Yawning loudly, Victoria stretched her legs as she woke up slowly, coming round from what felt like a long night's sleep. She moved a hand to her head as she felt it begin to ache, wondering just what had happened the night before. She almost felt as though she had a hangover. She bit down on the inside of her cheek and guessed she must have drunk more than she thought. She'd gone to bed after putting Evelyn down and that was all she remembered. She was dressed in her silk pyjamas, hair a mess around her head. Sitting up slowly, she blinked and her eyes adjusted to the light. Glancing to her alarm clock, she saw it had gone nine. How had she not heard Evelyn?
Slipping from bed, she padded over to the crib that she kept at the foot of it, not wanting Evelyn to sleep anywhere else but with her. She wasn't in her bed. Folding her arms over her chest, Victoria headed on down the stairs, passing Homelander's empty bedroom and the nursery that was being decorated. Stepping down the spiral staircase, she found Homelander already dressed, Evelyn laid on the mat in front of him, her legs and arms kicking as he played with her, holding the rattle above her head that she seemed to enjoy playing with the most.
"You're up," Homelander commented.
"Yeah, I didn't realise what time it was," Victoria said and he waved her off.
"It was a busy day yesterday," he said to her. "I thought that you could do with the lie-in. I've given Evelyn her bottle and changed her. She seems pretty content."
Victoria went to sit on the other side of her daughter, legs folding beneath her as she sunk to the floor. Reaching for Evelyn, she took her daughter into her arms as Homelander watched the two of them. He remembered how perfect last night had been. Victoria had curled herself up into his arms, holding him and kissing him like she loved him. He'd waited until she'd fallen asleep before carrying her back to her bedroom. Thankfully she'd already slipped her pyjamas back on, claiming that she felt chilly.
"Did you sleep well, sweetie?" Victoria asked her daughter, well aware that there would be no response but needing to fill the silence. She didn't quite understand why Homelander was staring at her like he was. "Yeah? You had a good night sleep?"
"And daddy got her just before she started crying to wake you up," Homelander said and Victoria let Evelyn rest her cheek just by her neck, a hand rubbing up and down her back gently. She kept on smiling, unable to stop herself. She felt nothing but joy whenever she was in her arms. "You know, we might not be having a honeymoon, but Dawn of the Seven's in production right now. That means I can take a few days off from stuff…we could take her on a walk this morning if you're up to it?"
Victoria didn't know how to say no. She just nodded her head tightly. "Alright," she said. "I just need to shower and dress…and do we have any aspirin? I feel like I've got a headache coming on."
"Sure, they're in the medicine cabinet. Want me to get you one?"
"I can do it," Victoria said to him and she settled Evelyn back down onto the playmat. Homelander went back to playing with her, his fingers tickling her stomach softly and hearing her softly giggle. His lips picked up, his hearing listening into Victoria going through the cupboards and pouring herself a glass of water to take the medicine.
His lips curled upwards. She didn't remember a thing. Perhaps he could use this to his advantage as time went on.
…
Homelander had been called away on Dawn of the Seven business. There were some reshoots that they needed before production could be completed. Some of the scenes hadn't gone down well with their test audience and they wanted to rectify that before anything else could move on. He said that he would be gone for just a couple of days, but Victoria was almost glad of it. It meant that she could have some time to breathe freely without him lingering around her.
She was going on a walk with Evelyn, Annie tagging along to keep her company. She had to stay close to the compound whenever she wasn't with Homelander or another supe or Vought security. Her life was hardly her own now that she had Evelyn. Security had been stepped up another notch, but she knew it wasn't for her sake. It was to keep Evelyn safe. She was the daughter of Homelander, one of the most famous babies in the world. Victoria always tried to stay low, wearing boring beige clothes and keeping the pram's hood up to cover her daughter from passers-by. Annie always wore plain clothes whenever she came with her. Homelander never did. He liked people staring. He liked people watching and knowing that he had everything.
"Hughie said that Billy's been trying to call you."
Victoria kept her hands firmly gripped on the handle of the pram, pushing it forwards slowly along the path in the park they always frequented. Annie walked alongside her, holding both of their cups of lattes they had picked up from a coffee shop on the way. She took a sip of her own before Victoria took hers from her and sipped on it. Annie took it back, letting Victoria focus on pushing the pram.
"Yeah, I know," was all that Victoria offered her back.
"You're not returning his calls then?"
"Not after what happened at the wedding," Victoria said with a shake of her head.
"What did happen?" Annie wondered. "I mean, all I knew was that Billy went in there and came out in a rage…Homelander looking smug…"
"We just had an argument," Victoria said to her. She didn't want to tell her the full details because she was apprehensive about how she might react. She didn't want to alienate the last remaining friend she had. "Billy and Homelander…they despise each other…and I know that. Things were said that can't be unsaid."
"Whatever it was, I'm sure he'll forgive you," Annie said and Victoria wished she had that confidence. Annie had an optimism that Victoria just didn't seem to have anymore. Yes, she wasn't the naïve young woman who had walked into Vought Tower, but she still tried to stay positive. She still tried to do the right thing. Victoria felt as though she had lost all sense of being able to do that. She just got by. She did what she had to just to keep Evelyn safe and with her.
"What has he been saying to Hughie?" Victoria asked. She knew that Annie spent as much time as possible at Hughie's apartment than at her own in the Tower.
"Just that you two had an argument and you're now not talking to him. It's Billy. He's not exactly a talker," Annie reminded her and Victoria nodded. She knew that much. "Listen, I know that Billy isn't exactly your favourite person right now, but he does care. He's an asshole, but he loves you."
"It was in Chicago," Victoria said, realising that there was no chance she was going to be able to keep it from Annie forever. She just had to hope that Annie would be more forgiving and understanding than Billy. Plus, Annie was hardly going to relent on this conversation. "I told you about what happened with Daniella."
"Yeah, and I think she was being harsh."
"I was in a dark place," Victoria confessed and she settled down on a park bench. Annie sat beside her, handing her the takeaway cup. She clasped her hands around it, keeping a foot on one of Evelyn's pram's wheels. Her daughter was sleeping soundly. "Daniella…she was my best friend and the argument was just…it was horrific…I'd just lost Michelle. Evelyn was sick…and Homelander. He was there. He was there through it all and it felt…I just felt so alone…that night…I felt like I had nothing else and he…I just wanted to forget. For one night I wanted to forget it all and it wasn't like I could drink."
"You didn't," Annie whispered, but Victoria just nodded her head at her once. She had. She had done exactly what she'd hoped never to do. "Vicky," Annie groaned.
"Homelander came into the bathroom when Billy was there and told him. He wound him up." Victoria continued. "Billy lost his cool and I tried to explain. I tried to tell him that at that moment in time it was weakness. It was me just wanting something to be how it was considering everything else had fallen apart. You don't know what it's like…to know who he is and what he does…but to live with someone who has been…nothing but loving…desperate for someone to love him and I guess maybe I am too. I want someone to love me and he does. He's the only person who has ever loved me for who I am."
Annie was quiet as she listened to Victoria. Her friend was looking down to her lap, gaze settled evenly on her skirt covered thighs. She tucked her hair behind her ear. "I told him everything about my past. He knows everything about me and he still loves me. I never thought I'd have that with anyone…and I knew at that time that I'd never have it with anyone else again. I'm not going anywhere, Annie. How can I?"
Annie watched her and wondered if she had ever seen her look so defeated before. She knew that it was tough, but Annie guessed she had no idea just how tough it actually was. She thankfully had Hughie who might have kept secrets from her, but he loved her. He adored her and she trusted him. He was a good person. Homelander wasn't that. He was a monster, but Victoria had never really seen that side of him. It's hard to think the worst of a person when you haven't seen just what they are capable of.
"It's alright," Annie promised her in a soft voice. She took hold of her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and holding onto her tightly, bringing her close against her side. "Vicky, it's alright."
"You're not going to leave, are you?" Victoria asked from her and Annie shook her head.
"I'm going nowhere," she promised her. "Vicky, I'm not going to abandon you, okay? You're not alone. I…what happened in Chicago…it was just one night and I know you don't think that this makes Homelander a good person and everything like that…that you want him back."
"Thank you," Victoria said appreciatively to her and she sniffed, wiping her nose with the back of her hand after she set her cup down on the wooden slats next to her. "Without you I don't know what I'd do, Annie. Homelander…a part of me thinks he told him to alienate us. I think he thinks that if I just have him then things will be as it was, but they won't be. They can never be how they were and I've come to accept that. I just don't know how to escape him."
"There's going to be a way, but we know that we can't do it on our own," Annie said with a shake of her head.
"I don't know if anything can stop him," Victoria said and she sat back up, folding one leg over the other and looking down to Evelyn. "And then there's the fact that Edgar…he has control over him, but he's let him get away with a lot up until now. Without Edgar, I worry what he'd be like."
"So do I," Annie said to her. "But Edgar is around and we just need time to find out what we can do about Homelander…and once we've done that then you and Evelyn can get away from here. You can raise your daughter without fear of him."
"It's not that I fear him," Victoria said and she glanced back to Evelyn in her pram. "I fear how he might raise our daughter."
…
"I've been trying to get you on your own for ages."
Victoria had been reluctant to leave Evelyn at home, but she needed to go out for new clothes for her. Annie and Hughie had been in her apartment and she had asked her if she would babysit just for a couple of hours. She had smiled widely and taken hold of Evelyn, holding onto her and cooing over her as Hughie said that he guessed that was a yes. She had left Evelyn quite content with the young couple and Victoria knew that if they ever decided to have a family then they'd make great parents. She tossed her bag on over her body, letting it swing against her hip before heading into the city.
She'd picked up some more baby grows and some shoes on her trip. No one really recognised her with her long curly hair tied into a ponytail and dressed in a pleated green skirt and long white sheer shirt, cuffs tightened around her wrist. Her sneakers squeaked slightly as she headed into the toy section, wondering if there was anything new she could find Evelyn as a treat.
She had just picked up a stuffed elephant when she heard the voice. Turning her head to the side, she saw Alex stood there, dressed in civilian clothes and not his supe suit. He was wearing dark jeans with a light blue top hanging loosely over it with trainers on his feet. She was amazed no one had recognised him and mobbed him, his face pretty distinct even if his suit didn't give him away.
"What are you doing here?"
"Trying to work out what the hell is going on," Alex retorted.
Victoria looked up and down the aisle. The last thing she needed was someone spotting them and working out who they were. Thankfully, the stuffed toy section seemed pretty empty. Alex moved his hands to his hips and kept on staring at her, waiting for a response. He didn't get one. She placed the stuffed toy down and grabbed his arm, dragging him down the aisle towards the back of the store, finding the door to the stairwell she guessed no one used considering she was on the fifth floor.
"You can't just show up like this," she said to him.
He shrugged, arms folding over his chest. "Why can I not?"
"Because…" she trailed off. She knew that Homelander would never hurt her. But she knew he got jealous. He had never really had a reason to be jealous before. But for some reason, he seemed jealous of Alex if his actions in the garden were anything to go by.
"This is what I mean," he said when he realised she wasn't going to give him a sufficient answer. "You tell me I can't do things…talk to you…know about Homelander…go on American Hero, but you never give me any reason. You never tell me what is actually going on but it's clear that there is something. There's something really bad happening and it all stems down to one man and I deserve to know what it is."
Victoria cocked her head to the side, brow arching. "You deserve to know?" she asked from him. "Alex, you don't deserve to know anything because it's the knowing that lands you in trouble. You have no idea and if you did then it would put you at risk. I am telling you to stay away to protect you."
"I'm getting tired of all of this," he complained. "Being told I can't do something that I have worked my entire life for. I am not giving it up over vague comments-"
"-Not here," Victoria hissed at him and she looked through the glass pane of the door. She moved a hand to his arm again, squeezing it firmly in her grip and he looked down to her hand, seeing the engagement and wedding ring that sat there. Sighing, she realised he wasn't going to let this go. She relented and just looked back to him, meeting his gaze. "You know the Alice in Wonderland status in Central Park?"
"I imagine I can find it."
"Three hours…there's a dirt path that is off the main path…follow it until you find me."
Nodding his head, he guessed he could do that. He wasn't sure if he should be, but he guessed he had no other option. Victoria left him alone in the stairwell and checked the time on her phone. She went to grab the stuffed elephant, deciding to buy it for Evie. She didn't see Alex again as she paid and the cashier stared at her for a few moments, seeming to recognise her. Victoria took her shopping bags and made the trip back home. She went up to the penthouse first to drop her shopping off, relieved that Homelander wasn't back yet. He was due back later and she knew he'd want to see Evie as soon as he got back.
Victoria picked out the stuffed elephant and headed on down to Annie's apartment. Knocking on the door, Annie answered it, Hughie over her shoulder and sat with Evelyn on the sofa, rocking her in his arms.
"Hey, did you have a good shopping trip?" Annie asked from her.
"It was going well until Alex showed up out of nowhere," Victoria said to her and closed the door behind her. "How's Evie?"
"She's fine," Annie said, almost distracted as Hughie handed the baby back to her mother. "Wait? When did you see Alex?"
"Alex as in your ex-boyfriend?" Hughie checked and Victoria sat down, holding Evelyn against her, her daughter squirming slightly as she showed her the elephant and her fingers grabbed at it.
"Yeah," Annie said and Hughie almost wondered if he had any reason to be insecure. Annie didn't entirely seem bothered about talking about her ex. "What is he doing?"
"He wants to know why we've warned him away from American Hero. It's worse than that, though…he knows…he knows it's something to do with Homelander," Victoria said. "He worked it out at the wedding and I've avoided him ever since."
"I…I might have also been with him that day before the wedding when you were in the park and Homelander…he grabbed your throat," Annie said. "I told him that he had to stay away from you but Alex isn't exactly someone who ignores things."
"He should," Victoria complained and Evelyn continued playing with the elephant, Victoria holding it above her. "But I know he's not going to. Can I trust him?"
"Yes," Annie said without a moment's hesitation. "He's been through a lot, I know that, but I trust him. He's a good person and he's in this for the right reasons. Why? Are you going to tell him?"
"I don't…I don't know," Victoria confessed to her. "I know that I shouldn't tell him because that means he's involved and I don't want him involved…but I also know he isn't going to let this go."
"If he knows the truth then he might leave," Annie said to her.
"And if he doesn't?"
"Then at least he knows the danger that he's in," Annie replied.
"I don't know," Hughie interjected then. "I mean, we all know that Homelander's insane, right? I know he's your husband and he seems to be quiet for now, but do we want to risk this guy? Isn't there a way you can just get him kicked off of American Hero?" he asked Annie and she shook her head, arms folding over her chest.
"I don't have that kind of power. Homelander is still the captain of the Seven. He's going to be the one making decisions on American Hero…I mean…chances are he won't want Alex if his reaction to him so far has been anything to go by."
"If I tell him," Victoria said, jumping in once more with the hypothetical, "then at least he might stop bugging us? You know…he'll know the truth and keep his distance…at least then Homelander wouldn't be so suspicious of him hanging round."
"You might have a point," Annie agreed with her. "It's still risky. All of this is just so risky. I have no idea what we should be doing for the best."
"Whatever you decide to do, the chances are that we'll still have to keep looking over our shoulders," Hughie said. "Butcher is convinced that Homelander is just a ticking timebomb waiting to go off. He also wants you to return his calls."
"Why? So he can yell at me some more?" Victoria asked.
"You know, I don't think he actually wants to yell, which makes a change for Butcher considering its his favourite hobby…that and intimidating people," he said to her. "I think he needs to talk to you."
"I'll…just tell him I'll call him," Victoria said to Hughie. She needed to prepare herself to see him. She didn't think she could handle it if she turned up and saw the look of disappointment in his eyes or, even worse, disgust. She knew she was being a coward, but she didn't care. "But can you two babysit for a bit longer? I need to deal with this."
"Do you want me to go?" Annie wondered.
"It's fine," Victoria said. "I can go and do this."
"If you're sure," she said.
"Positive."
…
Victoria took the cup from Alex as he handed it out to her. She looked down to it and Alex's lips arched. "It's not poisoned, you don't have to worry," he promised her and she chuckled before taking a sip of it. It was herbal tea. She glanced back to him and he spoke before she could answer. "I've seen Annie pick it up for you in the café from the atrium. Don't worry, I'm not that great at guessing people's drink."
"Thanks," Victoria said.
"You're welcome," he replied. "So…should we talk about it now or do you want to engage in small talk?"
"Homelander isn't who you think he is," Victoria said, getting straight into it as they walked along the dirt path. The trees shadowed them, keeping them covered as they went, full in bloom, leaves occasionally blowing off in the gentle breeze.
"Yeah, I figured that," Alex said, sipping on his coffee as he stayed by her side. She'd tugged on a denim jacket over her white shirt as the evening air cooled. "But I need to know more than that, Victoria."
"If you know more," Victoria said, "then I worry about what might happen if he finds out what you know."
"I can keep my mouth shut."
"Easier said than done if you know," Victoria promised him, taking a drink of the tea, feeling the warmth coat her throat. "No one in the Seven is perfect. I mean A-Train has his issues…the Deep was a sexual predator…Maeve's pretty sassy…Noir doesn't even talk but I'm convinced he's not innocent. I mean, there was an actual Nazi there for a while. I think Annie might actually be perfect though."
Alex chuckled. "Oh, I have some stories about her, trust me, she's not a saint," he said.
Victoria's lips quirked at that, wondering just what her friend might have gotten up to before she joined the Seven. "You can tell me all about that because so far I have nothing on her…haven't even managed to get her drunk," Victoria complained. "But I'm getting off the point…it's Homelander. He's not perfect. He has a temper. He's done things…really bad things…things that I didn't believe for a long time, but they're true."
"What kind of things?" Alex asked her.
"He's threatened to kill Annie numerous times," Victoria said to him. "He's killed other people…innocent people who he was supposed to hand over to the police…that video of him killing that boy on the unsanctioned mission. Do you remember that? Well, it wasn't an accident. He didn't care. He never cared about any of it."
"Whoa…whoa…wait," Alex said and he stopped walking as Victoria looked at him and saw that his forehead had frown lines on it, face scrunched up. "You sat next to him and defended him."
"I broke up with him," Victoria said to Alex. "I left him and I tried to get away from him. Do you remember Madelyn Stillwell? It was Homelander who killed her, not my brother."
"What?"
"I know that this is a lot to get your head around, but you wanted the truth and this is it."
"I do want the truth, but you need to calm down and tell me what happened right from the beginning because at the moment you're not making much sense as to why he's done anything that he's done."
Victoria nodded and realised she had been blabbering. She found a patch of grass off the trail and sat down, legs crossed underneath her. Alex sank down to, his coffee completely forgotten about as he set it down to the side and listened to Victoria explain everything to him. She told him about Flight 37. She told him about Madelyn. She told him how he had wiped her memories only for her to get them back again. She told him how she had to stay with him because of Evelyn. She told him about Becca Butcher. He knew everything by the time she was finished, completely stunned to say anything.
Looking to the sky, Victoria noted that the sun had dipped even lower. She knew she had to get home soon enough because Homelander would be expecting her. She looked back to Alex and saw him tug a hand through his hair. He had been mostly silent as she explained everything to him, like he was worried she might stop talking if he interrupted her.
"He's a psychopath," Alex declared. "How has Vought not done anything about him?"
"What can they do?" Victoria asked. "He's not exactly someone they can get under control and since Evelyn was born he seems to be better…no unsanctioned missions or anything like that."
"You think that makes things okay?" Alex asked her. "He's committed atrocities and he's keeping you with him against your will…he basically forced you to marry him."
"I did what I had to because of Evie," Victoria replied. "And so long as Edgar is in charge then Homelander is going to be protected. Edgar isn't going to do anything against him…not unless he goes against him…everything he's done in the past is buried, but the fact is that I don't think it will take a lot to tip him over the edge. So long as things are good then things remain fine."
"You seriously think that?"
"Yes, because they have to be," Victoria snapped at him. "I told you all of this to get you to stay away."
"I'm not staying away."
"Alex, you know what he can do. If he finds out you know…if he ever knows…then he won't just come after you. He might come after your family. I don't want you to be burdened with this, but you are now because you wanted to know and you wouldn't stay away."
"Because I don't entirely like secrets being kept from me," Alex retorted to her and she rolled her eyes at hearing him. "And I wasn't going to give this up without a good enough reason, which you have definitely given me."
"Yet you say that you're not going to go," Victoria said deadpan to him.
"Because it's not the right thing to do. What? You think I should just run away and leave this to Annie? She sounds like she needs an ally on the Seven."
"She needs you to…" Victoria trailed off as she felt her phone begin to vibrate.
She reached into her bag and pulled it out. Homelander. She exhaled a sharp breath. "Just stay quiet," she demanded from Alex and stood up. She moved through the trees and hit the answer button.
"John," Victoria greeted him.
"Where are you? I got back and you're missing…Evelyn was with Starlight and Hugh Campbell."
"Yeah, I asked them to babysit while I went out shopping. Evie needed some new clothes."
"I can see that judging by the bags on the sofa," Homelander said and Victoria cursed herself for leaving them there. "So…where are you right now? Annie just said you had errands to run."
"I just needed some air," Victoria said to him. "I was planning on calling Billy, but I didn't in the end. I just ended up wandering round Central Park."
"Why would you call him?"
"Because he's my brother," Victoria said in a flat voice. "I don't like there being animosity between us but…I'm not sure I'm ready."
"Well, that's fine," Homelander said. "When will you be back?"
"I'll walk back now. Do you have Evelyn with you?"
"I'll bathe her and feed her, don't worry," Homelander said. "I expect she might be in bed by the time you get home."
"Alright…fine…thanks," Victoria said and he knew that she was lying to him. He knew that she wasn't telling him the truth. Her voice changed pitch ever so slightly whenever she was keeping something from him. "I'll be home soon."
"I'll be waiting," he said in an almost sing-song voice before hanging up, his words anything but innocent. Victoria pushed her phone back into her bag and tugged at her ponytail, tightening it. Alex had stood up, holding his cold cup of coffee and her empty cup.
"I need to go."
"Back to him?"
"Not really any other option," Victoria retorted. "Listen, Alex, I know you care for Annie. You two have a lot of history…but she would tell you what I've just told you…she'd tell you to get out of here."
He shook his head. "No," he said. "I can do this. I can do the show and if I get on the Seven then I can look out for her. I can try and help her get through this…help you too."
Victoria's brows knitted together. "Alex, you don't need to help me."
"No, I know that, but I've seen it in your eyes…you might not be scared of him, but you're scared of what he can do…plus Annie…when I was in rehab, everyone bailed on me. They left me alone and she was there. I'm not going to bail on her now."
"Then you need to keep quiet, Alex," Victoria warned him. "And I need to go because Homelander might be many things, but he's not an idiot and I need to keep him on side because I have a daughter who I have to put first."
"How can you be so certain he won't hurt you?" Alex questioned.
"Because, despite everything, he does love me," Victoria said. "He loves what we had and he loves to think that we can get it back."
"But he has to know that he can't. You're a doctor…you worked for the UN…everything about you goes against everything he does."
"Yeah, but he doesn't see it that way. He sees us both as being fucked up and we found each other," Victoria said. She guessed that was a part of it. "We had a shitty start in life and now we have a daughter and we can give her anything but that."
"I don't know what upbringing you both had, but there's no reason for him to do what he does," Alex said. "But whatever is going to happen, I'm in. I'm not going anywhere because I owe it for Annie and the runaway bride who I spent ten minutes with in an elevator."
"Alex, you owe me nothing," Victoria said, not wanting him to think that he was indebted to her. He wasn't.
"No, I don't, but I get the sense that you…you don't have many friends and I know what's that like," he said to her, pointing to his chest. "Abandoned in rehab, remember?"
"That's really sweet of you," Victoria said, her tone softening and her gaze widening. He hadn't seen any soft edge to her since he'd met her. She'd been all guarded walls, sarcastic comments and jaded laughs. "And I do appreciate it, honestly, but people who stay near me tend to end up hurt or hating me."
"You can't be scared of what might happen," he decided on saying to her. "I'll be fine. I can handle myself and it's not as if he can say anything if I spend time with you and Annie."
"Maybe not," Victoria agreed with him, "but just…just be careful because I'm not worth it. Trust me."
She began to turn on her heel but he grabbed her hand. His fingers were warm against her, brushing against them and holding onto her tightly. She jolted in her movements, coming to a halt before turning back around, looking down at his hand that engulfed hers. She kept watching their entwined limbs for a moment before she picked her gaze up. He met her stare and looked into her dark blue eyes.
"You are," he promised her in a low voice. "Don't think that about yourself, okay? Just…be careful with him…you might have faith in him not to hurt you, but after what you've told me, I'm not convinced."
"I'll be fine, Alex," Victoria promised him. "But I've got to go."
He nodded his head and she swore he squeezed her hand before she pulled away from him. Moving back to the main path, Victoria kept her head down, only turning her head over her shoulder once to look back to Alex. He was still stood on the spot, hands behind his head that was tilted up to the sky.
She wondered if it would be possible to know more about him. He seemed like a nice enough guy. He was pretty sweet and he had a good heart along with a good sense of humour. His wit seemed to match hers whenever they had dry conversations. She quite liked that. She shook away any thoughts of getting to know him better as she took the subway back towards the Tower. She couldn't risk it. She couldn't do anything.
Walking into the Tower, Victoria steadied herself. She had to play it calm in front of Homelander. She didn't want him to know anything about Alex. She could play this well. She knew he might suspect she was lying, but if she was convincing and told him what he wanted to hear then she might be fine. Entering the elevator, she tapped in the private code for the penthouse. As it neared the top, she took deep breaths and waited patiently for the doors to open.
The lights were dimmed and she saw Homelander sat on the sofa, watching the television, hands clasped together in between his spread legs. Victoria stepped out of the elevator and tugged her bag over her shoulder and tossed it onto the coatrack before slipping out of her denim jacket.
"I didn't think you were going to be home so soon," Victoria commented.
"Shooting finished early," he told her. "Apparently the premiere should be in a couple of months. We're expected to attend of course…and they have added in a bit about us."
Victoria frowned. "What about us?" she questioned, slipping her sneakers from her feet. She pushed them off with the toe of each foot against the heel. Moving to the sofa, she figured if she indulged him then she would keep him at bay.
"Well, they've cast someone to play you in a couple of scenes," Homelander said.
She sunk down onto the sofa, folding a leg underneath her and letting the other one dangle over the sofa. Moving a hand to her head, she propped an elbow up on the back of the cushion. "Someone is playing me? I thought that I was staying out of this?"
"You were, but they said it went down well with audiences…a scene of us two before I take on Stormfront…you forgive me for what I did, tell me you love me and will marry me. You claim that every relationship has a rocky road and we went over ours and came out stronger on the other side."
She scoffed, fingers running through her hair.
He arched a brow. "Not how you'd say things went?" he queried.
"Would you?" she replied. "I mean, for cinematic purposes I guess it's great."
"Certainly made the film crew happy," Homelander said to her. "But it felt a bit too weird…she hardly looked like you."
Victoria scoffed again. "I imagine she was much prettier and had a taut stomach and an ass that you could bounce a quarter off."
"You're not wrong," Homelander said to her. "Not that any of it mattered to me. I hardly looked at her…it took me far too many takes before they were even slightly pleased with what I'd done. Turns out saying things I'd say just to you isn't as easy to act out in front people."
"You struggled with it?" she asked from him.
He took his turn to scoff. "More than struggled," he confessed. "But we got there in the end and we'll go to the premiere and it'll be fine. Anyway…where have you been? You sounded distracted on the phone."
Victoria shrugged. She knew he'd be listening to her heart rate. "I just…I needed some space," she confessed to him. "I saw Hughie with Annie and he told me that Billy has been trying to get in touch. I mean, I know he has because I've been rejecting his calls…but I don't know if I can do it. I don't know if I can see him because I don't want to see the disappointment or disgust on his face."
"You know, he's not worth it," he said and she looked at him, gaze narrowing.
"He's my brother."
"Who abandoned you when you needed him."
"Don't," Victoria warned him.
He flapped his arms by his side. "What?" he asked. "What do you want me to say? He did abandon you."
"I've forgiven him."
"Oh, so you'll forgive him," Homelander muttered.
"Because he didn't let a plane of people die," Victoria snapped. "He didn't wipe my memories…threaten me…hurt innocent people and have no regrets…rape an innocent woman."
"Jesus, I never hurt you," Homelander said, pointing to her. "I've done everything I can to protect you and keep you safe. He didn't."
"You think that loving me can erase everything? It can't," Victoria said to him firmly. "And you know that."
He watched her storm off then and his teeth ground together. He was tired of this. He'd had a long day filming and he just wanted a quiet night. Victoria clearly had other days. He watched her flounce off to the kitchen and come back out after grabbing a bottle of water. He saw her take a drink of it and head on upstairs. He followed her, listening as she checked Evie was asleep and headed into the bathroom. She started to run a bath and Homelander slipped into his room. He found the bottle Edgar had given him and went into the guest bedroom.
Picking up her bottle of water, he dropped some of the liquid into it and then screwed the cap back on. He gave his sleeping daughter a glance as he walked by her crib, pressing his fingers to his lips and then to her forehead. Heading into his bedroom, he used his x-ray vision and watched Victoria in the bathroom.
She stripped from her clothes, tossing them into the laundry basket before slipping into the water as it continued running. He watched her lay back, head falling against the edge of the bath and eyes closing. He was going to give her some privacy until he saw her hand slip down her body and in between her legs. He couldn't look away then, his pants getting tighter and his breathing getting harder as his wife kept up with her ministrations, cheeks going flush and teeth biting her tongue to keep her quiet. But he still heard her small pants. When she had finished, eyes firmly closed and hand slipping to her thigh, he let out a shuddering breath before seeing her climb from the bath after using her mango shower gel. She wrapped a towel around herself and went back to the bedroom, checking Evelyn was fine.
And, just as she grabbed some fresh underwear from her bedside drawer, she thought again and took a long gulp of water. Homelander stopped his spying then and waited patiently. Stripping out of his suit, he left it in the walk-in wardrobe, grabbing a plain blue top and grey pants. He pulled the duvet back and picked up a book from his bedside table. He didn't ready any of the words. It took just five minutes before Victoria walked in.
"I can't remember why I took a bath in the guest room," she commented.
"You prefer that tub," Homelander said without missing a beat.
"It is deeper," she confirmed with him. "And Evie…when do you think the nursery will be ready for her? I mean, we could always bring her in here, couldn't we?"
"Well, you didn't want her in here while we were in our honeymoon phase," Homelander said to her, reminding her exactly of what she would have said. She padded over to the bed and he watched her tug the duvet back and slip into it. It was her side of the bed. She moved the duvet up to her chin as she laid down and he felt her nestle up against his side. He had a baby monitor on his table, listening to it intently in case he heard something that seemed off.
"I hate to say it, but I'm not sure I can cope with honeymoon antics tonight," she said and stifled a yawn. "I'm exhausted. Have you seen all the stuff I bought Evie?"
"I put it in her dresser. There's some cute stuff there. I take it the elephant was from you too?"
"I thought it was sweet," she confessed. "Besides, it's our prerogative to spoil her, isn't it?"
"I do believe we have that right as her parents," he agreed, nodding his head and he moved his arm around her shoulders, holding onto her and feeling her hair tickle against his neck. She closed her eyes and he heard her let out a soft yawn. He had to admit that he had hoped for something more than her falling asleep against him when he had given her the drug.
"Is she alright?" Victoria suddenly asked him.
"She's perfectly fine," he promised her. "From the sound of her breathing, she's sleeping very well."
"Annie and Hughie must have tired her out," Victoria said and he moved his hand up and down her arm as a hand went to sit against his chest. "I still find it so weird. We're actually parents…like…I never thought that this could happen or that it would happen."
"You don't regret it, do you?"
"Absolutely not," Victoria said without hesitation. "Evie might not have been planned, but she's the best surprise I could have hoped for. I never really got it before, you know? I'd see parents with their kids in public and I just thought that they were so over the top with them…but then Evie came along and I suddenly understood. It's just a completely different kind of love, isn't it?"
"It is," Homelander confirmed with a nod of his head, fingers slipping under the collar of her shirt and skimming her bare shoulder. "What would you say if we think about…I don't know…another one?"
She froze then and turned to glance up to him. He was smiling down to her and noted how she bit her lip, his lips falling ever so slightly. "Another kid?"
"One day," he said, not pushing her on it. "You know, two of them…a sibling for Evie…another half-sibling for Ryan."
Victoria's brow creased then. "Where is Ryan?" she asked and Homelander came to realise that what he was giving her had altered so many memories.
"Living with an aunt," he decided on saying to her. "We still have to build bridges, you know? He's not entirely used to me and I don't want to push him."
Victoria just nodded her head. Something in her mind didn't feel right. It was like she could remember something about him but she couldn't think what it was. Homelander could see the cogs turning and he acted quickly, moving so that she was suddenly laid underneath him. He hovered over her, propped up on his forearms before he kissed her. She pressed her lips to his and heard him moan in the back of his throat. He hoped that she was forgetting about the prior conversation. He knew that he was playing a dangerous game, but what other choice did he have? This was the only way they could be together as they were supposed to be. He was running out of options.
"Just think about it," he urged from her, pulling away for a brief moment and then kissing her once more, a brief peck to her lips.
"I mean, we can talk about it later, but after everything with Evie…I don't know if I can do that again or even think about doing it again," she confessed to him. "She is completely perfect, but I…I almost lost my life and we almost lost her. It's not so simple, John. You know that."
"I know, sweetheart," he said, remembering how he had made that decision to save her. He remembered her holding onto him, sobbing as she passed out and he told the doctors to keep her alive at whatever cost. "But things might not be as complicated the second time round. I just think that it might be nice…a baby brother or sister for Evie."
"Maybe," Victoria said, but she clearly wasn't convinced. She didn't know if she could handle another child. "Discussion for another day?"
"Discussion for another day," he said and he left it at that.
He kissed her once more and Victoria almost forgot she was tired as his hand tugged at the buttons of her pyjama shirt, deftly unbuttoning them until the material parted and she shivered as his fingers ran over her stomach, dipping lower and underneath the hem of her pyjama bottoms. He moved to kiss her neck and she closed her eyes, letting him toy with her as she groaned loudly.
"John," she whispered his name.
"It's alright, sweetheart. I've got you," he said to her.
He paused his movements when he realised that he heard a noise from downstairs. Frowning, he pulled his head from her neck and turned it over his shoulder. Victoria propped herself onto her elbows, frowning as his fingers slipped back up to her stomach, palm splaying on her skin.
"What is it?"
"I heard someone downstairs," he said.
She frowned. "Oh…it might be Annie," Victoria commented. "I gave her the code. She messaged me before I went to bed and said that we'd left Evie's rattle behind. Let me just go check."
"No, I'll go," Homelander promised her, kissing her softly once more.
He climbed from the bed, heading down the stairs just in time to see Annie pressing the button for the elevator to go. He folded his arms over his chest. "Just let yourself in, Starlight," he drawled.
She turned her head over her shoulder, almost doing a double take. She had never seen him dressed in plain clothes. It was almost more unnerving than when he wore his suit. He watched her as she looked to him and then he heard the footsteps behind him. Victoria had ignored him and come down. Annie noted her shirt, seeing how she was buttoning it up and it was loose over her pyjama bottoms, the dogtooth black and white pattern not entirely matching as her clothes were askew.
"Hey," Victoria greeted Annie. "Sorry, I know you messaged but I completely forgot you were coming up."
Annie frowned. Victoria seemed almost too happy. She looked carefree. There was something not right.
"I left it just on the coffee table. I didn't want to disturb you."
"You're not disturbing," Victoria promised her and Annie noted the red heat of her cheeks. "Thanks for bringing it back. If she woke up in the morning and didn't see that then I doubt she'd be happy."
"I know how attached to it she is," Annie retorted. "Are we still on for brunch tomorrow?"
"Of course," Victoria said to her. "I'll come by yours at nine."
"Perfect," Victoria said and moved a hand to Homelander's forearm as he glanced down to her, smiling.
"I just need a word with Starlight. I'll be up in a minute," he promised her and she nodded.
Annie watched her kiss him quickly before taking off. Her mouth dropped open as she retreated back upstairs. Annie and Homelander continued glaring at each other until they were certain she was gone and unable to hear them. Stepping towards him, Annie lowered her voice, hissing at him.
"What the fuck have you done to her?"
"Nothing," he said.
But Annie shook her head. "That wasn't her and I know it," she said.
"Maybe you just don't know her? I mean, you have no idea what happened in Chicago between us because things changed-"
"-I know everything that happened in Chicago because she told me," she interrupted him. "About how she argued with Daniella and then slept with you at the hotel…she told me how it had been a mistake…how she'd completely regretted it. Don't even try and bullshit me."
Homelander's jaw remained firm and Annie watched his eyes darken. He grabbed hold of her by the neck suddenly, pushing her up against the doors of the elevator. Looking to her, his gaze swept over her as she tried to push him from her but struggled. She tried to use her powers, but couldn't concentrate enough.
"Stay the fuck out of our business," he warned from her. "Because you know that getting involved won't end well…not for you…but for Hughie…your mom…you think they're safe? They're safe for as long as I want them to stay safe."
"And Edgar? What would he say if he knew?" she choked out and Homelander chuckled.
Leaning closer to her, he hissed into her ear. "What makes you think he wouldn't know?" he wondered from her and he saw confusion etch over her face. "So keep your mouth shut and stay the fuck away from us because you can keep threatening me. You can do what you want…release the video…but if you do that…if you ruin what I have with my wife…then I'll kill everyone you love and I won't stop there. I'd burn down everything and everyone who comes in between me and my family. Do you understand?"
His voice was low and dangerous, Annie knowing she had no other option but to nod her head. He let her go and she gasped for breath. He reached around her and pressed the button to the elevator. The doors opened and she stumbled back into it. "Don't fucking come back here again," he warned her and she moved a hand to her throat.
As soon as the doors closed, Homelander moved back upstairs to find Victoria in his bedroom. She had just gone to check on Evelyn before going back. She was about to climb into bed, but she had no chance. Homelander grabbed her before she could say anything. He kissed her firmly, his grip tight on her hips. She pulled back after a moment, looking him in the eye and resting her forehead against his.
"You okay?" she asked, sensing the urgency in his kiss.
"Just don't want to be interrupted again," he simply said to her. "And I do believe I left my previous job unfinished," he added on, trying to lighten the tone as he dropped his hand back to the waistband of her pants.
"I'm not going to complain there," she confessed to him and he hauled her up against him, trapping her between him and the wall as her legs curled around his waist and he gave them what they both wanted.
…
Banging on Billy Butcher's apartment door, Annie was unrelenting. Hughie had gone back to his apartment before her run in with Homelander. She had called him on her way to Billy's and told him everything. He had told her that he would meet her at Butcher's and that she was going to go with him back to his after that. She'd beaten him to the apartment, slamming on the door hard. It took a minute before he answered.
"Where's the fucking fire?" he snapped.
"Why did it take you so long to open the fucking door?" Annie snapped at him and she pushed her way in. Billy slammed the door shut and then Annie noted her. She was stood by his sofa, dressed in a checked shirt and jeans, hair hanging loose down her back and arms folded. "What are you doing here?"
"Is it Victoria? Has something happened?" Billy asked Annie who was still staring at Maeve.
"We're working together…to bring down Homelander," Maeve said, well aware that Annie was on their side.
"My sister: is she okay?" Billy demanded, standing in front of Annie and gaining her attention.
"She…I…I don't know," Annie confessed and glanced back to Maeve. "Why did you not tell me you were working with him?"
"The less people who know and all that stuff," Maeve said and moved from behind the sofa. "Why are you here?"
Annie moved a hand through her hair that she'd tugged into a ponytail. She shook her head and looked between the two of them. "It's Homelander," she said. "He's even more unhinged than we thought. I just went to his penthouse and Victoria…she was all over him. She was happy. She kissed him…and…it looked like I'd interrupted them in the bedroom. He's done something to her and I know he has because that wasn't Victoria."
"Has he erased her memories again?" Maeve questioned.
Annie shook her head. "He wouldn't be able to get away with doing that twice," she said. "But he said that Edgar knows. Whatever he's done to her…she has no idea what he's done."
Maeve nodded thoughtfully before she went to sit back down on the sofa and pick up the bottle of water she had brought with her. She loosened the cap and Billy felt an anger bubble through him at the idea of his sister with Homelander.
"In the lab…they've been working on some stuff," she said. "I went there and found Temp-V but I found other things too on the books…stuff to enhance existing powers…stuff to get rid of powers…and…memory-altering medicine."
"Memory-altering medicine?" Billy asked from her and she took a drink of water. "You think that cunt is fucking with her mind again?"
"I think, judging on what Starlight just said, it would make the most sense," Maeve replied. "Unless she's done a complete one-eighty and forgiven him for everything and wants to make it work with him."
"She's not that far gone," Billy muttered and looked to Starlight.
"And he threatened me. He threatened my mom…and Hughie…he said he'd destroy everything and anything that got in his way," Annie continued. "We can't keep going like this because eventually he'll do something. He might be under control right now, but it's not going to last…and we're putting too much on Victoria's shoulders. She is barely holding up. She says she's fine and is coping, but she's not. I'm worried about what this is doing to her."
"She's not returning my calls," Billy said.
"Because she's scared about how you'll react to her. She can't handle being rejected by you and she's scared of that," Annie interjected. "I can get her to meet you, but I need you to promise me that you're not going do anything to fuck it up."
"Tough promise, but I'll do what I can," Billy retorted back. "I can get her and her kid away from here…send her somewhere safe just like I did with Ryan."
"And you barely got away with doing that," Maeve piped up. "If you take his wife and daughter from him then it won't just be him you have to contend with, but the might of Vought. He's portraying the perfect family image…if they suddenly disappear then they won't stop looking for them and they're good. Plus, we already know Homelander's unstable. If you take away the only thing that keeps him even slightly under control then I dread to think what he'd do…who would get killed if they stood in his way…"
"So what? We just leave her there?" Billy asked. "This lead of yours…it's not happening fast enough."
"I told you, I'm digging but the files are classified and even I don't have access to them," Maeve commented.
Annie's brows furrowed. "What files?" she asked.
Maeve and Billy exchanged a glance. Maeve took the lead. "There's something…a weapon that might be able to kill Homelander," she declared. "I don't know where it is, but I'm looking into it. If we can find it then we can take him on. I've been training, but just me…it might not be enough."
"You know that I'm with you," Annie said to her with a firm nod of her head. "And there might be someone else. He's auditioning to join the Seven and he knows about Homelander…Victoria met him when she ran away from her wedding dress fitting and he saw Homelander grab her by the throat after she spoke to him."
"He did what?"
Billy's voice was sharp as he thought about him laying a hand on his sister.
"He's jealous whenever she talks to anyone else. Alex…Supersonic…he saw it and worked out that something was wrong. He wants to help. He text me and just said that he's in," Annie said.
"You need to tell him to stay away from Victoria," Maeve said, voice stern. "He's not safe if Homelander thinks that there's anything going on between them, even if it is just friendly. The things he did when we were together…he can't be trusted and Victoria has to know that…so does this Alex."
"I've told him," Annie said. "But he still wants to help."
"And you think he can?"
"I think if we are going to take Homelander on then we need as many people on our side as possible," Annie said and Billy thought about the Temp-V that Maeve had given him. He looked to where it was hidden and knew that perhaps he had to become the thing he hated in order to save the one thing he loved more than anything.
...
A/N: Season 3 officially coming! Not sure if I am going to continue after season 3 once we hit season 4...but we'll see. Thanks as always to HomiesLazera and sansondonisha398 for reviewing the previous few chapters. I am not entirely sure anyone else is really reading this anymore. I am still enjoying writing it, but would love to know if you're anjoying reading it. It really helps with motivation. As always - let me know what you think might happen/would like to see. Please do let me know your thoughts - it makes my day!