn't entirely certain. She wasn't too sure about anything anymore. She kept it to herself, figuring that it was for the best if he didn't know. She folded her arms over her chest and remained stood in front of the screen.
"So what? You're just going to lay around here naked all day?"
"Sounds like as good a plan as any," he retorted.
"You don't do self-pity," she said to him with a shake of her head.
"But it's not as if I can go about my normal business? Have you seen the news? I'm being slaughtered out there," he said to her and she had to confess that she wasn't entirely surprised by that. Why would he not be being slaughtered? What he'd said was horrendous. "And you're not exactly receiving favourable coverage. You did take my hand after all."
"I don't seem to remember having much choice," she replied to him and he just shrugged.
"You're my wife. You're supposed to stand by my side."
"And I did," Victoria said. "Even though I don't agree with anything that you said and at one time I never thought that you'd have said those things."
"We're being honest with each other now, sweetheart," he said to her.
Victoria exhaled sharply at him before she heard heels hitting the floor. Turning around, she heard Ashley shouting, voice wild and almost sounding excited. She came into the penthouse, tablet in her hand and her other arm flailing out to the side. Victoria looked to her while Homelander remained on the sofa, not bothered by his nakedness at all.
"You're up! You're up!" she shouted, coming to a skidding halt as she entered the living room and saw Homelander on the sofa. Her eyes shot over to him and at one stage Victoria would have been jealous at the idea of anyone else seeing him, but she guessed Ashley was already scarred. Sighing, Victoria ran a hand over her forehead and moved to the sofa.
"No, I'm not," Homelander said as his wife grabbed a cushion and tossed it at him.
"Oh, sorry," Ashley said.
Homelander looked to the cushion on his lap, leaving it there while Victoria spoke.
"Do you want to come back in a few minutes, Ashley?"
"Yeah, good idea," Ashley agreed with a breathless gasp. "I'm gonna come back later."
"Wait," Homelander drawled out to her, eyes flickering to the back of the Vought employee, shifting over her silver blazer. "What do you mean I'm up?" he asked her.
She turned around then, seemingly unable to stop herself. Homelander sat up as she spoke, pointing in her direction.
"Twenty-one points with your base," Ashley said to him, hands gripping the tablet. She was clearly trying to look just at Homelander's face and nowhere else. He stood up, the cushion falling to the floor and Victoria picked it up again, tossing it onto the sofa and then moving around the coffee table. Homelander moved towards Ashley, face unreadable.
"What did you just say to me?" he asked her.
"John, put some clothes on," Victoria exclaimed.
"It's alright," Ashley said to her, looking her in the eye and Victoria noted her cheeks reddening. It was anything but fine, but it wasn't as if either of them were budging. Ashley was clearly too excited about this news. "You're up twenty-one points. They loved your speech. A massive 44 percent uptick with white males in the rust belt."
Homelander's hands clasped together like an excited child before he fist pumped the air. Victoria stood in front of him as his face grew with excitement. Victoria felt a sense of dread in the pit of her stomach. This was not what she had wanted to hear. This just didn't feel like good news at all to her. All it was going to do was embolden him and that was the last thing that anybody needed.
"Yes…fuck yes," he exclaimed.
"They're saying you're confident and unapologetic," Ashley continued and Homelander nodded enthusiastically. "And that you're not afraid to…" she trailed off and her eyes looked downwards, growing wider. It was hard not to miss it. Victoria glanced down and almost blushed, feeling embarrassed by the entire situation. Striding over to the sofa, she picked a cushion up again and stormed over to him.
"Keep going, Ashley, don't stop," Homelander demanded from her.
"Sir…I…" she stammered.
"Just stand still," Victoria demanded from her husband, shoving the cushion against his stomach and holding it there.
"That's got nothing to do with you," Homelander promised Ashley. "Just keep going. Not afraid to what?"
"Not afraid to be yourself," she finished off.
He looked confused then, glancing upwards, face contorting. "They want me to be myself?" he asked and Victoria realised that was the worst thing Ashley could have told him. She watched as he moved away then, turning his back to then and tossing the cushion back to the sofa. Victoria remained in between the two of them, shaking her head.
"Surely he dropped points in other areas?" Victoria asked. She couldn't believe that there had only just been positives to have come out of what had happened.
Homelander looked to her, smirk dropping from his face for a moment. "Thanks for the confidence boost, sweetheart," he said, tone sarcastic and dry.
"Well, you did drop points with urban area adults and eighteen to thirty-four, but that's not bad because ultimately everybody loves you and Starlight together as a team…and Victoria as well. Together, you all have a rating of ninety-eight percent and no one has ever been that high."
Victoria bit down on her tongue, not wanting to get involved in this conversation. Homelander seemed beyond thrilled with the news, but she wasn't entirely certain that he had any right to be. Ashley took a moment to compose herself before she looked back to Homelander once more.
"You're expected at the set of American Hero in the next hour. Do I need to tell them that you need more time to get ready?" she questioned him.
"No, not at all," he replied and the bounce to his step was back. Victoria folded her arms over her chest, crumpling her white shirt. Crossing one leg over the other, she tilted her head to the side.
"So you're going out today?"
"Looks like it," Homelander said.
"I'll leave you two to it," Ashley said, ducking out of the room quietly and without any comment on the day to come. Once she was certain that she was gone, Victoria moved over to the crib and picked Evelyn back up, holding her tenderly and patting her on the back.
Homelander dropped his hands to his hips and watched his wife. His brow furrowed. "Were you intending on taking her out today?"
"No, I was intending on going to see Billy and I know you don't want her anywhere near him," Victoria said. "I'll leave her with Natalie in the nursery for an hour or so if you're going out of town to set."
"Or you could come with me?" Homelander suggested.
Victoria shook her head, knowing that Alex would be there. The last thing she needed was to be around Alex when Homelander was the way that he was. She walked over to the pram, bouncing Evelyn before settling her down into the bed of it.
"I don't think that's a good idea," she responded honestly. "I don't want to go and be in between you and Alex after what happened last night. Besides, I don't entirely want to be near you after everything that happened yesterday."
Homelander frowned, his face scrunching up in confusion. "What is that supposed to mean?" he questioned from her.
"You really need me to say it?" she demanded from him. "You remember what happened in the dressing room yesterday, right? What you basically made me do?"
He rolled his eyes at her, tiring of her attitude already. She continued glaring at him and he knew that he just had to endure her temper tantrums for a while longer. He would take care of her brother and everyone else who threatened them. He'd wipe her memories and she would be back to the perfect wife he had always known she could be.
"I didn't make you do anything," he retorted.
She scoffed and knew there was no point in talking to him about it. He was hardly going to relent. He was just going to remain stubborn because he was nothing but a narcissist and she saw that now. She just couldn't believe that it had taken her so long.
"You didn't entirely leave me much choice," she retorted, "not unless I wanted to give up my daughter who you seem to use as a pawn when you begged me you wouldn't."
"I won't so long as you do as I say. That was always the deal," he responded and Victoria slipped into her ankle boots that were by the door. She grabbed her mac from the coatrack and shrugged into it as well as grabbing her bag. "You still know that we're good together and belong together. You'll see that again in time."
"If you say so," was all she offered him before she took hold of the pram. "I'll see you tonight."
He didn't bother to stop her. He watched her head to the elevator and rolled his eyes behind her back. She was exhausting him but she didn't need to worry about that. He scanned her, eyes tinting red with anger at what she had just said. And then he saw it. It couldn't be, could it? But he kept watching her and knew it was. It had happened. He smiled, feeling joyous and knowing that things would be fine. She would be his again. He worried about what he know for her and devised a plan. He just needed to bide his time to implement it.
…
Heading to the office where Billy worked, Victoria was certain that she was in for a tough time from her brother. He had to have seen Homelander's speech the night before. He would just tell her that he was right and that he knew all along that he was going to snap soon enough. A part of Victoria almost felt like it was her fault. Maybe if she had been more accommodating then he wouldn't have done it. Maybe if she had just played her part better then she could have stopped the night before. But there was only so much she could take knowing what she knew about her the man she was married to.
Taking the elevator up the floors, she came to the office. The door was closed, the frosted glass muffling the noise of people from behind it. She knocked once and then pushed it open, stepping in and looking around. It was better furnished than she had ever imagined that it could be considering Billy was in charge. There was a small kitchen, old desks and chairs scattered around alongside an old battered, black leather sofa. It was a historic building, the ceilings high and intricately decorated with cornices.
"Hi," Victoria said, four sets of eyes turning to her as she entered the room.
She knew her brother was working with Frenchie and Kimiko still, but she didn't think that M.M. was with them. She walked into the room, arms folded over her chest and crumpling the mac she had tied around her body.
"Victoria," M.M. spoke and Billy's eyes narrowed at her.
"You alright? Has he hurt you?" he asked, voice growing with concern at her turning up unannounced.
"No, he hasn't hurt me," she assured him with a shake of her head and she closed the door behind her. Moving further into the room, her heels clicked on the floor as she stepped towards her brother. "And yeah, I'm okay…I mean…as okay as possible."
"We saw his speech last night," Frenchie piped up and whistled lowly.
"Who hasn't seen that speech?" M.M. questioned. "Billy wanted to go straight to the Tower and get you."
"Quite the protective big brother," Frenchie added on.
"Alright, alright, chill the fuck out," Billy demanded from them. "I messaged her and she said she was fine and would talk tomorrow. I didn't expect you to come here."
"I needed to get away from him and he's out of the City today at American Hero filming," Victoria said to them. "But he's…if you all saw what happened last night then you know that we're running out of time, right? He's seriously losing the plot and, even worse, he was just told that he's actually become more popular with some audiences. It's spurred him on…thinking that people want to see the real him. I don't know if I have any influence over him anymore and that…I don't know if I can do anything."
"You won't have to do anything for much longer if everything goes to plan," Frenchie was the one who spoke, exchanging a knowing glance with Kimiko.
"That's the thing, I don't even know what the plan is," Victoria said, arms folded over her chest.
"You haven't told her?" M.M. asked Billy.
"I thought that it would be for the best if she didn't know. I don't want that flying fuck to get it out of her," Billy said and Victoria rolled her eyes at that.
"I wouldn't tell him anything."
"No, but he has a hold over you so long as you're with him," Billy retorted. "He has powers and you know that he could use Evelyn against you."
Victoria knew that he was telling her the truth on that. She knew it would be the only reason why he wasn't telling her what was going on, but it didn't make it any easier. She hated being kept out of the loop. She wanted to know exactly what was happening. She wanted to know just how long she had to keep the façade going. Sighing, she looked her brother in the eye and jutted her chin out towards the small office at the back of the room.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?" she asked and Billy picked up his mug of tea before walking towards the room. Victoria followed him, letting him hold the door open for her. He closed it behind them and she sat on the edge of the desk, feet dangling off the floor. There was a laptop close on the desk and another mug, but that was it. Billy took a sip of his tea and stuffed a hand into his jean pocket.
"What is it?" he asked her.
"Yesterday…before he even gave that speech…things…things between us are the worst they've ever been," Victoria confessed to Billy and he nodded his head, gaze almost unreadable. He placed his mug down on the coffee table by the battered sofa he often slept on whenever he worked late. He watched as his sister looked down to her lap, toying with her hands and biting down on her bottom lip. "He's had suspicions that I've been involved with Alex…Supersonic," she said to her brother and Billy let out a long, deep breath.
"And have you?" he asked from her.
Looking up to him, Victoria shrugged, hoping he wasn't going to be too annoyed. "There's something there, but I've told him we can't act on it. We've both agreed that it's for the best that he keeps his distance because God only knows what Homelander might do to him if we played things dangerously."
"Vicky, have you not learned by now that supes are dangerous?" Billy asked from his sister, arms folding over his chest.
"Alex isn't like Homelander."
"No offence, but you're not exactly the best judge of character," Billy retorted with a scoff, recalling how she had defended that piece of shit when she didn't know the truth. "But I'm not here to lecture you. Fuck knows you don't take well to it."
"I'm being safe, Billy, I promise," Victoria said to him. "And no matter how many times I tell him that there's no one else…that I am doing nothing wrong…it's like he doesn't believe me…and then yesterday, we had a big argument in the dressing room and he…he said again how he didn't believe me and that if I wanted to convince him then I'd have to prove it…otherwise he would let me leave, but he would keep Evie. He didn't give me any choice and I…I did it, Billy. I proved it and all I could think of was how much I wanted to kill him…how much I wanted to get away from him because this is what he'll expect now. This is what he'll want and he'll always win so long as he can use Evelyn against me."
Billy shook his head firmly, his stomach churning and the anger inside of him almost becoming too much. Storming towards his sister, he moved his hand to her shoulder, squeezing it tightly. Looking up to him, Victoria could only peer at him for so long, worried that he might struggle to look at her. But he didn't. He watched her and he knew that it would all be worth it. Taking the Temp V was the only way he could do this. It was the only way he could keep going, no matter how terrible he felt afterwards.
"Listen to me," Billy said, voice low and gruff, "we have a plan, okay? We think we have something to stop him, but I can't tell you, Vicky. If I tell you then I can't have him hurt you…force you to tell him…I just need you to trust me, alright? I need you to believe me. I can get you away from this right now if you can't wait. I want you to let me do that."
"And we both know I'm not going to because I'm not letting him come after us and kill anyone who stands in his way," Victoria retorted. "I just need to know that there is something going on."
"There is…but in the meantime…I need you to stay from Stan Edgar."
Victoria scoffed. "That would almost be my pleasure," she said to him. "But why?"
"Victoria Neuman is like his adopted daughter…well, more like his adopted weapon," Billy said. "She was the one responsible for the head popping fiasco at Congress that day. She's in bed with Vought."
Victoria's eyes widened and Billy watched her drop down from the desk, standing up and shaking her head firmly. She couldn't quite believe what she was hearing. "You're kidding me?"
"Wish I was, but Hughie spilled. He saw her pop some guy's head. He's coming back to work with us against her."
Victoria's brows knitted together. "But that means she knows where Ryan is and if she knows then Stan knows."
"Already one step ahead of that, sis," Billy assured her, holding his hand up to stop her rambling any further. She exhaled a sharp breath, feeling slightly relieved at hearing that. She bit down on her bottom lip as he explained further. "I had the Colonel do a runner with him last night. He's going to be safe. In fact, I'm off to visit him later today. Mallory might know something about this weapon we need to kill your husband."
"And Ryan's safe with her?"
"She's the only one I think he's safe with," Billy replied. "I'll keep away from that cunt, I promise."
"Alright," Victoria said with a nod of her head, agreeing with him and trusting him. She looked to the clock on the wall and exhaled a sharp breath. "I should get going. I don't want to leave Evelyn for too long and I said I'd pop into work to finish some more paperwork."
"You're going back to work?"
"Part time," Victoria said. "Homelander compromised with me…means I get some peace from him, anyway."
Billy chuckled darkly and shook his head. "I have no idea where you get your brains from, you know?" he said to her.
"Well, they must have skipped to me from someone in the family…missed you out entirely," Victoria said, teasing him and causing his lips to arch at that. He felt her move to embrace him. He hugged her back, keeping his grip tight around her and not wanting to let go. She rested her cheek by his shoulder and closed her eyes as he ran a hand down her back. "Keep in touch, Billy, alright?"
"Keep safe, Vicky. Not long to go now, I promise."
…
Victoria hardly wanted to go to the American Hero set, but Ashley had managed to persuade her. There was going to be press there and she had said it would be good for her to be seen with Homelander after his speech. She had gone to work on her way home back to Evelyn, but had been fobbed off. Her boss had told her that the paperwork wasn't ready, but Victoria knew what was going on. Did they want the wife of Homelander working for them after what had just happened? Did they want someone like that being associated with them? She had left dejected, knowing that not getting her job back wasn't the worst thing that could happen to her.
She had gone back to Evelyn and taken her to the private garden, sitting outside and playing with her as she laughed and gargled. She had started crawling everywhere too, getting almost too good at almost escaping from Victoria's gaze. She'd been in the garden when the call had come in. She'd complained, but realised that she had no say. Homelander had requested her.
Walking on set, she pushed Evelyn ahead in her pram. She smiled and greeted people who passed her by, knowing that they were talking behind her back. Looking to the large Manor House where filming was taking place, she knew that Alex was going to be in there somewhere. She frowned when she saw a familiar face exiting the House with a red head clinging to his arm. She'd seen her before in magazines and on TV, but she recognised the man instantly. It was the Deep. She frowned. What the hell was he doing back there?
Coming to the steps of the Manor House, she thanked a cameraman who picked up the front of Evelyn's pram and helped her get it up the steps. She asked him where Homelander was before following his directions. Moving down the corridor, she saw Annie leaving one of the rooms, her face ashen and her eyes wide.
"Annie, hey," Victoria said to her, instantly knowing that something was wrong.
But Annie just shook her head at her. She held a hand up and Victoria saw the door open once more to the room she had just left. Annie quickly brushed by Victoria without a word and Homelander stepped into the corridor, gaze moving down it to Annie's retreating figure and then settling on his wife.
"Victoria, sweetheart, you came," he said, tone light and smile on his face easy.
"What's going on?" Victoria wondered, looking back and forth between him and Annie.
Homelander chuckled as Annie rounded the corner and left them alone. "Just a slight disagreement over who is joining the Seven," he said to his wife and waved a hand. "It was nothing of importance."
"She looked upset. I should go and-"
"-You should come in here because we need to talk and I haven't seen this one since this morning," Homelander retorted and he bent down to pick Evelyn up from where she was laid. She wriggled around in his arms and he held her to his chest, kissing the top of her head. Her dark hair had started to grow, covering all of her scalp in thin clumps. Her wide blue eyes looked up to him and he smiled down to her as he stepped back into the dressing room. Victoria followed him and pushed the pram into the room, closing the door behind her. She shrugged out of her coat and laid it over the handle of the pram.
"What's going on?" Victoria asked from him.
"Starlight tried to veto my decision to bring the Deep back onto the team. She tried to use the video against me, but it didn't work," Homelander said and Victoria had no idea where to begin with those two sentences.
Blinking profusely, she held a hand up, urging for him to keep quiet as he continued cooing over Evelyn who was reaching up to run her hand over his nose as he closed his eyes and played peak-a-book with her, almost like what he had just said was nothing of importance.
"Wait," she demanded from her husband, holding a hand up. "You want the Deep back on the team?"
"It makes sense to bring him back," Homelander said.
"He forced Annie to…he…after what he did to her, you want him back?"
"He apologised and polling has shown that it's a good idea."
"He fucking mouth raped her," Victoria snapped.
"Oops, mummy's mouth is running away with her," Homelander said, lifting Evelyn into the air and then back down again.
"Mummy's mouth is being practically tame compared to what I want to say to you about this," Victoria snapped back at her husband. "You cannot be serious about this…about what kind of message this sends…it's alright to force yourself onto someone because there will hardly be any repercussions in the future…just a couple of years in exile and then you're fine."
He remained silent, holding his daughter to him and focusing on her, causing Victoria's rage to bubble up inside of her.
"Then again, I forget who I'm talking to," she said and that got his attention. His smile from his face and his eyes slowly and dangerously shifted away from his daughter and to his wife. Victoria remained where she was, arms folded over her chest and her gaze narrowed on him. He could hear her heart beating in her chest. She was nervous. He could sense it. But she was angrier above everything else. He knew that from the way a red blush ran down her cheeks and up her neck.
He settled Evelyn back down into her pram, his daughter kicking and reaching for him before he gave Victoria all of his attention.
"What did you say?" he questioned, giving her chance to recant, but knowing full well that she wasn't going to.
"You heard me," she said to him. "You've gotten away with everything in your life so far so it makes sense that you think bringing the Deep back would just be fine."
"Everything I've done has been to keep this country and the people safe. People have seen that eventually. They've seen who I am and what I do and they accept me for it. They accept everything and I am free…nothing holding me back," Homelander said to her. "Tough choices have to be made, Victoria…choices that you wouldn't understand because you have a soft and gentle heart, which is what I love about you. I love it so much because I remember when it was just for me…and I am sure it will be again in time…because you will love me again just like everyone else loves me."
Victoria frowned, his words not moving her in the slightest. She shook her head slowly and dropped her hands to her hips. "The choices you make are to benefit you," she responded. "You get away with things because you can and because no one has ever made you face the consequences of your actions. You can keep trying to convince yourself that you did it for the good of the country, but I don't think raping Becca or practically blackmailing me to fuck you yesterday counts."
He moved a hand quickly then, his fingers gripping hold of her chin. His hold wasn't as tight as she thought it might have been, but it was enough for her to know she couldn't move from it. He shook his head firmly at her, growing tired with what he was hearing.
"I gave Becca a son," he snapped at her and she wanted to yell back in anger but he kept on talking. "And I give you everything. I gave you our daughter. I gave you love…security…I devote myself to you and all I want is for you to treat me like a wife should a husband. I am hardly asking too much from you. I give you space…independence…I let you go off to fucking France for months. I treat you well, but you still don't see it, do you? You don't see it at all."
"How can I when I know who you are?" she responded.
"And that's always going to be the issue, isn't it?" he replied, but he knew that he would ensure it wasn't an issue for much too longer.
Shaking his head slowly, he let go of her chin and she moved a hand along her jaw. She wriggled it from side to side for a few moments before she took a step back, arms folding over her chest slowly once more.
"Don't let the Deep join the Seven again," Victoria said, getting back on track. The alternative was them going back to the argument that they just had over and over again when it did no one any good.
"Too late," Homelander said. "The paperwork is sorted and it's happening. He's joining us for dinner tomorrow night after we've filmed the final of American Hero."
"Then why did you want me here?" Victoria questioned from him.
"I have a big surprise that I wouldn't want you to miss, sweetheart. You're going to love it," he assured her with a wink.
"What is it?"
"Oh, you'll have to see, but I think it will leave you speechless," he said to her and she arched her brow at him, face crumpling up. He moved over to Evelyn and took hold of the handle of her pram. "I'm going to take this one for a little walk. Are you going to join us?"
She nodded her head, realising she had no other option but to follow him.
…
"Are you alright?"
Victoria was on her way to set with Evelyn. Homelander had gone off to discuss something with Ashley and Annie. Victoria had gone for a walk around the house with Evelyn, holding her in her arms and walking slowly among the rooms, admiring them and the artwork inside of them. Coming to a long galley with creaking wooden floors, Victoria looked at the paintings of the previous owners that lined the walls. Evelyn cooed as her mother looked between the images and her daughter.
"You shouldn't be here."
"He's in Starlight's trailer and no one saw me come in here," Alex promised Victoria. "And if anyone asks, we just stumbled across each other."
"I don't want it getting back to him," Victoria said with a shake of her head.
"We have about three minutes so I'll be quick," Alex assured her. "I guess you've heard by now who is back on the team?"
"It's a joke," Victoria whispered, keeping her voice low.
Alex stood by her side, gazing onto the same portrait. He let his hands dangle down by his side, his fingers moving to brush against her hip and she instantly felt a shock shoot down her spine at his touch. Her breathing hitched and she turned to look up to him as he moved his hand across to the small of her back, pressing against the material of the white shirt she wore tucked into her denim skirt.
"I'm joining too," Alex said and Victoria wanted to snap at him and tell him how foolish that was, but she couldn't because he kept talking. "I'm not leaving Annie alone in this team. She's going to have someone who has her back and…if it means I can help stop him…then I'm going to…to help us."
"There's an us?"
"You told me that one day there could be. Besides, I'm taking you to a karaoke bar as soon as I can. I did promise."
"You remembered?" she asked and his lips quirked, nodding his head.
"Not likely to forget," he assured her in a soft whisper. "But I need to go. I'll see you on set with this one," he said and he moved his free hand to Evelyn, letting her wrap her finger around it as she giggled up to him and her lips arched. He ran his hand up and down Victoria's back before bending down and pecking her on the forehead. "Be careful," he urged from her.
"You too," Victoria said and she felt the chill of the air without him anywhere near her.
She watched him go before looking back to the paintings until it was time for her to go to set. Ashley found her and guided her downstairs and towards the filming area. It was lined with stone statues of previous contestants heads, a platform in the middle with the American Hero logo printed on it. A flag hung in the corner with American Hero on it and pictures of people in the Seven, two silhouettes emphasising the two new recruits who would make up the Seven. Annie was already on the stage with two of the contestants in front of her who Victoria vaguely recognised. Alex was stood to the other side.
Ashley sat down in her chair as Victoria tried to keep Evelyn quiet. She watched as Homelander came on to set, smiling widely and playing his part perfectly. He greeted his wife and daughter, kissing Victoria on the cheek before going to stage and waiting for them to start rolling. Victoria watched as Homelander placed his hands behind his back and began.
"Well, this has been quite a long road for all of you," he said, looking between the three contestants. "You showed us the best of what a hero can be."
Annie smiled and took over. "The first of the two selections and the newest member of the Seven is Supersonic."
The other two contestants clapped as Supersonic pretended to act surprised. He went on stage and Annie hugged him as Homelander shook his hand and Victoria swore she stopped breathing as she saw Homelander's sinister smile and she wondered what he was saying to Alex as the other man smiled back to him.
Once the congratulations were over, Homelander took over once more.
"Well, this is it," he said, extending his arms. "The final new member of the Seven is," he paused for dramatic effect, "Lord of the Seven seas, the Deep."
Victoria wanted to scoff as soon as Homelander stepped to the side and the Deep turned around, doing some kind of pose before jogging up to the platform and stepping up to it. Homelander's smile widened and Victoria saw Annie's turn fake in a matter of seconds. She was uncomfortable and Victoria couldn't blame her. it was insanity that the Deep was even back on the team. Homelander embraced him, welcoming him back before he clasped hands with Alex. Deep just nodded to Starlight as Homelander clapped his hands together and looked at the two remaining contestants. Evelyn kept silent in her mother's arms as Victoria bounced her gently, the two remaining contestants being dismissed.
"Well, unfortunately it won't be either of you two, but I hope you understand that you just can't put a price on experience," he said.
"Please hang up your capes and go," she urged from them.
They did as they were asked, exchanging annoyed and disappointed glances.
"Well Deep, I've got to say that I am frankly moved and inspired that Starlight here has chosen to forgive you," Homelander said, a hand going to her shoulder and the Deep's.
"I accept your apology, Deep. You deserve a second chance" Starlight said, lips tightly pursed.
"Thank you, Starlight. Looks like we've all grown," Deep said and his hands went to his hips as Homelander did the same, the younger man clearly copying his movements.
"Just to be clear, it wasn't my idea to bring you back, buster. It was all Starlight's idea," Homelander said and Annie's smile remained forced. Victoria rolled her eyes down to her daughter, jaw clenched and grip tightening slightly on her as she kept her chin by her head. "But things have changed dramatically over the last year or so. Starlight is in a committed relationship…you're married, Deep…two completely changed people and…well…I'm hoping you both don't mind me doing this, but I've got something very important to announce and I can't think of a better time than this as we all celebrate. Victoria, darling, will you come up here?"
Victoria was hardly listening to him as he delivered his speech. She remained on the spot, rocking her daughter in her arms before she heard her name. All eyes turned to her and she looked up, looking like a rabbit in the headlights. Ashley jumped down from her chair, holding her arms out expectantly for her to pass Evelyn to her. She looked to her husband as he held his hand out to her, standing on the edge of the platform.
"Dr Anderton," Ashley said with a nod down to Evelyn.
Victoria felt her daughter being prised from her arms and Ashley nudging her towards the platform. She moved towards him, her gaze questioning and she felt her stomach begin to churn. She let him take her hand and she stepped onto the platform, the lights causing her to sweat as she stood by his side, his arm around her waist as the cameras panned onto the five of them on the platform.
"I hope you don't mind, sweetheart, but I just don't want to keep it a secret a minute longer," Homelander said to her and Victoria's brows furrowed, her face clearly confused. She couldn't even fake a smile for the camera and she knew that production would be annoyed. Homelander moved a finger to her chin, tilting her gaze up to his. His smile remained firm on his face. "I think people should know, don't you?"
"I…I don't know…" she stammered and he chuckled.
Homelander looked around at Alex, Annie and Deep. "She's nervous," he explained. "You see, the thing is…Victoria and I…we're expecting another child."
Victoria felt as though everything around her was collapsing as soon as those words left his mouth. He kept his gaze even and his smile remained on his face, his arm feeling too constricting around her waist. She wanted to push him off of her and run away. She wanted to flee, but she couldn't as people began gasping and playing for the cameras.
"Victoria here is pregnant," Homelander confirmed and the director yelled cut.
Everyone started shouting in excitement as Homelander joined them, keeping his arm around Victoria as she looked around. Alex's face was scrunched up with confusion and almost something like defeat. Annie was shaking her head firmly, refusing to believe it was true.
"It plays so well, right? Announcing it like this? It's going to be a boost in the viewing figures…go viral…be everything we need it to be," Homelander continued speaking.
"Victoria," Annie whispered her name and she looked to her. Annie wanted to ask her if she knew. She wanted to ask if it was true. But from the look on Victoria's face, Annie knew that she had no idea. She was as pale as a ghost, her eyes wide and full of fear.
"Sweetheart, we need to roll again. Your reaction…just give a bit more, okay?" Homelander said.
"I need a word," Victoria managed to breathe out to him.
He sighed but nodded his head. Holding a hand up, he looked to the crew. "Give us a minute, guys."
He took Victoria's hand and led her off of the platform and towards the corner where Deep had come from. Victoria tugged her hand from his and shook her head firmly.
"What the fuck was that?" she seethed, not caring that anyone could hear her. "You can't make shit up like that…I'm not pregnant…I'd know if I was pregnant…"
Homelander chuckled at hearing her say that. He shook his head. "You're only a few weeks gone, but believe me, you are pregnant, Victoria," he assured her. "I scanned you this morning and I saw it. I saw our baby inside of you. I give it a week tops before the morning sickness kicks in and it's not like you've had regular periods since you gave birth to Evie, is it?"
"But it's not as if we've been sleeping together either," she snarled at him and he looked at her with his head tilted and his eyes questioning. He said nothing and it slowly sunk in. He had been slipping her a drug. It must have been one of the nights when he had given it to her. Victoria shook her head, turning on her heel and moving her hands to cover her mouth. She thought she might be sick. She was pregnant. She was expecting another baby.
"And this is how you decided to tell me?" Victoria said in a soft whisper and looked back to him. He wanted to roll his eyes at the notion she had any idea of being hurt. "You could have told me as soon as you knew."
"I only scanned you a few hours ago and it wasn't as if you wanted to talk this morning."
"And you thought I'd rather you announce it like this?" she questioned.
"This will be good for us."
"For us or you?"
"We're a team, remember?" he retorted. "You can get your head around this when we get home, but right now, they need another take."
"And if I say no?" she questioned from him.
"You think that's an option?" he retorted and she wondered just what he might do. But looking at him, she realised she didn't want to find out. He just held his hand out, knowing that she would take it. Her palm slipped into his and he smiled knowingly, squeezing her hand. "That's my girl."
He led her back to the platform where the three other supes were stood and she looked to Alex, hoping that her gaze told him everything she wanted to say. She wanted him to know that she was sorry. She wanted him to know that she was devastated. This wasn't what she wanted. She couldn't have another baby. She'd barely survived her first pregnancy.
As if reading her mind, Homelander spoke in a soft tone as the cameras reset. "I have the best doctors on hand. It won't be like last time, I promise you."
"And action!"
"I know that we should maybe wait a bit longer, but we just won't want to keep it a secret. We're both so excited," Homelander began, his voice animated and Victoria forced her lips to arch. Looking down to her, Homelander nodded knowingly, like it was a secret between them. "What do you say, darling?"
"You do the honours," Victoria managed to spit out.
"Well, if you insist," Homelander said and looked back up. "Victoria and I are expecting another child…a baby sister or brother for our darling daughter, Evelyn. We're both thrilled and just excited to start another journey together and grow our family."
He looked down to his wife, hand moving to rest against her stomach and Victoria just nodded, smile remaining on her face as he bent down and kissed her tenderly, the director yelling cut and Ashley shrieking in excitement as the crew all came over and congratulated them.
"Can I take Evie?" Victoria said to Ashley and she held her arms out, the Vought executive depositing her daughter back into her arms. "I need some air."
"Don't wander too far in case we need to reshoot. Homelander, do you want to check out the cut?" Ashley asked and he agreed, letting Victoria skulk off outside.
She rushed away, holding onto Evelyn as her daughter stirred in her arms. She ran down the stairs, hearing Annie chase after her. She came outside, her steps crunching on the gravel as she took in deep breaths, the air cold in the early evening.
"Vicky…Vicky…" Annie called after her and she finally found her by the wall at the front of the building. Moving to her, Annie said nothing as Victoria thrust Evelyn into her arms and she doubled over, emptying the contents of her stomach onto the floor. She remained crouched there as Alex came outside. He looked from left to right before seeing them and moving towards them, hands clenched into fists.
Annie bounced Evelyn in her arms gently and Alex bent down next to Victoria, pulling her hair back as she continued to be sick. She finally finished and stood up, spitting off to the side as Alex let go of her curly, black hair, a hand patting her back.
"You didn't know, did you?" Annie checked with her.
"I had no idea," Victoria said with a firm shake of her head, stomach still churning. "I…I started taking the pill when I knew he had started drugging me, but before then…when I didn't know…I wouldn't remember and he…he knew that. He must have known."
"He's a fucking bastard," Alex hissed.
"Alex," Annie warned him.
"What? He shouldn't be able to get away with this."
"But he can," Victoria said and looked up to him and then to Annie. "I can't do this again. I can't…"
"We will find a way out," Annie promised her. "We will do something to stop this, I promise you. We're not going anywhere."
"Ah, look at you three in cahoots."
Homelander stepped outside, the smile still on his face as he ambled over to them. He looked down to the ground, seeing that Victoria had been sick and smelling it. He wrinkled his nose as Alex moved his hand from Victoria's back and Annie continued holding Evelyn to her.
"They were worried about me," Victoria said to him.
"They always are," Homelander drawled. "Luckily for you, I'm not too interested in them tonight. We need to go home and talk about how things are going to work now that we're expecting another baby."
"Was that really the best way to go about things?" Annie dared to ask from him, feeling bolder with each passing moment. "Didn't she deserve to find out in private?"
"You think I need a lecture from you about my wife? Haven't you already coming in between us enough and fucked things up?" Homelander dared to ask from her, tone turning dark.
Before Victoria could jump in, Alex was there. "She's just worried about her friend, sir," he said, voice forced as he tried not say what he really thought. "It's a pretty big thing to find out in the middle of people."
"And you think I need your input?" Homelander demanded from him. "You see, while you can only dream of fucking my wife, I actually do…hence why she's carrying my child…so why don't you back the fuck away before I decide to kick you off the team."
"John, enough," Victoria snapped at him then.
His glare turned to her and he wanted to snap about her defending Alex, but he didn't. He took a moment to compose himself before he shook his head and chuckled. "I'm just reiterating a point, sweetheart," he assured her. "Now, come on. We need to go home."
"Alright," Victoria said and she took Evelyn from Annie, letting Homelander rest a hand on the small of her back and lead her away from the two of her friends. Once they had Evelyn in a carseat in one of the Vought cars, her pram in the trunk, Victoria climbed into the backseat and Homelander sat next to her.
"Put the screen up," he barked at the driver.
Victoria sat in the middle seat, her body pressed to his as she looked to her daughter to the right. Homelander moved a hand to Victoria's thigh, squeezing it in his grip. "I know you're scared after what happened with Evelyn," he assured her and she ground her teeth together. "But you're going to be fine. This time there will be no stress. You're going to be on rest the entire time so that means no more going to work…no more visiting your brother or secret meetings with Annie…"
"You can't control me," Victoria said.
"You're carrying my child, Victoria," Homelander said to her. "You'll find that I can…so that means no more secret talks with Supersonic either…acting like a harlot."
"I didn't-"
"-Do you think I didn't see you two in the gallery earlier?" Homelander asked from her. "You see, I might have told you at home…but then I thought…the look on his face would be worth it when he found out…knowing that you'll never be his."
Victoria closed her eyes tightly. "You're deranged."
"Or madly in love with a woman who can't stand me?" he retorted. "But we're going to be a family, Victoria. We're going to be together and you will be happy."
He lifted his hand up and cupped her cheek, bending down to kiss her on the top of her head. She closed her eyes as his lips lingered in her locks and her nose pressed to his neck. Bowing her head forwards, she let her forehead rest by his shoulder as he moved a hand to the back of her head. His lips arched and he knew that this was going to be fine. He would make sure of it.
...
A/N: I know it's been a while, but things have been busy over Christmas and New Year and then back to work. Hope you all had a lovely holiday! So...that was a turnaround! More of season 3 coming up and as always I would love to know what you think might happen!