Pushing Evelyn in her buggy, Victoria knew that she had to be careful. She had been back with Homelander for over a month and it was a living hell. She hardly slept. She hardly ate. She hardly functioned. She tried to keep things together for her daughter's sake. Ryan, on the other hand, was an enigma. He clung to his father's every word and was attending the school in the Tower. Victoria hardly got to talk to him alone, but she was scared for him. She could see how Homelander was getting his claws into him. He was even trying to get him involved in his campaign to protest his innocence. Victoria found the entire ordeal almost hilarious. She bit down on her tongue and did her best to be the good wife he wanted, but it was difficult. She did it because of Evelyn.

Walking through the Park, Victoria had taken Evelyn out of her buggy and let her walk for a short while, but she soon got tired. She had felt people watching her, but no one dared approach her. She had managed to leave the Tower that morning. Homelander knew she wasn't going to go anywhere. He had her right where he wanted her. She would come back.

"Mummy?" Evelyn called up to her as they took a quieter path further into Central Park. Victoria had no desire to go back anytime soon. She could walk for hours on end if it meant staying away from the penthouse.

"Yeah, sweetie?" Victoria asked her, craning her neck and peering down to her daughter over the top of the pram.

"Can I have juice?"

"What do we say?"

"Please?" she tried again and Victoria nodded.

Crouching down, she tucked her hair behind her ears and opened the flap to the bag she kept attached to the pram. She pulled out a juice box and stabbed the top of it with a straw. Moving around, she knelt down in front of Evelyn and handed it to her. She ran a hand down her daughter's hair, flattening some of the flyaway hairs there. Evelyn held the box in her hands and slurped the juice up, gulping it down quickly.

"Better?" Victoria asked her.

Evelyn burped once and Victoria chuckled as her daughter nodded enthusiastically.

"Can we feed the ducks?"

"I think we have some bread," Victoria agreed to her daughter. She took the empty box from her and tossed it back into the bag before pushing her forwards and towards the direction of the duck pond.

…

"We need to talk to her."

"Just a minute."

"Someone is going to notice us."

"I said just a fucking minute."

Annie went silent then, not bothering to argue back with Butcher. She felt Hughie move his hand to her back, gently resting it there as she let out a deep sigh and met his eye. He subtly shook his head, urging her not to argue. It was clear that Butcher just needed a minute to gather himself before they went over to her. They'd gotten word that she was in Central Park after a picture of her had been posted walking there on social media. Since then, she'd avoided the cameras and no one had spotted her, but Annie knew they used to go to the duck pond and so they'd headed there, all three of them walking together.

Billy looked on as his sister remained crouched down behind her daughter, hands holding her waist as the little girl threw small chunks of bread into the pond, the ducks gathering round and scrambling for some of it. Billy was certain that his sister had lost weight. She looked almost too gaunt. She tried to hide the bags under her eyes with makeup and it worked to a certain extent, but not enough for him not to notice. She had her hair hanging loose around her shoulders and was dressed in a long green skirt with a white shirt and dark green coat hanging over her shoulders.

Victoria made sure Evelyn's long red coat as firm around her figure before she handed her some more bread to throw in from the sandwich bag. Looking to the little girl, Billy could see Homelander in her. She was somehow developing his firm jaw and his blue eyes were his exact colour. The rest of her was Victoria. Billy tried not to be unnerved by the kid, but it had been the same when he'd met Ryan. He hadn't known what to think or how to act. And now there were two children he cared for who had one thing in common: an asshole of a father.

Moving forward without another word, Billy walked in the direction of his sister. He stalked towards her, hands in the pocket of his destroyed coat. He bit down on his bottom lip for a moment before he got close enough to her to speak without raising his voice.

"Vicky."

It took her a moment before the turned her head over her shoulder. She stood up straight, her eyes widening in surprise before she felt Evelyn waddle away from her, squealing loudly.

"Aunt Annie!"

"Hey sweetpea," Annie cooed, bending down and catching Evelyn as she stumbled towards her and wrapping her into her arms. Victoria looked over her brother's shoulder and saw Annie and Hughie a few paces behind, meeting their gazes for a second and feeling like she was about to cry. She put one foot in front of the other and stumbled towards her brother who caught her in his arms as soon as she was in front of him. He wrapped his arms firmly around her and she clung onto him, burying her face into his neck as he cupped the back of her head, nose burrowing into her hair.

"I'm sorry," she cried to him. "I'm so sorry."

"Hey," Billy said, voice gruff as he gave her another squeeze. "You have absolutely nothing to apologise for. Do you understand me? You did nothing wrong."

"I got him killed," Victoria whispered and Billy closed his eyes. He shook his head. He knew what she was talking about. If she was back with Homelander then that meant Alex was dead. Homelander would never have left him alive. Why would he? Billy knew the type of man he was.

"Alex," Billy whispered and Victoria cried louder, fingers clinging onto her brother's collar.

"He killed him," Victoria whispered. "He…he came back…covered in blood…and it's my fault. I should never have let him come with me. I should have left him behind."

"He would never have stayed behind," Billy said. "And I was the one who told him where you were. His death is not on you."

"I should never have ran," Victoria said, pulling back and looking her brother in the eye. He lifted his hands up to her cheeks and brushed away the tears as Annie and Hughie kept Evelyn entertained. "I should have known that I couldn't escape him. When have I ever been able to escape him? He's everywhere…he's the Homelander…and I had his daughter. He was never going to let me go."

"This is on him. We will find a way to beat him."

"How?" Victoria asked and for the first time Billy saw no hope in her eyes. She looked defeated. She looked broken. Homelander had done that to her. He had destroyed his sister. He had taken her life from her. Billy wasn't going to let that happen.

"We need to talk," Billy said to her.

"We can look after Evelyn for a while," Annie piped up, sensing that this wasn't a conversation they should have around Evie. Annie hadn't heard what they were talking about, but she'd seen Victoria cry.

"Yeah," Hughie said. "I think the ice cream van is still open. Is it too cold for ice cream?"

"No!" Evelyn squealed and Annie laughed. She held Evelyn in her arms, pinning her against her side as Hughie stood to her other side. "Mummy can we have ice cream with Aunt Annie and Uncle Hughie?"

"What flavour?" Billy asked as he sensed his sister struggling to regain her composure.

"Strawberry," Evelyn said confidently.

"Strawberry?" he checked. "Don't you want chocolate?"

"I like strawberry," Evelyn said confidently.

"Then I guess strawberry it is," he replied and reached for his wallet. He pulled out a twenty and handed it to Hughie, looking at him and whispering lowly. "Give me ten."

"Got it," Hughie said and pocketed the money. "Come on then Evie, let's go and find some ice cream."

"Annie," Victoria croaked her name out and looked at her friend. The two of them exchanged hesitant glances and Annie knew what she was trying to convey. She tried not to let her eyes water and hold it together for Evelyn's sake. Victoria was still crying silently, eyes wet and cheeks tear stained. How many nights had she cried? How many nights had she spent on her own mourning him? "I'm sorry," she said.

Annie shook her head once. "It's not your fault," she promised her. Annie already knew. She knew as soon as she'd seen Victoria and Homelander step off the jet at JFK. There was no chance that Alex could still be alive if Victoria was back in the city. And he wasn't. Homelander had killed him.

"Come on you little terror, let's go for a walk," Hughie said, tickling Evelyn's side and looking to his girlfriend, silently asking her if she was okay. Annie nodded and Hughie kissed the top of her head before leading her away, hand on her back.

Billy pushed the buggy towards a bench hidden in some trees and sat down, Victoria sitting next to him. They were silent for a few moments, Victoria shifting anxiously and tucking one leg over the other. Billy leant forwards; hands clasped in between his legs.

"Have you seen Ryan?" he asked, intrigue getting the better of him.

"He's in the Tower, but I haven't had time alone with him," Victoria said, reaching into her bag for a tissue to wipe her eyes. "Homelander keeps me from him. I don't think he trusts me with him alone, but he's turning him into his mini clone and Ryan…he hangs off his every word. It is like Homelander is his hero. It's nauseating. He has no idea what he's done."

Billy should have expected that. He wasn't entirely surprised. He knew that Homelander was able to be charming. It was how he'd gotten Victoria in the first place.

"And you?" Victoria asked when her brother went silent. "The Temp-V…it's been months."

"And I'm still here," Billy said, spreading his arms dramatically.

"How are you feeling?"

"Never better apart from the fact that homicidal maniac is still on the loose."

"I'm serious," Victoria warned him.

Billy looked to her, noting her cocked brow and tilted head. She folded her arms and angled her body in his direction. He let out a deep breath and shrugged. "I keep vomiting up blood, getting headaches…and tiredness…but I'm fine. I keep going."

"And there's no news on a cure?"

"Vicky," Billy complained.

"What?" she questioned from him. "Can I not be concerned about you dying on me?"

"Yes, you can, but stop torturing yourself thinking that there might be a cure. I know there isn't and I'm fine with it. Life's shit and then you die. Nothing else to say is there?"

Victoria shook her head slowly. She hated that her brother had such an attitude, but she understood why he did. She understood entirely why he felt this way because she was beginning to feel the same. Looking over her face, Billy shook his head at her. "It hasn't been all bad…got to make amends with you…got to meet Becca and fuck me I'd give nothing up for that."

"Still amazed you found someone who could handle your bullshit," she said to him and he chuckled as her own lips quirked slightly.

There was silence then, the two of them looking out over the water. The early evening sun was beginning to set and a chill had started to settle over New York. Victoria found it crazy how in a few months it would be Christmas and then another year will have gone by. Her daughter was almost two. She'd been with Homelander for almost four years.

"Has he hurt you?"

The four words were heavy in between them and Victoria watched Billy clench his fingers into a firm fist. He looked down, doing his best not to feel too worked up. Victoria shook her head slowly.

"He hasn't touched me."

"You're not lying to me?"

"He…he's grabbed me…pushed me…but he-"

"-Then he's fucking touched you."

"Not as badly as he could," Victoria said and Billy scoffed.

"Bad enough," he responded and Victoria wasn't going to disagree with him on that point. She knew it was bad enough, but there were times when she'd feared he'd go further. There had been times when she had been scared of what he might do to her.

"We had an argument a while back when it was first announced he'd be indicted," Victoria said to her brother. "He…he said things…about whether what Eddie had done to me had been true or if I just love playing a victim."

"He fucking what?" Billy asked, brows knitting together.

"He wanted to hurt me. He knows how to hurt me…he's angry with me because of what I've done and that's how he lashes out. He won't physically hurt me because deep down a part of him thinks that's love."

"But he's fine to verbally abuse you as much as he can?"

"Because it's him lashing out," Victoria said. "I don't know how to stand up to him anymore, Billy. I don't know what I can do. We both know that if Homelander goes on trial then he…what he'd do if he's found guilty…do people really believe he'd go to jail? Do they honestly think he'd accept any punishment? No. He would burn the entire world down…destroy everything."

"It won't come to that."

"It will if the DA gets their way," Victoria said.

"Listen, we're working on a plan, alright. We're going to find a way out of this."

"You've said that before Billy, but we haven't so far. We're still here and you…Alex…people are dying, Billy. People are dying all because of us trying to stop him. Is it worth it? I can handle him. I can cope and maybe…if I can do that…then maybe no one else needs to get hurt."

"Bollocks," Billy hissed at her. "He's a psychopath. You can't keep him calm and control him. Look at everything he did when you were happy with him. He let a plane load of people die. He conspired to get supes in the military. You might think you can save people if you stay with him, but you can't."

"Then what do we do?" Victoria questioned. "Because I want to get away from him, Billy. I hate him. I despise him for what he's done…but he's…he's not going anywhere and I know that. I'm not foolish enough to think anything different. I just want him to die but I have no idea how that is going to happen and you don't either. Soldier Boy is gone and he was our only chance."

"There will be other chances."

"I don't know if I want to see that, Billy. Look at how many people got hurt…maybe…I don't know. That's the honest truth. I just don't know what to do, but I am tired. I am sick and tired of always losing and if Evelyn wasn't here then I'd have escape a long time ago because I don't think he'd have kept me around…but she is here…and I love her more than anything and that means staying by her side, no matter what."

"I know the kid comes first, Vicky," Billy promised his sister. "I know that you won't abandon her and he won't let her go, but you can't stop fighting, alright? You just can't stop."

"I don't want to, but what other choice is there?"

"Right now? None," he said to her. "But I'm not going to stop fighting."

"And we'll just keep going round and round in circles."

"You know…eventually Evelyn is going to use her powers, don't you?" Billy checked. "He'll want to turn her into a mini-me. She will have the same powers as he does…be as powerful as he will be."

"I'm not going to let that happen."

"And you think you'll have a choice? You said it yourself, he's the one with the power here. He's the monster."

"And I'm her mother. I'm the one raising her and that means something to him. As weird as it sounds, it does mean something to him…he wants me to be the perfect wife and he wants her to be the perfect daughter."

"She could kill him one day, you know that, don't you?"

Victoria looked to her lap, twirling the engagement ring on her finger that Homelander had slipped back on when she'd returned to the penthouse. She felt the weight of it every time she lifted her hand. Whereas she had once admired it, now she resented it. She resented him.

"I'm not making my daughter do that, Billy," Victoria warned her brother.

"She has the power, just like Ryan does."

"She's my daughter. She's a baby. I'm not making her into a weapon to use against him. That's not her," Victoria sniped and Billy held his hands up in defence, well aware that he wasn't going to get anywhere while she was being this way. There was no point in trying. Victoria gave a firm nod, seemingly appeased that the conversation was over on that matter. "I should find her and get back. I don't want to push my luck."

"Don't need to look far," Billy said, motioning across the pond with his chin.

Evelyn was walking in between Hughie and Annie, her hands in each of theirs while she was in the middle of them. Victoria's chest ached at the sight, her daughter peering up to Annie and Hughie and talking about something animatedly. Billy and Victoria finally met the three of them on the edge of the pond and Victoria looked to her daughter.

"Did you have your ice cream?"

"Two scoops," she replied with a gap-tooth smile.

"And we might have had two scoops too," Hughie added on.

"Take it there's no change then?" Billy said.

"I'll keep it as commission," Hughie said and Billy chuckled.

"Come on you, let's get you in the buggy."

Victoria fussed around Evelyn, helping her into her buggy and securing her there. Billy crouched down in front of his niece and began whispering to her about ice cream and Victoria glanced between Hughie and Annie.

"Thank you," she said gratefully.

"Anything for that one," Annie said.

"Ditto." Hughie tagged on.

"I miss you," Victoria confessed to Annie and then spoke again. "I miss you all…it's not the same at the Tower. There's no one to talk to…no one who understands. But I'd rather you be out here than in there and around him."

"How are you holding up?" Annie questioned, running a hand down Victoria's coat clad arm.

"I'm holding up," was all that she offered to her. "And you? How is life on the outside?"

"I'm better than I was in that Tower and I'm doing everything to hold Homelander accountable for everything he's done," Annie said. "I have followers and they're growing every day. He can't get away with this forever and I'm not scared of him anymore. What he did…to Alex…he won't get away with it."

"I hope not," Victoria agreed, but she didn't want to say she was optimistic on that point. "And about Alex…I…I know you cared for him and I…I'm sorry…he had a family…friends…and I took that from him."

"Hey," Annie said, sensing she was going to start crying again.

Hughie gave Victoria's shoulder a squeeze before his girlfriend hugged her.

"He decided to join us and he'd have joined us no matter what because he was good. He fought for what he believed in," Hughie said.

"And he loved you," Annie said, firmly holding Victoria. "He adored you and you would never have been able to keep him away."

Victoria just nodded. She pulled herself together, well aware that she couldn't leave the park looking like a mess. She sniffed and straightened herself up, tugging on the cuffs to her coat. "I need to get back," Victoria said. "I'll…look after yourself."

"You too," Annie urged.

Victoria squeezed her hand before turning to her brother and pecking him on the cheek. She plastered a smile onto her face for Evelyn and together the two of them left the park and returned back to the Tower.

…

"Did you know?"

Victoria had put Evelyn to bed and Ryan was still downstairs in some supe kids training programme. Victoria had used her free time to grab hold of a book on the history of the American legal system before going to bed. She'd made a quick pasta bake for dinner, but had hardly touched it. The leftovers were still in the oven and the kitchen spotless. She'd settled down on the sofa, legs tucked up to her stomach and book perched in her lap and resting against her thighs. She'd changed into a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt with 'Durham' written across it.

"Did I know what?"

"That your friend Daniella is part of the legal team bringing these bogus charges against me?" Homelander demanded.

His hands went to his hips and he drummed his fingers against them. Victoria put her book down on the coffee table and swung her legs over the edge of the sofa, sitting up straight.

"Why would I know that?"

"Because she's your friend."

"Who I haven't spoken to since I got back here because you won't let me have a phone," Victoria replied.

"Hasn't stopped you seeing your brother today, has it?" Homelander retorted, looking pointedly at her, jaw tensing up and eyes turning darker.

"I…" Victoria trailed off and Homelander rolled his eyes.

"Don't bother lying to me. I can smell Butcher all over you. You stink of him. I take it you saw him when you were walking Evelyn through the park? Do you really think I don't have you monitored. I might know you're not stupid enough to run away, but I don't trust you."

"Fine, I saw Billy, but it wasn't like I'd arranged to meet him," she retorted. "He is my brother. I can meet him."

"Meet him…do what you want," Homelander waved a hand nonchalantly. "We both know he hasn't got long left on this earth anyway after all his dosing with Temp-V so it's not like I see him as much of a problem anymore."

Victoria wanted to tell him that he really shouldn't underestimate Billy. If he thought he was going to quit then he had another thing coming. Yeah, he might not win against Homelander but he wasn't going to die quietly.

"Either way, I didn't know Daniella was even working for the DA's office. It's not exactly her area. She was in a corporate firm when we were finishing our PhDs off."

"Looks like she's had a change of heart," Homelander said. "You need to talk to her and see if she can speak to her boss and get this case dropped. I have no desire to go on trial and I doubt you'd want that either…having to turn up in court every day…defend me."

"Whoa," Victoria said, holding a hand up and moving to her feet. "What do you mean defend you?"

"Well, you would be defending me, wouldn't you? If they asked you to stand up in court and swear under oath that I'm a good husband and father then you would, wouldn't you?"

"What? Lie in court?"

Homelander's jaw clenched again and his eyes flashed dangerously over her. "So I am not a good husband or father?"

"We're not getting into this. The point is that I have no sway here," Victoria said. "You think Daniella can change the DA's mind? I doubt it. The decision has been made. They would have spent weeks if not months gathering evidence against you. You think they're going to drop it because your wife asked? Come on, John, we both know that's not how this works."

Homelander went silent. He considered her words before moving to the other side of the sofa. He sunk down into the leather cushions. Victoria remained stood on the spot, tugging the cuffs of her sweatshirt over her fingers. Cautiously, she went to sit back down on the sofa, tucking her legs beneath her and resting her hands in her lap. Her hair fell into her face as she peered down. Homelander spread his legs, arms hanging over the back of the seat.

"This is a mess," he complained to her.

"I know," she agreed with him on that point. It was a mess. "But I can't ask Daniella to find a way to drop this. It won't work and if anyone hears of me doing that then it will look like a bribe and you get into a lot more trouble."

"You think I don't know that?" Homelander asked and Victoria wanted to snipe back that she wasn't sure he did considering how he'd stormed in less than five minutes ago. "People want to crucify me for protecting my son and I'm tired of it. I'm tired of all of it and the way that people see me…that you see me."

"Yeah, well, I guess too much has happened and we are where we are."

Homelander watched her bite down on her bottom lip and all he wanted was to go and cradle her to him. He noticed that she'd lost weight. She wasn't the Victoria he'd fallen in love with. That woman had been so headstrong and so determined. She'd been full of life and had an attitude when she thought she was in the right about something and someone challenged her on it. He remembered the first time he'd kissed her after he'd found her in the library instead of some movie premier. He remembered the thrill of having her and knowing that she wanted him for him, not him for his fame. It was novel in a world full of people using him.

"What I said the other day…I'm sorry," he settled on saying to her. The shock on her face was apparent as she met his eye. Had he ever apologised for anything before? She couldn't recall. "I know that you'd never lie about what Eddie did to you and I know that because he…because I forced him to tell me what he'd done to you…"

"So why did you say it?"

"Because I wanted to hurt you just like you've hurt me. You've hurt me more than you can imagine, Victoria."

"And you haven't hurt me?"

"I never abandoned you," Homelander said. "I never fell in love with anyone else."

"Stormfront?"

"I never loved her," Homelander replied. "You know that. You know that kiss meant nothing between us."

Her silence spoke volumes. She did know. She'd seen it online and she was well aware that the kiss had been one sided. She could see it in his face.

"You killed Alex."

Homelander chuckled then, letting his head roll back and his eyes move to the ceiling. Victoria's teeth clenched together.

"What is so funny?" she demanded to know from him.

"I didn't kill Alex," he replied.

Victoria froze in her seat, blinking with her mouth agape. Homelander looked to her and shook his head slowly.

"I couldn't find the little shit when I went to look for him. I don't know where the fuck he went, but he wasn't where I thought he would be."

Victoria shook her head, stammering. "But you came back covered in blood…you said it was his…you…"

"I found some guys robbing a bank and figured I'd have a little…stress reliever," Homelander settled on saying. "Dumped their bodies where no one would find them and got out of there. I came back and told you what I wanted you to hear. I figured if you thought he was dead then…well…maybe we wouldn't have to talk about him."

"You didn't kill him," Victoria whispered.

"Not that it matters," Homelander said. "I mean, he may as well be dead. It's not as if you're ever going to see him again and if he does dare show his face round here then I won't give him another chance to get away. He's had too many chances."

Victoria could hardly believe what she was hearing. Alex was still alive. He was still out there somewhere. She had no idea where and she had no idea what he was doing, but from the look on Homelander's face she could tell he wasn't lying to her about this. He looked too annoyed for it to be a lie. He despised Alex. He hated him. He annoyed him. Homelander looked to Victoria, seeing the shock on her face and the relief too. She still loved Alex. He knew she did. He just knew it would take time for her to get out of that.

"I need to go and find Ryan," Homelander said. "And don't forget about your doctor's appointment in the morning."

Her brow furrowed. "What appointment?"

"Routine check-up."

She shook her head. Her mind was in a whirl as she thought about Alex and tried to keep up with what Homelander was saying to her. "I don't have an appointment."

"I made one for you," he said, tugging his gloves from his fingers and dropping them onto the sideboard. "After your miscarriage…well…we need to make sure you're healthy and everything is still in order."

Victoria stood up, feeling shaky as she moved towards her husband, arms folded over her chest. "What do you mean?" she demanded from him and he knew that he could have brought this up later, but with her knowing the truth about Alex, he had to make sure she knew where her place was. And she would. She would know in another year's time when his plan had come to fruition, regardless of what she wanted.

"Well, you're back now and we can start planning for the future…growing our family."

Victoria felt floored that he had even suggested that. Homelander heard her pulse begin to race and her skin warmed up from annoyance. She shook her head and Homelander held his hands up. "Now before you get yourself worked up, I'm not saying we do anything in the next few weeks, but…think of how it would look if I do go to trial…a wife and another baby on the way. People would be aghast."

"You want another baby to use as a prop?" she demanded.

"No," Homelander said, stepping towards her and reaching for her hand, entwining her fingers into his. She didn't pull back from him, almost too worried about what he might do. "I want another baby because I want a family. I know I have Evie and Ryan…but another little one…think about it, Vicky. We were going to have another baby anyway."

"I…John…no," she clambered for words as he moved his free hand to her hair, stroking it slowly and distracting her. "I can't have another baby. I almost died having Evie and then the miscarriage…I can't go through that again."

"That's why you'll be staying here in the Tower where you will be stress free. You'll have the best medical doctors and an excellent team around you too."

"And how am I even going to get pregnant?" she questioned him.

"Well, I would prefer the traditional way, but I doubt you would let me anywhere near you and so there are other ways. I was also thinking that it might be good if we freeze some of your eggs just in case," Homelander said and Victoria grabbed his hand, stopping him from stroking her hair and tugging it away.

"You want to use a turkey baster to inseminate me?"

"I think the medical procedure might be a bit more advanced than shoving a turkey baster up inside of you," Homelander said to her and chuckled deeply. "But I just think that it makes sense and I think you'll agree with me in time…and when you were having Evie…think of how close we were."

"A baby won't fix us. It won't fix any of this mess."

"No, but it's what I want, Victoria. I want a family of my own and maybe I'm broody…but seeing you pregnant…I want that for us. I want it."

"And what about what I want?" Victoria wondered.

"You didn't want Evie but isn't she perfect?"

"Yes, but-"

"-No buts," Homelander replied. "We have time to think of it, but you need to keep that doctor's appointment tomorrow because you need to make sure you're alright, okay?"

"John, please, I can't go through it again. Please," she begged from him and Homelander sighed before wrapping her into his arms, holding onto her. She went rigid, like she couldn't contemplate moving against him or embracing him back. He kissed the top of her head softly.

"It's alright, Vicky…I'm here and we're going to be a family…everything is going to be okay."

...

A/N: A few revelations in this chapter! Thanks so much to anyone who is still sticking with this and reading - hoping season 4 comes out sooner rather than later but we'll see!