Sitting on the sofa in Annie's apartment, Victoria bounced Evelyn in her lap. Homelander had flown off somewhere. She'd looked out the window and see him in the sky. She relaxed slightly, grateful that he couldn't listen into their conversation. Annie was sat next to her while Alex took the chair across from them. Victoria kept her hold on Evelyn firm, trying not to let her slip from her grasp as she wriggled around, clearly wanting to go down and crawl around.

"I told him everything about Victoria Neuman," Victoria confessed to the two of them. She looked between their inquisitive gazes and wondered what they were going to say. "I told him how she was the one who was responsible for the attacks at Congress…that she's Stan's adopted daughter. I assume you both know that anyway considering it was Hughie who told Billy."

"I told Alex," Annie confirmed with a nod of her head. "But why would you tell Homelander that?"

"Yeah, if Neuman was going after him then that could be a good thing, right? It could help." Alex added on, arching his brow and leaning forwards, hands clasping together. Victoria adjusted Evelyn in her grip, her daughter tugging on her jumper and moving against her front.

"Logically, yes, that should happen," Victoria agreed with them. "But we both know that wouldn't happen. Homelander is on the edge…we've all seen it. We saw how he behaved at the telecast and then last night he practically force fed an octopus to the Deep as a sign of his dominance."

Annie's face scrunched up and she wrinkled her nose. Alex cocked his head. Both of them shot her inquisitve looks. Victoria shook her head slowly.

"Don't ask," she urged from them. "The fact is that he's so close to becoming completely unhinged and if Edgar did go against him then it might tip him over the edge. What do you think he would do? He's already threatened to burn the entire country to the ground if that video is released. If Edgar has someone scold him on television like some toddler then he's going to lash out."

"And you think that this is the better alternative?" Annie asked from her. "If he gets rid of Edgar then who is going to stop him?"

"I don't know," Victoria said with a shake of her head. "What I do know is that he'd bulldoze Edgar to stay where he is and this way…I cover my own back too," she said and Alex and Annie exchanged anxious looks between each other. Victoria knew it sounded selfish. She was throwing Edgar under the bus, but she had to do what she had to do to keep her and Evelyn safe. "I've told him this and he trusts me. If I am on his side then I have his trust. I need that right now. I need it because I know what he could do if he finds out the truth…he could take Evelyn away from me…and now I have another baby to think about."

"And that's it?" Annie asked her and Victoria looked to her with wide eyes, questioning what that meant. Annie noted her stare and quickly continued justifying herself with her question. "It's just that I know things between you two are complicated…I mean…there was Chicago…and you always said you struggled to reconcile Homelander with the man you fell in love with."

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean anything. You think I told him because…what…I still have feelings for him?" Victoria questioned from her and Annie could see the flush on her cheeks. Alex picked up on it too and he wondered if maybe there was some truth to that. He wondered if there were still some feelings there.

"I'm just saying that I wouldn't blame you if that was why you did it."

"I told you why I did it, Annie," Victoria said to her, voice firm and Evelyn stopped moving about in her lap, almost like she was picking up on her mother's tenseness. "I did it because I need to stay on his side until Billy finds whatever can stop him. If that means going against Edgar…giving Homelander what he wants…then I have to do it. I have to do it because they'd never look out for me. When has Edgar ever cared about me, for fucks sake?"

"Okay," Annie said, hoping that would calm her. She nodded her head and moved a hand to sit on top of her friend's. "It's alright, I get it. I get why you told him. I just think that we need to be prepared for the consequences. You might be okay with him, but if he takes control of the company then nothing stands in his way…we need to be prepared for that."

"What do you think he'll do?" Alex piped up.

"I don't know," Annie responded and then looked at Victoria. "Do you?"

"Homelander wants to be loved more than anything. He kills to get his own way, but so long as he gets what he wants…people loving him…then he might be under control to an extent until we get this plan formulated. Besides, if I can give him what he wants…keep him happy…then maybe I can have some influence again. I lost it before, but I wasn't giving him the attention he longed for. If I do that then we might be able to bide our time until Billy comes up with this weapon."

"And if Homelander finds out about that? What do you think he'll do if to you if he finds out you know about the plan to take him down?"

"What would he do to you?" Victoria asked, looking to Annie. "Or you?" she asked, glancing at Alex. "Or Maeve…my brother…Hughie…if this doesn't work then I don't know what he'll do, but this is our only chance."

"I know what he'd do to us," Annie said. She knew full well that he would kill them. "But you're different, Victoria. You're different and that scares me."

"I'll be fine," Victoria promised her. "This is our shot to stop him and we have to take it. We can't keep living like this, none of us can keep living like this."

"If this doesn't work then you know that you have to get away from here, right?" Alex asked Victoria. "You have to take Evelyn and you have to run because staying with him will no longer be safe. We would all have to run and turn against him if we have any chance of surviving this."

"We will cross that bridge when we come to it," Victoria said to the pair of them. "But right now we have to take each day as it comes and play this game carefully. If that means I have to side with Homelander then so be it. I can do that. I can do whatever it takes to keep him on my side until the final minute."

Standing up, Victoria kept hold of Evelyn to her chest. She tilted her head back, feeling a headache coming. She closed her eyes and exhaled a low and sharp breath. "I should get Evelyn upstairs. She needs a nap and I need to think things through."

Alex stood up and Annie did the same. They said goodbye and promised to stay in touch, each one of them knowing that time was definitely running out.

…

Victoria had watched the news with interest. Homelander hadn't come back to the penthouse, but she knew that things were happening. She had put Evelyn down for her nap when she had turned the news on and watched Victoria Neuman explain that Homelander had come forward and acted as a whistle blower on corruption in Vought. She had watched with interest as Neuman said that Edgar would be investigated to the full extent. How had Homelander gotten her to turn on her own father? She bit down on her bottom lip and collapsed back onto the sofa.

Leaning back, she moved her hands to cup her cheeks. She heard the news anchor continue talking, explaining how shocking this revelation was. Victoria knew that he had to have offered Neuman something. Did he blackmail her? Did he offer her something she wanted? She had no idea. She waited patiently, sitting in the same spot on the brown leather sofa for Homelander to come back. It was almost seven in the evening when he walked in, cape flowing behind him and smile on his face. Peeling his gloves from his fingers, he tossed them down onto the sofa.

"Where have you been?" Victoria asked, turning the television off and tossing the remote to the side. She sat up straight, hands in her lap. Homelander sauntered towards her and sank back onto the sofa next to her, arms stretching over the back of it.

"Dealing with our little problem," he said to her.

"I can see that from the news, but what did you do? How did you get her to drop the investigation?"

"I gave her what she wanted," Homelander replied. "I gave her something she needed in exchange for what I needed. I gave her the real intel on Edgar…how he just used her as a weapon…not a true daughter…and then I gave her enough V for her to turn her own daughter."

"Why does she want that?"

"No idea, maybe to protect her? Turns out that little Zoe is her one weakness," Homelander said. "But I get it, I do. I'm a parent. I would do anything for Evelyn and for this one growing inside of you here," he moved his hand to her stomach, letting it sit there for a few seconds before trailing his finger up her chest, tilting her chin to the side so that she was looking at him. "And you made it all possible. You protected me, Victoria. You did that. You…my beautiful…smart…wife," he whispered and he moved so that his forehead was brushing hers, hand stroking her cheek softly. "You chose me."

"You're my husband. You're Evelyn's father. We promised to get on. We promised to work together and that's what this means," she said in a gentle voice, hoping he couldn't sense her lying to him. The last thing she needed was him getting suspicious.

"I'm just pleased you did pick me," Homelander said to her and he kissed her on the cheek. He let his lips linger there and Victoria knew what was coming. She closed her eyes and steeled herself, feeling his warm breath move closer to her lips until he kissed her softly. She let him take the lead, his lips moving over hers gently, his fingers tucking her hair behind her ear and toying with the ends of it. Victoria pulled back after a moment, not wanting him to get too carried away.

His blue steely gaze fell onto her as she opened her eyes, trying to look demure as her teeth chewed on her bottom lip. His lips arched into a smile and he let out a soft breath of a laugh. Victoria also forced her own lips to tug upwards slightly, trying to act as if what had just happened didn't make her stomach churn.

"I knew you'd see sense eventually," he told her and Victoria shrugged her shoulders.

"You know this doesn't mean we're doing anything else, right?" she checked with him.

"Of course not," he said and Victoria wondered just how much time that would buy her. "I'd never force you to do anything you don't want to, but this is a start, Vicky. This is a start and you get it. You want to try and I see that…I see that you want to try because you do still love me."

"I've always loved you, John," Victoria said, giving him what he wanted. "We're just two very different people."

"But that doesn't mean we can't make it work," Homelander said to her. "There's going to be no more Edgar getting in between us. There's going to be nothing but us and then everything will be as it should be."

He kissed her once more on the lips, the motion soft and quick before he pulled back from her and moved to his feet. The smile on his face was wider than she had seen it in a long time and the worst part was that it looked so genuine. Victoria also stood up, folding her arms over her chest slowly as Homelander moved into the kitchen and she followed him. "I thought that we could order in tonight," he called back to her. "I assume Evelyn's already asleep for the night?"

"I put her down before you came in," Victoria said, standing in the doorway to the kitchen. "It was getting late. I'd have kept her up for you, but you know we have to stick to a schedule."

"I'll go and see her in a bit," Homelander said. "Don't worry, I won't wake her. I just want to see her…feels like we've hardly spent anytime together."

"Things have been hectic," Victoria said, giving him an excuse.

"They're likely to become even more hectic now," Homelander said. "With Edgar gone then Vought needs me in charge which means it's going to take up a lot of my time, but don't worry, once things have calmed down then I'll be able to spend much more time with you. We'll be fine and I'll make sure we always will be."

"I don't doubt it," Victoria said, forcing herself to smile. "Now, what was this you mentioned about ordering in?"

"You pick," Homelander said. "Fine dining…pizza…I don't mind. Figured we could eat and just watch a movie. It's been a long time since we've done that."

"If you want," Victoria said, giving in easily. A part of her found it normal. She found it exactly like it should be. Friday nights would always end with her at his apartment, ordering in with a bottle of wine. "I'll go and check on Evie and just get changed."

"You do that and then order. I just need to go downstairs and finish something off," Homelander said and he quickly took a gulp of milk straight from the carton. He put it back into the fridge before moving to the door where Victoria stood, his hand dropping to her hip. "I'm glad we can do this, sweetheart."

"Me too," Victoria said, lips arching.

"Hmm," he hummed gently and lowered his head once more, kissing her again. "I'll be back soon," he promised her, patting her hip once and leaving her in the penthouse.

He took the elevator down to the ninety-ninth floor, hands behind his back and a sense of elation in his chest. Everything was just as it should be. Things were going to be fine and he was going to make sure of it. Moving to the meeting room, he listened out for Edgar's heartbeat. He almost found it amazing. His entire life was imploding around him and he was as calm as he usually was. He chuckled at the thought.

Edgar was in the meeting room, a glass of scotch in his hands and gaze set out of the window. He must have heard him approach as he was the one who spoke first without turning around.

"It really is a good view up here," he stated, almost wistfully.

"You should see it from space," Homelander said to him and moved further into the room. "It really is unbelievable. Eighty over sixty. Your entire life is imploding and it's as if you're reading fucking John Grisham."

Standing a few metres from him, Homelander looked Edgar up and down, the smile still wide on his face. He couldn't quite believe his luck if he had to be honest. Everything had come up rosy for him and he was feeling on top of the world. He remained where he was, Stan's face focused on looking out of the window instead of at Homelander.

"I heard about your temporary leave of absence by the way," Homelander continued. "Those things do have a nasty habit of becoming permanent though, don't they?"

But Edgar still didn't rise to the bait. He said nothing and Homelander looked between him and the skyline of New York.

"Don't blame Vicky-" Homelander began but Stan cut him off.

"-I don't. If there's one thing I taught her it was to play all sides. She's more like me than I ever imagined…and your wife…she seems to be doing quite the solid job of doing that too. It was her who told you about Vicky, wasn't it? She told me that you'd mentioned it to her. What did you give Vicky to turn against me? And what did you give your wife to make her tell you the secret?"

"A little respect, Stan, something you should have given me."

And they were back to Homelander. Edgar turned to face them, looking nonplussed by the entire situation. "What good would that do?" he wondered from the supe. "Where would it even go but to the bottomless gaping pit of insecurity you call a soul?"

Homelander mocked a shudder and laughed at him. He really was finding this entertaining. Sipping on his drink, Edgar watched Homelander move closer to him, wagging a finger. "You know something, I used to be intimidated by you," he admitted. "I really did and now I look at you and I have no idea why. I mean you're not even pathetic…you're just nothing."

"Then why are you still here looking for my approval like I'm your daddy?" Edgar questioned from him. "And even if I were, what would there be to approve of? The company is yours. No one is left to stand up to you, but I think you'll come to sorely regret that."

"And why is that?" Homelander asked, hands on his hips.

"Because there's no one left to cover for you either," Edgar said. "Eventually, probably soon, the world will recognise you for the pitiful disappointment you are. You are not worthy of my respect. You are not a God. You are simply bad product."

Homelander pretended that those words didn't have any impact on him, but they did. He felt his chest clench with anger. He would show Edgar how wrong he was. He would show him that he was everything and that he didn't need him.

"And how long do you think it will be until your wife leaves you? You think that you can keep her locked up in this Tower forever?"

"She is trying to make things right," Homelander declared, puffing his chest out. "We will be fine in time. I know what you did, Stan. I know how you went to her and offered her a way out, but she didn't take it. She chose me. She chose me and nothing is going to get in the way of that."

"You think she chose you because she loves you?" Edgar asked from him and chuckled. "You think I don't know about her skulking in corners with Supersonic? Or how she sneaks off to see her brother? You think she's loyal to you…no…if you're not your own downfall then loving her will be it. She's playing you for a fool and I almost admire her for it."

Homelander considered his words. He thought about them and then he thought about Victoria and how she had been acting. He shook his head slowly. He wasn't going to let his mind be tainted like this. He wasn't going to let Edgar get into his head.

"You're good," Homelander said, pointing at him. "But Victoria is my wife. She's the mother of my child. She's not doing anything and if you think I don't know about Supersonic then you're the fool here. I know there was a moment…a weakness…but he's not me. They will never have what we have and as for William…well…I have that covered."

"You're being foolish and it will come back to bite you. Good luck with it all…you're going to need it."

Homelander didn't respond. Edgar walked around the room, slamming his glass down on the drink's trolley by the corner. Homelander hummed to himself and returned back to the penthouse. Victoria was changed into her long-sleeved plaid pyjamas, socks on her feet and hair tied into a messy bun at the nape of her neck. She was in the living room, already flipping through the box sets on Vought's streaming services, legs crossed underneath her. Looking at him, she smiled.

"Hey," she said. "So I've ordered some Thai food to be sent up. They said it should be here in about half-an-hour."

"Perfect," Homelander said, resuming his position on the sofa next to her, eyes going to the screen in front of him.

"Did you sort everything out?" Victoria asked from him.

"Yeah. I had to see Edgar off," he said and Victoria sat up straight at that, laying the remote down next to her and stopping her scrolling. She turned to him, giving him her full attention.

"How did that go?" she wondered.

He chuckled darkly. "As well as you can probably imagine," he decided on saying to her. "He tried to play mind games with me…make me think that I can't manage the company…that you will turn on me."

Victoria rolled her eyes. "You know what he's like," she said to him, trying to be as convincing as possible. "He did the same thing to me when I saw him last."

"Yeah," Homelander concurred, teeth bared in a smile. "I mean, everything he said was a load of shit. I know that…I mean, you'd never run off with Supersonic."

Victoria scoffed. How many nights had she spent imagining doing just that? "I have a one-year-old baby and I'm just about to have another. Plus, I'm married to you. If Edgar thinks I have the energy for an illicit affair then maybe he should step down. He's sounding delusional."

Homelander chuckled once more, lifting the back of his hand to brush her hair from her cheek. "That's the only thing stopping you, huh? Lack of energy?" he pushed her and she knew what he wanted to hear.

"Well, that and the fact…you know….we're together and it's complicated. Besides, I don't have feelings for Supersonic, not like I do for you," she said. That wasn't entirely a lie. She smiled at him, hoping that she was able to convince him. The last thing she needed or wanted was Homelander on at her. She moved her hand to take his, holding it in her grip tightly. "He's trying to get into your head."

"Yeah, I know," Homelander confirmed.

A part of her had wondered if this would work. She had spent weeks avoiding him, arguing with him, telling him how much she despised him. And now they were sat on the sofa about to spend a night together watching TV and eating takeout. Did he not see she was playing him? Or was he so desperate to think that she truly wanted him? She hoped it was the latter. She didn't want to come off as too strong or fake to get him suspicious. She had to tread a fine line.

"He did the exact same thing to me. He told me I could leave, but I didn't. I decided to stay here," Victoria said to him.

"But why?" Homelander questioned. "You've made your feelings known that you're not my biggest fan."

She nodded. "And I'm still not," she said pointedly. "We're not the same as we were all those months ago because so much has changed. I considered his offer, I'm not going to deny that. But…you've already lost Ryan…I didn't want you to lose Evelyn too and I knew you'd find us anyway. Then there was the fact that I just…I didn't want to leave you."

He looked amused at that. "You didn't want to leave me?"

"I know that it makes no sense," she kept on lying to him, hoping her heart wasn't racing too fast. "None of this makes any sense to me, John. I'm so messed up with how I feel about you that none of it makes sense to me, not really. I just…I just knew that leaving you wasn't an option."

Homelander looked into her bright eyes and he heard her pulse racing. She was on edge. She was anxious. He wondered why, but then she moved her hand to his cheek, stroking it tenderly and brushing his hair from his face. Shifting closer to him, she felt his arm move around her waist, drawing her closer to him.

"Sometimes I wish we could still have it," she whispered, voice low and husky. "I wish we could have the house in the suburbs with the white picket fence."

"We can," he promised her. "One day we can."

"Give Evelyn and this one here," she emphasised, laying the hand she was holding on her stomach, "the life we never had."

"They'll have it. I promise you, Victoria. We'll give that to them," he said to her, his fingers tickling her stomach over the material of her pyjama shirt. "But I need to know that you're on my side. I need to know that I can trust you and that you're not going to turn on me. I just…I need that."

"Hey," Victoria said, keeping her breathing steady. She continued to stroke his hair back from his face before guiding him towards her. She kissed him tenderly, moving her lips over his as he closed his eyes. She kept a hand on his chest, almost like a warning for him not to get carried away. She kept her eyes closed, losing herself in the feel of him. It was easier if she forgot who it was she was kissing. Pulling back from him, she pecked him one final time. "I've promised to try, alright? I've promised no more secrets…to work on us…because hating you doesn't make me forget that I love you," she said and she saw the smile on his face continue to grow.

He wanted to trust her. He wanted to believe what she was saying to him. He longed for it to be true. But there was this niggling feeling in the back of his mind as he remembered how she'd behaved in the weeks prior to this. He remembered the fights and the hurtful words. How could she be changing her mind so quickly? Unless she was finally accepting what he had been saying all along. He didn't know. It felt a bit convenient to him. He'd keep an eye on her. He'd trust her to an extent, but she needed to earn his full trust.

"Say that again," he encouraged from her.

She forgot the feeling of nausea rising in her throat. She looked him in the eye, forehead against his. "I love you," she whispered, knowing that those were the words he wanted to hear. He moved to kiss her once more and she let him, wondering just how much truth there was left in those words.

…

Victoria had insisted she was fine on going for brunch with Annie the next morning. Homelander told her that he had board meetings for the morning and so he was going to be predisposed. Victoria had gotten Evelyn ready and met Annie in the foyer. While she was with a supe, she didn't need Vought security following her. Homelander wasn't entirely too happy with her going out with Annie, but he knew that he wasn't going to stop her. She had promised him that they were just going to talk over waffles and pancakes, but she said they'd avoid business as best as they could.

Of course, he knew she was lying. They would be unable not to talk about it. He just hoped that Starlight didn't try to fill her head with lies and poison. He had let her go, telling her that he would see her for lunch, asking if she wanted to join him in the meeting room while he worked. She'd said that was fine.

"So I had a fucking morning," Annie commented as soon as they were settled in their usual booth. They didn't even bother looking over the menu. Victoria picked Evelyn up from her pram and sat her on her knee for the time being, holding her around the waist.

"Can you not swear in front of your niece?" Victoria asked her, covering her ears for a moment. "Auntie Annie is sorry, sweetheart."

"I am," Annie said, cooing at the little girl she adored. "But it's been quite the morning."

"What's going on?"

"Did you know where your brother has been?" Annie asked from her.

Victoria shook her head. "He's not telling me anything because he thinks it's dangerous for me to know too much," she said and Annie scoffed, shaking her head.

"Yeah, it is, but you're going to find out eventually because it's bound to be on the news at some point," Annie said to Victoria. "There's no way that it's not going to be and Homelander is going to know…if he doesn't already…because we're going to have to stop him."

"Annie, you're talking entirely in riddles," Victoria said to her as Evelyn reached for the napkin on the table. Victoria held it out for her to play with, letting her gaze flicker between her daughter and friend. "Just tell me what's going on."

"I don't know if I should," Annie confessed, sighing loudly as the waitress came. They gave her their orders, reciting them without any hesitation and thanking her. She left them alone once more. Annie clasped her hands together and leant forwards. "Homelander…I don't know how he'll react if he finds out you know this."

"He might not have to find out," Victoria said.

"When's that ever worked out for us?" she wondered from her. "But…you need to know because this could be dangerous. Your brother went to Russia with the boys. Have you ever heard of a supe called Soldier Boy?"

Racking her brain, Victoria tried to think if she had. She tilted her head back and Evelyn shifted in her grip again. She shook her head and then nodded it, snapping her fingers. "Payback, right?"

"Right," Annie confirmed.

"Yeah, we didn't really do much about supe history in the UK. It feels like an American thing," Victoria said to her. "I think I read about him at the museum though. Didn't he give his life to stop a nuclear bomb or something like that?"

"Well, we thought that he'd given his life for his country, yeah. I mean, that's what Vought would have you believe. The truth is that the Russians have had him locked up in some freezer chamber and your brother has gone and freed him. Kimiko is injured and in hospital."

"Jesus, is she alright?" Victoria asked.

"They're hoping that she will be," Annie said. "But Soldier Boy is on the loose somewhere and we have no idea where. He…the power he has…Vicky, he could kill a lot of people if he loses control. He was the key to bringing down Homelander, but now…without him…"

"There is no weapon," Victoria said and it all clicked into place for her. She leant back in the booth, feeling a sense of defeat. "Which means there's no way to stop him."

"Not right now," Annie agreed with her on that point. "But that's not the end of it. Your brother has been taking Temp-V to give him supe powers. Hughie's had some too. It's untried and untested…still in the lab…I think Maeve might have been slipping it to them."

"You mean they've been turning themselves into superheroes?" Victoria checked. "My brother who can't stand supes?"

"Hughie claimed it was the only way they could level the playing field. I've told him not to do it again, but you maybe want to have a word with Billy. I doubt he's as easier to persuade but he's your brother. If anyone can convince him then I imagine it's you."

Victoria snorted at that. "I don't know about that, but I can see what I can do. I'm more concerned that he's released a weapon into the world…I mean…shouldn't we try and do something to find him? Maybe telling Homelander isn't the worst thing?"

"And when he asks why you know that?" Annie questioned her. "I want to find him, but we can't exactly tell Homelander why he's out in the first place without giving away the team. We need to keep this quiet."

"I need to go and see Billy."

"You probably do," Annie confirmed and their breakfast was set down in front of them. They thanked the waitress before Victoria juggled Evelyn in her arms and sat her down in the highchair the waitress placed at the end of the bench. She made sure her daughter was securely fastened in before sitting down and eating her breakfast, wondering just what she was going to say to her brother when she found him.

…

It turned out that words actually came pretty easy to her. She had left Evelyn with Natalie in the nursery before taking the subway towards his work place. She didn't bother knocking on the door. She stormed in and slammed the door shut to see Hughie and Billy sat around. Her brother held a mug in his hand while Hughie had a bottle of water in his grip.

"What the hell are you two playing at?" Victoria snapped at them.

She dropped her bag onto the table as she walked in, heels of her boots hitting the floor heavily. She moved her hands to her hips and looked between the two men. Hughie pointed to his chest as if to ask 'me?' while Billy's lips turned up into something that resembled almost amusement. Victoria glared at her brother.

"She's always had a bossy voice…even when she was three…used to scare the fuck out of me," Billy said to Hughie. "But don't worry, her bark is definitely worse than her bite."

"I wouldn't test that theory out on me," Victoria warned her brother on that point and he chuckled. "Annie told me everything you two have been up to. How can you be so stupid? Not only have you let a super weapon loose, but you're taking a drug made by Vought which isn't even available for general consumption because it hasn't been tested on anyone."

"We're just doing what we need to do."

"No, you're risking your lives and that wasn't part of the deal," she said to him, voice still firm. "You have no idea what that stuff inside your veins could do to you."

"It levels the playing field, Victoria," Billy said, taking a sip of his tea, slurping it from the mug. Victoria glared at him and he moved to his feet. He placed his mug down onto the coffee table. "We're going up against supes and sometimes to defeat the thing you hate, you have to become it. I know it's shit. I know it's hypocritical. But if it's the only way we can defeat Homelander then we have to do it."

"I know that it's not ideal," Hughie added on. "But we're tired of having our asses handed to us."

"Do not make me yell at you, Hugh Campbell," Victoria demanded from him and he shrunk slightly under her glare. She was quite intimidating. She always had been to him whenever she was angry. "You're in on this and if you're taking something that fucks you up…then what do you think Annie would do? She loves you and I know you love her. Nothing should risk that. I love her too much to see her hurt."

Hughie almost felt guilty at hearing her. He knew that she had a point on that matter.

Billy moved a hand to his chest. "Don't I get the same amount of sentiment?"

"Yes, you asshole," Victoria snapped at him and moved to stand in front of him, peering up to him. "You're my brother. You…I don't want to lose you, not again. I already lost you before when you walked out on us and I don't want to see you repeat that. Don't you get it? I love you, Billy. You're a big idiot, but I still love you."

He nodded, knowing that she was right. "I will take care of you and Evelyn. What we're taking is fine. Trust me, we're alright."

"You can't know that for sure."

"All I know is that by taking Temp-V it led me to Soldier Boy and that was what I needed to happen. I needed to find him because he's the only chance we have of stopping Homelander…but for all we know, he's somewhere in Russia right now. I need to try and find him and persuade him to come back here and kill that cunt."

"So that was the plan all along?"

"Yeah. I'm slightly pissed off that his girlfriend spilled it to you," Billy shot an accusatory look in Hughie's direction.

"I would have found out anyway considering he's a nuclear weapon. How long before he detonates and kills someone?" Victoria demanded from him. "And why would he even agree to help you? Did you think about that?"

"Of course I thought about it," Billy said. "Give me some credit, sis."

"Then what did you come up with?"

"His team. Payback despised him because he would bully them…pick on them…he was a prick," Billy said. "They set him up and knew exactly what would happen to him. They were in on the plan to give him to the Russians who tortured him to find his limits. He'll want revenge on them and I can help him find where they are."

Victoria's mouth gaped. "So you're willing to kill other people?"

"I'm willing to do what it takes to get rid of that cunt," Billy informed his sister, voice turning slightly harsher and losing its soft edge. Victoria jutted her hip out as her arms fell down by her side and she shrugged.

"You shouldn't be able to make that choice," Victoria retorted.

"It's Payback. I'm not sweating it," he assured his sister. "This is what has to be done and it's the only way. Did you think we could get rid of Homelander without there being sacrifices?"

"I knew there might be a cost, but I never imagined this. I thought you'd just found some secret serum…or some big weapon…not an eye for an eye kind of thing," Victoria replied. "I don't like this, Billy. I don't like it at all and Homelander…do you think that this can work? Do you think he won't get wind of something amiss if Soldier Boy surfaces?"

"Maybe he will, but hopefully by then it will be too late…unless you intend on telling him," Billy said and Victoria shook her head. She looked to the ceiling and let her eyes roll back into her head.

"You know that I won't," Victoria responded. "I just think that it's a stupid idea to risk yourselves."

"This is what has to happen and we're doing it," Billy promised his sister. "I know you don't like it, but it's going ahead. We'll find Soldier Boy and then we'll come after Homelander…and when we do," he pointedly looked at her, "you need to get away from him. You need to run and make sure you never look back until I tell you it's safe."

"Billy, I-"

"-No," Billy said firmly, shaking his head and she knew he was being serious. Long gone was his jovial cocksure attitude. "I don't want excuses. I don't want to hear that you're hanging around. I want you somewhere safe when the time comes. I can send you to the General with Ryan."

"Okay," Victoria relented, realising that there was no chance she was going to get away with anything else. Plus, she guessed he had a point. She shouldn't be anywhere near them when they got Soldier Boy against Homelander. "But I need you to promise me that you'll stop taking Temp-V."

"Hopefully I won't need any if we find Soldier Boy," Billy settled on saying to her. He wasn't going to make her a promise that he knew he couldn't keep. She didn't need to know any of that, however. She eyed him suspiciously and was well aware that he had gotten around the promise. Sighing to herself, she knew she couldn't make him do anything.

She moved to wrap her arms around him and Billy relented, his arms snaking around her waist and his hands holding her back. She pressed her nose into his shoulder, inhaling his familiar body spray and feeling safe for at least a few moments.

"I need you, Billy," she tried again. "Just please look after yourself."

He knew she was trying to play on his emotions and he guessed a part of it was working as he felt himself relenting. He closed his eyes for a second as Hughie remained on the sofa, feeling slightly uncomfortable watching the two of them. Before he could make up an excuse to leave, Victoria pecked Billy on the cheek and pulled back from him.

"I'll talk to you soon, alright?" she said.

"Of course," he replied with a nod of his head and she gave him a stern look before turning her glare to Hughie.

"And don't you dare break Annie's heart," she warned him. "I can still have your balls, you know, even if we might be friends now."

"Duly noted," Hughie promised and Billy's lips rose into a smirk as he picked his mug up again and took a sip of his tea, watching the retreating figure of his sister. He told himself that everything he was doing was for her, Ryan and Becca. He wasn't prepared to stop at anything.

….

Victoria didn't know how long it would take them to find Soldier Boy, but she gathered that it wouldn't be long after she heard about the explosion in the centre of New York. She had gone back to the Tower and checked in on Evelyn in the nursery when the news had struck. She had looked to the television in the corner, her eyes widening as she cocked her head to the side and listened to the news report. Natalie spoke about how horrible it was and how New York felt as though it was becoming less safe by the moment.

She asked Natalie to keep an eye on Evelyn for just a while longer, kissing her daughter on the top of her head and promising her that she wouldn't be long. Taking the elevator up to ninety-ninth, she moved towards the meeting room, hoping that Annie might be there. She saw the news on the screen in the foyer informing her that at least nineteen people had died. It all felt slightly too coincidental for it not to be Soldier Boy.

Moving into the meeting room, she startled when she saw Homelander watching the news. Annie was behind him with Ashley and Ashley's assistant who, confusingly was also called Ashley. Victoria moved into the meeting room, feeling like an intruder as she went and Homelander kept his back to her, clearly distracted by watching the news. He was the one in charge now. He was the one who was making the decisions.

"Hey," Victoria said, making her presence known.

Homelander whirled around on the spot. She saw the look of worry for a moment in his gaze before he masked it up with a smile for her. "Sweetheart, I might have to postpone our lunch date," he said to her.

"I've just seen the news," she said to him, trying not to look at Annie for her reaction. "What's going on? Is it some terror attack?"

She kept her questions vague, not wanting to give anything away. Homelander moved towards her and shook his head. Dropping a hand to her hip, he bent down and pecked her quickly. Annie looked on in disdain as Ashley focused on her tablet in her hands, eyes frantic with worry and her other hand going through her hair, tugging harshly on it.

"It's nothing," Homelander said to her. "Well, I mean it is something, but it is nothing for us to worry about. It's just some supervillain."

"What should we be doing about this? Talk shows?"

"Sunday morning talk shows. You need to book them up so we can tell people that everything is under control," Homelander said to Ashley.

"That's smart," she said.

"So smart," the other Ashley echoed and Victoria looked between the two of them.

"Jesus, we should be doing something else to try and find this guy!" Annie exclaimed, pointing at the screen.

"It's one man?" Victoria questioned, trying not to look too eager but suspecting she was failing.

"A loner who looks to have set off an explosion," Homelander confirmed and then turned to focus on Annie, eyes dangerously darkening at the sight of her. "And of course we need to find him. Obviously. So why don't you go and do that and the adults here will worry about the share prices and the board."

His voice turned haughty. Annie didn't back down, however. Victoria moved a hand to his chest. "Hey, I know you're stressed," Victoria said in a soft tone to him and all eyes turned to them, peering through their lashes and trying not to stare too obviously. "But if Annie goes to Crime Analytics to see if she can find anything then that's a start, right?"

Homelander's jaw clenched. He forced himself to nod and control his anger, giving Annie permission to go. Victoria caught her eye, the two exchanging a knowing look.

"I'll get Supersonic and ask him to help," Annie commented. "I'll let you know if we find anything."

"You do that," Homelander said, voice snarky.

"Ashley, can you give us a minute?" Victoria wondered from the executive who agreed, sweeping from the room with Ashley in tow. Once they were gone and the doors closed, Homelander seemed to let out a deep breath.

"This entire day is turning to fucking shit," he complained, pacing across the floor.

Victoria kept her distance, letting the backs of her thighs hit the table and arms folding over her chest. "What's going on?"

"The board meeting was a fucking disaster," he complained to her. "I've made Ashley CEO but there were people there who just questioned me as if they thought they could do a better job than I could. I'm Vought. I know everything about this company."

"I know," Victoria assured him. "But you can't be an expert in everything, John. You shouldn't be putting too much pressure on your shoulders like this. I know it's easier said than done because you want to do a really good job, but just…let people help you. Let people take the strain."

Homelander continued his pacing and Victoria watched him, trying to keep herself calm and composed. She'd given him advice numerous times before. This was no different. He suddenly stopped pacing and looked to her. He knew what he was about to do was probably not something he would have done before. But he wanted her full trust. He wanted her to prove to him that he could tell her everything and that she was on his side and was serious about making this work.

"Whoever this guy was, I think they're trying to fuck with me and make me look ridiculous," Homelander said.

"Why would you think that?"

"Because it's happened the day I take over the company," he said to her. "I don't know, I just feel like everyone is against me and then this morning I found out about what Maeve's been doing…did you know?"

"Maeve?" Victoria asked and Homelander knew that her heart was racing.

Victoria tried to keep it under control, but she knew full well that he would see through her. She could lie to him to a certain extent, but she was running out of excuses. Homelander nodded, hands clasped behind his back. He sauntered towards her, looking her up and down. She avoided his gaze and her pupils dilated.

"She's been with your brother. You know that, don't you?"

"I didn't…I mean…you know that Billy despises supes," Victoria said to her husband.

"So much so that Maeve came in this morning smelling like she'd fucked him all night."

"What?" Victoria exclaimed, eyes widening. "You're joking, right? There's no way that was happening."

Homelander chuckled darkly. She wasn't faking that reaction. "They're working together to cook something up, aren't they?" Homelander asked from his wife, moving his hand to tilt her chin, forcing her to look up at him. "We said no secrets, Vicky…and your heart is racing…your pulse practically jumping…so what are you keeping from me?"

"I know about yours and Billy's little wager," Victoria confessed to him. She could get away with some half-truths. She figured that much. "You never told me that you'd gone to him and practically promised to fight him to the death."

"It was a private conversation," Homelander defended himself.

"Yeah, well, I guess Billy didn't take too well to it. I imagine maybe he's been talking to Maeve to get to know more about you, but that's it," Victoria said, voice haughty and Homelander continued to study her, gloved hand stroking over her cheek slowly. He eyed her and she wondered if she could get away with that. "But as for the two of them being in some kind of relationship…I've never even thought that possible. He despises supes."

"Turns out that's not entirely true."

"Clearly not," Victoria agreed. "But I don't know anything else. Billy has told me nothing because he figures it's not safe for me to know stuff…but this…this feud you two have…he's my brother, John. He's my big brother and I don't want him to get hurt."

"He made the decision to go against me."

"That doesn't mean you need to retaliate," Victoria said.

"Oh, sweetheart, that's exactly what it means," Homelander said, teeth bared in his usual sinister smile. "Don't worry, I'll spare him if I can…but you…I need to know that I can really trust you, okay? I need to know that you're serious about us."

"I just told you what I knew," Victoria said to him.

"Under sufferance," he pointed out.

"Because a part of me hoped that maybe you two would give this up," Victoria confessed and she flapped her arms by her side. "It's exhausting because I know there's no chance of him defeating you and he…I love him, John…he's my brother and I just want him to be safe. Do you not get it? If I told you this then it would have just complicated things a lot more and I was scared about what you'd do to Billy."

"More scared about what I'd do to him than what he could do to me?"

Victoria scoffed. "You're the most powerful man in the world, John. What the hell can Billy do to you?" she wondered from him and he seemed appeased by that answer. "I just want us to be okay and my brother safe. Maeve…I bet she probably just pitied him. I doubt she went to help him defeat you. She's part of the Seven."

"No," Homelander said with a slow shake of his head. "She was part of the Seven. By tonight, she'll be gone."

Victoria's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," he drawled, hands going to hold her hips lightly as he stepped closer to her, his legs brushing against hers. "That Maeve can't be trusted and therefore she needs to go."

"Needs to go?" Victoria continued to question him.

"Well, I can't trust her."

"John, I'm sure this is some misunderstanding," Victoria promised her husband.

"Nope, I doubt it," Homelander said. "As soon as I am done on the Cameron Coleman show, I'm coming back to talk to her. We're going to sort this out once and for all."

"You're not going to hurt her, are you?"

"Darling, she'll be fine," Homelander said, forehead brushing hers as he kept his grip on her. "We're going to talk and I'm going to tell her that I think it would be best if she disappeared for a while, you know? If she refuses…well…we will just see what happens."

"You sure this is the best idea?" Victoria wondered from him and he heard her heart continue to thump against her chest. She moved a hand up to brush through his hair, hoping that she could get him to calm down.

The smile stayed on his face. "Certain," he said to her. "Now, you take Evelyn back to the penthouse. I'll come back as soon as I've done the interview and spoke with Maeve."

"Alright," Victoria agreed weakly with him.

He watched her intently, bending down and pecking her on the lips. She kissed him back, giving him what he wanted. Closing her eyes, she felt his hand tangle into her hair at the back of her head. He pulled back from her slowly and she kept the smile on her face. He brushed a thumb along her cheekbone, nodding his head once.

"See you soon, sweetheart," he said and began to move towards the door. He stopped in the entranceway, turning his head over his shoulder and delivering the final blow. "Oh…and if you see Maeve around, don't tell her what you know."

"I'm sure I won't see her."

"But if you do," he said and she knew the threat was there.

If she told Maeve then she would know what to expect. She could run before he got to her. Her smile wavered as he winked and then left her alone. She turned around, bracing her hands on the table and bowing her head. She let out a deep breath and waited patiently for time to pass until she was certain that Homelander was gone. She knew that she had to tell Maeve. She had no idea what he was going to do to her and that terrified her. But she knew if she told her that Homelander would find out. What would he do? He wouldn't trust her. And she needed him to trust her.

She left the meeting room and began heading down the hallway when she saw Annie and Alex walking towards her. She froze on the spot as Annie cocked her head to the side. "Has he gone?"

"Just left."

"Does he know?"

"He thinks it's just some supervillain," Victoria said. "But I'm guessing it's not."

"Hughie said not," Annie informed her and Victoria cursed under her breath. "We're going out now to see if we can trace his steps. I've got no idea where Hughie is, but figured I'd try Billy's office."

"Yeah," Victoria said to her.

Alex's brows knitted together and he frowned. "What is it?" he asked from Victoria, sensing that something was wrong.

"Nothing," Victoria said with a shake of her head.

"You're as white as a sheet and you have that worried look on your face," Alex said to her. "It's not nothing. What has he done to you?"

"He…it's fine…I don't want to get you involved."

He scoffed at that. "Pretty sure I'm already deeply involved," he said to her.

"Same here," Annie said.

"Honestly, it's fine."

"Bullshit," Alex said, voice firm and Annie watched him take the lead. He moved one step closer towards Victoria and their gaze remained locked. She shook her head for a moment and Alex looked to the elevator at the end of the corridor, gesturing to it with a jut of his chin. "Come and talk to us."

"I can't because then he'll know," Victoria said.

"Know what?"

The new voice came from the end of the corridor. Victoria watched as Maeve approached them, dressed in her supe outfit. She stood next to Annie, her eyes darting around. Victoria opened her mouth, prepared to speak and tell her exactly what was going to happen. And then she thought of her daughter. She thought of Evelyn laid downstairs in the nursery. She thought of losing Homelander's trust and what that might mean. She thought of this test he had clearly given her. He could make her life hell. He could take Evelyn. He might love her, but he would only keep her around so long as he trusted her.

Shaking her head, Victoria looked to Maeve. "I'm sorry," she said to her and turned on her heel to leave.

The three supes watched her go, confusion etched on their faces as she stepped into the elevator and let the doors closed, listening to Alex calling after her. Once she was alone in the elevator, she slumped against the wall and buried her head in her hands, crying openly.

...

A/N: Next up...Maeve v Homelander...Victoria and Alex...and Soldier Boy! Would love to know your thoughts as always!