The voices around her seemed muted and distant. Her eyes were firmly closed and her head was pounding. There were machines beeping around her too, the noise of them intrusive and causing her head to ache even more. She kept her eyes closed, not knowing if she could open them completely just yet. She didn't feel as though she could.

"We're not doing this to her."

It was his voice. She would recognise his voice as soon as she heard it. He sounded tense. He sounded almost angry too. She should know. She'd heard him angry enough plenty of times.

"We need to do this until she has agreed to our terms. You should have known that this was coming."

"So what? You keep her prisoner until she agrees with it?"

"She is not being kept prisoner. She is free to walk out of that door when she is able to. It is her choice."

"I'm not seeing you giving her much of a choice and I don't appreciate the way you're treating her," he seethed and she knew that he was angrier than he had been in a long time. She heard the other man chuckle, his voice low and soft, but the warning was in his tone. He didn't need to raise his voice to show that he was dangerous.

"The way I've been treating her? I'm not the one who wiped her memories. I'm not the one who has been keeping her against her will. No, I haven't done any of that. You did that to her. I am here to give her a choice. She knew when she came back to you that her life wasn't going to be her own, no matter how much she protested."

"You cannot control us."

"Without me, what are you? What would you be? So, you can choose to go your own way…leave us…we can find someone else to replace you, but if you do that then don't expect to have the level of popularity you have with us."

She managed to open her eyes then, struggling to come to terms with the light in the space. She blinked numerous times, her eyes adjusting to the brightness before she looked around. He was stood on the other side of the room, arms folded over his chest firmly and his gaze set on the man across from him. Victoria recognised him as Stan Edgar. She'd only met him once before, but she wouldn't forget him. He was dressed in a crisp grey suit with blue tie, his gaze focused on Homelander.

Victoria tried to sit up, but she couldn't move her wrists. Looking down, her eyes widened at the sight of the brown cuffs that were around each of them, stopping her from moving. They were keeping her secured to the bed. She pulled on one, but she knew it would be futile. The noise caused Homelander to turn to her.

"Victoria, hey, it's alright," he said, moving towards her and ignoring Edgar.

He came to the bedside and stood by her, hand going to her forehead and brushing her hair from her face, fingers running through it softly as she tried to pull the cuffs from her wrist. He moved his free hand to her wrist, stopping her from struggling.

"John, what the hell is going on?" she demanded from him, voice full of panic as she noted the drip that was attached to her. She looked around and then her eyes settled on his. "What happened to the baby?"

He looked away from her instantly and Victoria shook her head. He let out a deep breath as she shook her head. "No," she whispered. She refused to believe that anything bad had happened. She wouldn't be able to accept it. She had wanted to protect her baby. She had been responsible for her baby.

"She…she's premature, Victoria," Homelander said to her, his hand still stroking her hair as though it could soothe her. "She's so tiny and they don't know if she's going to make it. They…they had to operate and it…they asked me to make a choice. They asked me to choose between you and our daughter."

"Our daughter?" Victoria asked and he heard her voice break, tears falling down her cheeks. His own eyes began to water and he nodded, sitting on the edge of the bed and leaning towards her, forehead brushing hers.

"A girl," he confirmed to her. "She's in the room next door, but she's…Victoria…they don't know if she's going to make it. She's weak. She was born too soon and she needs a lot of medical care."

"Can I see her?" Victoria asked from him and he looked away again.

Her brows knitted together, wondering why he wasn't answering her. And that was when Stan stepped in. He had given them a few minutes to themselves before he spoke in a low voice. He laced his fingers together in front of him and looked to Victoria with an even gaze.

"Miss Anderton, I understand that this is quite a lot to take in," he said to her and Homelander's teeth ground together. He hated this. He hated how subdued he felt by Edgar. He hated that he had power over him. He despised it, but he didn't know what to do. Vought had him where they wanted him after the mess with Stormfront.

"Why am I chained to the bed?" Victoria demanded from him.

"A precaution," he said to her.

"I just want to see my daughter. I want to see my baby." Victoria said to him and Homelander looked to Stan, shrugging his shoulders and flapping his arms by his side as he moved to his feet. He wasn't going to settle for her being treated like this, no matter what Edgar said.

"And you will, but we just need to come to an understanding first," Edgar said to her, still completely calm. Victoria wondered if he had ever actually lost his temper before. "I understand that you have expressed…a disliking to the way we run things at Vought. I also have it on good authority that you have considered running…trying to hide…well, you can imagine the mess that might cause if you did so."

"How…" Victoria trailed off. It was all far too much for her to take in.

"You have ran before, Miss Anderton. It is only natural to assume you visit your brother and profess a desire to go again."

"I said that I wouldn't. I said that I would stay here," Victoria said. "And it's Dr Anderton."

She knew that was the least important part, but she wasn't going to be forced to listen to Edgar belittle her. She jutted her chin out as his lips arched slightly and Homelander bowed his head. Victoria looked to him and wondered where the man was who didn't care about anything. What happened to him being the Homelander and doing what the fuck he wanted? It seemed that only applied when Edgar didn't control him.

"Well, Dr Anderton," he drawled. "The fact is that we need to be careful surrounding things that have happened. You know many things about Homelander and Vought that could ruin the company. Ever since you came back and I discovered the extent of your knowledge, I've had our legal teams draw up an NDA."

Victoria felt like she had gone back in time at hearing him say that. She shook her head. "I've just been told that I almost lost my baby…that my baby might…" she choked on her words, unable to say it. She didn't want to think it. Shaking her head, she glared at Edgar. "And you are here telling me that I have to sign an NDA? Right now? I'm not fucking signing anything. I want to see my daughter."

"And you will be able to…once you've signed," Edgar promised her. "You will be able to stay with your daughter throughout all of this….we will never separate you."

"And if I don't sign?" she questioned.

"We file a petition claiming that you are an unfit mother. Homelander gets sole custody. You never see your child again."

She was silent then, stunned with what she was hearing. They were using her child as a bargaining chip. Shaking her head, Victoria had finished crying. She was long past crying and she was angry. She was pissed off.

"You can't do that."

"We have excellent lawyers, Dr Anderton. We can swing things however we want to swing them, but I am hoping it does not come to that. I am hoping that you see things our way and sign the agreement…and then you can be free. You have a choice, of course. You can leave right now."

"But without my daughter so no, I don't have a choice."

"We're not doing this now," Homelander suddenly said and Victoria watched him as he reached for her wrist, easily pulling the restrain open and letting her go free. He moved to the other side and did the same on her other wrist. "Victoria's not going to say anything and she's not going to sit here chained to this bed."

"You know that she needs to sign," Edgar said to him in a warning tone.

"And I am sure she will after she has seen our daughter," Homelander said. "But I told you that we shouldn't do this right now. We have bigger things to worry about."

"Homelander," Stan said in a warning tone.

"I know what I'm doing and the fact is that everything is fine. She hasn't said anything so far to anyone."

"But things have changed. Your daughter is here-"

"-And fighting for her life," Homelander interrupted. "So leave us be."

Stan didn't entirely appreciate Homelander's tone, but he knew that he had other ways of getting what he wanted. And so he left it alone. He walked out of the room without another word to either of them. Victoria pulled the needle to the drip from her hand, not bothering about the pain. She slipped around the bed and Homelander watched her try to stand, but she couldn't. He grabbed hold of her by the waist and forced her gently to sit back down on the edge of it. The white hospital gown caught around her waist and she felt the chill on her bare legs.

"You've had surgery…you shouldn't be walking. They said it's going to be a while before you're on your feet," he said and she watched him fetch a wheelchair from the corner of the room. He came back with it and helped her into it.

She kept silent as he pushed her into the main corridor. It was completely empty and she wondered where everyone was. Moving to the room next door, Victoria looked at the large space. The room was dark except for a dim light. There was an incubator in the middle of the room, wires coming in and out of it. There were more beeping machines around the incubator and Victoria began crying again at the sight of their daughter.

She was so tiny. Her legs were skinny and her arms were slender. Her eyes were closed and her chest was moving steadily up and down. Her skin was red and she was covered in a simple white baby grow, a white cotton hat on her head. Moving her hands to her mouth, Victoria stifled a sob as Homelander crouched down next to her, his hands going to hold onto hers firmly.

"I know," he whispered in a soothing voice as he saw Victoria struggle to compose her breathing. She sobbed hysterically and he held onto her. She let him too, having no energy to push him away. "But she is in the best place and they're looking after her round the clock. She…they said that the first few weeks…they'll be the indicator."

"We have to wait a couple of weeks?" she asked in between hiccupping.

"I know, it's a long time, but she's our daughter. She's strong."

"She's so small," Victoria simply whispered to him. "She's just so small."

"I know, sweetheart," he said, agreeing on that point.

"And I…I can't hold her?" Victoria asked from him.

He shook his head. "I haven't held her either," he told her. "They brought her in here as soon as they finished operating on you. They said that we can touch her through the gaps…she's so soft…"

"I want to touch her," Victoria whispered and he nodded.

He watched her lean forwards, placing her hand through the small gap as her other hand rested on top of the plastic lid that was keeping their daughter warm. Victoria's finger was almost as long as her baby's arm. She touched her gently, scared that she might hurt her if she applied any pressure. Homelander had been right. Her skin was so soft and she was so warm. Victoria just wanted to pick her up. She wanted to take her from the bed and hold her tight to her chest. She wanted to protect her from everything she was going through.

"Should she be so warm?" Victoria questioned.

"She needs to be warm," Homelander said to her. "The nurses are checking on her every twenty minutes and they've said that we can visit her whenever we want to."

"I don't want to leave her," Victoria just whispered and Homelander understood that point. He didn't entirely like the idea of going anywhere, but he knew they couldn't spend every waking minute in that room. They needed rest, Victoria especially. Her stomach had been cut open and stitched back together. She'd lost far too much blood that it had been touch and go. Homelander remembered her eyes closing, the doctors running around and grabbing pints of blood to give her.

"You fucking save her! Do something right now!"

He had yelled so loud at them, but he didn't know if they were listening to him.

Homelander watched her move her finger along their daughter's arm. He went to sit on the other side of the incubator and copied her movements. He'd taken his gloves off ages ago. He looked down to her, wondering how something could be so perfect to him. He watched his daughter and swore that he'd never let her out of his sights. He just needed her to make it. He didn't know what he would do if she didn't.

…

The nurses had come to check on Victoria and had given her instructions on how to express her breast milk considering she couldn't feed her baby just yet. They'd told her that she would have to have her stitches in her stomach removed at some point, telling her there might be a scar there. She'd been told to rest and take things easy, with the nurses insisting that she go home after a few days. She could rest there instead of in Vought's hospital. She didn't want to go. Of course she didn't, but they had promised her that she could come back every day.

"I don't want to leave her here," Victoria said.

She had changed into grey jogging pants and Homelander had given her one of his white t-shirts that was baggy. He'd helped her to put her socks and shoes on considering she was struggling to bend over. She was on pain medication and her body barely felt like her own.

"I know," Homelander assured her, holding his hands out to her and helping her down from the bed. She stood up and balanced herself on her feet. She knew that she looked a mess, but she hardly cared. It has been four days since Stan had come and told her about the NDA. He hadn't returned since and Homelander hadn't brought it up with her.

"Can we see her before we go?" he asked.

He nodded and walked with her back to the room. A nurse had just finished feeding and changing her. She was dressed in a clean baby grow again with the hat on her head. Victoria stood over her, hand going to touch her through the gap again. Her eyes were open, so small and darting around.

"I know, baby," Victoria whispered to her. "It's scary for you, I know…but you'll come home soon…and I'll hold you every single day. I'll always be there. I'll always look after you."

"We will," Homelander said, correcting her on that point and she didn't bother to argue with him. She was too tired to argue. "We'll take you home soon enough and you'll have your own nursery…and we'll read to you every night…tuck you in your cot…we'll never leave you."

They stood there for a while after that before a nurse told them that everything was still looking good. Homelander took that as their signal to go. He walked with Victoria out of the room, almost having to drag her away from their daughter. They walked at a steady pace out of the hospital, Homelander carrying the duffel bag that Victoria had kept on his shoulder.

"Homelander, I'm so sorry…but news got out."

Ashley was stood at the end of the corridor and Victoria was doing her best not to groan at the sight of her. Usually when Ashley turned up she wanted something. It was a natural rection. Homelander's brows knitted together as Ashley looked between the two of them.

"What do you mean news got out?"

"We think someone who works in the hospital leaked it…but it's been all over the news for the past day. Everyone knows that you've had a baby…a daughter," Ashley said and Victoria felt her throat clench up at that piece of information. The news had gotten out. What chance did she have now of getting away? Her chances were slim before, but now they just felt non-existent.

"I should tell Michelle and Daniella," Victoria suddenly said. "I…I don't even know where my phone is…"

"I can do that for you," Ashley said and Victoria looked to her. For a moment just then, she saw something else inside of Ashley. She saw something human. And Victoria nodded. She would let her do that.

"Can you just tell them I'll call them tomorrow?" she asked.

"Of course."

"And my brother," Victoria added on and Homelander's jaw clenched at that, but he said nothing as Ashley made another note on her tablet.

"There's press outside and at the Tower, but I've got security working on keeping them back and away from you. Homelander, your schedule is cleared for the rest of the week. No one is expecting anything from you…but Mr Edgar would like to talk to you both when you're back at the Tower."

Victoria remained mute, groaning inside. But Homelander shook his head.

"Not tonight," was all he said to Ashley and then turned to look at Victoria. "Are you ready?"

She gave a tight nod and he moved a hand to the small of her back, hovering close to her and walking behind her as they stepped outside. She tried to ignore the yells of her name and the flashing of cameras. Homelander kept an arm extended in front of him, trying to shield her from the intrusive cameras. There were Vought security guards keeping them at bay, a car waiting on the curb for them.

"How is your baby?"

"Have you named her yet?"

"Does she have your powers, Homelander?"

"How does it feel to be a mother?"

Victoria's lips remained pursed shut and Homelander didn't bother to say anything or look at anyone. He wasn't in the mood for playing nice anymore. The back door was already open and Homelander ensured Victoria was inside the car first before he went to the other side. He barked at the driver to go, not wanting to waste time. The drive back to the Tower was quiet, Homelander helping Victoria avoid the press when they were back there. They didn't say anything on the ride up to the penthouse.

Homelander dropped her bag by the couch as Victoria looked around the space. There were vases of flowers dotted around and Homelander waved a nonchalant hand at them. "People sent them when they found out. I can have them taken out."

"It's fine," Victoria promised him with a shake of her head.

"Can I get you anything?"

"I'll go and make a mug of tea."

"I'll do it," he said to her. "Herbal?"

"Lemon," she said and he nodded, moving off into the kitchen.

Victoria looked to the flowers before moving to the staircase. She knew that he'd know where she'd gone. Moving up the steps, she came to the guest bedroom and saw that there were some boxes in the corner. They must have been some of the parcels she'd ordered for the baby. She didn't go and look at them. She just went to her bed and pulled the duvet back, pushing her shoes from her feet with her heels, leaving them on the floor. Climbing in, she laid down, hugging her pillow tight to her. It was another minute or two before Homelander followed her up.

"I can have the boxes moved into my room," he said, placing her mug down on her bedside table.

"No, it's fine," she said to him and he watched her as she laid still under the covers.

"I'll…I'll let you sleep," he said.

"Did you know about the NDA?" she asked from him before he could leave.

She propped herself up to her elbows and Homelander remained stood on the other side of her bed. He sighed, shrugging his shoulders before settling down on the edge, perching there and looking to her.

"It was raised with me," he confirmed. "But I thought that it would be mentioned when you signed the prenup…and I never thought that they would use our daughter against you, not like they did."

"I told you that I wouldn't go," Victoria just said to him and he nodded.

"I know, but Vought prefer to have these things in writing. Your word means nothing to them…but it means something to me," he said to her simply.

Victoria nodded her head once, seemingly appeased by his answer to her. He wondered if she was going to say anything else on the point, but she just sat there silently. He remained where he was too, not wanting to move. He didn't know how long it was before she spoke again. It was almost as though she had so many thoughts going round in her mind but didn't know how to talk about them with him.

"The other day…you said that you had to make a choice."

"They worried that the worst might happen," he whispered and Victoria looked at him, his shoulders hunched. He was bent over at the waist, hands clasped together. "You were losing so much blood and they said that the baby was far too early…that…there might need to be a decision made and they wanted me to make it. I had to choose."

"What did you say?" Victoria asked from him and he tugged his gloves from his fingers, tossing them onto the throw that was draped over the end of her bed.

"I chose you," he said and he looked her in the eye once more.

She was silent, gaze widening and he wanted to chuckle. She almost looked surprised at that. She remained mute and Homelander contemplated leaving, not sure if he wanted to hear what she thought.

"Why?" was all that she asked.

He frowned, brows knitting together and forehead creasing. "Why?" he echoed back to her.

"All you've wanted was a baby…a child…" she said to him.

"Yes, but with you," he said and she lowered her gaze for a moment. He continued talking, voice softer than usual. "You were laid in that bed and I could hear your heart slowing…your pulse weakening…I thought that I was going to lose you and I couldn't contemplate that. You might hate me. You might despise me. But I love you. I love you and I couldn't let you go. The idea of our daughter…not choosing her…it tore me apart, but I just couldn't let you go."

Victoria didn't want to feel the lump in her throat as she heard him, wondering when she had last heard him sound so torn up over something. She swallowed hard and blinked back her tears before nodding her head softly.

"You know what I'm going to tell you, don't you?" she whispered, feeling the numbing pain in her stomach come back. Her painkillers were in her bag downstairs.

"That you'll never make the same choice I did?" he questioned.

"I probably should," Victoria said to him with a nod of her head. "I should tell you that you should have chosen her over me…but you didn't…even after everything, you still picked me."

"I'd always pick you," he whispered to her. "But in the end, it didn't matter."

"It matters," she assured him and his gaze met hers, the two of them sharing an intense stare. Victoria broke away first, unsure of what she might do if he kept on looking at her like he was doing. Everything he was stemmed from him never having a loving family. She wished things had been different, but she knew that her daughter couldn't grow up in an environment like that.

"I'm going to go and get my bag. I need my medication."

"I'll fetch it."

"And do you think you could see if Annie is here?"

"Why?"

"I really want to shower, but I might need help just changing," Victoria said.

He opened his mouth to begin to tell her that he could help her, but he doubted she'd want to hear that. Closing his mouth, he just nodded his head once and left her in the bedroom. She got back out of bed and went into the bathroom, finding her shampoo and conditioner. Pulling up the white top she wore, she looked at the dressing on the wound and knew that she had to change it. They had told her to, but she still wasn't confident. She heard two sets of footsteps coming back and turned around, poking her head out the bathroom door to find Annie following Homelander.

"I'll leave your bag here," he said to her.

"Thank you," she replied as Annie remained behind him.

He didn't say a word to her, just turned on his heel and closed the door to the guest bedroom. Annie let out a deep breath she'd been holding in since she'd seen Homelander. Moving towards Victoria, she embraced her limply, not wanting to hurt her.

"I can't believe it," Annie said to her. "You…I should have come after you at the premiere. I saw you leave."

"It's fine, there was nothing you could do. We've been in Vought's special facility on the other side of the City…she's…they're keeping her there until they can move her here and the medical team can treat her downstairs."

"And how is she?" Annie wondered, hands holding Victoria's shoulder.

"She's…she's so small," Victoria said to her. "Everything about her is tiny and I know that she's part Homelander so she's probably stronger than she looks, but just watch her and I'm so scared of her getting hurt."

"But the nurses are going to know exactly what to do to keep her safe," Annie said. Victoria sniffed and nodded.

"I know," she agreed on that point. "But I just want to hold her and I can't. She's wired up to all these tubes that are helping her breath and feeding her. I mean…I can feel my breasts leaking and I can't do anything about it. I just feel helpless."

"I know, but you're there for her and that's the main thing," Annie promised her. "And you're going to make a great mom, I don't doubt that. She's going to be so lucky to have you in her life."

"I hope so."

"I know so," Annie promised, "but you need to look after yourself if you're going to look after her, so you're going to shower and then get some sleep."

"You're as bossy as the nurses."

"Glad to hear it," Annie said, smiling to her. "Now, come on. I'll help you change."

"You're probably going to see more than you want to," Victoria warned her as they headed into the bathroom and Victoria sank down to sit on the edge of the bed that was round the corner from the massive walk-in shower. Annie shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly.

"I think you're pretty hot so I'm not fussed," she said and she brought a smile to Victoria's face.

She helped her out of the top she was wearing and shimmied down her pants when Victoria struggled to bend over. Once Annie was certain she was safe in the shower, she left her alone and headed to the bedroom to find her some clean pyjamas. She pulled open drawers, grabbing clean underwear on her way and finding her hairbrush as well. Once she was certain that she had everything, she sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for Victoria to come back out. She did so after ten minutes, steam from the bathroom following her out.

"You alright?"

"Just sore," Victoria said. "I should take my meds."

"I found them in your bag," Annie said, popping the pill out and handing it to Victoria. She downed it with the herbal tea that had started to go slightly cold before sitting next to Annie, wrapped in a white towel with her hair hanging wet down her back.

"Stan Edgar wants me to sign an NDA," Victoria suddenly said.

It had been weighing on her mind. She knew what Homelander would say when she told him, but she just wanted someone to tell her that Vought were being bastards and agree with her that they had no right to any part of her life.

"He what?" Annie asked.

"When I came round from the surgery, he was there in the room and waiting for me," Victoria informed her friend. "He'd had someone cuff me to the bed and was refusing to let me go until I signed…and if I didn't then he threatened to take my daughter from me."

Annie's eyes narrowed and she opened her mouth to exhale a sharp and angry gasp. "He had no right to do that to you."

"But he did," Victoria said. "Anyway, John…he stopped him. He told him that it wasn't the time and he wasn't going to stop me from seeing her. He actually stood up to him."

Annie was silent at that, imagining what Homelander standing up to Edgar might look like. She had heard that the CEO was the only one who had any power to keep Homelander under control.

"I guess he's done something right for once then," Annie commented. "But seriously, they have no right to do that to you. How could they even keep her from you? She's your daughter."

"We both know they're powerful," Victoria whispered to Annie, not knowing if Homelander would be eavesdropping from somewhere in the apartment. But what she said to Annie, she'd say the same to his face. "They have powerful lawyers and know people in high up places. They could easily find a way to give sole custody to Homelander. I can't go up against them…there would be no option."

"And so you're going to sign it?"

"I have no choice. I need to keep my baby safe."

"I swear, Vic, I'm going to stand by you every step of the way," Annie said and Victoria gave her a warm smile, squeezing her hand firmly and resting her head on her shoulder, Annie's arm going around her and not caring that her shirt was getting damp from Victoria's recently washed hair.

"You're a good friend, Annie," Victoria whispered.

"You were there for me when I first joined the Seven and felt so lost…you were the only one who really saw me for who I was when I was in this Tower…it helped me feel not so alone."

"I'm glad we've stayed friends," Victoria said. "Despite everything…I guess you might be stuck with me forever."

"Oh, I think I can handle that," Annie promised, squeezing her gently. "Now, come on, I'll help you get dressed and you need some sleep."

Victoria didn't protest at that. She let Annie help her into her baggy pyjamas, the pants hanging low on her hips and the blue top two sizes too big for her. Once she had her hair brushed and towel dried, she slipped into bed, the clock having struck eight. It was still early, but Victoria didn't entirely mind. Annie ensured the pillows were fluffed up sufficiently before pulling the duvet up to her chin and wishing her a good night. She turned out the light on her way and headed downstairs, finding Homelander waiting for her by the door, hands behind his back and eyes set firmly on her.

"She's asleep," Annie was the one to speak first, motioning back to the staircase. "Well, it won't be long until she's asleep, I guess. She looked pretty-"

"-I'm not here to exchange pleasantries," Homelander interrupted, his voice low and tone cold. Here was the man she knew so well, not the one who Victoria knew. "I'm here to warn you not to do anything stupid so long as you two remain friends."

Annie cocked her head to the side. "I have no idea what you mean."

"Don't play dumb with me," he warned her, voice low and malicious as she prepared to use her powers if she had to. He took a step forwards, the smile on his face causing her pulse to race. "I know it was you who helped William Butcher take the telepath to her in France."

"I-"

"-I said," he interrupted in a low growl, "don't fucking play dumb. I am done with your bullshit lies."

Annie folded her arms over her chest, chin jutting out. She might be scared of him, but she wasn't going to let him win.

"She deserved to know the truth and know just what a fucking monster you are."

"And that turned out just dandy for you, didn't it?" he snapped at her, continuing his advance towards her until he was just inches from her face, peering down at her. "She's engaged to me. She's just had my baby. She's going nowhere. All you've done is hurt her by telling her the truth. She was happier when she didn't know."

"She was living a lie."

"Which is sometimes better than living in reality," he retorted to her and Annie grunted through clenched teeth. "So long as you keep coming here to visit her, there will never be any talk of helping her escape…helping her get away from here with our daughter…because if you do that…if you even think of going against me then I'll kill Hughie. I'll kill everyone you love."

"And how do you think Victoria would react if she knew what you were saying right now? Do you think that she'd want to be here."

"Oh, I am under no illusion that she would rather run away, but she's not going anywhere. She is mine. She is staying here…by my side…forever…and not you…not Stan Edgar or William fucking Butcher are going to change that. Understand?"

Annie looked to him and for the first time in her life she pitied him. "It's sad," she drawled, "that the only way you can keep someone is through threats…and she will never love you like you want. Especially if she knew about Flight 39."

Homelander's brows furrowed at that and Annie realised she had that on him now.

"There's a video of what happened on that Flight, of you leaving a whole plane to go down. And we'll release it if we have to. We'll show the whole world what a beast you are."

He looked at her genuinely surprised then. She had said we. Who was included in this we? He had his suspicions.

"You release that video and I'll destroy everything and everyone."

"Do it."

Homelander turned around at the new voice that had entered his penthouse and he saw Maeve stood there, hands on her hips. She walked forwards, still dressed in her outfit, her strides long and purposeful as she stood by Starlight's side. He should have known she was involved in this.

"Of course you're here."

"I heard Victoria was back and wanted to see how she was," Maeve said and that was genuine enough. "But Starlight is right. We have that video and if you do so much as to hurt us…Elena…Hughie…we'll release it. You can burn the entire country down if you have to, but at least everyone will know what a monster you are then…and do you really think you'd be able to keep Victoria and your daughter then?"

Looking between the two women, he was at a loss for words. He wasn't entirely certain what more he could say on the matter other than how much he despised both of them. They wouldn't win in the long run. He would never let them win in the long run.

"Get the fuck out of my apartment," he decided on simply saying to both of them.

He turned on his heel, anger overwhelming him. How dare they do this to him? How dare they threaten him? He heard them leave and he stormed through to the balcony, needing fresh air. He was the Homelander. He could do whatever he wanted. They'd see that. One day they would see that. He could be exactly what he wanted to be. He could have it all. They might think that they could blackmail him for now, but it would never last. He would never let them get away with it.

Once he was calmer, he moved back inside and went upstairs. Listening in, he was content that Victoria was sleeping soundly. He went to shower, leaving his suit on the floor and not caring about cleaning up. Stepping into the warm water, her let it flow around him as he placed both hands against the wall, water falling down his face and his hair hanging flat on top of his head. He focused on what mattered at that moment in time instead of letting anger consume him.

He thought about his daughter, laid in that incubator and waiting to come home. They hadn't even talked about a name yet, but Ashley had told him that polling had been persistently good with the traditional names, such as Elizabeth or Charlotte. He wondered what it would feel like to raise her, to be there for her when she took her first flight or used her laser eyes. He'd be so proud of her. He'd have to teach her restraint too, warning her that her strength was a blessing alongside a curse. He wondered if one day she might take over from him as Leader of the Seven. He'd be so proud.

And then he thought of the alternatives. He contemplated her never using her powers. What if she didn't want them? What if she wanted a normal life? To go to school and college…to marry and settle down…live the life that so many normal American families had? He frowned at the thought but pushed it to the side. She'd have him to guide her.

Finishing in the shower, he changed into a loose pair of pants and a grey t-shirt. It was the one Victoria always used to sleep in. It still smelt of her perfume if he inhaled sharply enough. He missed her, of course. He missed what they had. But the past few days had almost been amicable between them. He was about to climb into bed when he heard her. Grimacing, he wondered if he should leave her alone. But then she screamed loudly.

Instinct took over as he rushed from his room and down the corridor to the guest bedroom. He opened the door and saw her laid in bed, eyes firmly closed and the room bathed in darkness.

"No…you can't take her from me…please…no…she's my baby!"

"Victoria," Homelander spoke her name as she thrashed in the bed, the nightmare so vivid that tears were streaming down her cheeks. He knelt on the bed by her side, grasping hold of her shoulders. "Victoria, wake up…come on…it's just a nightmare."

He shook her gently and her yells turned to whimpers as she opened her eyes and slowly came round. It took her a few moments for her eyes to adjust to the darkness and for her to remember where she was as her body shook and she cried gently. Homelander took her cheek into his palm, forcing her gaze to meet his.

"You're alright. You're safe."

She nodded once, gulping hard as she watched him. "Please don't let him take her from me," she whispered and he watched her. She was truly scared. She had acted so brave in front of Edgar, but she was terrified of the power he held and what he could do. She would be wise to feel that way. "Promise me, John…promise me you'll never take her from me."

He felt her hand go to his chest, clinging tightly onto his top as he nodded his head. "I promise," he said to her. "Come here."

He moved to envelope her in his embrace. She went stiff for a moment, as she always seemed to do before her head rested by his chest and her hand remained limp on his chest. He cradled her to him softly and steadily, laying down beside her slowly.

"No one is going to take her from us," he whispered into the darkness. "I swear on it, Victoria…I'd do everything in my power to stop them."

And that was the part that almost worried her when he said it. She knew the lengths he would go. She knew the extremes he had gone to in the past. She never wanted him to go there again, but she almost understood it. She's go to the same lengths if it meant keeping her daughter safe.

...

A/N: So not so much of a cliffhanger this time! Thanks so much to all who have reviewed - would love to know what you think! And again, ideas for season 3 would be great!